February 2020 Your Local Anstey, Thurcaston, Cropston, Newtown Linford, Woodhouse / Eaves by OpenBox Promotions

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Alex’s Wish Raise Magic £1,000,000!

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Locally based charity, Alex’s Wish, revealed at their recently held annual ball that they had achieved their initial fundraising target of raising £1,000,000.

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Emma Hallam, founder of Alex’s Wish and Mum to Alex, after whom the charity is named, said, “Six years ago when I set up Alex’s Wish I set ourselves the ambitious target to raise £1,000,000 to help fund vital research and clinical trials to help bring about effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for the devastating, life limiting muscle wasting condition - Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

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“Six years later I was able to announce at our recent ball, that we had done it! It’s with thanks to our fabulous supporters and the local business community who has helped us achieve our initial target – and we would like to thank every single of them for their support so far.

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“The money raised has been invested in several research projects, clinical trials and supporting trial centres in the UK to run clinical trials, helping us move ever closer to effective treatments for Duchenne. Our latest commitments include promising gene therapy and stem cell therapy. A huge amount of progress has been made, but we still have a long way to go. We are committed to continuing to drive this momentum forward to help THIS generation of children living with Duchenne. We are now working towards securing our next £1,000,000 and will not stop until a cure is found.”

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Monday 24th February 2020 Deadline and delivery dates are subject to change depending on how far we are ahead or behind. The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the original advertisers & contributors and do not necessarily represent Your Local or Open Box Promotions Ltd. Open Box Promotions Ltd reserves the right to amend or refuse to publish articles or adverts submitted for publication. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. To see full terms & conditions visit www.openboxpromotions.co.uk/terms

The new fundraising challenge has received its first contribution from donations made at their annual ball. Zoe Edwards, Fundraising Manager said, “We raised an amazing £20,000 at this year’s event. Donations were made via our raffle and ‘Win a Holiday’ prize draw as well as from a silent auction and exciting live auction! Prizes for the live auction included afternoon tea at the Ritz which was kindly donated by New St Chambers, a Fab Clinics beauty treatment which was donated by Fab Clinics, as well as a Belmond British Pullman experience for two and a Europa Park Germany getaway which were both donated by our headline sponsor – Next. I would also like to thank our drinks sponsor - Morgan Sindall - as well as 2XL Commercial Finance for their support of our event. We are now looking into where best to invest these funds.” Next year’s date for the Alex’s Wish Ball has already been set for Saturday, 14th November at The Hilton (East Midlands) Hotel. Adds Emma, “Every single week in the UK two families will receive the same diagnosis that we did and we will not rest until we find a cure for all boys with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and stop this terrible disease in its tracks.” To find out more about Alex’s Wish and Duchenne or to get involved in any of their planned 2020 events and fundraising activities, please visit: www.alexswish.co.uk

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Time4Leicestershire: Give one hour, get one hour Community scheme launched in Leicestershire AN INNOVATIVE scheme where residents are rewarded for helping others in their community has been launched across Leicestershire. Time4Leicestershire is a new skills exchange initiative, which will see people carrying out good deeds for others and being rewarded in return by having somebody do a good deed for them. Part of the national Timebanking UK initiative, Time4Leicestershire is being run by the County Council’s Public Health team, who are encouraging people to sign up, register what skills they can offer and see what expertise they could benefit from. The scheme is designed to help people swap skills, connect with their community by meeting new people, contribute to their local community and receive help or support with practical tasks, such as gardening. Councillor Lee Breckon, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “We want people across Leicestershire to live as healthily and independently as possible and this scheme will encourage this, regardless of age or ability. “There are many positive health benefits for people from being connected within their community and we very much welcome the Time4Leicestershire initiative as a way of helping people across the county to meet more people in their neighbourhoods, get help with some practical jobs and improve their emotional wellbeing at the same time.” Timebanking differs from volunteering, as people swap skills. For every hour of time somebody gives helping, they receive an hour’s time credit to bank and use on somebody helping them for an hour. Skills swapped can be anything from mowing a lawn or baking a cake. People don’t have to meet in person to benefit from the scheme, they can help online, for example helping someone with their CV or digitally editing photographs. The Public Health team are holding a series of information events for people to learn more about timebanking. People who sign up at the events will have their account credited with two hours, to help them get started. To find out more about the scheme and what skills people are looking for, or to see when the next information events will be taking place, visit www.time4leicestershire.org.uk or call 0116 305 0705.

Visit: www.time4leicestershire.org.uk

Anstey WI 2020 began well for Anstey WI. Attendance was high, including a posse from newly closed Thurcaston and Cropston WI. Our speaker was Samantha Hancock, Cyber Protection Officer at Leicestershire police, on the subject of Cyber Awareness, Scams and Fraud. She was accompanied by Tiffany, one of her assistants. Her talk was interesting and very helpful. She began by asking each of us to pass her advice on to two other people. Her watchword: “Accept nothing, Believe nobody, Confirm everything.” We were given many practical tips, including useful websites, and which are the safest settings to select. Take a look at ActionFraud, and getsafeonline.org Or have a word with a member of Anstey WI. We are all clued up now.

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We’ve set a date! This years Anstey Summer Gala will be held on Saturday 5th September 2020, on the Recreational Ground, Stadon Road. The plans are already underway to make sure another Summer Gala goes off without a hitch! We are currently looking into the entertainment for the arena, so if you have a local group or organisation that would like to promote with a slot in our arena - please get in touch! or if you have any ideas that you would like to see at this years gala, let us know with an email to ansteygala@aol.com or come down to one of our meetings, we meet on the first Monday of the month, 7.30pm at The Stadon Club.

Charnwood Probus Club The club held its opening meeting for 2020 at our venue, Longcliffe Golf Club, where we enjoyed a superb four course lunch. By coincidence the date was exactly our 23rd anniversary of using Longcliffe as our venue and we are currently looking forward to the next 23 years there. It is a really superb location with excellent food and all the normal facilities of a good golf club. One of our attending guests was Steph who was going to introduce our brand new website (that she has developed for us), www.charnwoodprobus.co.uk, to the members. Unfortunately the laptop provided by the club to drive the projector decided it wanted to be in “flight mode” and would not connect to the internet but most members managed to have a look at the site on their smart phones. Charnwood Probus Club is a most friendly place to meet up for a drink and lunch, with members from virtually every walk of life which makes the conversations between members most interesting. We do not, as yet, have any retired astronauts as members but we are most willing to hear from any who would like to join, and, indeed from any other retired or semiretired gentlemen who may wish to come along and see what we are about. Simply go onto our website and sent a Contact Form and I can assure you of a swift response to answer any queries you may have. There is lots of information on the web site but if you do wish to come along we must be aware that you are coming in order that a lunch can be ordered for you.

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Report from Anstey Parish Council Parish Precept - At the January meeting the Parish Council made a decision to increase the parish precept for Anstey by 2%, this is the element of the Council tax. No money is raised from central government for Parish Councils, all money is raised locally. This increase equates to £2.26 per year, 4 pence per week for residents who live in a band D property. This increase still allows the Council to provide more projects and services for Anstey. The main changes to the budget for 2020 / 2021 are due to the desire of the Council to provide more support to the growing community of Anstey. The full budget is available to view online at https://www. ansteypc.org.uk/uploads/budget-2020-2114.pdf The expected income is £580,488.00, with expected expenditure of £573,858.00 The main areas where there has been an increase to the budget are as follows; • Salaries an increase of £3,000 to allow the Councils projects to be fulfilled, including the Neighbourhood Plan. • Grant the pot has been increased by £4,000 to support local groups. • The inclusion of the John Sutherington Grant, this is the first time that this sporting grant is being awarded in memory of John (£250) Reserves from the Councils budget will allow the following to be started; • When the land at Groby Road has been transferred there is money in reserves for the set up of the allotment site. • The project to provide further community facilities has a sum of money in ear marked reserves to contribute towards this project. • Funding is available for a Neighbourhood Plan, in addition to this £4,000 is coming from reserves to cover costs on this project.

• There will be no Council Tax due for the public toilets this year saving £1,600.00 • During 2020 the Council will again be looking at cutting the grass verges in house allowing a saving of £4,000.00

Notice board in the Nook - Since the removal of the noticeboard in the Nook the Parish Council having been looking at alternative locations for a centrally located board. If you have any suggestions or you are a business owner and would be happy for a noticeboard to be put on your building please do get in touch. Staff Changes - We are very sad to report the sudden death of Dean Taylor who had worked loyally for the Parish Council since 2011. Dean was an asset to the Council and will be missed. Our thoughts are with Dean’s family at this time.

The Application form and person specification are available on the website www.ansteypc. org.uk Completed applications should be returned to the Parish Office for the attention of Liz Hawkes, Parish Office, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AY or emailed to clerk@ansteypc.org If you would like to receive a paper copy of the application form or would like an informal chat about the job please telephone the Parish Office (0116) 236 2646. Closing date for applications is Friday 7th February 2020 at 12 Noon. Interviews will be held on Thursday 13th February 2020. In addition to the above vacancy a caretaker is required for opening and closing at the Jubilee Hall if you would like to discuss either of these vacancies please contact the parish office. Tel: (0116) 236 2646.

The Council have been looking at how to structure necessary changes and are looking to recruit for two vacancies. A Premises Officer and a Caretaker.

Anstey Cemetery - Work will be carried out

Vacancy: Premises Operative - Anstey Parish Council are looking to recruit an enthusiastic person who can be responsible for the cleaning at the Jubilee Hall and Public Toilets in the Nook Anstey. In addition to these duties you would need to be available to open and close the hall for events usually in the evenings on a weekly basis, on occasions you may be called upon if there is a problem at the Jubilee Hall that needs attention.

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Candidates should have some good interpersonal skills and be able to work as part of a team and equally comfortable with lone working. This is a part time role for 14 hours on a weekly basis, has a Salary Scale point 4 £9.58 per hour, £18,426.00 per annum. (pro rata £6974.24).

• The Council is looking into future improvements to Link Road Playing Field and have allocated money for this project.

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in the near future in the cemetery. A new garden of remembrance is being created and ongoing work on memorial inspections will also be taking place. We expect the works to start in February and take approximately six weeks to complete. stamps and crisp packets. One kilo of used stamps has already been sent off raising £20.00 for the RNIB. Another £74.50 worth of crisp packets have been collect which are being sent off to the Charity ADAPT Prembabies Limited. Parish Council Meetings will be held on the following Tuesday evenings 4th February, 25th February and 17th March 2020 starting at 7.30 at the Jubilee Hall The Events Committee will be meeting on 11th February 2020 at the Jubilee Hall, starting at 7pm. all members of the public are welcome to these meetings.

Liz Hawkes - Clerk to the Council

Your Councillors are Your councillors can be contacted through the council offices: Tel: (0116) 236 2646 or email: clerk@ansteypc.org

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Deborah Taylor... Latest News County Councillor for Bradgate Division 6 Geary Close, Anstey LE7 7LW - Tel: 0116 2350126 - Email: Deborah.Taylor@leics.gov.uk Facebook: www.facebook.com/CllrDTaylor - Twitter: @CllrDTaylor

Christmas seems a long time ago and the new year meeting schedules are back in full swing. We seem to have avoided snow at the moment, but we have had a few cold and frosty mornings. On Monday 13th January 2020 I was invited to the public meeting held in Woodhouse Eaves regarding the CentreBus 154 bus service. Over 130 people attended the meeting from across many villages that would be affected by the withdrawal of this very important bus service. More information later in my report. On Monday 27th January I joined the Mayor of Charnwood in Queen’s Park, Loughborough to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. A moving service and an important day dedicated to the memory of all those whose lives were lost to genocide. Holocaust Memorial Day takes place on 27th January, the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. This year marks 75 years since the liberation.

Flooding - Following the severe funding experienced by many residents in my Division at the end of last year, I visited one family at their flooded home in Newtown Linford to understand further the issues and risks of flooding in the local area. These residents were flooded by the River Lin. The River Lin is a watercourse and not a main river, therefore the watercourse is owned and maintained by the owner of the land through which the watercourse runs. If the watercourse marks the property boundary, each landowner will have responsibilities for their side of the watercourse, this is known as ‘riparian ownership’. The following link below provides some information on what a riparian owner must and must not do, and what permissions are required to undertake certain works. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/owning-awatercourse#find-out-if-you-own-awatercourse With the concerns raised, I contacted the Environment Agency (EA) to ask for some further advice about what maintenance work might be required to the River Lin. I held a meeting, along with Cllr Snartt, at the local EA Office to look at the information and photos we had from Newtown Linford Parish Council and local residents and have a discussion with the experts as to if any further maintenance work was required to the watercourse. The EA confirmed that they were of the view that no work was required to the River Lin and there was no evidence that there were any

blockages with the flow of the River Lin. The flooding that was experienced was because the ground was saturated prior to the severe rain we experienced, and the flooding was because of surface water run-off and not due to any issues with the flow of the River Lin. The best advice they were able to give, was to ensure that all the drains and culverts were running clear (this work has been completed) and that residents look at property protection. There is further advice about property protection on the following links: https://nationalfloodforum.org.uk/aboutflooding/reducing-your-risk/propertyprotection-advisor/ and http://bluepages.org.uk/protecting-myproperty/

Buses CentreBus 154 - In my report last month, I gave details that CentreBus had decided to withdraw their 154 bus service from 26th January 2020. I am delighted that we have managed to save the service, with some slight alteration to the timetable. Following discussions with Centrebus, Leicestershire County Council reached agreement to allow the service to continue to operate hourly (Monday to Saturday) with a revised timetable in operation from 26th January 2020. There will be a minor change, which will see some off-peak journeys not serving Station Road and Reservoir Road in Cropston in order to improve reliability of the service. This arrangement will ensure that the service continues to operate without any interruption from 26th January 2020. The service will be reviewed as part of Leicestershire County Council’s Passenger Transport Policy and Strategy (PTPS). More information about the PTPS can be found on the website at the following link: https://www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk/ public-transport/bus-service-updates/ Notices will be placed at stops along the route to advise passengers about the continuation of this service and details will also be posted on www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact Leicestershire County Council Customer Services on 0116 305 0002 or email ChooseHowYouMove@leics.gov.uk I would also like to say a big thank you to all the residents that contacted me and shared the effect the withdrawal of the service would have on their personal and family’s lives. Also, thank you to all the residents who attended the public meeting in Woodhouse Eaves on Monday 13th January 2020. It was helpful for me to meet with so many residents face to

face and try and answer all the questions. It was a difficult meeting for me as I was unable to share publicly the information that I had from Leicestershire County Council due to commercial sensitivity. I only received one extremely abusive telephone call from one resident about the bus service which was totally unacceptable. Roberts 125 - The merger of two Roberts bus services has now been completed and the timetable is agreed. The Roberts Castle Donington to Leicester via Coalville & Bradgate Park is supported by Leicestershire County Council. The service change following the review of Services 120 and 155 will combine these two services into one – Service 125’ – with East Midlands Airport no longer being served. The new timetable for Service 125 will be effective from Monday 24th February 2020. Notices will be placed at stops along the route to advise passengers about the new service and details will also be posted on www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk. If you have any questions regarding this notice, please contact Leicestershire County Council Customer Services on 0116 305 0002 or email ChooseHowYouMove@leics.gov.uk

Neighbourhood Link - Just another reminder about Neighbourhood Link, please make sure you register. Neighbourhood Link is a community messaging service from Leicestershire Police that provides news and information about policing activity or initiatives, crime prevention advice as well as major incidents affecting your area. Through this service you can receive messages from your local Neighbourhood Policing Team, local police or, in the event of a major incident or event affecting the whole of Leicestershire, from a partnership of agencies known as the Local Resilience Forum (LRF). It is easy to sign up and you can choose which type of alerts you would like to receive. Please use the following link to sign up: https://www.neighbourhoodlink.co.uk/

Community Transport - Since the CentreBus 54A service was withdrawn from Anstey, I have spoken to many residents who are suffering to go about their daily lives. I am still working with officers at County Hall to see if some of the First 74 service can divert a few of their buses to that side of the village during the day. There is help and support out there through the Community Transport Scheme that is part funded by Leicestershire County Council. I did add all these details in my report last month, but I have decided to repeat them to ensure that as many people as possible are

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aware. If you have any friends or relatives that are struggling without this bus service, or for anyone who need support with transport, please make them aware of the Community Transport Scheme. For people with mobility difficulties there is a community transport provision from John Storer. John Storer is a Loughborough based independent charity serving Charnwood. The community transport provision receives support from Leicestershire County Council. Residents with any mobility difficulties may book a journey by telephoning the provider directly. John Storer asks that residentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; book in advance, ideally with 7 daysâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; notice, however in practice shorter notice periods are possible, depending on driver availability. They are also able to take bookings for any regular journey. There are two forms of Community Transport provision delivered by John Storer, a social car scheme and a fully accessible community minibus. The social car scheme is delivered by volunteer drivers who use their own cars. The community minibus provides regular shopping journeys or transport for community groups. Community transport is chargeable via a zonal fare scheme, with the cost dependent on the exact journey requirements. The service is generally available Monday to Friday during the daytime, journeys outside of these times is dependent upon the availability of volunteer drivers. The Social Car Scheme is for passengers requiring car journeys driven by volunteer drivers for shopping, primary health care appointments, visiting, leisure, hairdresser etc.Â Please contact either Candi Barnes or Monica Gonzalez on 01509 631761 to discuss eligibility and cost. Alternatively emailÂ monica.gonzalez@johnstorercharnwood.org.ukÂ or candida.barnes@johnstorercharnwood.org.uk If you have any issues or concerns, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m here to help.

Deborah

AGE UK LEICESTER SHIRE & RUTLAND COMEDY COMES TO CLARENCE WITH MRS BARBARA NICE Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland are very excited to be involved in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Leicester Comedy Festival. On Saturday 8th February from 4pm the public will have a chance to see Mrs Barbara Nice (2019â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Britainâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Got Talent semi-finalist and formally of Peter Kayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Phoenix Nights) at Clarence House, Humberstone Gate, Leicester. Why not come along for a fun filled evening with the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite housewife extraordinaire (plus support act) A good time is guaranteed when Barbara is at the helm. Giggles for a good cause, whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not to like? Just keep it quiet â&#x20AC;&#x201C; her husband thinks sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s at the bingo. Tickets are ÂŁ12.00 and will be available from the Leicester Comedy box office 0116 456 6812 or Leicester Comedy website https://comedy-festival.co.uk/event/comedy-comesto-clarence-featuring-mrs-barbara-nice/ You can also pop into Clarence house at buy tickets at reception. This event is being kindly sponsored by Sharman Fielding Chartered Accountants and Consultants. For more information please contact Nikky Miles at Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland on 0116 299 2233.

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Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society

FILM PRESENTATIONS

2020 marks the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society. We celebrated this anniversary with a glass of bubbly at the beginning of this first meeting of 2020, which was also our first meeting in our new venue, Thurcaston Memorial Hall. (Membership has increased so much over the years that we needed to change our venue!) With the increased space, we were able to make use of our display boards, focussing on two Saxon artefacts, discovered locally by the late Mr Brian Kimberley and donated by him to the care of the Society. It was good to have space to see them and to find out all about them.

January’s “Red Joan” was a sensational story of Dame Judi Dench as an octogenarian, telling the detectives how, as a civil servant, she had halted the mutual destruction of the world by spying for the Russians. As a talented British physicist, she had taken part in the invention of the atomic bomb.

Our meeting focussed on Saint Guthlac, Warrior and Hermit. Speaker Douglas Clinton introduced us to this ‘local’ saint via his timeline and his family tree. Guthlac (c. 674 714) was the son of a nobleman in the English kingdom of Mercia. His sister Pega is also venerated as a Saint. As a young man, Guthlac fought in the army of Æthelred of Mercia, fighting the British on the borders of Wales. At the age of 24, he became a monk at Repton Monastery, Derbyshire. Two years later he sought to live the life of a hermit, moving to the island of Croyland, now Crowland, on St Bartholomew's Day AD 699. Crowland then was an uninhabited island, accessible only by boat, and deep in the wild and desolate marshland separating Mercia and East Anglia. Here Guthlac built a shelter, cut into the side of a burial-mound, in which he lived austerely for the rest of his life. We are told he was tormented by demons, but consoled by visions of angels. His reputation for sanctity and for performing miraculous healings spread far afield and continued to grow after his death. (For much of our knowledge of Guthlac, we are indebted to Saint Felix, his life-long friend, whose biography of Guthlac was written c. 735.) Guthlac’s sister Pega became an anchorite, and, according to a thirteenth-century writer, initially lived near Guthlac at Crowland. On one occasion, apparently, the devil took her form and tried to persuade Guthlac to break his vow never to eat before sunset. To prevent further attempts of this nature, Guthlac ordered Pega to leave the island. She did, and they never met again. She became a solitary in the neighbourhood of Crowland, and Peakirk, Pega's Church, is named for her. The Feast Day of St. Guthlac is April 11th. He is often depicted with St. Bartholomew, his patron, who gave him a scourge with which to do penance and to defeat the demons. Several Leicestershire and Lincolnshire churches are dedicated to St Guthlac, most recently the church of St Guthlac in Knighton, Leicester. Knighton lies at the northernmost edge of Guthlaxton, an ancient hundred of Leicestershire. At the time of the Domesday Book, Guthlaxton was one of Leicestershire's four wapentakes, an Anglo-Saxon administrative district. It covered a large area, including Market Bosworth, Hinckley, Lutterworth and Wigston Magna. The wapentake’s original meeting place was at ‘Guthlac’s stone’, which was apparently sited next to the Fosse Way. Our speaker raised a lot of interest and fielded quite a few questions. The Society’s next meeting is on the 18th February at 7.30 pm at Thurcaston Memorial Hall. Sandra Moore will be talking about ‘May Clement’s War’. Visitors are always welcome, £3 per person. For our 2020 programme please look at our website: http://www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk/programme/

Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council

"Green Book" will be shown on February 14th and lasts 130 minutes. Another amazing true story will be our biographical comedy drama in February. This film brings to light the racial division in American society during the 1960's. When a club bouncer falls on hard times, he becomes the concert tour driver for a talented AfricanAmerican concert pianist. Having won three Oscars and three BAFTA'S, this film is a warm and joyous tale about loyalty and companionship. “Downton Abbey” will be shown on March 13th and lasts 122 minutes. In March, we are showing the latest drama from Lord Julian Fellowes. This film shows the much anticipated happenings at Downton Abbey, starring Dame Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton and Hugh Bonneville. We see the exciting preparations for the success of a visit by royalty, King George V and Queen Mary to the country mansion of Lord and Lady Grantham. “Fisherman’s Friends” will be shown on April 17th. Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5 which will include refreshments and a lucky prize draw during the interval. Advanced tickets may be purchased from Richard or Diana or via the parish office –0116 236 7626 or at the door.

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CHRISTMAS DAY ALONE 2019 Everyone who attended Christmas day for those alone in Anstey and surrounding villages had a great day, volunteers and guests alike. We catered for 89 people! All guests had a lovely 5 course Christmas dinner, a present each and a goody bag with lots of yummy treats.

Organ donation changes this Spring THE LAW around organ donation is changing in England.

We enjoyed great entertainment with Nigel on his squeeze box doing a Christmas sing along and of course several games of BINGO!! We would like to thank all the volunteers who came forward to help both prior to the day and on the day whether that be the initial planning, securing funds, setting up the room, wrapping presents, putting up posters, providing transport, hosting a table, and last but so very much not least all those involved in the catering. The meal was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and catering for 89 is not an easy task! A very grateful thanks to the companies etc.. who support us – to Next for again donating all the lovely presents for everyone, Nationwide in Anstey who’s lovely staff co-ordinated collecting chocolate oranges, others goodies and cash from the lovely folk of the villages who donated, Anstey Parish Council, Anstey Chippy, Britvic, Charnwood Brewery, Councillor Baines, Everards Brewery, Forget me knot, S J Langton Butchers in Glenfield, Roy Green surveyors, Sainsburys local in LFE, Morrisons, Pladis (Jacobs) Wigston, Midlands CO-OP, Tesco, QD bargains, Whitfields , Yorkshire Tea. Many thanks to all who have donated money and goods themselves, my friends, work colleagues and local people who donate what they can, everything helps small or large and all donations have helped make the day very special. Thanks also to St Marys Church, Anstey for the use of the room again, without which this couldn’t go ahead so thanks very much once again.

This means that from spring 2020, all adults in England will be considered an organ donor when they die unless they had recorded a decision not to donate or are in one of the excluded groups. This is commonly referred to as an ‘opt out’ system. Your family would always be involved before donation takes place, so it is really important that you choose whether you want to be a donor and discuss what you want to happen with your family, so your decision is clear and they can have peace of mind knowing that your decision is being honoured. For more information, visit www.organdonation.nhs.uk

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Friends of the Charnwood Forest

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There is an old definition of a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;weedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for a gardener which states that it will thrive and multiply under the prevailing conditions, whereas a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;flowerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; will not. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Flowersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; can become weeds, but rarely do weeds become flowers, and then only when they are moved from their country of origin to somewhere else. So, what does â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;prevailing conditionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; mean? To start with, the soil; this can be too wet or too dry for certain plants. It must not be too acidic or too basic: it must or must not contain certain minerals. The amount of light the plant receives must be just right. Some plants will not thrive in shade, others in direct sunlight. The temperature range must be just right; many plants are said to be â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hardyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; if they survive the lowest temperatures of the winter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; clearly this will depend on where in the world they are. Non-hardy plants will be killed off by those temperatures. In some places this can be governed not only by the location of the place there are in, but whether they are on a north or south facing slope. Our speaker this month, Uta Hamzaoui, has been working on the Living Landscapes project in the Charnwood Forest since 2012. Her job is to explore the various areas in the Forest, mainly outside designated reserves, and to advise landowners of the best methods of maintaining interesting environments, mainly for the plant life, though she did mention a couple of rare bugs at the end of her talk. At present the Living Landscape project covers the Forest and the Soar and Wreake valleys, but may be extended to two further areas around the Eyebrook reservoir. Certain â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;prevailing conditionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; did not have to be covered; the Forest has a fairly uniform climate, and annual plants will have seed that set and flourish at the right time of year. Light is not a problem, as there are no real mountains to shield out the sunlight. This only leaves soils. These depended on the nature of the rocks where they were formed and the drainage. The oldest rocks in the Forest are over 600 million years old, and formed part of the volcanic activity which took place in those times. Soils on those rocks are thin and acidic. By 250 million years ago mudstones had formed, and desert conditions prevailed. The heavy clays we now see are red in colour from the sands. Finally the glaciers of the ice age carved through the rocks, resulting in some places having excellent drainage, others poor, and a few places where there is virtually none. The next invasion was the farmer and agriculture. The tree cover was virtually eliminated. Most of the Forest is not suitable for ploughing, with rocks protruding through the soil, so pasture and grazing animals formed the bulk of the farming activity. In fact, certain types of heathland can only be preserved economically by grazing. Streams and rivers drained much of the land with a little encouragement, but in a few places bogs and wetlands still prevail. Our speaker selected examples of each type of habitat, and gave us details of some of the plants to be found on each, including some interesting facts about symbiotic plants and semi-parasitic ones. These were all well illustrated with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;slidesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. We all came away somewhat wiser than we may have been before. The next meeting will be on 17th February at Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall, when Peter Liddle, once the county archaeologist, will talk about Lady Jane Grey and Bradgate House.

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David Snartt Reports... Borough Councillor for Forest Bradgate

154 Bus Service I was pleased to see so many residents attend the public meeting in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall, to discuss the proposal to reduce the journeys of the 154 bus service. This is the only service travelling through villages between Leicester and Loughborough. In my view, this would have caused serious issues for residents, especially people using this service to get to and from work and residents who have no alternative but to use public transport to access services outside their village. This bus service was commercially operated by Centrebus, Monday to Friday, I was pleased to receive the information that following discussions with Centrebus, Leicestershire County Council has reached agreement to allow the service to continue to operate hourly (Monday to Saturday) with a revised timetable in operation from the 26th January 2020, with only minor changes. I note the service will be reviewed as part of the County Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Passenger Transport Policy. More information can be found by going to www.choosehowyoumove.co.uk. At the meeting reference was made by the representative from Centrebus about the recent road closures on the route. This had caused delays to the timetable with buses running late. I have now discussed this issue with officers from the County Council so that there is a better understanding about the impact these closures are having, not only to the 154 service but also to local businesses and local communities. May I take this opportunity to thank residents who contacted me with their concerns, it did help in understanding how the initial proposals by Centrebus would affect residents living in my Council Ward

Development Adjacent to Briscoe Lane I have asked that a new planning application to vary the condition 2 of the appeal decision

granted previously by a Planning Inspector for development on land adjacent to Briscoe Lane, Woodhouse, be determined by a Plans Committee at Charnwood Borough Council. This new application is to revise the residential scheme comprising the reduction in the number of dwellings to 7, a revised site layout and revised house types. My reasons are that, in my opinion, this planning application does not comply with policies within the Charnwood Local Plan, Core Strategy. The previous approved plan statement stated â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Local Needs and Housing Mix: the scheme now submitted has been substantially changed from the withdrawn scheme in light of concerns about the overall housing mix, proposing a mix of 2, 3, and 4 bed, terraced, semi-detached and detached dwellings. In my view, this latest application does not demonstrate there is a need for the proposed mix of housing and does not reflect the findings of the Housing Needs Survey for the Woodhouse Parish. Full details can be found on the Charnwood Borough Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website under planning application P/19/2056/2. I will keep you informed of progress as this progresses through the planning decision process.

Recycling in Charnwood I thought it may be interesting to give details on one area of recycling carried out by Charnwood Borough Council: Battery Collections. The Council operates a kerbside battery collection scheme. Batteries can be put in battery bags provided by the Council. You can put your bagged batteries out for collection on your recycling day, either on top of, or next to your green recycling bin, but not in it. They will be collected by the recycling crews and stored in a small pod at the side of their vehicle. To make the scheme more

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efficient the Council ask that residents save batteries until they have at least ten to present when a battery bag is collected. A replacement bag will be left, alternatively call 01509 634563 for some bags to be sent to you. Types of batteries will be collected D, C, AA, AAA, 9v, button, rechargeable, mobile, I pod and hearing aid batteries. The Council cannot accept car or other industrial batteries along with e-cigarette batteries.

Fly Tipping Fly tipping is the illegal dumping of household and trade waste. It is a criminal offence and can result in unlimited fines and, or five years imprisonment. To investigate, Charnwood Borough Council need as much information as possible, any help you can give is very important. Please remember: Do not touch fly-tipped waste, it may contain dangerous items such as syringes, broken glass, toxic chemicals or other hazardous substances. There may also be evidence that could identify the culprits. Do visually inspect the waste. I would be grateful if you would let Charnwood Borough Council know where it is located and how much has been fly-tipped. Report any incidents of fly-tipping direct to the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Street Management on 01509 634564, or e-mail cleaner.greener@charnwood.gov.uk

Lady Jane Mobile Home Park I thought you would be interested in the latest information about the planning application to develop 7 bungalows and a replacement dwelling at 532 Bradgate Road, Newtown Linford. I have asked for this application to be determined by a Plans Committee, until I have a better understanding of the impact this will have. Especially the two storey replacement dwelling on the listed buildings, which includes Rose Cottage. I stated the need for a mix of two and three bed bungalows. I have also raised the issue of vehicle parking on village streets whilst people visit Bradgate Park. Full details about this application can be found on the Charnwood website under planning application P/19/2119/2. I also note a tree preservation order has been

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I thought I would refer again to instances of nuisance callers to properties in the local area. These callers can sometimes be intimidating, especially for elderly people living on their own. Two simple measures, do not answer the door to strangers, be wary of bogus callers who try and trick their way in to your home, this can also be an ordinary person needing help, including asking for money.

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Any incidents you feel uncomfortable about, I would encourage you to call Charnwood Borough Council on 01509 634666. If any resident feels they require Police assistance you should call 101. However, if you feel in imminent danger/risk call 999.

Paul Day Congratulations to Paul being made an Honorary Alderman of the Borough of Charnwood.

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The former Borough Councillor representing Anstey was presented with the title which is the highest award that can be made to a former Councillor in recognition of exceptional service to the community. Paul was presented with his scroll, robes and Alderman medallion at a recent Council meeting. If you need to contact me on any issues, please write to 10 Groby Lane, Newtown Linford, Leicester. LE6 0HH e-mail cllr.david.snartt@charnwood.gov.uk or telephone 01530 244804

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St. Leonard’s Church Swithland Snowdrop Festival St. Leonard’s Church Swithland has a Snowdrop Festival weekend 15th/16th February See the snowdrops in the churchyard and a spring bulbs display in the church. There will also be a springtime art exhibition. Refreshments available Saturday 10am to 4pm and Sunday 11am to 4pm. On Sunday there will be a Eucharist service at 9.30am and a Songs of Praise Service at 4.00pm.

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Fantastic Run of 12 wins in row ends with a last minute try scored by South Leicester On the third Saturday of the new year Anstey made the trip over to South Leiceter to take on a club regrouping after personnel problems in recent months. Upon arrival, South Leicester were already out warming up and from the look of them they were big in the forwards and swift in the backs. Two tries in the first half and only conceding one penalty gave us a half time lead of 10-3.

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During the second half our hosts relentlessly piled on the pressure, but for all that effort they were still trailing your village side 10-6 with seconds to go. But —- South Leicester were awarded a penalty at which point the referee called last play of the game. With a massive effort from their forwards they crossed the line scoring a converted try. Final score South Leicester 13, Anstey 10. Ouch!

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The previous week our opposition called off, fearing a drubbing from Anstey and despite the best efforts of our fixture secretary we were not able to organise a replacement game. Week one of 2020 Anstey hosted a visit from Aylestone Athletic where we strong winners by a score of 31 points to 7

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Tuesday 18 February, 10am -12noon YHA National Forest, Moira, DE12 6BD

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Coming up is a league visit to Market Bosworth and home games against Long Eaton and South Notts Babas. Fixtures are in place every week right through to President’s Day after a planned Easter Tour, then our big 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner taking place on Saturday 13th June in the Tryline Suite at Leicester Tigers. Live music and guest speakers will be included on what will be a great event. Note in your 2020 diaries please.

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Thursday 20 February, 10am -12noon Holly Hayes Wood, Whitwick, LE67 5GJ

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Friday 21 February, 10am -12noon Hermitage Fishing Lake and Recreation Ground, LE67 5FU

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We want as many people as possible who have been involved with Anstey RFC since 1980 to celebrate with us on the night. Contact Chris Apperley for more details on chris.apperley@me.com All our fixtures can be found on our website at www.pitchhero.com/clubs/anstey Or on our club noticeboard in The Coach & Horses - moving to the big screen end soon. Training is every Wednesday evening at our Link Road ground. Anstey RFC are always ready to welcome new players, experienced or not. As well as playing, you will join the lively social life. As a bonus, playing the game will help get you fit. Matches are on Saturdays, kicking off at 2:15pm, reverting to 3pm from March. If you would like to support the club with sponsorship, contact any committee member for details. Details for all the club officials are on the Anstey RFC noticeboard inside our clubhouse at The Coach and Horses. Or call our Captain, Liam Curtis on 07727 118362 Or visit www.pitchhero.com/clubs/anstey or our Facebook Group Page at www.facebook.com/groups/20694012567 Article by Chris Apperley

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Loughborough Town Hall crowned ‘Best Night Out’ Venues, businesses and events in Charnwood picked up a host of prizes in a top regional tourism competition. Loughborough Town Hall won the best night out category at the Leicestershire Promotions 2019 Tourism and Hospitality Awards while Loughborough was commended in the best market town category.

The Charnwood Gardener Gardening by the Moon

There are countless books, TV programmes, blogs, YouTube videos and magazines that profess to tell you how to garden (not to mention those monthly articles that come through the door!). So many rules to follow, so many techniques to learn – sometimes it feels as though gardening is a competition, a battle to the grisly end to succeed at what is, last time I checked, supposed to be a fun hobby. Often the advice given will be in direct contradiction to what you’ve been doing for years, or what that chap at the allotment told you. Who to believe?

Is the moon the gardener's friend?

Now there’s growing interest in yet another way to garden. A whole new manual to read. Its advocates claim it produces consistently great results, whether you’re an avid veg grower or an occasional rose enthusiast. Its detractors say it’s utter nonsense, akin to astrology or reading tea leaves. And that method is gardening by the moon. The idea is that the moon not only has a strong pull on the water in the oceans, but also the water in the soil and inside plants themselves. By being aware of the phase of the moon, one can predict with certainty the best time for a variety of gardening tasks. Sowing seeds? The waxing moon is best as it draws water close to the surface. Harvesting crops? Best done during the full moon when they’re at their juiciest. Pruning? Wait for the moon to wane, as this will minimalise moisture loss.

Charnwood 14-18, a borough council-led event to commemorate 100 years since the end of the First World War, was also highly commended. Robbie Kerr, Loughborough Town Hall manager, said: “We are thrilled to have won this award and build on our highly commended placing last year. We have always strived to have our programme of performances and events to be as wide and diverse as possible to intrigue and inspire audiences, alongside ensuring a first-class customer experience. “I’d like to thank my team who work incredibly hard all year round to ensure our guests have the best night out during every visit, and to our audiences who continue to support us all year round. “ Sylvia Wright, head of leisure and culture at the borough council which operates the town hall and the town markets, said: “I was really pleased to see so many Charnwood tourism businesses picking up awards. Our borough is becoming an increasingly popular destination for visitors thanks to its stunning landscapes and array of venues, attractions, dining experiences and town centres. “These tourism awards are a great opportunity to showcase what the county has to offer. Well done to all the winners and those commended.”

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What do you think – invaluable advice or utter lunar-cy? FEBRUARY TIP: The joy of February is spotting those first subtle signs of spring. Bulbs poke their heads cautiously from the soil and yellow catkins hint shyly at the colours to come. The season will soon be upon us, so enjoy your rest while you can!

Peter Flood

Former Mayor of Charnwood made honorary Alderman A former Mayor of Charnwood has been made an honorary Alderman. Paul Day, a former borough councillor and Mayor was presented with the title which is the highest award that can be made to a former councillor in recognition of exceptional service to the community He was presented with his scroll, robes and an Alderman medallion at a recent council meeting. Cllr Brenda Seaton, the Mayor of Charnwood said: “I am pleased we have bestowed the title of honorary Alderman on Paul. “He has lived in Anstey for his entire life and to say he is a local would be an understatement. “Paul served the council for many years and was chair of health and housing and the plans committee during this time. He spent his final year as the Mayor of Charnwood before retiring in 2015. “This appointment is thoroughly deserved and I’m sure Paul will continue to serve the borough and make a difference to residents in his new role.” Mr Day began representing Anstey on the Council in 1976 just after Charnwood Borough Council was formed. During this time, he was the chair of health and housing before stepping down in 1988. Paul was re-elected to represent Anstey in 2007 and served another 8 years on the Council. Mr Day said: “I’ve lived in Anstey all of my life and been involved with both the parish and borough councils for many years. It was an honour to find out I’d been considered. “I’m grateful for the support that I’ve received from councillors for the nomination.” Honorary Aldermen wear a dark blue robe and support the Mayor on formal ceremonial occasions. They are entitled to take a seat at meetings of the council, although they have no voting rights. Mr Day joins the borough’s other honorary Aldermen including Robert Shields, Anthony William Stott, John Bush and Joe Tormey.

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Deborah Taylor & Paul Baines… Borough Councillors for Anstey Latest News Deborah Taylor 6 Geary Close, Anstey, LE7 7LW Email: Cllr.Deborah.Taylor@charnwood.gov.uk Tel: 0116 2350126 - Twitter: @CllrDTaylor Facebook: www.facebook.com/CllrDTaylor

Former Mayor of Charnwood made Honorary Alderman - Both of us were very happy to witness a former borough councillor for Anstey and a former Mayor of Charnwood being made an honorary Alderman.

Paul Baines 3 Ruskin Field, Anstey, LE7 7QP Email: Cllr.Paul.Baines@charnwood.gov.uk Tel: 07977 178869

We spoke to a few of the business owners about setting up a WhatsApp group, especially for Anstey businesses and shops so that they could all share information to try and prevent our local businesses becoming victims of crime. As your local Borough Councillors, we were happy to set up the WhatsApp group and to be the administrator of the group. This leaves the business owners free to manage their businesses knowing that any incidents can be sent around the group very quickly. We have been working hard on this since Christmas and the group is now live. So far, we have 14 members. If any local businesses are keen to join the group, please get in touch with us.

Community Safety Partnership - We just wanted to update you on the latest news regarding the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) in Charnwood and the latest crime position.

Paul Day was presented with the title, which is the highest award that can be made to a former councillor in recognition of exceptional service to the community. He was presented with his scroll, robes and an Alderman medallion at the council meeting held on Monday 20th January. Paul has lived in Anstey for his entire life. Paul began representing Anstey on the Council in 1976 just after Charnwood Borough Council was formed. During this time, he was the chair of health and housing before stepping down in 1988. Paul was re-elected to represent Anstey in 2007 and served another 8 years on the Council. Mr Day said: “I’ve lived in Anstey all of my life and been involved with both the parish and borough councils for many years. It was an honour to find out I’d been considered. Honorary Aldermen wear a dark blue robe and support the Mayor on formal ceremonial occasions. They are entitled to take a seat at meetings of the council, although they have no voting rights. Mr Day joins the borough’s other honorary Aldermen including Robert Shields, Anthony William Stott, John Bush and Joe Tormey.

Businesses in Anstey - Following the patch walk we took part in that was carried out by the Police and Crime Commissioner and the local Police team in December 2019, it became clear to us both that several businesses were suffering from the same or similar crimes, often on the same day.

Deborah, as Chair of the CSP, nominated the Charnwood CSP for the Police and Crime Commissioners ‘Safer Community Celebration Awards’ under the category of ‘Community Safety Partnership award’. We are delighted that the Charnwood CSP have been short listed, and that the team will be attending the award ceremony being held on Thursday 30th January 2020 in Leicester, along with Deborah. The last CSP meeting was held on 23rd January 2020. The report that went to the partnership reported that all crime is down by 7% overall in Charnwood and we have seen a reduction in all crime for the third consecutive quarter. Of particular note for local residents, is that the number of burglaries in Anstey is down by 38% over this period. This is down to great partnership working between the Charnwood Police team, led by our Police Commander, Insp Mark Botte and our Community Safety Team at Charnwood along with all the other organisations that work alongside the CSP.

Armed Forces Project - A project which supports the armed forces community in Charnwood/Rushcliffe/Melton Boroughs has been selected as a finalist in the national ‘The Soldiering on Awards’. The partnership between Charnwood, Rushcliffe and Melton borough councils encourages understanding and awareness of the issues affecting veterans and their families within the local community.

The project has been selected as a finalist in the Working Together category of this year’s ‘The Soldiering on Awards’ which celebrate the achievements of the military community, by honouring individuals, Veterans, their families and organisations that support the armed forces community. Charnwood Borough Council signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2013 and the partnership between the three councils was formed in 2017. The Covenant recognises that the whole nation has a moral obligation to members of the Armed Forces and their families, and it establishes how they should expect to be treated. The Council also employs an armed forces community covenant development officer, in partnership with Melton and Rushcliffe to help develop and support the armed forces community and ensure that military personal do not face any disadvantage as a result of their service. The winners of this year’s ‘Soldiering on Awards’ will be announced at an awards ceremony in April. There is also an event being held at the Charnwood Borough Council (CBC) offices on 31st January 2020 that will see many Parish Councils within the borough coming together to also sign the Armed Forces Covenant and we are delighted that the Chairman of Anstey Parish Council will be attending to sign on their behalf.

Carillon Tower Museum - Loughborough’s Carillon Tower museum will reopen in the spring while a new lottery bid is put together. The Carillon Memorial Trust had applied for £80,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve the museum but it has unfortunately been told the bid has been unsuccessful. However, the trust, which has been supported by Charnwood Borough Council, is going to re-apply and is confident that they can still secure funding. The museum closed in 2018 while the Council carried out a £280,000 conservation project on the tower. The museum wants to revamp its displays and make them more interactive, particularly for people who cannot access the top floor. This could involve the use of video displays. The overall aim is to improve the visitor experience for all and make the Carillon’s history and musical heritage accessible to as wide a range of audiences as possible. The Loughborough Carillon is a grade two listed building and was built after the First World War to commemorate the men of Loughborough who gave their lives for their

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country. It carries the names of 800 men who died in both world wars and other conflicts. Construction was completed in 1923 and the tower is 150ft high.

I look forward to the corporate plan being approved and this Council using it to guide not only the future of the borough, but also this organisation.

The 2018 conservation project included conservation work being carried out on windows, stonework, the copper roof and to the clavier. It also included improving lighting around the tower’s 47 bells, so it is easier for visitors to admire the craftmanship.

We will soon be setting our budget for the next financial year and funding continues to be a challenge. Our medium-term financial strategy proposes increasing the Charnwood element of your council tax bill by £5 on the average Band D property. Our share of the council tax is less than 10 per cent of your total bill and we remain one of the lowest council tax rates in the country. The Council is already a lean and efficient organisation, but we will continue to look for improvements, particularly by utilising technology, as our funding challenges are not going to ease soon.

The museum will reopen during the Easter school holidays in April and be open every Thursday after that until the autumn.

Leader’s Blog - The Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, Cllr Jonathan Morgan, publishes a regular blog. As this is the first blog of the year, we thought you would be interested in the plans for the council as we embark on a new decade. “Happy New Year to you all and I hope everyone enjoyed the festive holidays. Already they seem a long time ago. It’s going to be another busy year for the Council with plenty of opportunities and challenges ahead. One of those opportunities is the Town Deal fund. Loughborough has been invited to bid for up to £25 million to regenerate town centres, boost businesses and improve infrastructure. The Council will soon be inviting people from the public and private sector to join a board to guide the project and help us secure every single penny available. The first meeting is due to take place by the end of January. It’s worth noting that while we will be bidding for up to £25million, many projects will require match funding, so we are talking about the potential investment of much more than that. It is exciting for the town, and the community will be able to get involved and have a say. Cabinet will shortly be considering our draft corporate plan which sets out the Council’s priorities for the next four years. It includes pledges from our manifesto and reflects the views in our residents’ survey and of staff. It’s ambitious and emphasises our commitment to the environment, ensuring we look after our communities and the people in them and support the local economy – one of the fastest-growing in Leicestershire.

We will be aiming to reduce our reliance on Government funding and local taxation by making smarter commercial investments which give us a larger return to help fund services. And where we do offer services which operate in a commercial environment, we will be making sure we are maximising our income, again to invest in frontline services for residents. I’d finally like to congratulate Jane Hunt after being elected as MP for Loughborough. I have known Jane for a number of years and worked alongside her on the borough council. I am sure she will do her very best for the people of Loughborough. Congratulations also to Ed Argar for retaining his Charnwood seat. I look forward to working with them both on a variety of projects.” If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help.

Deborah and Paul

Anstey Parish Council have a special grant to award, in memory of Councillor John Sutherington who sadly passed away in October 2018. John was a keen sportsman and supported many sporting organisations within Anstey. The grant of £250.00 will be awarded to either an individual or organisation from Anstey, that has achieved a sporting success or carried out an outstanding sporting activity. If you would like to nominate a person or group for this award, please contact the Parish Council Office with their details below: • Name & Contact Details of Nominee • Sport • Achievement • Reason for Nomination

The deadline for nominations is 7th February 2020.

Anstey Parish Council Megan Sutliffe – Deputy Clerk Telephone: (0116) 236 2646 Email: admin@ansteypc.org www.ansteypc.org.uk The Parish Office, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, ANSTEY, Leicester LE7 7AY

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ANSTEY POLICE MATTERS Welcome to ‘Police Matters’ from the Anstey Dedicated Neighbourhood Policing Team. The crime breakdown shows offences committed between 26th December 2019 and 25th January 2020.

Crime Figures - There has been 2 incidents of criminal damage over the past month. There has also been 2 burglaries as well as an attempted burglary. Vehicle crime has lowered in this period compared to others. Anstey has seen one theft of a vehicle and one incident of vehicle damage reported.

ing•the A genuine caller will not mind you closdoor for two minutes while you check their ID and most will be happy to make an appointment and return at a later date or time.

Neighbourhood Link - We are still trying to get as many people as possible to sign up to Neighbourhood Link. It is our way of communicating with you and a way for you to contact your beat team!

For Crime figures for Anstey please visit https://www.police.uk/leicestershire/NL58/

Crime Prevention Distraction Burglary - Not all burglars break into your home, some try to trick or con their way in. Known as distraction burglars, or bogus callers, they will try to mislead you or distract your attention to get into your home and steal your money or valuables. Most people who call at your home will be genuine but sometimes people turn up unannounced, with the intention of tricking their way into your home. You should always be aware when someone you don’t know calls at your door. They can be convincing and often persuasive.

;

We’d like to meet you - Please check the Leicestershire policing website for dates and venues for our forth coming beat surgeries.

Thursday 13th February 18:00-19:00 Newtown Linford Police Box Sunday 16th February 11:00-12:00 Thurcaston Hall

• They may be dealers offering to buy your jewellery, antiques or furniture at what seems to be a good price but could actually be a lot less than the item is worth.

• Beware of callers who attempt to distract you by claiming they have seen something untoward in another room or outside, which may encourage you to leave the room. • Fitting, and using, a door chain or spy hole to the front door will help you to check who the caller is before opening and if they cannot produce an official identity card then do not let them in. You can even ring the company they say they are from to confirm their identity.

Bradgate Rotary held several successful events in the run up to Christmas, including one at Anstey, where Santa and his sleigh, together with elves and other helpers, made an appearance at the Nook Corner Coffee Shop. Another was at Bradgate Park when the sleigh joined the Advent procession to the ruins of Bradgate House. Other fund-raising activities included the Rotary club’s Christmas Fair at Groby Village Hall. A Rotary spokesperson said: “We’d like to thank everybody who came along and supported us. All of the monies raised will be given to local charities, including Canine Partners and Prostaid.”

The next beat surgeries will be held on: Monday 3rd February 11:00-12:00 Nook Corner Café

• Bogus callers may be smartly dressed and claim to be from the council, the police, health organisations or gas, water or electricity companies.

• They may be workmen trying to persuade you that you need urgent repairs doing to your home. You also need to be careful of callers offering to make building repairs or to tarmac your drive. Sometimes they can ask for money in advance or even overcharge you.

Bradgate Rotary Christmas events raise £2000

Wednesday 26th February 13:00-14:00 Peppercorns Café Please report any suspicious activity at the time by calling 101. Please ring 999 if you believe a crime is taking place. If anybody has any information about the recorded crimes then please speak with your local officers, or if you have any information at all about crime please call CRIMESTOPPERS. Your call will always be free, we won’t ask your name and you may even receive a cash reward. Just call – 0800 555 111

Bradgate Rotary holds a breakfast meeting at the Stamford Arms in Groby on the first three Wednesdays of the month. For more information, visit: www.bradgaterotaryclubleices ter.weebly.com or check out the club on Facebook. Although based in Groby, the Club covers several other villages in the area, including Anstey and Ratby. New members always welcome.

PS 2992 Rod Smart / PC330 Greg Moore / PCSO 6556 Ali Cochrane / PCSO 6093 Mitch Jarvis Beat NL58 – Anstey Charnwood Dedicated Neighbourhood Team Leicestershire Police

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Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club Birds, Butterflies and Bees with Janette Merilion The Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club started 2020 in grand style, with a talk in January by Janette Merilion. Janette is a successful garden designer and speaker, and her talk ‘Birds, Butterflies and Bees’ was a great start to the new gardening year.

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In her illustrated talk Janette gave lots of information about plants to grow to encourage wildlife to visit and about the needs of wildlife. She made the point that since the 1940’s much rural habitat has been lost to wildlife – thousands of miles of hedgerow have disappeared, 95% of wildflower meadows have gone, as have thousands of natural ponds.

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Gardens can never be a substitute for the countryside, but they can be an important element in the survival of wildlife. Over 600 wildlife species are at risk and gardens can provide food, water, shelter and a place where wildlife can raise their young. And, in turn, wildlife will be good for our gardens, good for us, and good for the environment. Janette encouraged us to ‘go organic’. Chemicals are not selective and kill the good along with the bad. By going organic we encourage wildlife and we can establish a balance between pests and their natural predators. Mimic nature by planting as many different plants as possible and this will reduce pest and disease problems. Janette encouraged us to plant trees and hedges. She suggested that there are trees for every size of garden, and gave many examples. They provide shade and shelter, and create a focal point in any garden. Hedges are cheaper to buy and maintain than fences. They also reduce wind. Native trees and hedges are best as they support the most wildlife. Many gardeners are too tidy and Janette encouaged us to leave the pruning of perennial plants till the spring and leave piles of logs to provide food and shelter for wildlife over When you sta arrtt feediin ng bird irrd ds s, y yo ou winter. She also Wh miig ght be surrp priis pri sed w wh hat turrn ns up! encouraged us to provide water in the garden – ideally by creating a wildlife pond or at least a bird bath. Attract birds into the garden by providing food and bird boxes. But make sure you feed the birds all year round.

As well as all the hints and tips about the importance of wildlife, Janette provided a list of plants that will encourage wildlife to visit our gardens. This list contained many plants that members knew such as Buddleia (the butterfly bush) but also contained what Janette considered good varieties of plants and tips on pruning and how to get the best from plants. This really was a splendid talk, packed full of advice and information. It was also delivered with humour, antedotes and illustrated by excellent photos. The Gardening Club meets in the Thurcaston and Cropston Memorial Hall Whether an experienced gardener or an enthusiastic beginner we are sure you will find something of interest in this year’s programme. New members are made most welcome. What’s more, it is excellent value!! The membership fee is still only £12 for the year (pro rota) or £3.00 per meeting. So, if you are interested in gardening - come and give the Club a try. For more information, and for a copy of our eye-catching poster of the 2019 Programme of Events, please call Dave Haddon (0116) 235 9758: david.haddon20@ntlworld.com Or Richard Elks (0116 236 8313): cropston161@hotmail.co.uk

The next club events are:Wednesday 12 February, 7.45 pm Growing Rare & Unusual Plants Kevin Pratt Kevin is a RHS Gold Medal winner and held the National Collections of Fritillaria and Eucomis. His talk will cover a mix of strange and unusual plants covering bulbs, climbers, shrubs and trees many of them propagated at his Village Plant Nursery Nr. Stockport. There will also be a selection of plants for sale. Wednesday 11 March, 7.45 pm Spring Has Sprung - Nigel Hopes Nigel is now Head Gardener for John Massey at Ashwood Nurseries. This talk is full of all the excitement of spring, looking at our favourite plants to build up the energy in your garden ready for the summer! Full of tried and tested plants guaranteed to make an impact! There will also be a selection of plants for sale.

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THE MONDAY CLUB CROPSTON AND THURCASTON

CROPSTON EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH Do You Remember …? Mr Peter Savage set up his computer to begin his picture show, and proceeded to entertain us for most of the afternoon with comparisons between the days of our youth and the things we all take for granted now. He soon had us in stitches with some of the adverts of yesteryear, where it was assumed that a woman’s dearest wish was to have the latest electrical household appliance as her Christmas present. Health and Safety also came under scrutiny, as we saw posters praising the advantages of asbestos, or DDT to keep children safe from bugs, or recommending a particular brand of cigarettes to satisfy the cravings of ladies who were expecting! Sometimes we really should stop to think what we are doing; people have actually died watering their Christmas tree while the decorative electric lights are switched on! Mr Savage (gently) taxed our brains by offering a succession of dates and a few clues to what has happened in our lifetimes, and asking us to complete the riddle. Who remembers when we were decimalised? Can anyone still convert pounds, shillings and pence into today’s money? Why did footballers start to expect superstar payments for their skills? Which of yesterday’s comedians and actors would still have acceptable material, in today’s atmosphere of political correctness no matter what? How many world-changing events do we recognise from the date and a few initials? He also showed us photographs of people

who were famous for a while, and asked us to identify them (not easy in some cases). He drew our attention to the fact that so many people have a mobile phone now, and that we are surrounded by invisible rays from all the equipment essential to daily life, without really knowing if it affects our health. Apparently the first mobile phones came along in 1983 and were featured on the television series “Tomorrow’s World”, but were big, bulky and heavy compared with today’s models. A quick poll was held, as to how many people had different items like computers at home. When we take photographs now, they are usually in colour, but until the 1960s most televisions and cameras gave you a black and white picture. Rationing was introduced in September 1939, and petrol was affected first. It once cost about 3s 11d per gallon (or 20 pence in new money), with someone to fill up the car for you. Today it is usually around £1.30 per litre, you fill the tank yourself and pay on a credit card. Rationing did not end until around 19531954, and the youngsters who were starting school then were the victims of floods of sweets provided by well-meaning adults, and their teeth have suffered accordingly. As a young man, Mr Savage paid around half-acrown for 20 cigarettes (= 12.5 pence), but now they cost over £11 per packet! Cars too could vary in cost, with the iconic Mini costing about £500 and the E-Type Jaguar about £2,000 when they came onto the market in 1959-1960. Have some things happened before, Mr

Unleash your creativity

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Savage wondered darkly? He showed us a picture of Doctor Harold Shipman, who was convicted in 2000 of killing 250 of his patients; while in 1957 a Dr Bodkin-Adams was accused but then acquitted of killing 150 patients, 130 of whom had left him large sums of money in their wills! In 1987, the car ferry “Herald of Free Enterprise” sank near Zeebrugge, with the loss of nearly 200 lives, because the car deck doors had not been closed properly when the ferry sailed. The ship began sinking then came to rest over a sandbank, which enabled more people to be rescued in time. However, in 1953 the car ferry “Princess Victoria” had sunk in the Irish Sea during a raging European storm with the loss of 130 lives, because similar doors had been damaged and water overwhelmed the ship. The talk ended with a lighter-hearted quote from the legendary comedian Tommy Cooper: How do you make furniture out of confectionery? You take a stick of rock, break it twice, and you end up with a three-piece sweet! Our speaker finished to much laughter all round and hearty applause. (Mr Savage explained that he does not take a fee for his talks, but asked for donations towards the charity “Hearing Dogs for the Deaf” instead, which is in its 35th year, and many members took the opportunity to make a donation.) *** Meetings start at 2.15pm on the second Monday of each month. On 10th February we shall be holding our AGM, complete with in-house entertainment, and admission will be free! The rest of the year will be varied and includes an outing to a place of interest, plus a pre-Christmas lunch for members and their friends / families. Visitors and new members are always welcome.

Mrs Maja Tompkins Contact mobile 07709 201881.

Anstey Local History Society Our next meeting will be held on: Wednesday February 19th 2020 at 7.00.p.m. in Anstey Community Library

Power in the Landscape: The Families of Grey and Hastings in Leicestershire’ Speaker: Dr Katie Bridger Members: Free Non-members: £2.00 www.ansteyhistory.com

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Membership fees for 2020 are now due

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FEBRUARY ENTERTAINMENT Saturday 1st Faye Horne Saturday 8th Jess Saturday 15th Ali Saturday 22nd Louise Claire Saturday 29th Carl Merrry

Membership Renewals Membership renewals end on 29th February 2020, if you have not renewed by then you will have to pay a ÂŁ12 penalty fee plus your membership fee on top. Please pop into the club and ask for the bar manager or bar assistant manager to renew yours.

Bingo Nights Friday nights are Bingo nights. We will be playing Bingo throughout the night plus we have a new Entertainment system by Jigsaw Entertainment System where we can play race nights, games and music videos to keep us all entertained.

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