May 2021 issue of Groby & Field Head Spotlight

Spotlight Groby & Field Head MID-MAY 2021

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

Carpets of Bluebells

Local schoolgirl inspired by Isla Tansey

Summer Shephard donates her hair to Little Princess Trust

By Jaimey Shephard (Mum)

AS THE WEATHER today was perfect (for a change!) and more befitting of a typical May day, we decided to explore the footpath beyond Groby Pool.

It was a treat to see the perfect carpets of bluebells along some of these hidden pathways and unspoiled woodlands albeit a later sight than usual.

I enclose a couple of my favourite shots which you may like to consider for the Spotlight - unless of course fellow readers haven’t already inundated you with their photos!

Diana Marinari

County Council Election Results Groby & Ratby Conservative candidate Ozzy O’Shea was elected.

Ozzy O’Shea Conservative 2396 75.4% Rebecca Louise Pawley Labour 357 11.2% Ted Hollick LibDem 280 8.81% Mark Wren Green Party 144 4.53% Turnout 33.92% Total Votes 3177

Glenfields, Kirby Muxloe & Leicester Forests Conservative candidate Lee Martin Breckon was elected.

Conservative candidate Nick Chapman was elected.

Lee Martin Breckon Conservative 2839 31.7% Nick Chapman Conservative 2827 31.6% Malcolm Francis Fox Labour 1153 12.9% Tony Deakin Green Party 734 8.22% Bettina Jane Atkinson Green Party 596 6.67% Helen Gambardella LibDem 495 5.54% Mat Mortel LibDem 285 3.19% Turnout 24.82% Total Votes 8929

IN 2018 we became aware of the Isla Stones movement, and as much fun as it was - it brought an awareness of childhood cancer to my daughter Summer who was 8 at the time.

Every year the children at Lady Jane Grey Primary are asked to do a project of their choice.

Summer chose the Isla Stones. This led to her learning all about the fights that some children have to contend with and learnt about the sadness that cancer can bring. After Isla Tansey’s untimely passing she was determined to try and help someone or just bring a smile to one child’s face so she decided to grow her hair and donate it to the Little Princess Trust, who make wigs for children that had lost theirs.

After 3 years of growing her hair until it was a suitable length, on the 4th May she had it cut and was able to send off 10 inches of her hair.

Due to the overwhelming interest from people who wanted to donate, she then had to start a Just Giving page, which has made her so proud.

And of course we are all super proud of her too!W If you’d like to make a donation to this wonderful cause, Summer’s Just Giving page can be found at: www.justgiving.com/ fundraising/Summer-Shephard

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Positive Thoughts

“Even if you cannot change all the people around you, you can change the people you choose to be around. Life is too short to waste your time on people who don’t respect, appreciate, and value you. Spend your life with people who make you smile, laugh, and feel loved.”

Groby Sings NEWS

LIKE MUCH of the singing world, Groby Sings is still in limbo with regards to singing together in peson and it looks to be that way for the near future at least. However, it’s been amazing how, over this past year, people have made great efforts to adapt to our new world by embracing the technology of video conferencing for business and social meetings, quizzes and, of course, virtual choirs.

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In fact, virtual choirs have been around for several years and many examples can be found online. One performance that is well worth looking up on YouTube is Eric Whitacre’s Virtual Choir 6: Sing Gently. This consists of the largest virtual choir ever assembled: 17,572 singers from 129 countries who joined up to sing this simple but beautiful tune which really celebrates music and singing together.

Every contributor’s photo is used in a video montage to accompany the song.

So far, it has not been feasible to set up a virtual Groby Sings choir but last year, in the early weeks of lockdown, a lot of Groby Singers tuned in to Gareth Malone’s Great British Home Chorus (GBHC) to have the opportunity to sing and to experience having a conductor who made the sessions fun, something everyone really missed from our Monday rehearsals. Gareth used several songs that were in the Groby Sings repertoire so singers already felt at home. Some Groby Singers sent in a recording of their voices to be included in the final video and EP produced at the end of the series (search YouTube for GBHC videos).

Locally, the services at Groby parish church of St Philip and St James have been enhanced by recordings of hymns sung by a small choir, some of which are members of Groby Sings. As live singing by groups of people has not been possible, this has been achieved thanks to our very own Groby Sings musical arranger and church organist, Paul Cox. He records piano tracks and voice parts of hymns and sends them to church members who then record their own voices singing, and sometimes videos, to send back to Paul. Being a man of many talents, he then edits the voices together to produce the final recording of a mini choir, a time-consuming task but a great outcome as it can be added to the church’s online video services or played in church for live-streaming. As restrictions have impacted funerals too, families have been able to choose to have a small pre-recorded choir singing as part of the service.

We at Groby Sings know that music and singing is uplifting for our mood and general wellbeing and this has been borne out by scientific studies as illustrated in 3 excellent BBC programmes to be found on BBC iPlayer called ‘Our Dementia Choir’ presented by Vicky McClure (otherwise known to ‘Line of Duty’ followers as DI Kate Fleming). This choir of people living with dementia (the youngest being only 31) was formed before the pandemic in Nottingham, the hometown of both Vicky and our own Groby Sings founder and former conductor, Helen Hayes. Vicky wanted to form this choir as a result of witnessing her beloved grandmother’s dementia journey. A large box of tissues is required to watch these programmes but they illustrate so well how music therapy makes such a difference and brings comfort to people whose lives have been changed by illness.

And finally, Leicestershire Music Eduction Hub has already brought together virtual choirs in Leicestershire with A Million Dreams for school children (which included one of our very own young Groby Singers) and Leics Sing! both of which can be viewed via their website and on YouTube. Now the Hub is having another virtual event called Make Your Own Kind of Music which choirs and singers throughout the county, including Groby Sings, have been invited to join. We really hope that Groby Sings can make a contribution so watch this space!

Groby Sings is a Registered Charity no. 1180490

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4

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Fundraising for the Brain Tumour Charity PAUL PALLETT is raising money for The Brain Tumour Charity because funding needs to be significantly increased.

The BIG 4 Run - which takes place on Friday 14th May and all over the weekend - involves running 4 miles every 4 hours for 48 hours.

He’s doing it as his lifelong friend Shanie Antcliffe has a brain tumour and although Shanie is having treatment he will hopefully be running alongside Paul for the runs.

Shanie’s Story SHANIE HAD suffered with migraines for a long time but in March 2019, he found them to be increasing in severity and accompanied by other symptoms such as tinnitus.

After many visits to his GP, resulting in him being prescribed several different medications to try, he saw no improvement to his symptoms. His GP finally referred Shanie to a Neurology and an Ear, Nose and Throat clinic at the end of April. Unfortunately this referral only resulted in a letter a week later to say that there were no current appointments with neurology and that he would be contacted when an appointment became available.

In August, Shanie experienced an episode at work of a much more severe migraine and a temporary loss of his memory. This clarified to us what we already knew which was that this was more than migraines, we both knew something just wasn’t right. We contacted the Neurology department ourselves, explaining our serious concerns about the increasing severity of his symptoms. He finally received an appointment date for a week later where he discussed his symptoms in more detail and he tried to get across the fact that he felt that this was not as straight forward as the diagnosis that the doctors kept giving.

Disappointingly, the diagnosis from the Neurologist remained along the same lines of that of the GP, only with a more specific name, hemiplegia migraines. We were not trying to be difficult but by this time, having waited so long to get to this point we requested that he be referred for an MRI scan, which the doctor reluctantly agreed too to ‘put Shanies mind at ease’. On the 15th October Shanie had his MRI scan. On the 17th October he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite feeling for a long time that that there was something seriously wrong, the eventual diagnosis was devastating.

Shanie was given three options, watch and wait, a biopsy or surgery to remove the tumour. Having had all of the risks explained to us we felt that surgery was the only option. This went ahead on 30th January 2020.

During surgery, he suffered a stroke causing paralysis to his left side. He was left unable to walk and it led to the loss of peripheral vision in both eyes. But they had removed the tumour - a Grade 2 Diffuse Astro Cytoma and he would not need further treatment.

Thankfully Shanie learned how to walk again and regain the use of his left arm. Unfortunately shanie will never gain his peripheral vision.

Shanie has regular scans to monitor any reoccurrence in his brain.

Unfortunately after suffering a seizure the day after Shanies 30th birthday, a MRI scan shown that there are 2 small sections of residual tumour showing signs of slight regrowth.

Shanie has an oncology appointment to discuss further treatment.

The need to raise awareness is so important.

Brain tumours kill more children and adults under the age of 40 than any other cancer.

Let’s make a difference.

Jamie-Lee (Shanie’s wife)

Letter

Blues and Twos DID ANYONE happen to see the or hear the BLUES & TWOS around 10.00am on Tuesday 27th April in our sleepy(ish) Village?

I had the unenviable task of opening up Groby Library on said morning and although I have helped at the library for a few years, I have NEVER been early enough to have to open up.

I couldn’t remember the key code. Phone call number 1.

That sorted I proceeded to open up. I didn’t know the alarm code but wasn’t unduly worried as it switched off after a few minutes and I carried on unlocking drawers, doors, turned on the computer etc and the phone rang.

It was the alarm company, checking that all was well. I laughed and apologised saying, Yes I was fine and the alarm had stopped.

10.00 am and I was immensely pleased to see Bernie & Richard were my first customers of the day. I explained that thus far I had no assistant and please could one of them hang on for a while until the cavalry arrived.

Yes, they said they would when suddenly the locked, back door swung open and in burst 3 (rather handsome) burly policemen.

I couldn’t stop laughing and through the open door could see the blue flashing lights.

Imagine the headlines !!!!

3 PENSIONERS WRESTLED TO THE FLOOR IN LOCAL LIBRARY! We assured them that all was well and I apologised profusely. We couldn’t even offer them a coffee due to the restrictions but they were charming and left with a smile.

I was impressed with the speed this all happened and a wry comment was made that unfortunately the police aren’t that quick to respond to a house burglary but all in all it added to the fun of the morning.

Groby Library is open on Tuesdays & Fridays from 10.00 to 12.00. We look forward to seeing you there.

Hilary Sanders

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5

‘Accommodation vital to the club’s future expansion’

Groby Juniors Football Club proposal for Stamford Park IF YOU’RE a visitor to one of Groby’s parks you may have enjoyed seeing Groby Juniors football teams in action.

They have many teams and really appreciate the permission to play on the parks, as without it they would have struggled as a club to get all of their games played. At present the Under 7s and 8s play 5 x 5 on Beacon Fields, the 9s and 10s play 7 x 7 on Stamford Park, the 11s and 12s play 9x9 on Marina and the 13s – 15s play 11 a side on Quarry Park.

For years the club has searched for a suitable site that they could call ‘home,’ but without success so far, and this means that their facilitities are severely limited. “At present the major obstacle that the club faces is that we have no toilet facilities or indeed anywhere where we can store the equipment that we use, goals, flags etc,” explained a spokesperson for the club. “Permission to place either a portable cabin or a container on either Stamford or Marina Park would allow us to overcome these obstacles. Our preference would be on Stamford Park, situated close by the Sycamore Drive car park, as that is more centrally located and also has access to the larger car park.”

The request was discussed at the Parish Council Estates Committee meeting and members were told that following a site visit with the Chairman of the Club they felt that the request should be agreed in principle, subject to a more detailed proposal being acceptable to the Council. A site just inside the entrance to Sycamore Drive car park was considered as it is not overlooked by any houses, doesn’t obstruct anybody’s views and has trees behind it. The structure would include separate changing facilities for girls and boys and a chemical toilet. It was thought that this position might enable utilities to be connected at some time in the future, and would also carry a reduced risk of vandalism because of its visibility.

It was suggested that neighbours should be consulted and no final decision taken until full details have been provided. The Club believes that the proposed accommodation is vital to their success in expanding the club, especially with regard to girls football.

Norman Griffiths

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Surgery Patients NEWSLETTER CONCUSSION: footballing girls at higher risk than boys THERE’S NO doubt that sport can play a part in a healthy lifestyle, as exercise is important for everyone. But like everything else in life sport is not without its risks, and minimising risk is an evolutionary process as scientists learn more about any hazards.

The heading of footballs during training and matches is a case in point, and guidance on children heading a football in training was updated last year across most of the UK. Research showed that former footballers were three-and-a-half times more likely to die from brain disease.

Local parents can be reassured that Groby Juniors Football Club takes the safety and wellbeing of its players extremely seriously, and being a FA Standard Charter Club follows their rules. “Managers and coaches fully understood and applied the guidance issued in March 2020 which is generally no heading in training in the foundation phase (primary school children),” explained a spokesperson. “Under-12 teams will be limited to one session a month with a maximum of five headers, while under-13 age groups will have one session a week.” These new rules apply to both boys and girls.

There has been a rise in the popularity of women’s and girl’s football in recent years, and research into heading has found that teenage girls run nearly twice the risk of concussion as teenage boys, and take longer to recover.

In the USA a study over three years of high school footballers found that around two-thirds of the 1500 concussions recorded occurred in girls.

Teenage boys in the study were most often injured when colliding with another player, while girls were more likely to be concussed on contact with the ball or a goalpost, but this was less obvious. Although boys were more likely than girls to be removed from play, teenage girls who were concussed took, on average, two days longer to recover from injury and return to play than boys.

“This highlights female athletes are at greater risk of concussion and the threshold for them should be lower,” said Dr Willie Stewart, senior author of the study and honorary professor at the University of Glasgow.

“We need to think less about collisions and more about contact because girls are told to sit out less than boys.”

It seems that the reason female athletes are more likely to have concussion is not clear. Girls could be more likely to report symptoms but they also “have lower neck strength and girth” than boys, the study says, which could put them at greater risk after heading the ball.

Do blood thinners reduce dementia risks?

AROUND 1 MILLION people in the UK are estimated to suffer from atrial fibrillation (AF), an irregular and often fast heart rhythm which is the most common heart rhythm disturbance.

A rapid and irregular heartbeat, which may prompt people to seek medical attention, is one of the more obvious indicators of AF. Other symptoms can include breathlessness, tiredness, dizziness and feeling faint.

Some people may be unaware of any symptoms.

The impact of AF can be farreaching. “It becomes more common with age, and with our ageing population the number of people with AF in the UK could double or triple in the next 20–30 years,” says Consultant Cardiologist Professor Paulus Kirchhof from the University of Birmingham. “This is a real concern because AF is the strongest individual risk factor for stroke and around every fourth stroke that happens is due to it.”

There are a number of ways to treat AF. It may involve • medication (both to prevent a stroke and to control the heart rate or rhythm), • cardioversion (when the heart is given a controlled electric shock with the aim of restoring a normal rhythm), • catheter ablation (this works by scarring or destroying tissue that triggers the AF), • for some people having a pacemaker fitted to help the heart beat regularly.

Daily medication for one condition or another is something that some readers will identify with, and many will be familiar with the daily ritual of taking blood thinners such as warfarin, Eliquis, Xarelto, Pradaxa or Lixiana to manage their AF. Some choose not to take the drugs or stop taking them after a few years, and 54 per cent of those tracked in a Swedish study were not taking the anticoagulants at the start of the study. Every year another 10 to 15 per cent stopped taking the treatments. The study published four years ago provided an additional reason for sufferers to keep taking the pills. They found that common blood thinning drugs can halve the risk of dementia among people with an irregular heartbeat. A study of 440,000 people found patients who took warfarin and other clot busters were 48 per cent less likely to develop dementia over a decade.

Study leader Dr Leif Friberg, associate professor of cardiology at the Karolinska Institute, said: ‘Doctors should not tell their patients to stop using oral anticoagulants without a really good reason.

But he stressed that people without atrial fibrillation should not be tempted to take blood thinners, because they can cause severe side effects such as brain haemorrhages.Dr Carol Routledge, of Alzheimer’s Research UK was more cautious about the study, commenting that “the findings highlight a need to investigate this link further, but the nature of the study prevents us from firmly concluding that anticoagulants reduce the risk of dementia.”

The debate no doubt continues, but if the survey’s conclusions are valid, and anticoagulants do reduce the dementia risk, this is an unexpected bonus for AF sufferers. But patients should not forget that the most important reason to carry on taking the medication prescribed by the doctor is to control and reduce the risks associated with Atrial Fibrillation.

Second Covid jabs THE ROLL OUT of the second vaccination continues to go well, though a temporary shortage of the Pfizer vaccine meant that some patients had to wait more than 12 weeks.

There is no need for anyone affected by a delay to worry, when they get the second jab it will be just as effective.

Norman Griffiths

for Groby Surgery Patients Group

Despite constant warning, you have never met anybody who has had their arm broken by a swan.

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7

Air Pollution and Groby CLEAN AIR is a basic requirement of human health and wellbeing. However, air pollution continues to pose a significant threat to health worldwide including the United Kingdom and Groby Parish.

An air pollutant is anything in the air that could harm people’s health.

Some of these pollutants are more harmful than others. Particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone are particularly damaging types of air pollution.

Air pollution can come from a variety of sources including industrial, commercial, and residential emissions, transport, and agriculture. Road transport is the biggest contributor to urban pollution hotspots and likely to be a significant contributor to air pollution in Groby Parish. Road traffic emissions are a source of greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. Breathing dirty air increases the risk of developing lung disease, cardiovascular disease, and various other poor health outcomes.

Under the Local Air Quality Management regime, local authorities have an obligation to periodically review and assess the air quality in their area and compare it against Air Quality Objectives. Where a local authority determines that the air quality fails, or will fail, to meet relevant objectives, they must declare an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) and develop an Air Quality Action Plan setting out how the air quality will be improved.

The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s (HBBC) ‘2019 Air Quality Annual Status Report’ did not identify any AQMAs in Groby Parish. This conclusion was reached from a series of pollution monitoring sites across the borough including one located close to the junction of Lena Drive and Markfield Road (A50).

HBBC only monitor nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Concentrations of NO2 are often strongly correlated with those of other toxic pollutants and since they are easier to measure, they are often used as a surrogate for the pollutant mixture. The report records a result of 24.3 μg/m3 for the NO2 Annual Mean Concentration at the Groby site. The report also noted that HBBC plans to establish a new monitoring site on Groby Road in Ratby to monitor NO2 levels close to the M1.

The Groby result meets the United Kingdom air quality objective for NO2 which is 40 μg/m3 when measured as the annual mean. The World Health Organisation (WHO) air quality guideline for NO2 is also 40 μg/m3 but with the proviso that if NO2 is monitored as a marker for complex combustiongenerated pollution mixtures, a lower annual guideline value should be used.

In their October 2018 report ‘Toxic air at the door of the NHS’, the British Lung Foundation revealed that more than 2,000 health centres in Great Britain are in areas which ‘exceed safe air pollution limits’ meaning where air pollution is above the WHO’s guideline for fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of 10 μg/m3 when measured as the annual mean.

Inspection of the British Lung Foundation website shows that recorded levels of PM2.5 at Groby Surgery are 10.44 μg/m3. The website notes that the recorded levels are derived from background levels and do not consider roadside concentrations.

The British Lung Foundation argues that although the United Kingdom is currently meeting legal limits for PM2.5, this is only because our legal limit is more lenient than the limit recommended by the international health community. The United Kingdom air quality objective for PM2.5 is 25 μg/ m3 when measured as the annual mean. This is more than twice the WHO recommendation. The British Lung Foundation concludes that although there is no safe level, the objective should be to aim for levels as low as possible, and to achieve the WHO’s limits at the earliest possible time.

Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah, who lived near the South Circular Road in Lewisham, South-east London, died in 2013. Ella was the first person in the United Kingdom to have air pollution listed as the cause of death on their death certificate, following the inquest ruling by the Coroner in December 2020. In a ‘Report to prevent future deaths’, the Coroner’s concerns included: The national limits for Particulate Matter are set at a level far higher than the WHO guidelines. The evidence at the inquest was that there is no safe level for Particulate Matter and that the WHO guidelines should be seen as minimum requirements. Legally binding targets based on WHO guidelines would reduce the number of deaths from air pollution in the UK. The HBBC report concluded that the best way to improve the air quality is to reduce emissions from vehicles and suggested that this could be done several ways such as taking emissions into account when buying a new car to reducing dependence on private vehicles either by using public transport or using a more sustainable form of transport such as walking or cycling. This is generally good advice but walking or cycling along the A50 should perhaps be avoided.

We may also need to reconsider where we site residential developments.

Building homes close to busy roads (such as the site near the M1 in Ratby) may expose inhabitants to toxic air pollution.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Email ozzy.o’shea@leics.gov.uk or ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

County Council Election 6th May 2021 Groby, Ratby and Field Head Result •

Ted Hollick (Liberal Democrat) 280

•

Rebecca Pawley (Labour) 357

•

Mark Wren (Green Party) 144

•

OZZY O’SHEA (Conservative) 2396

I AM extremely humbled and grateful to the people of Groby, Ratby and Field Head for putting their faith and trust in me.

I will continue to do my very best for the community that I serve.

I want to say thank you for your continued support.

Parking Consultation Ratby Road, Groby LEICESTERSHIRE County Council is proposing no waiting at any time restrictions on Ratby Road, Groby.

Numerous complaints have been made regarding obstructive parking, and parking over the footway for the past 3 or so years.

Therefore the proposals seek to remove parking from one side of the road and along the footway, to improve highway safety and traffic flow along Ratby Road, Groby.

A formal consultation commenced on 10th May 2021 for a period of 21 days. Letters were sent to all immediately affected properties by these proposals. Notices will be placed on site for those who may visit the area, the scheme will also be advertised in local press.

I would urge Groby residents who use Ratby road to take part and respond to the consultation as this is your chance to have your say.

A copy of the proposed Orders, together with plans illustrating the proposals and an explanatory statement giving the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the Orders may be requested telephoning 0116 3050001, also at the offices of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Hinckley Hub, Rugby Road, Hinckley LE10 0FR and on the notice board of Groby Parish Council Documents can also be viewed online at https://www. leicestershire.gov.uk/roads-andtravel/cars-and-parking/trafficmanagement-consultations Again I urge Groby residents to take part in the consultation

whether you object or support the proposals. Please specify the grounds on which they are made, they should be sent in writing to Jane Moore Legal Department, Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicestershire not later than 31st May 2021, quoting reference JM/ HTWMT4877.

Alternatively, objections can be emailed to jane.x.moore@ leics.gov.uk or via the online comment form which may be accessed via the link above. If you have any queries in connection with this scheme or require alternative formats of this Notice, including larger print, braille or fax transmission, please contact Leicestershire County Council on (0116) 305 0001

Compost with the County Council RESIDENTS across the county are encouraged to take up composting this spring with cut-price compost bins, thanks to a Leicestershire County Council scheme

Although it remains cold at the moment, many people will soon be starting to think about cutting their grass and pruning plants ready for new growth – and the best way to dispose of garden waste is to compost it at home.

Composting reduces the amount of food and garden waste sent to landfill, which cannot decompose properly without air and, instead, produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change Composting kitchen and garden waste is an excellent way that individuals can reduce the waste sent to landfill and pollution from bonfires. Substituting homemade compost for shop bought peat-based compost not only saves money but also reduces environmental damage caused by digging peat.

Anyone can compost if they have an outdoor space and you do not need a large garden. Support and advice is available from the county council’s Master Composters and there are local demonstration sites which will be opening with advice and practical training once restrictions are lifted.

Compostable items include fruit and vegetable peelings, grass cuttings, coffee grounds, newspaper and cardboard which will all decompose in around a year. The resulting compost can then be dug back into the garden next spring to

provide nutrient rich food for the garden.

Residents can buy a discounted compost bin from as little as £12, with a second one offered at half price. The bins are made from 100% recycled plastic and are available in two different sizes and colours to suit individual needs.

For more details or to order a compost bin, visit www. getcomposting.com

FluBot’ Text Malware Scam Delivery Message WATCH OUT for scam package delivery messages containing dangerous ‘FluBot’ malware.

Affecting Android devices, these messages have been found to contain a dodgy link to download an app that can infect your phone with malware. The malware can harvest passwords and other personal information, it also accesses contacts to send out further messages.

Always be wary of unsolicited texts, and think twice before you click on a link. If you think you’ve received a genuine delivery message, but you’re not certain, then contact the delivery company’s official customer service helpline to verify the message.

If you’ve received a similar message and you think it’s a scam you can simply delete it. If you’d like to report it then you can do so by forwarding the message to 7726 - a free reporting service provided by phone operators.

If you’ve received this message and you’ve already downloaded the infected app then follow these steps: • Don’t enter any passwords or log into any accounts.

• Perform a factory reset on your device.

• After resetting your device you may be prompted to restore from a backup, but do not restore any apps that you’ve accessed or downloaded since your device was compromised.

• Once you’ve restored your device you should change your passwords on your accounts to ensure they are secure What is a text or messaging scam?

Scammers are increasingly taking advantage of smartphones and are getting very clever with how they try to take your hard-earned money.

They can even make it look like a legitimate organisation is contacting you via text or a messaging app by using identity masking technology

to change the name displayed as the sender. This is known as ‘number spoofing’.

If you get sent a scam message, it’s important you report it so others don’t fall victim. Reporting a scam message is free and it will help stop the spread of these messages. Fraudsters can use many different types of messaging systems and apps, like SMS, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Viber, Skype, Google Hangouts, Snapchat and many other platforms to try scam you out of your money.

What does a text message scam look like?

While scammers are getting more cunning at making a scam message look like the real thing, there are some signs you can watch out for. Read our seven tips to avoid messaging scams.

1. Unexpected contact Think about how that organisation normally contacts you and if it isn’t via a message, contact them directly to check it’s legitimate.

A genuine organisation will never contact you out of the blue and ask you to verify your details, request personal or banking details or tell you to transfer money via a message.

If in doubt, contact the organisation using a number you’ve found independently of the message.

2. Check for spelling or grammar errors Genuine organisations will rarely, if ever, make glaring spelling mistakes or grammatical errors, and if so it will usually be an isolated incident.

If the message doesn’t look professional, it’s probably a scam and you should be suspicious of it.

3. Don’t follow any links If you click the link in the message, it could send you to an imposter website set up to steal your money or personal data, or in some cases, it may infect your device with malware that can take over your phone.

Always look up an organisation’s contact details independently and get in touch to verify the message.

4. Don’t share any personal information If you think you’ve been targeted by a scam text message, don’t share any personal information, banking details or Pin. Legitimate organisations, such as banks or HMRC, will never ask for your personal or banking details through a message or text.

Sardines are fish that crawl into a tin, lock themselves up, and leave the key outside.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

9

Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825 true” investment opportunities, or offers to help release money from your pension even though you’re under 55.

Sadly, the true scale of pension fraud is likely to be much higher than what is being reported, as victims often don’t realise they have been scammed until many years later.

Savers must be cautious about making decisions about money that may have taken a lifetime to build, as it can be snatched away in an instant.

Police Warning Regarding Pension Fraud ACTION FRAUD is warning savers to remain vigilant and protect their pensions, as figures from the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime reveal £1.8 million has already been lost to pension fraud this year.

Criminals are malicious and unapologetic when it comes to committing pension fraud. They are motivated by their own financial gain and lack any kind of empathy for their victims, who can often lose their whole life savings to these scams.

We know pension fraud can have a devastating impact, both financially and emotionally, but any one of us can fall victim to a fraud and it’s nothing to feel ashamed or embarrassed about. It’s incredibly important that instances of pension fraud, and attempted scams, are reported to Action Fraud.

Every report helps police get that bit closer to the people committing these awful crimes. Reporting to Action Fraud also allows our specialist victim-support advocates to provide people with important protection advice and signpost them to local support services.

Pension scams often include free pension reviews, “too good to be

How to protect yourself

• Reject unexpected pension opportunities, such as free pension reviews or investment opportunities involving your pension, whether made via email, social media, text, or over the phone.

• Research who you’re dealing with before changing your pension arrangements – check the FCA Register, or call the FCA on 0800 111 6768 to see if the firm is authorised by the FCA. • Don’t be rushed or pressured into making any decision about your pension – consider getting impartial information and advice from a financial advisor authorised by the FCA to help you make the best decision for your own personal circumstances.

• Be suspicious if you are contacted out of the blue about an investment opportunity - seek advice from trusted friends, family members or an independent professional advice service before making a significant financial decision, especially when it involves your pension pot. Even genuine investment schemes can be high risk.

• Be ScamSmart and visit the ScamSmart website to learn how to protect yourself from pensions scams.

If you suspect a scam, report it

If you think you’ve been a victim of pension fraud, contact your pension provider immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.

You can also report an unauthorised firm or a scam to the FCA by using their reporting form or by calling 0800 111 6768.

Cold calls about your pension are illegal. You can report nuisance calls and messages to the Information Commissioner’s Office using their online reporting tool or by calling 0303 123 1113.

If you’ve agreed to transfer your pension and now suspect a scam, contact your pension provider straight away. They may be able to stop a transfer that hasn’t taken place yet. If you are unsure of what to do contact the Pensions Advisory Service for help.

Please do not report crime via Neighbourhood Link as it is not monitored.

Report fraud directly to Action Fraud.

Rebecca Spilane Fraud Vulnerability Officer Leicestershire Police I would like to thank residents and councillors for your continued support. Should you need my help or advice on any matter or issue please contact me. I pride myself on always making myself available to residents and councillors and getting straight back to you.

Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea Working for you Tel 0116 239 4336 or 07808 585825 Email: Ozzy.O’Shea@leics.gov.uk Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Observations on life • I want to be 14 again and ruin my life differently. I have new ideas.

• Scratch a dog - and you’ll find a permanent job.

• Few things are more satisfying than seeing your children have teenagers of their own.

• Learn from others’ mistakes.

You won’t live long enough to make them all yourself.

In the ocean, why is it always the starfish that gets to be the sheriff?

10

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

BGLC Peace Garden – GoFundMe project

PLEASE CAN YOU help Brookvale Groby Learning Campus to transform this area into a ‘Peace Garden’ for our Students?

We have written to local businesses, but would also like to ask for help from our local community in making our plan of a ‘Peace Garden’ a reality.

After the uncertain and unprecedented year we’ve had looking after our mental health has never been more important. Students have shown resilience in such an unpredictable time and we would like to create a space to aid in well-being.

The theme for this year’s Mental Health week is Nature and what better way to celebrate this than by providing our students with a safe space to reflect in at social times. It will also give students an opportunity to get involved in extracurricular activities such as a gardening club which will be helpful for their well-being.

In addition to creating a peaceful place for students to spend their break and lunch times we plan to have an area containing a bench and plaque to commemorate one of our students Taran Singh Gill, who sadly passed away 5 years ago. He was a bright, friendly and well-loved member of the community, therefore this space will hold sentimental value to a lot of our community.

We are reaching out to you to ask for donations towards our Peace Garden.

We have set up a GoFundMe page at https://gofund.me/d892d9bf but would also appreciate any physical donations.

Your donations, however big or small, will help us in achieving our goal to create a peaceful, safe and enriching environment for our students who thoroughly deserve it.

Youth Wellbeing Team & BGLC Students Email: Youthwellbeing@brookvalegroby.com

LAWN MOWING AND GARDENING SERVICES THROUGHOUT LEICESTERSHIRE

For a free quote, call Dan Hardy on 07598 200 185 or visit www.leicesterlawnmowing.com www.facebook.com/leicesterlawnmowing

I always get my naan bread from the supermarket. I don’t know why; she’s been dead for 10 years.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

The Wife Who Got a Life

By Tracy Bloom

CATHY COLLINS is a mum on a mission – to change her life.

When her husband drops a midlife-crisis bombshell, Cathy decides it’s time to take control. No more laundry, teenage tantrums or housework.

After years of putting herself last, she’s going to be first for a change.

Cathy Collins is carving a new path, and nothing is going to get in her way…

From No.1 bestselling author Tracy Bloom, The Wife Who Got a Life perfectly captures the joyous chaos of family life.

11

Letter

Couch to 5k App enabled me to run the Race for Life IF ANYONE saw a strangely dressed woman running round the Stamford Memorial Park on April 24th, it was me.

Aged 53 and never having run further than a few yards to catch a runaway toddler (and that was 20 years ago) I decided to start the 9 week couch to 5k course.

Serendipitously I discovered that my 9th week and 27th (and final) run of the NHS training app, coincided with the Race for life. (Cancer charity fund raiser) I decided it was something to aim for, and a great cause too. One which is close to my heart as I lost my mum (28 years ago) also my mother in law, my friend Jenny, two aunts, an uncle and three of my grand parents, all to cancer.

It was tough going at first, as I’m asthmatic and it does help if you can breathe and run at the same time.

My friends and family were extremely encouraging and as usual they set me a dare... to do the run in costume ( I’d been a professional Middle Eastern Dancer for 36 years before the hiatus of the pandemic) Thursday 22nd April was my penultimate run, I did so well and felt so strong I kept going past my intended 4k and ended up doing the whole 5. I was elated and a little relieved as I’d had horrible visions of me dissolving in a pool of sweat and tears on ‘Race for life’ day and not finishing the course.

On April 24th armed with the knowledge I could go all the way, (subject to not falling on my bum having tripped on my costume). I went to the park to start my run, where to my amazement several groups of relatives and friends (all appropriately distanced) were waiting for me, to cheer and heckle and celebrate with me.

I’m happy to say I finished my 5k at a steady continuous jog in 42 minutes.

So far I’ve raised £280 and there’s more to come.

Thanks to all who sponsored me and those lovely people who came to cheer me on.

If running is something you never thought you could do, maybe have a try at the NHS couch to 5k app. It’s a gradual, very uplifting and encouraging way to start. You could maybe do a charity run at the end and not only raise funds for a good cause, but get a shapely pair of legs in the process.

Roxanne Dinsdale

I was making coffee today. I pushed down on the plunger and a cafe in the next street blew up.

12

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Finding the quietest times to shop locally SOME READERS who have depended on online shopping for the past twelve months may still be cautious about busy situations, such as supermarkets.

If you are in this group, but would really like to be out shopping and seeing what options you have, you may be concerned at tales you have heard about some shoppers who totally disregard the advice about social distancing.

AS SOMEONE with invisible disabilities, both congenital and acquired, I know exactly what it is like to be picked on, targeted, and publicly humiliated for being different: a difference not of my choosing or making.

Shopping when the stores are virtually empty, and checkout queues are minimal, may be what you are looking for. Google can help you choose not only the best days to avoid the crowds, but also the best time of the day. When you do a Google search on a particular store, for example “Tesco, Beaumont Leys” the first page of the listing will probably include an information box about the store on the first page of the responses. Scroll down and, towards the bottom of the box, you’ll find a bar chart showing the popular times for the store. You can choose a day of the week and the chart will show the relative popularity hour by hour. For this branch of Tesco early in the week is quieter than later, so for a less crowded visit go early in the week and early in the day. It’s probably what you thought, but it is reassuring to have confirmation.

Norman Griffiths

Why is Disability Discrimination still happening ?

Specifically, I have High-functioning Asperger’s Syndrome (AS). At least one person on each street in Groby will be above-average on the Autistic Spectrum (everybody’s on it, as it goes from 0 to 50: I score 27, most females score 11, most males score 14). While AS is defined medically and clinically as :1) impaired social interaction, 2) impaired communication, 3) a limited range of interests, it doesn’t say what we can do, for example. “Neurotypical” (NT) is the term used for people do not have AS or other neurological conditions.

What those with AS would rather talk about are :1) NT’s excessively complicated and ever-changing social rules, 2) hyper-sensitivity, 3) bullying by NTs. All of these go together, and end up with AS being labelled as difficult, awkward, weird, etc. It is all too common, and this has happened in Groby, for NTs to work out what annoys an AS and then go and do it deliberately.

It’s far easier for NTs to change their behaviour to fit round AS than vice versa. If we could just ‘tune out’, put up with stuff, and be flexible, etc then we wouldn’t have AS. It’s not ‘uptight’ - it’s hypersensitivity.

‘Hypersensitive’ means just that: everything from sounds, to smells, to textures is cranked up. For example, double-glazing does not form an impermeable barrier that keeps sound out, even if that is what it does for you. We ‘cannot see the wood for the trees’ sometimes because we can’t do the ‘selective input’ thing that NTs do to filter out the less-relevant stuff.

And so on.

Lots of disabled people with all sorts of disabilities are asking why they are targeted, as I have been in my time in Groby. The bullies don’t answer these questions as they know it will lead to them being in trouble and having to stop being bullies. But in terms of hate crimes, and legislation, disability discrimination lags well behind anything else.

Roger Lincoln

Gardening is good Both of our churches here in Groby are opening in a limited way during May Please see our on-line links below for up to date information.

!"#$%& ! !"' () *+,-$%. /001234152/ !"# $%"& '%&&"( )**+* ,)--*. !!!"#$%&'(()"%(*+,-.$/0,-1 !!!"$%234%2/&$45(3"%(*+%234%2+6678 !"#$"% #$&% '()%*+%, )%-.#*) '%)&$/%' *' 01##12'3 4&%)5 61",*5 7.%',*5 8%,' *( 9:+ ;1+:#$"% 4&%)5 7<.)',*5 *( =>*+ 61)"$"- ?)*5%) 4&%)5 @.",*5 *( =>*+ 61)"$"- 81)'<$: Live church services as below: 2nd May 10am All Age 9th May 6pm Holy Communion 16th May 10am Holy Communion 23rd May 6pm Holy Communion - Communion 30th May 6pm Holy 6th June 10am All Age 13th June 6pm Holy Communion 20th June 10am Holy Communion 27th June 6pm Holy Communion Every Wednesday 9.30am Holy Communion

!" #$% &''( )&# *+,-,.%)/ *%++$-. $- +-)#'-* +/')*' .'0.12'**)3' #$%- &)2' )&( 4$2' .'/'+4$&' &%25'- .$ !"# !$ !!& #'"#&) !" *+,*+*-./00 ! 1!! 23'' 4#5 6 76'' back.

Services in church restart 23rd May 10am, subject to governmental guidelines. Attendee numbers restricted. ===@")>'5$$?@>$213-$5#%->1 !"#$"% '()%*+%, '%)&$-%' 01",*2' after live service ! 34##45 1' 4" 6*-%7448 34) +4)% $"34)+*($4" *", ,*$#2 94'(' (4 '1994)( : %"-41)*;% 241< Christian Booklets/Gospels/Magazines and DVDs - have been put outside the church on Chapel Hill for anyone who is interested and would find them helpful.

ACCORDING to a recent study conducted by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) and two universities, people who garden every day have well-being scores 6.6 per cent higher, and stress levels 4.2 per cent lower than those who do not garden at all.

Dr Lauriane Chalmin-Pui, RHS well-being fellow and lead author says, “The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that the more frequently you garden, the greater the health benefits.

“In fact, gardening every day has the same positive impact on your well-being as undertaking regular, vigorous exercise like cycling or running.”

Last week I got eczema, diarrhoea and haemorrhoids - the first time I’ve ever won a game of Scrabble.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

13

GROBY ALLOTMENTS NEWS from Carol Lincoln Getting ready for the new season THE ALLOTMENTS are looking so good at the moment, everyone has been so busy getting their plot ready for all the seedlings and seeds to plant.

I don’t think that the plots have looked so well cared-for in ages. Sadly though, with the nightly frosts that we have had throughout April, something last experienced some 60 years ago I believe, most of us have been keeping our tender seedlings on our windowsills or in the greenhouse, loathe to plant them out in this fickle weather. So, while the plots look nice, they also still look quite bare at the moment!

Some brave gardeners have planted out their seedlings and covered them in fleece to protect them from the worst of the weather, but I am in the first group, keeping my plants inside longer than usual, in the hope that we will see the end of the nightly frosts very soon now. I am sure that when I do get around to planting out, they will soon catch up with their hardier neighbours, they always do!

Some of the problems have been that we need to keep repotting as the plants outgrow their small seedling pots, so my sunny windowsills look more like a greenhouse. Thank goodness we still can’t have any visitors inside our houses at the moment, they would think they were in a jungle!

I know one friend who has given over her living room to her precious plants, with a tarpaulin on the floor over the carpet and the whole area covered with pots of various vegetable plants!! She has moved into the kitchen to live until she can plant them out! I draw the line at that level of accommodation! As you may have guessed, she lives alone!

I can see where my friend is coming from though, as we continue to plant the seeds at the recommended time but where we can usually find the space to nurture them in the space vacated by the earlier seedlings that we have planted out, there is no space, as nothing has been planted out!

I have huge tomato plants, peas, kale all waiting to go outside. However, I am not ready to give over my house to the plants just yet. They say that plants respond favourably to you talking to them – I wonder if they like watching TV too? I must ask her if she lets them watch Gardeners World?

Where is the rain?

As I write this, we are all hoping for some rain.

I am sure everyone in Groby can identify with the problem of having to water all their new plants until they become established and to ensure that those patio pot plants are watered regularly as we have not seen rain for so many weeks now. I fear it may be the fault of the Allotment Society, as we

A recent photo of the allotments showing how neat and tidy the plots are looking. bought and fitted a number of 1000L water containers to collect rainwater from various roofs on the Ratby Road site, especially from the United reformed Church roof, who very kindly gave us their permission to do so.

Since we connected the new ones up, it hasn’t rained at all!! I understand from the forecast though that rain is expected in the first few days of May and so this may be old news to you by the time you read this article. I do hope so. We can then stop this constant watering and let nature take over.

Allotments Open Day IT IS National Allotments Week from 9th to 15th of August and so we are hoping to have our Open Day on Sunday 15th August this year, assuming we are out of lockdowns and restrictions by then.

So please make a provisional note in your diary! Like most things planned for this year, the plans are provisional and subject to change at any time.

We are hoping to have a few attractions to interest you, so fingers crossed!

Let’s also hope that my wish for more rain is also disregarded on 15th August, or at best that it rains during the evening of 15th and not the night before!

Carol Lincoln

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I’m a recovering alcoholic. Well, I say recovering; I have a hangover.

14

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Consultation on Ratby Road parking started 10 May VILLAGES can sometimes be faced with problems that seem impossible to resolve to everyone’s satisfaction. For Groby, street parking is one of those problems with two issues that keep recurring.

One is street parking by incoming commuters and another is street parking on Ratby Road.

It’s a proposal to ease the Ratby Road problem that is the subject of the current Leicestershire County Council consultation. Part of Ratby Road does not have enough off street parking to accommodate all the vehicles that need it and over the years the increase in the number of cars per household has probably contributed to the parking issue.

The result has been double parking in places, with vehicles on both side This causes disruption to the traffic flow of people passing through the area, including delivery drivers, ambulances, fire engines, and refuse vehicles, in addition to the many Groby motorists going about

their daily business, which includes Druck employees and the school run to the Brookvale Campus. In such circumstances broken wing mirrors or other damage to vehicles can occur.

Discussions to resolve difficulties have gone on for years, and in 2016 officers from the Highways Department at County Hall who attended a Parish Council meeting confirmed that they did not have a resolution to the Ratby Road parking problem. They explained that their directive on areas of concern is based on accident levels, speed levels, and a combination of both. They added that the highways budget was being reduced from £26 million to £16 million by 2020, so the department was having to look carefully how the budget is spent, members were told, and “As this area has not had an accident in the last 5 years it does not meet the criteria set.”

But local councillors didn’t give up and County Councillor Ozzie O’Shea was eventually able to confirm that a proposal would be put out for consultation.

So what’s proposed?

Full details of the consultation, how to participate and the closing date, are included in this issue of the Groby Spotlight. If you have a view don’t delay as the consultation deadline clock started ticking on Monday May 10th.

Who needs to respond to the consultation?

Anyone with a view that needs to be heard and considered by County Hall. You may park your car on the affected section of Ratby Road, or it may be that you drive through this section or have started using a longer route to bypass it. You may have seen the congestion at those times when parking has reduced the road to one lane.

If parking is restricted it will clearly have an adverse impact on those on Ratby Road who have no off street parking. They will need to find alternative parking spaces in the surrounding streets and as a result the residents of those streets may also be affected in some way. During the day the alternative parking may be used by commuters who have no

parking space on, for example, the Druck site, and they may find that they are competing with Ratby Road residents for any available parking spaces on nearby streets. Vehicles leaving Ratby Road allotments currently may not have a clear line of sight to oncoming vehicles, so no doubt an improvement to reduce the risks would be welcomed by those visiting the site.

No easy answer “There is no easy answer,” said Ozzie O’Shea “and it is important that everyone with something to say participates in the consultation so that all sides of the debate are considered before a final decision is made.”

Without parking restrictions the flow of traffic will continue to be hampered, with some degree of risk to both vehicles, motorists and pedestrians. But everyone likes to park as close to home as possible, and so some residents on Ratby Road will be inconvenienced if parking restrictions are introduced.

Norman Griffiths

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

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My wife’s attached to a machine that keeps her alive - the refrigerator.

15

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Proposed unrestricted parking, Bus Stop clearway markings to be removed

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Proposed No Waiting At Any Time Proposed Removal of restrictions

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ANN CARRUTHERS DIRECTOR

Allotment Gardens

NETWORK MANAGEMENT DEVELOPMENT & GROWTH RATBY ROAD, GROBY TITLE:

PROPOSED WAITING RESTRICTION

DRAWING NUMBER

DISCLAIMER: RESTRICTIONS NOT SHOWN ON THIS PLAN WILL NOT CHANGE THIS PLAN IS FOR GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION ONLY AND DOES NOT FORM PART OF THE FINAL LEGAL ORDER MAPINFO (C) Leicestershire County Council

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL DISTRICT OF HINCKLEY AND BOSWORTH RATBY ROAD, GROBY IMPOSITION OF NO WAITING AT ANY TIME RESTRICTIONS STATEMENT OF REASONS Leicestershire County Council is proposing no waiting at any time restrictions at the request of the Local Councillor.

Numerous complaints have been made regarding obstructive parking, and parking over the footway for many of years, therefore the proposals seek to remove parking from one side of the road and along the footway, to improve highway safety and traffic flow along Ratby Road.

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PREPARED BY:

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DATE

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SIZE

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APPROVED BY:

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CORR. FILE

COUNTY HALL * GLENFIELD * LEICESTER * LE3 8ST Tel: 01163 050001 * Fax: 0116 3050006 E.Mail address:

customerservices@leics.gov.uk

Website:

www.leicestershire.gov.uk

THE LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL (BOROUGH OF HINCKLEY AND BOSWORTH) CONSOLIDATION ORDER 2017, (RATBY ROAD, GROBY) (AMENDMENT 18) ORDER 202

THE LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL hereby gives notice that it proposes to make an Order under Sections 1, 2, 4, 5, 32, 35, 45, 46, 47, 49 and Part IV of Schedule 9 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (“the Act”), and of all other enabling powers, and after consultation with the Chief Officer of Police in accordance with Part III of Schedule 9 of the Act, the effect of which will be: 1. To impose No Waiting at Any Time restriction on part of Ratby Road, Groby

A copy of the proposed Orders, together with plans illustrating the proposals and an explanatory statement giving the Council's reasons for proposing to make the Orders may be requested from my offices by telephoning 0116 3050001, at the offices of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Hinckley Hub, Rugby Road, Hinckley LE10 0FR and on the notice board of Groby Parish Council Documents can also be viewed online at https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/roads-andtravel/cars-and-parking/traffic-management-consultations Objections to the proposals, specifying the grounds on which they are made, should be sent in writing to the undersigned by not later than 31st May 2021, quoting reference JM/HTWMT4877. Alternatively, objections can be emailed to jane.x.moore@leics.gov.uk or via the online comment form which may be accessed via the link above. If you have any queries in connection with this scheme or require alternative formats of this Notice, including larger print, braille or fax transmission, please contact Leicestershire County Council on (0116) 305 0001 Dated: 10th May 2021 Lauren Haslam, Director of Law and Governance, Leicestershire County Council, County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA

My horse would have finished in the first three, but he kept looking back for his plough.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Time to sort out your Hanging Baskets

G

ARDEN CENTRES and nurseries are crammed full of summer bedding plants at this time of year and they make fabulous hanging baskets and planters.

All you need is readily available from your local garden centre. Firstly, choose a good-sized basket (easier to keep moist than a smaller one) and a hangingbasket liner, or a good-sized pot or planter with plenty of drainage holes. A good quality multipurpose compost is essential for excellent results. The range of plants is vast, so carefully consider the colours and textures: decide on subtle or brash and bold, and whether you want to coordinate the flowers with other garden features.

To get started with your planting, place your basket in a large flowerpot as this stops the roundbottomed basket from moving. Place the liner in the basket, adjusting it to fit the basket and trimming off any excess. Next add handfuls of compost up to the point where you want to plant around the sides of the basket.

Planting slits are included in some liners. If you are using a pot, place a base of broken flowerpots or large stones in the base and top up with compost to within around 10cm of the pot rim.

Carefully remove the plants you need from their containers, easing the root balls out gently but firmly. An upright plant such as a fuchsia or pelargonium is a perfect choice for the centre of the basket or container, as it helps

to give your planting height and structure.

Any container looks better if there are plants cascading over the sides, so choose trailing plants and put these in around the edge. Space the trailing plants evenly around the sides of the basket.

Drizzle compost around and between the root balls of all the plants, making sure that each one has new and fresh compost to grow in to. Use your fingers to firm the compost and make sure that there are no gaps.

Once the planting is complete, water the container thoroughly using a watering can with the rose attached. Finally give your basket or pot a few days’ ‘rest’ sitting in a cool spot out of too much hot, direct sunshine.

Tips • Never let the compost dry out completely. Use a watering can with a rose attached or a gentle spray nozzle on the end of a hose.

• If the container does become too dry, sit it in a bowl of water for about an hour, allowing it to soak up the water it needs from the base and sides.

• Regularly remove faded flowers as this will help to encourage the plants to continue producing more flowers.

• Check regularly for any pests such as greenfly and treat the problem promptly. When plants are tightly crammed together, problems soon build up and spread if you’re not quick off the mark.

• Feed every couple of weeks with a highpotash liquid fertiliser such as a tomato feed, as this will help to encourage more flowers to develop.

Where are our birds?

BRITISH BIRDS are in big trouble. 80 per cent of our most popular species are in severe decline, according to recent data from the RSPB’s annual Big Garden Birdwatch.

The world’s largest wildlife survey has found that 16 out of the 20 most spotted garden birds have been in decline since 2020. There are now concerns about the greenfinch and chaffinch, which were seen in their lowest ever numbers this year.

The top five birds seen in people’s gardens were: house sparrows, blue tits, starlings, blackbirds and wood pigeons. Only robins, blackbirds, carrion crows and the song thrush grew in number in 2020.

Good Samaritan A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan.

She asked the class, “If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?” A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, “I think I’d throw up.”

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The walls in our apartment are so thin, when I ask my wife a question I get three different answers.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Spot The 10 Differences

17

As reported in Scientific American

‘Mother Trees’ Are Intelligent: THEY LEARN AND REMEMBER SUZANNE SIMARD, the University of British Columbia ecologist, was the model for Patricia Westerford, a controversial tree scientist in Richard Powers’s 2019 Pulitzer Prize–winning novel The Overstory.

Answers on page 27

Her Last Holiday By C L Taylor

TWO YEARS AGO, Fran’s sister Jenna disappeared on a wellness retreat in Gozo that went terribly wrong.

Tom Wade, the now infamous man behind Soul Shrink Retreats, has just been released from prison after serving his sentence for the deaths of two people. But he has never let on what happened to the third victim: Jenna. Determined to find out the truth, Fran books herself onto his upcoming retreat – the first since his release – and finds herself face to face with the man who might hold the key to her sister’s disappearance. The only question is, will she escape the retreat alive? Or does someone out there want Jenna’s secrets to stay hidden?

Simard’s work also inspired James Cameron’s vision of the godlike “Tree of Souls” in his 2009 box office hit Avatar. And her research was prominently featured in German forester Peter Wohlleben’s 2016 nonfiction bestseller The Hidden Life of Trees.

What captured the public’s imagination was Simard’s findings that trees are social beings that exchange nutrients, help one another and communicate about insect pests and other environmental threats.

Previous ecologists had focused on what happens aboveground, but Simard used radioactive isotopes of carbon to trace how trees share resources and information with one another through an intricately interconnected network of mycorrhizal fungi that colonize trees’ roots. In more recent work, she has found evidence that trees recognize their own kin and favor them with the lion’s share of their bounty, especially when the saplings are most vulnerable.

Simard’s first book, Finding the Mother Tree: Discovering the Wisdom of the Forest, was released by Knopf this month. In it, she argues that forests are not collections of isolated organisms but webs of constantly evolving relationships. Humans have been unraveling these webs for years, she says, through destructive practices such as clear-cutting and fire suppression. Now they are causing climate change to advance faster than trees can adapt, leading to species die-offs and a sharp increase in infestations by pests such as the bark beetles that have devastated forests throughout western North America.

Simard says people can take many actions to help forests—the world’s largest terrestrial carbon sink—recover and, in doing so, slow global warming. Among her most unconventional ideas is the pivotal role that the ancient giants she calls “mother trees” play in the ecosystem and our need to zealously protect them.

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The only problem with doing nothing is you never know when you’ve finished.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The Power of Hope

By Kate Garraway

IN MARCH 2020, Kate Garraway’s husband, Derek Draper, contracted Covid-19 and was placed in a medicallyinduced coma.

Initially, Kate was told that he would not survive. A year later he was still in hospital. Now at home but requiring round-the-clock care, he is thought to be the UK’s longest-fighting Covid-19 patient.

In this intimate book, Kate shares her deeply personal story. As well as recounting how the illness took hold of their lives, she writes about how she is coping with the uncertainty of their future, how she’s supporting her children through this traumatic time, how she has found strength in community and how she strives to hold on to hope even at the darkest of times. Covid-19 has affected everyone across the country in so many ways and Kate hopes that by revealing her own personal experience, it will give comfort to others. By sharing the lessons she has learnt along the way, it will help us all begin to try to re-build our lives.

Kate’s exceptional courage, positivity and warmth shine through on every page, making The Power of Hope a truly inspiring read that will resonate with all of us whose lives continue to be touched by the virus.

Enjoy reading the Spotlight?

If so, please pass it on to a friend or relative when you’ve finished with it. It’s great to share!

Bradgate Rotary News Thank you Groby for giving nature a helping hand!

BRADGATE ROTARY want to thank the families and individuals from Groby who took part in their environmental project at the CIC field by making wildflower bombs using clay and flower seeds.

The families then visited the field to throw them in the prepared area on the site.

Several families also volunteered to take some pre-prepared seed growing kits to propagate the seeds in preparation for transplanting in June at a celebration event. The hope is to encourage more wild-flowers into the environment, encourage bugs and insects and to help the bird population by providing more bird boxes.

Bradgate Rotary are on the lookout for any handy persons who would like to help with making birdboxes to encourage more birds to the trees and hedgerows in the field and other areas of the village.

Hero Scarecrows coming to Groby THE WEEKEND of September 11th/12th Bradgate Rotary we’ll hold The Groby Scarecrow event with a theme of “Heroes”, which should give a wide scope and acknowledge the great work done by the NHS, essential workers, and heroes in the community.

Further details will be on the Bradgate Rotary website and Face Book sites over the next couple of months. Profits from the event will be going to Bradgate Rotary charities, including LOROS Hospice and Leicester Children’s Holidays.

Come and join us and make a difference to your community ANYONE INTERESTED in joining their local Rotary and helping the community please email your contact details to Adrian Walker – walk77a@yahoo.com

Gardens in Bloom with Bradgate Rotary ADVANCE NOTICE is being given of a Gardens in Bloom competition in August to bring colour and joy to the area.

Bradgate Rotary Club are looking to hold the garden competition across the five villages of Groby, Ratby, Glenfield, Markfield, Anstey and Newtown Linford.

There will be several different categories and entrants will be asked to submit photos to the Bradgate Rotary website. The terms and conditions will be available very soon.

I’ve been happily married for nine years - and nine out of twenty-five isn’t bad.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Planning Apps

19

Enrich Your Child’s Learning Experiences

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ow ell ugh f ng ro rti s th ic o m er pp Su ork nde a w y p ke the

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A group of elderly British tourists were touring Holland by bus. They stopped at a cheese farm where a young guide led them through the process of making cheese from goat’s milk. She showed the group a lovely hillside where many goats were grazing.

“These,” she explained, “are the older goats put out to pasture when they no longer produce.” She then asked, “What do you do in Britain with your old goats?”

A spry old gentleman answered: “They send us on bus tours!”

Dis for coun NH ts a S w va or ilab ke rs le

& Kidz Club

“Staff in the baby room place high priority on nurturing babies’ emotional wellbeing, hence settle in well.”

Out to graze

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“Children are happy, settled and enjoy their time in the nursery.”

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The Madness of Grief

By Rev. Richard Coles

WHETHER it is pastoral care for the bereaved, discussions about the afterlife, or being called out to perform the last rites, death is part of the Reverend Richard Coles’s life and work.

But when his partner the Reverend David Coles died, shortly before Christmas in 2019, much about death took Coles by surprise. For one thing, David’s death at the early age of forty-three was unexpected.

The man that so often assists others to examine life’s moral questions now found himself in need of help. He began to look to others for guidance to steer him through his grief. The flock was leading the shepherd. Much about grief surprised him: the volume of ‘sadmin’ you have to do when someone dies, how much harder it is travelling for work alone, even the pain of typing a text message to your partner - then realising you are alone.

The Reverend Richard Coles’s deeply personal account of life after grief will resonate, unforgettably, with anyone who has lost a loved one.

My wife says I’m too impulsive, but what the heck does she know? She only met me yesterday.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby a ‘HOT SPOT AREA’ Letter for burglaries, say police

Double Yellow Lines

AN APPARENT upsurge in crime locally may have left Groby residents feeling that the police are right to describe the village as a hotspot area. With a one month peak of 22 burglaries through the whole Bosworth policing area last October, there were only 20 recorded for the following four months to the end of February 2021.

But last month the police warned residents that the village appeared to be targeted by burglars, and the Pymm Ley Lane area seemed to be a particular focus for attention.

A few days later they reported another break in, this time on Castell Drive, and then on 25 April they said an address on Field Court Road had been targeted overnight.

“We think a male on a cycle was responsible,” said a spokesperson about the Castell Drive incident.

“CCTV shows the offence occurring around 03.20 this morning. Please bear in mind that this appears to be a hot spot area now for burglaries.

We will continue to patrol but we really need to encourage you all to consider a suitable doorbell camera. The best evidence is witness information or CCTV. Please remain vigilant. The most recent one was a smashed rear window as the point of entry.”

They said that in the three and a half months to 16 April there had been 11 domestic burglaries over the 52 villages they cover in the Bosworth, Ratby, Groby, Markfield and Stanton Constabulary area, but 5 of these have been in Groby. The Field Court Road incident took this to 6 by 25 April, and this means that around half the burglaries so far this year throughout the 52 villages have occurred in Groby.

“We identified an increase in burglary offences in Groby so at the relevant times local officers and response colleagues were deployed to disrupt offenders and detect crime.” a spokesperson added.

“Officers have made direct contact with 320 residents. We encouraged the installation of CCTV which is an excellent deterrent. We are also working with the local authority to review street lighting in the area.”

Meanwhile social media was also reporting night time criminal activity, including: • The theft of charity bag items that had been left out overnight for collection the following morning, and items from cars.

• Another posting reported the theft of an e-bike from Ratby Road early Sunday morning 25 April.

The residents had been awake until 3am with their little boy unwell.

Up again at 5.30 and the back garden door was open and the bike missing.

• On 26 April the theft of a Nissan Juke was reported from

Police advise residents to consider a suitable doorbell camera Oakmeadow Way including some sentimental items.

• A canvas bag found in the spinney was subsequently traced to it’s owner.

• A few days earlier a posting reported that someone had slashed car tyres on Laundon Way. • Another vandalism incident at Quarry Park at the end of April with the likely sawing off a bench slat.

It’s likely that even with all this activity Groby still has less crime than other areas. For example, the levels of crime in Westcotes, the Warwick Way and Dishley estates in Loughborough, and Braunstone Frith, may be much higher, explaining why last year they each received up to £550,000 to detect and prevent burglary, theft and robbery.

The funding came from the Government’s Safer Streets Fund, which earmarked £25m for increased detection and prevention measures across England and Wales to target acquisitive crime.

A comparison of burglary rates for Westcotes and Bosworth for the six months ended February 2020 removes the impact of any crime reduction initiatives and shows that Westcotes had more than four times as many burglaries compared to Bosworth when the difference in population is taken into account.

The Safer Streets proposals included fixed number plate recognition/CCTV cameras on existing lampposts so as to be able to understand who is going in and out of the area, re-deployable CCTV (pan, tilt, zoom) at key locations to further deter/gather intelligence – moved every 8 weeks to give coverage. Another initiative is to offer every household a property vulnerability assessment and fit appropriate items and distribute property marking kits.

“With entry and exits to Groby limited to the A50 junctions, the Ratby Road and Newtown Linford Lane, Groby may be ideal for the deployment once again of number plate recognition cameras,” suggested one resident.

For years the village has called for an increased police presence, but budget limitations have meant the available cash has had to go to those areas with the greatest problems.

Although the number of burglaries throughout the 52 villages is relatively small, if the current problems are more than a short term anomaly it may be that Groby is not only top of the Bosworth burglary table, but is also working its way up the league table of problem areas overall, but that is just conjecture.

Norman Griffiths

The Whole Truth By Cara Hunter

SHE HAS everything at stake; he has everything to lose. But one of them is lying, all the same.

When an Oxford student accuses one of the university’s professors of sexual assault, DI Adam Fawley’s team think they’ve heard it all before. But they couldn’t be more wrong.

Because this time, the predator is a woman and the shining star of the department, and the student a six-foot male rugby player.

Soon DI Fawley and his team are up against the clock to figure out the truth. What they don’t realise is that someone is watching.

And they have a plan to put Fawley out of action for good...

WHICH bright spark decided to waste ratepayers’ money on painting double yellow lines on the road all the way from Newtown Linford to Groby, and previously put up 3 ‘no parking’ signs on the only small lay by at the top of the hill outside Newtown Linford, yet managed to fail to put double yellow lines on one side at the critical problem, top of the hill, on the Ratby Road in Groby?

In my 53 years of living in Groby I have never even seen an attempt to park on the road between Newtown Linford and Groby- it is so obviously too narrow and windy so the lines are totally unnecessary and wasteful of time effort and money!

On the other hand, the Ratby Road situation is a dangerous hazard! Parking on the small lay by at the top of the hill in Newtown Linford never did anyone any harm, apart from the coffers of Bradgate park!

It would be interesting to know what arguments were put to Councillors to con them into approving these actions and at what cost to us!

Kent Robinson

Miscellaneous musings on life A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. – Robert Quillen The contented man is never poor, the discontented never rich. George Eliot Nothing is ever lost by courtesy.

It is the cheapest of pleasures; costs nothing and conveys much. Erastus Wiman Any fool can criticise, condemn and complain – and usually does. - Dale Carnegie Anger is just one letter short of danger. - Anon Know thyself? If I knew myself, I would run away. - Johann Wolfgang The reason some people know the solution is because they created the problem. - Kelly Fordyce They say that the traffic is so bad in town that a man is knocked down every day - and he is getting jolly well fed up with it. – Anon

Being from Scotland, I love the summer. It’s my favourite day of the year.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

21

Do What You Love, Love What You Do

By Holly Tucker

HOLLY TUCKER MBE - co-founder of notonthehighstreet, and creator of Holly & Co - is on a mission to change business forever.

Having inspired over 100,000 entrepreneurs and identified the keys to their success, in Do What You Love, Love What You Do, she now wants to help anyone build a business doing what they love, leading to a happier and more fulfilled life.

Demystifying the grey world of business, whether you’ve yet to take your first steps or find yourself stuck in a business rut, this beautiful and vibrant book will allow your dreams to take flight. Holly looks back at her own story, sharing her biggest lessons and proven advice on creating and growing a business. From side hustle to full-time, from defeating your confidence gremlins to creating an empowered community, Holly reveals both the skills and the mindset any founder needs to help their business thrive.

A book like no other, Do What You Love, Love What You Do also shines a light on the creative community, showcasing the brilliant and unique output of small businesses, inspiring you to join them in their success.

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Give a compliment!

WE ALL like to receive a compliment from time to time.

As Robert Orben, former script writer for President Gerald R. Ford once said, “A compliment is verbal sunshine.”

Another American, Leo Buscaglia once observed: “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn someone’s life around.”

At a funeral service, nice things are usually said of the deceased. While these comments are comforting for the relatives, did the same folks ever bother to say these kind things to the person themselves, when they were alive, to show them how much they were appreciated?

Sadly, not everyone seems able to compliment others. Perhaps they never received compliments when they were young, or perhaps they feel that to compliment someone else is to somehow put themselves down. For whatever reason, such people miss out on a whole lot of pleasure in life.

Whenever we see something that is worthy of a compliment, why not give it, and bring ‘a little verbal sunshine’ into someone else’s life!

Colin Hammacott

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22

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS

Councillor Ted Hollick reports

County Council Election 2021

FIRST, congratulations to Ozzy O’shea for retaining his County Council seat for a third consecutive term of 4 years.

A recurring issue that residents brought to our attention at the polling station was the proliferation of Litter on our roads and pathways including an increasing number of dropped or discarded face masks.

Footpath query

Spotlight Small Ads • Quality Ladies Faux Fur 3/4 Length Coat. Blush pink. Size 16.

Worn only twice. Immaculate. Price £20.00 • 6 quality Lead Crystal Whisky Tumblers. Price £15.00 • 5 Hardback Books “Letters to the Daily Telegraph”. Immaculate .

Price £10.00.

Tel: 07963 412666 or 0116 2878882 (Glenfield).

• Easylife Deluxe Leg Exerciser, remote control included. Perfect for the less mobile, a gentle way to increase circulation and muscle strength in joints and lower legs/feet. Two foot plates glide gently back and forth, several settings to suit need.

Suitable for elderly, infirm, those in recovery or sitting a lot. Boxed, well looked after. Price: £25 o.n.o.

Tel: 07951 991408 (Markfield).

• Dark Grey Single Wardrobe in excellent condition with shelf and hanging rail. Silver handles. H72 inches, W30 inches, D21 inches.

Price: £85.00.

Tel: 07720 661602 (Markfield)

FOLLOWING the recent unsurprising request from the Brookvale and Community college Campus that people do not walk or exercise their dogs on school fields, there have been a number of approaches to the Parish Council making the claim that there is a long established right of way across the school field. My enquiries indicate that this is not the case.

I have been in contact with Officers at County Hall who support the opinion that around the time that the School and college were built the only section of path that would have been affected by the proposed building was near to Martinshaw woods and would have required a footpath diversion order to be instigated. The bottom section of the R37 required a similar order when the motorway was built Officers have supplied me with 2 maps both showing the R37 and R38 Paths in 1957 (the Definitive footpath map), and 2016 which I have indicated on the adjoining illustration in order to clarify the present position.

Ted Hollick

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

• Sony HT-CT80 Sound Bar / Subwoofer. Comprises Bar Speaker, separate box Subwoofer, Optical digital cable, remote control and instruction book (unboxed).

The slim unit packs a powerful 80 watt output. Connect to your TV either by Bluetooth or with the Optical digital cable supplied.

With Bluetooth streaming, you can also listen to your favourite playlists which can play directly from your Smartphone.Wired to the soundbar, the Subwoofer will deliver deep bass to all your TV programmes, movies and games.

Speaker dimensions are 97 x 37.2 x 23.3 cm. Position in front of the TV screen or secure it to a nearby wall.Price: £50.00.

Tel: 07902 469298 (Markfield).

• Dining Table - 3 ft square, extendable, with 4 chairs. V.g.c.

Price: £50.00.

• Eurohike Teepee Tent - new.

Price: £50.00.

• Eurohike Double Flock Airbed - new. Price: £10.00.

• Badger Stretcher Bed. Price: £50.00.

Tel: 0116 232 1922 (Groby).

• One Light Wood Barstool with square material padded seat. 74 cm high. Good condition. Free.

Tel: 07815 940871 (Groby) • Outsunny 3m Cantilever Garden Parasol - Green Canopy, Tiltable, Rotatable. Includes Base Weights, Instructions. Price: £40.

Tel: 0116 291 9119 (Groby).

• Dutch Dresser, round top, 2 doors, 2 drawers, 36”long, 16.5”wide, 64.5” tall.

In good condition. Price: £50 o.n.o.

Buyer to collect.

• Blooma Bondi G450 4 burner BBQ with side burner.

Includes two 4.5 butane bottles, tools and cover. In good condition.

Price: £50 o.n.o. Buyer to collect.

Tel: Alan on 0116 232 2541.

(Groby) • Five packs of Tena Men’s Premium Fit Protection Underwear. Size: medium.

Price: £5.00 per pack. Never been opened.

Tel: 0116 287 1532 (Glenfield) • Bootmaster Mobility Scooter.

Excellent condition. Dismantles for easy transport.Used for less than 12 months.Complete with front basket, seat bag, 2 sets keys and manual. Price: £500 o.n.o.

Tel. 0116 287 5585 or 07780 342253 (Groby) • 4 x 1000 pieces Jigsaw Puzzles cottage/landscape. Nice puzzles to do. Price: £14.00 or sold separately £4.00 each. Can supply photos.

Tel: 07790 734858 (Groby) • WANTED: a CHARGER for an ALDI Workzone cordless drill Item No.629782 220v-240/ 50Hz/ 45w/ 12.8v/ 2000mA. Tel: 07715 853571 (Glenfield) • Luxury space saving 6mm acrylic Corner Bath in white, 1500mm x 1000mm complete with bath panel and tap, as new condition, hardly used and yours for £100.00.

• Medium sized foldable Dog Transport Cage - as new condition, £15.00.

Tel: 0116 2876715 (Groby) • Car Cycle Carrier for sale: Make is Exodus, bought new via Halfords approx 3 years ago. It will carry 2 cycles and requires a tow ball fitting on the rear of the car used, Max weight to be carried is 30 Kg. Lockable on to the tow ball, provided.

Halfords Item code:146682. Price: £30. Tel: 01162 876856 (Groby)

SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone.

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

I earn a seven figure salary. Unfortunately, there’s a decimal point involved.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

23

Would you like to be a part of a new small and friendly Walking and Talking Group in Groby?

• Don’t want to walk alone?

• Ever wondered where a footpath might lead to?

• Ever wanted to explore the local countryside/woodland but not on your own?

• Wanting to become fitter?

• Want to feel more relaxed?

• Wanting more confidence?

• Coming out from isolating or shielding?

If your answer was YES to any of the above questions … this new group might be for you.

Walking on your own may feel a little daunting, so having a compassionate Walk Leader ... helping you to lift your spirits with light heartedness and a positive outlook whilst you are gaining many other health benefits in the process and in the company of a warm and friendly group - can be much more rewarding.

Benefits of walking

Walking can reduce your risk of chronic disease. The physical benefits of walking are well documented, walking can lower blood sugar levels and your overall risk for diabetes. Regular walking lowers blood pressure by as much as 11 points and may reduce the risk of stroke by up to 40%.

One of the most cited studies on walking and health, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, found that those who walked enough to meet physical activity guidelines (150 minutes or more per week) had a 30% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, compared with those who did not walk regularly.

For disease prevention, longer walks are key … doing a one hour-long walk at least once or twice a week.

Plus, it has tremendous benefits, from supporting a healthy immune system to boosting your metabolism to strengthening your joints, muscles, and bones - not to mention it’s amazing for stress relief and enjoying a little ‘me time’ especially through some greenery, or soaking in a bit of sunlight.

When you make your walks social, the interaction helps you feel connected, which can make you feel happier.

Daily walking increases metabolism by burning extra calories and by preventing muscle loss, which is particularly important as we get older.

It can even delay the onset of varicose veins. As you age, your risk of varicose veins increases. However, walking is a proven way to prevent them from developing, and even if you suffer with them already, walking can ease related swelling and restlessness in your legs.

Your digestion will improve by walking more. That’s because a regular walking routine can greatly improve your bowel movements, as it utilises core and abdominal muscles, encouraging movement in our digestive system.

And it can help alleviate joint pain. By helping to improve your range of motion and mobility because walking increases blood flow to tense areas and helps strengthen the muscles surrounding your joints.

Walking can help you feel more creative.

And last but not least, it will help you to sleep better at night.That’s because exercise naturally boosts the effects of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Walking also helps reduce pain and stress, which can cause sleep disturbances.

There are so many positive benefits that can be enjoyed by walking!

Walking with others is a great way to meet new people and keep motivated.

So, if this group sounds for you, I would genuinely love you to be a part of this new venture!

Reserve your place

For any more information, or to register and reserve your place, contact Hazel on 07817 303018 or email: happyhome07@hotmail. co.uk If there is interest in gents-only or ladies-only walks, I’m happy to be flexible and organise.

Please get in touch!

Next Sessions

Monthly walks: Monday May 24th, Monday June 28th, Monday July 26th, August 23rd and Monday September 27th Weekly walks commencing: Tuesday May 25th.

Times:10am -11am Brisker pace with some uneven ground and slopes 1.30pm- 2.30pm Gentler pace, mainly flat with some uneven ground and rest breaks as required.

All you need is a comfy sturdy pair of shoes!

Ages: 50+. Genders Accepted: Mixed. Cost: £3.50 Meeting Point: To be confirmed each walk.

Sessions will be Covid 19 secure in accordance with government guidelines.

I try to go the extra mile at work, but my boss always finds me and brings me back.

24

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS

Councillor Martin Cartwright reports

Tel: 0116 287 4500 Mob: 07850 707050 E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk COVID Pandemic THE NEXT phase of the lockdown easement is due to take place on May 18th.

Since my last article in the Spotlight the Government has made it clear it is not going to continue the legislation that allowed Councils to hold meetings virtually.

This was challenged by Hertfordshire County Council in the High Court, a challenge that failed.

Groby Parish Council held their AGM on May 4th 2021 two days before the rule change so were able to conduct their AGM by Zoom.

The Borough Council’s annual general meeting AGM (Mayor Making) is on May 18th and will have to take place at a single venue with COVID compliance. This is not possible at Hinckley Hub so the Borough Council are looking at bigger venues in order to hold meetings for the foreseeable future.

Groby Parish Council – Parish Councillor Resignation THERE COULD well be a second election process taking place in Groby following the County Council & Police & Crime Commissioner elections in order to fill the vacancy on Groby Parish Council.

At least ten names of the Groby Electorate have been submitted to Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council meaning that if more people apply for the vacant post than the seats being contested, an election will take place.

You could well be filling in postal votes and or calling at the Village Hall to cast your vote this time around for Groby Parish Council.

Now that the first part of the legislation has been satisfied the latest date an election can take place is Thursday June 16th 2021

Heritage Watchdog Historic Buildings at Risk Register IT IS OF no surprise that Bradgate Stables again feature on the Heritage Buildings at Risk Register.

The latest Heritage watchdog historic Buildings at Risk Register has just been published for all the District Councils. In Hinckley & Bosworth the register includes:

• Bradgate House Stables, Groby • St Edith’s, Orton-on-the-Hill • Holy Trinity, Twycross

Dot Bell IN AUGUST 2020 Dot Bell of THE GROBY NURSERY SCHOOL officially retired.

You may recall the drive-by that was done for her on her retirement celebration.

It is with great sadness to say that Dot passed away in April 2021.

Condolences to her family, friends and all the children that Dot has dedicated her talents to over decades

Litter – Fly-Tipping AS SURE as day turns to night and back again the discarded litter and fly tipping continues.

I have received questions regarding the litter specifically on the A46 and A50 through Groby The litter alongside the A46 and A50 is shocking. I absolutely agree with all of those who have contacted me on this.

Firstly this is as a result of mindless idiots throwing it onto the verges from cars, etc.

The situation has been made worse by the fact that the vegetation has been cut back by machinery that has shredded much of the waste into much smaller pieces. You carry out one job and create another one.

In terms of the fix, as this is a major fast moving road, it needs a road closure to be put into place in order to litter-pick. This is both expensive and regulative whereby permits have to be sought from Leicestershire County Council Highways although it is Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s responsibility to clear a small section of the A46 and a larger section of the A50.

Blaby District Council is responsible for part of it in their patch too. The rest in respect of the A46 down to the Hobby Horse is Charnwood District Council’s nightmare to deal with.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council are responsible for the A46 as well as from the A50 Groby entry roundabout all the way up to Markfield.

Taking each major road in turn the A46 is litter picked twice a year with the next scheduled litter-pick due to take place in July 2021 subject to the requisite permits for road closure. We are working with Blaby District Council who will litter pick their section at the same time reducing the costs to both authorities in respect of the permits by working together and the road is closed once not twice as a result of team work.

With the A50, the next scheduled litter pick is due in May 2021 subject to the permits and road closure agreement, and is also completed twice a year.

Sadly, in both cases once the works are completed it is not very long before it looks a mess again

due to the constant tipping of rubbish from passing vehicles.

The route to stop this and much less costs on local authorities is the behaviour of people in the first instance.

There are calls, which I support, for fast food outlets to print registration numbers on the bags so that offenders can be traced. Trouble is unless this is on every item then simply the items without the registration number will be chucked instead. It is a huge unsightly issue which is very expensive to deal with the after effects.

Thankfully, our volunteer litter pickers continue to mop up after everyone and a great deal of gratitude is due to these people who give up their time and energy in order to improve the environment for everyone’s benefit.

An indication of the scale of the problem: • Every day an average of 32 piles of rubbish are dumped across Leicestershire. New figures published by the Department for the Environment, Food & Rural Affairs show there were 11,550 cases of fly-tipping recorded across the county in 2019-2020. However the figures also show just 13 people were prosecuted for fly-tipping in the same period.

• Last year Councils in Leicestershire spent £146,716.00 just on clearing the instances of large scale fly-tipping.

• That’s Leicestershire; nationally the number of fly-tipping instances rose to 975,631 costing an estimated 58 Million pounds to clear up. How many nurses could that fund instead for instance?

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

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

Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 07850 707050

E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk Write : Maverick House,10 Pine Tree Avenue, Groby, LE6 0EQ

Cllr Martin Cartwright

@CllrCartwright

cllr.martincartwright

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

Keep safe, take care.

Cllr Martin Cartwright

I married my wife for her looks, but not the ones she’s giving me lately.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

LEICS & RUTLAND FESTIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY RETURNS IN JULY THE FESTIVAL of Leicestershire and Rutland Archaeology will be running throughout July this year, from July 3rd to August 1st.

The county festival is part of the UK’s biggest archaeological event, the national Festival of Archaeology.

With lockdown restrictions easing, this is the perfect time for people to get out and explore their local places, discover the archaeology and rich heritage that is all around us and uncover the stories, sites, buildings, places, people and events that make our local communities so special.

Events, both on the ground and online, are planned across Leicestershire and Rutland, in our towns and villages, in museums and at our heritage sites.

The Festival brings together local archaeological organisations to showcase all that is great about our local archaeological heritage and we want you to help us celebrate local sites, stories and the people who lived and shaped our local places.

• Over 40 guided walks are organised with more being confirmed daily. These cover a huge range of sites from prehistoric to industrial.

• Live digital talks by some of the counties’ leading heritage experts.

• Self-guided walks to enjoy at your own pace.

• Online archives of past talks.

• And many more family friendly activities, exhibitions and hands on events.

Local organiser, Peter Liddle, commented “last year was a disappointment as the pandemic led to most of our events being cancelled but this year we’re back! We have fabulous sites locally and we plan to show people a different dimension to popular beauty spots like Bradgate Park, Beacon Hill and Abbey Park where the archaeology may go unnoticed – until our expert guides point it out. Numbers will be restricted to aid social distancing and everything will need to be booked in advance. There will also be a number of self-guided walks for people to follow at their own pace and time. Talks will largely be online with archaeologists from the University of Leicester and other experts speaking about a range of local subjects.”

The Leicestershire and Rutland Festival is part of a national Festival of Archaeology organised by the Council for British Archaeology and is supported by the Leicestershire Fieldworkers, the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, the Leicestershire Industrial History Society, University of Leicester Archaeological Services and many other local heritage groups.

More information about the Festival and a full list of events can be found at https://leicsfieldworkers.org/ festival-of-archaeology/.

The programme will be continually updated as more events are confirmed.

More information about the national Festival of Archaeology, which runs from July 17th to August 1st, can be found at https://festival.archaeologyuk.org/.

25

Glenfield Millennium Green News THE TRUSTEES of the Millennium Green have provisionally booked a date for our AGM, postponed from February.

It will take place on Tuesday June 22nd at Park House on Station Road in Glenfield beginning at 7.30pm. As usual there will be a summary of the year that has gone by and plans for the future.

Everyone is welcome to attend and we hope there will be no restrictions as, according to the time-line given by the Government, this will be after we have regained our freedom!

However if there are still some precautions we have to take we will make sure they are carried out. After such a challenging year for us all it will be encouraging to begin to make plans for the future.

Please come if you can.

• GARDENING SESSIONS have begun on a limited scale and plans are in place to remove the waste that has accumulated over the last year.

It will not be possible to hold the Plant Sale again this year.

There will be a limited number of plants available and details of these, and where to buy them will be posted on the notice boards on the Green.

I asked my hairdresser if I could have highlights, so he showed me a video of past haircuts.

26

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2021 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The man who invented the saxophone

IT WAS 175 years ago, on 28th June 1846, that Belgian musical instrument maker Adolphe Sax patented the saxophone.

Born Antoine-Joseph in 1814, Sax quickly became known for his brilliant inventiveness and his abrasive personality, but also – to the despair of his mother – for his brushes with death as a child. He fell from a height of three floors and was believed dead, drank a bowl of dilute sulphuric acid thinking it was milk, swallowed a pin, and received serious burns from a gunpowder explosion.

He also fell on to a hot castiron frying pan, was struck by a cobblestone and fell into a river, then several times narrowly escaped poisoning from sleeping in a room where varnished furniture was drying.

He also contracted lip cancer in the 1850s but made a full recovery.

It was surprising then, that he lived until his 80th year, dying in poverty in Paris despite his many musical instrument inventions, which did not bring him wealth because they were copied by others, despite his patent.

As well as the saxophone, which received huge support from classical composer Berlioz, he also invented the saxatromba, saxhorn and saxtuba. He himself played flute and clarinet. His parents were also instrument designers.

Neighbourhood Watch IN ONE SMALL rural village the local vet also led the local Neighbourhood Watch group.

Late one night the phone rang, and his wife answered. An agitated voice inquired, “Is your husband there?”

“He is, but tell me, do you need him as the vet or the Neighbourhood Watch?” the wife asked.

“Both!” was the reply. “We can’t get our dog’s mouth open, and there’s a burglar in it!”

GROBY GARDENING SOCIETY NEWS

The beginnings of Boots the Chemist

THERE WAS no meeting in April due to the continuing Covid-19 restrictions.

England is slowly emerging from the lockdown, and we seem to be on track for further easing in the next few months. Infection rates, along with hospitalisation cases and fatalities are all decreasing; some sort of normality might be on the horizon. It will be interesting to see how the lockdown affects behaviours regarding working practices, shopping, travel and holidays.

I recently uncovered my copy of Charles Darwin’s “On The Origin of Species”, it will be interesting to revisit his observations of how behaviours are changed within different groups. Will social contact be changed permanently, handshakes and hugs restricted to close acquaintances only?

Will different age groups react differently?

This month used to be known for April showers, but this year has proved (yet another!) exception, as the UK has had its coldest and driest April for many years. There were overnight frosts recorded every night throughout the UK somewhere, with the temperature in our region falling below freezing overnight on more than half the nights. Some areas have reported spontaneous, or sometimes malicious, outbreaks of wildfire, on tinder dry vegetation. There has been a lot of welcome sunshine, in a parallel to Spring last year, but the lack of rain has started to cause problems for gardeners and growers alike. The Saharan dust we had at the beginning of April has been blown away by the Arctic winds bringing wintry showers across much of the UK. By the time you read this however, the May Day Holiday will doubtless have been a washout!

Tree blossom Garden plants are starting to undergo the annual frenzy of growth, competing for resources, and wildlife is doing the same. The succession of tree blossom continues: the early cherries are finishing, the plum tree has almost finished, the late cherries are full of bloom and the apple tree isn’t far behind. For a few weeks the trees are covered in colour, and in another few weeks the petals will have covered my car, stuck on as if they’d been glued there! The lawn has already been cut, but that only encourages it to grow more, so I’ll cut it again, which encourages it to grow more. Maybe long grass will come into fashion one day?

Like many gardeners, I welcome birds into the garden, and happily put out food to encourage them, or at least the ones that don’t do much damage.

Having watched the pigeons squatting on my plum tree and biting off the flower buds (not eating them, just biting them off, covering the lawn in white flowers!) I decided I would only put out mealworms rather than seed.

Pigeons don’t eat mealworms and they soon realised there was no point visiting my garden. The blackbirds and robins on the other hand, are there as soon as I open the back door, with the dunnocks, blue tits, and great tits (and at least one wren!) joining in soon after. The blackbirds in particular enjoy the temporary birdbath, no doubt sprucing up to attract a mate. We continue to have nightly visits from the hedgehogs, at least three separate individuals, as soon as dusk approaches.

The past twelve months have been difficult for many groups and societies, and the Gardening Society committee has decided that due to the ongoing pandemic there will be no further meetings of the Society until further notice. The committee wishes to thank all those involved with the Society over the years, including those who have now resigned, whose help and assistance with the running of the Society was very much appreciated.

POSSIBLE DAY TRIP The Society are however investigating the possibility of a day trip for members to the Belvoir Flower Show at Belvoir Castle on Saturday 17 July with Roberts, our travel partner, picking up from outside Groby library, and including entrance to the show. They have assured us that all relevant Covid-19 precautions will be in place on the coach. A minimum of 30 passengers are needed, at a cost of £29 per person to make the trip cost effective. Roberts have told us that should the show be cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions or another lockdown, that refunds would be made available. This very popular show is a great opportunity to pick up tips and ideas for your own garden, and should be a great day out.

With apologies for the short notice, please contact Beverley Shooter on 07929 070309 as soon as possible to reserve your places.

Enjoy your garden when you can. Stay safe.

(If you have any queries about the society, please email Helen Box on helen_box@hotmail.com in the first instance.)

Keith Poole

JESSE BOOT, the British pharmacist and philanthropist, died 90 years ago, on 13th June 1931.

He turned the Boots Company started by his father John – a former agricultural worker – into a chain of chemists branded ‘Chemists to the Nation’.

The 1st Baron Trent, as Jesse became in 1929, sold his controlling interest to American investors in 1920, but Boots continues to be a familiar name to all Britons.

Ironically John Boot had offered his close friend and business associate John Harston the opportunity of going into business with him, but Harston had felt it was not a good investment.

Jesse Boot was a great benefactor to the City of Nottingham. He gave land for what is now the University of Nottingham and was presented with the Freedom of the City of Nottingham in 1920.

He met his wife, Florence Rowe, in a Wesleyan Chapel in Jersey while he was recuperating from illness. She was also an astute businesswoman, who helped to develop the Boots business, and her home island of Jersey benefited from the couple’s generosity.

After her husband’s death she commissioned the glass artist René Lalique to refit the Anglican church of St Matthew there as a memorial to him.

Home alone, wanting a gnome DO YOU yearn for a garden gnome? You are not the only one.

Since last year’s lockdown, garden centres have been reporting a ‘massive upswing’ in ornament sales, due to people being forced to spend more time in their gardens.

Gnomes top the list of most-wanted ornaments, with a near 100 per cent increase in sales over the past two years.

There was even a gnome crisis a while back, when the Suez Canal got jammed, and thousands of gnomes on their way to UK gardens could not get through.

I was watching Mary Poppins and thought: Surely those chimney sweeps could make more money as professional dancers?

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

27

FIND 16 AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES

This is your Word Search!

WORDSEARCH A view of Kampala

Churches to launch nature count within the ‘National Park’ of churchyards HUNDREDS of churches have signed up to a week-long ‘nature count’ occurring this month (June), which will encourage people to visit churchyards and record what they see.

Churches Count on Nature, to run between 5th-13th June, is a citizenscience event covering churchyards across England and Wales.

Communities and visitors will be asked to make a note of the animals, birds, insects, or fungi in their local churchyard. Their data will then be collated on the National Biodiversity Network.

It is being jointly run by the conservation charities Caring for God’s Acre, A Rocha UK, the Church of England, and the Church in Wales.

Church land, often uniquely unploughed and undeveloped, can be a habitat for precious, endangered plants and wildlife. Together, churchyards cover a huge area –estimated to be equivalent to a small national park.

The week is open to anyone with a love of nature, and churches are seeking links with local schools and local wildlife groups.

Various online guidance about getting to know fauna and flora is being shared with the churches who are participating. A similar national event Love Your Burial Ground Week will be combined with this project.

Registration for the webinars is on the Church of England’s website and also at Churches Count on Nature online.

Spot the Difference Answers 1.Tags on the life-ring in a different position, 2. Collar on neck of swim-ring duck is missing, 3. Red stripe missing on larger boy’s trunks 4. Facial expression on sign 5. Left hand on larger boy is hidden 6. Little boy’s eyes looking in a different direction 7. Little boy’s freckles are missing 8. Little boy’s belly button is missing 9. Different coloured trunks on little boy 10. No crack on the wall

IF YOU can find 16 AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win yourself a meal for two and a bottle of house wine at The Stamford Arms in ADDISABABA ANTANANA Groby.

CONAKRY All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark aDODOMA line through 16 AFRICAN CAPITAL CITIES. These can run vertically, KAMPALA KIGALI horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

LUANDA Send your marked entry forms to: HAKUNA MATATA, LUSAKA Groby Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by MONROVIA OUAGADOU Saturday 29th May 2021. Please remember to fill in your name and address. (Some people don’t!)

YAOUNDE The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the voucher for a Meal for Two and a Bottle of House Wine at The Stamford Arms, Groby - thanks to the generous sponsorship of Brian Rigby - owner of The Stamford Arms. (Redeemable when restrictions allow.)

Find the word in the puzzle.

Words can go in any direction.

Here are the 16 AFRICAN CAPITALS you have to find:

Words can share letters as they cross over each other

ADDIS ABABA • ANTANANARIVO • BRAZZAVILLE • CONAKRY DODOMA • GABORONE • KAMPALA • KIGALI

16 of 16 words placed.

LILONGWE • LUANDA • LUSAKA • MOGADISHU

MONROVIA • OUAGADOUGOU • WINDHOEK • YAOUNDE

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

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

Copyright Last Month’s Winner was:

MRS L.M.GEE of Forest View, Groby.

Congratulations! Your voucher will be sent to you soon!

I laugh in the face of danger, except if I’m involved.

©

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