December 2012 Herald

December 2012

Merry Christmas to all our readers!

From the Chairman of Bagworth and Thornton Parish Council

ACADEMY Massive lottery award for Bagworth CONVERSION & Thornton Parish Council South Charnwood High School Consultation Document Inside.

See pages 17-20

It is more than pleasing to be able to confirm that Bagworth and Thornton Parish Council has been awarded £332,592 towards the cost of complete refurbishment of the old building at the Bagworth Community Centre.

On November 13th 2012 following a strict public information press embargo BIG Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme announced the award of four grants in the East Midlands to communities most in need. Of the successful applications the grant awarded to Bagworth and Thornton Parish Council for the Bagworth Community Centre exceeded the other three worthy causes by almost £100,000. I think this can rightly be called “the Lion’s share”.

The total scheme cost is £364,592 The difference between the BIG Lottery grant awarded and the cost of the scheme has been secured by the Parish Council from other sources.

On behalf of Parish residents I thank the committee of BIG Lottery’s Reaching Communities programme and all BIG’s professional advisors who gave

The people of

`

WOW`

Invite you to join them for

Carols by Candlelight Sunday 23rd December 4pm 135 Main St, Stanton Mince pies , Mulled wine & Special visitor for Children

Yuletide Cheer at Markfield Library Markfield library will be holding its ‘Yuletide Cheer’ event on Friday 14th of December.

Chairman Barry White, Clerk Ann Murray, Financial Officer Roger Snowdin

excellent guidance during and following stages two and three of the long and intensive grant application process. I also thank those members of the County Council who assisted with stages one and two of the application and the Borough Council Officers who assisted with planning matters as well as our Ward Councillors Chris and Ozzy. Last not least, I thank our professional team from Pick Everard without whose exceptional diligence and commitment we could not possibly have succeeded.

Preparing the application proved an extremely testing time and success would not have been possible without the absolute commitment of Parish Council to this as its first operational priority.

This required putting on hold less urgent and some long outstanding Parish matters which are, step by step, being addressed. Due to the number of matters and Council still being short of a member in the Bagworth Ward this will take time.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...>

Stanton Events St Mary & All Saints Church with Stanton under Bardon Singers, are holding a Christmas Concert on Friday 14th December at 7.30 p.m.

Tickets on the door £4.00 including refreshments.

On Monday 17th December at 7.00 p.m.

Carols Round The Village Starting at the top of the village.

Donations in aid of the British Red Cross.

Please support this worthy cause.

Gail Massey

The doors will stay open all day (10am-5pm) as staff are joined by Mercenfeld Primary School choir and a range of local independent retailers. Come along to sample cupcakes, buy handmade cards and jewellery or purchase some fantastic wooden toys as a stocking filler.

There will also be festive crafts and refreshments available so make sure you put the date in your diary – it’s not to be missed!

For more information on either event please call Catherine Overton, Library Outreach Worker, on 0116 3052500.

Kirby Grange Christmas Fayre Markfield Lane, Botcheston Leicestershire LE9 9FG

Saturday 15th December 2012

At 1.30 pm • Winter Warmer • Tombola • Mince Pies & Cakes • Raffle • Refreshments All welcome for festive cheer!

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 12th January - Advert & Articles Needed By 29th December

THE SUITE SUPERSTORE Open Now ay Sund pm

• FOR ALL YOUR FURNITURE NEEDS •

Now Op Sund en ay 11a m-4 pm

-4 11am

FABRIC SUITES

INCLUDING RECLINER SUITES

LEATHER SUITES

INCLUDING RECLINER SUITES

BEDS & MATRESSES

INCLUDING THE LATEST MEMORY FOAM

MANUAL, LIFT AND RISE DINING ROOM FURNITURE RECLINER CHAIRS Visit our Large Showroom and see our extensive range of Suites, Beds, Bedroom & Dining Furniture, Manual, Lift and Rise Recliner Chairs and Sofa Beds - all on display

BEDROOM FURNITURE

Dawsons Lane, Common) Barwell, Hinckley.

01455 850391 Dawsons Lane, (off(off TheThe Common) Barwell NearNear Hinckley, LeicsTel: • Tel: 01455 850391 Opening Times: Monday 10am -- 5.00pm 5pm, Sunday - 4pm.

Opening Times: Monday- -Saturday Saturday 10.00am • Closed11am Sunday www.thesuitesuperstore.co.uk “Always leave them wanting more” is my standard approach to paying bills.

The Herald PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Tel: 01530 244069 info@markfieldherald.co.uk www.markfieldherald.co.uk

The Herald is a monthly local magazine delivered free to approximately 4,000 homes and businesses in Markfield, Field Head, Stanton under Bardon, Thornton and Bagworth.

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.

This issue of The Herald is being delivered over the weekend of 8th & 9th December 2012 by The Herald’s team of dedicated deliverers, namely: Sarah Jane, Maureen, John, Libby, Sam, Lydia, Jordan, Ian, Ann, Gill, Janet, John, Helen, Don, Jeanie, Jenny, Lauren, Daisy, Heather, Margaret, Matthew, Alexander, Mike, Rowan, John & Sue.

Young wildlife artist competition YOUNG artists and photographers in Hinckley and Bosworth are being offered the opportunity to compete for a chance to show off their work in a real exhibition and win a cash prize.

The Borough Council and Twycross Zoo are working together to offer young talented wildlife artists and photographers the opportunity to exhibit their work at the zoo and be entered into a competition to win up to £150 in cash plus other special prizes.

Each young person can enter one piece of art work that must fit the ‘Wildlife’ theme. There are two age categories of 11 to 15 years and 16 to 19 years. Young artists are asked to submit the entry form and an image of their artwork by email to lindsay.orton@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk by Friday 11 January 2013.

Selected entries will be featured in an exhibition to be held in the zoo’s Himalaya from 21 January to 23 February 2013. The winning pictures will be chosen by a public vote and prizes awarded at a special prize giving evening on Thursday 21 February.

Councillor David Cope, the Borough Council’s Executive Member responsible for Culture and Leisure, said: “The Young Wildlife Artist competition is a great opportunity to promote the talents of our local young artists and in turn highlight one of the premier tourist attractions we have in our borough” Application forms and guidance notes are now available by contacting Lindsay Orton, Creative Communities and Tourism Officer on 01455 255833 or by email at lindsay.orton@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Massive Lottery Grant - from page 1 In addition to the complete refurbishment of the old building, key highlights of the scheme include the provision of the much needed proper Parish Council Office with appropriate facilities. Perhaps the most important feature of the new facility will be a coffee shop and community meeting point. It is planned that this “hub” in the community will form the main Parish meeting point.

Preparation of a sustainable business plan, required by the Lottery which must be reported in detail until 2016 helped greatly in identifying new activities to augment the use of the Centre. In addition to the coffee shop these include a new youth club, enhanced show/festival events, to bring the whole community together, development of arts projects, healthy eating promotion and additional information on local history. I would like to thank all members of the embryo management committee who helpfully attended in September to listen to the concerns of BIG regarding the business plan and who helped in identifying new activities, critical to a successful bid.

Where are we now? Sadly, following a request from a small number of residents, less than 2 % of the electorate, and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s recommendation to split the Parish, the project is now at risk.

At Parish Council on November 5th studying the terms of the grant agreement members concluded that the potential negative impact on the project from the recommended spit of the Parish would weaken the business plan and sustainability of the scheme and that the project would cease to comply with the grant terms and conditions. In view of Parish Council’s commitment to maintain good standards and honour the grant agreement Council resolved to adopt a firm position against the recommended Parish split.

As the electorate of the Parish of Bagworth and Thornton will know, following Parish Council’s representations a second consultation is now in progress with deadline for comments to be received by December 21st 2012. I can only ask all in the Parish to think carefully about the increased cost and operational consequences of the proposed Parish split and to respond please to HBBC expressing the view that you do not agree with the recommendation to split. Responses in the current consultation will be taken into account and will over-ride any previous response Please note too that the documents are written in such a way that no response will be deemed acceptance of the proposed division of our beautiful Bagworth Thornton and Merrylees Parish.

I am sorry that after success in winning such a “BIG grant” it is necessary to report this recent development. With the best interest of everyone in the Parish in mind I can only hope and trust that the recommendation to divide the Parish is withdrawn.

While this article includes matters of fact relating to Parish Council, the personal views expressed are my own.

Barry White

Chairman Bagworth and Thornton Parish Council - 0781 687 6069

AD RATES: PAGE 11

Postscript: We are now looking for a volunteer to help lead the project. Will anyone interested please contact me.

When your mobile phone is not welcome

Mobile telephones may be great for keeping up with your friends who are far away, but having them on show while you are with local friends is not a good idea.

Fiddling with your mobile phone or keeping it beside you during a romantic dinner or meeting with a friend is definitely a faux pas. As one psychologist at Essex University explained: “The presence of a mobile phone may orient individuals to thinking of other people and events outside their immediate social context. The presence of a mobile phone can interfere with human relationships.”

When I was young, I had to walk all the way to the TV to change the channels.

Latest news from Thornton Women’s Institute Next Meeting: Thursday 13th December 2012 7.30 p.m. at Thornton Community Centre

~ Christmas cookery ~

A Talk & Demonstration by Brenda Featherstone Some say that we have Charles Dickens to thank for our images of a quintessential English Christmas : snowy rooftops, gleaming shop windows, steaming bowls of punch, plum puddings like speckled cannon balls, sage and onion stuffing, miracles, magic, charity and goodwill.

In “A Christmas Carol”, he writes:‘The poulterers’ shops were still half open, and the fruiterers’ were radiant in their glory. There were great, round, pot-bellied baskets of chestnuts, shaped like the waistcoats of jolly old gentlemen, lolling at the doors, and tumbling out into the street in their apoplectic opulence.

There were ruddy, brown-faced, broad-girthed Spanish Onions, shining in the fatness of their growth like Spanish Friars, and winking from their shelves in wanton slyness at the girls as they went by, and glanced demurely at the hung-up mistletoe.

There were pears and apples, clustered high in blooming pyramids; there were bunches of grapes, made, in the shopkeepers’ benevolence to dangle from conspicuous hooks, that people’s mouths might water gratis as they passed; there were piles of filberts, mossy and brown, recalling, in their fragrance, ancient walks among the woods, and pleasant shufflings ankle deep through withered leaves; there were Norfolk Biffins, squab and swarthy, setting off the yellow of the oranges and lemons, and, in the great compactness of their juicy persons, urgently entreating and beseeching to be carried home in paper bags and eaten after dinner.’

Has that whetted your appetite?

If so, then you really must come along to our December meeting.

Some of you may already know Brenda Featherstone, who is the third generation of her family to farm at Little Markfield Farm. We know that Christmas is meaningful at the farm because we may all

enjoy the illuminated Christmas crib in a wayside field, which is an annual herald of the festive season.

As well as demonstrating seasonal recipes, assisted by her two daughters, Brenda will share with us various anecdotes about life on the farm and the animals who live there.

There will be an opportunity to taste and try the dishes that Brenda creates and she will generously share her recipes with us.

After the demonstration, there will be a seasonal buffet and, thanks to the generosity of member Rosemary Foster, we will raise a Christmas toast to each other in excellent home-made wine.

THERE WILL ALSO BE A CHRISTMAS RAFFLE. The MEMBERS’ COMPETITION is for an attractively-wrapped Christmas present. (£2 in value) These will be exchanged afterwards.

Why not come along to enjoy the cookery demonstration and a very “Christmassy” evening in good company?

You will be made very welcome.

Visitors’ Fee £3.

Muriel Walker

Every person has a story to tell, which is why I never talk to people.

FOR ALL YOUR BEAUTY NEEDS & EXPERT TREATMENTS, IN A PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT

NEENU’S BEAUTY VICTORIA GARDENS 40C RATBY LANE, MARKFIELD LE67 9RJ OR CALL 07793744705, 07759435317

FIND US ON

New rights of way maps available at libraries Copies of maps detailing Leicestershire’s public footpaths, bridleways and byways are now available to view in main libraries.

The Definitive Map is the official record of the existence, status and position of all of the county’s current public rights of ways.

Leicestershire County Council has made reference copies of the map available in Loughborough, Coalville, Hinckley, Market Harborough, Melton, Blaby and Oadby Libraries.

Lesley Pendleton, Leicestershire County Council Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, said: “This map is really comprehensive and is useful for walkers and riders who are interested in finding their local paths.

“We hope people will take a look and be inspired to explore some of Leicestershire’s wonderful countryside.”

The map comprises 116 large sheets which will be updated periodically to reflect any changes made to the paths.

It is anticipated than an online version of the map will be available on the county council’s website in the New Year.

Photocopies of the map can be made – normal library photocopying charges apply.

For more information on the Definitive Map visit: www.leics.gov. uk/maps

So lonely

More than a third of older people over 65 admit they are plagued with loneliness.

Age UK reckons that the average Briton lives within 18 to 71 yards of someone suffering real loneliness.

A spokeswoman for AGE UK says: “Feelings of loneliness can have a significantly adverse effect on physical and mental well-being.”

Don’t miss the Bagworth Christmas lights switch on!

The Bagworth Forward Group would love to see you on Sunday 9th December at 4.30 pm at Bagworth Community Centre.

We will be switching on the Christmas lights. There will be hot drinks and hot mince pies and sausage rolls. There will also be music with a Christmassy theme. We have made the time early so that the young people who attend will not be too late getting to bed, before school the next day. This is the only occasion when the money we raise is not ploughed back into the village. We always support a children’s charity on this event. On this occasion we are supporting the ‘Our Space Appeal’ – the Leicester Royal Infirmary’s initiative to build cancer units for children and young people. At the event there will also be a raffle, so bring plenty of your loose change! As we have said, all of the money that we raise will go to that worthwhile cause. Please give generously and also, please come and enjoy yourself.

Bob Austin

HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE NEW MARKFIELD BMX/SKATE PARK 24 Hour DISCOTHON From 6pm Saturday 8th December to 6pm Sunday 9th December at Markfield Community Centre Come along with your favourite vinyl record and enjoy the fun listening to David Sprason playing them non stop for 24 hours.

You can support us by: • Sponsoring David to play non stop for 24 hours • Sponsor our skate park users to stay awake for 24 hours listening to old vinyl records • Donate to the project fund by having your favourite record played Sponsorship Forms available at the Centre

I always mean what I say. It’s just that I don’t always mean to say it out loud.

The magic of Christmas provides a great opportunity to reflect back and look forward Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald I can feel Christmas breathing down my neck as I write.

So much to do and yet so little time to get thing sorted. I’m not one of those who plans way ahead for the festive season, but this year I feel slightly more caught out and exposed. I have got to get my thinking cap on and I know it.

In truth my wife is pretty good at thinking for me but all the same I look at the free days I have left before Christmas (I am writing this on the 1st Dec) and I curse my ability to procrastinate. It will be ‘alright on the night’ of that I am sure and I have a good reputation for pulling rabbits out of the hat, so in reality I should not be worried, but it reinforces my perception that time is speeding up.

I know I am getting older and that feeling; the one where I am on a conveyor belt which is getting faster, well its getting stronger each year. Still I am reminded of the quote by John Wagner who said ‘Don’t let ageing get you down because it’s too hard to get back up again.’

Not an excuse but one big difference this year has been my change of job. In June I left the employment of the probation

service in Leicester (after 19 years) to take up a job with UNISON the public service union in London.

My new position is as a national officer with responsibility for energy and environment. It has been a great challenge for me personally and in some ways a dream job that has taken me all over the place and led me to meet all sorts of interesting people. The downside is the travel time to work which eats in to the time I have at home. Still it is what I chose to do and I believe that it important to take on these opportunities and create something from them. I hope to be able to add some value to the role and the issues are fascinating, ranging from domestic energy prices, ownership of utilities, fuel poverty, redundancies, keeping jobs in the UK, pay and conditions for energy workers, the list is long.

I have not however left behind my sense of perspective and living in Markfield, always brings oneself back to earth, for which I am grateful. This of course comes in many forms. The Christmas theme dresses itself in the saga of the Markfield festive lights. This long running saga has involved huge amounts of frustration (the Parish clerk has been at times at her wits’ end) in seeking to remedy

the original fault that brought a swift end to the lights in the trees on the green, to then seeking to get electricity to a Christmas tree having given up on the original lights. In numerous reports back to the Parish Council, different people suggested different faults, some remedial attempts failed, some never got off the ground. We gave up on the lights in the trees and concentrated just on the Christmas tree. Strange therefore but delighted, is the fact that as I write, both the Christmas tree lights and the lights in the trees on the green, are all fully functional. Possibly more than I had dared to hope for.

I just hope it stays that way because it does look a real treat and adds a sparkle of magic on a winter’s evening.

And it is that magic that in many ways captures some of the wonders of this time and provides a great opportunity to reflect back and look forward. That is something I shall be doing over the Christmas break hopefully alongside spending quality time with family and friends.

Again I shall count my blessings and toast all those who have helped me on my journey in life. I shall also remember those for whom Christmas will not be such a joyous occasion for many different reasons.

I hope they can be touched by a just a little of that magic, enough perhaps to carry them through to better times and to find some meaning to what has happened.

So to sign off for this year at least, could I express my thanks and seasons greeting to everyone and hope that 2013 is, as you wish it to be.

LETTER Dear Herald Markfield Congregational Church would like to thank everyone who supported us on our 60s night.

It was a great night when we were entertained by the Jay brothers.

We would also like to thank the Jay Brothers for all the effort they put in to make it a successful night.

Doreen Murby

The Mamas & Papas song Monday, Monday was inspired by the Beatles song Eight Days A Week.

Local dances have raised £10,000 for charity The Charity Dance at Bagworth Working Men’s Club on Friday 23 November raised £345. All of this money will be donated to Wishes4kids.

Bagworth Working Men’s Club has a history of organising charity dances.

They began in 2004. The first dance was in memory of a departed member.

In the early days they took place annually.

Now, organised by Ken and Glenda Hill and their team, the dances have increased to five a year. The charity that is supported varies from dance to dance. Charities that have received donations in the past include Leicestershire Air Ambulance, Vista, Help for Heroes, Prostaid and many others.

Since 2004 and including the Wishes4kids money, over £10,000 has been donated to charities and good causes by these dances. Ken and Glenda would like to thank everyone who has helped to raise this money, especially Anne and Josie and the rest of their close team.

The next charity dance will be in the New Year but if you can’t wait that long, there will be a Christmas Social Dance at Bagworth Working Men’s Club at 8 pm on Saturday 15 December. There will also be a bingo session and a raffle on that night. The tickets for this cost £1 and can be obtained on the door.

There will also be a New Year’s Eve Social Dance at the Club at 8pm when the tickets cost £2.50. Information: 01530 230467.

Ken Hill

Walk yourself healthy this year

Walking every day can halve the risk of a stroke, but only if you step up the pace, according to a recent study.

A spokesperson from the British Heart Foundation explains: “It is only physical activities which leave us feeling warm or breathing more heavily that are good for our health.”

Explaining birth An expectant mother let her four-year-old place his hand on her tummy and feel the baby kick. The little boy was amazed and wondered aloud how the baby would ever get out. To keep it simple, the mother just said, “The doctor will help.”

Her son’s eyes widened: “You’ve got a doctor in there, too?!”

I’m on that diet where you eat everything you want and pray for a miracle.

We Know It’s Right, ‘Cos It’s There In Black And White, And It’s All Written Down In His Diary!

So sang the comedian Benny Hill in his comic song “Pepys’ Diary”. Well, it is true that the famous diarist saw a “pretty puppet show” at Southwark Fair in 1668 which told the tale of Dick Whittington and his cat!

By that date , the story had been going the rounds for some time. The story of the poor boy who found fame and fortune thanks to the ratting ability of his cat was first recorded 1605- over four hundred years ago.

The real Richard Whittington lived in the early 1400’s. He did become Lord Mayor and he was a great public benefactor – though whether he had a cat is debatable!

We, in MTTG, are happy to be part of the centuries-old tradition of presenting the tale as a pantomime. “Dick Whittington” is the only pantomime story which is English in origin, and the only one based, (loosely), on a true subject.

Rehearsals are proceeding apace and the cast is happily working together to make this production a fun-filled and memorable one.

Dick has his hands full trying to curtail the athletic antics of the everoptimistic tom cat .

Fortunately, there are the charms of Alice Fitzwarren, the Alderman’s daughter, to distract him from his troubles.

Another distraction presents itself in the form of Tulisa Turnover, the Fitzwarrens’ cook, who is in cahoots with Captain Scuttlebutt and his crew... whose ship has newly docked in the port of London.

The ship also brought ashore a variety of vermin. James Cagney never actually said, “You dirty rat!”... though he surely would have had he met ours!

All these characters set sail for exotic shores ... but, if you want to know more, you’ll have to come and see us!

Joining us on stage again this year - back by popular request- is a Junior Chorus of delightful dancers from the Linda Williams Academy of Performing Arts.

Please come along and support your local amateur dramatic group. If you haven’t been to see us before, then our best recommendation can be had by talking to someone who has.

We can promise you an entertaining evening of fun which is entirely suitable for a family audience.

DICK WHITTINGTON & HIS CAT- a family pantomime written and directed by Muriel Walker, will be staged from MONDAY 14th JANUARY TO SATURDAY 19TH JANUARY 2013 at 7.30 nightly, with a Saturday matinee performance at 3.00 p.m.

Tickets are priced at £5 Adults, £4 Concessions, and are available on 01455 822148 and at “NORM’S”, the Corner Store at the corner of Church Lane in Thornton.

Muriel Walker Q: How many rats does it take to change a light bulb?

A: Why bother? The rats have already chewed through all the wiring in the house, which is why the bulb wasn’t working in the first place !

Thornton St.Peter’s Church Spot Downsizing is the ‘in-word’ these days for moving to smaller premises and/or disposing of unwanted things.

A friend once told me that if she had not used an article for six months she habitually binned it - and another said he had recently cleared out the garden shed of unused furniture and taken it to the tip, without his wife’s knowledge of course!

We all have ‘clutter’ - how many garages are full of it, whilst the car stands on the highway or drive? The argument is, of course, that it may come in useful, or that it is of sentimental value.

The latter can be applied to articles we have at St Peters and which have returned after church cleaning. The Bagworth British Legion flag for instance is torn and tattered, the St Peters ‘Wedding Dress’ banner is faded and hangs in shreds.

One such article makes a welcome return to our walls. I refer to the Madonna and Child painting said to be by an unknown Spanish artist. This verdict was pronounced by Sothebys in the 1950s, who also said it was ‘of little worth’. It was repaired at around the same time after a lady of the congregation put her foot through it whilst it was down for cleaning - a chequered history indeed.

The interior of our church is therefore back to normal, and warmly welcoming in time for Christmas, when the services will be:- 16 December Carols by Candlelight at 6pm and 24 December Christmas Eve Christingle at 4pm and Holy Communion at 11.30pm Finally it gives me much pleasure to record with gratitude our thanks to all those who worked so hard at the Annual Craft Fair, which resulted in a commendable sum of £1,180 and more recently to the Bricklayer’s Arms customers who, from the Jubilee weekend and their generosity, have given us £625 (and LOROS and Rainbows £1,000 each).

May I on behalf of the congregation at St Peter’s wish all the readers of our column in the Herald a very Happy Christmas.

Martin Foster Churchwarden

Appeal launched for Atkins photos AN APPEAL has been launched by the managers of Hinckley’s historic Atkins Building for any photos that were taken by former employees when it was in use as a hosiery factory.

They would like to use the images in displays and exhibitions about the Atkins Building’s heritage, as well as on the building’s website, and to add them to the image library.

Rebecca Wilbur, the Business Centre Adviser based at the Atkins Building, said: “We are looking for images of people celebrating at Atkins Christmas parties, decorating people’s machines on birthdays, celebrating the birth of a new baby or when someone was getting married or retiring, or just-for-fun photographs.

“If anyone has photographs from their time at Atkins Bros Ltd and are willing to share them with us then we would love to hear from them.

They can get in touch on 01455 247070 or by emailing us at: info@atkinsbuilding.co.uk.”

A house is just a place to keep your stuff while you go out and get more stuff.

KEITH SMITH (ANSTEY) LTD

6 STADON ROAD ANSTEY LE7 7AY - TEL: 0116 2362395 - sales@keithsmithltd.co.uk

TOSHIBA WINTER SALE TOSHIBA 40RL953B

TOSHIBA 32RL953B 32” LED TV Full HD Ready 1080p FreeView HD 4 x HDMI Inputs A+ Rated

Save

30

Save

50

FREE 5 YEAR TOSHIBA GUARANTEE*

FREE 5 YEAR TOSHIBA GUARANTEE*

Now Only

£449 .99

Now Only

TOSHIBA 40TL968B

50

Save

100

46” 3D LED TV Full HD Ready 1080p FreeView HD 4 x HDMI Inputs Built-In wifi A+ Rated

FREE 5 YEAR TOSHIBA GUARANTEE*

FREE 5 YEAR TOSHIBA GUARANTEE*

Now Only

£599 .99

TOSHIBA 46TL968B

40” 3D LED TV Full HD Ready 1080p FreeView HD 4 x HDMI Inputs Built-In wifi A+ Rated

Save

40” LED TV Full HD Ready 1080p FreeView HD 4 x HDMI Inputs A+ Rated

£699 .99

Now Only

£899 .99

Save

Save

50

19BL502B 19” LED TV Only £159.99

22BL702B 22” LED TV Only £199.99

“Wishing all our Customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” From all the Staff at Keith Smith (Anstey) Ltd

10

BDX3200KB 3D Blu Ray Player

SD2010KB DVD Player

Now Only £99.99

Now Only £39.99

Lots Of Other Exciting Offers In-Store Now

Fast Free Local Delivery With

Free Installation and Demonstration (worth £29.99) * 5 Year Guarantee Ends 31/12/2012

ANSTEY

DVD RECORDERS ~ LED TV’S ~ PLASMA TV’S ~ HARD DRIVE RECORDERS ~ DIGITAL TV’S ~ FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ FREE IN-HOME DEMONSTRATION ~

DVD RECORDERS ~ LED TV’S ~ PLASMA TV’S ~ HARD DRIVE RECORDERS ~ DIGITAL TV’S ~ FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ FREE IN-HOME DEMONSTRATION ~

FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ LED TV’S ~ FREE IN-HOME DEMONSTRATION ~ DVD RECORDERS ~ DIGITAL TV

FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ LED TV’S ~ FREE IN-HOME DEMONSTRATION ~ DVD RECORDERS ~ DIGITAL TV

Please Support Our Advertisers Whenever You Can - They Make The Herald Possible!

TV has proved that people will look at anything rather than each other.

10

Walking in a magical Winter Wonderland with Natalie and Friends The people of Thornton were treated again to a concert from the terrific Natalie Nightingale and Friends on 25th November.

If you weren’t there, you missed a truly special afternoon. About 150 of us, adults and children alike, gathered in the pine-scented, green and silver sparkling forest glade that was (all too briefly) St. Peter’s church.

The concert was opened by the sweet voices of the children of Thornton village school singing ‘Starry Night’. Then, over the next two hours, Natalie, together with singers Adrian Dobson, Jouni Soininen and Laura Springthorpe, and supported by sound engineer Dan Beniston, sang a festive and truly heart-warming programme of songs to melt even Ebeneezer Scrooge’s heart! After the children closed the first half with ‘Child in a Manger Born’, mulled wine, mulled cider, cup-cakes and mince pies were served to enhance the festive spirit and Christmas crackers were pulled. We were all pleasantly surprised by the warmth of our ancient church (and it wasn’t just provided by the people present - we now have heating!).

The programme included all the family favourites: It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas, Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas, Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire, White Christmas, Santa Baby, Rockin’ around the Christmas Tree and A Winter’s Tale to name but a few of the many sparkling treats unwrapped one by one from a veritable parcel of delights. Adult singers and young children together closed the programme by belting out (twice!) the famous Wizard hit from the 1970’s – ‘I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day’. No-one wanted the afternoon to end and we will all remember it for a long time. Thank you again so much to Natalie, Dan, Adrian, Jouni and Laura, and of course to the children and their choir leader

PACKAGE 1

Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 100 square feet of loft flooring One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted

ONLY £585

PACKAGE 2

Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 200 square feet of loft flooring One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted

ONLY £765

PACKAGE 3

Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 300 square feet of loft flooring One Fakro Roof Window 550mm x 780mm One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted

ONLY £1295

ECONOMY PACKAGE

UPVC hinge down loft hatch Two section aluminium loft ladder 100 square feet of loft flooring pendant light fitting and switch

EXTRA BOARDING

Additional boarding to any package £30 per 16 square foot

ONLY £435

Susan Quinn, ably assisted by her two daughters.

The Chair and Trustees of the Friends of St. Peter’s warmly thank the Worshipful, the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Councillor Martin Cartwright and The Lady Mayoress, Mrs Susan Cartwright (pictured above), for coming to share this ‘typically English’ afternoon with us. We also thank Councillor Laurance (Ozzie) O’Shea and Mrs O’Shea for their kindness and continued support.

The Friends of St. Peter’s charity, which has now gained ‘Gift Aid’ status, was started in 1995 and its aim is to help with the cost of conserving and bringing modern facilities to the church of St. Peter, a GRADE 1 Listed Building. The trustees organise a programme of fund-raising events throughout the year.

If you would like to know more please contact our secretary, Kathryn Shaw 01530 230 372 kathryn.shaw136@btinternet.com.

LOFT STORAGE

SOLUTIONS Balancing on a stepladder, clambering over loft joists with a torch in one hand and a box in another is not only awkward but potentially dangerous.

Boarding, lighting and a ladder not only gives you the opportunity to unclutter your living space, but also creates a cleaner and more useful environment.

Solve your storage needs and start utilising the largest space in your home from only £435

LUXURY STORAGE ROOMS

Our luxury storage rooms are surprisingly affordable at just a fraction of the cost of a standard loft conversion. Our luxury storage rooms can include the strengthening of loft joists, flooring, lighting, roof insulation, stud walls, roof windows and either plasterboard or skim finish.

PRICES FROM £2995

0116 367 9749

07515 526959 / 079615 76020 www.LeicesterLoftStorage.com

Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut.

11

Women A poem by Mrs Dorothy Tomlinson “Women are but toys”, thus wrote Sir Walter Scott, But that eminent historian had surely lost the plot.

A woman’s not a plaything, nor a man’s accessory, As evidence below will show - beginning many years BC. Eve was the first one, a proper little madam, Offering up forbidden fruit to her partner Adam.

She blamed a snake for what she’d done and hoped she’d get a pardon; “No can do”, was God’s reply, “You’re banished from the Garden”.

Helen was a Grecian maid, her beauty unsurpassed, Menelaus was her beau, but love just did not last.

For Paris whisked her off to Troy, which annoyed the Greeks, of course, What followed was a ten-year siege and a winning wooden horse.

Cleo was a feisty girl, when warring was in fashion, Dispatching Ptolemy (times two) and stirring Caesar’s passion.

When Jules’ mates betrayed him she took Tony in her grasp, But sad to say she ended things by cuddling an asp.

Boadicea, lceni’s Queen, was fearless, brave and strong.

The Romans had mistreated her and she sought to right the wrong.

With chariots washed and polished, her daughters helped their mum Along with friends and neighbours, to raze Londinium.

Joan of Arc, at just thirteen, was hearing heavenly voices Telling her to save the King and beat the English forces.

In spite of fighting tooth and nail for her country’s sake, Joan was sold to our King Hal and cremated at the stake.

Good Queen Bess, with Titian hair and fiery temper too, Sailed right through a golden age with her famous crew.

Well-known sea dogs Frank and Walter vied for her affection And brought her gifts of veg and fags to add to her collection.

Florence, the Lady with the Lamp, an assertive nursing ace, Was sent off to Scutari, a deadly, awhIl place.

She brought comfort to the soldiers and sorted out the mess, Pity she’s not here today to help the NHS. Emmeline was a militant, a campaigner in her way For women’s rights, especially votes, upon Election Day. Her methods were quite violent and went beyond the pale, She blew up old Lloyd George’s house and was promptly sent to jail.

Margaret was the Iron Lady whose mind could not be altered, Through Falkland’s War and miners’ strike with steps that never faltered Her pal named Ron, across the Pond, almost offered her oblation, But Major problems robbed us of a leader of the nation.

Gather these together and what a force they’d be, With Helen’s charm and Cleo’s guile and Flo’s tenacity.

I believe my case is crystal clear, it needs no further proving, That women form the powerhouse that keeps the whole world moving.

This poem - by Mrs Dorothy Tomlinson of Peatling Magna W.I. - took second place in the Lady Denman Cup Competition several years ago. The project was to write a poem, the theme of which was ‘Women’.

Thank you to Eileen Johnson of Bagworth for sending it in to The Herald for readers to enjoy.

Police warn motorists not to leave defrosting cars unattended Leicestershire Police have issued a warning to motorists not to leave their cars unattended while they are defrosting windows.

Vehicles have been reported stolen in Whetstone and Ratby while left unattended on driveways with their engines running.

Sergeant Steve King said; “It can be tempting to leave car engines running while the windows are defrosting and go back inside a warm house, but this means that it is easy for someone to get in and drive off with your car.”

During the frosty weather officers will be advising drivers of any vehicles found unattended with engines running and handing them a leaflet to remind them that their vehicle could have been stolen.

This type of crime is avoidable by staying with your vehicle. It is also worth remembering that insurance companies are unlikely to compensate owners whose vehicles have been stolen while unattended with the keys in the ignition. Moreover, if the car is left on a public highway with its engine running, the owner could be guilty of an offence.

Anyone with information about these offences can call Leicestershire Police on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

To Advertise Call 01530 244069 or Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Herald Advertising Rates Reach 4,000 Local Homes • FREE Advert Design Advert Size

Dimensions

Colour

B/W

Sixteenth Page 45mm wide x 65mm high

£20.00+VAT

Twelfth Page

95mm wide x 41mm high

£28+VAT

Eighth Page

95mm wide x 65mm high

£40.00+VAT

£27.00+VAT

Quarter Page

95mm wide x 132mm high

£65.00+VAT

£45.00+VAT

Half Page

194mm wide x 132mm high

£120.00+VAT

£80.00+VAT

Full Page (A4)

194mm wide x 268mm high

£190.00+VAT

£140.00+VAT

Those are my principles, and if you don’t like them… well, I have others.

£13.50+VAT £18.00+VAT

12

All the latest NEWS from Markfield Community & Sports Centre Skatepark nearly, nearly GONE

Halloween I know that this month’s edition of the Herald will be all about Christmas but I must mention our now traditional Youth Club Halloween Party held on 30th October.

Since late October our group of intrepid and hard working young volunteers have been battling site problems, hire equipment failures and bad weather to dismantle the old skate park.

It has been a hard slog for them but they have persevered and, even as I write this article on the morning of Saturday 24th November they are down on the site battling against heavy rain to finally dismantle the old skate park “spine” and clear the site. Not only have they been dismantling the old construction but also carting off the scrap metal by the van load to a local dealer so that the project will benefit from the money raised by “weighing in” the scrap.

With the Parish Council, the young people involved and indeed ourselves are determined to provide the village with an exciting new skate park.

So, let’s hope that the notorious Markfield weather doesn’t hinder us any further in getting the new project up and running. Once again I must say a BIG thank you to the young people involved especially Palmer who has been constantly working on the project and harrying the volunteers to get the work done as soon as possible. If you want to see exactly what we are planning the plans for the new skate park are displayed on the notice board at the entrance to the Centre.

Dawn’s Surprise BIG FIVE 0 Birthday Party

Once again we put on a scary evening of Halloween games, spooky stories, pumpkin lantern making and of course apple bobbing. As usual our infamous haunted chamber brought squeals of dread not just from the kids but also parents and staff. The youngsters were resplendent in their fancy dress with witches, ghouls and monsters.

The final message was a serious one i.e. to behave on Halloween night and show respect to other residents and not cause them any upset through trick or treat.

Aikido Classes at the Centre Early in the New Year as from the 7th January we will be providing Aikido classes at the Centre.

Aikido roughly translates as “The way of the harmonious spirit” is a form of Japanese martial art that helps you improve your fitness, confidence and self defence skills. If you would like to join the classes or learn more about Aikido please contact Grant on 01858 466455 or visit www.aikidoleicester. co.uk

Time is running out to book your special offer The closing date for our special offer marking the 25th Anniversary of the opening of the Centre is rapidly approaching.

We are offering free bar function hire as a BIG thank you to all our customers, users, friends and supporters. This will save you a lot of money if you want to hold a special event, family occasion or party. For further details please contact the Centre.

Normally our articles are all about family events and celebrations not related to our own Centre Staff.

Christmas Toys on the Table Appeal

Well for a change I will tell you about our very own Centre Manager Dawn’s surprise 50th Birthday Party that took place at the Centre on Sunday 18th November. Some how we managed to keep the party top secret right up to the point where she walked into to the hall to be greeted by a host of family and friends singing Happy Birthday and Jerry and the Pacemaker’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone”. Right up to the last moment Dawn though that she was having to work a Barn Dance function and believed all our surreptitious plots and porky pies to get her to the party. I must admit that Carol, Amanda, Jane and myself were all sweating the “proverbials” trying to keep the secret from Dawn’s and protect ourselves from her wrath if she found out. Well we succeeded and even Dawn will admit that she had a wonderful time celebrating her 50th Birthday with her family and friends. Many thanks to all those who helped put on this special event and many congratulations Dawn from all your family, friends and all at the Centre.

Christmas Greetings

Just a reminder that we are now collecting toys to support the Leicester Mercury’s Christmas Toys on the Table appeal that aims to provide Christmas presents for the most disadvantaged children in the County.

So, if you would like to bring a smile to a child’s face this Christmas Day please just pop in a new unwrapped toy into the Centre and we will make sure it is passed on to the Christmas Toys on the Table Appeal organisers.

As I write this article there is only four weeks to Christmas Day and I should really be out Christmas shopping and not waxing lyrical on the computer as AAAAAAh I’ve not got anything done yet for the big day.

Anyway may I take this opportunity, on behalf of all the Centre’s Management Committee and Staff, to wish you all a very special Christmas with your family and friends and we all look forward to an exciting and “fingers crossed” prosperous 2013.

For booking and enquiries please contact Markfield Community and Sports Centre, Mayflower Close, Markfield LE67 9ST, ring us on 01530 242240 Visit our website at www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com to see our facilities, latest news and information about the Centre.

If you can’t see the bright side of life, polish the dull side.

13

Extracts from Markfield Parish Council Minutes The following items were among the topics discussed at the meeting of Markfield Parish Council on Tuesday 6th November 2012.

The information comes from the unapproved minutes, and therefore may be subject to correction or alteration.

POLICE REPORT: - PCSO 6639 Williams had emailed the following crime figures: October 2012 Crime Figures 1 x Theft from motor vehicle – South Charnwood school 2 x Burglary OTD – Units on Hill Lane 1 x Theft of cable – Little Shaw Lane 1 x Theft – Compound site, Stoney Lane Local History Group – Proposal to erect a War Memorial in Markfield on the grass verge at the top of Neville Drive: Mr M Lay stated that a liaison meeting between all interested parties would be held on Saturday 17th November 2012 @9.30am at the Community Centre, consisting of: • Chair and Vice Chair of Markfield Parish Council • 2 representatives of the Local History Group • 2 representatives of the Parochial Church Council.

Mr T Lockley suggested that as the Remembrance Day Service was a “churches together service” other local churches should also be involved in discussions.

Highways trees within the grass verge on Neville Drive: - The Parish Council would obtain quotes for the installation of bollards around the boundary to protect the verge from vehicles being parked on it.

AMEC – grass verges affected by the gas pipe replacement works: Works were now taking place outside the Cemetery and the clerk had to ring the company before burials so that work could stop to allow the funeral cortege to pass through uninterrupted.

Car Sales on A50 at the Field Head Roundabout: - The clerk had written to Mr S Atkins, Chief Executive, H & BBC to request the implementation of a street trading ban for the site, under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1982 Schedule 4 – Street Trading.

12/00669/FUL Change of use of land for the provision of 4 additional Gypsy and Traveller pitches including alterations to vehicular access (Part Retrospective): Mr. D Sprason stated that although highways officers had recommended refusal the planning application had been allowed.

Street Lighting –Little Shaw Lane: Residents of Little Shaw Lane had reported the removal of street light no.3 o/s 160. This was a Parish owned street light and appeared to have been removed when Western Power Distribution reconnected the disrupted power supply to Little Shaw Lane. Mr Eddie Holt, Street Lighting, Leicestershire County Council contacted WPD prior to realising it was Parish owned, and they confirmed they would provide a re-connection to a replacement street light. The clerk had requested a quotation for a new lamp from Leics County Council.

Street Lighting –Meadow Lane: A resident of Meadow Lane reported the removal of street light outside the properties if 12-14 Meadow Lane. The clerk would make further enquiries of Street Lighting, Leicestershire County Council to try to get the light replaced.

Miners’ Welfare Institute: Mr Lay reported that disappointingly the planning application had been passed.

Resolved, the Parish Council agreed not to permit access for the development from parish owned land.

The Co-Op store redevelopment, Main Street: Possibly to commence April 2013.

Connecting people and wildlife grant 2012/2013 scheme – Stepping Stones: Mr T Lockley suggested that as part of this year’s tree planting scheme was to plant 5 Lime trees on the triangular shaped area of grass outside nos 51 to 71 Chitterman Way. It therefore would be a good idea for the Parish Council to consult with them all (10 properties).

Plant a Tree in memorial of Mr R Cooper Jubilee Playing Fields: - The Parish Council accepted the quotation from Mr CJ Springthorpe to plant a heavy standard native broadleaf Hornbeem 3.50m in height at a cost of £172.00. The above matter would be held in abeyance until the Parish Council had discussed the matter further with the family and at the November Parish Risk Assessment.

Skate park: - Resolved, the Parish Council has accepted the quotation from Gravity Skate Parks at £55,656.70 plus VAT for the installation at the Community Centre with work to commence in January 2013. The clerk had ordered the works.

Community project: - Mr Lay had received a letter from Markfield Rangers to ask if they could undertake a Community Project – to clean street name plates. Resolved, the Parish Council had no objection.

I would never die for my beliefs because I might be wrong.

Quality Handmade Ironwork 01530-243804

Made to order to your individual design

www.handmade-ironwork.co.uk

14

Herald Film Reviews from Tom Flowitt Skyfall (12A) Starring: Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Judi Dench 143 minutes The Bond film franchise turns 50 this year. Having stalled with Quantum of Solace the question is, is Bond still relevant today or has he outstayed his welcome?

Skyfall attempts to answer this by being a Bond film like no other. There is no master plan for world domination as the story focuses in on a personal attack on MI6 and its high ranking members. The film is driven by the exploration into the character of series mainstays Bond and M, who we rarely get to see beneath the skin of.

The exotic locations are also kept to a minimum as the film is predominately set in the UK, which is a real change of pace for the franchise. There is however a nod here and there to the earlier films which fans of the series will enjoy.

As with the other Daniel Craig films this is gritty, grounded and steers away from the gadgets and cheese of the early films. This is an intelligent and grown up Bond that still oozes the charm and humour of the pre-Craig films.

At times the Daniel Craig era of films hasn’t had that ‘James Bond’ feel, but this has everything you would expect. Action. Check. Expensive cars. Check. Bond girls. Check. Extended opening credits with accompanying Bond song. Check.

Vodka martinis being shaken not stirred. To be honest I can’t remember, but probably. We even see the reintroduction of Q. All the best Bond films have a good villain and up steps Javier Bardem to fit the bill perfectly. Disturbed, unhinged, sinister and a match for Bond in every way. Driven by his quest for vengeance he seems more dangerous than any Bond villain I can remember for a long time.

Craig is effortless as Bond and shows that when the story is good, he is perhaps the best there has been in the role. A supporting cast including Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes make for a film filled with high class performances.

Is Bond still relevant? You bet he is.

Overall: One of the best Bond films ever made and the perfect way to mark the 50th Anniversary. We all have our favourite Bond films and this will end up being one of them. 4 Stars

End of Watch (15) Starring: Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena 109 minutes End of Watch takes us on a journey through the day to day of the LAPD’s finest, Taylor (Gyllenhaal) and Zavala (Pena), who pride themselves as the department’s elite. However a routine house call proves to be their undoing as they make themselves some very dangerous enemies.

Filmed primarily on a hand camera, End of Watch has the advantage of very quickly drawing you in. You instantly become a part of Taylor and Zavala’s world and quickly build up a liking for them.

The camera also means there is a close and claustrophobic feel that adds to the tension and involves you in the action. Where this technique falls down is when the film tries to show you events away from those involving Taylor and Zavala. The camera switches to wider angle shots or surveillance footage which just doesn’t fit in with the rest of the film.

There is a really authentic feel throughout, almost as if instead of watching a film, you are watching a reality TV show (and I don’t mean that in a bad way). It feels like a very believable account of what it would be like to be in the LAPD. There is very little story, in the traditional sense anyway, but oddly it doesn’t really affect the film’s quality. This is because the real story is the characters themselves, which are fantastically crafted and well balanced.

However the lack of continuity in events or a traditional story (the story only really comes into the latter part of the film) means that it often feels as if it isn’t going anywhere. The lack of direction can be slightly off putting at times.

It is the interaction between the characters that make this film though. The dialogue between them is humorous, engaging and somehow never tires and continues to stay fresh. Gyllenhaal and Pena bounce off each other perfectly.

Overall: Lack of story aside this is a very watchable and extremely entertaining film. The interaction between Gyllenhaal and Pena alone is worth the admission fee. 4 Stars

HAMLIN’S PLUMBING SERVICES All Types of Plumbing Work Undertaken No job too small Call Mick on 01530 245155 or 07813 065538 Qualified Local Plumber with Years of Experience

It is not MY fault that I never learned to accept responsibility!

15

Lots happening at the Bagworth W.I. After the long summer break the Bagworth WI group have now had two interesting speakers.

The first was most entertaining.

She arrived dressed as a Medieval maid. She delighted us with some intriguing research of the origins of nursery Rhymes which many of us knew from our school days but were astounded by their origins. In October, Mrs Roberts came with her adventures in the South African Bush.

On a different note one of our Bagworth WI members, Eileen Johnson, took part in a new Guinness Book record of 3,083 people who knitted for 15 minutes simultaneously at this year’s WI AGM at the Royal Albert Hall. They heard that the knitting was to be plaited and used as rope for the Royal Jubilee Celebrations. Well done Eileen!

The Bagworth WI Group have also been busy with a knitting project of small triangular comforters for premature babies at the neonatal unit at the Leicester Royal infirmary.

Mum is given one and carries it in her clothing. It is then put around the baby which helps with Mother and baby bonding. Our target is 100 and we are nearly there. Our

next project after Christmas is baby bonnets to help keep prem babies wires in place whilst they are in the incubators. If anyone has any spare 4 ply or double knitting

wool we would be very pleased to use it for the project. Please ring Maureen on 1530231295 for further information about the Bagworth WI or to donate wool.

Expensive vitamins Do you take a vitamin supplement? Or did you?

It seems that millions of us have stopped taking vitamin supplements because of the economic downturn. The number of regular users has dropped by about three million since 2008. Nowadays we tend to see them as a luxury item, according to market researchers Mintel.

Markfield WI Programme 2013

There were a couple of bloomers in the Markfield W.I. programme we published last month so here’s the corrected list of events: Jan 16th: Phiona Richards (as seen on Kirsty’s Handmade Britain) - Paper Artistry Feb 21st: Leicester Street Pastors March 20th: Margaret Hudson Tiller Girls April 17th: Penny Hodgson - A skeleton in the cupboard: Family History Research May 15th: Resolutions Evening followed by a Take and Share supper June 19th: Ian Rogerson - Smile Please, Say Cheese July 17th: Birthday Supper Venue TBA Aug 21st: Margaret Rampley Corsets & Camis, Swimsuits & Smiles Sept 18th: Alison Chapman - Kilworth House Theatre Oct 16th: Mary Pepper Romania – experiences with children and young people Nov 20th: Sarah - Floristry for Christmas Dec 18th: Jane Courtney Murder by Candlelight

Before marriage, a man yearns for the woman he loves. After marriage, the ‘Y’ becomes silent.

16

Police Inspector invited to speak at Markfield Parish Council meeting Markfield Parish Council welcomed Inspector Marc Simons, of Hinckley and Bosworth Local Policing Unit to their November meeting.

Parish Council Chairman Matthew Lay stated that over the last 5 or 6 years the Local Beat Team had proved a successful policing model and had made good use of the Community Centre as a Community Office for Markfield, Stanton, Groby and Ratby villages.

The Parish Council however had noticed a decline in Community Policing over the last 6 months or so. Inspector M Simons stated that a review of Community Policing had needed to be undertaken recently due to the reduction in funding; this was looking into various response models, emergencies and neighbourhood policing.

Inspector Simons said there had been a reduction in the numbers of response officers and these resources had been put into neighbourhood policing, which now consisted of a new “Neighbourhood Super Beat.”

This Neighbourhood Beat covered a large rural area including the villages of Ratby, Groby, Markfield, Newbold Verdon, Desford, Kirkby Mallory, Barlestone and Twycross.

The beat also covered the market town of Market Bosworth.

The new Neighbourhood Team for our area consisted of 15 officers; this included 1 Sargent, 9 PC’s and 5 PCSO’s. Markfield and Stanton would have one designated beat office who had signed up for 5 years. Officers within the neighbourhood team would be more proactively moved to targeted areas as necessary.

Mr Lay suggested that the advantage of keeping a dedicated beat officer was that they got to know the local area very well, so he was pleased that this was being kept, but the previously successful local policing of 1 beat officer and 3PCSO’s had effectively been reduced to 1 beat officer. He said that he felt very unfortunate for the beat officers involved, such as PC Rawisinski and PC Harlock, who had been a credit to the police force.

Mr D Sprason said that he had attended a recent presentation with Chief Constables and he was very pleased by the move to change resources from response teams

to neighbourhood teams from January 2013.

Inspector Simons stated that he did not want to cut the number of officers from the front line, there would still be dedicated beat officers and experienced PCSO’s, but cuts were being forced upon the Police Authority.

Mr Lay confirmed that the Parish Council would still want to support the LPU. Inspector Simons said that he felt the way forward for crime prevention was to work in partnership with other local partners such as Parish Councils.

Mrs A Lay asked if there would still be a police presence at the Community Centre. Inspector Simons confirmed that the centre would still be used as a Community Office.

Mr B Gannon asked if and how the new system would be monitored.

Inspector M Simons confirmed that there were various stages of review, the first being in April 2013.

Don’t miss closing date for first-time school places Parents of children approaching school age are being urged to apply for a place before the closing date.

Leicestershire County Council is reminding parents that if their child is four before 1st September 2013, they need to apply for infant or primary places by 15th January.

Starting school is not automatic and all parents need to apply.

The transfer process is the same for a local authority school or a recently-converted academy.

Late applicants will have the lowest priority and may not be offered a place at any of their preferred schools, or even their catchment area school.

Online applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt and be able to view the decision on 16th April, 2013. Parents can also apply by post if they wish.

To find out more, go to: www. leics.gov.uk/admissions or e-mail admissions@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6684.

Tim Vine Special I went carol singing last year. I walked around lots of houses with a lantern and nobody gave me any money at all. Still, people are busy at Easter.

ELECTRICIAN A one-stop professional & reliable service ♦Fixed Wiring Testing ♦Landlord Certification ♦Expert Fault Finding ♦Fuse Board Upgrades ♦Extra Sockets & Lights ♦Electric Heating

♦Complete Rewiring (with minimal disruption)

♦Cottage Specialists ♦Electrics Showers (Inc. Plumbing) ♦Security (Alarms, CCTV, Lights) ♦Free No Obligation Quotes

Control Electrics (Leics.) Ltd

Call: 0116 268 2910 Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BR

Experience is what you get when you didn’t get what you wanted.

CONSULTATION PULL-OUT

South Charnwood High School ‘encouraging excellence, valuing people’ Headteacher: Andrew Morris: Deputy Headteachers: Simon Andrews, Tina Corker Business Manager: Angela Preston 12th November 2012 Dear Parents/Carers Academy conversion and change of age range consultation I am writing to consult with you about some changes we wish to make to our school.

For a number of years now, parents and carers, and their children, have repeatedly expressed the desire to remain at this ‘outstanding’ school until the end of year 11 (age 16). To do so, would help build upon our ‘outstanding’ status and ensure that our students have continued access to a high quality of education. For this reason, the Governors would welcome your views on a proposal to change our age range with effect from September 2014. This will be subject to the approval of the Department For Education following this consultation and will also require that the school converts to an academy beforehand. To change our age range in this way will necessitate South Charnwood High School working extremely closely with our three local catchment feeder primary schools (Mercenfeld Primary School, Stanton Under Bardon Primary School and Thornton Primary School) to enable them to retain their Year 6 pupils, also from September 2014. We will also continue to work in partnership with our other catchment feeder primary school, Stafford Leys in Leicester Forest East, which is currently consulting with parents to retain its Year 6 pupils from September 2013.

The Governors of South Charnwood High School believe there is strong support from the community for this change. However, before any action is taken, we want to hear your views. This consultation letter outlines the proposals for change at South Charnwood High School and the benefits and opportunities it could offer. Please take the time to read this information carefully and, if possible, attend the Open Meeting at the school which will take place on Tuesday 27th November 2012 at 7.00pm in the main hall at South Charnwood High School. Also, we would like you to respond to this consultation using any of the options outlined later in this letter. Your views are important to us and the Governors will not make a final decision on this until they have heard your views.

As an 11-16 secondary school, South Charnwood High School will continue to serve its local community.

As part of a group of academies with our local primary school partners, we will continue to work together, providing mutual support, with the aim of raising standards of education and ensuring increased emphasis on the continuity of progression of our pupils from the age of 4 through to 16.

When would the changes happen?

If, after the consultation, and dependent on what you have told us, the Governors agree to proceed with the change, the next step would be to formally seek approval from the Department For Education. To do this, we would need to submit, in the early Spring of 2013, detailed plans to demonstrate that there is a strong case for change and, most importantly, that the change will lead to improved outcomes for our pupils.

CONSULTATION PULL-OUT If the changes are approved, they would start in September 2014. In practice, the school would gradually move towards an 11-16 model, adding an additional year group over two years; this means our current Year 8 would become the first Year 10 cohort.

What are the benefits?

The proposal offers the opportunity for significant benefits. These include:  Improved stability and progression, avoiding the need to transfer school when pupils move from Year 9 to Year 10, leading to improved results.  A closer match of Key Stage 3 experience to the requirements of examination courses in order to improve outcomes.  Increased opportunity to start GCSE courses (or equivalent) when it is right for the individual rather than at a set point.  Smaller year groups will mean even greater capacity for personalised support for each pupil.  The retention of Year 6 at feeder Primary Schools will ensure that KS2 standards continue to improve.

What would happen to the catchment area for South Charnwood High School?

The catchment area for the school will not change.

What would happen to the school’s Admissions Policy?

The main change to our Admissions Policy would be that pupils will join us in Year 7 instead of Year 6.

In order to accommodate the extra year group, we would also need to slightly lower our Year 7 admission limit to 139 places from September 2014. This will keep the overall size of the school to 695 places, but there will be sufficient room for all catchment pupils attending our feeder primary schools to come to South Charnwood.

What would this mean for my child?

Current Year 9 Pupils If your child is currently in Year 9, there will be no change to the current arrangements where pupils transfer from South Charnwood High School at 14.

Current Year 6, 7 and 8 Pupils All pupils currently in Year 6, 7 and 8 would automatically remain at South Charnwood High School and would be able to continue their education up to the age of 16 to complete their GCSE (or equivalent) courses.

Current Year 5 Pupils Pupils who are currently at our feeder Primary schools will have already applied for a place at South Charnwood High School using the existing admission procedures. Those pupils who are successful in gaining a place will come to us in Year 6 and would be able to continue their education at South Charnwood High School until aged 16.

Pupils currently in Year 4 or below Pupils currently in Year 4 or below will need to apply to South Charnwood High School under the new arrangements to start in Year 7. The school would have a reduced intake of 139 pupils at Year 7 in September 2015.

All other aspects of the Local Authority Admissions Policy continue to apply.

CONSULTATION PULL-OUT Why does the school need to become an academy?

There are several reasons for this. Firstly, becoming an academy before seeking approval to change our age range, provides the quickest and potentially easiest way to do this, as the school will be seeking agreement directly from the Department For Education. Secondly, as an academy we will have entitlement to bid for additional Government funding, which would not be available to us as a Local Authority maintained school. Finally, becoming an academy will provide the school with greater freedoms in terms of the way we plan and deliver the curriculum, and manage our buildings and finances.

Who are we consulting with?

We would like to hear the views of everyone associated with the school including:  Parents of current pupils at South Charnwood High School.  Representatives of the Local Authority (Leicestershire).  Staff who work at South Charnwood High School.  Parents of pupils in our catchment feeder Primary Schools.  Pupils who are currently at the school (via the Pupil Voice Team).  Other local schools that may be affected by our proposals.  The local community (Markfield, Stanton, Thornton and Leicester Forest East).

How long will the consultation last?

The period of consultation will run from Monday 12th November 2012 until 12 noon on Monday 14th January 2013. If you wish to comment please do so by using one of the following methods:  email office@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk with the subject heading ‘Consultation Response’.  write to Mr Alan May, Chair of Governors, c/o South Charnwood High School, Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9TB. Please write ‘Consultation Response’ on the back of the envelope.  complete the on-line reply form on our website.  complete the reply form attached to this letter and return it to the school reception.

Full consultation details can be found on our website (www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk) but please do not hesitate to contact myself, or any member of the Senior Leadership Team, if you require any further details.

Yours sincerely

ANDREW MORRIS Headteacher

CONSULTATION PULL-OUT Consultation regarding academy conversion and change of age range at South Charnwood High School Your name (s): ……………………………… Pupil name and form: ……………………………

(If applicable) Capacity in which you are replying (e.g. Parent/Carer, Governor, Staff, Pupil etc.) ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 

I am/ We are happy with the proposal by South Charnwood High School to change its age range from 10-14 to 11-16 and appreciate that this change will necessitate the school converting to an academy.

Yes



No

Please put an X in the appropriate box

I am/ We are happy with the proposed changes to the admission arrangements for South Charnwood High School outlined above, to take effect from September 2014 Yes

No

Please put an X in the appropriate box Date: ……………..

Please ensure you have answered both bullet points and write any comments you would like to make below (continue overleaf if necessary).

Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9TB Telephone: (01530) 242351 Fax: (01530) 244258 Email: office@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk

21 Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation

Celebrity gardener supports community gardening project

NEW Parish Calendar on sale now – Christmas Gift Idea!

Earlier this year, unique Leicestershire charity the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, was pleased to launch ‘Grow with Us’ and will be holding an Open Day on Friday 14th December, 2012 between 10.00 a.m. – 2.00 p.m. for groups and individuals to come along and find out more about this wonderful Community Allotment Gardening Project.

The Foundation is delighted to announce that its Patron, TV and Radio Celebrity Gardner, Ady Dayman, will be on hand to offer information and support to those who may be interested in joining the project.

The aim of this long term gardening project is to link young adults with learning difficulties with members of the wider community who have an interest in allotment style gardening and a desire to pass on their skills; making it an ideal opportunity for groups such as Gardening Clubs, Rotary and U3A Groups to become involved and create a real community allotment.

Alan Norman, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said “The project has gotten off to a wonderful start and we are delighted to have a number of groups involved, are fortunate to have a small, dedicated team of volunteers and are very grateful for Ady’s support in promoting this.”

Mr Norman added “This community project will bring real benefits to both the young people and the volunteers as a joint learning experience and has the potential to develop into a real, sustainable long term association.”

For more information please telephone 01530 244914 or email admin@ shuttlewood-clarke.org.

Suggest a name for new ward

Final call for new name for £5.2m Leicester mental health ward More than 30 names have been suggested for the new £5.2m 20-bed mental health ward currently under construction at the Bradgate Unit, Leicester, but there is still time for service users, their families and carers, and members of the local community to get their entries in!

The ward is part of Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s (LPT) ambition to create a Centre of Excellence by 2015, with this ward set to open in April 2013. The Centre of Excellence will bring major improvements to the hospital environment and support the work underway to improve patient care and the experience of the people who use services. The £23 million Centre of Excellence development has been underway since 2009 and has created five new wards and a new Involvement Centre at the Bradgate site.

People are being asked to suggest suitable names for the new unit, which provides care and treatment for chronically unwell patients with conditions such as Schizophrenia and Bipolar.

Paul Miller, Divisional Director for Adult Mental Health Services at LPT, said: “This will be a state-of-the-art mental health unit for the people of Leicestershire and we think local people should have a say in naming it.

There is still time for more suggestions of course, and if you’ve got an idea we’d love to hear from you before the Monday 10 December closing date.”

People are asked to email their ideas to feedback@leicspart.nhs.uk or by post to the Communications Team, Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust, Lakeside House, 4 Smith Way, Grove Park, Enderby, Leicester, LE19 1SS. You can also Tweet ideas on www.twitter.com to the address @LPTnhs.

The new Parish Calendar is available now for just £5 (same price as last year!) and features beautiful photos (taken by readers) from around the Parish. They would make lovely Christmas or New Year gifts, especially for friends and family who have moved away from the area.

The winning photos (2 of which are shown here) are from:Dawn Woodward; Colin M Harris; Alistair Horn; Barry White; Peter Willett; Ian Harris; Phil Crompton; William Garlick and Christopher Challis.

We thank them all for submitting their lovely photographs.

All profits from Calendar sales will be donated to Parish funds.

Contact one of the Parish Magazine Team to request your calendar: Shirley – email to link@beechdrive.demon.co.uk or Jo – email to jl172@le.ac.uk or telephone 01530 230 455.

IDC Home Maintenance Painter Decorator and Property Maintenance NO JOB TOO SMALL From changing a light bulb to complete house re-decoration.

For all the jobs you need to do but simply don’t have time.

For a free quotation please call Ian on:

01530 245461

or

07885 541428

3 The Nook, Markfield, Leicestershire

Web site: www.idchomemaintenance.co.uk Full Tradesman Liability Insurance held

Love is an electric blanket with somebody else in control of the switch.

22

Cross Hills Baptist Church Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area

School Assemblies Our Sunday Club leader, Ruth Holmes, with her new puppet, Scruff, visited Dovebank and Thornton local primary schools at the beginning of November to deliver a Christian message about “The Purple Balloon”.

A gift pack from Cross Hills was given to each child containing a purple balloon and a short message to help them remember the story. The children really enjoyed the visit and Ruth and Bekki are looking forward to being able to visit again next year.

Shoebox Appeal Thank you to everyone who took part for their kindness and generosity.

We took 65 filled shoeboxes to South Charnwood School (the car looked rather like Santa’s sleigh on Christmas Eve!!) and these are now on their onward journey to deserving children in various countries. Please see the separate piece on page 26.

Christmas Carol Service, Saturday 22nd December 7.30pm Marwood Brass Band will be playing for us again and we are expecting Santa to make his usual visit (and hopefully bring some sweets with him to hand out to the children!) Mince Pies will be served with tea and coffee afterwards.

An offering will be taken during this Service, with half going to support the work of the Lawrence House Hinckley Homeless Project and half to support Marwood Brass Band.

Christmas Services The weeks running up to Christmas can be very busy and stressful, and even more so in financially uncertain times.

Tim Vine Specials I bought this DVD and in the extras it said ‘Deleted Scenes’.

When I had a look there was nothing there.

My mum takes things literally.

The other day I said I’d like a cup of tea. She said ‘Shall I make a pot?’ I said ‘Yes, please.’

And she was gone for half an hour trying to heat up the kiln.

I’ve got really painful fingers.

But that’s my fault for giving an Indian head massage to a hedgehog.

Markfield HomeMakers Markfield HomeMakers meet in the Congregational Hall, Main Street, Markfield, on the second Wednesday of the month at 8pm.

Call: Brenda on 01530 242173 or Iris on 01530 242436

Dec 12th ~ Christmas Party Jan 9th ~ Dinner

Why not take some time out from the shopping and hustle and bustle and come and share the real joy of the Season by celebrating the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who came into this world in very humble circumstances. At our 10.30am Service on Sunday 23rd December, the younger children of the Sunday Club will be presenting a Nativity and the older ones will be presenting Christmas poems. Children and members of the congregation will also be doing a puppet production.

On Christmas Day there will be a short informal service at 10.30am – if you have visitors or family staying with you over Christmas, why not bring them along with you! We are a very friendly church and look forward to meeting you all. A special offering will be taken on Christmas Day that will go to support the work of the Lawrence House Hinckley Homeless Project.

For full details of the dates and times of all our services please see the Church Service Information section in this magazine.

A very Happy Christmas to everyone and we look forward to seeing you.

Contact Numbers Pastor - Secretary - Treasurer - Parish Nurse -

Garry Kelly: 07816 616189 Lynda Kelly: 07910 440243 Glynis Straw: 01530 230272 Vera Harding: 01530 230557

Glynis Straw

Treasurer - on behalf of the Cross Hills Church family

The best birthdays of all are those that haven’t arrived yet.

23

The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite: Thursdays We now have SKY and ESPN Try our new menus!

See ad page 25 www.bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street.

T: 01530 230251 Open to Non-Members Sat 8th Dec: Auld Spyce 1950’s 1960’s Band - Followed By 1970’s 1980’s Disco - Fundraising Evening for Redgates Animal Sanctuary Sat 15th Dec: Retro Rockets - Classic To Modern Rock Covers Band Fri 21st Dec: Childrens Xmas Party Sat 22nd Dec: Phil’s New Band Wed 26th Dec: Boxing Day Teatime 5pm The Del Sharrons Sat 29th Dec: THORNTON’S GOT TALENT NIGHT! Prizes - Two Sections Under 16’s and 16’s And Over. Entries please to Karen - tel: 01530 230631.

New Years Eve: To Be Confirmed A big thank you from the club to everyone for supporting us.

We Also Have Bingo Every Tuesday Evening All Welcome. www.myspace.com/thorntonclub The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Tribute Nights/£2 Entry after 7pm.

Fri 7th Dec: ‘PHIL COLLINS’ Fri 14th Dec: ‘MICHAEL BUBLE & ROBBIE WILLIAMS’ Sat 15th Dec: ‘ABBA’ Fri 21st Dec: ‘MOTOWN & SOUL’ Sat 22nd Dec: ‘JULIA MARTIN’S WORLD FAMOUS PARTY NIGHT’ Mon 24th Dec: CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY NIGHT DISCO - 8pm12.30am - Free Entry Mon 31st Dec: 70’S GLAM NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY - starts 7:15pm - Tickets start from just £25.00 per person. Book early!

See ad on page 34.

The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights:Sats 15th December and 26th December with ‘King of the Road’.

See ad on page 14.

The Bulls Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Garden & Pub Games etc.

Mon 24th Dec: JOHN STACEY Guitarist/Vocalist Wed 26th Dec: MORRIS DANCERS - 12 noon onwards Mon 31st Dec: TRACKER TRACKS - playing a selection of his 20,000 vinyl records from the 50s, 60s and 70s.

The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield.

T: 01530 242 496 ALL SKY SPORTS & ESPN Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth.

Tel. 01530 230205 New members welcome.

Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each - last Friday of the month Sequence dances Sunday Nights. £1.00 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission.

Winter Indoor Car Boot - 1st Sunday of every month - 10am till 2pm - Tables £5 to book.

ASK ABOUT OUR FREE ROOM HIRE FOR THOSE SPECIAL FAMILY OCCASIONS. Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Fri 14th Dec: Mr+Mrs Sat 15th Dec: Steve Del Rio And The Deltas Sun 16th Dec: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 21st Dec: After Shock Sat 22nd Dec: Nya -whitney Houston Tribute Sun 23rd Dec: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Mon 24th Dec: Kellie Jens Fri 28th Dec: Elderly Brothers Sat 29th Dec: Crunch Sun 30th Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Mon 31st Dec: Steve Raffles And Zoe Snow Fri 4th Jan: Tba Sat 5th Jan: Finch And Young Sun 6th Jan: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 11th Jan: Tba Sat 12th Jan: Crackerjack Sun 13th Jan: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz

My cooking is so awesome, even the smoke alarm cheers me on.

24

Thornton Primary School Mega News Roundup!

Children in Need!

On Friday 16th November the student council decided that all pupils can dress as their favourite book character or in their pjyamas and bring a pound for charity.

We had a competition to design the best pjyamas for Pudsey Bear.

At the end of the school day we had a tuck shop in the hall and lots of people came. So we raised more money for charity.

We raised about £150 altogether.

Archie and Caitlin Year 5

World War II drama at Thornton Year 4 enjoyed a morning of drama in November with a workshop based around life during World War II. The children took on the role of parents during this time and thought about what it would be like to have their children evacuated.

They created several short dramas about the bomb sites and leaving their children at the train station. The children worked hard and were empathetic about the characters they were portraying. Well done year 4!

Harvest produce donated to young homeless people in Hinckley At Harvest Festival time, pupils thought about those in the local community who, at different times in their lives, don’t have enough food and found out about young people who are supported by the Hinckley Homeless Group and live at Lawrence House.

Lawrence House is a charitable organisation that is managed by Hinckley Homeless Group. It is a 12-bed medium stay supported project for homeless young people that provides accommodation for people of either gender between the ages of 16-25 years. The accommodation provides the privacy of individual rooms, with a range of communal facilities such as kitchens, bathrooms, toilets, laundry, lounge, television, pool table, games and books.

Staff are on duty 24 hours to give support, advice or just listen. Key skills are developed as follows with the aim to help young people move onto independent living: The harvest produce donated by the school is much appreciated as it means that the emergency food store can be stocked and fresh produce is used in cooking lessons, which have proved very successful in helping young people develop life skills.

Guy Fawkes Night Year 5 pupils found out about the historical events which led to Guy Fawkes Night being celebrated each year.

Children made their own ‘guys’ and organised a Bonfire Party which was held at Thornton Primary School.

Hinckley and Bosworth Council Children from Class 5 have been finding out about local democracy and some had the opportunity to visit the Council Chambers at Hinckley and Bosworth Council.

They took part in a debate and gained an insight into how the voting system works. Class 5 will be visiting The Houses of Parliament at the end of the month for a tour of the Palace of Westminster and to find out how new laws are passed.

Science Activity Key Stage 2 children at Thornton Primary School took part in a science day, which involved making and testing Band Rollers.

Year 3 meet the Romans Class 3 went on a day trip to the Jewry Wall Museum in Leicester.

We had a fantastic time meeting Roman soldiers and having a go ourselves. We also played Roman games, tried out Roman clothes and held real Roman artefacts.

Diwali at Thornton Year 2 enjoyed a trip to the Golden Mile in Leicester to see the Diwali celebrations.

On return to school they enjoyed dressing up in Indian clothes, making Diva mobiles and Rangoli patterns.

A bunch of my friends are coming over tonight to play on their phones.

25 Monday 17th December at 7pm Christmas starts with Christ! Leicester Diocese, BBC Radio Leicester and Churches Together in Leicestershire have partnered together to produce this hour long sing-along carol service. The service features a range of carols (played by a brass band, live from St Martin’s House in Leicester), a reflection on the message and meaning of Christmas from Bishop Tim and Bible readings read by a range of well-known local celebrities.

NEW YEAR’S EVE T.O.W.I.T

Ben, Jan & Staff

Would like to wish their customers a Very Merry Christmas & Happy New Year.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CUSTOM

Groups of Christians tune into BBC Radio Leicester live broadcast in their local pubs, nursing homes, sports clubs or anywhere where they gather.

Further information, including a list of venues and downloadable orders of the service and carol sheets, can be found at www.singchristmas.org.uk

Venues include The Bricklayers Arms, Thornton

A very successful Dog Walk!

‘Thank you’ from Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary A big ‘Thank You’ to all the supporters of the recent Redgate Sponsored Dog Walk.

The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street, Thornton Tel: 01530 230808 www.bricklayersarms.net

Wednesday is

“STEAK NIGHT”

Thirty six wonderful people, and their generous sponsors, raised over £900 for Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary when they turned out on a crisp autumn Sunday to walk their dogs in support of the local animal charity. It was a great day out and luckily the weather remained very kind. Trustee Kristina Linnell really enjoyed marshalling and leading One of the dogs in particular enjoyed the walk, while Redgate staff and a well-earned cup of vegetable soup volunteers kept on top of the neverat the end of the walk ! ending daily duties. We hosted many different breeds, who all got on really well together without any animosity between dogs: Labradors, Staffies, Greyhounds, Collies, Rottweilers, Shar Peis, Jack Russells and many more. It was particularly nice to see some of our Redgate re-homed dogs take part, including Rosie, (aka Nippy), Mia, a little Staffy, and Pasha, a SharPei cross.

Well done to everyone who completed the six and a half mile route around Bardon and Stanton, raising much-needed funds for the sanctuary.

Everyone seemed to enjoy the morning, (we have received some lovely emails from participants) and also the simple lunch which followed. We hope the event will grow in popularity each year. Keep an eye on the ‘Herald’ and the ‘Spotlight’ where we advertise our events and activities!

If YOU could help us fund-raise, or if you could re-home a Redgate dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig (or occasionally a ferret or bird), please come to visit us. We are open every day from 10am – 4pm. http://redgatefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk/ Tel: 01530 243 925

Carol services in Hinckley and Groby HINCKLEY and Bosworth’s civic carol service will take place on Sunday 9 December at St Mary’s Church in Hinckley (LE10 1DW).

The carol service is a great way to start the festive season and everyone is warmly invited to join the Mayor, Councillor Martin Cartwright, and other civic guests at this very special annual event.

The service will be led by Rev John Whittaker and the choir from St Mary’s C of E Primary School will be performing popular carols. Guests are asked to be seated for 5.45pm, and the service will start at 6pm.

• People are also welcome to attend the Mayoral Carol Service to be held at St Philip and St James Church, Groby (LE6 0FL) on the morning of Sunday 9 December. The service starts at 9.30am and people need to be seated by 9.15am.

2 Steaks, With Hand-Cut Chips, Peas, Tomato, Mushrooms & Two Glasses of House Wine - £18.95

Traditional Sunday Lunch 1 Course - £8.00 2 Courses - £10.00 3 Courses - £12.00

With personal service to your table

Home-Made Pie Night - Tuesdays - £5.95 Lunches & Snacks: Tues-Sun Eves (Tues-Sat): ‘A La Carte’ or Snacks • Weekend Specials A Welcoming Homely Atmosphere, Garden & Great Food!

Markfield Rangers Update The first team began the defence of the William Davis Trophy with a 2-1 win after extra time away to Mountsorrel. Paul Pallett, adding to his earlier effort, scored a late penalty in extra time to send the holders through.

They then continued their fine league form with a 3-0 home win against Hathern (Pallett, Rousseau and Eames).

Hathern would get their revenge when they beat the Rangers 3-1 (Pallett) the following week. The first team finished the month with an impressive 8-0 win at home to Burton in the William Davis Trophy (Clayton, Brown, Quilter 2, Pallett 2, J Richardson and an own goal).

November brought around a goal fest as the Rangers yet again defeated Sileby 5-1 (Pallett 2, Cooper, Eames and Quilter) in the County Cup before repeating the score line away to Burton (Bates 2, Rousseau 2 and Brown).

The month ended disappointingly however with a shock defeat on penalties to Shepshed United after drawing 5-5 (Clayton, Fletcher, Brown, Quilter and Bates).

Plenty of goals in October for the Reserves as they briefly moved up to 2nd in the league. The month started with a 4-3 (Chappell 2, Moore and Smith) win away to The Plough before a 5-4 (Lowe 4 and J McGregor) victory away to Beaumont Town in the County Cup. The Reserves had battled back from 4-0 down at half time and even missed a penalty!

They followed that up with a 2-1 (Ryland and Sanders) home win against Cropston before bowing out of the S&L Trophy 5-0 to FC Charnwood after fielding a much changed side. They then ended the month with a 3-1 win against Birstall Social Talls.

November brought mixed fortunes for the Reserves as they advanced in the County Cup after a 3-2 (Smith 2 and Ryland) win away at Wigston before back to back defeats in the league to Ashby Rovers 3-2 (Smith and Sanders) and Thringstone 4-0.

Tom Flowitt Chairman

Never ask for directions from a starfish.

26

County Councillor’s Report from David Sprason Your County Councillor and family wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

May I once again take this opportunity to request that should you have an elderly or vulnerable neighbour living on their own over this festive period could you please consider them, they need your kindness and support.

So it is again the time of year when I reflect on the previous year and look at what has been achieved.

Well the County Council managed to maintain its high level of services despite the reduction in Government funding and the growing demographics pressures.

We have managed to introduce the £10 million ‘Lend A Hand’ mortgage scheme helping first time buyers on to the property market The County Councils Care teams were again recognised as one of the best in the country and continued to increase the number of older people helped to live in their own homes 24/7. They have also increased support for carers and helped more people to live independently through personal budgets and supported living.

We have also seen a number of challenges as our local schools go through academy transformation and become more independent.

School transport continues to cause concern with the rules on distance being more rigorously enforced. Youth services have also changed to a more targeted service

dealing with young people at risk of offending (Youth Offending Teams) and diverting them from anti-social behaviour. (Youth Impact Teams) Locally we have managed to have a number of improvements for the area completed from highway and footway improvements and the continued much needed financial support to the most vulnerable. Next year we will see the road safety and speed reductions schemes completed at Field Head, Desford and Bagworth. A number of Grants given to various local groups and projects across the area have again been secured and appreciated by them. The introduction of the new initiatives of Community Budgets and Big Society Grants has been implemented and are beginning to assist local community projects including the much needed Markfield Skate Park.

We have seen a number of extra improvements locally with the new extension to the Community Centre at Bagworth being well used and the Big Lottery Bid being approved which enables the project to be completed, the new young peoples play areas are a success, the increased access for local residents and young people to local facilities and more community facilities being developed next year. My annual report can be accessed on the County Council website using the following address; http://politics.leics.gov. uk/documents/s56035/

Annual%20Report%20201011.pdf The difficult decision on council tax has been made over the past few years but still enables the County Council to meet the statutory duties as set by Central Government. We have also been making efficiency savings year on year and will continue to do so.

As your County Councillor I am committed to maintaining a freeze on council tax that benefits all the population of Leicestershire.

So what will the new year bring, well we will see some of the work and improvements for the area completed in 2013 which again will improve our local area. The future is again going to be a greater challenge to maintain our current services as budgets are squeezed and Government funding reduces.

As in previous years the settlement we will receive from Government will not meet increased demand, the County Council will however try to meet the shortfall with more efficiency savings, service charges and looking how to reconfigure some services.

We will see the Health & Wellbeing Board agenda being implemented and we will promote investing more NHS funding into preventative health and social care. We will work with the HNS to assist them in improving to be once again the envy of the world.

The strategy being consulted on will concentrate on moving resources out of the current illness service to a more positive wellness service

SHOEBOX APPEAL

WOW – YOU’RE AMAZING!!

We have been overwhelmed by everyone’s kindness this year, particularly with the tough financial climate in our country at the moment.

We were hoping this year (but not really expecting) that we might receive somewhere close to the 44 filled boxes we had in 2011, but not only have you surpassed this, IT’S A RECORD! You’ve beaten our previous record years of 2005 and 2010 (when we received 62 boxes) as this year’s final number was 65 boxes! WHAT AN ACHIEVEMENT – but we couldn’t have done it without the wonderful publicity from The Herald and The Link church magazine and the help from the Thornton Corner Shop and Stanton Post Office and Stores for agreeing to have the shoebox leaflets available there for people to pick up.

By the time you are reading this, the shoeboxes will have been picked up from South Charnwood School and be on their way to needy children.

A VERY BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED THIS YEAR – it’s not about numbers and breaking records, etc but it does mean that even more children in war torn and poverty stricken countries can experience “love in a box” this Christmas.

Thank you so much everyone for all your kindness.

Glynis and David Straw On behalf of Cross Hills Baptist Church

and ensuring it is delivered more efficiently closer to home.

We will also continue to lobby Central Government and continue with our ‘Fair Share Campaign’. We need a sensible grant settlement from government that meets the needs of a growing elderly population and the needs of the people of Leicestershire. Despite these pressures I can say that the County Council will still continue to provide support to those most at need and deliver the most efficient and effective services possible throughout 2013.

I would also like to thank all those people, our MP David Tredinnick the Borough Councillors, Sue, Matthew, Ozzy, Brian, Paul, Ruth and the Parish Councils who have given me their support and assistance over the last year; I will continue to try to represent you all to the best of my abilities in 2013 and continue to try and get our fair share of tax back which will actually enhance and benefit our local area.

May Sue and I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

David

GLENFIELD HOSPITAL

COULD YOU SPARE 2 HOURS ON A SUNDAY MORNING ONCE A MONTH? Every Sunday morning at 10.30 there is a Church service in Glenfield Hospital for any patients and staff who would like to attend.

The services can only run through the help of volunteers who collect the patients from the wards usually in wheelchairs and bring them down to the room where the service is held.

We urgently need more volunteers.

Most of the volunteers help one Sunday each month, some do more, some do less – everything helps.

If you would like to find out more information, please give me a call or ring the chaplaincy department at Glenfield Hospital.

Many thanks

Kerry Sharpe

Tel: 01530 243445 or mobile 07979 607099

My brain is giving me the silent treatment today.

27

All makes & models servicing & M.O.T

1 - price 2 �

M.O.T

On production of this voucher. Only one per person. Photocopies not allowed.

Sturgess reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Offer ends 31/12/12.

£89 From

Servicing

�

.95

On production of this voucher. Only one per person. Photocopies not allowed.

Sturgess reserve the right to withdraw this offer at any time. Offer ends 31/12/12.

Sturgess of Leicester

New name, same family values.

Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BP

Tel: 0116 366 0221 www.sturgessgroup.com

A lorry-load of tortoises crashed into a train-load of terrapins. It was a turtle disaster.

28

It doesn’t take much to make a woman happy. However, it takes even less to make her mad.

29

Thinking of Chernobyl

Look What’s On At The Palace, Ibstock 57 High Street, Ibstock, Leics. LE67 6LH • Tel: 01530 267303

~ Forthcoming Events ~

A group of children from Belarus who visit the county each summer for vital respite from the on-going effects of the Chernobyl disaster will be in the thoughts of local families as Christmas approaches.

The youngsters (age 8-12yrs) all live in the Mogilev region of Belarus and come from families who find it difficult to cope with the harsh conditions that prevail in their homeland as a legacy of the 1986 nuclear disaster.

Since 2009, Friends of Chernobyl’s Children (West Leics) have been bringing needy kids to the county for month long recuperative holidays designed to give the children a break from their toxic environment and give them the opportunity to enjoy doing the normal things that are an essential part of childhood.

Charity spokesperson Sue Platts who visited the children in Mogilev this March explained “Although some of the children on the program come from very loving homes, some of them live in difficult family circumstances and often do not get the love and care that they require at home”.

“In a country that experiences sub-zero temperatures for a third of the year and has between 75-125 days of snowfall annually, the tiny wooden homes that some of the children live in provide few creature comforts. These houses are poorly insulated and have no running water or indoor bathroom facilities and it is not unusual for several generations of one family to be living in just two small rooms”.

“I visited families where there was not a scrap of food in the home and it was a very humbling experience to see how desperate their lives are in comparison to our own. At a time when we have plenty, my own thoughts this Christmas will be with the people who welcomed me into their homes and shared what little they had with me. The work the charity does to support these families is a real lifeline and we are truly grateful to everyone that helps us to deliver this essential aid”.

For more information on the charity, please contact Group Coordinator John Buckby on 01455 285799, e-mail john.evolution@btinternet.com or you can visit www.focc.org.uk.

Friday, 7th December - Ibstock Christmas Festival - Our special Christmas V.I.P., Santa, will be taking up residence, from 3.30pm until 4.30pm, in The Palace Community Centre Grotto. Santa and his helpers will take a ride around the village from 6.45 pm to arrive at The Palace at 7.00 pm. Ibstock Scout Band will perform outside The Palace, where a small section of the High Street will be temporarily closed from 6.45pm until 9.30pm for the festivities. The evening will feature a display by the amazing, authentic Chinese Lion Dancers. Santa will be back in his grotto at The Palace between 7.00pm and 9.00pm, where mulled wine and seasonal refreshments, plus licensed bar, will be available. There will be music from Ibstock Brick Brass Band and Ibstock Community Choir and there will be fairground attractions, children’s rides and stalls behind the Palace and on the High Street. Plus a special ‘Nativity’ scene with live animals. The evening will conclude with a grand firework finale.

Saturday, 8th December – Christmas Community Morning - with various stall between 10.0am and Midday Saturday 8th December - Palace Christmas Social Dance – A very popular evening of Ballroom, Latin, and Sequence with Eddie ‘The Collector’, (D J and host). Doors/box office/bar open at 7.00pm. Dancing from 7.30pm ‘till 11.00pm.Tickets: £5.00 from Halls, High Street, Ibstock, Tel: 01530 260460.

Friday, 14th December – Charity Organ Concert. Tickets: £6.00 from Halls, Ibstock, Tel: 01530 260460 or Mr Martin, Tel: 01455 290145 or Mr Lines, Tel: 01530 457274.

Sunday, 16th December – The Northumberland Theatre Company present Carol Ann Duffy’s acclaimed adaptation of ‘Grimm Tales’ by the Brothers Grimm. A collection of forgotten

fairy tales for a winter’s night!

Dark and spooky stories which make ideal seasonal entertainment for family audiences, with lots of music, scary moments and plenty of fun. A combination of familiar and unfamiliar stories, this is imaginative storytelling at its best. Starts at 6.00pm. Tickets: £8.00, concessions £6.00, Combination ticket (1 Adult & 2 concessions) £16.00 From Halls, Ibstock, Tel: 01530 260460.

Friday, 21st December – The Palace Christmas Film Night – ‘Salmon Fishing in the Yemen’ (12A). A fisheries expert is approached by a consultant to help realize a sheik’s vision of bringing the sport of flyfishing to the desert and embarks on an upstream journey of faith and fish to prove the impossible possible.

Doors, Box Office and Licensed Bar open at 7.00pm. Films start at 7.30pm. Tickets: £4.00/£3.00 from Halls, High Street, 01530 260460.

Monday, 31st December – The Palace New Years Eve Party – See in 2013 in style with the fabulous John Robson ‘Roadshow Disco’ plus Richard Parker, first class, professional compere, comedian, singer and all round entertainer. Party starts at 8.00pm. Tickets: £20.00, under 16’s £15.00 including buffet.

Bar and doors open 7.30pm. Tickets available from Halls, High St, Ibstock Tel:01530 260460.

Exactly the gift you wanted? – no wonder An increasing number of us are buying our own birthday and Christmas gifts – to ensure we get what we want.

The average amount we are self-gifting is nearly £280 a year. The amount we are spending on gifts for others is decreasing.

Barclaycard, who commissioned the research, found that nearly one in four of us do not trust our friends and families to give us what we really want, and so we prefer to spend our money buying it ourselves.

Tim Vine Specials A friend of mine and his wife got caught in the housing trap. I feel a bit guilty about setting it but I wasn’t expecting visitors.

This bloke said to me ‘Do you want to use my ice rink for 10p?’

I thought ‘What a cheap skate.’

I eat cake because it’s somebody’s birthday somewhere.

30

Extracts from Stanton under Bardon Parish Council Minutes The following topics were among the items discussed at the meeting of Stanton-under-Bardon Parish Council, held on Tuesday 31st October 2012 at The Youth Club, Stanton under Bardon.

Please note that this information is based upon the unapproved minutes, and may be subject to alteration or correction.

Bottom Allotments - Another Community Police meeting to be held shortly. The Comments area has now been ploughed and There have been two thefts of some work to be done on the number plates in Everards Way. boundaries and a Pathway needs to be completed.

County Councillor’s Street Lighting - The Clerk Report confirmed that the part night The Primary School and South lighting was as follows: Charnwood High School are BST: Off 1am and On 6.30am looking to convert to Academies GMT: Off 12 Midnight and On 5.30am

by September 2015. The age range A request has been received from will then change from 4-11 years at a Mr A Smith asking if the Council the Primary School. can request that some lights in Further work is expected to be Everards Way could be left on due done on the A511 further details to to a recent theft that has took place follow. there. Clerk to write to the Street Lighting department to make this Questions To The Chair request.

It was asked if better signs could be provided for the Village like the Next Parish Meeting ones Markfield have.

The next meeting of Stanton under Bardon Parish Council is to Parish Properties be held on Tuesday 11th December School Zig Zag - The Council 2012 at 7.00pm at Stanton Youth would like to request that the Zig Club, Main Street, Stanton under Zag Lines be put both sides of the Bardon, Leicestershire. road outside the school.

Christingles Christmas Eve Monday 24th December St Michael’s, Markfield at 6.00 pm St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon at 4.00 pm St Peter’s, Thornton at 4.00 pm Christingle Events are suitable for all the family and all are welcome.

Oranges and all the bits will be provided for children to make and take home at the end

Grants for new public paths Grants for the creation of new bridleways or footpaths – to attract visitors and improve local facilities - are on offer to communities, organisations and rural businesses.

Natural England’s £2 million ‘Paths for Communities’ scheme is now being highlighted by the Leicestershire Local Access Forum.

Farm shop-cafes or rural visitor venues could create walks as addedattractions; riding centres might gain more bridleways by getting footpaths upgraded; and villages could pursue new routes to make the local path network better connected and more attractive.

The scheme is for rural locations which means places with less than 10,000 population. Natural England has local grant officers to help partnerships with applications. Full details are on the web at: www.naturalengland.org.uk/p4c

St Peters Church Copt Oak

Christmas Musical Entertainment with Seranata Saturday 8th December - 7.30pm Tickets £5 - to include mulled wine and mince pies.

To book contact Sue Gammon on 244229 or Ted Pepper on 249101

‘O Sing Joyfully’

A Concert of popular choral music performed by

 8ctave Britain’s only fully Ordained Vocal Ensemble (and all from the Diocese of Leicester)

Conductor - Simon Lumby Jeremy Kimber - Organ

Saturday 24th November 2012 Emmanuel Church, Loughborough It’s a ten minute walk from my house to the pub. Weirdly, it’s a two hour walk from the pub to my house. at 7.30pm

31

National Catholic Young Writers’ Award for The Convent Mrs Joanna Bogle, journalist and broadcaster and one of the Judges of the National Catholic Young Writers competition joined with pupils, parents, governors and staff at Our Lady’s Convent School, Loughborough, to celebrate the achievement of twins Cara and Iona McNeill in winning this competition.

To celebrate this excellent achievement the School hosted a special celebration assembly in the School’s Pugin style 19th Century Chapel. Parents and family members of the winners and eight runners up were invited to join in congratulating the girls for their submissions.

In judging the competition Mrs Bogle said, “The standard of entries was high however there were two entries which stood out from the rest. Each entry is judged on its merit and no notice is taken of the author’s name or school until a decision has been made. In the end the panel decided there was

TWIN SUCCESS: Iona and Cara McNeill with Mrs Joanna Bogle and Mrs Hawley, Headteacher. (Photo taken by: Alexa Derbyshire) nothing to separate the two entries so decided to award a joint winner, it was at this point we realised that the winning articles had been submitted by twins, Cara and Iona McNeill, from Our Lady’s Convent School.”

Cara and Iona received a £50 cash prize, books and a shield to display at home. Each of the eight runners up received a certificate and decorative, Olive wood cruciform necklace.

More older people as county population rises The population of Leicestershire has grown by 41,000 over the last 11 years, with a rise in people living in rural areas, the county council has revealed.

Leicestershire County Council has analysed the results of the recent census, which shows that 650,500 people currently live in the county.

The key facts are as follows: • The ward with the largest population increase is Bardon in North West Leicestershire, up by 52 per cent

•

•

•

•

The ward with the largest population decrease is Wigston Meadowcourt, Oadby and Wigston, down by eight per cent The number of people aged 60 and above increased in all but three out of 133 council wards The largest increase in population is in rural areas, which have grown by 10 per cent, or 8,300 people The population of urban areas has grown by six per cent, or 7,200 people

County council leader Nick Rushton said: The latest census information will help us to shape our services for the future.

It shows that we have an increasingly ageing population and a growth in people living in rural areas, both of which will create challenges and pressures on our services.”

For further details, see www. lsr-online.org/reports/indices_of_ deprivation_2010_leicestershire_ headline_results

If my memory gets any worse I’ll be able to plan my own surprise party.

32 Markfield Congregational Church Sunday 16th December 10.15am.

Sunday Club present their version of the Nativity in our Church

Church Services

Sunday 23rd December 10.15am. A Service of Lessons and Carols

Monday 24th December 11.15pm Christmas Eve Communion Service

Tuesday 25th December 10.15am Christmas Day short Family Service

Tuesday 25th December 10.30am Christmas Morning Service

Sunday 30th December 10.30am.

Churches Together United Service at Trinity Methodist Church

Sunday 30th December 10.30am Churches Together United Service at Methodist Church 6.00pm No Evening Service

Sunday 6th January 10.15am.

Morning Worship Sunday 13th January 10.15am.

Morning Worship followed by Communion Sunday 20th January 10.30am Churches Together United Service in St Michael’s Parish Church

Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton Sunday 9th December 10.45am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper Sunday 16th December 10.30am Morning Service Saturday 22nd December 7.30pm Carol Service with Marwood Brass Band Sunday 23rd December 10.30am Family Service The Sunday Club will be presenting a Nativity and Christmas Poems and there will be a Puppet Production Christmas Day, Tuesday 25th December 10.30am Short informal Service to celebrate The Lord’s birthday Bring your favourite Christmas present, if it’s portable!

Sunday 30th December 10.30am Morning Service

Sunday 6th January - Epiphany 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm Evening Taizé Service Sunday 13th January 10.30am Morning Covenant Service 4.00pm Café Church Service Sunday 20th January 10.30am Churches Together United Service at Parish Church 6.00pm Evening Communion Service Sunday 27th January 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Service

Without Walls Christian Fellowship, 135 Main St Stanton Under Bardon Sunday 9th December Church meeting at later time of 11am with a screening of ‘Disney’s Christmas carol’ at 12.30 pm All welcome, no charge Monday 10th Coffee morning at 10am Prayer meeting at 7pm Wednesday 12th Pure Gold drop in for over 50’s Evening Church family meal, please call for details 07875378628 Sunday 16th Meeting at 10 am Sunday 23rd No morning meeting, Carols by candlelight at 4 pm with special visitor for kids Sunday 30th no meeting at church building as church in community day

Sunday 30th December 10.30 am Single Service Holy Communion Tuesday 25th December 10.30 am Holy Communion Christmas Day at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 30th December 6.00 pm Joint Evening Prayer Sunday 6th January 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 13th January 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 20th January 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield Service 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 27th January 8.00 am Holy Communion 6.00 pm Evening Service

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 9th December 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 16th December 6.00 pm Carol Service Sunday 23rd December 10.30 am Single Service Holy Communion Christmas Eve 4.00 pm Christingle

Jan 6th meeting at 10am

Sunday 13th January 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper

St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield

Sunday 30th December 10.30 am Single Service Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Thornton

There is a Sunday Club in our hall for children & young people during the Morning Service. For further details, our contact list is in the Cross Hills News section in this magazine.

10:15-11.30am Sunday Club for Children in the Congregational Hall on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays, term time.

All Age Service in Church on the 2nd Sunday each month.

Sunday 6th January 10.30 am Morning Service

Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield Sunday 9th December 10.30am Morning Service 4.00pm Café Church Christingle Service Sunday 16th December 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm Evening Service Sunday 23rd December 10.30am Morning Communion Service 6.00pm Evening Carol Service

Sunday 9th December 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 16th December 10.30 am Nativity Service at the Congregational Church 6.00 pm Carol Service

Christmas Eve 4.00 pm Christingle 11.30 pm Midnight Holy Communion Christmas Day 10.30 am Christmas Day Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon

Christmas Day 10.30 am Christmas Day Holy Communion

Sunday 6th January 10.30am Morning Service

Sunday 23rd December 10.30 am Single Service Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon

Sunday 13th January 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 20th January 10.30 am “Something Different” Service Sunday 27th January 10.30 am Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Thornton

Sunday 23rd December 8.00 am Holy Communion

Sunday 9th December 10.30 am Holy Communion

Monday 24th December 6.00 pm Christingle Christmas Eve 11.30 pm Midnight Communion

Sunday 16th December 9.00 am Holy Communion 6.00 pm Carol Service

Sunday 6th January 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 13th January 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 20th January 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 27th January 10.30 am All Age Service

Holy Rood Church, Bagworth Please note: Services will be at Bagworth Community Centre Saturday 22nd December 4.00 pm Messy Christingle Sunday 6th January 9.00 am Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Sunday 9th December 9.15 am Holy Communion Sunday 16th December 3.00 pm Praise Service Sunday 23rd December 6.00 pm Carol Service Christmas Eve 9.00 pm Christmas Holy Communion Christmas Day 10.30 am Christmas Day Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 30th December 6.00 pm Joint Evening Prayer at St Michael’s, Markfield Sunday 6th January 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 13th January 9.15 am Holy Communion Sunday 20th January 3.00 pm Praise Service Sunday 27th January 6.00 pm Holy Communion

St Wilfrid’s RC Church, London Road, Coalville Christmas Eve 6.00pm Mass 9.30pm Mass Carols before both of these Masses Christmas Day 10.00am Mass

I’m the type of person who gains weight just by LOOKING at the pie that I’m finishing.

33 Letter from Uncle Eustace

How’s Mary’s Factory Getting On?

Why church planting only causes trouble

Mary’s Bottom Line

The Rectory St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren Thank you for coming to talk to our church council about your New Year’s programme for church planting. (Though I wonder: why should a new year have to have new ideas?

We haven’t yet used the ideas we had last year.) Anyway, you may have been interested to hear the discussions on the subject after you left early to get your bicycle chain mended. A few folk thought that, in urging us to do some church planting, you were making veiled attacks on our flower arrangers. Others were disappointed you didn’t say whether yew or holly would be better for planting in the churchyard.

I must admit, I learned some new facts. I had always thought that the point in sending parishioners to start a new church in another area was simply a way of getting rid of those you found tiresome in your own congregation – even if that would mean I would feel obliged to suggest a good half of our people may find a new vocation.

We did in fact attempt something similar many years ago with a colleague from a neighbouring village. A moment of inattention on my part allowed someone to be elected on to our church council who had ideas for change. As a way of energising church life, he suggested a group from our congregation should be exchanged with an equal number from a neighbouring village. Naturally, I made sure the people sent from our church were the ones I would be greatly relieved to see take an extended holiday. Unfortunately, my clerical colleague had the same idea. After a disastrous three months, we decided to swap back. It was rather like the exchange of spies in a Le Carre novel: both parties stood at either end of the bridge across the stream marking our parish boundaries and wanly welcomed our own parishioners back. Better the devil you know...

Church planting may be all very well for you, when you are surrounded by thousands of people and there are a surfeit of vacant cinemas and pubs to move into. My congregation is very reluctant to say their prayers in anything built after the Middle Ages – in fact, most of them live as though we are still living in that era. They also see little point in striking up conversations with those in the village they have politely ignored for the last thirty years.

We do, in fact, have a church plant of sorts. Every year we hold our Harvest Supper in a local farmer’s barn, and those who would otherwise never attend worship come to eat the obligatory hot pot. As I shake their hands when they leave, I do my annual bit for church growth. I say warmly: ‘See you again next year.’ As I always do (see them again at the Harvest Supper, that is), and it works fine.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

A year ago, Mary Portas launched her most ambitious and challenging project to date - to help reignite the UK’s clothing industry by starting her own production line, manufacturing British knickers.

In this brand new episode, with Spring/Summer knicker sales going through the roof and Autumn/Winter pre-orders exceeding expectations, Mary’s dream to bring clothing manufacturing back to Britain could soon be a reality.

As Mary and the factory work flat out to design and deliver orders for the all important Christmas market, Mary sees how other parts of the British textile industry can be transformed with the help of British-based manufacturing. The once faltering stretch lace industry has been given a huge boost by the Kinky Knickers brand and in an about turn a lace Christmas Evedelivered to loom that was destined for foreign production is instead, Nottingham.

Monday 24th December Back at the factory with supervisors Lynne, Myra and Jackie overseeing training and quality control, the trainees tell Mary how the benefits of a steady job and regularSt payMichael’s, packet have changed their at lives.

Markfield 6.00 pm Mary believes that if the UK started making clothes again, consumers St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon at would be prepared to pay a little extra, safe in the knowledge that4.00 the pm clothes are produced ethically and that they are helping to create jobs St Peter’s, Thornton at 4.00 pm and boost the British manufacturing industry. Determined to expand the brand and create more opportunities for jobs and manufacturing Mary is Christingle Events are suitable developing another all-British made product and roadtests her anti-cellulite all theon family and allofare welcome. knickerfor prototype the bottoms a group of factory workers from a local biscuit-making factory.

Oranges and all the bits will be provided With the nine to month funding coming to anat end and the trainees for initial children make and take home the end about to graduate, has the factory done enough to stand on its own two feet? Determined more than ever to make her knicker project last, can Mary really sustain a successful business for future generations?

(Broadcasting 27th December on Channel 4)

Christingles

For all the family Saturday 22nd December Bagworth Community Centre 4.00-5.30pm

a

Churches Together in Markfield

Children of all ages - get a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or neighbour to bring you

There will be lots of things to

initiative

... is an opportunity to relax, find peace within ourselves and 'reflect' on our place in the world. It will offer creative suggestions for reading, thinking and exploring prayer.

Trinity Methodist Church - 6-7pm

Refreshments provided including Mulled wine, fruit drinks and mince pies

Wednesdays 16th January, 13th February, 13th March, 17th April, 15th May

Children must be accompanied by an adult

Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want. No intrusive questions, though people will be around if you need to talk or pray with someone. Refreshments will be available. All are welcome.

Organised by Holy Rood Church and the Benefice of Markfield, Thornton, Bagworth, Stanton under Bardon and Copt Oak

Further information: Karen (249829) or Rosemary (242844)

Your secrets are safe with me, I wasn’t even listening to you.

34

Christmas Activities Wordsearch find 12 things we enjoy doing at Christmas in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink.

Christmas

This month we are offering a TASTY prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

S F T A Q D U W B B Z W I H W M O

T T P R N S A E M M I H C C E H P

A D N U E D X A V I O U Y E B C E

H S J E I E O I E Q M F I F S R N

R V E U S O D F J O B N W E L U I

E W R M U E F E O N G A N B M H N

EATINGTOOMUCH GOINGTOCHURCH MEEINGTHEFAMILY OPENINGPRESENTS PLAYINGGAMES SENDINGCARDS SINGINGCAROLS SITTINGBYTHEFIRE TREEDECORATING WATCHINGTV WEARINGPAPERHATS WRAPPINGPRESENTS

P W A A A V R T C T G D Z O B C G

A H U T B G G P H O I G U Z C O P

P G T F C N G E G N R G X D Q T R

G T H N I H F N G N K A B Y H G E

N K C T C A I C I A I D T L X N S

I S A W M F A N V Y W P R I C I E

R E K I L R F W G E A B P A N O N

A W L F D J C X L T X L L A G G T

E Y F S D B B S R A V G P M R H S

W S I N G I N G C A R O L S V W X

E R I F E H T Y B G N I T T I S A

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through 12 enjoyable Christmas activites These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

Send your entry to: YULETIDE PLEASURES, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Friday 28th December 2012.

Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Santa Cap will win the Meal for Two at The Field Head Hotel. Good luck!

Here are the 12 activities you have to find: EATING TOO MUCH • GOING TO CHURCH • MEETING THE FAMILY OPENING PRESENTS • PLAYING GAMES • SENDING CARDS SINGING CAROLS • SITTING BY THE FIRE • TREE DECORATING WATCHING TV • WEARING PAPER HATS • WRAPPING PRESENTS Name: ...................................................................................................

Address: ............................................................................................. ........................................................................................................... ................................................................ Postcode: .............................

Last issue’s Wordsearch winner!

Mrs Merle Moran of Ratby Lane, Markfield

Congratulations! Your Meal & Wine Voucher to spend at the F ield Head Hotel will be sent to you in the next 21 days.

BOOK SPOT Solar Revolution: Why Mankind Is on the Cusp of an Evolutionary Leap

By Dieter Broers Does the sun have the power to transform humankind?

In Solar Revolution, German biophysicist Dieter Broers makes a compelling case, pointing to a wealth of scientific evidence that shows a remarkable correlation between increases in solar activity and advances in our creative, mental, and spiritual abilities.

We are in the midst of a dramatic rise in solar disturbances, which have the ability to affect Earth in alarming ways, disrupting the geomagnetic field, knocking out entire power grids, and influencing the development of organisms and the ecology as a whole. Remarkably, solar activity is predicted to peak toward the end of 2012—the same time the Mayans predicted the end of days.

But Broers—who has for decades been studying the effect of electromagnetic fields on biological systems—sees the coming shift not as an apocalypse, but as the dawn of a new age. Drawing on research from a variety of scientific disciplines, Broers shows how this eruption of solar activity is a positive thing for humanity, that it is boosting our brain capacity and expanding our minds in ways we never imagined possible. Abilities now seen as extraordinary or supernatural—such as telepathy, extrasensory perception, and off-the-charts intelligence quotients—will become ordinary and natural ... and may very well help us solve the mounting global crises we’re now facing.

Without a doubt, the way we think, feel, relate, communicate, and experience reality has been changing dramatically in recent years, and Broers affirms those changes will ultimately culminate in a new form of consciousness and harmony on Earth. Humankind is going through an evolutionary leap, says Broers, and the process has already begun.

AMAZON PRICE: £12.74 (paperback)

Created Puzzlemaker at Thursdays DiscoveryEducation.com I hate Mondays,by Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and half of Friday.

35

NEW RANGES AVAILABLE

A YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US FOR A SCREENING OF DISNEY’S ‘A CHRISTMAS CAROL’ ON SUNDAY 9TH DECEMBER WE WILL BE HAVING A SHORT CHURCH MEETING AT 11AM FOLLOWED BY A LIGHT LUNCH

WOW Christian

MOVIE at

Fellowship 135 main St. Stanton

12.30pm

07875378628

THEN THE BIG

My doctor says he thinks I’m having a mid-life crisis. I was so surprised I nearly fell off my skateboard.

WE BUY ALL TYPES OF FERROUS/ NON FERROUS METALS

KEITH SMITH (ANSTEY) LTD

6 STADON ROAD ANSTEY LE7 7AY - TEL: 0116 2362395 - sales@keithsmithltd.co.uk

WINTER SALE NOW ON ZANUSSI

HOOVER

ZDC37200W

OPH716DF

Save

Washing Machine 1600rpm Spin Speed 7kg Load Capacity 29min Quick Wash 14 Programmes A+AB Rated Now Only

£50

£299 .99

Save

30

HOTPOINT

Now Only

60

Save

£329 .99

£239 .99

WAB28061GB

Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 7kg Load Capacity Time Delay Quick Wash A++AB Rated Save

Now Only

BOSCH

WMEF742P

Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 5.5Kg Load Capacity 29min Quick Wash 15 Programmes A+AB Rated Save

60

Now Only

£299 .99

BOSCH

ZANUSSI

SMS58T02GB

ZWG1120M

Dishwasher 14 Place Settings 5 Programmes Time Delay Noise Level 48db A+AA Rated

Washing Machine 1200rpm Spin Speed 6kg Load Capacity AAB Rated Time Delay Fast Wash

50

Now Only

“Wishing all our Customers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year” From all the Staff at Keith Smith (Anstey) Ltd

£399 .99 Free Professional Installation (worth £29.99)**

Free Removal of Old Appliance (worth £14.00)

Free Removal of Packaging **To Existing Fittings

Save

0

Now Only

£259 .99

ANSTEY

WASHING MACHINES ~ FRIDGE FREEZERS ~ FAST 1FREEThursday19/000004/2012 LOCAL DELIVERY ~ TUMBLE DRYERS ~ COOKERS ~ OVENS ~ NEW-seasonal-adverts_D-I-Why-A5-P.pdf 10:42

SCOTLANDS IND ESTATE LONDON ROAD COALVILLE LE67 3JJ

CALL US TODAY !!

Condenser Dryer Reverse Action 7kg Load Capacity C Rated 3 Programmes

HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ CREDA ~ WHIRLPOOL ~ ZANUSSI ~ INDESIT ~ BELLING ~ HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ ELECTROLUX

VELLAMS 01530 833122

HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ CREDA ~ WHIRLPOOL ~ ZANUSSI ~ INDESIT ~ BELLING ~ HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ ELECTROLUX ~

WASHING MACHINES ~ FRIDGE FREEZERS ~ FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ TUMBLE DRYERS ~ COOKERS ~ OVENS ~

01530 244552

Freephone: 0800 0111 222