November 2020 - Your Local Ratby, Kirby Muxloe & Leicester Forest East

YOUR LOCAL 6,800 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH - RATBY, KIRBY MUXLOE & LFE - NOVEMBER 2020

A brand new book telling the continuing story of the UK’s biggest heritage railway project…

A VA N ILA O B W L ! E

REUNIFICATION - THE STORY SO FAR 60 full colour pages, featuring unpublished pictures and never heard stories from this epic Great Central Railway project to create an 18 mile line.

Great Central Railway Brand New Book Reunification The Story So Far

By Tom Ingall with contributions from Alan Kemp, Tony Sparks, Nigel Harris, Lili Tabiner, Andrew Morley and George Green.

Special foreword by Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail.

Just £10, plus £2.50 postage per book All proceeds to the appeal Order now, via email to blycett.gcr@gmail.com

Order now for Christmas!

Christmas Appeal For Leicestershire Animal Aid

Supported by the Friends of the Great Central Main Line

The Charnwood Gardener Befriend The Bullies

The Kirby Muxloe War Memorial We Need Your Help!

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£25 donation to The Royal British Legion when you take out a funeral plan*

Plan ahead with Anstey & District, your trusted local funeral director When you’re thinking about something as important as your funeral arrangements, it makes sense to talk directly to the experts.

As your local independent funeral director, we can help you specify your wishes, organise the send-off you want and fix the cost of our services in advance,1 with a Golden Charter funeral plan.

It’s a simple, thoughtful way to plan ahead, that lets you decide on all the main details, so there’s no uncertainty and fewer stressful decisions for your family later on.

Help save your family from the worry of funeral costs and arrangements Express your wishes and arrange the send-off you want Avoid future rises in funeral directors’ costs A choice of plans and affordable ways to pay Easy to apply – with no medical questions

OUR FUNERAL PLAN GUARANTEE Funeral costs have gone up 55% in less than ten years.2 Taking out a plan now will lock the funeral director’s services covered by your plan at today’s prices. No matter how much prices rise in the future, once your plan is paid for,3 there’ll be nothing more to pay for these services – guaranteed.

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Golden Charter is one of the UK’s largest funeral plan providers and we’re proud to offer their funeral plans to our families.4 1. Additional costs may apply at time of need for third party services, which are beyond a funeral director’s control.

2. SunLife Cost of Dying Report 2020. 3. Or after 2 years’ consecutive payments if paying by the fixed monthly payment option. 4. For details, please see goldencharter.co.uk/legal-disclaimer

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Deadline Date: Friday 4th December Delivery Date: Friday 11th December

Deadline and delivery dates are subject to change without prior notice.

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News From The Village Writers

Anstey Local History Society

Article by The Village Writers

Article by Jane Cole

We have reached our 5th birthday!

Can You Help?

Thank you to the people who contacted Pat Bates re Marwins Engineering as a result of last month’s enquiry.

Though no longer meeting 'in the flesh, ' we are maintaining regular emailing.

Members write, usually to a homework title, set in advance. These are emailed to ALL other members. Everybody is expected to respond with creative comments intended to help the writer.

This month our enquiry is from Pam Abbott who would like some information about her mother, Freda Evans.

The Evans family moved to Anstey around 1912 and left around 1938.

We remain open to NEW members.

There is NO set standard or form of writing for would-be members to reach.

The only requirements for joining are: an interest in writing for a responsive audience, and a wish to increase your power to write more effectively.

Pam’s Mum, Freda Evans, had an accident in 1935, and was badly burned, spending most of that year in the LRI and convalescing at the Zachary Merton and Ellen Towle homes.

Interested? contact David on aschons98@ gmail.com

The family were living in Edward Street at the time and apparently her life was saved by a man painting a house nearby, who rushed to help her when she ran out of the house.

I touch earth's wonder; take time to be in the space and kneel down to feel and hold it in my hands, the velvety smooth textures sift through my fingers my eyes sparkle at the richness of colours earth bestows us.

I reach for my trowel to create a space to plant bulbs for the future and make random holes for you to sleep in, my gentle hands releasing you to behold an abundance of surprise to awaken to in Springtime.

I breathe in the Autumn air, the freshness of the change of season the warmth of golden hues change before me, surrounded by the leaves which trickle down into layers of a copper gold carpet evolving into a mulch.

The death of light disappears into a cold darkness as I am urged to close down for the winter to come and move into a slower state of comfy nurturing layers; an awareness of energy change of contrasts encircle me.

I feel reflective as I walk away and approach my base indoors and pause to see a spider walk the tightrope of its life and I watch you weave along your life’s path, fascinated by the pace of your pattern of flow.

I feel grounded in my space having touched earth, touched nature, touched stillness, touched base.

She was given a Christmas present by the Anstey Carnival Committee.

If anyone is able to help Pam with any information concerning this event please contact Anstey Local history Society: Either by using the contact form on our website ansteyhistory.com or ring / text: 07870 197 958

The Long-Term Implications Of Lockdown And How It Has Increased The Levels Of Alcohol Consumption The Last Orders Project

Article by Nikky Miles

Sales of alcohol from local stores and supermarkets have jumped in 2020 with more people than ever choosing to drink at home.

Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland’s Last Orders Project is working alongside Turning Point to provide free support for anyone over the age of 50 in relation to alcohol or substance misuse. If you would like a confidential chat with our team about yourself or a loved one, please contact Jackie on: 07734960241 or email hollie.hughes@ageukleics.org.uk

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Bradgate Rotary News Article by Adrian Walker

Christmas Trail - 12 Days of Christmas – 12/12/20 10 to 12 It’s all the 12s for the Bradgate Rotary Christmas Trail! On 12th December we will be holding a 12 Days of Christmas, family-orientated trail around the village, starting at 10am and finishing 12noon.

We will work with you, our customers and partners, and respect their wishes on preferred means of contact, following good hygiene and safe distancing.

LevLaw Ltd remains here for you. (previously Kornerstone Legal Services)

Starting from Groby Village Hall, where there will be take-away refreshments available, follow the route around the centre of the village, find the pictures and letters and work out Santa’s Secret Message!

Santa and his sleigh will be there too! Only £3 per family. All funds raised will be for local charities -LOROS Hospice and Leicester Children’s Holidays.

Santa and his Sleigh Look out for the posters and social media posts regarding Santa’s December visits to Groby and other local villages. The Rotary Club are looking to create a Covid-safe way of ensuring children and young-at-heart adults get to see Santa.

Coming up In 2021 …..

Plans are already being made to include a Valentine Scarecrow Weekend over the 13th/14th February, a Walking Market event in May and the very successful Family Funday and Obstacular at Ulverscroft Grange in September.

Bradgate Calendar goes Global!

The 2021 Bradgate Park calendar, produced by Bradgate Rotary, is making its way to all parts of the world as local families send them to their loved ones across the globe! So far it has been reported that they have been sent to Australia, New Zealand, California, Sweden, South Africa and India.

Bradgate Rotary, based in Groby, and covering the villages surrounding Leicester’s top attraction, Bradgate Park, have produced the official Bradgate Park calendar available for just £5.00.

The calendar, features some of the best photography of the Park, following a recent photography competition, attracting entries from photo enthusiasts to snaps taken on phones. From the 500 plus entries the top 12 were selected to form the calendar.

Bradgate Rotary raised all the funds with their recent pizza delivery service, aided by the Stamford Arms staff, and sponsorship from local companies.

This has enabled the calendar to be produced and printed with all the proceeds of sales going to Bradgate Park and other Rotary- supported local charities, including LOROS Hospice and Leicester Children’s Holidays.

The Rotary members have been selling calendars in Bradgate Park at weekends and have already sold over 400 to visitors to the park.

The calendars are available from: Bradgate Park, The Stamford Arms, Groby PO and Groby, Ratby, Anstey and Markfield libraries, or mail order on the website www.bradgaterotaryevents.co.uk

Protecting Your Family’s Inheritance Article by Klara Hesling

Most people hope that their estate will pass on to their children and grandchildren eventually.

But this will not happen for many, unless careful arrangements have been made to protect their assets from being taken towards the end of their life to pay for care home fees. The solution to help protect your estate is a Will incorporating a Property Protection Trust (PPT).

A testamentary PPT can only be executed whilst both partners remain alive. Upon death of the first partner, their Will specifies that their share of the property is placed into trust and names the ultimate beneficiary of this share, normally the children and grandchildren of the deceased. The surviving partner, under the terms of the trust, has the unequivocal right to remain living in the property for the rest of their life. On the death of the second partner the Trust comes to an end and the property passes to the beneficiaries.

As the surviving partner does not own the deceased’s share of the property it is fully protected for the beneficiaries, so if the surviving partner requires care, or even remarries, this share of the children’s inheritance is protected. This last point can be particular interest to couples who have come together and have children with different partners.

A PPT can help each person in a relationship ensuring that their children inherit their share of the property, while giving their surviving partner the ability to live in the property for the rest of their life. If the surviving partner wants to move to another property, they can still sell the property and the proceeds to be used to purchase a new property, the terms of the Trust remain over the new property.

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*Our prices include VAT. These very special rates are only available if you are over 60 years old. Normal price for standard Will £125, £195 for two. We also provide Funeral Plans. LPA if instructed without a Will it is £105. LevLaw Ltd was previously Kornerstone Legal Services Ltd. LevLaw Ltd is in association with LevLaw Wealth Protection Ltd.

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Ozzy O’shea County Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Lockdown hopefully this simple guide may help residents.

Here are all the things you can and can't do from Thursday, November 5: A simple Guide to the National Lockdown Rules.

• People will be told to stay at home except for education, work (if it can't

be done from home), exercise and recreation, medical reasons, shopping for food and other essentials, or to care for others • All pubs and restaurants will have to close (takeaways and deliveries can continue) • All non-essential shops will have to close (supermarkets can sell nonessential goods) • Households will not be allowed to mix with others indoors, or in private gardens • Individuals can meet one person from outside their household in an outside public space • Support bubbles for people who live alone and households made up of single parents and children can continue • Children will be able to move between homes if their parents are separated • Schools, nurseries, colleges and universities will remain open • Hotels will only open for people who have to travel for work plus a number of other limited reasons • Weddings and civil partnership ceremonies will not be allowed, apart from exceptional circumstances • Places of worship will generally close but funerals, with a maximum of 30 people attending, individual prayer, and a few other activities will be allowed • Workplaces will be asked to stay open if people cannot work from home including construction and manufacturing • Outdoor exercise and recreation will be allowed, but gyms will have to close • Clinically vulnerable advised not to go to work if they are unable to work from home

another website in new window or email environmentgrant@leics.gov.uk Leicestershire County Council steps in to extend free school meals Around £500k has been earmarked for the rest of the school year Half-a-million pounds is being earmarked to extend free school meals during holidays for the rest of this academic year, Leicestershire County Council has announced.

The move is designed to ensure that children and young people won’t go hungry during the Christmas, half-term and Easter breaks – and will benefit the 12,000 pupils across Leicestershire who are eligible for free school meals.

During the pandemic, the council has also: • Given over half-a-million-pounds of Government funding to food banks and community groups this autumn – Leicestershire’s slice of the £63m from Defra • Launched a £1.5m fund to support communities – a hospice, a homelessness service and a charity supporting young, older and vulnerable people are just three of those awarded money • Established a £750,000 fund supporting small businesses to get back on their feet – with around £400,000 awarded so far • Set up a dedicated team to ensure the 25,000 people identified as ‘shielded’ by the NHS have support and care in place, if required – and delivered hundreds of emergency food parcels and prescriptions • Criteria for free school meals are set by the Government.

I emailed the leader of the Council Nick Rushton requesting that our council look at supporting children across County. I am pleased that our officers at his request have managed to crunch the numbers to find the money to support our vulnerable children.

“Times are still tough – and we simply can’t have children going hungry during the pandemic. So we’re stepping up to plug the gap and help thousands of families who need support.

Our schools have already had their half-term but we’re committing funding for the rest of this school year. Not only is this the right thing to do, it underlines our commitment to providing the help and support our children and families need.” Nick Rushton Council Leader.

After 2 December, different regions will return to the tiers system, depending upon the rates of infection

New SEND plans given the go-ahead The aim is to strengthen the support for children and young people with special educational needs (SEN) and disabilities in Leicestershire.

SHIRE Environment Grants of up to £3,000.

Community groups and organisations are being invited to apply for the latest round of SHIRE Environment Grants of up to £3,000.

New plans to help strengthen the support for children and young people with Special Educational Needs (SEN) and Disabilities in Leicestershire have been given the thumbs up.

The scheme aims to help projects that minimise household waste, reduce carbon emissions and improve biodiversity through new and innovative projects.

Leicestershire County Council, East Leicestershire and Rutland Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and West Leicestershire CCG worked with schools, parents, carers and young people to draw up the plans, known as a Written Statement of Action (WSoA).

Examples of projects that could be eligible for funding include development of local community green spaces that increase biodiversity, creation of habitats, green roofs or living walls to local repair and give or take events.

One organisation that has already benefited from a grant of £2,398 is Countesthorpe Parish Council, which enabled them to install two 5000L water harvesting tanks in the village hall grounds.

The tanks collect run-off rainwater that is used by the parish council for such things as watering planters around the village, keeping the area in bloom without negatively impacting on the environment.

The rainwater is also used for cleaning vehicles and equipment, giving the parish council the opportunity to re-coup the initial installation costs through reducing their water usage.

Projects must be located in Leicestershire (not including Leicester City or Rutland) and should help reduce the amount of household waste or greenhouse gas emissions within communities, improve biodiversity or support sustainable green spaces. A simplified application process is also available for smaller grants of up to £300.

The application deadline for the current round of funding is Friday, 30 October 2020.

The application deadline for the current round of funding is Friday, 30 October 2020.

For further information and how to apply, visit www. leicestershirecommunities.org.uk/grants/environment-grant.htmlOpens

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The requirement to submit an action plan followed the inspection of the county’s SEND offer by OFSTED and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) which took place in February.

Although a number of positives were highlighted, inspectors did say that urgent action was needed to improve Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plans and develop a joint commissioning strategy.

Now Ofsted has written to the council and CCGs approving the Written Statement of Action which it says is comprehensive, provides clear timescales and focuses on tackling the two concerns raised in their inspection report.

Improving the experience for children, young people, parents and carers who go through the process of needs assessment for EHC plans is a key focus of the changes.

We would like to thank all the children, young people and their families who have worked with us to share their views and co-produce these new plans, whilst at the same time helping us to put a number of changes and improvements in place over the summer.

“Their input has been invaluable, and we are delighted that Ofsted has recognised the work that has gone into formulating them.

Improving SEND services here in Leicestershire is one of our very top priorities, which is reflected in the £30m we are making to build new schools and specialist SEND resourced bases in our schools.”

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Deborah Taylor, cabinet member for children and families “The inspection findings in February have afforded us an opportunity to shine a light on areas that were underdeveloped, and it has focused our attention on improving services for children and young people with education and health needs.

Joint working with local authority partners, schools and most importantly the co-production with those affected has been key and has resulted in a robust and deliverable plan” Caroline Trevithick, Chief Nurse to the CCGs There are nearly 203,000 children and young people aged 0-24 in Leicestershire. More than 11,000 have SEND support and 3,801 have an EHC Plan.

Advance Notice of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order Road Closure.

A Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is to be made for the following location: Main Street, Ratby. The purpose of the TTRO is to allow STW and their contractors to undertake the installation of a new water connection.

The TTRO will incorporate a temporary road closure. The duration of the restriction is not anticipated to exceed a period of 1 day commencing on the 28th November 2020.

Darker Nights Police Campaign.

The aim of the Darker Nights campaign is to raise awareness about the risks of being burgled during the darker nights, as well as providing tips and advice on how to keep your home safe. We also want to encourage people to report suspicious behaviour to the police.

This message is a long term message to be considered throughout the Autumn/Winter period.

Please take a few minutes to have a look through some of the below advice and links for further information. *Protect your home from burglars, keep valuables out of sight and don’t leave cash or keys near windows and doors. *Burglars will often target items such as cash and jewellery. Please try to limit cash at your property. Ensure all jewellery, even if just of sentimental value is kept out of sight and put somewhere secure and difficult for a criminal to find. *A house without a light on can look unoccupied, there are simple things you can do to make sure your house looks lived in, even when you’re out. *If you have a house alarm, ensure you set it before you go out. Ensure all doors and windows are locked. Consider security items such as window alarms. *Lights on indoors gives the impression someone is home. Use timer switches to automatically turn on lighting and lamps when you’re away or out for the evening. *Burglars don’t like external security lights, make sure you use these during the darker nights, for more tips on keeping your home safe, visit: www.leics. police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ *Burglars will often look for homes that seem unoccupied during the darker nights, if you see someone acting suspiciously in your street please report this to us online www.leics.police.uk/report-online or by calling 101. Always call 999 in an emergency or if you witness a crime in action.

Worried about keeping your home safe during the darker nights? Don’t be – we have lots of information & advice on our website about how to keep your home secure www.leics.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ Did you know you can report crime and incidents using our online portal.

Please visit www.leics.police.uk/ Click on REPORT. In an emergency dial 999 Shop Safely Online Black Friday and Cyber Monday Are Nearly Here

something you’re buying or selling in an online auction or marketplace, such as eBay, Gumtree or Etsy.

Online auctions and marketplaces have become a very popular way of trading online, but fraudsters are using them to take advantage of your trust to sell poor-quality or non-existent items. You may find that something you’ve bought online arrives late or never at all. In some cases the products you’ve paid for are less valuable than shown in the advert, different from the original description, or you weren’t told crucial information about the product or terms of the sale.

What can be done if you are a victim?

If you paid via bank transfer, debit card or PayPal this guide from consumer rights organisation Which? explains how you might be able to get your money back after you have been scammed. www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/how-to-get-your-money-backafter-a-scam How to shop online safely • Before you enter your payment details into a webpage, ensure that it’s using a secure connection. Look for a small padlock symbol in the address bar (usually next to the web address). The web address of the payment page should begin with https. The ‘S’ stands for secure. Avoid carrying out any financial transactions over unsecure connections, such as public wi-fi.

• Remember, when you’re making a payment online, you’ll be asked for the 3 digit security (CVV) number on the back of your card; but you should never be asked for your card’s PIN or any internet banking passwords.

• If you’re buying something online that costs between £100 to £30,000, credit cards offer increased consumer protection over debit cards.

• If you’re unfamiliar with a site you want to buy something from, do some research first and look for ratings and reviews from customers that have previously used the site. Always be cautious about offers that seem too good to be true, or if a site or seller requests payment via a bank or money transfer service.

• Always ensure that you install software and app updates as soon as they’re available for your device. Install anti-virus software on your devices and remember to keep it updated. Some forms of malware can intercept and steal the payment details you enter into online shopping or banking sites.

How to shop safely on online market places • Check the item description carefully and ask the seller questions if you’re unsure of something.

• Know the terms and conditions of the auction website, including its dispute resolution policy.

• Pay on the auction site every time and don’t click on links the seller sends to you. Never pay by money/bank transfer – use a recognised service such as PayPal which protects your money until you’ve resolved any problems with the seller.

Be suspicious if: • The buyer or seller has a bad feedback history or has only recently set up a new account to avoid a poor reputation.

• You get a private message or email offering to buy below the current bid or reserve price or to sell a similar item after an auction has ended.

• You find an expensive item for sale at an incredibly low starting bid. If an offer sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.

If you have been the victim of a fraud please report it to Action Fraud www. actionfraud.police.uk or call 0300 123 2040 Please do not report crime or Incidents via 'Neighbourhood Link' as the messages are not always monitored.

I work closely with trading standards and Leicestershire police as a retired officer. If you suspect you could be a victim of a scam I am always here to help.

During ‘Lockdown’, Online Shopping fraud has increased and it is really important people know what to look out for and how to protect themselves from this type of crime especially in the run up to Christmas.

Finally I want to thank you all for your continued support and remind you that should you need my help or advice, I always pride myself on making myself available to residents. Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

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Online shopping fraud happens when you discover a problem with

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Ozzy O’shea Borough Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Planning Application 20/00711/REM Oakland school of Riding This latest application sought to gain permission in terms of Design and layout which now becomes a full permission.

We both spoke out again against this proposal. Chris, whilst living adjacent to the site, was therefore unable to vote on the application as a Ward Councillor, However he spoke to the Liberal Dem controlled committee asking them to see reason and to remind them of the most dangerous entrance and exit on to Markfield Road.

Ozzy, who does not sit on the Planning Committee, also spoke passionately against this proposal to the committee pointing out the dangerous entrance and exit which he stressed was on a dangerous bend and with his police experience said it was an accident waiting to happen. Ozzy also pointed out that the application failed policy DM10 on Design and Layout as some of the planned houses would be higher than those houses on Markfield Road due to ground levels, and they would look directly into the gardens of the existing properties along Markfield Rd. All of this was ignored under the direction of Planning Officers and the Leader of HBBC, Cllr Stuart Bray, He alleged that it was Ozzy's fault as he had failed to convince LCC Highways to refuse this application.

ChrisBorough Boothby Councillor T: 0116 2912796 M: 07306 390543 E: chris.boothby@hotmail.co.uk

They are still able to refuse applications on Highway grounds even if Highways do not object. County Highways are a consultee and only put a recommendation to the Borough. The administration have refused applications in their area’s which had safer entrances than this. What we are facing now is an Administration that seem powerless to stop Officers calling the shots and we in the Rural Communities are under real threat from incongruous developers who see us as an easy target.

Nevertheless, we will both stand up for what is right and seek to protect Ratby. We may not always win but we will always do our best because that is what we were elected to do.

Work started on this site on Monday 9th November 2020.

Lockdown do you need help.

The Rev Ed Bampton through St Phillips and St James Church will be offering support to residents during the period of lockdown. If you need help please ring the Churches Together Contact Number 07368655656. Out of Hours emergencies only 07757302271 Ozzy or Chris will always try and help.

Nothing could be further from the truth as Ozzy had numerous meeting with highways raising serious safety concerns with officers over the entrance to this site. The Planning decision lies firmly with the Borough Council with its planning officers and the committee.

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Once again, we take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support and remember we are only a phone call away.

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The Charnwood Gardener Article by Peter Flood Befriend the Bullies A few of the gardens I tend are so large compared to their respective houses that I’ve decided the original tenants must have been Viking chieftains, Centranthus will grow almost anywhere... not content with anything less than a small county for their back yard. To keep such spaces permanently pristine would require me to live on-site, gardening through the night - something which neither I, nor my clients, are particularly keen on.

As a result, these gardens necessitate a relaxed attitude towards chaos. Well-frequented areas are kept in check, but the wider garden needs some more imaginative management.

One effective technique is to introduce plants that would be considered thugs in a normal setting. The idea is to outcompete the relentless armies of perennial weeds (such as green alkanet, ground elder and bindweed) with aggressive but attractive interlopers. You don’t need to have several acres to put this into effect – it works well if you’d like a naturalistic and low-maintenance garden too.

Here are some of my favourites: Centranthus ruber (red valerian) This indestructible sun-worshiper will go berserk and reward you with a lengthy display of deep pink flowers. Leave the seed-heads in July to encourage self-seeding.

Fragaria vesca (wild/alpine strawberry) These little warriors can colonise an entire border in a couple of seasons – be warned! Not only do they make fabulous ground cover to keep down weeds, but the fruit attracts birds to the garden (and is delicious on ice cream).

Symphoricarpus alba (Snowberry) The only shrub on the list, Symphoricarpus will form a dense thicket through which nothing can invade. The flowers are unremarkable but striking white berries cling to the branches through early winter.

Persicaria amplexicaulis (red bistort) Another common name for this is knotweed, so you know it’s going to run riot. Vivid red bottle brush flowers persist until late in the season. It quite likes a moist spot.

NOVEMBER TIP: Relocate any bonfire wood you’ve collected prior to setting it alight. Mice, hedgehogs and all manner of invertebrates could have moved in.

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Christmas Day For The Elderly And Alone In Anstey And Surrounding Villages Article by Kerry Sharpe

For the past 15 years there has been a meal for those who would be alone on the day but for obvious reasons we can’t do that this year we usually cater for 95 people!!!

BUT we want to do something, so we will be providing a goody bag as full as possible with foody treats!

Could you spare a yummy treat? Perhaps A chocolate orange, box of chocolates, box or packet of biscuits, matchsticks or aldi/lidl equivalent, after eights, packets of crisps, sweets (denture friendly ones !), anything non-perishable that’s not too heavy basically.

ONLY FOOD PLEASE – No toiletries or other goods for this year thanks, that’s as I cannot mix the goody bags with other things as toiletries for eg. They won’t be able to go into the bag with food.

Usually we will do toiletries etc.. as prizes but obviously things are different this year!

PLEASE NO…. Cans, bottles, anything too heavy - as everything will need to be able to go into a carrier bag and our volunteers will be trekking around delivering them!

If you can help with any of the above – Nationwide in Anstey have once again kindly offered to be a drop off point – so please drop any donations of food , cash or cheque (please make that payable to Christmas Day Alone) to them by 16th December - or contact me as below. Thanks for reading.

Kerry Sharpe – 07979 607099 kerryjane34@yahoo.com

Remember Remember Article by Kirby Lad

First winds of winter whistling past Stripping the trees with fearsome blasts The glorious golds and reds near gone Treetops becoming bleak and drawn Like bared armed giants marching forth To fight a distant unknown war Yet in these unforgiving climes We venture forth, remember times When secret plots and plans were formed Gunpowder found, treason performed Guy Fawkes, and others, did connive But failed and then they lost their lives But not with sadness do we mark This date when winters early dark Should drive us shivering indoors No, celebration is our cause We aim to paint the sky with light Set fires to drive away the night Who could forget those days gone by Fountains of gold burst in the sky As roman candles sprayed and spluttered We ate baked spuds with dobs of butter Around our feet danced jumping jacks Waved sparklers making glowing tracks On fence posts spinning catherine wheels Spiralling sparks to make us squeal The bonfire’s heat scorches our cheeks The wood we’ve gathered up for weeks Crackling and blazing round the guy While bangers crack, and rockets fly

KIRBY MUXLOE LEVEL CROSSING STATION DRIVE

This crossing is receiving a lot of misuse where the vehicle gates are incorrectly being used by pedestrians and cyclists, and then the gates are not being closed.

NetworkRail is urging all pedestrians and cyclists to only use the pedestrian gates provided.

Should you find the vehicle gates open we encourage you to close the gates using the green buttons provided on each side of the crossing.

The vehicle gates do not auto-close and will only close if the green button is pressed.

IF YOU MISUSE THE CROSSING AND LEAVE THE GATES OPEN YOU ARE PUTTING OTHERS AT RISK. KEEP EACH OTHER SAFE

PLEASE CLOSE THE GATES Thank you for taking the time to read this notice

News From Leicester Forest East Parish Council Article by Paul Linnett

When I was writing my last article for Your Local on 3 July, half of Leicester Forest East was in lockdown and the other half wasn’t. A lot has happened in the last four months but unfortunately Covid-19 is still very much with us. Thankfully LFE is now whole again.

The parish council has continued to hold meetings via Zoom and until the end of August our clerk, Holly, was working from home. From 1 September she started working back at the parish office and was joined by our newly appointed assistant clerk, Leigh-Ann. Unfortunately the parish hall is not yet available for hire. The parish council is keeping this under review but it was decided that, because Covid cases have started to rise again, the hall would remain closed for the time being. It was also decided not to publish an autumn edition of the LiFE magazine and that is why I am writing in Your Local again – to keep you up to date with what is going on in our area.

We have gained a permanent member of staff but Councillor Paul Fox resigned in July this year after serving on the parish council for 8 years. This included three years as Chair. He was an excellent councillor who didn’t just attend meetings but also went the extra mile to do additional voluntary work for the council. He was very knowledgeable about the procedures and history of the parish council and we are missing his advice and knowledge at council and committee meetings. He also helped and supported me when I became Chair of the council. We now have vacancies for three councillors and so if you think you could give a little time to help improve our parish, please ring Holly at our parish office – telephone number 0116 239 0039 or send an email to clerk@lfeparishcouncil. org.uk to arrange to have a chat with her.

One of our former long serving parish councillors, Reg Neal, sadly died on 21 October, aged 96. He served on the council for over 25 years including two spells as Chair - 1991-1993 and 1997-2002. When I joined the council in 2013, Reg was attending meetings and chairing the planning committee even though he was in his late eighties. He decided not to seek re-election in 2015 and went to live with his daughter in Warwickshire. Following the extension and refurbishment of the parish hall, it was decided to call the new meeting room the Reg Neal room in his honour.

In this year’s budget, we decided to include a total of £5000 for grants. Voluntary or community groups will be able to apply for a grant to help fund projects which will benefit the people who live in Leicester Forest East. For further details, go to the parish council’s website. Please note that the closing date for receipt of applications is 31 December.

Over the last few years play equipment on Kings Walk Park has been taken away because of general wear and tear or vandalism. The council has decided to purchase a package of play equipment, which will be installed later this year.

Details are on the council’s website.

The council recently decided to investigate the possibility of installing solar panels on the parish hall roof. We will be obtaining quotes to ensure we get the best price because we see this as a green investment for the future.

You may be aware that the council has been working on a neighbourhood development plan. The work on this is

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almost complete and once in place will mean that Blaby District Council will have to bear in mind our plan when making planning decisions.

In previous editions of LiFE I have included reference to the car park in front of the chip shop and vaping shop. This car park continues to be in a poor state but the owner of the shops has informed the council that they are in contact with Sainsbury’s with a view to resurfacing the whole car park. Hopefully this potentially dangerous eyesore will soon be resurfaced properly.

There will be Christmas lights on the lampposts along Hinckley Road again this year. These will be the same as last year’s lights but the council is looking at increasing the budget provision for 2021/22 in order to provide better lights for next year. There will also be a Christmas tree at the front of St Andrew’s church.

Unfortunately there will be no switching on ceremony at the church this year but it will be shown virtually at 7.00pm on 1st December via the church’s Facebook page.

I would like to wish all readers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Keep safe and well Paul Linnett – Chair, LFE Parish Council.

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RATBY PRIMARY SCHOOL

The Blue Abyss Beat Band Boogie From Year 2 During this half term the children are going to be learning about their new topic ‘Beat Band Boogie.’ This topic focuses on Music.

In music the children will be learning all about different types of musical instruments and will get the chance to learn how to play boom whackers. They will be learning how to play the song ‘How Far I’ll Go’ from the Disney film Moana. In Design and Technology they will also be making their own musical instrument. Year 2 are very much looking forward to learning more about the ‘Beat Band Boogie’ topic and are excited to play musical instruments and make their own musical instruments.

Year 3 are diving into their new topic this term by creating underwater ocean scenes. Anything from starfish to seahorses made an appearance and the classes had great fun learning about the vast amount of species that live in the world’s oceans.

Art Day Ratby Primary School have been learning all about the book ‘The Dot’ written by Peter H. Reynolds.

On Thursday 15th October 2020 we held our very own Art day, where the whole school used inspiration from ‘The Dot’ to create their own versions using different cultural techniques.

EYFS, Year 1 and Year 2 learnt all about Rangoli art, Years 3 and 4 used African art patterns to create their dots and Years 5 and 6 created a mandala for their versions of ‘The Dot’.

Stargazers (Space)

By Ashton and Zac, Year 5

In Year 5, our last topic was Stargazers (Space), we learnt that in 1962, President John F Kennedy declared that by the end of the decade, the Americans would get a man on the Moon. And the USSR sent the first dog into space to make sure it was safe to send humans! The ‘Space Race’ lasted for 12 years from 1957 to 1969.

In 1969, the first man landed on the Moon. Before then, there were satellites setting off and a near-fatal crash landing! They were all dangerous missions. When a rocket ship was sent into space on a mission, to orbit Earth, one astronaut had problems on his return to Earth. As he tried to descend, the two parts of the ship, started to separate, but got held together by a cable. The astronaut was flung around, fortunately the heat eventually burnt through the cable! We found out that on the Moon, there was a Moon buggy used and, instead of a wheel to steer, it had a bar-shaped handle. It also had a dish antenna and a camera to send photos back to Earth! These are only some of the things we have learnt about Space!

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The range of creativity displayed was fantastic and all the children worked very hard to create their own unique designs. These will all be showcased on a huge, colourful display in our Peake Hall and winners have been chosen for creating art work to be displayed in an art gallery created by the Bradgate Education Partnership.

The children and teachers all had lots of fun creating their designs for the art day and cannot wait to see the finished work on display!

Predator Year 4 have started an exciting new topic this term, ‘Predator!’ They are excited to learn more about animal predators and predatory plants! We began our topic by creating flower models and learning about the functions of a plant. We have also set up an experiment to observe how plants grow in different conditions.

Our new class book this term is Krindlekrax by Philip Ridley, which has a fantastic storyline based around a boy called Ruskin and a mysterious beast who threatens Lizard Street. The children were hooked from Chapter 1 and can’t wait to find out what happens next!

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RATBY PRIMARY SCHOOL Year 6 Visit To Ratby War Memorial On Monday 26th October, year 6 started their new topic of ‘Fallen Fields’ all about World War 1.

To launch the topic, we walked to the war memorial just outside our school car park.

We were very proud of the children and how respectful and sensible they were when they paid their respects to all the soldiers.

Happy Diwali From Year 1 This week Year 1 have been learning about the religious celebration, Diwali. Diwali is one of the most popular dates on the Hindu calendar and this year it takes place from 13th to 16th November.

It is known as the ‘Festival of Lights’ and marks the beginning of a new year in some parts of the world. Diwali is a symbolic way to remember the story of Rama and Sita finding their way back home and this is why many people light divas around their homes. Year 1 made their own diva lamps using paper plates and Rangoli patterns.

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railway project…

National Lottery Heritage Fund Awards The Great Central Railway £250,000.00 Article by Michael Stokes

The Directors and Management of The Great Central Railway are delighted to announce that The National Lottery Heritage Fund have awarded £250,000 of support to the Railway from the Heritage Emergency Fund, which was set up to assist heritage organizations at risk due to the Covid-19 pandemic Speaking about the news, GCR’s Managing Director, Michael Gough said “This is a huge relief to all of our management, staff and volunteers and comes at a point when the Railway is going through an incredibly difficult and stressful time in navigating the impact of the Covid crisis. Despite the fact that significant hard work has gone into operational recovery with many services now running again, much of what we are able to do to generate essential income is severely hampered by restrictions, reductions in capacity and significantly increased costs and we are so grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund has agreed to help us with our recovery at this crucial time."

Anne Jenkins, Director, England, Midland’s & East at The National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: “Heritage has an essential role to play in making communities better places to live, supporting economic regeneration and benefiting our personal wellbeing. All of these things are going to be even more important as we emerge from this current crisis. Thanks to money raised by National Lottery players we are pleased to be able to lend our support to organisations such as The Great Central Railway during this uncertain time.”

A brand new book telling the continuing story of the UK’s biggest heritage railway project…

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By Tom Ingall Of The Work So Far Published with contributions from Alan Kemp, Tony Sparks, NigelFillingham Harris, Lili Tabiner, Andrew Morley and George Green.

Article by Andy

Special foreword by Sir Peter Hendy, Chairman of Network Rail.

More than ten percent of the funds for the next two stages of Just £10, plus £2.50 postage per book the Great Central Railways epic Reunification project have All proceeds to the appeal been raised by generous supporters. Three hundred and twenty thousand pounds is now in place towards an expected three Order now, via email to blycett.gcr@gmail.com million pound cost.

Orderwill now forseparate Christmas!

Reunification see two halves of the award winning line reconnected to create an eighteen mile heritage railway across Supported by the Friends of the Great Central Main Line the East Midlands. Five hundred metres of new railway needs to be built including bridges and embankments. Millions of pounds have already been raised and spent building one new bridge and completely refurbishing another ready for trains. The current appeal will pay for the next two stages which will be built together to reduce costs.

The Chairman of the Friends of the Great Central Main Line, Andy Fillingham said, “We’re obviously delighted to have reached another milestone in our fundraising. Donations continue to flow even though we are seven months into a pandemic. We receive contributions large and small and everything makes a difference and is humbling. It’s an amazing what have all achieved together and shows how people power is getting the two railways reconnected.”

Meanwhile a brand new sixty page colour book has been published which chronicles the story of the work carried out so far. It has been written by award winning journalist, broadcaster and ling term Great Central supporter Tom Ingall. With many previously unpublished photographs, its production has been sponsored by the Friends of the Great Central Main Line and every penny from sales will go to the appeal.

REUNIFICATION - THE STORY SO FAR 60 full colour pages, featuring unpublished pictures and never heard stories from this epic Great Central Railway project to create an 18 mile line.

By Tom Ingall with contributions from Alan Kemp, Tony Sparks, Nigel Harris, Lili Tabiner, Andrew Morley and George Green.

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Tom said “What a privelege it has been to write this book. Unseen photographs and untold tales from the UKs biggest heritage railway project! Who could resist? We’ve already come a long way towards a project many said was impossible. At £10 each every copy will help push our fundraising total even higher. We’ve cheekily called this ‘volume one’. The sooner we sell out, the sooner I hope to be writing ‘volume two’ as the story continues!”

The book is available now and can be ordered via email to blycett.gcr@gmail.com Consultant engineers have now been engaged to guide the railway towards the construction of the next phases of the Reunification project including the necessary paperwork and permissions required. Building work will only resume once the majority of the funding for phase three and four are in place.

You can find out more about the project and how to donate at www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify

Top 5 things to consider when your loved one is coming home from hospital

Sophia Dickinson BSc (Hons.), MRCOT Founder of Home Independence Occupational Therapy Ltd

H

aving a loved one admitted to hospital can be a very anxious and upsetting time, particularly during the current Coronavirus pandemic. The stress may be heighted by the fact that it might not be possible to visit your loved one in the hospital, and it can become frustrating waiting to hear when they will be discharged. One positive thing that you can however do is to the changes that you can make to their environment for when they return home that will make it a little easier and more comfortable.

Alan Ferguson from Candor Care and Sophia Dickinson from Home Independence Occupational Therapy, talk about the top 5 considerations when your loved one is coming home from hospital.

1. Adapting the home environment Look at your loved one’s home environment and consider their safety. Are there hazards such as clutter, loose cables or loose rugs or carpets in walkways?

Consider falls prevention tips to reduce the risk of falls. Would your loved one benefit from grab rails or specialist equipment to help them to get in and out of their bath or bed?

Can your loved one get up from the toilet without assistance? An Occupational Therapist can advise you about the most suitable home modifications for them.

Do they have suitable clothing to accommodate their physical needs?

Consider clothing that will be easy for them to put on and take off. Aim for them to be as comfortable as possible.

2. Considering their mobility Your loved one may have been seen by a Physiotherapist. If so, have they been given a walking aid such as walking sticks, crutches or a walking frame? Will the home environment accommodate the walking aid?

If they live in a house, do you need an additional walking aid on the second floor?

And if they have steps or stairs at home, have they practiced steps or stairs before returning home?

Will they need grab rails or additional stair rails to support them? Does your loved one need a wheelchair? Check this prior to your loved one returning home.

If the second floor is going to be a struggle for them, you may want to consider a stairlift as a rental or more permanent option. A stairlift can be installed to fit any shape or size of staircase, and can take the pressure off somebody trying to negotiate moving between the floors of their home, particularly if they have lost confidence or mobility after a major operation. It might also help to have an Occupational Therapy assessment to help to improve confidence.

3. Work on a reablement plan Reablement is the official title given to short-term care at home to aid recovery after discharge from hospital. Reablement can help your loved one to improve their skills and promote their independence.

Goals can be set as part of a reablement program including exercises to rebuild strength and increase movement. Clear, structured actions can help to empower your loved one to become more independent with everyday activities, such as getting in and out of the bath or cooking a meal.

4. Take precautions Has your loved one been advised about what they can and cannot do when they leave hospital?

What are the precautions and how long are they in place for? Does your loved one need to return for a follow-up review? If so, do you need to contact the hospital or will they contact you? Is there a reablement option to help your loved one regain their strength and ability?

Do they need to shield themselves due to Coronavirus? Check with the medical team prior to discharge and ensure that you have all of the information you need before departing.

5. Involve them in meaningful activities Participating in meaningful activities can have a positive impact on our wellbeing.

What are their favourite hobbies or leisure interests?

What do they enjoy doing? Is it possible for them to participate in their favourite hobby? Can you adapt their hobby to suit their physical ability?

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Useful resources For information and advice about stairlifts, home lifts and mobility products you can get in touch with Candor Care on 0330 100 4564 or visit www.candorstairlifts.co.uk to arrange a Call Back or free home assessment for your loved one under no obligation.

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Ratby Community Library Article by Joan Burton

Across the county community libraries are closing their doors for the period of lockdown as decided by the government.

Some sixteen main libraries may be open for a click and collect, appointment based book service but Ratby is not one of them as we are not a main library. The library will be closed from 5th November until the week beginning Monday 7th December. Re-opening date is provisional on government advice. All book loans will have their borrowing period extended to 7th December but there will be no overdue fees charged if we closed before you could return your books or CDs- we want you to be reassured that you will not be asked for overdue fines during the settling back in period.

Normally, this time of year is a sombre one as Ratby remembers those who were active in both world wars and other conflicts, with an always packed attendance in church on Remembrance Sunday, followed by a ceremony of remembrance at the war memorial. Here in the library we have a very interesting photograph display of those who went to war from Ratby and its surrounds, courtesy of the local history society. We also have an unusual display of WW1 Valentine cards, many of which detail loving messages to wives and mothers.

Do come and pay a visit to them when the present lockdown opens up; you'll be very welcome. If you have time to write about your own wartime experiences of whatever period of conflict, it would be fascinating to add to our local knowledge here in our history section. Were you an evacuee? What stories did your parents tell you of their forces service? Are you a former serviceman or woman?

The thought of not being able to access our great range of books had me pondering:

What to read in Lockdown Two Knowing that they'll not come due?

CLOSED for four whole weeks Time to read 'War and Peace'?

All the classics yet to try So what is by my bedside?

A saga An aga A thriller A killer A real dare A nightmare A robber A horror A love song A love gone A war time A real crime But when my stock begins to dwindle I'll have to turn to to ebook Kindle!

Advent At Blessed Sacrament And St. Peters Article by Karen Scott

Sunday November 29th marks the beginning of Advent, a time where Christians prepare, in prayerful anticipation, to celebrate the birth of Christ at the great feast of Christmas. This is a time when, as Christians, we can step away to reflect in our hearts and homes about the coming of Christ into our world. Our experience this year will be different, the usual Advent signs and symbols may be missed; we recognise that many will be unable to attend Church in person and that families, friends and communities may be unable to come together.

Since the Middle Ages a popular Catholic custom has been to display an Advent Wreath in church during the four weeks of Advent. The Advent Wreath consists of a ring of evergreen material holding four candles representing the four weeks of Advent: three purple, signifying penance, and one rose signifying joy. The gradual lighting of the candles over the four Sundays of Advent symbolises the coming of Christ, the Light of the World. A purple candle is lit on the first Sunday and additional purple candles on the second and fourth Sundays. The rose candle, expressing joy at the coming of the Lord, is lit on the third Sunday, known as Gaudete Sunday; the name being taken from the opening word of the entrance antiphon for the day: “Gaudete “which translates into English as “Rejoice”.

In some traditions the first purple candle to be lit is known as the Prophets Candle and remembers those who foretold the birth and symbolises hope; the second, the Bethlehem Candle, remembers the journey of Mary and Joseph and symbolises faith; the third, the rose coloured candle, is known as the Shepherds Candle and represents their joy at receiving the Good News. The final purple candle, lit on the Sunday before Christmas, is the Angels Candle symbolisinges peace and recognising their message of Peace and Goodwill to all through the birth of Christ.

Throughout Advent If churches are allowed to open to celebrate Mass, it is likely that pre-booking will be required and that only limited numbers will be allowed to attend. For the most up-to-date information on Masses at Blessed Sacrament or St. Peters please look to use our website www.westleicestercatholic.org or contact the Parish office on 0116 2858795.

At this time of year, and especially as we all continue to experience the impact of the pandemic, we keep everyone in our prayers.

Wishing you and your families, a holy and peaceful Christmas.

Don't forget, the County Library service has a growing stock of ebooks so go online to get your print fix if you can't get in to see us in person.

Blessed Sacrament and St. Peters Roman Catholic Church contact details: Parish website: www.westleicestercatholic.org The office contact telephone number is 0116 2858795 or if you are able the e-mail is stpetersleicester@gmail.com

Here at Ratby Community Library we wish you a safe and secure November.

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A 'Greyhound Summer' At LAA, Huncote Article by Jane Walters

It's been the Summer of Greyhounds for us here at Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid Association (LAA), Huncote. Greyhounds make fantastic pets, and although you may think they need lots of exercise, they love human company and are more than happy snuggled up with you on the sofa. It's been fantastic to see so many of them find their forever homes and leave the LAA Centre this year, to begin a new chapter in their lives.

'Percy' Two-year-old 'Percy', who came to us in July, still has his paws crossed for a new family to call his own.

Percy has an old leg injury from his racing days, so he is happy with just short 'potters' and a gentle amble around the park. He does love to play, especially with his squeaky toys and tennis balls and if you leave any food out it won't be there for long! Percy would love to dedicate his life to his new human(s), and would need to be the only pet in the home.

'He-Man' Five-year-old 'He-Man' is also waiting at our Huncote kennels for his forever home. He thinks he is a cross between Tigger and a Superhero!

He-Man will need help from his new owner(s) to settle into a home environment and he still gets a bit anxious when left alone.

He-Man could not be re-homed to a household with young children or small animals, as he is rather big and boisterous and very excited about life.

If you think you can give 'Percy' or 'He-Man' a home, please call 01455 888257 Monday to Friday between 9am and 2pm. Or email us on: info@leicesteranimalaid.org.uk, or contact us via our website or Facebook page www.facebook.com/LeicesterAnimalAid

Christmas Appeal for Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid (LAA) Article by Jo Leadbetter

It may feel a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but the residents at Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid already know what’s on top of their Christmas list - a new loving family and a home to call their own. But we want to make Christmas extra special for the animals that will still be with us over the festive period and are asking for your help to make this happen by donating what you can. £5 or £6 will mean a dog and cat at LAA will each receive a special treat, and your gift will help our fourlegged friends feel the joy of Christmas. Any extra donations will be used to buy residents the things they need to brighten the winter months. There are many ways to donate that are quick, easy and safe including through our website www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk/ donate/ or donate via our Facebook page, or by calling the Centre on 01455 888 257.

LAA Membership from only £3 per month If you have an animal-loving friend or relative who is hard to buy for, why not buy them a gift Membership to LAA? A Bronze Membership costs only £3 per month. Annual Memberships are also available. We can arrange for you to receive their certificate and Membership gifts in good time for the big day. What better way of showing that you care about them but understand that they would want the money to go to a good cause? Visit the page on our website: www.leicesteranimalaid.org.uk/membership/ membership-new Donations to LAA charity shops Your unwanted items can really help dogs and cats. Many of us have spent more time in our homes this year than usual, and for some this proved to be the perfect time to have a good clear out!

Before you load the car and head to the tip, please do remember the LAA charity shops. If you have not yet got round to having a declutter, now is the perfect time to do it - and to give the things you no longer need or want a new lease of life. Our charity shops are at the Huncote Re-homing Centre and in Wigston (see website for details). Thank you!

The Leicester and Leicestershire Animal Aid Association Huncote Tel: 01455 888 257 Email: info@leicesteranimalaid.org.uk

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The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group

identity card and most people had fashioned some sort of air raid shelter, either in their house or garden or knew of the location of the nearest one to their home. The whole village was doing its best to help the war effort.

The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group generally meets 6 times a year, and membership is open to all. Visitors are always welcome to all our meetings, which usually take place in St. Bartholomew’s Church Hall, Main St., Kirby Muxloe and start at 7.30 pm.

Coventry was known to the enemy as a large manufacturing and engineering centre and on 14th November 1940, the city was hit by a large number of German bombers (reports give a figure of 400500). The operation was named “Mondscheinsonate” or “Moonlight Sonata”. Although 30 miles away, it is said that the glow from the fires could be seen from Kirby Muxloe. Leicestershire had suffered a few bombing attacks in the previous weeks, but on November 19th everything changed.

Article by Judith Upton

Details of the dates of meetings, together with the topics that will be covered, are shown on the notice board in Kirby Muxloe Library and on our website, which is www.kirbymuxloelocalhistorygroup.org Unfortunately, due to the Corona virus (Covid-19), all our meetings are cancelled until further notice. This includes our new “Memories” meetings, held at the Library meeting room each month. We will continue to support “Your Local” magazine with our monthly articles.

Stay safe, follow government advice and if you are out and about, practice social distancing. For the latest details about meetings, see our website.

The Bombing of Kirby Muxloe (19th November 1940) – 80 years on

The Free Church after the bombing of November 19th,1940 Courtesy of the late Bob Townsend Can it really be 10 years since we started to research the bombing of the village during WWII? At the time, our History Group was in its infancy. However, after realising that it would be the 70 year anniversary of the bombing that year, we decided it was time to get to grips with the story of that night. Reading the late Jonathan Wilshere’s account gave us a good start and from there the research grew. Over the last ten years, more and more people have come forward with their own personal accounts of the night, one that they would never forget. Some of the original people with such vivid memories are no longer with us, but there are still individuals out there with a unique story to tell, so please get in touch and let us know your account of that night.

Until that fateful night of 19th November 1940, our village was not too badly affected by wartime. Many of the younger men had been called up or volunteered and were away fighting for their country, leaving their families with little hope of seeing them for a long time or knowing whether they would ever return. Even by April 1938, the village, realising that the relationship between England and Germany was deteriorating, had started to prepare for war. Volunteers were asked to come forward in order to form a group of Air Raid Precaution Wardens, First Aid Parties and Fire Wardens. Kirby was fortunate in having a large number of volunteers, who were quickly trained; little did they know that their training would play such an integral part on that terrible night. Food was in short supply, as rationing had started in January 1940, with sugar, butter and bacon the first items to be in limited supply. Everyone was issued with an

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It was about 8:20 in the evening, a clear but cold night with an almost full moon. It was the night of the “Leicester Blitz”, when the town and surrounding villages were to be attacked by 40 German bombers. John Matthews, who was visiting his girlfriend who lived opposite the Free Church, stepped out of the house for some fresh air. He returned quickly, saying that he didn’t know what was going on, but something strange was coming down from the sky. It was just making a quiet swishing sound! Moments later it happened.

Two 500kg parachute bombs (land mines) landed on the village: one almost in the centre of the Free Church and the other one in the garden of a house named “The Chalet” on Station Road. The Free Church was razed to the ground , 7 houses were later demolished and a further 357 houses needed urgent repair work. Initially there was chaos. However, due to the number of willing volunteers who had been trained to cope with this type of event, the villagers were prepared and sprang into action. Firemen came from Glenfield, the Golf Club opened its doors to the homeless, and the W.R.V.S. arrived with hot drinks and food. The telephone operator, Miss White, stayed at her post in the exchange, which was at the end of Barwell Road, even though she was covered in shards of glass. Her faithfull dog sat on her lap throughout the ordeal. Miraculously no one was seriously hurt – if the bombing had happened even one hour later, the story may have been very different. Most children would have been in bed upstairs by 9:30pm and would have undoubtedly been injured, especially the inhabitants of the terraced houses on Barwell Road and Church Road, whose roofs were lifted up by the power of the blast and set down again in a different place.

There have been so many stories told, tales of people covered from head to toe in soot which had been dislodged from their chimney, a house almost demolished, but with the middle wall left standing against which was an organ and picture frame still sitting on top, undisturbed. Freshly ironed laundry, hanging on clothes horses in the kitchens of Desford Road houses found itself in the gardens, all muddy and wet. Apple trees were uprooted and were witnessed flying across the garden, and yet eggs in a bowl on a pantry thrawl (a stone slab used to keep food cool) were left untouched. The roads were covered with slate and glass. The Atkins family at number 10, Main Street had a lucky escape, as their baby was asleep in a cot upstairs. The blast knocked the fireplace out of the wall, it hit the baby’s cot and then the baby shot out of the cot and under the bed!

They were so fortunate, no one was badly hurt.

The next day engineers were out surveying the damage and by the following day, Kirby workmen and those from the surrounding villages had sprung into action. Within 4 days, most broken windows had been boarded up and essential repairs completed; many people were able to return to their homes. Boys and girls went out hunting for pieces of parachute cord and silk, some of which have survived until the present day.

Why was the village bombed? There are several theories, it would take another article to give them justice but will we ever really be sure? Unlikely!

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Closure During Lockdown Here we are again, this time with the sad news that we have had to shut down our operations once more, due to the current lockdown.

Hence we shall not be open again until after 2nd December. All other things being equal, our first opening will therefore be on Thursday 3rd December, 2.00 – 4.00. It is hard to be certain in these uncertain times, but we will keep you informed via village notice-boards, Facebook, magazines like The Local and The lantern and notices in the Library windows. The book drop will once again be closed. Note that the loan period for books currently on loan is extended until 7th December and no fines will be incurred.

This is particularly hard as we were just beginning to see signs of increasing confidence amongst our Library users, with increasing numbers visiting. We are so sorry and urge all to take care and stay safe. It is still our intention to decorate the Library for Christmas, so we look forward to happier times ahead.

Jan and Dave Cooper We need to announce that two of our long-standing Trustees, Jan and Dave Cooper, have now decided to resign their positions as Trustees – they will remain as volunteers when things have returned to normal. Jan and Dave have been part of KML&CH since the very beginning of this project, with Jan handling all our finances most efficiently and Dave doing a myriad of jobs, including setting up and looking after the public access computers, design work, loads of maintenance and many other things to boot. It’s hard to express how much we will miss their invaluable input and good cheer. We wish them well and look forward to their return as volunteers.

Trustee Vacancies This of course now leaves us with two Trustee vacancies, and we are inviting people who have the welfare and development of the Kirby Muxloe community at heart to offer their services as Trustees.

You would join a friendly and committed band of other Trustees, all trying their best to make the Library a thriving contributor to our community. Duties involve attending Steering Group meetings once a month (at present less frequently for obvious reasons), generating ideas and taking an active part in translating ideas into action. Particular skills needed at the moment are accountancy – we need to replace our Treasurer – and helping to maintain our public access computers, but the most important attributes are energy and enthusiasm. There is huge reward in feeling that you are making a positive contribution and in working alongside others who give so much. If you are interested and would like to discuss this opportunity further, please contact Liz Collinson on 0116 2393332, or lizcollinson1941@gmail.com We will hopefully have more optimistic news next month. In the meantime, stay strong, stay safe, keep reading – and keep washing those hands!

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NHS Charity At Rothley Park Golf Club A Colourful Event!

Article by Lou Preedy The sun shone and over 200 members turned out to play in the recent NHS Charity Day. Club Captain, Alan Dorn and Vice Captain, Simon Green were at the tee at 7.00am to see the first team start the competition. Meanwhile, Presidents, Gilly Clear and Robin Laurie, together with Lady Captain, Jenny Piecha and Lady Vice Captain, Libby Carter prepared the half way Caddyshack with an array of refreshments including fresh sandwiches, scotch pies and home baked cakes. The Scotch Pies, proving especially popular, had been flown down from the famous Murdoch's Butchers in Inverness-shire by Scottish Robin.

Many members entered the spirit of the event by wearing ‘rainbow themed’ golf attire. Robert Jelley who is usually ‘nailed on’ to top the award was forced to give way on this occasion to Jez Perry, Darren Want, Jonno Arkle and Asa English who were only short of 'indigo' from their wardrobe.

Another firm favourite was the Beat the Pro competition with all teams eager to challenge professionals Danny Spillane, Katie Tebbett and Harry Swaltz on the par three 12th. At the end of the day the Professionals just edged it, providing much relief in the Pro Shop and pure delight to John Mulligan who donated the Pro V1 balls for the winners.

Congratulations to the big winners of the event who were the Full Square Team of John Boggis, Mel Coupland, Ian Patchett and Craig Parkin. They secured first place on count-back from Maz Sharpe, Tom Rees, Tom Morgan, and Alun Harry. Also, in the winners’ circle, was Michael Green, who won a golf weekend for four people at the Gleneagles Hotel in the Raffle. Lou Preedy won a Pamper Day at Ragdale Hall and well done to Andrew Jones, Tom James and Jenny Piecha who won a weekend drive in a ‘high end’ Mercedes car so look out for these around Rothley soon.

The success of the day was due to the enthusiasm of all the Rothley members and their incredible generosity, said Lady President, Gilly Clear: ''A big THANK YOU to all members, sponsors, helpers and staff who supported us either before or on the day. The final amount raised was £8,075. This amount will be split equally between the Leicester Neo-Natal unit and The Osborne Unit.”

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The Kirby Muxloe War Memorial We Need Your Help!

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We at Kirby Muxloe Local History Group have a considerable amount of information about the men named on the Kirby memorial who died serving their country. Research is ongoing but there are just 4 men or women who cannot be found. Unfortunately, we only have initials and surnames for the following people but all are believed to have served during WW2:

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A Little Hard To Stomach?

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From heartburn to bloating, to constipation and stomach cramps, the symptoms of indigestion are varied, but each is a reminder that your digestive system is having trouble coping with the amount or type of food it is being asked to process.

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Chew your food. As obvious as it may sound, so many people do little more than close their teeth a couple of times around a mouthful of food before gulping it down. Chewing not only breaks your meal down into a manageable size, it gives the stomach time to produce the digestive enzymes it needs to break food down. For a helping hand with digestive enzymes a prebiotic supplement like Molkosan Fruit taken half an hour before each meal can help.

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Kirby Muxloe Christmas Lights Switch On

2020

Well, this year has certainly been a very different year for all of us and hopefully the upcoming New Year will bring much more joy and happiness.

Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, Kirby Muxloe Parish Council feel that they have no option but to cancel the Christmas festivities this year. However, we will still be switching on the Christmas Trees and lights around the village.

We would like to wish you all a very

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

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