January 2017 herald final online

Happy New Year!

Mid-January 2017

Carol singing outside Markfield Co-op MEMBERS of ‘Churches Together in Markfield’ and friends had a rewarding and enjoyable time singing carols outside Markfield Co-op on Saturday 17th December.

This was the third occasion on which we have done this and we decided to sing for two one hour sessions, once in the morning and again in the afternoon.

A number of people joined us for one or more carols and those who passed by smiled and were wished Happy Christmas! It was a great opportunity to share the joy of Christmas with passers-by and shoppers, and we gave out almost two hundred leaflets telling the Christmas Story. It was also an opportunity for one or two of the group to talk to people and hopefully help to bring some cheer at what can be a lonely time of year for some. Several people asked if we were collecting donations but we explained that the idea was simply to share some carols at Christmas with the village. The weather was mild and all the singers were in good voice, with some part singing included! I heard afterwards that at least one person was able to listen from their house not too far away! We hope that it helped with the Christmas festivities for those who heard us.

Our thanks go again to the manager and staff of the Co-op for allowing us to hold the event and for their support, including bringing us out a box of chocolates which were very welcome! Thanks, too, to all those who took part.

Make sure that you watch out for the date for next year and do come and join us! Happy New Year to you all!

Christmas Charity Events in Stanton A CHRISTMAs Concert was held on Friday 16th December in St Mary & All Saints Church with The Stanton Under Bardon Singers & Musicians.

We raised £309.00 for The Alzheimers Society.

Thank you, to all those who supported this event.

On Monday 19th December the ‘Annual Carols Around the Village’ of Stanton Under Bardon took place, with 40 singers including children. We raised £371.17 for RAINBOWS Hospice for Children and Young People.

We would also like to say a big THANK YOU to the New Publicans Phil & Tom, in The Thatched Inn in the village for their hospitality following ‘Carols Round The Village’.With Best Wishes for the New Year 2017.

Gail & Peter Massey

Markfield Medical Centre Patient Participation Group

THE PATIENT Participation Group would like to invite patients to attend their Annual General Meeting which is being held on Monday 30th January at 5.30pm at Markfield surgery.

The Patient Participation Group is made up of a number of patients who have volunteered and are willing to engage and work with the practice to: • Contribute to the continuous improvement of services.

• Improve communication between the practice and its patients.

• Help patients take more responsibility for their health.

• Provide practical support and help to implement change.

The aim of the PPG is to create an environment which provides an opportunity to engage with patients in an open & constructive way.

We encourage you to come along to the meeting and find out more about what we do. All welcome.

Markfield Medical Centre and the Patient Participation Group wish you all a Happy New Year.

Have you lost an earring?

Found on Christmas Eve - a Ladies drop earring.

Adjacent to Paddocks/ Leicester Road.

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NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 18th February - Adverts & Articles Needed By 4th February

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Carolling around the Christmas tree!

So many people are touched by dementia.

PLEASE COME TO OUR FRIENDLY COFFEE MORNING at MARKFIELD LIBRARY at 11am on Wednesday 18th January.

Would you please spend just one hour to understand a little more about dementia?

It could help you, family, friends, neighbours - our whole community.

Our free, valuable and interesting Dementia Friends Information Session is just about asking everyone to understand a bit more about dementia and how we might make life that bit easier and more pleasant for those people who live with it.

Please do be a Dementia Friend.

ON FRIDAY December 9th at 7.15pm around 50 villagers and friends gathered on The Green in Markfield to sing carols around the Christmas Tree.

The lights shone brightly on the singers who were prepared with torches and glow sticks to read the words of the carols. As the carol sheets got rather wet last year, the ones for this year had been laminated in case it rained! However, the weather was kind and no rain fell. This was the second year that the Parish Council had organised this event and it was fantastic to see so many people, families and visitors, joining in the fun! There were people new to the village who had seen the event advertised in the Herald, and others who had stopped to sing on their way to other events.

Altogether it was a great way to start the Christmas festivities. Several children had made Christmas decorations which they hung on the tree.

After singing carols, we enjoyed mince pies and mulled apple juice in the Methodist church school room and were able to chat with friends and neighbours and catch up on news.

Many thanks go to all involved including the Parish council and the Methodist church for use of the church premises!

Watch out for details for this event next year!

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I’m not convinced about the popularity of Advent calendars. I think their days are numbered.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Another December, another lovely Christmas Concert at St. Peter’s!

WE ENJOYED a real Christmas treat in St. Peter’s, Thornton on Sunday 11th December, and were particularly pleased to welcome the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, Councillor Richard Allen, Deputy Mayor Councillor Ozzy O’Shea and Mrs O’Shea, and the Head of Thornton School, Sarah Acton.

Our guests joined an audience of 110 adults and 30 children at this popular annual concert which was established to raise funds for both St. Peter’s church, Thornton and Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary, Markfield. This year we raised exactly £500.

We always have a theme, and this year it was ‘Angels’. The poems, songs, carols and dances were all based on these heavenly messengers, and the performers ensured that all elements of the afternoon were perfectly matched.

The Friends of St. Peter’s and Trustees of Redgate Farm would like to thank the wonderful performers who give so freely of their time, skills and expertise and without whom there could be no concert: Chris Ball of the Kirby Muxloe Players kindly read three memorable ‘angel’ poems for us, in her clear, warm, expressive voice which visitors always comment on.

Sue Quinn choir leader, led the children of Thornton School in five well-chosen songs, all angelically sung. We were extremely impressed with their cheerful confidence and the fact that they sang all the songs from memory - and with accompanying actions!

Keely-Anna and her fabulous dancers, in an impressive range of bright and sparkly costumes, danced four festive pieces for our delight. Their enthusiasm for dance is always so inspiring.

And this year we welcomed a new soloist to the church. Julie Winch from Tamworth, currently completing her cello and singing studies at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Julie has the most lovely voice, warm personality and huge, infectious smile! She sang a range of songs, old and new to add to the Christmas cheer.

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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

We would also like to thank Sue Bakewell and Kathryn Shaw for (as always) decorating the church so beautifully and of course all the ladies and gentlemen who put up the tables, moved the pews, baked the cakes, made and served the teas and coffees and washed up and tidied up afterwards. As anyone who has ever organised an event will know, there is A LOT of work behind the scenes! But we all love it and we always really enjoy welcoming people to our atmospheric 14th century church.

Do keep your eye on the Herald and come along to our 2017 events – we would love to see you. And if you would like to join our happy band, make some new friends and help us organise events, please call us on 01530 230 455 or 01530 230 123.

Trustees: Jo Leadbetter and Dianne Esmond Friends of St. Peter’s/Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary

Some just told me to stop acting like a flamingo, so I had to put my foot down.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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I tried to start up a chicken dating agency but failed. It was a struggle to make hens meet.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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County Councillor’s Report from David Sprason

Response to the latest Government funding settlement

THIS IS A settlement for Leicestershire County Council which cannot be justified on any reasonable grounds and, as proposed, will have damaging consequences for the delivery of vital public services.

Over recent decades the system of local government finance has been subject to a series of political fixes, to such an extent that it is difficult to see any sense in the distribution of government funding. This is just not an issue for Leicestershire, but an issue for the whole of Local Government.

The latest redistribution of resources, this settlement introduces shifts significant funding away from Leicestershire County Council and other counties to Cities and Inner London Authorities. The formula used to make that switch operates on the basis that if you have low government funding in the first place you will have a larger proportionate reduction than if you had high funding. This is a perverse and highly damaging method of distributing resources. It takes no account of your actual spending power or local needs, which for counties where the budget is dominated by social care are growing significantly.

The problems with the system of Local Government finance go much deeper than this latest attempt at a fix. The principle of a four-year settlement is welcome but not if its certainty is in doubt. It is extremely difficult to understand how a four-year settlement can be issued when most of the elements of spending power will be subject to separate Government consultations.

Failure to address these concerns will no doubt result in service and financial failure for some authorities. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is aware that some authorities are already teetering on the edge. Alternatively, if like Leicestershire you manage within a much lower level of resources residents will simply

receive a much-reduced level of local government service than elsewhere in the country. In effect a government imposed post code lottery. This hardly seems fair and will be a direct result of a failure by DCLG, the architects of this system, to come up with a sensible method of allocating resources. DCLG also need to stop the pretence that councils have millions of pounds in reserves available to bridge any gaps.

The system of local government finance simply does not work and frankly no-one at the centre, locally, in business or in the academic world, believes it does – and it is becoming increasingly unfair. The system must be fundamentally reviewed including retained Business Rates, RSG, New Homes Bonus and Council Tax. The Chancellor’s devolution agenda to support and grow economies of cities is supported but the outcome at present appears to be at the expense of the shires. Addressing devolution to the shires should also be part of the way forward.

It has been widely reported that the Social Care system is desperately underfunded resulting in increased charges, rationing of services and a post code social care system. Instead of introducing the Dilnot recommendations, agreed by all as a solution to the current unfair care system, government have deliberately delayed it until 2020. In layman’s terms they have abandoned it and kicked it into the long grass. The governments solution to the problem is to impose a local care tax tacked onto our council tax bills which we know will not cover the funding gap. Older people in Leicestershire will still be subject to means testing resulting in their savings and homes to be used as collateral to pay for their care.

The administration at Leicestershire County Council have no new plans to address the funding shortfall just more of the same cutting funding across the board which is resulting in more services disappearing. They once again are not prepared to look to innovate and change the structure at County Hall or the levels of governance within Leicestershire. I have argued for 4 years that the time is right to move to a single unitary authority saving taxpayers £33 million a year and deliver an efficient, effective and affordable local authority. I have also argued that the current number of departments at county Hall should be cut to 3 and that the cost of democracy should be cut by reducing the number of paid positions for councillors. We should have just 3 senior officers, cabinet cut by 50% and other layers of bureaucracy cut.

The current administration at County Hall will follow what ministers tell them to do by increasing your council tax bills by 4% to 5%, increasing stealth taxes by introducing new charges to use services. Over the past 4 years we have seen charges introduced, road usage fines (bus lanes), care packages and waste collection/ disposal charges. We will see more of the same over the next 4 years’ service cuts plus council tax rises at 3 times the rate of inflation. The administration will go on pursuing an extra layer of bureaucracy by continuing to promote a combined authority that saves nothing and will add extra costs for sure. The council tax payers of Leicestershire will be paying a lot more for a lot less plus new stealth taxes will be introduced, a double whammy on those families in Leicestershire ‘Just About Managing’.

It is not looking much better

for our local NHS as they are proposing in their Sustainability & Transformation Plan to reduce the number of acute beds by 248 and reduce the number of community hospitals by 3. We have a growing elderly population living longer, immigration is running at 335 million a year plus the general population growth.

The plans include the push for the integration of Health and Social Care delivering prevention services that will keep people out of hospital. I have always stressed that this should happen but with the current level of government funding for social care it is just a pipe dream. In my view, it is time Social Care was part of the NHS direct funding stream and taken out of the Department of Communities and Local Government.

2017 for local government and local services is going to be hugely challenging unless radical changes are introduced. Local politicians need to accept that innovation is required to reduce the cost and burden on local tax payers. To carry on with the current system is unsustainable we need to move to a unitary authority as other areas of the country are Northamptonshire being the latest.

This would see a huge reduction in bureaucracy, number of councillors and result in savings over the next 4 years of £132 million. These savings could then be ploughed back into front line services and help to keep council tax rises below inflation. In May 2017 you have the County Council elections you have a choice to ask your local candidate how they will protect current levels of service without introducing more stealth taxes and above inflation increases in council tax.

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.

Some Geordie told me he was really good at flirting, so I threw him in the swimming pool, but he sank.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Sell Your Stuff!

Small Ad • Pine Welsh dresser Base unit - 3 drawers and cupboards underneath. Top unit - 2 glazed doors with double shelf between. Length 136cm Height 180cm depth 22 ½ cm (top) and 43 ½ cm (bottom).

Price: £50.00 Tel. 01530 244497 SEND your Small Ads IN WRITING to: SMALL ADS, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or email to: info@ markfieldherald.co.uk (please include your address - not for publication).

The Friends of Charnwood Forest

News from the MARKFIELD & THORNTON THEATRE GROUP

Pantomime January 2017!

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

The cast is already busy rehearsing, learning lines and singing and dancing, whilst all the backstage departments are gearing into action. We are pleased to welcome aboard Paul Muller and Alex Newby, who have recently come along to offer their help with lighting and set design.

Joining us again for our pantomime will be a Junior Chorus from the Linda Williams Academy of Performing Arts.

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.

We’d love to have you with us!

Muriel Walker

“Lacemakers Flashback to 1962: Who are these people? and IN LAST MONTH’S Luddites” HERALD we Talk by Mr Tony Jarram Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall Monday January 23 at 7.30 pm

An illustrated talk of the of the development of lacemaking from hand made to machine production.

The story is centred on the East Midlands especially Loughborough and its environs. It is a story of invention, migration and destruction and is as full of twists and turns as lace itself. The research for this project started with an exhibition by the Friends of Charnwood Museum in 2007 and has continued ever since with an international following by the descendants of former lace workers. A recent exhibition in Loughborough Library further enhanced the story. Tony will raise several controversial theories relating to the Luddite attack in Loughborough and the reasons why the industry left the town to re-establish in the South West of England and beyond.

Further information Peter Bertram 01162 100 572.

asked readers to help identify the people in this photo, which we believe was taken in 1962.

Rowan Pell had sent it in, because his grandmother, Emily Pell, appears in the photo (she’s fourth from the right, in the white blouse and cream cardigan).

Two readers contacted the Herald in response to the appeal.

We received a letter from C. Willett of Markfield who informed us that the man with the flat cap and the woman in front of him in a spotted dress are his Grandad and Grandma, Mr & Mrs Kenney of Cliffe Lane, Markfield. He also thinks that the woman in front of them could be his Auntie Ruth Haywood.

Mrs Gilder kindly sent us an email and suggested that the lady on the second from the right was one of the Booton twins, who were her husband’s great aunts. Mrs Gilder says: ”They were born in the early 1900s and were both widowed before the war, and then lived together until they died, both in their nineties. Annie became Mrs. Sutton and her identical twin sister became Mrs Brotherhood.

“We shall be interested to know if anyone else thinks they recognise one of the twins, they lived in Markfield virtually all of their lives.”

Thank you for helping to solve Rowan’s little mystery. If anyone has any additional information, or can help Mrs Gilder with her query, please drop a line to The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or email us at: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

A coach containing session musicians has overturned on the motorway. Drivers may expect lengthy jams.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Letters to the Herald

A Happy And Safe New Year From All At Your Local Beat Team AT THE END of last year there were a few burglaries in the Markfield area,which affected mostly the elderly.

THE HERALD encourages readers to submit letters for publication.

Writers are asked to please bear in mind that the inclusion of letters is at the discretion of the Editor, and that submissions may be edited for length depending on the amount of space available in the magazine.

The Herald will not publish anonymous letters.

Please ensure that you include your name and address. If you prefer your details not to be published, please make this clear when sending in your letter.

Thank you!

Mike Wilkinson

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.

This is of concern to the police , as we want to make sure that everyone is secure. There are certain basics that you can all do to help protect your homes. These are as follows – 1. Always keep all your doors locked (even when you are in).

2. Always leave a light on when you go out.

3. Have security lights to the front and rear of your property.

4. Get a chain on your front door.

5. Make sure that your back gate has a lock on it .

6. Do not leave ladders outside the house.

7. Do not give work to people who turn up at your house unannounced (always use someone that has been recommended to you if possible) 8. Let neighbours know if you are going away ,so they can keep an eye on your house.

9. If possible get window alarms fitted and a burglar alarm.

If anyone needs the police please phone on 101 or 999 if it is really urgent. No one will criticise you for phoning us up. If you need to contact a member of the beat team phone 101, follow the instructions to leave a voice mail and someone will contact you. If you have access to a computer you can leave a message that way on our website. If there is anyone you know that lives near you that is elderly or vulnerable, please keep an eye on them and be a good neighbour.

I will be having a beat surgery at Markfield Community Centre soon and I will announce the date shortly. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible. You can come and voice any concerns that you may have.

Please have a happy and SAFE new year .

PCSO Marilyn Edwards 6522

Email: marilyn.edwards@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk

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.

Don’t forget to send us your news! Thanks!

I’ve just put my friend Richard on speed dial on the phone. It’s my Get-Rich-Quick scheme.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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

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

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

Contact Mike Wilkinson with your articles, news items or advertising enquiries.

Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown.

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Herald Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. The Herald cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. The Herald reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication.

All contents © The Herald None of the articles or adverts contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from The Herald.

This issue of The Herald is being delivered by The Herald’s team of dedicated deliverers, namely: Sarah Jane, Maureen, John, Lyn, Lily, Ian, Ann, Gill, Selina, Sandra, Jeanie, Jenny, Calum, Lisa, Yvonne, Ray, Margaret, Daniel, Jessie, Selina, Jessica, Charlotte, Mike and Rowan

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

Message from Iris Gleeson of Thornton

Live & Local

IRIS GLEESON of Thornton has dropped a line to The Herald thanking all of her friends and neighbours for the cards and phone calls regarding her husband John.

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

Iris says: “John has been away from home, in hospital, since the middle of May, except for three days he spent at home.

“He moved into Fernleigh Care Home in Ashby de la Zouch on 26th August as a resident.

“He has settled in well and I visit him most days. He is eating well.

“God bless you all for your kind thoughts and for taking me to the hospitals.”

SCAM UPDATE from Ozzy O’shea HMRC Tax Rebate Scam

I HAVE been contacted by residents in relation to this HMRC tax rebate scam.

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

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809

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

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

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.

So what if I can’t spell ‘armaggedon’? It’s not like it’s the end of the world.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

A man was arrested for stealing helium balloons. Police held him for a while then let him go.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Newbold Parents are urged to apply Verdon Jazz on time for primary and Club NEWS infant school places Countdown to school place closing date

WHAT BETTER way to start the new year than with a rousing jazz concert and Savannah Jazz Band certainly supplied us with that.

LEICESTERSHIRE County Council are reminding parents that the 15 January closing date is looming and urging them to apply on time.

Applications need to be made for: • children born between 1 September 2012 and 31 August 2013 • children moving from infant to junior school The council has published top tips to help: 1.

Apply on time – the closing date is 15 January, 2017 for first time admissions

2.

Apply online – this is secure and the easiest way to apply

3.

Use your right to apply for three choices of school, but make sure that one choice is always your catchment school

4.

Read each school’s admissions policy before making an application

5.

Remember to ensure that all of the information that you have supplied is correct and accurate before you submit it

Starting with a lively rendition of Canal Street Blues and continuing with many more popular jazz tunes including solos from several of the band members. This ever popular band was well received by an enthusiastic audience, including many new faces which was very good to see and also some new couples on the dance floor.

The next concert is on Friday 3rd February at Newbold Verdon Social Club when New Orleans Heat will be entertaining us.

Again a very popular band, playing from 8.00pm, doors open at 7.00pm. Admission £9.00 with drinks and rolls available at club prices.

Do come along and join us for a great evening’s entertainment.

6.

Check that you press the ‘submit’ button and receive an acknowledgement email To find out more, please visit school admissions online, email admissions@ leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6684.

Starting school isn’t automatic and all parents need to apply Both processes, whether applying to start school for the first time or transferring from infant to junior schools, are the same for a local authority school or academy.

Online applicants will receive an email acknowledging receipt and be able to view the decision on 17 April, 2017 - you can also apply by post.

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

The sender was Victoria Curtis of Warner Close in Markfield.

Victoria wins a brand new copy of the Pay It Forward DVD. The two unclaimed copies will be donated to Markfield Community Library

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Latest news from Markfield WI

Markfield WI Programme for 2017

MARKFIELD WI would like to take this opportunity of wishing you all a Happy New Year and hope that you will keep up with our activities during 2017.

Mike at The Herald has already published our programme for the year and I am sure he will put in the monthly meetings when he has the space. I in my turn have made a resolution to put a piece in as often as I can so that our organisation is well publicised.

Our big news to start 2017 is that one of our members, Dot Pickering, has been awarded the British Empire Medal in the New Year’s Honours List for 2017 for services to the community in Markfield. Many of you will know Dot as the head dinner lady at Mercenfeld Primary School where she has been the beloved Mrs P for as long as I can remember. My girls and many others will remember her with great affection. Dot has also served the village through her involvement in the Congregational Church and for us in particular, through her long and loyal membership of the WI. We send our congratulations to Dot and we are very proud to have her as one of our members.

At the beginning of December we hosted an event entitled A Christmas Miscellany for our own members, family and friends and members of other WIs in the area. The event took place in the Methodist Church and was an evening of poems, a panto of sorts, a monologue and Christmas songs and music. Although producing the event was a little stressful it all went very well and everyone enjoyed the laughter and singing.

Rosie Woodland’s rendition of The Yorkshire Messiah was wonderful and the small group who produced Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs had the audience in stitches.

Gordon Stacey joined us

11

18th Jan: Boots No7 Talk and demonstration 15th Feb: Dementia Friends: Kathy Gill 15th March: Great British Sewing Bee: Heather Jacks 19th April: Restoration of Old Buildings: Dr Jonathan Castleman GREASE at Curve Theatre in Leicester is one of the WI’s visits to accompany a small choir of members in the Holly and the Ivy and Mary Pepper provided us with excellent accompaniment on the piano. The evening ended with coffee and mince pies and some talk of a repeat performance next year! We’ll see about that I think.

We rounded the year off at our December meeting with a talk on turkeys by Ian Rogerson when we learnt about his involvement in the poultry trade and a lot about turkey plus some laughs along the way. We rounded the evening off with some tasty turkey cobs, turkey provided

by Ian plus mince pies made by the Secretary and President. It was a lovely way to end the year as we had the opportunity to sit and chat over coffee and good food, always a good way to relax and enjoy each other’s company.

Our Knit and Natter Group have done an amazing job knitting hats and scarves for the homeless. I was able to pass on the biggest bag to my son-in-law for distribution on his Soup Run in Nottingham and he has passed on many thanks. We are intending to continue with this and also knit hats for babies in the Neo Natal unit at the General Hospital.

These are needed in large quantities chiefly to keep the various tubes in place which the babies need.

We are looking forward to 2017

with some interesting speakers, watch out for posters around the village and reports in the Herald.

Already we have an outing planned to the Leicestershire & Rutland Federation Annual Council Meeting in March where the main speaker is Lucy Worsley, a visit to Curve to see Grease and our annual trip to Kilworth House Theatre to see Kiss Me Kate. We are looking at the possibility of visiting Kirstie Allsop’s Handmade Fair in May and the WI Fair at Alexandra Palace in September. I am sure there will be more planned in the future.

We welcome new members, please come along as a visitor for a couple of meetings and see if you like us! We are very lively but would really love some younger members and would be happy to try out new things and invite different speakers to our meetings.

You and your friends might be the ones to give Markfield WI a new look in 2017!

Meetings are held at the Methodist Church, Main Street, Markfield on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, starting at 7.45. There is a charge of £3.00 for visitors, which includes light refreshments.

For further information contact Fran Johnson on 01530 243350 or Jane Barrington on 01530 243285.

17th May: Resolutions evening & A Getting to Know You Quiz 21st June: Changes in Women’s Lives: Mike Kennedy 19th July: Watching with Mother: Kath Reynolds 16th Aug: Gardening for Wildlife: Chris Edwards 20th Sept: Wigs: Tim Hogarth-Jones 18th Oct: AGM 19th Nov: TBC 20th Dec: Decadent Easy Desserts: Gail Woolliscroft Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.45pm at the Methodist Church, Main St Markfield.

Further information from Fran Johnson 01530 243350 or Jane Barrington 01530 243285.

I was watching the Bermuda Philharmonic Orchestra, and half way through the bloke on the triangle disappeared.

12

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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My dad’s hobby was collecting empty bottles, which sounds so much better than ‘alcoholic’.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

13

Borough Council is falling behind with its affordable house targets Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald LET ME START this month’s article by wishing everyone a happy new year and a personal hope that 2017 is a good year for all.

We will face many challenges in the coming year but I saw it reported recently, that it has been suggested as we start 2017, most of those below the age of 40, face a potential housing problem.

Either they are buying a property or have bought one at historically high inflated prices and have a large mortgage to boot or they are in the private sector rented housing and paying rent at a level that means they can never save for a deposit to buy in the first place.

The statistics on this are quite sobering. The average UK home now costs in the region of £196,000 while the average income is £26,500. The gap between the two is very high and not far off eight times average earnings. The gap also explains why as recently as 2005 59% of 25-34 year olds owned their own property while today that has dropped to just 36%, with a corresponding increase in those of the same age group renting privately, with 21% doing so in 2005 and 48% today.

Those who are able to buy are often having to do so with the support of Government schemes like ‘help to buy’ which offer only temporary respite unless they are fortunate to be supported by parents (which many are not).

The cold truth is that the level of home ownership across the UK is now at its lowest rate for 30 years and is not far from the level it was at when Councils were forced to sell off council houses in the early/ mid-eighties. This corresponded with an implosion in social housing availability.

The availability of this type of housing has always been essential to give everyone an opportunity to have a place to live, regardless

of income and it improved the life chances of countless millions. The balance between; private rented, social rented and owner occupier has always been key to ensure housing supply was sustainable and advanced the society in which we lived. Last year only 1,000 new council house were built and 1.4 million people now sit on a council waiting list, often with little hope of getting any help.

The problem in my Council ward of Markfield, Stanton and Field Head has been eased in the last few years with the building of new homes at the developments on London Road, Markfield and the two off Main Street, Stanton.

I will write a separate article on this when I have some updated information, but suffice to say the requirement we secured from the developers, meant that not only was close to 40% of the new housing units set aside for social housing purposes (most rent but some part-buy) but that these units could only go to those with a local connection, thus giving local people a genuine opportunity to get a place to live without having multiple social needs. I have seen the evidence to demonstrate this has been achieved.

The problem we now face is that the Government have again changed the rules of the game in favour of developers, which in itself will slow down yet further the numbers of social housing units being developed.

Currently housing developers need to set aside a percentage of new homes for social purposes; this ratio is 40% in rural areas and 20% in urban areas. This requirement is a planning condition and developers accept it at the point permission is granted. These homes then are sold at a discounted rate (or below the market rate) to social housing providers (either housing associations or councils) who receive grants from the

government or borrow against future rental income to buy the houses.

At the most recent Scrutiny Commission meeting at the Borough Council, we had a report on progress in delivering affordable homes in the Borough. What the report highlighted is that the Borough Council is falling behind in its targets and has so far delivered 884 new social/affordable homes as against its target of 2090 homes by 2026. The current rate is 18.73% of all new built homes being social/ affordable when the minimum should be 20% (urban areas) and the maximum 40% (rural areas) One of the main reasons for this underperformance is developers seeking to renegotiate a reduction in the percentage requirement after permission has been granted. This reduction request is allowed if the site is no longer financially viable and following the 2008 crash it was true that developers had purchased land at prices which the market no longer reflected. This is not the case today so one has to question how developers are able to leverage down their requirement to build social/affordable homes - but this is what is happening.

To make matters worse, the government has also introduced a change which brings in a minimum qualifying threshold for development sites, meaning those sites of 10 homes or less will not be required to provide any social/ affordable homes. This will have a particular impact in smaller communities which are often those with some of the greatest needs.

The government have also reduced significantly since 2010, the amount of money they provide to support the purchasing of affordable homes

Matthew Lay by housing agencies and social landlords, meaning that in some cases although developers have set aside homes for this purpose, no one is in a position to acquire them and they can end up back on the market at market prices.

In truth, the issue of housing is going to become bigger and bigger as each year passes. The present answer of simply building more market housing in the open countryside is doing little to alleviate the problem (and in doing so causing others) and yet we can expect more of this to come, with more support to the already bloated housing developers and more ways to increase the debts of younger generations. Different approaches are desperately needed and the political dogma which has prevented Councils from building the homes those individual communities need, must be swept away.

In the early 1970s, the Prime Minister of New Zealand – Norman Kirk, expressed his political philosophy which is as relevant today. He stated that in reality people do not want too much.

They want “someone to love, somewhere to live, somewhere to work and something to hope for.”

The question is, are we now further from this objective than has been the case for generations and is there any sign of this improving.

Matthew

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.

No matter how much you give a homeless person for tea, you never get that tea.

14

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

LFE £5 Film Night for February LFE Film Evenings will be showing on Thursday 2 February 2017 “Florence Foster Jenkins”.

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: £5.

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.

Treat your sweetheart to a romantic Valentine’s Day Meal at the Bricklayer’s!

Book now!

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, codesigned 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

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I used to be a freelance journalist, but I was useless. Lance is still in prison.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

15

Issued On Behalf Of Leicestershire Police Young rugby players required Kayleigh’s Love Story is now online JOANNE Hancock has written to The Herald to let readers know that young rugby players are required at Coalville Rugby Club.

Joanne explains that the club has comprehensive facilities and that rugby is a great sport for children of all ages.

She says: “It is a sport for children of 3 years and upwards with no bounds on shape, size or age.

Taking part builds friendships, confidence, fitness and discipline.

There is no peer pressure so it helps to remove frustration and anger while promoting social skills.

She continues: “Coalville Rugby Club is the only local RFU kids first certified club with all coaches CRB checked.

“It’s a lifestyle choice offering much more than just sport.”

For more information, telephone 07831 284794.

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.

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 tightly-controlled 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.

We just paid for a survey for our house. 8 out of 10 people said they’d buy it.

16

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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

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

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.

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.”

I was always taking notes at my last job, but then they checked the till.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

News from Bardon Park Chapel www.bardonchapel.co.uk

Special VIP Me! Day event at LOROS on Tuesday 17th January ARE YOU LIVING with a life-limiting illness? Then come to LOROS for an extra special VIP Me! event and be treated like royalty for the day.

‘Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up.

“Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.’ Acts12:7 FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE: Come and worship the Lord with us on Sunday mornings at 10.30 am. Our gatherings are fairly informal. We try to encourage each other to live as disciples of the Lord Jesus; to learn about God and about how to respond to Him. THURSDAY ART CLASS: Between 7pm and 9.00pm.

THE MONTHLY PRAISE MEETING: 1st Saturday in each month at 3.00pm. Enjoy a lively time of singing, encouragement, fellowship, testimonies and uplifting messages.

Bardon Park Chapel, Shaw Lane, Bardon, Coalville LE67 1TD There is a large car park at the back.

For more details on any of the above please contact: Richard Norburn on Tel: 01530 242526

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.

Publicise your forthcoming community events in The Herald!

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

A woman who is battling breast cancer has spoken about how the “wonderful” drop-in sessions at LOROS Hospice gives her much-needed “space for herself ”.

Gwyn Fraser, of Newbold Verdon, has told of her experience ahead of an extra-special drop-in event, which is being held on Tuesday 17th January.

‘VIP Me!’ event, which is being held for patients, just like Gwyn and their families, friends and carers, will include a glass of fizz, or bottomless cups of tea, cake, a chance to meet new people, plus the opportunity to get pampered and take part in an optional photo-shoot.

Gwyn started attending the bi-monthly drop-in sessions at the Groby Road Hospice around a year ago.

“I had become so depressed and anxious, I was worried and scared about coming to LOROS but that changed straight away and now, I wouldn’t miss a drop-in session unless I really had to,” said the 64-year-old.

“I’ve made great friendships and have met so many other people in a similar situation to me.”

The drop-in sessions, which are held every other Tuesday, are a chance for people battling life-limiting illnesses – not just those with a terminal illness - to ‘drop-in’ to LOROS on an informal basis throughout the day to relax, get pampered and socialise.

The drop-in sessions are for people with non-terminal and terminal illnesses, including cancer, Motor Neurone Disease, heart failure and respiratory failure.

“The drop-in sessions also give you a chance to be creative, we do things like flower arranging and water-colour painting,” she added.

“To be honest, I thought I would have another 20 years left in me to do and try these things but as I probably won’t, the drop-in sessions, give me the chance to.

“I’ve even bought the materials myself, for me to do these things at home too.”

After first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012, her illness developed and in 2015, she was given the devastating news that it was terminal.

Gwyn said the drop-in sessions also allow her to get pampered and on regular occasions, she has massages and facials, as well as having her hair done.

“The well-being part of the drop-in sessions give me a chance to relax,” she said.

“Coming to the sessions has helped me such a lot. It’s helped my husband too; he was a bit sceptical at first but he responded to the sessions so well, he often comes to get his hair cut too.

“One of the best things is, it’s not a medical appointment, instead, it’s a nice place to come, relax and do lovely things.

“I think it’s certainly worth other people giving it a go.”

While you must be living with a life limiting illness, you do not have to be a LOROS patient, or be known to the Hospice.

For more information on the drop-in sessions, or the ‘VIP Me’ event, visit loros.co.uk/VIPMe or call (0116) 231 8490 for an informal chat.

17

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 selfharm.

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.”

Women get more sporty 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.

Since my mate’s divorce 3 years ago, he’s put on 10 stone. His Doctor told him he has to stop celebrating.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

• Markfield Colts FC – Mr. R Lockwood attended to talk about a proposal for the Colts’ football teams to relocate from South Charnwood School to the Jubilee Playing Fields. The councillors requested Mr. Lockwood to put his proposal in writing, so they could give it further consideration and also discuss it with the Jubilee Playing Fields Committee.

• Leicestershire County Council – Urban Grass Cutting: As previously resolved, the Parish Council did not accept the Service Level Agreement.

Further resolved, the Parish Council would consider increasing the Grounds Maintenance budget by £2500.00 at the Budget Review Workshop, to cover the additional grass cutting costs.

• COUNTY COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: – Mr D Sprason stated that because of the traffic congestion they were causing, STWA works on the A511 had been suspended until the New Year.

The LCC’s Social Care budget was under increasing pressure.

• BOROUGH COUNCILLOR’S REPORT: • Miners’ Welfare Institute: - It is understood the site has been recently bought by a local builder.

Whether or not they will seek to implement the currently approved plan for 3 properties or submit a new planning application is currently unclear.

• Environmental Improvement Scheme 2016/2017: Public consultation on the installation of 2 planters to one side of the Upland Drive Main Street junction near The Dandees, has yet to take place.

• Developing Communities Fund:- The Borough Council is seeking expressions of interest in the Developing Communities Fund for large projects and the Parish Council would need to draw up an outline plan for improving/ developing the recreational facilities before December 2016.

Mr Lockley agreed to circulate the draft he had prepared for comment.

• Bardon Hill Quarry: Works had started on the extension of Bardon quarry and a Community Fund Committee is to be formed.

There will be a Liaison Committee meeting on 8th December. David Sprason would act as the Markfield PC representative.

• The Community Library report: - Mrs M Bowler had provided the following report which had been circulated to the members prior to the meeting.

MARKFIELD COMMUNITY LIBRARY – DECEMBER 2016 At a recent meeting LCC informed us that the ‘Hard and Soft Contracts’ that we were expecting to take responsibility for from April 2017 have been extended until April 2018. As they include guaranteed meeting of necessary standards and legal requirements we are happy to continue on this basis for the next twelve months. The meeting with the three LCC responsible managers was most useful and encouraging.

We have had to refuse a hire arrangement by a local slimming business, as we simply cannot accommodate their timing requirements. We have had some one off hirings and the feedback has been very encouraging about the venue.

We held a very successful second hand book sale in November and raised £68.

There will be two activity days during the school Christmas Holiday on 29th and 30th December. The next quiz is planned for Thursday January 12th 2017.

We continue to welcome classes from Mercenfeld Primary School and we currently have three local Secondary student volunteers who are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh Awards. We are indebted to Di Lockley who continues to be our Ancestry expert as “Who do you think YOU are’ restarts on TV. A great deal of training for our volunteers has been taking place – book stock, photocopier, fire drills, policies etc. Not too onerous for each volunteer but necessary and quite a lot of organization by our volunteer co coordinators Ann, Helen and Julie. We are indebted to them and all our volunteers who work on the operational side of the business. We will be advertising for any more volunteers who wish to come and join us in January. This valuable community asset needs you

“Still Friday” 2017 Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, prayer, readings and responses and last up to an hour.

All are welcome. Come along and enjoy the peace.

20th January 17th February 17th March

No “Still Friday” in April

19th May

18th August

16th June

15th September

21st July

20th October

17th November

No “Still Friday” in December

Fridays 8.00 pm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church

Extracts from the Unapproved Minutes of the Markfield Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 6th December 2016 at 8.00pm at the Methodist Chapel, Markfield.

(May be subject to alteration or correction.) and we are a very friendly group.

No time or frequency is too small.

• COMMUNITY CENTRE Mr T Lockley had provided the following report which had been circulated to the members prior to the meeting.

The MCA committee met on 17th November. Councillors Gannon and Lockley attended for the PC. Building maintenance/usage Councillor Gannon again raised a question over when Legionella tests were undertaken and how the tests and their results were recorded.

The manager had circulated a procedural paper on this topic produced by H&BC. Unfortunately, the H&BC representative couldn’t attend, so uncertainty on this matter remains.

The lady who runs “The Tiny Gym” is now concentrating on developing a local running club and thus needs less space. She approached the Centre Manager about doing a room swap with Matt Elliot Football Development, who are seeking to expand their operation at the MCA. A swap has been agreed.

“Notts Sport” offered to a free survey and report on the condition of the MUGA. It was undertaken in early November and found the facility in a good condition (floodlights and drainage weren’t tested). Usefully, the report also included guideline costs to resurface the MUGA to a 3G football specification - £32,850 (plus VAT).

Since installation the solar panels have produced 6.03 MWh of electricity, earned £273 of income for the parish council and saved 2,363kg of CO2 being produced.

• Leader plus grant application The second-round application has been submitted. The officer undertaking its initial assessment has raised several queries – primarily about the quote for the various work. These are being addressed. We won’t know until late February whether we’ve been successful.

Councillor Lockley previously reported that the absence of an MCA business plan might reduce the chances of a grant being offered. He asked at the meeting whether a business plan was being

prepared or not? Apparently, there hasn’t been one since 2013, when all records were lost after a computer crashed. The treasurer is now working on a new one.

• SHIRE Grant application for further lighting improvements The SHIRE Grant application has been approved, the successful contractor notified and a start date requested.

• Fire risk assessment The Centre Manager will pursue getting an assessment undertaken.

•Anti-Social Behaviour The level of ASB remains low.

• Dogs There was quite a long and, at time heated discussion on the control of dogs on the playing field. The meeting asked that the new signage ordered by the PC be installed a.s.a.p. The PC has now received the signs and a local handyman will install them very soon for free.

• Grounds maintenance The PC has placed the order for tarmacing the path down to the MUGA, plus the construction of a short, new tarmac path at the rear of the centre. This news was welcomed by all.

The “vertidraining” work has taken place. It appears to have made an immediate improvement to drainage across most of the site.

Matters relating to MCA details on the Charity Commission website Councillor Lockley raised the following questions: 1. Why don’t copies of the trustee’s annual reports appear on t he MCA Charity Commission web pages?

2. Why isn’t the list of trustees up to date?

Just lately when I go out, some bird with long legs starts following me. I think I’m being Storked.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

3.

Have the MCA accounts ever been independently examined?

The answer to questions 1 and 2 was, they are submitted to the Charity Commission at the same time as the accounts, so it is the Commission who should post them.

The answer to question 3 was no.

• JUBILEE PLAYING FIELDS REPORT Report on the Jubilee Playing Field Committee – Mr T Lockley had written the following report and circulated it to the members prior to the meeting: The last meeting was held on 16th November. It was attended by 6 committee members, including Councillor Walmsley and Lockley.

A representative from Markfield Colts was also there for part of the meeting.

• Grounds maintenance The long serving grounds maintenance contractor has been persuaded by the Chairman to stay-on. Councillor Lockley expressed concern over the fact that it is a long time since the committee sought comparative grounds maintenance quotations.

Given the PC would want to see it was continuing to get value for money for the contribution it makes towards those works, Councillor Lockley asked the committee to obtain comparative quotations.

They agreed to that request.

Councillor Lockley offered to help them do that if they provided a copy of the grounds maintenance specification.

The Stepping Stones grant

application has been approved (it covers not only trees at the JPF but also ones at the Millennium Garden, Saw Pits Green and Bradgate Road). The successful contractor is Richard Johnson. A start date for the works is still to be agreed.

• Pavilion maintenance Internally the pavilion is looking better than it did a few months ago.

The PC has received two quotations for the rebuilding of the access ramps. One was implausibly low and the other far too high.

Further quotations will be sought • Markfield Colts A representative from the Colts attended to talk about the possibility of staging a weekend, junior, football competition at the JPF in May 2017. The committee fully supported the idea, especially since it would help raise awareness of the facility and bring in a younger set of players with their families. The Colts will now undertake some more detailed work on this matter.

• Use of the car park The committee expressed concern over the lack of progress made on the matter of some form of financial contribution from BTE for their use of the upper car park.

• Developing the JPF The committee agreed that, if the JPF is to survive, let alone thrive, an active promotion/development policy needs to be persuaded.

Whilst staging the Colts tournament could really help kick-start that process, consideration needs to be given to: • Whether additional football pitches can be accommodated on site – cricket pitch and the undeveloped third field.

• Whether an all-weather 5 a-side pitch could be constructed between the upper car park and the pavilion.

• Whether a full size all weather pitch should replace the current grass one.

• Broadening the pavilion’s

user base.

Getting the whole site surveyed – I agreed to approach the surveyor who did the Mayflower Close site for the PC to see how much it would cost.

• NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING REPORT: - NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING REPORT Councillor Lockley reported as follows: • Meetings with other parish councils As I reported at the last parish council meeting, I’d had a productive session with the new Groby PC chair. He and I agreed that, whilst it would be best to develop individual Neighbourhood Plans for our respective parishes, the work needed coordinating to ensure a consistency of approach on common issues. We both felt that establishing a small, joint working group between Ratby, Groby and Markfield PC’s would aid coordination.

Last month I met with the Ratby PC Chair and Clerk to discuss both their concerns over properties within the Ratby Parish being included in the first draft of our Neighbourhood Plan boundary and future joint working. Ratby PC members were concerned that Markfield PC was seeking to move the parish boundary to include houses adjacent to Thornton and Markfield Lanes. I confirmed that wasn’t the case.

All we were seeking to do was to include houses, which related to Markfield as a Rural Centre.

They were pleased to hear that we weren’t seeking to alter the parish boundary. To avoid any future misunderstandings, I agreed to redraw the plan boundary to exclude those properties. We also agreed over developing a coordinated approach with Groby PC. • Current position Having had these two meetings I’ve modified the draft Neighbourhood Plan boundary and also the accompanying •

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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If the PC is happy with these two documents they can now be submitted to Hinckley & Bosworth BC with a request they advertise them formally for the required period.

The Parish Council agreed to submit the documents to the Borough Council • PARISH LAND & MILLENIUM GARDEN •Historic Village Display Board (sited in the car park): The Parish council were of the opinion that the sign was too small for viewing from the pavement and agreed that a larger one should be provided, in the next financial year.

• QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIR: Mr B Gannon reported that the A50 underpass footpath had still not been cleared of rubbish and paint cans and was in a terrible state.

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.)

With summer coming up I’ve decided to start a magazine dedicated to ice cream. I’ve just had my first scoop.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

It was twenty years ago today ...

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.

On the front page, the main story was about the new Cross Hills Baptist Chapel nearing completion.

There was also 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 had written 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 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 The Herald. Thanks for your support!

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

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.

Mike Wilkinson

An interesting place to visit OVER CHRISTMAS we decided to visit Bradgate Park and try to walk off the excesses of the Christmas period.

At the last meeting of the Markfield Local History Group someone had told me over coffee that the visitor centre at Bradgate Park had received a makeover and was a very good place to visit.

Consequently we stopped off on our way back from the ruins. I was very impressed with the quality and content of the exhibits and information on display. The story of the park is told in detail, with sections on the part that the Grey family have played in both English history and the history of the Park, as well as information on the recent archaeological work the excavation of a Stone Age site and work on some of the features surrounding the Tudor house.

I found the audio visual presentation of the geological history of the Park fascinating and learnt that the fossils found here are of international importance. I will certainly return as I didn’t manage to take in everything.

Thank you to the volunteers who help to keep this open for us all to enjoy.

Rosie Woodland, Markfield

New fundraising initiative

Melton Community Lottery Launched MELTON BOROUGH Council has announced the launch of the Melton Community Lottery.

The lottery has been set up with the aim of raising monies that can be distributed amongst ‘good causes’ which include charities, community groups and societies.

Local groups and organisations can apply to be part of the lottery by applying via an easy online process - https://www.meltonlottery.co.uk/goodcauses The lottery works with players paying £1 per ticket selecting 6 numbers.

Each ticket will consist of 6 numbers and each number will be between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a 6 digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the jackpot! Players then select a good cause of their choice which means that 50 pence goes direct to that organisation which is higher than any of the national lotteries.

They have now opened up the lottery for ticket sales which anyone can purchase as long as you are over the age of 16. To sign up to play the lottery it is also a simple process and all you have to do is visit the new website www.meltonlottery.co.uk and sign up to play. There is a weekly jackpot prize of £25,000 (6 Numbers) guaranteed each week and then a number of other cash prizes based on the number of matching numbers.

Cllr Pam Posnett – Leader of Melton Borough Council has stated ‘We want as many local organisations to benefit as possible and we also want people to play a lottery that not only gives local residents a chance to win cash prizes but also know that the money raised will stay in the Borough of Melton’.

As part of the launch for the first draw all players who sign up before the first draw on 24th December 2016 will be automatically enrolled for a chance to win an ipad air 2.

Support is also given to players and good causes with online support and a dedicated telephone number 01664 738222.

SHOULD OUR BOROUGH COUNCIL LAUNCH A LOTTERY? Drop us a line - or send us an email - with your views.

My friend keeps setting fire to Belgian Detectives. He’s a Poirotmaniac.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Cooks Farm Shop & Country Supplies

Markfield Lane, Newtown Linford Leics, Le6 0AB Open www.cooksfarmshop.co.uk Mon to Fri 9am – 5.30pm 01530 242214 Sat 9am – 5pm Sun 10am – 1pm

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Don’t forget your Garden Friends, especially at this time of Year!!

We stock Small and LARGE bags of: Peanuts – Sunflower Hearts – Niger Seed – PLUS.... ***SEVEN different Wild Bird Mixtures*** Including – High Energy Mix, No-Gro & No-Mess Mixes.

Grandad‛s carers work FLEXIBLE hours are KIND and CARING and Have EXCELLENT training

Also – Mealworms, Energy Balls, Suet Pellets & Blocks plus much, much more!!

See our Website for prices

Large Range of Feed & Supplies

For: Farm – Equine & Domestic Animals.

Grass Seeds & Fertilizer for Lawn & Paddock.

Premium Compost – Potatoes - Seed Potatoes.

Fencing Timber – Tree Stakes – Panel Fencing – Gates & Ironmongery.

Barbed Wire – Wire Netting – Stock Netting – Weldmesh – Plain Wire – Buckets – Bins – Barrows and General Smallholding Supplies................

Grandad’s Carers work for a reputable Company with 25 years experience of delivering care Get in touch…

Call us on: 01455292648 Email: www.managementteam@givecare.co.uk

Our wide range of Dog Beds and Coats have an offer of 10% off marked price (While Stocks Last). Our dog coats are High Viz, Bright Colours, Subtle Colours, Warm ones, Funky Ones and Waterproof Ones with beds of all shapes and sizes.

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www.givecarehomecare.co.uk

I’m an avid campaigner for the preservation of endangered animals. You should taste my panda jam.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Markfield Congregational Church 01530 242142

6.00pm No Evening Service

Sunday 22nd January 10.15am Morning Worship

Sunday 26 February 9.45am Focused Prayer Fellowship 10.30am Morning Communion Service 6.00pm No Evening Service

Sunday 29th January 10.15am Morning Worship Sunday 5th February 10.15am Morning Worship followed by Communion

Thursday 23rd February 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café

St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield

Sunday 12th February 10.15am Morning Worship

Sunday 8th January 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton

Sunday 15th January 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield at Trinity Methodist Church 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 15th January 10.30am Morning Service

Friday 20th January 8.00 pm “Still Friday”

Sunday 22nd January 10.30am Morning Service

Sunday 22nd January 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service

Sunday 29th January 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 5th February 10.30am Morning Service

Sunday 29th January 6.00 pm Joint Evening Service at St Peter’s, Copt Oak

Sunday 12th February 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper

Sunday 5th February 10.30 am Holy Communion

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

Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield Sunday 15th January 10.30am United Churches Together Service at Methodist Church 6.00pm Evening Communion Service Sunday 22 January 9.45am Focused Prayer Fellowship 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Service Thursday 26th January 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café Sunday 29 January 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Service Sunday 5 February 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm Evening Taizé Service Thursday 9th February 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café Sunday 12 February 10.30am Morning Service 4.00pm Afternoon Café Style Service Sunday 19 February 10.30am United Churches Together Service at Parish Church

Sunday12th February 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 19th February 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield at St Michael’s Church 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Friday 17th February 8.00 pm “Still Friday” Sunday 26th February 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon

Sunday12th February 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 19th February 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 26th February 10.30 am “Something Different” Service

St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 8th January 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 15th January 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 22nd January 10.30 am All Age Service Sunday 25th January 10.00 am Midweek Communion and Coffee Sunday 29th January 10.30 am Benefice Communion Service at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 5th February 10.30 am Morning Service

Catholic Church of St Wilfrid of York 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB Sunday Mass Saturday Vigil: 6 pm Sunday: 10 am See Newsletter on the website for details of weekday Mass times, Benediction & Confessions.

Parish Priest: Fr Tom Breslin – 01530 832098, www.stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www.stwilfscoalville. blogspot.co.uk St Clare’s R C Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747, www.st-clares.leics. sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739, www.delisle./leics.sch.uk Markfield Masses - in the Congregational Church Hall, Main St, beside the Chinese Takeaway Wednesday 15 March 2017 at 7pm Wednesday 21 June 2017 at 7pm Wednesday 20 September 2017 at 7pm Wednesday 15 November 2017 at 7pm

Sunday12th February 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 19th February 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 22nd January 10.00 am Midweek Communion and Coffee Sunday 26th February 10.30 am All Age Service

Holy Rood Church, Bagworth Please note: Services will be at Bagworth Community Centre.

Sunday 5th February 9.00 am Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Sunday 8th January 3.00 pm Praise Service

Sunday 8th January 10.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 15th January 9.15 am Holy Communion (said service)

Sunday 15th January 10.30 am Morning Service

Sunday 22nd January 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 22nd January 10.30 am “Something Different” Service

Sunday 29th January 6.00 pm Joint Evening Prayer

Sunday 29th January 10.30 am Benefice Communion Service

Sunday 5th February 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 5th February 10.30 am Morning Service

Sunday12th February 3.00 pm Praise Service Sunday 19th February 9.15 am Holy Communion (said service) Sunday 26th February 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Statistically 6 out of 7 dwarves aren’t Happy.

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 ‘notspots’ 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.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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!

Rumours: 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.”

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

If only the good die young then what does that say about senior citizens?

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Redgate Christmas Arrivals ... appropriately housed in a Stable!

WE ARE DELIGHTED to report that we have been very lucky with re-homing cats and kittens in the past quarter – some lovely people have been coming along to the Shaw Lane sanctuary to adopt a new friend (or rather, new family member).

But of course, time moves on and we are now settling the next ‘cohort’ (as I believe the new buzz-word is) into quarantine. Another 8 cats were picked up from around and about the region recently. And they are now finding their paws in the new cattery block and also ... in the old stables.

Very appropriate for Christmas rescues! There will probably be about 15 in our care by early January.

Adopting a Redgate Cat 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.

There really is no obligation to make a decision. Our newer arrivals will be put up for re-homing from mid-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.

THE MARKFIELD & THORNTON THEATRE GROUP proudly presents

Goldie Locks and the Three Bears a Traditional Family Pantomime Written and directed by Muriel Walker

AT THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTRE 16th to 21st January 2017

At 7.30 p.m. Nightly (Saturday Matinee 3.00 p.m.)

CHORUS FROM THE LINDA WILLIAMS ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS TICKETS £5

(NO CONCESSIONS)

available on 01455 822148 or from THORNTON’S CORNER STORE Call it a hunch, but I’m pretty sure I have an abnormal convex curvature of the upper spine.

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

25

News from Cross Hills Baptist Church Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area “Jingly, Jingly” Christmas Carol Service with Marwood Brass Band, 17th December EVERYONE enjoyed our Saturday evening Carol service with Marwood Brass Band accompanying the Carols and also providing a medley of music for us.

The Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Mayor, Richard Allen and his wife Claire joined us for the service and Richard read an interesting “Clip, Clop Nativity” story. Santa paid a quick visit during his busy schedule and gave out sweets to each of the children before rushing off to continue with getting all the Christmas presents ready for delivery! Everyone then enjoyed chatting over mince pies, tea and coffee. The special collection that was taken during this service raised £111, half of which would normally go to Marwood Band for their expenses, but they very kindly waived these again and asked that the full amount be given to the Hinckley Homeless Project.

Christmas Family Service and Children’s presentation, 18th December The Sunday Club children and young people, with the help of their leaders, this year told us the story behind our Christmas trees. They brought a small tree which the put on the stage and, as they gradually decorated it with lights, baubles, stars, candy canes and all the usual trimmings they explained the reasons behind each one of them.

Lastly they put presents under the tree representing Jesus, the light of the world, being a precious gift from God for each one of us at Christmas. They then finished their presentation with a lively Christmas song. The children of the Sunday Club were then presented with their annual Christmas prizes of Christian books, Bibles, Bible stories or Christian DVD’s.

We are very grateful to Ruth Holmes and the other leaders for all their hard work in running the Sunday Club during the year and in preparing for this special service, and for the many appearances of Ruth’s puppets at some of our other services.

Christmas Day Sunday Service Revd David Butcher and Pastor Garry Kelly led this slightly shortened and fairly informal service and 3 of our member’s pet dogs

came along too. Fortunately they were very well behaved and all got along well together! David brought his Christmas stocking full of small gifts/items which he hadn’t had time to explore – many of the things in the stocking brought back memories for the older members of Christmases gone by. He also had gifts on a table that were for various parts of our bodies such as gloves for hands, Christmas socks for feet, a scarf for the neck, handkerchiefs for noses, a lovely ring for a finger, but the gift that wasn’t on the table was for our hearts – Jesus, God’s son sent down to us at Christmas.

However, we were reminded that we have to unwrap and accept the gift in to our hearts, not leave it under the tree to be packed away.

The children also brought along their favourite gifts to show us – in this modern world, in some cases they needed to explain what they were to some of us ‘oldies’!

Donations to Hinckley Homeless Project This charity, which does such excellent work with the homeless in Hinckley, is still finding the present financial climate difficult and so we were really pleased to be able to send a total amount of £296 to them to help with the continuation of their work. This was made up

of £111 from the collection taken at the Carol service, £90 from the Christmas Day service and some generous extra donations of £95 from 2 of our church members.

Pastor Garry Kelly had the pleasure of taking this amount to the Homeless Project at Lawrence House in Hinckley to assist them in helping more homeless young people find a way back into society in 2017.

Charity Christmas Card Some of our members again contributed to a ‘charity Christmas card’ instead of writing individual cards. The chosen charity this year was the Salvation Army and £22 was sent to this organisation, which is such a lifeline at Christmas to many people in difficult or lonely circumstances.

Cross Hills Church family Christmas party, Friday 30th December Ruth Holmes was kind enough, with the help of her family, to organise a Christmas party for us again in the church hall. Over 30 church members, family and friends enjoyed quizzes, traditional games such as Musical Chairs, Pass the Parcel and Musical Hats and a lovely buffet was laid out. It was a really enjoyable evening with lots of

fun and laughter and it ended with a lively ‘Okey Cokey’, without an ipad or technical gadget in use all evening, except for taking photos or playing the music!

The Cross Hills Church family would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year for 2017 and we pray for peace to come in all the many troubled places in our world.

If you would like to come to our Sunday services during this coming year, please see the Church Service Information section in this magazine showing the times of our services.

Contact Numbers Pastor - Garry Kelly: 01455 457802/07816 616189 Secretary - Lynda Kelly: 01455 457802/07910 440243 Treasurer - Glynis Straw: 01530 230272

Glynis Straw

Treasurer – on behalf of the Cross Hills church family

Muddy Puddle Walk charity fundraiser for nurseries and families THIS SPRING, Entertainment One’s (eOne) Peppa Pig is teaming up with the world’s leading children’s charity, Save the Children, to launch a fundraiser like no other.

Between 8 and 14 May 2017, nurseries, early years groups, families and children up and down the country are being encouraged to take part in a Peppa Pig’s Muddy Puddle Walk for Save the Children.

Organising a Muddy Puddle Walk is a great way for your little ones to explore the world around them and jump in muddy puddles, like Peppa Pig, for a worthy cause. However you fundraise – you’ll help Save the Children make life better for children around the world.

There are lots of easy ways to raise money on your Muddy Puddle Walk for Save the Children. The free fundraising pack is full of great activities and fundraising ideas, so you can choose which option will work best for you and your children. Your little ones can get sponsored to walk or splash in puddles at the park, or they can simply donate to join your muddy puddle walk. You can even top up your total by baking and selling Muddy Puddle cupcakes!

Vicky Fallon, Head of Community Giving at Save the Children, said: “We hope that nurseries and families across the nation sign up and take part in their very own Muddy Puddle Walk! By jumping in muddy puddles like Peppa Pig and raising money for Save the Children – you can help the world’s most vulnerable children to have a brighter future.”

By raising money for Save the Children, you’ll help support their work to give every last child the chance to learn, play and grow up healthy and happy. Millions of children around the world are missing out on this – just because of where they’re born. By taking part in a Muddy Puddle Walk your children can discover how much fun it can be to explore the world around them. The fundraising pack will also explain what life is like for children in different countries, helping them see how they are making a difference through supporting Save the Children.

Sign up your nursery or family now at www.MuddyPuddleWalk.org to get your free Muddy Puddle Fundraising Pack, full of fundraising ideas and tips for great walks and activities indoors and out – including free Peppa stickers and Save the Children balloons too!

My mate’s a workaholic, anyone mentions work and he gets drunk.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

NEW YEAR - NEW YOU WHY NOT make 2017 a year to remember and join us as a volunteer.

Being a volunteer in the library comes with a guarantee ... a guarantee you will be helping your community; gaining new skills and meeting likeminded people from different backgrounds, people you might never have met under normal circumstances.

Many of our volunteers have said how much they have gained and how it has enriched their lives.

We are looking for new volunteers to train up as librarians, as well as people to help with our events, activities and groups and the general running of a community library.

You don’t need to have any particular qualifications as all training, help and advice will be given, and we’re totally flexible about the time you can give - whether you can offer a regular commitment of a few hours a week or help on an occasional basis - there’s something for everyone Our volunteers come from all walks of life - and whilst many have lived in the area most of their lives and know what a valuable asset our library is, some are new to the area and coming along to help in the library has given them a sense of belonging to a community whilst also making lifelong friends.

Some of our volunteers have sadly lost their partners and said they felt quite lost and isolated but by volunteering it has given them something to look forward to as well as a huge confidence boost.

Many of our volunteers are retirees who are keen to pass on the knowledge and skills they have developed by helping others. We are very fortunate that some run a few of our groups, like our Writing Group, Art Class and Ancestry and many of our volunteers have found new interests by joining some of the groups.

If you would like to form a group to pass on your skills or indeed to learn new things we would love to hear from you.

We also have younger people who are employed and who come to volunteer in the library in the evening or weekends. They say it is a great way to do something completely different from their day job and it also looks good on a CV. We also need new readers for our weekly Reading and Rhymes group we have a lively bunch of children who really enjoy listening to books and new voices are always welcome.

The library is a warm, safe environment where each day brings something different, where you could learn new skills, meet new people and where you could give something valuable - your time.

So call into the library anytime for a coffee and a chat or email us at markfieldcommunitylibraryevents@mail.com for more information about volunteering.

Some of our Volunteer Voices ‘I began volunteering at Markfield Community Library because I wanted to ensure a service my family and I valued remained available in the village.

‘I never expected to gain so much from the experience. I’ve rediscovered my love of reading and books. I’ve learnt and put into practice new skills. But I’ve most enjoyed meeting new people; both other volunteers, whose enthusiasm, ideas and willingness to learn has been amazing and customers.

‘Every shift has been different, with some tasks I hadn’t expected, and the plans for future development of the Community Library keep it exciting and rewarding.’

Helen ‘I am passionate about books and lots of them so need the library. I want it open for everyone.

‘Reading improves my quality of life. I want to share that with young people, encourage them to read for facts and for pleasure.’

Ann ‘Having retired I then moved from Gloucestershire to Markfield; an area I was not familiar with but was eager to find out more about. I saw the advert for the library wanting volunteers, so applied. I am getting to know more people and also what clubs and events are happening in the area.

‘It gets me out the house socially whilst learning new things (having never worked in a library before), plus you can just give as much time you wish, from one hour a week to more sessions if you wish.’

Julie

All the latest news from

Dementia Friends Coffee Morning - January 18th at 11.00am WE ARE HOLDING a Dementia Friends Coffee Morning on Wednesday January 18th at 11.00am to explain a little more about how you can become a Dementia Friend.

This is from Douglas, a Dementia Friends Champion, who will be hosting the meeting “Would you please spend just one hour to understand a little more about dementia? It could help you, family, friends, neighbours - our whole community. So many people are touched by dementia. Please come along to our friendly Coffee Morning at Markfield Community Library at 11am on Wednesday 18th January.

Our free, valuable and interesting Dementia Friends Information Session is just about asking everyone to understand a bit more about dementia and how we might make life that bit easier and more pleasant for those people who live with it. Please do be a Dementia Friend.”

For more information please contact the library or check out the Dementia Friends website dementiafriends.org.uk

The Writing’s On The Wall - Literally !

OUR WRITER’S Group are about to celebrate their first anniversary and to record some of the work they’ve done over the last year they have produced a small booklet with a story or poem written by each member.

The booklet is available for you to see in the library as well as a wall display of their writing so far. Here is just one poem from the group.

THE MARKFIELD DAY HAD BEGUN

by Douglas Brewer Exasperated green buses weaving, weaving between parked cars.

Lawns spread through ranks of trees and hedges.

New jumbo houses slowing feeling at home as the gardens grow, and the infant trees hold tight Tumbles of toddlers trotting into play groups Lonely souls in bungalows visited by jacketed heroes with boxes of healing touches and kind greetings.

Friday evenings accompanied by peals of bells and motorway drone.

Night time teenager’s angst left in crushed fag ends and crunched cans.

Home for 5,000 or so from frame knitters to quarrymen, Colliers to clerks, the weary, the wise, the young and youthful, gathered around a hill top standing proud is a great valley scene.

This Domesday Book mentioned village of Mercenfield

I was once bitten by a German Shepherd, but he apologised afterwards and even introduced me to his dog.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Jo Jingles JO JINGLES now has spaces available for both sessions on Monday mornings.

The first session at 10.15am is for 18 months plus and the 11.15am session is for babies up to 18 months old.

These sessions are fun, educational and interactive and will introduce babies and children to routine and structure. Every child will have the use of musical instruments and the classes will help develop language, listening, memory and social skills. For more details either call into the library or contact Laura on 0844 381 4325 or email jojingles-loughborough@ hotmail.co.uk

Book Club OUR AFTERNOON book club is reading the widely acclaimed Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee. Although written before her first and only other published novel, the Pulitzer Prize-winning To Kill a Mockingbird—and initially promoted by its publisher as a sequel—it is now more widely accepted as being a first draft of the famous novel. The title alludes to Jean Louise Finch’s view of her father, Atticus Finch, as the moral compass (“watchman”) of Maycomb, and has a theme of disillusionment, as she discovers the extent of the bigotry in her home community.

According to the publisher, Go Set a Watchman, “...tackles the racial tensions brewing in the South in the 1950s and delves into the complex relationship between father and daughter.” It includes versions of many of the characters who appear in To Kill a Mockingbird. “

Burns Night

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

“Still Friday” 2017

TALKING of Poetry - I’m sure a lot of people joined hands and sang Auld Lang Syne as the clock struck midnight on Hogmanay.

Well, January 25th sees the 258th anniversary of the birth of Scotland’s most famous poet, Robert Burns, also known as Rabbie or Robbie Burns, the Bard of Ayrshire, who was famous for writing the poem Auld Lang Syne. He was also the author of other famous poems like (Oh My Love) is like a Red Red Rose and Tam O’Shanter and to celebrate his life every year on his birthday is Burns Night.

The Burns Supper is a nationwide event and the full ritual of the night involves whiskey, recitals of the poet’s work and a haggis dinner including Cock-a-Leekie Soup; Haggis, red berry sauce, bashed neeps and chappit tatties; individual Scottish pies and Cranachan.

If you would like to learn more about Robert Burns or the recipes for the Burns Supper, call into the library where you’ll be able to find or order books about him or you could check our free internet

Chinese New Year ANOTHER celebration 3 days later is Chinese New Year… on January 28th Chinese people across the globe will begin celebrating the Year of the Rooster - or more precisely 2017 is the Red Fire Chicken Year.

People born in a year of the Rooster will be known as ‘Roosters’ and their lucky numbers will be 5,7 and 8. They will be active, amusing and popular within a crowd as well as being talkative, hardworking and honest. On the down side they can be vain and boastful and want to be the centre of attention all the time…..

To find out more please call into the library where there are some books about China or ask the librarian to order in specific books for you. Of course, as always, you can check out information on our free internet.

We look forward to welcoming you into the library during 2017 and for more information about our events and activities please visit our website www.markfieldcommunitylibrary.co.uk

Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, Ash Kotecha

prayer, readings and responses and last up to an hour.

3,Bedford Drive, Groby, Leicestershire 0YB the peace.

All are welcome.

Come along andE6 enjoy P.S. Click on this link for some History of the company.

20th January 17th February 17th March No “Still Friday” in April http://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/main/industrial-sites/25129-john-bull19th May 16th June 21st July 18th August rubber-co-evington-valley-mills-leicester.html 15th September

Churches Together in Markfield initiative

Creative suggestions for reading, thinking and exploring prayer, with time and space just to be.

Congregational Church Hall - 6-7pm Thursdays 26th January, 23rd February, 23rd March Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want.

Refreshments available. All are welcome.

Are you in control of your money... or do your finances control you?

Can you save up to pay for the things you need ... or do you pay for them all ‘later’ with interest?

Contact details:

Monday

9.00am to 10.00am 1.00pm to 3.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Steph Beeston-Clarke Lead CAP Money Coach

Tuesday

9.00am to 10.00am 1.00pm to 3.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm Closed

Thursday

9.00am to 10.00am 1.00pm to 3.00pm 6.00pm to 7.00pm

Friday

9.00am to 10.00am 1.00pm to 3.00pm Closed

Saturday

10.00am to 12 noon Closed

Closed

17th November

Fridays 8.00 pm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church

Our opening hours are: Wednesday 9.00am to 10.00am Closed

20th October

No “Still Friday” in December

stephbc@hotmail.co.uk 01530 243606 07572 852684 https://capuk.org/i-wanthelp/cap-money-course /course

Come on the CAP Money Course (three easy weekly sessions) for help with building a budget and saving for the future. It is suitable for anyone and everyone whatever their financial situation – good or bad – and is completely confidential.

The next course will be starting in early 2017.

Contact Steph to find out more. Come on your own, with a friend or in a group.

Sunday Closed

As a painter, I’m proud to say some of my work is on show in the National Gallery. I did the skirting boards.

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THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.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.

ZERO TOLERANCE

Motorists fined in vehicle littering campaign

A CRACKDOWN on littering from vehicles in Hinckley and Bosworth has already resulted in fines for a number of motorists.

Since the campaign began two months ago, officers from the Borough 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 and 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.

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

My 90 year old grandmother has finally lost her marbles. So now she insists on playing dominoes all day.

29

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Slimmer Fitter and Racing to Success Debbie Fisher, 36 from Loughborough has discovered a new fun filled meaning to life after Slimming World got her back on track, the whole 10 kilometres of It!!

Now a whole 4 stone lighter Debbie is enjoying the faster pace life can be with two small children to run after.

Last Christmas 2014 after a year of biting and bobbing with My Fitness Pal, Debbie decided it was time to get serious. “I had been using different diets and app’s for about a year previously and managed to lose a couple of stone but just couldn’t stick to the constant calorie counting, it was becoming tiresome and frustrating”.

Then Debbie’s weight loss came to a halt.

Debbie explained that at her heaviest and before having her 2 children she weighed 16.5 stone and comfort ate telling herself it didn’t matter as she was always surrounded by friends and family that were always full of kind words.

A regular favourite being a Chinese on a Friday night with a bottle of wine . “When-ever I struggled with anything in life I would eat and then feel guilty which would cause more bad feeling causing me to feel down again and consequently eat. I would look in the mirror and think I’m not that bad but then see a photo and see the reality. The funny thing is I would forget the bad things I ate in the day and not understand why my weight was what it was” A friend of Debbie’s had started using the Slimming World Online programme and was following the diet herself and seemed to be doing really well and not going hungry.

That’s when she decided to find a

my little boy, something I never would have done before” Debbie explains that she needed to know somebody was going to see if she had cheated at the end of the week but also to notice what was going on and help her make the right decisions in regards to the food she ate.

When friends at work started to notice the difference Debbie started explaining about the diet and bringing in tasters for colleagues to try, her particular favourites being the onion bahji’s and scotch eggs. “I love that I can eat everything that I could before only without the bad bits, Mine and my husband’s favourite dishes are the Rogan Josh from the Fakeaway book and Slimming World chips with a big juicy burger with lots of herbs or chilli. The children Rosie 5 and Tommy 3 enjoy the food just as much especially all of the pasta dishes and the ‘KFC’ style chicken” Debbie goes on to quote “this How Debbie looked in 2010 ... and how she looks now. is not a diet to me, this is simply a was energising seeing people hitting change to how you live your life” group of her own. the same walls then bashing through After enjoying being at group “I had tried different eating plans them, I would always stay to group and spreading the word, not to before from 5:2, fitness pal and as the hints and tips we gave each mention the fabulous food Debbie general calorie counting, I decided other was such a help and I loved decided to re-launch the Markfield this time I was going to do things the taster sessions, I would try food I Group on Monday 2nd January properly and I have never been never dreamed of trying before” with 2 amazing sessions running at so pleased that I did. The thought From barely being able to face 17:30 and 19:30, this will be held of walking into that group was swimming once a week and that at South Charnwood College in terrifying but the best decision ever Each evening will tiring include simple reflective worship songs, silence, being a leisurely swim she has Markfield and parking is available made”” It still took until Feb 2015 to prayer, readings and responses and last up anstaff hour. now ran 3 10k Race for Life (6.2 usingtothe entrance. She also have the courage to walk through raising £230 and along a mudand run enjoyhas Allmiles) are welcome.

Come the2peace. sessions in Loughborough at those doors though” for Cancer Research. “My husband Pure Arts on Devonshire Square So glad she did, Debbie explained 20thfriends January No “Still Friday”09:30am in April and and and 17th familyFebruary were so 17th March on Tuesday morning that she was amazed at the proud of me and I can’t believe I 11:30am and a Wednesday evening 19th May 16th June 21st July 18th August variety of people at group from made my best time in just 1hour at 17:30 and 19:30. old to young, male and female.

20th October 17th November 715th too, September which for somebody that Everybody was welcome and made If you want to lose weight, has never ran for anything other to feel at ease. She goes on to say No “Still Friday” in December gain masses of confidence and than for last order’s was brilliant. how everybody was given a clap a guilt free treat I am absolutely hooked and Fridays 8.00 pmnow at St. Michael still & Allenjoy Angels’ Church regardless of the loss or gain or please contact Debbie on regularly run every week; I also had maintain as everyone is in the same 07500 709160 a go on the go karts on holiday with boat, making the same journey. “it

“Still Friday” 2017

Churches Together in Markfield initiative

Creative suggestions for reading, thinking and exploring prayer, with time and space just to be.

Congregational Church Hall - 6-7pm Thursdays 26th January, 23rd February, 23rd March Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want.

Refreshments available. All are welcome.

My doctor told me that I’d be lucky to reach 50. That’s the last time I give him a lift in my Robin Reliant.

30

1/9/2017

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Word Search Puzzle

PL MANAGER Wordsearch

Forgot username or password? Passcode/Create New

FIND 12 PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win Free Resources yourself a meal and aSolutions for Districts drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

What We Offer

Who We Are

Teachers

Pare

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: CALL ME GAFFER, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 4th February I U L J O V I W R S W R S X X I V 2017. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct D R B K B E G H A N J E L O K U E entry drawn out of the hat will win the Meal for Two at The Field Head R A E G C Y U R T U M G A X H H S Hotel. Good luck!

F O X I B W S U R O L N V I J U I S A N Y N U Z G L C G E E Z G H L C E N A T A E P Y E T W N O J I U W Z H O L N R L S N F E B V B U P G E Z G K D L O O J W N I V I T Y T G N L U B K C I O K E L O C G N H Y O E Q H O O H D Q S I R U O O T P B U C I K E E R U R C W V Z T P O V L N V I R X M L A Z N G D W S E Y O M D I V A D A B L B O B J Y D T A D M V Z J M F N U C V O O Z N P E P G U A R D I O L A N A Z A P K I H J K S S E A N D Y C H E G F W X K A Z A T Z K A D V A B S ANTONIOCONTE ARSENEWENGER CLAUDIORANIERI DAVIDMOYES EDDIEHOWE JURGENKLOPP MARKHUGHES PEPGUARDIOLA RONALDKOEMAN SEANDYCHE SLAVENBILIC TONYPULIS

Find the following 12 PREMIER LEAGUE MANAGERS:

SLAVEN BILIC • TONY PULIS • DAVID MOYES MARK HUGHES • ARSENE WENGER • EDDIE HOWE SEAN DYCHE • ANTONIO CONTE • PEP GUARDIOLA RONALD KOEMAN • JURGEN KLOPP • CLAUDIO RANIERI Name: ...................................................................................................

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

Last Month’s Competition Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch Competition was: MRS J E LISTER of Churchill Drive, LFE, Leicester Congratulations! Your voucher will be sent to you soon.

Club would like to invite you to our

‘40’s’

Vintage Fair

‘50’s’

(all profits made will benefit our local Charities)

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!!

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

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!

My parents treat me like a god. They don’t believe in me.

31

THE HERALD • JANUARY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Last chance to claim hedge packs LEICESTERSHIRE County Council is offering a final chance ito apply for free packs of hedging plants and hedgerow trees.

The hedge packs are up for grabs in a bid to help Leicestershire’s countryside flourish.

Pam Posnett, county council cabinet member for environment, said: “We are committed to growing Leicestershire’s green spaces through a sustained programme of tree planting. The benefits are numerous as the packs will enrich our countryside, provide fantastic wildlife corridors as well as breaks in the landscape. They are also part of our history.

“The UK is rightly regarded throughout the world for its varied patterns of hedgerows, however, between 1998 and 2007, it lost around six per cent of its managed hedgerows - and we don’t want to see a further decrease.”

Up to 100 metres of hedging and 25 trees are available to farmers, parish councils and community groups for planting on publicly accessible land or areas which are visible from a public right of way or highway. The scheme does not extend to private gardens.

The packs are being offered under the Stepping Stones scheme, a programme run by the county council in conjunction with some district councils.

In previous years, a total of 5.5km of new hedgerows and over 1,300 hedgerow trees have been planted as a direct result of the scheme, which is also supported by the Woodland Trust.

To request a pack, call the Woodland Trust quoting ‘Trees Make Hedges’ on 0330 333 5303 or email plant@woodlandtrust.org.uk

Some miscellaneous observations on life • • • • • • • •

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We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give. Duane Hulse We make our friends, we make our enemies, but God sends our next door neighbour. GK Chesterton I hold it to be a fact, that if all persons knew what each said of the other, there would not be four friends in the world.

Blaise Pascal The secret of happiness is renunciation. Andrew Carnegie You cannot find knowledge by rearranging your ignorance. Ronald Eyre Lose an hour in the morning and you will be looking for it the rest of the day. Philip Chesterfield Be kind. Remember that everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle. Harry Thompson We do not realise how much we are attached to the good things of this world until they are taken from us. Augustine Nothing is so opened more by mistake than the mouth. Anon The use of our possessions shows us up for what we actually are. C C Ryrie We like someone who comes right out and says what they thinks, when they agree with us. Anon A physician recommends for the middleaged light exercise and a siesta each day.

Daily dozen and daily dozing. Anon This is a free country, and a good many people are getting it that way - by agreeing to pay later. Anon Conscience: the sixth sense that comes to our aid when we are wrong and tells us that we are about to get caught. Anon Car park: the place where you take your car to have little dents put in the fenders.

Anon Yours: anything which up to the present other members of your family have not been able to get away from you. Anon

I can’t believe I forgot to go to the gym today. That’s 7 years in a row now.

Blaise Pascal

Coalville Furniture Superstore

BEDROOM FURNITURE BY RAUCH

Come and see our exciting new displays of beds and bedroom furniture

DIVAN AND STORAGE BEDS

Coalville Furniture Superstore, 79 - 81 Belvoir Road, Coalville LE67 3PH (former Co-op department store) Tel: 01530 833311

BED FRAMES

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, Sunday closed. Car park at rear.

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