January 2017 groby spotlight online

Christmas Day Event Police Events in Groby Helps 80 Local Folk PCSO Heath from Leicestershire Police will be holding community engagement events at the Co-op on Laundon Way in Groby on 14th January 2017, 18th February 2017, 16th March 2017 and 22th April 2017 from 10am to 11am.

If you have any concerns during the cold winter period or concerns in your local area please do come along. PCSO Heath is more than happy to offer help, advice or support.

If you are unable to attend on these dates or you wish to speak to somebody sooner please contact 101.

Edward Argar MP visits Elizabeth Woodville EVERYONE WHO attended Christmas day for those alone in Anstey and surrounding villages had a great day, volunteers and guests alike.

We catered for 80 people! All guests had a lovely 5 course Christmas dinner, a present each and a goody bag with lots of yummy treats.

We enjoyed great entertainment with Nigel on his squeeze box doing a Christmas sing along followed by Nick and Debbie who are an absolutely brilliant duo and of course several games of bingo!

We would like to thank all the volunteers who came forward to help both prior to the day and on the day whether that be the initial planning, securing funds, setting up the room, wrapping presents, putting up posters, providing transport, hosting a table, and last but so very much not least all those involved in the catering. The meal was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone and catering for 80 is not an easy task! Julie Ford and her team did an amazing job as usual.

A very grateful thanks to the companies etc.. who support us – to Next for again donating all the lovely presents for everyone. Glenfield Travel customers who raise money to give to different charities each year and this year we are grateful they chose us, their donation of around £350 provided us with the funds to purchase new catering equipment and they also bought all the chocolate oranges for the goody bags. Anstey Parish Council for their donation of £250.

Thanks to all the companies and people who provided us with treats for the goody bags – to Jacobs bakeries in Wigston who always support us but this year were outstanding and provided us with all the biscuits we needed, to all my wonderful work colleagues who provided all the boxes of chocolates and to other companies who helped in some way including Aldi and Central England Co-op.

Thanks to our local businesses who always support us – including Roy Green surveyors, Roots and Fruits and the Anstey Nomads. Thanks also to individual people who have donated cash or goods – it is very much appreciated.

Thanks also to St Marys Church, Anstey who don’t charge anywhere near the full amount for hiring the room and without the room this couldn’t go ahead so thanks very much for the use of the room once again.

Thanks for reading and a happy New Year.

Kerry Sharpe

IT WAS an extremely proud moment for everyone at Elizabeth Woodville as we welcomed Mr Edward Argar MP to school on Friday 2nd December.

This visit all started from a wonderful letter by Alexia in Year 5 who wanted our Prime Minister to know all about our incredible technology. The Rt Hon Theresa May was very interested in learning more and asked Mr Argar to report back on the amazing ways our pupils are using technology in their curriculum.

Mr Argar thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to see our pupils’ demonstrating their technological skills in lessons across the curriculum.

He was very impressed with the way our students could apply their thinking across the wide range of subjects which included reading, writing, maths, geography, history and art – as well as computing of course!

On the tour, we were joined by Mr Michael Randle (Chair of Governors), Mr Robert Haylock (Vice Chair of Governors), Mr Ted Hollick (Governor and Groby Borough Councillor) and Mrs Rebecca Chick (Treasurer of the PTA) as well as our pupil ambassadors, Alexia, Katie and James. All pictured above with members of our staff team.

We would like to thank Edward Argar MP for the opportunity to showcase our innovative approach to learning. I would also like to thank our PTA and all parents and residents who have contributed through fundraising for our pupil iPads, your excellent support is instrumental in all we do and makes what we achieve possible.

Andrew Pridmore, Head Teacher

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 18th February - Advert/Articles needed by 4th February

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

BROADEN your horizons on an adult learning course THE NEW YEAR can be an ideal time to expand your horizons by signing up to an adult learning course run by Leicestershire County Council.

The new Spring 2017 brochure is now available online at www. leicestershire.gov.uk/GoLearn with information on hundreds of part-time and weekend learning opportunities.

Copies of the brochure are also available across the city and county from local libraries, adult learning enrolment centres, plus other outlets, such as local cafes and supermarkets.

Richard Blunt, county council cabinet member for adult learning, says: “Lots of people will have resolved to improve their wellbeing in 2017 and there are numerous opportunities available through adult learning courses.

Many of the courses are designed to help people back into a job, improve their English and Maths and to support their children’s learning.”

One learner, Julie, achieved an A* mark for GCSE English and said: “I’d been ill for a long time which lowered my confidence and being involved in the course has given me a real boost.

“I had previously enrolled on a Maths and English functional skills course which got me back into studying and brushed up my skills which helped me enormously. I was encouraged by my tutor to go for the GCSE – I’m glad I did as I could hardly believe it when I got my results.”

Discounts of up to 70 per cent are available for people on certain benefits and the Learner Support Fund also helps learners on low incomes. To find out more, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/GoLearn or call 0116 305 0820 or 0800 988 0308 to enrol or speak to an advisor about suitable courses, enrolment fees or paying by instalments.

If lines are busy, leave a phone number or email address and an advisor will be back in touch as soon as possible. You can also email adultlearning@ leics.gov.uk Functional skills courses are available throughout the year and GCSE courses will begin again in the autumn.

Letter

Staff Reunion I AM ARRANGING a reunion of all ex employees of John Bull, Dunlop, Metalastik employees (same company, different names).

This company was based in Evington Valley Road. I started working there in 1973 and we had 2500 employees there.

The company is still going strong and is now known as Trelleborg based in Beaumont Leys.

The re-union is on Saturday 1st April 2017 between 2.30 - 6.30 p.m. at the Ex-Servicemens Club in Groby.

There are a few ex colleagues that live in this area and I would like them to get in touch with me Ash Kotecha Tel: 0116 287 2355 or E-Mail:cosmic784@hotmail.com if they would like to attend.

There is a £10 per person charge (includes buffet) and it is in aid of Rainbows Hospice.

Regards

Ash Kotecha 3,Bedford Drive, Groby, Leicestershire E6 0YB P.S. Click on this link for some History of the company. http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/industrial-sites/25129-john-bullrubber-co-evington-valley-mills-leicester.html

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I’ve narrowed it down. Getting up was where I went wrong today.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Adopting a Redgate Cat

Women get more sporty

IF AFTER THE Christmas celebrations have subsided and routine life has resumed you think that YOU might be able to adopt a Redgate cat - and they really are unique! - please do come along and visit us and meet them.

MORE THAN 7.2 million women now play sport and do regular physical activity.

That has narrowed the gender gap to 1.55 million.

The number of netball players has risen by 25,400 in two years, and hockey players by 4,500, following the successful ‘This Girl Can’ campaign to push women to take more exercise.

There really is no obligation to make a decision. Our newer arrivals will be put up for re-homing from about 10th January after all their veterinary checks - and I’m sure you will agree there are some real beauties in the attached photos, of all colours and patterns: although like families everywhere, we love them all, regardless!

We only ask that you visit the cat twice to make sure he or she is your perfect match, pay a reservation fee (leaving full contact details), and also give the staff notice of the date and time you will pick up your new cat.

Our postal address is Markfield but we are physically based near Stanton, just off Billa Barra Lane at the end of Shaw Lane (beside the A511). Our telephone number is 01530 243 925.

Opening hours (and telephone times) are 10.45am - 3.30pm. Every day of the week. * Please note, before 10.45am we are always very busy with feeding, medication and cleaning. www.redgatefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk And if you would like to help with fundraising or volunteering, please call Jo Leadbetter on 01530 230 455.

Off to the vet

IN HIS YOUNGER days our golden retriever Catcher often ran away when he had the chance.

The vet’s surgery was about a mile down the road, and Catcher would usually go there. The nursing staff knew him and would call me to come pick him up.

One day, I called the vet to make an appointment for Catcher’s yearly vaccination. “Will you bring him,” asked the receptionist, “or will he come on his own?”

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Martinshaw School News Report THE YEAR at Martinshaw ended with what is, arguably to some parents and guardians anyway, the highlight of the school year. I am of course talking about ‘The School Plays’.

Foundation Stage (EYFS) A traditional nativity story. However, the children were given, within reason, free rein to write, produce and perform the story themselves.

Consequently it was in two parts, traditional with , Mary and Joseph’s, etc., journey to Bethlehem.

Secondly, an alternative plot, with Queen Bitzeeuh (Mary) and King Simon (Joseph) who travel to Weymouth having been told by Santa that they would have a very special baby that they must call Mr Penguin. They were turned away from Travelodge and Premier Inn, both fully booked of course. Despite the price, they opted for the honeymoon suite at Weymouth Castle, where, after the special birth, they welcomed visits from various dignitaries such as Fireman Sam, a spider monkey, a chicken, batman and, of course Mr Elson. Mr Elson’s impersonators get younger and younger every year. What a wonderful imagination our young children have.

Year 1/2 ‘Are we nearly there yet?’

A traditional nativity revolving around the usual characters, but in an old meets new twist. It also included the Walker family, a modern family, on the way to Bethlehem on a walking holiday. Thus the age old call by children the world over of ‘Are we nearly there yet?’

After a lot of commotion over the birth of baby Jesus, with an opportunity for the children to display their combined talents with singing, both solo and in groups and dancing, the play ends with all the characters in the stable visiting and looking after the baby.

Year 3/4 ‘Santa got swept up the chimney’.

In what must be one of the most ambitious productions yet for children in the middle years of the school, they produced a play that was a mix of Mary Poppins, Peter Pan and Chitty Chitty Bang, Bang.

As chimney sweeps danced among the chimney pots and flew to the North Pole to dance with penguins and singing elves, the audience enjoyed one and a quarter hours of dialogue and speeches full of one liners, double entendre and hilarious ambiguity.

The villains were, of course, extremely villainous and prompted boos whenever they entered the stage. The elves were mischievous but industrious and the reindeer were cute and hard working. With timing to perfection for the constant stream of jokes, a great night was had by all. I think this was an amateur play that would have done justice to the ‘Little Theatre’, in Leicester.

Congratulations to the students, staff and, judging by the length of some of

the speeches, parents and carers also who I am sure must have helped with lines and, I should imagine, some of the fabulous costumes.

During the performances the MSA raised about £150 to help towards costumes, etc., for future productions.

School Choir at the Greys of Groby With what has now become something of a tradition, the school choir visited the Community Centre on Forest Rise to entertain the ‘Greys of Groby’.

One of the members was heard to comment as they entered, ‘Now I know its Christmas when these lovely children visit to sing for us’.

The choir sang a medley of well known, as well as not so well known, Christmas songs, both in harmony and in unison and then, as is also now traditional, stood amongst the members in a sing-along, with the Greys enthusiastically joining in both with the vocals and the actions.

Both the members and the children enjoyed the visit immensely.

Interrogation by Year One I didn’t know whether to be insulted or flattered when Mrs Euden, Year 1 teacher, asked me if I would be prepared to answer questions from her class about Christmas and toys in the ‘olden days’.

Olden days, I thought, I wasn’t about in the 16th Century, but I suppose 1940 is olden days if you’re only 5 years old.

Anyway, I sat in front of the class as they politely, one at a time, threw questions at me. I, of course, talked about post war austerity and had a meaningful dialogue about the beginning of the NHS. Not really!

We talked about wooden toys: forts, farmyards, wooden trains, etc., all made by my Dad and given to Santa to put in my pillow slip on Christmas morning, and if I’d been naughty I would get a sack full of ashes instead of a present. When I was asked the inevitable question I, of course, replied that I was always a good little boy, it’s alright, I had my fingers crossed when I replied. I mentioned how sweets were still rationed until the early 50’s and how we could safely play in the street until your Mum called you in for a quick wash under a cold tap, then bed. I was asked about my favourite toys and I explained how my younger brother tended to break my stuff and look after his own. Ahhhhhh.

I received a very sympathetic response when I explained that we managed to exist without mobile phones, computers, television and even cars.

General News Three year 6 students along with others across the Hinkley and Bosworth area were invited to attend a day experience at the council offices in Hinkley.

The students were formally welcomed by the Lord Mayor and then were asked to take a seat in the meeting room where they discussed a councillors role and the qualities required to become a good councillor.

The children worked collaboratively with students from the various other schools, debating what they had learned during the day both from their own experiences and that of the councillors they had spoken with.

A very useful and insightful day for both the young people and the adults.

Year 4 were treated to an afternoon of music when Mr Smith (a parent) AKA Harriet’s dad, from the local band ‘The Zufflers’ brought along into the classroom, his amp and bass guitar. He explained the instruments to the children and then demonstrated, some ‘Wicked’, playing, accompanied in part by the classes homemade percussion instruments. Everyone enjoyed a fantastic time.

Once again years 3 and 4 enjoyed ‘The Journey to Bethlehem’ at the URC where they met some of the biblical characters involved in the Christmas Story.

The Angel Gabriel transported them back in time to talk to and experience some of difficulty’s of the travellers of 2,000 years ago, on their way to Bethlehem. The characters used artifacts and props from that time to make the experience as real and meaningful as possible.

Owen Lawrence

There are now 9 times as many smart phones in the world as there are smart people.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Social media is making our children unhappy

SOCIAL MEDIA can have a devastating effect on our children, leaving them “deeply unhappy’, a major charity has warned, as new figures show a rise in self-harm.

The NSPCC found that 18,778 children aged 11-18 were admitted to hospital for self-harm in 2015-16.

This was 14 per cent up on the data for 2013-14. Teenagers aged 13 to 17 are the most likely to self-harm.

Meanwhile, Childline, the charity’s support network, delivered 18,471 counselling sessions dealing with self-harm.

The charity finds that the children’s unhappiness “is partly due to the constant pressure they feel, particularly from social media, to have the perfect life, or attain a certain image which is often unrealistic. They tell us that the need to keep up with friends, and the 24/7 nature of technology means they feel they can never escape or switch off.”

Caring for others helps YOU

LOOKING after your grandchildren, or providing emotional support to others, can help extend your own life by up to five years, according to a recent study.

Grandparents who provide occasional care for their grandchildren live, on average, five years longer that those who do not.

And childless people who provide occasional care for others in their social network live on average three years longer.

The study, at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development in Berlin, concluded that a ‘moderate level of caregiving involvement does seem to have positive effects on health.”

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Letter from Uncle Eustace

On the perils of the Plough Service and the Lamb The Rectory St. James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren YOUR PLANS to devise special Services that will involve local industry does you credit, although I cannot imagine what a church decorated with bathroom suites, double glazing frames and aeroplane wings will look like.

Were we to do something similar in this parish, we would have to devise suitable symbols for merchant bankers and property developers. Perhaps wads of banknotes among the flower arrangements may look rather splendid. Our practice is, naturally, to continue with more traditional ways.

We have just had our annual blessing of the plough and new-born lamb.

We always have a packed church - mainly of parishioners hoping to see the lamb ruin the Rector’s surplice. The only disconcerting part is to be upstaged by the wretched animal as it bleats piteously throughout my carefully crafted sermon, which becomes lost as the congregation wonders if the poor creature may be hungry, or is missing its mother.

The plough always comes from Colonel Wainwright’s garden. It stands ornamentally by his lake for eleven months of the year and then rotates round four of our local churches for their services in January. It must be the best blessed, least used plough in the county.

At least this year, I got several of our local farmers to carry it into church.

Last year our Verger pushed it up the aisle, accidentally ploughing a perfect furrow along the red Axminster. The sight may have looked all very well in a field, but was not appreciated in the nave. It did, however, provide a worthy project for our Ladies’ Guild. They will be much occupied over the coming months knitting tea-cosies and making jam for sales of work before we can replace it.

Our only other occasion when we have animals in church is the Summer Pets Service. Invariably one escapes and our hymn singing gradually disintegrates as the younger members of the congregation try to catch overenthusiastic dogs chasing cats and rabbits up and down the aisles.

The only true disaster happened some years ago, just after we had restored the organ, adding that splendid trumpet stop. Our organist decided to start the service with a brilliant trumpet fanfare. The drama of the introduction was somewhat spoiled by all the animals in the building simultaneously relieving themselves, out of shock.

Our team of cleaning ladies were much occupied that week - and the congregation, for once, raised no objection when I used lots of incense at the following Sunday’s service. So good can come out of evil, after all.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

Fish fingers

FISH FINGERS are making a comeback.

Once a favourite for family teatime back in the 1970s, the humble fish finger is now one of the foods rising fastest in popularity across the UK. Birds Eye, which makes fish fingers, even claims they are the UK’s second most popular sandwich filling.

Fish fingers are seen as a healthy source of protein, after the warnings against processed meat such as bacon. The survey was done by the Grocer magazine.

Communication is key in a relationship. That’s why I make sure my husband knows exactly why I’m not talking to him.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Romance, marriage and all that stuff - the way children see it....

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHOM TO MARRY? You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the crisps and dip coming. - Alan, age 10 No person really decides before they grow up who they’re going to marry.

God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you’re stuck with. - Kirsten, age 10 WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED? 23 is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then. Camille, age 10 No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married. Freddie, age 6 HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED? You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids. - Derrick, age 8 WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MUM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON? Both don’t want any more kids. - Lori, age 8 WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE? Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say, if you listen long enough. Lynnette, age 8 (isn’t she a treasure?)

On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date. - Martin, age 10 WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR? I’d run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns. - Craig, age 9 WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE? When they’re rich. - Pam, age 7 The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn’t want to mess with that.

- Curt, age 7 The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It’s the right thing to do. - Howard, age 8 IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED? I don’t know which is better, but I’ll tell you one thing. I’m never going to have sex with my wife. I don’t want to be all grossed out. - Theodore, age 8 It’s better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them. - Anita, age 9 And the No.1 Favourite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK? Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck. - Ricky, age 10 (smart fellow)

Become a non-smoker this year

QuitReady here to help if you are ready to quit smoking

OVER THE PAST 12 months, around 3,000 people have given up smoking in Leicestershire.

As from Jan 3rd, the county council’s new Quit Ready service is up-andrunning for people who want to add their name to the welcome statistic.

Quit Ready Leicestershire offers free and confidential text, phone and web chat advice and, for more details, visit www.quitready.co.uk or call 0345 646 66 66.

Councillor Ernie White, cabinet member for health, says: “Quitting smoking is often the single, most effective way of improving health and preventing illness, which are our key priorities. Our smoking rates are lower than the national average which is encouraging news, but we’d like to further reduce the figure.”

Advisors from Quit Ready Leicestershire will be in touch - via telephone, text message, web chat or email - to offer support on a weekly basis during the 12-week programme to ensure people have the best possible chance of staying smoke-free. The service runs from Mondays to Fridays (9am to 7pm) and on Saturdays (10am-2pm).

Quit Ready service manager Zaheera Chatra said: “The new year is the most popular time for people to quit smoking. Around half a million people will attempt it, and evidence shows they are four times more likely to stop smoking through support and pharmacotherapy.

“There is also a lot of evidence that, within a very short period of time, people quitting smoking start to notice improvements such as improving senses of taste and smell, easier breathing and more energy.”

The new service also acknowledges the significant increase in the use of e-cigarettes,which the service doesn’t provide, but behavioural support is on offer to people who use e-cigarettes.

People can also self-refer using the online contact form found on the website and the service is particularly keen to support women who are pregnant, or people who have other health problems.

Breathe deep NOW HERE’S a trick that you probably haven’t tried before: next time you forget something, try taking some deep breaths.

It seems that inhaling stimulates our brain, creating electrical activity where emotions, memory and smells are processed. In a recent American study, individuals were able to identify a face two seconds more quickly if they were breathing in through the nose, rather than breathing out.

The study was carried out at Northwestern University in Chicago, and may also explain why we breath rapidly when afraid. “If you are in a panic state, you spend proportionally more time inhaling. …. Faster breathing could have a positive impact on brain function and result in faster response times.”

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My life is an open book. But it’s very poorly written and I die in the end.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

National Trust Leicester Association NEWS THE OLDEST National Trust property in the East Midlands is Duffield Castle, in the middle of the village of Duffield, just north of Derby.

The site overlooks a crossing place on the river Derwent.

The claim to be the oldest is true in two ways. The castle was built in the 1180’s and was also the first property in the East Midlands to be owned by the Trust.

An original motte and bailey fortress of timber construction was built on the site in 1138 by Robert de Ferrers whose father, Henry, had come to England with William the Conqueror. However, this fortress was destroyed in 1173 by Henry II after William de Ferrers, Henry’s son, had joined the king’s sons in a rebellion against their father, and lost.

William’s son, another William, eventually built a massive stone keep on the site in the 1180’s. It was 98 feet x 95 feet and the third largest castle in the land after Dover and the Tower of London.

Following another rebellion, Henry III destroyed the castle in 1269 and Edward I completely cleared the site to ground level in 1272/3.

The site became overgrown and for 600 years laid undisturbed. It was rediscovered in 1885 and early archaeological excavations uncovered the original foundations which confirmed the size of the stone keep. The grounds were then preserved with the foundations marked out and the site was donated to the National Trust in 1899, one of its earliest archaeological monuments.

Further investigations were carried out in the 1930’s and in 1957 and the few items unearthed confirmed that the site had been occupied since Romano-British times. A geophysical survey in 2001 revealed traces of other structures on the site. The Trust is currently considering a further archaeological investigation. The site is open from dawn to dusk every day of the year.

•THE NT LEICESTER ASSOCIATION has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 25th January when Douglas Maas will present an illustrated talk on Arthur Ransome. The meeting will be held at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester at 2.30pm.

There will also be an evening meeting on Tuesday 14th February at Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm when Marion Wallwork (NT) will present an illustrated talk entitled The Coastline & the National Trust.

Admission to both meetings is NTLA members £2.50, visitors £4.00 including refreshments.

For details of the NT Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer

Any relationship can be a long distance relationship if you run away.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Arriva Bus Service changes from 19th February 2017 ON THURSDAY 5th of January I was made aware that Arriva were proposing to make the following changes to the Ratby and Groby Services.

I am not aware there was any previous consultation. I am totally disgusted at the lack of consultation by Arriva. I appreciate these are all commercial routes which Arriva operate. I am certainly not happy with these changes and I have spoken and raised my concerns with officers at County Hall who are looking through Arriva’s proposed registered changes. I have also written to both the Chief Executive of the County Council and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council expressing my concerns for the elderly and disabled residents that are currently served by the 28 Bus service who will now under these proposals lose this service.

I have also copied both Ed Argar MP and David Tredinnick MP into both letters. I am also writing to Arriva expressing my concerns on behalf of residents and arranging a meeting with them. Arriva get subsidies from the Councils for the elderly person’s bus passes. I would also urge residents to also write to Arriva managing director expressing their concern and object to the proposed changes at the following address: Simon Mathieson, Area Managing Director Arriva Midlands (East), 4 Westmoreland Ave, Thurmaston, Leicester, LE4 8PH. Changes to Groby Road and North-west Leicestershire services from 19 February 2017 • Groby Road corridor (Leicester): Services are now every 10 minutes between the city centre and County Hall.

• Service 26: Leicester-Groby-Coalville: A revised timetable is being introduced to improve punctuality. The route through Groby is revised to take in Stephenson Way and Woodbank Road.

Parts of Ratby Road in Groby will no longer be served. Customers currently boarding by Ratby Allotments can use alternative stops at Lawnwood Shopping Parade.

• Service 27: Leicester to Ratby: Arriva are changing the timetable in response to increased traffic congestion in Leicester. Due to low passenger numbers at certain times of day Whittington Drive will now only be served on off-peak journeys.

• Service 28: Leicester to Groby : This service is being incorporated into other services due to low passenger numbers. Some sections of route will no longer be served. Customers currently boarding in Glebe Road and Pymm Ley Lane can use alternative services from Woodbank Road (26), Laundon Way Shops (27), or Leicester Road (26, 29, 29A).

Fly Tipping on Sacheverell Way

IN LAST month’s article, I reported that two settees had been dumped on Laundon Way. A couple of weeks ago I discovered another settee dumped in the gateway to a field on Sacheverell Way. Again I arranged for the Borough Council’s Street Scene department to collect it.

Items such as these can be collected by the Borough Council for a charge, or they can be taken to the tip and disposed of for free. Tipping items at the side of the road costs all Council tax payers for their removal.

County Councillor’s Report If you witness fly tipping please contact the Borough council on 01455 238141 or you can contact me in confidence.

Reminder Road Closure Station Road Ratby VIRGIN Media state they will need to close Station Road Ratby at its junction with Brook Drive, Through to Taverner Drive.

The County Council’s Highways engineers have agreed with the closure due to the width of the road and for safe working.

The closure will be for a period of 3 weeks, starting on the 11th February Tel 0116 2394336 or 2017 and will operate between 9am and 5pm each day although access 07808 585825 will be available for residents and Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com deliveries.

The main diversion route through the village will be Main Street/Desford Lane/Left onto Desford Lane. Kirby Muxloe continue onto Desford Road then right onto Ratby Road.

Police update HERE IS an update from Police Inspector Dan Eveleigh, the NPA Commander for Blaby and Hinckley and Bosworth.

Around this festive time and into the New Year we must all be vigilant to the risk of burglaries. They are rare, but we know that it is a horrible experience.

Criminals easily spot an unlocked gate, a window ajar or a weak patio door, so we have increased our focus on this type of crime. Your local officers are working extremely hard to identify and collect intelligence on key offenders so we and other teams in policing know who to disrupt or stop-check.

You can really help us by keeping a sharp look out and if you see suspicious activity that could lead to a burglary, trust your judgement and call us on 999.

It’s fair to say that some of the more serious offences occur as a result of related criminal activity and there is little or no risk to the wider community.

If offences fit this profile we work closely with the investigation teams to bring suspects to justice swiftly.

Despite these types of concerns and warnings, the area in which you live or work is generally very peaceful. We have virtually no street-robberies or unprovoked assaults, and at this time of year ASB is normally low. Where ASB is reported we share information very naturally with the Councils (BDC and HBBC). If victims are vulnerable we also focus on the safeguarding and support that we and other agencies can offer. Equally we apply new, robust legislation, for example to close a dwelling down, to tackle the offenders.

I end every week with an internal circulation summarising some of the fantastic work completed by your local officers, and the range is huge!

Sometimes it’s arresting burglars near the offence, other times it’s praising officers for their empathy in low-impact problem solving in a cyber-bullying case I would like to thank residents and councillors for your continued support and wish you all a very Happy, Peaceful and Healthy New Year.

Should you need my help or advice on any matter or issue, I pride myself on always making myself available to residents and councillors.

Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea.

Working for you

Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

The older I get, the earlier it gets late.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News ‘Down To Earth’ visits Groby IT WAS with much pleasure that the society welcomed Radio Leicester’s “Down to Earth” on the evening of the 10th November.

In the past, these question and answer sessions have been very enjoyable as the knowledgeable and experienced panel grapple with our members’ queries. This meeting proved just as rewarding as those in the past thanks to the entertaining format that the question master engendered.

The proceedings were recorded for broadcast on Radio Leicester at 12.00 on the 20th November. Radio Leicester is currently in its 50th year and the “Down to Earth” production is the longest running programme in all local radio stations. The host, Dave Andrews was excellent in the manner that he put all at ease and dovetailed questions with a little background about our society and church. The panel consisted of two garden designers, Chris Gutteridge and Karen Simpson, and John Smith, the well-known owner of Thornton Nursery which is found adjacent to the reservoir. This year, John is celebrating 49 years as a member of this panel!

A large audience of members had gathered on a rather nasty night, weather-wise, but their fortitude was rewarded with a superbly entertaining evening. Our members’ questions were very wide ranging from the request for advice about an infestation of white fly in a greenhouse to tips for getting dahlia seeds to germinate. A number revolved around the need to feed, not only potted plants, but those such as hardy fuchsias planted out in the garden. John reminded us of the need plants have for potassium, if they are to flower well, and nitrogen to encourage foliage growth. All the answers provided were interesting, but one particular discussion was about the protection of apple trees from the grubs that can spoil such crops. These could be due to codling moth or apple sawfly. Spraying insecticide as the flower buds are forming and again when the petals have fallen, seemed to be the panel’s favoured option. It was stressed that spraying must not be done whilst the flowers are out, as pollinating insects will suffer. A lovely evening was ended with tea and delicious cakes provided by our own Evelyn J. and Jane M.

Social Meal at The Stamford WE HELD our annual social meal at The Stamford Arms on the evening of the 16th November.

Most eager diners were in place at the tables some 20 minutes prior to serving in anticipation of the meal. To serve nearly forty people, more or less simultaneously, was always going to be a challenge for the staff, but, as usual, Brian and his team succeeded magnificently. The food was well prepared and all enjoyed their various choices. Helen and Beverley arrange a number of opportunities for us all to meet in social circumstances away from the confines of our regular evening meetings, and they could be

pleased that this evening constituted another success much appreciated by the members.

Christmas meeting and entertainment OUR DECEMBER 8th meeting saw nearly fifty members enjoy our annual celebration.

As well as the traditional table loaded with delicious and enticing food, the entertainment worked very well in promoting a happy, festive atmosphere.

Thanks must go to Molly for her bottle top extravaganza, ably accompanied

by Owen, who incidentally would admirably fill a role of Town Crier. His stentorian voice easily cut through the general hubbub of merry chatter!

Equally, we are indebted to Jane R. who produced two interesting picture quizzes. These fitted in well as they allowed everyone to taste success, with the final winners managing to answer those few trickier questions. Many thanks to all the “behind the scenes” helpers, without whom the evening would have failed.

A.G.M. & trips for 2017 OUR A.G.M. will have taken place before readers receive their January Spotlight and more can be reported next month.

However, it has been confirmed that our three day trip will be based around the 2017 City of Culture - Hull. Incorporated into the trip will be visits to Normanby Hall, the R.H.S. showpiece garden at Harlow Carr and time to explore the city of Hull itself. Our hotel is a family-run establishment under the umbrella of The Best Western group. It is Willerby Manor in Willerby village which is a suburb of Hull. We also have an evening trip to a farm garden and at least one other day trip whose details are to be finalised.

Future Meetings February 9th - “History of the walled garden” by Katherine Ward.

March 9th

- “A-Z” by Mick Eaton

If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 01162876637) or E mail e.atherton637@btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson

Fleetwood Mac’s masterpiece FLEETWOOD MAC, the reinvented rock band that survived a self-destructive, druggy lifestyle, released the album that was arguably their masterpiece 40 years ago, on 4th Feb 1977.

Rumours, recorded in California, became one of the best-selling albums of all time, selling more than 45 million copies worldwide. It contained, incidentally, The Chain – the song that is now best known as the introduction to TV coverage of Formula One. Yet this was far from the Fleetwood Mac founded by brilliant blues guitarist Peter Green (originally Greenbaum) in the UK in the late 1960s. With fellow guitarist Jeremy Spencer, Green was reported in 1969 to be working on an album telling the life story of Jesus, but this never materialised. Green consistently rejected the materialistic lifestyle, but was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Meanwhile, Mick Fleetwood and John McVie, drummer and bass guitarist respectively, were looking for a lead guitarist who would stick with them, and eventually Fleetwood heard one, by chance, when he was visiting a sound studio in California. This was Lindsey Buckingham, who agreed to join them on condition that his girlfriend could come too.

This has to rank as one of the happiest “accidents” in rock music, because the girlfriend was Stevie Nicks, who became the charismatic lead singer for the band and writer of some of their most memorable songs. Her friendship with the other female star in the band, Christine McVie (who rejoined Fleetwood Mac in 2014 after a 16-year absence), was also key to the band’s survival.

As to the album, Mick Fleetwood is reported as saying: “Rumours became the church that saved us from the hell of our own lives.”

My wife still hasn’t told me what my New Year’s resolutions are.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Public asked to watch out for COUNTERFEIT banknotes CRIMESTOPPERS, the independent crime-fighting charity, Crimestoppers, is appealing to the public for information on those making, buying or selling counterfeit banknotes.

Whilst less than 1% of notes in circulation are counterfeit, this is not a victimless crime.

Many retailers, businesses, school, charities and the elderly have been conned out of money using fake notes.

In the first half of 2016, around 152,000 worthless counterfeit banknotes with a notional value of over £3million were removed from the UK’s streets, while the figure for the whole of 2015 was over £5 million.

Recent incidents reported include buyers turning up in person to use fake notes to pay for items sold on Gumtree, Friday Ad, Facebook and other buy-and-sell websites, leaving sellers out of pocket.

While the Bank of England works hard to counter the production of fraudulent currency, including the launch of the new polymer £5 note, people should remain vigilant.

Signs of what to look out for include:

On paper banknotes: • • •

Feeling for raised print across the words ‘Bank of England’ Holding the note up to the light to check the watermark Looking for the metallic thread running through every genuine paper note

On the new polymer £5 note: • Checking the see-through window and the portrait of the Queen • Looking at the Elizabeth tower to check it is gold on the front of the note and silver on the back • Checking the foil patches Crimestoppers’ Chief Executive, Mark Hallas, said: “The purpose of this campaign is to raise awareness of counterfeit money, especially around this time of year, when there are more transactions happening and money can be tight.

“Purchasing counterfeit notes can be tempting and many people do not realise that, not only are these notes completely worthless, but knowingly holding or passing them on is a crime.

“We urge anyone with information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes, or simply wanting to find out more about the impact of this crime, to visit fakenotes.co.uk. People can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously with information on 0800 555 111, safe in the knowledge that they will never have to give a statement to police or go to court.”

If you have information on those making, selling or buying counterfeit notes then please contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through our Anonymous Online Form at fakenotes.co.uk.

Diplomacy is the art of letting someone else have your way.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Cooks Farm Shop & Country Supplies

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Saturday 18 February 2017 2.00 – 4.30pm at the Village Hall, Groby Live an afternoon of 40’s and 50’s nostalgia Come in clothes from the era or come as you are!!

Treat some loved ones to a Winter Warmer Afternoon  Lindy Hop Demonstration and Workshop  Craft and Food Stalls  Games and Fun Activities for all ages  Bradgate Bake off – Cake Competition (Bring a Cake to be Judged)

Entrance Fee* (by Ration Book): £5.00 Under 12’s: £3.00 *includes a Cream Tea and raffle entry Buy in advance or on the door For details and tickets call 07813623873 We hope to see you there!

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New breastfeeding group launched in Coalville THE COALVILLE Breastfeeding Group has been set up

by Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT)’s health visiting team in North West Leicestershire, alongside Leicestershire County Council staff from the North West Leicestershire Children’s Centre team and local volunteer breastfeeding peer supporters.

The group will offer new mums a welcoming, supportive and friendly environment where they can share tips and experiences, practise feeding their babies in public and access trusted advice.

The new drop-in group will run weekly on Tuesdays at Coalville Children’s Centre, High Street, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3EA from 1.00 – 2.30pm, with drinks and light snacks available.

Jill Phelan, LPT’s Family Services Manager for North West Leicestershire said: “It’s easy to say that women should breastfeed, but they need a support network in place, especially during the first six weeks. Our health visitors see many women who want to breastfeed their babies but are really struggling. This local group will provide invaluable reassurance and encouragement.”

Councillor Ernie White, county council cabinet member for health, said: “Our aim in setting up this group was to bring mums together to support each other. Offering this group in a Children’s Centre allows the mums to find out about the full range of support and services available through the Children’s Centre Programme.”

Breastfeeding has a range of health benefits for both mothers and babies. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from gastro-intestinal, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections. They are less likely to have asthma, eczema, food allergies and diabetes. The danger of obesity in later childhood is also lessened by breastfeeding. At the same time, mothers who breastfeed may find it easier to return to their pre-pregnancy weight and are less likely to develop breast and ovarian cancers.

Additional breastfeeding resources and information for new parents are available on LPT’s website www.leicspart.nhs.uk/infantfeeding and via LPT’s free ‘Meals on Heels’ breast feeding support mobile app, co-designed with local mums.

The county council’s children centres provide health and learning support to families for pre-school children - particularly for babies, younger children and parents who need additional help and assistance. Find out more at: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/childrens-centre-activities

I was going to quit all my bad habits for the new year, but then I remembered that nobody likes a quitter.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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County Council Spotlight with Norman Griffiths This month : Reporting Road Repairs

T

HERE ARE lots of things that make motorists angry and one of them is that many roads are in a poor state of repair despite the fact that motorists pay huge amounts into the Government’s coffers.

The RAC says that in 2015/16 £9.3 billion was spent on roads in Great Britain, less than a third of the £33 billion in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED) and Fuel Duty collected. And they say that VAT is in addition amounting, for private households, to a total of £12.2 billion raised through motorists buying, running and using their vehicles (in 2012).

Nationally capital spending on local roads maintenance has recently been running at the lowest level since 2001/02 whilst local highways authority maintenance spending reduced by 15 per cent between 2009/10 and 2013/14.

Although a further 35 per cent reduction in local highways maintenance budgets is estimated by the end of the decade, a surprise announcement in 2015 indicated that from 2020 all vehicle excise duty funds will be spent exclusively on ‘maintaining and developing’ UK roads.

But perhaps what really interests motorists is the risk of causing expensive damage to their suspension when hitting a pothole.

Highway maintenance is the responsibility of Leicestershire County Council(LCC) locally and everyone should now be well aware of the financial constraints under which the council operates. The Council’s 2016 Performance Report shows that in Leicestershire £10.9m of the Highways Capital Maintenance during the year was spent on roads with some funding for 2016/17 coming from the National Pothole Action Fund. The money is being used to support a range of activities including patching and surface dressing.

“Preventative maintenance has ensured that Leicestershire’s roads are some of the best in

the road, missing drain or manhole covers or problems with traffic lights you should call the Customer Service Centre on 0116 305 0001.

Using a simple online form you can tell the County Council about other problems or defects on roads or pavements, including issues like : • Potholes, • Damaged drains or manhole covers • Damage to road signs • White lines • Damage to verges • Grass cutting

the country,” the report says, “with just 2% of the road network considered as potentially requiring some maintenance work. Thanks to preventative maintenance the number of potholes has fallen from 8,478 in 2013 to 5,200 in 2015.” More than a million square metres of local roads were treated in summer 2016 to help to prolong their life by 10 years and increase skid resistance. It seems that Leicestershire has the highest satisfaction rating for the condition of roads at 40%, according to the annual National Highways and Transport survey.

But how do we report road problems?

As part of routine maintenance roads and pavements are inspected by the council at least once a year. Any potholes identified are recorded and added to a list of repairs If it’s a serious problem needing urgent action such as flooding, dangerous paving, mud or debris, obstructions or oil or diesel spillage on

• Overgrown trees or hedges When a member of the public reports a pothole, Leicestershire County Council ensures an inspector visits and classifies the problem within 14 days. The pothole is classified according to how serious it is and this dictates how quickly it is fixed. Some require prompt attention and if reasonably practicable will be fixed or made safe at the time of inspection. If this is not possible repairs of a temporary, or permanent nature will be done within 3 working days. Defects that do not represent an immediate or imminent hazard have a target repair period of 90 days from being reported by the public or will be included within a planned maintenance programme.

What if my car is damaged by a pothole?

It sounds as if the likelihood of damage is greater when travelling outside Leicestershire.

You may be entitled to compensation and the best place to start is by reading the comprehensive guide online at www. moneysavingexpert.com/travel/potholeclaims.

If you want to report a problem to LCC go to www.leicestershire.gov.uk/popular-now/ report-a-road-problem.

Banff Mountain Film Festival Tour comes to the De Mont in Feb! THE BANFF Mountain Film Festival World Tour is returning to the UK in 2017, with an unforgettable evening of adventure films coming to Leicester’s De Montfort Hall on Tuesday 28 February.

Featuring an evening of exhilarating adventure films, the tour kicks off in Brighton on 25 January and finishes in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, on 17 May, with nearly 100 screenings at over 50 venues along the way.

“It’s fantastic to be back with our biggest tour yet – a reflection of the enormous appetite for adventure that UK and Irish audiences have,”

says Tour Director Nell Teasdale.

“The Banff Tour is more than a series of exhilarating film nights.

Each screening offers a real sense of community, bringing together people with a wide range of outdoor passions. And we guarantee that viewers will leave with new enthusiasm and inspiration for their own adventures too!”

The short films, starring the world’s top adventurers on exciting journeys in mind-blowing destinations, are selected from hundreds of films entered into the prestigious Banff Mountain Film Festival held every year in the Canadian Rockies.

The UK and Ireland tour has

two different programmes of films to choose from, each lasting about 2½ hours, with free prize giveaways at each screening. The tour is part of the wider Banff World Tour, which travels the globe each year, visiting nearly 50 countries and reaching more than 400,000 people worldwide.

Programme highlights will include: FOUR MUMS IN A BOAT When four middle-aged working British mums announced they wanted to row the Atlantic Ocean, their families thought they had lost their minds. The epic ocean expedition they were about to embark upon, would change their

I have faith in fools. My friends call it self-confidence.

lives forever.

DOING IT SCARED Eighteen years after a terrible accident left him partially paralyzed, British climber Paul Pritchard returns to the Totem Pole in Tasmania to find out if he has recovered enough to finish the climb.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News from Elizabeth Woodville Primary School Our local MP, Mr Argar’s recent visit began with an interactive virtual tour courtesy of our digital leaders.

First stop was Year 4 for an interactive question and answer session using Padlet with Mr Price and Mr Davis. Pupils were answering a range of questions to develop the ultimate super-hero film. In the Tech Centre, Digital leaders were teaching programming skills to our Year 2 pupils and Mr Argar too!

In Year 5 with Mr Coleman and Mr Crowhurst, augmented reality dragons were on the loose!

They became visible once tracked by an iPad. Mr Randle and Mrs Chick were able to find one with the help of Joe, Max and James. Once the dragons had been found pupils made their own posters using their photo editing skills.

Our Foundation Stage are experts with robots!

They were showing Mr Argar how to programme a Bee-Bot to move to a specific place using iPads and the robots themselves. Highly impressive technology skills!

On to English, and our Year 6 pupils shared their amazing persuasive writing to Henry VIII with Mr Argar, inspired by modelling on our CleverTouch screens.

Year 3 were ‘cracking comprehension’ by carefully answering questions as detectives to find the answers directly in the text.

In Year 1 children used their CleverTouch demonstration to help them visually multiply by creating arrays.

Finally, it was off to the cinema (our school hall) for a VIP screening of our case study film. Make sure you go to the

address below if you haven’t seen it yet.

https://www.clevertouch.co.uk/casestudies/elizabeth-woodville-primaryschool

Mr Argar thanked our pupil ambassadors Alexia, Katie and James for a fantastic and informative curriculum tour, sharing how technology brings our curriculum to life.

My income seems to be the only thing I can’t live without or within.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

1/8/2017

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SHAKESPEARE Wordsearch

Word Search Puzzle

Forgot username or password? Passcode/Create New User IF YOU can spot the titles of 12 SHAKESPEARE PLAYS in this issue’s Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Solutions for Districts Free Resources Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

What We Offer

Who We Are

Teachers

Parents

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the titles of 12 Shakespeare plays. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: TO BE OR NOT TO BE, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, M Q T W A G K T J J C D B T A T R B PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 4th February 2017. Remember to include your name and address. The A E K H O L O I A D Z U I O I D A L first all-correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the prize.

C G A M G T I L N V I E E T G W S O Good luck!

Here are the 12 Shakespeare plays you have to find: B J V S H I B D N G K T U L R A E V

E D Q E U I N O H I L S O Y B D A E AS YOU LIKE IT • HAMLET JULIUS CAESAR T C L G L R E H L S A E Q A K A C S KING LEAR • LOVES LABOURS LOST • MACBETH H L P O W A E U T N W E A X F N S L MEASURE FOR MEASURE • OTHELLO • ROMEO AND JULIET O B J D K T O F D F H D Y R L Q U A THE TEMPEST • TITUS ANDRONICUS • TWELFTH NIGHT N B Q M O Y H R O A L E F K U E I B W W N N S E O C Q R I E P I K S L O Name: .................................................................................................

T K V A R N E G M J M V W N G B U U N J G T I K Z T L B B E U T S K J R Address: ................................................................................................

A G V C B J L L Q N M G A Q L I C S .................................................................Postcode: .............................

E Z U T H E T E M P E S T S O C I L Colossal omission!

E S C H P Y H J N X J Q S P U U I O Despite one of the words being missed out of the grid last month A T H D Z C V X O D B T Z G Q R F S (computer error, obviously!) - we still had entries from some very clever T E I L U J D N A O E M O R C H E T and determined readers. The first correct entry drawn out was from: BARBARA HAIGH of Meadow Court Road, Groby.

T E L M A H I X V Z Z D S W W A Z R Congratulations! Your prize will be with you soon.

ZERO TOLERANCE

ASYOULIKEIT HAMLET JULIUSCAESAR KINGLEAR LOVESLABOURSLOST MACBETH MEASUREFORMEASURE OTHELLO A CRACKDOWN on littering from vehicles in Hinckley ROMEOANDJULIET and Bosworth has already resulted in fines for a number of THETEMPEST motorists.

TITUSANDRONICUS Since the campaign began two months ago, officers from the Borough TWELFTHNIGHT Council’s Clean Neighbourhood team have issued £80 Fixed Penalty Notices to 13 motorists.

Council officers have adopted a zero tolerance attitude towards anyone seen dropping litter from vehicles andCreated by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com all the fines imposed so far relate to discarded cigarette ends.

The ‘hot spot’ locations in Hinckley targeted by officers so far include the Northern Perimeter Road, Coventry Road, Dodwells Roundabout, the A5 and McDonalds. Main road junctions, lay-bys, supermarkets, roundabouts and local shopping areas in other parts of the borough will also be visited during the course of the campaign.

Executive Member for Neighbourhood Services at the Borough Council, Councillor Mark Nickerson, said: “This is excellent work by our Clean Neighbourhood team, clearly demonstrating our commitment to stamp out this antisocial behaviour. But what a pity we need to spend costly resources that could be put to far better use, were it not for the actions of the irresponsible few.”

Clean Neighbourhood Officer Nicky Laville will also be visiting primary schools in the borough to give litter workshops to Years 5 and 6 to educate them about the consequences of littering.

Motorists fined in vehicle littering campaign

If YOU enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative when you’ve finished with it.

Thanks!

Never believe anything until it’s been officially denied.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Researchers develop new genetic tool to identify people at risk of coronary heart disease

A NEW genetic risk score that could help to identify individuals at risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) much earlier and potentially improve its prevention has been developed in research part-funded by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and the NIHR. CHD affects over 2.3 million people in the UK and the disease is responsible for nearly 70,000 deaths in the UK each year – most caused by a heart attack.

The new test is a result of an international collaboration involving Professor Sir Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester, who has recently been appointed BHF Medical Director, and researchers in Australia, Finland, Germany, and the Netherlands.

Genetic factors have long been known to make a significant contribution to CHD risk. Recent advances in genetics have led to the identification of many Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, or SNPs – very small differences in our DNA that vary from person to person. The research, published today in the European Heart Journal, shows how using this new knowledge could pave the way for earlier and more personalised preventative interventions.

By looking at over 49,000 SNPs the researchers created a score, known as a genomic risk score (GRS) and showed that the higher the GRS the higher the future risk of CHD. People with a GRS in the top 20 per cent had an over 5-fold higher life-time risk of CHD than those in the bottom 20 per cent. This study is the first to look at a much larger number of SNPs to give a fuller picture of an individual’s genetic risk of developing CHD. Currently, clinical risk scores are based on known risk factors for CHD such as cholesterol level, having high blood pressure or diabetes and smoking.

But such scores are imprecise and unable to identify a large proportion of people who develop CHD. The researchers showed that the GRS was independent of the clinical risk scores and by combining the two risk score tools they were better able to predict people who were at risk of developing CHD in the next 10 years.

BHF Professor Sir Nilesh Samani from the University of Leicester, an author on the paper who has co-led the discovery of many of the genes associated with coronary heart disease, said: “This is the first really large study showing the potential benefits of using a genetic risk score over and above current methods to identify people at increased risk of coronary heart disease. We already know that CHD starts at an early age, several decades before symptoms develop, and preventative measures should ideally be applied much earlier, especially to those who are at increased risk.

“Unfortunately, current clinical risk scores are not good at evaluating risk until middle-age. On the other hand the GRS, which is based on your DNA, can be applied at any age. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the precise clinical value of this approach in different populations. However earlier identification of people who would most benefit from lifestyle changes and medication to reduce their risk of a heart attack could save countless lives.”

Dr Mike Knapton, Associate Medical Director at the British Heart Foundation, which helped fund the research, said: “This new tool could be invaluable in more accurately identifying people who are at an increased of developing heart disease.

“However, it’s important to remember that having a genetic predisposition to coronary heart disease does not guarantee that person will have a heart attack. Thanks to research, much of it funded by the BHF, people identified as being at increased risk can reduce their chances of having a heart attack by stopping smoking, exercising regularly, managing their weight and taking prescribed medication, such as a statin.”

Find out how the BHF is fighting back against heart disease at bhf.org.uk

Publicise your forthcoming community events in The Spotlight!

Let us know what you’re planning and we’ll give you a free mention! Amazing!

January Book Spot Cure

A Journey into the Science of Mind Over Body

By Jo Marchant THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER SHORTLISTED FOR THE ROYAL SOCIETY SCIENCE BOOK PRIZE – Can meditation fend off dementia? – Can the smell of lavender affect the immune system?

– Can your thoughts ease physical pain?

In Cure, award-winning science writer Jo Marchant travels the world to meet the physicians, patients and researchers on the cutting edge of mind-body medicine. Asking how the brain can heal the body and how we can all make changes to keep ourselves healthier.

Results

Think Less. Achieve More

By Jamie Smart, Wiley Life can be a bit overwhelming sometimes, right? It can be difficult to clear your mind of a million different anxieties and focus in on the one thing you need to get done.

Bestselling author of Clarity and The Little Book of Clarity goes one step further with Results by using his Clarity Coaching Model to help you de-clog your mind so you can make better decisions, prioritise and focus on achieving those important goals.

Develop a deeper understanding of why you act the way you do and awaken your inner potential. Jamie’s transformational coaching techniques will help you improve in all areas of your life, from developing your listening skills during meetings at work to reducing the levels of stress in your life.

The Year of Living Danishly

Uncovering the Secrets of the World’s Happiest Country

By Helen Russell ‘A hugely enjoyable romp through the pleasures and pitfalls of setting up home in a foreign land’ PD Smith, Guardian When she was suddenly given the opportunity of a new life in rural Jutland, journalist and archetypal Londoner Helen Russell discovered a startling statistic: the happiest place on earth isn’t Disneyland, but Denmark, a land often thought of by foreigners as consisting entirely of long dark winters, cured herring, Lego and pastries.

What is the secret to their success? Are happy Danes born, or made? Helen decides there is only one way to find out: she will give herself a year, trying to uncover the formula for Danish happiness.

From childcare, education, food and interior design (not to mention ‘hygge’) to SAD, taxes, sexism and an unfortunate predilection for burning witches, The Year of Living Danishly is a funny, poignant record of a journey that shows us where the Danes get it right, where they get it wrong, and how we might just benefit from living a little more Danishly ourselves.

Why do we press harder on a remote control when we know the batteries are flat?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Pantomime January 2017!

PANTOMIME season is upon us again, and, as always, it’s a time when the resources of Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group are stretched to the maximum as all members are involved in the production.

We are always in need of more members, so, whatever your interest may be in our dramatic endeavours, on stage or backstage, you are welcome to come along to one of our rehearsals which take place on Wednesday evenings , at 7.30p.m., at Thornton Community Centre.

Our 2017 pantomime is to be “Goldie Locks and the Three Bears”, written and directed by Muriel Walker.

Goldie says she’s playing with Baby Bear in the woods, but there are no bears in Bear Woods nowadays, are there?

Can the residents of Honeypot Cottage stay hidden and safe?

Will the evil schemes of Conte Pinot Grigio and his two sisters, Bruscetta and Carbonara de Morte , bear fruition?

Is anyone who visits Tristemorte Manor walking into danger?

If you want to know the answers to these questions, then you must come to see “Goldie Locks and the Three Bears” !

The Show really does contain something for everyone and is full of music and merriment. Come along and you will give yourself a laughter-filled evening of pure entertainment! Oh yes, you will!

THE PANTOMIME RUNS FROM 16th TO 21st JANUARY 2017 at THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTRE at 7.30 p.m. NIGHTLY, with a SATURDAY MATINEE on 21st JANUARY at 3.00 p.m.

ALL TICKETS ARE PRICED AT £5 and are available on 01455 822148 or at THORNTON’S VILLAGE SHOP at the Corner of Church Lane & Main Street in Thornton.

We’d love to have you with us!

Muriel Walker

Latest cat news from Lindy Hardcastle

REGULAR readers will be pleased to know that our dear little cat Ava, bullied out of our house by her evil twin Olaf, has settled very happily into her new home in Skipton.

My daughter, her husband and my two little granddaughters are showering her with chicken, affection and Christmas presents. She has learned to use her new cat-flap – although my daughter would prefer her to use the outdoor facilities rather than coming back in to the house to visit her litter tray.

Olaf, however, is not having things all his own way as sole occupant. Since our old unneutered stray tomcat Frankie disappeared, word seems to have got around the local cat population that there is a vacancy for the role of Boss Cat. The twin tabbies from down the road are making increasing incursions into Olaf ’s territory but the two leading contenders are newcomers. His arch enemy – know to us as Moriarty – is a large, fluffy, black and white villain. We had seen – and heard – several violent incidents in the garden but nothing had prepared us for Moriarty’s full-frontal assault. There we were –David and Olaf and I – peacefully asleep, when Moriarty arrived on the landing, at four o’clock in the morning, issuing a loud, blood-curdling challenge. Olaf responded heroically. He chased Moriarty down the stairs and out through the catflap into the garden where they continued their heated discussion for some time. In the morning, I was gratified to see large quantities of black-and-white fur on the patio. Moriarty hasn’t been seen since.

The other contender is a very large, very beautiful golden tabby with a ringed tail as thick as my wrist. He and I had a very pleasant chat the other day when I found him sitting in the tree on the green outside our house.

I’d love him to join us but sadly we have come to the conclusion that Olaf is not a caring, sharing sort of cat. On the basis that he tolerated Frankie, David has decided that our only hope of infiltrating another moggie is to acquire an unneutered male kitten. He is searching the internet for suitable candidates. I think Olaf would probably eat him. Meanwhile he is honing his fighting skills by attacking the bed-side rug.

Lindy

I know a bloke named Jay, but we call him J for short.

17

Live & Local

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 Saturday 14th January - Kids’ Panto: DICK WHITTINGTON 2PM - 5PM Tickets available on the door.

Night time - DAVE T - Reggae Tribute Friday 20th January - WAYNE STEEL - Excellent Male Vocalist Saturday 21st January - TYLER JON - Quality Male Entertainer From A ‘Take That’ Tribute Friday 27th January - FAYE HORNE - All the way from the X Factor 2016 Saturday 28th January - CASSIE Vibrant Female Vocalist Friday 3rd February - SHAUNY MOORE - A Night Of Great Entertainment Saturday 4th February - MARK TEDIN - Interactive Male Vocalist Friday 10th February - ANDREW JAMES - All Round Entertainer Saturday 11th February - PETE WAYRE - We welcome Him Back To The Club Friday 17th February - ADRIAN MICHAEL - Male Vocalist With A Hint Of Comedy Saturday 18th February - COLIN KACEY - Local Male Solo

SEND US YOUR LOCAL ENTERTAINMENTS NEWS AND WE’LL PUBLICISE IT FREE IN LIVE & LOCAL. How Sensational is That!

18

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

SCAM UPDATE from Ozzy O’shea HMRC Tax Rebate Scam I HAVE been contacted by residents in relation to this HMRC tax rebate scam.

Raising a glass – too often

WOMEN are drinking more alcohol. Lots more. In fact, their consumption has pushed overall levels of drinking up by a staggering one third, just since the 1980s.

It is taking its toll. It seems that now more working years of life are lost in England as a result of alcohol-related deaths than from more than 12 types of cancer combined. Death from liver disease has risen by 400 per cent since 1970.

The review by Public Health England found more than one million hospital admissions relating to alcohol each year. PHE has urged the government to set minimum pricing and tackle marketing, in order to reduce consumption.

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Well I received one to my own email address whilst waiting to write this report. You can see several errors on the email. Please do not be taken in, they simply want your bank details. HMRC do not email - they personally write to you. Note my name is not on this email just my email address. The email address it came from was stlositarevirehim@ easily.co.uk. I have reported these issues to HMRC. Please Beware!!

Scam targeting Lloyds Bank customers LLOYDS Bank customers should be on the lookout for a new sophisticated fraud that involves fraudsters sending fake bank letters.

The convincing letters being sent are a replica template from Lloyds and include their logo, address and signature from a customer service representative.

The letter tells recipients that there have been some “unusual transactions” on their personal account and asks them to call a number highlighted in bold to confirm they are genuine.

When victims call the number, an automated welcome message is played and the caller is asked to enter their card number, account number and sort code followed by their date of birth. Victims are then instructed to enter the first and last digit of their security number.

The fraud was spotted by the Daily Telegraph who was alerted to it by a reader who had three identical letters sent to an office address. On separate occasions the Daily Telegraph ran some tests using fake details and were passed to fraudsters who claimed to be from a Lloyds contact centre. The bank has confirmed that the phone number and letters are fake.

The letters are essentially a sophisticated phishing attempt and serves as a warning to consumers to question written correspondence from their banks.

If you are ever suspicious about correspondence from your bank you should call the customer services number on the back of the card.

To report a fraud and cyber-crime, call 0300 123 2040 or visit http://www. actionfraud.police.uk/report_fraud

No compromise

A SOON-TO-BE-MARRIED couple were visiting the minister to discuss their forthcoming marriage.

The woman said they intended to have three children, while the young man demurred, saying two would be enough for him. They discussed this discrepancy for a few minutes and the minister suggested they would need great sensitivity with each other in order to reach a solution. There was silence for a moment and then the young man said stubbornly: “Well, after our second child, I’ll just have a vasectomy.”

Without a second’s hesitation, the bride-to-be shot back: “Well, I hope you’ll love the third one like it’s your own!”

NEW PROVERB - May your life one day be as awesome as you pretend it is on facebook.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

73rd Groby Scouts

Groby Village Society Forthcoming Events

Thursday February 23 Reflections in Rhyme Delia Bennett Thursday March 23 A.G.M. Thursday April 27 Calke Abbey Gardens, Echoes from the Past Celia Sanger

Thursday June 22 Life in Maasai Villages Wendy Martin Thursday July 27 The Country Railway Stations Brian Johnson Thursday August 24 The Life and Travels of Robert Bruce Napoleon Walker Stephen Flinders Thursday September 28 Tricks of Light and Colour Bob Massey Thursday October 26 Leicestershire Ladies David Bell Thursday November 23 From the Fury of the Norsemen Deliver Us Sandy Leong Thursday December 28 REMAP Martin Grant Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. Except for October Which will be at Groby Library Starting at 7.30pm.

For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 email: groby. villagesociety@tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome

The key to a happy life YOUR MENTAL health is the biggest single predictor of your personal happiness. So suffering from depression or anxiety disorders can devastate your life.

Thursday January 26 Members Evening

Thursday May 25 The underage Soldiers & Nurses of WW1 Peter Cousins

19

GROBY SCOUTS enjoy being part of a rich history of Scouting in the United Kingdom and the rest of the world.

Scouting originally began in 1907 when Lieutenant General Robert BadenPowell took 21 boys to the first ever Scout camp at Brownsea Island in Dorset.

This camp was a test of the ideas for the book “Scouting for Boys” which was later published in 1908. The camp itself was a phenomenal success and triggered an amazing sequence of events that led to the global youth organisation of Scouting that we know today – 28 million people involved in Scouting around the globe!

73rd Groby Scout Group was founded in 1950 and has grown from strength to strength since then. Scouts, both boys and girls, enjoy the traditional scouting values that the organisation promotes and take part in a multitude of activities designed to teach new skills and encourage fun and social interaction.

Camping and outdoor adventure is without doubt one of the most fun activities and the Scouts take part in lots of this throughout the year! 2016 was packed full of camping and outdoor activities including group camps with other sections – Scouts learnt skills including firelighting, backwoods cooking, orienteering, and pioneering; they slept in tents, hammocks, and bivouacs; and they “survived” all weathers including snow, rain, and sun!

This year - 2017 - is set to be more of the same – lots of outdoor adventure and fun for all concerned. Keep an eye on the Spotlight and we’ll keep you updated throughout the year with what we get up to!

Finding love is also a vital ingredient for happiness. “People need to be needed, and to be in meaningful relationships”, says a recent study by the London School of Economics.

It goes on: “Happiness is hugely affected by the ethos of a society, which affects everyone in it. For example, happiness is higher in societies where people trust each other. Freedom is also a crucial determinant of happiness.”

The report also found that a boost in income, or more education, did not significantly affect our overall well-being. Having good mental health and someone to love were far more important.

Pay It Forward Competition

Adventure based facts about Scouts • • • • • • • •

More young people do adventurous activities as Scouts than with any other organisation.

No other organisation offers such a range of challenging or exciting activities as Scouting.

The youngest person to walk to the South Pole was a Scout (Andrew Cooney).

Each year 20,000 Scouts take part in the fitness challenge badge (and achieve it!)

Each year Scouts undertaking the Queen’s Scout Award walk the equivalent distance of once around the world.

Each year Scouts spend over 2 million nights away from home doing adventurous activities.

11 of the 12 people to walk on the moon were once Scouts.

You are never more than 10 miles from a Scout Meeting Place – adventure is accessible.

We received just ONE entry to the Pay It Forward competition.

The sender was Marie Kirby.

Marie wins a brand new copy of the Pay It Forward DVD.

Mike Wilkinson

• YIS (Yours in Scouting)

Andy Stone – ACSL IF YOU WOULD like to get involved, as a Leader or Helper, then please contact The Group Scout Leader by emailing gsl@ grobyscouts.org.uk – we are always looking for volunteers who can help so that we can continue to grow the group and offer the scouting experience to even more children.

Don’t forget to send us your news!

Thanks.

I never make the same mistake twice. I make it 5 or 6 times, just to be sure.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Surgery Patients Group NEWSLETTER Norovirus - hand washing is more effective than alcohol gels

•

dehydration, such as a dry mouth or dark urine .

Adults can take antidiarrhoeal and/or anti-vomiting medication – but check the medicine leaflet or ask or your pharmacist or GP for advice before trying them.

How to help stop the virus spreading

WE ARE in the middle of the norovirus season, the bug that gives us those unpleasant vomiting and diarrhoea symptoms. Apparently it’s the worst outbreak for 5 years.

If you experience sudden diarrhoea and vomiting, the best thing to do is to stay at home until you’re feeling better. There’s no cure, so you have to let it run its course. You don’t normally need to see your GP if you think you or your child has norovirus, as there’s no specific treatment for it and antibiotics won’t help because it’s caused by a virus. If you’re concerned or need advice call NHS 111 or your GP. When to get medical advice • if you or your child have a serious underlying condition, such as kidney disease, and have diarrhoea and vomiting • if your baby or child has passed six or more watery stools in the past 24 hours, or has vomited three times or more in the past 24 hours • if your baby or child is less responsive, feverish, or has pale or mottled skin • if you or your child has symptoms of severe dehydration, such as persistent dizziness, only passing small amounts of urine or no urine at all, or reduced consciousness • if you have bloody diarrhoea • if your symptoms haven’t started to improve after a few days.

So what can be done?

•

• • • •

Drink more than usual to replace the fluids lost – as well as water, adults could also try fruit juice and soup. Avoid giving fizzy drinks or fruit juice to children as it can make their diarrhoea worse. Babies should continue to feed as usual, either with breast milk or other milk feeds.

Take paracetamol for any fever or aches and pains.

Get plenty of rest.

Eat plain foods, such as soup, rice, pasta and bread.

Use special rehydration drinks from pharmacies if you have signs of

Stay off work or school until at least 48 hours after the symptoms have passed and avoid visiting anyone in hospital during this time.

Alcohol hand gels do not kill the virus so wash your hands frequently and thoroughly, particularly after using the toilet and before preparing food. Avoid eating raw unwashed produce.

Don’t share towels and flannels and wash on a hot wash separately any items of clothing or bedding that could have become contaminated.

Thoroughly flush the toilet and clean the surrounding area and disinfect any surfaces or objects that could be contaminated.

It can be difficult not to pick up the infection if you have close contact with someone with norovirus as they may breathe out small particles containing the virus that you could inhale. The virus can survive outside the body for several days on contaminated surfaces or objects but the risks to you and your family can be reduced by ensuring that everyone washes their hands thoroughly.

This information has been summarised from www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Norovirus/ where you’ll find more about norovirus.

A mountain of waste medicines

order what you need and let your GP or pharmacist know if you’ve stopped taking any of your medicines. Stopping taking a medicine without getting advice might have serious repercussions for your health. Medicines taken incorrectly or unused could result in worsening symptoms and extra treatments that could have been avoided. Try not to stockpile your medication.

Once you leave a pharmacy your medicines cannot be recycled or used by anyone else, and any you return later are destroyed. It’s better if you check before you leave the pharmacy and hand back any medication that you have no intention of taking, remembering to discuss this with your GP. If you do have unused medicines don’t pass them on and never dispose of them by flushing down the toilet or putting into the rubbish bin. You can take unused medicines to any pharmacy for safe disposal.

There are, of course, always some extreme cases which fit into the “fact is stranger than fiction” category.

One patient whose condition was deteriorating was asked to demonstrate how she was using her inhaler. In response she sprayed it into the air like an air freshener. Over 94 inhalers worth £3000 were found in one patients home and in another half a waste bin of unused medication.

This waste is an unnecessary cost that the NHS hopes can be reduced or even eliminated.

There are other costs linked to prescribing that were in the news recently when it was announced that patients living in East Leicestershire and Rutland can no longer get a range of medicines on prescription.

Patients in that area needing some items which are available over the counter will now have to buy them in supermarkets or pharmacies.

One of these drugs is the popular painkiller paracetamol, available from supermarkets for as little as 19p for a box of 16 pills or caplets.

The NHS spends more than £80m each year on paracetamol at an average cost of £3.83 per prescription. West Leicester Clinical Commissioning Group, which includes Groby Surgery, spent £1 million on paracetamol products in 2014/15 out of a total prescribing budget of £50m.

Acute Visiting Service EVERY YEAR about £10 million worth of unused medicines are returned to pharmacies for disposal.

The pharmacy returns are the tip of a waste iceberg, as it is estimated that around £90 million is stored in homes and £50 million worth is disposed of by care homes. The total has been estimated to be as high as £300 million.

It’s money that could be spent on nurses, hip replacements, cancer treatment, cataract operations or other essential treatments.

Around half of all medications returned to pharmacies have not even been opened, so patients are receiving medication that they don’t even start to use.

So how can we all help reduce this waste mountain?

When submitting repeat prescriptions only

MOST PATIENTS will see their GP for a consultation at the Surgery.

Sometimes patients are unable to attend the surgery and are judged to be in need of an urgent home visit, but not yet requiring emergency services such as an ambulance to attend.

Following a call to the surgery such cases can be referred to the Acute Visiting Service for timely support and treatment at home. It is available in the daytime on weekdays.

This is much more convenient for patients as in 90% of cases a transfer to Accident and Emergency, and the long wait to see a doctor that may result, is avoided.

Norman Griffiths

for Groby Surgery Patients Participation Group

We can talk to astronauts in space, but we can’t get phone reception in basements.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

It was twenty years ago today ...

Watch batteries and straps fitted while you wait All brands Waterproof testing available

Flashback to the local news in January 1996 BACK IN January 1996, one of the local village magazines covering Groby & Field Head was The Villager, and we’ve dug out an old copy to see what was happening back then.

Tel - 0116 236 2510 8 Bradgate Road, Anstey, LE7 7AA www.sykesjewellers.co.uk

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no

On the front page, there was news of a new traffic survey for Field Head, to ascertain whether a pedestrian crossing was required. The survey was in response to the increase in traffic levels due to the opening of the Leicester Western Bypass, and the weight restrictions which had been introduced on many roads in the Charnwood Forest area.

A light-controlled pedestrian crossing was later provided close to the Coach & Horses pub.

Another road safety story appeared on page 1 - this time concerning the possible closure of 10 openings in the central reservation of the A50 along Bradgate Hill.

A planning application for the erection of a visitor centre and public house on land between the Markfield Bypass and Leicester Road, Field Head had been received by Charnwood Borough Council.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council had announced that householders would have to pay to have surplus garden refuse taken away by their binmen.

There were some interesting letters on page 2 about the threats to the library service. Peter Oldroyd, Assistant Director of the Leics. Libraries & Information Service wrote to the Villager to defend the principle of borrowing books from libraries without charge. This was in response to an article in the magazine suggesting the imposing of a 5p charge per book loan.

The Villager used to carry a couple of humorous coloumns - Boris The Boffin and Fred’s Gripe - which sometimes generated a laugh and a response from readers. In the January 1996 issue, Boris was applying his unique lateral thinking powers to the problem of overcoming water shortages by transporting snow to top up reservoirs. He also suggested harnessing the energy expended by gym equipment users by connecting the kit up to the National Grid. Another idea - to increase the turnout at elections - was to give every voter a free go in a National Lottery-style raffle on election days. The first 1,000 voters’names drawn out at random would win a nice prize. Whatever happened to Boris?

Another regular feature of the Villager’s content was a Horoscope Section compiled by Anne Harbour, a local clairvoyant and healer. The Jan 1996 issue carried predictions for the year.

Fans of country music also had their own column in The Villager.

‘Confederate’s Country’ was a regular round-up of the local country music scene, put together by Groby resident, Ernie Twells.

Borough Council news was brought to us by Matthew Lay, who still writes a regular column in the Groby Spotlight’s sister magazine, The Herald. The subject of Matthew’s article in Jan 1996 was ‘Getting a fair deal from our Borough Council’ and he was working closely with borough councillors from Groby, Ratby, Bagworth and Thornton to obtain a fairer share of borough council funding for the more rural areas of the borough.

A quick glance through the adverts revealed some familiar local businesses; the Field Head Hotel, Cook’s Farm Shop, Yeomans Decorators and Anstey & District Funeral Directors appeared in the Villager - they are also in this issue of Groby Spotlight. Thanks for your support!

The magazine was printed by Norwood Press - as is the Groby Spotlight.

It’s fascinating to look back at how some things have changed and others have stayed more or less the same over this twenty-year period.

21

Pollarded, Reduced & Shaped Hedgerows Cut, Laid or Removed Fencing (all types) Logs for sale

Extensions - Porches - Repointing

Tel: 01604 563021 (Mobile) Harvey or Min: 07966 505688 www.hm-landscapes.com

If YOUR local business has recently celebrated a notable anniversary, send us details and we’ll mention you in a future issue. Fabulous!

I went to the Missing Persons Bureau to make a report. No one was there.

22

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

First multi-faith homeless shelter is opened THE FIRST multi-faith homeless shelter started in Leicester late last year.

Sir Cliff’s faith ‘even stronger’ after ordeal

More than 200 volunteers from six different faith groups took part in the One Roof Leicester initiative, which involved moving around different faith venues over 11 weeks, as it provides food and emergency accommodation for ten rough sleepers each night.

The shelter brings together Anglican, Catholic, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim and Sikh groups across the area. The project is funded by the charities Human Appeal and Housing Justice and Near Neighbours, administered by Church Urban Fund.

Retro desserts

WHAT WAS the favourite dessert of your childhood?

Ever hanker for some of it now?

Then you are not alone: retro desserts are back in fashion.

Waitrose has reported that sales of trifles have soared 34 per cent in the last year. Sales of profiteroles are also on the increase. It all points to a trend for consumer nostalgia, which seems set to continue this year.

Anyone want bread and butter pudding? Some apple crumble, perhaps?

SIR CLIFF RICHARD has said that after nearly two years facing false sexual assault allegations, his faith in God has become ‘even stronger’.

Sir Cliff was speaking in a recent interview with Steve Allen on LBC. He said that learning to forgive his accuser was for him the turning point that helped him release ‘all that hate and anger’. And the support of friends who believed in him and stood by him was of critical help.

During the two year ordeal, “I found I was talking to God a lot more, praying. I felt the need to forgive this person, who I am sure I have never met, because I found myself being filled with hate. I wanted to get revenge, and I thought, ‘I don’t think I’m going to survive this if that’s the way I’m going to feel.’ So by forgiving him… it released me of all that hate and vengeance. Forgiving is not a simple thing to do, but when I look back, my God, that was the best simple thing I have ever done.”

The singer said he felt he has become a ‘stronger person’, and even now, at 76, has no plans to retire. Instead he plans to downsize his career and make it ‘more compact’.

Every Saturday morning 10.00am—12.30pm

Catch meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer 9.30-11.30am every Friday at Groby URC Chapel Hill Fair Cuppa for FairTrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs.

Every Thursday 10.3012am at the Village Hall

Beware the wrong cola

FEBRUARY is the month of romance, but sometimes the path of love is not smooth.

If your partner begins buying an alternative to your favourite brand in anything from soft drinks to toothpaste to shampoo, beware.

This could be a wake-up call to you that your partner is unhappy in the relationship.

Researchers at the University of New Hampshire have found that people who feel undervalued or ignored in a relationship are likely to buy a brand that is the opposite to what their partner would have wanted. For example, a woman with a poor level of ‘relationship power’ might feel resentful of all the housework she has been left to do, but feel unable to speak out, in case it sparks a row with her more dominant partner. And so she buys him Diet Pepsi instead of his usual Diet Coke. She is “using brand choice as a form of behaviour to deal with conflict” in her relationship.

Seen a good film or show recently?

Send us your REVIEW! Email info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Thanks!

Weekly events for children and young people

for 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings, at 6.00pm or 7.45pm; for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm; for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm.

We meet at the United Reformed Church All of these activities, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Youth Worker Children and Families Worker

Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Ruth Cross 07759 087804 John Fryer 07540 957926

The good thing about having a bad memory is that jokes can be funny more than once.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk CONSIDERING my feet right up to Christmas hadn’t touched the floor, the WI has had a quiet month. That is if you discount the two big events which have taken place.

In early December we had a visit to Haddon Hall in Derbyshire.

Quite a few ladies had visited there in the past but nobody, I believe, had been to the Hall at Christmas.

A full coach load of ladies all warmly dressed - as the weather when we left Groby was quite foggy and extremely damp. Most of the journey up was through the same miserable fog, often obscuring the normally lovely countryside. We arrived in good time. The car park is across the road from the Hall, which meant a trek up to the actual Hall itself but a mini bus was available for those unable to make the climb.

On arrival we had the accustomed, cuppa and biscuit. I must admit the biscuits had mixed reviews, mine was ok, then into the Hall itself. Haddon Hall, I am informed, is probably the finest example of a fortified medieval manor house in existence. The Hall, as we see it today, dates from the 12th Century to the early 17th Century. After that it was unused until the 1920s, when the 9th Duke and Duchess of Rutland restored the house and gardens, and once again made it habitable.

The Christmas advertisement said that it was set as an English Renaissance Christmas. “The fires shall roar, garlands shall shroud, fir will adorn and gold will glisten.”

They also said that we should hear music, demonstrations and have various other entertainments. The Hall itself is practically empty, a huge baronial type of place. It had in some rooms great fires but with all the doors open it was just as cold inside as outside. The place itself is, I think, lovely, very different to its neighbour the splendid Chatsworth.

As we wandered around there

23

Christmas meeting

Haddon Hall visit, our Christmas Party and we have a new President!

were two ladies, dressed in medieval costumes acting out quotes from Shakespeare, I think. Apart from dressings of holly, ivy and some candles there was little else. However, it did have atmosphere. It is not a place for those with walking difficulties as the steps climbing to the entrance are truly medieval and well worn.

After our tour around, we made our way to the marquee to have our lunch.

One or two ladies dared to have a walk outside. There is a beautiful river and they say, the gardens in summer are lovely but all I could see was the damp fog. The Christmas shop was full of some delightful things, one lady bought a big beautiful peacock (stuffed of course) she fancied, very pretty with lovely plumes. Back onto the coach for our journey back. A shorter visit than usual but in winter we can only manage one attraction due to the short daylight hours.

Sometimes women are overly suspicious of their husbands ...

WHEN ADAM stayed out very late for a few nights, Eve became upset. “You’re running around with other women,” she charged.

“You’re being unreasonable,” Adam responded. “You’re the only woman on earth.” The quarrel continued until Adam fell asleep, only to be awakened by someone poking him in the chest. It was Eve. “What do you think you’re doing?” Adam demanded.

“Counting your ribs,” said Eve.

At our Christmas meeting, unfortunately I was not able to be there, but the best news of the evening was that we now have a new President. As I have explained previously, no President, no Institute.

Saint Angela Taylor is our new leader. Angela has been a member for some years but fortunately for us she has now retired, that is from her former work but is now in the process of beginning a new career in retirement. Who said retirement is for the old. Since I, and most of my friends, have retired, we now never have enough time to do all the things we promised ourselves we would do. Still most of us appear happy to keep busy.The party was a proper Christmassy one. There was the singing of carols and our own Judy entertaining the ladies as only she can with readings of various festive verses etc. In between the singing and Judy, Diane had made a lovely cheese supper with of course, wine or if you were strong willed enough to stick to, soft drinks. I was told the whole hall looked very festive with thanks due to the team of ladies who made it look so. It was a very pleasant and happy ‘do’, especially as we now know our Institute will survive, I think it put the cherry on the party.

Forthcoming events During 2017 we shall have, as usual, a variety of speakers and events. Just to wet your appetite we have “Reflections in Rhyme; Love Food Hate Waste; Judge and Jury; Colourful Characters of Bradgate Park and our charity one When you wish upon a star”.

Our next meeting is John Flanner who will tell us about “What it feels like to go blind as a teenager”. I have been told he is very amusing.

This is, of course, at the Village Hall on the l9th January at 7.30 p.m. I have heard good reports about this gentleman so it should be good. So come along, everyone welcome.

On behalf of Groby WI ladies may I wish all readers (I hope we have a few who still put up with my ramblings!) A VERY HAPPY 2017.

Margaret

Appearances are not everything, it just LOOKS like they are.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

‘Meeting Hazel was spellbinding’ says Stephen Mulhern A SLIMMING WORLD Consultant from Groby has got the magic touch when it comes to weight loss this New Year, according to TV presenter Stephen Mulhern.

Hazel Hickson, who runs a Slimming World group at Brookvale High School, Leicester and Groby Community Centre, Groby every Thursday, was delighted to get a chance to cuddle up to Stephen when he presented the annual Slimming World Awards. He co-hosted the event with the organisation’s founder and chair Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE. Hazel said meeting Stephen was a wonderful way to round off a great 12 months for the Groby Slimming World group, as well as a brilliant way to get ready for another successful year: “I couldn’t be prouder of the members of the Groby group. They’ve lost fantastic amounts of weight throughout 2016, with many of them making their weight loss dreams come true by hitting their target weight, improving their health and confidence, and more.

“It’s so rewarding to see people being able to do things that they didn’t think possible before losing weight, whether that’s having more energy and confidence, wearing smaller clothes, taking up new hobbies, reducing medication or doing more with their family and friends. Every week I feel so lucky to play even a small part in people’s achievements and I felt very honoured to represent the Groby Slimming World group when I met Stephen. He was bowled over by the difference Slimming World makes to people and how it changes their lives, so meeting him has re-inspired me and now I feel super motivated to support even more people in Groby to lead healthier, happier lives in 2017.”

Stephen, who presents Catchphrase, Britain’s Got More Talent and Big Star’s Little Stars, said he was thrilled to meet Hazel at the event, which was held at Birmingham’s International Convention Centre.

He added: “I’m known for my magic tricks and there was definitely magic in the air at the Slimming World Awards. The stories I heard from people who had lost amazing amounts of weight and transformed themselves – inside and out – were so inspirational. So many slimmers talked about how their weight loss has allowed them to start really living and be the people that they always dreamed of being – doing things they previously thought they couldn’t, from running for miles to playing with their children and grandchildren.

“Every one of them spoke passionately about how they felt that they couldn’t have achieved everything they had or made the changes they have to eat more healthily and become more active without the support, advice and encouragement of their group each and every week. So people like Hazel are clearly very important.”

“Lots of people will be making resolutions to lose weight and improve their health this New Year. I truly believe that joining a local Slimming World group is the best way for people to lose weight and learn new habits. Thanks to our Food Optimising eating plan they’ll see big results on the scales without ever having to feel hungry or deprived, and at the Groby group they’ll discover a whole world of support and advice that’s sure to help them reach their targets – and have a lot of fun along the way, too!

I’d love anyone who’s thinking about losing weight this January to join us at Brookvale High School, Leicester and Groby Community Centre, Groby every Thursday.”

To live happy with Slimming World in 2017 call Hazel on 07817 303018 or visit www.slimmingworld.co.uk to find your nearest group.

Of all the martial arts, karaoke inflicts the most pain.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics.

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Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press.

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NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 18th February 2017 DEADLINE: 4th February

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Uncertain future for Arriva 28 bus to Groby?

Norman Griffiths hears that a review of Groby’s bus services is underway THE FUTURE of the hourly Arriva service 28 from Leicester St Margaret’s bus station may be in the balance. Passenger numbers have dropped and the company is conducting a review of local services.

“All of the bus services provided by Arriva in Leicestershire are operated on a commercial basis; that is to say that they rely entirely on the passengers they carry for revenue generation as they receive no financial support from Leicestershire County Council,” explained a spokesman for Arriva. “There are of course ever increasing pressures on our operating costs for us to deal with.”

Severe traffic congestion in and around Leicester has meant that the company has found it necessary to add extra vehicles to some services to maintain the same frequency because each timetabled journey is taking longer to operate. Arriva believes that slower journey times discourages use of public transport, so congestion can have quite an impact on the business in several ways. The network of services is regularly reviewed to ensure that the published timetables are achievable as well as making sure that services are operating along routes where customer demand is sufficient to ensure financial viability. Readers will recall that the route of service 26 to Coalville was changed to avoid the residential area off Ratby Road and cut the runs every two hours. The service journey time by a few minutes. also calls at Houghton, Bushby, “We are presently reviewing the Billesdon and Tugby, and despite its A50 corridor group of services infrequency residents depend on it which pass through Groby,” the to get to work, school, college and spokesman added. “The main the doctors surgery.

Leicester – Groby – Markfield – Leicestershire and Rutland Greenhill – Whitwick – Coalville County Council have been actively route is busy and popular. exploring options on how best to Service 27 to and from Ratby is cater for local residents’ essential also well used. Service 28 is a needs but following the cuts to different matter, in particular the their income cannot provide a long Glebe Road, Pymm Ley Lane term subsidy. In order to ensure and Sycamore Drive section. On the Leicester-Uppingham 747 bus most days the total number of service operates for another year. customers using the service from they have agreed to spend £60,000, this area can be measured in single but currently have no plans to figures across all journeys over the extend the subsidy beyond January whole day. Whatever changes are 2018. decided upon we will consult with the Environment and Transport If Arriva decide that they cannot Department at Leicestershire make any changes which would County Council as well as other make the 28 service to Groby viable stakeholders.” it is unlikely that there would be any intervention by the County Council given the through services from Leicester to Coalville and Ratby that serve the village.

The County Council, however, Despite having free bus travel,a no longer has adequate funding report by Age UK highlights growing to support unprofitable routes in isolation among older people as the long term. Across the other services are reduced or withdrawn. side of Leicester Centrebus face Many rely entirely on public similar problems and in November transport to visit friends and family announced the withdrawal of or for shopping, access healthcare service 747 from Leicester to and community events. Reduced Uppingham from January 8th services may mean a long walk to 2017. It is said that initially this the bus stop. route ran between Leicester and “Free bus travel for older people Peterborough every hour, but it has been a great success and has now terminates at Uppingham and

County Council cash is limited

Thirty three of the 37 seats were empty all the way on this 11.25am bus to Groby on Saturday 7th January. enabled the millions who use the concession to lead active lives,” said Gillian Merron, Chair of Bus Users UK. “Older and retired people make a huge contribution to society, undertaking volunteering and providing vital childcare support to family members who wouldn’t otherwise be able to return to work.

What this report proves is that when bus services are cut it isn’t just older people who suffer – we all suffer.”

In a Lancashire village the number of buses has reduced from 111 a week to five school buses. So one resident resorted to hitch-hiking from the bus stop in a hi-visibility jacket. “The company which ran the buses stopped doing it because

they weren’t being subsidised,” he said, “and the local authority says it hasn’t got the money to keep subsidising them and that is down to the government. But the government has billions to spend on HS2 trains. Our bus costs would be pennies compared to that.”

Editor’s note - this article was written in December before Arriva announced the proposed withdrawal of the service as outlined in the County Councillors report on page 8 ...>

Men go up nearly a stone IF YOU think those old photographs of you make you look slimmer, you are probably right: men today weigh on average 13s 5lb, almost a stone more than those 20 years ago, while women are on average 11st 3lb, or three quarters of a stone heavier.

The study by Cancer Research UK warns that soaring obesity levels are risking lives. Yet excess weight is the largest preventable cause of cancer, after smoking.

Lady Gaga is so famous, even babies know her name.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report Order Will Protect Public Spaces

TED AND I hope you had a Merry Christmas and wish you a Very Happy New Year.

We would both like to thank the Spotlight for giving us the opportunity to keep you updated with what is happening in Groby throughout 2016 in our monthly article.

As we enter the New Year immediate challenges to face us are the Klondike appeal that will be rescheduled in the near future, moving forward with a permanent solution to the whole Klondike site. Also the planning application to change domestic garages into business premises, numerous enforcement issues etc. etc.

Basic Facts about Groby Being your Borough Councillor (Councillor Cartwright) over the last ten years one of the most common issues I have faced is the fact that Groby residents feel disconnected and forgotten about by the Borough Council being so far away from the heart of the Borough. This of course is true in the main but some of the facts and figures below may surprise you!

Groby is one of the 16 wards of Hinckley & Bosworth. It has an area of 831.08 hectares which represents 2.79% of the local authority area of Hinckley & Bosworth RESIDENTS: Groby has a resident population of 6,796 which represents 6.47% of the total local authority population of 105,078.

AGE: The mean age of the Groby population is 42 years which is equal to the mean age of 42 years for residents in the whole local authority.

The biggest single group age band is Age 45 – 59. Results produced from the Census 2011.

HOUSEHOLDS: Groby’s resident population is 51.1% female and 48.9% male. Groby has 2,825 households, which represents 6.23% of Hinckley & Bosworth’s 45,377 households. The ward has 279 with dependent children aged 0 to 4.

That represents 9.88% of the ward’s households. 810 households in the ward have dependent children of all ages. That represents 28.67% of the ward’s households.

HEALTH: Groby has 159 (2.34%) residents in poor health and 47 (0.69%) residents in very bad health. Its ranking for the number of residents in very bad health is 5th (out of 16 wards) within Hinckley and Bosworth, 422nd (out of 891) within the East Midlands, and 2,937th (out of 7,107) within England.

EDUCATION: Groby’s highest level of educational qualifications achieved by the biggest group of Groby residents is Level 4 qualifications and above, which applies to 29.80%. Level

Martin Cartwright Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 078 50 70 70 50 E-mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk Write: Maverick House, 10 Pine Tree Avenue Groby, LE6 0EQ 4 qualifications 1,677, Level 3 qualifications 731, Level 2 qualifications 918, Level 1 Qualifications 756. Apprenticeship 303. Lastly no qualifications 1,025.

ETHNICITY: The largest ethnic group is residents who are white with 91.3% of the ward’s population. That compares with 96.5% for the local authority as a whole, 89.3% for the East Midlands and 85.4% for the whole of England. The second largest ethnic group is residents who are Asian/Asian British with 6.7% of the ward’s population. That compares with 2.15 for the local authority as a whole, 6.5% for East Midlands and 7.8% for the whole of England.

Hinckley and District Museum Success Hot on the heels of increased visitor figures for the past season, Hinckley and District Museum is celebrating another tremendous success. The Museum has been officially accredited as a registered Museum for the next four years by Arts Council England.

This accolade comes after a lot of hard work by Museum volunteers and effectively is the industry standard for the Museum. It’s the equivalent of the Museum winning a gold medal at the Olympics or an organisation reaching the gold standard in its particular field.

Speaking about the development, Ann Crabtree, Chairman of the Museum said: “This may seem like a small step for most people but

Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY for the Museum it is a big deal. Our work has been scrutinised by a national body, we have met every standard put in front of us with flying colours and it’s a tribute to the Museum volunteers who give collectively hundreds of hours to the cause.

“Running a Museum is not a simple task but we are proving that we are up to the challenge and more”.

The standards achieved by the Museum are critical to the Museum seeking major and substantial funding for its plans to extend Museum facilities onto the adjacent vacant land.

This is not the first time the Museum has achieved this standard but the renewal of the registration shows that the town has a venue that can hold its own with much larger and extensive Museums across the country.

Mrs Crabtree added:” Given that the Museum is also a quality assured visitor attraction by Visit England it is clear that the Museum provides a great experience for visitors.

Our 2017 displays will again be an exciting mix of the history of the area from all ages – with brand new exhibits on what the Romans did for Hinckley, three famous brewers, a forgotten local war hero and our very own Dambuster hero – Geoffrey Rice DSO. I encourage all those people who have never yet been to the Museum to break their duck in 2017.

“They will not be disappointed”.

Steps are being taken to help tackle the problems associated with public drinking, the taking of drugs and socalled ‘legal highs’ in all public areas of the borough.

The Borough Council is introducing a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO), after the public supported the introduction of the new powers in a consultation earlier this year.

A PSPO is a new measure, created by the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which is intended to deal with activities carried out in a public space that have a detrimental effect on the local community’s quality of life.

Now the council is installing signs in parks and other public spaces throughout the borough to warn potential offenders that restrictions are in place with the aim of preventing individuals or groups committing anti-social behaviour in public spaces.

A breach of the PSPO is a criminal offence and can result in a £100 fixed penalty fine. More serious offences can lead to prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.

The same legislation will also be used to tackle irresponsible dog owners who do not pick up after their pets, or who do not have their pets under control, as well as help prevent a wider range of other environmental nuisances that are currently tricky to curtail.

The PSPO replaces the existing ‘No Drinking’ order that applies to certain areas of the borough and will be far broader covering the town centre and all public areas throughout the borough.

Chief executive Steve Atkinson Retires The Chief Executive of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Mr Steve Atkinson retired on 31st December 2016.

The Deputy Chief Executive Mr Bill Cullen takes over the role of Chief Executive from 1st January 2017.

Ted and I wish Mr Cullen the best of luck in his new role and look forward to working with him on the various challenges we will face.

We Are Here To Help You Should you have any comments or problems you would like us to mention in our articles please get in touch.

Please remember if we can ever be of service to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact us, our details are listed above.

Kind regards

Martin Cartwright & Ted Hollick

I’m really a very persuasive person. I can convince myself of anything.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

27

Housebuilders delivering Issued On Behalf Of Leicestershire Police more, bigger homes- with Kayleigh’s Love Story is 100,000 extra bedrooms now online NEW ANALYSIS shows how the housebuilding industry is not only building more homes, but is building bigger homes with more bedrooms. HBF’s report, Goodness Spacious Me, shows that the number of bedrooms built increased from 385,000 in 2008/09 to 478,000 in 2015/16.

A FILM about how a 15-year-old Leicestershire schoolgirl was groomed online by a stranger and subsequently raped and murdered has been made available to watch online.

This was largely as a result of the shift to building more family homes. Over the same period the percentage of flats built dropped from 50% of the new homes in 2008/9 to just 25%, whilst the number of houses increased from, 80,000 to 120,000. The average size of a new build homes increased by nearly 15% from an estimated 801 Square feet to 918 square feet.

The report underlines how housing supply has rebounded since the shattering financial crash of 2008/09 that saw many house builders disappear and others shedding up to 50% of their staff. As a result of a more positive economic and policy environment the industry has rapidly increased the number and type of homes it has built to better match demand. Indeed, whilst more dwellings were built in 2006/7, the number of houses produced last year far outstripped that of a decade ago.

The shift towards more spacious homes with additional bedrooms makes the speed of increases in house building even more impressive. It also reflects the change in Government policy. Through the early 2000s policy and planning guidance concentrated development on high density urban brownfield site. But the acute shortage of family housing dictated a shift. The introduction of the Help to Buy Equity Loan scheme and the more positive National Planning Policy Framework planning system have allowed the industry to increase output and deliver more of the type of homes that people need.

Stewart Baseley, executive chairman of the Home Builders Federation said:“The report illustrates the huge increase we have seen in house building since the devastating economic crash of 2008/09 but this is more than just a numbers game. We have an acute housing crisis that can only be solved by building more of the right homes in the right places. Government policy has allowed the industry to focus on responding to the needs of buyers in this regard and, as a result, the industry has delivered huge increases in supply over the last three years.The industry is planning to deliver further increases in output. By addressing the entrenched problems with planning and developing further positive policies to promote development the Government can help maintain this momentum.”

Kayleigh’s Love Story was made to serve as a warning of grooming and sexual exploitation to children and parents following the tragic death of Measham’s Kayleigh Haywood in November 2015.

Since September 2016, Leicestershire Police has been showing the film to secondary schoolchildren in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland in tightlycontrolled screenings run by a team of eight, specially-trained Police Community Support Officers.

On Tuesday January 3, the five-and-a-half minute film was made available for public viewing on Leicestershire Police’s website, YouTube channel and Facebook account.

A signed version, an audio described version and versions of the film translated into five languages – Polish, Hindi, Guajarati, Urdu and Punjabi – will also available on the force’s YouTube page.

Since school screenings began in September, the film has been watched by more than 35,000 local pupils aged 11 and above. Following these screening, 35 “disclosures” have been made by children to the police and these are currently being investigated.

Filmed over five days by Affixxius Films of Loughborough with a professional cast, the film tells how Kayleigh received an unsolicited message via Facebook from 27-year-old Ibstock resident Luke Harlow.

During the next 13 days, Harlow bombarded Kayleigh with messages containing expressions of bogus affection before she finally agreed to spend the evening at his house. She ended up staying there for some 36 hours before fleeing in the early hours, only to be pursued by Harlow’s neighbour 28-year-old Stephen Beadman.

A short while later, Beadman dragged Kayleigh into some nearby woods, where he raped and then murdered the schoolgirl.

Leicestershire’s Deputy Chief Constable Roger Bannister said: “Since controlled screenings of the film began, we have been overwhelmed by the positive reaction from children, parents, teachers and partner agencies.

“We have also been inundated with requests for the full version of the film from individuals and organisations throughout the world.

“What happened to Kayleigh was horrific but we are pleased that some good is coming from the awful tragedy and that this film is raising far greater awareness of the dangers of online grooming and the signs that it may be happening. They are signs that we can all look out for and do something about - before it is too late.”

Kayleigh’s Love Story is the centrepiece of an on-going Leicestershire Police campaign called CEASE which aims to eradicate the sexual abuse of children across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

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Don’t be late with your tax return!

HOPEFULLY your tax return will be in by the end of the month.

If not, what excuse will you give?

Paperwork destroyed in a yacht fire, and a wasp attack in a car were among the top ten excuses that HMRC received last year to explain late tax returns. Another was: ‘ I could not complete my tax return because my husband left me and took our accountant with him.’ Late returns incur an initial £100 fine, which escalates over time.

I wish exams came with a 50/50 and a phone a friend option.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Is this Leicester’s worst view?

Norman Griffiths looks behind the Corn Exchange WHEN THE FLAT expanse of car parking at the end of High Street in Leicester was redeveloped into the flat expanse of mainly concrete and grass that is Jubilee Square the upside was that it opened up a view of Wygston’s House, the oldest complete timberframed building in the city.

This new square is part of the City Council’s Connecting Leicester initiative which aims to “establish more attractive and accessible physical connections to join up retail, leisure and entertainment with the city’s heritage via improved pedestrian and cycle ways and bus routes.”

The demolition of the old indoor market and the creation of another new open space behind the Corn Exchange in Leicester market place is also part of the project. But some may find it strange that, instead of relocating part of the market to the demolition site and opening up a piazza and view of the front of the Corn Exchange, the Council is busily paving behind the building. The removal of the indoor market has exposed the rear of the Corn Exchange, revealing what must surely qualify as one of the worst views in Leicester. There appears to be a plan to renovate the back of the building, but it is unlikely that sitting in the new square could ever compete with the view if sitting at the front of the the Grade II listed building.

The Story of Leicester website explains that the ground floor of the present building, designed by architect William Flint, was built in 1850 as a one-storied market hall and a place for dealing in grain. “In 1856 an upper floor was added by Leicester architect, F W Ordish as temporary housing for the magistracy. To avoid spoiling the new building by adding an internal staircase, Ordish designed a spectacular two flight external stone staircase leading to a central upper doorway. Although many local people disliked it intensely when it was first erected, the arch double staircase has come to be much admired among architects.” Ordish also added a decorative clock tower which is positioned centrally above the doorway and which stands as a prominent landmark in the market place.

The weather vane on the Clock tower is a Wyvern, a mythical bird and the crest of the City’s arms.

But the vision of the planners seems to be that visitors won’t want to sit with a coffee or something stronger looking at the front of the Corn Exchange but will enjoy instead sitting on a first or second floor balcony at the back looking out over the new square. The artist’s illustration shows a transformation. Gone is the existing unsightly hotchpotch of brickwork and utilities and instead there is to be a new rear facade that nods at the features of the existing building but is updated with wide crescent shaped balconies serving refreshments. So hopefully this won’t be a contender for the Worst View in Leicester for much longer, but the delivery of these projects does seem to take a long time. In the meantime if you have identified an even worse view than the rear of the Corn Exchange don’t keep it to yourself. Send it in to the Spotlight and share it with other readers.

If you want to see how the site may be transformed go to www.leicestermarket.co.uk/market-development/project/ market-development and click the link below the slide show to download the more detailed document. If you just want to see the colour photographs go to www.grobyonline.tk and follow the market place regeneration link.

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• TV GLASS TABLE Price: £10.

Delivery available in local villages Tel: 07802 463660 IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone.

Maximum FIVE items please. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight. co.uk. Please put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line, and include your postal address (not for publication).

UK is a ‘digital desert’

EVER WONDER why you can’t get a signal when out and about?

It is because Britain has worse mobile internet coverage than Romania, Albania and Peru. In fact, the UK suffers from vast ‘digital deserts’ which leave some 20 per cent of urban homes and 80 per cent of rural premises currently ‘not-spots’ for 4G coverage.

A recent investigation by the Government’s National Infrastructure Commission has found that the UK is in 54th position in global rankings for 4G, with typical users able to access the service only 53 per cent of the time.

It warns that Britain is ‘languishing in the digital slow lane’, and that even major city centres are lacking full coverage.

Jane Austen – well worth her weight in coins and bank-notes!

THE MUCH-LOVED novelist Jane Austen is about to make history. 200 years after her death, she will appear simultaneously on a British coin and a British bank note.

That means that only the Queen, who as head of state must be depicted on British currency, will be more prevalent.

The Royal Mint has chosen Jane Austen as the new image for its commemorative £2 coin. About five million will be released into mass circulation sometime this Spring. At about the same time, the Bank of England will release its new, plastic, unrippable £10 note, with Jane Austen replacing Charles Darwen.

Historians cannot recall the last time a figure other than the reigning monarch appeared on both coins and notes at the same time. The release of both coins and notes will be in step with the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen’s death, in the summer of 1817, at the age of just 41.

Did Bruno Mars end up catching that grenade because I haven’t heard from him in a while?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Smartphones and other screen devices dangerous for children’s health

KEEP AN eye on how long your children spend on their smartphones, tablets, videogames or computers each day.

Those who spend more than five hours a day on gadgets have a 43 per cent increased chance of obesity, according to a recent study at Harvard.

Such children are also twice as likely to drink too many sugary drinks, get too little exercise, and suffer from sleep deprivation.

The advice is that: “Daytime use should be reasonable but sparing, and bedtime to breakfast should be off limits.”

A recent study found that British children are among the least active in the world. Just 15 per cent of girls aged 1115 achieve the Government guidelines of at least an hour of moderate intensity physical activity per day. The figure is 22 per cent for boys.)

A Priceless Find – by accident!

SEVENTY years ago next month a couple of shepherds in the hills above Qumran near the Dead Sea idly threw a stone into what they thought was an empty cave. When they heard the sound of smashing pottery they searched inside, and found the most important biblical discovery of the century.

Their stone had led them to what became known as the Dead Sea Scrolls, manuscripts of the entire Hebrew Bible except for the book of Esther, stored in clay vessels. The scrolls were the work of a religious community called the Essenes, who lived near that site before and during the life of Jesus.

As scholars slowly unraveled them – and that task took decades - they discovered that they were handling manuscripts of the Bible which were hundreds of years older than any we had previously possessed. Most of the biblical manuscripts on which our translations had previously been based were copies of copies, carefully crafted in monasteries over the centuries by people dedicated to preserving the sacred text. But inevitably, in the process, there were occasional slips in the copying, and at times it’s obvious that those who were doing it didn’t understand the words they were copying.

So, in February 1947, the world had access to a much older and therefore more accurate record of the Jewish Scriptures – the Bible of Jesus and the first Christians. The most remarkable thing is actually how few ‘mistakes’ there were, seeing the centuries of copying – and not one that seriously affects our fundamental understanding of the Bible.

Those two shepherds 70 years ago ensured that we today have a Bible text which is as close to the original as one could ever hope to get. I’m glad they threw the stone into the right cave!

Join the Public!

‘WHEN I arrived at the scene, a member of the public was assisting the victim’.

We all recognize that as ‘policespeak’. To a police officer the world consists of other officers, paramedics, members of the armed forces and this mysterious identity, ‘member of the public’.

I’m one, and so probably are you. But when did I join? And what exactly is this club I belong to? I know what ‘public’ is – public toilets, public houses, public right of way. But all of those mean ‘for everybody’. How does one join ‘everybody’?

It can get odder. The word ‘public’ derives from the amalgamation of two Latin words: ‘people’ and ‘adult’. So was I automatically enrolled as a ‘member of the public’ when I was born, or when I became an adult? I’m very happy to be a member of the public (along with all the other bodies I voluntarily belong to). But it would help to know what the terms and conditions of membership are, and what the subscription is.

David Winter

To Advertise in Groby Spotlight, contact Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or send an email to: info@ grobyspotlight. co.uk

Doesanyoneknowwhatthatlongthingatthebottomofthekeyboardisfor?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Songs of the Spirit

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Songs from around the world that make your heart 'sing'

Songs of joy, liberation and peace with Christian roots Come and add your voice to the harmonies, no singing experience necessary All ages are welcome although we ask that parents help us maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

Led by local professional musician

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for more information contact Karen 07739 555015

LFE ÂŁ5 Film Night for February LFE Film Evenings will be showing on Thursday 2 February 2017 “Florence Foster Jenkinsâ€?.

Category: Biography/Drama/Romance (PG) UK 2016.

Running time: 1hr. 50min.

This film tells the inspirational true story of a New York heiress, Florence, who in the 1940s obsessively pursued her dream of becoming a great opera singer.

The voice she heard in her head was divine, but to the rest of the world it was hilariously awful. At private recitals, her devoted husband and manager, St Clair Bayfield, managed to protect Florence from the truth. But when Florence decided to give her first public concert at New York’s Carnegie Hall, St Clair realised he had perhaps bitten off more than he could chew.

Cast: Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant, John Sessions Venue: the Parish Hall, Kings Drive, LFE. Cost: ÂŁ5.

Doors open at 7.00pm; the showing commences at 7.30pm On arrival complimentary hot drink and biscuits are provided.

You also get a free raffle ticket: the winner gets a prize double-ticket for a future showing.

If you enjoyed reading this issue of Groby Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it.

Thanks!

Twitter is the only place where you’re thrilled when a complete stranger starts following you.

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