March 2015 groby spotlight for internet

GROBY & FIELD HEAD

Spotlight

March 2015

The Monthly News & Information Magazine For Groby, Field Head & The Brantings

Groby shop reaches finals in The Greats Gift Retailer Awards IT’S OFFICIAL! Flint of Groby is one of the best gift retailers in the UK, and has been selected as a finalist in The Greats Gift Retailer Awards.

Groby Post Office

Thank you from Sue & Harry WE WOULD like to thank everyone in Groby with all our hearts for their incredible support.

You may have read reports about Groby Post Office being available for sale and we can confirm that we are planning to retire. It has been a hugely difficult decision given how much we love seeing and helping our customers – the Post Office hasn’t only been how we earn a living but its our way of life. But we feel now is the right time for someone else to have this opportunity and responsibility. Given our commitment to the people of Groby, we are doing all we can to help the Post Office Management find the right person to support people at the heart of the village.

We have managed the Post Office for 25 years and it has been a privilege to serve such an amazing, compassionate and generous group of people. We will remember forever the kind words and affection we received recently when the Post Office announced its sale. We have so many fond memories and we will miss you all dearly. We have worked very hard to deliver the service that you all deserve, and you can be assured of the same level of support until we retire as we look forward to serving you.

The Greats Awards, now in their 13th year, were launched by Progressive Gifts & Home magazine to recognise and reward the UK’s very best gift retailers across the retail spectrum.

“These dedicated awards for gift retailers have risen immeasurably in status over the years and are now universally acknowledged as being true accolades of excellence,” commented Sue Marks, editor of Progressive Gifts & Home. “Being selected as a finalist was a fantastic achievement. There was a huge entry this year, with some outstanding, first class entries.”

All retail finalists were decided as a result of an industrywide poll of gift suppliers, reps and agents and validation by a panel of experts.

The winners of this year’s prestigious gift retailing awards - The Greats 2015 – will be revealed at an Awards lunch at the glamorous Savoy Hotel in London on Thursday May 7.

The Awards recognise and celebrate not only the top independent and multiple gift retailers regionally and nationally, but also outstanding retail employees.

Further details can be found at www.thegreatsawards.co.uk

Sue & Harry

Groby Village Society NOTICE

Retirement of Dr Gajebasia

AS REPORTED to the Members Evening Meeting 22nd January 2015 and the 26th February Meeting 2015, the Societies Committee has been updating the Societies existing 1971 Constitution.

The update has to be accepted by a vote of members attending the Annual General Meeting.

Copies of the proposed revised Constitution were available at the 26th February Meeting and will be available at the Annual General Meeting. Copies for members are also available from :-

The Hon.Secretary Mr.P.Castell, Tel.0116 287 9842. e-mail:- groby.villagesociety@Tiscali.co.uk The Groby Village Society Annual General Meeting takes place at 7.30pm at Groby Village Hall on Thursday 26th March 2015.

Groby Post Office

IF YOU RECEIVE this copy of the Spotlight before Saturday you may appreciate a reminder that Dr Gajebasia is retiring and is taking the opportunity to meet informally with patients to convey his good wishes at an Open Morning with Groby Surgery staff at Groby Village Hall between 10am and noon on Saturday 14th March 2015.

It will also be an opportunity to meet the new partners and members of the Groby Surgery Patient Participation Group (PPG). There may be questions patients would like to ask about the surgery and these can be raised directly or indirectly through the members of the PPG and the surgery staff at the Open Morning.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 11th April - Advert/Articles needed by 28th March

A word from the Chairman of Groby Parish Council – Cllr. Jim Coley Parish Council Office Village Hall Leicester Road Groby Leicestershire, LE6 0DQ Opening Times

Well it’s nearly the end of this Parish Council’s 5 year term of office and those of us still minded to work for Groby Parish Council will be filling in our applications in order to stand again as Parish Councillors.

This can be a thankless (and unpaid ) task when things are difficult but can also be uplifting when they go right, but with any public office you have to take the rough with the smooth. In our case the public will decide how well we have done at the Parish council th elections on 7 May on the same day as the new Parliament is elected.

Mondays 11.00am to 2.00pm Tuesday s 11.00am to 2.00pm Wednesdays 11.00am to 2.00pm Thursdays 12.30am to 3.30pm Fridays 10.00am to 12.30pm Outside these times by prior appointment Parish Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7.00 pm in the Council Chambers within the Village Hall.

Planning Committee meetings are held every two weeks, usually on a Wednesday evening at 7.30 pm.

Forthcoming Meetings March 2015 th

11 Planning Committee th 25 Planning Committee April 2015 th

8 Planning Meeting th 13 Full Council meeting th 16 Annual Meeting of the Parish of Groby nd 22 Planning Meeting May 2015 th

6 Planning Meeting th 18 Parish Council AGM th 20 Planning Meeting All meetings are Open to the Public.

Parish Council Finances As most of you will have probably read in the press, Leicestershire County and Hinckley & Bosworth Borough councils are looking to save quite large amounts of money this year due to cuts in funding to Leicestershire from National Government. Unfortunately this also impacts on money that would have trickled down to your Parish Council, hence when LCC say that they are keeping the increase in Council Tax at below 2% (1.99%) and H&BBC say that they are keeping their Council tax to a 0% increase, they are achieving this by such cuts as the £5K+ that LCC have cut from grass verge cutting in Groby (which GPC are now going to subsidise), the £16.5K Groby PC are raising in order to maintain the Groby library service now that Leicestershire Libraries are withdrawing funding, the reduced payments to Parishes by H&BBC removing payment of the “New House Bonus” to parishes which amounts to a reduction of some £4.3k in the case of Groby PC! All of these measures add up to Groby Parish Council having to somehow find or save an extra £25k+ for 2015/16 just to maintain the status quo. Plus there is also a promise of further cuts in 2016/17.

All this means that we must either drastically reduce the services provided to Groby Residents OR raise our Parish Precept. This year we have made significant economies in running costs but the only way to maintain the Groby library is to take on board the results of the consultation in the Spotlight last year and raise the precept (by 12.5%) to help finance the emerging Groby Community Library. Hopefully you will appreciate our efforts.

Bloor appeal (Land to the East of Groby Cemetery) Our Borough councillors, myself and other Parish Councillors attended the Planning Appeal against the building of the 90+ homes on the land to the East of Groby Cemetery in January.

The 4 day appeal was complicated and detailed as it was the result of a single point in a Judicial Appeal by Bloor’s, following last year’s successful appeal against the same development.

For this appeal Groby and Ratby Parish Councils had jointly engaged our Legal representative Simon Stanion of Marrons and at the close Simon’s view was that the decision would be very difficult to judge and was too close to call.

By the time this edition of the Spotlight is published we all may know the latest decision of the Appeal Inspector as we have just been informed by the Planning Inspectorate that we th will get the results of the appeal on or about 16 March.

Groby Parish Council is made up of 16 unpaid members. They are supported by a full time employed Clerk, a part time Admin Assistant, the Cemetery Sexton, a Parks Keeper and two other part time Grounds Maintenance Operatives.

SOME GOOD NEWS! Groby Library Following the provision of financial support from Groby PC, but mainly down to the sterling work by local resident David Ryan, it looks like we are going to retain a library in Groby.

As I write this newsletter, David is completing the business plan for submission to LCC for the Groby Community Library. I know that this is being described in great detail in other parts of this month’s Spotlight but I want to extend the Parish Council’s warmest thanks to David, without whom I believe we would have lost Groby Library for good.

Parish Clerk We have had some disruption over the past few months following Beverley (Greenwood) leaving us and then her replacement also leaving towards the end of last year, however after re-advertising the position we are now in the process of shortlisting the applicants for your Parish Clerk so watch this space!

In the mean time I must extend my own and the Council’s warmest thanks to Sue Pugh, our Clerk’s Assistant, for taking on the quite daunting role of Acting Clerk in this difficult time.

Wallace Drive travellers site re-application: This subject is being discussed in detail elsewhere in the month’s edition of the Spotlight but I feel that I must make reference to the fact that this application has now been re-submitted with a different access route via Wallace Drive. Groby Parish Council are acting as bankers on behalf of the “Resident’s Fighting Fund” on this application so any monies donated in cash or cheque can be taken to the Parish office.

Parish Councillors Cllr. Jim Coley – 07860523567 (Chairman) Cllr. Jacqualyn Batty - 2912284 Cllr. Peter Batty - 2912284 Cllr. Sylvia Beck - 2876716 Cllr. Richard Douglas. JP - 2877065 Cllr. Liz Emmerson - 2312111 Cllr. Rob Fraser - 01530 244175 Cllr. Ted Hollick - 2875955 Cllr. Sandra Jones - 07977746108 Cllr. Barry Jones – 07877 697484 Cllr. Helen Lindsay - 2314487 Cllr. Eileen Marvin - 2876799 Cllr. Leigh Quilter – 0772523033 Cllr. Cathy Thompson 01530 249203 Cllr. Keith Yarwood – 2870252 One Vacancy Acting Parish Clerk

Sue Pugh 0116 2876985 parishclerk@groby.com

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Councillors Cllr. Peter Batty - 2912284

AND FINALLY

Cllr. Martin Cartwright – 2874500 th

Leicestershire County Councillor

Groby Street Fair 20 June 2015: Just a note to remind you all that this annual event will be taking place th on 20 June 2015 (11am - 6pm).

We have started to book old favourite and interesting new acts for this year’s event which we hope will be even more exciting than last year.

The Street Fair committee are still on the lookout for suggestions for local performers and although we have a lot of bookings for stalls I believe that there are also some spaces available if you’re quick.

If you need any information please contact the Street Fair Committee via grobystreetfair@virginmedia.com or via the Groby Street Fair Facebook site.

Jim Coley - Chairman, Groby Parish Council.

Cllr. Ozzy O’Shea – 0116 2394336 / 07808585825 Member of Parliament Mr Stephen Dorrell – 01509 2608609

We hope you will find the newsletter and our website interesting, informative, useful and easy to access. Whether you are a resident, newcomer or visitor to the parish, don't hesitate to contact us.

This newsletter is also available on the Parish Council website www.groby.com

4

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Thomas Herbert Smith’s Trust Fund, Groby

THE FUND was founded by the will of Thomas Herbert Smith, a Groby businessman, who died in 1961 leaving his estate in trust for his wife during her lifetime.

After her death the trust was administered under the auspices of the District Church Council until 1988 when it became the registered charity it is today.

The Fund is administered by a body of five Trustees consisting of two Nominative Trustees, who are appointed for a period of four years and three Co-optative Trustees, who hold office for a period of five years. All of the Trustees are unpaid and serve voluntarily and do not claim any reimbursement for any incurred expenses.

The Fund consists of investments and bank deposits and the Trustees are obliged to maintain the original capital whilst the income generated is used to defray administration costs and applied for charitable purposes for the general benefit of the inhabitants of the Parish of Groby. These aims and objectives are interpreted to assist individuals and groups who are experiencing hardship in one or more of the following ways or in such other way as the Trustees think fit: (a) The relief of the aged and poor (b) The relief of distress and sickness (c) The provision and support with the object of improvihng the conditions of life for the said inhabitants in the interests of social welfare of facilities for recreation and other leisure time occupation (d) The provision and support of educational facilities The day-to-day administration of the Fund is undertaken by the Clerk to the Trustees to whom any correspondence from individuals or groups should be addressed regarding a possible application for assistance from the Fund.

Applications are considered by the Trustees, who normally meet twice a year, in March and October.

If you know of anyone in Groby (who have to be Groby Residents) who might benefit from the Trust, please let the Clerk know The Clerk can be contacted at 6 Magnolia Close, Leicester, LE2 8PS. (Tel. 0116 283 5345).

GROBY CLUB

(EX-SERVICEMEN'S)

Leicester Road, GROBY

www.grobyclub.co.uk

LIVE MUSIC

BINGO

FRIDAYS:

49r Bingo, Live enter tainment, Main Bingo min. £500 Snowball

SATURDAYS: Enter tainment, one house of Quickie Bingo, Main Bingo - with a min. £500 Snowball.

SUNDAY LUNCH: Rela x with your friends and enjoy a game of Bingo.

SUNDAY EVE: A chance to win £400 on the Super Sunday 50 Bingo, and a fur ther chance to win the £500 Snowball

All Members & Affiliated Members Welcome Apply at the door for membership

POOL

FINE ALES

Forthcoming

Attractions Saturday 21st March

THE JENTS Classic Covers Band Saturday 4th April

8TH DAY Brilliant Duo

COMING SOON ON 17TH APRIL

Double Tribute to The Jersey Boys & Take That

Watch FOOTBALL SEE ALL THE ACTION ON OUR

BIGSCREENS

Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Telephone 01530-244069 Email us at: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings.

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

The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities.

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication.

All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Sat 11th April Advert/Copy Deadline: Saturday 28th March

TO ADVERTISE: Call 01530 244069 Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

You say I’m a narcissist, but sometimes I go days without thinking about you thinking about me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News Talk by Doug Stewart IT WAS a pleasure to welcome back Doug Stewart to our February meeting. Members with a good memory will recall his riveting talk about Victorian plant hunters.

This talk was no less entertaining and full of good tips. He suggested that it was better to empty and clean glasshouses in the autumn as glass is more likely to break in winter as frost makes glass more brittle. Another point being that the cleaner the glass is, the better is the light transmission and 1% less light means a 1% reduction in crop yield.

He also thought that fresh seed ought to be used every year as it is more viable and, of course, F1 hybrid saved seed does not come true to type the next year, except for self- pollinators like Runner Beans and other varieties that show exhibitors cherish.

To avoid the damping off of seedlings we should always use new or washed pots and new compost with up to 50% perlite to keep a good open structure.

The container with compost should be stood in water until the surface is damp. The seed can then be sowed, covered with a little compost and then placed in a warm place for germination to occur.

He also recommended seaweed liquid fertilisers for all young seedlings. Doug also discussed the topic of a Hotbed in the glasshouse to help with growth in the early season. This, coupled with upturned plastic bottles with holes drilled in the caps to let water drip down to the roots without flooding, should enable us, for example, to produce plenty of good, early cucumbers without the fear of rotting off, as even if the air temperature is low, the roots will be warm, facilitating good growth.

He gave a little anecdote of a lady whose house one night was surrounded by police with their attendant helicopter hovering above. They went through the house into the garden expecting to find a fugitive, but it was only her greenhouse hotbed glowing through the thermal imaging camera and looking like a hiding person.

Doug was a fervent believer in using the greenhouse in winter as up to four crops of potatoes in pots could be ready for Christmas, as well as an assortment of salad leaves and herbs. The evening was rounded off by sampling the Fair Trade tea and cakes produced as part of the initiative of the churches in Groby to publicise this worthy campaign.

The Plant sale THIS WILL take place on Saturday morning May 16th between 10.00 and 12.00.

Members will realise that the success of this event relies heavily upon donated plants and this is a gentle reminder to bear the sale in mind when dividing perennials or coping with those extra, unwanted seedlings. Visitors find the plants on sale represent terrific value for money and any purchases help to maintain our society in increasingly difficult times.

The Village Show THE SCHEDULE for the show will shortly be available at the library and on The Spotlight web site.

Most of the schedule remains as last year as many classes are always popular. However, changes do occur and these are the results of consultations between the Groby W. I . and the Gardening Society.

Due to space issues, we have had to limit all containerised exhibits to pots of 6” (15 cms) maximum. Two changes introduced last year are retained due to their popularity and these are “The longest runner bean” and “Groby’s gruesome”.

Also, to eliminate ambiguities that the judges highlighted last year, we emphasise that the dimensions given for the flower arrangements refer to width, depth and height.

Some classes need a little foresight as preparations are needed and these include some in the handicraft section. This year we have “A pair of mittens for a child” (to be donated to The Shoebox appeal), “An item of needlework” (may include knitting and crochet), “A handmade cushion cover” (quilted/knitted/ crochet), “A photograph-On Holiday”, A photograph- In my Garden” and “Any other item of craft not included already”.

The Richardson Plate is to be awarded to “A Painted Picture” which can be in any medium except needlework. A departure this year is for this to be judged by the public.

Voting slips will be provided on the day.

The Banksian medal LAST YEAR this prestigious award from the R.H.S. was awarded to Kay Blick as

she met the criterion of amassing the most points in the horticultural sections of the show (flowers, fruit & vegetables).

The award cannot be presented to one year’s winner for the next three years, so this year we must have a different winner!

Our Evening Trip AS MEMBERS peruse their programme for 2015, they will notice a gap on June 11th.

This has now been filled and will consist of an evening visit to Whatton House Gardens, just outside Kegworth. These belong to Lord & Lady Crawshaw and more details will be made available at the appropriate time.

Trips 2015 • June 19th (Friday) 1 day: Blenheim Palace and its Flower Show* • July 29th -31st (Wed. – Friday) 3 days: Wells, Tyntesfield, R.H.S. Rosemoor & The Courts garden* More details in due course, but signing boards will be available at each monthly meeting.

Future Meetings • April 9th - Lamport Hall talk (Andrew Mikoski) • May 14th - Gardening with Climate Change (Geoff Hodge)

If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 0116 287 6637) or email: e.atherton@ btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson

Mirrors don’t lie. And, lucky for me, they don’t laugh either.

5

6

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Village Society

Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests

Forthcoming Events Programme 2015 Thursday March 26 A.G.M. Thursday April 23 “The Work of the Air Ambulance” Mr Antony Bradley Thursday May 28 “Mad as a Hatter” Mrs Sally Leong Thursday June 25 “Who do you think lived in a house like this?”

Mr Brian Johnson Thursday July 23 “Smiths are Possible” Mrs Alison Coates Thursday August 27 Canine Partners Mrs Denise Taylor Thursday September 24 Injustice or Justifiable Dr John Sutton Thursday October 22 ‘Ark at our Peter Mrs Ruth Coward Thursday November 26 Henry V and Agincourt Mrs Sally Henshaw Thursday December 17 “National Trust in the East Midlands” Mr Alan Tyler Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm.

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

Trading Standards

Beware of ‘copycat’ websites HOLIDAYMAKERS looking to renew their passports are being urged to steer clear of ‘copycat’ websites.

Leicestershire county council’s Trading Standards Service is warning jetsetters to avoid sites that claim to renew official documents and charge extra fees.

The team has been contacted by residents who have been fooled into paying around £50 on top of the renewal fee, just to have the application form checked.

Other websites are also reportedly charging £20 for a European health insurance card, which is free from the NHS. Joe Orson, county council cabinet member for Trading Standards, said: “It is very easy to end up on one of these third party websites and be misled by them.

“If you need to apply or update your details for these documents, you should do so using www.gov.uk as this official site will direct you to the website you need.”

David Bull, head of the council’s Trading Standards Service, added: “People can easily be fooled, these websites work by charging a fee for forwarding consumers’ details onto the correct authority, or for processing the application by posting you the information for you to apply directly.

“Consumers need to be aware that these sites usually state that they are not official ones and they are charging for something that is available free or cheaper elsewhere.

“However, we are receiving regular complaints from residents, who feel they have been misled by these websites and some banks are refusing to refund their account holders, who have used the unofficial sites.”

A British adult passport renewal is currently £72.50. Some consumers have used websites which charge a fee of around £50 just to check the application form.

If you have fallen victim to one of these sites then report the site to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040, for advice and guidance contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Advice Service on 03454 04 05 06.

Additional information on updating travel documents visit www.gov.uk

Local author rolls back the years Tony Dunsbee has lived in Markfield for over twenty-seven years. After retiring in 2009 as a senior manager in the field of professional regulation, he spent the next five years indulging his lifelong passion for Sixties’ music by researching and writing a book about it. This month sees its publication.

Combining Tony’s own personal memories and critical analysis with a wealth of contemporary documentary evidence, Gathered From Coincidence reconstructs a truly momentous era to tell the story of the music of the Sixties year by year. Each chapter also places that music in a broader historical and cultural setting of landmark events at home and abroad to show how, as the decade unfolded, the paths of pop and current affairs drew ever closer together.

If you thought the Sixties were just about the fleeting dreams of hippies in the Summer of Love, then think again! This book will open your eyes to a far-reaching imaginative legacy and how it came to shape pop music as a dazzling art form in its own right. Published in paperback by M-Y Books (ISBN 978-1-909908-32-1) at a recommended retail price of £19.99, it can be ordered either online or through high street booksellers. (An alternative e-book format is also available.)

Spotlight Small Ads • Reebok i 2.1 CROSS TRAINER in pink.

Price: £135.00 Groby area. Can deliver for a charge.

• Multi use WEIGHT BENCH for sale.

Excellent condition.

Price: £120.00. Groby area. Can deliver for a charge.

• Solid PINE TABLE & 6 CHAIRS for sale. Minor scratches & marks. Good solid table. Groby area. Can deliver for a charge.

Price:£100.00 • De Walt IMPACT DRILL. PRICE: £140.00 ono • BMW X3 white XDrive 62 plate Automatic for sale. Call for price & more information.

Tel: 07808 466725 • Proline FRIDGE FREEZER for sale.

Size: 21½” x 21½” x 56” Good condition.

Price: £60.00 Tel: 01530 244114.

• FABRIC, 2 carrier bags full, suitable for handicrafts etc. Small & larger pieces. FREE. Tel: 0116 287 6998 • 2 Pine BEDSIDE CABINETS Price: £10.00 each.

• 1 Pine 6 draw CHEST OF DRAWERS Price: £20.00 • 1 practically brand new SINGLE BED Price: £30.00 • 1 Pine COMPUTER TABLE Price: £10.00 Plus many other items Tel: 07845 173952 • 4 dark brown wooden BAR STOOLS with brown padded leather seats.

Good condition.

Price £15.00 each Tel: 0116 287 6013 • 4 new 14” ‘Easi’ HANGING BASKETS with removable side panels for easy planting.

Price: £15.00.

Tel: 0116 291 5935.

• Items for a baby/toddler: • HIGH CHAIR - £15.00 • Two Britax CAR SEATS - £25.00 & £15.00 • Adjustable-width wall-fixing STAIRGATE - £12.00 • Mothercare wooden COT BED £45.00 • Hammax CHILD SEAT for child up to 22kg - £45.00 • Girl’s CLOTHING - still vgc - from birth to 5 years - 50p to £1.00 per item • Mamas & Papas HIGH CHAIR adjustable, folds away, vgc, removable tray - £45.00 Tel: 07554 441209 IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

When I was young, I was afraid of the dark. Now, when I get my electric bill, I’m afraid of the light.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

7

THORNTON WI THURSDAY 12th MARCH, 2015 at Thornton Community Centre at 7.30 p.m.

“A THORNTON BOYHOOD” a talk by John Smith.

WE VERY much look forward to welcoming “one of our own” as our speaker.

Recently, I frequently hear John referred to as “ John Smith of Radio Leicester’s “Down to Earth”” due to his popularity as a panellist on the programme. However, much more than that, he is “John Smith of Thornton”, having been born in the village and spent his life here.

We understand from his wife Nita, who is our Secretary, that John has been busily making notes for this talk since before Christmas! There is such a lot to tell, so many tales of his time at the village school; the village characters he grew up with; the way life was for the miners and farmworkers who were the village population in bygone times; the war years......the struggles to turn a little field into what is now the flourishing Thornton Nurseries .... I could go on! I am sure that John will.. and Nita will do her familiar “Wind-it-up!” gesture and we will all protest because we will be eager to hear more.

John is an entertaining speaker with a fine sense of humour.... ..never at a loss for words and a mine of information. You are most welcome to come along as a visitor to listen to John. This is a must for all of you who would like to know more about our little village. It’s a unique opportunity to step into what is often referred to as “Living History”.

There will be a “Bring & Buy Stall” and the members’ competition is for “A Souvenir of Thornton”.

The visitor’s fee of £3 includes tea and biscuits.

Muriel Walker (Thornton WI President)

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

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

For a free quotation please call Ian on:

01530 245461

or

07885 541428

3 The Nook, Markfield, Leicestershire

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

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

♦Complete Rewiring (with minimal disruption)

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

Control Electrics (Leics.) Ltd

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

Here’s the thing, you will never ever feel like a grown up. You will one day though, feel old.

8

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Explorer Day at Martinshaw Primary Enter the class room of Year 1 at Martinshaw Primary School and prepare to be chilled!

The 5 and 6 year old children have, for the last few weeks, been decorating part of the class room, depicting Polar regions; Polar Bears from the Arctic, Penguins from the Antarctic etc., and artificial snow by the bucket load.

They have been learning about all the great British Polar explorers of the 20th Century, with Thursday 12th February designated ‘Explorer Day’.

Children arrived at school dressed in their own ‘Polar Clothes’. So imagine their surprise and delight when in walked Peter Fuchs, son of the great Polar explorer Sir Vivian Fuchs, the first man to cross the Antarctic Continent, right back in 1958; wearing the clothes that his father had worn during that epic expedition.

The students and staff sat enthralled as Peter demonstrated the protective clothing. The string vest caused a little consternation - after all, how can something full of holes keep you warm? Peter explained about ‘air pockets’ and ‘layers’, to an initially somewhat sceptical audience. Consequently, do not be surprised if ‘string vests’ appear in Santa letters, later in the year !

He showed pictures of his father’s expeditions and also his own trip to the Antarctic, including the wildlife he had encountered. The picture of him and his colleagues enjoying Christmas dinner, outside, sitting on chairs, around a table dug from the ice was of particular interest.

He answered some very searching and perceptive questions, including how he felt as a 16 year old, when his ‘Dad’ was so far away.

During the afternoon the children donned their ‘Polar Clothes’ and headed off into the ‘Wilderness’ (Martinshaw Woods), building shelters and searching for clues, which eventually led to animals (plastic toys), frozen into blocks of ice. The childrens’ task; to devise ways of de-frosting them, without causing any damage.

And the reward after a hard days exploring; hot chocolate, sitting in your own polar shelter.

A great day and a great learning experience for everyone, child and adult alike.

Owen Lawrence Emi, Peter and Alex all ready to explore

She wanted a puppy. But I didn’t want a puppy. So we compromised and got a puppy.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

9

National Trust Leicester Association News DURING the 1980’s the National Trust acquired most of Dovedale in the Peak District just north of Ashbourne.

With its stepping stones it is probably the most well known dale in the National Park and attracts two million visitors a year. The river Dove carved the spectacular limestone gorge over millions of years with its rock pinnacles, spires, arches and caves.

It is in one of the caves, Reynard’s Kitchen, named after a local highwayman, that the National Trust made an exciting discovery last year. They discovered what has been called a “Late Iron Age Hoard” which consisted of 26 coins. Three were Roman from 118BC, 104BC and 46BC which pre-date the invasion of Britain in AD43.

The other 23 gold and silver coins were Late Iron Age and connected to the Corieltavi tribe – a tribe usually associated further east (around Leicester, Sleaford and Lincoln) Why and how the coins came to be in the cave is a complete mystery. Was it someone hiding

them for a rainy day or someone fleeing as the Romans invaded?

We will probably never know. It is however the first time that Late Iron Age coins have been found in a cave.

The other interesting point is that the NT archaeologists carried out the dig in conjunction with the military’s Operation Nightingale.

This group was set up by the Defence Archaeology Group to retrain and offer recuperation to service personnel that have been in Afghanistan and other areas of operations.

As the cave is in a difficult location the military personnel were a great help in the challenging conditions.

In fact it was one of the military team, Joanne Richardson, who was the first person to discover a coin whist excavating at the back of the cave.

The dig was code named Operation Hades and was kept secret until after completion. The coins are now on display at Buxton Museum.

Dovedale and its sister dale the Manifold Valley have free access to the public throughout the whole year and offer excellent walking country.

Reynard’s Kitchen in Dovedale, where the coins were found

Cheesy topic for meeting!

The NT Leicester Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 25th March at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester at 2.30pm when Caroline Roberts will present a talk entitled “There’s More to Leicester Than Just Cheese”.

The evening meeting on Tuesday 14th April will begin with a short AGM and then Brian Johnson will present an illustrated talk on “Who Lived in a House Like This”.

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

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

Alan Tyler

d ddSA d LE W

Coalville Furniture Superstore

W

O

R

N

TE

IN

uPHOLSTERy - leather and fabric suites

N O

BEdROOM FuRniTuRE

Independent furniture retailer for: l Great value dininG l Huge choice FuRniTuRE l Excellent service Coalville Furniture Superstore 79 - 81 Belvoir Road, Coalville LE67 3PH (former Co-op department store) Tel: 01530 833311

The meeting will be held at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm.

ELECTRiC LiFT and RiSE CHaiRS

CHaiRS

BEdS - divans and bed frames

d

ELECTRiC adJuSTaBLE BEdS

Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm Sunday 10am to 4pm

Free customer car park at rear

FOR aLL yOuR FuRniTuRE nEEdS

You can’t control everything. Your hair was put on your head as a reminder of that.

10

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

GROBY POST OFFICE: Local Public Consultation Decision THE LOCAL PUBLIC consultation on the proposal to move Groby Post Office from its current location to Budgens, HRM Retail Ltd, Laundon Way, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0YG ended on 19 January 2015.

I’m now writing to let you know the outcome of the local public consultation and our final decision on the proposed move.

During the local public consultation we received approximately 90 individual responses from customers and local representatives and a petition with over 500 signatures, objecting to the proposal. Post Office Ltd representatives also met with Councillor Martin Cartwright, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, which provided us with the opportunity to listen to customers’ concerns and to explain the reason for the proposal. Citizens Advice, the independent statutory consumer watchdog for the Post Office network, also expressed significant concerns about the proposed move. All the feedback helped me to understand customers’ concerns and was taken into account before making a decision.

In the main, feedback focussed on the distance and journey to the proposed new location, which was said to be outside the centre of the village, away from other shops and local amenities. People commented that the bus service to the new site was infrequent and only operated one-way and that it would be too far to walk for elderly customers and those with mobility issues. Others commented on the route which was said to be hilly and on the impact the move would have on the local community, particularly elderly residents including those residing in the elderly people’s bungalows close to the current branch.

After careful consideration we have decided not to proceed with the proposed move of Groby Post Office to Budgens, HRM Retail Ltd, Laundon Way. In making our decision, we have taken into account all relevant factors including the impact this would have on customer access to our services, the responses we received as part of the consultation process and the concerns raised by Citizens Advice.

The branch will therefore continue to operate from its existing location for the time being. In line with our Code of Practice, any proposed new location would be subject to a further 6-week period of local public consultation.

You can also find a copy of this letter on our website at postofficeviews.co.uk. When entering the website you will be asked to enter the code for this branch: 208217 This communication is being carried out in accordance with the Code of Practice for changes to the network, which we have agreed with the independent statutory consumer watchdog. If you’d like a copy of the Code, it’s available in branch, by contacting us or on our website at: www.postoffice.co.uk/transforming-post-office.

Thank you for considering our proposal.

Yours faithfully

Adrian Wales

“The branch will therefore continue to operate from its existing location for the time being.” Adrian Wales

Regional Network Manager

What’s the point of making people like Paul McCartney and Elton John knights if they’re not going to joust?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letters about the Post Office Dear Customers & Residents of Groby,

AS YOU may be aware we recently had the opportunity to apply to become a Post Office for the village of Groby.

This opportunity was presented to us by the Post Office network, who instructed us the current post mistress had chosen to leave with a pay-off as she was unsuccessful in selling the post office for many years.

After meeting all strict criteria for the move, we successfully entered the final stages,... which included a public consultation on the proposed move.

Although we had a lot of support for the proposed change, we also had opposition to the move, mainly due to the location of our premises. We feel given the chance to have the post office in store, we could have offered the village a fantastic service, extended opening times 7am-9pm Mon-Sat & 10am-4pm Sunday’s , 7 day service, new and larger counters, much easier access, and would have secured the jobs of not only the counter staff, but also the staff who work in the mail sorting area that would have moved to us with the branch. We did offer to provide a minibus service to help anybody who would have struggled but I believe this was not conveyed to concerned residents.

As it is quite clear the current sub-postmistress has chosen to leave , the post office will have to find another applicant with suitable premises for the post office and sorting office. It is clear the residents of the village are looking to keep the post office in its current location, however if this does not prove possible suitable premises will be required.

We wish the Groby Post Office best wishes for the future, and would like to thank all the residents of Groby for their support.

Budgens, Groby

Campaign has been successful

BY NOW everyone will know that our campaign to keep Groby Post Office in the heart of the village has been successful.

From the time that I started the petition, until the decision of the Post Office to withdraw its plans to move to Budgens, I was lucky to have the support of Mark Greenhill of the Communication Workers Union, Councillors Peter Batty and Ozzy O’Shea, along with the support of our local community it was a great display of team work.

To everyone involved my sincere thanks.

Ernie Twells

Reading groups boost health & wellbeing MORE than 100 people are benefiting from a library reading group, launched to reduce isolation and boost their health and wellbeing.

Leicestershire County Council launched “Shared Reading” in Wigston a year ago with a grant of £20,000 from its public health team. It is now operating at eight libraries.

Participants say they feel better as a result of the sessions, where trained volunteers read out a short story, a passage from a novel or a couple of poems, before everyone joins in for a discussion.

Ernie White, the county council’s cabinet member for health, said: “This is a brilliant scheme – simple, but very effective.

“It encourages people to come together, to share their love of books in friendly surroundings. Feedback shows that it gives people a real lift, showing how important social activities are to our health and wellbeing.

For some people, it’s a highlight of the week and an escape from stress.”

Examples of feedback from users include: • “I wasn’t feeling too good at the beginning of the session but I feel more relaxed after listening to the story.”

• “I just like listening to the story some weeks – it’s a good distraction. It definitely helps just to be around people sometimes.”

• “It has become my favourite day of the week.”

One volunteer, Anita Phillips, said: “One of the women who attends is under great pressure, looking after elderly parents-in-law and an unwell husband.

“She said she leaves after the group feeling much better, more cheerful and relaxed, having made other human contact and conversation that has nothing to do with the rest of her life. It’s a real break for her.”

Another volunteer, Karen Green, said: “At the last session before Christmas, one of the ladies who has been coming from the beginning gave me a card and said, ‘You will never know how much this group has helped me.’ “ Shared Reading sessions take place at Wigston, Oadby, Blaby, Birstall, Glenfield, Melton Mowbray, Hinckley and Coalville. For further details of how you can join, please contact the library.

Organise an Easter egg hunt WILL THERE be some children around your house this Easter?

Why not organise an Easter Egg hunt for them? It is so easy – simply buy some of the smaller eggs, and tied them up in little bags to be hung on low tree branches and shrubs around your garden. Then – let them loose in the garden. The trick, for you, is to remember how many you have put out, and where! It is probably best to use small eggs for a hunt, and save the lavish Easter egg for indoors later.

GAS-SERVWELL CHARNWOOD All gas appliances serviced, repaired and fitted

Established 1984 CORGI & Gas Safe Registered

11

FREE Inhibitor Worth £15 with any Boiler Service Replacement Boiler Specialist Gas Cookers, Fires & Hobs Fitted General Plumbing and Repairs OAP Reduced Rates Same Day Priority Breakdown Visits Power Flushing and Heating Upgrades 10-year Guarantee On Fitted Boilers - Parts & Labour Replacement Radiators, Tanks & Cylinders

Tel: 0116 236 7923 Mob: 07860 735066 Email: bobzgas@gmail.com

When life throws me a curveball, I try to duck so it hits someone else.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

12

Lisa to Wing Walk to raise funds for the Multiple Sclerosis Society Lisa Clayton is a former Groby resident, who still works in the vllage at GE. She has dropped a line to the Spotlight to tell us about a very scary charity fundraising challenge that she will be completing in June.

Lisa explains why she is so passionate about supporting the Multiple Sclerosis Society ...

My mother was born and raised at Parklands Ave Groby, and in the late 90’s moved back to the same street until she sadly passed away 10th Aug last year of pneumonia/ MS aged 66.

My mother had suffered with Multiple Sclerosis since her early 30’s along side depression.

MS attacks the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) there are lots of forms of MS, my mother had the worse form which left her wheelchair bound for the last 8 years of her life, and needed help with eating washing,

PACKAGE 1

struggling to speak, all the day to day things we all take for granted.

She needed the help from Bradgate Home Care team(based in Groby) which meant she could stay in her own home, who were a god send to me and my sister.

Even as her daughter I could never fully understand how she felt inside, I just know that watching the woman that brought me into this world and the woman I loved crumble in front of me, both physically and mentally was the worst thing that anyone could face.

I’m therefore, completing a Wing Walking challenge to raise money for the MS Society who supports suffers and their families of this vile nasty disease that can destroy people’s lives, and one day hopefully find a cure for MS.

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

ONLY £585 PACKAGE 2

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

ONLY £765

PACKAGE 3

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

ONLY £1295

ECONOMY PACKAGE

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

EXTRA BOARDING

Additional boarding to any package £30 per 16 square foot

ONLY £435

FIND US ON FACEBOOK

www.facebook.com/loftstoragesolutions

I’m Wing Walking on the 14th June this year in Wickenby, Lincolnshire and hoped that by publishing my story, it will help me raise funds for the MS Society.

To contribute anyone can visit my just giving page and place a donation www.justgiving.com/ Lisa-clayton3/. So far I’ve raised over £400 but would like to raise +£1000 I’ve attached photo from my wedding myself on the left, mum and my sister Kerry Broughton right.

Many thanks

Lisa Clayton

LOFT STORAGE

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

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

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

LUXURY STORAGE ROOMS

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

PRICES FROM £2995

 01530 587327

07515 526959 / 079615 76020 www.LeicesterLoftStorage.com

I don’t have a problem with friends who ask to borrow money. I love a good laugh as much as the next guy.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

13

Come and have a coffee Be young at heart – and live longer! with Guide Dogs ARE YOU interested in using your spare time to make a difference and improve someone else’s quality of life at the same time enhancing your own? If so you are just who the local guide dogs team are looking for.

Guide Dogs cordially invite you to an informal open morning to be held on Tuesday 24th March at Bishop Street Methodist Church, Bishop Street, Leicester LE1 6AF from 10 am until midday.

We would love you to come along to meet our staff and dogs and have a chat about how you could help local people who are blind or partially sighted. No matter how much time or what skills you have we are sure there will be something to suit you, why not come along and find out.

Robert Jinks, Guide Dogs Community Engagement Officer says “Sight loss is life changing, but so are guide dogs, not just for the people who need them, but also to volunteers and their families. You become part of a bigger family with lots of support and lots of satisfaction from the difference you make.’’

Come and join us for a coffee, and find out more about the work of Guide Dogs, the valuable contribution of our volunteers, and find out the many ways in which you can become involved.

For further details please call 0845 372 7344 or e mail us at coventry@ guidedogs.org.uk The Guide Dog Service does not receive any Government funding and relies on fundraising to maintain and improve it’s service, not only do we train dogs we train human sighted guide volunteers too as part of our my guide scheme, we could not survive without our volunteers and would encourage anyone who thinks it might be for them just to come and meet us and have a chat – who knows where it might lead!”

SCIENTISTS have now found evidence that feeling young at heart really can make you live longer.

It seems that a youthful ‘spring’ in your attitude towards life, and optimism about the future can do wonders for your cardiovascular health.

Researchers at University College London found that when people felt younger than their actual age by three years or more, than they were 41 per cent less likely to have died in the follow-up period of eight years.

It seems that people who feel younger take better care of themselves, maintain a healthier weight, eat sensibly and follow medical advice to a greater extent than people who feel their age, or older. The ‘young at heart’ are also more prone to be engaged in social activities, which in turn keep them mentally alert.

How to Get Rich Quick A young man asked an rich old man how he had made his fortune. The old man replied: “Well, lad, it was 1932, the depth of the Great Depression. I was down to my last shilling. I invested that shilling in an apple. I spent a few minutes polishing that apple and sold the apple for a shilling and six pence.

“The next morning, I invested that shilling in another apple, and after carefully polishing it, also sold it for a shilling and six pence. I continued this system for a month and by the end of which I’d accumulated a fortune of 14 shillings. Then my wife’s father died and left us two million pounds.”

FENCING

S G S

SHOOTER GARDENING SERVICES

NEW & REPAIR WORK UNDERTAKEN

Markfield Medical Centre 24 Chitterman Way, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9WU

CALL JIM SHOOTER . 95 LEICESTER ROAD, GROBY

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST

ALL WOOD IS PRESSURE TREATED

0116 2879715 / 07814224630

20 hours per week (Monday to Friday, 2.30pm to 6.30pm) We are seeking to appoint a reliable and enthusiastic person with good communication skills to join our small friendly reception team at Markfield Medical Centre.

Ideally you should have a friendly and outgoing manner with a sympathetic approach to the patients.

You will also need to be flexible to cover for holidays and sickness.

Experience would be an advantage but we would be willing to train the right candidate.

We currently run the EMIS clinical system.

Salary will be negotiable depending on experience.

Please apply in writing including a current CV or telephone the Practice Manager, Angela Patton or Debbie Hill, Office Co-ordinator on 01530 249461 for an informal chat.

Closing date: 31st March 2015

My wife just opened my car door for me. Would have been a nice gesture had we not been going 70mph.

14

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

ARE YOU A KNITTER OR On why you should DO YOU KNOW ONE? never encourage your congregation The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren THERE ARE times when I indulge you too much; why I ever let you run your course “Taking Responsibility for your Church” among our congregation, I am now unable to understand.

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL OLDER PEOPLE Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is calling for all knitters to join in The Big Knit this year to raise muchneeded funds to help keep local older people warm and healthy this coming winter.

Last year we received an incredible 47,000 little hats and need your help to match this challenging total which will assist our winter warmth campaign 2015. Innocent drinks will donate 25p for each little hat which will adorn the smoothie bottles sold in supermarkets early in 2016.

Knitters can get the simple knitting patterns online at www.ageuk.org.uk/ leics or by calling the Business Development Manager on 0116 2237344.

Please arrange for your knitted hats to be at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland (Ref: BDM), Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LA by the end of September.

Free information event for sports coaches A FREE event providing information for sports club coaches in Hinckley & Bosworth is being held at the end of this month.

The Club Coach Evening, which is being organised by the Hinckley and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance, will be held at Bosworth Academy, Desford on Tuesday 24 March from 6.30pm until 8.30pm.

For those attending, information will be available about funding, volunteering, Sportivate, satellite clubs and much more.

For more information, contact Graeme Chilvers, the Borough Council’s Health and Recreation Manager, on 01455 255678 or email: graham. chilvers@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

I had hopes that it might encourage a few more people to volunteer for the flower rota, or to give occasional help mowing the churchyard.

I even had a vague fantasy that someone might turn detective, and discover who was eating the chocolate biscuits between Sundays, condemning the rest of us to munch on Rich Tea after Services.

Unfortunately, your course turned out to be inspirational, and has fired up our members to take on all sorts of new initiatives. Enthusiasm in a congregation can be a very dangerous thing, especially if people start making decisions on their own.

Those who formed a welcoming group are admittedly well-meaning – although it was more than a little traumatic for those coming through the door the next Sunday to be greeted with frenzied hand-shakes, big toothy smiles, and even hymnbooks. That is unheard of in this church – we always ignore people and leave them to find hymnbooks – if they can.

Naturally, all those offering to take the prayers, produce new orders of Service and even to give the occasional sermon have been booked on the appropriate training courses. By the time they have been completed, I can only hope they will have gone off the idea.

But it was the group which decided to “beautify” the church who have proved the most tiresome. Hanging the Christmas tree lights round the altar made it look as if I was standing behind a fairground stall, waiting to invite people to throw hoops round teddy bears – although I would have rather enjoyed making winners sit for the rest of the Service holding a polythene bag containing a goldfish.

Our pulpit has also been given a makeover, with the various panels painted in contrasting colours; I am sure the sixteenth century Flemish woodcarvers would be delighted with the result, although the next time any medieval historians come to view it, I shall take the day off – probably travelling abroad.

My dear Darren, your course took the stopper out of the bottle; would you please run another to put it back?

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

LawMac Fencing Website: www.lawmacfencing.co.uk Email: lawmacfencing@outlook.com

FOR ALL YOUR FENCING REQUIREMENTS * Gates made to measure * Picket Fencing

* Featheredge Panels * Trellis

OPEN TO TRADE & PUBLIC

Please call in or telephone for Free Advice and Guidance Tel/Fax: 01530 587260 Mobile: 07852 256247 Open: Mon to Fri: 8am – 5pm Sat: 8am – 12pm

That first kiss in the morning is so special, and the dog enjoys it too.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

15

Elizabeth Woodville School News Super Learning Day – India

This is an accreditation that only 18% of schools apply for, from which only 9% achieve the Gold Level of accreditation; approximately 214 schools nationally, so to be one of these schools is a fantastic achievement!

Disability Sports Festival

AS PART OF our Skills Curriculum topic ‘Don’t forget your passport for…’ the children enjoyed an extended 2-day Super Learning Event on Wednesday 11th and Thursday 12th February.

On Wednesday, Smita Vadmerkar from Nupur Arts dance Academy taught the entire school a variety of Indian Dances from classical to Bhangra to Bollywood! The children then performed for each other in the afternoon sharing their fantastic moves.

On Thursday, the children participated in a whole school Indian Art project, they were inspired by the patterns and colours present in the artwork and thoroughly enjoyed creating their own masterpieces. Rangoli patterns were also thoughtfully created, with the Foundation class using their learning about symmetry to good effect! Thank you to the parents who supported us in school and to Mrs McLellan for organising the event.

Maths Resilience Week

AT ELIZABETH Woodville we want our children to be resilient, determined and motivated to tackle any challenge they encounter.

OUR JUNIOR children thoroughly enjoyed our disability awareness sports festival.

This enabled pupils to try out Paralympic sports and create their own inclusive games and activities. The children had the opportunity to sample wheelchair basketball, boccia, table cricket and sitting volleyball. This event formed part of our Disability Awareness Week, where the children learnt about the inspirational stories of our Paralympic athletes as well as understanding the difficulties that disabled people overcome every day performing tasks that many of us can easily take for granted. The theme of ‘including everyone’ has been on show ever since. Thank you to John Duggan and the Paralympic Roadshow Team for an unforgettable day.

An Evolution of Dance

With this in mind, last week, the whole school took part in a Maths Resilience week. This involved the children undertaking a series of complex logic puzzles and challenges to test and improve their resilience. A range of characters and quotes were introduced to the children to encourage them to be resilient. The children performed exceptionally and all received high praise from their teachers. I wonder how resilient you would be if you were faced with a tricky puzzle? Let’s find out: See if you can solve this puzzle. Good luck!

School Games Gold Award

THE SCHOOL has been awarded the Gold Level School Games Mark for 2014/15 in recognition of its commitment to and development of competition, school sport and physical education.

To receive the Gold Level of accreditation the school successfully demonstrated it had achieved the required standards.

WELL DONE to all the Year 5 pupils involved in their recent assembly showcasing ‘An Evolution of Dance’. they had worked incredibly hard to remember and perform all of the routines so expertly. I know all the parents watching thoroughly enjoyed it!

Who knew Mr Coleman had those moves?

A heart-shaped pizza just means less pizza and that’s not a sacrifice I’m willing to make for love.

16

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Library closure threat recedes David Ryan has the latest news I’M VERY happy to be bringing positive news about the future of Groby Library this month.

By the time you read this the Business Case for a Community Library will have been submitted to Leicestershire County Council and in the next issue of the Spotlight I hope to be able to report that it has been approved.

By the start of March our volunteer numbers went to over 30 which is fantastic. We’ve held some meetings to tell the volunteers what we need to do, to get their ideas about what activities they think could be provided at the library, and their assessment of how they can best support the project.

In addition there has been lots going on behind the scenes. I’ve had numerous conversations with the Libraries Team at County Hall and also attended a workshop at Voluntary Action Leicester around ‘Resourcing your Library with People and Money.’

There are now a number of things that we need to start to have a look at.

Registering a charitable organisation Not least is the form the organisation will take. The general recommendation is that this should be a CIO (Charitable Incorporated Organisation) as it brings with it the benefits of normal charitable status but also limits liability for trustees. Useful information about the issues can be found at https://www.gov.uk/charity-types-howto-choose-a-structure.

Deciding on a name We need to come up with a name for the organisation. There have been a few suggestions (Community Readers, The Groby Library Group, etc) but it has been suggested that we could run a competition to ask village residents for suggestions.

That’s a great idea and you’ll find details in this issue of the Spotlight.

Interacting with the community It would also be useful to run some further events for village residents to attend so that they can find out more. To put together one big event or meeting is quite a challenge and inevitably some will not be able to attend. County Hall has agreed in principle to allow us use to the Library on days and times when it is currently closed to hold open sessions, though suitable dates have not yet been agreed.

Finding the right roles for volunteers To run the Library effectively we are going to need various types of volunteer support, these will include Trustees for the CIO (a management committee of around 5-7 would be needed), a willing band of volunteers who could offer time to volunteer in the Library with the book lending and day to day services of the Library, various other activities including fund raising, building management etc. At this stage we do not need commitments of time but it would be really useful if any reader interested in becoming one of the Trustees for the CIO could let me know. There are eligibility criteria that need to be filled to be a Charitable Trustee and I will forward over more information about these and the roles of trustees to those that might be interested.

Building on the community support The support given to our project and the Post Office campaign demonstrates that the people of Groby not only want to save our library but they also want to save our village centre. So please remember that working together we can save the Library. There are going to be periods of inactivity following the submission of the Business Case whilst things are sorted with County Hall but it’s important that the Library remains a talking point. Our Facebook Page “Support Groby Library” now has 40 likes and this can be another useful tool for us to keep readers up to date with progress.

If anyone has any further queries or questions then please do drop me an email at communityreaders@ yahoo.co.uk

David Ryan

Free trees from Woodland Trust THE WOODLAND Trust sends out free trees every March and November to groups across the UK. Packs come in various mixes of 30, 105 or 420 saplings approximately 20-40cm tall. The charity wants to help school, youth and community groups bring people together to plant green shared spaces.

It says that “Planting trees is also an ideal way of creating a beautiful, living tribute to those who have helped shape your local community.”

You can apply for multiple packs (e.g. 1x105 wild harvest, 1x30 copse, 1x30 hedge) up to a maximum of 420 trees per delivery season.

Applications for packs to plant in November 2015 can be submitted online now until 3 September, while stocks last.

Visit the website today for more information and help with how to apply. www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/ plant-trees/in-your-community

Teenagers gear up for driving PRE-DRIVER days are being held again this year to prepare teenagers for getting behind the wheel for real.

Sixteen and 17 year-olds thinking of learning to drive can sign up to the one-day courses being held by Leicestershire County Council.

Last year 400 young people took part in the courses which cover road safety issues, hazard awareness and the Highway Code; and also offer a practical off-road driving session with a qualified instructor.

Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “These are popular courses that play an important role in preparing and educating young people about safer driving.

“Whilst good progress with casualty reduction has been made, young drivers remain a high-risk category in road crashes.

“These sessions provide teenagers with better understanding and knowledge ahead of their first driving lessons on public roads.”

Courses run on selected days from March to October are held at Mallory Park and cost £35 each.

For more information including a full list of dates visit: www.tjunction. org.uk/driving/about-pre-driverdays Please call 0116 305 6515 or email driverdays@leics.org.uk to check availability for specified dates.

If it weren’t for Spring Forward and Fall Back, I’d never get any exercise at all.

24 Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

17

Anne Davies to WALLACE DRIVE, GROBY become a Patron TRAVELLER SITE PLANNING APPLICATION WALLACE DRIVE , GROBY of LOROS TRAVELLER SITE PLANNING APPLICATION FIGHTING FUND : FIGHTING FUND ADVERTISEMENT

The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite: Thursdays Bookings now being taken for Easter Weekend.

Sports Fans: We now have SKY Sports and BT Sports Multi-Screen.

Foodies: Ask about our new menus! www.bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street.

T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 21st March: RIOT ACT - Classic Rock Covers Band Sat 28th March: 1970’s EVENING - With Tom & Eddie H - Fancy Dress Optional.

Sat 4th April: THE T.B.C. BAND Mash Up’s & Twisted Medleys Sat 11th April: FINDING GEORGIA - American Country Rock & Blues Featuring Georgie On Vocals Sat 18th April: ALPHA STATES Exciting, New To The Club, Young Band Sat 25th April: MAMA DON’T ALLOW - Rock N Roll Blues & Rock Covers Sky & BT Sports Free Room Hire Available For Your Perfect Party - Bingo Every Tuesday Evening - View Our Website On www. facebook.com/TheThorntonClub Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth.

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

Every Tuesday night - TARGET SHOOTING - call for details Every Monday night: DOMINOES only £1.50 entry, which includes supper.

Bargain!

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

Sequence dances Sunday Nights with live organist - £2.00 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission.

Ask about our FREE ROOM HIRE for those special family occasions.

The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield.

T: 01530 242 496 ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS All live TIGERS games.

ANNE DAVIES, the popular television Hinckley & Bosworth Planning Application 14/01247/COU Date 4/2/2015

presenter is to become a patron of LOROS. Hinckley & Bosworth Planning Application 14/01247/COU Date 4/2/2015 Change of use of land to 2 East Gypsy/Traveller Currently presenting BBC Midlands pitches including day room and associated works (revised proposal) Change of use of land to 2 Gypsy/Traveller pitches including day room and associated Today, Anne has had extensive broadcast Land theeast east of and Wallace , Groby , Leicestershire (revised proposal)..Land totothe of Wallace Drive , Groby , Leicestershire experience including radio TV, Drive both

The Bull’s Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Sat 7th March: A 60’s Night with CHICK Sat 14th March: THE DIRTY WATER BAND All FREE Entry!

Garden & Pub Games etc.

POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays - starts at 8pm

behind and in front of the camera as well as being recognised by the Royal Television Society in 2012 as ‘Best on Screen Personality’.

Anne visited LOROS in the summer of 2014 and was very touched and impressed by the services she saw at first hand.

“To see the difference LOROS makes to so many local patients and their The Coach & Horses families was a very moving experience”, said Anne, “ and I am delighted Leicester Road, Field Head to become a LOROS Patron so that I can help LOROS continue to provide Tel: 01530 242 312 theirFollowing much needed to held terminally patients and their families”. publicservices meetings at the ill Groby Club in November 2014 and KARAOKE Nights EveryFollowing Fortnight:- public meetings held at the Groby Club in November 2014 and February 2015, February 2015, residents overwhelmingly agreedAli there was a need to Anne will be joining Alan Birchenall, Julie Bradbury, Mauchlen, Martin with ‘KING OF THE ROAD’. overwhelmingly agreed there was a need to launch a “FIGHTING FUND ” to be able to engage both ex Johnson and Mark Selby FUND as fellow are both household launch a “FIGHTING ” topatrons. be ablePatrons to engage expertnames, and legal legal representation to object to the above GYPSY /TRAVELLER SITE PLANNING APPLICATION in G Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, locally and in some cases nationally, who generously provide support in a representation to object to the above GYPSY /TRAVELLER SITE PLANNING submitted by the applicant.

Leicester Road, Grobydefend any appeals variety of differentinways to and helpdefend promote and raise funds.

APPLICATION Groby anyLOROS appeals submitted by the applicant.

Tel: 0116 287 1809 “I These am thrilled that Anne isa joining Diane Morris, Fundraising These costs could be as high as £10,000 donation ofsaid £200 been suggested, but ANY costs could besoas high asus,” £10,000 sohas a donation of £200 has beendonation www.grobyclub.co.uk Manager at LOROS, “she brings a !" wealth ofany experience and we hope resident to(“Every be willing t small) would be most welcome (“Every little helps ) from Groby or Field Head suggested but ANY donation (large or small) would be most welcome Friday 6th March: JOHNATHAN working closely with over thenew coming years.”resident raise enough funds to effectively both this application and subsequent appeals . little helps ! “ )oppose fromher any Groby or Field Head willing to help us raise PAUL - very good male solo.

LOROS veryto much reliantoppose on voluntary donations to deliverand free,subsequent end Saturday 7th March: DEVANTE IMPORTANT : Groby Parishis Council has agreed to be independent stakeholder/administrator for this fu enough funds effectively both this new application care to over patients a(not year in Leicester, Leicestershire and quality duo is to be managed of bylife a committee of 2,500 local residents Councillors). appeals .

Sunday 8th March: Super Sunday ‘50’ Rutland, so the support of Patrons Annehas is vital.

IMPORTANT : Groby Parishlike Council agreed to be independent Bingo And Quiz IMPORTANT : Groby Parish Council will ensure that any monies not spent willpatients,” be returned “This is our 30th year of delivering invaluable care stakeholder/administrator for this fund which istotoour be managedsaid by a Friday 13th March: ANDY pro-rata to contributors.

Paul Keirnan, Director of Income Generation and Communications, “The committee of local residents.(Not Councillors ) HAMMERSLEY - excellent male support from people like Anne is an amazing boost.”

IMPORTANT : Groby Parish Council will ensure that any monies not spent solo.

For further information or any questions then please email : grobywallace@gmail.com Saturday 14th March: LESLEY will be returned pro-rata to contributors.

Website : grobywallace.webs.com brilliant female solo.

For further information or any questions then please email : ...................................................................................................................................................

Sunday 14th March: Super Sunday ‘50’ grobywallace@gmail.com Bingo And Quiz WALLACE DRIVE FIGHTING FUND DONATIONS Website :grobywallace.webs.com Friday 20th March: EDDIE BROWNDonations can be made by cash or cheque.

Post/Take to the Groby Parish Council offices,

Newtown Linford Gardening Club News

- top male vocalist Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby, Leics. LE6 0DQ (Tel: 0116 287 6985).

Saturday 21st March: THE JENTS A receipt will be issued GPC forFUND each donation.

DRIVE FIGHTING OURWALLACE WINTER continues to bebygrey and quiteDONATIONS cold but not Classic covers band Donations can be made by cash or cheque.

Post/Take to the Groby Parish Sunday 22nd March: Super Sunday ‘50’ too much of the white stuff and only short term frosts.

Please makeVillage cheques payable to GROBY Bingo And Quiz Council Offices, Hall, Leicester Road ,PARISH Groby ,COUNCIL Leics LE6 0DQ The snowdrops are beginning to show in abundance but seem to be Friday 27th March: DAVE JOHNSON (Tel: 0116 287 6985) – A receipt

by ItGPC for the each donation.

NAME: ______________________________________________ DONATION: appearing in penny numbers rather will thanbeallissued at once. seems ground - very good male solo Make cheques payable toand GROBY PARISH COUNCIL has been hard during parts of January so the shoots have had to work Saturday 28th March: SISTERS IN harder to push through. Perhaps this year we will still have snowdrops and ADDRESS: ______________________________________________________________________ ARMS - excellent female duo NAME:at .....................................................................

DONATION £..................... aconites the same time as the early daffodils which should make for a Sunday 29th March: Super Sunday ‘50’ grand spectacle.

Bingo And Quiz ______________________________________________________________________________ Friday 3rd April: CHARLIE MAC Our talk in January on Garden Birds from Dr Edwards of the RSPB ADDRESS:................................................................................................................. excellent male solo

£________

attracted an audience of 60 members and guests. ItPHONE: was good that we now EMAIL: ________________________________________ ______________________ .................................................................................................................................... have the use of the large hall because our numbers have certainly made the small hall impractical. Dr Edwards was a fine speaker and kept us EMAIL: ....................................................................................................................... entertained and educated for the full evening.

PHONE: On March.....................................................................................................................

24th we welcome back Carolyn Tait whose subject this time is seed propagation.

The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Carolyn has a prestigious Tel: 01530 245454 position at Coton Manor (right) Bookings now being taken for Mother’s which is, as many of us know, Day. one of the finest gardens in the West Midlands. She is a very knowledgeable gardener with Jazz in May: The Brian Humpherson Quintet many years experience at the highest level and we are delighted THORNTON Community Centre will be welcoming back to welcome someone of her The Brian Humpherson Quintet on Saturday 16th May stature.

2015 - 7.30pm start.

We have welcomed a large number of new members this year and will be This return visit is in response to several requests from previous audience pleased if others want to join us. members.

If you are interested in our activities just contact the secretary (tel. 242452 The quintet is made up of Brian Humpherson (piano), Don Blakeson or e-mail 01530242452@talktalk.net) , or come to one of our meetings (trumpet), Mike Read (saxophone), Dougie Wright (drums) and Martin Slipp to see how you like it before making a commitment (£2 for visitors). (double bass). The Guest Vocalist will be Nicole van der Kuinder.

Alternatively give us a ring and ask for a copy of our programme for the Tickets - priced at £7.00 - will be available nearer the date. For early coming year and we will be pleased to send one to you. booking, contact Iris Gleeson on 01530 230453.

Saturday 4th April: 8TH DAY excellent duo Sunday 5th April: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Friday 10th April: SARAH TASKER - quality female solo Saturday 11th April: BONNIE Brilliant female solo

Anne and David Couling

Prevent cheapskate neighbours from enjoying your fireworks: simply set them offmy in your living room I’ve finally decided to do something about weight.

Lie. with the curtains closed.

18

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Library Jottings Name the new Library Community Group and win a shopping voucher WITH WORK underway to create a charitable organisation to run the Groby Community Library the question of a suitable name has cropped up.

As all the residents of the village are making a financial contribution through the Parish Council precept it seems fitting that everyone gets a chance to suggest a name. What do you think it should be?

Budgens have kindly donated a £10 shopping voucher as a prize for the winner, and with a closing date of 27th March it will be just in time to pop in and buy some Easter eggs. Or if you don’t fancy chocolate you could celebrate your success with a bottle of wine. You can email your suggestions to communityreaders@yahoo.co.uk with the words ‘library name competition’ in the subject line. If you don’t use email just put your suggestion and contact details in an envelope addressed in the same way and drop it in at the library.

Parish Council clarifies Library funding AT THE March Parish Council meeting an issue was raised about the funds that are being allocated to support a Community Library if one is successfully formed in the coming months.

The question asked related to any cash that isn’t spent by 31 March 2016.

Members confirmed that any balance unspent at the end of the financial year could be carried forward and spent in 2016/17, giving clarity and certainty to the new charitable organisation that will be formed to run Groby Library if the Business Case is approved by Leicestershire County Council.

Library Trust drop-in sessions AS MENTIONED by David Ryan in his newsletter he has asked Leicestershire County Council to make the library available for drop in sessions so that residents can call in and find out more about the plans for a community library.

with Norman Griffiths car park and that there was no record of any serious injury accidents at this location. For the record, I received the same response when I requested a crossing between the Stamford / Cathy Stevens and the shops on Ratby Road.”

Given the financial constraints that the County Council is having to deal with it sounds as if, although locally a crossing would be welcomed, it’s unlikely to be high on their list of priorities

Milestones or roadmaps?

At one time we’d talk about achieving milestones, now it seems as though the term ‘road map’ has taken over. Whichever you prefer it’s great news that so far all targets have been met • recruitment of volunteers • first meetings with volunteers • financial help confirmed by Groby Parish Council • registration of interest with County Hall • approval of registration of interest • submission of the Outline Business Case The Business Case will be assessed by the same cross-discipline team that examined the initial proposal. Their target date for notifying organisations of the outcome is April 2nd. The project can then move on to the next stage.

Questions of the Month Q. Can all donated books be added to the Library Management System?

A. Not all books. Any book purchased by or donated to community partnerships bodies from other than contracted LCC County Council suppliers that does not meet the County Council selection criteria will not be added to the catalogue and therefore will not be loaned via the Library Management System.

Q. Will community libraries still sell old stock?

A. Grubby stock and dead stock not required by the Community Library or anywhere else would be withdrawn and sold off either at a book sale in a major library or through a central dealer. Income would go to the County Council and not to the Community Library. So although this would seem to mean the end of book sales in Groby once a transfer to a Community Library has taken place there may be the possibility of local donations being sold and the funds raised retained locally.

Dates and times were not available as the Spotlight went to the printers so watch out for notices with the details around the village in the coming weeks.

Road safety near the Library THE SAFETY of the road between the Village Hall and Groby Club has been raised as an impediment to the very young and very old crossing to the library, along with the suggestion that there’s a need for a safe crossing point.

There are similar risks in the shopping area around the corner on Ratby Road, which is particularly hazardous when vehicles are leaving GE Druck.

“This has been raised historically on many occasions,” recalled Councillor Peter Batty. “Formal requests have been made by myself and almost certainly others for a safe pedestrian crossing point between the Post Office and the Village Hall/library only to be dismissed as not appropriate by Leicestershire County Council Highway Authority. Their reasoning being that there was already a build out of the pavement outside the Post Office narrowing the crossing point to the pedestrian entrance to the Village Hall

The worst way to locate your glasses is by the sound they make when you step on them.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

19

News from Lady Jane Grey School Ready, steady, bake!

Ten local primary schools worked together under the ‘Enrich Partnership’ to assist children with the transition from Primary to Secondary school.

Each school within the partnership organises different events. Here at LJG our event was to organise a bake off. All ten schools were provided with enough cake mixes for one year group. The winners from each class would then go to Brookvale and spend a morning in the food technology lab cooking alongside winners from other primary schools. Our competition took place in Year 3. The cakes were judged by Mr Fitz, Mrs Snow, Mrs Lyons and Mr Owen who was the chief taster! Freya Saunders And Tom Simandi-Jones won. They both went to Brookvale on Tuesday 10th Feb. with Mrs Karavadra.

They cooked Pizza Wheels. Freya said her favourite part was making the dough as it was messy. Tom said his best part was chopping the vegetables.

Mr Fitz awarded both pupils with the Headteacher’s gold token and will be asking them to cook the pizza wheels again for the teachers later on this term. Mrs Karavadra said that Freya and Tom were exemplary pupils and were a credit to LJG. Well done to everyone who took part.

Happy Puzzle Day As the oldest member of staff I remember the days before electronic devices like Nintendo, Ps2 and Xboxes ruled our lives.

which supported their learning, whilst finding a solution and having fun at the same time. — Mrs O.

Winter Sports at LJG Even in the dark evenings of January and February sport has still been happening at Lady Jane Grey. Teams have represented the school in

Football, Table Tennis and Cross Country.

Cross Country running is often the first event that children are able to participate in and it has been fantastic to see the next generation of athletes in such numbers racing for the Cross Country team. Two races have been run at Bosworth Academy to select the fastest runners from all over the Hinckley

A simpler time of talking and sharing! Today all the children in LJG from Foundation to year 6 stepped back in time and discovered ‘my world’!

The Happy Puzzle Company visited with a selection of games and puzzles that required the children to work as a team, develop strategies for solving a problem and listen to each other.

All of the puzzles were age appropriate and enabled staff to mix year groups. Year 1 and 2 joined together, 3 & 4 and 5 & 6. There was a real buzz in each session and cheers of joy when the puzzle was finally solved. As staff, we saw how well the children were able to motivate themselves to accept the challenges; how well they responded to the organiser and followed instructions. Each puzzle presented a different problem for the children and encouraged the use of mathematical language

I hit bottom so often I had a trampoline installed.

and Bosworth Area to race in our area team in the County final at Donington. We are now awaiting on confirmation of who made the Hinckley and Bosworth Team. A massive congratulations to all of the runners who took part. Amongst them was: Adam, Amelia Smith, Ethan Lane, Isabelle Parker, Katie Lane, Olivia Russell and Tom Simandi-Jones; all from Year 3.

Francis Walker and Kiera Garner both from Year 4. Katie Parker and Sam Mitchell from Year 6.

It is great to see such a large group of runners and their determination to run no matter what the conditions. It is now coming up to the final races for our Year 6 runners and we wish them all the luck.

LJG has been running a table tennis club for Years 5 and 6.

Last weekend Conor Lane and another year 6 boy took part in a competition to find the top U11 players in the county, playing against a range of different players in the large school hall at Leicester Grammar School. Altogether there were over one hundred players playing in groups of four across thirty six tables. Conor was in a group with one of the eventual finalists and coped admirably against a very experienced player. Overall the event lasted almost 4 hours and the amount of experience the two boys gained was clearly evident in their confidence in the following week’s school Table Tennis club.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

20

Glenfield Millennium Green News THE ANNUAL Easter Egg Hunt on the Millennium Green takes place on Saturday April 4th from 10.30am to 12.00 (noon).

“Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston

The cost is £2.00 per child and all children who take part must be accompanied by an adult.

All contestants win a small Easter Egg, plus other goodies, and refreshments are provided. Adults are admitted free of charge. Some areas of the Green are uneven and after rain can be flooded, so suitable footwear should be worn.

Thanks to those who read last month’s article in Spotlight and asked for numbers in our 100 Club. It isn’t too late! If you feel you want to support the Green you can become a member for only £2 a month. Full details can be obtained from John Springthorpe on 0116 2991868.

Now the days are getting longer and once the sun starts to shine you will be planning what you are going to grow in the garden this year. Our Plant Sale is due to take place on Saturday May 23rd.

We welcome donations of plants for this event so please sow extra seeds and bring the plants along on the day for us to sell.

Christine Tordoff (Secretary)

Are your double glazed windows STEAMED UP or

MISTY?

There’s no need to replace the whole window we will replace the glass unit for you.

GROBY ALLOTMENT SOCIETY NEWS

Repairs to ALL PVCu and Aluminium Windows & Doors

THE ALLOTMENT Society held its AGM in February – it was well supported by plot holders and some new faces were present which is always nice to see.

The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer all gave their reports and it is good to confirm that the society is thriving and plays a very positive role within the community.

The waiting list is short at present, owing to larger plots being made into more manageable sizes as they become available. If you live outside of Groby we are now accepting applications from those who live outside of the village once again. A lively discussion took place from plot holders re the reduction in rent that you can claim if you are an older member, this can be 50% if you meet the age requirements. The committee reported that new members were not offered this reduction and it is a purely voluntary action – if you think that the rent is already fair and reasonable you can pay the full amount – which most plot holders do – the reduction is a historical offer that most plot holders do not think is necessary in these times. The committee will discuss this matter further at the next meeting.

The social committee (me) reported that we will not be having a stall at the street fair this year but we will be having an open day on Ratby Road site in conjunction with the Groby Garden Society in July when they have their Groby Open Garden Day. I also reported all that we have achieved this year and how this is having a good effect on the social side of ‘growing your own’ The rest of our gang – Helen, Evelyn and Jackie

will once again start our efforts on Easter Monday on Ratby Road site 10am – 12pm come along and enjoy a bacon buttie and a chat.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH I am writing this during Fair Trade Fortnight and I tasted a sample of this cake at one of the events held in Groby – Kay Blick very kindly gave me this recipe which I have made several times since. It is delicious…..

Honey Sandwich Cake – please use Fair Trade ingredients where possible.

• Oven set at 350F 180C gas 4 • 6ozs/175g softened butter or margarine • 4oz/110g caster sugar • 1 tablespoon clear honey • 3 eggs • 6oz/175g self-rising flour • Pinch of salt • 2 tablespoons hot water Method Grease and line two 7in cake tins.

Cream butter/marg with the sugar and honey till light and fluffy, lightly whisk eggs and gradually beat into creamed mixture. Carefully fold in sifted flour, salt and water. Divide mixture into the prepared tins and smooth over with a palette knife.

Bake in oven for approx. 25mins or until golden brown. Turn on to a wire rack to cool.

Honey Butter Filling • 4oz/110g butter • 6oz/175g icing sugar • 2 tablespoons clear honey Cream butter until light and fluffy, beat in the sifted icing sugar and add the honey, stir till well blended.

Sandwich the two cakes together with the cream and sift a little icing sugar on top of the cake.

Mmmm ... enjoy!

Just call our small, friendly firm - whether it’s one window or a full house - with approximate sizes, and we’ll give you a price OVER THE PHONE or a free call out if you prefer.

Window Services Repair & Replacement Specialists: Est. 1982 167a Dominion Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8JB

Telephone/Fax:

0116 287 5395 I gave my cat a middle name today, so she knows when she is really in trouble.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

21

KEITH SMITH (ANSTEY) LTD

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

FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY BOSCH

BOSCH

WAB28162GB

SMS50T02GB

Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 6kg Load Capacity A+++AB Rated Express Wash

Dishwasher 12 Place Settings 5 Programmes Half Load Noise Level 50db A+AA Rated Now Only

15 Programmes

£279 .99

Now Only

HOTPOINT

SIEMENS

WMAQL641P Save

£30

WM14E461GB

Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 6Kg Load Capacity Quick Wash 16 Programmes A++AB Rated Now Only

£299 .99

Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 7Kg Load Capacity 15min Wash 5 Year Guarantee A+++AB Rated

£299 .99

Now Only

£399 .99

U12S53N3GB

B12S53N3GB

Double Electric Oven Multifunction Cooking A-20% Rated 67 litre Main Oven CircoTherm Fan H88 x W59.4 x D55

Single Electric Oven Multifunction Cooking A-20% Rated 67 litre Main Oven CircoTherm Fan H59.5 x W59.5 x D55

Now Only

Fitted Kitchens We are pleased to announce that we are now agents for A.W.E Kitchens and Bedrooms Who specialise in Bespoke made to measure kitchen & bedroom furniture Please call in for further details

£549 .99

Now Only

Free Professional Installation*

£379 .99

ANSTEY

Free Removal of Old Appliance Free Removal of Packaging *To Existing Fittings

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

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

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

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

UNBEATABLE

BOILER

5663

OFFER Ga

s Boil er s

£1,250* Fitted MATICCHE PR

PROM

ISE *

itions appl * Plus V.A.T. Terms & cond

y.

• UP TO 10 YEARS WARRANTY • COMPETITIVE PAYMENT PLANS FROM £7 PER WEEK • NO DEPOSIT OPTIONS • FREE SURVEY & FIXED PRICE QUOTES

Installer

GREAT VALUE & NO SURPRISES from your local heating company since 1994 Drop in to see us: 13 Leicester Road, Groby, LE6 0DQ

0116 287 8000 Sometimes I spend whole meetings wondering how they got the big meeting table through the door.

22

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Want to be a Parish Councillor?

ALL COUNCILS are going through a difficult period financially and the new Parish Council to be formed in May will have no respite from the challenges of recent years.

It makes it even more important that community minded local residents step forward to work with like minded people in running the council.

If you feel you want to help you have less than a month to get your nomination papers to the Borough Council. The deadline is 4pm on Thursday 9th April.

Hannah Tonks, Electoral Services Officer at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council says that nomination packs are available at the Parish Council Office, and further information can be obtained from Diana.

Bowden@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk.

This was the first clue Half horsey slang plus Roll On and in proximity to.

Middlemarch in Lincolnshire has forelimbs.

Reynard on the roof!

Flower of more advanced years in the garden.

Taking the Lincolnshire town that the BBC used as the setting for Middlemarch, and adding the forelimbs, brought Julie to the Stamford Arms, which is close to the cottage with the fox on the roof and elder in the garden. A quick visit inside the cottage left enough time for listeners to work through the second clue and get her back on the road to her next destination.

“Our treasure hunt of the airwaves provides me with some difficult challenges every Sunday,” explained Julie. “Finding the fox was no exception and there was the bonus of a rather large and very welcome bacon sandwich from pub landlord Brian Rigby for my troubles!”

Radio Leicester visits Groby during ‘Clueless’

It was a busy time for landlord Brian Rigby, as the Stamford was also given the Pub of the Month award by CAMRA, the real ale campaigners.

The award was recognised by the donation of a firkin of Beacon Cask Ale. All the proceeds from the sale of the ale were donated to LOROS through the new Bradgate Rotary Club which holds its meetings at the Stamford Arms.

Now that’s what I call a hole in the wall!

THE INCLUSION of the photograph of the fox on the roof of the Blacksmith’s Cottage on Rookery Lane in the February Spotlight couldn’t have been better timed.

That weekend the village was visited by Julie Mayer from Radio Leicester who was following the clues in the ‘Clueless’ Sunday morning programme. It’s a live treasure hunt with listeners working out the locations from the broadcast clues.

THE RECENT robbery at the Groby branch of Barclays Bank, the second in 2 years, must have left customers wondering what the future holds.

Barclays boss Antony Jenkins has said he aims to reduce the bank’s cost base by £1.7billion, and this could put a quarter of its 1,515 branches at risk.

The amount stolen in the raid isn’t known but could be thousands of pounds. This loss, hopefully covered by insurance, is small change compared to the billions the bank has had to set aside for allegations of currency market manipulation, the mis-selling of payment protection insurance(PPI) and for failing to keep its clients’ assets separate from its own.

Although there doesn’t appear to have been any official announcement about closure there has been speculation that the Groby branch will close this year. Even if it survives there will no doubt be serious thought given to the issue of the replacement of the ATM. No comment is available from Barclays.

If I’ve learned anything from soap commercials, it’s that only attractive people take showers.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Unwelcome change for letter writers THE LETTERS page of one of the daily newspapers recently had an interesting comment about changes that have been made to collection times from post boxes.

Not so long ago it was possible to post a first class letter by the middle of the afternoon in one of the roadside boxes with the hope that it would be delivered the following day. But drop a letter into the box in the afternoon now and your guarantee is not that it will be delivered the following day but that it will stay there overnight until the box is emptied by 9.00am the following morning. No doubt this change helps the delivery targets to be met.

If it’s an urgent piece of correspondence it has to be taken to the post office to catch the afternoon collection, which for some residents and businesses who rely on the service will be another reason why it was right for the Post Office not to relocate to Budgens.

The Groby proposals presumably weren’t something that central management went looking for but were driven by the reasonable wish of the current proprietors to start a well earned retirement. But generally a move into other retail premises seems to be seen seen as the way forward. Since the start of last December the Post Office has been running consultations about the proposed relocation of over 80 branches. In most cases a move into a supermarket, convenience store or similar retail outlet was proposed.

23

Forest Hill Golf Club Botcheston LE9 9FH

Exclusive Art, Craft and Gift Event st

Saturday 21 March 2015

10 am - 3.00 pm

Bespoke and unique items for all occasions Craft activities for children

Don’t forget to send us your news!

HENSTOCKS

Accountants & Tax Consultants 26 Fosse Road Central, Leicester LE3 5PR ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 50 YEARS WE CAN DEAL WITH ALL YOUR ACCOUNTANCY REQUIREMENTS. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE ACCOUNTS PREPARATION, PERSONAL AND BUSINESS TAXATION, BOOKKEEPING, PAYROLL AND VAT.

CONTACT US FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION

Phone: 0116 262 3202 email@henstocks.co.uk

Fax: 0116 261 9186 www.henstocks.co.uk

Is there an app to delete your number out of other people’s phones yet?

24

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

To advertise in the Spotlight, contact Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

DAN HARDY 01530 587324

GARDEN MAINTENANCE

07598 200185

LAWN MOWING

24 Link Rise, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9TY Visit our new website: www.leicesterlawnmowing.com

Prices start from £10, for an average sized garden, front and rear lawns included. Weekly or fortnightly cuts available.

n

io

at

EE

lig

ob

FR

no

e

ot

qu

HM

Building Landscapes & Tree Surgery

Landscaping

Tree Surgery

Driveways / Block Paving Patios & Decking Garden Walls / Stone Walls Ponds / Water Features Design Service Available

Trees Removed,

Building

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

Extensions - Porches - Repointing

Harvey: 07725 545065 | Min: 07966 505688 www.hm-landscapes.com

Good Quality Collectables Wanted Do you have any good quality china tea sets, for example Royal Albert, Royal Doulton, Colclough, or Wedgwood?

If so, I would be interested in buying them.

I am also interested in any good quality jewellery (particularly brooches), dolls, bears, toy cars and children’s books (which must be in excellent condition) that you may have for sale.

Please call Viv on 07734 580210 to discuss anytime.

Dentures At Home Emergency Mobile

• Emergency Denture Repair Service 7 Days a Week • Duplicate dentures/spare sets available (1 week - 10 days) • Have you got a spare set of dentures?

• Soft lower duplicate dentures available • Large range of all quality teeth available - acrylic to porcelain 30 years experience to the TRADE

David Smith - 1 The Burrows, Narborough

0116 275 0101 (home) 07880 973 742 (mobile)

I love how Prince Charming is so dumb he doesn’t recognize Cinderella without her shoe.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

25

Chickens cross road in Groby!

I WAS JUST hanging my coat up after arriving home on a recent Saturday afternoon, when my mobile phone and home phone rang simultaneously, as I went to pick up the nearest one, someone began banging on the door.

It was a lady with her dog, She asked if I had lost any chickens, I immediately got on my shoes and followed her, round the corner and down the lane to where my chickens were frantically digging away in the undergrowth completely unaware of the panic they were causing amongst my neighbours (who were ringing).

The lady very kindly volunteered to help run about and round them up , but there is an easier way ! I quickly ran back home and got some yummy wet bread , stood at the top of the alley and shouted “Come on ladies!”

Their heads popped up, Sweetly (chief chicken) gave the “cluck” alert for food and they all came flying toward me in that typically haphazard kamikaze chicken way, all feathers to the wind, legs akimbo. Reversing my way homeward I soon had them safely corralled in the garden and finally back into the run.

Please send my thanks to my neighbours and the dog walkers for their concern and offer of help.

Here’s a picture of the ladies safely back home!

Roxanne, Groby

The Stars are Out Tonight!

GRAND Central Chorus is pleased to host the 2013 Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Champions, Toronto Northern Lights in a show that will provide a rare opportunity to see and listen to one of the world’s top barbershop harmony choruses, who have not performed in the UK since 2008.

GROBY JUNIORS FOOTBALL ACADEMY

Toronto Northern Lights, led by their Musical Director, Steve Armstrong, have represented the Ontario District at the Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Competition numerous times since their formation in 1998, winning bronze medals five times and consecutive silver medals between 2001 and 2005. Finally, in July 2013, and when the competition was held in their hometown of Toronto, they won the gold medal!

Grand Central Chorus is one of the UK’s leading Barbershop choruses, having won the gold medals at the British Championships five times, the most recent being in 2012. Grand Central has also represented the UK in the Barbershop Harmony Society International Chorus Competition on several occasions.

Details: Sunday 19 April 4.30pm at Derby Theatre DE1 2PL Tickets £15 Under 12’S £10 Box Office 01332 593939 www.derbytheatre.co.uk

All budding football stars (Boys and Girls) aged 4 to 7 are welcome at the Groby Juniors Football Academy. Sessions are held every Sunday morning from 9:30 to 10:30am at Groby Community College. For further information please contact Emanda Kerr on 07860 546828.

For the love of chocolate

Don’t make children ‘clean the plate’

ARE YOU going to indulge in Easter chocolate this year?

Ever wonder where it first came from? We have the Aztecs of equatorial Central America to thank: it was they who discovered that a certain tree, later named Theobroma Cacao, was well worth cultivating. The Aztecs considered chocolate the ‘drink of the gods’ (Theo means God, broma means drink; hence the name).

The Aztecs credited chocolate for everything from spiritual wisdom to sexual prowess; Emperor Montezuma is reported to have drunk more than 50 flagons of the stuff each day.

The Spanish explorer Cortes also called it ‘the divine drink’, and the conquistadors brought chocolate back to Spain. From there it travelled north, and reached England about 1849. It was first served as a drink, until during the Industrial Revolution it caught the attention of several leading Quaker families, (including the Cadburys, the Frys, the Rowntress and the Terrys. It was the Fry family who created the first ‘eating’ chocolate… and the rest, as they say, is history. Today the world eats about 600,000 tons a year. Enjoy your Easter egg!

Broke a light bulb today. Seven years of bad ideas?

A NEW STUDY is urging parents NOT to force their children to eat everything on their plate, saying that it is quite normal for children to leave up to 60 per cent of their food.

The research, at Cornell University, New York, found that the average child eats only about three fifths of the food that they have served themselves. It warns that making them eat it all “might disrupt the self-regulation they’re born with, and encourage over-eating.”

Driving your child to eat according to what is on the plate, rather than how they feel, could well make them lose the ability to rely on those internal cues to know when they have had enough.

26

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Convent School wins Rotary Youth Speaks Semi-Final

LOROS & Leicester Racecourse’s new partnership

Get a ‘taste’ of Royal Ascot without the travel!

LOROS are thrilled to have been selected as Leicester Racecourse’s chosen charity of the year for 2015.

A TEAM from Our Lady’s Convent School (OLCS) have won the Rotary International District 1070 Semi-Finals round of Youth Speaks.

The team, Zahra Bhojani, Chloe Slee and Rebecca Hull, gave an excellent presentation at Leicester’s Beauchamp College entitled ‘Are the media portraying a wrong insight into a healthy breakfast?’

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon, the girls now go through to the final, to be held at Catmose College, Oakham on 14 March.Beacon Rotary organiser Rosemary Adams said: ‘They involved the audience and

WINNERS: Our Lady’s Convent School winning team of Rotary’s District 1070 Youth Speaks Semi-Finals (from left) Zahra Bhojani (speaker), Chloe Slee (vote of thanks) and Rebecca Hull (chairperson) really made us think about what we actually eat and whether it is good for our health. ’The other semi-finalists from OLCS were Amelia Leeland, Amber Savage and Grace Elliott, whose presentation ‘Outcasts in Today’s Society’ was also well received and highly commended.

Close your eyes Lost the car keys? Shut your eyes.

It is the best way to recall memories. Some scientists explain that the reason is that vision takes up a lot of the brain’s processing power. So, next time you need to really concentrate and remember something – shut your eyes.

Leicester Racecourse, an outstanding venue for conferencing, weddings and much more have already vowed to support a brand new LOROS fundraiser this year which is part of a jam-packed calendar of events to mark the Hospices 30th Anniversary.

Leicester Racecourse will play host to an Ascot Ladies day in aid of LOROS on Thursday 18th June which will see live screening from Ascot Races directly into the venue at Oadby, via giant plasma screens. Ladies will be welcomed by a complimentary glass of fizz and will then dine on a fabulous four course lunch before having the chance to browse the stalls or have a little flutter. Tickets are available from LOROS now at an early bird rate of just £49 per person, or £450 for a table of ten. The early bird offer will expire on May 18th when tickets will then be available for £59 per person or £500 for a table of ten.

The ticket price also gains entry to the live horse racing due to take place from 6pm.

Laura Betts, LOROS Fundraiser said; “There has been a demand for this type of event for some years now. The LOROS ladies luncheon which has been running for over 30 years sells out most years and so we know we have a great deal of female supporters who are looking for events just like this one. We are really looking forward to trying something different and can’t wait to see local ladies glammed up for an afternoon at the races!”

Rob Bracken, Director at The Leicester Racecourse said; The team at Leicester Racecourse are delighted to be working with LOROS this year.

We are extremely proud to be associated with a charity that is celebrating 30 years of caring for our community. We have lots of exciting ideas in the pipeline already and are really looking forward to working together throughout the year”.

For more details on any of the events mentioned above please visit www. loros.co.uk or call the LOROS fundraising department on 0116 2318431.

Send us your local entertainments news and we’ll publicise it here FREE! Tremendous!

The only F word out a woman’s mouth that scares me is “fine.”

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

27

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Council Tax THE COUNTY Council at its budget meeting on Wednesday 18th February voted in increase the County Council tax element by 1.99% from April this year.

Both the police and Fire Authority have also voted to put up their Council tax element by 1.99%. The Borough Council has again agreed to take the government relief grant and has frozen their Council tax with a zero% increase.

Anti Social Behaviour I HAVE been made aware of ongoing anti social in Groby over the past few weeks by a group of youths throwing eggs at residents’ houses.

Eggs have been thrown at bedroom windows late at night and also caused a mess to the brickwork which is difficult to remove. One resident who contacted me told me they were targeted two nights on the trot.

Residents have passed two names to the police. I would urge all residents affected by this behaviour to report all incidents to the police by dialling 101. I would also urge anyone with any information that can identify these youths to call the police or you could contact me in confidence and I will liaise with the police.

Only by reporting incidents to the police will you get a greater police presence to target this behaviour. Ratby has a similar problem. I have already passed a name to the police with regards to incidents in Ratby and that person was seen and admitted his part. However the problem is still ongoing and I have met with the LPU commander for an update and requested neighbourhood resources to tackle this issue. Cllr Batty and I have also contacted the Borough Council’s Anti Social Behaviour officers and asked them to work with the police to stamp out this behaviour.

Planning Application: Wallace Drive Groby AS REPORTED in last month’s article, Cllr Peter Batty and I were made aware that the applicant had put a further application in for a Gypsy and Traveller site after the previous application was refused.

This application has now been validated. We organised a public meeting to discuss this application at the Groby Club on the 19th February with local residents. A residents’ committee was formed to organise and manage a fighting fund that will enable the community to engage expert legal representation to fight this planning application.

Donations can be made via Groby Parish Council, Council Offices, Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby. We will keep residents updated on the applications progress.

Libraries update I AM pleased into inform residents that Groby Library Group is moving forward under the leadership of David Ryan, a local businessman.

The Parish Council are giving him their full support, as I am as your local County Councillor. David is still appealing for volunteers. Anyone who wishes to volunteer can contact him at the following email address david@ happykidsedu.co.uk

Consultation on the proposed changes to Recycling and Household Waste Sites HAVE YOUR say on the proposed changes to Recycling and Household Waste sites in Leicestershire which aim to save £1.1m from the current budget.

You can read the full consultation document and have your say by visiting the waste consultation homepage.

Consultation period: The formal consultation on the document is from Monday 2 February to Sunday 26 April 2015 Who can get involved: open to everyone How can I get involved: Full details about the consultation can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/futurewastemanagement

Action Fraud Scam Alert

The scam usually involves a ‘pop up’ on your computer or a text message advertising a free 14-day trial. In signing up to this trial you are asked for your credit or debit card details and after the 14 days have elapsed, recurring payments are taken.

Recurring payments or continuous payment authorities are similar to a direct debit, but can be much harder to cancel or identify who is debiting your account. In most cases victims are finding it extremely difficult to cancel the subscription and the products are either not delivered or are inferior. Common pharmaceuticals or supplements being advertised are teeth whitening products, food supplements and slimming tablets.

Protect Yourself If you desire such products speak to your GP or a local pharmacist.

Be vigilant of free trials and always read the Terms and Conditions.

Conduct basic online research of the company before registering your details and financial information.

It is important to remember that in most free-trial cases because you have paid for a product and received it, this cannot be recorded as a fraud. If you have already entered your card details on one of these websites, call up you bank immediately to stop these payments and give Action Fraud a call on 0300 123 2040 for advice.

Scam postcards SCAM postcards are being delivered to UK residents’ homes claiming that a parcel containing “jewellery” is waiting for the homeowner.

The personally addressed postcards say: “The office is attempting to reach you. To claim this parcel and accept this offer, you must telephone the number below immediately and arrange for a delivery. The item is prepaid, but a processing and delivery free of £10 must be remitted. This fee can be paid only by telephone and only with a credit card (VISA or MasterCard). This is your only notification” If you call the 020 number you are asked to pay £10 by credit card. Victims who have reported this to Action Fraud have said that the automated service told them the package would be delivered the same day, but did not receive anything.

Action Fraud has received several reports of this recently occurring fraud and this information has been assessed by National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) resulting in disruption of the fraudster’s phone number.

Also be on the lookout for slight variations of this scam - which use different phone numbers and delivery items.

If you receive one these postcards: Do not call the number provided.

Do not give your card details.

If you receive a delivery card through your letterbox which you do not believe is genuine and which asks you to dial a premium rate number, you can contact PhonepayPlus on 0800 500 212 (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm) for further guidance.

If you receive one of these delivery cards, do not pay any money and report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support and remember I am only an Email or a phone call away.

Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea.

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

ACTION Fraud has seen an increase in the amount of victims signing up for free trials for unapproved or misleading pharmaceuticals or supplements.

Most of being an adult is marveling at the date and saying how fast the year is going by.

28

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

All the latest news from Groby WI I AM NOT sure whether we were too early or rather late to hold a Christmas dinner in February but either way we had a jolly good time at Southfield College.

Southfield College is a catering college where young budding chefs learn their trade. Apparently it is highly regarded with students being recognised at local and national levels. The tables were immaculately set, silver shining and spotless white cloths. The young chefs couldn’t have been more attentive and efficient. The food was very cordon bleu and of a great variety.

Altogether the atmosphere was lovely and somehow they had even found some Christmas crackers, mine contained a 3” ruler, can’t for the life of me think what I can measure with it. Altogether a lovely evening and it was nice to have a special meal in February and enjoy good company.

We also had our first Derbyshire walk this month. It was our annual snowdrop one around Staunton Harold. We were very lucky with the weather, sunny, windy but dry.

However, the day before and in the previous night it had rained so we had to have a change of route.

We did get to see the snowdrops, lots of them, perhaps it was my imagination but there appeared to be more. After that we had to more or less retrace our steps somewhat but being a social group still enjoyed the walk. Of course, I don’t have to tell you, what happened at the end, lunch of course. We had it in the Nursery tearoom and I had a very tasty bacon butty.

The WI local walk was somewhat curtailed this month due to terrible underfoot conditions. Kathleen, however, gamely led them around Ratby finishing as you might have guessed for a cuppa at the Railway Inn. Mr Ernest Miller, our Speaker, is a friend of Donald Gimson the last owner of Stoneywell Cottage who lived there from 1953 to 2012 with his late wife Ann. Donald is the grandson of Ernest Gimson, the creator of Stoneywell Cottage. Mr Miller has a nearby cottage to the property which in turn his family have had for sometime. Although Ernest says that his cottage is a mere shed compared with Stoneywell. .

The Gimson family were the wealthy owners of the Vulcan Iron Foundry and lived in what is now known as the Belmont Hotel.

Stoneywell Cottage was built originally as a summer residence being occupied from April to September. The house stands in 4 acres of stunning gardens together with quite a few acres of Stoneywell

Wood, which is part of the Ulverscroft Valley.

William Morris, of Arts and Crafts fame, was a friend of Ernest Gimson and influenced him to take up a building apprenticeship in London.

He finally qualified as an architect.

As a supporter of the Arts and Crafts Movement his maxim was ‘If it wasn’t beautiful or useful, it wasn’t necessary!’

In the late 1800s Sydney Gimson commissioned Ernest, his brother, to design and build a ‘family retreat’.

Sydney said £500.00 was the budget but when Ernest reached £900.00 Sydney said to Ernest, “Do you think I’m made of money”. (Quite a laugh considering they were one of Leicester’s richest families.) By 1899 it was finished. The designer was an architect, designing principally in Arts & Crafts style, by the name of Detmar Blow. He was well known to the movement and has many notable works to his name i.e. Hillies in Gloucestershire (still occupied by the Blow family) and Wilsford Manor whose internal woodwork is by Ernest Gimson.

Detmar knew exactly what he wanted. If he spotted in a local wall a particular piece of stone he fancied, somehow his horse and cart would knock it down. Of course he would recompense the owner but the wall would have one stone less.

To save money, the roof timbers were made from larch rather than the more normal oak. In 1939, after a disastrous fire, the thatch was replaced by a slate roof. The cottage is built into solid rock. The front consists of three storeys with eleven different levels rising into the rock and tapering to one storey. Some of the steps as part of the cottage are hewn out of the rock that the house is built on. Water was drawn from the well which gives the house its name. It wasn’t until 1938 that electricity was installed. Stables were added in 1902 with a laundry and tack house. However, the stables were never used as the family bought their first car in 1906.

The ‘privy’ was in the shed area, attached to the house, and built with three walls only to alleviate the stench in the summer. Trips to the loo in the winter months would surely have been delayed as long as possible! There is also a stone fort built into the rocky outcrop designed for the Gimson children to play in.

Donald, on passing it to the Trust, said that the cottage was to be used as the family had used it. When first showing Trust representatives around the cottage, he jumped on the lovely table and said that’s what he, his children and grandchildren used to play on all the time. The Cottage is dressed as it was in 1953.

The furniture is plain but of solid

oak. The huge dining table is cut from a single tree. To achieve this, the tree would need to have been 6ft across. There are lovely matching ladderback chairs. There are lots of family things left, i.e. the train set (still working).

In the café the pottery is family pottery, Old Colonial. The trust appealed to the public for the same pattern hence all the teas etc are served in the very same pattern.

Outside the door there is a bell.

Past generations of children were allowed to play wherever they wanted but when the bell was rung they had to come in. Donald said it was his job every morning when a lad to go to the well and bring back two buckets of water for consumption. Water off the thatch, which was brown in colour, was used for domestic purposes.

In 1953 Don and Anne moved in. Ann Gimson was a dedicated gardener. She made sure that there was a plant flowering at all times of the year. There are 100 to 150 varieties of rhododendrons. She kept a meticulous diary listing all the planting details. Joe the gardener, is trying to get the garden as Ann had it but it will take sometime. Ann died about 5 years ago and Don felt no longer able to manage there.

He moved in with his son and left Stoneywell to the National Trust.

Ernest gave us a lovely, informative talk speaking of his friendship and knowledge of the Gimson family and Stoneywell. I can well recommend a visit.

In March, we have “How to Make Chocolate” a talk and demo by Tom Phillips. A chocolate maker always goes down very well with the ladies. This is on Thursday, 19th March at the Village Hall as usual at 7.30 p.m. Hopefully there may be some samples going, come along and see, all welcome.

Evelyn and Margaret

She called me egotistical and I was fine with that because at least we were talking about me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

29

Melissa competing in Miss Progress UK this month LOCAL GIRL Melissa Broughton (18) is hoping to take home the crown when she competes in Leicester in March in Miss Progress UK. She is currently Miss Progress Leicester and if she wins will be going to Italy, where she will be up against girls from all over the world, Miss Progress is no ordinary beauty pageant it focuses on girls being an ambassador of progress learning about each other’s cultures, traditions and beliefs.

Melissa herself is no stranger to competing in beauty pageants , having already held the title of Teen Face of the Year and competed internationally in the Face of Europe, this will be the first time Melissa has competed in the Miss Progress section and is hoping to place high.

Melissa would like to say a huge thank you to A World of Hair in Enderby who has sponsored her.

Fair Cuppa: an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall.

Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00

Catch

meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer.

Catch meets every Friday in term time, 9.30-11.30am, at the URC.

Urban Saints is held during term time, at the URC chapel: there are games, friends, crafts and a Christian basis to discussions.

- for 7’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at .30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s o Fri at 7.30pm More details on the church websites

Youth Worker Ruth O’Connell

07759 087804

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Youth Worker Ruth Cross 07759 087804

If your man is reluctant to talk about his feelings, it’s probably because you haven’t told him what they are yet.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

30

Medical Drama Wordsearch

Passcode/Create New

Derek Thompson has played Charlie Fairhead in Casualty since 1986

E C N U H O L Y D N K L I O M E O

F S K T F C T O L D C A Z Z A N X

G V R Y W L N S U H A Y C F S Q S

J Q G U A X C S I O S O K N H X R

E I Y U N R O C T L G R O Q F R U

P M S X U T A J V B W E G J V C A

V A Y B Z G C D X Y R H P J V P G

C D S C O T E I K C E T I N N B S

L G O H N F B G R I R G A K B G C

Find the names of TWELVE TELEVISION MEDICAL DRAMAS in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel.

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 WELL-KNOWN TELEVISION MEDICAL DRAMAS. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

Send your entry to: CARDIAC ARREST, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Wednesday 1st April 2015. Remember to include your name U L E E S E B I and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s E P F C R R A M Lumberjack hat will win the Meal for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel.

Good luck!

O F L I O V D S

C Y I O J L T B V S A N Q C

S M R U R O Y S C Y T Z N H

W W A V Q D R K I L D A R E

T C A R P K A E P D P Q E F

T C O D T P W T K G E L R A

G T Y I W I U Z V M V H I L

J D O Z H S N G E U C O T I

L C F Z O I V R D M S T X A

Here are the twelve MEDICAL SHOWS you have to find:

CASUALTY • CHICAGO HOPE • DOC MARTIN DOCTORS • DR KILDARE • HOLBY CITY MASH • PEAK PRACTICE • QUINCY M E SCRUBS • THE DISTRICT NURSE • THE ROYAL Name: .................................................................................................

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

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: SHAUN BARTON of Chapel Hill, Groby.

Your prize - a Voucher for a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel will be sent to you within 21 days.

Newtown Linford Gardening Club News

CASUALTY CHICAGOHOPE DOCMARTIN DOCTORS DRKILDARE HOLBYCITY MASH PEAKPRACTICE QUINCYME SCRUBS THEDISTRICTNURSE THEROYAL

OUR WINTER continues to be grey and quite cold but not too much of the white stuff and only short term frosts.

Enjoy TWO Mains for

£9.99

The snowdrops are beginning to show in abundance but seem to be appearing in penny numbers rather than all at once. It seems the ground has been hard during parts of January and so the shoots have had to work harder to push through. Perhaps this year we will still have snowdrops and aconites at the same time as the early daffodils which should make for a grand spectacle.

Our talk in January on Garden Birds from Dr Edwards of the RSPB attracted an audience of 60 members and guests. It was good that we now have the use of the large hall because our numbers have certainly made the small hall impractical. Dr Edwards was a fine speaker and kept us entertained and educated for the full evening.

On March 24th we welcome back Carolyn Tait whose subject this time is seed propagation. Carolyn has a prestigious position at Coton Manor which is, as many of us know, one of the finest gardens in the West Midlands. She is a very knowledgeable gardener with many years experience at the highest level and we are delighted to welcome someone of her stature.

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. 01530 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.

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Treat Your Mum on Mother’s Day Sun 15th March

3 Courses for £17.95

The Fieldhead Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9PS

Tel:01530 245454 Email: 9160@greeneking.co.uk www.fieldheadhotel-markfield.co.uk

Anne and David Couling

Found out at today’s staff meeting that I have sleep apnoea.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MARCH 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

31

NEW RANGES AVAILABLE

My Labrador Retriever has yet to retrieve a single Labrador.

Estate Agent for Groby, Field Head and the Brantings

Estates

Thinking of selling?

al

oc

rL

u Yo nt

ge

A te

ta

Es

Tel: 0116 235 8682

www.charnwoodestates.co.uk

Charnwood Estates, 4a Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicestershire LE7 7BJ Charnwood Estates is a trading name of Charnwood Estate Agents Ltd. Company Registration number: 08353028