December 2021 Your Local Ratby, Kirby Muxloe & Leicester Forest East

YOUR LOCAL 6,800 COPIES DELIVERED EVERY MONTH - RATBY, KIRBY MUXLOE & LFE - DECEMBER 2021

Don't Be Alone On Christmas Day Join Us At St Mary's Church

News From Kirby Muxloe Parish Council

Join the BBC Leicester Big Christmas Sing

live on BBC Radio Leicester 7pm Monday 20 December 2021

Live On BBC Radio Leicester Monday 20th December 7pm Come And Join Us At The Bull's Head In Ratby Come and join us at the Bull Head in Ratby

Find out more at www.singchristmas.org.uk

Christmas Food Through The Ages

104.9 FM / DAB / bbc.co.uk/radioleicester

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2021 has been a very busy and productive year for Kirby Muxloe Parish Council, in which the Councillors and staff have worked extremely hard, and much has been achieved for the benefit of the residents of the village. In addition to all the routine tasks of keeping the recreation ground and environs in a tidy and presentable state, looking after the cemetery and arranging interments, the Parish Council has made progress with many ambitious projects which should benefit residents.

The Bridge over the Brook Many of you will be aware that one of the bridges over Kirby brook in the recreation ground has been boarded off and out of action for several months, due to safety concerns. The original bridge was essentially rotten and hazardous. After carefully considering all the options, the Parish Council has decided to replace the bridge with one of superior quality; the replacement bridge is to be made from a recycled composite plastic material and is due to be installed in March 2022. As well as the environmental benefit of utilising recycled plastic, the new bridge will not rot and therefore represents a good investment and will hopefully provide an amenity to the residents of the village for many years to come.

Tennis Courts The tennis courts are a fantastic and free amenity to the village and were greatly appreciated by residents as a place for exercise during lock-down. In the summer the Parish Council arranged and funded free tennis coaching on the courts, in partnership with a local sports coach. These sessions were a run-away success which were greatly appreciated by both children and parents. Recently the courts have been temporarily closed due to safety concerns: there is a good deal of slippery moss on the surface of the courts making them hazardous to use. However, rest-assured, the courts are soon to be professionally cleaned, and then will be reopened for use by residents of the village.

The Recreation Ground There have been a few on-going issues concerning lighting and a leaking pipe near the old pavilion, which the Parish Council is dealing with. Unfortunately, the rocking horse was found to be in such a poor condition that it was not suitable for restoration and has had to be put out to pasture. However, with the considerable budget allocated to this project, we can now start to consider the purchase and installation of a brand-new piece of play equipment. There will definitely be something new and exciting for the children on the park in the coming months.

The War Memorial The War Memorial, at the heart of the village, has been there for a good many years, and consequently is unfortunately beginning to show its age and look decidedly shabby. If you look carefully, you will see that the wrought iron gates are considerably rusty and corroded and the paint is flaking. The two pillars supporting the gates are also chronically in need of repair, as the mortar is starting to crack and crumble and the whole structure will eventually become unsound. The Parish Council is arranging a complete renovation and restoration of the War Memorial gates and pillars over the coming months: the gates themselves will be taken down and stripped of the peeling paint. They will then be repainted and the lettering at the top will be gilded with gold lacquer paint. The pillars will be re-pointed with an appropriate lime mortar to repair any damaged areas and reinstate the original profile. When the work has been completed, the War Memorial should look really stunning, and be a fitting tribute to residents of the village who lost their lives in conflict.

The Christmas Lights Switch-On The annual "Christmas Lights Switch-On" organised by the Parish Council, proved extremely popular this year and was alleged to be ‘the best ever!', which was incredibly well supported by the village.

The winners of the colouring competition – Brooke Munday (3), Mason Harpin (5), Jade Lee (7) and Lopez Ramos-Jardine (10) did an amazing job of switching on the Christmas lights and it was lovely to see the excitement on all the children's faces as they had the chance to speak to Santa and even stroke a real reindeer - what a treat! We were also regaled by fantastic performances from the pre-school who had learnt so many carols. The talented and energetic dancing from the youngsters in the dance troupe was really impressive - Kirby definitely has stars in the making! The school choir also performed really beautifully and did the village proud. Performances from Ratby Mid Band and the support of the DJ, along with everyone else that was involved, helped to make this a lovely occasion and a night to remember. It was a moment of light in what has been quite a dark and difficult year.

Happy Christmas from Kirby Muxloe Parish Council and all the best for 2022!

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Tuesday Teapot Group Article by Sue Jones

Tuesday Teapot Group…..after many years of being located at the Parish Hall the Tuesday Teapot Group have made the decision to move to a new venue as from Tuesday 11th of January 2022. We look forward to welcoming old and new members.

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A Message From The Patient Participation Group (PPG) At Ratby Article by Joan Hawkins

As patients at this surgery we meet with our GPs and it gives us the opportunity to discuss with them not only the developments in the surgery but also concerns that some patients may have . Needless to say during this unprecedented time some patients have been expressing concerns that the don’t always get to see a doctor when they phone for an appointment and so we thought it might be helpful if we actually introduced you to the team working at the surgery .By doing this we are hoping that it gives you confidence that despite these difficult times our doctors are doing what they can to help us as patients get the care and support that we need.

This month we would like to introduce you to Jane.

Hi my name is Jane Hunt and I work as a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) at the Ratby GP Surgery. The role of the First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) in Primary Care is to assess patients with soft tissue, muscle and joint pain and to decide the most appropriate management pathway. FCP’s are physiotherapists with expertise in the assessment and management of Musculoskeletal ( MSK) conditions. I have over 20 years’ experience working as a Musculoskeletal Physiotherapist. Upon qualifying I worked at Scarborough District Hospital before working in the USA as a Physical Therapist ( Physiotherapist). On returning to the UK I started work at the Leicester Royal Infirmary where I eventually became a Musculoskeletal Clinical Specialist Physiotherapist with a special interest in occupational health. I am fortunate to be able to do a job I love and work with other health care professionals in order to provide care for patients and empowering people to achieve their goals brings immense job satisfaction.

What is a First Contact Physiotherapist (FCP) and why should I see them rather than my GP? Jane has been working with the surgery over the last year supporting the GPs at the practice. She is highly qualified physiotherapist who can assess patients for muscular and joint problems that might have traditionally spoken to a GP at the surgery to free them to see patients with other medical problems to support how many patients the practice can see. She is not a traditional physiotherapist as she can also order x-rays and other tests where they are needed as well just as a GP can. She is also trained to assess patients over the phone.

Would Jane offer me exercises and see me regularly as a traditional physiotherapist would?

No, the appointments with Jane are to diagnose any condition(s) and arrange further tests as necessary. She might be able to offer you exercises at the time, but she would only arrange to see you again as your GP might if the condition is not improving as expected. She can arrange and provide information regarding appointments with a traditional physiotherapist if she feels that would be beneficial to the condition.

What happens if Jane feels I need to see a GP? Jane would inform the patient during the appointment that the condition might not be muscular or joint related and either arrange for a follow up appointment with the GP or speak to them during the consultation depending on the urgency of the condition.

The PPG would like to say a big thank you to Jane for helping us with this article Next month we will introduce you to another member of the team.

We wish all at the practice a very happy Christmas and to all the patients a very safe and Happy Christmas and a healthy and Happy New Year

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Protecting Your Family Inheritance Article by Klara Hesling

Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are in the vaccination program with second course completed. LevLaw Ltd remains here for you.

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

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

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

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

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

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Ozzy O’shea County Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Leicestershire County Council’s Strategic Plan 2022-2026.

It is based on five strategic outcomes which are aspirational. They outline the end results that we want to see for Leicestershire.

The proposed outcomes are: • Clean, green future – The environment is protected and enhanced and we tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and unsustainable resource usage • Great communities – Leicestershire has thriving, inclusive communities in which people support each other and take responsibility for their local area • Improving opportunities – All children get the best start for life and have access to a good quality education, and everyone has the opportunities they need to fulfil their potential.

• Strong economy, transport and infrastructure – Leicestershire has a productive, inclusive and sustainable economy and infrastructure meets the demands of a growing population and economy.

• Keeping people safe and well – The people of Leicestershire are safe and protected from harm, and have the opportunities and support they need to take control of their health and wellbeing.

For each outcome, we have identified specific aims which we will focus on achieving over the next four years, with corresponding actions. These set out how we will address key priorities such as creating jobs, improving transport links and digital connectivity, encouraging and promoting healthy lifestyles, celebrating diverse communities, supporting the building of new homes and more.

Let us know your views A 12-week public consultation is taking place from 1 November 2021 to 21 January 2022, seeking feedback on the outcomes, aims and actions within this Plan. Feedback from the consultation will be incorporated into the final version.

Have your say on the draft Plan by filling in the online survey. Please copy and paste or use the below link in your web browser. www.leicestershire.gov.uk/have-your-say/current-engagement/leicestershirecounty-council%E2%80%99s-strategic-plan-2022-2026 Alternative formats If you're able to, please complete this survey online using the link above.

For paper copies of the survey or any other questions, please email policy@ leics.gov.uk or call 0116 3050527.

The closing date to complete the consultation survey is 21 January 2022.

We would also welcome the opportunity during this consultation to present and discuss the draft Plan with community groups and partner organisations.

If your group or organisation would be interested, please email policy@leics. gov.uk, or call 0116 3050527, to arrange a meeting date.

What happens next?

Once the consultation has closed, we will review all of the feedback received during the consultation and consider any necessary alterations to the Plan.

A consultation report will be produced which will summarise the responses received. This will be available on the County Councils You said, we did web page in February 2022.

Road Closure Ratby Lane, Kirby Muxloe.

Please Note Ratby Lane, Kirby Muxloe will be closed from 10/01/22 to 04/02/22. To access the A47 you need to follow the diversion from Main Street, into Desford Lane Ratby and through Kirby Muxloe via Main Street to access Blood Hill. This will be second time this road has undergone a 4 week Closure due to utility connections for the new houses being built on the corner of Desford Lane Kirkby Muxloe. I have been working with Highways to ensure that better diversion signing is put in place and that HGV’s do not use Main Street and Desford Lane Ratby, or Main Street or Station Road Kirby Muxloe. Pound Stretcher have been made fully aware of this Closure and have been told to relay the diversion route to their drivers which does not include coming through Ratby or Kirby. I have requested extra police monitoring of the area during the closure. The County Councils Highways Inspector for the area will also carry out regular Monitoring.

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Community Safety Partnership and E-Scooters Message.

Please take a minute to look at the community safety partnership’s winter edition newsletter.

Is anyone considering buying an E-Scooter for Christmas, already owning one or considering getting one in the near future?

The UK government is currently taking part in "Future transport zone" trials for E-scooter hire with a view to making them legal to use on roads.

All local authorities can apply to take part, but at the moment, Leicestershire are not part of the trials.

We understand that buying an e-scooter can be tempting, especially as you can buy them from many popular retailers. However, the current law is clear. You can buy one but you can't ride it on a UK public road, cycle lane or pavement. The only place an e-scooter can be used is on private land.

E-scooters are classified as personal light electric vehicles, so they are treated as motor vehicles and subject to the same legal requirements such as MOT, licensing, Tax and insurance.

As e-scooters do not have number plates, signalling ability and do not always have visible rear lights, they cannot be used legally on the roads.

Section 165 of the road traffic act 1988 provides the power to seize privately owned e-scooters for driving without insurance or a driving licence.

We hope this clears things up and saves any problems in the near future.

Thank you for taking the time to read and take care.

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 Hundreds Fall Victim To Lottery Scams In Just Seven Months What is lottery fraud?

Criminals will contact unsuspecting victims informing them they have won a lottery or prize draw. The victim is then informed that they will need to pay an advance fee in order to receive their winnings. In reality, the winnings are non-existent and it is an attempt to steal the victim’s money, personal or financial information.

Between April and October 2021, Action Fraud received 629 reports of lottery fraud, with 89 per cent of reports mentioning well-known prize draws. Impersonation of People’s Postcode Lottery accounted for almost half (49 per cent) of all reports. Almost three quarters of victims (70 per cent) were aged over 50, with those aged over 65 accounting for 40 per cent of reports.

Fraudsters use gift cards as a form of payment as they can be easily redeemed and sold on. The criminals don’t need the physical card to redeem the value as they ask the victims to share the serial code on the back of the card with them. In other instances, victims reported being asked for personal

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and financial information in order to obtain their alleged winnings.

Some victims reported providing their bank details thinking they would be sent a small payment to verify the account. In reality, criminals will use these details to steal the victim’s money.

How to protect yourself Stop: Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake?

Remember, you can’t win a prize in a competition you didn’t enter.

It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud. police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: www.ncsc.gov.uk/ cyberaware 15M Lost to Online Shopping Scams Last Christmas. Please do not get caught out this year.

New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge. Here are some simple tips to help you and your family enjoy a secure online shopping experience this festive season.

You can find further protection advice around lotteries and competition on the Gambling Commission’s website.

Where to shop Buying from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay

Your information Only create an account if

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necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.

Payment method When it's time to pay for your items, check there's a 'closed padlock' icon in the browser's address bar. Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.

Phishing Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use it – go separately to the website.

Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.

Email accounts: Make sure that your really important accounts (such as your email account or online shopping accounts) are protected by strong passwords that you don't use anywhere else.

Need help changing your email

account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Outlook, BT, AOL Mail.

If things go wrong If you've lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) or Police Scotland (for Scotland). By doing this, you'll be helping to prevent others becoming victims of cyber crime.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: www.ncsc.gov.uk/ cyberaware I would like to take this opportunity to thank all Residents and Councillors for your continued support and wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a very Happy Healthy and prosperous New Year.

I always pride myself on making myself available to residents.

Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

Ozzy O’shea.

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RATBY PRIMARY SCHOOL

Anti-Bullying Week This year's Anti-Bullying Week theme was ''One Kind Word’ and our children have spent time in classes and assemblies understanding the importance of kindness in our society and how caring and considerate attitudes can brighten lives and help others when they most need it. It has been an extremely busy week for our Ambassadors too as they have organised a bookmark themed activity for everyone in school. Odd socks day was great fun, children spent a day wearing odd socks which was an opportunity to encourage people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique.

Foundation Stage Dinosaur Museum We have been learning all about dinosaurs this half term, setting up our own museum so that we can share knowledge and learn new facts about them. We have explored bones and skeletons and made our own dinosaur skeletons. A mummy dinosaur left her baby for us to look after, so we had to find out what it would need to be safe, healthy and happy, and we made some junk models for the baby such as a bed, a toy, a house and a blanket to keep it warm. We hope it’s mummy comes back before it gets much bigger!

Some dinosaurs escaped from the museum and made a mess in our cloakroom. Our premises officer, Mr Warwick, wasn’t very happy and we had to write to explain that it wasn’t us who made the mess!

National Wear Red Day 2021 On Friday 29th October, the whole school took part in ‘National Wear Red Day’ to support showing racism the red card. The children learned that everyone is unique and different to one another and how these differences should be celebrated. Each class took part in their own activity to raise awareness of the importance of anti-racism. Activities included making posters, acting out different scenarios and creating artwork.

We were very proud of the maturity the children displayed across the school and would like to thank them for their efforts. The whole school looked amazing and it was lovely to see the children so happy and enthusiastic about the day.

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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 with or without fertiliser and to determine if soil is the best medium! Our new class book this term is Krindlekrax by Philip Ridley, a dilemma story, which has a fantastic storyline based around a boy called Ruskin and a mysterious beast who threatens Lizard Street. We look forward to creating our own dilemma stories in class too!

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Latest Update From The Kirby Muxloe Local Committee For Cancer Research UK

Monday February 7th, 2022 Curry Night and raffle at the Chef & Spice Restaurant, Hinckley Road.

Tickets £15

We are delighted to report that our recent fund raising event raised over £500! Everyone enjoyed themselves whilst answering the fiendish questions set by Roger and Rosemary in our fun Quiz.

Alongside a well supported raffle, the evening kicked off the first of our activities for 2021/22. We are now starting to plan for the next event which is:

Tickets are available from Committee members, or contact Glen Graham on (0116) 2388018

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Following this will be: Thursday April 7th Afternoon Tea and entertainment at the Golf Club. Ticket price & further details to follow.

Saturday May 21st Spring Fair in the Village Hall

Parkinson’s Group December Plans Article by Robert A. Leake

The Hinckley & District Parkinson’s Group have been welcoming so many members back to their gatherings during the past two months, and they have been joined by so many new members, many having been made aware of the Group from articles like this one in this Your Local magazine.

Looking ahead to the coming months our Sunday meeting at the Mary Forryan Centre [LE10 1LW] in Hinckley will be at 2.30 on December 12th. [a Christmas Social event] with the January meeting on the 9th.

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Our Tuesday exercise class, Nordic Walking and Friday choir [‘A-Choir’d –taste’] are all being well attended, while the dance session on Fridays, currently at Elmesthorpe, has proved a great success, for both people with Parkinson’s and their carers – even those who reckon they have two left feet! There are so many benefits from singing, dancing and general exercise for those with Parkinson’s. It is often called the new medicine in that it has been proved to slow the progression of Parkinson's symptoms when used in conjunction with maintaining a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a regular medication regime and regular reviews.

Our monthly social drop-in at Dobbies [‘Woodlands’] at Stapleton will be on Monday December 20th and January 17th, between 2.00 and 4.00. Just buy a drink [and perhaps a cake] at the restaurant counter and join us in the Soft Play Conservatory area. No, sorry, we don’t actually use the soft play facilities!

The support unpaid carers provide to their family members, friends and neighbours is vital, so they need to be able to access the information and help they need. Caring can have an impact on health, RELATIONSHIPS and finances. All carers need to register with the Support for Carers Service on 01858 468543 0r visit the website: www.supportforcarers.org You can apply for a Carer’s Passport as well as access invaluable advice and peer support.

If you look after someone in Leicestershire and you are both over 18, you may be entitled to some support with your caring role.

Visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/carers-assessment To check on any events or to contact the Hinckley & District Parkinson’s Group give our Chairperson Janet Kavanagh a ring on 07932615233.

So don’t let Parkinson’s dictate how you live your life, come along and join the Hinckley Group and see the benefit of being part of a group for yourself.

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'Cutting To The Chase'

By Andy Verity

Driving into the now desolate car park brought the memories flooding in of long ago. Back then my arrival had more often been by train alighting onto the short bare platform, exiting past the station building which no longer existed, having been torn down to the foundations to make it safe after an unexpected fire had overrun it a couple of years after the station had closed.

There was now no visible sign of the ticket office or waiting room where many an idle minute had been whiled away, watching on at the passing of both train and passengers.

Walking along the cutting alongside the track I was surprised to see the old picket fence which was still there, paint peeling, a fence which would now only see the odd train passing but never more any stopping for people.

Sadly the few houses which had mainly accommodated the rail-workers had fallen derelict shortly after the station’s closing, their demise largely due to the unfashionable lines and the added expense as they were no longer maintained by the railway company. Windows and doors boarded up they looked down on the track unappealingly.

I remembered that the cutting had lead directly to a footpath which crossed over the fast running chase which powered the enormous wheel in the mill’s heyday, the sounds of fast rushing water combining with the groan of the tortured wheel, trying in vain to resist the immense pressure flooding past.

This area had been nicknamed as ‘Cutting to the Chase’ by some unnamed joker, and for some unfathomable reason had actually stuck.

Ignoring the ever present health and safety notices I walked out onto the narrow bridge which crossed the now very quiet water stretch and paused, looking out reminiscing.

It was along these paths I had first met Daphne, we had also walked many a time taking in the beauty of nature and power of industry working in close tandem. It was actually on this bridge where I had popped the question and received the happy answer.

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I walked out onto the surprisingly small island which still held the few buildings which made up the mill, though now largely reclaimed by nature.

I stopped again, leaning against what had been her favourite tree where we had shared many a picnic, undisturbed by the hustle and bustle of the outside world.

It was here where I had seen her last when Daphne had told me quietly that it was all over. The tears came welling up as I remember the desperation behind my pleas for her to change her mind, only for them to fall frustratingly on deaf ears.

I stood there for a while longer, reflecting. Though looking completely different from when I had been there before, each remaining stone still resonated with my past and its long history.

All this was about to change. Interest had been shown in redeveloping the island with little thought or feeling for the disruption of the tangible history of the place. Little caring what the works would dig up, what long buried secrets would be unearthed in the cold light of day.

I had no choice I would have to stop this prevaricating and get to the point. Interest had been shown and the responses were favourable to a speedy conclusion. They were expecting to start clearing for operations at the beginning of next spring. I had hoped that the permissions would be refused but could not afford to wait any longer. I set the spade ready and began to dig. _________________________________________________________________ This writing was produced for the Village Writers' Group We still meet (benefit of Zoom) on first and third Wednesdays of the month We welcome anyone who likes to write and would like to get help to get better via creative feedback.

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Ratby Community Library And Crow Pie Cafe Article by Joan Burton

Celebrate With Us! Where we are now: Fully back in action as a thriving, lively village hub. An amazing team of volunteers have worked their socks off trying to offer the kind of services our community ask for. The library offers a place to meet, greet friends, make new ones and spend time in a warm, convivial atmosphere. We also have books!

Christmas Fayre Saturday 11th December 10.30 – 12.30 Our annual fayre returns with an even better selection of goods to buy and games to play. The raffle has some excellent prizes to be won with a super hamper brimful of food and drink to see you through the festivities.

We have more stall holders than ever with an array of Christmas items that will appeal to all. From cake stall to raffle, from candles to crafts, we've got Christmas covered. And of course, Santa is flying in to meet all the children on his Good List. (Even a few on the Naughty Step list, but we won't be telling tales to him.)

Penguin's Playtime! Children's Christmas Activities Session Tuesday 21st December 3-6pm After school chidren's event for games and fun activities. Join us for some Christmas fun and enjoy some of our lovely food and drink. Specials such as mince pies and clotted cream, stollen cake, chocolate brownies, cinnamon swirls, hot chocolate, coffees of all types will all be on offer. It's Christmas.

Calories are sent to the North Pole until further notice.

Quiz Night with Steve Roche as question master.

Be prepared for fun and fiendish questions. Friday 17th December at 7.30 pm will be our last quiz of the year. There's no need to book places, just turn up and enjoy pitting your wits against all comers.

Wriggly Readers is just as popular as it ever was with parents and carers of pre-schoolers. Songs, rhymes and stories combined with active play make for a really happy and sociable occasion. In fact, it is so popular that we will be hosting weekly sessions from December 16th, (though not during Christmas week). Thursday morning, 10.30 -11 for songs and a story with play and refreshments until 12. The library is closed to other users in order to give a safe and unique experience. Dates for future Wriggly Readers sessions are 16th December, starting again on 6th January 2022.

Christmas Market Following on from a really successful Halloween event, this month saw a Christmas market in the library where locally made crafts were on sale as well as other high quality goods. (I went along to help set up and then realized I didn't need to struggle into town to buy my Christmas shopping – it was all here for the taking and they'll be at our Christmas fayre too!)

Knit, Stitch and Natter Group started on December 7th.

Jane Hewison, textile artist invited any knitters, stitchers or crochet workers to meet with her on Tuesday morning in the library. Her assistance dog, the very lovely Sky the Spaniel, was there too offering a friendly paw. The first get-together was this month and the next will be Tuesday 11th January.

Sessions are from 10 -12 and it will be up to the group to decide how often they would like to meet. The library is open to other users at the same time so do drop in and have a look at what's going on.

Where we want to be Are you interested in creating a bee friendly space in our library grounds?

This is a project we are aiming to get up and running in 2022. We are bidding for extra funds but if villagers would like to offer help: plants, a bit of labour, knowledge, we'd like to hear from you! For example,are you a business able to move and relocate a large metal shed a short distance in our outside area? Lay some hard landscaping to create a seating area? If so, please could you email our treasurer on ratbylibrary@gmail.com with your contact details?

Community use. We have free time available in the library on several mornings a week. If you wanted a comfortable space to sit, chat, work, why not call in and we can discuss your needs?

Volunteers: we need you!

We'd like to thank all our volunteers who help create such a good atmosphere in Ratby Library but are in real need of new volunteers. If you would like to get involved with the local community but don't have much more than two hours a week to spare, why not come and join our community of library volunteers? We're a friendly lot and we enjoy working in all of the areas of the library. Full training is offered so do call in and talk to us about joining our team; you really won't regret it.

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DON’T BE ALONE CHRISTMAS DAY

Join the BBC Leicester Big Christmas Sing

Come and Join us at ST MARY’S CHURCH ROOMS ANSTEY

For DINNER AND FESTIVITIES

live on BBC Radio Leicester 7pm Monday 20 December 2021

For people on their own over 70 in Anstey and surrounding villages TRANSPORT CAN BE ARRANGED TO BOOK YOUR PLACE PLEASE RING Kerry Sharpe – 07979 607099

Come and join us at the Bull Head in Ratby

There is no charge for the day, we just want everyone to have the opportunity of being with others on what can be a lonely day

Find out more at www.singchristmas.org.uk If anyone would like to donate a chocolate orange/chocolates/biscuits/any non-perishable treats, there are 2 drop off points – Roy Greens in Anstey, or Markfield Community centre.

Or please call me on 07979 607099.

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Thankyou

Ozzy O’shea Borough Councillor

T: 0116 2394336 M: 07808585825 E: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com Application for 225 homes off Desford Lane, Ratby.

By the time you read this in the Local Magazine, the public meeting on December 10th at the Methodist Church will have taken place, organised

by Ozzy and with both Borough Councillors and Parish Councillors in attendance. This was held to inform residents of the latest details. As to date, only 17 objections have been received by the Planning Department. We need you all to voice your opinion on this contentious application.

You can object by email or by writing to the case officer Louise Jelley to this application using the following reasons.

• The application site is outside of the settlement boundary and is located wholly within the countryside, spatially and visually isolated from Ratby. The proposed development does not meet any of the exceptions of development acceptable in the countryside under paragraph 80 of the NPPF and there is a fundamental objection in principle to the proposed development; • The application site sits atop a hill that rises to a high point in the north-western corner. The site will be visually prominent within the context of the local landscape and conflicts with the objectives of the Council’s Landscape Character Assessment 2017, by eroding the sense of a rural entrance into the village of Ratby from the south-west and lessening the predominant character of the surrounding area, this being arable farming with established hedgerows; • The length of footway proposed along Desford Lane, towards Ratby is considerable and its length highlights the unsustainable location of the proposals. Its significant length and its appearance will further urbanise the rural approach to Ratby; • The highways impact of these proposals will have a major impact

on Ratby’s already congested village.

Traffic already queues at peak times whilst trying to exit the village at both ends. The 268 houses on Markfield Road that have already been given permission, when built will have a major impact on traffic of an already congested village without this application.

• The Development is on a Floodplain • Children will not be able to be accommodated at Ratby Primary School. Groby Primary schools will struggle to cope after the Children from the Markfield Road applications are catered for.

• The Development Framework Plan shows a number of dwellings in relative proximity to the Stonecraft Paving Centre. The submitted Noise Assessment confirms that for the dwellings in closest proximity to this designated Employment Area and Desford Lane, closed windows and alternative ventilation should be installed to ensure satisfactory living conditions are achieved.

This further confirms the location for the proposed development is unacceptable in regards to noise and amenity for future occupants.

Email address for case officer. Louise.

Jelley@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk Below is an update by the Case Officer Louise Jelley in regard to this application By way of update, I have now looked over the consultation responses for the above application.

Due to the number of local objections received, this application will be a committee matter, however, it is unlikely that this application will be taken to Planning Committee before March 2022. We have received a holding objection from Highways England and they are seeking further information from the applicant/agent and have asked that this application is

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Chris Boothby

Borough Councillor

T: 0116 2912796 M: 07306 390543 E: chris.boothby@hotmail.com not determined until this information is forthcoming and they can review it. I have also received a holding objection from LCC Highways who are not in favour of the application from a highways perspective – I am awaiting a more detailed response from them which I can update you on as soon as I am in receipt of it.

applicant which I shall be requesting formally this week. Given how much detail is outstanding and the need to re-consult etc it is unlikely that any further progress on this application will be made before Christmas. But I will endeavour to keep you informed throughout the process wherever possible.

There has also been a response from the minerals and waste team at LCC who have asked that a minerals assessment be submitted as the site is located within a safeguarding area for sand and gravel.

HBBC Planning Department.

Much to our dismay and despite numerous requests, we are no further forward in finding out what the emerging Local Plan has in store for us despite assurances from Planning Policy Officers and the Executive Member for Planning, Cllr David Bill that Ratby had met its quota of 200 homes as a Key Rural Settlement. We have previously stated that 8 out of 9 Planning Officers quit in October. The LibDem Administration have hired Planning Consultants who do not know the area or its issues and furthermore, we have no information of what the cost of this is to the local taxpayer.

Matt Bowers, Director of Planning and Enforcement is not responding to phone calls or emails. We both have concerns about the Borough Councils planning department and the workload for officers. The amount of applications not yet determined is certainly backing up.

We are both pressing for answers.

Ecology have sought further information on biodiversity gain metrics and I believe this information has been forwarded by the applicant but I am waiting on an updated reply from the Ecology team.

Ratby Parish Council have submitted a holding objection and I am awaiting a detailed objection response from them in due course. Kirby Muxloe Parish Council have also objected to the application as submitted.

The LLFA and drainage team have raised no objections to the application, subject to conditions, so there appears not to be a concern from a flooding/ drainage perspective.

The application would also potentially be subject to a Section 106 legal agreement, and to date, financial contributions have been requested towards education and libraries. I am in the process of liaising with other officers to calculate any open space requirements but as yet I do not have the figures for this. The affordable housing officer has also set out the requirements of the tenure split and mix for the affordable housing proposed.

As you can see there is quite a collection of responses and the need for additional information/details from the

And finally....

We would both like to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support. We wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas, and a Very Happy Healthy and prosperous New Year.

Remember we are only an Email or a phone call away.

Regards Chris & Ozzy.

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The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group Article by Judith Upton

The Kirby Muxloe Local History Group generally meets 6 times a year, and membership is open to all.

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 Covid precautions will apply. For further details, please see our website.

Our new “Memories” meetings unfortunately remain suspended, pending our assessment of the effectiveness of our new anti-virus procedures.

Our next meeting will take place on Tuesday 18th January 2022 the subject will be “A Bit of Fun”, an entertaining evening with Mike Gould, KMLHG Chair, about….Well, come and find out!

Christmas Food Through The Ages At this time of the year, most of us are making preparations for Christmas.

Gift shopping is probably almost complete and we are now turning our attention to food, and particularly Christmas lunch. Many people, men and women, are working full time and so the extra preparations are not so easy, as time is in short supply. Lots of people prefer to start from scratch and have everything homemade, whilst others choose from the myriad of pre-packed or pre-prepared foods such as turkeys stuffed, dressed and ready for the oven and even vegetables prepared and ready to cook. But, was it always like this – no, of course it was not!

By the 16th century, well-to-do people were eating turkey for their main Christmas meal. It is thought that King Henry VIII was the first king of England to serve turkey as one of the many meat dishes on his Christmas lunch table. Turkeys originated in the Americas and for a time were referred to as turkey fowl. Going back to Victorian times, the turkey was rarely the chosen meat for Christmas lunch, since families were much more likely to have been served beef if living in the north of England or, if living in London or the south, goose or beef. Queen Victoria and her family tended to eat beef and also royal roast swan! Poorer families often made do with a rabbit or two. The meal would be supplemented by vegetables, homemade stuffing, bread sauce and gravy. Desert would be plum pudding with a variety of sauces. Mince pies were originally filled with minced meat and initially made in a rectangular shape, like a manger. They often had a baby Jesus, made from pastry, on the lid. The original mince pies were made of 13 ingredients, thought to represent Jesus and the 12 disciples. It was only in the later Victorian times and into the early 20th century that the pies were made in a rounded shape and filled with fruit not meat, although they did, of course, still contain suet. It has been said that even today the addition of a small amount of minced steak can enhance a mince pie. A few weeks ago, I read that there was a plethora of people ringing into one of the morning tv shows as someone had suggested the addition of cheese to mince pies. In actual fact, to this day in Lancashire, cheese is often served as a side dish to accompany a mince pie.

As we look at food that was consumed during the two world wars when food was scarce, we can see a great change in the quantity and quality of the food. In WWI, instead of authentic turkey or goose, people would often make a “mock” version, usually made with lamb, as that was more plentiful. The oyster stock which had been so plentiful in previous years collapsed and oysters became the luxury that they are today. Carrots became a staple of many recipes and were even included in sweet dishes, such as Christmas pudding and Christmas cake. During WWII, food was once again scarce, with rationing being introduced in November 1941, initially on bacon and butter, but as the war continued, many items became severely rationed. As Christmas approached, may households would try to save up their food coupons ready for the big Christmas day meal, although this was discouraged in some circles. In 1941, a week before Christmas, the tea ration was doubled from 2oz to 4oz and the sugar ration increased from 8oz to 12 oz.

Talking to the more senior residents of our villages, particularly the ones who were children in WWII, gives us a very good insight as to family food consumption during these years. As our villages were surrounded by fields and many houses had large gardens, we were more fortunate in many ways than the city dwellers. Many houses kept chickens, usually in a large pen at the top of the garden. They also had at least one cockerel, which was often fattened up for Christmas. I remember being chased down the garden path by our cockerel when I was very young – it pecked at my legs

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Queues outside Walker's Pork Pie shop in Cheapside, Leicester.

Christmas 1950. Picture courtesy of the Leicester Mercury all the way down to the house! Another source remembers his father being pecked by a cockerel as he mounted a ladder and opened the trap door in the upper part of the hen house, so they obviously enjoy pecking humans!

My grandfather came from Kirby every year in order to “prepare” the bird, as my father didn’t want to do the deed. For my grandfather, who was a farmer, it was no problem. Then the bird had to be plucked and drawn. The thing I hated most was the smell of the giblets being boiled for hours on end in order to make the “best” gravy. I know many people still do carry this out as supermarket birds are sold with the giblets in a plastic bag inside the carcass. I do not – sorry! It is said that a cockerel is much tastier and moister than a turkey. If a household did not have chickens or a turkey, they often bred rabbits.

The Christmas fowl would be served with bread sauce, potatoes and Brussel sprouts. Christmas pudding was very special. Often made months or even a year before the date, the mixture was put into a ceramic basin with a saucer on the top, then tied up in a piece of cotton fabric and fixed up at the top with a piece of string. Some families made two puddings each year, one to test for flavour and one to save for the following Christmas. It is believed that puddings which have had time to mature have a distinctively better flavour. They were often kept under the stairs. Talking again to my fantastic informants, I found that although I thought Christmas puddings were usually boiled or steamed in a saucepan, I have been told that in the mid-part of the last century, the pudding was often actually boiled in the copper boiler in the kitchen (for younger readers: the copper boiler was the only means of heating water). Laundry was also done in the copper boiler, so if the pudding cloth had the distinct smell of washing powder, it was not at all surprising. Pigs in blankets and cranberry sauce didn’t reach our shores until the 1950’s. Pork pie (always Walkers) was often eaten for Christmas breakfast and this tradition is still carried on today.

So, this year, although the pandemic is still with us, hopefully as we are a little more free than last year, we can meet up with relatives and friends and enjoy each other’s company. Stay safe, enjoy Christmas time whatever you do, whether with friends and relatives or having a quiet Christmas and perhaps reflect on your memories of Christmas long ago. Happy Christmas to you all.

Many thanks to Jan Timson, Peter and Pam Cooper, Bob Pendery.

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you are interested in using the community room, contact our Secretary at the email address above.

Article by Liz Collinson Well, here we are, nearing the end of another year. We have been operating the Library as volunteers for almost six years now, which seems (to us, at least) extraordinary! Lots to talk about………………..

THE KIRBY MUXLOE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS SWITCH-ON This took place on Friday 26th November and was a huge success. Many congratulations to Kirby Muxloe Parish Council for making it happen. There were loads of people coming to the evening – poor old Santa was quite knackered by the end. He gave out some 250 gifts to Kirby Muxloe village children, helped by his very beautiful elf, Sparkle, and with his reindeers alongside patiently waiting for him to finish.

THE KIRBY MUXLOE LIBRARY WEBSITE We have an active website, and, as part of our drive to develop the community side of our enterprise, we would like to offer space on the website, free of charge, to any Kirby Muxloe residents who would like to advertise their events. For example, you may be running a coffee morning for a charity, you may have lost your cat and want to put out an appeal to help find it. And so on. This is strictly for individuals or small not-for-profit organisations – nothing commercial or political. If you are interested, contact website@kirbymuxloelibrary.org AND FINALLY…

DECEMBER COFFEE MORNING SATURDAY 18TH DECEMBER 2021 10.00am – 1.00pm

COFFEE AND CAKES INCLUDING OUR FAMOUS BAKEWELL SLICES SEE YOU THERE – AND A VERY HAPPY AND PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS TO ALL!!

Our café has never been so busy! We thought we had made more than enough cakes and mince pies, but just about every single crumb disappeared, to say nothing of coffees, teas and hot chocolates. Many thanks to our intrepid band of volunteers who were rushed off their feet. The tombola stall was also very successful – everything gone, just like the cakes!

Thanks to all those who donated items for the stall.

In all, a terrific community effort, more than making up for the lack of an event last year.

VOLUNTEERS We’ve had a great response to our call for volunteers – lots of new recruits who are worth their weight in gold. Many of our long-term volunteers have returned as well, and we are managing to cover the rota. Don’t let that stop you if you would like to volunteer as well – we have space for everyone, no problem. And a particularly warm welcome to our two new Duke of Edinburgh Award students, Heike and Abigail – very good to be starting this up again.

We do have a particular need for a handyman or handywoman volunteer, to help Tom who is currently doing it all by himself. This is about routine general maintenance tasks, such as mending window latches, hanging pictures – minor running repairs and maintenance. If you have these kinds of skills and are good around the house, why not have a think about joining us? The good news is lots of fun and friendships, and the satisfaction of doing something good for our community. The bad news is that this is voluntary work (i.e. not paid!). Why not drop in and talk to us?

PLANNING FOR 2022 We have begun planning for next year and would like to mention some developments, as follows: Local History Cafes We ran these very successfully in 2020, as participants will remember. We would very much like to bring them back in 2022 and we are teaming up with the Kirby Muxloe Local History Group to do this. The emphasis will be on providing a space for older and perhaps more isolated residents, meeting together fortnightly for coffee and cakes and the opportunity to chat about childhood memories so that we can build up an oral archive of the village.

Watch this space for more details.

GCSE and A Level Revision Classes We are acutely conscious of how our young people have suffered with their learning over the last couple of years. We would like to help by running a series of revision seminars for A Level and GCSE students coming up to their exams in the summer of 2022. These will be essentially student-centred, dealing with the subject matter that students themselves raise – definitely not a series of lectures. More about this next year, but at this stage we are asking if there are any retired teachers out there who would be willing to take these classes, in both sciences and humanities. Unpaid, we fear, but definitely something we should be doing. If anyone is interested, contact secretary@kirbymuxloelibrary.org Working from Home You may know that the Library has an excellent community room which we hire out to local groups at very reasonable rates. If you are working from home, you could use the community room for things like small group meetings, or alternatively pop along to our café for a refreshment break. If

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