March 2014 - Loughborough Community Eye by OpenBox Promotions

LOUGHBOROUGH

COMMUNITY EYE

FREE MONTHLY LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, PUZZLES, COMPETITIONS & MORE

IN THE GARDEN WITH BEL

CHOOSING COLOURFUL SPRING PLANTS

ISSUE 5 - MARCH 2014

EASTER LEG OF LAMB LEARN HOW TO COOK THE PERFECT EASTER DINNER

Bring The Garden Indoors WITH ACACIA CURTAINS & BLINDS

DECORATE AN EASTER EGG WIN A KIDS PERSONALISED T-SHIRT

Bake With Fee

EASTER NESTS

STORY TIME

CHRISTIE CAT & HER YUMMY CARROT MUFFINS

UPDATE FROM YOUR LOCAL MP NICKY MORGAN

| LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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WELCOME

HELLO! Welcome to your bigger and better Easter Community Eye magazine. I am so pleased that we have lots of new advertisers joining us, many of whom have personally been in touch to let us know what fantastic responses they have been having from, you so please do keep using our advertisers and recommending them to friends. Due to the wonderful increase in advertising we are not only increasing the size of our magazine’s but the Coalville Eye is increasing its circulation to 7500 making it the largest of our 7 magazines! This month we have some fantastic new columns for you! Fee (a prize winning baker) is writing a new family cooking column, Judy from Acacia blinds is writing our new Window Dressing column and Sally from Hinds Feet Foot care is helping us to look after our feet and get them summer ready! We also have our usual contributors too including Bonita from Hallcroft Opticians with her eye care guidance and of course the lovely Bel with her gardening page. I’ve been busy getting ready for Easter and have included my Easter Lamb recipe for you to try! I’ve also put some competitions in; children have the chance to win a personalised kids T-Shirt on page 22 and for you adults, try our word Sudoku and win a mug printed with a name or photo of your choice on page 6. Both prizes courtesy of our friends at Norwood Press. Please let us know what you think of our new layout and don’t forget to send any articles over to me for our next magazine which will have a Spring focus. You can always keep in touch using our Facebook and Twitter feeds too. Enjoy!

EDITORIALS, ADVERTISING & LEAFLET DISTRIBUTION Visit our website for advertising rates, circulation figures & more

SALES MANAGER - MIRIAM BENTLEY T: 0800 6446 150 M: 07454 779877 E: miriam@openboxpromotions.co.uk W: www.openboxpromotions.co.uk

r, LE9 2HQ Open Box Promotions Ltd, 42 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe, Leiceste 20 366 073 No. ny Compa 28 VAT No. 105 4819 PRINTED BY NORWOOD PRESS ress.co.uk T: 01530 262020 - E: info@norwoodpress.co.uk - W: www.norwoodp 1EU LE67 n, Ellistow Estate, Unit 1, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial original advertisers & contributors The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the ns Ltd. Terms & Conditions Promotio Box Open or Eye ity Commun t represen ily and do not necessar erms s.co.uk/t omotion apply. To see full terms & conditions visit www.openboxpr

NEXT ISSUE OUT EDITORIAL & ADVERT DEADLINE DATE: 14th April 2014 DELIVERY DATE: 28th April 2014 Deadline and delivery dates are subject to change depending on how far we are ahead or behind.

| LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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LOCAL NEWS IS YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL A SCORE SCHOOL?

WORKING TO BRING YOU A BETTER CAR PARK The transformation of a pay and display car park in Loughborough is well underway.

Get practical support and guidance on energy efficiency from Leicestershire County Council.

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Mob: 07885 442899 www.p-w-yeomans.co.uk The Schools Collaboration on Resource Efficiency (SCoRE) is a 12 month practical programme which helps schools reduce energy bills and save money. Advice and guidance is given on energy efficiency, including adjusting boiler times and temperatures, switching off lighting and electrical equipment and draft proofing. SCoRE supports many aspects of the curriculum including geography, science, maths, design and citizenship. Students are encouraged to be part of the programme and work with staff to achieve the best savings. Manor High School, Oadby has also taken part in the scheme. Their electricity consumption was reduced by 12%, and despite a cold winter, their gas usage relative to other years, was also reduced. Paul Clarke, site manager and Liam Powell, head teacher worked to apply the SCoRE principles across the whole school community and achieved savings of £9,400. Nichole Browne, School Environment Officer, Leicestershire County Council, said “Applications for the next phase of the SCoRE programme are being taken now, and we look forward to working with a new set of schools. Schools can make significant savings on their energy use. They achieve real energy efficiencies when the plan is embedded throughout the whole school.” Interested schools should apply before Friday 25th April 2014 to be part of the next SCoRE programme by calling Nichole Browne on 0116 305 5593, or email Nichole.Browne@leics.gov.uk

Work by Charnwood Borough Council to turn Granby Street car park into a pay-on-foot facility is on target to be finished in March. Phase one of the transformation has seen part of the car park prepared for resurfacing and installation of some of the pay-on-foot equipment.

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Councillor Jane Hunt, Charnwood Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Regulatory Services, said “I would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding while we carry out this important work. I am pleased to see work is progressing and can’t wait until the transformation is complete. It’s goodbye over-staying penalties, and hello to the convenience of paying on foot. This is part of our commitment to helping Loughborough grow and prosper.”

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Customers can still use the car park, however the bottom end, including disabled bays, will remain partially closed for a while longer as new bays are marked out. Phase two of the work will see the other side of the car park closed for resurfacing and the marking out of new bays. New bollards and pay-on-foot machines will also be installed during this phase. The car park transformation is a £250,000 scheme designed to benefit shoppers, visitors and local businesses as the facility moves to be in line with the pricing of the multi-storey Beehive car park. Once work is complete the car park will be suitable for long-stay parking but you will still be able to pop into town for half an hour for only 20p or for two hours for only £1.60. Currently there is disruption to disabled bays, but blue badge holders are still able to use the standard car park bays for free for three hours if displaying their badge and clock. Car park users are advised that other Council car parks are still available, including the Southfields Extension, next to the Premier Inn, Southfields Road, and the Beehive.

HS FOOT CARE SERVICES - THE STORY HS Foot Care was started in 2008 by Alan Postlethwaite, following in the foot steps of deceased Mother-in-Law Inge Kropp. Alan initially trained with the Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners at the college in Blackheath near Birmingham then went on to study biomechanics, also with the Alliance and 3 other organisations – learning different techniques. The focus then was general foot care and Biomechanics - gait analysis and making corrective orthotics (insoles). Orthotics were originally made by sending a prescription to a lab in Northampton but in order to gain control of the manufacturing process and improve timeliness, he invested in the world class SIDAS system allowing onsite manufacture the same day of analysis. Daughter Maxime then

embarked on her Podiatry degree at Southampton University. Meanwhile having developed techniques in treating ingrowing toenails Alan decided he wanted to do more – nail surgery. It was apparent that in order to treat patients who had private medical insurance and also to inject patients in order to perform surgery HCPC (Health & Care Professions Council ) registration was needed – and that now only comes after attaining a Podiatry degree. So Alan started his first year of the degree at Northampton University as Maxime entered her final year at Southampton. The surgery proudly displays the ‘three generations’ certificates with Mrs. Kropp’s in center place School of Surgical Chiropody signed in 1954!

Get in touch: Lester Townsend

T: 01530 830367 M: 07720 766970 E: lester.tandt@btinternet.com W: www.t-t-construction.co.uk

LOUGHBOROUGH BEACON ROTARY CLUB EASTER BUNNY RUN The third Beacon Easter Bunny Runs take place on Sunday 6 April at Beacon Hill Country Park, starting at 12 noon, at the Lower Car Park, Breakback Road, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8TA. Organised by the Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon, the event has two runs, 10km for serious runners and a 3km fun run, both off-road on tracks. There are also activities for families, including a bouncy castle and an Easter egg hunt. Money raised will go to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance, local Young Carers and Pancreatic Cancer, but runners can also nominate their own charity. Enter on-line at www.beaconbunnyrun. org or by completing and returning an entry form phone 07906 915589 or e-mail beaconbunnyrun@ btinternet.com to Beacon Easter Bunny Run, 40 Sanders Road, Quorn LE12 8JN.

*Please get in touch for prices*

| TAKE 5

Cute Chick Easter Card

Easter Poem

What you'll need: • 2 sheets of yellow paper • 1 sheet of orange paper • 2 paper fasteners • 2 large wiggly eyes (optional) • White craft glue • Scissors • Pencil • Pen or dark crayon

It’s Easter and by now it should be very clear that the long awaited Springtime at last is here. Winter storms are finally behind us. Shout hooray! Long days of sunshine now are not so very far away.

Helpful Tip: If you don't have wiggley eyes you can simply draw eyes on with a marker. Before poking the fasteners through the body of the chick, use a sharp pencil to poke a hole through. Then insert the fastener. How to make it 1. Trace both hands onto the yellow paper and cut out. 2. Draw an oval onto the other yellow piece of construction paper. Cut out 3. Lay the oval on the table and position the wings (hand cut outs) behind it, using the photo as a guide. 4. When the wings are where you want them, carefully poke the fasteners through the construction paper to attach the wings. Using fasteners allows the wings to flap up and down. 5. Cut out a small diamond shape and two legs from the orange paper. 6. Fold the diamond in half to create the beak and glue one side of the diamond to the yellow paper so that the beak is three dimensional and can open and close. 7. Glue wiggly eyes (or draw your own) above the beak. 8. Position the legs under the oval. When you have them where you want them, glue them in place. 9. Use the pen or dark crayon to write a message on the front of the card.

Easter time. It means renewal and re-birth. Reminds us all that we must care for planet Earth. Chocolate eggs, they really are symbolic. As new born lambs in field and meadow frolic. Fruity hot cross buns are very good to toast. Should we choose beef or turkey for our Sunday roast? Easter is a busy time for gardens, so rejoice! Those nodding golden daffodils, the flower of choice. At Easter time the cycle of the seasons starts anew. Plans for the summer holidays we now review. The Easter message should by now be very clear. Passed down the generations for us all to hear. Chris Rose

Word Sudoku Bake With Fee Win A Personalised Printed Mug *

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D A

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TEL: EMAIL:

F R

G N

Y O

G O F

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EASTER NESTS • 250g All-bran • 300g milk chocolate • 1-2 bags of mini eggs • 24 cake cases 1. Break the chocolate into small pieces and put in a glass bowl, placed over a pan of simmering water, ensuring the bowl does not touch the water.

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| LOCAL NEWS CARILLON TOWER & WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM 01509 263370 - www.loughborough-rollofhonour.com - carillonmuseum@gmail.com

WHAT’S NEW

A MEMORIAL FOR WYMESWOLD

Kindly donated by Mr J Roe of Market Rasen this framed photo of Lt John Wesley Lewin, the son of John & Ada Lewin of Netherfield, Nottingham and husband of Ada Gertrude Lewin of Black Hill Drive, Nottingham. John was killed on 24 September 1918 aged 27 whilst attached to the 5th Bn Leicestershire Regiment. He is shown in the photo wearing the cap badge of the General Service Corps, a holding regiment for men with specialist skills and was serving with the labour Corps. On 24 Sept the 5th Leicesters were involved in the successful attack on the village of PONTRUET. In the book about the 5th Leicesters’ it records: ‘Meanwhile, the rest of the Battalion had been far less fortunate, and, with no road to guide them, had been baffled by the fog. 2nd Lieut. Lewin and Serjt. Harrison with a small party of "B" Company crossed the valley and, turning right, followed No.1 Platoon into the Southern half of the village. They were too small a body to clear the blockhouse corner, and first Serjt. Harrison, then 2nd Lieut. Lewin were killed as they gallantly tried to get forward. Two others of their men were hit, and the rest were scattered. (Read the 5th Leicesters’ book on our website)

A national charity is looking to erect a memorial at Wymeswold Airfield to remember those who served there during World War Two and beyond. The Airfields of Britain Conservation Trust has set its sights on Wymeswold in its bid to raise public awareness of aviation and airfield history. The charity says a large number of the country’s airfields “are being left to ruin or are under threat of demolition” and aims to reverse this trend by erecting memorials at every known disused airfield location in Britain and it has sent an enquiry letter to Charnwood Borough Council to see if it requires planning permission for

AT THE MUSEUM

FACEBOOK PAGE Our Facebook page has finally taken off and one posting in February had over 900 views with visits from USA, Brazil, Portugal and Nigeria. Please visit it and ‘Like’ the page. Thanks !

NATIONAL CHARITY LOOKING TO ERECT A MEMORIAL AT WYMESWOLD AIRFIELD WHO SERVED DURING WWII

a 4ft by 2ft memorial, weighing approximately 1.4 tonnes and made of “top quality Indian granite”. Wymeswold RAF Station officially opened on May 16, 1942, and was used in various guises until the 1970s. Units stationed there included the operational training unit (28OTU), which was part of 93 Group, RAF, the 44 Group Transport Command, the No. 1382 (Transport Support) Conversation Unit, the No. 504 (County of Nottingham) Squadron, Royal Auxiliary Air Force and the No. 56 (Phoenix) Squadron. The site is now occupied by businesses as well as the UK’s largest solar farm.

UPDATE ON LORD KITCHENER

KITCHENER’S FATHER’S GRAVE FOUND IN COSSINGTON

HUMOUR IN UNIFORM A young officer is working late at MOD one evening. As he comes out of his office about 8 P.M. he sees the General standing by the classified document shredder in the hallway, a piece of paper in his hand. Keen to impress he approaches the General, “Do you know how to work this thing?” the General asks. “My secretary’s gone home and I don’t know how to run it.” “Yes, sir,” says the young officer, who turns on the machine, takes the paper from the General, and feeds it in. “Now,” says the General, “ I just need seven copies”

In the last issue of the Carillon Chimes I asked for confirmation that the family of Lord Kitchener had lived in Cossington and I have been totally under whelmed with the response from our readers. However my thanks go to Liz Blood, for sending in the photograph of Kitchener’s farther’s grave in Cossington church yard, proof that the family did have a connection with the village. Where did they live and why Cossington?

Surely someone out there has the answer? The other picture is of the rather grand Kitchener Memorial on Marwick Head in Orkney, a lonely crenallated tower built by public subscription to honour the memory of Lord Kitchener who was lost in June 1916, when the cruiser H.M.S. Hampshire sank nearby. Of the 667 officers and men on board, only 12 survived. If you know more contact us at: carillonmuseum@gmail.com

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GARDENING

pring has Sprung! It’s now light enough in the morning for me to pop into the garden before I leave the house to see what’s new and check on seedlings in the green house. There are bulbs adding bold splashes of colour to the pots around the house and there’s a flush of new foliage on the trees and shrubs in the garden too.

give some interest during the winter months. I’m a great fan of Euphorbia – the lime green flowers last well from early spring to mid-summer giving a zing of fresh colour to sunny borders. Look out for new varieties like E. ‘Rudolph’, E. ‘Ascot Rainbow’ and E. ‘Ruby Glow’ that give colourful foliage as well as flowers.

With the weather improving I’ve been able to get border rejuvenation projects underway in my client’s gardens and carry out the ground preparation work for the new borders in my own garden. With a selection of evergreen shrubs selected to act as the backbone of the planting, I’m ready to move on to adding perennials – the plants which flower through the spring-summer-autumn then go dormant in the winter months before re-emerging in spring.

Erysimum (the perennial wallflower) is fantastic as it flowers for months and is available in a range of bright colours. E. ‘Bowles Mauve’ is a classic with vibrant blooms over silvery foliage, it’s also semi evergreen so will add some shape to the border even in winter. They are easy to grow in sunny spots and they just require a trim once a year as soon as they finish flowering.

March & April is a great time to visit the local nursery or garden centre to pick up perennials to add spring-early summer colour to the basic structure of the border. For the earliest colour, Aubrieta, Primulas and Alpines like Saxifraga are lovely and bright. I tend to use them in containers though, rather than borders so that I have maximum space available for plants that will give me colour for longer. My favourite early perennials for a border include Hellebores, Aquilegia, Geum, Erysimum and Euphorbia. Hellebores bring colour to the border in Feb/March in a range of colours and forms. They are well worth a spot in a shady garden and you’ll find plenty to choose from. These along with most Euphorbia are actually evergreen so will

WIN A TRIO OF GEUM PLANTS One each of G. 'Blazing Sunset', G. 'Sunrise' & G. 'Tango' in 1.5 litre pots. Worth total of £21. I will deliver to the winner within Shepshed, Loughborough & Coalville area only (outside this area the winner will need to collect instead). In order to enter readers need to visit my facebook page belgriersondesign and like or comment on the prize draw post. I will select a winner by random on April 30th.

Then there are the Aquilegias and Geums. They come in a good range of colours and flower shapes, suited to sun or part-shady spots. There are those with a natural wild look or there are more striking varieties like Geum ‘Tango’ or Aquilegia ‘Mrs Scott Hybrids’– which ever takes your fancy. They are very easy to grow and the Aquilegia will seed around the border so you’ll get more plants in a year or so for free. Ideal for borders with sun or part shade and good soil, all of these perennials will give a good splash of colour for spring and early summer. We’re not all blessed with the perfect garden conditions though so next month i’ll be looking at how to tackle shady gardens and recommending plants that will grow well beneath a hedge, trees and even in dry shade.

If you are in need of some help with choosing the right plants for your garden or you are looking for design ideas, a Consultation or Planting Plan may be just what you need. Take a look at my website for details of the services I can offer & get in touch, www.belgrierson.co.uk

Hellebore

Primula

Euphorbia Ascot Rainbow

CERAMIC POT GIVE AWAY I have accrued some lovely pots over the years. There are 28 here in ceramic & terracotta that need a new home. I would be happy to pass them on for free to a local school gardening club or a community gardening project. They are in good condition. Most have been used so need a good wash & brush up. Maybe they could help with fundraising? Collection from LE12. Get in touch if you are interested.

| LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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TREE SURGERY

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WANLIP SAND & GRAVEL WANLIP LANE, SYSTON, LEICESTER, LE7 1PD

OPEN TO THE PUBLIC (Directly off the A46 at Syston) DECORATIVE GRAVELS BLUE, GREEN & PLUM SLATE ROCKS & FEATURE STONES SAND & TOP SOIL RECYCLED HARDCORE & TYPE 1

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0116 2692797

FOOD & DRINK

INGREDIENTS

• Leg of Lamb (2kg) • 3 cloves of crushed garlic • 4 tbl spoons of Oil • Sprigs of fresh Rosemary • Seasoning to taste

METHOD 1. Pre heat the oven to 180C 2. Mix the crushed Garlic, Oil,

some chopped Rosemary and a little seasoning together and rub generously all over the lamb joint.

3. Carefully pierce holes in the skin of the lamb and stud with rosemary sprigs.

4. Cover the bone end of the joint with foil to prevent burning and place in an oiled baking tray.

5. Cover the whole joint loosely with foil and cook for 30 mins.

6. After 30 mins remove the foil and cook for a further 60 mins (for medium)

7. Allow to rest for 15 mins

prior to carving and serve with vegetables of your choice. We’ve chosen crisp roast potatoes and parsnips with fresh carrots, broccoli and minted peas.

| WINDOW DRESSING

BRING THE GARDEN INDOORS It’s easy to create a fresh new look by bringing a touch of floral elegance to your home with the new collections from Prestigious Textiles.The ' Italian Garden' range of fabrics combine delicate flower prints with watercolour stripes brought right up to date with zesty colour ways. Or, why not consider the 'Wild Garden' range from Clarke and Clarke. Inspired by the countryside you can have delicate embroidered foxgloves and cowslips on soft linens or a contemporary block printed fern design as a complete contrast. Colours range from fresh lime green to soft grey blue. All of these fabrics are perfect as curtains, blinds and cushions and we can supply a range of matching tiebacks, trimmings and poles for that finishing touch. They are also suitable for upholstery and can be ordered by the metre. Simply call us for a no obligation quotation in the comfort of your own home and let Acacia bring a fresh new look to your windows this Spring. Acacia Curtains and Blinds Tel 01509 650832

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FOOD & DRINK

The History Behind

THE EASTER EGG

aster eggs, also called Paschal eggs, are special eggs that are often given to celebrate Easter or springtime. As such, Easter eggs are common during the season of Eastertide. The oldest tradition is to use dyed and painted chicken eggs, but now we tend to use chocolate eggs or plastic shells filled with sweets. Eggs, in general, were a traditional symbol of fertility, and rebirth. The practice of decorating eggshell is ancient, pre-dating Christian traditions. Ostrich eggs with engraved decoration that are 60,000 years old have been found in Africa. Decorated ostrich eggs, and representations of ostrich eggs in gold and silver, were commonly placed in graves of the ancient Sumerians and Egyptians as early as 5,000 years ago. The custom of the Easter egg, however, originated in the early Christians of Mesopotamia, who stained eggs red in memory of the blood of Christ, shed at his crucifixion. The Christian Church officially adopted the custom, regarding the eggs as a symbol of the resurrection; in A.D. 1610. These eggs can be hidden for children to find on Easter morning, which may be left by the Easter Bunny. They may also be put in a basket filled with real or artificial straw to resemble a bird’s nest.

Easter eggs are a widely popular symbol of new life in Bulgaria, Poland, Romania, Russia, Ukraine, and other Central European countries’ folk traditions. A batik (wax resist) process is used to create intricate, brilliantly coloured eggs, the best-known of which is the Ukrainian pysanka and the Polish pisanka. The celebrated Fabergé workshops created exquisite jewelled Easter eggs for the Russian Imperial Court. Most of these creations themselves contained hidden surprises such as clock-work birds, or miniature ships. There are many other decorating techniques and numerous traditions of giving them as a token of friendship, love or good wishes. A tradition exists in some parts of the United Kingdom (such as Scotland and North East England) of rolling painted eggs down steep hills on Easter Sunday. In the U.S., such an Easter egg roll (unrelated to an eggroll) is often done on flat ground, pushed along with a spoon; the Easter Egg Roll has become a muchloved annual event on the White House lawn. An Easter egg hunt is a common festive activity, where eggs are hidden outdoors (or indoors if in bad weather) for children to run around and find. This may also be a contest to see who can collect the most eggs.

When boiling eggs for Easter, a popular tan colour can be achieved by boiling the eggs with onion skins. A greater variety of colour was often provided by tying on the onion skin with different coloured woollen yarn. In the North of England these are called pace-eggs or paste-eggs, from a dialectal form of Middle English pasche. They were usually eaten after an egg-jarping (egg tapping) competition. Natural colours are obtained by using various plants: • Brown: onion peels • Black: oak or alder bark or the nutshell of walnut • Golden: the bark of young apple tree or the marigold flower • Violet: petals of the mallow flower • Green: shoots of young rye or leaves of periwinkle • Pink: the juice of beet.

The egg is widely used as a symbol of the start of new life, just as new life emerges from an egg when the chick hatches out, hence eggs can be seen in many religions. The ancient Zoroastrians painted eggs for Nowruz, their New Year celebration, which falls on the Spring equinox. The tradition continues among other faiths today. The Nowruz tradition has existed for at least 2,500 years. The sculptures on the walls of Persepolis show people carrying eggs for Nowruz to the king. The Neo-Pagan holiday of Ostara occurs at roughly the same time as Easter. While it is often claimed that the use of painted eggs is an ancient, pre-Christian component of the celebration of Ostara there are no historical accounts that the celebration of Ostara included this practice. Rather, the use of painted eggs has been adopted under the assumption that it might be a preChristian survival.

| LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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Plastic Fantastic offer a professional cleaning service using the latest technology for cleaning UPVC, including soffits and fascia boards, window frames, conservatory deep cleans, solar panels, gutter clearance and cladding cleaning without the use of ladders. The website shows the amazing results that plastic fantastic can achieve. Ryan Powley from Plastic fantastic explains."This is a huge demand for the services we offer and after conducting market research and listening to our customers we have developed our website to be clean, visual, easy to navigate and to clearly explain everything that potential customers would need to know so that people can make an informed choice in complete confidence. Over the last few years we have perfected our modern cleaning system to get the best results possible, but from the safety of the ground. We have been cleaning UPVC to very high standards for years, but with health and safety issues and being part of the nationally recognised 'Worksafe contractor approved' scheme we understood it was vital to have a cleaning system that works without ladders. We use equipment from both the USA and UK and have worked alongside engineers to create a top quality cleaning system that is unique. Together with using chemicals that are noncaustic, bio degradable and environmentally friendly, yet clean with maximum impact we have the ability to remove all that grime, dirt and staining to leave your UPVC looking as good as new. This means we have the expertise to produce amazing results but in a way that is effective, efficient, safe and is most importantly a cost effective solution to our customers. Our brand is Plastic fantastic and that is exactly what we deliver. We deliver amazing results at competitive prices!!" The website is really user friendly and includes a video, customer feedback and a structured price list so everyone can see how much each service will cost with no hidden extras. Plastic fantastic currently have 5 special offers on their website, which can be clearly seen. They also offer discounts for multiple bookings and a 'Yearly maintenance package'. If you need any advice or would like to speak with an expert, you can visit the website at www.plasticfantastic.info or call 01162106421

NICKY MORGAN | People often ask me to describe a typical day in the life of an MP – which is actually a much harder task than it sounds because no two days are the same in this job! For example, when Parliament was in recess recently this was an opportunity to arrange a concentrated number of constituency visits and meetings without the risk of a vote in Parliament scuppering my plans. I started the week by meeting Loughborough’s recently appointed local police inspector, Nathan Kirk, to discuss some casework as well as some more general issues about policing locally. I then met our Police & Crime Commissioner, Sir Clive Loader, to hear how his plans are progressing and, in particular, to discuss how volunteers and Neighbourhood Watch help our police force. I also met our Area Director for NHS England, based at Enderby, as well as seeing the new

UPDATE FROM YOUR LOCAL MP

Tel: 01509 262723 - Email: nicky.morgan.mp@parliament.uk

Work Club based at Loughborough’s library in action. This is a free group which anyone can turn up to between 9.30am and noon on Tuesday mornings. With access to computers the library and council staff and helpers are available to assist with CV writing, searching for vacancies online as well as finding out about suitable courses and volunteering opportunities. There has been a particular focus on buses and the new inner relief road in the last couple of weeks. I believe that the completion of the new road and town centre improvements provide us with a chance to take virtually all traffic out of Loughborough’s town centre and join up our shopping areas. It was a great pleasure to attend the official opening of the first phase of the inner relief road. Loughborough has been waiting decades for this road to open and I think it looks great. The contractors have worked very hard to open it ahead of schedule and on budget.

Thank you to everyone for showing patience with all the roadworks while the new road was being constructed. It was also a great pleasure to meet members of Loughborough’s Cancer Self-Help Group, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in November 2013. Hearing the stories and experiences of members and carers was inspiring and emotional. I was also asked to lead the daily devotional activity at the Carpenter’s Arms in Loughborough and was able, last month, to attend the long-standing Storer and Ashby Residents Group meeting. And, finally, on 29 March I shall be joining various brave (or perhaps foolish) well known faces from Loughborough to compete in the “Wild Run” – a 6 mile mud and obstacle race in aid of TwentyTwenty who are a fabulous local charity. If you would like to sponsor me then either let me know or you can donate at www. uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickyMorganMP

MP CALLS ON LOUGHBOROUGH LOUGHBOROUGH MP NICKY MORGAN RESIDENTS TO SHARE EXPERIENCES SPEAKS TO FEMALE APPRENTICES OF MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS CARE As part of the events to mark National Apprenticeship Week and Local MP Nicky Morgan is calling on Loughborough constituents who have experienced a mental health crisis, or who have supported a friend or relative through one, to share their experiences of the help, care and support received with the health watchdog. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is seeking feedback from anyone who has tried to get help in a crisis, particularly in the last two years, to help improve its understanding of how local services respond. Nicky is urging constituents to share their experiences with the CQC by completing the online questionnaire which is available at: www.cqc.org.uk/mentalhealthcrisis CQC will use the information in a number of ways to: • Build a picture of where mental health crisis care works well and where it doesn’t. • Help select the local areas visited by CQC inspectors as part of this review. • Inform CQC’s national report by showing differences in service provision across England, and by highlighting examples of good or poor practice.

Nicky commented, “Last year I launched the Loughborough mental health survey in which local residents reported that mental health services can be difficult to access and narrow in choice. Respondents also told me that they would like to see a change in the way that services are delivered locally by driving real improvements in accessibility to a wider choice of treatment options. So I welcome CQC’s appeal for people to share their experiences of the care they received during a crisis. When people are at a crisis they need support that treats them with respect, compassion and dignity. We hear too often that they cannot get the help they need when they need it. I hope the work the CQC is doing will align with the views already expressed on mental health services locally.” Later this year, CQC will publish a report on its findings from the review. This will look at the help, care and support experienced by people experiencing a crisis, including differences in approach across the country and highlighting good and poor practice where this is found.

International Women’s Day earlier this month, local MP Nicky Morgan visited Lime Tree Day Nursery in Barrow-upon-Soar to speak to their female apprentices. Whilst there, Nicky had the opportunity to ask the apprentices about their experiences of working at the nursery and how they found out about becoming apprentices. Nicky also heard from the manager, Andrea Mardel- Ferreira, who told her of the positive impact the apprentices had on her business. Nicky and Andrea met through Loughborough College’s Bridge to Work scheme.

National Apprenticeship Week is co-ordinated by the National Apprenticeship Service and is designed to celebrate Apprenticeships and the positive impact they have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy. The slogan for this year’s National Apprenticeship Week was, “Great Businesses” are made by apprentices and Apprenticeships lead to “Great Prospects.” International Women’s Day was held on Saturday 8th March, and this year Nicky wanted to focus on more female students becoming apprentices. Speaking after the visit, Nicky said “It was truly inspirational to hear from the female apprentices at the nursery. They had such dedication and passion for the job and I could see that at Lime Tree, a great business has been made by great apprentices. Andrea added “It was great to be able to share our success with Nicky, here at Lime Tree we are very proud of our apprenticeship scheme and show true dedication to support our apprentices to become inspirational early years Practitioners. Having Nicky visit gave a wonderful buzz to the staff team who all work really hard.”

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS ADVICE SURGERY Liberal Democrat Councillors hold an advice surgery on the 1st Saturday of every month at Shepshed Town Council, Charnwood Rd, Shepshed, from 10am to 11am. Appointments are not necessary; for more information, Tel 01509 561458.

| LOCAL NEWS CARILLON TOWER & WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM 01509 263370 - www.loughborough-rollofhonour.com - carillonmuseum@gmail.com

RAWLINS STUDENTS VISIT THE MUSEUM

BAPTIST CHURCH PARCELS

DISCOVERY OF TWO FOLDERS IN A CUPBOARD AT THE BAPTIST CHURCH CONTAINING 427 PAPERS AND CARDS

DIARY DATES 8 April 7.30 pm AGM at Southfields. All are encouraged to attend. 10 April Heritage Awards at Snibston; we have been allocated five tickets for the event if anyone wants to go. 18 April Museum opens for season.

A group of 6th form history students from Rawlins Community College joined us last year and were engaged on a number of projects. It must have worked because again we have been contacted by some students of the present 6th form to see if there is anyway they can become involved. They have visited the museum and a number of possible projects discussed for them to consider. We are keen to work with young people and get them involved in the museum. We have another group of Rawlins students, fascinated by a stereoscope. 19th century technology youngsters, members of a local youth club working on an exciting project, full details in next months Carillon Chimes. If you are a youth leader and would like your group to get involved in some way then contact us at: carillonmuseum@gmail.com

SHORT STORIES WRITERS WANTED

We need a number of pieces writing about Loughborough men who died during WW1 to feed to the Loughborough Echo on the 100th anniversary of their deaths over the next four years. It is not as difficult as it sounds, just trawl through the casualty list on the website: LoughboroughRollofHonour.com - WW1 Roll of Honour and chose a subject, a few lines about the man and the circumstances of his death. We can help you out with any research required. Fancy a little writing or do you know of a writing group that might be interested?

THE BRITISH LIBRARY

& UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

The discovery of two folders in a cupboard at the Baptist Church containing 427 papers and cards revealed a previously untold story from WW1. In 1916 Members of the Baptist Church in Loughborough decided to send parcels to the 65 former members of the church’s Sunday School. Parents of the Sunday School children contributed to the parcels whilst members of the congregation paid the postage. Sending them

to countries including Ireland, France, Belgium, Italy, Salonika, Egypt, Mesopotamia and India. Included in the parcels were letters with news of the church and Loughborough; in turn the servicemen wrote back letters of gratitude. There will be a display of all the material at the Baptist Church in October. I will let you know the details when we have them. We have offered to help with the loan of some WW1 objects.

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

We are looking for Museum Guides for the summer season. Interested! Come along and have a chat with one of our volunteers at one of the two information sessions to be held at the Carillon on:

Friday 4 April 12 till 2 pm - Saturday 5 April 12 till 2 pm

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Two, must visit websites, if you have an interest in WW1. The sites, which include fascinating photographs, newspapers, maps, advertisements and diaries, as well as academic articles. The British Library website can be accessed by visiting this link: www.bl.uk/ world-war-one (you might need to register to access some parts),

The photograph above is taken from the site and shows a British soldier washing in a shell hole. The Oxford University site can be accessed by visiting this link: ww1centenary.oucs.ox.ac.uk. This is an educational site with lots of interesting articles and resources.

DISPLAY AT LOUGHBOROUGH LIBRARY Mr Billy Wells, author of Billy’s Book of Loughborough Boozers has a display on at the Loughborough Library. Well worth a visit, Bill is in attendance most days for a chat. Have you any memories of the old watering holes of Loughborough or the surrounding villages? For the full story and much more go to: Lynne About Loughborough

HEALTH & WELLBEING

LOVE YOUR FEET!

FEELING LOW OR TIRED ? HERE’S 5 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP

Be active. You don't have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find the activity that you enjoy, and make it a part of your life. Keep learning. Learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?

Give to others. Even the smallest act can count, whether it's a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks. Take notice. Be more aware of the present moment, including your feelings and thoughts, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”, and it can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

CHILDREN'S EYECARE HOW MUCH DOES YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY SEE! How do you know what your child can see? Good vision is essential in childhood development and regular eye examinations are the key to good vision. The earlier any problem is detected, the greater the chances of it being corrected. So even if nothing appears to be wrong, it's important to make sure your child has a sight test at least once a year. AN EYE EXAMINATION IS PAINLESS, WHILST YOUR CHILD'S EYESIGHT IS PRICELESS One in five school aged children has an undiagnosed vision problem that can interfere with their ability to learn. Good vision during a child's early years is vital as visual learning accounts for 80% of the learning process. Just as children visit the dentist at regular intervals from infancy, they should also visit the opticians for regular eye examinations. Vision problems are seldom immediately evident to parents/teachers and often don't cause pain, so tend to be ignored in a way that toothache can't.

Submitted by Sally Hinds Feet Foot Care T: 07806786616 E: hindsfeetfootcare@gmail.com W: www.hindsfeetfootcare.co.uk

Evidence suggests there are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing. If you approach them with an open mind and try them, you can judge the results yourself. Connect. Connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.

IT'S AS IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR CHILDREN'S EYES EXAMINED AS IT IS TO HAVE THEIR TEETH CHECKED An eye examination is free for all children under the age of 19 who are still in full time education and NHS will also give your child a voucher towards the cost of spectacles if required. VISION SCREENING IS NO LONGER CARRIED OUT WITHIN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM Some tell tale signs you should look out for: • Skipping or re-reading lines • Holding books close to his or her face

Maintaining good foot health becomes increasingly important with age, with most problems being related to general wear and tear and ill fitting footwear. The average person walks around 115,000 miles in a life time, more than four times around the earth! (or 3 times depending on which website you look at!). Many people wear shoes that are a size too small. The size worn in teens and twenties is often smaller than that needed in our forties and fifties, through increasing load on feet by weight gain and changes to foot structure. Afternoon is thought to be the best time to shop for shoes when feet are at their most swollen to avoid those inevitable blisters and sore heels often experienced when ‘wearing in’ new shoes.

So why is good foot care so important? To maintain mobility and to avoid ‘slips, trips and broken hips’ and future problems! Untreated corns, callus (hard skin), verruca, and long or in-growing toenails can cause pressure and pain altering the way we walk (gait) causing foot, hip or back pain. Broken skin may become infected resulting in sepsis or ulceration; particular care is needed by diabetics who tend to be more susceptible to foot problems. Socrates (471-401bc) said “To him whose feet hurt everything hurts”. Simple treatment can often make a world of difference to how our feet feel, and therefore to our whole health and well being. Useful websites: www.foot.com/site/ professional/foot-facts, www.nhs. uk, www.patient.co.uk

• Complaining of print "running together"or jumping • Short attention span • Complaining of frequent headaches • Unduly distracted by other activities • Blinking frequently • Difficulty with hand eye co-ordination • A dislike of bright lights • Bumping into things

different options with you and only recommend spectacles that suit both your child's needs and your budget.

GLASSES FOR YOUNG EYES You'll find that our practice offers a wide range of attractive styles specially designed for young faces. Many frames have soft nose pads for extra comfort and sprung hinges to stand up to the rough and tumble of everyday life. Children must feel comfortable about wearing spectacles - or they won't use them when they should. So we take great care to explain why glasses are important, as well as ensuring that they fit well and look good. Normally we supply modern plastic lenses as they are safer and lighter than glass. They're available with special coatings which resist scratches and block out potentially harmful UV light. For even greater protection, however, there are lenses made of polycarbonate. Although more expensive, they are virtually unbreakable and are ideal for children. We will discuss the

TESTING YOUNG EYES Regular eye examinations could be crucial for your child's healthcare and personal development. Ideally your child should have an eye test before his or her first birthday, with further check-ups at around eighteen months and three years. That way any problems can be discovered well before school starts. A large proportion of squints, for example, develop before the age of three. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF YOUR CHILD IS TOO YOUNG TO TALK OR READ A LETTER CHART. Our optometrists use a range of techniques and modern equipment to detect visual problems at any age. You are also encouraged to take part in the eye test and ask any questions about your child's vision. Article supplied by Bonita Irish FBDO Hallcroft Opticians Shepshed 01509 650666

| LOCAL NEWS

FAMILIES AND STAFF AT EAST MIDLANDS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE THRILLED AS DAVID WALLIAMS BECOMES PATRON

everybody loved him and we appreciated him spending valuable time with our children, young people and their families.”

ainbows Hospice for Children and Young People is delighted to announce David Walliams as its newest patron. Mr Walliams visited the East Midlands’ only children hospice last month, and was so moved by the families he met and the work of the charity, he wanted to get on board. The children, young people, families and staff at Rainbows are all overjoyed to have his valued support. As a Rainbows Patron, Mr Walliams will be supporting the hospice in whatever way his busy schedule allows, which will be

invaluable in raising the profile of the charity. Ahead of his last visit, he donated personally signed copies of his books to the children and their siblings and said that he looked forward to visiting again. Mr Walliams said “I am thrilled to become a patron for Rainbows. It’s a very special place with incredibly inspiring people. I have recently been to the hospice and met some of the children and their families. They have to deal with so much and Rainbows is there for them with smiles, laughter and lots of care and support. I was so moved by the positive atmosphere, that I wanted to get involved. It

PUBLIC SPEAKING SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS OF OUR LADY’S CONVENT SCHOOL Our Lady’s Convent School (OLCS), Loughborough has an established ethos of educating the whole individual, focusing on helping each student achieve to their best abilities both academically and in life skills; as demonstrated by the School’s senior public speaking team. Recently a team of three reached the Rotary Youth Speaks District Final. The Year 12s; Amelia (Millie) Elliott, Frances Devine and Christina O’Dowd, battled against teams from other schools for a place in the National finals. Whilst they didn’t make it through to the next stage Millie was

presented with an award for the Best Speaker of the regional competition. The following day Millie competed at the Catenian Public Speaking competition; an extremely challenging contest. Our Lady’s Convent School has a strong tradition of developing excellent public speakers and in the last six years students have achieved three first places and one second in this competition. Millie spoke on the topic "Technology is not necessarily improving the quality of our lives" and impressed the judges with her delivery and argument to finally be announced

will be my pleasure to help raise awareness of this charity to help all of the children, young people and families.” Geoff Ellis, chief executive at Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People, added “To have Mr Walliams on board is very exciting and we are extremely happy that he has pledged his support to us; we are delighted to welcome him as our newest patron. We are very grateful to all of our patrons and ambassadors for the wonderful work they do for Rainbows and for promoting the charity all over the UK. When Mr Walliams visited last month,

Mr Walliams first heard about Rainbows when Susan Taylor very sadly lost her life swimming the English Channel for Rainbows last year. Although he didn't know Susan personally, Mr Walliams was very touched by her story and donated to Rainbows through her Virgin Money website as well as sending messages to Mrs Taylor’s family. This year, Rainbows is celebrating 20 years of care and to commemorate its birthday, the charity wants to raise an extra £100,000 over the year to help fund more children’s nurses. Rainbows cares for 288 children and young people with life-limiting and terminal illnesses as well as supporting 249 bereaved families and 521 siblings. Through its outreach efforts into East Midlands paediatric oncology units, Rainbows is also caring for a growing number of the region’s children with cancer. For more information, visit www. rainbows.co.uk

winner of the Regional Catenian Public Speaking 2014 event. She will now represent the School at the National competition in Manchester in September. BELOW: Amelia, Christina and Frances with their Rotary Youth Speaks 2014 awards

ABOVE: Amelia receiving her certificate for first place in the Regional Catenian Public Speaking Competition from Grand President, John Rayer

LOCAL ADVERTISERS HS

‘Early Summer Fair’ SATURDAY 31 MAY & SUNDAY 1 JUNE

10am to 5pm at Newtown Linford Local Produce, Arts & Crafts, Gifts, Demonstrations, Maypole Dancing and much more! New Stallholders Welcome! Please contact the Estate Office for further details & booking forms - Tel: 0116 236 2713

www.bradgatepark.org www.facebook.com/BradgateParkTrust

Foot Care continues to expand Foot Care Services opens new surgery in Mountsorrel

On 6th March Mr. Brian Allard Chairman of the Mountsorrel ‘Relief in Need’ Charity officially opened the new HS Foot Care Services surgery, run by HCPC Registered Podiatrists Alan and Maxime Postlethwaite (father and daughter team) at 34A Halstead Road, Mountsorrel LE12 7HF. The surgery has grown through demand and now caters for nail surgery onsite, and has included a walkway to allow for biomechanical assessments and manufacture of bespoke orthotics on the same day.

Tel: 0116 210 6413 www.hsfcs.co.uk

Alan and Maxime together combine their skills in ‘At Risk’ conditions and biomechanical corrections as well as offering the expected range of foot care such as cutting nails, debriding corns, callus and verrucae treatment finishing with a foot massage. Over the years we have formed working relationships with other health professionals, especially Chiropractic and local GP surgeries. Multidisciplinary team working is becoming essential!

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The new surgery is in the same premises o n Halstead Rd but now caters for nail surgery, the added size also allowing for extended gait analysis.

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presents Rodgers’ & Hammerstein’s

Tues. 13th to Sat. 17th MAY 2014 7.30pm nightly

Matinee on Saturday 17th at 2.15pm

Tickets – Adult £8.00 - Child £7.00 - OAP £7.00 (Tues. ONLY)

Ticket line 01530 834575 - email tickets@tpads.org.uk

Music by RICHARD RODGERS Lyrics by OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II Book by HOWARD LINDSAY and RUSSELL CROUSE Suggested by the “Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp This amateur production is presented by arrangement with JOSEF WEINBURGER Ltd. on behalf of Theatricals of New York

www.tpads.org.uk

| KIDS CORNER

Christie Cat and her yummy carrot muffins

hristie Cat decided to bake some yummy carrot muffins. The sun was shining and she could hear the birds singing through her open kitchen window. Christie started to weigh out all the ingredients she needed and put them in to a large mixing bowl. Christie then went to the pantry to get the carrots but Oh NO! She hadn’t any left. She was very sad, Carrot muffins are her favourite and she was really looking forward to them.

Christie told Daniel all about her plan to make carrot muffins and that she hadn’t any carrots left so would have to have plain muffins instead. ‘Don’t worry’ said Daniel Dog, ‘I have lots of carrots growing in my garden, I shall go and dig some up for you.’ Christie was so happy, with Daniels help she finished baking her carrot muffins and as a thank you she invited Daniel to stay and share the muffins. So Christie and Daniel sat in the garden eating homemade (and home grown) carrot muffins and drinking fresh lemonade. ‘Do you know what Daniel?’ said Christie, ‘I think cakes taste better when shared with friends’. ‘I think you’re right!’ said Daniel.

Just then Christie Cat heard Daniel Dog shouting ‘Hello’ over the garden fence. ‘Lovely day Christie’ He shouted. ‘I suppose so’ replied Christie. ‘What’s wrong?’ said Daniel.

Q: What kind of jewellery do rabbits wear? A: 14 carrot gold.

Q: What happened to the Easter Bunny when he misbehaved at school? A: He was eggspelled!

Q: What day does an Easter egg hate the most? A: Fry-days.

Q: Why didn't the Easter egg cross the road? A: Because he wasn't a chicken yet!

Q: What do you call a rabbit with fleas? A: Bugs Bunny!

Q: Why did the Easter egg hide? A: He was a little chicken!

Decorate This Easter Egg Win A Kids Personalised T-Shirt!

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