March 2022 Your Local Anstey, Thurcaston, Cropston, Newtown Linford, Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves

YOUR LOCAL 6,000 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH - ANSTEY, THURCASTON, CROPSTON, NEWTOWN LINFORD, WOODHOUSE & WOODHOUSE EAVES - MARCH 2022

Latest News From Anstey Nomads

Thurcaston & Cropston Open Gardens 2022

Anstey Rugby Top The League Table

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Deadline Date: Friday 18th March Delivery Date: Friday 25th March

Articles

EX-STUDENTS OPEN A NEW ESTATE AGENTS BASED IN GROBY! #ANDERSONBRIGGS Ex-students Conor Anderson and Jed Briggs have some exciting news, as they are proud to announce the opening of their brand new modern, local Estate Agent, based in the heart of Groby!

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Conor and Jed said; “We are fully operational now, so please do not hesitate to contact us.

We will be providing free property valuations, in-house mortgage advice and conveyancing services. Keep your eyes peeled for updates on our office, new listings and some cracking competitions coming up soon. We can’t wait to help as many of you as possible achieve that dream home move, please feel free to reach out to us for any friendly, honest advice required.

Thank you and Happy New Year!”

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ANDERSONBRIGGS office can be found on Ratby Road in Groby, for anyone who knows the village well they are situated just next door to Pricegate, opening their office doors to you in early February.

POLICE ‘HATE CRIME POSTER COMPETITION’ BGLC WINNERS!

www.andersonbriggs.co.uk T: 0116 436 2672 E: hello@andersonbriggs.co.uk

Well done to Brookvale Groby Learning Campus 3 winners in a Leicestershire Police Hate crime competition. There were 5 overall winners across all the schools in Leicestershire and we were lucky to have 3 out of 5 winners from our school. The Police came into school to present the winners with their vouchers and certificates.

Congratulations to our 3 Year 7 WINNERS:

The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the original advertisers & contributors and do not necessarily represent OpenBox Promotions Ltd. OpenBox Promotions Ltd reserves the right to amend or refuse to publish articles or adverts submitted for publication. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. To see full terms & conditions visit www.openboxpromotions.co.uk/terms Magazine printed by Norwood Press, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial Estate, Ellistown, Leicestershire, LE67 1EU

· Emily Beardsmore · Daisy Steiner · Anaise Tatham Walsh The posters will then be produced professionally and launched across Leicestershire. All the entrants received a certificate from the police for taking part.

WELL DONE - FANTASTIC WORK!

‘VIXENS’, GROBY JUNIORS U13 GIRLS FOOTBALL TEAM WON THE LEAGUE! On Sunday 23rd January the ‘Vixens’, Girls U13 Groby Juniors Football Team, WON their league!

The team consist of 8 girls from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus. WELL DONE to the whole team! #BGLC_PE

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16 Year Old ExStudent WILL ALVES - LCFC Debut In The FA Cup! BGLC ex-student Will Alves made his Leicester City debut in the FA Cup on Saturday 8th January!

Leicestershirelive Education Awards 2021 Congratulations to BGLC 4 FINALISTS in the 2021 LeicestershireLive Education Awards! All of our 4 nominees were amazing finalists and the incredible Zoe Nakas WON the Science and Maths award!!!!

16 Year Old Ex-Student MIKAYLA WILDGOOSE - Birmingham City Women FC

Will came off the substitute bench late in the second half making him the 8th youngest player to ever play for Leicester City at the age of 16. This is a tremendous achievement and is hopefully the start of a bright footballing career. Radio Leicester got in touch with us and asked us to contribute to their Football Focus programme between 6pm and 7pm on Monday 10th January. Mr Brownett was on the air waves around 6:20pm discussing Will's time with us at Brookvale Groby Learning Campus.

WELL DONE Will! #BGLC_PE

SAMUEL JACQUES - Leicester Tigers Squad Well done to BGLC ex-student Samuel Jacques for making the Leicester Tigers Academy matchday squad on Saturday 8.1.22!

In other exciting news, 16 year old Brookvale Groby Learning Campus ex-student Mikayla Wildgoose was an unused substitute for Birmingham City Women in their match against Arsenal Women this weekend. It's great to see her involved in the 1st team squad. Another footballer with a promising future.

WELL DONE Mikayla! #BGLC_PE

We Would Like To Introduce You To Jeni...

At Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, Mrs Stewarts Year 8 tutor group have started 2022 on a high. As part of their LORIC work they have been learning about the Borneo Orangutan Sanctuary.

They have worked hard to raise the money to enable them to adopt their own baby orangutan.

They would like to introduce you to Jeni…

Like most orangutans in their care, two-year-old Jeni lost her mum. A rescue team brought her to the Nyaru Menteng Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre on 24 August 2020.

Upon her arrival at the centre, tiny Jeni weighed only five kilograms.

She had wounds on the back of one of her legs and was in shock. It was evident that Jeni had experienced a traumatising time in captivity after being separated from her mother.

The team and surrogate orangutan mothers were determined to ensure that Jeni would feel comfortable and safe in her new

environment. Their hard work paid off: Jeni is now fully recovered, has started to develop natural behaviour and has a healthy appetite.

She has now joined the Forest School Nursery Group and is showing the caregivers how smart and brave she is.

They can’t wait to one day release Jeni back into the Bornean rainforest one day, where she belongs.

Students will continue to receive regular updates about her progress, over the coming months, and have already started creating a tutor group scrapbook all about her life in Borneo.

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Year 9 Student, LEXIE EDWARDS, U16 County Badminton Championships CONGRATULATIONS to BGLC Year 9 student, LEXIE EDWARDS, who played in the mixed doubles U16 County Badminton Championships the weekend before Christmas and won with her partner Mitchell!

Lexie has been injured since September, this being her first competition back after months of physio, and playing two age groups above, she has done amazing to come back stronger!

Lexie is a Leicestershire Performance Centre Gold Programme Athlete, and is training hard for the next competitive season.

WELL DONE Lexie! #BGLC_PE

ALISON PATERSON - Women’s Home Nations Championship, 1998 Stamp!

BGLC ex-student Alison Paterson played women’s rugby for Scotland between 1992 and 2001, with 30 international caps to her name!

‘Collect GB Stamps’ have a set of 8 Rugby Union collectors stamps celebrating the 150th anniversaries of the formation of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) and the first international match between England and Scotland in 1871.

Alison is pictured centre with the ball, on the Women’s Home Nations Championship, 1998 stamp! www.collectgbstamps.co.uk/ explore/issues/?issue=23064 Known as ‘POGO Paterson’ also came third in the Triathlon sprint world champs in Auckland 2012 and 3rd in the world Xterra triathlon championships in Australia 2016!

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Anstey Parish Council Article by Liz Hawkes

Proposals for Groby Employment Park IM properties have circulated information about their proposals for a 57 hectare employment park to the West of Anstey. This falls within the district of Hinckly and Bosworth and Groby Parish Council although the implications for Anstey would be far reaching.

We were informed by members of the Anstey R.F.C. that before each game of Rugby can be played on the Link Road pitch it has to be cleared of dog mess.

Realistically you could expect a couple of accidental unseen bits of dog dirt but what was reported to members of the Projects and Grounds Committee on 15 February 2022 was in fact unbelievable. It was totally shocking to hear that the guys clearing the pitch in preparation for playing a match the other week collected 25 litres of dog mess before the pitch was safe for play. This is a staggering amount of mess that can only result from dog owners not clearing up after their pets.

There are several dog mess waste bins available on Link Road Playing Fields in addition to other litter bins, so the question is why these are not used? Aside from it being illegal to allow your dog to foul and not clear it up; the danger it poses to young children is frightening.

Dogs may deposit roundworm eggs (toxocara canis) in their faeces, which become infectious after about three weeks, and can remain so for up to two years. Anyone, but particularly children playing near to the ground, can run the risk of picking up and swallowing the eggs. The eggs then hatch in the intestine, burrow through the intestine wall into the blood stream and pass into the body causing a toxocaral infection This can result in vomiting, asthma, and other unpleasant symptoms. In rare cases eye disease and loss of vision can be caused when the toxocara larva passes through the eye.

So please pick up your dog mess. Not only is it grossly unpleasant, it is also a health hazard, and importantly If you are a dog owner, you have a legal duty to clean up every time your dog messes in a public place.

These plans are at an early state but we urge you to get involved in conclusion events that are being held on Thursday 10 March 17.00 – 20.00 at Groby ExServicemens Club, 16 – 18 Leicester Road, Groby, LE6 ODJ and Saturday 12 March 10 – 16.00 at Dining Hall, Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, Ratby Road, Groby, LE6 OFP. To find out more information and to have your say visit their website at www.impgroby.co.uk Development in Anstey Anstey Parish Council is concerned by the amount of development proposed for Anstey in the form of planning applications and consultation documents.

We have produced a map to show the combined affects on Anstey of these developments.

Let’s make Link Road Playing Fields a safe and enjoyable space for all.

Councillor Sue Billington Chair of the Project and Grounds Committee.

Post Office Closure Anstey Parish Council has received information about the closure of the Post Office in the village.

The Post Office is advertising for new applicants to manage a new Post Office in Anstey.

The Council supports keeping a local Post Office and will be monitoring the progress closely.

The information we have received can be found on https://runapostoffice.co.uk Spring Clean The GB spring clean is taking place again this year. Anstey PC are promoting this campaign and encourage you to take part and make a pledge to clear up litter where you can.

There has been an increase in local ‘wombling’ groups in you could get involved with the good work that they do. The South Leicestershire wombling group details can be found on facebook.

Or you may decide to clear up an area local to you either on your own or with a group of friends / family. If we can support you with any litter picking equipment or high viz jackets they are available from the parish office just get in touch.

The Parish Council has commissioned a planning consultant to put together a planning response to the significant planning proposals for Anstey and the impact that these would have for the village. The Council are also liaising with Charnwood Borough Council about the negative impact that such large-scale development would have.

What a MESS!! 25 Litres of it!

Since it was established in 1980 Anstey Rugby Football Club has been an integral part of our village for decades. The Anstey R.F.C. provides sporting opportunities and great competitive contests for many people in our village.

The Club’s playing pitch is on the Link Road Playing Field, on just part of the land owned and managed by Anstey Parish Council on behalf of all residents.

The playing field is a shared green space that sits between two schools, The Martin High School and Woolden Hill school; so, as well as providing facilities for the Anstey R.F.C., it attracts many children visitors throughout the day when they make their way to and from school, and at other times when they use the playing field for games outside of school hours. It is also popular for use by dog walkers and hikers alike.

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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

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Anstey Local History Society Our next meeting will be held on: Wednesday March 16th 2022 at 7.30.p.m. at The Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road The History of Leicester Abbey Speaker: Peter Liddle MBE Members: Free Non-members: £3.00 www.ansteyhistory.com Tel: 07870197958 Cropston Holiday Home from 1920 postcard

Thurcaston & Cropston Local History Society

Film Presentations Thurcaston And Cropston Parish Council

Article by Peter Smith

Article by Richard & Diane

You have probably seen the gated development called Guild Close in Cropston but have you ever wondered why it has that name? At our February meeting, Jane Smith explained that from 1925 to 1992, the Leicester Guild of the Crippled operated a holiday home on the site.

Despite having a name that is objectionable by modern standards, the Guild was pioneering in the support that it gave to disabled people in the early part of the 20th century, long before there was any welfare state to provide for them.

“Nomadland” was an unusual story. Fern was offered permanent accommodation at her sister’s or with family of new friend Dave. She preferred to be independent, moving through the desert, forestry, rocky mountains and by the ocean in her neat sleep-van. We met many of her interesting acquaintances but the comment was always “See you down the road !” February’s film was certainly thought provoking.

The Guild was formed in 1898 and initially ran social evenings for disabled people at the Bishop Street Methodist Church in Leicester. Many such people had previously been bed-ridden and kept out of sight at home but they came to the events by whatever means they could, and the Guild would provide crutches, wheelchairs and spinal carriages for those in need.

In 1909 the Guild opened its own Guild Hall on Colton Street, which was one of the first buildings in the country to be designed for disabled access.

There, it was able to offer religious services, concerts, slide shows and classes such as artificial flower making, which enabled the members to earn an income. An Honorary Surgeon gave advice on treatment. There were rail excursions to the seaside, largely funded by factory workers, while in the early days of motoring the well-to-do members of the Leicestershire Automobile Club arranged outings by road. (You can find footage of classic cars collecting passengers from the Guild Hall at www.macearchive.org.)

In 1923, the Guild bought the site in Cropston from the estate of Sarah Jane Hind and the holiday home was opened 2 years later. From each Easter to Christmas, it offered free accommodation to Guild members, who were looked after by a matron and a small staff. The home had a garden with views of Bradgate Park and a summerhouse that could be rotated according to the weather. Many groups from local villages would raise funds for the home or provide volunteers, entertainment or other support to residents.

Among them were Anstey Toc H, the Mothers’ Union, Cropston Sewing Circle, Thurcaston Flower Arranging Class and the handbell ringers. The home also had close links with Cropston Chapel. This was often the Guild members’ only chance of a holiday: they would return to the home every year and were very appreciative of the care they received there.

During the 1980s, the Guild faced financial hardship because of rising costs. The limitations of transport and parking at Colton Street became a problem and there was reduced demand for holidays in Cropston as wider opportunities became available for disabled people. A plan was made to demolish the holiday home and build new headquarters, respite accommodation and sheltered housing on the site, to be paid for by the sale of the Guild Hall. However, no buyer could be found so in 1995 it was reluctantly decided to sell the Cropston site instead. The land was bought

by David Wilson Homes, who used it to build the 12 private dwellings that we see today.

Following a merger and several changes of name, the Guild is now called Mosaic 1898. It continues its work providing advocacy, support, opportunities and care for disabled people in Leicestershire.

We would love to hear from you if you have any memories of the Cropston Holiday Home or any other aspect of life in Cropston or Thurcaston in years past. Do get in touch via our website www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk or come along to one of our meetings. The next one will be at 7.30pm on Tuesday, 15th March, when Nick Fathers will take us on a photographic tour entitled “Greetings from Belgrave”. Visitors are always welcome (fee: £4).

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“1917” will be shown on March 11th and lasts 110 minutes.

This World War 1 epic has won a remarkable 3 Oscars and British Academy Awards. In April 1917 on the Western Front, two British soldiers are given a seemingly impossible mission to cross enemy territory and deliver, to an isolated regiment, a message which will save 1,600 lives. This film, from the award-winning director Sam Mendes, uses a new technique, in that it was filmed in one take, with cameras rolling for much of the time, rather than being filmed in different places and at varying times and then edited. It is a truly breathtaking story.

“Spencer” will be shown on April 8th and lasts 111 minutes.

At Christmas time 1991, Diana Princess of Wales decided to finish her marriage to Prince Charles. We, the audience, wonder just what was happening behind Sandringham’s carefully decorated halls. We see Kristen Stewart give an astonishing performance as Princess Diana, indeed, she bears a remarkable resemblance. In April’s film there are shocks but much laughter as well as tenderness.

"A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood" will be shown on May 13th.

We will be keeping the hall well ventilated and there will be room for us to space out.

We would like to remain cautious at this point and make sure that everyone feels comfortable.

You are asked to wear face masks whilst moving about you the hall.

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 or pay in advance from Richard 0116 2363 066 or Diana 0116 2362 619

Valuation Event Bring along your Antiques, Watches, Jewellery, Gold, Silver, Ceramics, and Collectibles for valuation by Hansons Auctioneers

Saturday, 19th March 10 – 2pm Valuations £3 per item, maximum 3 items

Time To Get Walking Again!

Article by John Harris At this time of year we start to think about the mud drying up and getting out to walk in the beautiful English Countryside again, but where to find new and interesting walks?

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So home or away, check out the websites and get walking! www.walkinginengland.co.uk john@walkinginengland.co.uk

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It’s Easter, So It Must Be Pantomime!

Article by Laura Simms

I hear you say Easter is not pantomime time but for the Latimer Players this panto is coming early, or late depending on how you look at it.

Regrettably last November we had to cancel our production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears due to COVID and precautionary isolation. With lines all learned, costumes almost done, scenery well on the way and with three weeks to go you can imagine the disappointment for the cast and our audience when we postponed.

We are pleased to say that we are going ahead with Goldilocks and the Three Bears this coming April on Thursday 28th, Friday 29th and Saturday 30th at 7.30pm and Saturday 30th at 2.30pm. Children 5 years and under are free, 6-12 years £4.50 and Adults £7. Tickets are available from Christine Deavin at christinedeavin@gmail.com or 0116 237 6855.

Thurcaston And Cropston Open Gardens 2022

Article by Richard Elks 25th and 26th June 2022 2pm to 6 pm Last year saw the return of the Thurcaston and Cropston Open Gardens after a year off due to Covid. It was a very successful weekend with a record number of visitors and a record amount raised for the Air Ambulance – over £3600.

We put a number of measures in place to keep visitors and garden owners safe from Covid, which everyone seemed to appreciate.

We will do so again this year if required.

This year we will be raising funds again for Air Ambulance.

So, we are inviting gardeners to join this popular annual event.

Perhaps you have opened your garden every year so far, maybe you have once or twice; or maybe you are plucking up the courage

to do so for the first time. We welcome gardens of all shapes and sizes; big or small; simple or elaborate; immaculate or with a more ‘natural’ look, and even those that are a ‘work in progress’.

Gardens in both villages are open on two afternoons, but if you can only manage one afternoon, then that’s fine.

So if you would like to open your garden for this year’s event or would like more information (or encouragement) please contact us. We hope you will join us for another successful year as part of the Thurcaston and Cropston Open Gardens event.

Linda 0116 236 3872 Email Linda@tcog.org.uk or look at our website for more information, inspiration and encouragement www.tcog.org.uk We look forward to hearing from you.

If opening your garden is not for you then please put the date in your diary to come along and support this worthwhile community event…25th & 26th June 2022, we’d love to see you.

The action of the pantomime takes place in a circus where we meet all the usual circus characters, including the strong man, jugglers, tightrope walkers, magician and lots more. Dame Gertie and her hapless son Billy run the circus but are failing to make it profitable. Enter evil Heinkel and his side kick Snot who want to steal the circus by tricking Dame Gertie into believing he is a goodie. Goldilocks saves the day with the help of the Three Bears. As always, they are helped along the way by the good fairy or, in this case, Mystic Sharon. Find out what Goldilocks’s father’s big secret is and if Goldilocks and Billy can finally live happily ever.

The Latimer Players are grateful for your support and understanding over last year’s cancellation. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that everything will work out well this time around. We are a small group but during the pandemic we managed to keep together over zoom meetings, where we joined in with quizzes and games and chats. With several am dram groups closing we consider ourselves lucky that we are still going strong. This is partly due to the camaraderie within the group and our loyal supporters.

If you would like to take part in this or any of our forthcoming productions ring Christine on 0116 237 6855 or email christinedeavin@gmail.com We are always looking for actors, set builders and backstage people.

No previous experience is required, just enthusiasm. Along with our two productions a year we have monthly members events which usually involves food and alcohol at different venues and a chance to catch up with each other.

In November we are celebrating our 70th Anniversary and will be putting on a show depicting the best bits of our productions over the last seventy years.

There will be something for everyone with the emphases on a fun packed night out.

In the meantime - don’t forget to order your tickets to see The Latimer Players production of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.

National Garden Charity Scheme

Art Group In Anstey

As part of the National Garden Charity Scheme

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

Article by Jan Croft

Bank Cottage 90 Main Street, Newtown Linford, LE6 0AF. Will be open from April 1st through until end of May 2022. Last year many people enjoyed ‘hiring’ (£3 per head) this garden for birthdays and garden parties. Jan provides and sets up for you linen, crockery, cutlery,table, chairs etc in the bottom garden overlooking fields and the river Lin - you just bring your own refreshments. Contact Jan for further details and to prebook or call on speck. 01530 244865 - 07429159910

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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.

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A Social History Of The Allotment With Dr Twiggs Way Members of the Thurcaston and Cropston were treated to a very lively evening in the hands of Dr Twiggs Way. This talk was a long time coming; Covid had delayed it by two years, but it was well worth the wait.

Using slides, photos, maps, and a very lively commentary, Twiggs took us through the history of the allotment.

The early beginning dates back to 1649 when “The Diggers”, a revolutionary group led by Gerard Winstanley, took over areas of common land to give poor families ‘the right to dig’.

Later, the Land Enclosures (1760 to 1818) ‘privatised’ over five million acres of land and deprived landless poor the rights over common land. Bad harvests in the early 1820’s together with the Swing Riots and associated rickburning made the need for poor labourers to have access to a piece of land for their own use to compensate them for Land Enclosures. A quarter of an acre of land had to be made available for the poor to ‘rent’ from tenant farmers. This was not popular with tenant farmers who feared that their workers would be too tired to work for them and would become dissatisfied if they could grow their own food and might even move to a neighbouring parish in search of allotment land. There were many rules and regulations relating to their use; including no working on a Sunday, no sub-letting; no dogs and no more than 50% to be put to corn or straw.

With industrialisation, ‘Guinea Gardens’ were developed for urban dwellers, especially the middling classes of tradesmen, doctors, and factory owners who lived over the shop. These were more like gardens, with summer houses, fruit trees and flower beds, designed for the whole family to enjoy.

Allotments were at the height of their popularity around the First and Second World Wars. The authorities encouraged those too old to fight to spend their time on the allotment producing food and to ‘beating the U boats’.

The Second World War was a time for ‘Dig for Victory.’ Parks, Royal Palaces, even the moat at the Tower of London were all turned into allotments. There was a drive to encourage women to take a greater part and to learn vegetable growing. The Allotment Craze resulted in popular postcards, poems and even allotment hats! After the war, these great swathes of land disappeared virtually overnight.

In the 1950’s things looked bleak for the allotment; fresh fruit and veg had to compete with frozen peas, tinned food and ‘Smash’ for mashed potato. The rising cost of land in the sixties and seventies put many allotments at risk of housing developments. But the TV programme the ‘Good Life’ and Friends of the Earth, brought about a new interest and enthusiasm for growing your own food. Now a wider range of people want to keep allotments.

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Also, as we become more aware of the dangers facing our planet, allotments are becoming more wildlife focussed, pesticide free, and helping people to appreciate the outdoors again.

This talk was highly illustrated and entertaining 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.

The next Club events are:Wed 9 March, 7.45 pm Propagation Philip Aubrey New plants from seed, cuttings and division. This talk gives a practical demonstration of the various aspects of propagation. This covers sowing seeds of different sizes, the many different types of cuttings and which plants you can increase by division. It is an up close and practical demonstration to help members improve their skills and level of success.

Philip began his career as a student at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens and then studied at Pershore College of Horticulture. He became a nursery manager Dorset before returning to the Midlands to work at a retail nursery.

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David Snartt Borough Councillor for Forest Bradgate T: 01530 244804 E: cllr.david.snartt@charnwood.gov.uk

Anstey Planning Applications P/21/2359/2 & P/21/2358/2 There is now information on the Charnwood Borough Council’s website about planning applications on land to the west of Bradgate Road, Anstey.

P/21/2359/2 is a hybrid application comprising of outline planning application (access only) for up to 350 dwellings, public park land and amenity space, community uses, and a site for a two form entry primary school and associated infrastructure. This includes a full application for 150 dwellings, including access and associated highway and drainage infrastructure and landscaping. P/21/2358/2 is also for the full application for 150 dwellings.

These applications are available to view on the Charnwood Borough Website under the above application numbers. In my view, this will impact on the village of Newtown Linford especially at peak times and when high visitor numbers are registered at Bradgate Park. In my opinion, traffic flows through the village will increase dramatically, with the quickest route from these proposed sites through the village to the M1 north.

I would be grateful if residents would take the time to visit the website, and if minded to do so, respond to the consultation by e-mail to both applications to development.control@charnwood.gov.uk. Comments must be received by 8th March 2022 to make certain that they are taken into account. In my view, this will have a detrimental outcome for the village of Newtown Linford, especially with the extra traffic flow through the village impacting on highway safety and the impact the extra traffic will have on the already severe levels of traffic through the centre of Anstey. There will also be capacity issues with the services in Anstey which are used by local residents in the surrounding villages.

New Political Map. Charnwood Borough Council is set to have new boundaries for its council wards. The Local Government Boundary Commission is an independent body that draws these boundaries. It has reviewed Charnwood to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. The Commission has published final recommendations for changes to Charnwood Borough Council. It says residents should be represented by 52 councillors. This is the same as current arrangements. There will be four fewer wards than there is now. The boundaries of all but two of the existing wards will change. The Commission believe the new arrangements will guarantee electoral fairness while maintaining local ties. 150 submissions from local residents and organisations helped decide the new wards.

My ward of Forest Bradgate which includes the villages of Newtown Linford, Ulverscroft, Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves, largely stays the same, only a small area of Alan Turing Road is placed in Loughborough Shelthorpe Grange ward. Forest Bradgate ward will still be represented by a single Councillor.

I am grateful to both the Newtown Linford and Woodhouse Parish Councils for their contribution to the Commission’s consultation stating similar views.

That the current Forest Bradgate ward should be retained to keep the focus on the issues that they have in common. Their rural nature raises issues with traffic, tourism and conservation. They also cited the close working relationship between the two Parish Councils. I also expressed similar views.

Parliament now needs to agree the changes. The new arrangements will then apply for the next Borough Council elections in 2023.

Planning Application Update.

In the January edition of Your Local I gave information about a planning application for a residential development of up to 93 dwellings on land adjacent to Ashby Road, Markfield. This site is within the boundary of Charnwood Borough Council and part of the Newtown Linford Parish.

Only the access arrangements were to be agreed by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

Hinkley and Bosworth at a Plans meeting on December 14th deferred the decision to seek legal advice on certain matters. This application was then determined at a Plans meeting on February 15th, where the recommendation within the December committee report was changed. Therefore, the planning application was recommended for refusal for the following reasons: The development, due to its location in the open countryside, would be harmful to the character and appearance of the area and have an urbanising impact on the site. The proposal would have a significant adverse effect upon the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside.

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I will keep you informed with progress on how this planning application continues through the planning process.

Investigating Solar Farms.

Charnwood Borough Council could explore the creation of two solar farms to reduce its carbon footprint. The Council has identified two locations on land it owns in Loughborough and its Cabinet will consider a proposal to carry out feasibility studies. The idea is in the very early stage and at this point it is only considering gathering further information to understand the investment needed and the level of energy generation possible from solar installations.

The report to Cabinet says two primary sites for solar farms have been identified. One is a 21-acre piece of land at Nanpantan, near to where the new cemetery is being created. The other is a 40-acre site at Allsopp’s Lane in Loughborough. Both sites are owned by the Council. The feasibility study will also consider the potential of rooftop installations on Council buildings and at Council car parks. One of the strategic priorities is the commitment to making the Council’s operations carbon neutral by 2030.

The Outwoods.

Over 1,000 trees have been planted at the Outwoods to help the ancient woodland return to its true and natural historic state. Charnwood Borough Council which maintains the Outwoods, working alongside the Outwoods Management Committee, has planted the native oak and hazel trees as part of the restoration project to help return the Outwoods back to its former glory of a natural acid oak woodland. The long-term plan to restore the woodland got underway in 2019 when the Council started to gradually remove non-native coniferous trees in phases.

The second phase of the restoration project was recently completed in November and a total of 1.450 native trees have been planted to replace the non-native conifer trees which were removed. The newly planted trees are classed as young saplings and stand between 50-100cm tall. The recently restored areas will look similar to a young woodland after around 25 years.

For more information and the latest updates about the project visit www. charnwood.gov.uk/Outwoodsrestoration.

Council Tax Payments.

Over 70% of Charnwood residents pay council tax by direct debit as this is the simplest, most convenient method. To join them, complete the on-line form at www.charnwood.gov.uk/DD To sign up to DD you will need your sort code, bank account name and number, together with your council tax account reference which can be found on your bill. In the coming weeks, residents of Charnwood may receive texts and/or e-mails from Charnwood Borough Council with overdue payment reminders and promotion of the e-billing and Direct Debit services.

All messages will have logos visible and sender id’s of Charnwood Borough Council on them. But if you are concerned that any correspondence is fake and not from the Council, please contact the Council on 03456 091258 (calls charged at local rates) or e-mail council.tax@charnwood.gov.uk. £25,000 Boost for Armed Forces Project.

A project which supports Armed Forces veterans and serving personnel in Charnwood has been given a £25,000 funding boost thanks to the Armed Forces Covenant Fund Trust. Charnwood Borough Council signed the Covenant in 2013 and in partnership with Melton and Rushcliffe Borough Councils, employs an Armed Forces Community Covenant Development Officer to support the Armed Forces community. The grant has been awarded in recognition that some parts of the project had been put on hold due to the pandemic and will enable the partnership to extend its current work in each area.

The additional funding will enable the partnership with a number of activities including creating resources for veterans with dementia, encouraging more organisations to sign the Armed Forces Covenant and supporting a new Veterans Wellbeing Hub which is set to open in Loughborough later this year.

If you need to contact me on any issues, please write to 10 Groby Lane, Newtown Linford, Leicester. LE6 0HH email cllr.david.snartt@charnwood. gov.uk or telephone 01530 244804.

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Deborah Taylor Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 0116 2350126 E: cllr.deborah.taylor@charnwood.gov.uk Post Office We reported last month on the rumours circulating about the Post Office in Anstey closing. We have now heard back from Post Office Customer Care. They advised us of the following: • They are unable to confirm when the branch will close.

• However, they can confirm that they are already advertising for a new Sub Post-Master.

• They can only assure that if a branch closes in our area, they will do all they can to reopen it ASAP and/or relocate it.

• They further advise “We are working hard to secure the future of Anstey Post Office, and we are advertising the opportunity on our website for a permanent branch. I can assure you that we’re committed to maintaining Post Office services in Anstey and we will update our customers and local stakeholders once we have a confirmed proposal for the service."

Anstey Post Office is currently operated on a temporary basis, which means that the service can be withdrawn at short notice from its current premises. The advert for operating a permanent post office branch in Anstey can be found here: https://runapostoffice.co.uk/ branch/anstey-post-office-le7-7ab This is the advert currently running: Anstey Post Office, LE7 7AB General information; Franchise; We're seeking applicants to set up brand new Post Offices in this area Closing date: 22nd July 2022 (Advert may close early if sufficient interest is registered) Post Office Ltd is looking for a successful retailer to incorporate a Post Office Local into their existing or proposed business.

The offer available in this Post Office would be: Post Office Local – integrating Post Office services into a vibrant and sustainable retail business, so they can be offered over the same opening hours. The exact layout and design will be agreed with you to suit your business.

If you know of anyone that would be interested in setting up a new post office in Anstey, perhaps as part of their existing

retail outlet, please share this information with them. There is also information on our website: www.bradgateconservatives.org. uk/news/anstey-post-office-update Bus Stop We have been contacted in the past few months by residents of the new Bloor and Jelson estates off Cropston Road, regarding the possible provision of a new bus stop closer to the estates for ease of access on the existing 154 bus route, which links our local villages to Leicester and Loughborough. We are pleased to announce that we have been in talks with the County Council and CentreBus and they have agreed that an additional stop will be placed nearer to the estates. The installation will be planned when the next tranche of bus stop upgrades in the area are due to be mapped out. This will mean that the stop will be erected sometime within the next 6 months, but we are assured that we will be prioritised as one of the first upgrades in that tranche. A site survey will be required to ensure that it will be erected in the correct place, with regards to pedestrian and traffic safety. As soon as we have more information, we will let you know of the timescales for when the work will be completed.

New Political Map for Charnwood Borough Council The Local Government Boundary Commission has been undertaking a review of the boundaries with Charnwood. This has been out for consultation twice and now the final report and recommendations have been published. The Local Government Boundary Commission is the independent body that draws up these boundaries. It has reviewed Charnwood to make sure councillors will represent about the same number of electors, and that ward arrangements will help the council work effectively. This is necessary every now and again to take account of urban-rural migration and population changes such as births and deaths.

The Commission has published final recommendations for changes to Charnwood Borough Council. It says residents should be represented by 52 councillors.

This is the same as the current arrangements. There will now be 24 wards, which is four fewer wards than there are now. There

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Paul Baines

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 07977 178869 E: cllr.paul.baines@charnwood.gov.uk will be five single-councillor wards, ten two-councillor wards, and nine three-councillor wards.

The boundaries of all but two of the existing wards will change, Anstey’s boundaries will remain the same.

There were 150 submissions from residents and organisations which helped decide the new wards. Thank you to all our local residents who took part in the consultation.

The Commission has made further changes to its earlier proposals. Details can be found on its website at www.lgbce.org. uk/all-reviews/east-midlands/ leicestershire/charnwood Parliament will now need to agree the changes. The new arrangements will then apply for the 2023 council elections.

Planning Applications Bradgate Road, Anstey The planning application for 150 houses and 350 houses on ‘Land to the West of Bradgate Road, Anstey’ has officially been submitted. There are two separate applications, but they cover one site and are submitted by the same developer. The first is a full application for 150 dwellings including access, associated highways, drainage infrastructure and landscaping. The second application comprises of outline application (access only) for up to 350 dwellings, public parkland and amenity space, community uses, and a site for a two-form entry primary school and associated infrastructure.

Comments can be submitted on both the applications until 8th March 2022. We have asked for an extension on this time scale to enable us to ensure that Anstey and Newtown Linford residents are fully aware of the implications of these developments for our villages.

All the details can be found on the Charnwood Borough Council Planning Explorer: https://portal. charnwood.gov.uk/Northgate/ PlanningExplorerAA/Home.aspx The reference numbers are P/21/2358/2 for the 150 houses and P/21/2359/2 for the 350 houses. We are asking for as many residents as possible to submit their comments on these two applications. We consider this is over development of the

village and we do not have the infrastructure in place to support any more additional houses.

Further details can be found on our website: www. bradgateconservatives.org.uk/ news/anstey-newtown-linfordplanning-applications-150-housesand-350-houses Groby Road, Anstey/Groby We have been made aware of proposals for ‘Groby Employment Park’. This is just over the boundary of Charnwood and is under the planning control of Hinckley and Bosworth District Council. We feel that this will have far reaching effects on Anstey, much more than Groby, as this will be on 'our side" of the A50. The proposals are for the development of a large employment site consisting of 57 hectares of land (roughly the size of 50 football pitches).

The developers, IM Properties, are starting early consultation on the plans:

CONSULTING LOCAL PEOPLE We want to hear about your aspirations for the local area so we can factor these into our plans and respond to your concerns. To find out more about our vision and input into our plans, please visit our consultation website: www. impgroby.co.uk The consultation website will give you the opportunity to input into our plans by: • Completing an online comment form • Posting your comments straight onto a consultation map We are also hosting a webinar and two consultation events in the next few weeks.

You can register for the webinar by visiting: www.impgroby.co.uk and meet our development team at one of the events.

Webinar: Tuesday 22nd February 18.30pm-19.30pm Consultation events: Thursday 10th March 17.00pm-

20.00pm Groby Ex-Servicemens Club, 16-18 Leicester Road, Groby LE6 0DJ Saturday 12th March 10.00am16.00pm Dining Hall, Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, Ratby Road, Groby LE6 0FP There are also more details on our website: www. bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news/ proposals-groby-employment-park

Drive Through Clinics Did you know that you can now get your Covid vaccine without having to get out of your vehicle?

The clinic is in the car park to the rear of County Hall, Leicester Road, Glenfield LE3 8RA and is open every Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 7pm. Vaccines are available to people aged 12 years and over and this includes first, second, third and booster doses.

Just turn up – no appointment needed – or if you want you can book a timed slot in advance.

Mayoral Updates The Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood were delighted to

host Living Without Abuse’s Burn’s Night at the Swan in the Rushes pub in Loughborough, in January 2022 attended by around 22 people including Loughborough’s MP, Jane Hunt, Chairman of the Leicestershire County Council, Dan Harrison, Deborah Taylor as deputy leader of the Leicestershire County Council, and other dignitaries from surrounding boroughs. We were pleased to have Bill Pepper, our piper (who was excellent), piping in the haggis, and the Mayor thoroughly enjoyed himself reciting the ‘Ode tae haggis’ in his best low Scots accent. He should have been an actor!

The Mayor and Mayoress were also delighted to attend the Welcome Service for the new Bishop of Loughborough, the Right Reverend Saju Muthalaly, organised by the Diocese of Leicester. This was a joyful event and it was great to see so many members of the Leicestershire community come together to bring in our new bishop.

The Mayor attended the Holocaust Memorial Day, a sombre affair held in Queen’s Park in Loughborough, and spoke to a large crowd about the council’s commitment to do all it can now and in the future to counter holocausts and genocides wherever they occur around the world.

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Deborah Taylor

County Councillor for Bradgate Division T: 0116 2350126 E: deborah.taylor@leics.gov.uk A jam-packed month. I enjoyed an evening out, accompanying the Mayor of Charnwood at his Burn’s Night evening in Loughborough, and I managed to win a bottle of whiskey in the raffle, so a good evening!

I led interviews to recruit two new independent members of the public to the Police and Crime Panel, which I chair. We found two great members to help provide scrutiny of the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC). I was also part of the interview team, along with the PCC and the Deputy Chief Constable of Leicestershire Police, to recruit 10 new members to the PCC’s new Ethics and Transparency Committee. This committee will help the PCC to ensure that the police force is held to account.

Leicestershire County Council’s Children’s Department has received a focused visit from Ofsted. These visits are made in-between full inspections, to look at current progress against the improvements that are needed, as highlighted at previous inspections. I was interviewed for an hour by the lead inspector and then the team spent two days in the department, speaking to staff and families and also looking at the data. We are now awaiting their written report, expected at the beginning of March.

I took part in a few training sessions and briefings this month with more to come in March.

We are now beginning to do more face-to-face work in a safe way and I really enjoyed my visit this month to our two Oakfield Schools, Oakfield North (Shepshed) and Oakfield South (Earl Shilton). These schools are our short stay schools that work with children who are struggling with mainstream schools. By working therapeutically with the children, we can support most of them back into mainstream schools or specialist schools. It was a pleasure to meet the staff and the children, and it was great to meet the lovely therapy dog, Orla, who was on site in the south school on the day that I visited.

County Deal The county has taken the next step towards securing a groundbreaking deal to bring more devolved new powers to a local level. The Government has confirmed that Leicestershire County Council will be one of the first nine areas that it will

invite to agree a new ‘county deal’. The announcement is part of the Levelling Up White Paper published in February 2022 and follows a bid submitted by the council in the autumn. This will be an opportunity for the county council to have a greater say over our local services and their funding, matters which affect everyone in Leicestershire. The County Council are very grateful to the County’s MPs and District Council Leaders for their support.

The ‘county deal’, which includes financial funding and local powers, is likely to focus on providing sustainable local transport, supporting local businesses and skills training, public health and local control of major infrastructure decisions (roads, schools etc.). With these devolved powers and funding there is likely to be some changes to the governance structure at the county council, and these will form part of the discussions with the government about how the ‘county deal’ will look.

There will be plenty of negotiations to come and early meetings with civil servants and government ministers are now fully underway.

Leicestershire Waste Partnership People are being encouraged to give their views on what happens to waste and recycling in the county. Leicestershire Waste Partnership is asking residents to help shape its blueprint for future services, known as the Leicestershire Resources and Waste Strategy 2022-2050.

A range of pledges, such as delivering refuse services and encouraging residents to prevent unnecessary waste, are set out in the strategy. Subject to Government policy and funding we are also likely to see the implementation of household food waste collections.

This consultation also seeks views on the future frequency of household waste collections.

The partnership is made up of Leicestershire County Council and all the seven districts.

The consultation is open until April 25th 2022 and can be found on the county council’s ‘Have your Say page’: www. leicestershire.gov.uk/haveyour-say/current-engagement/ leicestershires-resources-andwaste-strategy-2022-2050

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For copies in other formats, please email: lesswaste@leics.gov.uk The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee A host of special events will be held both in the city and county this year to celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, marking her 70-year reign as monarch.

The events, announced by Mike Kapur, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, include a garden party which he will host for people turning 70 in 2022 as well as the planting of trees and an art competition for primary school children.

There are also awards for businesses and communities for 70 organisations.

All you need to know can be found at www.leicestershire. gov.uk/platinum-jubilee with information also available on how you can arrange your own community event or street party.

An extended four-day bank holiday, from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June 2022 has been chosen for the celebratory weekend. Events include: • An art competition, open to primary school children.

• A 70 at 70 garden party is the Lord-Lieutenant’s special invitation to people who are celebrating their 70th birthday this year. It will take place on Tuesday 31st May at Beaumanor Hall, Woodhouse near Loughborough. Nominations can be made by anyone meeting the criteria and the closing date is Friday 1st April 2022.

• An award for 70 organisations, such as school, businesses, voluntary and community groups that have done something exceptional to develop community spirit.

• Dozens of beacons will be lit on the evening of Thursday 2nd June 2022 to mark the Platinum Jubilee. Local communities, parish councils, schools, youth groups, and farming communities can get involved by setting up and lighting beacons, sponsoring beacons, or illuminating a home or building, e.g. the National Space Centre will be lit up.

Everyone in the city and county is invited to plant a tree as part of The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative. Anyone wishing to plant their own tree for the Jubilee can access trees through schemes

offered by the Woodland Trust: www.woodlandtrust.org.uk Thinking of holding an event to celebrate? Detailed below 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 Queen’s Jubilee event registration form, the form can be found here: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/ platinum-jubilee All fees associated with the legal application have been waived for The Queen’s Jubilee and the application time reduced to 6 weeks, please note this is only for The Queen’s Jubilee 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 15th April 2022. The forms can be found on the link above.

Given the occasion and following Government guidance the council will not be asking for the usual required documentation for a road closure, however consideration still needs to be given to ensure the safety of all attendees. Within the registration form you will find some additional information for you to consider.

Further Government advice on road closures for street parties can be found here; www.gov.uk/ government/publications/yourguide-to-organising-a-street-party The information you supply regarding your event will be shared with the emergency services so they can put their own plans and resources in place.

Signs and Cones Leicestershire County Council Highways is offering the loan of signs and cones. Should you require these, please complete the ‘signs form’. Signs and cones must be collected from, and returned to, the LCC Mountsorrel Highways Depot. Appropriate arrangements will need to be made for collection or a quote for delivery can be requested. The deadline for your cones and signs applications is Friday 15th April 2022. Again, the forms can be found on the link above.

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Anstey WI

Anstey Chess Club

Article by Sheila Timms On a cold, late afternoon at the end of January, members of Anstey WI and friends gathered in Leicester city centre for a ghost walk with Blue Badge guide Caroline Roberts. Caroline’s fluency and recall are excellent, and she held us spellbound with her tales of the spirits who haunt some of Leicester’s most historic buildings, such as the Guildhall.

One was apparently imported with a staircase. There is a monk near the cathedral who is an omen of imminent death. You would not want to meet him! We also learned a lot about Leicester’s history, and Caroline’s habit of asking questions like a school teacher gave the know-alls among us a chance to show off. It was a most enjoyable event, but my goodness it was cold. Most of us were shivering by the end. See if you can spot red and blue faces in the photograph.

The speaker at the February meeting struck an altogether more serious note. Alison Briggs finally managed to visit after abortive attempts over the last two years.

She is an enthusiastic volunteer with Mercy Ships, which take medical and particularly surgical facilities to the very poor, mostly in West Africa, who normally have no access to such services, and would be unable to afford them if they did. All treatment is free.

Article by Ben Vaughan Venue: Anstey Methodist Church, Cropston Road When: Thursday evenings from 7pm League Chess Results We have had some excellent results in our recent games:

The organisation was founded by a Canadian couple, Dan and Deyon Stephens. The first ship equipped with operating theatres launched in 1980, and has been succeeded by a bigger and better ship, MV Africa Mercy. A brand new one is being finished currently. They spend ten months in port in one country such as Senegal, are serviced for two months in the Canary Islands for two months, and then move to a different country. Most of the personnel are volunteers. Alison serves herself, and her enthusiasm shone through. She showed us before and after pictures of some patients, whose lives had been transformed.

The competition, a model or picture of a boat or ship, attracted a record number of entries, requiring two large tables to display them all. Jackie Wells won with a 3D model/picture in a box frame. She bought it in Leith (the port for Edinburgh) but later discovered it had been made in Quorn!

Monday Club Cropston & Thurcaston Cropston Evangelical Free Church 14th February 2022 Article by Maja Tompkins

Monday Club Annual General Meeting The Club Leader, Jenny Kennington, welcomed past members and talked about all the changes which have affected us over the past two years or so.

Our last meetings had been in early 2020. Many of our speakers use visual aids, and it is now a requirement that any electrical equipment brought in must have a PAT Test. We shall make enquiries about having a possible Strawberry Tea when the weather gets warmer, which has been popular in the past and where family members or friends can also join us.

Copies of the last AGM (in 2020) and the current financial statement were circulated. In relation to the Club funds, Jenny explained that the accounts had again been audited by the company we have been using for several years. Our acting Treasurer explained that we have been informed by our bank that a charge of £5 will now be made every month on our account (total for the year £60) and additional charges will be made for all payments into our account. However for this year, we have decided to keep the annual membership subscription at £12, members’ entrance fee £2 per meeting and charge £4 per meeting for a visitor.

We discussed the catering arrangements. We send a short report to the local magazines to advertise our activities. Members' birthdays are remembered, and special occasion or get well cards are sent as needed. One of our ladies was recently honoured with a 100th birthday card from Her Majesty.

We run a Sales Table, consisting of paperback books and assorted small items, and any contributions are very welcome. One of our members also

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27/1/22 Anstey 2 2.5-1.5 Heathcote Arms 2 The second team are on somewhat of an upward turn. Games that had gone against them are now going for them with good wins for Matt Connor and Webmaster Boris, along with a draw for Hal. 2/2/22 - Latimer 1 2-4 Anstey 1 Another great win for the 1st team.

Due to a positive COVID test, I was unable to play but we almost managed to snatch a defeat from the jaws of victory, almost losing one of the games on time when 3-2 up. Matt Connor (unexpectedly re-joining us after a while away) was too intently focused on the pieces rather than the clock but did win through. Good wins for John Robinson, Matt and Mike Griffiths in that match 17/2/22 - Anstey 1 4-0 Heathcote Arms 1 A fabulous win over Heathcote, with them having beaten us in the reverse fixture. All of the games could have gone the other way but superb wins for John R, Julian, Mick and Matt completed the clean sweep on the night.

Venue We are now playing at the Methodist Church in Anstey, on Cropston Road near the pedestrian lights until June. We are very grateful to or members and the below organisations in helping us to fund the chess this year: The Anstey Town Charity - an organisation which helps local clubs/organisations in Anstey with funding for £200.

Anstey Parish Council - they have donated £250 to the club, received with humble thanks from all at the club.

We wish to place on record our thanks as a club for these donations to help us with keeping the club running.

For player safety, hand sanitiser is available at all times. Mask wearing optional from Thursday 27th January whilst at the venue. Some of our players will wear masks.

New Website!

Our webmaster and second team player Boris has been hard at work creating and updating content on a new website for us which is absolutely superb. Please do check it out - it really is exactly what we were looking for from a website and apologies in advance for the mugshots! www.ansteychessclub.co.uk Junior Coaching/Lessons The sessions in partnership with Beanies Soft Play and Cafe (top floor above Potters Carpets) in Anstey, are growing in popularity with one Saturday having 8 children in the class! Please do come and visit us if you have a child that might be interested in learning more about chess.

Sessions are on Saturday mornings from 9-11am and will cost £3 per session per child for chess (payable directly to Beanies) and this will include some juice for the little ones.

Note: Additional costs will apply for soft play area and refreshments Ben Vaughan Anstey Chess Club ansteychess@hotmail.com 07469 207548

often brings freshly-baked scones, which are always popular.

The existing Committee members were all willing to continue in their current roles for the rest of the year, and we also welcomed one new lady onto the Committee. A vote of confidence was given by the members present.

Whilst we enjoyed a cup of tea and a cake, we attempted to cogitate an animal quiz / game provided by another member, and the meeting closed at around 4 p.m.

Meetings start at 2.15pm on the second Monday of each month. On 14th March we hope to have one of our popular previous speakers, or else we shall provide in-house entertainment. The rest of the year will be varied and may include an outing to a place of interest, probably locally, and possibly a strawberry tea. We hope to have a pre-Christmas lunch again for members and their friends / families. New members and visitors are always welcome - just turn up on the day.

Mrs Maja Tompkins Contact mobile 07709 201881

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Anstey Nomads

Article by Matt Johnson

The big games don’t stop there for Nomads as they face both Long Eaton in the coming weeks. With themselves out of the Vase, the club sets its sights on pushing for promotion.

February/March Fixtures: 19/02/22 - Heather St. John’s (H) 22/02/22 - Long Eaton United (A) 01/03/22 - Gresley Rovers (H) 05/03/22 – Loughborough Students (A) 12/03/22 – Selston (H) 16/03/22 – Sleaford Town (A) 19/03/22 – Deeping Rangers (H) 26/03/22 – Heanor Town (A)

First Team This last month has been a big month for the football club. Towards the end of January, we faced Wroxham away in the FA Vase 4th Round. Winning that would equal our best ever run in the competition, and that’s exactly what the club did. Nomads seen themselves winning 5-2 away from home in Norfolk. It was an entertaining game that featured Norwich City icon Grant Holt, but that wasn’t enough to stop Nomads from prevailing in what was a great team performance.

From this point onwards, Nomads saw themselves at home for the next 3 weeks, including the 5th Round of the Vase.

The first of the three was at home to Boston Town, who are towards the top end of the table, just 5 points behind the Nomads. During the game, however, it didn’t seem that way, as Nomads comfortably won 3-0.

The following week, we welcomed Skegness Town to the Callingtons Community Complex. Skegness Town forced Nomads into a scrappy game but despite this, it was a routine 2-0 for the Nomads, thanks to two Armeni free kicks, who never really looked under pressure from the visitors.

The following week we played Wythenshawe Town at home. An opportunity to play at Wembley as a win would see them just 2 games away. The village showed their support as we saw the largest attendance this season. Again, the game seemed to be pretty scrappy with only half chances within the first half. At the start of the second half, Wythenshawe came out stronger and created more chances.

With around half hour to go, the visitors took the lead with a header at the back post. But it didn’t last long as Nomads score a very similar goal as Armeni’s set piece is headed in by Zayn Hakeem, before the keeper could come and claim the ball. Nomads finished the game stronger and missed 2 golden opportunities to decide the tie but unfortunately, the tie had to be settled on penalties.

Nomads started the shootout poorly, 2-0 down after 2 penalties each. It seemed as though the dream was over but with Wythenshawe’s third penalty placed wide and Logan guessing the right way on the next, Nomads were back level at 2-2 going into sudden death, with the crowd going crazy!

Sadly, with Wythenshawe Town scoring and Nomads penalty being saved, it saw us out of the FA Vase on penalties for the second time this season.

Anstey face Heather St. Johns on the 19th, who they were held to a draw against earlier in the season.

Fixtures could be subject to change Remembering One of Our Own The club is deeply saddened to hear the news of Norman Taylor's passing at the end of last month.

The Nomads stalwart was loved by everybody at the club. You could always spot Norman at Cropston Road, whether it was the First Team or Under 18s, he was an ever-present.

Anstey Rugby Top The League Table Article by Chris Apperley

After a fallow few weeks following our 8th January win at Oadby Wyggs when injuries, Covid isolations and work commitments left our side short of players compounded by our oppositions cancelling at short notice, Anstey RFC were finally back in action at Aylestone St. James on 12th February.

He supported and volunteered through generations, and we greatly appreciate all the work that he put into this club.

He will be missed by all the Nomads family. Especially at the Nomads Christmas dinners, something he always organised himself.

It turned out to be a hard fought game mired by penalties, but we did come out 43-12 winners.

On social media, one person said, “Such sad news an absolute gentleman and Nomads through & through”, while another highlighted his kind nature commenting, “One of life’s true Gentlemen. God bless Norman”.

As it turned out there was not a lot of extreme gusts, but instead a lot of rain making for a very ‘soft’ pitch at our Link Road Home Pitch.

To honour Norman, we held a minute’s applause before the Wythenshawe match and presented Russ and Helen, the adopted family of Norman, with a Nomads shirt each with Norman's name. The squad also warmed up and walked out with special shirts for Norman.

Our thoughts are with all connected to Norman.

A week later Storm Eunice was the big news with the strongest winds promised in our area for decades.

Preparations for a Home game of rugby start well before the actual match gets going, not only involving organising playing kit, water bottles, first aid equipment, changing rooms and more, but two of our club members need a special mention.

Firstly Ian Pollock who battled through incessant rain to get our pitch marked out with the white lines. Some of which were even straight!

Also a mention to Liam Curtis our man with a trowel who yet again filled a large bucket with dog faeces found on our playing surface.

I wonder how the irresponsible dog owners would like to come literally face to face with dog poo when playing sport.

Youth Teams With the Nomads now having around 40 youth teams, we have for example THREE Under 18’s sides. Anstey Nomads U18’s and the U18 Swifts sit 1st and 4th respectively in the Leicestershire Midweek Floodlit Youth League Central Division. Meanwhile, the Reds sit 4th in the Northern Division.

For younger boys and girls, aged 4-6, we hold training sessions twice a week with the name Mini Dribblers.

This is great to get your youngster into football with the pathway to U7’s and highlighted with our FOUR U7’s teams this season, one for each division. The only team in Leicester to achieve this!

We also have announced our Academy for U16-U19’s which is a full-time course based at DMU Beaumont Park.

We have already had one open evening but there is another on the 22nd of March if you missed out! For more information check out our social media.

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There are two big red bins at either end of the pitch where dog deposits can be placed. PLEASE. On Saturday 19th February we welcomed a team from Lutterworth to our very damp pitch.

Events The Jamlocks are coming to the Anstey Nomads clubhouse on the 18th of March. The event is free entry, and we will also be holding a raffle on the night. If you want some quality live music on a Friday evening, come down!

We are looking to host more events for our community, we have hosted live performances in our clubhouse, live football screening, and more! But we’re not done there, keep an eye out for any events upcoming this year. For clubs in the community, you are welcome to join our End of Season Tournament in May for young Boys and Girls aged

Before Kick Off both teams joined in a tribute to Jack Jeffery, the Evesham rugby player who tragically died following an injury whilst scoring a try during a match the previous week.

Anstey, winning the toss, elected to play ‘uphill’ against the wind for the first half and despite a strong Lutterworth performance amassed 24 points by half time.

The second half saw the rampant home team amass a further 40 points with scores from front row players amongst others culminating in a handsome 64-0 win for Anstey RFC. The next few weeks involve home and way fixtures against, Market Bosworth, Notts Moderns, Leicesters Forest and Market Harborough.

Anstey RFC plan to be touring again this Easter, with visit to the South Coast to play the North Dorset Dockers in Bournemouth. Yes you did read that club name correctly.

A full fixture list is in place right round until the first weekend in May when it will be President’s Day, just leaving our AGM and end of season dinner in the ensuing weeks.

The full season Updated 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 Visit www.pitchhero.com/clubs/anstey or our Facebook Group Page at www. facebook.com/groups/20694012567 for updated information.

U11* to U7’s. For more details visit www.ansteynomads.com/events/ tournament Our Clubhouse is also available for private hire. Contact: bookings@ ansteynomads.com

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