May 2010 Herald Magazine

Markfield and Field Head parents speak out over safety of children Local parents are voicing strong concerns over the safety of their children following the announcement of cuts in local government funding for the school bus service to South Charnwood High School.

Following an initial public meeting, on the recommendation of local MP, David Tredinnick, the ‘SchoolBAG’ action group was formed. The aim of the group is to secure safe school travel for all children living in Markfield and Field Head.

What a difference a month makes...

An initial leaflet drop to over 2500 homes across Markfield and Field Head has resulted in considerable support from many local residents.

A follow up petition is now underway and initial feedback is equally strong.

This fight can be won!

The ‘SchoolBAG’ action group has received cross party support from both the Markfield and Groby Parish Councils and precedent shows that change is possible.

In a neighbouring ward there was a similar issue with the school bus route from Thurcaston to Anstey Martin High School which was also amongst those listed, along with our own school service, to lose funding. Following concern from local parents and with support from their local councillor the decision to remove funding was reversed and free school travel now remains.

The next steps…

An alternative bus service, funded on a commercial basis, has been

proposed. If adopted the concerns raised by ‘SchoolBAG’ surround the longevity of any such proposal and also the fact that this will be more expensive for local parents.

The groundswell of public opinion suggests these concerns are extremely valid and far from the ‘scaremongering’ that has been suggested locally.

The primary concern of the group is to ensure the safety of all of our children, both now and in the future, whilst en route to South Charnwood High School.

Their next public meeting will be held at Markfield Court Social Centre on the 13th May at 7pm. Please come along and show your support.

Facebook Group called “Keep Markfield Kids Safe” http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=105113089526407 Web site: www.keep-markfield-kids-safe.co.cc/

Don’t Miss the Redgate Farm Fete & Garden Party!

Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary is staging a Fete and Garden Party on Sunday 6th June 2010 between 11am and 3.30pm.

There will be loads of attractions including Craft Stalls, Hot & Cold Food, Teddy Bear Tombola, Ice Creams, Bouncy Castle, Side Shows, Bric-A-Brac, Games, Raffle.

It’s a day for the young and the young-at-heart!

Entrance is FREE and there’s plenty of parking - access off Billa Barra Lane.

If you would like to have a stall at the fete, please call the Sanctuary on 01530 243925 . There is no charge for participating stall-holders (although a donation towards the work of the Sanctuary would be more than welcome).

Open Farm Sunday - 13 June 2010

Care about your food?

We do!

On Sunday 13 June 2010, farmers will be opening their gates to the public for Open Farm Sunday 2010.

The day offers visitors a great day out, and an opportunity to meet the farmers who grow their food and care for the countryside.

Brenda Featherstone and all the family at Little Markfield Farm are inviting everyone to come and see what happens beyond the farm gate. Come and enjoy, and see sheep being sheared, wool being spun, Pig with piglets, Cows with their babies; feed the lambs! There will a farm walks, which are ideal ways to enjoy the peace and beauty of the countryside. Enjoy Hot dogs & Beef Burgers using farm produce. Try home made cake & pies, with the family and friends, down on the farm. For those of you who love machinery, there will be plenty of tractors and tools on show too! Also vintage machinery, including a show mans live-in van, Crafts stalls, Pumpkin growing competition for the children, Beer festival & much more.

Visit: Little Markfield Farm, Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester. LE67 9UN • Opening Time: From 10.30am Until 5pm • The National Open Farm Sunday event on Sunday 13 June is a great chance to take in some stunning scenery and enjoy the country air. You will really get to know how your food is produced and maybe even taste some, all whilst finding out how the countryside around you is cared for.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 5th June - Advert & Articles Needed By 22nd May - Please Note: NO ISSUE IN JULY

This issue of The Herald is being delivered over the weekend of 8rd & 9th May 2010 by our team of dedicated deliverers, namely: Amy, Coral, Daisy, Daniel, Don, Sam, Maureen, Yvonne, Lauren, Gill, John, Helen, Jeanie, Jenny, Sarah, Susan, Thomas, Tracey, Alex, Ann, Rowan and John & Sue.

Next Issue (June) - Out on Weekend of 5th & 6th June. Please send your adverts & articles before 22nd May.

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

Tel: 01530 244069 Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk Website: www.markfieldherald.co.uk The Herald is a monthly local magazine delivered free to approximately 4,000 homes and businesses in Markfield, Field Head, Stanton under Bardon, Thornton and Bagworth.

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

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Put the kettle on!

Drinking tea and coffee can reduce the chances of you developing type 2 diabetes, according to recent research in Australia.

It was found that those who drank three to four cups of coffee or tea a day had a 20 to 25 per cent lower risk of type 2 diabetes than those who drank none or only a couple of cups a day. It does not matter whether it is decaffeinated or not.

The research, published in Archives of Internal Medicine, believes that it is compounds in coffee and tea, including magnesium and antioxidants, which may be responsible.

Dates for your Diary Summer Fayre at St Mary & All Saints Church Stanton under Bardon, on SATURDAY 26th JUNE 2010 • 2 - 4 p.m. - More details in next issue.

Charity family Disco/ Raffle At Markfield Community Centre on SATURDAY 26th JUNE 2010

Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group

Happy Campers

Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group are busy rehearsing their next production - HAPPY CAMPERS - a comedy by Richard James.

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    

The production - directed

by Anne Dobrowolska - is described as a comedy with a bite to it. The play tells the   tale of a family gathering in the   Yorkshire Countryside where they are meeting to carry out a very important task….but there are revelations all round!   Performances run from 19th   May to 22nd May at Thornton  Community Centre, Main   Street, Thornton. Curtain up at   7.30pm.  Tickets are priced at £5 adults/£4 concessions and are available on 01455 822148 or from Sue & Lloyd’s Corner Shop, Main Street, Thornton.

Nibbles in your Garden!

Glenfield Library are hosting a Talk by Sally Cunningham entitled ‘The Edible Garden’ on Wednesday 12th May at 7pm.

Tickets £3 each or 2 for £5. Booking is recommended ~ (and may be essential for seating arrangements) T: 0116 305 3591.

Of all the things I’ve lost, I miss my mind the most.

Thornton or Markfield Band?

Free football sessions extended The football sessions in Bagworth and Thornton have been extended into May. They will take place on the following dates:

Thornton • • • •

Tuesday 11th May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm Thursday 13th May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm Tuesday 25th May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm Thursday 27th May, 5:30pm – 6:30pm

Bagworth •

Every Tuesday and Thursday in May with the exception of Thursday May 6th.

Once again, the sessions are free of charge.

Siân Mitchell Neighbourhood Management & Stronger Communities Team Muriel Walker has been given the photo below as “probably” a photo of the Thornton Band. However, since she didn’t recognise any face - (No- we know she’s not that old!) - or the building, she did a little detective work.

Muriel says: “It’s obviously a pub in the background with the licensee’s name above the door. I can just make out ‘John William Walton’. With the help of Ancestry.co.uk, I was able to find that one John William Walton was the licensee of the “Coach and Horses” at Markfield in 1891. Is this then, not the Thornton Band, but the Markfield Band?”

“Of course, it still may be the Thornton Band - on tour!”

We’ve forwarded the photo on to Markfield Local History Group - we’ll let you know what their verdict is in a future issue.

Tel: 01455 848061

Computing Courses in Coalville Learn Direct are offering training in the most used Microsoft packages – and some people qualify for Free places.

For more information Call Amethyst at 01530 812 555 for an appointment. Venue: Training Centre, Hermitage Industrial Estate, Goliath Road, Coalville, Leics. LE67 3FT.

Old Thatched Inn Tel : 01530 242460

Main Street Stanton under Bardon Leics LE67 9TQ

“Spring into Summer” Special offers MONDAY eve 6 – 9pm A PINT & PLATE OF CURRY @ £5.00 Choose from Marston’s Burton Bitter/Fosters/Coke/Lemonade

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TUE/WED/THUR EVEs 6 – 8pm 2 MAIN COURSES FOR £5 Yes! £5 for 2 main meals from selected menu!

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FRIDAY EVE 6 – 9pm is STEAK NIGHT! 2 x 8oz RUMP STEAK @ £15.00 including a bottle of wine per table

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Introducing our “Take-away” menu Available Tue – Fri lunch & eves

Telephone your order and we will have your meal ready to collect at time requested

Fish & Chips £5.00 Scampi & Chips £4.50 Steak Pie & Chips £5.00 Beef or Chicken burger & Chips £4.50 12” Pizza (various) £6.50 Portion of gravy or peas 50p Portion of chips £1.50 Our regular Menu and lunchtime OAP 2 course special @ £5 always available

Seen it all, done it all. Can’t remember most of it.

Leicestershire’s school bus subsidy equates to around £1.80 per year per household Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald Choice - that is a buzz word politicians like to use and we have certainly seen it used during the general election. I am writing this prior to the big day so, as you are reading this article the election will have passed and the outcome known.

I have been thinking about how the notion of choice is being used today to determine the public services we use and how it is that we should pay for them. Choice always sounds good and I guess that is why politicians like to associate themselves with it. The thing is to make a choice you need to have an understanding of what is available to choose from and how your choice will stack up in the grand scheme of things. The irony is that it is hard sometimes to get to the facts on which to base a decision. Everybody wants you to think the way they want you to think so your choice is actually not what it might have been.

So let us examine choice and how it could be linked to the very topical issue of the Charnwood school bus subsidy that was provided by Leicestershire County Council. This subsidy helped both secure and pay for that service.

Now in taking that subsidy away the County Council have said they can no longer afford to provide it as it is not statutory and they argue the route is safe to walk. What has happened in Markfield has also happened elsewhere in Leicestershire with other school bus subsidies removed placing parents and children in similar predicaments. The County Council have chosen to do this.

I know that the County Council like other public sector bodies is faced with big reductions in spending due to less central government money, but the thing about local government is that it can raise its own revenue through the council tax and Leicestershire County Council charges households £1063 (for a band D property) raising a sum £236 million pounds.

Nobody would argue that the council tax is not the most evolved form of taxation and does not tick all the boxes for being fair, but it does have a redistributive element to it. The other key thing about local taxes is that they are almost always spent locally. We might argue about spending decisions but most of the money stays in the local economy providing jobs and services to local people.

The council tax has become very unpopular as it has risen and this led to limits being placed by governments on the level of increase a Council could charge year to year. This capping of increases led to calls from some sections to freeze council tax increases altogether. I understand that this is something the rulers of the County Council have committed themselves to do. Indeed they argue that they gave residents a choice on this by having a budget consultation in which the zero increase strategy was supported. It is unclear if in making that choice residents were fully aware of what this meant. Now I would think many people would consider this a good idea and a likely vote winner as the merits of a zero increase appear attractive. Electors would be told they had a choice and could choose on polling day.

The key however is what is the real choice and what are the hidden consequences and the things they fail to explain? Well again looking at the Charnwood school bus. The parent led campaign has clearly been well supported by the residents of Markfield and they have made an excellent case

as to why removing the subsidy is a crazy thing to be doing and yet the subsidy will be gone in time for the next academic year. The true cost to parents who continue to use the bus for as long as it continues will be over £300 per child for three terms. If the County Council had decided to carry on this subsidy and every other school bus subsidy they axed this year, it would have only required every household in Leicestershire to pay about £1.80 extra per annum. This is just an approximate figure but to me is striking. If I went around households and asked them would they pay an extra £1.80 per year to keep the school bus subsidy what would be the response? Well the support on the doorstep against the actions of the County Council is immense.

The principle here is that the user pays and so some have likened it to providing council services in the same way that Ryan-Air operate their airline with seemingly cheap fare but lots of extra charges. It means a frozen council tax, possibly even one that decreases, but with large increases in user charges.

These user charges however become hard to avoid and include even things like home care services to the elderly.

Three things strike me about this approach. One is that in the end you often end up paying more for services over the counter than if included within council tax; secondly, it is cheaper to provide the services through the council tax than by raising extra charges, and thirdly the charges hit the poorest and most vulnerable hardest.

Some years ago the Borough Council decided it wanted to charge for the green waste collection service. If you wanted the collection you would pay an extra £30. If you did not pay you would not get the service. The service was going to cost more to do it this way simply because the cost of collecting the money and the administration of it, ate up any gain from having less houses to service. The user charges also needed to include VAT (unlike the council tax) so that not all the income would go to the Council. A key point is that had the charge been introduced I do not think the green waste service would have been as successful as it has, propelling the recycling rate at Hinckley towards 50%. The idea of charging was again that the user pays and it keeps the cost of the service off the council tax. The idea was rejected by councillors from all parties and the service is provided to all households in the Borough within the council tax which incidentally is among the lowest in the whole country. It has been a big success.

User charges for a range of services is nothing new but when large numbers of people end up paying them there is a good case to be made for placing the burden on the council tax. The same I believe should be made for services that are pretty essential and I think the non statutory school bus services are often pretty essential, as parents in Markfield are demonstrating with their campaign.

We may wonder at the choice on offer and the simple fact is that if you do not use any of the services you will save yourself money. How many of us though will not at some point, need these services. I suspect many will and my thinking is that in the long run we will all end up paying more for less.

Some choice that.

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I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

Charity Fashion Show and Sale

Don’t miss the Charity Fashion Show and Sale on Tuesday June 1st at 7.30pm at the Field Head Hotel, Field Head, Markfield.

The ticket price is £5 and the proceeds will go to Rainbows Childrens Hospice.

The show is courtesy of SOS Clothing Company and the clothes are all famous major high street brands such as M&S, Per Una, Jane Norman, Monsoon, River Island, Gap, Evans, Principles, Wallis, Next etc. and will suit not just the young and trendy but the mature and elegant too.

The garments are all either current season; fabulous samples; Italian and French designers or simply end of line clothing and all at Half Price or less !!

You will have the opportunity to try on the garments & there will be facilities to pay by Credit Card.

Why not come along with friends and shop for your summer outfits while saving lots of money and having a great evening out too. You could even treat yourself to a meal before the fashion show starts.

We are also looking for ladies of all ages, shapes and sizes to model the clothes during the evening. You will be able to pick the outfits out yourself before walking among the audience displaying the clothes, and you don’t have to be Naomi, Kate or Elle, just you!

You will also be given the chance to have your make up professionally done before stepping onto the catwalk!

So if you think you would enjoy being a model we would love to hear from you.

To purchase your tickets, or for more information call Beverley on 07831 101278 or email rainbowscharity@live.co.uk

Memories Charity Dance Modern and Sequence

8 p.m. Friday 14th May Bagworth WMC All proceeds to Respiratory Unit, Glenfield Hospital.

Tickets £2.50 from Anne, Josie, Ken, or on the door.

Bingo and Raffle Contact 01530 230467

LEICESTER HOST LIONS CLUB invite you and your friends to see the magnificent

BLUEBELLS

Come and walk among GLORIOUS BLUEBELLS IN A WOODLAND SETTING all in the beautiful gardens of Mr. & Mrs. Cedric Murray 240, Markfield Lane, Markfield, Leic’s. on SUNDAY 9th May 2010 11am till 3.30pm VARIOUS REFRESHMENTS AVAILABLE ALL DAY ALL PROCEEDS IN AID OF CHARITIES ADMISSION: Adults £1 at the gate Children 50 p ( Under 5 free )

Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.

News from Thornton Women’s Institute

We were saddened in to hear, in April, of the death of our member Brenda Cox.

Brenda had been a member for the past three years and very much enjoyed our meetings - the friendly atmosphere and the variety of topics covered by our speakers. She very much believed that we should try to involve ourselves in topical public affairs issues that can really “make a difference” to the lives of others. Her friends will miss her.

It was so pleasant to see a full hall at the Centre at our March meeting to welcome the SOS Clothing Company. True to their promise, the ladies from the company brought clothes to suit all ages, sizes and purses.

We provided the glamorous models – Imogen, Corey, Midge, Sue, Penny and Antoinette - who, despite an initial nervousness, took to the catwalk like true professionals and showed the clothes to perfection, we thought! We felt that we experienced all the delights of shopping for bargains without any of the hassle usually involved.

Then , in April, we joined with the Bagworth WI at their venue, Bagworth Community Centre. What a lovely welcome we had! Ivan Marriott, husband of Bagworth’s Secretary, Joyce, entertained us with poetry recitations. There were some of the popular classic poems, comic monologues and some poems from Ivan’s own pen for us to enjoy.

Afterwards we were invited to partake of a splendid buffet supper. Such was its appetizing appeal that many of us regretted having had tea before we went to Bagworth! We enjoyed our evening with our fellow WI members and thank them for their hospitality. It’s so easy to make new friends when you join the W.I.!

We would also like to express out pride in the fact that member Deirdre Cook won the Leicestershire & Rutland Federation of Women’s Institutes Art Trophy with her delightful painting which had to be entitled “Up, Up and Away”. Deirdre chose to capture the moment when a salmon leaps upstream. When she received the phone call to tell her that she’d won, she thought she was being contacted because she’d filled the form in wrongly!

The trophy was presented to Deirdre at the Annual Council Meeting on 13th March at the All Nations Centre in Leicester by the guest speaker Matthew Collins, the T.V. travel journalist.

She had travelled by bus to Leicester to collect the trophy, expecting it to be a small cup that could be safely stowed away for the return journey. Imagine her surprise and delight to receive a very large salver and tray! However, the “transport of delight” brought it safely back to Thornton where we have all been able to admire it greatly. Well done, Deirdre!

Our next meeting will be on Thursday, 13th May at 7.30 p.m. at Thornton Community Centre This will be our annual Resolutions Meeting, which gives us an opportunity to debate this year’s resolution for the National Federation of Women’s Institute’s AGM. Each member had the opportunity to vote individually for the resolution of their choice from this year’s shortlist, and food labelling proved a pressing issue across all Federations.

Therefore, the resolution chosen for debate is as follows :Resolution: This meeting urges HM Government to introduce clear and mandatory country of origin labelling on all meat, poultry and fish products sold in this country.

If the resolution is passed, it will become the mandate for campaigning activities in the years ahead.

WHY NOT COME AND SPEND AN INTERESTING EVENING WITH US? VISITORS VERY WELCOME. (Visitor’s fee £2) MEMBERS’ COMPETITION – A Napkin Ring

Muriel Walker

Project teams formed

Another successful meeting for Markfield Local History Group

Markfield Local History Group held another successful meeting on April 13th with nineteen people in attendance all keen to get on with a variety of projects centred around the village.

The original members had brought as much of the archive material as they could find and after a brief introduction from Barrie Gannon the rest of the evening was spent looking at this material. Photographs, maps and books published by both the group and Di Lockley were available and they were obviously well received judging by the hubbub of conversation going on.

By the time the evening ended we had groups formed to work on several different projects including the proposed War Memorial to be situated within the village, recording the cemetery inscriptions, the county Gargoyle Project, Roman Markfield, the geology of Markfield and archiving the material held by the group.

The next meeting will be 11th May, 7.30pm at the Methodist Church when we are hoping to have a speaker, subject to be confirmed, and some social time together. On Tuesday June 9th Barrie Gannon will be leading a historical walk around the village.

This will start from the parish church at 7pm and usually takes about 2 hours with some steep climbs so suitable footwear is required.

The group would welcome anyone interested to come along to our next meeting.

We are also always pleased to receive material for our archive. We have a number of photographs of Markfield in the past which have little information as to place, names and dates so if you are Markfield born and bred and feel that you might be able to identify some of these photos please get in touch. We would be happy to talk to you at a meeting or bring the photos to you.

Fran Johnson, Secretary

Women over 50 don’t have babies because they would put them down and forget where.

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Bagworth and Thornton Parish Plan Update Bagworth Wellbeing Clinic The first of our Wellbeing Clinics took place on Tuesday April 20th and was such a resounding success that people were frequently queuing for blood pressure tests, diabetes checks, cholesterol and weight management assessments.

The events are completely free to attenders as we are funding them using a Participatory Budgeting Project grant which was awarded to us by the Hinckley and Bosworth Community Forum.

The large hall was full of stalls offering advice on diet, exercise, nutrition, stopping smoking, and information for carers.

Residents had a chance to talk to Leicestershire Link, Rural Community Council and Adult Education representatives, and try lots of free samples and refreshments. There was something to interest everyone and all ages were represented, helped by the fact that we overlapped the Tuesday Drop-In, the school bus drop-off and the young people’s cricket and football coaching sessions. The sunny weather was an extra bonus.

The impressive turnout, plus the interest and involvement of all who attended, reinforced everything we have been saying about the need for a surgery, shop and better sports and exercise facilities in Bagworth.

We shall collate the feedback from all the attendees and the professionals and use it to support our arguments to get better services here, and funding for future projects.

The next clinic will be in Thornton later in the year and the following one before April 2011, venue yet to be decided.

PAVILION: Improvements required

Bagworth Playbuilder In addition there was a chance at the clinic to help choose the natural play equipment which is to be installed on the Community Centre field. You may not be aware but two talented young people from Bagworth called Hannah and Paynton created an amazing portfolio to support the funding application for this equipment.

They were with us all afternoon after they finished school, manning their stall, dashing about with questionnaires and impressing everyone with their confidence.

Their parents have every reason to be proud of them.

Free football and cricket coaching This has been taking place at both Thornton and Bagworth Community Centres since Tuesday 9th March. By all accounts it has proved very popular with boys and girls and one recent football session

was attended by 26 children and young people. The sessions were due to run until Thursday 29th April but are being extended. They have been coordinated by Sian Mitchell from the Neighbourhood Action Team. If you have lost the details they are attached to the parish website meetings calendar for March 9th or you can contact Sian on 01455 848061/ 07760 762897 or email her sian.mitchell@btconnect. com. The sessions have been funded by sports development money which came with the grant for the MUGA recently constructed behind Thornton School. Another group of our young people made a successful presentation to Youth Bank Leicestershire to obtain this funding.

Bagworth Old Colliery Sports Ground The Parish Plan Group and NAT have been encouraging the Parish Council and existing adult football

and cricket team members to work together to see how facilities can be improved at the pavilion. We also want to see sports activities promoted which appeal to the whole community. At last things seem to be happening. We have been told that it is absolutely essential that young people are part of the equation if we are to apply successfully for further development grants, with teams working towards Clubmark and a properly constituted management committee in place. We hope that the children and young people who are currently enjoying the free coaching will want to play in parish teams and that their parents or carers can be persuaded to get involved with the running of the clubs.

BLIMP! The Rural Community Council would like you to participate in BLIMP which stands for Broadband Line Information Monitoring Project. Its aim is to measure the broadband speeds which are being achieved in the real world and store these in a database from which it is will be possible to identify the relative levels of service being delivered across the region and country by different suppliers and make this information publicly available. BLIMP is now operational. East Midlands Development Agency emda is co-funding this initiative and wants to ensure a full spread of BLIMP participants – by locality and by type of user –across the rural East Midlands. For more information and to download and try it, please go to http://www.blimpchecker. co.uk/index.html.

Joanne Brown

Things are more like they are today than they ever were before.

Visit the Social & Sporting Centre of the Village!

Markfield Community & Sports Centre

Mayflower Close, Markfield (Off Oakfield Avenue), LE67 9ST

Tel: 01530 242240

For all bookings and enquiries (24-hour answering machine)

www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com

Regular Clubs & Classes For All Ages MONDAY

THURSDAY

Active Together Keep Fit

9.15am - 10.15am

Surestart Session

9.00am - 12.00 noon

Keep Fit

10.00am - 11.00am

Parents and Toddlers

9.00am- 11.30am

Art Club

10.00am - 12.00 noon

Over-50s Health Boost

Yoga

1.45pm - 3.15pm

Friendship Club

2.00pm - 4.00pm

Kick Boxing

6.00pm - 8.30pm

Mini Tappers

2.30pm - 3.15pm

Aerobics

7.00pm - 8.00pm

Primary Tap

8.00pm - 9.30pm

Junior Tap

Feathers Badminton Club TUESDAY

1.00pm - 2.30pm

(Booking Essential)

(Booking Essential)

3.15pm - 4.00pm

(Booking Essential)

4.00pm - 4.45pm

(Booking Essential)

Zumba Atomic

4.00pm - 4.45pm

(Booking Essential)

Citizen’s Advice Surgery

9.00am - 12.30pm

Senior Tap

Parents and Toddlers

9.30am - 11.30am

Karate/Self-Defence

5.30pm - 8.45pm

Pilates

12.15pm - 1.15pm

Tae Kwon Do

6.00pm - 7.00pm

1.15pm - 2.15pm

Zumba

6.00pm - 7.00pm

2.00pm - 3.00pm

Circuit Training

7.00pm - 8.00pm

2.15pm - 3.00pm

Zumba

7.15pm - 8.15pm

(Booking Essential)

Legs, Bums & Tums

(Booking Essential)

Keep Fit Football Tots

(Booking Essential)

Royal Academy - Baby Ballet Royal Academy of Ballet

(Booking Essential)

(Primary - Booking Essential)

4.45pm - 5.45pm

(Booking Essential)

(Booking Essential)

(Booking Essential)

3.00pm - 3.45pm 3.20pm - 6.00pm

FRIDAY Baby Bops

10.15am - 11.00am

(Booking Essential)

Royal Academy of Ballet

(Junior - Booking Essential) Private Tuition Slot - Booking Essential

5.15pm - 6.00pm

Tae Kwon Do

6.00pm - 7.00pm

Dancing Tots (Booking Essential)

3.45pm - 4.30pm

Circuit Training and Toning

6.00pm - 7.00pm

Funky Kidz

4.30pm - 5.15pm

Karate

6.00pm - 8.30pm

Boys Only Street Dance

5.15pm - 6.00pm

Mixed Sports Club

7.00pm - 8.30pm

Funky Teens

6.00pm - 7.00pm

Yoga

7.30pm - 9.00pm

Northern Parishes Youth Club

6.00pm - 9.00pm

8.30pm - 9.30pm

Royal Academy of Ballet -

7.00pm - 8.00pm

Zumba

(Booking Essential)

Toddly Bops

(Booking Essential)

(Booking Essential)

Senior (Booking Essential)

Bingo

WEDNESDAY

11.15am - 12 noon

(Booking Essential)

7.15pm - 9.00pm

I.T. Class - Booking via Groby College

9.00am - 12.00 noon

Guided Village Walk

2.00pm - 2.30pm

Apple & Pears Group

1.30pm - 3.30pm

Open Afternoon

2.00pm - 4.00pm

The Centre offers a wide range of facilities to suit every occasion:

Brownies

5.00pm - 7.00pm

• Two fully licensed bars.

• Changing rooms and showers.

6.00pm - 7.00pm

• Extensions to Licensing Hours can be applied for on request.

• Multi Use Games Area with floodlights.

• Kitchen.

• Outdoor basketball court.

• Serving hatches to two halls.

• Outdoor skatepark.

• Two toilets for the disabled.

• Childrens play area on site.

• A ramp for access to the building.

• Access to on-line services from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council.

Zumba

(Booking Essential)

Junior Youth Club (8+)

6.30pm - 8.30pm

Hire The Centre for Your Event!

The Two Large Halls, Small Hall, Lounge, Changing Rooms and Multi-Use Games Area are available for private hire, functions, children’s parties, at all times other than those shown above.

Telephone 01530 242240 for hiring rates or visit www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com

Excellent Facilities

• Two large sports halls.

• Indoor line markings for badminton, basketball and five-a-side football.

• One additional smaller hall.

• Football pitch.

• Free car parking.

• Night time outside lighting.

• 24 hour C.C.T.V. coverage.

Your Centre’s Getting Better and Better!

He may look like an idiot and talk like an idiot, but don’t let that fool you. He really is an idiot.?

10

County Councillor David Sprason’s Column Clarity on the 838 School Bus The need to explain the issues around school transport policy arises as some misleading information is being circulated around Markfield.

The National School Transport Policy as in the 1996 Education Act section 444/509 states that the maximum walking distance is 2 miles for under 8’s and 3 miles for over 8’s, this applies to the whole of the country. The act also states the requirement for the local authority to provide free bus travel for children outside of this distance.

The act also emphasises that it is the parent’s responsibility to make sure children attend school.

In 2000 the Government amended the education act to address the walking routes that were inside of the distance, it required local authorities to assess walking routes to ensure they were either available or unavailable. The department for transport issued guidance on what should be considered when the assessment is carried out by the local authority and that the assessments relate only to traffic and highway conditions. The existence or otherwise of street lighting or public transport are not taken into account. Included in the guidance was the need for a footway, footpath or bridleway to be adjacent to the road (not a pavement), weather conditions should not be considered and that those children walking to school should be accompanied by a responsible adult.

The County Council following the changes set up an all party elected member review group to look into the changes required in the council’s school transport policy. The report was presented to the Cabinet in December 2001

with clear eligibility on a suitable or unsuitable route. Legal guidance also stated that the use of the words “safe” or “unsafe” could not be included as no route could be described as ultimately “safe”.

I was first elected to the county council in May 2001 and in September 2001 I requested that the walking routes from Markfield, Stanton and Thornton to South Charnwood should be assessed and this was recorded in the December 18 2001 Cabinet report. In fact the route was assessed on 2nd November 2001 at 08:00 hours using the revised policy by an expert risk assessment consultant.

The result of the assessment was that the routes from Stanton and Thornton failed as did the South Side of Leicester Road at Field Head, until the pelican crossing was installed, but the Markfield route passed. I appealed the decision on the Markfield route to the Director of Education as I did not agree with their findings but failed to get the result overturned.

The advice given to the South Charnwood High School Bus Action Group is they need to petition the County Council to change its policy on the criteria regarding the route assessments.

The Markfield bus has been running for 40 years to my knowledge and has never been free but has always been charged for. The charge twenty years ago was 50p a day and increased to £1 a day ten years ago this is still the current charge, however on investigation it should be £1.30 a day as the last increase was in August 2008. It turns out that the increases have never been passed on instead relying on the County Council to pick up the increases through the subsidy.

South Charnwood School have now negotiated with an operator to continue to run the bus at a charge of £1.40 a day paid termly or half termly, as long as the demand is there the bus will continue as has

Open Garden Days for NGS May openings for the National Garden Scheme include: •

always been the case. The annual cost should currently be £247 per year and as from September 2010 the proposed annual cost for a pupil to use the bus will be £266 a year.

I would like to clear up another issue on the word “safe” I have never stated that the route is “safe” as I am in agreement with the legal term that no route is ultimately “safe”. I have always said that the route has been assessed for its suitability under the current policy which I have challenged, if you hear the opposite just take it as mischief making.

Thornton Reservoir Traveller Site I have been asked recently by a number of people about what has happened with the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council proposed traveller site at Thornton. The massive response in objection letters sent to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council are still being dealt with and I believe they will be foolish to take this site any further and instead delete it as an option. I am pleased to say that the threat of an unauthorised camp on the land has also been averted as we have managed to have an injunction placed on the land to prevent any development.

Disappointingly the Good Friday camp has now been given 3 years permission thanks to the Government’s inspector who ignored the objections raised by the County Highways. It is clear that once again the residents of Bagworth have been let down by the Borough Council’s planning department as they delayed their actions to deal effectively with this site and ignored warning signs.

Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens, Church Road, Belgrave LE4 5PE 1-4pm on Sun 16th, Mill House, 118 Welford • Road, Wigston LE18 3SN 115pm also on Sun 16th, The Old Vicarage, • Whissendine LE15 7HG 25.30pm on Sun 23rd, Burbage Gardens LE10 2LR • on Sun 30th Group Opening 11am-5pm Teas at 6 Dennis Road. www.ngs.org.uk

Less time for sleep in our lives What time do you go to bed at night? Has it been getting later? The average Briton goes to bed at 11:41 pm on week nights, more than 54 minutes later than three years ago.

According to recent research, our hectic work schedules and money worries are the main reasons for staying up. Before the recession, most of us were in bed by 10:47pm.

But now nearly half of us (adults) do not go to bed before midnight, and one in ten of us is still awake at 1am.

Doctors are concerned at the findings. “Your body needs rest, so the lack of sleep could be affecting people’s performance at work, their personality and outlook on life. Everyone is so manic these days that once we have fallen through the front door after work, had dinner, sorted out the kids, and finished watching TV, it’s so late.”

Many people are not getting their recommended seven and a half hours sleep. 55 per cent of us fall asleep on the couch at least twice a week. But when we finally get to bed, 76 per cent of us find it hard to sleep. Many of us are worried about finances or relationship problems. And a snoring partner does not help!

Canned food Tinned food is making a comeback.

Sales of baked beans have increased by 45 per cent in the last five years. But sales of tinned beef and pies are also on the up. The rise is thought to be partially due to Delia Smith’s book ‘How to Cheat at Cooking’, which suggested canned meat works well as a substitute for fresh.

Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.

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            

 

       

  

12 Unloved by many, and certainly a little weedy when not berrying, the common Snowberry S. Albus) will grow in the most uncompromising spots.

Not for small gardens, indeed most gardens, but very suitable for semi-wild areas where its winter bonus of glistening white berries are untouched by birds. Of more interest to gardeners are several, small growing, upright hybrids, mostly with pink, sometimes white, berries and suitable for hedging.

Particularly so are the Dutch raised ‘Doorenbos’ hybrids with names, for example; ‘White Hedge’, ‘Magic Berry’ and ‘Mother of Pearl’. Also of interest are a couple of variegated leaved, small growing snowberries, one ‘Bowles’ Golden’, the other ‘Taff ’s Silver Edge’. These require more open positions than is generally accorded a Snowberry. Also they record that, in spite of limited appeal of Snowberries generally; well-known gardening names are associated with them. Firstly the famous ‘Mr Bowles’, also Stephen Taffler, an authority on both Ivies and variegated plants, who sadly died a couple of years ago.

Famous in another sphere is that doyen of flower-arranging ‘Constance Spry’ and remembered in the variety of S. Albus ‘Constance Spry’. Her times were the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s when she was one of the founders of today’s modern Flower-

Gardening Notes with Ted

Brown of Markfield

The Snowberry (Symphoricarpus), Constance Spry and Tomatoes arrangements? She was noted for mixing florist’s flowers with hedgerow or semi-wildings. In my Nursery days I had this plant, nothing at all spectacular, but often asked for merely because of the famous name attached. In the current 2020/11 ‘Plant Finder’ only one Hampshire Nursery now offers this plant. The recent biography has caused me to write this article. Writings on Snowberries must be very few. I have never seen one!

Tomatoes (and Potatoes) Arranging movement. She, however, always referred to it as Flower (or Floral) Decoration. Gifted, she was chosen to provide the flowers at many famous gatherings including, I believe, the weddings of both the Duke of Windsor and the present Queen. In her private life, ‘Connie’ (to her friends) was quite a lass.

‘Spry’ not her real name but acquired from a Mr Spry with whom she lived at a certain time. Also, much like Vita Sackville—West (Founder of the Sissinghurst Garden) she had well publicised Lesbian tendencies.

All this very much in the news at present following publication of a Constance Spry biography.

I have often wondered how the Snowberry that bears her name arose. Was it maybe that someone rooted a piece from one of her

Wise gardeners spend on essentials, not on gimmicks and gadgets. Advertising pages tempt with quite expensive but mostly really unnecessary items. Now we have the ‘Upside-Down’ method of Tomato growing! The ‘Topsy-Turvy’ is with us – a cinch at only £10 a time. Only £60 for half-a-dozen plants. Supposedly ‘Asda’ sold 8,000 within a few days of going on sale.

Originating in the U.S.A., where Asda’s Parent Company Wal-Mart were the major suppliers. Advertising suggests that roots favour facing the sun, also that nutrients reach the growing parts by gravity! I favour an R.H.S. spokesperson that was sceptical, saying there was no scientific basis for the claims.

No doubt some kind of crop would result, but whether upside-down or otherwise, many gardeners must be wondering if home-growing is worthwhile, considering the

many losses due to blight in recent seasons. There are two varieties ‘Ferline’ and ‘Legend’ said to be at least partially Blight-resistant. Neither seeds nor plants are easily available.

Thompson & Morgan offer seeds.

Eating quality unknown. On this question of blight and taste, I have in the past mentioned the blightresistant potatoes in the ‘Sarpo’ range. Sadly though, however well they grow, and free of blight, when judged against more popular varieties their taste leaves much to be desired.

The past extreme winter will have damaged, and even killed, some of those plants, not really fully hardy, but treated as such following a succession of mild winters. Unless obviously dead, not too much haste in discarding, they may recover.

With shrubs, easy to check if green shows when scraping back near soil level. Herbs, particularly those of Mediterranean origin, and potgrown, will have suffered and need replacing. Mints are bone-hardy but do keep checking for vineweevil infestation when pot-grown.

Remember too that chemical vineweevil killers must never be used on edible plants. When potting mints try a John Innes soil based compost (No.2 or No.3) and spread a liberal layer of grit or gravel over. Not a guaranteed stop to vine-weevils but it may help. With herbs generally, and to prolong being able to harvest fresh young shoots, try to restrict flowering by cutting back when necessary. One mint not to trim back is the Buddleia mint.

Grow it in the border – bees and butterflies love its long flowers and the foliage may be used like any other mint.

How lovely, at last, to see the Great Daffodil Spectacular. We should all plant more, but always in clumps, never ever in straight lines. Also better to limit each clump to just one variety.

Charity Concert in Thornton for M.E. Research On Friday 14th May there will be a concert at The Club in Thornton in aid of M.E. Research UK. Entertainment will be from The Fib Four (Formerly UpBeatles) and Mickey Vegas as Elvis. Tickets Cost £5 each available for Lloyd & Sue’s Corner Shop in Thornton. Tel: 01530 230 643.

A raffle will be held and all the proceeds of the evening will go to the Charity.

Philately will get you everywhere

Stamp Fair - 6th June

The next Stamp Fair held to support LOROS will take place on Sunday 6th June at Newbold Verdon Primary School, Dragon Lane, Newbold Verdon from 10am – 3pm.

Enquiries and donation of stamps welcome. Please telephone 01455 822645 (Roger) or 01455 822774 (Graham).

Diplomacy: the art of telling someone to go to hell in such a way that he looks forward to the trip.

13 ♦ Family/Matrimonial ♦ Residential Conveyancing ♦ Commercial Property & Leases ♦ Company & Partnership ♦ Employment ♦ Litigation & Debt Recovery ♦ Wills & Probate

Leicester Office

22 De Montfort Street Leicester LE1 7GB 0116 2551811

Blaby Office

33 Leicester Road Blaby LE8 4GR 0116 2643430

Coalville Office

39-41 Belvoir Road Coalville LE67 3PD 01530 835041

We have a strong commitment to professionalism and client service and care. We aim to provide our clients with affordable prices.

For further information and advice, please contact one of our Offices Our Blaby and Coalville Offices are open Saturday Mornings 9am—12pm no appointment necessary

It has been my privilege since the first issue of The Herald was published, although readers will remember that it was called ‘Village Talk’ at that time, to write as Churchwarden of Thornton St Peter’s Church to acquaint readers with its activities and development.

Since that time much work of improving both the appearance and facilities of the Church has been done both outside in the churchyard and inside with the installation of the kitchen servery area and toilet. Still to be undertaken in the future is pointing of the stonework and some internal plaster repairs. Thereafter, for work on this historic building is always ongoing, some improvement in the kind of heating will no doubt be an item on the agenda of the church authorities.

Regretfully that won’t be me as my term of office has come to an end.

Readers will also know that I have decided to retire as Organist at St Peter’s – Anno Domini catches up with us all – on Sunday 30th May. I shall be marking this occasion by playing hymns on the organ for an hour, in aid of the church, beginning at 3pm. If you would care to sponsor me for this, you can do it in two ways: - either by donating £5 for your favourite hymn to be played, or by giving a donation (Maximum 10p) for each hymn that I play. If you would like to help please contact me on 01530 230 336. Many thanks.

ANSTEY & DISTRICT FUNERAL SERVICES

BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

As part of our aftercare service, we now offer a monthly Bereavement Aftercare & Support Group, which has been set up to provide a FREE support service, not just to our clients, but to ANY bereaved person, irrespective of their age, creed, religion and length of bereavement.

The group meets on the 1st Saturday of every month (except at Bank Holidays) in the catering suite at Anstey & District Funeral Services between 10am and 12noon.

Next dates: Sat 8th May 2010 and Sat 5th June 2010 ARRAN BRUDENELL, Tel: 0116 234 0548

Those drinking to forget please pay in advance.

14

Funding for small creative businesses

Free seminars outlining funding options for small arts, design and media businesses are taking place across Leicestershire and Rutland in the next few months.

Markfield WI’s Programme May 19th: Resolutions, Supper followed by My trip to the Falklands - Hannah Critchley June 16th: Fascinating Feet Anne Hughes July 21st: Domestic Violence - Integrated Response Project - Sejal Modhal Aug 18th: Post Office Patter - Mrs J Taylor Sept 15th: Clicks and Misses

Ros Barber

Oct 20th AGM & a selection of novelties to make

Marilyn Brooks

These events are hosted by Creative Leicestershire and will outline the different types of finance available such as grants and loans plus what funders are looking for. There will be information on specific schemes including Creative Leicestershire’s bursary scheme plus Inspire Leicestershire’s grants for rural businesses, and funds from Arts Council England, Princes Trust and Business Link.

The seminars will take place on: Tuesday 18 May at Catmose Gallery, Catmose Community • College, Cold Overton Rd, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6NU. Tuesday 8 June at The Factory, Spencer St, Hinckley LE10 1QH • All seminars start at 6.00pm and end at approx 8.00pm Creative Leicestershire’s Development Bursary Scheme has a deadline of 25 June. The schemeis open to any small Leicestershire/Rutland-based arts, design or media business with 3 employees or less which has been trading for over a year. You can apply for up to £2,500.

More information on the scheme is on the funding pages of www.creativeleicestershire.org.uk To book on to any of these free events please email lucia.masundire@leics.gov.uk

Nov 17th Birthday Party - Venue TBA Dec 15th A concert of festive music and supper

Highcliffe Harmony

Markfield Women’s Institute • The WI exists to educate women to enable them to provide an effective role in the community, to expand their horizons and to develop and pass on important skills. • Meet at: Markfield Trinity Methodist Church, Main Street, MARKFIELD, LE67 9UU When: 3rd Wed of month at 7.45pm • Contacts: President, Mrs. Fran Johnson, 197 Main Street, Markfield • Tel: 01530 243350 email: markfieldfran@hotmail.com

Dove Bank School enjoys a Food Week Having acquired a brand new cooker, cooking equipment and recipe books, we decided to celebrate the event by holding a whole school Food Week.

Each class chose to cook food from a different country. As well as the United Kingdom, Mexico and Italy were chosen and even Canada where one of our classes keep in regular contact with a class in a Canadian school. Each day during the week one of the classes had the run of the equipment and cooked food from their chosen country. This was then shared with the rest of the school so that everybody had a chance to try out food they may not have experienced before.

Literacy and Maths were catered for by the writing of recipes and measuring out of ingredients and a lot of Speaking and Listening took place during the actual cooking process. In my experience children love the opportunity to prepare and cook food – some of them also enjoy washing-up !

There has been a new interest in cooking at Dove Bank, one class has just completed a topic on food and an after-school Cooking Club is due to start soon – the smell of food in the building makes it seem more like a restaurant than a school at times – long may it continue !

Bob Owen

Headteacher, Dove Bank Primary School, Nailstone

On why Arts Festivals in church are a bad idea The Rectory St. James the Least

My dear Nephew Darren Your decision to hold a Summer weekend Arts Festival in church, bringing culture to your inner city streets, was most commendable. Pity, how it all turned out.

The Friday evening started well with the concert of Scott Joplin piano music. Obviously knowing that the pieces were originally played in seedy bars on pianos wildly out of tune with several notes missing, your committee must have gone to endless trouble to find precisely the right instrument. Your stage hands, were, however, less careful and hadn’t noticed that the platform had a noticeable list to port. After each piece, the pianist had to relocate the piano stool closer to his nomadic piano, with the last piece being performed with both entirely out of sight behind the pulpit.

It created much innocent entertainment for the audience, but the fault really should have been remedied before the Saturday evening choir concert. Discarded kneelers and rotting hymn books do not form a stable base for a stage supporting an 80-strong choir. So when it came to the enthusiastic rendering of hits from “Oklahoma”, with copious hand movements, it came as something of a relief that the stage took this as the moment to signal defeat, tipping the tenors behind the altar. The audience’s thunderous applause, assuming this was a carefully choreographed part of the performance, was quite touching. I am sure all the compensation claims will soon be sorted out.

Your one great mistake was to take on responsibility for organising the refreshments afterwards. Church entertainments committees have centuries of collective experience in judging the numbers of ham sandwiches and bottles of milk required. I am forever proud that our own ladies – through years of experience – can now get 34 cups of tea from every tea bag and can butter bread so thinly that one pack can last several months.

What you now do with 89 surplus loaves of bread is a problem you have brought upon yourself. You could possibly use them for supporting the stage next year.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

Toothache: the pain that drives you to extraction.

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16 The following items were among the topics discussed at the meeting of Markfield Parish Council on Tuesday 30th March 2010.

Police Report •

5 thefts from motor vehicles – 3 form the Billa Barra nature reserve car park • 1 Burglary from Forest Road • 1 Damage to vehicle – 7 LGV’s had been set fire to at Horsepool Grange; Hinckley CID were investigating.

• Jubilee Playing fields pavilion had also been broken into, some small items stolen, but it appeared that the main intention had been to vandalise the property.

PCSO Leech stated that the police were continuing to tackle the vehicles parking illegally at the bus stop and causing an obstruction on the pavements on Chitterman Way outside the Londis Store/ Markfield Surgery, particularly at the beginning and end of the school day.

PCSO Leech stated that a trial into changing the recording system for anti social behaviour was underway and it was envisaged that this would make it easier to identify anti social behaviour hotspots.

Mr Browning stated that off road motor cyclists were again using the

Extracts from Markfield Parish Council Minutes land off Hill Lane and causing a nuisance. PCSO Leech asked if the incidents had been reported as a Section 59 warning could be issued giving the police the power to seize and remove the vehicle if the driver has been previously warned within the last 12 months.

Mr Sprason added that it was important that residents should ring 0116 222 2222 to report the incidents at the time so that the police could react to the incident.

PCSO Leech also informed the members that Trading Standards were looking into implementing a “no cold calling zone” at Ulverscroft Way and The Rushes.

Irresponsible street parking of vehicles during school start and finish times: Mayflower Close – proposal for a no parking restriction outside of a residential property: - The clerk had written to LCC Highways Department; a reply was awaited.

Oakfield Avenue and adjoining highways: - LCC Highways had contacted the clerk and informed

her that works to re-mark the lines along Oakfield Avenue and Neville Drive junction to Main Street were lodged with The Clerk of Works at the County Council and would be done shortly.

Local History Group Mr Gannon stated that after an advertisement in The Herald for new members for the Local History Group 23 people had expressed an interest in joining; therefore a meeting would be arranged.

Markfield Court Retirement Village The clerk had written the landowner, Waverley Property Management to express concern about the lack of provision of a salting service over the last two years when Leicestershire had experienced two prolonged periods of snow and freezing weather. The Parish Council also requested that the situation be rectified before next winters freezing weather commences.

Mr K Scott of Waverley Property Services had responded and

If you can read this, thank a teacher.

informed the council that in June 2009 £14000.00 was set aside to provide a snow fund for the village, but due to the exceptional conditions the company had to prioritize and could only clear essential paths and not individual paths. He also stated that residents were further inconvenienced because the buses couldn’t run as the roads hadn’t been cleared by the local authority.

Mr Lay suggested that the company should contact the County Highways Department to find out what the process was to get the roads “adopted” within Markfield Court.

“Soap Box Derby” Amendment to resolution 5.12 March 2010 - Resolved in Principle, the Parish Council gave the event its full support and would make a contribution of £200.00 pending: proper written consultation with the residents of Ashby Road, appropriate approval of the relevant authorities, site of the relevant insurance policy and compliance with current Health and Safety legislation.

British Cycling BMX Race Track – unused land at Jubilee Playing Fields; - Mr Sprason stated that several funding applications were pending, this included a presentation for funding

17 to British Cycling and Aggregate Industries at Loughborough University. Markfield Community Centre Association had also been asked if it would support the project.

Vehicle Activated Sign (VAS) – Partnership with Thornton and Bagworth: Resolved, the Parish Council agreed to Partnership Fund the purchase of a Speed Indicator Device at a cost of £750.00. Ongoing

South Charnwood 883 Bus Service subsidy cut Mr Sprason stated The National Policy on Education 1986 deemed it suitable for children under 8 to walk 2 miles and children over 8 to walk 3 miles to school (accompanied by an adult). A Government Review in 2000 reassessed the general suitability of walking routes based on legal safety requirements and it was under the review’s recommendations that the school walking route to South Charnwood school was assessed in 2001; Stanton and Thornton walking routes failed but Markfield passed the suitability assessment.

Mr Sprason appealed the decision at the time but the decision was upheld.

Mr Sprason stated that parents were petitioning the Council to re-classified the route and reinstate the school bus subsidy; this would impact on other routes classed as suitable. If this was unsuccessful the parents were asking the County Council to make a substantial investment to improve/upgrade the route to a standard that parents considered to be safe.

The petition would be handed in at the next Highways Forum and that the Director had 90 days to respond.

The clerk asked how the £10 000 funding from the successful South Charnwood school travel plan (2005) had been spent as the funding was to improve areas of the route and the provision of a safe cycling route.

Mr Sprason stated that the school had built cycle racks, lockers and the development of safe walking routes around the school. He also stated that the School Travel Plan was up for review this year.

He stated that the school had informed parents that the bus service charge would increase from £1.00 per day to £1.40 under the current operators; the contract was out to tender at the moment. Mr Lay asked if there had been any interest from bus service operators; Mr Sprason stated that there had been one firm offer at this time.

Street Lighting – “The Big Turnoff” Mr Sprason stated that in order to reduce carbon emissions and save money the council would reduce the level of street lighting across the County. This would be done by turning some lights off in rural areas, dimming lights in urban areas and turning some lights off from midnight to 5.30am.

CISWO (Coal Industry and Social Welfare Organisation) Miners’ Welfare Institute: - Mr Lay stated that the planning application would be considered at the next meeting on the 26th March 2010 and then hopefully matters could proceed.

Mr Browning suggested a potential name for the new development – “Memorial Cottages.”

The George Car Park and current empty shops along Main Street - The Co-op were discussing the future development of the car park site with planning and conservation officers at the Borough Council.

Plastic recycling collection service: -The clerk had telephoned Mr M Brymer about the plastic bags being blown all over the highways on collection day. Mr Brymer stated

Do not adjust your mind. The fault is with reality.

that plastic collections were now the first bags to be collected to try to minimise the problem; but the Parish Council’s comments had been noted and the situation would be monitored.

Land off London Road, Markfield, -Residential Development (outline) with access. – Mr Lay stated that the application had been strongly rejected as an unwarranted intrusion/development onto open countryside.

Village Fete: The fete would be held on 7th August 2010 at the Community Centre.

Break-in, theft and vandalism at the Jubilee Playing Fields Pavilion: - The Deputy Clerk reported that a break in had been reported to her. A lot of damage had been done, from taps being left on, pipes being pulled from the toilets, sinks blocked, paint poured on carpets, doors pulled off cupboards, the referee’s room was broken into, the whole place was flooded and various items stolen.

18

Why it doesn’t take THAT much time to stay fit Here may be some really good news: your body will get as much benefit from 10-minute bursts of intensive exercise as it does from 10 hours of moderate training.

A recent study in Ontario looked at the benefits of HIT – or high intensity interval training. The technique involves running or cycling at almost maximum effort for one minute and then resting for a minute before repeating the process around ten times. HIT can be a “time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise”, researchers claimed.

Thought for the Month You are connected When you look out at the world, a little bit of what you see is the world. Much of what you see, however, is you.

No experience is completely objective. Most experiences are hardly objective at all.

If you’re having a bad day, that’s an opportunity to change your perceptions. Choose to do so, and the whole world can suddenly be a much more positive place.

Instead of projecting your worst fears onto life, project your highest hopes and most treasured dreams. See what things look like then.

You are connected to all you observe and experience. Make a positive difference in you, and you make a positive difference in it all.

Ralph Marston

Markfield Homemakers Programme of Events

The Markfield Homemakers Ladies Group meets at Markfield Congregational Church on the second Wednesday of each month, start time 8pm.

Here is their list of events planned for the coming year:

•

May 12th ~ Sandra Baxter ~ Healthy eating for the older person

•

June 9th ~ Vist to Stonehurst Farm

•

Aug 11th ~Skittles ~ 7.15 for 7.30pm At the Coach & Horses

•

Sep 8th ~ Barbara Hewitt ~ Talk ~ History of Calke Abbey

•

Oct 13th ~ Ros Barber ~ Talk ~ Clicks and Misses (Gone in a moment).

•

Nov 10th ~ Anne Hughes ~ Foot Reading

•

Dec 8th ~ Christmas Party

Copyright 2010 Ralph S. Marston, Jr. Used by permission.

Originally published in “The Daily Motivator” at www. dailymotivator.com

The Herald is proving popular in Alaska!

Recently, we decided to make The Herald viewable - page-flip style - on our website.

The company which provides this service - Issuu - helpfully provides the location of the people who are reading the magazine online. Apparently, The Herald is being viewed by around 500 readers online. The locations outside the UK include the France, Spain, Turkey, USA, Canada and ... Alaska!

If you are a far-flung Herald reader, please drop us a line by email (info@markfieldherald.co.uk) and we’ll give you a mention next month. (p.s. If you live abroad and use the magazine to contact one of our many excellent plumbers, electricians, builders or other traders, please be aware that there may be a substantial call-out charge!)

Brenda Featherstone Tel: 01530 242173

The latest survey shows that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the population.

19

Markfield Scout Group celebrates 60 years in village This year Markfield Scout Group are celebrating 60 years of Scouting in the village. They are holding a series of events throughout the year to mark the occasion.

On March 26th they put on a traditional gang show at Mercenfeld School, all members of the group beavers, cubs, scouts explorers and leaders took part in front of a packed audience of family and friends.

All the participants had put in a lot of hard work during the previous weeks to produce a rousing performance on the night.

On April 17th an open day was held at the Scout Hut, this included displays of old photographs and memorabilia from the past 60 years . The members also put on displays of their current activities, Beavers giving a backwoods cooking demonstration, cubs doing parachute games and scouts building shelters An anniversary cake was cut by Evelyn Snell who was part of the original team that started the group with Gordon Chesterton in 1950.

Margaret Beck

Beaver Scout Leader TOP RIGHT PHOTO: Cutting the cake, left to right Margaret Beck and Sue Wainwright ( Beaver Leaders) Evelyn Snell, Dave Morris (Scout leader and Group Scout Leader), Lyn Mawhinney (Cub Leader.)

PHOTO ON RIGHT: The Gang Show in full swing.

Quick! Call a witch doctor! My witch is sick.

20

Martin Foster – Our Church Organist Regular Herald contributor MURIEL WALKER has written this delightful article about her brother Martin Foster, who is retiring as Thornton’s Church Organist ...

M

usic has, undoubtedly, always played a great part in Martin’s life.

As a boy growing up in Thornton in the 1930’s, music featured greatly in the social life of the village and at both the church and the chapel.

Our Dad sang and whistled around the house but Mum wasn’t at all musical- although she was touched by the words of the sentimental ballads of earlier days and knew many by heart. However, it was at her instigation that a piano was part of the furniture and that Martin , (and later myself), should have “proper” lessons. She thought that playing the piano was “a great accomplishment”. Martin, taught first by Miss Leda Seal in the parlour at the corner shop and then, when he became more advanced, by Miss Marjorie Fuller, had an obvious and natural aptitude and talent.

His first public performances were in concerts which were held in the village to raise funds to buy comforts for the troops in WW2.

So, while Dad was out policing wartime Thornton and Mum was doing her bit at home by the fireside knitting balaclavas and gloves for the soldiers, Martin and the other village chidren were practising musical items at the School. They rehearsed with Tommy Gibbins, the Headmaster, in the school boardroom. The concerts were held in the Concert Room at the Working Men’s Club and a chalk

outline of its stage was drawn on the boardroom floor for practice purposes. A popular item was a duet performed by Martin and Nancie Lee (now Matthews) of “Leetle Mr Baggie Breeches” – he can still sing it today!

When Martin was aged about nine, a harmonium was purchased from old Mrs. Massey who lived next door to our home at the Police House. Now, with two instruments at hand, Martin could play to his heart’s delight working his way through our Grandma Stubbs’s bound black book of Victorian and Edwardian music..... “The Robin’s Return”, “The Maiden’s Prayer”, and selections from “Trilby” are but a few which come to mind. But it was in church that music spoke to him.

Different format Martin was in the church choir under the guidance of the aforementioned Miss Seal, who was St. Peter’s dedicated organist for many years. We should remember that the format of a Church of England Service was very different then. We were accustomed to singing a great part of the service.

There was a sung Venite, Te Deum and Magnificat (depending on the time of the day), sung psalms, canticles and the Creed.

There were always two services on Sunday and often three. This demanded much of the organist!

In 1946 Martin had his first appointment as organist at Holy Rood, Bagworth with the vicar’s wife, Mrs. Redgrave, as choirmistress there. He was only fifteen, but was committed to performing his duties well. His last service as Bagworth’s organist was on 10th September, 1950, as he began his first term as a student at Loughbrough College in the same month.

National Service in the Royal Signals intervened, with little opportunity to play the organ at

Catterick Camp! When he was free to resume his studies, this time at Birmingham University, (Saltley College), he joined the college choir. To his delight there was also a college organ with no-organist to play it! The gap was immediately filled and Martin played every morning for services in the college chapel. Similarly, when he took up his first teaching position as Maths Master at Saltley Grammar School, he soon found himself playing the school organ for morning assemblies. He always maintains that Mathematics and Music are inextricably linked! He remembers playing there for the headmaster’s memorial service; a very solemn occasion on which he was asked to play “The Entry of the Queen of Sheba”!

In 1958, Martin moved back to Leicestershire when he came home to teach at Coalville Grammar School , where he had once been Head Boy. In the same year, he took up the appointment of organist and choirmaster at St Phillip & St James, Ratby. His first service there was on 8th November 1958 and his last on 31st December 1961. He remembers his time at Ratby with great affection; he was treated with great consideration and there was always the offer of tea at someone’s house between afternoon and evening services!

Musicals too!

Leaving Ratby was a choice he made in order to take up the challenge of being choirmaster to two choirs, as well as organist, at St. Peter’s Glenfield where three services were held each Sunday – a Children’s Service at 10 a.m, Morning Prayer at 11 a.m. and the Evensong at 6.30 p.m.

Music for Martin wasn’t restricted to Church - he was involved in Coalville Grammar School’s musical productions each year. As a lad he’d played the lead in “The Pirates of Penzance” there, now he

was producing “The Gondoliers” and other such extravaganzas for the next generation of scholars.

When the school moved to its new premises at Forest Rock there was new organ and.... you may have guessed.... no-one able to play it!

So Martin was, once again, on the organ stool playing for all school assemblies. A highlight of this time was when “Songs of Praise” was transmitted from the school. When we eagerly gathered round the TV to watch at home we were gratified that , at least, we saw many shots of Martin’s feet on the organ pedals!

Martin’s last service at Glenfield Church was on 6th October, 1968.

On the very next Sunday, 13th October, he played for a service at Thornton for the first time.

From then on he played the organ occasionally until the death of Miss Leda Seal in March 1979. From that date he has been St. Peter’s organist.

Raised funds As well as his church commitments, Martin also, from 1973 to 2001, played the organ for every Markfield Theatre Group Pantomime and Music Hall with his childhood friend, Nancie, playing the piano alongside him. That’s almost thirty pantomimes with about fifteen songs in each, each having seven performances a week!

(Well, he can do the Maths!)

Although a “diarist” of some repute, (ask him on which date the robin builds in his yew tree each year, for example, and he’ll tell you!), Martin has lost count of the weddings and funerals for which he’s played. He has made tapes of Christmas Music to raise funds for the church and organised many concerts with musical items all accompanied by himself at the organ. In recent years he has written the words and music to Christmas carols to be performed at our Candlelit Christmas service.

Every week, at Morning Prayer,

I’m not crazy. I’ve just been in a very bad mood for 30 years.

21

By Muriel Walker we sing the Gloria to music which Martin composed.

Martin says that the finest organ he ever played is that of St. James the Greater in Leicester where he played for a wedding. It is no secret that he has a great emotional attachment to Thornton’s church organ. From 1991 to 1994 he drove forward fund-raising efforts to pay for its restoration and was instrumental in setting up the Organ Fund to preserve the organ, “a fine mid-Victorian instrument”, for posterity.

Now Martin has decided that it’s time to be free of the commitment of playing the organ every Sunday. I think he knows that his presence as organist will be greatly missed, but we are fortunate that he will still be worshipping at St. Peter’s with us, and involving himself in many other things as he always does.

Last service: 30th May His last service as organist will be at St. Peter’s, Thornton, on 30th May at 10.30 a.m. and will be followed by a Faith Lunch at Thornton Community Centre at 12.00 noon. Please feel very welcome to come along to say a brief thank you to Martin. Typically,

and sincerely, he wants NO FUSS! There’s no need to book! Just, please, bring a little buffet-style food to share. Drinks will be provided.

Martin will be busy in the afternoon, playing the organ for a SPONSORED HYMN session at St. Peter’s from 3.00 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

So, if you are able to come along for lunch at the Centre, you could always walk down to the church in the afternoon to sing your favourite hymn. This is Martin’s most recent contribution to the Friends of St. Peter’s fund-raising-efforts for the renovation and restoration work that is ongoing at the church.

Recently, he and I were having one of our in-depth conversations about life in general, (what Mum would have called “putting the world to rights”!) and I asked, “Is there anything you really are sorry that you didn’t pursue? “ After a brief pause he said, “I’d really have liked to be an organ scholar”.

There’s no surprise there, then!

Muriel Walker (Martin’s sister)

Forthcoming events at Mercenfeld Primary School The Herald has received details of a couple of events taking place at Mercenfeld Primary School, Oakfield Avenue, Markfield.

The first one takes place technically before the May issue will be completely delivered, but we’ve included it as some early issues go out on the afternoon of the event.

•

Friday MAY 7th, LADIES NIGHT - 7pm-10pm – Fun FUNdraiser. Event includes a Zumba Demo, Karaoke, Chocolate Fountain, facials & manicures available, tombola & raffles

•

Friday JULY 9th PARTY IN THE PLAYGROUND - 7pm10pm - Summer fund raising PTA event. Barbeque, Band & Boogie. Raffle Prize Draw, tombolas, and many more summer fair stalls

Both events are to be held in the school grounds OAKFIELD AVENUE, MARKFIELD, LEICESTERSHIRE, LE67 9WG.

Uppingham Summer School Courses If you are looking for a local mini-break that will teach you a skill or develop a hobby – then do have a look at what’s on offer at Uppingham Summer School.

Residential and non-residential courses are on offer. They vary from Bridge, 3 Language Courses, Glass Painting, Cricket, Tennis and more.

Contact Details & Website: - www.uppinghamsummerschool.co.uk T: 01572 820800, 34 Stockerston Road, Uppingham, Rutland, LE15 9UD.

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Leicester City Ladies (u16’s) looking for new sponsor & players for next season

Leicester City Ladies (U16’s for next season) are looking for a sponsor for next season. If you are a local business and would be interested in sponsoring the team kit please give us a call.

We are also looking to recruit additional players to our successful squad in preparation for next season.If you are currently in years 9 or 10 and are interested in coming down for a trial/training session.

Please contact us on 01530 243172.

Watch air traffic live - on your computer!

We came across a fascinating website which allows you to watch air traffic flying over Europe - and other parts of the world - on your home computer.

Go to www.flightradar24.com and you can become a plane spotter in the comfort of your spare bedroom.

Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

23

Extracts from the latest Minutes of Bagworth and Thornton Parish Council The following items were among the topics discussed at the Bagworth & Thornton Parish Council meeting held on March 1st 2010 at Thornton Community centre 7.00pm.

(At the time the Herald goes to press, these are the latest available minutes. Visit http://bagworthandthornton. leicestershireparishcouncils.org/ minutes-archive.html to view the minutes on the Parish Council’s website.)

Bagworth Cricket Club - Old Colliery Sports Club: Members of the cricket club expressed their anxiety at the possible closure of the pavilion on health and safety grounds. The Parish Council advised that the safety of the people using the building is paramount.

The PC wish to see a formal constitution from the Club, sight of public liability insurance and a certificate that the electrics in the building are safe.

Neighbourhood Watch Coordinator: The post had been advertised and the Clerk had received one application so far. It was agreed to leave the advert for a total of 14 days to see if any other applicants emerged.

Speed Watch: a discussion took place with regard to the purchase of a speed watch camera. It was decided further information is required, i.e. cost of maintenance, insurance etc. The Parish Council gave agreement in principle to progress the project subject to further information being obtained by the clerk.

Thornton School - Winding the clock: Councillor Gogerty advised he was no longer able to perform this duty and asked the clerk to advertise the position in The Herald and out a notice on the web site.

Luke Jackson Trust: A letter of resignation had been received from Tony Chapman. The Clerk was asked to advertise the position in The Herald and on the web site.

Rolling Task Sheet: Several councillors expressed the need

for a list of outstanding items to be presented to the council each month, after a short discussion it was agreed a rolling task sheet would be introduced. This would be updated each month by the clerk and presented to the members at each meeting.

Bagworth Pre School: The group is running very well and after Easter will have 24 members on the books.

Bagworth Forward Group: Nothing to report except that a function had had to be cancelled due to lack of support.

Archaeological report: The parish has been approached by the County Archaeologist as a place for a suitable dig to take place, a field in the parish will be put forward to the County Council.

Bagworth Community Centre: The Chairman had attended a meeting regarding the County Councils plans for a children’s centre. A special meeting of the Parish Council will take place on 8th March 2010 at 7.00pm to discuss the new design for the centre.

Thornton Community Centre: Councillor Walker reported that the roof over the kitchen area is still leaking and quotations for the repairs were in hand, it was estimated the works would cost in the region of £7,000, Councillor Walker will take the matter forward.

An informal coffee morning is to be held to celebrate the opening of the new extension.

Park Lane potholes: A correspondent had advised the Parish Council that the potholes in Park Lane, Bagworth have become very dangerous, and that vehicles are driving onto the verge to avoid them and pushing the ditch in. The clerk was asked to ascertain who owns the lane.

Put your troubles Why it doesn’t to sleep take THAT much Are you struggling with time to stay fit a problem? Sleep on it.

Seriously. Sleeping on a problem really does work – dreams are the brain’s way of getting to grips with complex issues.

Now researchers have found that if you learn a task, and then sleep, you will be up to ten times better at doing it than if you had stayed awake and just kept going.

A professor of Harvard Medical School said: “After nearly 100 years of debate about the function of dreams, this study tells us that dreams are the brain’s way of processing, integrating and really understanding new information.”

How much debt do you have?

You aren’t likely to give an honest answer – even to your nearest and dearest, it seems. More than one fifth of Britons lie to their own families about the amount of cash they owe.

A recent survey by the Post Office found that 21 per cent of us fail to declare the true extent of our debt, while 31 per cent of us also admit to hiding it from family members.

The typical Briton has nearly £10,000 of debt, not including the mortgage, although they will only admit to having £4,600.

Here may be some really good news: your body will get as much benefit from 10-minute bursts of intensive exercise as it does from 10 hours of moderate training.

A recent study in Ontario looked at the benefits of HIT – or high intensity interval training. The technique involves running or cycling at almost maximum effort for one minute and then resting for a minute before repeating the process around ten times. HIT can be a “time-efficient but safe alternative to traditional types of moderate long term exercise”, researchers claimed.

Who is best at the wheel?

Children feel safer in the car when their mother is driving, according to a recent study by GEM Motoring Assist.

Youngsters 5 to 16 said their fathers drove too fast, were more aggressive and lost their temper at the wheel. Six out of ten children said their mother’s driving was best, even though she was more likely to stall the car or find it hard to park.

Rummage Sale in Anstey: Saturday 12th June: 11am till 1pm At the Leicester Multiple Sclerosis Branch, 27 Latimer Street, Anstey, Leicester, LE7 7AW If you have any items for sale, please let Jean (07837 899976) or Elaine (0116 284 1853) know.

Books, Clothing, Bric-a-Brac (NO ELECTRICAL ITEMS PLEASE) all proceeds to the leicester & district ms society

If at first you don’t succeed, do it like your mother told you.

24

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A Friendly & Effective 1-2-1 Learning Experience

Have you got the get up & go that John Adnett of Markfield had in 1722?

Yes in September 1722 John would have had to get up the crack of dawn probably 4.00 a.m. if not before in order to board the horse & coach to the City of London from Leicester.

No turn pike roads set up then with toll gates, it would have been a bumpy ride on rough rutted tracks: No bus stations either in Leicester in those days so the coach would probably have been stationed at a public house in the High Street. John was in the days of no television, no computers, no telephones only books with illustrations or the conversations of those who had journeyed to the capital such as the village doctor or clergyman perhaps. He was going into the big unknown and saying goodbye to his family & his village community, to go down to the capital to learn how to use the new fangled knitted machines: He was being signed sealed & delivered to ‘a brother of the Company of Framework Knitters in the City of London’. The Reverend William Lee had initially, unsuccessfully invented almost a century before a frame knitting machine. After William’s death his brother managed to rewardingly establish the framework kniting trade in London.

Only five other Leicestershire youngsters took up framework knitting apprenticeships in London and the first to go was Hugh Russell from Lutterworth in 1703. These were the days of no central heating and coal & wood fires that would have gone out by morning: These were the days before thermal clothing & fleeces to take away the cold. Markfield was way in the lead of lots of other county villages in getting involved so so early with the new frames. One wonders where the inspirational

information came from & how it got to eager ears? Up until the arrival of the frames there had only been scant evidence of any textile industry within Markfield’s primarily agricultural community, with only 5 cloth weavers being recorded in Markfield apprentice or baptism records between 1710 to 1841. Eventually, over one & a half thousand Leicestershire children or teenagers were officially apprenticed to learn framework knitting, to be framesmiths, to make frame needles or frame sinkers. Almost all of these later apprentices learnt in their home county with just a few going to Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Warwickshire.

This high number is a total misinterpretation of just how many kids were involved with frames. In Markfield alone only Thomas Callis aged 14 in 1871 was recorded on the Census as being a framework knitting apprentice. On Markfield censuses from 1851 to 1901 inclusive 71 young Markfield young residents are recorded as assisting in the framework knitting process and Joseph Jones & John Wheatley were only 7 years old.

How many unrecorded apprentices would there have been county wide?

By 1727 there was between 500600 framework knitters in Leicester.

The knitting was really taking off in Markfield too. Frames were bought or more usually rented & spaces were found for them ever to clutter up living space or in out buildings or new extensions.

They were all over the village - in the middle in places such as Main Street, the Nook or the Green & in the outskirts in locations such as Shaw Lane, at Hobby Hall & Little Markfield. They were not always knitting stockings or socks; they knitted gloves, cardigan jackets & jerseys too. At a sale by auction

in Leicester 28th January 1812 - William Read of Markfield had either rented or was buying 45 frames & William Wildbore also from Markfield was connected with 15 frames. In their wills both William Finlay & William Parramore leave ‘frames’. This was not just one frame per family cluttering the main living space this was people going outside their own households and working industriously in larger units.

Conditions from framework knitters got so bad the government commissioned in 1844 a man named Felkin to tour the country to count how many frames there were in each settlement whether urban or rural. He recorded Markfield with153, Ashby with14, Thornton with 22, Glenfield with 50, Anstey with 215, Ratby with 120 and Hinckley with 1750. After my own personal research of the 1851 Census six years later, it was found that 8 households had one framework knitter, 12 households had a family of framework knitters, 5 households with the head and at least one offspring as a knitter, 18 households where the head & wife were both framework knitters.

Forty three households with 153 frames in the village is quite a fascinating historical statistic.

Many framework knitters were as bound to their frames as many of us are now bound to a computer system. For those who had developed deep relationships with their frame they worked in a sanctuary: For those who had poor orders for stockings from the bag hosiers and a young family to feed they worked in a cell.

They had no comfy office swivel chair it was generally just a large piece of leather nailed across a wooden frame. Every daylight hour was utilised and many suffered irreparable eyestrain, often in poor light watching for dropped

Mondays are the potholes in the road of life.

stitches or faulty threads & from having to keep a complex knitting system in good running order.

One framework knitter Thomas aged 33 was also found in a village doctor’s prescription book of the 1820’s to be suffering from ‘piles’ perhaps from hours of sitting at his frame. The frames rarely stopped in daylight hours, if the master had to go out to tend for example the animals, then the wife or elder children would be expected to take his place and keep the machine going.

Just like getting information on new knitting machines individuals in later years also from somewhere were inspired to emigrate to America or Australia. The frames though generally kept families together in Markfield and the only time the village seems to have suffered from depopulation was at the time of the plague. As the rural framework knitting trade was being driven back by the larger city knitting factories then the potential of Markield’s valuable stone environment took over and the village was eventually full of quarrymen or miners trekking to the mines. How the hill must have once hummed with the drone of all those returning jack sinkers on over a hundred machines knitting row after row after row. John Adnett should be remembered as an individual who had enough get up and go to bring a new much needed industry to our village.

Di Lockley

25

Herald Film Reviews from Tom Flowitt

Clash of the Titans (12A)

The Ghost (15)

Anstey & District Funeral Service Starring: Sam Worthington, Gemma Arterton, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes 106 Minutes Clash of the Titans is the retelling of the classic adventure. The story follows Perseus on his journey to save Argos and avenge the death of his family. Along the way he has to battle gods and monsters to complete his quest.

The world created in Clash of the Titans is one of epic proportions with the special effects working overtime. The 3D element is disappointing however and adds nothing to the film.

Sam Worthington, as Perseus, continues to add to his stock as the go to guy for action adventure films while Ralph Fiennes and Liam Neeson put in powerful performances as Hades and Zeus.

Verdict: Clash of the Titans is an adrenalin fuelled adventure story that thoroughly entertains throughout. It is every bit as good as the original and at times arguably better.

4 Stars

Starring: Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan 128 Minutes Based on the novel by Robert Harris, the Ghost is a political thriller focusing on a ghost writer (McGregor), whose name is never revealed, as he writes the memoirs of former Prime Minister Adam Lang (Brosnan). As he digs into Lang’s past he discovers things that put his own life in danger.

The film itself doesn’t flow and at times becomes confusing. You are constantly left with the feeling that you are missing something and that events don’t seem to connect together as they should.

McGregor and Brosnan both put in inconsistent performances and bizarrely, considering they are both British, put on clichéd British accents that are annoying at the best of times.

Verdict: The film builds up to a climax that you won’t see coming but still doesn’t satisfy and much like the rest of the film, frankly disappoints.

2 Stars

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So Daisys Really Are Made In Heaven

by Nick Burrin I wake up and feel my hands to see if I still exist. I do, and I wasn’t dreaming. I’ve always felt my life has been different but I never thought that something like this would ever happen to me. It’s like being in a fairy tale, or an imaginary dream - but this is reality.

In this beautifully written account, author Nick Burrin opens his heart and describes his own personal awakening. He explains how over the past few years his life and awareness have changed, bringing a sense of heavenly connection and fulfilment.

“Suddenly I feel free. Rules have ceased to exist, and all the old conditionings of life are vanishing. There is no time or limitations. No anxiety, just new dimensions of existence. What are human qualifications, without divine intuition and divine connection?

“I always thought that there must be much more to life than what we all see - but how to connect, how to get in touch with the deeper, inner self?”

In describing his heavenly experiences Burrin gently yet persuasively shows us that “There has to be one truth, one ultimate knowledge. One everlasting and totally understandable definition of life, of where we have come from, where we are going, and what has created us.” Ultimately Burrin answers the question: “What is our relationship with this awesome power of creation?”

Website: www.authorsonline.co.uk PaperBack Purchase Price: • UK: £7.00 • This book is also available as an eBook at www.authorsonline.co.uk. eBook Download Price: £3.95 (Pounds Sterling)

27

Markfield Neighbourhood Watch News Unusual Housebreaking The first item relates to an incident that occurred between 5.30am and 7.30am on Saturday, the 10th of April when two men broke into a house in the Forest Road area, assaulted and inflicted minor injuries on, when disturbed, the 75 year old male resident before running off with a quantity of cash across neighbouring gardens. The victim describes the two men as having fair hair and looked to be in their thirties. One of them is described of being of chubby build and was quite small. From that description not a youngster, local or otherwise. The matter is being dealt with by DC 1033 Sada Bains.

Phantom Painter(s) The second matter of great concern and disappointment is the fact that on the following Saturday late evening or overnight several cars in Markfield had paint brushed on them. Nearby walls and pavements had obscene graffiti thereon and some street signs were partially obliterated. Whoever did this nonsense must have been carrying brushes and cans as white and blue paint had been used.

The area concerned is Roecliff Close, Chitterman Way, Linford Crescent and Bradgate Road and because of the number of cars and large area involved some time must have been taken to complete this malicious activity of which someone must be aware.

Probably, by the time you read this, the culprits for all offences will have been detected and being dealt with and, as appropriate, named and shamed although, in so saying, I hope my faith in our own lads and lasses is not misplaced and none of the offenders are local. In this case P.c. 918 Kevin Kelly is the officer dealing.

However, if you have not heard the result of either of the above crimes and feel you have information either officer dealing can be contacted in the usual manner which is: - dial 0116 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message and when prompted key in the officer’s identification number or alternately, ring Crimestoppers in the usual anonymous manner.

My original intention This, in conclusion, I am going to fulfil and it is an appeal to the younger members of our community – yes our local girls and boys of whom we are, generally, so proud. We need their help to stop a bad habit that I have noted, in my local travels, seems to be continually developing. So what am I writing about? Well you may ask!

It is the Use of Mobile Telephones Whilst Driving.

So come on young passengers, take responsibility and tell your Dad, Mum, Granddad, Grandma, Big Sister, Big Brother, Aunt, Uncle or any other older person off if, when you are a passenger, they do this silly thing. In fact, if you know they do this even when you are not in the car tell them off anyway.

Prove to them just how GROWN UP and responsible YOU are.

I know you will not dream of doing it yourself when you are old enough to drive will you!

Secretary’s position Our Secretary is unexpectedly leaving the area very shortly so if anyone would like to volunteer for that position or knows someone who might please let me know at 245908 ASAP.

Alex Ritchie

STOP PRESS: Great News!

Having very recently circulated the bad news about the damage caused in our area by hooligan “painters” I am delighted to say that I have just been informed by our local Police Inspector, Richard Ward, that two culprits have been detected. Both male, under the age of 17, will now be dealt with in the normal manner. Particularly pleasing to me is the fact that neither are Markfield lads and, thus, we can retain my oft expressed pride in our own local youngsters. Well done PC Kelly.

Why Governments Will Become Obsolete In The 21st Century In his newly released work, Why Governments will become Obsolete in the 21st Century, Paul Cottage challenges the reader, questioning our social responsibilities: “Some would argue that we are free now to express our heartfelt views, and that our governments and institutions are actively working towards an open and better future.

Yet collectively we are failing miserably to take advantage of these opportunities to solve the social and environmental issues that threaten us. We are still willing to go to war with our neighbours, for what are in reality absolutely trivial reasons that are spawned out of mistrust and fear. We continue to live wasteful lives that pollute our environment, and threaten to destroy the existence of all life on our one and only planet.”

Homo sapiens, the most intelligent animal to inhabit this earth, have always led a socially structured existence. In the beginning, the huntergatherer male was the protector of the young mother with child and the old. Later, as tribes expanded and merged, the clan elders took over, leading with word and deed that were an inspiration to their people. As Man evolved, so did the power of the swordsman and the wordsmith. Then there was religion.

Paul Cottage takes the reader through the history of Man’s need for clear leadership as he emerges from the Late Palaeolithic era up to the 21st century, via the Romans, Monarchies, and spiritual leaders such as Jesus and Mahatma Gandhi.

The book highlights the early struggles between Monarchy and the Church, and the way politics and religion have shaped our civilization through dictatorships and crusades, democracies and world wars. These struggles have certainly not always been for the benefit of mankind as a whole. Science and reason has been at war with politics and religion from the beginning. Could it now be that Science has a way of taking control of the people without governments or religion?

Publisher: Authors On Line Ltd, Website: www.authorsonline.co.uk RRP: UK: £7.99; This book is also available as ebook at www.authorsonline.co.uk. eBook Download Price: £3.95 (Pounds Sterling)

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

I have no idea what I’m doing out of bed.

28

Music in the Mead Cryptic Crossword AN EXCITING range of musical performances will take place in the bandstand in Hinckley’s Argents Mead throughout the summer, with something guaranteed to suit every age and taste.

The season opens on Saturday 22 May and continues until Saturday 5 September and includes the sounds of rock, pop, indie, popular classics, jazz, swing, soul, blues and even oompah.

July is Summer Festival month, with a performance on every Saturday of the month. The concert series has been organised by the Borough Council and all the performances are from 1pm to 3pm and free of charge.

Refreshments will also be available this year, provided by a variety of local charitable organisations.

The programme is as follows: Saturday 22 May – Citizens of Swing - A 7-piece swing band, playing tunes from the 40s and 50s Saturday 5 June - The Enderby Wind Band - A traditional concert band performing a wide range of popular and classical band music.

Saturday 19 June – Swinging Bass A professional jazz and dance quintet Saturday 3 July – The Kez - A 60s and 70s rock n roll band playing Elvis, The Beatles, T Rex, Mud, Sweet and more.

Saturday 10 July – The Kosmiks Irish jigs and reels, as well as popular Irish folk tunes.

Saturday 17 July – Little Boy Blue - A 5-piece rhythm and blues band

playing a variety of blues, soul and rock and roll.

Saturday 24 July - Phoenix - A local 5-piece band playing a mix of rock and pop covers and original songs.

Saturday 31 July – Von Winkler’s Bavarian Band - An authentic sound of the Bavarian Alps.

Saturday 14 August – Rocking 60s Music from the golden age of rock ‘n’ roll. They also all have the distinction of being within their 60s.

Saturday 5 September – Kids in Cars - A local 5-piece indie rock band For more information contact Paula Padmore on 01455 255856 or visit the council’s website at: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ events_calendar.asp

Clues Across

4 Put the art back into wickedness it’s an effort 8 Say ‘m master’ perhaps? (7) 9 Sprinkles with flowers? (6) 10 Sure or one may be wrong (9) 11 The medicine bottle sounds horrid (4) 13 Grow less sounds like a temptation (5) 14 Can back into a male and handcuff him (7) 16 Loud mouthed Greek? (7) 18 Summer snake? (5) 19 Annex to contain following (4) 21 Aura in leg could lead to a painful condition (9) 22 Odd but mostly even (6) 23 Sounds like the lady’s outfit hairy! (7) 24 Last beginning with the end (6)

Clues Down

1 A character at praise (9) 2 Bring an insect into the country?

That’s serious (9) 3 Disease in a safe version (5) 5 Strikes water? (4) 6 C.I.A. round the tar put that up for language (6) 7 Settle in the greenest leaves? (6) 9 Rag us in return for sweetness (5) 11 Land Mavis in trouble for wilful damage (9) 12 A late round confused evil make it easier (9) 15 Zoned into twelve (5) 16 Sounds like comfort under the poles but cold could cause this (6) 17 To lengthen text remove beginning and add end (6) 20 Loudly reproach the weak (5) 21 Approach in fine array (4) TURN TO PAGE 32 FOR THE SOLUTION

Sometimes I think I understand everything. Then I regain consciousness.

29

LOCAL PUBS & CLUBS The Bulls Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Sat 22 May: THE CHEEZE (B.B.Q. Available) Sat 19 June: PETE LEWIS

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

Fri 14 May: MOTOWN SHOWDOWN Fri 28 May: TAKE THAT Every 2nd Tues: QUIZ Nite (See Advert Page 32)

The Red Lion Main Street, Markfield.

T: 01530 242936 Open: Mon-Wed: 3-10.30pm Thurs: 2.30-11pm Fri&Sat: 12.30-11.30pm Sun: 12-10.30pm CONGRATULATIONS to the Markfield F.C. An all-round Successful season.

Screen SPORT/ Darts & Pool

The Bricklayers Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite – Thursdays www.bricklayersarms.net (See Advert Page 29)

The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield.

T: 01530 242 496 (Small PUB/BIG Welcome) ’Take Your Pick’ ~Every Fri: 7-8pm.

“Be in it to win it!”

ALL SKY SPORTS & ESPN Old Thatched Inn, Stanton.

T: 01530 242460 Sat 15 May: UNPLUGGED Sat 22 May: THE MARTINS (See Advert on Page 3) The Club, Thornton Main Street. T: 01530 230251 Open to Non-Members Sat 8 May: DIRTY FRANK EVERY Thurs: The JIVE Den 7.45pm. Modern Jive with Salsa & Latin moves. T: 0783 713 6655.

Fri 14 May: Charity CONCERT See Page 12 (Great Stuff!)

Sat 29 May: L’s DISCO/Karaoke Sat 5 June: THE MARTINS www.myspace.com/thorntonclub Bagworth WMC Station Road, Bagworth T: 01530 230 205 New Members Welcome Sat 8 May: Pete SCHWARTZ Sat 15 May: AXIS DUO Sat 22 May; LEONA Fri 28 May: Tick Tock Rock (£3 on the door) Sat 29 May AL BRYAN Sat 5 June: The SINNERMANS Sat 12 June: TRICIA O’BRIEN Fri 18 June: Tick Tock Rock (£3 on the door) Every Wed: Tea Dance 2-4pm £1 Incl.Tea & Biscuits Last Fridays of Month: ANDY’S CHARITY QUIZ. £1.50 each.

Every Sun ~ SEQUENCE DANCING Cost:£1.

Start 7.30pm (Bar Open).

The Bricklayer’s Arms

Large Garden

www.bricklayersarms.net

Children’s Play Area

Home-Made Pie Night

Walk Way to Reservoir

213 Main Street, Thornton Tel: 01530 230808

Tuesday - £6.95 includes a Glass of Wine

Pasta & Rice Night Wednesdays - £7.95 Includes a Glass of Wine

2 Courses - £9 or 3 Courses - £11 With personal service to your table

Lunches & Snacks: Tues-Sun Eves (Tues-Sat): ‘A La Carte’ or Snacks • Weekend Specials A Welcoming Homely Atmosphere, Open Fire & Great Food!

The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights:Sats: 15 May & 29 May (’King of the Road’) Sundays: QUIZ Night (See Advert Page 5) The Stamford Arms Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 5616.

Sat 8 May: STONEPARK Sat 15 May: HAZZARD Sat 22 May: T.B.C. Sat 29 May: TRIBUTE ~ PLANET ABBA+Support (Ticket:£10 ~ Buy in Advance) Sats Entertainment in June on hold~World Cup on Wide Screen.

KARAOKE ~ Every Wed OPEN MIC ~Every Thurs JAZZ ~ Every Sun 3-6pm QUIZ – General Knowledge + Find the Joker ~ EVERY Sun QUIZ – Music ~ EVERY Tues Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287-1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk NOTICE TO MEMBERS Great Entertainment Fri/Sat/Sun New Members Welcome The Charnwood Arms Bardon. T: 01530 813644 Every MON Night:POKER TOURNAMENT FREE ~ Starts 7pm.

TRIBUTE NIGHT £10 a Ticket Includes Supper & Disco Fri 28 May: Freddie MERCURY

Forest Hill Golf & Country Club Markfield Lane, Botcheston Tel: 01455 824 800 Mon 31 May: FAMILY Fun Day FREE Entry ~ 12 – 6pm. Lots of fun for all the family.

(See Advert Page 11)

Traditional Sunday Lunch

The Plough Inn Burroughs Road, RATBY. T: 0116 239 2103 EVERY Tues ~ QUIZ Sat 15 May: FORGOTTON SUN Wed 19 May: AMERICAN Custom & Classic Car Show Sat 5 June: DERELICT (Classic Punk & Rock Covers) (See Advert Page 22)

All information correct at time of going to press.

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Compost bins for sale NOW that spring is well underway, green-fingered residents are being encouraged to get out into their gardens and discover the benefits of home composting.

And to help them do so compost bins are now available to borough residents at discounted prices.

Full details, including prices, sizes and how to order are available on the following website: http://www.getcomposting.com/.

This link will take you to the home page where you will be required to enter your postcode which will then bring up the offer for Hinckley & Bosworth.

Please note: these offers are limited and subject to availability.

A good likeness ...

An infants teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. She would occasionally walk around to see each child’s artwork. As she came to one little girl who was working diligently, she asked 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, or looking up from her drawing the girl replied, . . .

“They will in a minute.”

Dangerous Book For Men Revisits Lost Skills

By Rod Green Now then old chap, I’m sure I don’t need to remind you of the importance of a decent Set of Tweeds, a Sturdy Pair of Brogues and a Stout Stick.

This book will also furnish you with forgotten skills, as you learn how to: • Make your own compass • Tickle a trout - and then clean it • Find water in the desert • Build a Snow Hole • Survive if your parachute doesn’t open • Break up a dogfight • Make a raft • Escape from Quicksand • Pick a lock • Treat a jellyfish sting • Escape from a bear • Build a temporary shelter. . . and much more

AMAZON.CO.UK price: £5.99

31 Islamic Centre Inter-faith Group

Interesting talk by Barrie Gannon Our speaker in March was Barrie Gannon, who as an engineer, has travelled widely throughout the developing world managing electrical power projects. Barrie gave a talk about some of his experiences in Nigeria, Tanzania, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Syria.

Due to the nature of some of the countries, this unfortunately included the Iraq-Iran war, Gulf War, extremist uprisings, hostage taking, murder and even delays caused by witchcraft.

In many of the countries women were in very subordinate roles and this appeared to be more due to local culture than religion. In Tanzania, in order to stem the burgeoning birth rate and resultant poverty, he found Benedictine monks teaching birth control even though it was against their religious teaching. However, in Iraq he met women engineers who dreaded the extreme form of Islam that would be imposed on them by Iran if Iraq lost the war.

Barrie said that he had seen too many, previously harmonious communities become divided by politics, religion, and discrimination. Most people are very moderate and just want to get on with their lives. It is a very small minority of extremist activists that cause the problems.

He respects all faiths and as a Christian does not believe he has any right to consider any one religion to be more holy than another. The common factor is God and men and women are equal. We should focus on our common factors and that which unites us rather than that divides and isolates us.

His faith also evolves to recognise proven scientific discovery and cultural change and, for example, he has no difficulty in accepting Richard Dawkins’ teachings on evolution and Darwinism.

Science can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God. Faith takes over where science finishes. Faith is personal.

NEXT MEETING: Our next meeting is on 20th May at 12 noon at the Islamic Foundation, Ratby Lane, Markfield, when Nargis Imran will do a workshop on ‘miniatures’. Nargis is an artist from Pakistan. She studied and worked in Dubai, Pakistan and England.

Did You Know? ... that there are several Interfaith Groups in Leicester, Loughborough and surrounding Villages, of which Markfield is one, that by joining you can discuss and learn of faith in general and in particular, you can discuss and learn from each faith without prejudice nor fear? ... that the Library at the Islamic Foundation is used by non Muslims for Postgraduate Study and Research? The Library is also open to anyone wishing to take advantage of its vast collection of Books and Journals? ... that the Interfaith Group meet at the Library at the Islamic Foundation Library every two months to discuss various aspects of faith and culture in a friendly and informal atmosphere? You will be made most welcome.

Sheila Lammiman

LETTER The Friendship Force of Leicestershire I am writing on behalf of a Leicestershire organisation The Friendship Force of Leicestershire. The organisation is world-wide and there are 20 clubs in the UK.

Our aim is to spread peace and friendship globally. This is done by hosting groups from other countries in the world, and by our group travelling to many different countries. During the course of these ‘exchanges’ we learn a lot about one another, and begin to understand other cultures.

In May we shall be hosting a group from Hiroshima in Japan.

Some of the ‘ambassadors’ (visitors) will be staying in Markfield and the whole group will get together at a member’s home in Markfield for a typical ‘English cream tea’. We hope that our Japanese visitors will enjoy this experience as much as our members enjoyed attending tea ceremonies in Japan when the Leicestershire group visited Osaka.

Our outward exchange later this year will be to USA and Mexico.

Pamela Sutton

President of The Friendship Force of Leicestershire

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T: 0775 192 5247



        



    

I still miss my ex-husband, but my aim is getting better.

32

find 12 AFRICAN STATES in the Wordsearch puzzle below, and you could win yourself a nice prize.

This month we are offering a first prize of:

A Main Course for Two plus A Bottle of House Wine at The Field Head Hotel and a SECOND PRIZE of:

A pair of Adult Tickets to see a film at the REEL CINEMA in Loughborough To go into the draw for the prizes, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - 12 African states.

These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

Send your entry to: I BLESS THE RAINS, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Wednesday 26th May 2010.

Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s brand new Stetson Hat will win the Meal for Two, and the second will win the Cinema Tickets. Good luck!

Here are the 12 AFRICAN STATES you have to find: BOTSWANA • BURKINA FASO • CAMEROON IVORY COAST • LESOTHO • MAURITANIA Word Search Puzzle

Page 1

MOZAMBIQUE • SENEGAL • SIERRA LEONE SWAZILAND • TANZANIA • ZIMBABWE

L U V P O E O K V P H F N F M Z

M Q B Y S J W N H L W O X A M H

O X Q M A W A B V H O D U I L K

Z T K L F B A X A R V R Z N S T

A I E E A P N Z E B I X S A R X

M P E O N B H M I T M E Y Z A K

B J Y D I O A I A L N I J N C U

I N N V K C E N A E A I Z A I T

Q W R U R P I L G N G N F T Q T

U S G R U A O A A U O K D B E O

E B F O B N L C Z R N F W K Z H

B O T S W A N A S N R X B A C Q

I T S A O C Y R O V I E Z D G J

O H T O S E L X H G Z V I V T E

M K J G V Z L P X K S W D S B F

K K K Q A W G S B A L F J S O P

CAR BOOT SALE

Saturday 5th June, 2010 9am to 1pm Copt Oak Memorial Hall Field – LE67 9QB next to Copt Oak Pub STALLS set up 8am PUBLIC admission 9am CARS £5 CARS WITH TRAILERS £8 VANS £10 Entrance 50p - children free Booking advisable @ 0116 2674 746 Refreshments available Proceeds in aid of St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak

Looking for a place in Groby? house share available in Groby to professional.

Off road parking space.

Ring for details 07952 436432

Name: ................................................................................................... 

BOTSWANA

Address: ................................................................................................

BURKINAFASO

CAMEROON ..............................................................................................................

IVORYCOAST ..............................................

Postcode: ................................................

LESOTHO MAURITANIA MOZAMBIQUE SENEGAL The first correct entry drawn out of the hat last month came from: ANDREW WILLIAMS of St Michael’s Close, Markfield. Congratulations! Your SIERRALEONE Meal & Wine Voucher to spend at the Field Head Hotel will be sent to you in the next SWAZILAND 21 days. The second correct entry drawn out came from Mrs. EILEEN GRAY of TANZANIA Rectory Road, Markfield. Congratulations! Your Pair of Adult Tickets to see a film at ZIMBABWE The Reel Cinema in Loughborough will be sent to you in the next 21 days.

Last month’s winners!

 

SOLUTION to Cryptic Crossword on page 28 Across: 4 Strain 8 Stammer 9 Sprays 10 Erroneous 11 Vial 13 Abate 14 Manacle, 17 Stentor 18 Adder 19 Next 21 Neuralgia 22 Eleven 23 Hirsute 24 Endure Down: 1 Attribute 2 Important 3 Fever 5 Taps 6 Arabic 7 Nestle 9 Sugar 11 Vandalism 12 Alleviate 15 Dozen 16 Sneeze 17 Extend 20 Frail 21 Near

I went to school to become a wit. Only got halfway through.

33

Cross Hills Baptist Church

Serving Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area

Renewal of Vows Members of our congregation, Keith & Mary Holmes (pictured above), celebrated their 36th Wedding Anniversary by renewing their wedding vows at a special service led by Pastor Garry Kelly at Cross Hills church on Saturday 6th March. This was followed by a celebration meal in the church hall with friends and family.

Please contact Pastor Garry Kelly if you would like to find out more about the service for the renewal of wedding vows and the use of our hall for a celebration meal afterwards.

Visits to local schools

Our Sunday Club leader, Ruth Holmes, assisted by Bekki Holmes visited 2 local schools after Easter with her puppet, Maisie the monkey.

They led the assembly at Dovebank Primary on Thursday 15th April and at Thornton Primary on Friday 16th April when the children enjoyed a story and a song from Maisie with a Christian message. They were then each given a pencil to take home to remind them of the visit. If any of the children would like to try our Sunday Club please contact us on any of the numbers below for further information.

Our Sunday Club will be leading the Sunday School Anniversary Service on Sunday 20th June at 10.30am.

Bank Holiday Bonanza, Monday 31st May, 10am to 12noon Come and spend a pleasant morning with us at Bagworth Community Centre and enjoy tea and cakes, music by Marwood Brass Band and our own duo, George & Roy, and many stalls and games.

Entrance is free and there will be a Raffle, cake and plant stalls, £1 in the bucket, tombolas, bric a brac, jigsaws, books, DVD’s, CD’s, HoopLa and lots more. There will also be a stall with books, Bibles and other goods from a Christian bookshop in Measham. We are hoping for lovely sunny weather so that some stalls can be outside with the band playing in the background.

Please note the revised times this year and lunches will not be available on this occasion.

Table Tops will be available outside at £10 per table for anyone wishing to sell crafts or goods.

Limited availability and prior bookings only. Contact Bekki on 01530 231901 or Hilda on 230427 to book your place or for further details.

We are a very friendly church and we look forward to welcoming you at any of our services. Details are in the Church Service Information section in this magazine. We serve tea and coffee after our services giving the opportunity for friendship and fellowship together.

Look What’s On At The Palace, Ibstock 57 High Street, Ibstock, Leics. LE67 6LH • Tel: 01530 267303

~ Forthcoming Events ~ Friday, 14th May – Ibstock Dolly Mixtures Drama Group present ‘Maytime Merriment’, a musical review with comedy , drama, and songs - Starts7.30pm. Tickets: £6 from Lois Taylor, telephone: 01530 261686. All proceeds to Thornham Grove Care Home and Ibstock Town Junior Cricketers. Tickets also available from Halls Electrical.

Saturday, 15th May – ‘The New Age Jam’. UK’s best tribute band to Paul Weller and The Jam. Doors, Box Office and Licensed Bar open at 7.30pm. Band on stage from 9.00pm Saturday, 5th June - Banyan Theatre Company present ‘The Princess and the Pea’. (Suitable for 2+) Once upon a stormy night, while the wind and the rain were howling outside, the Royals were all tucked up warm in bed. Suddenly there came a knock at the door and a very wet, very untidy girl was brought inside. This quirky and inventive adaptation of Hans Andersen’s bedtime tale is played out among sheets and blankets with puppets, objects and dreamlike projections. Performance starts at 3pm.

Tickets: Under 5’s -free, £3 child / adult, £10 family of 4. Contact Kelly Baker on 01530 454830 or kelly.baker@nwleicestershire.gov. uk for tickets.

Saturday, 5th June - ‘The Killing Times’ in concert. This band has developed a reputation as one of the North and Midlands’ top Indie and rock cover act.

Blending some of the most powerful and popular indie/rock songs ever recorded, The Killing Times play them all, with no

corners cut, however intricate the style and techniques. Using only the best equipment and great musicianship, reaction to the band has always been amazing. The band features 3 of the best musicians in the area – and plays favourites from The Killers, Kings of Leon, Stereophonics, The Jam, Green Day, Stone Roses, Nirvana, Franz Ferdinand, The Cult, Clash, Fratellis, U2, The Police, Coldplay, White Stripes, Arctic Monkeys, James, Undertones, Buzzcocks, Kaiser Chiefs, Sex Pistols, Oasis, Queen, T-Rex…and more. DOORS: 7:30. £1 ENTRY – SPECIAL LAUNCH PRICE – (Licensed bar) Friday, 18th June – Film Night –‘Invictus’ (PG13). Directed by Clint Eastwood, this film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match. Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon. Starts at 7.30pm. Doors, Box Office and Licensed Bar open at 7.00pm.

Tickets: £4.00/£3.00 concessions from Halls Electrical, High Street, Ibstock. Tel: 260460.

A date for your Diary - The Awesome Holiday Club is back!

Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th August 9.30am to 11.30am.

Registration from 9am.

For children ages 3 to 11. More details to follow next month.

Glynis Straw

Treasurer - on behalf of the Cross Hills Church family

Contact Numbers

Pastor -Garry Kelly: 01455 457802 • Secretary - Robert Holmes: 01530 231901 Treasurer - Glynis Straw: 01530 230272 • Parish Nurse - Vera Harding: 01530 230557

Mothers of teenagers know why animals eat their young.

Tickets from Halls Electrical, High Street, Ibstock.

Tel: 01530 260460.

34 Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield

Church Services

Sunday 2nd May 10.30 am Morning Service 6.00 pm Evening Service Sunday 9th May 10.30 am Morning Service 4.00 pm Afternoon Café Style Worship

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

Sunday 16th May 10.30 am Churches Together United Service at Methodist Church 6.00 pm Evening Service Sunday 23rd May - Pentecost 10.30 am Morning Service 4.00 pm 3 Leicester Circuits Afternoon Service at Trinity M.C.

Sunday 30th May 6.00 pm Joint Service Sunday 6th June 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 13th June 10.3 0am All Age Family Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 9th May 10.30 am Joint Christian Aid Service Sunday 16th May 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 23rd May 10.30 am Family Service Sunday 30th May 10.30 am Single Service

Sunday 30th May 10.30 am Morning Service 6.00 pm Evening Communion Service

Friday 18th June 8.00 pm Taizé Style Service

Sunday 6th June 10.30 am Morning Service

Sunday 6th June 10.30 am Morning Service 6.00 pm Evening Communion Service

Sunday 20th June 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield Open Air Service on The Green 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 13th June 10.30 am Holy Communion

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

Holy Rood Church, Bagworth

Sunday 13th June 10.30 am Morning Service 4.00 pm Afternoon Café Style Worship Sunday 20th June 10.30 am Churches Together United ‘Open Air’ Service on The Green 6.00 pm Evening Service

St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 9th May 10.30 am Joint Christian Aid Service at St Peter’s, Thornton

Sunday 20th June 9.00 am Holy Communion

Please note: This service will be at Bagworth Community Centre Sunday 6th June 9.00 am Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Sunday 9th May 9.15 am Holy Communion (said)

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

Thursday 13th May 7.30 pm Benefice Ascension Day Communion Service Sunday 16th May 10.30 am Family Service

Sunday 23rd May 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 9th May 10.15 am Sunday Club Anniversary Service at the Congregational Church 6.00 pm Rogation Service at Little Markfield Farm

Sunday 23rd May 10.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 30th May 6.00 pm Joint Service at St Michael’s, Markfield

Sunday 16th May 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield Christian Aid Service at Trinity Methodist Church 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Friday 21st May 8.00 pm Taizé Style Service

Sunday 30th May 10.30 am Single Service at St Peter’s, Thornton

Sunday 16th May 3.00 pm Praise Service

Sunday 6th June 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 6th June 10.30 am Morning Service

Sunday 13th June 9.15 am Holy Communion (said)

Sunday 13th June 10.30 am Morning Service

Sunday 20th June 3.00 pm Praise Service

Sunday 20th June 10.30 am Family Service

Sunday 27th June 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Markfield Congregational Church Main Street, Markfield Sunday 9th May 10:15am Morning Worship – Sunday Club Day Sunday 16th May 10:30am United Service at the Methodist Church Sunday 23rd May 10:15am Morning Worship Sunday 30th May 10:15am Morning Worship Sunday 6th June 10:15am Morning Worship 11:10am Followed by Communion Sunday 13th June 10:15am Morning Worship Sunday 20th June 10:30am United Service hold on the village green Sunday 27th June 10:15am Morning Worship 11:10am Followed by Communion

Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton Sunday 9th May Christian Aid Week, joint Service 10.30am at Thornton St Peters N.B. No service at Cross Hills this week Sunday 16th May 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 23rd May 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 30th May 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 6th June 10.30am Morning Service 5.00pm United Praise Service Sunday School Anniversary 10.30am Sunday 20th June There is a Sunday Club in our new hall for children & young people during the Morning Service. For further details, our contact list is on page 29.

Why is it that dogs go to obedience school and kids run wild?

35

Take Part in Coach Trip!

Channel 4 has commissioned another series of Coach Trip for this year and a further series for 2011! Now’s your chance to sign up if you want to be on that coach.

The two series will each transmit for six weeks. For the first time the series will be filmed through the summer months so contestants can expect a sizzling time on the continent, with a view to brightening up TV screens when both series air during autumn and winter.

Casting has begun for contestants to join celebrated tour guide Brendan on the coach for both series five and six. Those wishing to apply for the series should email coachtrip@12yard.com to request an application form!

Grants available from Leicester Rural Partnership Leicester Rural Partnership has announced the availability of £400,000 worth of funding to support businesses in Leicestershire’s market towns and rural areas up to October 2012.

The INSPIRE Leicestershire programme will provide much needed support to help deliver the Leicestershire Rural Partnership’s economic priorities.

A major element of the programme is the provision of grants direct to individual businesses. In total £400,000 of funding is available across 5 priority grant schemes.

These include:

• Shop Front Improvement Grant • Working Over the Shop (WOTS) Grant • Rural Redundant Buildings Grant • Rural Visitor Grant • Equestrian Development Grant Full details about this element of the INSPIRE programme, including the funding criteria, eligibility and application process, can be found on the LRP’s Oakleaves website at www.oakleaves.org.uk/inspire For more information about funding available through the Leicestershire Rural Partnership please contact either Fiona Walker (Rural Services Officer) 0116 305 5673, or Tom Fisher (Rural Economy Officer) 0116 305 7034.

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Reach 4,000 Local Homes • FREE Advert Design To Place Your Ad, call 01530 244069 or email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

What is a zebra? 25 sizes larger than an “A” bra.

NO JULY ISSUE OF THE HERALD Next issue out on 5th June, and the following issue will come out on 7th August.

Please send details of your July events for inclusion in the June issue - by 22nd May.