Groby Spotlight Mid-March 2020

Talent Show

Time to get your act together!

CALLING ALL young people of Leicestershire, the Queen Bee Youth Project are holding a talent show on Saturday 8th August 2020 at Markfield Community Centre.

It’s time to show everyone what you are made of! Got a talent? Let’s showcase it.

The details: • You must be 18 or under, living in Leicestershire • One performance per entrant • Register to enter by 1st July 2020 by sending name, contact details & nature of performance via Facebook messenger @ queenbeeyouth or email: queenbeeyouthproject@ gmail.com • Maximum 5-6 minutes per performance • 25 spaces available, first come basis - register now!

There’s plenty of time to practise so what are you waiting for?

Follow us on Facebook @ queenbeeyouth for event updates and details on purchasing tickets.

Money raised will go towards taking the Queen Bee Youth Project on a week long residential full of activities to boost their physical and mental wellbeing.

Next Issue of Spotlight is out on 18th/19th April.

DEADLINE for Receipt of Articles and Adverts is SATURDAY 4TH APRIL. DON’T MISS OUT!

Brookvale ski trip to the USA OVER THE February half term break, 40 students and 4 members of staff from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, travelled to Bretton Woods, New Hampshire for their annual ski trip which also included a 2 night stopover in New York.

There was an early start to the first day, with a 2.00am pick up at the campus. With no delays at the airport we were soon on route to Boston Airport, followed by a 3 hour bus journey to Bretton Woods New Hampshire.

The following five days were spent skiing and one student snowboarding (being an advanced boarder he went with the advanced skiers) at Bretton Woods Ski Resort. The majority of the group had never skied before. The first two days saw a steep learning curve and all beginners were off the nursery slope by the end of day two, with all of the groups skiing more difficult runs including blue and black runs by the end of the week.

In the evening students got to experience, bowling and cinema also using the outdoor heated pool and Jacuzzi. There was a shopping outlet next to our hotel and being in New Hampshire everything was tax free.

After a great 5 days of skiing/snowboarding, the group set off for a dose of retail therapy at Woodbury Common Shopping Outlets, and sightseeing. The group then travelled into Manhattan and spent time on Fifth Avenue, before taking a short walk to ‘Times Square’ with the students having half an hour to themselves, taking in the atmosphere in ‘the city that never sleeps’. Finishing off a perfect day, they had an evening meal at ‘Hard Rock Cafe’.

Mrs Bee – Ski Party Leader The Community Hub Project: Norman Griffiths reports

There’s still time to say what facilities you need in Groby GROBY PARISH COUNCIL Community Hub sub-committee is continuing its investigation of the need for more facilities in the village and the possible locations for such a development.

More work has been undertaken examining the premises currently available and the initial indications are that some are not operating at full capacity. Whilst this might suggest that there is no need for additional accommodation it might be argued there are premises that do not meet the requirements of some of the clubs or organisations that might use a new purpose built community facility.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby & Field Head Spotlight

Coronavirus COVID-19: Where to get up to date information and help AS WE HAVE seen in other countries the situation can change very quickly, even overnight. The information that follows could be out of date by the time you receive this edition, but 111.nhs.uk is updated daily.

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If you think you might have coronavirus, or in the last 14 days you’ve been to a country with a higher risk of coronavirus, do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Find out what to do using the NHS 111 online coronavirus service (111.nhs.uk).

It can help you get medical help near you, is updated daily and there’s lots of information about coronavirus, including a questions and answers section.

If you don’t have internet access ring the NHS on 111.

Groby Litter Pickers United!

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NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 18th April 2020 DEADLINE: 4th April 2020

Thursday March 26 A.G.M. - Meeting to be held at the Library Thursday April 23 Lady Horsemen of the Road Bob Massey Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm unless stated otherwise.

For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 e-mail:- pcastell42@gmail.com Non Members are welcome

GROBY PLAYERS

Drama at the Village Hall!

COME AND ENJOY an evening of suspense and intrigue in your local community.

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.

Groby Village Society ~ EVENTS ~

ARE YOU disgusted by the amount of litter that is blighting the countryside?

Are you horrified at the amount of rubbish found along miles of the A46 from Groby? Are you ashamed by the amount of litter that people discard in our village?

Well, we are and following a HOOTS meeting a few months ago, a small group of us set up a monthly litter pick around the village. We welcome anyone to join us, but you can organise your own group, or just do your own thing.

To see the areas that we’ve tackled so far, then please visit our facebook page Groby Litter Pickers United.

Soak up the atmosphere of a seaside, end-of-the-pier amdram company, not only trying to rehearse in the face of a storm raging outside, but also being trapped in the theatre with a murderer at large!

On March 26th/27th/28th, Groby Players will be performing, Curtain Up On Murder by Bettine Manktelow in the Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby at 7.30pm each night. Tickets are priced at £7, and can be obtained every Saturday morning in the Village Hall, Groby, between 10am and 12 noon. You can also book by telephoning 0116 287 7373, mobile/text 07790 861033, or email: dothollins@outlook.com Café style seating, bring your own refreshments. Doors open at 7pm.

Rise in people living alone THE NUMBER of middleaged ‘bachelors’ (aged 45–64) who live on their own is soaring.

They now make up 1.4 million of the 8.2 million single households in the county.

Overall, there are 27.8 million homes in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics’ 2019 figures on families and households.

A lot of people were confused at the grand opening ceremony of my ribbon-repair business yesterday.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News from the Allotments OH, MY GOODNESS, what awful weather! My plot is very muddy, and I am loath to work on it in case I compact the soil too much, diminishing the air in the soil. I’ve been thinking perhaps I should grow rice this year or watercress!

What to plant in these conditions?

I haven’t been down to look too hard, but the slugs must be loving it! I haven’t even been down to harvest all my kale, spinach or brussel sprouts lately but that is mainly because I’ve had the grandchildren staying with me for a week and it is hard work getting them to eat vegetables, unless I hide them in something else – like grated carrot in Bolognese (don’t tell!).

I am instead looking after my chitting (sprouting) seed potatoes which are sitting on a sunny windowsill, and I’ve planted some broad bean seeds in trays in the greenhouse to plant out later.

I’m going to cover the space where I will be planting my seed potatoes in a few weeks’ time (hopefully!) with some black membrane to help warm up the soil a bit first. That will give them a bit of a head start.

I’m also considering temporarily planting my red onion sets in a few big pots and transplanting them onto my plot when the weather is a bit better as some of the sets look to be close to sprouting and the ground is so wet. I planted some onions in the autumn and they are coming through nicely, but I like to have a good supply of onions, particularly as I prefer the red ones and they generally are not such good ‘keepers’ as the brown ones.

the plot is neglected and requires us spending money on getting it back into a lettable condition, the bond money will be forfeited.

We hope to explore implementing this as it will be an incentive for tenants to keep their plots in a good condition or for them to let us know if they are struggling to look after their plot, and allow us to see if we can do anything to help. We have had one or two tenants recently who gave up their plots after letting them become badly neglected, causing a huge problem for their plot neighbours with seeding weeds as well as the committee as the same volunteers have to help get the plots back into a cultivable state before we can let them out again.

Time for a Bond, but not the 007 variety!

We held our AGM on Saturday 29th February and were pleased that even though storm Jorge was due, we had a good turnout of 52 people. The AGM voted to bring in a Bond for every member, paid as a one-off and returned when the plot is given up, if the plot has been kept in a good condition. If

Official Opening of our new social area We held our grand opening of our new social area on Sunday 1st March on our first Open Shed Sunday of the year. We normally wait until April before we start our monthly social and fund-raising

Open Shed mornings and we were beginning to think we wished we had waited a little longer after hearing about the third storm to hit us in a few weeks, Storm Jorge! We were blessed with dry weather and sunshine, although there was a cold wind and we were glad that we had created a sheltered place We made an occasion out of it by getting a notable person to formally cut the red ribbon and declare the new area open! We asked Jamie Craig to be our notable person as he is the longest standing tenant. He first rented his allotment in 1974 and still has the same plot all these years later, albeit a little reduced in size of late. He was also chosen to officially open the Social area because he has done so much for the Society over the years.

He was instrumental in negotiations with the Parish Council when we became a self-managing group; drew up most of the Society documents for the management committee; and he has held almost every position on the committee over many years. He is still an active member of the committee although he has stepped back from being an Officer recently and he is still a fount of wisdom and experience. The committee are very fortunate in having three long serving members who have held officer posts for some time to continue to guide us “newbys”! It just goes to show that allotment gardening is good for your health!

We were very pleased that Jamie agreed to open our new social area on our first Open Shed Sunday of the year and we hope that you may want pop in and say hello and see us, and have a cup of tea or coffee and a look around our new social area at our next Open Shed Sunday on the Ratby Road allotment site from 10am to 12 noon.

Everyone welcome but dogs must be on leads please. It is usually held on the first Sunday of each month but look out for the posters on the allotment gates to check actual dates. Hope to see you there!

Carol Lincoln

All Jewellery Repairs Rings sized, reclawed & stones set Chains, earrings and bracelets repaired

SYKES JEWELLERS

Comissions designed & handmade

Tel - 0116 236 2510 www.sykesjewellers.co.uk 8 Bradgate Road, Anstey, LE7 7AA I just wrote a book on reverse psychology – don’t buy it!

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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The Community Hub Project - from page 1 Attempts to encourage individuals or groups to voice their opinions one way or the other have, so far, failed. In December the Spotlight carried two articles, one asking readers to share their views with the Parish Clerk, and the other exploring the possibility of a Groby Rugby Club to help people enjoy the sport locally.

No responses received The Clerk reports that no responses, for or against, have been received from the community. But it’s not too late for residents to comment, to influence the outcome of the investigation, and perhaps to add to the recreational opportunities and other services available within the village.

The enduring objective throughout the process has been the wish of Groby Juniors, supported by the Parish Council, to find premises and facilities which would give them a home within the village, both for the game and the essential administrative activities needed to organise the sport. The Club has been actively involved in examining for suitability over 20 potential sites within the area. After site visits a scoring system has eliminated many and 10 remain in the running. It is, however, something of a chicken and egg situation - if it isn’t clear what the residents would like how does one select a site with confidence. Subject to approval by the full council a working party will be formed to contact other parishes and organisations that have already built a facility to gather information regarding the methodology used to assess the need for their facility.

Financing the project Another aspect of the Committee’s work will focus on how the project could be financed. The Council can increase Council Tax or borrow to meet the bills, but it can also investigate alternative sources of fund raising.

When the answers to such issues have been determined, a public consultation is planned to present the ideas and to listen and amend if appropriate.

It would, however, be better for residents to get involved now to shape what they want, rather than be presented in due course with something that others think they want. Residents will have the final word, as a final plan, which would explain what could be provided, how much it could cost, and how it might be financed, will be put to residents in the form of a binding referendum.

If you’ve missed any of the articles just Google Grobylinx and Click for Groby Spotlight links.

Building & Maintenance - Private & Commercial

GETTING READY FOR WINTER

New Roofing Garage Conversion Specialist Interior Refit - Extensions

07734405374 contact@countycontractorsleics.co.uk www.countycontractorsleics.co.uk @CountyCon County Contractors, Groby, Leicester

Norman Griffiths

What God looks like

An infants teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. One little girl was working away furiously, and so she asked her what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.”

Without missing a beat, the little girl replied, “They will in a minute.”

My poor knowledge of Greek mythology has always been my Achilles elbow.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Druck installs two new defibrillators

THE EAGLE-EYED amongst you may have noticed the new defibrillators on the Druck company perimeter.

One is on the office wall near the main security barrier on Fir Tree Lane and the other is on the back gate, off Forest Road.

The defibrillators have been funded by Druck for the use of the community and have been registered with EMAS (East Midlands Ambulance Service).

Should a member of the public suffer a heart failure in the vicinity, the ambulance service will direct any helpers to the closest defibrillator and advise how to use them.

The defibrillators have been installed following discussions and advice from the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (www.jhmt. org.uk). Please take a moment to review their web page, which explain their goal to raise awareness of SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome), and perhaps consider signing up for “Joe’s jog” in June to help raise funds for this important cause.

Director of Druck, Guido Poggiali, said “Since we were established in 1972, the needs of the local community have always been important for Druck. There are around 60,000 cases of sudden cardiac arrest each year in the UK and the majority of these could be treated with the immediate application of a defibrillator, potentially saving a significant number of lives.

“I’m honoured to work with a team that makes this support of the community a priority, and am sure that they will appreciate this initiative.”

That stranger…

Sometimes, someone unexpected comes into your life out of nowhere, makes your heart race, and turns your world upside-down.

We call those people the police.

GROBY SINGS has started back with a fantastic turnout and lots of enthusiasm for the first session in spite of the dreadful weather we’ve been having recently.

There were an amazing 201 adults and 26 children which included at least 20 new faces and half a dozen ‘returners’ who have been part of the choir in previous seasons.

The singing was conducted by our deputy conductor, Chris Mallinson, in the absence of our usual leader, Helen Hayes, who is unfortunately ill at the moment (not ‘the’ virus!). Chris did Helen proud and soon had the choir singing The Deadwood Stage and other great songs with gusto and a lot of laughs along the way. Calamity Jane and Simon and Garfunkel songs, plus a few others, definitely proved to be a popular choice and there is plenty of room at the Groby Club for more singers if anyone would like to join this incredible choir on Mondays. Come along for a warm welcome and to enjoy singing some well-loved songs.

Afternoon choir: 1.15-3.00pm, Evening choir: 7.30-9.00pm, After-school children’s choir (age 7 upwards): 3.40-4.40pm.

For enquiries, please contact us via our website www.grobysings.org.

Groby Sings is a Registered Charity no. 1180490.

Journeying north to the land of fire and ice

Iceland trip for Brookvale students AT THE beginning of February, forty Year 8 students from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus (BGLC) started their journey north to the land of fire and ice - also known as Iceland.

Arrival on Monday they were greeted with snow, proper big flakes of snow. We started our adventures by visiting the Blue Lagoon - one of the favourites places to visit of the week. In the evening, after checking in to the hotel, we headed down towards the bay and students enjoyed a snowball fight.

We awoke early Tuesday morning to snow still on the ground. Our visits for the day were to include the Geothermal power station, geysers, waterfalls and plate boundaries. In the evening we made our first visit of the week to the local swimming baths - flumes, hot tubs and lengths!

Wednesday was a different story - the rain was torrential. We travelled along the south coast to visit waterfalls and beaches. We got off the bus at the first waterfall stop and it was impossible to access it, the path was flooded and the rain soaked all of us in the 6 minutes we were outside. The sun tried to break through the clouds and we visited the black sand beach. The waves were high and the tide was in which meant that several of the tourists on the beach were struck by the ‘creeper’ waves. Fortunately we remained a safe distance from the deadly waves.

On Thursday the sun rose at 10am and it remained out for most of the day- producing the highest ever recorded temperature for February in Iceland. We visited the Reykjanes Peninsula - home to geothermal waters and bubbling mud pools. Our first stop led us to the gap between the North American Plate and the Eurasian plate. Students formed a chain to join the two and even attempted a Mexican wave.

We spent the day travelling different sites of where the geothermal waters reach the surface. In some places it was very smelly and in others it was simply beautiful. During our lunch break there was a minor earthquake. After lunch we headed back to Reykjavik for a city tour, the highlight of which was a trip to the top of the country’s tallest building. The views were incredible in the sunshine.

The low light of the day was the opportunity to taste Iceland’s delicacy of fermented shark (it is fermented in its own urine!).

In the evening half of us headed to the swimming pool again whilst the other half stayed at the hotel to celebrate Isabelle’s birthday with a ‘games night’. The swimmers were incredibly lucky to get a glimpse of the Northern Lights whilst in the pool - a rare sight in the city centre.

It was an absolute pleasure to take the students on this trip, the behaviour was impeccable and enthusiasm was delightful. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the the students again.The best school trip ever with so many memories made. Same time next year?

Mrs Gowdridge, Teacher in charge of Geography at BGLC

I didn’t realize how bad of a driver I was until my sat nav said, “In 400 feet, do a slight right, stop, and let me out.”

16-18 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0DJ

01162 871809

groby.exservicemensclub@gmail.com @TheGrobyExServicemensClub

ENTERTAINMENT MARCH COMING UP ENTERTAINMENT

Bingo Nights

Sat 14th March LAURA ELSON Saturday 7th

Friday nights are Bingo nights. We will be playing Bingo throughout the night plus we have a new Entertainment system by Jigsaw Entertainment System where we can play race nights, games and music videos to keep us all entertained.

Zoe Snow

Sat 21st March ANDY MARLOW

Saturday 14th

Sat 28th March TREVOR LEESON Laura Elson Sat 4th April Saturday 21st GARY JOHNSON

Childrens Easter Bonnet Parade

Sunday 12th April with games & music from 2:30pm-5pm.

Prizes for the best bonnet 1st, 2nd and 3rd prize.

Andy Marlow

Sat 11th April RUTH STANFORD

Saturday 28th Sat 18th April Trevor Leeson DEL CHRISTY

Boxing Matches - Football Matches - At The Races The club features 2 big screens that we show sporting events on via Sky Sports and BT Sports.

Also there are 3 HD TV’s in the Front Bar.

Ceri Dupree

Ticke £10. ts 0 each 0

Friday 12th June Tickets On Sale Now!

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Dates for your DIARY April - save money on tennis club membership ONE OF THE sporting activities sometimes mentioned as lacking in Groby is a tennis club, and it doesn’t look as if this will change anytime soon.

Luckily the Gynsill Tennis Club at Gorse Hill in Anstey isn’t too far away, and they are on the look out for new members. They welcome players of any age and ability and if this is of interest you might want to go to their Open Day on Saturday April11th (10am to 4pm). There’ll be free coaching available and a juicy 50% discount for anyone signing up to membership on the day. The club has 3 artificial grass courts and 3 artificial clay courts, changing rooms and showers, and a kitchen and bar area. Ring 07902 033100 if you want to know more or google ‘Gynsill tennis’.

July – remembering Henry Sacheverell WHEN HENRY Sacheverell wrote his will over 400 years ago he probably never imagined that he would be remembered for his philanthropy centuries later.

But he is and the charitable donation he bequeathed will be remembered in Groby this summer. An oak tree is to be planted and dedicated on the first Sunday in July, and there will be information and displays about him and the charity and perhaps an opportunity for a picnic.

There’ll be more details available when all the arrangements have been made.

Mikayla: England U15’S Captain!

BROOKVALE Groby Learning Campus Year 10 student Mikayla Wildgoose, has just returned from her winter England training camp, where she captained the team to a 2-0 win in their first match and they drew their second match 2-2.

Well done Mikayla!

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Norman Griffiths

Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group News SAVE the date – MTTG will be performing their Spring Production - ‘Where there’s a Will’ written by Norman Robbins - from Wednesday 29th April to Saturday 2nd May. There’s an old Yorkshire saying: “Where there’s a will, there’s relations”, but even phlegmatic Northerners would raise an eyebrow when these dry-eyed mourners turn up for Edie Puddiphat’s funeral.

To their dismay and fury, they discover the eccentric Edie has deftly outwitted them and left everything to her sole godchild. As they reel with shock, a fatal accident raises their hopes and prompts the venomous Velma to hatch a cunning plot. But even as they conspire, a ruthless killer begins to stalk the house and bodies fall like flies. Will the ghastly Donna live to make it to the alter in time and how is Elvis Presley involved? Why was the Vicar disinherited and is that really tea in those innocent looking cups? What happened to the incontinent cat and where does the male stripper fit into the proceedings? All will be eventually revealed in this murderously funny farce. As always our cast members will be providing the audience with plenty of laughs along the way, this production promises an entertaining evening for all.

Tickets (£5) are on sale now at Thornton’s Corner Store, or from Anne, our Bookings Organiser on 01530 469714.

I went along to the local Kleptomaniacs Anonymous meeting but all the seats were taken.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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HootS - Head out of the Sand – Groby • Responding to the Climate Emergency at a local level.

THE COSTS OF A THROW-AWAY CULTURE AS LEICESTERSHIRE County Council and Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have declared, we are in a climate emergency.

As we reflect on how we got to our current situation we have to recognise that the ‘throwaway’ culture that has quickly taken hold of our country has its share of the blame. Our modern culture teaches us that we need the latest, the best, the most up-to-date, and that what we are not using can simply be thrown away.

These ideas permeate every aspect of our lives. It is not just to do with keeping up-to-date with the latest technology, it is an attitude we have to practically everything we own.

OUR MARCH HOOTS MEETING focused on the clothing industry and its environmental cost. In recent years clothing has become cheaper and cheaper. Whilst we look for the latest bargain and keep up to date with trends, we turn a blind eye to the conditions of the people who produce the clothes we wear and the environmental impact of their production.

The environmental impact of producing clothes is huge: from carbon emissions, to the use of oil and plastics, to the quantity of water used.

And unfortunately the environmental impact of clothing does not stop there: it continues as we wash clothes, and as we dispose of them.

Have you ever considered where your clothes end up? Once we have got rid of something we tend to think that is no longer our problem, but

that is no longer the case: we need to be aware doing. Our hope is that HootS helps us to do of the situation we are creating and be willing that – each month we educate ourselves about to change. a topic, think about how to respond to what we HOW DO WE CHANGE? There are some have learnt, and reflect on our values. simple things that you can do and most of them THE EDUCATION TOPICS for the months will save you money! to the summer are: When you are tempted to buy a new piece of clothing, STOP and think about whether you Sunday 5th April 2020: really need it. If you do need something new, Home Energy could you get what you need second-hand? If you need something new can you buy from a company that produces clothing ethically and/ Sunday 3rd May 2020: or has a ‘closed loop’ system (meaning they Planting with nature in mind JANUARY effectively recycle the clothes after you have finished with them)?

Sunday 7th 2020: When it comes to the weekly wash, Faithconsider cometh by hearing, and hearing byJune the Word of God what really needs washing. Think carefully Palm oil about how you dispose of clothes – they really Bible Scout Hall, Stamford St. Glenfield shouldn’t end up in landfill, and unfortunately 6pm (God Willing) 5th July 2020: Talks Each Sunday atSunday they can get there via a charity donation.

Air Pollution in Groby FROM 20TH APRIL – 3RD MAY we will have our first Groby Spring Clean.

All Feb 02Another Enter Ye in at the Strait Gate manifestation of our throw-away culture is Scripture We meet every first Sunday of the month at the litter that we so often see in our village.

Feb 09 Famous Last2:30pm Words in the Village Hall. Our meetings is given are Through the Groby Spring Clean we hope that open to about everyone – we aim we can work together as a village to clearWhat the the Bible by and Says the Devil and to be friendly Feb 16 the inclusive. litter, and help everyone to understand Satan inspiration damage that is done from careless disposal of Please feel free to join us, or contact us at: God like - The Book that Jesus Believed if youofwould rubbish. We hope that you will Feb join 23 in, as Genesis an hoots-groby@hotmail.com individual or with a group you belong to. to find out more. www.lifes-big-questions.org www.thisisyourbible.com/glenfield As we face the climate emergency we need Ruth Mwenya to take responsibility for our actions and take Glenfield and Christadelphians Janet Bishop the time to stop and think about what we are

Adverts for Glenfield Christadelphians For Groby and Field Head Spotlight January to June 2020

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

Bible Talks

Bible Talks

Scout Hall, Stamford St. Glenfield Each Sunday at 6pm (God Willing)

Mar 01 What Jesus taught about Life and Death Mar 08 Jerusalem - Future World Capital Mar 15 The Sure Mercies Of David Mar 22 The Amazing Witness of Bible Prophecy Mar 29 Five Facts to Build Your Life On www.lifes-big-questions.org

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

www.thisisyourbible.com/glenfield

Scout Hall, Stamford St. Glenfield Each Sunday at 6pm (God Willing)

Apr 05 Adult Baptism – The Only Way to Salvation Apr 12 What the Bible Says about The Way of Life Apr 19 Sower, Tares and Mustard Seed Apr 26 The Power of Prayer www.lifes-big-questions.org

Glenfield Christadelphians

MAY

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

May 10 The Forgiveness of God May 17 What Must I Do to be Saved?

May 24 Stumbling Blocks or Stepping Stones?

May 31 In Pursuit of Happiness www.lifes-big-questions.org

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

www.thisisyourbible.com/glenfield

Glenfield Christadelphians

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God

Bible Talks

Scout Hall, Stamford St. Glenfield Each Sunday at 6pm (God Willing)

May 03 God's Kingdom on Earth

www.thisisyourbible.com/glenfield

Glenfield Christadelphians

APRIL

Bible Talks

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

Scout Hall, Stamford St. Glenfield Each Sunday at 6pm (God Willing)

Jun 07 The Tree of Life Jun 14 Evidence for a Living God Jun 21 Tips on Effective Bible Reading Jun 28 Why Does God Forgive Sins? www.lifes-big-questions.org

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God

www.thisisyourbible.com/glenfield

Glenfield Christadelphians

Inspecting mirrors is a job I could really see myself doing.

Queries to Glenn Smith Invoice to Peter Forbes

10

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

All the latest news from Groby Women’s Institute APOLOGIES but you have yours truly again, Ruth is unable to do this month’s report so you are stuck with me.

Nothing at the moment is going to plan. Our speakers for this month and for the next have for different reasons had to cancel. However, we were delighted when Mr. Geoffrey Snushall gallantly stepped into the gap and gave us a very pleasant talk. It was, in someway, a home from home, his topic being The People of Bradgate. Now I know most of you must know pretty well all about the Bradgate Estate but Geoffrey came up with some not so familiar stories.

Firstly, I didn’t realise that there have been three Houses. The first was built by a pal, Hugh de Grandmesnil, of William the Conqueror in 1241 as a reward for his assistance in battle. Time goes by and come the sixteenth century a somewhat different one was built by the Grey family. It was one of the first unfortified houses and was built in a fairly new commodity, brick. This is a clear sign that Lord Grey was trying to make a statement of his wealth and prestige. Another very early use of brick is also in Leicestershire at Kirby Muxloe Castle.

We also learned that the mostly two toned building was done by firing some bricks longer than others thereby giving different shades. The actual park around the House was smaller than the huge park we have today. The deer are all natural to the park - approximately 600 of them - and apparently have been there forever. The Bradgate House we see today is nothing like it was some centuries ago. It was abandoned in the l8th century and apart from a small part was mostly rebuilt by the Victorians – did you know that?

Over the years the local residents living on the estate were moved out and a new village came about, the New Town on the River Lyn. Lady Jane Grey has a very doubtful history, if she did stay there it wasn’t for long, she mostly lived in London. I was surprised to learn that Jane had red hair, it must have been in the family because Elizabeth the First did. We must also remember it is famous for another Queen Elizabeth Woodville who married Edward IV, their marriage by the way was a secret for 20 odd years. Geoffrey went on to give us lots of facts but what interested me were the two ladies who married the George Grey 7th Earl of Stamford. The

first one was in 1848 to Elizabeth Billage (Bessie), daughter of his servant at Cambridge and secondly in 1855 to Catherine Cocks, a circus bareback rider in Astlety’s Circus. The couple were snubbed by Victorian society including Queen Victoria who refused to sit in the adjoining box at the opera but that was topped by public humiliation when they visited the Knutsford races when she was greeted by a barricade of turned backs and raised parasols and the word “strumpet” was heard. George died in 1883 but Catherine his second wife outlived him by 22 years. He left his estates to his widow for life, but on her death in 1905 they were divided. She was very popular for her “lively mind, kind heart and lavish charity”. Catherine also cleared the massive debts her husband racked up having inherited the family love of horses and gambling. Apparently she did quite a lot of good around this area. Although George had two wives he left no heir and the title then went down another line.

• ON THE 19TH a group of us went to the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley to see ‘Billy’.

This is a musical based on the book and play “Billy Liar”. It’s the story of Billy Fisher, a young man who lives with his Mum, Dad and Gran in Stradhoughton in Yorkshire, who works as an undertaker’s clerk. In his mind he is many things including a film star, scriptwriter and anything that’s glamorous. He is also engaged to Barbara and Rita with only one engagement ring between them. He tries to lie his way out so he can run away with Liz, another girlfriend but as usual nothing works out for him and he ends up as he started. It was a very entertaining show and all who went enjoyed it.

• NEXT MONTH’S meeting is on Thursday, l9th March when Mike and Lynn Spicer will be speaking on Tudor Costume, Make-up and Dance.

Do come along and learn more on how to dance a Galliard or a Pavane or perhaps and mostly likely myself being one of the lower class a jig or Morris Dance, see you at the Village Hall.

Margaret

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Drive it Day on 26th April at Little Markfield Farm, Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester, LE67 9UQ JOIN US at Little Markfield Farm for a road run around the local area; meet at the farm at 10am for a cuppa, before setting off at 11am taking in the local scenery before returning to the farm.

Meals will be available at the farm on your return see Little Markfield Farm Facebook for menu.

We will be raising money for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, £3 donation per vehicle to be paid on the day.

• Have a good day, enjoy the run, the company and the nostalgia.

• Obey the speed limit • The event is open to all classics cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and kit cars, however in order to avoid congestion we have limited the number of vehicles to 50 so entry will be on a First come first served’ basis. All entries to be received by the April 20th 2020 please.

• For more information contact Brenda on 07774 047571 • Please book your Vehicle in via our Facebook page event or contact Brenda

11

Year 9 student Madison Dunn – Winner of the ‘Special Recognition Award’ THE LEICESTERSHIRELIVE Carer of the Year awards was held on the 30th January, rewarding, recognising and celebrating unsung private and professional carers who help better the lives of others.

Year 9 student Madison Dunn, from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, was nominated by her mum Deborah, who spoke about how Madison had been through a lot with her father’s illness and friends’ situations but she still continued with her school work and would help her brothers out. Deborah mentioned that Madison’s older brothers were terminally ill and her younger brother has dyslexia. Madison helps her younger brother with his homework and helps her mum around the house, as well as supporting her friends.

It was an afternoon event that started at 12pm and finished at 4pm. The host was Kate Solomons and the guest speaker was Councillor Christine Radford. There were over 200 guests in attendance and 13 different awards were presented. The afternoon included a 3 course meal and sparkling drinks on arrival.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea County Council’s Budget Increase April 2020 A BUDGET balancing the surging demand for services and tough financial challenges has been agreed

by Leicestershire County Council.

Supporting vulnerable people, tackling climate change and delivering infrastructure are at the heart of the county council’s budget.

The plan was given the thumbs up at a meeting on Wednesday 19th February 2020 and is made up of a £390m revenue budget for next year – to run services – and a fouryear capital pot of £600m - one-off spend to build and invest in new roads, schools, social care and more.

With growing demand for services and inflation set to ramp up costs by £120m, it sets out £80m of savings, half of which have already been identified. It also includes investing an extra £34m to support vulnerable people and £7m more in road maintenance next year.

Following a consultation, the existing opening hours at recycling and household waste sites will be maintained.

The £600m capital pot features a range of one-off investments supporting new homes – new roads, school places and social care accommodation and further rolling out broadband, as well as maintaining roads and drains – and a £16m investment in tackling climate change.

Deputy council leader, Byron Rhodes said: “This is a budget balancing growing service demands and investment in priorities, with residents’ needs at its heart.

“We can balance the books for two years, thanks to our strong foundations, but a gap is looming.

Rising demand for services is generating ever-growing pressure.

Since 2010, we’ve saved £210m and eventually, we won’t be able to do it anymore. With special education needs and disability support at record levels here and nationwide, it’s an issue the Government simply have to recognise.

“Last summer, we asked residents about their priorities. And investment in tackling climate change, boosting road maintenance spend and supporting vulnerable people reflect their feedback.

At £600m, our capital pot is the largest ever. But with new homes planned, it’s vital we support our communities by ensuring new roads and schools are in place with the biggest investment in the county’s infrastructure for a generation.”

The Council Tax increase was made up of 1.99% plus a 2% increase for social care for both Adults and Children.

A 3.99 per cent Council Tax increase equates to just over £1 a week and reduces the impact on services by generating £12m next year to support vulnerable people.

• The number of children with SEND education, health and care plans has increased by over 50 per cent since 2015 and is now at 4,730 • Investment in adult social care accommodation would allow 60 people a year to move into housing that helps them to live more independently • Leicestershire’s population is set to rise by 107,000 between 2016 and 2041

Delivering wellbeing and opportunity in Leicestershire LEICESTERSHIRE County Council’s (LCC’s) Adults and Communities

Department delivers library, heritage, adult learning and adult social care services to people living in Leicestershire.

We aim to provide and commission high quality services which enrich the lives of individual people, families and their communities.

To achieve our ambitions, we have developed the draft Adults and Communities strategy for 2020-2024, which brings together the functions of adult social care with those of community and wellbeing services and adult learning services.

Have your say We want to hear your views on our draft strategy, so you can help us shape its development.

To take part in the consultation, please read the draft Delivering Wellbeing and Opportunity in Leicestershire document and provide feedback using the online consultation You can access the consultation on line at www.leicestershire. gov.uk/have-your-say/currentconsultations/delivering-wellbeingand-opportunity-in-leicestershire Alternatively you can go to the Leicestershire County Council Website and go to Current consultations.

Planning Application Markfield Road, Ratby 168 Houses.

AS REPORTED by both Borough Councillors in last month’s spotlight the above application will have a significant effect on Groby Schools and traffic travelling along Sacheverell Way at Peak times, but also around school times with parents driving their

children to school.

I spoke out against this application but the ruling administration passed it. I was pleased to see Cllr Cartwright voting against it, but I was disappointed to see Cllr Hollick abstaining after his article as it was an extremely close vote.

TV Licence Scam I AM aware of the following the following scam email that is in circulation, which residents have been receiving.

This is a Scam. Look closely and there are errors. The email address that it has been sent from gives you a clue. These people will try and trick you into passing them your bank details. If you are ever in doubt, NEVER RING the phone numbers on any email, look up the correct number in the phone book.

Courier Fraud LEICESTERSHIRE Police need your help to prevent “Courier Fraud”.

Please be aware of fraudsters targeting elderly and vulnerable victims.

What is it?

Courier Fraud occurs when a fraudster contacts victims by telephone claiming to be a police officer, bank official or work for the government including HMRC. The caller sounds plausible and may confirm the victim’s name and address, basic information - which can be obtained easily.

There are several different ways in which people are then defrauded.

In some instances, after trust has been gained, the fraudster will claim money has been withdrawn from the victim’s account by staff within the bank. They persuade them to go to their local branch to take out a large sum of money from their account. The fraudsters then

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

send someone to collect the money from the victim’s home address “as evidence”.

In other cases, we are aware that the victim is encouraged to transfer money to a ‘Safe Account’ – Banks nor Police will NEVER ask you to do this and the phrase SAFE ACCOUNT is a sure fire confirmation this is a fraud!

And finally, sometimes the victim will be allegedly contacted by a Police Officer regarding suspicious transactions on their account and advised that ‘we need to send an unmarked car to collect their bank cards and personal information to help the investigation.’

Police or banks will never contact people in this way. If you get a call like this HANG UP. If you need to contact your bank to check, wait a couple of minutes before dialling out, or use a different line altogether.

We are asking people to remain vigilant. Please would you pledge to tell elderly neighbours or relatives who may not have access our community alerts and advise them of this advice – please don’t assume everyone knows, we sadly are dealing with a number of victims who have lost thousands. Help us to

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Further advice about the scam can be found on the Action Fraud website - www.actionfraud. police.uk/a-z-of-fraud/courierfraud Finally I would like to thank you all for your continued support and remind you that should you need my help or advice, I always pride myself on making myself available to residents. Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Martinshaw School News FROM OWEN LAWRENCE Year 1 Polar Explorers

TO TIE IN with the theme ‘Life in the Freezer’, year 1 took part in a Polar Explorer Day. Report by Miss Jones, Year 1 teacher, Expedition Leader and intrepid Polar Explorer..

We started the morning with a Polar Animal scavenger hunt around the school woods - we had to keep quiet so that the Arctic Wolves in the bushes didn’t hear us!

When we eventually made it to base camp, we learnt how to make our own survival shelters using natural resources. We had to make sure they were strong enough to withstand strong winds and warm enough for the Arctic conditions. I even tested to see if they were waterproof by poring water all over them - luckily enough the children were such good camp builders that no one got wet!

In the afternoon, they were challenged with making and lighting a fire with an adult. Whilst this was warming up, the children had a go at whittling sticks to roast their food.

Finally the fire was ready to cook on and the children had a go at roasting sausages and marshmallows! Yum! Far sooner than we would have liked, it was the end of the day so we packed up camp and trudged back to the classroom, covered in mud but with huge smiles on our faces.

Year 3 at Leicestershire County Cricket Club THE STUDENTS had a very productive and enjoyable visit to the County Cricket ground.

Not only receiving coaching from top professional coaches but enjoying a tour of the ground and it’s facilities. They were also given the opportunity to use their English and Maths skills, probably without realising it, as they learned about both the history of the game of Cricket and particularly that of the famous Leicestershire County Cricket Club.

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Composers of Year 6 GUSTAV HOLST is an English composer well known for composing the Planet suite comprising of seven pieces featuring all the known planets in the solar system (Pluto was still to be discovered).

The students have been listening too and studying this wonderful work

by Holst with the aim, later in the year, of composing a piece of their own. Have we got a budding Holst or Mozart out there I wonder? Watch this space.

Just as an aside, sitting in the car with my youngest grandson, ‘Grandpa, what do you know about Gustav Holst ?’ Answer, ‘Er, he’s a German Composer’. Wrong, followed by a lecture on 19th century composers. Followed by much muttering under the breath by a chastened grandparent.

Martinshaw Pre- School THESE SMALL people continue to amaze me, not just building their own road system but studying how vehicles work and most importantly how to clean them.

I have noticed recently that their teachers seem to have the cleanest cars in the car park, but perhaps less said. The children set about, with grownup help, to build a car cleaning facility, complete with drive through wipers and driers.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Award for Groby business owner

15

Borough Council calls for new firework legislation OVER THE YEARS great advances seem to have been made in fireworks, particularly those used professionally in public displays. As the sky fills with colour and light they really do give spectators a visual treat.

GROBY RESIDENT and local business owner, Dawn Walker, has recently received a Coaching Award from Renovo - The Outplacement Specialists for the quality and quantity of positive feedback she has received from her satisfied clients.

Dawn established her business, Dawn Newey Coaching, in 2008 following a successful 25 year corporate career in banking and higher education. She is a professionally qualified Executive Coach and Accredited Career Consultant coaching corporate leaders, small business owners and individuals to achieve their business goals, grow their business and develop their leadership skills and careers. She specialises in supporting organisations and their staff through periods of change, specifically organisational restructures and redundancy.

“I was delighted to receive this award and I am grateful to Renovo for recognising and valuing my contribution as one of their independent Career Coaches. I love what I do and it gives me a lot of personal satisfaction knowing that I have helped make a positive difference to people’s lives and careers.”

Higher power A Sunday school teacher said to her children, “We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But there is a higher power. Can anybody tell me what it is?”

One child blurted out, “Aces!”

But not everyone is a fan of fireworks, and for them New Year’s Eve and the extended firework season in November can fall somewhere between an irritation and a nuisance. Members of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have been told they can cause significant problems and can be a source of fear and distress for many pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife.

They may suffer psychological distress and also cause themselves injuries as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise created which it is said has a far larger impact on their hearing than our own.

Many cats are terrified of the sudden noise caused by fireworks, the unpredictable, loud, and high intensity noises that many fireworks make can cause fear. Members were told that it is estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks, the most common cause for fear responses in dogs.

The RSPCA believes there is a real need to raise awareness amongst owners of animals about fireworks phobia. It seems that this phobia can be often be treated in dogs at least, in the long term, but owners need to prepare themselves and their pets sooner, rather than just before the fireworks are let off.

The RSPCA also feels that the law does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals, and the wider public should be encouraged to be more considerate of those with pets, horses and livestock as well as wildlife.

Carbon concerns There is also concern that fireworks and their debris will cause disturbance to wildlife, and are likely to cause suffering or distress, depending on the distance from the explosive and the noise level. The debris, if found on the ground, may pose a hazard to animals, such as horses and farm livestock.

Professional organised displays significantly reduce the risk of harm to humans. There is, however, concern that fireworks and bonfires release carbon, but Fantastic Fireworks, one of the UK’s longest established professional fireworks company businesses, defends their position and says that an average November 5th display will will only produce about 17kg of CO2. They argue that most new petrol engines will produce about 190gm of CO2 per mile, so travelling 88 miles would emit the equivalent amount of CO2 of a typical fireworks display.

What did the Council decide to do?

The Borough Council decided to lobby government to limit the number of days and events to which fireworks can be set off, and to urge them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays. In addition they will encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public displays. They also intend to promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks, and also on the declared climate emergency in Hinckley & Bosworth. All public firework displays within the local authority boundaries will have to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.

Norman Griffiths

The traffic on the way here was so slow we were overtaken by someone going in the opposite direction.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society NEWS

March 12

Save Our Weeds

April 9

No Meeting

May 14

Dave The Bee Farmer

June 11

Evening Visit

July 9

Gardening For Birds And Other Wildlife

August 13

Nature Spot

September 10

Our Rare And Unusual Wildflowers

October 8

Fascinating Fungi

November 12

Enjoying Water In Small Spaces

Hall on Saturday May 16th.

At the time of writing, Storms Ciara and Dennis have swept across the country, depositing record amounts of rain which has done nothing to improve the conditions for preparing and planting on the garden.

Hopefully there isn’t much more rain up there!

My almanac notes that February is generally the driest month of the year, but current rainfall is around 250% of the expected total.

• OUR MONTHLY MEETINGS are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of each month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill, Groby.

Entry is £2 for non-members (an annual subscription is just £15), and you’ll be sure of a warm welcome, along with a cup of tea or coffee and a biscuit.

For further details, including the trips, email Helen Box on helen_box@hotmail.com in the first instance.

• NEXT MEETING: The next meeting on March 12th, will be a talk by Tracy Beaty urging us to ‘Save Our Weeds’. Note that there is no meeting in April.

December 10

Christmas Social

Keith Poole

Groby Gardening Society February meeting AROUND 35 MEMBERS attended the second meeting of the year, the Society’s Annual General Meeting, after which members’ subscriptions were collected.

The annual report and the annual accounts were agreed and accepted, with no change this year to the makeup of the committee.

The Society raises approximately £450 each year from its monthly raffle, it was decided that half of the proceeds from the coming year will

be donated towards the upkeep of Groby Library.

The programme for 2020 has been finalised, as shown below.

The meeting scheduled for April has had to be cancelled. That date is Maundy Thursday and the URC rooms are not available.

• THE SOCIETY’S ANNUAL SHOW has been moved from its traditional slot in August to Saturday, September 12.

Hopefully by moving the show outside the summer holidays it will encourage more children to become involved – keep a look out for details of the classes in the show which will be published later.

• THE SOCIETY’S PLANT SALE will be held at the Village

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No one particular ingredient was found to be common to the broths, but there certainly seems to be “evidence that they contain antibiotic properties”, according to one doctor. The study was carried out at the Imperial College London and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Those meetings at your workplace

17

Letter from Uncle Eustace

On how to run your notice board The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren

YOU HAVE often suspected this: those meetings at work are largely pointless, except they do provide you with a chance to talk.

That is the conclusion of a team of academics from the University of Malmo in Sweden.

They have found that the growth of managerial and strategy jobs in business has in turn fuelled a rise in the number of meetings that are called; even though the meetings achieve little.

But still the meetings continue, because many managers are unsure of their role, and so they organise meetings to at least give the impression that they are achieving something.

The meetings do achieve one good thing: they are therapeutic in that people like to feel acknowledged by their colleagues, and talking together helps them ‘find a role.’

YOUR DECISION to place a notice board outside your church seems a good one – and its design in blue plastic with luminous red detachable letters seems entirely in keeping with the aesthetics of your building.

Make sure that it is lockable, however, as an innocent notice saying ‘all are welcome’ may be modified by a devotee of anagrams to say something far less polite by the following day.

We recently replaced ours, which had disappeared shortly before last bonfire night. That the Scouts’ bonfire had a board which closely resembled our old one in its centre was, I am sure, a complete coincidence. The Venture Scouts’ collective smirk during the following week’s Parade Service did give one pause for thought, and the Cubs’ collapse into helpless laughter at the chorus ‘So light up the fire and let the flames burn’ only increased suspicion.

On reflection, you may not have been wise to use your notice board to tell everyone your holiday dates. Certainly, various local burglars were tripping over each other inside the vicarage while you were away. However, the note the last one left you, saying that next time he broke in, he would bring you something, since you had so little left, was quite touching.

Inevitably, now that your church has a notice board, there will be open warfare over who is allowed to display notices on it. Will the Slimmers Club be seen as biblical? Why is the Ladies Guild notice twice as large as all the others? And do remember that while everyone will want space to display their notices, no one will ever remove them once the event is over. Plaintive announcements of Christmas parties in April or of Summer Fetes in November only serve to take people down memory lane.

Here’s the best way to manage a notice board: create that panacea for all problems: a sub-committee. These poor people only ever exist in order to get the clergy out of tight corners and to make sure that matters are discussed at such inordinate length that every issue eventually dies a natural death. And if even that fails, you could have a quiet word with our Scouts before next year’s bonfire night.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Community Library News 100 Club It was our busiest day ever in the Library and Café on Wednesday February 19th ( half- term).

More than 100 people came to the Library to do crafts, build models, have tea and cakes and of course to borrow books. It was positively humming and a great atmosphere was generated. The young, old and those in between all enjoyed themselves. We loved having you all, do come again.

Everybody is welcome.

March (no sessions during school holidays). This photo shows some of the lovely paper flowers that were made at one of the sessions.

The next sessions will be 25th March.

Wriggly Readers Our story and rhyme sessions continue to attract large numbers of pre-school children and parents.

It’s wonderful to hear them all enjoying themselves, singing and seeing their engagement with books. Next session is on 26th March.

Knit & Stitch Or should this be Knit and Natter? The next session is on the 27th March 4 - 5pm. Bring along any project you are working on, join in the chat and have tea.

Memory Box Event On Monday 20th April we will be hosting a Memory Box session for adults at 2.30pm. Further details next month but everyone will be welcome to walk down Memory Lane with the aid of some interesting resources.

Look out for further details of all our activities in the library windows, on Facebook - Groby Community Library, our website www.grobycommunity library.co.uk and on Twitter @GrobyCLibrary.

Electronic Detox

A few of our Library Family having a chat and a quick read

January, February and March are usually months when we have bad weather and lots of people suffer from ill health. Cold, Coughs and Flu seem to be rampant at this time of year. What better way is there but to read a book to drive away the blues? Take an electronic and social media detox, get a book and get lost in it. You choose how long, when and where you read. To help yourself and the environment try one of these.

These are available from the Groby Community Library

The Times Book Lists Construction Club Our Construction Club for 2020 started on 29th January. This club will alternate with the craft sessions on Wednesday. The term time sessions will be 3.00-4.30pm.

The next session will be on the 25th March.

Also we’re trialling a Saturday session on a monthly basis. Put 21st March 10.30 -12.30 in your diary and come and have some fun.

One of the youngest Library users playing at the Construction Club

Save Gorse Hill City Farm - Bake Sale Also on the 19th February we were delighted to host a bake sale organised

by Lorelei and other students from Groby Community College who are raising money to help save the City Farm. This was a great success and they made over £100.00.

Children’s area If you’ve visited the library recently you will notice that we’ve started to revamp the children’s area. So far the corner walls have been painted with a mural by our very own Trustee John Martin. Look to see if you can find Thomas or Jack and the Beanstalk? Look out for further changes over the next few weeks. The trustees would like to thank Bradgate Rotary Club for their donation which is being used to fund these changes. We would also like to thank Carole Cafferty for donating toys and regularly cleaning them for us.

Mark Billingham Their Little Secret Alex Michaelides The Silent Patient Heather Morris The Tattooist of Auschwitz Danielle Steel Silent Night David Baldacci Redemption Peter James Dead at First Sight James Patterson The First Lady Dilly Court The Christmas Wedding

The Butterfly Room by Lucinda Riley is one I can personally recommend. It’s an absolute delight, a real family and love saga. I couldn’t put it down and read it greedily in a few days.

And some kids’ books: David Walliams Jeff Kinney David Walliams Jeff Kinney David Walliams

The Beast of Buckingham Palace Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Wrecking Ball The World’s Worst Teachers Diary of an Awesome Friendly Kid Fing

So, your community library has lots of things to do and, of course, to read. Everything is better with a cup of tea or coffee and a piece of cake from the Time Out Café. See you there!

Dr Janet Harrison

Trustee, Groby Community Library

Children’s craft sessions We will be having an Easter themed children’s craft session during the Easter holidays 9th April 10.30-12.30. We’re also planning some Saturday children’s craft sessions delivered by Community Houses, watch this space.

‘Crafternoons’ Our Wednesday afternoon craft sessions for adults are proving very popular. Jo, the volunteer from Community Houses, will continue to run these every fortnight from 2.30 - 4.30pm. The next sessions will be 18th

I was a bookkeeper for 10 years… the local library weren’t too happy about it.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

19

National Trust Leicester Association

Woodbank road parking RE YOUR article last month about bus problems with cars parked inconsiderately on Woodbank Road.

There has been a car parked smack bang in the bus stop on Woodbank Road for the last few weeks. This is causing the bus to pull up well short of the bus stop.

This is not a problem for me but a problem for elderly folks with mobility problems as they are having to walk down the road.

Could someone look into this please.

Name & Address Supplied

Asperger’s Workshop WITH EVER increasing numbers of children being diagnosed, as well as adults, there is a complementary ever increasing chance a relative will have been diagnosed.

Yet despite all of the publicity, books, tv documentaries, and famous people being diagnosed, there is still widespread ignorance of the condition, what it is like to have it, and what to do to / for / with people with Asperger’s.

An AS’s / Aspie’s view of what it is like to have the condition is much different from how a neuro-typical medic views the condition. At some point in the Summer Term it is proposed to have an Asperger’s Workshop in Ratby. The host for this event is Mr R Lincoln, who lives locally and was diagnosed as an adult, having suffered with social exclusion, bullying and neuro-typicals being anti-social all through his life. Being diagnosed has meant he can now fight this discrimination, prejudice and ignorance through informing people of what life is like to actually live with the condition.

Autism comes in many different varieties, and the workshop will be concentrating on Asperger’s.

It will not be covering Classic or Severe Autism, nor the milder form Pervasive Personality Disorder.

To help the organisers gauge how popular this event will be, please contact Mr R Lincoln via judith. lincoln@methodist.org.uk with “Autism Workshop” in the title.

Once there is a sufficient level of interest, a venue can be booked and those expressing an interest can be informed of the dates and times.

LAST YEAR I described the National Trust “Partner” houses or museums in London.

Recently the Trust has announced details of a similar agreement with six heritage buildings and museums in Birmingham.

Blakesley Hall is a fine timber framed Tudor House built by a local merchant, Richard Smalbroke, in 1590 and is one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham.

Aston Hall was built by Sir Thomas Holte between 1618 and 1635 and was one of the last large Jacobean houses to be built in England. In 1858 it was opened by Queen Victoria as the first public museum in a country house.

A third large house is Soho House. This is a three storey Georgian House which began life as a large farmhouse. It was enlarged, extended and enriched by Matthew Bolton between 1766 and 1809. Bolton was a local industrialist who worked with James Watt to develop the steam engine and was a member of the influential Lunar Society.

The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a remarkable time-capsule. The factory was one of the main jewellery and silver workshops in the UK and can be viewed just as it was left totally intact when it closed in 1981.

The Coffin Works museum is where Newman Brothers produced the world’s finest coffin fittings from 1894 until 1999 and is again a time capsule with everything preserved in situ from the day it closed. Finally Sarehole Mill is a 250 year old working water mill, again preserved as left. An additional feature is the fact that the building was a childhood haunt of J.R.R Tolkien.

All of the above are open Wednesdays and Thursdays until early April when all except Soho House extend their opening days from Tuesday to Sunday.

• THE NT LEICESTER Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 25th March when Janice Mould will present a talk entitled “Gardens of the National Trust”. The meeting will be held at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester, at 2.30pm.

• THERE WILL ALSO be an evening meeting on Tuesday 14th April at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone, at 7.30pm. Following a brief AGM, Felicity Austin will present an illustrated talk entitled “Life on the Home Front During WW2”.

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

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

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer

Supporting you in your home We are leaders in the community helping people to live at home indepenently. Our friendly and supportive staff have been providing assistance to our clients for over 25 years our staff have full references, an enhanced DBS and have completed extensive training.

At Bosworth Homecare we build and tailor packages of support to meet our client’s individual needs. Our support plans can be any combination of the many services we offer including, medication, personal care, assistance with domestic tasks and shopping. We also support our clients to hospital appointments, social activities and offer a befriending service.

Domestic Duties • Shopping • Meal Preparation Medication Assistance • Personal Care Support with Social Activities, Hospital Appointments and a Befriending Service

Tel · 01455 292648

We have been rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission and became the first homecare provider to achieve the local authorities Dignity and Respect Award. If you would like to discuss any support needs for yourself or your loved one please contact our dedicated team.

Friendly and Compassionate Carer’s also required to support our clients in your area

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

20

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

It’s hardly the London Marathon, but it could save your life IF YOU go for a run just once a week, it could be enough to cut the risk of your early death by up to a quarter.

A recent analysis of nearly a quarter of a million people has found that those who head out regularly for a jog – no matter how fast or how far – had far lower death rates.

In fact, it seems that any amount of running can be linked to a 27 per cent reduction in mortality from any cause. This includes a 30 per cent lower risk of heart death and a 23 per cent reduction in the chances of dying from cancer.

Even one run a week of less than 50 minutes is enough to have a significant impact. And there was no evidence to suggest that doing more than this confers any greater benefit.

The study was carried out at the Victoria University in Melbourne and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Meanwhile, according to Public Health England, four in ten of us aged 40-60 fail to manage even a brisk 10-minute walk once a month.

TO ADVERTISE IN GROBY SPOTLIGHT

Contact Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069

Would you Council tax information from the Borough Council like an Events THE INCREASE in the Borough’s council tax charge for 2020/21 will be limited to 2.1%, following a decision of the full council at its budget-setting meeting on 25th February 2020.

This less-than-inflation increase means the average council tax for the Borough Council will rise by £2.78 for the year. The average Band D council tax (including the Special Expense Area) for the Borough Council will be £134.87 for borough council services in 2020/2021. When Parish Precept charges are taken into account the average Band D charge will be £190.77.

In addition, charges will be levied by Leicestershire County Council (£1343.73) the Police and Crime Commissioner (£233.23) and the Fire Authority (£67.96).

Residents are reminded they can pay their bill annually, half-yearly or monthly. In a full year the monthly instalments will normally be paid over a ten-month period from April to January. However residents can also opt to pay their council tax over 12 instalments if they prefer.

The Borough Council still remains one of the lowest charging councils and for 2019/20 had the 14th lowest council tax out of the 201 district councils in the country.

Councillor Keith Lynch, Executive Member for Finance said: “During our previous term in office, in the earlier years of austerity we froze the borough council tax for several years. When we came back into office in May of last year, we did so with a promise to limit any increase to below the rate of inflation and the increase of 2.1% reflects that promise.”

Diary in the Spotlight?

A SPOTLIGHT reader has written to suggest the inclusion of an Events Diary in the magazine.

Listings would be free for local clubs, societies and non-profit making groups and details would need to be emailed to the Spotlight in plenty of time.

Please note: the list would be intended for events which are not mentioned elsewhere in the magazine.

If YOU organise events or community group meetings in the local area, send details to us

BY EMAIL and we’ll include your events in the diary.

Our email address is info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland’s 21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament AGE UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is holding its 21st Annual Charity Golf Tournament at Lingdale Golf Course on Monday 8th June.

The friendly competition brings together amateur golfers to raise funds which help improve the quality of later life for local people through more than 20 vital project and services across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

The day will also be supported by sporting stars who will join the teams of local amateur golfers. The day is open to all and entrants can be individual golfers or teams from local companies. If you want to get involved but don’t have a team of 4, get in touch anyway and you may find yourself part of a team that includes a sporting hero or local celebrity!

If that doesn’t whet your appetite, we should add that there are prizes for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th places as well as for the longest drive and nearest the pin. Last year’s 1st prize winners (Sharman Fielding Accountants) enjoyed an adrenaline packed Land Rover Experience for 4 people at Rockingham Castle. Prizegiving is followed by the obligatory game of reverse bingo, our raffle and auction.

The day costs just £350.00 to enter per team of 4 and this includes a welcome breakfast roll with tea or coffee, 18 glorious holes of golf suitable for all abilities, goody bags to take around the course with you to keep your energy levels up and a 3 course evening meal with complimentary wine.

Don’t worry if you are unable to enter a team, you can still get involved with one of our sponsorship packages which start from as little as £75.00.

For more information about the day call Nikky Miles 0116 223 7246 or email nikky.miles@ageukleics.org.uk

Team Leicestershire Champions!

ON THE 10th February LeicesterShire and Rutland Sport (LRS) came to Brookvale Groby Learning Campus to present us with an award.

Brookvale received the Team Leicestershire Champion school trophy by virtue of winning the joint highest number of Team Leicestershire county titles last year with five.

Rawlins Academy have had the trophy for the first half of the year and Brookvale will hold it until next year. All of the students involved in the winning teams last year were invited to an assembly to receive the trophy of the schools behalf.

Another fantastic achievement by Brookvale students – well done!

It’s like magic: When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Sleep Divorce Soars NEARLY ONE in six (15%) British couples who live together now sleep apart - with almost nine out of 10 (89%) of them doing so in separate rooms.

The findings, released ahead of National Bed Month by the National Bed Federation (NBF), indicate that so-called Sleep Divorce is on the rise. A survey by The Sleep Council in 2009 revealed that less than one couple in 10 (7%) had separate beds, suggesting the rate of separate sleeping has roughly doubled in the past decade.

Latest findings also show that of those who now sleep apart, 85% have done so for longer than a year with more than a third (38%) snoozing separately for more than five years.

Snoring is far and away the most commonly cited main reason for splitting up sleepers with slightly more men (38%) than women (36%) saying so.

Seventeen per cent of men and 10% of women said they prefer sleeping in a bed all to themselves while fidgeting is the main cause for one in 10 to take to a separate bed.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of those sleeping apart put it down to ‘other’ reasons while 5% said it was because they preferred a different kind of bed or mattress to their partner.

Interestingly, couples living in households without any children, were more than twice as likely to kip independently (17%) than those with two children (8%).

Sleeping apart was noticeably more common among the over 55s (23%) with a quarter (25%) of retired people saying they had separate beds.

And people in the Midlands (19%) were more likely to disconnect from dear ones at bedtime than anywhere else in the country. People living in Scotland were the least likely (9%) to go their separate ways to sleep.

More than half (56%) of those who had made the decision to take separate beds said it had improved their sleep ‘a lot’.

Said Simon Williams of the NBF: “While our poll shows quite a worrying rise in the number of ‘sleep divorces’, securing a good night’s sleep is a vital part of a healthy lifestyle - and for many, separate beds may be the only way to achieve that. Over half of our sample found it really helped.

“Partner disturbance - snoring, fidgeting, duvet or bed hogging - can prove a major disruptor to sleep which may explain why a significant number of people simply enjoy having a bed all to themselves.

“There are no rights and wrongs when it comes to sleeping arrangements and the older generation seems to be more accepting of this with many of them not only sleeping in separate beds but separate rooms.

“The underlying message has to be that people will do whatever it takes to get a great night’s sleep - and that has to be a good thing. Nothing beats a truly comfortable, energising, uninterrupted kip in bed for feeling and looking great.”

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• Online tribute and donation profile • Catering suite • Chapels of rest • Funeral plans available • 24 hour service

Funeral arrangements can be made in the comfort of your own home if preferred.

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My nan died on her 92nd birthday. It was really sad. We were only half way through giving her the bumps at the time.

22

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS

Councillor Martin Cartwright reports

EMERGENCY PLANNING Flooding Events AFTER A BUSY autumn and winter of responding to flooding it is proven that our network of Community Flood Wardens is a vital interface to establishing a real time picture of flooding across the area.

Using their local knowledge and current situation reports along with the Environment Agency’s warning system and modelling helps the authorities to prioritise and respond appropriately.

It is recognised that a recruitment drive to increase our number of Community Flood Wardens and improve the resilience across Leicestershire is also needed.

It is recommended that every parish should have at least 2-3 wardens, not just those parishes who have a large river, brook or watercourse running through them.

Recently - as well as in the past Leicestershire and Rutland have seen large amounts of flooding including flash floods upon areas that are not normally affected.

This has been due to the saturated ground, heavy rain deposits in quick succession and limited dry spells.

Groby does not currently have any flood wardens despite being affected numerous times in the past, such as the T-junction in the centre of the village, Stamford Arms and Leicester Road in front of the Hello Homes development currently underway.

Watercourses are not the only cause of flooding, as blocked highway drains and capacity problems during heavy spells of rain also cause significant issues.

Flood Wardens might be asked to: • Monitor local conditions • Distribute flood related information to residents and raise awareness of the local community of the flood risk.

• Encourage residents to sign up to the Environment Agency Flood Warning System • Signpost residents to responsible authorities • Raise assistance requirements to responsible authorities on behalf of the local community • Report number of flooded properties to responsible authorities • Gather information on the current conditions and report to responsible authorities To support the recruitment initiative, a training session has been arranged for all volunteers on the role of a flood warden, safe operating procedures and support

on offer.

•18:00—20:00 26th March, Coalville Further events will be held later on in the year. If you are interested in getting involved please e-mail me hbbc@ appliancehome. co.uk To book a free place on the training Flood Gate positioned to protect session above residential property in Groby. please contact the Resilience Partnership office on 0116 30 56101 or email: emergency. management@leics.gov.uk To find out which areas are at risk from flooding within your area, it is recommended you visit the Environment Agency Flood maps for surface water and river flooding.

Go to: https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/long-termflood-risk/map

Hello Homes - Leicester Road, Groby THE HOMES being built on Leicester Road in Groby continue apace with little delay from the original expected completion date. The latest I have for completion is by late April 2020.

As I write this article the site looks very much under construction.

This view will significantly reduce as the building works reduce in scale, scaffolding removed and the final pieces of the scheme come together along with residents moving into the new properties.

Separate to the S106 issue that is still outstanding, a number of the existing Leicester Road residents have complained to me about the noise during construction, language and radios being played on site.

As a result I visited the site manager who to his credit immediately spoke to all the contractors, placed site notices along the boundary to Leicester Road properties which made a significant difference and quickly. Thank you to those residents that reported this to me and to Andy the site manager from Hello Homes who took those complaints seriously and dealt with the issue by a swift action.

I am here to help you Should you have any comments or problems you would like me to mention in my article please get in touch.

Please remember if I can ever be of help to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact me. My contact details are listed below.

Cllr Martin Cartwright Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council – Groby Ward. Executive member for: Licensing, Environmental, Climate Change, Rural Issues & Klondyke Community Hub

Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 07850 707050 E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk Write : Maverick House,10 Pine Tree Avenue, Groby, LE6 0EQ

Letters

Inconsiderate parking I COULDN’T agree more with the recent piece in the Groby Spotlight regarding parking around the village.

I regularly have to push my now seven-week-old son’s pram into roads to get around cars parked on pavements.

This is dangerous.

Even if the cars ‘belong’ to the houses they are parked outside, they should still be considerate of people like me and wheelchair/mobility scooter users.

Recent example attached.

Lucy

More ANPR cameras I’M CONSTANTLY seeing social media posts about van thefts in Groby and continued seemingly never ending crime rolling in presumably off the well connected roads.

Do we have, or can we get, ANPR cameras on the roads into and out of the village?

Given there are only 3-4 of them, this could assist in tackling this.

What would be the cost to better protect our village in this way?

Kevin

It’s really important to obey the laws of grammar, after all rules is rules.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

23

New bypass proposal could put dual carriageway on the Rothley Brook corridor between Ratby and Kirby Muxloe TWELVE months ago the Spotlight reported on the Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan proposal to build a new A46 bypass (the Expressway) to the south and east of Leicester. It would link the M1 to the A46 north of Thurmaston, provide an alternative to the existing A46 Western Bypass, and open up development opportunities for housing and commerce on the south of Leicester.

Some argue that the new road might help Groby residents by taking the pressure off the existing bypass. In a survey of 250 companies close to the A46 in Leicestershire nearly half of them said current traffic conditions negatively impacted their businesses. Three quarters of those firms said traffic had got worse in the last five years and nearly 20 per cent were considering relocating because of the snarled up A46.

When residents in South Leicestershire were interviewed on television about the Expressway plan one said that it wasn’t needed, adding that we already have a perfectly good A46 Western Bypass which could be widened to six lanes. The Spotlight article suggested that no doubt Groby residents would disagree, along with those in Glenfield, Anstey, and Birstall, but added that his view may well be shared by many others in South Leicester and it would be no surprise to see Parish Councils in the south objecting to the scheme.

Alternative plan suggested A year on and those opposed to the plan have developed their response.

Groby residents didn’t want the Western Bypass on their doorsteps and it’s understandable that South Leicestershire residents have voiced their opposition to the proposed Expressway. Very few welcome new roads and development.

What has come as a surprise, however, is that they haven’t stopped at opposing the plan.

They have suggested an alternative which, at best, can be described as a Junction 21 Bypass. This would run north from the M69, to the east of Desford and pass under the M1 to the Western Bypass somewhere near Junction 21A. The new dual carriageway would pass through the Rothley Brook corridor, the remaining small area of green landscape separating Kirby Muxloe and Ratby. This would improve traffic flows at Junction 21 but would do nothing to alleviate the congestion and pollution on the Western Bypass at Groby.

The promoters of the alternative route, the Willoughby Waterleys Residents Association, say that highway improvements would most likely be required to the Hobby Horse roundabout and the A46

Western Bypass (referred to as the Northern Bypass), though these are not described. The new road would create a new ‘island’ between this new bypass and the M1 and the Association says that it “would capture an area between it and the existing Principal Urban Area and New Lubbesthorpe. This land could conservatively provide 12-15,000 new homes as a Sustainable Urban Extension to New Lubbesthorpe.”

Others share concerns

might slow the relentless increase in traffic on the Western By-pass.

Local reaction When Ratby Borough Councillor (and County Councillor) Ozzy O’shea heard about the new suggestion his reaction was unequivocal. “I will not support a proposal that relieves traffic on the M1 by putting it on a new dual carriageway past Desford and Newtown Unthank, and potentially

destroys the last open space between Ratby and Kirby Muxloe,” he said.

At the moment this is just a proposal, but the Willoughby Waterleys Residents Association is busy gathering support amongst the southern parishes. You can read their presentation online – just google grobylinx and click on Groby Spotlight Links.

Norman Griffiths

A number of MPs have also expressed concerns about the Strategic Growth Plan. They include Charnwood MP Edward Argar who, amongst other observations, said “in all the documents I have seen on the proposals, I have not seen any robust analysis that demonstrates this would solve the congestion currently experienced at a number of points on strategic roads west of Leicester (including around Groby - which was one of the challenges I put to them) rather than investing in major changes to the road network to the west....I have been absolutely clear that we do need to look at all options to further improve roads in our county and to ease congestion and traffic to the west of the city, but that presenting only one option is not the right way forward, and I believe it is important that a range of options are brought forward for full public consultation.”

There hasn’t been time before publication to ask for his comments on this alternative proposal, and at the moment as Minister for Health and Social Care, he probably has his hands full with other issues during the current health crisis.

The Junction 21 by-pass suggestion does have advantages for Groby residents travelling south on the M1 and west on the M69, but they may feel that they are outweighed by a new dual carriageway on the green space between Kirby Muxloe and Ratby and a chance, however remote, that an Eastern Expressway

It’s amazing how long it takes to complete something you’re not working on.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS

Councillor Ted Hollick reports Ratby development approved THE RECENT planning application for up to 168 homes was approved on February 4th by the planning committee of Hinckley-Bosworth Borough Council.

The result being 8 votes for accepting the Officer recommendation to approve whilst 6 voted against and 2 abstained.

Permission will now be granted subject to a section 106 agreement which the committee has been told WILL be honoured.

This will include the following:Grant planning permission subject to: • The completion within 3 months of this resolution a S106 agreement to secure the following obligations: • 40% Affordable Housing, 75% affordable rented and 25% shared ownership • £5,070.00 for library facilities at Ratby Library • £94,833.37 for education • £109,890.00 Health Care Provision (GP Practices) • On-site Open Space requirement of at least 605m2 of equipped play area; 2822m2 of Casual/Informal Play Space and 6720m2 of natural green space along with maintenance costs.

• Off-site Open Space contribution along with maintenance costs for 6451m2 of outdoor sports provision and any of the above natural green space required which cannot be accommodated on-site and maintenance.

• Any Highway Contributions that may be requested and which are deemed to be CIL compliant

Close Encounters YET AGAIN cars parked on the Ratby Road proved an obstacle to vehicles that are larger than a private car, the latest incident involved a road resurfacing vehicle which was unable to get

through in order to reach Newtown Linford Lane where it was intended to resurface the loop up to the A50.

This was in the evening of February 21st and unable to make any progress towards the village centre had to reverse out of it’s predicament and try to find another way round.

Blocked drains On 24th February, following reports of flooded properties in the vicinity of the bottom of the hills of Markfield and Ratby Roads in the village centre, it was suggested to me that it could have been due to blocked drains.

I discovered one that was indeed blocked near to the church. It was full of grit and tarmac and I reported to the County Council Highways Dept.

A similar situation exists near to the Brookvale School which I also reported.

Bosworth 1485 Sculpture Trail HBBC is in the early stages of planning a Heritage Sculpture Trail based on the Battle of Bosworth.

It is envisaged to have 6 locations for the 6 sculptures which have all been agreed in principle. A funding request is likely to be made to the Arts Council which it is hoped will be supportive of the project, if successful it is anticipated that it will take about 40 weeks to fabricate the sculptures. It is hoped to launch the trail in the summer of 2021. For further up to date information please see www.

Bosworth1485.com IT problems A recent adjustment to the Borough Council’s computer system has prevented Councillors receiving emails addressed to them on their Council Email, if you have experienced this please use the Councillor’s personal one.

Councillor Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@outlook.com Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY

Spotlight Small Ads • Wheelchair / Scooter LOADING RAMP. 7ft (244cm), foldable in length and width, load weight 270kg (600lbs). Price £140.00.

Tel: 0116 287 8976 (Groby) • Ladies size 12 SKIING JACKET. Colour: turquoise & silver.

Price: £12.00 • Set of 3 HP printer 940 xl INK TONERS, old but unused and still in the packets. Black, magenta and turquoise for use in an office jet 940xl. Price: £25.00.

• ‘Retro’ olympus micro transcriber CASSETTE MACHINE. Price: £25.00.

• Old 1970’s south african HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINES. Price: £17.00.

• Two ornamental blue fish PLATES. Price: £16.00.

• Pair of size 4 ladies white canvas TAP DANCING SHOES. Price: £12.00.

• Pair of size 4 ladies red leather English CLOG DANCING SHOES. Price: £17.00.

• Dixons FLASHGUN 177 for camera. Price: £12.00.

Tel: 0784 5241817 (Markfield) • Ladies black knee high LEATHER BOOTS, 3” heels, size 6.

Price: £10.00.

• Grey MOTOR BIKE HELMET with visor. Brand new. Price: £20.00.

• Wooden BREAD BIN. Price: £5.00.

• Light grey pencil pleat CURTAINS with BLACKOUT LININGS. (Laura Ashley style pattern). Never been hung. Width: 131.97”, Drop: 47.99”.

Price: £50.00.

Tel: 07881 885 927 (Markfield) • Mountfield Princess ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER, with spare blade.

Price: £25.00.

Other gardening items also available.

Tel: 01530 244388 (Markfield) • Coopers lightweight push WHEELCHAIR for sale. Good condition.

Price: £55.00 o.v.n.o.

Tel: 07763 491231 (after 2pm).

(Markfield) • STAR WARS BOXED FIGURES: Kylo Ren, Ray, C-3PO. Boxed, perfect, unopened. Price: £10.00 each.

• Siskin VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET. As new, boxed.

Price: £5.00.

• SMOOTHY MAKER, two bottles.

Unwanted gift. Boxed.

Price: £5.00.

Tel: 07547 901657 (Groby)

• CAMERA TRIPODS (4). Prices: £20, £20, £10 and £10.

• Camera lens RUCKSACK. Price: £20.00.

• MONOCULAR, unused. Price: £20.00.

• HD DVD MAKER, unused. Price: £8.00.

Tel: 0116 287 6805 (Groby) • Complete STEAM CLEANING KIT. It will clean windows, carpets, ingrained dirt and stains, strip wallpaper, removes mildew, and even unblocks sinks, without using chemicals. Full instruction manual.

Price: £15.00.

Tel: 01530 242421 (Markfield) • TV STAND. Bought approximately 5 years ago for around £175 .Black glass, mid-grey legs in excellent condition. H51cm x W100cm x D46.

Collection only. Price: £30.00 • WARDROBE. Blue doors and maple colour wood surrounds.

Shelf inside with full hanging space underneath. H209cm x W89cm x D53cm. Collection only. £30.00 • MATCHING WARDROBE SET Colour Blue fronts, maple colour wood surround.

Wardrobe unit including shelving unit (39cm wide) which can be separated w197cm x h172cm x d40cm.

Desk w132cm x h74cm x d50cm Bedside drawers w40cm x h50cm x d45cm.

Desktop slightly worn. Altogether in good condition. Collection only.

Price: £120.00 Tel: 07727 156249 (Groby) WANTED: • Sewing machine FINE OIL for electric Singer machine.

• NEEDLES for the same, mixed or otherwise.

Tel: 07341 955917 (Markfield) IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone.

Maximum EIGHT items please.

Our postal address is: Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS (not for publication, just to know where you are).

Environmentally friendly transport While driving in the countryside, a family caught up to an old farmer and his horse-drawn cart.

The farmer obviously had a sense of humour, because attached to the back of the carriage was a hand printed sign: ‘Ecologically efficient vehicle: Runs on oats and grass. Caution: Do not step in exhaust.’

I’ve been dating a homeless woman recently, and it’s getting serious. She’s asked me to move out with her.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

25

From Panto to Farce! Forthcoming Events at

Friends of Charnwood Forest 16th March 2020

Richard Bailey of Bawdon Lodge Farm. ‘ Not just a field on a farm’: Diversification in Charnwood Forest’.

Bawdon Lodge Farm is a National Forest site and a working arable farm but the present owners have developed a large events programme to supplement their income and provide advice to others wishing to do so. A short AGM will precede this talk.

18th May 2020

David Robinson, ‘Charnwood Forest and its Visitors, 1500-1900’.

It is not just in this century that Charnwood Forest has attracted lots of visitors: it has gone on for centuries, from privileged travellers such as John Leland and William Camden through those who wanted to explore it as a Picturesque and romantic landscape. By the 19th century, the Forest became accessible to many more people with the increase in leisure time and the coming of the railway , even before the arrival of the motor car.

Members of the Gimson family often walked to their summer cottage of Stoneywell from Quorn Station.

The cast of the April production, (Back Left to front) Rachael Eames, Jane Morris, John Rolinson, James Bennett, Roger Bannister, Tom McGreal, Robyn Shaw, Meg Grant.

THE LATIMER PLAYERS production of Robinson Crusoe and the Pirates last November was a huge success, playing to full houses. The new members to the group made a big hit with our audience and we are pleased to say that some of them will be appearing in our spring production.

Our spring production will be ‘Love and Money’ by Raymond Hopkins. We have built up a good rapport with Ray, having performed several of his plays, which our audiences appear to like, and our members enjoy performing.

‘Love and Money’ is a farcical comedy which takes place in the lounge of the Feltons’ house.

Life has been passing fairly smoothly for Derek and Pauline Felton until one evening when they return home to find their home has been burgled.

Derek has always had a materialistic outlook on life and decides that their new house insurance policy will yield a lucrative pay out. Pauline becomes increasingly unhappy about her husband’s course of action.

Neighbour, Joyce Clements witnessed the robbery and calls in daily to offer support, advice and unwelcome comments. To add to the mayhem the vicar unexpectedly calls round. The hilarious confusion which follows has a surprising twist at the end which means the Feltons’ lives will never be the same again.

Production dates are April 23rd, 24th and 25th in the Memorial Hall, Thurcaston.

Tickets are available from Christine Deavin christinedeavin@gmail. com 0116 2376855 and are priced at £7.00 each.

There will be café style seating and you are invited to bring drinks, glasses and nibbles. You are advised to book early to avoid disappointment.

7.30 pm, Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall.

Visitors welcome - £3 to include a glass of wine.

Dr Marilyn Palmer

Leslie Edwards Trust

READ MY LIPS ARE YOU beginning to find that your hearing has deteriorated?

Perhaps you are having difficulty in hearing when you are in a group of people, or a recent illness has left you with some loss of hearing? Or it may be that a family member is experiencing deafness and you would like to improve the communication between you?

Suffering from loss of hearing can impact on many different areas of your life; family relationships, work, hearing the telephone, watching film and television. Because others don’t always understand and may be impatient at your constant need to have conversation repeated, confidence can quickly become eroded.

Why not learn to lipread? It may help you to understand and communicate more effectively. Against a friendly background, you will have the opportunity to learn lipreading with a qualified tutor, share experiences with others, and find strategies to cope with some of the difficulties you may be encountering.

L E T are pleased to announce that they will be commencing a Beginner’s weekly Lipreading Course beginning Thurs. 23rd April for 6 weeks to be held at the Baxtergate Baptist Church, Loughborough beginning 1.30p.m. and finishing 3.00p.m. Cost £12.00 (for 6 sessions) If you are interested in joining this class, please phone or text Jane Futcher on 07989 146682 or contact the website: http://www.leslieedwardstrust. btck.co.uk

Once you start talking to dogs, it’s almost impossible to go back to people.

26 Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk 05/03/2020 Word Search Pu

Capitals Wordsearch

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

B L Q Z Y J K V O Q J A P A W M V

K A M P A L A G A I I N H J W L O

X Z G N S A W I Z S Q W N H P E T

C A I H L H P Q O O B O O D S U A

G N Y M D P K C V O L T M H E Q Z

K S G Z K A I C M J A E P R G A I

Z U I K T N D O V P C G E I Z K D

F I Y W X Q G X L L R R N K G M F

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - 12 CAPITAL CITIES. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). IMPORTANT: You MUST address your entry to: CAPITALS, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 4th April 2020. Remember to include your name and address. The first A V T A R U C T D all-correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the prize. Good luck!

N T A N A N A R I V O H N V L P

L P S D H G I L V K E Y E T A B

I H I E I Q D G H G G T O A L O

V S C C R X O B Q F V M U Q M J

H O U Z N A T L E V Y O P K I Z

H G L Q D K H A M R V K N H D R

E G O Y O N E C M W G Z E B B V

H S E I Z W S D U O S A J Q C O

A B A M A L S I G B B L Z B M Z

CLOSING DATE: SATURDAY 4TH APRIL 2020

Here are the 12 CAPITAL CITIES you have to find:

ANTANANARIVO • BAGHDAD • BUCHAREST GEORGETOWN • ISLAMABAD • KAMPALA MOGADISHU • NICOSIA • PHNOM PENH TEGUCIGALPA • VILNIUS • ZAGREB

Name: .................................................................................................

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

LAST MONTH’S WORDSEARCH WINNER The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch Competition was:

STEVE BROWN of Headstock Close, Coalville.

Congratulations! Your prize voucher will be sent to you soon.

ANTANANARIVO BAGHDAD BUCHAREST GEORGETOWN ISLAMABAD KAMPALA MOGADISHU NICOSIA PHNOMPENH TEGUCIGALPA VILNIUS ZAGREB

Warner Bros. Studio Tour London

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

MRS STEWART’S Year 12 Media students from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus attended a Film Director Day at the Warner Bros. Studio on Friday 14th February.

They had access to the VIP areas and participated in a ‘Camera Choices’ workshop led by the studio team.

They then enjoyed a tour around the studio learning how special effects are created within the movie industry. Some students even gave the Butter Beer a try! A fantastic and informative day was had by all.

Family A mother and son were washing dishes while the father and daughter were watching TV in the family room.

Suddenly, there was an almighty crash of breaking dishes, then complete silence. The girl looked at her dad and said, “It was Mum.” “How do you know?” asked her father in amazement.

“She didn’t say anything.”

The captain made me wear trousers that were far too small for me. He ran a tight ship.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Elizabeth Woodville School News Science Fair

27

Glenfield Millennium Green

GARDENING SESSIONS Saturday Mornings 10am – 12noon

YEAR 5 AND 6 ended their half term with an amazing Science Fair.

IF YOU enjoy gardening why not come along and lend a hand.

The children had been tasked with creating and performing a science experiment of their choice. The school hall was full of fantastic experiments from all areas of Science and parents and grandparents were invited to enjoy the experience and hopefully learn some scientific facts along the way. Brilliant work Year 5 and 6!

‘Felix After The Rain’ CLASS 1 & 2 have been looking at feelings and emotions and to how manage them effectively.

We talked about lots of different feelings and categorised them as ’negative’ and ‘positive.’ We were lucky enough to be sent a copy of ‘Felix After The Rain’ before it was published! We used this book to explore the use of colour in the illustrations. We discussed how black and grey can be used to show negative emotions and how bright colours remind us of happy things and joyful memories. As a key stage, we created some amazing artwork using the book as inspiration. We loved sharing our work!

A mystery visitor!

THE CHILDREN had a fantastic time investigating a mystery visitor to the Foundation Stage classroom at the end of our traditional tales unit of work.

They used magnifying glasses to search for clues and recorded these in their detective notepads. At the end of the afternoon, the identity of the mystery visitor was revealed.

Can you guess who it was from the pictures on the right?

We need help weeding the flower beds and trimming back branches.

Normally about 8 people turn out to help but we really could do with a bit more help. Children can come with an adult. Refreshments provided at 11am Bring a spade, trowel and gloves, although we do have spare ones.

See you on the Green.

Dates for 2020: April 4, May 2, June 6, June 27, August 1, September 5 October 3 and October 24 For more details, call David 0116 2255712 or Christine 0116 299 1868, or look at our website. www.glenfieldmillenniumgreen. org charity number 1075162

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

Thanks!

Anglo-Saxon visit brings history to life YEARS 3 AND 4 have recently celebrated the end of their theme work with an exciting Viking and AngloSaxon day.

A Viking and an Anglo-Saxon visitor came to school and told the children about their way of life. We found out about their diet and lifestyle, including the kind of houses they lived in. We also learnt about the weapons they would use in battle.

We were allowed to hold the shields and stand in a formation that would have been used in a Viking attack.

The classes enjoyed writing in runes, using quills and played some traditional Viking and AngloSaxon games such as Nine Men’s Morris and knucklebones. It was an exciting end to our topic!

Every Saturday morning 10.00am—12.30pm CATCH meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer 9.30-11.30am every Friday at Groby URC Chapel Hill

Fair Cuppa for FairTrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs.

Every Thursday 10.3012am at the Village Hall

Weekly in term time for children for 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings, at 6.00pm or 7.45pm. We meet at the United Reformed Church on Chapel Hill.

Along with our work in schools, these are run by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James Rector – Rev Ed Bampton 01162396520 www.grobychurch.org.uk United Reformed Church Phil Holmes (Church Secretary) 0116 225 3335 www.grobyurc.com Youth, Children's & Families Colin Udall 07776 157511 colin.udall@ntlworld.com

I went to a country in the Middle East and everyone was very boisterous. It was Rowdy Arabia.

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