Circulation: 4,000 copies Monthly
MID-AUGUST 2019
Friends of Chernobyl’s Children
Could you change a child’s life in 2020? WE’RE LOOKING for volunteer host families who can offer a stable, loving temporary home for children whose lives are still affected by the Chernobyl nuclear disaster. Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (West Leicestershire) is a registered charity that supports Belarusian children from disadvantaged social backgrounds who are still affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Every year we bring children from the most badly affected parts of Belarus to the UK for a month of recuperative care. During the visit, the children stay with a host family and undertake a programme of organised activities that gives them plenty of fresh air, friendship, essential health checks and above all the fun they so desperately need. We’re on the lookout for enthusiastic, committed families who can provide a stable, loving home for a vulnerable child that will be placed in their care for four weeks. Host families will need to have their own transport and ideally live within 30 minutes of the charity’s day centre, which is currently in Markfield. John Buckby, Group Co-ordinator for Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (West Leics) said: “Hosting a child is an incredibly rewarding experience and these visits do really change the lives of the children and the host families and volunteers that support them. “The next visit is planned for the summer of 2020 but there is lots of organising before then, so it’s vital that we have host families in place by September 2019 to ensure we can commit to bringing these children, so desperately in need of our help, over to the UK.” If you think you can help, either as a host family or as a volunteer supporting the visits you can find more information on our website www.focc-westleics.org.uk or get in touch with our Group Co-ordinator, John Buckby, on 01455 285799 / 07738 324947 or by email at john.evolution@btinternet.com.
Circular Parish Walk - Saturday, 7th September IF YOU ENJOY walking, why not join us on Saturday, 7th September on a Parish walk of about 8 miles and lots of stiles through beautiful countryside visiting some of our local churches: St Michaels in Markfield, St Marys’ in Stanton, the Quiet Garden at the site of Holy Rood, Bagworth, Cross Hills Baptist Church and St Peter’s in Thornton. The walk starts at the Lychgate at St Peter’s Church in Thornton (LE67 1AA) and heads to Markfield following the Leicestershire Round through Brown’s Wood. From here our path takes us to Stanton, and then onto Bagworth, and finally back to Thornton through the new woodlands. We will leave Thornton at 11 am. You will need to bring drinks and a packed lunch. Footwear suitable for walking is necessary. If you would like more information or you would like to take part, please contact William & Shirley on 01530 230422.
New Markfield Action Group requests your help to oppose increase in lorry traffic LOCAL RESIDENTS met on Tuesday 6th of August and formed Markfield Action Group to campaign against the proposal to extend the operating hours of the Crown Crest distribution depot at Desford. This will mean lorry movements on the route from Desford to the M1 via Desford Lane, Botcheston Road, Markfield Lane, Ratby Lane and Launde Road from 5.30 in the morning until 10.30 at night. We would appreciate any help with our campaign from residents in Markfield which looking forward may be with protesting and monitoring lorry movements. Anyone who is interested in helping is encouraged to contact Peter Beck on Peter@qmsupplies.co.uk. We are looking for as many people as possible to object directly to members of the Planning Committee at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council by letter, email or text. Information on how to do this can be supplied to anyone interested or you can visit the following link: https:// moderngov.hinckley-Bosworth.gov.uk/mgCommitteeMailingList.aspx?ID=127
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON 14TH SEPTEMBER - ARTICLE/ADVERT DEADLINE: 31ST AUGUST
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Ride and Stride, and Heritage Open Day at St Michael’s Church ON SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2019 St Michael and All Saints Church, Markfield, opens its doors to all from 10.00am to 4.00pm to participate in two events celebrating historic buildings, Heritage Open Days and Leicestershire Historic Church Trust’s Ride and Stride for Churches. Heritage Open Days are a festival of architecture, culture and local history with 5,000 free events running nationwide in monuments, city halls, museum buildings, churches and other historic venues between the 13th and 22nd September 2019. More details can be found on the Heritage Open Days website at https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk This coincides with the annual Leicestershire Historic Church Trust’s Ride and Stride for Churches where walkers, runners or riders (including horse riders and mobility scooter drivers) are sponsored to travel a route of their choosing between churches taking part, stopping off to have their sponsorship forms signed at each church they visit along the way. Perhaps taking a well-earned break for refreshments or to admire the buildings too. St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak, and St Peter’s Church, Thornton, are among the other churches joining in. Further information is provided on the Leicestershire Historic Church Trusts website http://www.lhct.org.uk/ride_stride.html Sponsorship forms are also available from Mrs M Browning, Church Warden. You need not be a walker or rider to visit on the day. It’s an opportunity for everyone to come inside and take a leisurely look around the church. Light refreshments (tea, coffee, squash and biscuits) will be available. There will also be a children’s trail featuring interesting objects from inside the church and its grounds for them to find.
Markfield Parish Neighbourhood Plan ~ UPDATE ~ THE NEIGHBOURHOOD Plan Steering Group’s work is now moving into a new and exciting stage, which entails a very busy work programme over the next 12 months. With two rounds of public consultation already complete and having had a fantastic response to the recent school questionnaire (see other article), the Steering Group has amassed a lot of valuable evidence to help guide the Neighbourhood Plan’s development. However, we need additional evidence, professional assistance and a grant from “Locality “to help us develop the plan. With that in mind, early in July, the Steering Group interviewed a representative from the Rural Community Council (RCC) and their associate planner, to assess whether they had the skills to assist us. After a long interview the unanimous decision was, they did, and a formal agreement is being prepared to employ them. An application is now being prepared with the parish council to apply for a grant from an organisation called “Locality”, who administer neighbourhood plan grant funding on behalf of the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, with the hope they offer a grant early this Autumn. Steering Group members are commencing work of two detailed questionnaires – one for adults and another for teenagers. They will be distributed in either late Autumn or early Winter. The adult one will be distributed to the 2,500 houses in the parish, as well as being available to complete online. The youth questionnaire will also be available in printed and online formats. Whilst there’s lots of development work to do before the questionnaires are printed, they will include questions on topics like: Housing; Transport; The Environment; Transport and Traffic; Community Facilities; Heritage and Communications. Once the questionnaires have been circulated, the Steering Group will be running a drop-in session to answer any queries and provide an update on other aspects of the developing Markfield Parish Neighbourhood Plan.
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A committee is a dark avenue down which good ideas are lured and then quietly strangled.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
HAPPY 125th BIRTHDAY! Markfield Trinity Methodist Church THROUGHOUT the year the Church family is holding a variety of celebratory events, open to all. The June celebration fell on the weekend of the opening of the new church building 125 years ago and the main event was a celebratory morning service, held on Sunday, 23rd June, led by the Rev. Helen D Cameron, Chair of the Northampton Methodist District. This area encompasses all Methodist communities living between just east of East Midlands airport and west of Heathrow, and just north of the Cotswolds and south of the Fens. The service recognised, and honoured, the previous generations of Methodists who had established and reinforced the role of the church in showing the love of God in the Markfield community. Following the service there was a Faith Lunch for approximately 40 church members who provided a delicious assortment of savoury and sweet dishes. The birthday cake, beautifully decorated to depict stained-glass windows in the church, was cut by Helen Cameron and our minister, the Rev. Steve Clark. On the previous day, Saturday, 22nd June, we celebrated the birthday with a Songs of Praise service and Gift Day, with hymns
and worship songs chosen by church members who were invited to tell the congregation why they had made their selection. The Songs of Praise was followed by a vintage Cream Tea, using vintage china and served by a team of church members, whose birthdays fall in December or June,
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Did you hear about the bloke who got drunk and collapsed in a heap next to the bar? It caused a major delay in the gymnastics competition. I gave an odd-job man a list of 10 things to do around the house, but he only did numbers 1,3,5,7 and 9. The condition of the patient who complained about the hospital food, the bed, the ward and the nurses was described last night as ‘highly critical’. Police are hunting a ‘Knitting Needle Nutter’, who stabbed six people in the backside recently. They believe the attacker could be following some kind of pattern.
who were dressed in black and white ( with the men in bow ties!). The tea, a delicious selection of scones, cakes and tray bakes, was enjoyed by about 60 members and visitors. Look out for further events throughout the rest of the year! Come and join us!
Don’t forget to send us your news! On the 90th day of Christmas, my true love said to me: “You take Christmas too seriously.”
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
It’s the end of an era in Stanton ABOUT 35 years ago three mums set up a Mums and Toddlers group at Stanton under Bardon. Following on from this came Stanton Playgroup or Owl school as it became know to its little attendees. After 33yrs of playgroup, Elaine Parmar and Diane Ward have decided to retire, sadly no one is taking over from them. Some past and present parents got together and decided it was only right to give them a send off. Presents and balloons were given and an owl cake was made by a very talented mum Louise Gray. We wish them health and happiness in their retirement and thank them for their amazing work for so many years.
Bradgate Park calendar launch
A 2020 CALENDAR celebrating Bradgate Park has been officially launched by Bradgate Rotary. The event took place at the Stamford Arms in Groby on 10th July. Those attending the event included outgoing Bradgate Park Director, Peter Tyldesley; sponsors of the calendar; members of Bradgate Rotary; and members of Leicester Forest Photographic Society, who took the photographs for the calendar. This is the fourth year that Bradgate Rotary has produced a calendar for the Park, sales of which raise vital funds for Bradgate Park Trust. The calendar depicts scenes from the Park - landscapes, events and wildlife - through the different seasons. The calendar is available to purchase from Bradgate Park for £5.
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Fairytale News: The Pied Piper has 12 rats behind him, more to follow...
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Thornton Community Development Project A NEW Community Development Project is now underway in the village of Thornton running until March 31st, 2020. The project is being managed by the RCC (Rural Community Council, Leicestershire & Rutland) a charity that represents and supports rural communities to tackle rural and community issues through community capacity building, community development, public consultation and engagement, awareness raising and confidence building. Supported by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, the project aims to: • Engage local people, organisations and service providers across Thornton • Build on current facilities and services, or lack of them, especially for children and young people • Build stronger connections between people and organisations • Identify issues and assets within or having an impact on Thornton • Help the community to take collective action to tackle issues to improve their area • To work with key service providers to better target their resources in Thornton • To have in place an agreed community owned Action Plan John Preston, Neighbourhood Planning Officer at the RCC who is leading on the project said “We have been contacting key individuals and organisations active within the village, promoted the project at the Thornton Primary School Summer Fayre and have worked alongside the Reality Youth Project and Streevibe Young Peoples Service to provide 10 free Mobile Youth Bus sessions to engage children and young people in the area. Further consultation and engagement activities will continue. We want to ensure this work complements and builds on the great work already taking place”. You can keep up to date as this work progresses by looking out for future articles, by following us on Twitter @RCC or Facebook @ThorntonProject You can also contact me by email: neighbourhoodplanning@ruralcc.org.uk John Preston, Neighbourhood Planning Officer, RCC http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/
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Sign of the times in Bagworth SIGN & RHYME is a fun signing classes for babies and toddlers. Parents and their children can now enjoy this fun baby and toddler signing class with Sign & Rhyme on Wednesday mornings at Bagworth Community Centre. Sign & Rhyme’s Marie Dutton previously ran the group for over ten years in Worcestershire and understands the benefits of signing for both parent and child. Now having moved to Leicestershire, she is keen to continue promoting the benefits to families in the area. Baby signing is a technique used to communicate with hearing babies before they develop the skills to talk. It’s an enjoyable and rewarding way to make the most of a baby’s natural communication skills and will support their language development to help them express their emotions and needs. Sign & Rhyme classes are designed to provide a fun and playful environment where parents and their children can learn a range of signs that can be used in their daily routine. Toddlers also benefit from the groups as they help develop a range of early interaction skills such as attention and listening, sharing and turntaking. Sign & Rhyme run courses for babies aged six to 12 months, and ‘Song in a Bag’ weekly classes for children aged from birth to five years. The classes are relaxed, friendly and great fun and include a mix of signing, singing, musical activities and signed stories.
It’s “Jamaican hairstyle day” at work tomorrow,. I’m dreading it.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield WI
Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.45pm at the Methodist Church, Main St Markfield. Further information from Fran Johnson 01530 243350 or Jane Barrington 01530 243285. WI Programme 2019 August ~ Black Cats, New Moons and Ladders ~ Sandy Leong September ~ What it means to be a Magistrate ~ Suzi Felstead
MARKFIELD HOMEMAKERS
MARKFIELD HOMEMAKERS meet in the Congregational Hall, Main Street, Markfield, LE67 9UU on the second Wednesday of the month at 8pm. Aug 14th ~ Skittles At Little Markfield Farm 7.15pm for 7.30pm Sep 11th ~ Geoff Harris Toastmaster
For more information, call: Brenda on 01530 242173.
Make a date: 14th September
‘Wake Up And Smell The Coffee’ ... with Macmillan EVERY YEAR 5069 people across Leicestershire are diagnosed with cancer. 32,500 people are living with and beyond cancer in Leicestershire. The reality is that more than one in three of us will get cancer. For most of us it will be the toughest fight we ever face. And the feelings of isolation and loneliness that so many people experience make it even harder. But you don’t have to go through it alone. The Macmillan team is with you every step of the way. - Nurses and therapists can help through treatment, advisers can talk through which benefits are available and volunteers give a hand with everyday things. There is no easy way to deal with cancer but Macmillan are there every step of the way. Almost all of their work is possible only through the generosity of donations. Last year over £30 million pounds was raised nationwide and to help make this even more in 2019 Bagworth Community Centre will be hosting it’s 6th Annual Coffee Morning on Saturday September 14th between 11a.m. & 3p.m. Please support us, our event last year raised £1,502, together with £3478 raised over the previous 5 years. Let this be our best year ever. We have Craft Stalls, Raffle, Tombola, & much more. This year we have been lucky enough to secure ‘Memory Lane’ a delightful singing duo to entertain us. (Not to be missed) Entry is £3.50 which includes a hot drink, generous slice of cake and a donation to Macmillan. If you wish to stay for lunch sandwiches, jacket potatoes & soup are also available to purchase. Further information available from Karen Prime (karen.prime1@ btinternet.com) 01530 230573
Anyone for Badminton?
Friendly Badminton Club requires players at Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, Ratby Road, Groby. Wednesday 7pm-9pm Telephone Mrs Stanley on 0116 2675 800. Kirby Grange Village Association
Charity Coffee Morning
in aid of Lawrence House Hinckley supporting homeless 16-25 year olds.
At Botcheston Village Hall on Friday September 27th 10am-12noon Cakes • Tombola • Raffle Please Come And Support This Worthwhile Local Charity
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Apparently Marti Pellow has discovered he’s got Arthritis. He feels it in his fingers, he feels it in his toes.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
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Markfield Local History Group News MEMBERS of Markfield Local History Group learnt about a very interesting aspect of Leicester’s history when they visited Glenfield railway tunnel recently. We were met in the car park of Glenfield Co-op by a representative of the Leicestershire industrial history Society, who run tours of the tunnel for pre booked groups. From there we walked along the disused railway line, past the Railway Inn and across the road to the now disused tunnel. The Glenfield Tunnel, built in 1829, was one of the world’s first underground rail routes used by steam trains to carry coal from the pits of North West Leicestershire to the city. It was designed by George Stephenson and its construction was supervised by his son Robert. It was the longest railway tunnel in the world when it was built. It opened in 1832 and ran over budget because it had to be lined completely with bricks as, instead of clay and stone as suggested by the trial borings, the builders found running sand as they excavated. It was closed in 1966 and British Rail sold it to Leicester City Council for £5 in 1969. We learnt that the east end of
the tunnel has been filled in, and houses have been built over it. We were able to enter through the door in the west end and walk down for some distance to experience the size and feel of the tunnel – a little chilly and quite dark between the lights which guided our way. We all had ‘hi viz’ jackets issued to us and had brought torches which helped us to see the various features. The tunnel itself is quite low and not very wide, which meant that only certain engines could use it. Also, trains could only travel slowly so that they didn’t rock too much and hit the sides! We saw the small refuge arches which appeared every so often down the side of the tunnel, positioned so that any men who might be working in the tunnel could stand in them as a train passed by. We are most grateful to Leicestershire Industrial History Society (LIHS) for arranging the tour. Visit their website http://www. lihs.org.uk/Tunnel to see about availability of tunnel tours and their programme of events. • ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL OUTDOOR event was the village walk which MLHG organised in July as part of the Leicestershire Archaeological Festival. 27 people
met on the green opposite the Methodist church on Main Street, both locals and others from further afield. Commentary was provided by one of our members, Barrie Gannon, with added details from another MLHG member, Laurence Lock. We learnt about the sawpits which used to exist on the lower green before walking up past the old Village School and the former Schoolmaster’s house where we spotted an old school desk full of flowers! We continued up the hill to the gate of the Parish church, to the right of which is the new war memorial which replaces the old memorial, the Markfield Institute. A plaque on the cottage to the left of the church gate reminds the visitor that John Wesley preached a number of times in the village church during his ministry. After looking at some of the old graves in the churchyard we retraced our steps and walked past the old bakery and up to Hillside to the cottages built for the quarry workers of Hill Hole Quarry. The climb up to Hill Hole Nature Reserve was steep but well worth it for the views over the motorway and the surrounding countryside. From here we walked along the side of the quarry and then on
to the Altar Stones. Despite it previously being a rather dull evening, we saw an amazing sunset as we reached the rocky outcrop at the end of our walk. A leaflet written by members of the History Group which will guide you around the village and its landmarks can be purchased from Markfield Library at a cost of 50p. • OUR NEXT MEETING will be on September 17th 2019 when Michael Ball will be talking about ‘ The care of the Village poor from the reign of Elizabeth the First to the age of Charles Dicken’s ‘Oliver Twist’.’ The talk will be chiefly based on the records of the Overseers of the Poor in Markfield and the surrounding parishes of Thornton, Newtown Linford, Ratby, Groby and Anstey. This will be held at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Markfield, commencing at 7.30pm. All are welcome. A fee of £3 for visitors includes refreshments. For more information about the Markfield Local History Group, visit the website at www.MarkfieldHistory.info or phone Rosie Woodland on 01530 244497.
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My girlfriend drew a map of India then asked, “Does Mumbai look big in this?”
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation commemorates 30 years
Markfield Local History Group Presents A Talk By Michael Ball On
The care of the village poor from the reign of Elizabeth I to the age of Charles Dickens’ ‘Oliver Twist’ Tuesday September 17th 7.30 pm The talk will be chiefly based on the records of the Overseers of the Poor in Markfield and the surrounding parishes of Thornton, Newtown Linford, Ratby, Groby and Anstey. The Methodist Church Rooms, Main Street, Markfield Non-members £3 to include refreshments www.MarkfieldHistory.info
After watching a few zombie films I’ve decided that, in the event of a zombie apocalypse, I’m going to be a cameraman because they never seem to attack them.
THE SHUTTLEWOOD CLARKE Foundation is a Leicestershire based registered charity providing inspirational support, wellbeing and educational opportunities to older people, adults with disabilities and disadvantaged young people throughout the locality and the wider community. Based in the stunning Charnwood Forest, the Foundation provides a varied range of drop in and organised activities which promote engagement and inclusion. From craft clubs to art sessions, an allotment project to a community choir, and seated exercise classes to assisted woodland walks - the Foundation is passionate about providing engaging services in a personalised, home from home setting that makes a real difference to wellbeing. On Saturday 15th June the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation commemorated its’ 30 year anniversary. Supporters and volunteers gathered at Ulverscroft Grange to enjoy anniversary cake and witness a tree dedication ceremony. Principal Manager and retired volunteer Barbara Moore spoke of the charities valuable and respected contribution to the people of Leicestershire since the charity was formed in 1989. Barbara Moore shared the vision of the charity’s founder David Clarke and his eagerness to help and support local people living with an illness or disability. David passed away in 2002 and is remembered by many for his kindness, generosity and spirit of goodness. Louise Moore Principal Manager speaking of David Clarke said ‘I hope that he would be proud of what we have achieved in his name and of the plans we have for the future. She added ‘David once wrote:-“There can be no doubt that love, kindness and happiness go hand in hand. Promote one and the others will follow as surely as day follows night. There is so much that we can do to make life more rewarding for so many, but there is always a little extra we can and must do!” Louise’s speech concluded with an expression of gratitude and thanks to the staff and volunteers, past and present for their dedication and support over the past three decades. Following the formal speeches and tree dedication a time capsule containing photographs, film, letters and memories, was buried beneath the oak. If you are visiting the Foundation please take the time see the tree – it will be there to welcome visitors to the Grange – just as David always did. For more information regarding the Foundation and ways that you may be able to support the charity in its vital work, please call Helen Baxter on 01530 244914 or email helen@shuttlewood-clarke.org
My new book is called ‘Wooooaaooooh’. I’m really regretting using a Ghost Writer.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Thornton Events
What a fantastic month for the Queen Bee Youth Project!
Heritage Weekend 14th and 15th September St Peter’s Church, Thornton will be open during the weekend of 14th and 15th September to visitors. Come and explore our lovely Grade 1 historical church for yourselves. There is no charge, though refreshments will be available to purchase. The church will be open as follows: Saturday - from 10 am to 12.30 pm and from 3 pm until 6pm Sunday - from 1 pm to 6 pm.
Ride & Stride Saturday 14th September Ride and Stride raises money through sponsorship for your chosen church and Leicester and Leicestershire’s Historic Churches Preservation Trust. You may walk, ride or drive to some of the 400 churches and chapels open 14th September. St Peter’s church, Thornton is one of them. Contact Shirley for sponsorship forms, a list of churches taking part and more information on 01530 230 422.
MARKFIELD METHODIST CHURCH EVENTS AUGUST 24th-26th Flower Festival SEPTEMBER Saturday 28th 11-1 Ploughman’s lunch All are very welcome at any of our events. Further details on all events plus Church services and much more can be found in the Herald, on the village and our Church notice boards, on our website www. markfieldmethodistchurch or “like” our facebook page to follow us!
FIRSTLY we exhibited at the Leicester riverside festival, there was a lot of interest in the girl’s artwork. It was a beautiful sunny day and the art looked amazing. The group took part in a a fundraising competition and raised over £700 for Young Minds, youth group equipment and a community cream tea. We took the girls on our first litter picking session tidying up the park and quarry. It was great to see the girls laughing, getting some fresh air and contributing to their community. Drum roll please....the Queen Bee Youth Project won the group category at the Hinckley and Bosworth Making a difference awards 2019! Absolutely fantastic result. We were also runners up in the ‘Inspirational Volunteers’ and ‘Creating a sense of community’ categories. Well done to all the girls and thank you to everyone that took the time to nominate us. We are holding our first community sports day event at the Coach and Horses on the 28th of July, more details are in the events section on our Facebook page. Please come along and join in the fun! The Queen Bee Youth Project has now linked up with LCFC, keep a look out for exciting sessions with them coming very soon! If you would like to join the Queen Bee waiting list please send your name & date of birth to: queenbeeyouthproject@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook @queenbeeyouth Tuesday sessions opening very soon!
Just lately when I go out, some bird with long legs starts following me. I think I’m being Storked.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
ST. PETER’S CHURCH, THORNTON
Augmentation of 3 Existing Bells to a Full Peal of 6 HISTORY ST. PETER’S Church, Thornton is an historic Grade I listed building, over 700 years old. In 1939 a bell frame was installed to accommodate 6 bells but only the existing 3 were hung. Over the years there have been several attempts to raise funds to provide a full peal of 6 bells but unfortunately without success. Recently the church has been blessed by an offer of 3 additional bells at no cost. However, the church would be responsible to cover the cost of providing the necessary bell fittings, retuning, casting, wheels, ropes and labour to hang them. Ringing just three bells is limiting, and it is often likened to the sound and quality of “three blind mice”! By having a full peal of 6, it will enormously increase the scope of change ringing possibilities and be better enjoyed by ringer and listening villager alike. Over the last two years there has been an increased interest in ringing 6 bells, and we are now going through a phase of teaching new ringers. The enthusiasm shown by the wider bell ringing community has already shown how this traditional activity (known as the art of campanology) can help in bringing church life and contemporary village life closer together.
KELTEK TRUST THIS IS a charity whose overall purpose is to relocate redundant bells from redundant churches to active ones. As a result of ongoing
correspondence with the charity, they have now offered to donate to St. Peter’s Church the following bells: Bell Position 2 - A redundant church at Foxhills, Yorkshire, which is being demolished for housing development, had a peal of three, one of which will be suitable to be retuned and to complement our existing three. Bell Position 3 - A church in Widnes, Lancashire had a peal of eight of which six are being relocated to a roman catholic church in Queensland Australia. One of the remaining two would be suitable for our church once retuned. Bell Position 1 – Recently, a wellknown Leicestershire bell ringer, John Jelley of Barrow-upon-Soar, passed away leaving no relatives. The residuary of his estate was left to the Keltek trust with a view that such monies would go to providing bells, where needed, to churches particularly in Leicestershire. Consequently, the Keltek Trust has kindly donated to our church a new treble (costing £6880). The bell is due to be cast at The John Taylor Bell Foundry at Loughborough on the 24th October. The bell is to have an inscription in memory of
Music in the Park
the late John Jelley. Although the three bells have been donated, the cost of providing bell fittings rests with the church.
COSTINGS A QUOTATION has been accepted from The John Taylor Bell Foundry as follows:(a) To retune, provide all necessary bell fittings, rehang etc the three bells is £23910. (b) To provide a sound control system behind louvered openings is £7091. This would allow us to reduce the sound from the tower on practice nights, and at any time enable us to control where we direct the volume of sound eg towards the reservoir, or towards the village etc. Although the above figures are subject to VAT, we will be able to reclaim that element back from “The Listed Places of Worship Scheme”.
FUNDRAISING MOST OF the funding for the project hopefully will come from grants from charities and other organisations who specialise in assisting with such projects. It is usually a condition that the
recipient of such monies must provide up to 50% of the cost of the project. The Friends of St. Peter’s have agreed to help with any shortfall, but we sincerely hope that parishioners, villagers and local business will support us in achieving what would be a wonderful asset for the church and village, not only now, but for many, many generations to come. We are therefore appealing (excuse the pun!) to you to consider making a donation towards this project. Any donation will be very much appreciated, no matter how small or large. Cheques should be made payable to “Thornton, Bagworth & Stanton P.C.C.”. Cash donations should be sent to Eric Roberts (Tower Captain) at 23 Main Street, Thornton Leics LE67 1AF or to Shirley Garlick (Church Warden) at 1 Beech Drive, Thornton Leics LE67 1AY. If you are a taxpayer and feel inclined to “Gift Aid” your donation then we would be able to claim an additional 25% of your donation. For example, £10 would increase to £12.50, and £500 would increase to £625. Inland Revenue Gift Aid forms are available from Eric Roberts who can contacted on 01530 230743 or by emailing ericroberts1@btinternet.com This is an exciting project for the church and village for now and for the future. The glorious sound of bells ringing out across the countryside is just wonderful. We are hoping that sufficient funds will be in place towards the end of the year when we will start to implement the augmentation of the bells. We would really appreciate any help that you are able to give so that this longed-for dream comes to fruition. Thank you. For more information please contact me on 01530 230743, or Shirley on 01530 230422
Eric Roberts
Do you love the sound of a brass band in the open air? We welcome you to join us at Markfield Court Retirement Village The Social Centre Patio area on Sunday 1 st September at 2pm for an afternoon of entertainment from Leicester Co-op Band. Cost £10 per ticket. Roast Pork Cobs with Stuffing & Apple Sauce available Licenced Bar A bottle Tombola Tickets available from either Glenis Maskery: 01530 244917 or The Village Office: 01530 244930 or email: markfieldoffice@btconnect.com (undercover arrangements have been made according to the weather)
I just passed a whole field of sheep on the bus today. What on earth they were doing on the bus I don’t know.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Friends of the Charnwood Forest – visit to Kirby Muxloe castle Dr D McNeil
IT WAS THE rainy season, so members of the Friends of the Charnwood Forest who went on the visit to Kirby Muxloe castle recently came armed with their umbrella. As luck would have it, sky was actually visible between more friendly looking clouds than had been experience of late. Our guide was Pete Liddle, the very knowledgable former county archaeologist for Leicestershire, who had made a study of the castle. Not only was he able to detail the history of its building, but, with the help of the building accounts, actually knew the names of the workmen who were involved. In those days, when a thousand pounds was considered a sum which we today would equate to a billion, master craftsmen were paid 8d a day, whilst labourers got 4d. Some things never change. The politics of the day seems to have been clouded by personalities, perhaps even more so than today. Rather than poltical parties, it was a question of families and one’s loyalty to which family which governed your position and prospects. As long as ‘your’ family was in the ascendency you were O.K. and could even prosper. If not, the consequences could be dire, exile being the least you could expect. Pete Liddle found from the accounts that building work on the castle had not stopped the day that the owner, William, Lord Hastings, was dragged from a council meeting and beheaded in 1483, but continued for another two years, until the money ran out. The site of the castle was originally occupied by a manor house dating from two centuries before the castle was conceived. There is evidence that, even while the castle was being built, the old house was being repaired, which suggest that the ‘castle’ was a sort of more advanced fortified manor house in a way. Depite the lose of the head, it is possible that the Hastings family continued to occupy the site for two more centuries, judging by surviving correspondence. Unfortunately the record of the progress of the work stops with the accounts, and, with the destruction of much of the works over the years after the dwelling was abandonned, it is now not possible to say how much of the fortifications were completed, and how much moth-balled for future work which never took place. The one thing which we know to have been complete was the moat, home now to fotilla of Canada geese. The decline of the castle after it was disposed of by the Hastings is not well documented. At one point it was part of a farm. By the twentieth century it was in the hands of officialdom, which carried out essential repairs. One of these repairs obscures a magnificent vaulted ceiling of brick in the main entrance, which is still the old gate-house. Other places clearly show up in modern brick. However, the chief point of interest these days seems to be the arrangements for the disposal of human ‘waste’, which was funnelled into two small chambers beside the moat, into which their contents had to be shovelled, presumably by miscreants. One last point – the gun ‘port-holes’ even now guard the bridge, in the site of the old draw-bridge. It may still be unwise to invade the place.
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I’ve spent all day searching for a U2 CD... but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Crown Crest update plus some good news about grants Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald FORGIVE ME for a moment if I start this article updating you on developments concerning the Crown Crest (I mean Poundstretcher) application at Desford. I do so because a fair bit has happened since June but fortunately not a lot appears to have changed. When I last wrote we were expecting the planning application to be heard at the Borough Council’s planning committee at the end of June. Between me writing my last Herald article and it being delivered to residents, a meeting took place between the developer and the Borough Councillors from the local Borough wards impacted. This meeting included myself and Andy Furlong and it subsequently led to the application being put on hold. This was pending the applicant considering if it was possible to come up with an acceptable revised proposal, that could be reconsulted on with all those affected. In the short term this had looked like positive news. In that meeting, the developer, represented by his agent and the operations manager appeared to suggest that they didn’t really need all the additional hours, so it was hard to understand why the massive increase was being proposed. The applicants did eventually come back with a suggested compromise, but the compromise itself was half-hearted, not really significant and it actually proposed an even earlier starting time of 5.30am which was a cause of further local concern. In the end this supposed compromise was actually never formalised and despite a further meeting between the developer and the Borough Councillors plus our County Councillor, no further progress was made. A reasonable compromise proposition therefore never fully materialised and so it looks like we are back at square one. I am still unsure as I write, if the application will be heard at the planning committee set for the end of August. I anticipate it probably will, so once again I think it important to have a show of strength at the committee meeting, to make sure Councillors at Hinckley understand the depth of feeling on this application and vote it down. If the application is allowed to pass it will have yet another detrimental impact on our community with a big increase
in HGV traffic at all hours of the day including weekends and bank holidays. This will not be the last of it either, because as night follows day so I am sure that the owners will come back in time seeking 24 hour operations. Who could trust them anyway? They first moved onto the site seeking just a low level of HGV movements and being very happy to agree limits to operations at what we might suggest were sensible hours, to protect residents’ amenity. It is therefore right that residents should want to maintain that amenity and take necessary steps to protect it. Far more is at stake than we sometimes realise with these types of applications. They actually strike at the balance between choosing to live in a semi rural location and being consumed by development. If the balance tips too much one way, the very qualities that we seek and value are swept away and gone forever. An individual application rarely does this on its own but a culmination of them is such it is often already too late when you wake up one morning and wonder what has happened. I am firmly of the opinion that we have enough warehousing anyway in our neck of the woods and we must surely start to question if its all necessary and a good thing. I understand that a proposal is now being looked at to further expand the Bardon warehousing site closer to Stanton. I have not yet seen this proposal but for me it is unacceptable. I can safely assume that no new road improvements will be planned to accommodate this and it is hard to find any positives in such a development. Second to this both the Leicestershire and Hinckley and Bosworth Councils have passed decrees stating that more must be done to address climate change. Well, allowing the building of more warehousing with its associated huge increase in HGV traffic doesn’t appear to be demonstrating much concern for the environment. Actions will always speak louder than words and this could well be yet another example of hollow gestures with little or no meaningful attempt to make good on a genuine concern. • ON A MORE POSITIVE NOTE, I received a few weeks back some data from the Borough Council on how much grant aid directly received from the Borough Council had been given to respective Council wards since the inception of the Parish and
Community Initiative Fund in 2004. Over £130,000 has now been awarded in grants to Markfield and Stanton supporting a number of improvements in our community. As this money is often match funded it actually represents a more significant investment in improvements of around £260,000. The amount granted per head of population shows that Stanton Parish is actually the 3rd highest recipient of funding in the Borough. On top of this, two years ago the Borough Council launched the Developing Communities Fund. This fund was designed to support larger improvement schemes in the Borough. I was pleased that Markfield was one of the first recipients when it was awarded £179,000 to support the development of the community park which is now complete. In the second tranche of awards I am delighted that Stanton has also now been provisionally awarded a grant of some £52,000 to support the creation of a community multi use games area (MUGA).This
Matthew Lay
development will complement what is already on site at the recreation ground and make it a first class facility. A few further hurdles need to be passed but I am confident that this plan will succeed and the Parish Council are working on turning this plan into a reality. It’s in good time as well, because this second tranche was never certain and it is looking increasingly likely that it will be the last. ‘Strike while the iron is hot’, so the saying goes and I am pleased that this is what we have done in both Markfield and Stanton.
Matthew
It appears someone invited a lot of old people to my high school reunion.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
13
Letter from Uncle Eustace
On the peculiar stains and smells of old choir robes The Rectory St James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren Your withering comments, saying that our choir robes, were ‘surplice’ to requirements did not go down well at last week’s practice. I will concede that Mr Baddeley’s robes smell somewhat kippered and are laced with burns - but you can expect little less from 40 years of enjoying a final cigarette behind a gravestone before the start of Matins. Certainly, Mr Timmin’s surplice has a strange series of red and blue polka dots, but that is only because he uses his time in the choir stalls, when not singing, to catch up on marking his pupils’ essays. The red gash on Miss Thripp’s surplice may look as if the choirmaster has just stabbed her, but it was only a jam doughnut she ate, just before that wedding five years ago. Our robes are steeped in history – they have seen their way through the death of Queen Victoria, the relief of Mafeking, and two World Wars. When one morning Admiral Flagg developed an ostentatious cough, I gave him a cough sweet from the pocket of my own cassock. He later commented that it had a strange taste. Not surprising – it had been in the pocket when I was given the cassock 50 years ago from Canon Ball’s widow after he died. In an attempt to improve the look of the surplices, Mrs Wigg offered to starch them all. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm is only surpassed by her ineptitude. She worked on the principle that if one packet of starch was good, ten would be better. When the choir arrived the following Sunday, they found twenty surplices standing round the vestry floor looking like a circle of tents at Scout camp. Once the choir had struggled into them, they had to process up the aisle in single file, as they were all about 6 feet wide. The choir stood rigidly throughout the Service, knowing that any rapid movement risked severing a major artery. But our style of choir dress has one advantage which yours can never equal. Within our choristers’ voluminous robes, there is ample space for peppermints, packs of cards, the Sunday newspapers and balls of wool and knitting needles. Your music group in their jeans and tee-shirts must feel utterly bereft during the sermon.
Enjoy our beautiful
Beer Garden & Children’s Play Area
Your loving uncle, Eustace
Music in the Park Enjoy an afternoon of brass band music at Markfield Court Retirement Village on Sunday 1st September. The Leicester Co-op Band will be giving an open air performance, starting at 2pm. There will be roast pork cobs with stuffing & apple sauce available, plus a licensed bar and a bottle tombola. Tickets - priced at £10 - are available from Glenis Maskery on 01530 244917 or the Village Office on 01530 244930 or email: markfieldoffice@ btconnect.com (SEE ADVERT ON PAGE 10)
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
All the latest news from
THANK YOU to the PTA at Mercenfeld Primary School who invited us to their fete on 29 June on a scorching day (subsequently superseded!) th to publicise the library and remind the village we are a purely volunteer led group keeping the village library open.
Classic Rock to name but a few which highlights their diversity spanning across all genres of music which has allowed them to travel extensively around the country and as far as touring in the USA. Tonight they will take us on an emotional journey performing a variety of songs from the 40s and 50s and more ,including their own wonderful well crafted songs. . Patsy Cline, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Ella Fitzgerald, Vera Lynn,Gladys Knight, Eva Cassidy, Janis Joplin, Etta James, Billie Holiday will be featured and more. This will be a cabaret setting and soft drinks will be served but you can bring your own alcoholic drinks if preferred. It’s no secret that Annie loves everything to do with vintage and will be dressing in the 50’s style herself so why not join her and make a night of it and dress up in the 40’s or 50’s style if you have something in the wardrobe! NOVEMBER 9th - SECOND HAND BOOK SALE 10-12.30 We also have planned another display of Remembrance having carefully saved many of the beautiful crafted poppies from last year. If any groups wish to borrow our silhouette perspex soldiers from last year please contact the Library to add your group to the list. DECEMBER 6th 7pm - SANTA VISITS We are very excited that Santa has just let us know that he will be returning to the Library to see all the children he read stories to last year and hopeful see some new children. He has been told that Markfield children are being very good so far this year and if that continues, he will come back. He will be bringing a book for every child again. SPACE CHASE is running throughout the summer up till 2 September. We launched our Summer Reading Challenge at the Community Centre on July 6 and many thanks to Dawn Grantham and staff for inviting us. We were inundated and kept extremely busy at our space craft event making rockets with lots of young astronauts (and their parents!). Read 6 library books of your choice and they can be fiction, non fiction or picture books and can also be shared with parents and carers. It is an excellent way to ensure that your child’s reading skills do not dip over the long Summer school holiday. Each child can collect special stickers to complete their mission folder and be eligible in a draw for some fun prizes if they complete the challenge. When the challenge has been completed you can still explore the wonderful selection of children’s books from birth to teenage and public computers to access e books and comics etc. Your community library is FREE to use and open18 hours a week. VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE! We have a new website up and running thanks to Mike Williams so please visit it. We cannot thank Mike enough as IT web skills have been lacking amongst Trustees and Volunteers. Do get in touch if you are able to help. https://www.markfieldcommunitylibrary.co.uk/ REMINDER: We are closed AUGUST BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY.
ny people are touched by dementia. COME TO OUR FRIENDLY COFFEE MORNING at MARKFIELD LIBRARY at 11am on Wednesday 18 January.
d you please spend just one hour to FORTHCOMING EVENTS stand a little more about dementia? help you, family, friends, neighbours - our whole community. It was lovely to speak with so many villagers across all ages.
e, valuable and interesting Dementia Friends tion Session is just about asking everyone to d a bit more about dementia and how we might e that bit easier and more pleasant for those people who live SEPTEMBER 14th - ANNIE DUGGAN -14thwith Septemberit. 2019 7.30pm £8.00 admission charge Join us for a Vintage evening of music. The brilliant Annie Duggan and her amazing guitarist Rob Hines are well known for their charismatic performances of both their own original songs and those of musicians they admire that have influenced their own work. They have received high acclaim from reviews in a number of high profile music magazines such as Blues Matters, Maverick, Rock and Reel and
lease do be a Dementia Friend. Monday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Tuesday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Wednesday
Closed
Closed
Closed
Thursday
9.00am to 10.00am
12.30pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Friday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
Closed
Saturday
10.00am to 12.30pm
Closed
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Closed
Closed
When a cowboy breaks his leg, I think his horse should be allowed to shoot him.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Letter
Dogs should be kept on leads IT’S ABOUT TIME that ALL dogs were kept on leads and under control at all times, in all public places. I have witnessed first hand how some irresponsible dog owners just allow their dogs to poo and run around without a second thought for anyone else. I often go to Bradgate park and see people who think that it’s acceptable to allow their dogs to run free and sometimes attack other animals. In a lot of countries, leash laws are far better than ours and owners can and are regularly prosecuted for not keeping their dog under control. I am so pleased that there are going to be new signs around the community centre saying that dogs “ MUST” be kept on leads and if not may face prosecution. Most of us have phones so we can video / take a photo of people who simply do not adhere to this request. As an owner of 2 dogs myself I welcome this change so that we can ALL enjoy this open space without looking over our shoulders just in case a dog comes charging up. I know that some of you may be thinking “ my dog is fine off lead and I pick up it’s poo” but we can’t have one rule for one and another rule for someone else. Keep your dog on a lead. Pick up it’s poo. Be responsible dog owners. Simple! The council is very good at contacting people who allow their dogs to poo without picking it up and you just need an address for them to write too, especially if you have evidence. To be honest I am tired of covering this topic again and again but if it was not for the minority of irresponsible dog owners, people like myself would not have to write into the Herald, highlighting it time after time.
Markfield resident
New thriller by local author Chris Calder CELESTE THREE IS MISSING CELESTE THREE, the sensational space plane that is the world’s first earth orbiting passenger service aircraft, mysteriously disappears without trace. On board this routine flight is Viktor Karenkov, the billionaire Russian oil magnate who had corruptly acquired engineer Gregory Topozian’s mining licence and exploration site years earlier in the USSR. In the process he murdered Gregory’s deputy in cold blood. Unknown to Karenkov the incident was recorded on CCTV. Gregory swore vengeance but could not use the evidence whilst the oligarch built his fortune in Russia, protected by dishonest political cronies and a shield of the tightest personal security. But when Karenkov books a flight on Celeste, Gregory seizes the chance to bring the man to justice. He conceives an audacious plan to achieve this aim, despite having to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. This is a thriller that pulls you in and keeps you enthralled, right to the end. So climb aboard and take the ride of a lifetime on Celeste.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
New Markfield Family Records File Available There is now a new Markfield family records file on the library’s Local History shelf tight left to the door on entry. IT IS A TRANSCRIPTION of the 1939 Census taken of residents 29th September 1939. It was for seven villagers their birthday – Gladys Burdett 13, Ernest Hunt 24, Sidney Marsden 30, Harriet Box 32, Frances Adkins 35, John Cunnington 63 and Harry Hill would have been 70. Even though every attempt was made to make the file as accurate as possible, it cannot sadly be guaranteed to be 100% accurate – especially in the case of omission of certain households. The task did not involve copying from a list; it required individuals being drawn from an enormous system of inclusions. Certain entries were virtually illegible and difficult to transcribe. Some UK residents must have had a split personality, as they were in two places at once. The family groups need to be viewed as individual households and not necessarily as neighbours to others recorded next to them on the list. It must be emphasised that the numbers in a street are not the number of the residence: The names of residences were how they were named in September 1939. Many farms were also listed such as Little Markfield Farm and Stepping Stones Farm. By then the County Sanatorium was open too with the Doctor’s House for Dr Selby, Chief Engineer’s House Engineer’s House, Steward’s House. This article about the file, is basically meant to function as a memory maker, for the Markfield villagers who have lived here, or have had relatives who have done so, for many decades. It will for some readers be a case of ‘Oh I remember him’ – ‘Oh I remember her’. Individuals have been taken from the 1939 Census entries made on 29th September of that year. For some villagers it will be frustrating, as so many were termed as ‘One closed’ with no name or date of birth given, but they are with a specific household. In accordance with the current privacy of information guidelines, any individual who was still alive when the details were released a few years ago, would not therefore have been included and will have been entered as an anonymous ‘One closed’. There are over 300 of such type of inclusion. ‘But they were definitely there. I know they were!’ Approximately two thousand individuals, were Markfield & Copt Oak residents. The arrival of the evacuees was not a tale of the unexpected, as gas masks had already arrived the previous April. The young evacuees were selected as being such from the entries, for
being young members living within families who had different surnames and places of birth. Birth places are not included on the 1939 Census and a separate search had to be taken from Ancestry & Find My Past. Listed below are some of the first arrivals from Birmingham, Walsall, West Bromwich & West Ham. Many more would arrive later on, like Joe Ansel. It was impossible to ascertain if some were young relatives rather than being specifically evacuees: John Adey, Frederick & Leslie Bradbury, Vera Branson, , Beryl Clark, Joyce Clarkson, Lily Duggan, Catherine Fallon, Kathleen Finch, Barbara Gibbons, Evelyn & William Harborne, Arthur & Kenneth Herbert, Iris London, Francis Newton, Roy Platts, Betty Pond, Olive Raymond, Betty Rudge, Edwina Shearman & Irene Shearman, Doreen Smith, Beryl & Joan Titterton, Beryl & Doreen Vibert, Dorothy Walters, Arthur & Brenda Webb, June White, Royston Wilson, Joseph Higgins the village schoolmaster, would probably get to know them all very well, especially those at his primary school or at the extended educational facilities set up for so many at the Miner’s Institute. Teachers came in with evacuees too. With Mr Higgins at the helm there were nine more teachers in all, to educate the village youth – Emily Brash, Nellie Dilks, Ethel Dixon, Gertrude Dugard, Celia Sanders, Lena Sturman, William Tully, Mary West, Olive Wheatley and Constance Wilson were there at their blackboards. There were not only food shortages; paper was in short supply too. Margins were extinct, you wrote in them too. There was a war on, and many villagers had new and very important strategic occupations. Albert Copson was the Markfield village police constable, residing at the police house at the top of Main Street. He still had to sort out the usual village bother, war or no war. Dr Tremlow Robinson was the both the village doctor & Leader of the Home Guard, one of his personal hobbies was ‘Cowboys and Indians’, He had his feather headdress, was he Chief Sitting Doc? There were women recorded as nurses in the village with 54 year old Minnie Plant the ‘district nurse and midwife practising’, probably being the easiest to remembere. Her copper kettle is still extant. Air Raid Precaution officers or Wardens listed on the Census, were Hubert Bevan, James Brewin, Percival Brown, John, Joseph, Sidney & William Cave, Thomas Ford, William Gostelow (motorcycle control), Lewis
Hall, Alfred & John Smith, with Thomas Cave the head man in charge of them all. There were the Special Constables too namely – Edwin Willett (recorded as a special constable in Leicester and a first aider in Markfield), William Stanford, Charles Boulds, Horace Grimes, Ernest Harper and James & Lewis Anderson, Harry Murby, Albert & Wallace Warner were all part of the village’s Observer Corps. Only Ronald Anderson was listed as being part of the Auxiliary Fire Service, but many more men were to join him later on or were not so recorded on the Census even though they had already been enlisted to do so. Jack Wood was one of the fire fighters. In September Harry Selby was the only villager listed as functioning as a billeting officer. Others would subsequently take on strategic village occupations but may not have been recorded as working hard for Markfield on the September 1939 Census. Horace Poynton was the only service man recorded as being at home in Shaw Lane. A trio of young men Angus Macdonald, John Johnson and Douglas Duffield were classified as apprentices in iron turning, drilling and motor mechanics. Did having to sign up to serve their country eventually cut them off from their apprenticeships? John Baker & Herbert Ward living in Jubilee Terrace were learning to be chemists. Did the vicar’s son David Bevan studying at University have to cut short his studies too? Being in a village way out in the countryside, that is where over 60 men toiled their lives away, in the beautiful outdoors (when Markfield was not trapped in deep snow). Over 20 of these men were farmers or farm bailiffs, with a few being more specifically recorded as dairy or poultry farmers. Women worked out on the farms too. Over 100 village men and just onewoman Maria Sharpe (written to be a colliery hewer) were in September 1939 busy excavating coal. These villagers excavating coal were noted as working either on the surface or underground. The next most likely work base was the quarry with almost 130 men working there with various specific skills. About 40 men were working with bricks. with a few making them at the local brickworks, and over 30 men were putting bricks together. John Chapman was recorded as a foreman builder. Arthur Watson & John Lemmon both living in Main Street had their employment listed as constructing concrete ARP (AirRaid-Protection) shelters. Markfield needed plumbers
too with Alfred Chiswell, E Geary and Stanley Jones, all so recorded. William Geary appeared to be slightly more specialist being recorded as an ’operative plumber and hot water fitter’. Little huts to relieve oneself down the garden were on the way out, so brothers Arthur & Clifford Smith were both busy as a ‘sanitary pipe worker’. Many men and women had to get on a bike or catch a bus to clock on. In the boot/shoe or hosiery industry most were working away. Some villagers were part of mass production as they were stockroom hands. Ruby Clements was a shoe machinist. Mabel Whittle and Elizabeth Kenney both worked in corsetry and Eva Boulton an underwear machinist may have needed transport to work too. The village was well into the Twentieth Century with both electricity & petrol for power. Several men were skilled electricians, and many were drivers within a specific trade. Joseph Coulson of Forest Road was classified as a longdistance lorry driver. Eight were the very necessary bus drivers – John Warner & Laurence Brown being the best known but there was also Joseph Murby, Walter Milward, Basil Stinson & Mervin Jordan. John Whetton & Laurence Joyner were the two much needed conductors. Wallace Warner was a very specific Transport manager with haulage and passenger services. His offices were also used by the Home Guard throughout the conflict. Many current day village residents are now living in a street named after him, sited on his old base (the factory followed it) just off Main Street opposite to Neville Drive. When the engines broke down or needed a muchneeded service, it would be Louis Widdowson or Wallace Warner that they would maybe have to be turned to for help. James Adkins was a chauffeur perhaps for Mrs Lillingston, who was to lose her beloved only son Luke during the war. Alfred Pepper as a road repairer was keeping the highways fit to journey on. Allen Place of Westons Row would have helped with the road surfaces, by being involved in the production of tarmacadam. Bardon Station used to be part of a direct route to Leicester with Ernest Hunt as a railway porter and Joseph Witts recorded as a signal man working there. There were other villagers recorded in what could be classified as more modern occupations. Fourteenyear-old George Cooper, was a clerk in an electric light company’s office. There was a far more skilled
I used to use expensive, illegal substances to blur the lines of reality. Now, I just take off my glasses.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk clerk within Markfield, for Harold Whittle was the Secretary to the Farmer’s Union and also an Insurance Agent. Many women were clerks and five were shorthand typists. Charles Hipwell from Main Street may have assembled the same make of typewriters that their fingers tapped away on. Rose Walker was more with the figures than the text, for she was a Comptometer operator. Walter Bailey from Oakdene worked in the fountain pen trade. The village was not going to starve with four working bakers. Alfred Wardle, Stewart Spence, Albert & Harry Dilks. As well as the bakers there were the men running grocery shops namely Herbert Spence & William (Billy) Bown. It was a historical custom for those skilled in their trades to be termed as masters of them; Thomas Joyner was listed as a master shop keeper (what a skilled merchant) of Markfield general stores, nobly aided by his wife Lizetta. Frank Hall was in charge of the village Co-op with all the customers coming in with their precious not to be forgotten, personal numbers. There were the village butchers too all named William - Cotterill, Crooks & Gibbins whereas Harry Mee was busy frying his fish. Village youngsters must have been glad that Albert Turner a confectioner/sugar boiler of sweets lived in Markfield
too; but some may have had a long walk to his base was in Shaw Lane. There were other very necessary shops within Markfield. Leonard Hall (assisted by his wife Gertrude) & Wilfred Mee were both newsagents, running separate establishments. Minnie Gibbard was a hardware assistant, but no proprietor with a similar sale of goods function, is listed on the census records. William Bradley & William Dilks both ran tailor’s shops with Eric Hunt being recorded as a tailor’s presser. There were more women skilled with scissors and recorded as tailoresses – Ruby Billson, Olive Darwent, Clara Dorman, Edith Joyles, Florence Shelton, Cissie Warner and Ivy Willett. Joyce Manning was more specifically a ‘school’s outfitter’. Hazel Warren who was a shop assistant ‘with regard to mantle or gowns’ may have been more likely to have worked in Leicester? Hats were very much part of fashion to and Florence Allen worked as a hat frame hand. Hilda Bailey was not going to be left out for she worked in crochet, which can be mind-bending for those trying to learn the advanced techniques. Nellie Sturman was the only woman to be written as a ‘hand knitter’. Hey Census recorder! Nearly all Markfield women were busy with a pair of knitting pins. Both George Hill of Aldorn on the
Ashby Road and Martha Warner were village hairdressers. Lewis Anderson was a turf commission agent. Men also busy on their feet would have been the four post men - Frank & Walter Allen, John Boulds & John Bott. George Cooper was the sub-postmaster. Free time must have struggled to exist and was perhaps more difficult to enjoy with everyone out on the street, being all in the dark. Public houses are recorded such as Bull’s Head, Coach & Horses, Flying Horse Hotel (Alfred Hucknall was recorded as the manager – Julia Gibbins was the Hotel Manageress – Frederick Bayliss the bar man), The George, & Quarryman’s Arms & Queens Head. Harry Smith living in one of the Council Houses, London Road might have dealt with all the drinking establishments, as he was a beer, wine & spirit salesman & distributor. James Bramley successfully ran his café with his wife Alice and sold petrol too at the top corner of Hill Lane. Men needed female assistance to keep various forms of entertainment and or refreshments going. Florence Warden was a barmaid at Coach & Horses and Doris White was an usherette (perhaps in Leicester). There were several travelling showmen living in caravans in Bushy Field. One was specifically recorded as a fairground worker, but no information was available on what
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entertainment was on offer. Both men and women who were able to work, were very busy earning a living wage, both in and outside the village. For over half of the women, their daily toils would have been doubly bound within the village and within their home and they were all essentially classified as doing the same job. Was it a man who classified over three hundred females as being occupied in ‘unpaid domestic duties’ (brave man), 26 were more purposefully termed as housewives (one being classified as ‘being unpaid’). Eleven had slightly more status, by being termed as housekeepers and Florence Gunn was a cook in a school and had her own household too. As the 1939 Census emphasizes, villagers of both sexes were on the way out of Markfield, to both look for and find work. They would not just be leaving for work as many were signed up to serve their country in yet another war. The long-term effect of the Second World War had not yet of course had a chance to happen. Eventually it very definitely would. Some would sadly never have the opportunity to come home again. More details of the village in the war are available in the library in copies of ‘Let us go forward together in Markfield’; because they very definitely did.
Di Lockley
I’m always astounded by the things my wife thinks I want to hear about.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
LITTLE ANGELS meet monthly in Thornton – no booking necessary
OUR FRIENDLY group of babies, toddlers and preschool children is entering its third year. Last July, we saw several of our older children leave in readiness to start school this term – a mixture of sadness and delight as we have seen them blossom from toddler into school-ready children. We are delighted to be welcoming back our regulars this term and to have new babies and toddlers joining us too, but we always have room for more! The group is open to any babies, toddlers and pre-school children and their adults. We meet monthly on the first Thursday of the month (term time only) at St Peter’s Church in Thornton. The one-hour session – 2 to 3pm - includes songs, stories from the Bible, playtime, juice and biscuits. Tea and coffee are also available and this time gives a good opportunity for the adults to get together for a chat, too. There is no charge. Whatever your situation, you are welcome to come and join this happy and friendly group. If you require more information, please call Helen on 01530 230532 or Lis on 01530 231502, otherwise, just turn up - we would all love to meet you!
TO ADVERTISE: Call Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or email: info@markfieldherald. co.uk
A Sad Honey Bee Tale LAST YEAR a colony of honeybees found a comfortable home at St Peter’s Church, Thornton, 30 feet up in the North wall about six inches under the roof timbers. At this point, the walls are approximately two feet thick consisting of stone outers and rubble infill. For two months since May this year bees started to find their way accidently into church through the church wall. They were just following a chink of light. For some reason they were not able to find their way back to the hive. There are no opening windows in the church and leaving the door open was ineffective. Trying to escape through the windows, the bees became exhausted and dehydrated, landed on the floors, furniture or people, crawled around for a bit then, after awhile, very sadly died. How they were entering the church was very unclear; the building is at least 700 years old, Grade I Listed with many cracks in the walls and gaps between the rafters and wall. It was a very sad sight to see; over 2 months we estimated that we had over 5000 bees littering the church furniture and floors. You can appreciate that we needed to close the church; the presence of the bees was considered to be a Health and Safety hazard to anyone in the church especially those allergic to bee stings, and it was not comfortable to sit among these exhausted bees that might land on you at any moment. Our temporary home for Sunday services and for our young children’s group, Little Angels, was at Thornton Community Centre; we enjoyed worshiping in this new venue very much and thank the Community Centre for providing this refuge. However we were all longing for the return to dear old St Peter’s. We took a lot of advice from many people, including our architect, the Leicestershire and Rutland Beekeeping Association, and two local bee keepers. They were all of the opinion that there was no viable way to remove the bee colony. Very sadly destroying the colony was our only possible course of action. We employed a professional company who applied the powder and sealed all entrances to the hive. We were very unhappy that we had to take this action but we had no other choice. We were told that the bees could remain in the hive in the wall for upwards of 20 years if they were not destroyed. A group of fifteen villagers tackled the extensive clearing of the bees from the church interior. We swept, wiped away all the bee poo, dusted and polished, and washed all the seat cushions. The bees were gone. A huge thank you to everyone who has helped with fetching and carrying for the church services, for setting up each Sunday and for all the cleaning. St Peter’s church over the years has given us many problems but this is the first time to my knowledge that the lovely amazing honey bee has managed to close the building. Let us all hope it’s the last.
Shirley Garlick, Churchwarden
National Lottery funding for churches CHURCHES and cathedrals will be able to bid for a share of a £100-million pot of National Lottery funding for large-scale heritage projects over the next three years. And the grants are not just aimed at restoration schemes, but also ideas that benefit communities. The bids will need to demonstrate ‘real ambition to deliver positive change within the communities they serve and put diversity and inclusion at the centre of their plans.” More info at: www.heritagefund.org.uk/funding/heritage-horizonawards.
Bagworth Whistle Stop Bridge: ‘One Year On’ IT IS TWELVE months since the relaxed duplicate bridge started in Bagworth. On June 18th the group had its first Annual General meeting which was attended by 26 members who, after the meeting, had a bridge drive and an afternoon tea. The group’s annual report highlighted the achievements of the group by way of its regular weekly attendance, providing Beginners and Improvers courses and maintaining a good financial state in being able to purchase all essential equipment. Neighbouring clubs were thanked for their support and loan of equipment. Members elected their Committee and approved various policy documents and constitution. They also considered future developments for the club and decided that at this stage affiliation to the English Bridge Union was not appropriate and wished to continue as separate club rather than amalgamating with another. However, they did feel that friendly events should be promoted with adjacent clubs. This suggestion has been amicably received by a number of them. For the future members agreed that they would like to have the electronic scoring systems which other clubs often use and so hope to generate sufficient funds and to apply for grants for some financial assistance. The group thrives on its convivial atmosphere and the challenge of this fascinating mind sport so don’t be afraid to join them on a Thursday afternoon at the Bagworth Community Centre, even if it’s years since you played! You will be given a warm welcome and given patience and support. To encourage new players the group plans on starting a beginners progamme in the Autumn, so watch out for further details. If you are interested, do contact Shelagh or Carol via email on whisltestopbridgeinbagworth@ gmail.com or telephone / text 07530 364339. Come on board and get those brain cells working!
You can learn a lot about a person just by watching them through binoculars 24 hours a day.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Just Sing
THIS EVENT of singing just for fun which is open to anyone regardless of ability has been very successful and we are pleased to announce a further date for your diary: • 30th August There will be refreshments for a small charge of £2.00. The venue is Markfield Congregational Church Hall from 3pm to 4pm.
Uplifting video have a look and you’ll find yourself smiling ... HAVE YOU seen the video of the Commonwealth Games Handover, performed in Birmingham to the ELO hit Mr Blue Sky? It’s a joyful outdoor dance routine in Birmingham city centre - filmed in one continuous take. View it online by visiting: http://rosiekay.co.uk/project/ commonwealth-games-handover/
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Markfield Medical Centre and Patient Participation Group PPG week Many thanks to all those who spoke to the PPG members during PPG week. Many patients took up the opportunity for on line access to appointments and this will be a continued focus for the practice. When patients book appointments and request prescriptions online this relieves pressure on the phone lines which in turn helps both the patients and the surgery. The completed ‘Friends and family’ sheets contained mostly positive feedback, as well as areas for development. PPG members were able to discuss with the practice issues raised during the week at our regular PPG meeting , but only in general, non specific terms. We would therefore urge you to raise any issue with appointments or anything else to the surgery straight away so that it can be dealt with immediately.
Over 150 Missed Appointments Each Month
The surgery continues to monitor the number of missed appointments (did not attend or DNA). The table above shows the number of appointments missed each month in total and then broken down for each Health Care Professional. Some of these were booked on the day and then not taken up. Even with text reminders, patients fail to attend. We realise that there are times when appointments are missed for good reason. However, these missed appointments could have been used by other patients and, in addition, there is a cost to the Practice. Please try to inform the Practice if you no longer need an appointment that you have booked and this can be offered to someone else. Thank you.
Try the Outdoor Gym You may remember that the PPG ran a survey some time ago to see if an outdoor gym would be a welcomed in the village. The majority of people asked were very much in favour. I am delighted to report that the
Hearing aid for sale. Give me a shout if you’re interested.
outdoor gym has now been installed on the park near the Community Centre in Markfield. I have tried each piece of equipment – some with more success than others! I have enjoyed chatting to people walking by too! If you decide try it out, make sure that you read the instructions on each piece of equipment to ensure that you use it correctly and gain the maximum benefit without straining your muscles.
Advice on Hay Fever Hay fever is usually worse between late March and September, especially when it’s warm, humid and windy. This is when the pollen count is highest. There is a very good summary of dos and don’ts at www.nhs.uk and there are more tips on managing hay fever at www.allergyuk.org . The NHS suggests that you speak to your pharmacist if you have hay fever. They can give advice and suggest the best treatments, such as antihistamine drops, tablets or nasal sprays to help with blocked nose or itchy and watery eyes and sneezes. See your GP if your symptoms are getting worse or do not improve after taking medicines from the pharmacy.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Don’t miss the Bagworth Show! IT IS COMING up to that time again when it is the annual Bagworth Open Show, probably the biggest affair in the village all year.
The event is organised by the Bagworth Forward Group (BFG) and all of the profits from the Show are used to enhance the life of the village of Bagworth. One of BFG’s biggest expenses is the majority of the planters and flowers which can be seen throughout the village. This year is the 17th Show and it takes place on Saturday 24th August. There are 21 cups and trophies to be won. This includes one for the best allotment in Bagworth and two for the best front gardens in the village, one for the best small front garden and one for the best large one. Every property in the village is automatically entered and the judge has been hard at work deciding who deserves to receive the trophies this year. The winners will be announced at the trophy presentation at the Show. In addition, there are 107 classes for exhibits. There is something for everyone, including classes for vegetables, fruits, flowers, baking, arts and crafts and a children’s section. (So if you children are looking for something to do in the school holidays, this could be it.) All of the classes, rules, etc are in the Schedule, copies of which can be found in Bagworth Community Centre and in The Club. Exhibits can be entered on the Friday evening (August 23rd) between 6 and 8 pm. Alternatively they can be entered on Saturday morning between 8 and 10.30 am. When the judging is completed, around 2 pm, the exhibits can be viewed until 4 pm when the trophies are awarded followed by an auction of many of the exhibits. There are always great bargains to be had in this sale. If you think that your exhibits are not good enough to enter, then think again. There are usually some classes which have no entries. You only need to enter one of these classes and you will win a prize. In addition to the exhibits, there are stalls which open at midday and can be found in the Sure Start Centre and in the Meeting Room of the Community Centre. As well as the stalls, Lee will be in attendance with his excellent ice cream and there will also be a roundabout and a Hook a Duck on the grass area next to the Sure Start Centre. For the third year, the Bagworth Dog Show will also take place on the same grass area. Dogs need to be entered for judging from 12.30 pm. The list of classes can be found in the Show Schedule. There are serious classes and not so serious classes, such as catching the sausage and returning it intact and the dog the judge would like to take home (spoiler alert: the judges don’t actually take the dog home!). For more information or queries about the Dog Show call Bob on 07421 322653. Throughout the day, refreshments will be served in the Community Centre including Bacon Butties, Jacket Potatoes (with toppings), Sandwiches and Cream Teas, as well as hot and cold drinks. If you require more information about any aspects of Bagworth Show then please contact Bob (01530 230429) or Karen (01530 230573).
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Contact Mike Wilkinson with your articles, news items or advertising enquiries. Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Herald Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. The Herald cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. 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. The Herald reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/ or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © The Herald. None of the articles or adverts contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from The Herald.
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My wife left me with my 6 year old and my 3 year old... and as if that’s not bad enough, she left the 6 year old in charge.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
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Coming up at County Councillor’s report from Peter Bedford The Club, Thornton WITH THE announcement on 24th July of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister I wanted to use this month’s article to give my thoughts on what the New Governments priorities should be for the coming three years:
• Sat 17th Aug: The Boodons • Fri 30th Aug: Sun 1st Sept 2019 - The 3rd annual Beer Gin & Music festival with real ales, large selection of Gin, regular bar & BBQ all weekend. • Fri 30th Aug: The Please, Pleas’in Fungus Beatles at 8pm. • Fri 30th Aug: RockSka - rock & ska band at 9.30pm. • Sat 31st Aug: Candy - female children’s entertainer at 2.30pm. • Sat 31st Aug: Faz & Melly - duo at 4.30pm. • Sat 31st Aug: Showaddywaddy tribute at 7pm. • Sat 31st Aug: Punk & Disorderly at 9.30pm. • Sun 1st Sept: The Travelling Riverside Blues Band at 4pm. • Sun 1st Sept: Eddy Hall - solo guitar / vocals at 6.30pm. • Sat 7th Sept: The Top Secret band. • Sun 15th Sept: The Austrian Stones - rolling stones covers band.
Brexit - Deal or No Deal Until Brexit is finally delivered it will continue to overshadow everything else. Three years after the Country voted to leave the European Union it is an affront to Democracy that Parliament has yet to deliver Brexit. Whether you voted Leave or Remain (Hinckley & Bosworth Borough voted Leave by a margin of 60:40) the Government committed to “implementing” the outcome of the Referendum with or without a Deal. Having worked for a number of large and medium sized businesses I Peter Bedford recognise the importance of having robust trading arrangements with our European partners. However, what is at stake goes beyond the pure economic arguments to one of Democracy itself. At a time when trust in politics and politicians is at an all-time low there is a real risk that failing to honour a democratic decision will lead to the rise of extremes on both sides of the political spectrum. Why would we continue to put our faith in the political ‘mainstream’ when they have failed to abide by the instructions given following the largest democratic vote in our Country’s history? I support the Governments position that the UK will be leaving the European Union by 31st October 2019 come what may. Anything less and we risk a total breakdown of trust and any hope of stable Government in our country.
Fairer Funding for Local Government Areas like ours, under Governments of all colours, have consistently been underfunded when compared to our counterparts in London and the South. Ever increasing demand from ‘Adult Social Care’ and ‘Children with Special Educational Needs’ continue to weigh heavily on local authority budgets. Under current funding arrangements Councils are having to make difficult decisions balancing, as best we can, the needs of all the people of Leicestershire. If our County was funded as well as London we would have an additional £253m a year, or £374 per resident – which is why fundamental reform is long overdue! Under the model developed by Leicestershire County Council; • Money would be allocated in a fair way, based on need. This is a more just way of distributing money, and importantly, gives Leicestershire its fair share. • It is a simple, clear formula, based on factors that drive demand for local services, such as the number of older people, the length of roads travelled by HGVs and the number of school-age children; and • It substantially narrows the gap between the highest and lowest funded councils. I am a strong advocate of ‘The Leicestershire Model’ and will continue to lobby Government hard to ensure that we finally get the funding we so desperately need.
Cash is giving way to cards NOWADAYS, one in ten of us is using cash only once a month. That is a 60 per cent rise in the use of our cards in just a year, according to a recent report. But UK Finance, a trade association, reports that overall, we still used cash for about 28 per cent of our payments last year. So, when bank branches and cashpoints close, it heightens concern among consumers’ rights campaigners. People obviously want – and need continued access to cash. Meanwhile, debit cards have become our most frequently used method of payment. They overtook cash in 2017, and last year we used them for 38 per cent of our payments.
Law & Order One of my frustrations, since my election as your County Councillor in 2017, relates to crime and disorder and the lack of Policing for rural areas like ours. The most recent figuWres show that Markfield has suffered from vehicle crime and burglaries and – in some ways more worrying –Bagworth & Thornton have seen numerous incidents of criminal damage and even arson! Local people are rightly concerned. This is why I welcome the announcement, by Boris Johnson, of an extra 20,000 police officers. However, we need to ensure that the Police are truly deployed where they are needed. Sadly for many years we have seen resources diverted away from areas like ours and into the City of Leicester; it is time for a rebalancing! If you would like to contact me about these or any other issues please do not hesitate to contact me: 01455 824733 or peter.bedford@leics.gov.uk. Best Wishes,
Peter
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I tell women what they want to hear. Usually something like “Well, I’m gonna go now.”
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Local Church Services Markfield Congregational Church Sunday 18 August 3.00 pm United Service at Ulverscroft Priory Sunday 25th August 10.15am Morning Worship Sunday 1st September 10.15am Morning Worship followed by Communion Sunday 8th September 10.15am HARVEST FESTIVAL
Sunday 15th September 10:30am United Service @ Our Church 6:00pm Evening Communion Service Other Events at Trinity Methodist Church Everyone Very Welcome Music Café 2:00pm to 4:00pm 22nd August, 12th & 26th September Sparklers Group – Monday 3:15pm to 4:15pm For Children Zero to Reception Age & Carers
Sunday 15th September 10.30am United Service at Trinity Methodist Church
Church Club – Monday after School until 4:30pm For Children from Mercenfeld School Every Week during Term Time
Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton
125 Birthday Club Events Everyone Welcome Saturday 24th to Monday 26th August Flower Festival Weekend See Separate Notices
Sunday 18th August 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 25th August 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 1st September 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 8th September 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper Sunday 15th September 10.30am Harvest Service Sunday 22nd September 10.30am Morning Service Sunday Club for children & young people is held in our hall during the Morning Service, other than for family and special services when they join with the main church. Our contact list is in the Cross Hills News section of this magazine if you need more details.
Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield
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Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org Facebook : Markfield Methodist Church Sunday 18th August 10:30am Morning Worship 3:00pmAfternoon Service @ Ulverscroft No Evening Service Sunday 25th August – Flower Festival Weekend 10:30am Special Morning Worship No Evening Service Sunday 1st September No Morning Service 6:00pm Evening Service Sunday 8th September 10:30am Morning Worship 4:00pm Café Church Service
St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield Friday 16th August 8.00pm “Still Friday” Sunday 18th August 3.00pm Annual Ulverscroft Priory Service for the Benefice and Churches Together in Markfield Sunday 25th August 9.00am Holy Communion (said service) 6.00pm Evening Service Sunday 1st September 10.30 am Benefice Service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 8th September 10.30am All Age Service 6.00pm Holy Communion Sunday 15th September 10.30am Churches Together in Markfield Service 6.00pm Evening Prayer
St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 11th August 10.30am Holy Communion Sunday 18th August 10.30am Morning Prayer Sunday 25th August 10.30am “Something Different” Service Sunday 1st September 10.30 am Benefice Service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 8th September 10.30am Holy Communion
Sunday 15th September 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 22nd September 10.30am Harvest “Something Different” Service Sunday 29th September 10.30am Parish Service of Holy Communion
St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 11th August 9.00am Holy Communion Sunday 18th August 10.30am Holy Communion Sunday 25th August 10.30am Morning Prayer Wednesday 28th August 10.00am Midweek Communion and Coffee Sunday 1st September 10.30 am Benefice Service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 8th September 9.00am Holy Communion Sunday 15th September 10.30am Holy Communion
Holy Rood Church, Bagworth Please note: Services will be at Bagworth Community Centre Sunday 4th August 9.00am Holy Communion
Catholic Church of St Wilfrid of York 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB Sunday Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6 pm / Sunday: 10 am See Newsletter on the website below for details of weekday Mass times, Confessions, and other events. Parish Contact: Parish Priest: Fr Gabriel Offor – 01530 832098 www.stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www.stwilfscoalville. blogspot.co.uk School Details: St Clare’s RC Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747 www.st-clares.leics. sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739 www.delisle.leics.sch.uk United Services The Markfield Catholic Community is part of Markfield Churches Together and participate in the monthly United Services detailed in the Markfield Churches’ service details. Markfield Masses Congregational Church Hall, Main Street, Markfield (next to the Chinese takeaway) Wednesday, 18 September at 7 pm. All are welcome.
Bardon Park Chapel www.bardonchapel.co.uk
Sunday 1st September 10.30 am Benefice Service of Holy Communion at St Peter’s Church, Thornton
St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Sunday 11th August 3.00pm Praise Service Sunday 18th August 3.00pm Annual Ulverscroft Priory Service for the Benefice
FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE:
Come and worship the Lord with us on the 1st Sunday in Sunday 25th August every month at 10.00 am. 6.00pm Evening Prayer Our gatherings are fairly informal. Sunday 1st September 10.30 am Benefice Service of Holy THURSDAY ART CLASS: Communion at St Peter’s Church, Thornton Between 7pm and 9.00pm. 6.00pm Holy Communion Bardon Park Chapel, Shaw Lane, Bardon, Coalville Sunday 8th September LE67 1TD 3.00pm Praise Service There is a large car park Sunday 15th September at the back. 9.15am Holy Communion (said Service)
On the magicians’ final exam, they’re all trick questions.
For more details on any of the above please contact: Richard Norburn on 0116 332 9634.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Leicester Sea Cadets offering more and more to the young people of Leicester OVER THE last few months Leicester Sea Cadets has successfully run a new national youth project through Youth United Foundation (YUF) by opening its doors to nine years olds for the first time ever. This means that an extra 30 local children have been able to take advantage of adventures and activities outdoors. The group also welcomes parents and other adults in the community to help out and all gain further qualifications together, such as Duke of Edinburgh Award, Royal Yachting Association qualifications, BTECs, and British Canoeing Awards. Richard de la Mare, Eastern Area Officer for Leicester Sea Cadets said: “We are absolutely delighted that with the support of the Youth United Foundation we have been able to extend the access of this project in Leicester. This important project has enabled more young people to be able to experience the adventures and activities outdoors, helping to equip them with the resilience, self-belief and social confidence needed to thrive in modern day life.” In October Leicester Sea Cadets will be running the National Citizen Service (NCS) Programme that welcomes 16- 17 year olds to join a project run in half term to feel challenged and engaged whilst taking part in the four-phase programme. Check Leicester Sea Cadets out on Facebook - www.facebook.com/ seacadetsleicesteruk, or visit them at 140 Ross Walk, Leicester LE4 5HH on a Tuesday or Thursday or call them on: 0116 266 2865 People are welcome to drop in to find out about the opportunities available with Sea Cadets, or contact Jemma Martin (Eastern Area Development Worker) jmartin@ms-sc.org or 07972 152889.
Methodist Minister’s Reflections I HAVE recently been reading a book by Rob Parsons called, “Loving Against the Odds”. It is a book which aims to help couples in their relationship and family life. Parsons mentions a survey which was carried out in America to discover what women find most depressing in their marriages. The majority of the women surveyed chose “low selfesteem” as the greatest difficulty they faced. Parsons stresses how important it is to show appreciation, not only in marriage but in all our relationships. I heard recently about someone who was in a significant leadership position. He had recently left his role following persistent accusations of bullying in his department. Not surprisingly, staff turnover in the department had been rapid; no-one wants to be bullied or made to feel unworthy. The author of the hugely popular book, “The One Minute Manager”, advised, “Learn to appreciate people; learn to praise”. It does nothing for someone’s self-esteem if we take them for granted. Author Mark Twain once stated, “I can live for two months on a sincere compliment.” It is so easy to be critical of other people and condemn them. How much better, though, to show appreciation, offer encouragement, and compliment.
Steve Clark
Minister, Markfield Methodist Church • www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org FB - Markfield Methodist Church
“Still Friday” 2019 Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, prayer, readings and responses and last up to an hour. All are welcome. Come along and enjoy the peace. 16th August
20th September
15th November
No “Still Friday” in December
Village Quiz
18th October
Quiz Night
Fridays 8.00 pm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church
Monetary Prizes - Card bingo Bring your own buffet and drinks ~ to share with your team mates
WHEN
WHERE
Saturday 21st Sept 2019 Doors open - 7pm
Thornton Community Centre 175 Main St Thornton LE67 1AH
Tickets - £5 per person. Maximum number per team = 6. (Teams can be arranged on the night – pre booking essential)
Contact Gill Tapping – 07719 882144 – gilltevents@aol.com www.thorntonvillage.org I leave notes on people’s windshields telling them I smashed their car and did an amazing job fixing it.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
What’s Been Happening at Markfield Community and Sports Centre Words and pictures from Ron Grantham • Tel: 01530 242240 • www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com Rural Community Council Achievements Awards WE ARE PLEASED to inform you that the Community Centre and the new Community Park are finalists in the Rural Community Council’s Achievements Awards 2019. In the 30th July judges from the RCC Awards panel were shown around the Centre and Park to view all the improvements made over the past year including the new kitchen and reception area, other internal improvements and refurbishments, energy saving improvements and of course all the wonderful new facilities now provided on the community park. The judges seemed to be very impressed and commented that other villages would be very envious of what Markfield now has in place. The awards ceremony will not take place until October when we will be nervously but optimistically attending an awards evening. Fingers crossed all the achievements of both the Parish Council and the Markfield Community Association will be recognised at the awards ceremony. Special thanks must go the Parish Council especially former members Tony Lockley and Barrie Gannon, members of the Markfield Community Association and Community Centre staff and volunteers for all their hard work in achieving this amazing project
Community Park – Outdoor Gym THE FINAL part of the Community Park improvements plan has now been completed with the installation of an outdoor gym. The gym includes several sets of gym equipment where you can work out and exercise your legs, arms and body. It is nice to see it being well used already. Even dog walkers are stopping off, tethering their dogs and, much to their dog’s bewilderment, doing a bit of exercise before carrying on with their “walkies”.
Markfield Good Neighbour Scheme OUR RECENT public survey relating to introducing a Good Neighbour Scheme for the village has shown that there is a clear need to provide a befriending service especially for our more elderly residents who are often feeling very lonely and isolated. The survey also identified a number of residents who would be prepared to volunteer their time to befriend people who need this type of support.
So, quite clearly befriending is an area where we can, with your support, help people in need in the village. In partnership with the Rural Community Council we will be holding a special Scheme information evening at the Community Centre at 5.30pm on Wednesday 18th September where those who have already offered their services AND anyone else who may be interested can come along and learn more about the scheme and how it will work. If you are interested in offering a bit of your time to help others and cannot make the evening PLEASE contact the Centre and we will arrange a personal information session for you.
The Weather Wreaks Havoc WHAT A strange summer we have had. One day it is record breaking heat temperatures and the next torrential rain and thunder storms. Unfortunately the extremes did affect events at the Community Centre for example on the 6th July we held an Open Afternoon only to be faced with torrential rain all day. Sadly, despite all of Sarah Beesley’s efforts to provide stalls and other attractions the weather had a severe impact on attendance. And, guess what, typical Markfield the rain stopped and the sun came out once the event had finished. On Sunday 28th July the Centre came to the rescue of Markfield Queen Bee Youth Project. Heavy and torrential rain threatened to “wipe out” their planned Family and Fun Sports Day. At short notice the Centre was able to move the entire event indoors so that their games, fun and stalls could go ahead.
Jay Brothers “We Will Rock You” Concert ON SATURDAY 13th July our ever popular Jay Brothers put on a special concert including rock and roll, Mowtown and other popular music to raise funds for the Markfield Congregational Church. As usual people were soon tapping their feet, jiving and dancing the evening away. Just to let you know that, by popular demand, the Jay Brothers will be performing their Christmas Special at the Centre on Saturday 7th December.
Why aren’t lawyers sworn to tell the truth along with everyone else at the proceedings?
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Seaside Trips On 24th July a coach load of villagers of all ages headed off to Llandudno in North Wales. I understand that they all had a glorious time and the weather was fine – no rain thank goodness. They had a pleasant time on the pier and beach or simply wandering around the town. No seagull “attacks” this year! There was only one mishap to report that being a handbag being swept out to sea by the incoming tide. Fortunately the handbag was recovered intact and the mobile phone still worked. On the 21st August we have a full coach load heading off to “Skeggy” so I will let you know what happens.
Summer Activities SNAP DRAGON Parents and Toddlers Summer Play Sessions There are a few more play sessions to go before the end of the summer holidays. They are on the Thursday mornings 15th August and 22nd August from 9am to 11am. The sessions are for children aged up to 12 years. Sessions include mixed sports, play and on the last day i.e. 22nd August there will be a children’s tea party.
coming along with his father’s diary that recorded events of his time in Poland and evacuation to England throughout the war. • On the 11th September we will be having a talk on the Importance of Having Probate and Wills in place and how to do it. ALL WELCOME TO ANY OF THE ABOVE If you are interested in coming along to any of our Mayflower Clubs simply turn up either on at Monday Afternoon Friendship Club or on Wednesday afternoons for the main Mayflower Club. Both clubs are from 2pm to 4pm and only cost £1.50p per session. You will have fun, meet new friends and be most welcome.
NEW AT THE CENTRE OLDER VOICES DAY Just to let you know that the Borough’s Older Voices Day will be held for the very first time in Markfield on Monday 1st October 2pm to 4pm. Further information on programme for the day will be published nearer the time.
NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE
On Saturday 24th August there will be a special Mess Around Play session for your children. Your children can come along and enjoy a messing around play day. If you are interested please contact Rina on 07535 409691 or email rina@messarounduk.com
The National Blood Service have arranged further sessions at the Centre for the following dates. 23rd August, 16th October and 13th December. You can book your blood donation appointment on line so please book your place with the National Blood Service and “Do something amazing” by donating your much needed blood.
SUMMER FOOTBALL CAMP
Money Saving Special Offer
MESS AROUND LEICESTERSHIRE
Football Development Courses continue throughout August as follows: 12th August to 16th August 19th August to 23rd August PLEASE book early to avoid disappointment. To book your places or for further information please contacting BB Futsal on 07455 023366
MAYFLOWER CLUB UPDATE THE MAYFLOWER CLUB has had a busy few months and briefly below are some of the activities we have put on: On the 12th June we had a very interesting talk on the wonderful support work of LOROS. On 26th July we commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the D Day Landings showing a special documentary by Jon Snow on the planning and experiences of those who were there on the day. On the 10th July we held our very own Wimbledon “Swing Ball” tennis championship. I have to say that our over-90’s members showed the younger members how, with a bit of guile and craftiness they could outscore everyone. Joyce won the Ladies Championship and Peter the men’s. Despite her efforts Carol picked up the wooden spoon. The championship concluded with a fresh strawberries and scones cream tea.
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DON’T FORGET that if you are planning a special family event, party or function with a bar we only charge a modest hire fee of £10 per room. This hire fee is very competitive to other venues in the area and will save you money. For bookings and enquiries please contact Markfield Centre and Sports, Mayflower Close, Markfield LE67 9ST on 01530 242240 or email markfieldcomunitycentre@hotmail.co.uk or you can visit our website www.markfield communitycentre.com to view our facilities, latest news, photo gallery and information about the Centre.
On the 24th July whilst other members were at Llandudno, Carol Kemp arranged an afternoon tea at Sunnyside Garden Centre that also included a raffle and a quiz. Below are some events we are holding in the coming weeks • On the 28th August we will be holding an end of summer Caribbean BBQ • On the 4th September we will be Commemorating the Start of WW2 with the Nazi invasion of Poland. An old friend of mine will be
Seems like I can’t go anywhere in my house without somebody recognizing me.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield WI NEWS AT THE LAST minute our June speaker Kath Reynols was unable to attend and her place was taken by her husband Keith who talked to us about bats (the flying sort, not cricket). Although most of us probably never see a bat up close there are approximately 17 species of bat breeding in the UK, Pipistrelle bats being the most common. When Keith first introduced his topic some of us shivered and said ‘ugh’; he explained that myths about bats are just that and by the end of his excellent talk we were much more knowledgeable and going ‘aah’. Although we were sorry not to hear from Kath about wedding customs (she will be with us at a later date) Keith’s unexpected talk was very much enjoyed. Mercenfield School asked if WI members would help out with refreshments at the school fete on 29 June. The school had made all the cakes (which felt very strange) and all we had to do was serve tea, coffee and cake. We had several volunteers who worked in shifts on what must have been one of the hottest days of the year but we were glad this was a well attended fundraiser for the school. We had a busy July; on the 5th four members took part in the WI Federation Quiz held this year in Birstall. We were slightly lower down the order than in previous years having come 5th but the scores were very close. On 6 July some of our members joined Groby WI for a visit to Salford Quays. We variously enjoyed visits to the TV studios, Imperial War Museum North, the Lowry Museum and a sightseeing bus tour. Lovely weather and a grand day out. 9th July saw us once again at the Grey Lady for our anniversary meal. As always we enjoyed a lovely meal and were looked after extremely well by the staff. At our July meeting we had Dr Tim Grey MBE who spoke about the East Midlands Immediate Care Scheme (EMICS). Last year some of us joined WI member Angela Blackmore when she walked the Leicestershire Round in 10 days in support of EMICS and we invited Dr Grey to tell us more about the charity. EMICS is a network of volunteer doctors from a variety of backgrounds with specialist training in pre-hospital emergency medicine who assist East Midlands Ambulance Service at the scene of life threatening emergencies. Doctors tell the Service when they are on duty and can be called on 365 days of the year and EMICS respond to an average of 4 life threatening emergencies a day. Dr Grey talked of some actual cases attended, often but not always, accidents. The charity receives no government or NHS funding and relies on donations. We try in our local WI each year to give a voice to a smaller less publicised charity, to learn about what they do and to spread the word about these very worthwhile charities. Our August speaker will be Sandy Leong telling us about Black Cats, New Moons and Ladders. The competition is a cat related item.
Bird box and plants stolen
Disappointment in Bagworth TWO SMALL groups of volunteers work hard to raise money to enhance the village of Bagworth. One of these, the Drop In Group, has created a nature trail of bird boxes for different types of birds, in memory of Rosemary Smith, who was a founder member of this group. The group is very disappointed because someone has stolen one of these bird boxes. I mean! Really? If you are the person who stole that bird box, can I suggest that maybe you need to seriously think about your life. If stealing bird boxes gives you pleasure, maybe you need to sit yourself down and have a serious talk with yourself. There must be much better ways to spend your time which benefits you and doesn’t disappoint others. The same is true for the person who removes the plants from the trough on the Bagworth sign on Heath Road. The members of the Bagworth Forward Group (BFG) are the ones who raise money for the majority of planters and plants in the village. While we like it that you appreciate our plants so much that you take them, it would be better to leave them where they are so that they can be appreciated by more people than just yourself. We like the plants to be enjoyed by everyone who passes by them. If taking them gives you pleasure, then dear, oh dear! Have you thought about stamp collecting? (Apologies to any philatelists who are reading this.) Maybe if you set your mind to it you could find a much more positive way of spending your time, and one that does not have an adverse effect on other people.
Friends of Charnwood Forest
• Monday, 16th September. Illustrated talk by Dave Robinson: “Charnwood Forest and its Visitors, 1500 - 1900” • Monday October 14th Illustrated talk by Martin Speight: “The Story of Charnwood Water Supply over the last 150 years”. Talks are held in the Village Hall, Woodhouse Eaves, at 7.30 pm. Members are welcome to bring guests – there is a charge of £3 on the door for non-members.
Marilyn Palmer, Events Organiser, Friends of Charnwood Forest
I may not be the only egomaniac in the world, but I am the only one who matters.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
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Cat and Kitten report from Leicester and Leicestershire Animal Aid, Huncote WELL, IT’S BEEN an extremely busy few weeks in our Cattery with the patter of lots and lots of tiny paws! With more than 20 adorable kittens either born at the Huncote Centre, or recently brought in under eight weeks old, staff and volunteers have been making sure they all get the love, attention and dedicated care they all deserve. love and a helping hand to take over some of the feeds, she has adapted brilliantly. (Details of all kittens are made available once they are old enough, and ready, to be re-homed). We care for more than 400 cats and dogs each year who have been lost, abandoned, neglected or because their owners find they can no longer care for them. We don’t receive any Government funding and rely on the generosity and kindness of the community to help us to continue to help cats in need like Cici and her kittens. Could you help us care for these animals? Please do come and see us, consider becoming a Member, attend our fundraising events or perhaps you would like to volunteer in our animal-loving family? The Huncote site is not far away, located half-way between Desford and Enderby, only
Also, gentle Cici, a 10-month-old stray, is now Mum to 5 beautiful, tiny kittens. Being so young herself, she initially struggled with her new role as a mum. However, with lots of encouragement,
about 20-25 minutes drive from both Markfield and Groby. Call Jane on 01455 888 257.
Cat Rehoming Procedure
Here are just a few of the cats currently being cared for at Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid, Huncote, and looking for their forever home. You can come and visit the Centre and view the cats in the Cattery any day, (except Wednesday), between 11.00am and 2.30pm. http://www. leicesteranimalaid.org.uk/re-home-a-pet/rehomea-pet If you are interested in giving one (or more) of our cats a home, please give us a call on 01455 888 257 or come to the Centre, chat with staff, and fill in an Interested Parties form. You can obtain a hard copy of this form at the Centre or download it from our website and email / send it back to us: info@leicesteranimalaid.org.uk Please be aware that we are unable to re-home kittens or cats to a home within close proximity to a busy/main road. This is to protect their safety. An exception will be made for cats that have already lived, and are happy to continue to live, as a house cat. Thank you for your understanding. Jane Walters - Fundraising Assistant The Leicester and Leicestershire Animal Aid Association (‘LAA’) Forest Road, Huncote, Leics. LE9 3LE Tel No. 01455 888 257
Why Lego helps with map reading MEN OF A certain age are better map readers than women of a certain age, because they were given Lego to play with when they were young.
“Still Friday” 2019
Playing Lego and other traditional boys’ toys encouraged their spatial awareness, as Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, opposed to playing with Barbies. prayer, responses anda last up to an hour. Such is readings the verdictand of Gina Rippon, professor of cognitive neuro-imaging All are welcome. Come along andatenjoy the peace. Aston University. Speaking at this Spring’s Hay Festival, she explained that: issue of 16th August 20th“The September 18th October map reading, which is kind of a manifestation 15thskill, November in December of a spatial is reliant on No an “Still abilityFriday” to understand objects in relation to themselves, allowing them to picture the Fridays pm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church shape of things as 8.00 well as proportions and dimensions.” Thus, playing with Lego and other building games gave men years of practice, while they were still young.
It takes 43 muscles to frown, and yet it’s still not an Olympic event. Ridiculous.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Pick up a bargain
Herald Small Ads • ALUMINIUM EXTENDING LADDER 3½ metres long, extending to approx. 6 metres. Good condition. Price: £35.00. Tel: 0116 260 1865 (Groby) • GEORGE FOREMAN GRILL - useful if you’re dieting for your holidays. Price: £15.00 o.n.o. • LARGE BUTTON mainline phone never used. Price: £20.00 o.n.o. Please ring after 6pm: 0116 238 7425 (Ratby) • Hozelock POND VAC - Price: £40.00 • Dimpex DEHUMIDIFIER, 10litre, only used once, as new - Price: £45.00 • Food grade FLAT HOSE on reel, ideal for camping, unused - Price: £15.00 • Elu MFF PLANER, Swiss-made, good working order, new blades fitted Price: £40.00. Tel 07561 816369 (Groby) • Girl’s/Lady’s FOLDING BIKE which will fit in a car boot. Hardly used, good condition. Price: £30.00 o.n.o. Tel 0116 287 1162 (Glenfield) • Office Chair (Operator Chair) does not have castors. High back, height and back rest and tilt adjustment levers. Adjustable arms, padded seat and back rest. Colour - wine/red. Price: £35.00. Tel: 07815 301 425 (Groby) • Quality ladies’ warm ¾-length JACKET - as new. Size 18, plae green and navy. Would suit a tall person. Price: £30.00 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 242107 (Markfield) • Dowdall*LE Vertical WINDOW BLIND - 1138mm wide x 1099mm drop, suitable for window recess 1140 mm wide x 1150mm high. Has 10 white/cream louvres and Lux headrail. Very good condition. Price: £10.00 Tel: 0116 232 2649 (Groby) • Viners rose pattern CUTLERY with WOODEN CANTEEN. Six-place setting, 62 piece set. Perfect condition. Price: £25.00 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 243337 (Stanton under Bardon) • Victorian/Edwardian DRESSING TABLE SET - white china with pale pink flowers, includes tray, 3 pots with lids, and 2 vases with stoppers. Excellent condition. Price: £25.00 • Two-tier extendable GARMENT RAIL - 80cm wide x 95cm-165cm high x 41.5cm deep. Never used. Price: £10.00. Tel: 01530 242054 (Markfield) • CHERISHED TEDDIES (32) - good condition. Price: £100.00 Tel: 01530 245482 (Markfield)
• Ladies ASSORTED CLOTHES for sale - mostly sizes 18-20. Getting rid owing to weight loss. Tel: 01530 244259 (Markfield) • Three PASTE TABLES - £10.00 the lot. • Two small cold/warm BLOW HEATERS - £3.00 each. • Pull-along MEAL TABLE - adjustable height - £8.00 • Four WOODEN FRAMES (no glass) picture size: 10” x 6” - £8.00 the lot. • Quantity of ELECTRIC WIRE, PLUGS & ASSORTED FITTINGS - £5.00 the lot. Tel: 01530 243660 (Markfield) • Johnsons ‘Exeter’ Blue/White DINNER SERVICE comprising 4 tureens, 2 gravy boats, 1 large serving plate, 3 smaller serving plates, 12 dinner plates, 11 side plates. Price: £20.00 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 243778 (Markfield) • QUALITY ROAD/LIGHT TOURER CYCLE BY KONA. Cro-Mo frame 59cm (suit taller rider), Shimano Ultegra/105 components, disc brakes. ZTR Crest 29” wheels. In excellent condition and with detachable mudguards and rear pannier rack. New cost around £1400 – for sale at £250. Tel: 07792 836111 (Thornton) • Stainless steel polished LAMP STAND with orange LAMPSHADE. Excellent condition, 4ft 6in high. Price £15.00. Tel: 07754 801217 (Markfield) • Davina McCall MINI EXERCISE BIKE. Price: £15.00 Tel. 07929 473888 (Groby) • WELSH DRESSER for sale in oak with leaded doors. In very good condition could easily be made shabby chic. £80.00 o.n.o. Tel: 07593 357411 (Bardon)
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More Bagworth History REV HORACE Rowsell Cooper was vicar of the parish from 1904 to 1935. In 1905, he published a booklet about the history of Bagworth, Thornton and Stanton under Bardon. In his work he included a letter written by Mr Robert Harrison about ‘Bagworth Park fifty years ago’, or in the middle of the 19th Century. Harrison says: The moat was very wide and very deep, the mud at the bottom of it being ten or twelve feet in depth, where I have myself seen drains dug in it. Of course the house had no approach from the south, as it has now. The approach to it when my father went there was from the foot of Thornton Hill where the brook goes under the road in a straight line at the foot of the ‘Copy’ Field, along a road which had originally been used by the Romans. There is a bank along the side of the old road, and from this bank, close to the swing gate where the path from Stanton to Bagworth passes, we have dug bricks of a peculiar size, which have always been considered to be Roman bricks. There was a road originally, which can be traced in a hot summer when the herbage is burnt, aslant the hill from the foot of Thornton hill towards the spire of Thornton Church, and there is little doubt that it formed a connection between Bagworth Park (not so called in those days, of course) and the Roman encampment near the bridle road to Ratby. Traces of this road, which was evidently Roman, were found when the bed of the Reservoir was excavated. Of course the two hills, which we called Thornton Hill and Markfield Hill, were made as late as my boyish days, the latter quite within my recollection. To return to the Park, where the swing-gate is, the road went into what is now an orchard, over the bridge where the floodgate used to be for flooding the meadow, and along the moat bank, and round by the fish-pond to the back. The moat was full of water when my father went there, and he levelled the bank where the lawn now is, and filled in the road for the drive, and sloped the garden up to the door. Passing the fine old oak tree, upon which we have had as many as forty rook’s nests, I may say that an old labourer, who had worked upon the farm for more than forty-five years without intermission, told me that there is embedded in the tree an iron band to which the chain for the ferry-boat over the moat had been fixed, and that he had seen the band himself when a boy. Of course it is fifty years since he told me this, and he was then speaking of forty-five years before. I can quite believe that it is, as he said, buried in the tree now. There was a road to the back of the house where the moat was drier, and that again my father raised to make it more convenient. The walled garden on the east side was all made out of the moat. The contour of the remaining bank ‘shews’ the position exactly, and the place must originally have been very extensive. It came into the possession of the Manners family eventually, and it is a known fact that the Greys of Groby and the Chief here were on unfriendly terms, and were always at mimic war with each other. My father cut down a very fine oak tree, by permission of the Duke’s agent, for timber that he wanted, and when it was cut down it was found to be worthless, because embedded in it was a bullet which had spread canker all around it and from top to bottom, although it showed no outward sign. The moat soil is full of deer’s horns, and when the main drain was driven through it there were scores and scores of odd antlers, but I never saw a complete head with antlers. The new road across the meadows to the front was made by the Railway Company as compensation for coming through the estate, or with money given by them, which is the same thing. The estate itself, although rated to the parish, was quite independent in its collection of Queen’s Taxes. We collected our own taxes, and were paid for doing it. My father was Constable, and I in my turn was the same, and I have the staff that used to be considered our badge of office, though I never remember that either of us were called out for anything. It is interesting to know that the whole park is surrounded by a ditch and an hedge, no doubt originally a wooden fence, which was once quite a formidable obstacle. It is called in documents a ‘deer-leap’, and the tenants have the right to beat for game outside the fence for fifteen feet, or fifteen yards - I forget which. This fence extends the whole circle, with the exception of a little bit, the ‘Witheybeck’ and the ‘Thornton Field’, both against the Stanton Lane, which now belong, but I should think were originally out of bounds. Of course the detrition and wear and tear of centuries have helped to fill the ditch and lower the bank, but originally it was a small rampart, sufficient to prevent deer getting out. Of the old oak trees of the Park there were only three left, one in a little field opposite the cottage at the top of the ‘Incline’ leading to the Station, and two in the boundary between the estate and Bagworth. Of things found in the earlier work of levelling I know nothing. Several little things were found, but my father was very public-spirited, and sent them to the Leicester Museum. The only thing that came to hand in my CONTINUED FACING PAGE ...>
My grandfather was shrewd. People threw small mammals at him until he suffocated.
THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
12/08/2019
H Y B M E C T L P R U B A C K O J
L U I Y D T U N D S P Q C H M K B
N Q M I S X N V T S B T F E O O D
A S X F M C Y I I E K U G E X Y O
R R F X Q S H R V R I X T R D H Z
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Word Search Pu
BREAKFAST CEREALS Wordsearch
B I U F X X C X P K D K H I W X H
FIND 12 TYPES OF BREAKFAST CEREAL in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - 12 POPULAR TYPES OF BREAKFAST CEREAL. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: RISE AND SHINE, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 31st August 2019. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the Meal for Two at The Field Head Hotel. Good luck! L L A Z F C I A P P T
B C V U E N T R N T A U O Y W P
F P E I P U L C V X S O S K R E
V R K C W R O T I B G B N X I G
N O O I R C A B S C B Z O W N E
O F I S O I A G K Z F F B B I X
E B M P T T S A U K B Z K Y P R
I Q O Z E I H P M S Q V M A Y W
Y P V E S P E C I A L K R U X J
S Q W A G K E S K E W S U W M J
U F F E D W H E A T S A Y D J A
K U S E I D D E R H S X T V B O
Here are the 12 types of cereal you have to find:
ALL BRAN • CHEERIOS • COCO POPS • COOKIE CRISP CRUNCHY NUT • FROSTIES • PUFFED WHEAT • RICE CRISPIES SHREDDIES • SPECIAL K • SUGAR PUFFS • WEETABIX
Name: ................................................................................................... Address: ................................................................................................ .............................................................................................................. .......................................................... Postcode: ....................................
Last Month’s Competition Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch Competition was: S.HARGRAVE of Main Street, Markfield. Congratulations! Your prize voucher will be sent to you soon.
BAGWORTH HISTORY ... FROM PAGE 28 ALLBRAN CHEERIOS regime was a very large brass salver, handsomely embossed, with a figure of COCOPOPS an armed warrior defending a female figure from an attack of armed COOKIECRISP demons. It is much worn . . . . . . . . The Dean of Lichfield was very CRUNCHYNUT much interested in it, and tried to trace the subject. He borrowed it to send to FROSTIES an Ecclesiastical Exhibition at Derby . . . . . . PUFFEDWHEAT When Dorothy Vernon ran away from Haddon Hall with Manners, they RICECRISPIES galloped, as it is known, to a house belonging to the Manners family at SHREDDIES Aylestone, near Leicester, and on their way they called at Bagworth Park SPECIALK (or Bagworth Moats as it was called then) for breakfast and for rest. . . SUGARPUFFS The place was never known as Bagworth Park till my father christened it WEETABIX so, and it was many, many years before the title was universally adopted, and very probably there are still some old people who are conservative enough to call ‘BAGGUTH MOTTS!’
Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com
This part of the moat which would have gone around the house. It is very wide and is said to be one of the largest moats in Leicestershire.
My local grocery store uses four checkouts. Unless it’s really busy - then they use one. Connect with us on Facebook
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
News from Cross Hills Baptist Church Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area
Primary school children give their views on Markfield Parish MARKFIELD Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group have been very pleased to be able to work with the children at Mercenfeld Primary School in the summer term.
The Bible Course
THIS COURSE, that we have been following fortnightly at various people’s homes, has proved to be very popular and has really opened up the Bible for us, both spiritually and historically. Looking at various Old Testament and New Testament passages and events in the context of the time when they took place has been really interesting and enlightening and we have been encouraged to then look at their context for our lives today, particularly through the two videos that are played each week. It has been great fun researching the foods that we have been sharing at the start of each session, as the course suggested that these be linked to each week’s subject. So far, we have enjoyed various fruits such as figs, dates, pomegranates, star fruit, kiwi fruit and grapes, breads, lamb, fish, honey, spicy and unusual foods and wine. Each session has ended with a time of prayer followed by tea, coffee and biscuits and has been an enjoyable time spent with good friends in fellowship.
Cross Hills Puppeteers
THE PUPPETEERS were pleased to be able to use their newly purchased puppet theatre at our Sunday service on 7th July and it was a great success. They are now looking forward to going again to the European Puppetry and Creative Arts Ministry Festival in Rugby in November and no doubt they will be on the lookout for some interesting new puppets whilst they are there, to join their current happy band! You’ll find some of the past puppet performances on our Facebook page, but they’re much better seen live in our special services!
Shoeboxes
SHOEBOX TIME will soon be here. If you’d like to join us this year in doing Christmas shoeboxes for needy children around the world, why not start looking now for suitable items to put in the boxes whilst you are out and about
doing your usual shopping. School supplies such as pens, pencils, sharpeners, rubbers, crayons, felt tips, notebooks and paper are always useful and in some cases are vital if a child wants to go to school! Other suggestions are colouring and picture books, wrapped soap, a flannel, comb or hairbrush, hat, cap, gloves, sunglasses, hair accessories, jewellery, a wind up torch, skipping rope, toy truck or car, yo-yo, ball, small puzzle, musical instrument, etc. Don’t forget a toy that a child can love such as a doll or a cuddly toy and sweets, which are always popular (these must have a best before date of at least March 2020) The flatpack shoeboxes will be available again, so look out for more information about how to take part in the September and October issues of The Herald.
Advance Notice
This year’s Harvest Service will be held on Sunday 15th September at 10.30am when we will again be collecting Harvest produce and store cupboard items for Lawrence House, the Hinckley Homeless Project. The Church Service Information section towards the back of this magazine gives details of our weekly services each month. We are a friendly and welcoming church and we would love you to join us on any Sunday, whether you come alone or with family or friends. Tea, coffee and biscuits are served in our hall afterwards giving everyone the chance to spend a little time together before going home or on to enjoy the rest of the day.
Firstly, we wanted to find out what the children thought about the Parish, their likes and dislikes, and what they would like to see in the future. Rosie Woodland, one of the members of the Steering Group, went into school, first to talk to the school council about how best to collect this information, then to talk to the children in an assembly. The children filled in questionnaires and we were delighted to have a total of 204 responses! Analysis of these showed some interesting results. The children like • the park and the play equipment, including the MUGA and the skatepark. • the open spaces, fields and the new path around the field where people can walk and exercise. • the shops in the village It is very clear that the children dislike • the rubbish and litter they see • the dog mess – around half the responses from the Key stage 2 children mentioned these • a lack of bins for putting rubbish and dog mess into. • speeding traffic through the village and bad parking across driveways and on yellow lines • old/historic buildings being knocked down • Not much to do • Anti social behaviour by ‘older kids’ Suggestions to improve the parish included • More traffic lights and more zebra crossings • more trees • more bins for rubbish and dog Mess • Litter picking/less graffiti
•
a swimming pool in the village • Dog poo bags/people to pick dog poo up/area for dogs on the park • More things to do on the park/outdoor gym/fix the roundabout etc on the play equipment • More shops – pizza shop, pet shop, dentists / bigger co-op • More clubs at the community Centre • Fewer lorries It is clear that the children have thought very carefully about their surroundings and how they would like to see them improved. They also have a sense of what constitutes anti-social behaviour and are keen to see everyone treat the area with respect. We will be continuing to work with the school to develop ideas which will contribute towards the Neighbourhood Plan next term. Secondly, the Steering group wanted to have a logo which would give it an identity and so we asked the school council if they could help. The School council ran a competition in school and judged the entries, choosing the winning designs from each Key Stage. We have been able to combine the Key Stage 2 designs into one logo and have also decided to use the Key Stage 1 design as it shows so many aspects of the Parish in one picture. The winning designs are shown below. The Parish Council kindly gave book tokens to give to the winning artists to thank them for their efforts. Look out for the designs on future Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group bulletins, posters and the forthcoming questionnaire. We would like to thank the staff and pupils at Mercenfeld School for their help and we look forward to future collaboration.
Contact Numbers
Pastor - Garry Kelly: 01455 457802 or 07816 616189 Secretary - Lynda Kelly: 01455 457802 or 07910 440243 Treasurer - Glynis Straw: 01530 230272
Glynis Straw
Treasurer - on behalf of the Cross Hills Church family
FUN FACT: The Mamas & Papas song ‘Monday, Monday’ was inspired by the Beatles song ‘Eight Days A Week’.
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THE HERALD • MID-AUGUST 2019 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Dancing in Bagworth (and other important places!)
MARKFIELD METHODIST CHURCH www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org
THE PRESTIGIOUS Blackpool Tower Ballroom was first opened in 1899 and is renowned around the World. Its famous cradle sprung floor is made up of 30,602 separate blocks of mahogany, oak and walnut and is surrounded by opulent red velvet chairs and curtains lifting up to its golden balconies and ornate ceiling. So, this was the setting for the fourth Grand Finals of the National Association of Teachers of Dancing (NATD) Medallist of the Year competition 2019. Doors opened at 8.00am on Saturday 6th July for the competition to start at 10.00am. The final adults Trophy Presentation was not until 00.50am the next morning! Sunday saw Day 2 of the competition starting bright and early with the doors opening once more at 8.00am for a 9.00am start in an attempt for an earlier finish. However, the adult Presentation was still going at midnight! 32 hours in the ballroom over two days was an epic marathon for all of the dancers and teachers but having great fun and excitement and watching spectacular dancing kept the adrenaline pumping for everyone. Fortunately, the judging panel worked in shifts as they too are on their feet in the ballroom for the entire day and night. Judges included Strictly’s Ian Waite and Kristina Rihanoff with Ian’s Dad, Alan Waite providing the fantastic music. Ian’s husband, sister, brother-in -law, and nephews were also competing as teachers and competitors - a real family affair which is not uncommon in the Ballroom dancing world. Our local Ballroom and Latin American dancing school, Dance-tastic took 23 of their qualifying dancers to compete amid strong competition of a phenomenal standard from across the UK and Malta and came away with their heads held very high. With some events with as many as 63 entries over 5 heats they had 7 Finalists for the solo events and 2 Finals placings for the couples. A 1st, 2nd, 4th, three 5ths, two 6ths and a 7th, in addition to three semi-finalists and 18 quarter finalists. Outstanding results for this popular school started by Principal, Jo James just over two years ago in Bagworth Community Centre. But when Dance-tastic goes “on tour” it is not just about the dancing! When not competing the dancers and their families enjoyed some down time on the beach, on the pier, up the Tower and of course eating Fish and Chips! Dance-tastic has also been celebrating exam success. All of the pupils aged from just 4 years old to 61 years young took their bi-annual exams in June and the results are fantastic! Over 70 exams were taken and all of the candidates have received the Highly Commended grade with marks ranging from 87% to 93%. Well done to you all! So now it’s time for the summer holidays but they’ll be back in September to start working towards their next lot of exams and upcoming competitions with their sights already set on Blackpool 2020!
SATURDAY 24TH AUGUST 10.00 – 4.30 BACON BUTTIES 11.00 – 1.OO REFRESHMENTS
CAKE STALL
TOMBOLA
SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST 11.30 – 5.00 12.00 TWO-COURSE LUNCH £5
MONDAY 26TH AUGUST 10.00 – 4.00 REFRESHMENTS SERVED EVERY DAY
Newbold Verdon Jazz Club ANOTHER great night of traditional jazz played by The Eagle Jazz Band was enjoyed by an appreciative audience of jazz fans on Friday 2nd August. It was pleasing to see more new faces and we hope they will continue to come along. The band, ably led by Matt Palmer on reeds supported by Pete Brown on trumpet and Terry Williams on trombone along with the rhythm section of Brian Mellor, banjo; Brian Lawrence on bass and sousaphone and drummer Tim Jones played a wide repertoire of tunes from the 1920’s and 30’s made famous by the likes of Louis Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton and many more. They began with a rousing version of Algiers Strutt and kept up the pace all evening to the delight of the audience. Next month on Friday Sept. 6th we welcome the return of The Pedigree Jazz Band. Do come along to Newbold Verdon Social Club and join us. Admission £9.00 and music from 8.00 – 10.30pm. Drinks and refreshments at club prices and if you love dancing we would love to see you. For more details contact Pauline on 01162 865496 or Kelvin on 01455 822824. Or visit our website. newboldverdonjazz.wixsite.com
King Edward VII Grammar School Reunion
Pupils and staff of the Coalville Grammar school are invited to a reunion, taking place on SATURDAY OCTOBER 13th 2019. Venue. Newbridge High School. Forest Road, Coalville: Time: 1pm to 5pm Cost to attend £5. Book in advance or pay at the door. The School can provide refreshments. Ploughman’s £7.50 (served from 3pm) Tea and cakes are available at nominal cost. The meal MUST be pre-ordered by 21st September All details can be obtained from Geoff Haynes: Tel No: 0116 2546591, or email cgsreunion@ zohomail.eu Do come, meet friends and browse all the old photographs. It is the 110th Anniversary of the opening of the school in 1909. Help us to celebrate this together. You will be most welcome. Elizabeth Riding, Reunion Committee
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