March 2014 herald magazine

MARCH 2014

Dog fouling and litter getting worse at Altar Stones nature reserve Reserve manager of the Altar Stones nature reserve in Markfield has noticed a growing problem with dog muck and litter over the past few years.

Nathalie Cossa, reserve manager says “when has it become acceptable to not pick up after your dog or to throw litter onto the ground?”

Four bin bags of litter were collected which comprised mainly of beer cans found throughout the nature reserve and on the other side of the dry-stone wall in the lay-by.

“It appears that people just park up in the layby and throw their rubbish over the wall” says Nathalie, “I only did a litter pick before Christmas so to have 4 full bins full of rubbish in such a short space of time is very depressing. A dead bird was found stuck in one of the beer cans so as well as looking unattractive to visitors it’s also a hazard for wildlife.”

There is also concern regarding the increasing amount of dog fouling.

Posters have been put up asking people to pick up after their dogs but unfortunately not all dog walkers are responsible. Some dog walkers don’t appear to have any respect for other visitors to the nature reserve including volunteers who help manage the reserve for the enjoyment of visitors and children. To highlight the problem over 100 faeces Please turn to page 5 ...>

Don’t miss the Craft Fair at Thornton - 15th March Thornton Community Centre will be holding a Craft Fair at the Centre in Main Street, Thornton on Saturday 15th March between 10.30am and 2pm.

Some stalls are still available, so if you’re interested in selling some of your craft creations, contact Iris Gleeson on 01530 230453.

There will be tombola, books, bric-a-brac, a prize draw and hopefully a cake stall so any contributions will be gratefully received.

Musical events in Stanton • On Friday 28th March 2014 there will be a Spring Concert with STANTON UNDER BARDON SINGERS & MUSICIANS performing in St Mary & All Saints Church, Stanton under Bardon at 7.30pm.

Tickets £4.00 on the door including refreshments.

• CHARNWOOD TRAINING BAND will be performing on Saturday 5th April 2014, at 7.00p.m. in St Mary & All Saints Church, Main Street,Stanton under Bardon, Aimee Harrison, Soprano, will also be taking part in the programme.

Admission £2.00 which includes light refreshments. Tickets are available from Stanton Stores.There will also be a Raffle. Proceeds to St Mary’s Fabric Fund.

Gail Massey

Local girl Lydia selected as a Miss Leicestershire 2014 finalist Markfield girl LYDIA FROST (aged 17) has been chosen as a finalist for this year’s Miss Leicestershire competition.

Following auditions in January, the contest judges decided on the 20-strong short-list, whittled down from hundreds of hopefuls.

The Final is being held on Thursday 10th April at Athena, in the city centre, with the winner getting a fast-track pass into the final round of Miss England which takes place in June in Torbay. “It was extremely hard to choose the shortlisted girls,” said judge and Miss England organiser Angie Beasley. “The standard was really high this Lydia Frost year. In fact, it was so high, it almost seems like a semi-final of Miss England”.

Determined to dismiss the stereotypes surrounding beauty pageants, Angie said the competition was “not just about being the most beautiful girl”.

“We looked for confidence, but not overly-confident, the ability to be photogenic and, of course, they needed to look like a model” In preparation for the final, each shortlisted contestant is now required to complete a series of tasks.

One of the challenges is raising as much money as possible for the Miss World charity, Beauty With A Purpose and all of the funds raised will be spent in this country.

The contestants, who are all aged 17 to 25, will also be taking part in a boot camp-style fitness day.

In addition, each finalist will have to create her own handmade ecofriendly outfit, which she will showcase in the final.

Members of the public will be given the chance to vote for their favourite contestant nearer to the final showdown.

If you would like to sponsor Lydia and/or donate to Beauty with a purpose please contact her on 01530 242364.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 5th April - Adverts & Articles Needed By 22nd March

The year is 1741.

Join us in a tour of this old market town before the industrial revolution.

Its sights and smells recaptured.

Tuesday 18th March 2014 Congregational Church Hall, Main Street, Markfield 7.30pm All Welcome

PLEASE NOTE NEW VENUE

Non-members £2 and Members £1 including refreshments I totally understand how batteries feel because I’m rarely ever included in things either.

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.

Bagworth Charity Dance was a great success!

Ken, Glenda, Anne, Josie and their small team of volunteers would like to extend heartfelt thanks to all who helped to make their Charity Dance in February at the Bagworth Working Men’s Club a success.

As a result, £462 was raised from that event through admission money and raffle money. In addition, Barbara and John organised a quiz prior to the dance and raised £160. The two amounts were put together and £622 was presented to the British Heart Foundation at the weekly Wednesday afternoon dance on 26th February. The Foundation expressed their thanks for this donation which will be put to good use.

The next Social Dance at the Bagworth Working Men’s Club is at 8 pm on Saturday 15th March followed by another at 8 pm on Saturday 19th April.

These dances are well attended and enjoyed by all who take part. Make sure that the dates go in your diary. The next Charity Dance is in May. Watch this space for further details.

Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown.

Ken Hill

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.

Borough Council freezes its council tax for another year

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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.

THE Borough Council has ‘frozen’ its charge for council tax for 2014/15. The decision was taken at a full meeting of the council on Thursday 20th February and means that the council tax, already the tenth lowest of all councils in England, will have remained at the same level for four consecutive years - £95.96 per year for an average ‘Band D’ property.

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, Sandra, Helen, Don, Jeanie, Jenny, Lauren, Lisa, Daisy, Stacey, Ennyd, Margaret, Ellie, Hannah, Charlotte, Mike, Rowan, John & Sue.

This will be supplemented by the charge for the parish councils, Leicestershire County Council, Police and Crime Commissioner and the Fire Authority.

Despite a further 13.37% reduction in core Government funding for the coming year, the council has been able to set a balanced budget, without hitting frontline services and maintaining acceptable levels of balances and reserves - an essential requirement in ensuring ongoing financial health.

Looking ahead, however, the council has acknowledged that even more savings will be required from 2015/16, because of further austerity measures from the Government. In addition, the council will be affected by the County Council’s budget position and the changing position on New Homes Bonus and business rates appeals.

Commenting on the position, Sanjiv Kohli, the council’s Deputy Chief Executive Responsible for Finance, said: “The budget position

becomes increasingly challenging each year with our core funding from central Government having been reduced by a further 13.37%.

“We have managed once again to achieve a balanced budget for the forthcoming year by making further efficiency savings in back office services and by using our savings; however, we anticipate that in 2015/2016 it will become increasingly difficult to deliver a balanced budget whilst freezing council tax, without any impact on services.

“This is because of further government cuts of around 15% in 2015/16 and the pressures of reduced direct and indirect funding from the County Council which will start impacting on us from 2015/16 onwards. We will, however, continue to be proactive in financial planning and have already commenced work on identifying new and efficient ways of working to reduce costs and encourage additional income.”

The Borough Council’s Executive Member for Finance, Councillor Keith Lynch, paid tribute to the work of the Finance team and other service areas in achieving a balanced budget.

Commenting on the decision he said: “Whilst the position for 2014/2015 is positive, I must highlight that the financial outlook for this council from 2015/2016 is challenging. Given this position, I will be urging all Members over the forthcoming year to work with officers to identify ways in which we identify savings, additional income and different ways of working to

“We have managed once again to achieve a balanced budget for the for thcoming year by making fur ther ef ficiency savings in back of fice services and by using our savings.”

Sanjiv Kohli ensure that services can continue to be delivered to the very high standards on which this council prides itself ”.

The Leader of the Borough Council, Stuart Bray, added that the Budget “provides further evidence of how well the council’s resources are managed, despite the continued reduction in funding from central Government.

“We know that we now face a double threat from April 2015 - further cuts from Westminster, compounded by fairly significant reductions proposed

by Leicestershire County Council to meet its need to find savings from 2015/16 and beyond. We know that these are likely to affect recycling, support to children and vulnerable adults and funding for the voluntary sector.”

“Officers are predicting that, yet again, we will have worked within our budgets for 2013/14 and will produce an under spend to put into reserves to help meet the significant further demands on continuing to deliver first class services to our residents.”

My friend recently got crushed by a pile of books, but he’s only got his shelf to blame.

Are tax freezes really so wonderful?

Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald

J

ust recently at both Parish and Borough Council level, discussions have been held concerning the County Council’s decision to close the majority of its libraries in Leicestershire unless alternative streams of funding or volunteers are found to take them over.

making use of a grant they can receive if they freeze the tax. This grant comes via the government at Westminster so of course is your money anyway, collected via national taxes. This time it has definite strings attached, like so much that comes from national Government and of course they always know best what you might want and how it should be used.

Markfield has a first class library, in a purpose built building right next to the primary school. This building replaced the old mobile style building which had existed in my youth, although I can still just about remember going with my Grandma to visit the mobile library on the Green in the days before a fixed building existed. Over the years the library service has served the surrounding communities well and has cut its cloth to meet its pockets by reducing opening hours etc. Never has it proposed ending the service altogether.

I am told the decision is all down to funding and that the County Council simply does not have the resources to support the service any more as it has down over the past 30 years. This is at the same time when the politicians who run both the County and Borough Councils will champion the fact to all and sundry that for another year they have been able to freeze the council tax. Of course the bills will be arriving shortly.

It is slightly ironic that in the public consultation the County Council conducted prior to making its decision on council tax, the favoured response was to support a limited increase.

The position around the council tax is far more nuanced than you might imagine. In freezing the council tax the local authority are

My big gripe here is that those politicians - both nationally and locally - who claim and will claim great credit for freezing the council tax, will only give you half the picture, not the full one. The full picture involves a real big shift into charging more for services carried out on your behalf which would have been in the past universal and largely free at the point of delivery.

And here is the thing, when you provide a service universally, free at the point of delivery and funded by taxation, it is a lot cheaper to provide. Some years ago at the Borough Council I was involved in a heated argument about whether the Council should introduce charges for the collection of green waste from homes in the Borough.

The service had already been trialled very successfully in our community with the old green bag method and the council wanted to roll it out everywhere using wheelie bins. In doing so they wanted to charge an extra £35 per year.

I was resolutely against the charging proposal, not just because I believed the service should have been universal but also because the actual economics of the charging proposition did not add up. The important thing to note is that the green waste collected received an income on weight so the more collected the more income received, ordinary waste

What’s the full picture?

was subject to a tax (landfill tax) to incentivise recycling activity. When the green waste trial was carried out, it proved that people would recycle if given the chance. It was a success not just because the volume of green waste collected but also because household refuse collected went down in weight.

A universal scheme meant most households participated increasing income while a charging scheme would have reduced participation.

It would also have been logistically difficult with lots of extra costs like billing and processing costs which end up running into the thousands.

This is the bit they neglect to tell you. To charge for a specific service requires more administration, logistics and - you guessed it - extra costs. We also had the thorny issue of VAT. VAT would have to be added into the mix when you charged for the service unlike when it is funded via council tax.

By the end of the debate we had demonstrated that it was not only better to keep a universal service going to all in the Borough but that also, it would only cost a fraction of the separate £35 fee (to those who opted to pay) if it was simply included in the council tax. I am pleased today to say that we won that debate and the brown bin has been a big success ever since.

We end up paying more At a recent Parish meeting in Stanton I again flagged up the same point but this time around the issue of school transport. I wondered why it was, that when I was 16 I could choose to go to college in Leicester (Charles Keene as was) and get a bus pass that allowed me to travel free of charge. Today such a free pass no longer exists and it would cost hundreds of pounds a year to travel. Now this was not some special bus that just collected

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Matthew Lay kids going to Charles Keene, it was just a regular 117/8 bus going into Leicester. If it had cost my parents hundreds of pounds just to get there I probably would not have gone and my life would have been very different. Back then, school transport schemes were funded via local taxes and it would have cost a few pounds on everyone’s bills to provide it. Today rather than pay a few pounds you end up paying hundreds, and so it goes on and on.

Charges for the most basic services, once free are now charged for and as a result you end up paying more.

The economics do not add up any more today than they did 20 years ago. What has changed are the political drivers behind all of this. Today, tax is a dirty word, but if it saves you money in the long run, keeps your library open and allows children to get a bus to school, perhaps we should question a little more those who will trumpet yet another freeze as if it is some wonder cast down from on high.

Matthew

A Typical Day Working at the Co-Op in 1949

When I was 14 years old my very first full time job was working at Markfield Co-Op. My Manager was Mr Don Plant, then, in my early twenties, I was transferred to the Co-Op at Wallace Drive, Groby as First Assistant to the Manager Mr Tom Mee, thus my first 19 years of working life was with the Co-Op. My working full days were Monday to Friday 8.30 am to 6 pm with one hour break for lunch and on Saturday I only worked half a day and finished at 12.30 pm.

Every Monday and Tuesday morning my first job of the day was the ‘order round’ which involved collecting customers orders from their homes. This task I did on my bicycle in all weathers cycling further a field than Copt Oak. The orders were then made up by myself and other staff. These were then delivered by a Co-Op lorry every Thursday.

Some of my other jobs included: • Half a day weighing out sugar and then bagging into one and two pound bags.

• Cutting lard and wrapping into half pounds and pounds.

• Skinning cheeses.

• Taking bones out of bacon.

My first wage was two pounds six shillings and nine pennies. I loved my job. The staff were lovely to work with and I have very fond memories.

Mrs Iris Ball (nee Bott)

Altar Stones Lane - from page 1 were sprayed with bright pink paint last week. “I have a dog myself and I know that it’s not pleasant to clean up after her but I also know that picking up after my dog is not impossible and just part of being a

responsible dog owner. Dogs usually use the same areas to defecate in so by spraying them pink, I’m hoping that the dog owner will realise how much they are contributing to the dog fouling problem if they don’t pick up,” says Nathalie.

When checking the reserve Nathalie often chats to the regular dog walkers, many of whom have said to her that they also find the issue of dog muck a problem and when some of them have confronted an irresponsible owner they have often been met with a mouthful of abuse.

“Once I spoke to a visitor who did not pick up after his dog and his response to why he didn’t pick up was that it was away from the path,” says Nathalie, “What he doesn’t appreciate is that there are no set paths, people walk all over the reserve, and that dog fouling is not just a hazard to people. Our longhorn cattle that graze the site over the summer are at risk of contracting Neosporosis, a disease caused by the parasite Neospora caninum which is passed from some dogs which host the disease through their faeces, and is responsible for the highest percentage of all cattle abortions reported in the UK. A few years ago a couple of cows had abortions on the Altar Stones which our vet attributed to Neosporosis. That is why we now try to graze the site with our veteran cows who are less likely to be pregnant.”

The Altar Stones nature reserve is a lovely area to visit, with or without a dog and is enjoyed by many. Help make this reserve even lovelier by taking your litter home with you and picking up after your dog.

I haven’t slept for 10 days, because that would be too long.

Cash boost for local schools welcomed

Local Dancers Open West End Variety Show!

The money given to schools to help children from poorer backgrounds is set to rise again in Hinckley and Bosworth.

The Pupil Premium - aimed at providing extra money to support youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds - is expected to increase in Hinckley and Bosworth to £2,582,000 in September 2014.

Among the Markfield schools set to benefit are South Charnwood High School who are due to receive £83,925 in Pupil Premium money, Stanton Under Bardon Primary School who are set to receive £13,000 in Pupil Premium funding and Mercenfeld Primary School who are set to get £53,500 Pupil Premium funding.

The announcement came after figures also revealed the attainment gap between children eligible for Free School Meals and their peers continued to narrow.

In aid of Tear Fund In the Congregational Hall Main Street, Markfield On Saturday 15th March 12.00 till 1.30pm £4.00 Menu Jacket Potato Cheese, Beans, Home-Made Coleslaw, Apple Pie & Custard Everyone welcome Tickets from Brenda On 01530 242173 Parables and Possessions Lent Course 2014

The Bible says more about money, economics and making a living than any other subject. It is clear, therefore, that God wants us to be in a right relationship with money and this will aid us in our quest to be in a right relationship with God. Our Lent Course, Parables and Possessions, helps us look at this subject through the study of some of Jesus' parables and what they teach us about our relationship with money and material possessions.

The course will run for five Wednesdays in Lent beginning on 12th March at 8.00 pm at The Rectory, 3a, The Nook, Markfield.

You will be most welcome. Please do join us.

To find out more, contact Simon on (01530) 242844.

Forty four members of True Blue Dance Crew have just about come off cloud ‘9’ having had the most amazing experience.

On 26th January 2014, 7.30am, at a very cold Ratby Village Centre, True Blue dancers left the village by VIP Coach bound for London. The all girl group, were selected to Open a Variety Show at Her Majesty’s Theatre in front of crowds of over 1,000. After six months hard work, and tiring rehearsals the girls were finally on their way to ‘Live Their Dream’.

On arrival at Her Majesty’s Theatre, the dancers were shown to their dressing rooms - the night before, these were all filled with the Phantom Of The Opera Cast ... how amazing!

Onto the stage, the girls looked very nervous, but were met with a West End Star, Gary Weston, who has appeared in Saturday Night Fever, CATS, Les Miserables, Evita and Mama Mia and many more. Gary put the girls through their warm up and stretch session, then off to dressing rooms for the first rehearsal.

The squad aged 7 -21 years, all got glammed up and hit the stage, all the rehearsals throughout the day went well, and it was soon time for curtain up! Nerves were now kicking in, the excitement and hearts beating fast ... the tannoy announcement ... True Blue to the stage! Now this was our chance to shine.

The girls opened the show with a Modern Megamix kicked off by Will I Am, and our 198 supporters in the audience were clearly heard!

“How amazing ... can we do it again ... can’t believe that ... that was awesome” ... all comments made on the way back to the dressing room.

We had about 40 minutes to prepare for our next routine, our Lyrical. Hair and make up re-done, changed and ready again. The girls bought tears to many eyes with their elegant lyrical routine, all dressed in Topaz Blue, dancing to Emile Sande, (Clown/Imagine), Rhianna (Stay) and Beyoncé (Ava Maria), the supporters again were so loud! All the costumes were made to measure and all looked stunning. Coach Angie Phillips said, “My mum makes all our outfits and had many sleepness nights making 44 evening dresses!

Angie continued: “This has always been my childhood dream ... to watch my dancers, including my two daughters out there on a West End stage was totally breathtaking. Each and every dancer has been totally brilliant, and I am so pleased with their performance. What an amazing experience for all the Dancers, a day they will never forget.”

The Group are already in talks for a Return visit to London next year, and have their Annual Show in March.

The Group are a Community Team, based at Ratby Village Hall and Fosse Neighbourhood Centre and have been running for over 16 years.

Head Coach Angie Phillips, Assistant Coaches Megan Williams and Alex Pool Saturday Assistant Sadie Hurst would make you very welcome at classes - Should you wish to find out more about the teams or wish to have a free taster class and the chance to perform in the West End, please email Angie Phillips at tbdc1@yahoo.co.uk.

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

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My Aunt always said ‘Slow and steady wins the race’ ... She died in a fire.

Ratby Village Society

March and April meetings will be held in Ratby Village Hall, Main Street, Ratby on the third Tuesday of each month at 8pm. Admission: members £1.60, casual guests £2.50 including refreshments. Non-members very welcome.

• 18th March: EGYPTOLOGY - Dr Susan Tebby • 15th April: TECHNOLOGY OF THE ENGLISH COUNTRY HOUSE - a talk by Wendy Freer.

May and June meetings will be held in Ratby Sports Club Room, Desford Lane, Ratby on Thursday 15th May and 19th June, starting at the earlier time of 7.30pm. Admission: members £1.60, casual guests £2.50 including refreshments of wine or orange juice.

Non-members very welcome.

• 15th May: Antiques expert and TV personality CHARLES HANSON (pictured right) will deliver a talk and value your antiques - two items per person for valuation please.

• 19th June: GILL SMART from the Heart Link Charity, Glenfield Hospital, will deliver a talk, together with a display of photos, on the work of the charity. Monies collected for the charity throughout the past year by RVS will be presented on the night.

Jane Rayne

How long was your ‘courtship’?

How long did it take you to fall in love?

Modern couples are managing it on a combination of 224 tweets, 163 text messages, 70 Facebook messages, 37 emails and 30 phone calls... or say, in all, about a month.

Twitter is now the most common way to flirt with a potential partner. The study was by the e-commerce site PIXmania.

LETTER

My memories of the Co Op As a child I lived at Shaw Lane and every Tuesday morning - rain or fine - we had a visit from Miss Betty Kelham, who also lived at Shaw Lane.

She used to come on her bike to collect our Co Op order book, with the goods being delivered the following Friday. At the same time, she collected payment for the previous week’s order. This procedure carried on for some years. (My Mum’s divi number was 5261!)

I also remember Mr Don Plant, who was the manager, and he used to weigh out the sugar in blue bags.

At one time there was a small Drapery Department where eventually the butcher’s shop was, and this was operated by Miss Jennifer Kelham.

Joan Bates Markfield

Police News for Markfield On 6th February 2014 vehicles were broken into at the Travel Lodge car park, Little Shaw Lane, Markfield.

The crimes were believed to have occurred between 0045hrs and 0200hrs. A number of tools were stolen from the vehicles.

If anyone does have any information regarding this matter please contact 101 quoting LH/00650/14-2.

There will be a beat surgery held at the library this month, date and time still to be confirmed. It will hopefully be advertised in the Library and on the Leicestershire Police website. This will be held by PCSO Ed Green.

PC 4675 Katie Harris

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Visit a farm on Open Farm Sunday and discover the story behind our food.

A day for everyone to meet the people, who grow our food and care for our countryside, 8th June 2014 Where: Little Markfield Farm, Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester, LE67 9UN. Time: 10.30am to 5.00pm Contact: Brenda 01530 242173 or 07774047571 Activities: Come and see sheep being sheared, wool being spun, Cows, Sheep, Pigs and Chickens with their babies; feed the lambs! Alpacas, Farm walks, Cookery Demonstrations by 3 professional chefs, Hot dogs & Beef Burgers using farm produce, Jacket Potatoes, Beer festival, Meet Pen the Red-Tail Hawk Modern & Vintage machinery, Over 30 Crafts & Food stalls, Sausage making with the Sausage Master Alf, A Civil War Re-enactment, £1 entry fee per Adult Children Free We will be raising money for St Michael and All Angels Church Markfield Gems Charity.

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As I looked out into the night sky, across all those infinite stars, it made me realise how insignificant they are.

Bradgate Flower Club News • Bradgate Flower Club is marking 25 years since its founding with an Anniversary Dinner.

This will be held from 6.30 pm on Wednesday 2 April in Newtown Linford Village Hall (LE6 0AE). The evening includes a presentation, “Karaoke to Cabaret”, by the very entertaining speaker Tony Cleaver of York.

Members, former members and their guests are all welcome to join in the celebrations! Tickets £15 - in advance only - details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 2363191.

• Have you wondered what lies behind the creative genius of the flower arranger?

Journey “Back to the Future” with Bradgate Flower Club and be enthralled by the skill and repartee of an experienced demonstrator.

Lee Berrill is the guest for our special Open Meeting at 7.30 on Wednesday 7 May. The venue for this meeting is Groby Community College (off Ratby Road LE6 0GE). Visitors and guests are welcome - entry fee of £8, payable at the door. Details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 2363191.

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Why you should listen to music You may turn to music when your heart has been broken, but actually, you can also use it to strengthen your heart if you are unwell.

Cardiologists have found that people who listen to music for about half an hour a day release endorphins in the brains, which in turn, improve vascular health. Music without words is most effective for this, as sad words can ‘upset the emotions’, said the researchers.

While there is no ‘best music’ for everyone, there is evidence that heavy metal actually increases stress on your system. Opera, classical and other kinds of ‘joyful’ music are better at stimulating endorphins. The study was done at the University of Nis, Serbia and presented to the European Society of Cardiology’s congress in Amsterdam.

You can’t fight progress, but I’ve noticed that you can unplug a lot of it.

10 County Councillor’s Report from David Sprason

Budget, school transport & turbines

Holy Week and Easter

Meditations

Good Friday 18th April 2-3pm at St Michael’s, Markfield

Special services across the Benefice

Leicestershire County Council budget consequences The County Council has now agreed its budget that will see a number of services cut or reduced.

In Social Care the focus of keeping older people out of residential care is shifted to a policy of putting people into a care home if it is cheaper than a home care package.

David Sprason The community meals subsidy is to be withdrawn and the full cost charged for meals on wheels and meals served in day centres. This vital service will now become unaffordable for many and could result in some going without a daily hot meal.

The coalition government has also withdrawn the Welfare Assistance Fund; this fund has been used by councils to provide crucial support for people facing personal crises in their lives, from paying for expensive equipment following hospital discharge to having the right food on the table.

The cut in funding for the museum and library service will now put these services at risk of closure. The plan to hand rural libraries and county museums over to volunteers is now the only option but as it stands no details have been released on what is available to deliver this option. It is unclear on what will happen to the mobile library service as no details have been released regarding this service. The only difference to this direction is that the Snibston Discovery Museum in Coalville will be closed and a smaller museum developed on the old pit head site.

The highways budget has also been cut resulting in more street lights being switched off speed reduction schemes only delivered if third party funding can be secured, the targeting of highway repairs, the reduction in supported bus services and reduced maintenance for country parks. The home to school transport service changes will result in increased charges and new charges for pupils and parents.

Home to School Transport The County Council are consulting on changing the current home to school transport catchment areas to the nearest school only (with available space).

This will result in traditional catchment areas no longer applying; feeder primary school arrangements can be broken, nearest school not necessarily in Leicestershire. This will have implications for our local schools and I would suggest that parents get in touch with their pupils school to see how it will impact on them. The consultation ends on the 12th March 2014 if you wish to make your views known.

An hour reflecting on the story of Good Friday and Easter, with hymns, readings, prayers and silence.

Experience the old story in a new way this Holy Week and Easter

7.30pm at St Mary’s, Stanton under Bardon An opportunity to listen to the Passion narratives from the Bible in the context of Evening Prayer.

Tenebrae

Tuesday 15th April 7.30 pm St Peter’s, Copt Oak ‘Tenebrae’ means shadow; lighted candles are extinguished in this ancient reminder of the Passion of Jesus from the shadow of the Betrayal to the darkness of the Cross through Bible readings, hymns and silences.

Easter Day Services

Fish and Chip Supper and Holy Communion

Sunrise Service

Maundy Thursday 17th April 6.30pm at St Mary's, Stanton uB

Easter Day, Sunday 20th April 5.45am at Hill Hole, Markfield

An evening of fellowship over supper, followed by sharing together in an informal service of Holy Communion.

Greet with joy the day when we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection; with singing of Easter hymns and sharing the Easter acclamation Alleluia, Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed, alleluia!

Family Stations of the Cross

Other Easter Day Services

Good Friday 18th April 10.00am at St Peter’s, Thornton Share in recalling the story of Good Friday and Easter in a journey round the church with pictures, songs, readings and prayers. About 30-40 minutes followed drinks and Hot Cross Buns.

Suitable for all ages.

Lent Lunch

9.00am Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Thornton 10.30am Holy Communion at St Michael’s, Markfield 10.30am Holy Communion at St Mary’s, Stanton u B 6.00pm Holy Communion at St Peter’s, Copt Oak

The Lent Lunch, in aid of TEARFUND will be held in the Congregational Hall, Markfield on

Saturday 15th March from 12 noon till 1.30 pm Tickets from Brenda (242173) or in church Everyone welcome. See you there!

Poplar House Farm Bagworth Wind Turbine A wind turbine has been proposed for land in Bagworth.

The size of the proposed turbine is a hub height of 65m (213ft) with a maximum tip height of 94m (308ft). RES the company that will install the turbine will be consulting with local residents before a planning application is submitted.

Stonehaven Garlands Lane Wind Turbine This wind turbine has been proposed for land in the parish of Newbold Verdon.

The size of this proposed turbine will be a hub height of 71.5m (234ft) with a maximum tip height of 110m (360ft). RES will again be consulting with local residents before a planning application is submitted.

Gardening is good for you Here is good news as Spring gets underway: DIY or gardening can cut the risk of a heart attack by one third, and prolong the lives of adults over 60.

Routine activities such as gardening, DIY, car maintenance and even blackberry picking can be just as good as exercise for older people. A study in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that those with a generally active daily life have a much lower risk of heart problems.

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My petrol tank just went from zero to £60 in under a minute.

11

Charity Event at Markfield Community Centre Diane Dowell is organising another of her popular Charity Events in aid of Cancer Research.

This one is a UB40 Tribute night at Markfield Community Centre, on Saturday 26th April 2014, from 7.30pm till late.

Tickets are priced at £2 each in advance, or £3 on the night.

There will be a great raffle and auction prizes, and everyone is welcome.

For tickets contact Diane on mobile: 07748 915829 or Jemma on mobile: 07800 720910 Come along and help raise money for this great charity.

Diane has been raising money for this great charity for 4 years now and so far she has raised £17,000.

What a fantastic achievement please support this event if you can.

Pocket money You will know this already: mothers are a softer touch than fathers when it comes to getting some pocket money.

Across the UK, more than a quarter of fathers link their children’s pocket money to errands, compared with just over 22 per cent of mothers. Youngsters now typically receive around £6.50 a week. The study was carried out by the Halifax.

Extracts from Stanton Under Bardon Parish Council Minutes Please note that these extracts are taken from the unapproved minutes and therefore may be subject to alteration. The information is kindly supplied to the Herald by Stanton Parish Council.

BOROUGH COUNCILLOR’S REPORT No appeal results yet to report from the Milner Planning Appeal.

HBBC are freezing the Council Tax for 2014/2015 but this could mean that some services that are currently free may now be charged for like Home to School transport and also Libraries may be closed to make up for the shortfall in the budget.

Main Street Extension Road - some work has been done to the Pot Holes, and the drop kerbs should be put in a part of ongoing project.

Matthew Lay is supporting the Parish Council Community Grant application.

Mr Lay suggested that a meeting should be held with Hanson’s to find out what are the future plans are for the Youth Club Land.

QUESTIONS TO THE CHAIR. A parishioner expressed concerns about the lorries outside the school that are going to the housing developments. The roads are in a bad condition with mud and are not cleaned often enough and at school start and finish times the lorries are parking on the pavements and causing obstructions around the school.

They have also been directing parents to pull on the footpaths and if they refuse foul language has been used by the drivers. The parishioner has spoken to Charles Church and David Wilson but

no one seems to be resolving the situation.

The Parish Council will speak to the developers regarding this situation and also Clerk to notify the Police regarding the parking on the footpaths outside the school.

Parishioner was also advised to contact the Highways Department.

The council have also contacted the Planning Department at Hinckley as wheel washing on site was meant to take place as part of the planning application.

CLERK’S REPORT HBBC Community Initiative Grant The Parish Council’s application has been submitted. We have has also had a request to support the Without Walls Church grant application for £2,000 for refurbishment of the Church Hall.

Due to the Council’s request for the full £10,000.00 grant the Parish Council are unable to support this application.

PARISH PROPERTIES Bottom & Top Allotments Inspection There are a couple of issues on the top allotments with regard to parking areas which have been made on the allotments by the Tenants. No permission has been granted for anyone to do this and therefore letters are to be sent out to the Tenants requesting that the area be cleared and re-instated to cultivated ground. They will have 30 days in which to do this.

Village Hall Nothing to report at present.

Trustees are required to run the village hall and the Council asked if anybody would be interested.

Mr Michael Meadows volunteered himself for one of the positions.

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

I have so much to do that I am going to bed.

12

Garden Jottings with Ted Brown of Markfield

Mahonias Very spiney, yes, but evergreen and always worth spaces in our gardens.

whether seeds or plants, are not truly perennial.

We have the tall Winter ones, of which ‘Charity’ is perhaps most well known. Sadly not fragrant, but the original species, Mahonia Japonica, certainly is.

Other good named ones to try include ‘Buckland’, ‘Lionel Fortescue’ and ‘Winter Sun’.

All long flowering from late Autumn until early spring.

Then we have the small growing Aquifolium types. These seem to thrive anywhere, with prickly foliage and yellow flowers for long periods, followed by blue berries. Ordinary Aquifolium is sometimes called ‘Oregon Grape’.

Better forms are ‘Apollo’, ‘Green Ripple’ and particularly ‘Moseri’ which has the most beautiful Autumn and Winter foliage.

and stones to anchor will suffice. Acquire your seed early and chit in the usual way. I think this helps with ‘earlies, less so with ‘mains’. Some favourite first earlies are ‘Red Duke of York’, ‘Foremost’, Arran Pilot’ and ‘Accent’.

Chinese Witch-Hazel Not too well-known, Loropetalum Chinense, a relative of the more popular yellow WitchHazel, differs in that it is evergreen and in its normal form has white flowers in February/March.

One named ‘Lingholm’ (above) has a good reputation for staying ability, so if your soil is lime-free, moist but free-draining, and remembering that Mecanopsis are woodland plants, hopefully we might be successful. If so, Mecanopsis do deteriorate naturally, so require dividing and replanting at least every three years.

Pretty pink forms have been introduced from the States - a worth one being called ‘Fire Dance’. certainly the latter is one for the flower arrangers. It requires an acid soil and a more protected site than the ordinary Witch-Hazel.

Grows to 36-48 inches.

Gillenia Trifoliata

Rhubarb

Now, a completely new and different Mahonia, so good that it was named RHS Plant of the Year for 2013. The simplified name (avoiding its Latin monicker) is Mahonia ‘Soft Caress’ (above). Evergreen, it has soft, fern-like foliage, and yellow flowers from late Summer until mid Autumn, followed by blue berries. Grows to about 36 inches. A little expensive initially, say £15 to £20.

Blue Poppies How so many of us have failed with these, other than for a first year. This is possibly because those acquired,

A new variety named ‘Livingstone’ has been introduced recently.

Its differing claim to fame is that its sticks do not mature until Autumn.

Early potatoes Why not plant a few, whether in the ground or in containers, really early - say around now.

In containers, they are easily given frost protection. A little more care is needed when in the ground, but a few sheets of newspaper

No common name, this charming and delicate looking perennial remains largely unknown.

Delicate it certainly is not. Tough, wiry stems, approximately 24 inches tall, bear fragilelooking five-petal flowers in white. As the name suggests, the foliage is of the three-petalled type. the whole plant, including reddish stems, red calyces when petals have fallen and later seed pods, all appear delicate and graceful. pink flowered forms are now available.

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You say you want to bring me back to reality. You’re assuming I’ve been there before.

13

“IT’S WHAT YOU SCATTER” I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes... I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily apprising a basket of freshly picked green peas.

I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes.

Pondering the peas, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between Mr. Miller (the store owner) and the ragged boy next to me.

‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’

‘H’lo, Mr. Miller. Fine, thank ya.

Jus’ admirin’ them peas. They sure look good.’

‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Ma?’ ‘Fine. Gittin’ stronger alla’ time.’

‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’

‘No, Sir. Jus’ admirin’ them peas.’

‘Would you like to take some home?’ Asked Mr. Miller.

‘No, Sir. Got nuthin’ to pay for ‘em with.’

‘Well, what have you to trade me for some of those peas?’

‘All I got’s my prize marble here.’

‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Miller.

‘Here ‘tis. She’s a dandy.’

‘I can see that. Hmm mmm, only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ the store owner asked.

‘Not zackley but almost.’

‘Tell you what. Take this sack of peas home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. Miller told the boy.

‘Sure will. Thanks Mr. Miller.’

Mrs. Miller, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me.

With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our community, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for peas, apples, tomatoes, or whatever.

When they come back with their red marbles, and they always do, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for a green marble or an orange one, when they come on their next trip to the store.’

I left the store smiling to myself, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to Colorado , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering for marbles.

Several years went by, each more rapid than the previous one. Just recently I had occasion to visit some old friends in that Idaho community and while I was there learned that Mr. Miller had died. They were having his visitation that evening and knowing my friends wanted to

go, I agreed to accompany them.

Upon arrival at the mortuary we fell into line to meet the relatives of the deceased and to offer whatever words of comfort we could.

Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in an army uniform and the other two wore nice haircuts, dark suits and white shirts...all very professional looking.

They approached Mrs. Miller, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s casket.

Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on the cheek, spoke briefly with her and moved on to the casket. Her misty light blue eyes followed them as, one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the casket. Each left the mortuary awkwardly, wiping his eyes.

Our turn came to meet Mrs. Miller.

I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from those many years ago and what she had told me about her husband’s bartering for marbles. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the casket.

‘Those three young men who just left were the boys I told you about.

They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. Now, at last, when Jim could not change his mind about color or size....they came to pay their debt.’

‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this world,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Idaho ..’

With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

The Moral: We will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds. Life is not measured by the breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath.

Today I wish you a day of ordinary miracles ~ A fresh pot of coffee you didn’t make yourself...

An unexpected phone call from an old friend.... Green stoplights on your way to work....

The fastest line at the grocery store....

A good sing-along song on the radio...

Your keys found right where you left them.

Pass this on to the people you’ll never forget. If you don’t send it to anyone, it means you are in way too much of a hurry to even notice the ordinary miracles when they occur.

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

Call: Brenda on 01530 242173 or Iris on 01530 242436.

•

• • •

•

•

• • •

March ~ 12th ~ John Martin ~ The Life and Works of Agatha Christie April ~ 9th ~ Claire ~ Talk about Inheritance May ~ 14th ~ Delia Bennett ~ ‘Reflections in Rhyme’ June ~ 11th ~ Outing to Courthouse Florist in Coalville Aug ~ 13th ~Skittles ~ 7.15 for 7.30pm At Little Markfield Farm Sep ~ 10th ~ Judy Marshall ~Corn Dollies - a talk / demonstration and a chance for everyone to have a go.

Oct ~ 8th Jenny Harris ~ Bats in the Belfry Nov ~ 12th Marie Anne ~ Serenity Eco Craft Dec ~10th ~ Christmas Party

Looking for a local venue to hold your event?

Markfield Congregational Church Hall in Main Street is available to hire for parties, meetings etc.

The facilities include disabled toilet and a well equipped kitchen which can be used by prior agreement.

For bookings and details of hire charges please contact Mrs. Doreen Murby 01530 243977.

For all the family

Saturday 12th April Bagworth Community Centre 4.00-5.30pm

Children of all ages - get a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or neighbour to bring you There will be lots of things to

Refreshments provided including chocolate, hot cross buns and fruit drinks Children must be accompanied by an adult Organised by Holy Rood Church and the Benefice of Markfield, Thornton, Bagworth, Stanton under Bardon and Copt Oak

Churc in

... is an opportunity to relax, find peace within ourselves a on our place in the world. It will offer creative suggestion thinking and exploring prayer.

Trinity Methodist Church - 6-7.30

Thursdays 13th March, An onion just told me a joke. I don’t know whether to laugh or 10th cry. April, 8th May, 12th June Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want.

14 Council Tax Setting 2014/15

Borough Councillors’ Report

We are pleased to announce that following a budget meeting at HBBC, the Council Tax will remain the same as last year with a 0% increase.

Chris Boothby & Ozzy O’Shea

This is something that we both have asked for during these lean times and we are very pleased with the result.

This means that the tables for calculating Council Tax for the different bands for Bagworth & Thornton are as follows: Band B £1,159.60 Band C £1,325.26 Band D £1,490.92

Superfast Broadband Following our last report regarding superfast broadband coming to Bagworth, we can confirm that the same service will be available to residents of Thornton.

agree funding for the first year. This will be a massive bonus to local residents as a one stop shop and have the added protection of the police.

This service, brought by the County Council in partnership with British Telecom and HBBC, is scheduled to be rolled out in the summer of 2014.

residents of Bagworth have had cause for concern over the building of the long awaited shop on the former Maynard pub site.

Thornton Takes charge The next meeting for residents will be on the 24th March 2014 at Thornton Community at 6pm.

Following the last meeting, most points on the action plan have been achieved. Also, after a direct request from Chris & Ozzy, the future use of 19 St Peter’s Drive looks set to change.

We asked for this burnt out property to be considered for a community house, that will house various council services and the police. Now it has been rebuilt, a recommendation has gone forward to the executive to

The shop at Bagworth

Planning permission on this site decrees that once 25% of the housing is occupied then the shop must be built.

Chris has had lengthy conversations with Persimmon Homes in regard to this and has received assurances that a contract has been signed to take on the shop and that building will take place within 2 weeks.

If this does happen, rest assured that we will enforce the build even if it means stopping building on the site.

Regards

Chris & Ozzy Working for you,

Back by popular demand - The Brian Humpherson Quintet THORNTON Community Centre will be welcoming back The Brian Humpherson Quintet on Saturday 17th May 2014 - 7.30pm start.

This return visit is in response to several requests from previous audience members.

Tickets - priced at £7.00 - will be available nearer the date. For early booking, contact Iris Gleeson on 01530 230453.

I’ve completely lost my will to live. Did I say ‘live’? I meant ‘work’.

15

Mothering Sunday 30th March Treat That Special Lady To A Delicious Meal From Our Mothering Sunday Menu

Field Head shop changes hands

New owners settling in well at Markfield News & Off Licence After six decades of being run by the Hull family, the village shop on Ratby Lane, Field Head now has new owners.

Young couple Cheryl and Adam Long have taken over the reins following the retirement of Steve Hull, who ran the shop for over 30 years. (Steve’s dad – Mateland Hull – was in charge for the previous 30 years.)

Steve has decided to put his feet up and take a well-earned retirement – and who can blame him!

The new owners – who are the proud parents of three young children - met when they worked at Cheryl’s dad’s company, Lift Engineering Services, which owns the premises next door to the shop. When they discovered that the shop might become available, they decided to go for it, and both now work full time in the business, ably assisted by Linda who has worked at the shop for the past 14 years.

Cheryl and Adam intend to provide the same level of service that Steve offered, together with a few improvements which they think will enhance the shopping experience.

The main change has been the introduction of a ‘chip & pin’ machine which enables customers to pay for their purchases by card, rather than just cash. The new machine also allows customers to pay some of their bills, and to get cash back – saving a trip to the cashpoint or bank.

Adam says: “These days, customers expect to be able to pay by card, so we decided to install the new machine. We’ve only had it a week or so but it’s already generated a lot of positive feedback.”

A few other changes are planned. If you enjoy a flutter, you’ll be pleased to hear that the shop now offers Health Lottery tickets and is soon to have a National Lottery Scratch Card Instant Win Machine installed.

A new bi-weekly grocery delivery service is also being introduced, especially for residents of Markfield Court. On every other Friday, Adam and Cheryl will visit Markfield Court Retirement Village on Ratby Lane to deliver groceries and collect newspaper payments from residents, so get your orders in now!

The Herald wishes Adam and Cheryl every success in their new venture.

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

Wednesday is

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

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

With personal service to your table

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

My older sister is tired of me calling her the beta release.

16

NEWS from Markfield Community Markfield Mayflower Club Sets Sail

take place on Saturday 7th June and further details will be published nearer the date. I understand that family members and friends of the group live in the Markfield area and perhaps they would like to be involved and perhaps bring along some photos and other memorabilia.

Bill (Buddy)GASK

Sport Relief – Markfield Magic Mile Just a reminder that the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile in aid of Comic Relief will take place at the Centre during the afternoon of Sunday 23rd March.

As mentioned in last month’s edition of the Herald our new Markfield Mayflower Club was launched (excuse the pun) on the Wednesday 12th February.

The opening was somewhat dampened by a veritable tempest and I honestly did not think that people would brave the stormy conditions, high winds and yet more rain. However, in true Pilgrim Father tradition, stalwarts turned out to enjoy the very first session of the new club. We started off with an introduction to arm chair exercise and a go at indoor bowls plus a good old chit chat over a “cuppa” and biscuits. At the next session on Wednesday 19th February we were treated to a trip down memory lane with a display of old Co-op grocery goods, pounds shillings and pence plus other items from the “good old days”. I have to say it was a very enjoyable session that brought back a lot of fond memories of days gone by.

The new club is held on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 4pm. Entry is only 50p per person and includes light refreshments. The club is open to anyone aged over 50 as well as those who care for the elderly or the sick.

We have mapped out a programme of talks and activities that will be both informative and fun as follows: • 12th March - Safe at Home with the local Police, PRIDE Alarms, Victim Support and Community Safety Team • 19th March - Beetle Drive and Arm Chair Exercise • 28th March - First Aid talk and display by St. John’s Ambulance • 2nd April - Talk on preventing and surviving strokes • 9th April - The work of and support available through the Royal Voluntary Service • 16th April - Beetle Drive and Easter Bonnet Parade Members have already asked if we could include sessions on Markfield and local History, healthy cooking, Richard III and perhaps even a trip to the seaside. So, if you are interested don’t be shy and just come along on Wednesday afternoons and join in. If you would like to bring a friend, carer or family member along they will be most welcome.

Bill (Buddy) GASK Memorial Event For those who are too young to know, Buddy Gask was one of the founder members of the famous Leicester band Showaddywaddy who had loads of chart topping hits in the 1970’s such as Hey Rock and Roll, Three Steps to Heaven and of course my favourite Under the Moon of Love.

Sadly Buddy died of Alzheimer related illnesses in 2011 at the young age of 65 and we have been asked to host a memorial day and evening event for Buddy with the aim of raising funds for Alzheimers. The event will

Our event, the Markfield Magic Mile, is part of a national Sport Relief series involving many celebrities and television programmes aimed at raising funds for the less well off, the disadvantaged and promoting healthier lifestyles. Our event will consist of laps around the sports field and fingers crossed the flooded areas will be dried out by then.

The Markfield Magic Mile has a distance for everyone and you can choose from the following: 1 Mile - If you just want to toddle round with your children and pets or just looking for some fund raising fun this is ideal for you.

3 Miles - To step it up and get your pulse racing, 3 miles is for you. Do it with friends and family to raise lots of cash and cheers.

6 Miles - At almost 10k this is your chance to up the pace and raise some serious cash.

You can come along in fancy dress, brings the kids and your pets. The centre will be open for refreshments, changing and toilets etc. You can book your place by visiting the website, www.sportrelief.com or at the Centre on the day. So, do something wonderful by simply getting your trainers on and joining in on the day.

Staying Alive Project – Essential First Aid We have now booked five essential first aid training courses with St.John’s Ambulance as follows: • • • •

Tuesday 18th March 1pm to 4pm Thursday 20th March 1pm to 4pm Friday 28th March 6pm to 9pm Saturday 12th April 9am to 12noon and 1pm to 4pm The courses will teach you how to deal with an emergency situation such as collapse, choking or an injury for all ages from babies, infants and adults and hopefully save a life. At the end of the course you will receive a certificate. The courses are of three hours duration so you need to be committed to coming along but at the end of the day you will be better equipped to save a life. The courses are free although any donation would be appreciated and are open to any resident aged over 18 and to those who work in the voluntary sector. Places are limited to 10 people per session so, if you are interested, please book in advance to avoid disappointment. Dates of courses will be published in the next edition of the Herald. As the first aid courses are three hours long we will now be arranging separate dates for Child and Vulnerable Adult and Substance Misuse awareness sessions. This project has been funded by the Markfield, Ratby and Groby Community Forum and people from these areas are most welcome to join in.

Secretary to Management Committee We are still looking for a reliable person to fill the role of Secretary to the Centre’s Management Committee.

We are looking for someone who has either a bit of spare time on their hands, wants to improve their experience or CV or simply would like to become a volunteer and help us out. I can promise you that and we will give you every help and support.

The post includes attending meetings (up to six a year), recording minutes and sending out agendas and related meeting papers. It would be useful if you have a computer and email access though not essential.

As a little reward the Committee is offering an annual honorarium of £100 paid in quarterly installments of £25. If you are interested please contact the Centre as your help would be much appreciated.

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

17

& Sports Centre Activities and Clubs at the Centre 2014/2015 We have recently updated our programme of clubs and activities at the Centre for the coming year.

We have an exciting variety of clubs and activities for all ages ranging from sports, keep fit, arts, yoga, youth clubs, parents and toddlers, bingo and social clubs. These can be viewed on our website www. markfieldcommunitycentre.com or on posters at the centre.

Some Dates for Your Diary • • •

2nd April and 16th July – National Blood Service – Donate your much needed blood 5th April – National Coeliac Society Table Top Sale 26th April – Cancer Relief Charity Event

Renewed Money Saving Special Offer 2014/15 I am delighted to tell you that the Centre’s Management Committee have agreed to extend our special offer available of free room hire for bar functions for the coming year.

Over last year this offer has helped people out with the cost of arranging special events, family occasions, parties and other celebrations. For further information please contact the Centre.

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

Bradgate Lions Club News We held a very successful “Night at the Races” at Botcheston Village Hall on Saturday Feb 22nd which was thoroughly enjoyed by all, and after all expenses £170.00 was raised for our charity account.

All monies collected during our financial year, July- June, are accrued and then donated to our chosen charities.

Our next fund raising efforts will be our “Easter Prize Draw Baskets” in about a dozen local hostelries during April and a bucket collection with our “Easter Bunny” at Glenfield Co-op on Saturday 12 April.

On April 26 we are holding a “Night of Nostalgia” with local band “Sounds like Swing” playing your favourite music from the 50s & 60s and requests, at Newtown Linford Village Hall. Tickets are £8.00 and are available now, from Roger on 01530 242912 or e-mail roger.gamble@ talktalk.net and at Broughtons Ironmongers in Anstey.

If you require further information about the above event or about Bradgate Lions just get in touch with Roger, or give our President Jill a call 01450 822008.

Roger Gamble

When I was a child, my mother cleaned my face with her spit. It was like I was raised by cats.

18 POLICE REPORT: PCSO M Chapman attended the meeting as PCSO E Green had sent his apologies and had emailed the following report: MARKFIELD CRIME FIGURES01/01/2014 TO 31/01/2014 • Theft from motor vehicle x2 05/01/2014- Front and rear number plates were removed from a vehicle on Forest Rd by unknown persons.

• Attempted burglary other than dwelling x1 30/01/2014- Entry was gained to a container on London Rd, items were removed and piled up ready to take but were not stolen. It was believed they were disturbed.

• Theft x1 01/01/2014- Theft of fuel from Markfield services on Little Shaw Lane.

Mr M Lay asked what action had been taken regarding antisocial behaviour by youths at the Community Centre and Mayflower Close. PCSO M Chapman stated that the police had attended on several occasions and a number of young people had been spoken to.

Local History Group – Proposal to erect a War Memorial in Markfield adjacent to the Church Wall: - The planning application had been approved.

Fundraising for the memorial Anticipated total: £5600.00 Miners’ Welfare Institute: £2 000.00 Markfield & Stanton Herald: £2 000.00 Markfield Local Village Trail Leaflet: The clerk had advertised the leaflet on the Parish Council website and was available and on display at local retailers. Mr Walmsley suggested that an advertisement should be placed in the Herald for the leaflet or so that local residents could make donations towards the cost of the memorial.

Mr B Gannon informed the members that Mr D Brooks had drawn up the final design. The History Group were in the process of obtaining two quotations from stonemasons. He confirmed that the Granite would be purchased locally – “Markfieldite.” The stone construction would be finished in late April 2014 ready for the memorial plaque to be fixed in May 2014.

Dedication Service: Resolved, a provisional date of Saturday 28th June 2014 at 11am was agreed for the service. Relatives of the deceased would be welcome to attend the service.

Mrs M Bowler suggested that as the Lord-Lieutenant was the Queen’s representative in the County, Lady Gretton JP should be invited to attend the service. Mr B Gannon stated that he had contacted the War Memorials Project Coordinator Liz Blood and had been given some very useful information regarding

Extracts from Markfield Parish Council Minutes The following items were among the topics discussed at the meeting of Markfield Parish Council on Tuesday 4th February 2014. The information comes from the unapproved minutes, and therefore may be subject to correction or alteration. this matter, including contact information.

“Churches Together” united service including the British Legion to be held on Remembrance Sunday at 11.00am with the War Memorial as a focal point.

Resolved in Principle, the parish council intended to plant memorial trees in the Autumn to represent each lost member of the armed forces lost in action during WW1.

There had been 30 residents from Markfield. Mrs A Cook suggested that the Millennium Garden could be transformed into some sort of memorial garden where the trees could be planted. This would depend on the developer’s willingness to develop a link between the garden and Main Street.

Christmas tree and lights: - Mr A Statham had removed all of the old lights from the Horse Chestnuts.

Mr M Springthorpe had removed the tree and the wooden safety barrier.

Future decorations: Resolved, the Parish Council agreed that the Christmas tree with lights would be displayed on Saw Pitts Green only next Christmas. It would attempt to set money aside for additional Christmas displays in the 2015/2016 financial year, the following option was preferred.

1) Another Christmas tree and lights on the small planted area outside the shops, adjacent to the car park, Main Street. The parish council would need to take on the management of this small planted area so permission would need to be sought from the land owner.

Dog fouling - Neville Drive, Oakfield Avenue, The Green, Uplands Drive, Willow Court: It appeared that an irresponsible dog walker was taking a regular route between 5.45pm and 6.45pm every night and allowing their dog to foul the pavements. The clerk had reported the matter along with many other instances that had recently been reported.

County Council budget proposals: - The Local Government minister Eric Pickles had now confirmed that the cap on council tax rises would be set at 1.5%. This had resulted in the administration revising its plans to increase council tax by 1.5% and to now take the £2.5 million increase in government grant and

therefore not increase council tax for 2014/15.

Policy on academies and school transport: The consultation on home to school transport had once again been made available which proposed to set school catchment areas to the nearest school. The proposal also included charging the full transport cost for 16+ students again using the nearest school model.

Markfield Library: Mr D Sprason stated that the Scrutiny Committee had picked up on the point that there were not enough details and so Parish Councils could not be asked to take on libraries at this time.

Planning applicaton: 13/00979/FUL: - Erection of 2 dwellings with associated parking, Land Rear of 106 Main Street.

Mr D Sprason stated that he had attended the Planning Meeting to object to the above application.

He stated that the decision had been deferred because of the poor access, namely the Granite stone wall. Officers had recommended refusal.

Environmental Improvement Scheme 2013/2014 Village Plaques and Village Trail: - The clerk had written to Mr A Davies, to inform him that all of the signs were within the conservation area and that the Parish Council would like to plaques to be of Cast Aluminium and painted in 2 or 3 colours. The Borough Council would write formally to any proposed properties affected by the plaques. The Parish Council had also request that any remaining funds allocated to the scheme be passed over to part

I do all my own stunts, but never intentionally.

fund the information board. Mr M Lay had also discussed the above matter with Mr B Whirrity.

The Co-Op store redevelopment, Main Street: - Mrs A Cook was concerned about the new car park being closed, as this was causing additional parking problems along Main Street. Mr Lay stated that the car park had to remain closed because of the demolition of the old Co Op store and the building of the new houses.

He stated that the existing terrace property would be converted back into a cottage and 3 new terrace properties were being built.

Mr B Gannon had noticed that behind the existing façade of the old store there was the original clock face and asked if this could be preserved.

COMMUNITY CENTRE Farmers market: - The clerk confirmed that Mrs C Springthorpe was very interested in organising a market at the Community Centre.

Mr T Lockley would raise the matter at the next MCA meeting on 20.02.14.

Jubilee Playing Fields: - Mr R Browning stated that due to the unusually wet weather no football matches had been played at home over the last three months but the Cricket pitch had remained well drained.

Planning Application: 13/01082/FUL - DESCRIPTION : Erection of 75 bed care home with associated parking and landscaping LOCATION : Markfield Court Ratby Lane Markfield Leicestershire LE67 9RJ The Parish Council had no objection in principle but there did not appear to be enough space around the building to build a 3-4 storey extension without removing or damaging the existing trees. The application needed to be accompanied by a proper tree management plan.

NEXT PARISH COUNCIL SURGERY Saturday , 29th March 2014, 11am12 noon

19

DVD Review from Nick Abbott of Markfield Carrie (15, 1hr 40mins)

Appeal for new cricket players I am associated with Ratby Town Cricket Club and we are looking for new players at both junior and senior level.

We accept juniors aged from 6 - 10 for our kwik cricket teams. Children aged up to 13 can play in our Under 11 and under 13 hardball teams.

Our junior section boasts five ECB level 2 coaches. we practice at Groby Community College; hardball on Wednesdays 6pm-7pm and Kwik cricket on Thursdays 6pm-7pm. All abilities welcome!

Our senior teams are currently playing in division 4 and 5 of the Everards Leicestershire County Cricket league and practice at Bosworth Academy (Bosworth College) in Desford on Monday nights at 8pm-9pm.

For further information contact: Rory 07872 023945 Eddie 07752 750705

Rory Stevenson-Leggett

Sports Educator, North Warwickshire School Sports Partnership

Based on the best-selling novel by Stephen King, Carrie is the reimagining of the 1976 film, brought to new audiences by Director Kimberly Peirce almost forty years after the original struck fear in a generation of thrill-seeking popcorn-munchers. The remake fields a talented cast headed by Chloë Grace Moretz (Let Me In, Kick-Ass) and Julianne Moore (Children of Men, Hannibal).

Carrie White (played by the quirky Moretz) is a shy teenager who wants nothing more than to fit in at school.

Alienated by her peers and isolated by her overprotective and fanatically religious mother (Moore), an incident after her gym class sees the other schoolgirls being more spiteful than ever.

Ringleader and bully Chris Hargensen (Portia Doubleday) is punished for her vicious actions by being banned from attending the upcoming prom, which fuels her hatred towards Carrie even more.

Meanwhile, Chris’ friend Sue Snell (Gabriella Wilde) cannot clear what happened from her conscience, and in an attempt to do some good after the part she played in the incident, she persuades popular boyfriend Tommy Ross (Ansel Elgort) to take Carrie to the prom in her place. Little does Sue know that Chris is planning revenge on Carrie during prom night by humiliating her in front of the whole school. The revenge is shortlived, and results in unthinkable consequences when Carrie lets loose a telekinetic tsunami, unleashing hell on all in her sight.

Carrie is a robust tale that travels well to modern times, enjoying a digital makeover that reminds us just how far special effects have come along.

Stripping away the supernatural elements of the film and its effects, most frightening is how mean the group of girls are to Carrie and a reminder of the gut-wrenching aspects social media can have when used improperly.

Also unnerving is how shy and well-intentioned Carrie is made capable of horrendous acts after being pushed too far for too long. My one real criticism is that the film only loosely touches on the subjects of online harassment and teen bullying when perhaps a little more was possible to address problems making tragic headlines all too often in the real world.

Those who have seen the De Palma original of Carrie might feel something got lost in translation or that Peirce’s remake doesn’t add much to the original. I’m inclined to somewhat agree, but in a nod to De Palma’s work, it probably didn’t need much adding. The digital makeover and stellar performances from Moore and Moretz make this film worth the price of rental.

If you’re a fan of horror, it’s certainly worth a watch with a bag of Maltesers in hand! (Other confectionery is available).

Rating: 3.5/5

I’m tired of being the ‘just when you thought it couldn’t get any worse’ example.

20

Newtown Linford Gardening Club Is it really the beginning of spring? We still have had no snow and very few frosts.

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

See advert on page 15. www.bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street.

T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 8th March: Rock Covers Band Sat 15th March: Karaoke Sat 22nd March: Rock Band Called To Be Confirmed Sat 29th March: The Dirty Water Band Sat 5th April: The Splinters Fri 11th April: End Of Term Children’s Easter Party FREE ROOM HIRE AVAILABLE. Sky Sports In Both Rooms, Bingo Every Tuesday Evening. www.facebook.com/ thethorntonclub The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield.

T: 01530 242 496 Pub Quiz - last Thursday of the month.

ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth.

Tel. 01530 230205 Find us on FACEBOOK search Bagworth WMC New members welcome.

Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each - last Friday of the month - and RAFFLE - with excellent prizes.

Sequence dances Sunday Nights.

£1.50 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission.

Ask about our free room hire for those special family occasions.

The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Tribute Nights/£2 Entry after 7pm.

See advert on page 26.

The Bulls Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Saturday 8th March: WAYNE CURTIS - male vocalist Saturday 22nd March: CHICK - a terrific 60s night of Motown & Memories All FREE Entry!

Garden & Pub Games etc.

POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays starts at 8pm The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights Every Fortnight:- Next two are Saturday 29th March and Saturday 12th April with ‘King of the Road’.

Saturday 8th March: KRISIS Saturday 22nd March: MICHAEL VICKERS See advert on page 22.

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Friday 7th March: Michael Jones - Easy Listening From This Guy Saturday 8th March: T.b.a Sunday 9th March: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz

As we drive around the area there are daffodils in full bloom even though the snowdrops have not yet finished. We have also seen hedgerows showing the first sign of greening up and leaf buds appearing on several shrubs. Surely there will be something to bring us up short but, at the time of writing, there are no such signs yet. However much pruning is being done at this time, taking advantage of the rainless spells we are having at the moment, so the lull in gardening activity of the past months is coming to an end.

After a packed evening learning all about the huge range of plants called ‘daisies’, plus some that look like daisies but aren’t, we turn our attention, in March, to fruit and vegetables. The full title for our speaker, David Thornton is ‘Healthy eating Aspects of Fruit and Vegetables’. David Thornton is a national expert on the subject. He is the long-serving secretary of the National Vegetable Society and we are privileged to be able to welcome such a prestigious speaker.

We can also give advanced notice of our celebrity event in the autumn.

On November 4th Adam Frost will be coming to Newtown Linford. He has already won gold medals at Chelsea for garden design on four occasions (perhaps five by the time he comes to speak to us!) and is now one of the newly established experts in this subject. He appears on our screens at regular intervals and has a reputation as a fascinating speaker with an innovative gardening brain. As last time, when Christine Walkden came to our village we will invite members of other gardening clubs and interested visitors to join us. Put the date in your diary and look out for further details in the near future.

We have welcomed a large number of new members this year and will be pleased if others want to join us. If you are interested in our activities just contact the secretary (tel. 242452 or e-mail 01530242452@talktalk.net) , or come to one of our meetings to see how you like it before making a commitment (£2 for visitors). Alternatively give us a ring and ask for a copy of our programme for the coming year and we will be pleased to send one to you.

Anne and David Couling

LETTER

My name is Amy and I am holding a sale to raise money for Coeliac UK on the 5th April at Markfield Community Centre from 1-4pm.

We will be having both new and 2nd hand stalls so it will be a bit like a school fete. Stalls will include jewellery, body shop, toys, usborne books, phoenix cards and many more. My mum and her friends will be making cakes to sell along with tea, coffee and juice. Oh and mum just said don’t forget we have a raffle too.

Let me tell you a little about why i’m doing this. I was diagnosed with Coeliac Disease when i was 8 after years of being told i was lactose intolerant. Suddenly, i wasn’t allowed to eat bread, cakes, biscuits and many other foods i liked. Coeliac UK helped me to find other foods that i could have and also helped me to realise that there are lots of children just like me, and i wasn’t alone, especially as nobody else in my family is Coeliac.

They also sent me a book which said all the things that were safe for me to eat. This is like my bible and i check it lots.

Mummys bit! (Boring) Coeliac UK relies purely on public donations to continue their research and offer support to coeliacs whether newly diagnosed or having it for years.

Please come along and support Amy’s fundraiser for them. Entry is 50p an adult, children free. We are making this a completely Gluten Free event so all cakes, biscuits and drinks will be GF. We have had donations from companies such as Juvela, Genius, CELIA Lager, Illumi and Honeybuns.

We’d love to see you there.

Thank you

Amy I’m all for gaining an hour at the weekend, but why can’t we lose the hour at 2pm on a Monday?

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Arguing with my wife is like getting arrested. Anything you say can and will be used against you.

21

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Someone should invent an alarm clock that automatically reports you sick when you’ve pressed snooze three times.

23

News from Cross Hills Baptist Church Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area Lent Course Crosses - you see them everywhere - on national flags, public monuments, religious buildings, on gold chains worn as necklaces.

Some even have a figure of a man on the cross. If you stop to think about it, it’s horrific – a person nailed to a cross beam and hanging till they die!

Why is it such a widely used symbol when it has such barbaric reminders?

Well, of course, it’s because Jesus was crucified. But, so were thousands of others in Roman times. Why is Jesus’ crucifixion so important? What’s it all about?

If you’ve ever wondered why the cross is the symbol of the Christian faith, or want to know more about it, please join us on Saturday mornings at Cross Hills from March 15th until April 12th (coffee served from 9.30am, we start reading at 10 until 11am) Everyone of any faith or none is welcome.

Olive Branch Support Club The February meeting was a great success, with some 15 or so people of various ages enjoying a Sittercise seated exercise session with Ruth AndreEvans.

There were lots of smiles and laughter as we exercised to lively music, with some fond favourites from the 50’s and 60’s bringing

Good Reads The Rosie Project

back memories for many of us of teenage and more youthful years!

There were also exercises for fingers and hands to help ease arthritis, or to keep it at bay, and all the exercises were suitable and beneficial for any adult age group, even though we were seated. It was a really enjoyable afternoon with plenty of chatter over tea and cake afterwards.

All adults are welcome to the Olive Branch Club, particularly if you are a carer, have a disability or long term condition, family worries or are just lonely. The Parish Nurse, Vera, is always available for a confidential chat or advice if required.

The next meeting is on Monday 7th April, 2pm to 4pm at Cross Hills.

All meetings are free of charge, although donations if you wish are welcome. If you want to know

LETTER

Celebrate with a Giant Wiggle!

I am writing to encourage readers with children under five to celebrate the 45th anniversary of Eric Carle’s beloved children’s book The Very Hungry Caterpillar by hosting their own Giant Wiggle.

Leading charity Action for Children is setting little ones in Leicestershire a very wiggly challenge – to raise sponsorship by forming giant caterpillar conga lines at their children’s centre or nursery on 20th March, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day. The Giant Wiggle is a brilliant opportunity for tots to have fun with friends, get some exercise and raise money for a great cause. Action for Children is a great charity that does very important work with children and families, helping to give them a happy and healthy start in life.

My little one will be taking part, so join us, Action for Children and The Very Hungry Caterpillar – and let’s get wiggling!

For more information about The Giant Wiggle, including how to get involved, visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk/giantwiggle Yours sincerely,

Angellica Bell Action for Children supporter & TV presenter

more, please contact Parish Nurse Vera on the number below.

We are well known as a very friendly church and we serve tea and coffee after our services giving the opportunity for friendship and fellowship together. We are always here for the community’s spiritual needs and our Pastor’s and Parish Nurse’s contact details are below.

Contact Numbers Pastor - Garry Kelly: 01455 457802 / 07816 616189 Secretary - Lynda Kelly: 01455 457802 / 07910 440243 Treasurer - Glynis Straw: 01530 230272 Parish Nurse - Vera Harding: 01530 230557

Glynis Straw

Treasurer - on behalf of the Cross Hills Church family

by Graeme Simsion An international sensation, this hilarious, feel-good novel is narrated by an oddly charming and socially challenged genetics professor on an unusual quest: to find out if he is capable of true love.

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date.

He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance.

So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidencebased manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with.

Don’s Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.

The Rosie Project is a moving and hilarious novel for anyone who has ever tenaciously gone after life or love in the face of overwhelming challenges.

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

24 Without Walls Christian Fellowship, 135 Main St Stanton Under Bardon Sunday 9th March Meeting 10am Monday 10th March Coffee morning 10am Tuesday 11th March Singing Cafe for Dementia sufferers & carers Shepshed library 10-11am Wednesday 12th March Prayer meeting 7pm Thursday 13th March Pure Gold drop in for over 50’s, 10am Friday 14th March Singing Cafe Loughborough Library 10-11am, Coalville Library 1.30-2.30pm Sunday 16th March Meeting 10am, Guest speaker Monday 17th March Coffee morning 10am Tuesday 18th March Singing cafe 10am Shepshed Wednesday 19th March Midweek fellowship meeting 6.30pm Thursday 20th March Pure Gold 10am Friday 21st March Singing Cafes, Loughborough 10am, Coalville 1.30pm Sunday 23rd March CAFE 4U at 4pm, note not last Sunday this month due to Mothering Sunday next week Monday 24th March Coffee morning 10am Tuesday 25th March Singing cafe, Shepshed 10am Wednesday 26th March Bible Study 7pm Thursday 27th March Pure Gold 10am Friday 28th March Singing Cafes, Loughborough 10am, Coalville 1.30pm Sunday 30th March Meeting 10am, Special celebration for Mothering Sunday Monday 31st March Coffee morning 10am Tuesday 1st April Singing Cafe, Shepshed 10am Thursday 3rd April Pure Gold 10am Friday 4th April Singing Cafe Loughborough 10am, Coalville 1.30pm Sunday 6th April Meeting 10am Monday 7th April Coffee morning 10am

Local Church Services Markfield Congregational Church Sunday 16 March 10.30 am United Service in St Michael’s Parish Church Sunday 23 March 10.15 am Morning Worship Sunday 30 March 10.30 am Joint Service for Mothering Sunday in St Michael’s Parish Church Sunday 6 April 10.15 am Morning Worship followed

by Communion

Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton Sunday 9th March 10.30am Morning Service with the Lord’s Supper Sunday 16th March 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 23rd March 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 30th March (Mothering Sunday) 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 6th April 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 13th April 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper 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 of this magazine.

Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield Sunday 9th March 10.30am Morning Service 4.00pm Afternoon Café Style Service

Easter Sunday 20th April 9.00am Easter Morning Breakfast followed by: 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Service

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon

Sunday 27th April 10.30am Morning Communion Service 6.30pm Evening United Local Preachers Recognition Service at Glenfield M.C.

Sunday 16th March 10.30 am Morning Service

St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield 10:15-11.30am Sunday Club for Children in the Congregational Hall on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays, term time All Age Service in Church on the 2nd Sunday each month.

Sunday 9th March 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion Thursday 13th March 6.00-7.30 pm “Reflection” at Trinity Methodist Church

Sunday 30th March 10.30 pm Single Service at St Peter’s, Thornton Sunday 6th April 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 13th April 10.30 am Palm Sunday Holy Communion Thursday 17th April 6.30pm Fish and Chip Supper / Holy Communion Friday 18th April 7.30 pm Good Friday Meditation Sunday 20th April 10.30 am Easter Day Holy Communion

Friday 21st March 8.00 pm “Still Friday”

Sunday 27th April 10.30 am “Something Different” Service

Sunday 23rd March 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service

St Peter’s Church, Thornton

Sunday 30th March 6.00 pm Joint Evening Service Sunday 6th April 10.30 am Holy Communion Thursday 10th April 6.00-7.30 pm “Reflection” at Trinity Methodist Church

Sunday 16th March 10.30am United Churches Together Service at St Michael’s Parish Church 6.00pm Evening Communion Service Sunday 23rd March 10.30am Morning Communion Service 6.00pm No Evening Service

Friday 18th April 2.00-3.00 pm Good Friday ‘Hour at the Cross’ Meditation

Sunday 30th March 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm Evening Service

Sunday 20th April 5.45 am Easter Sunrise Service at Hill Hole Easter Day 10.30 am All Age Easter Service 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 13th April 10.30am United Churches Together Service at Methodist Church 6.00pm Special Easter Service

Sunday 23rd March 10.30 am “Something Different” Service

Sunday 16th March 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield Service 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 13th April 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield at Trinity Methodist Church Palm Sunday 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 6th April 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm Evening Taizé Service

Sunday 9th March 10.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 27th April 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service

Sunday 9th March 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 16th March 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 23rd March 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 30th March 10.30 pm Single Communion Service Sunday 6th April 10.30 am All Age Service Thursday 10th April 10.00 am Holy Communion and Coffee Sunday 13th April 9.00 am Palm Sunday Holy Communion Friday 18th April 10.00 am Good Friday “Stations of the Cross” Sunday 20th April 10.30 am Easter Day Holy Communion Sunday 27th April 10.30 am Morning Service

I met a chap today with a glass eye. He didn’t tell me - it just came out in the conversation.

25 Nailstone Primary School News

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

From Little Acorns …

Sunday 6th April 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 20th April 9.00 am Easter Day Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Sunday 9th March 9.15 am Holy Communion Sunday 16th March 3.00 pm Praise Service Sunday 23rd March 6.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 30th March 6.00 pm Joint Evening Service at St Michael’s, Markfield Sunday 6th April 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 13th April 9.15 am Palm Sunday Holy Communion Tuesday 15th April 7.30 pm Tenebrae Sunday 20th April 6.00 pm Easter Day Holy Communion Sunday 27th April 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Catholic Church of St Wilfrid of York 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB Sunday Mass Saturday Vigil: 6 pm Sunday: 10 am See Newsletter on the website for details of weekday Mass times, Benediction & Confessions Parish Priest: Fr David Cain: 01530 832098 www.stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www. stwilfscoalville.blogspot.co.uk St Clare’s RC Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747 www.st—clares.leics.sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739 www.delisle./leics.sch.uk

Advertise in the Herald You know it makes sense!

The Herald is delivered to 4,000 local homes and businesses in Markfield, Thornton, Bagworth, Stanton and Field Head 11 Times a Year.

Contact Mike on 01530 244069.

Outdoor learning is being reinvented at Dove Bank Primary School in Nailstone, with mud pies, shelter building and welly wandering on the curriculum!

The school has become a haven of outdoor learning by offering bush-craft and other Forest School activities that puts the learner at the heart of their learning experience.

The weekly sessions are run by a member of the school’s staff, Eve Earp, a qualified level 3 Forest School Leader, who is passionate about enabling the family children to explore For theirall own learning in the richest classroom possible – the outdoors.

“We wanted to develop a very child-centred, explorative approach to education at Dove Bank, which sets learning from the national curriculum in a different context - Forest School activities enable us to do just that.

We simply lookSaturday for creative ways to integrate 12th April a range of practical outdoor activities into lessons, such as building fairy and elf house from mud, leaves Community Centre and twigsBagworth to inspire storytelling and literacy or to support work in maths for example, through the creation of 3d shapes by lashing whittled wood 4.00-5.30pm together. Moreover, atages Forest School children are physically active helping Children of all - get a parent, aunt, uncle, to lead to the development of neighbour healthiertolifestyles.” grandparent, friend or bring you Headteacher, Fiona saidofthat their ThereShields will be lots things to school-wide approach to outdoor learning, which has been running since November, was already having a very positive impact on pupils’ engagement with learning, with a substantial increase in children’s self-belief, learning capacity, enthusiasm, communication and problem-solving skills.

“Pupils’ learning has been significantly enhanced and enriched through Refreshments Forest School activities.

Our provided childrenincluding are the strongest advocates – they chocolate, hot cross buns and fruit drinks love it!” must be accompanied by an adult The schoolChildren grounds, which already has two woodland areas, a pond and Organised byto Holy Rood Church a wildlife area, are also set become further transformed, with a small and the Benefice of Markfield, Thornton, orchard, an extensive vegetable garden and the creation of a number of Bagworth, Stanton under Bardon and Copt Oak bug hotels in order to promote additional direct engagement with the natural environment. a

Churches Together in Markfield initiative

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

Trinity Methodist Church - 6-7.30pm Thursdays 13th March, 10th April, 8th May, 12th June Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want. No intrusive questions, though people will be around if you need to talk or pray with someone. Refreshments will be available. All are welcome.

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

Pointless App Launches Endemol UK has announced the launch of an official app based on the hit BBC One game show Pointless.

For the first time ever, fans and friends can now play their favourite quiz show on iOS and Android anytime and anywhere.

Pointless hosts Alexander Armstrong and Richard Osman will guide players as they challenge friends or participate in their own game. Just like the TV show, obscure knowledge is the key to success and competitors must score fewer points than their opponent by giving an answer no-one else thought of.

The new app will allow players to go head to head with other Pointless fans via Facebook, email or at random and has over 900 questions plus ‘Pointless Pointers’ to help anyone who gets stuck on a tricky question.

The official Pointless app is priced at £1.49, available now on iOS and coming soon to Android.

To download the app: http://bit. ly/Pointlessapp

Small Ads • Set of LAWN BOWLS Almark Commander, size 5. Hardly used.

Price: £30.00 • Ladies’ BALLROOM DANCE SHOES, Black, low heel, size 4½.

Worn once.

Price: £15 Tel: 01530 230355 • Breadmaker - Morphy Richards Fast Bake. Good condition Price: £15.00 ONO • Typewriter and Carry Case Imperial Safari as new Price: £40.00 ONO Tel: 01530 244192 • Kitchen Aid Espresso Coffee Machine, model 5KES100, red, as new, cost £750 from John Lewis. Plus Cuisineart professional Burr Mill with extras and booklets.

Price: All for £450 or very near offer.

• MICROSCOPE in wooden case.

Price: £85 or near offer.

• Various large PLANT POTS, ceramic and plastic.

Price: From £2.50 to £5.00 each.

• Home-grown STRAWBERRY PLANTS Price: 50p each TEXT ONLY to 07956 772235 • EINHALL ROYAL 16” electric chainsaw Brand new (in box). Cost £65.00 Price: £25.00 Tel: 01530 242793 SEND your Small Ads in writing to The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or email to: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Saving is a very fine thing, especially when your parents have done it for you.

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Greek Deities Wordsearch Find the names of 12 GREEK DEITIES in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a TASTY prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

Aphrodite Goddess of love, beauty, desire, and pleasure.

A N V P D T Y G J G H S D H K

Z R Z V B Z N Z G D O X G E F

J E T E T I D O R H P A M R R

X J U E H H L C D N V H P A K

APHRODITE APOLLO ARTEMIS ATHENA DEMETER DIONYSUS HADES HERA HERMES HESTIA POSEIDON ZEUS

L N D S M L Y I Y A A P Y V V

S R K Y O I O E W D I J C G Z

Z I F P E N S L E T U N M O O

A E A O Y H P S M H U Q L B A

K N R S X U H Y B A B Y C T N

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 GREEK GODS AND GODDESSES. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: ALL GREEK TO ME, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Wednesday 26th March 2014.

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

Here are the 12 GREEK DEITIES you have to find:

F O U E Q J X V C J I Y R Q E

R S W I E X W J B V B T U E H

Q H Z D E M E T E R O I S Z T

U S C O X I T V N L Q D N E A

Q B L N Q D E Y T D F E X T H

Y S E M R E H J G F W H D P G

APHRODITE • APOLLO • ARTEMIS • ATHENA DEMETER • DIONYSUS • HADES • HERA HERMES • HESTIA • POSEIDON • ZEUS Name: ...................................................................................................

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

Last Month’s Competition Winner The winner of last month’s Wordsearch Competition was: Mrs J Briggs of Walnut Close, Markfield Congratulations! Your voucher will be sent to you within 21 days.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer launches 7th April

The UK’s most powerful fashion campaign launches on 7th April, and products will be on sale for six weeks helping to raise vital funds for leading charity Breakthrough Breast Cancer. Each piece carries a minimum 30% donation.

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

We have products in from Marks & Spencer, Laura Ashley, Debenhams and Superga, each embodying 2014’s top trends. Just check out: www. fashiontargetsbreastcancer.org.uk/lookbook where you can browse through the collection and download the hi-res images and product information.

Showcasing pastels at their finest, the Pastel Sundae collection brings a fresh burst to Spring/Summer wardrobes, while the On Target selection makes monochrome magical with the campaign’s key colours, and last, but certainly not least, the super-relaxed Breezy Daze trend brings an effortless yet chic twist to your everyday look.

More stylish pieces will be arriving soon from River Island, Warehouse and Topshop to support Fashion Targets Breast Cancer 2014, but we wanted to make sure you had a first look at items as information became available.

Fashion Targets Breast Cancer empowers women to make a difference, Wear Your Support and help us stop women getting, and dying from, breast cancer.

Nothing is more irritating than not being invited to a party you wouldn’t be seen dead at.

27

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If only we’d stop trying to be happy, we could have a pretty good time.

Markfield Day Nursery 01530 249789 220 Leicester Road, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9RF

2 Year Old Funding Some children are eligible for 15 hours per week of free nursery care (38 weeks per year). Parents must be in receipt of an eligible benefit and income of less than £16,190 per year. Please call County Hall on 0116 3056208 to see if you are eligible. Have your National Insurance number to hand.

3 and 4 Year Old funding All children are eligible for 15 hours of free nursery care for 38 weeks from the term AFTER they are 3 years old.

Children born before 31st March 2011 are eligible for free nursery care from 28th April 2014.

Children born between 1st April 2011 and 31st August 2011 are eligible for free nursery care from 1st September 2014

Tax Credits – Payment towards child care You may be eligible for help with nursery care and out of school care. Please go to www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits Try out the on-line calculator to see if you are eligible.

Example - 1 child and earn under £40,000 per year you may receive help with child care.

Example - 2 children and earn under £55,000 per year you may receive help with child care.

Example - 3 children and earn under £65,000 per year you may receive help with child care.

Parents need to be working at least 16 hours per week each.

Salary Sacrifice If you are not eligible for tax credits you can still save money! If you earn under £30,000 per year you can have up to £243.00 per month deducted from your salary before tax and National Insurance and save up to £933.00 per year. If you earn over £30,000 per year you can have £124.00 per month deducted saving you £624.00 per year.

Both legal parents of a child can choose to do this saving up to £1800.00 per year.

This method also saves your employer around £400.00 per year!

If you are employed – please speak to the wages department.

If you are self employed – please speak to your accountant.

For further information please go to: www.gov.uk/childcare-vouchers-better-off-calculator Please note that the figures quoted above are believed to be correct at the time of printing. Markfield Day Nursery cannot be held responsible for any person’s tax payments or calculations.

www.markfielddaynursery.com