February 2023 Anstey, Thurcaston, Cropston, Newtown Linford, Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves

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‘Three Decades On A Ferrari’s Legacy Continues To Change The Lives Of People Throughout Leicestershire’

Article by Helen Baxter

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In 1988 a Swiss entrepreneur, purchased a Ferrari P4 for the record price of £5.5 million from David Clarke, a well-respected local business owner, racing car driver and railway enthusiast. The sale of this stylish, iconic vehicle, which was owned by David of Clarke Boxes in Mountsorrel, became the key to Mr Clarke establishing the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, a unique charity which provides wellbeing and educational opportunities to adults living with an illness or disability from its picturesque base in the heart of the Charnwood Forest.

The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation’s unique values and ethos were progressive at the time. Through the provision of his charitable trust, David’s wish was to ensure that no individual became increasingly vulnerable or isolated. In the decades since David’s passing, the Foundation continues its valued work in the local community, and in 2023 it pledges to progress further with their founders pioneering vision.

Since 1989 the charity has welcomed over 300,000 visitors and, in recent months it has seen a significant increase in requests for activities and services. Today the Foundation provides a varied range of drop in and organised activities in a personalised, home from home setting.

Helen Baxter, of the Foundation said, ‘Our comprehensive timetable of activities and support sessions are heavily subsidised, making them accessible and affordable to enable our visitors to remain connected and engaged in a safe and supportive setting’.

She added ‘The Foundation, facilitates a wide range of wellbeing sessions include seated mindfulness, relaxation, and meditation, as well as yoga, tai chi, and Pilates’. In addition, our monthly support groups bring together people who are going through or have gone through

similar experiences. The Foundation’s calm and relaxed setting, make people feel confident and comfortable to share their feelings, helpful coping strategies, and first-hand information about their diagnosis and treatment options’.

The Foundation also works in partnership with local learning providers to provided SEN student placements and work experience opportunities to younger people in the local area. These placements are invaluable and enable the students to develop new skills and make new friends.

It is amazing to think that the sale of the Ferrari P4 has been integral in making a difference to the lives of so many people in the local area and beyond. A truly amazing car, with a legacy to match.

Ulverscroft Grange tearooms and charity shops are located on Whitwick Road, Ulverscroft, LE67 9QB (close to Copt Oak) and are open to the public from 10.00am – 4.00pm Monday –Friday.

If you would like to learn more about the history and work of Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, a talk will be provided on Wednesday 1st of March from 10:30am at Ulverscroft Activity Centre, Priory Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9PH. If you would like the Foundation to provide a talk to your group, this can be arranged by contacting emailing us at hello@ shuttlewood-clarke.org.

For more details about the Foundation or to book a place for the 45-minute presentation in March, please visit the website www. shuttlewood-clarke.org, or call Helen Baxter on 01530 244914.

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Time To Get Walking Again!

Article by John Harris

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With Spring on its way we start to think about getting out to walk in the beautiful English countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

Walking in Leicestershire www. walkinginengland.co.uk/leics has loads of walks to download and print, free, it also has books of walks, details of all the walking groups in the county and much more. Whether you want to walk on your own or with a group

John Harris (who maintains the website) said ‘There is so much walking information on the web but it is difficult to find. Walking in Leicestershire (part of the Walking in England website) has brought it together in one place so whether you are walking from home, or away on holiday, you will be able to find a walk suitable for you’.

With walks from half a mile to twelve miles plus long, and a note of suitability for pushchairs and wheelchairs, everyone can find a walk to enjoy.

So home or away, check out the websites and get walking!

Bradgate Rotary Club

Article by Alan Rockey

You may well ask what is Rotary? The organisation’s mission statement is to "provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through the fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders". Whilst that is still true, it was written in1905, times have moved on considerably and while the ethos still stands its interpretation has moved with the times. Originally a male only organisation with its female support club, Inner Wheel, Rotary is now open to both genders. Some older established clubs still have the traditional set up but we in Bradgate Rotary think differently. We

• Are a secular mixed gender club with around a 60/40 split in favour of female.

• Are informal and are more like a group of friends than a club that meet for breakfast weekly

• Have no egos and play to our individual members strengths

• Have a common interest in helping our local community whether by supporting a charity financially, painting a fence or providing advice and help

• Enjoy and have fun in whatever we do

• Put a smile on faces of all ages

Bradgate Rotary’s catchment area covers Glenfield, Groby, Ratby, Markfield, Newtown Linford and Anstey.

We would welcome you with open arms should you want to be part of Bradgate Rotary. It may well be that you just wish to volunteer with us on an ad hoc basis or join a group of like-minded people who like to make a difference to others. That choice is yours. I nearly forgot our motto

Service Above Self

Please contact us if you would like to know more or come along to a meeting and meet us in person. We look forward to hearing from you.

www.bradgaterotaryclub.org

The Wednesday Hub - A Warm Welcome In

Thurcaston

Protecting Your Family Inheritance

Article by Klara Dixon

Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are fully vaccinated. LevLaw Ltd remains here for you.

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.

Article by Eleanor Lloyd Jones

The Thurcaston & Cropston Good Neighbours group has joined forces with All Saints Church in Thurcaston to set up a weekly warm space meeting. Every Wednesday afternoon from 2-4pm the Harrison Room (at the Church) is open for anyone to come and drop in.

The Wednesday Hub is free to attend - come along for coffee, cake, chat and a warm welcome! We also have puzzles, games, books or you can bring your own activities with you.

For further details please call 07834 483850 or email us on Wednesdayhub3@gmail.com

Boar d Games Nigh

T hur sday 2nd Febr uar y 2023 6pm to 8pm

Come along to T he Stadon on Bradgate Road to relax in a war m space and play Board Games

Fancy A Nosey?

Article by Steve

Hello, and welcome to LeiceExplore, my name is Steve, and I'm a lover of our abandoned and out of sorts industrial heritage in not only Leicestershire, but beyond as well. Join us on YouTube where you will regularly find not just myself, but also my buddies, Delighted Dave, IndiAndy Jones, Rare Rob and the walkabout Wazzock, battling the undergrowth in search of abandoned Railways, Canals, Watermills and so much more.

So head on over to YouTube, search for LeiceExplore and click the subscribe button!

www.youtube.com/@LeiceExplore

What are you waiting for!

Let's go for a Noseh!

You heard it here first!

Anstey Parish Council

Article by Liz Hawkes

Budget 2023 – 2024

At the January meeting the Council agreed the budget and precept demand for 2023 – 2024 (the parishes part of the Council Tax). The main changes to the budget for 2023 / 24 enable the Parish Council to do more to support the growing community of Anstey. The full budget is available to view on the parish council website. The budget shows estimated payments of £963,399 estimated income of £975,003 and a £637,455 contribution from general reserves, ear marked reserves and other income. This results in a net cost to Anstey Parish Council of £337,548 and a precept request will be made to Charnwood Borough Council for the sum of £337,548 equating to approximately £126.12 Band D and a 5% increase for the financial year 2023-2024 (12 pence per week, £6.01 per year).

Reserves from the Councils budgets will allow the following work to continue.

Jubilee Hall

Below is a diary of regular activities booked in at the Jubilee Hall. You will see it is almost at full capacity during the week. The hall is available to hire at weekends for private parties.

Monday Train with Tasha 9.15 - 10.15 am

Pilates 12.30 - 1.30 pm

D. G. Martial Arts Karate 5 - 7pm

Wellbeing Yoga Tribe 7.30- 8.30 pm

Sound Bath 8.00-9.15 pm (monthly)

Tuesday Mini Movers 10 - 11.30am

Wednesday Bradgate U3A - Quilting 9 - 1pm (1st Wed of month)

Bradgate U3A - Main meeting 2 - 4pm (1st Wed of month)

WI - Anstey Evening (2nd Wed of month)

History Society Evening - (3rd Wed of month)

Thursday Dementia Support Group 2pm - 4pm

Train with Tasha 5 - 7pm

Jitterbugs 8 - 10pm

Friday Train with Tasha 9.15 - 10.15 am

Lunch club Noon - 2pm

D. G. Martial Arts Karate 5 - 7pm

Saturday First Class Learning 10.45 - 12.45 am

Miscellaneous works at Groby Road associated with the land transfer from Davidson Homes. These will be funded via section 106 money

Grants Awarded

This year the Council received 12 applications for financial help from local groups and were able to award a total of £5,448.50. The Council has two grant giving occasions each year at the parish meeting and at the main grant application process that closes on the 30th November each year. If you would like to apply for a grant further information is available on the website or at the parish office.

The groups that were supported this time are able to continue the important work they carry out for the benefit of the community. The following groups have benefitted from grant funding.

• 1st Anstey Guides – to see a panto ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at Loughborough

Town Hall

• Anstey Lunch Club – enables attendees to have a meal out the group provides transport

• Anstey Town Charity – financially supports further groups within Anstey

• Bradgate U3A – to purchase a set of equipment for indoor curling.

• Eco Club at Martin High School – to purchase a ‘subpod’ composter and compost bins for food tech rooms.

• Woolden Hill School – To enable pupils to attend a trip to the ‘Warning Zone’ in Leicester

• Anstey Gynsill Tennis Club – To purchase equipment including an umpire chair and grounds maintenance equipment

• Train with Tasha – To help with running costs and purchasing new equipment

• Chess Club – To help with running costs

• Anstey Gala Committee – to cover the committees insurance costs

• WI – to hold a party to encourage new members and purchase Christmas outfits

• Citizens Advice Bureau – This organisation supports Anstey residents

• Anstey Food Bank – held at St Mary’s Church rooms on a Tuesday morning

Petanque Court

The Petanque Court on Mitchells Field has proved to be very popular, it has now been extended to create a second court and will be ready to use by everyone in the spring.

Sunday

Councillor David Berry

David Berry had worked as a Parish Councillor since July 2021 at Anstey Parish Council. Dave has now resigned his position and we wish him well for the future, his contributions to meetings will be missed. There will be elections in May and all fourteen seats will be up for election. If you are interested in becoming a local Councillor and would like to find out more please contact the parish office.

Parish Council Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at the Jubilee Hall starting at 7.30pm.

Details of meeting are shown on the website, the agendas for meetings are published on the website at; www.ansteypc.org.uk/council-meetings.html all members of the public are welcome to these meetings.

Your Councillors

Your Councillors can be contacted through the Parish Council Office: Tel: 0116 2362646

Mobile: 07458 305025

Email: clerk@ansteypc.org

Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicester, LE7 7AY

Gavin Taylor Hair - Rainbows Childrens Hospice

Article by Jane Taylor

During the month of December, local award winning salon, Gavin Taylor Hair in Rothley put a plea out to all of their clients…

Instead of clients bringing in copious amounts of chocolates and wine for the staff, they asked if they could pass it forward and asked their clients, if they were thinking of bringing in a gift, they would rather it be a gift for terminally ill children and their families receiving care from Rainbows Childrens Hospice in Loughborough.

A ginormous Santa sack was ready and waiting in the salon reception area to be filled with gifts.

Gavin & Jane Taylor of Gavin Taylor Hair ran the Christmas campaign with the assistance of Jenny Ball, Community Fundraiser at Rainbows Hospice who gave them specific items to ask the clients for such as craft items, winter hats, toiletries and sensory toys.

Needless to say, the Santa sack, soon became overflowing with gifts, spreading out across the lounge area of the salon.

“The support from our clients during our campaign was phenomenal, myself and our team were hoping to see the Santa sack fill up, but not once did we envisage the amount of generosity our clients gave” said Gavin Taylor.

The team at Gavin Taylor Hair also gave generously, as well as their families.

On 22nd December Gavin and his 2 daughters proudly delivered all of the gifts to Rainbows Hospice in Loughborough and met with Jenny, Community Fundraiser to hand them over.

Jenny commented “thank you so much for your donation, its very kind of you and your clients to support Rainbows in this way”.

Rainbows provides care and support for children and young people with life limiting and life threatening conditions, and their whole family across the East Midlands. The care offered is wide ranging; palliative care, end of life care, symptom management, emergency care and respite. Without the support of the general public and their fundraising, Rainbows would not be able to offer this service.

Photographed below is salon owner, Gavin Taylor and his two daughters delivering the first run of the gifts.

More information on Rainbows Hospice and ways in to support them can be found at www.rainbows.co.uk

You can also visit Gavin Taylor Hair website at www.gavintaylorhair.uk

Friday Night Films In Thurcaston

Article by Richard & Diana

In January, we were thrilled to see such spectacular cinematography. The sea shanties and folk songs from the Fisherman’s Friends were lovely and at the end, our audience just had to applaud the appealing story.

“The Railway Children Return ” will be shown on February 10th and lasts 98 minutes.

Shot in picturesque West Yorkshire in 1944, February’s film is a “Must see!”. Three young siblings have been transplanted from London after their father was arrested on suspicion of being a spy. Sheridan Smith’s character is local headmistress who takes in these evacuees. She is helped by her mother, played by Jenny Agouter but why is an injured American soldier hiding? Is he a spy? This warm U.K. film is uplifting.

“The Phantom of the Open “ will be shown on March 10th and lasts 102 minutes.

Sir Mark Rylance stars in this U.K. optimistic “golfing underdog” story. A shipyard crane operator, and lovable family man, decides to take up golf and remarkably secures a spot in the qualifying round of the 1976 British Open Championships. Based on a true story, this is a glorious real-life film.

“Mr Malcolm’s List”, a romantic comedy, will be shown on April 14th. Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5, which includes a lucky prize draw and refreshments during the interval. You can pay for tickets at the door, if there are any left or pay in advance from :

Richard 0116 2363 066 or Diana 0116 2362 619

Birstall And District Art Society (BADAS)

Article by Meg Grant

On 14 February we welcome Graham Short for our first ‘demo evening’ of the year. Graham will provide an illustrated talk on the subject of ‘My Life as a Micro Artist’. You can find more information about Graham on his website: www.graham-short.com

Our March demo evening held on 9 March will be an appraisal of members’ paintings. Artist Amanda Jackson will conduct a (kind) critique of work, providing a fascinating insight about works well and what could be done to improve a painting, from the point of view of composition, technique, and other factors.

On 11 April, Sallyann Brackett makes a welcome return to us. Her subject will be British wildlife, using a ‘tissage’ technique.

Local artist Lesley Brooks will demonstrate a landscape in acrylic, the Norfolk Broads on 9 May.

Our demo evenings are held at the Tara Palmer Tomkinson Centre at the Cedars Academy Birstall. They are held on the second Tuesday of the month, starting promptly at 7pm. The charge for non-members is £4.

This year, we are trialling a new Wednesday evening meeting from 6.30pm until 8.30pm at Wanlip Hall. This is not a teaching class, but a chance to get together to paint or draw in your own style and medium at your own pace. Sessions are open to members and those who are considering membership, particularly those that are unable to come along to our daytime sessions. Although mainly intended for adults, under-18s may attend if they are accompanied by a responsible adult. There is a charge of £3 per session, which includes refreshments. No booking is required.

whilst

Thurcaston And Cropston Gardening Club

Article by Richard Elks

‘The Essentials of Gardening’ with Mick Eaton

The Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club finished 2022 strongly following a difficult time due to Covid. But we were able to run a full, and very successful, programme of events in 2022.

The Club’s first meeting of 2023 was a talk by Mick Eaton called ‘The Essentials of Gardening’. We are delighted to report that the hall was almost full for this first meeting – and we are hopeful for another good year ahead.

Mick worked for 45 years for the Leicester City Council Parks Services, which included 10 years as their Horticultural Advisor. He is also President of the Leicester and Leicestershire Horticultural Judges Guild. He describes himself as a ‘compulsive gardener’.

Mick drew on his vast gardening experience to deliver this talk. He picked various topics to talk about but was also guided by questions and comments from the audience to pick up on their interests.

Plant names was one of the topics. Whist many gardeners know plants by ‘common’ names, Mick made the point that it is only by using the Latin name of a plant that you can be sure to get the plant you want. Latin names are recognised the world over and can tell gardeners a lot about plants, such as the genus and cultivar.

Grow and plant single (simple) flowers to attract and support pollinating insects

The growing conditions required for plants to thrive was another topic. This includes the soil type, for example, some plants require acid soil such as rhododendron and azalea which will not thrive if the soil is alkaline. Aspect is also important to consider in relation to shade, semi shade and sun. The height and spread of a plant should also be considered when selecting plants for your garden.

All plants want to grow, but often they need us to help them thrive and to give them what they need. Therefore, feeding plants is very important. They need nitrogen, potash, and phosphate. Nitrogen is essential for leafy growth, potash to encourage flower formation, and phosphate is essential for keeping plants healthy and encouraging new growth.

When Mick was talking about the different topics, he was frequently asked questions from our members. His answers were always good tips for us all –for example – he was asked about feeding bulbs. His answer - after the bulb has flowered and been deadheaded, feed the bulb for eight weeks.

Mick touched on other topics such as pruning and planting to attract pollinating insects. Probably one of the most difficult jobs in the garden for the amateur is pruning – when and how? Observation is the key word here; roses, cornus, buddleia, and many other plants benefit from pruning. For example, if buddleia isn’t pruned well, you often get all the flowers well above head height!!

Bees are out much earlier and later in the year because of climate change. Therefore we, as gardeners, need to provide nectar for bees all year round. In his job, Mick was tasked to improve bedding plants in parks for pollinating insects. This involved growing only ‘single’ (or simple) plants that are good for bees and moving away from ‘double’ flowering plants that were traditional in city parks. Grass on road verges was also left long, not to cut costs but to support insects.

Mick was very knowledgeable and informative. He also had a relaxed and easy-going style, encouraging questions and comments throughout the talk.

The Gardening Club meets in the Thurcaston and Cropston Memorial Hall

Whether an experienced gardener or an enthusiastic beginner we are sure you will find something of interest in this year’s programme. New members are made most welcome. What’s more, it is excellent value!! The membership fee is still only £12 for the year (pro rota) or £3.00 per meeting. So, if you are interested in gardening - come and give the Club a try.

For more information about the Club, please contact

Dave Haddon (0116) 235 9758: david.haddon20@ntlworld.com Or Richard Elks (0116) 236 8313: cropston161@hotmail.co.uk

The next Club events are:-

Wed 8th February East Midlands in Bloom Simon Lucas Simon is a judge for East Midlands in Bloom.

His talk will cover the history of Britain in Bloom and East Midlands in Bloom. He will tell us about its background from its small beginnings – 60 years old this year – and about the competition itself and what is involved with making an entry.

East Midlands in Bloom gold award winners for the past 10 years.

This will be an illustrated talk with lots of photos of things Simon has seen in his local role to brighten up the dark February days and to look forward to summer.

Wed 8th March The 12 Month Garden – Colour All Year-Round Geoff Hodge

Geoff Hodge is a freelance garden writer and editor for various national gardening magazines and websites.

He has written eight gardening books, including five for the RHS, with titles ranging from pruning and propagation to allotments and bulbs and a topic close to his heart – botany for gardeners.

He is one of the panel of “experts” for the gardening programmes on BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. He appears on Q&A panels at flower shows across the country, gives lots of talks and demonstrations at garden centres, garden shows and for gardening clubs and answers hundreds of gardening questions every year for various organisations.

Colour All Year Round – The 12-Month Garden

Everyone wants a garden that looks absolutely fabulous 12 months of the year. But is that possible? Geoff Hodge looks at plants that will give you more ‘bang for your buck’ and help provide long-term interest. He also shares hints and tips on achieving a colourful oasis every day of the year.

Charnwood Group Spring 2023

An interesting programme of events is being planned for Spring 2023. Please come along and support your local Wildlife Trust.

Regular indoor meetings are held in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on the second Wednesday every month from September to May starting at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 for LRWT members, £3 for visitors, children free.

Wednesday 8th March 2023 at 7.30pm

AGM followed by

A presentation by Mat Carter, CEO, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Details to follow

Wednesday 12th April 2023 at 7.30pm

Cone Shells - Killers or Curers

Brian Hammond has collected shells all his life and the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow now houses around 10000 specimens from his unique collection. This talk is about these fascinating molluscs in the family "Conidae". These venomous & carnivorous snails hunt their prey, including fish, and some species have been known to kill humans. Their venom is very complex and is used extensively in drug research.

Prune buddleia hard in the Spring to keep flowers at a height you can see and enjoy them.

Bulbs – like these daffodils should be feed for eight weeks after they have flowered and been dead headed.

Monday Club Cropston And Thurcaston

Article by Maja Tompkins

Monday 9th January 2023

We began the New Year with the Club Leader Jenny Kennington welcoming everyone warmly. She updated us on various matters relating to the Club, and then explained that the Speaker booked was unable to come through personal circumstances. Instead, our Speaker was Mr Derek Holloway. He has prepared a series of talks about inspirational women who changed the world.

Mr Holloway told us about the adventures and trials of Amy Johnson, with the aid of slides showing many photographs of the time and other interesting information. Amy was an early aviator who was born in Hull in 1903. One grandfather was of Danish Viking stock, and her family had a very successful fish merchant's business, which is still going today. She was the eldest of four daughters and will always be remembered for her amazing achievement of flying, SOLO, from England to Australia in May 1930.

She was educated firstly at home and then went to school in Hull. She was shy and clever, and enjoyed various sports. After leaving school she went to Sheffield University, although it was unusual in those days for a girl to go to university. She gained a BA in Economics with Latin and French, and later completed a secretarial course. She began working as a secretary for a local company. Her interest in aeroplanes began with a visit to Hull Fair, which offered short "joyrides" over the city in a plane for only five shillings. In 1927 she moved to London and became a personal secretary in a firm of solicitors. In addition to her own successful work, the family's fortunes prospered and they moved into a succession of better houses. We were shown a studio portrait of Amy taken in her early teens.

In 1928 Amy visited an airfield at Edgware and decided to take up flying as a hobby, although she did not earn a lot and lessons were expensive. However, her father decided to help her pay for them. Her first and second instructors gave up on her, but the third one persisted and got her through.

Although she was not a natural pilot, she proved to be a natural navigator. In 1929 she obtained her certificate and licence, and she also got her ground engineer's licence, so she knew how to maintain and repair the aero engines which were then relatively simple.

She became friends with Fred Slingsby, who built gliders at Sutton Bank. This company too is still in

existence today. She joined the Womens' Engineering Society, and in time became its President. The first aeroplane she owned (named "Jason" after one of the names used in the family fish business) was a second-hand Gypsy Moth with the registration A-AAAH, which cost 600 pounds. Half of this enormous sum was provided by her father, and the other half came from the oil magnate Lord Wakefield, who owned Castrol, and had been Lord Mayor of London for a while. He saw a wonderful marketing opportunity ahead of him.

When Amy announced that she was going to fly to Australia, despite the fact that she had very little flying experience (her longest previous flight was from London to Hull), Lord Wakefield made all the arrangements for refuelling points and provisioning along her route, and so on. Amy kept busy by obtaining what maps were available at the time, and planning and organising her trip. The plane was hardly more than a canvas and wire structure, with an engine and an open cockpit.

Mr Holloway had marked her route on a map for us. Her journey took her from Croydon Aerodrome (later Heathrow Airport) over the Alps, across the unforgiving sandy wastes of the Sahara Desert, and skirting the edge of the Himalayas, enduring not only huge variations in temperature, storms, crashes and bureaucratic delays, but also remote jungles peopled by head hunters, and long flights over the endless open ocean. She somehow managed to get to Darwin, on the searing hot north coast of Australia, in a total of 19 1/2 days. Along the way she kept a diary.

She had not broken Roger Hinkler's record (although her Croydon to Karachi leg DID break the record between London and India), but it was the first solo flight by a woman of about 11,000 miles, and attracted enormous interest back home in Britain and around the rest of the world. Huge crowds welcomed her in Australia, compared with the mere dozen who had watched her take off in England. Amy received telegrams from King George the Fifth and Prime Minister MacDonald, and was later awarded the CBE. Popular songs were written about her and performed in the music halls. The Daily Mail published several souvenir editions of the newspaper, calling her "the typist from Hull", and Associated Newspapers gave her the vast sum of 10,000 pounds, which was a fortune in those days. She continued her journey by flying to Brisbane, and crashed the plane! Then she carried on to Sydney, where "Jason" underwent some necessary repairs. Amy was given her civil pilot's licence, and there were big welcoming crowds in Australia. To return to Britain, Amy decided to go home by ship and get some rest ...!

Not everyone was friendly and helpful, though, and some of the press were lukewarm at best. Amy had agreed to a deal proposed by the Daily Mail, not realising this meant she would have to hand over ownership of her aeroplane "Jason" to them, and that it would involve touring relentlessly all around the country. She actually became ill and unable to fulfil all the engagements arranged for her. Today, "Jason" is on display at the Science Museum in Kensington.

In early 1931, in wintry weather, Amy Johnson embarked on another long solo flight from London to Peking (now Beijing), which was unsuccessful. In July 1931 she tried again, aiming for Japan, accompanied by Jack Humphrey. This time they had the luxury of an enclosed cockpit! They flew London to Moscow in only 21 hours in a Puss Moth, "Jason II". They negotiated Siberia and the endless steppes, and reached Tokyo in a record 10 days.

In July 1932 she married Jim Mollison, who proposed only a few hours after they met. Jim was also considered an outstanding aviator and made several record breaking flights. They were the celebrity couple of their day and feted in several countries, and were in demand for various charity functions. One photograph we saw shows the couple posing with Charlie Chaplin and George Bernard Shaw.

Amy entered several air races. She broke the solo record for London to Cape Town in 1932 in another Puss Moth, "Desert Cloud". Then in 1934 she reached India from Britain in record time, in a De Havilland Comet, but had to retire early from the race because of engine trouble. Until the Second World War began, she became a commercial pilot, mostly piloting short flights over the Solent. In addition, she entered car rallies and wrote articles for the newspapers. Other activities including advertising various products like Castrol / BP Oil, typewriters, clothing from Schiaparelli, and so on.

In 1932 the Mollisons completed several flights to such places as Cape Town in four days, in "Desert Cloud". In July 1933 they planned a flight to New York then Baghdad in the De Havilland Dragon "Seafarer", and after many problems eventually set off from Wales, but ran out of fuel due to bad weather. They finally crash-landed near Bridgeport, Connecticut, and were taken to hospital with luckily fairly minor injuries. They met President Roosevelt and his First Lady Eleanor, and were given a tickertape parade, a rare honour later accorded to the astronauts who landed on the Moon.

However Jim was a heavy drinker, and they divorced in 1937. Amy went back to using her maiden

name. During the war Mollison flew for the ATA (Air Training Auxiliary) and once piloted General de Gaulle. When the war ended he ran a public house for a while, and remarried. In 1953 his pilot's licence was taken away, and sadly in 1959 he died of alcohol poisoning.

When the Second World War was declared Amy also began working for the ATA. With the shortage of men, many women were employed to fly planes all over the country, mainly trainers, from the manufacturer to the airfield which needed them, a very dangerous job particularly as they had no radio and no backup, and were unarmed. In January 1941 she was delivering a plane in atrocious weather, and is thought to have crashed into the sea off Kent. We do not know for sure what happened. One ship changed course to help a plane which they saw come down, and Captain Fletcher himself went into the sea to help the pilot and a possible second person briefly spotted in the water, but they disappeared. Conditions were so bad that the Captain was overcome, and was taken to hospital where he died. Some wreckage from Amy's plane and a few of her personal effects were later washed up on land. A memorial service was held for her in London on 14th January. In recent years other possible reasons for the wartime crash have been suggested, but we shall probably never know the truth. Many of her personal belongings and memorabilia were given to Sewerby Hall near Bridlington, Yorkshire, which has an interesting museum dedicated to her.

Amy earned numerous awards and honours during her lifetime, and is commemorated by plaques and statues in various places. She was a complex character who battled against many problems, and promoted the worth of women in a man's world. She will long be remembered for her amazing exploits, courage and sheer tenacity, and will be an inspiration for future generations.

********************************

We have an exciting programme arranged for this year, with the next meeting being on 13th February to include our Annual General Meeting, and Mrs Viv Galloway will enthral us with a talk about her "Life in Forensics". Annual membership is only £13.00, and the entrance fee for members is still only £2.00. Visitors are most welcome at only £4.00 which will include tea/coffee and biscuits. We start at 2.15 p.m. and finish around 4.15 p.m.

Mrs Maja Tompkins Mobile 07709-201881.

You’ll get value for money because our pricing is competitive

Returning Customers account for 74% of our work - that says it all about the quality of our work and the friendliness in our service

We give you five years guarantee on our labour

We’re NICEIC registered - so we’re assessed on a regular basis to ensure the highest standard of care are always met

Always leave things clean and tidy

All our team are smartly uniformed and we train them to always be prompt, polite and professional (and they smile a lot)

We’ll turn up when we say we will

see what

want here we’ll probably do it – just ask”

David Snartt

Borough Councillor for Forest Bradgate

T: 01530 244804

E: cllr.david.snartt@charnwood.gov.uk

Planning Update Markfield Lane. I am pleased to see the latest submissions to the consultation process for the planning application P/22/1031/2 for up to 150 dwellings, on land south of Markfield Lane, Newtown Linford.

I note National Highways have now responded. They recommend that the application is not determined for a period of three months from the date of their notice (21st December 2022). It seems one of the reasons for this delay is to assess the cumulative impact of the other planning applications in the bigger area (which includes Anstey) on the Strategic Road Network.

You may recall this was one of my concerns, especially as there are proposals to develop a further 1,000 plus dwellings within Anstey. In my view, if all of these planning applications were successful it would certainly see extra traffic through the village of Newtown Linford to access the M1 and other locations to the north of the village.

I also note Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council object to this application. In their submission they say, Markfield has a Neighbourhood Plan which allocates a substantial and sufficient amount of housing in the village. The Neighbourhood Plan meeting all the criteria of paragraph 14 of the National Planning Policy Framework.

Again, I alluded to the Markfield Neighbourhood Plan when I attended the appeal hearing for the other adjacent application for up to 93 dwellings adjacent to Ashby Road. I am still waiting for the decision notice from the Inspector.

If you would like to see the all of the submissions to the consultation process please visit Charnwood Borough Council website, Planning Portal. The information is under planning application number P/22/1031/2.

Maplewell Road Development.

I have been asked several times about the current position with the development for up to 36 dwellings adjacent to Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves. I understand that the reserved matters planning application is expected in the spring of this year.

I will keep you informed when

further details come forward. In my view, it will be important to make sure the design and type of dwellings reflect this sensitive area of the village. I also note the Inspector’s appeal conclusions within his decision notice, especially the reference to 2.5-3 storey dwellings and affordable properties.

New Election Rules for 2023. Residents in Charnwood Borough are being urged to check they have an accepted form of photo ID ahead of this year’s local elections on Thursday 4th May 2023. The new requirement of showing photo ID at polling stations is being introduced by the UK Government and comes into effect for the first time this May. Voters across England will be required to show an accepted form of photo ID when voting at polling stations for local elections. Acceptable forms of photo ID include: Passport issued by the UK: Photographic drivers licence: A blue badge: Older person’s bus pass: Disabled person’s bus pass. For a full list of acceptable ID’s please visit Charnwood Borough Council’s website.

Residents without one of the suitable forms of ID will be able to apply for a free ID called a Voter Authority Certificate which can only be used for elections. Applications can be made on-line through the GOV.UK website or completing a paper form. A paper form is available to download and print from Charnwood Borough Council’s website, alternatively, residents can request the form is sent to them via post by contacting the elections team by visiting electoral.services@charnwood. gov.uk or by telephoning 01509 634546.

Those residents who require a Voter Authority Certificate are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday April 25th 2023. For more information whether it is for acceptable ID’s, new requirements, frequently asked questions or details of how to apply for the free ID, please visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/VoterID

Damp and Mould Advice. Damp and mould can cause damage to your home and cause health problems if not prevented or dealt with as soon as possible. Prevention advice and how to report it can be found at www. charnwood.gov.uk/damp

The webpage includes what to look for when you might have condensation problems in your home: Typical signs of rising damp and/or penetrating damp: Health implications of damp and mould: What are the health implications: Tips on how you can reduce moisture in your home.

Alongside this advice, Charnwood Borough Council have also produced a survey that sets out to uncover how prevalent damp and mould is in privately rented houses. Your responses can help the Council to work with landlords and tenants to manage the risks caused by mould. If you are a tenant with a private landlord and live in Charnwood Borough, the Council would like to hear from you. Please visit www.charnwood. gov.uk/damp_survey and complete the survey.

Stay in the Loop. Charnwood residents are being urged to stay in the loop with news from Charnwood Borough

Council by signing up to e-mail alerts. There are now over 16,000 subscribers to a range of topics to help keep people informed about Council services and news.

The e-mail alerts are particularly useful for any changes to services, community events which involve the Council and to find out where support and advice may be available, either from the Council or a range of its partners.

To sign up to the Council’s e-mail alerts, please visit www. charnwood.gov.uk/alerts I understand not everyone uses e-mail, therefore, I am grateful to ‘Your Local’ for allowing me to keep residents up to date with relevant news items.

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.

Please Can You Help!

Anstey Local History Society is looking for someone to administer their website.

If you think you could help us, please contact us either through the website or on the number below.

Anstey Local History Society

Our next meeting will be held on: Wednesday February 15thth 2023 at 7.30.p.m. at The Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road

What Business is it of Yours?

Speaker: Sandra Moore

(In character as Mrs Eliza Billington, a publican’s wife, who will tell us about some of the business people buried in Belgrave Cemetery.)

Members: Free

Non-members: £3.00

www.ansteyhistory.com

Tel:07870197958

Deborah Taylor

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 0116 2350126

E: cllr.deborah.taylor@charnwood.gov.uk

Electoral Commission

Residents are being asked to check that they have an accepted form of photo ID ahead of this year’s local elections on Thursday, May 4th 2023. Elections are being held in Charnwood for the borough council as well as some town and parish councils.

The new requirement of showing photo ID at polling stations is being introduced by the UK Government and comes into effect for the first time this May. Voters across England will be required to show an accepted form of photo ID when voting at polling stations for local elections.

Residents without one of the suitable forms of ID will be able to apply for free ID called a ‘Voter Authority Certificate’ which can only be used for elections. Applications can be made online through the GOV.UK website or by completing a paper form. A paper form is available to download and print from the Charnwood Borough Council website. Alternatively, residents can request the form be sent to them via post by contacting the elections team on electoral.services@charnwood.gov.uk or by calling 01509 634546.

Those who require a Voter Authority Certificate are being encouraged to apply as soon as possible. The deadline to apply is 5pm on Tuesday April 25th 2023. Residents should first make sure they are registered to vote before applying.

Accepted forms of ID include a UK, European Economic Area (EEA) or Commonwealth passport; a UK, EEA, or Commonwealth drivers’ licence; and some concessionary travel passes, such as an older person’s bus pass or an Oyster 60+ card. Voters will be able to use expired ID if they are still recognisable from the photo.

Residents are recommended to check the list of accepted ID carefully as some forms of photo ID, such as security passes issued by employers, will not be accepted.

A list of accepted ID is available on the Council’s website, along with more information about the new requirement, frequently asked questions, and details of how to apply for the free ID. For more information, visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/VoterID

Planning

A lot of our time recently has been taken up with responding to Planning Applications submitted to Charnwood Borough Council for Anstey. We thought it would be useful to list all the current applications submitted/ approved recently, but also applications where the developers have gone out to the public for early engagement.

The total of proposed houses with submitted/approved applications are:1,088 (only one to date has been approved (in red)).

The total of proposed houses that are/have been out for early engagement are: - 375

This brings the total for Anstey to: - 1463

Paul Baines

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 07977 178869

E: cllr.paul.baines@charnwood.gov.uk

All the details for these applications can be found on the Charnwood Borough Council Planning Portal, under their planning number:https://portal.charnwood.gov.uk/Northgate/PlanningExplorerAA/ ApplicationSearch.aspx

You can also find further details on our website:www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk

Comments can still be made on applications that haven’t been decided, so we would encourage as many residents as possible to send in their comments, so we have a whole village response to all these developments currently planned for the village.

We are robustly opposing all these developments, as we have not seen any evidence of the required infrastructure to support this huge extension to our village.

Borough Council Updates

The Council introduced email alerts in 2019 to help keep people informed about Council services and news.

There are now over 16,000 subscribers to a range of topics which include general news, business, planning, events, recycling and refuse, and news for tenants.

The email alerts are particularly useful for any changes to services, and community events that involve the Council and to find out where support and advice may be available, either from the Council or a range of its partners.

To sign up for the Council’s email alerts, please visit www.charnwood.gov.uk/alerts

Subscribers to one or more topics can add or remove them at any time by visiting www.charnwood.gov.uk/manage and entering the email address they used to subscribe.

The King’s Coronation

There will be celebrations throughout the UK, the Commonwealth, and around the world as communities come together to celebrate the King’s Coronation. For many of us, this will be the first Coronation we have witnessed.

An extra bank holiday will take place across the UK to mark the coronation of King Charles III next year. It will fall on Monday 8th May 2023, two days after the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The bank holiday will provide an opportunity for communities and people throughout the United Kingdom to come together to celebrate this memorial event.

If you are thinking of holding an event to celebrate The King’s Coronation, there is some information and key dates that you may find useful to get you started.

Planning on having a street party to celebrate the event?

You will need to apply to Leicestershire County Council to close your street/ road to traffic by completing sections 3 and 4 of the Kings Coronation application pack. All fees associated with the legal application have been

waived for The Kings Coronation and the application time reduced to 5 weeks. This is ONLY for The King’s Coronation and does not apply to other events.

If you wish to apply for a road closure or any other restrictions the last date for submission is Friday 31st March 2023. Applications after this date may not be able to be fulfilled.

Given the occasion and following Government guidance the council will not be asking for the usual required documentation for a road closure, but consideration needs to be given to ensure the safety of all attendees for an enjoyable event.

The information you supply regarding your event will be shared with the emergency services so that they can put their own plans and resources in place.

The application form for a road closure can be found on our website: www. bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/kingscoronation or scan the QR code here:

Signs and Cones

Leicestershire County Council Highways is offering the free loan of signs and cones, should you require these please complete section 5 of the Kings Coronation application pack. Please be aware that signs and cones must be collected from, and returned to, the LCC Mountsorrel Highways Depot. Appropriate arrangements will need to be made for collection. The deadline for your cones and signs applications is Friday 31st March 2023, after this date they cannot guarantee availability.

Please note that the fees for the loan of signs will be waived for all King’s Coronation events but equipment must be returned, or it will be invoiced for later.

Council owned land and licences

If you would like to organise an event on Council land or greenspace, or to find out about licensable activities such as selling food and drink or having music on a stage please use this link where you will find details for Charnwood Borough page: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/leisure-andcommunity/parks-and-outdoor-activities/plan-an-event/licensable-activities

Further Government advice on road closures for street parties can be found here: www.gov.uk/government/publications/your-guide-to-organising-astreet-party

If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help. Deborah and Paul

Scan here for updated news:

Paul’s Decorating Service

Deborah Taylor

County Councillor for Bradgate Division

T: 0116 2350126

E: deborah.taylor@leics.gov.uk

The new year got off to a slow start. Most of my work was focused on the budget webinars we conducted to engage with sectors of the local community. Some of the webinars have been shared on the Leicestershire County Council website and on my social media.

The consultation on the budget for 2023/24 closed on the 15th of January. We received over 600 responses, which is a far greater response than usual, and this response enables us to capture the views and concerns of residents.

We are currently reviewing those responses, prior to the proposed budget going to Cabinet on 10th February 2023 and then to the full council on 22nd February 2023 for approval.

The ‘Hop!’ Bus

Several residents recently contacted me about the change of bus stop for the First Bus 74 service. The service now stops at the St Margaret’s Bus Station instead of the Haymarket Bus Station. This has caused many issues for residents who have mobility issues as it is further to walk into the city centre.

The change of Bus Station was a commercial decision by the First Bus Company. I have enquired if they are willing to change back but this has been refused. The main reason for the change was to ensure that the service runs on time and ensures that the frequency of the bus service is retained.

In March 2023 a new ‘Hop!’ service is being launched. This will provide a bus service for residents between St Margaret’s Bus Station and Haymarket Bus Station

The new Greenlines ‘Hop!’ service will see state-of-the-art electric buses operating in the Leicester City centre, offering free travel on a route connecting Leicester’s transport hubs with many of the city’s attractions and other key destinations.

‘Hop!’ will operate on a clockwise loop around the city centre, serving St Margaret’s Bus Station, Haymarket Bus Station, Leicester Market, Leicester Royal Infirmary, and St Nicholas Circle, improving accessibility, and making it far easier for people to get around the city.

This service will come into effect in March 2023, and more details will be announced soon including the appointed operator and the exact route and timetable.

This will be a FREE service operating every 15 minutes subsidised by Leicester City Council from government funding for local bus improvements.

Numeracy Champions

A three-year programme aimed at helping adults in Leicestershire to boost their confidence with numbers and to improve their numeracy skills is looking to recruit 100 volunteers from across the county to train as Numeracy Champions.

These Numeracy Champions won’t teach maths – their role is to help to improve people’s confidence with numbers by talking positively to those who may feel anxious about maths, support people to have a more positive approach to numbers and signpost to them ways of improving their numeracy skills.

Leicestershire County Council has been awarded £3 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and is working in partnership with charity National Numeracy to recruit and train the 100 Numeracy Champions, as part of the wider Multiply programme.

The funding means that over the next three years, the council will be able to deliver hundreds of free courses, support and workshops to adults aged 19 and over who do not already have a GCSE grade C/4 or higher in maths or equivalent and need to improve their numeracy skills.

The council and National Numeracy are holding several online training sessions, which are delivered in two threehour sessions, a week apart. Volunteers will need to participate in both parts of the training to be accredited as a Numeracy Champion.

The remaining sessions are being held on Thursday 9th & Thursday 16th February, and Tuesday 7th & Tuesday 14th March.

Anyone who would like to sign up to become a Numeracy Champion can do so via this link: www. leicestershire.gov.uk/news/appealfor-people-to-sign-up-to-becomenumeracy-champions

Volunteering

During the COVID-19 pandemic, hundreds of volunteers made a positive impact by bringing their local communities together and making a real difference to their lives.

Giving your time to volunteer can reap enormous benefits, both personally and professionally.

There are lots of different areas you can get involved in through the council. These include: -

• Country Parks

• Tree Wardens

• Environment Action

• Children and Family Wellbeing Service

• Independent visitors for children in care

• Cultural volunteering

• Training through volunteering.

To find out more, please visit:www.leicestershire.gov.uk/jobsand-volunteering/volunteering

Young Person of the Year

The Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, Mike Kapur, is celebrating the achievements of young people in Leicester and Leicestershire. The LordLieutenant’s award for young people recognises the very best examples of achievement by young people in Leicester and Leicestershire.

You can nominate a young person in one of four categories. Finalists will be invited to attend a special awards ceremony where the overall winner will receive a £500 prize.

The criteria for nominations are:The young person is aged 13-19 living or attending fulltime education in Leicester or Leicestershire

The young person can be nominated by other young people, their school, parent/carer, or any other agency

Joint or group nominations cannot be accepted

Previous finalists should not be nominated again unless there is a fresh story to tell.

There will be a separate award for

each category. From the winners of these categories, one person will be announced as Lord-Lieutenant's Young Person of the Year 2023.

The Award categories are: -

• Young Person of Courage of the Year

• Young Volunteer of the Year

• Young Artist of the Year (The Joe Humphries Memorial Award)

• Young Leader of the Year.

The deadline for nominations is Friday 17th February 2023.

Further details can be found on the County Council website: www. leicestershire.gov.uk

If you would like a paper copy of the nomination form, please call 0116 305 6002 or email lieutenancyoffice@leics.gov.uk

Speeding

We have an ongoing issue with speeding across many of our villages. It is a very difficult issue to address, and we need the community to support us.

There are many ways of doing this, one of the best ways is to have a Community Speed Watch (CSW) in our communities. Community Speed Watch is an educational scheme to help people reduce speeding traffic though their community and is run by volunteers, supported by the county council. Further information is available on the link below if anyone is interested in starting a group in their community: www. leicestershire.gov.uk/roads-andtravel/road-safety/communityspeed-watch-csw

You can also report speeding vehicles in areas through the Road Safety Partnership. The link to their website is here: www. speedorsafety.com/community

If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.

Deborah For

Rolls-Royce Retired Employees Association

Article by Graham Burton

February events the walk & talk group will meet on the 7th.On the 12th members will be going on a rearranged visit to the Birmingham Military Tattoo. The 14th members meet at Rolls-Royce Leisure from 12:30 to 2:00pm.New members will be made welcome to this event.

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From speaking to the team at Designer Bathrooms it’s clear that they want everyone to be able to have a relaxing and inspiring bathing experience. As such they are proud of their quality of service, products and their single level showroom plus they also specialise in accessible

bathing. Their displays include walk in level floor showers, fold down shower seats, grab rails, digital push button showers, lever taps and comfort height toilets.

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Thurcaston & Cropston Local History Society

Article by Peter Smith

Fans of TV’s Grand Designs would have enjoyed our January meeting, which was approximately the 15th century equivalent! Taking the Kevin McCloud role was our old friend Peter Liddle, who used a rare set of surviving accounts to lead us through the process of building of Kirby

Muxloe Castle. Though Kevin has reported on plenty of setbacks over the years, they have never included the execution of the building’s owner…

After tracing the history of castles and brick buildings in Leicestershire, Peter explained the rise of the Hastings family, who acquired land at Kirby through marriage in the early 14th century. William Hastings supported the Yorkist cause during the Wars of the Roses. He was knighted, married well and became a great friend and ally of Edward IV, who appointed him as Lord Chamberlain and gave him many estates and positions of power in the Midlands. By 1474, the Lancastrian threat seemed to be over and Hastings was granted a licence to “crenellate and empark” at three places in Leicestershire. He began with the large stone castle at Ashby that survives in ruined form today. We don’t know whether he ever built anything at Baggrave but by 1480 work was under way at Kirby Muxloe. Roger Bowlott from New Parks was appointed to oversee the project.

The 1480 accounts begin with making carts and buying oxen to pull them. (Nothing came “off the shelf” in those days!) Wood was purchased to fuel the kilns, which would eventually produce over 1.3 million bricks. A team of “ditchers”, nearly all with Welsh names, spent a year digging the moat. Meanwhile, slaters were repairing the existing manor house on the site –which might have been William Hastings’ birthplace – so presumably he planned to incorporate it in the new castle.

In 1481, foundations were dug and work began on the gatehouse and flanking towers. A master mason oversaw the stonework around the windows and doors, while a team of Flemish bricklayers and “hewers” were employed for the main walls – building in brick having been practised for much longer in the Low Countries than in England. The hewers’ brick-cutting skills can be seen in the curving vaults of the spiral staircases. The accounts reveal the names of many of the other workers, which quite often relate to their trades, such as Smyth, Turner and Plummer. We also learn where all the raw materials came from and, of course, their cost.

At the end of the first year, the incomplete walls were protected with straw over the winter. Work continued through 1482, by which time the structure was high enough for a “jenne” or hoist to be needed. However, 1483 brought the unexpected death of Edward IV while his son Edward V was still a child. This led to a power struggle between the family of Edward’s queen (Elizabeth Woodville of Groby) and his brother (the future Richard III). William Hastings supported Richard until the latter seized the throne for himself, whereupon Richard had William summarily executed. As you might expect, this caused the building at Kirby Muxloe to be stopped for a time. However, William was given an honourable burial at Windsor and his lands were not confiscated so, after a delay, his widow resumed work on the project.

The final year of the accounts is 1484. Masons, carpenters and plumbers were still on site and we are told that the gatehouse was thatched – an unconventional material for a castle! Peter’s conclusion is that, contrary to the traditional view that the building was never finished, in fact the plans were scaled back to create a functional manor house, which members of the Hastings family were able to occupy until about the year 1700. I wonder whether they were able to move in before Christmas!

We hope you will join us on Tuesday, 21st February, when our member Peter Smith will be telling us about the Rutland Roman Villa and his experience of taking part in an excavation there last year. We meet at 7.30pm in the Memorial Hall and the fee for visitors is £4. www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk

Groby Sings At The Movies

Article by June Ward

New Year, New Start for Groby Sings after a very successful comeback in 2022. The moment we’d all been waiting for finally arrived at the end of November with our first public performance for 3 years and with our new Musical Director, Simon Lubkowski. It was so good to be back and we are very grateful to Rev. Dr. Ed Bampton and all at Ratby Church for offering us the use of their beautiful building for our concert. The church was absolutely full and the acoustics were amazing. As well as family and friends of current singers, several singers from previous seasons were moved to say they would be coming back to join us when we restart on Wednesday 1st March.

Our theme for Spring/Summer 2023 is ‘At the Movies’ which we’re really excited about. As yet, the songs are a dark secret but we singers are really looking forward to finding out the selection on 1st March when there will surely be something to suit everyone.

We have another exciting reason to look forward to the new season. Groby Sings has always prided itself on being a fully inclusive community choir, embracing people from all walks of life, all areas of Leicestershire (and beyond), people with various disabilities and those who just want to get together with others and sing. There are no auditions and no requirement to be a ‘good’ singer, although those who have been to our concerts will know that, together, we produce a pretty amazing sound! To further our aim to be fully inclusive, this season we are actively encouraging people who have been diagnosed

with memory loss or dementia, as well as their friends and carers, to come along and experience the enjoyment of singing together.

We at Groby Sings know that music and singing is uplifting for our mood and general wellbeing and this has been borne out by scientific studies. It has been shown to be particularly helpful to people with dementia and there are lots of dementia choirs and music therapy groups around the country. In 2019, the actor Vicky McClure (BBC’s Line of Duty) set up a dementia choir in Nottingham as a result of witnessing her grandmother’s experience of dementia. It was a lifechanger for the choir members, their families and the community. A series of 3 BBC programmes about the choir was broadcast at the time but then, of course, the good work was cruelly halted by Covid. However, in October last year 2 more programmes called ‘Our Dementia Choir Sings Again’ were broadcast about the revival of the choir and the making of a record at Abbey Road Studios! (It’s a ‘must-watch’ on BBC iPlayer – tissues recommended.) So, we hope that people in our community with dementia and their carers will come along and share the good feelings that we generate at Groby Sings on Wednesdays.

How do I join Groby Sings?

Just come along to The Groby Club, Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DJ (ramps and disabled facilities available) on Wednesdays, term time only, beginning 1st March 2023. Adult singers: either 1.30pm – 3.00pm (pre-school children welcome in the care of their adult with a crèche area available) or 7.30pm –9.00pm. The Youth and Children’s Choir (7 years and over) is from 3.40-4.40pm. There is a ‘cake break’ in each session for a drink, a chat and... cake! Enquiries via our website www.grobysings.org

Art Group In Anstey

Article by John Morfey

We are a small, friendly group who have different interests: drawing, lino-cutting, 3D paper pictures, painting…

We each do our own thing, and support and encourage each other. We meet every Tuesday from 1-3pm, and we use the upstairs room at the Methodist Church in Anstey. It’s a large airy room with lots of space for social distancing.

If you want to make a bit of time for something (anything!) creative, you’d be welcome to come and have a cup of tea and meet us. Or contact John on 07808143772 or jandbmorfey@hotmail.com

Nutrition, Sleep and Consciousness

Article by Alan Chapman

Human health is easier to understand from a historical and ancestral standpoint, especially your own. And while each of us is different there are some fundamental facts in understanding how to be healthy and fit for whole life: free from pharmaceuticals and other unnatural interventions, as much as possible.

LiveWildLiveFree.org offers vast free information for you to educate yourself towards better health and lifestyle.

Most doctors and health professionals, and certainly governments, are not trained in nutrition. And yet nutrition - the nutrients we put into our bodiesfoods and drinks - are fundamental for our health and longevity.

'Health' is Old English from Germanic 'haelth', meaning 'whole', the 1920s origin of 'holism' and 'holistic'. Holistic means the 'whole' situation. 'Holistic' health treats the 'whole' person INCLUDING MENTAL and SOCIAL FACTORS.

Incidentally the word 'holocaust' derives from ancient Greek 'holokauston' from the two route words 'whole' and 'burnt'. Hologram and Holocene are similarly derived from the meaning 'whole'.

The word NUTRITION derives from Latin 'nutrire', which means 'feed' and 'CHERISH'.

CHERISHING our bodies and minds is part of the 'whole'with good SLEEP, and positive CONSCIOUSNESS (outlook or mindset).

Contrary to these ancient wisdoms, 1950s USA political lobbying prepared the 1970s USA 'high carbs' Diet Guidelines, later replicated in Europe. In the UK they became the NHS 'Eatwell Guide' also called the 'Eatwell Plate'. Follow the money.

See ZoeHarcombe.com/2016/03/ eatwell-guide

See NinaTeicholz.com, her book 'Big Fat Suprise', and the video 'Tim Noakes on Trial'.

Unhealthy diets and lifestyles are a holocaust of modern times, seen especially in obesity/diabetes and mental health. Governments simply do not understand health. Regarding technology and health see ActionAgainst5G.org, headed by Michael Mansfield QC vs the

British Government. More info about 5G/radiation/smartphones is on our website.

Happily, better health for most people is MUCH SIMPLER and EASIER than you might imagine. Information enables informed choices.

Also, GPs and health professionals increasingly are improving their knowledge in nutrition and 'whole' person health, notably via PublicHealthCollaboration.org, and LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk.

YOU CAN TOO! The information is free!

In summary from our lived experience, training and work:

• Good NUTRITION helps us to SLEEP, which helps us HEAL and calm.

• SLEEP is improved by better lifestyle and nutrition, especially reducing sugars, carbs, and tech/screentime, esp near to bedtime.

• LIFESTYLE is hugely significant for 'whole' health.

• Each of us is different, and we can educate ourselves FOR FREE about our own 'whole' health, and what nutrition is best for our own ancestral/ genetic type.

• Positive mantras, vibrations and energies of our CONSCIOUSNESS are magically powerful.

• CHERISH and LOVE your 'whole' self.

See LiveWildLiveFree.org, PublicHealthCollaboration.org, and LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk (esp the free app).

We are PHC (Public Health Collaboration) Ambassadors, HealthResults.com Practitioners, Nutrition-Network.org Advisors, and Practitioners for The-PHA. org (The People's Health Alliance). We guide individuals and employers in nutrition, natural healthy lifestyles, wellbeing and healing.

This content is information not clinical diagnosis. Reference sources: PublicHealthCollaboration. org, LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk, HealthResults.com, NutritionNetwork.org, and other highly qualified NHS practising GPs and dietary professionals, especially in successfully treating obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses including depression. If you are under treatment/on medication, show your doctor the resources here, especially LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk and PHCuk. org. Alan Chapman has particular experience in suicide grief and recovery and suicide prevention. See AlanChapman.com

A Tough Start To 2023 For Anstey Rugby

Article by Chris Apperley

From late September through to 3rd December there was a long winning run for Anstey RFC with just one hiccup at Oadby Wyggs on 1st October.

Then came the new ice age giving rise to frozen pitches both home and away and many cancelled games.

With Christmas and New Year intervening it meant a long five week gap before we saw action again on 7th January hosting Hinckley 3rds at Link Road.

Over at their place in mid September we were soundly beaten 78-26 by a strong squad of highly experienced players, so it was interesting to see how they would perform when travelling away from home.

Again League Leaders Hinckley turned up with a large squad ready to show how they would do the double over 4th place Anstey.

The first half involved some excellent defence work from the home side holding Hinckley back except for one converted try.

Into the second half and Anstey battled hard scoring a great try which was almost converted.

Two more tries from Hinckley later on meant a final score of Hinckley 17-5 Anstey.

Compliments came in after the game from Hinckley players about our fantastic defence work holding off their ambitious drives and running advances.

A week later Anstey travelled over to Victoria Park to take on

2nd

place

Aylestone Athletic.

Unfortunately due to injuries and other non available players Anstey travelled across Leicester with just 14 players giving us a mountain to climb. On top of that Liam Curtis sustained a head injury leave him knocked out missing the last part of the match (he is ok now).

Despite all this handicap the final score was Aylestone Athletic 31-5 Anstey which was quite credible.

Come 21st January we were back to full strength and looking forward to welcoming Stoneygate to Link Road for the first time this century.

But they called off at the last minute due to a lack of available players.

Coming up over the next few weeks we have away trips to Mellish and Market Bosworth together with home fixtures against Pinley, Aylestone St. James, Old Newtonians and Quorn

As well as league and friendly fixtures Anstey RFC now have Cup games booked in for March.

The 2022/23 season fixture list is on our website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/anstey/ teams/41334/fixtures-results

If you would like to get involved and start playing rugby, contact either our Chairman Shane Frear on 07725 642525 or Captain Graham Waring on 07764 461961 Ages 17-77 all welcome.

Prostate Enlargement, A Pressing Matter

Article by Gary Trickett

Prostate disorders affect many men as they get older, making their presence felt in around 50% of men in their 50s and almost all men over the age of eighty. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located below the bladder. It surrounds the urethra which drains the bladder. With age the prostate gland starts to enlarge, slowly squashing the urethra and reducing the amount of space available for urine to pass through.

What is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) occurs when the prostate grows to an unhealthy size, causing difficulty and discomfort for men when urinating.

Symptoms of BPH are urinating frequently, difficulty in getting a urine stream going and feeling as if you are unable to empty your bladder properly.

See your doctor

Although not life-threatening in all but its most extreme stages, it’s not much fun. BUT, before you think about treatment you do need an official diagnosis from your doctor so as to rule out a more serious condition, such as prostate cancer, which is estimated to affect 1 in 8 men in the UK. Symptoms can also be confused with prostatitis, a simpler inflammation of the prostate, often caused by bacteria, and suitable for treatment with antibiotics.

Saw Palmetto and prostate health

Once prostate enlargement has been confirmed, you may wish to try a Saw Palmetto supplement. The berries of the Saw Palmetto plant have been used traditionally to treat symptoms of an enlarged prostate. These berries contain specific types of plant sterols, including one known as -sistosterol.

Many doctors in Austria, Germany and Italy use Saw Palmetto as their first line of defence against prostate problems. Prostasan Saw Palmetto capsules from A. Vogel are indicated to relieve urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate in men with a confirmed diagnosis of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia.

Men taking prescribed medicines for Benign Prostate Hyperplasia (BPH) or other hormonal imbalances should consult their GP before taking Saw Palmetto.

Do I have an enlarged prostate?

If you are unsure as to whether you have an enlarged prostate there is a simple test you can take based on the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS). It consists of 7 questions and will give you a broad indication as to whether you are suffering from the problem and if so, how severe it is likely to be. To find out more about the prostate test or prostate health in general, visit Gary and his team at The Health Store, West Bridgford or call 0115 9814080.

Remember it is advisable to have your symptoms checked by a doctor, to rule out any underlying prostate conditions, including prostate cancer.

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