November 2015 groby spotlight online

Community Advent Windows… ... is a new village event this December, giving us a particularly village countdown to Christmas.

Each evening, from 1st December, a new window will be ‘lit’, until all windows are on show on Christmas Eve, each window illustrating part or all of a Christmas carol or Christmas song.

Programmes will be available for the public at the end of November giving a schedule of the lighted windows and offering a challenge or two for everyone!

If you would like to create a window, there is no fee, just contact Rev Louise Corke on 0116 231 3090 or email: words.th@talktalk.net to register.

Groby Sings Goes to Town WE AT GROBY SINGS are practising hard for our next production, Groby Sings Goes to Town which will take place, as usual, at Groby Community College.

Although this is our winter concert, this year there is not a snowflake in sight! However, there could be some Rain in Spain or even On The Street Where You Live and so we’ll have umbrellas and parasols at the ready to help us entertain our audiences with songs from My Fair Lady, Continued on page 5 ...>

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY: 8th NOVEMBER 2015

THE UNVEILING OF THE REMEMBRANCE PLAQUES

THIS YEAR the service in the Groby ExServicemen’s Club car park was again well attended It started with the unveiling of the two new plaques to remember those who lost their lives in both World Wars. This was followed by a brief service by the Rev Louise Corke, then the Last Post and the laying of wreaths.

Tea /coffee was available in the club afterwards.

I would like to thank all individuals who donated towards the cost of the plaques and also Voice Connect and Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club who were the only two businesses to respond to a letter for donations.

It has taken a lot of hard work and negotiations to give the village an outdoor war memorial and now it has been achieved thanks to your help. Also thanks to English Rose Memorials for the work done on the plaques and Cadle Builders for the installation.

Anyone who did not attend the Remembrance Service and would like to look at the plaques please feel welcome to do so.

Paul Brudenell

(Groby Outdoor Remembrance Service Organiser)

Saturday 14th November

Christmas Fayre at Groby Village Hall A CHRISTMAS Fayre in aid of Brake, the road safety charity, will take place at Groby Village Hall on Saturday 14th November from 4pm to 8pm.

There will be lots of different stands including make up, body care, wellbeing products, cakes and pastries, jewellery, gifts, bric a brac, sweets and lots more.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 12th December - Advert/Articles needed by 28th November

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

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

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Telephone 01530-

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

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

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

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

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NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 12TH DECEMBER DEADLINE: 28th November

Images that are worlds apart!

MIKE PRATT, local amateur artist and photographer, has Groby in a spin!

But not just the village of Groby, he has been wandering around neighbouring villages taking photographs and creating images which he is calling his Worlds Apart’ series.

His worlds apart images are a result of many hours work combining up to one hundred photographs carefully cut out and artistically placed before being given a 360 degree wrap. They make for a very original and unique picture – they are literally ‘worlds apart’ from any other!

But then why stop at the local villages when there is the whole world to go at? So his portfolio is slowing expanding to include other well-known cities, including Leicester, of course, and one representing the whole planet!

Any artist will know that creating work is the easy part. Selling work is extremely difficult and needs a lot of exposure to get noticed. Mike has set-up a facebook page (search for ‘worlds apart by mike pratt’), so please like and share his page if you can. His images can be purchased through Etsy.com (an online marketplace for handmade goods). Mike is also looking at the possibilities of having a local exhibition in the near future.

Back to Victorian Times at Martinshaw AS PART of this term’s creative curriculum, year 5 received a small taste of life under the strict Victorian school regime.

For just the one day, gone was the interactive initiativebased lessons to be replaced with repetition: learning by rote, plenty of prayers and lots of singing in a cold, cold classroom (this bit was simulated).

Discipline was strict: no talking, unless spoken to, no fidgeting, no smiling, no scratching and definitely no laughing. Children came to school in those days TO LEARN, not to enjoy themselves.

Punishments were discussed but, you will be glad to hear, not used. Not even a piece of chalk whistled past a child’s ear, and definitely no board rubbers were thrown. However, Miss Ringland produced a very convincing cane swishing sound.

Altogether a great learning experience for the students, leaving them glad that they attend school in the 21st century and not the 19th.

Disclaimer: Be assured, No children were permanently damaged by this experience.

Owen Lawrence

When they start getting the 5-day forecast right then maybe I’ll listen to their climate change theories.

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

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

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

Groby Allotment Society News “Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston THANK YOU John (Thornton) for your very good article last month.

After our summer break away from the allotment things have moved on a pace. We are still cultivating plenty of produce – I love eating the right vegetables for the right season – we have finished the beans and corn and have now moved on to Kale and squash and of course the store of carrots, parsnips, potatoes, garlic and beetroot (a meal right there).

I have to say when we got back from two weeks of eating in a Hotel all the boss wanted was his favourite vegetable casserole. The end of the Raspberries keep ticking over but unfortunately all other soft fruit is now finished – thank goodness for the freezer and friends who keep us in apples.

The chrysanthemums and dahlias are looking a picture and the autumn colours of the flowers look wonderful in the sunshine.

With November comes the bonfire season and allotment holders can now have fires on their plots – please please check for Hedgehogs – we do not want a “I Cannot Believe It” moment where a hedgehog was scooped up with leaves and put on the bonfire. Please check at the base of the piles that you have been drying out.

Plot holders should be getting the ground ready for the winter now – if you have a problem maintaining your plot now is the time to discuss your concerns with the committee. Don’t leave it till the spring when the ‘problem’ has just grown.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH I made this soup the other day – we have it again today and there is plenty in the freezer!

Squash/Pumpkin soup – the boss just brought home a big yellow round vegetable – not sure what it was!

• 1 chopped onion • 2 sticks of celery chopped • 2 cloves of garlic chopped • Plenty of chopped Pumpkin/Squash – as much as you want to cook. I used ½ of quite a large specimen.

• Vegetable or chicken stock – seasoning – herbs (I used mixed dried herbs) sage goes very well with this.

Heat a good knob of butter in the base of a large pan add veg and coat in butter (you can use oil ) add the stock and cook till all the veg are tender – I use a pressure cooker but you don’t have to.

When cooked blend with a hand blender or mash down a little with a potato masher. Check seasoning - Serve with fresh bread – lovely.

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Light up a Life LOROS is once again inviting people to remember a loved one at Christmas during this year’s Light Up A Life service.

The annual event will be taking place on Sunday 6th December at the Groby Road Hospice and is open to anyone wanting to remember that special someone during the festive period.

In return for a donation, a light will be lit up in memory of a loved one on the LOROS Christmas tree, kindly provided by Palmers Garden Centre.

Visitors attending this year’s Light Up A Life will also be given a star to tie to the tree in the Chapel at LOROS, which they can write a personal message on.

There will be a Book of Remembrance at the service and on display in the Chapel afterwards.

To attend this year’s Light Up A Life, which is sponsored by Morningside Pharmaceuticals Ltd, please visit: loros.co.uk/lual, call LOROS fundraising on: (0116) 231 8431/2 or email: fundraising@loros.co.uk Application forms to attend needed by 30th November.

Groby Sings Who will you Goes to Town meet under the Christmas lights?

From page 1

DON’T TURN the page – this isn’t a promotion for a dating agency but a celebration of the love of Groby residents for community events.

Throughout the year there are a number of events that attract folk from their homes. The Village Show, the concerts by the Groby Sings community choir, the Christmas Tree Festival, Groby Street Fair and Carols around the Christmas Tree are all very successful examples. The event run by Churches Together at the Community College was also a great success.

There’s scope for more, but of course events require organising and need volunteers to take an idea and make it a reality. Some villages have a seasonal calendar event where each day in Advent one home has a Christmas display, and this year Groby will hold it’s first Advent Windows displays. Others have an annual scarecrow festival, and in some villages the residents have taken back Halloween, bringing families onto the streets in place of the egg throwers.

The Parish Council has asked asked their contractor to switch on Groby’s Christmas lights no later than 1st December and that’s good news for the latest village events to be launched.

Advent Windows also starts on 1st December. Each evening a new window will be ‘lit’ until all windows are on show on Christmas Eve. You’ll find more details in this issue and should contact Rev Louise Corke on 0116 231 3090 or words.th@talktalk.net if you want to register to create a window.

The Christmas lights and the Advent Windows will also create the perfect backdrop for the fund raising ‘Groby Christmas Mystery Trail’ and Christmas Fair at the Library. (Read the Library newsletter in this edition for more information about the event). Those who venture on The Mystery Trail will take a festive walk around the village collecting stamps along the way. It will be a great opportunity for parents to show their children the lights and with such activities you never know who you will meet. It’s often people you haven’t seen for a long time because of the busy lives people lead. So who will you meet under the Christmas lights?

Norman Griffiths

Mary Poppins and more. We’ll all need our teeth in for Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious so make sure you don’t miss our latest extravaganza by purchasing your tickets now before they sell out (they always go like hot cakes) and come along to see which stunning outfit our conductor, Helen Hayes, is modelling this time!

If you aren’t aware of us, Groby Sings is your local community choir for anyone who wants to make music for the sheer enjoyment of singing. We pride ourselves on being an inclusive choir so everyone is welcome. Currently, we have about 240 adults and young singers, aged from 7 to 107 (potentially!), who come from Groby and surrounding villages.

Come and support us at our concerts and, if you feel you’d like to join us, come along to the rehearsals for our next summer production - you’re sure to meet someone you know. To let you into a little secret – you don’t need to be a good singer and there are no auditions, you just turn up and sing! We always have fun, eat cake, and, with a lot of guidance from Helen and her accompanists, we manage to put on a great show. Why not join us?

Performances: Saturday 28th November 7.30pm and Sunday 29th November 3.00pm Tickets ONLY £5 from Chaplins Butchers or any choir member. Enquiries to: Helen Hayes 07867 963328 or Ruth Matthews 07759 395072 (not to the College, please)

Funny how they say we need to talk when they really mean you need to listen.

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

Britain’s best blues guitarist lives in Markfield

To Let in Markfield

Norman Griffiths reports on the 2015 Blues Awards

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Groby Village Society

Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests

Programme 2015 Thursday November 26 Henry V and Agincourt Mrs Sally Henshaw Thursday December 10 “National Trust in the East Midlands” Mr Alan Tyler Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm.

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

Don’t forget to send us your news!

Email: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk

GROBY’S Aynsley Lister, who now lives in Markfield, has recently been voted Britain’s Best Blues Guitarist in the 2015 British Blues Awards. The British Blues Awards are run by unpaid volunteers and rely entirely on sponsors and donations to pay for the trophies and entertainment at the presentation. The nominees are chosen by a large panel but the winners of the awards are chosen by blues fans themselves in an online vote every year.

“At first the nominations and votes was decided completely by the public, but this became too much to cope with, so we changed the rules,” explained a spokesperson for the Awards. “Now we invite a group of people to form a panel at the beginning of the year, and we try to make sure that the whole of Britain is represented. We include people that run the Blues Festivals, Venues, Radio and Internet Broadcasters. Blues Websites, Publications, Journalists and Reviewers. Each member of the panel is asked to nominate their top three in each category with 3 points given to their first choice, 2 points to the second and 1 point to the third. The points for each nominee are added together and the top six (more if there is a tie) in each category become the short-list for the public vote.”

Aynsley came runner up in Aynsley Lister - Britain’s Best Blues Guitarist the male vocals category and is pleased to add the 2015 awards to those he won last year. In 2014 while the AA did a great job looking and Mark Knopfler who rose in addition to being runner up in after our bus.” to fame with Dire Straits. In the three categories he was named the Spring his band became 10 strong For the next few months the band Best Songwriter and also won the for a visit to Poland, and the quality will be playing at venues across the Best Song award for the title track and experience of the musicians he UK. These include their Christmas from his ‘Home’ album. Drummer added is a measure of the strength appearance at The Musician in Wayne Proctor, who played on of his growing reputation.

Leicester on December 13th, when ‘Home’ also won “Drummer of fans won’t expect any Christmas But being so far away from home the Year” for the third time in a can have it’s complications, as carols but may be hoping to hear row. In order to prevent an over some of the songs to be featured on the band found when their bus dominance by any act in any of the band’s next album. broke down before their show in the categories, three times winners Hamburg on their recent European are inducted into the British Blues tour. Luckily Jürgen Kulp, who Awards Hall of Fame,which means Aynsley describes as “a very special that they are excluded from future friend,”came to the rescue. “Within polls in that category. No doubt 10 minutes of our breakdown, that’s a position Aynsley would be Jürgen had his bags packed, his happy to be in. trailer ready and was on the road Voting is not limited to the UK, to collect us,” said Aynsley. “He which probably helps Aynsley got us to our first show in plenty of as the band tours abroad every time for a champagne arrival and year. Back in July he appeared a stress-free soundcheck. We had BREAKDOWN: The broken at a festival in France which also the pleasure of keeping Jürgen on down bus being recovered featured Gordon Matthew the road with us for the last shows Sumner, better known as Sting,

Being a hypochondriac is going to save my life one of these days.

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

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Final meeting of Bradgate Flower Club ON WEDNESDAY 2nd December, Bradgate Flower Club welcomes Lorena Dyer (pictured below) from Coventry.

She will follow a seasonal theme, ‘It’s Christmas - let’s Sparkle’.

Regrettably, this is the last ever meeting of the Club.

We invite former members, friends and visitors to join us for this, our final demonstration. We meet at Newtown Linford Village Hall at 7.30 pm.

Visitors are welcome. A charge of £5 is made.

Details from Lillian Coleman on 0116 2363191.

Grants scheme to boost communities SCORES of groups are being encouraged to explore a Leicestershire County Council grants scheme which could benefit their communities.

Grants have been awarded to nearly 150 projects which support older and vulnerable people, encourage youngsters to reach their full potential and develop ways to become more active.

Now, around £350,000 is available for groups who want to express an interest in the Your Shire or Community Solutions programmes.

The Your Shire grant offers a share of up to £2,500. Community Solutions support can rise to around £10,000 for groups and charities with expressions of interest needed by mid-February next year for both schemes.

Councillor Pam Posnett, the county council’s cabinet member for communities, said: “`We’ve had a really good response to these grants, which are targeted to help the groups who need them most.

“I’d encourage groups to contact our grants team to discuss the aims of their project and that could then pave the way for them to apply.”

In north-west Leicestershire, a £10,000 Community Solutions grant is helping to provide a one-stop community hub in Whitwick which will be built on the site of a former toilet block in Market Street.

Parish Council chairman Ray Woodward said: “We want to unlock the community capacity of nearly 9,000 residents and we see the community hub as being the first point of contact and, wherever possible, we’ll signpost visitors to other services.”

Information on grants is available at http://www.leics.gov.uk/shiregrants or by emailing shiregrants@leics.gov.uk

Bradgate Home Care are commissioned through the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are contracted to the Leicestershire County Council. We have very high standards and offer a complete service for both practical and personal care.

With our service, clients are in charge of their care. Our belief is that care should be about choice and control. We deliver on this with real, measurable outcomes, along with person centered care planning.

We can assist people to hospital appointments, holidays, and any other appointments that may be required.

For more information or advice please either call: 0116 2877767, email: ofÞce@bradgatehomecare.co.uk, or call in: 12A Fir Tree Lane, Groby, Leicester LE6 0FH.

How come “you’re a peach” is a compliment but “you’re bananas” is an insult?

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

Funding consultation extended RESIDENTS in Hinckley and Bosworth now have until mid-December to have their say on the future of council funding after the council extended the closing date of a major public survey.

The option to increase council “We can only apologise for The survey - called Difficult Times, Difficult Choices –should have been delivered to every home in the borough during October, but the council has become concerned that the third party contractor employed to complete the delivery has failed to post a survey to every household as they were required to do.

Now the council will include the survey within its own newspaper, the Borough Bulletin, to be distributed during the last two weeks of November. Any residents who have not already taken part now have until Friday 11 December to complete the survey online at www.hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk/fundingsurvey or by clipping out and posting back the survey to be printed in the Borough Bulletin using the freepost address supplied.

Borough Council Chief Executive, Steve Atkinson, said: “It is important that every household has a chance to have their say on this important survey, so we’ve decided to include the survey in the Borough Bulletin to make sure it’s available to everyone.

Craft Fair at Sevenoaks Garden Centre in aid of LOROS COME AND SEE our display of new Christmas Decorations, Flowers, Greetings Cards, Jewellery, Giftware etc.

The fair takes place on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd November 2015 from 10am to 4pm at Sevenoaks Garden Centre, Groby Lane, Newtown Linford just along from Groby Pool.

Sara Hill will be holding her annual Craft Fair raising funds for LOROS. Cafe 7 - within Sevenoaks Garden Centre - will be open for Tea, Coffee & Cakes, and Lunches.

Please come and join us and support a very worthy cause.

Sue and Paul Barratt

the failure of the contractor we employed in good faith to complete this work and assure residents that we do not intend to make payment to the contractor, as the delivery has not been completed to our satisfaction. What’s more, including the survey within the Borough Bulletin means the survey will be delivered using existing budgets – there will be no additional cost to taxpayers. We had used an external contractor in order to complete the consultation by early November, to enable a longer time to assess the results, before the scheduled distribution of the Borough Bulletin.“ The survey asks whether residents would be prepared to accept an increase in council tax of approximately £16 per year (31 pence per week) or an annual charge for the garden waste service of £35 per year (67 pence per week). The garden waste charge option would be introduced alongside a council tax increase of 2% (around £2.20 per year for a Band D property).

tax by £16 equates to 16.67% of the Borough share of £95.96 per year per household. The council currently has the 8th lowest Council Tax level of all 201 district councils in England. If this option is the most popular, then the council will be legally required to carry out a local referendum, as the increase in council tax will be over the 2% referendum limit.

If a referendum resulted in a ‘no’ vote, then the council would have to give serious consideration to the introduction of an annual charge for garden waste in order to contribute to meeting the shortfall.

Steve Atkinson explained: “Although we have already taken action to make £1.5 million of the savings needed, we still have a shortfall that simply cannot be found without severely cutting services. This is not something that the council ever wanted to ask, but continuing reductions in government funding have left us with no option and we are legally required to set a balanced budget and legally required to

Saltmine Theatre Company

The Night Before Christmas TWAS THE night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse, The stockings were hung by the chimney with care In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there… …But it’s the busiest night of the year and things have gone a bit awry; a dreaded illness is spreading across the globe threatening to wipe out Christmas altogether.

St Nicholas is missing and the world will soon wake up and ask why there are no presents in their stockings. Is there a child who has the courage to help and the strength to believe?

Come and join us and Saltmine Theatre Company at Kirby Muxloe Free Church, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe Leicester LE9 2AN on Thursday 10th December 2015. Performance starts at 7.00pm Tickets:£6.50 Adults, £3.50 Children.

For more information email tickets@kirbyfree.org Call 0116 239 3173 (Tues – Thurs am) or 01455 823775

Jigsaw I bought my son a jigsaw last Christmas but my wife went mad.

She said he could’ve cut his arm off.

go to referendum, if we intend to increase our element of the council tax by more than 2%. We are asking residents, therefore, for their opinion on the best way to raise what is still needed, to inform the decision which councillors will take later in the financial year.”

• You can complete the survey online by going to: www.hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk/fundingsurvey

Letter Good Samaritans We need your help.

On the evening of the 18th October, 2 young men tried to steal a Motorbike from our house. The alarm went off, they dropped the bike and ran off, and although my husband went after them, he lost them behind the Hairdressers on Newtown Linford Lane.

However some young teenagers also ran up the road to see them get into a car, they managed to get the registration and make of the vehicle and helped us to provide the police with information that without them we would not have had.

We would like to thank them in person, so if you know these 4 or 5 young people, please could you ask them to contact us so that we may thank them for their help.

It just goes to show that there are more good guys than bad, and that we live in a village where people care. We have lived here for 28 years wouldn’t live anywhere else.

Thank you for helping us to find these Good Samaritans.

Rich and Sue Egdell

I need to start paying closer attention to stuff. Found out today my wife and I have separate names for the cat.

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

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I wanna get rid of this memory foam mattress, but it knows too much.

10

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

Spotlight Small Ads • Tall corner, glass-fronted mahogany (Langton’s) CABINET: Price: £100 ono • Morphy Richards BREAD MAKER - hardly used Price: £20 ono • Guest/camping fold-up ‘Z’ BED (no mattress) Price: £10 Tel: 0116 223 5720 • Vibratch VB500 VIBRATION PLATE (Exercise equipment) Excellent condition Price: £89 • Game of Thrones Complete Third Season DVD BOX SET Price: £8 • Health and Social Care BTEC LEVEL 3 BOOK Price: £3 • Third Edition Psychology AS COMPLETE COMPANION STUDENT BOOK Price: £3 • Sky REMOTE CONTROL Brand new Price: £10 • SOCIOLOGY AS FOR AQA third edition Price: £3 • Sky BROADBAND HUB brand new Price: £5 • DESKTOP COMPUTER, 17” LCD screen, speakers, and Keyboard Intel Core 2 Duo 4gb Ram Windows 7 Price: £60 Tel: Sarah 07753 198340 / 0116 287 4260 • SEBO UPRIGHT CLEANER - anti-allergy hospital grade.

Complete with tools and spare bags. Very good condition.

Price: £35.00 Tel: 0116 287 6761

• HUFFY BMX BIKE, 18” BMX bike,1020 Space Age Steel. With pegs on back. Need a bit of a clean up as it’s been in the garage for some years.

• Wedgewood Kutani TRI-DISH, bone china tri-dish sometimes known as pickle dish, in excellent condition no chips or cracks.

Price: £15.

• Royal Winton, Grimwades GURGLING JUG. No chips or scratches. In excellent condition.

Price: £15.

• Beautiful LOWRY PRINT in nice frame measuring approx 15”x 17”.

Excellent condition.

Price: £20.

• Electronic RECLINING CHAIR, cost nearly £600 from new 3 years ago and in good working order.

Velour type material. Collection only.

Price: £30.

• Collection of LILLIPUT LANE COTTAGES. 30 cottages in collection, 17 in original boxes. Will sell as job lot or individually.

Price: £200.

• 11 BLACK LABRADOR ORNAMENTS, all in good condition.

Price: £40 the lot or sell individually.

Tel. 07727 156249.

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

Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight. co.uk. Please put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line.

Don’t forget to send us your news!

Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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

11

Scams of the Month

Protect yourself by signing up for Action Fraud Alerts

THE NEWS that readers are now more likely to suffer financial fraud of some kind than they are to be physically robbed or burgled will come as no surprise to those who are having to deal with suspicious unwanted telephone calls, dubious emails, or viruses and malware on their computers designed to steal their confidential financial details.

“Today’s crime figures for the first time show that fraud and cyber crime are the most prevalent crimes committed against victims in England and Wales,” said Commissioner Adrian Leppard of the City of London Police. “Fraud and cyber crime affects every community in the country and does not discriminate by social status or geographical location. It is vital that we work closely with industry to help protect society. A large proportion of cyber attacks can be prevented by changing our behaviour ‘on line’ and taking simple steps to keep computers secure.”

The Groby Spotlight has tried to help readers by warning them about such criminal activity. The problem has grown year on year and we are grateful to Councillor O’Shea and Councillors Cartwright and Hollick for including in their reports information from the Action Fraud website highlighting the latest threats. This month the fraud alerts in their reports have been brought together for this article.

Action Fraud is the UK’s national reporting centre for fraud and internet crime where you should report fraud if you have been scammed, defrauded or experienced cyber crime. Action Fraud Alert is provided by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau which is run by the City of London Police as a national service. You can register to receive direct, verified, accurate information about scams and fraud in your area.

The system uses the Neighbourhood Alert Platform which is a secure, national community messaging facility used

by Police, Neighbourhood and Home Watch, Crimestoppers,Fire & Rescue Services and local authorities throughout the UK. The service is totally free, you can sign up online immediately at https://member-registration. neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/149/ Join. Messages are delivered by email, recorded voice and text message. The system is confidential and you can unsubscribe at any time instantly. By registering you will hear about the latest scams and frauds as soon as they are reported online. Some of the latest scams are reported below, and more information on them can be found on the Fraud Alert website.

Talk Talk data theft The theft of personal details from Talk Talk leaves some of their customers vulnerable. Bogus phone calls were being received even before this latest incident. If the company offers you a free 12 month subscription to free credit monitoring with Noddle be sure to accept it as this will help protect you against identity fraud. TalkTalk have said they will never: • Ask for your bank details to process a refund.

• Ask you to download software onto your computer unless you have previously

so change all passwords for personal accounts, including your bank accounts.

The pension scam A pension scam has been reported whereby cold callers target those aged 50 to 60 years old to release and transfer their pension early. Suspected firms who advertise and arrange pensions are offering investments in alternative commodities such as hotel developments or property in Cape Verde. Often, ‘pension companies’ involved are neither regulated nor qualified to give financial

in advance. The payment varies between £60–£350. The victim provides the details and makes the payment, but then is no longer able to make contact with the person they spoke to on the phone. When they phone their council they discover that they know nothing about it and are told that they have been contacted by fraudsters.

• Never respond to unsolicited phone calls. Your local council won’t ever cold call to discuss a council tax rebate, so put the phone down straight away.

• No legitimate organisation will ask you to pay an advanced fee in order to receive money, so never give them your card details.

• If you think you have been a victim of fraud, hang up the phone and wait five minutes to clear the line as fraudsters sometimes keep the line open. Then call your bank or card issuer to report the fraud. Where it is possible use a different phone line to make the phone call.

The freecycle scam

•

contacted TalkTalk, discussed and agreed a call back for this to take place.

Send you emails asking for your full password. They will only ask for two digits from it.

The police invoice scam There is email in circulation that appears to have been sent from a legitimate Lancashire Constabulary email address. The email appears to come from ‘Lyn Whitehead’ and is asking the recipient to pay an invoice that is attached to the email. If you have received it do not open it, just delete it from your email system to avoid infecting your device. Action fraud offers the following advice : • Do not click or open unfamiliar links in emails or on websites • Make sure you install and use up-to-date anti-virus software • Have a pop-up blocker running in the background of your web browser • If you have opened the attachment it is very likely that all your personal data will have been breached,

advice and classify themselves as a ‘trustee’, ‘consultant’ or an ‘independent advisor’ and offer exceptionally high return rates for investors.

Some victims have signed documents that authorises a limited company to be set up using their personal details, including utilising a Small Self–Administered Scheme (SSAS). Whilst SSAS accounts and limited companies are essential for legitimate schemes, the fact that victims are unaware that this will happen suggests that the scheme may not have been fully explained to them, increasing the likelihood that there may be an element of fraud involved.

The Action Fraud website includes links to sites where you can get more information and warns that that if the offer seems too good to be true, then it generally is.

The Council Tax Scam Fraudsters have been phoning victims telling them that they are in the wrong council tax band and are entitled to a rebate which could be worth about £7,000. Once the victim is convinced, they are asked to pay an administration fee

This involves items being offered free on websites as long as you pay the delivery costs.

The payment requested for this service is usually via Money Transfer such as MoneyGram or Western Union, or an e-money voucher. The items they were promised are not received and any attempts to contact the individual to gain a refund are unsuccessful.

Be sure to : • Stay within the auction guidelines stipulated on the website.

• Ask to view the item in person.

• Be cautious of making advance payments to a stranger via Money Transfer or e-money products.

The list of scams goes on and includes bogus websites with goods at ‘too good to be true’ prices, the perennial call from someone offering to speed up your computer or remove malicious software, and even the sale of pets or investment opportunities in parking spaces at locations close to major airports.

Additional text by Norman Griffiths

People who write “u” instead of “you”. What do you do with all the time you save?

12

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

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

Free parking boost for Hinckley shopping this Christmas SHOPPING in Hinckley will be given a further big boost this Christmas with the introduction of free parking in the town during December.

From 1 December right through to Christmas Eve, the “Free From Three” scheme will enable shoppers to park for free in any of the Borough Council’s town centre car parks from 3pm every day.

The scheme has been developed and agreed by the Borough Council and the Hinckley BID to build on the buzz created by the opening of the first stage of the multimillion Crescent development and encourage more people to “stop and shop” in Hinckley this Christmas.

Councillor Chris Ladkin, the council’s Executive Member responsible for Town Centres, said: “I am very pleased that from 1 December through to Christmas Eve all our car parks in Hinckley town centre will be free to customers from 3.00pm each day.

“This Christmas will be a watershed for Hinckley town centre. In addition to the excellent retail and food and drink offerings in our town centre we now have the large Sainsbury’s supermarket open and our cinema to open in three weeks. In the New Year there will be additional retail shops in the Crescent plus a wide variety of restaurants, cafes and bars.”

Councillor Amanda Wright, Executive Lead for Partnerships and Council representative on the Hinckley Town Centre Partnership said: “Hinckley offers a wide variety of shopping opportunities, ranging from the new Crescent development to the many exciting and artisan independent shops on Castle Street. You can’t fail to find all your gifts for loved ones in Hinckley town centre!”

Keep it a surprise Three-year-old Lily was helping her mother wrap a present for her father.

While wrapping, her mother told Lily about keeping the present a secret so it would be a surprise.

After the present was wrapped, Lily proudly put it under the tree.

When her father asked her if he could shake it and guess what’s inside, she said, very seriously, “No, T-shirts don’t rattle.”

13

Superfast Leicestershire reaches 50,000 homes MORE THAN 50,000 homes and businesses across the county can now benefit from fast fibre broadband thanks to the Superfast Leicestershire project.

The partnership project between Leicestershire County Council and BT is on course to bring high-speed fibre technology to more than 72,000 premises in Leicestershire by the end of 2018.

Recent areas to ‘go live’ include: Stapleton, Rearsby, Hoton, Billesdon, Gaddesby and Long Whatton. More homes and businesses have also been connected in Fleckney, Kirby Muxloe, Hathern, Syston Wymeswold, Market Bosworth and Ibstock.

Councillor Blake Pain, cabinet member for rural broadband, said: “It’s great news that we’ve already reached another milestone for this project and are continuing to support communities and businesses in reaping the benefits of access to fast broadband.”

Superfast Leicestershire is using new ‘cutting edge’ technology to help ensure hard-to-reach communities get access to faster broadband.

In Glenfield, the county’s first ‘all-in-one’ fibre broadband cabinet went live recently, providing access to download speeds of up to 80mbps for some of the 3,400 homes and businesses in the area.

The ‘Glenfield onesie’, on Tournament Road, combines the existing copper service with the new fibre technology into one cabinet. Although not suitable for all locations, a ‘onesie’ helps reduce the number of street cabinets and is less expensive to maintain, allowing savings to be reinvested in providing broadband to more communities across the county.

Steve Henderson, BT’s regional director for next generation access, said: “Superfast Leicestershire is progressing extremely well and our Openreach engineers are connecting communities across the county as quickly as possible. We’ve said from the outset that new technology will play an important part in this rollout so I’m pleased to see the very first all-in-one cabinet being installed in Leicestershire.”

There are a number of locations across Leicestershire where ‘all in one’ technology is the most suitable option available including Ibstock, Markfield and Shepshed.

The work is being carried out by Openreach, BT’s local network business, meaning people with access to the fibre network can choose from a range of internet providers and so can benefit from competitive pricing.

Benefits of fibre broadband include faster download and upload speeds; the ability to access the internet via multiple devices without experiencing a slow connection, faster downloads of films and music, a better online gaming experience, improved file sharing for businesses, solutions based on Cloud computing and being able to work more flexibly.

Funding for the Superfast Leicestershire partnership (both phases) has been provided by a wide-range of organisations including the county council, BT, Broadband Delivery UK (the Government’s broadband delivery arm), the European Union, and Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership as part of its Local Growth Fund.

For more information about Superfast Leicestershire visit www. superfastleicestershire.org.uk or look out for #SuperfastLeics on Twitter.

Safe driving this winter

THE TEMPERATURES are dropping now, and it is a good idea to nurture your car battery. Cold, damp weather can cause problems for it. The RAC recommends the following to take best care of your battery: •

•

•

•

•

Before you switch off your engine at the end of a journey, turn off the lights, wipers and heaters. This prevents any unnecessary drain on the battery next time you start the car.

Check that everything is switched off before your turn on the ignition.

Avoid using the heater longer than necessary, as it puts high demands on the vehicle’s battery.

Check that you don’t leave interior lights, satnavs or phone chargers connected.

If possible, park in a garage.

Why a walk is better than a run when you hit 60 THE NIGHTS may be long, the weather cold and damp, but do try and keep active this winter.

Walking or cycling for just 20 minutes a day can reduce a 60-year-old man’s risk of heart failure by a fifth.

Research in Sweden found that both too little and too much exercise as we age can be bad for us. Just twenty minutes of cycling or walking each day is far better than none, and more beneficial than heavy-duty exercise.

The research was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology: Heart Failure.

Everyone who smoked after I quit smoking is so disgusting.

And I quote ...

A smart man makes a mistake, learns from it, and never makes that mistake again. But a wise man finds a smart man and learns from him how to avoid the mistake altogether.

Roy H. Williams

14

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

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Speeding on Sacheverell Way, Groby

It was registered as a Community Concern site. However after I enquired why they had not been seen for several months, I was then notified that the site had been removed from their active sites list. I asked for this site to be reviewed as speeding was still a major problem and a concern for residents as this was a major route to the various schools. Well it was no surprise when they checked their data it showed that the average driver speed of 85% of drivers was 49 mph. The top speed recorded was a staggering 114mph. I am pleased to say the Mobile Speed Camera will be returning after my request for up to date data.

and we want to know your views on these and how we can turn them into more detailed plans. The feedback you provide will be used to inform the services we provide in the future.

Consultation Period: 21 September to 20 November 2015 The Consultation is open to everyone. You can read more about the proposed strategy and submit your views by visiting: www. leics.gov.uk/index/your_council/ haveyoursay/consultation_current.

Wallace Drive Traveller Application Update

Self Funder Consultation

I HAVE been in contact with the head of the Borough Council’s planning department Nic Thomas to check if he had heard back from the planning inspectorate with regards to his request to have the appeal heard by way of a public enquiry.

FOLLOWING the introduction of the Care Act 2014, local authorities can now charge a fee

YOU WILL all be aware that I instigated the Mobile Speed Camera vans along Sacheverell some years ago after serious concerns regarding speeding vehicles and a fatal accident.

Nic informed me that they were still waiting confirmation from the inspectorate. The appeal reference number allocated to this application is: APP/K2420/W/15/3135595

Land off Leicester Road/Bluebell Drive, Groby Update

for arranging care for selffunders.

Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825

Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

This change would affect approximately 800 people who have savings above £23,250 (the upper capital limit) and pay the council for their care but are not currently charged an arrangement fee.

Consultation Period: 23 September until midnight 18 November 2015. The consultation is open to everyone. You can read more about the proposal and submit your views at www.leics.gov.uk/self_funder

I HAVE spoken with Nic Thomas the Borough Councils head of planning who confirmed to me that there are still outstanding issues on this application and the earliest it is now likely to come before the planning committee is on the 22nd December just before Christmas.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service – Towards 2020: IRMP

Land South Of Jacqueline Road Field Head, Markfield Update

LEICESTERSHIRE Fire and Rescue have published a consultation document seeking your views on proposals from their Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP).

AGAIN I have today spoken with Nic Thomas the Borough Council’s head of planning who confirmed to me that there are still outstanding issues on this application and the earliest date that this application is now likely to come before the planning committee is on the 22nd December just before Christmas.

Consultation on the proposed new adult social care strategy

These proposals support a strategy to enable them to make necessary savings whilst ensuring that their resources are in the most appropriate areas to keep both communities and fire fighters safe.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service believe these proposals are safe, proportionate and affordable.

Consultation Period: 25 September to 4 December 2015 The consultation is open to everyone. You can read about the fire service proposals in the document Towards 2020: Integrated Risk Management Plan, and complete the online questionnaire on their website. www. leicestershire-fire.gov.uk/irmp

THE COUNTY Council is working closely with its partners to identify the changes needed to make the health and social care system work more effectively and efficiently.

I would like to thank you all for your continued support and to remind you that I am only a phone call or email away.

This requires some changes to the way we provide social care in Leicestershire.

We have developed a proposed new strategy for adult social care support in the county. This would allow us to meet the requirements of the Care Act 2014, and the challenges of rising demand and decreasing resources.

We have also described our ideas for how we can deliver the new model

Cllr Ozzy O’shea Working for you

Tel 0116 239 4336 or 07808 585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

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

Bradgate Rotary Club

Christmas is coming and Santa is on his sleigh!

15

Workplace teams invited to take part in Festive Business Games TEAMS from workplaces across Hinckley and Bosworth are being invited to take part in an exciting evening of multisports competitions in December.

The first Hinckley and Bosworth Festive Business Games will be held at Hinckley Leisure Centre on Thursday 3 December featuring sports such as volleyball and golf as well as a range of individual challenges across a variety of other sports including canoeing, netball, athletics and badminton.

The event is being organised by Active Travel Hinckley and is scheduled to take place between 5.30pm and 8.30pm. All activities will be led by fully qualified staff and require no experience - the emphasis will be on fun and enjoyment for all.

Tickets are priced at £40 per team of six players, which include free t-shirts, catering and festive treats.

To book a place please go to: www.workplacechallenge.org/lrsport/ competitions, or for more information contact Anna Macdonald on 01455 255950 or email Anna.Macdonald@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

AS CHRISTMAS approaches once again it seems hard to believe that it is almost a year since Santa was out road testing his sleigh ready for Christmas Eve around the Bradgate Villages (with the help of Bradgate Rotary Club Members).

News from Lapland is that he is due to make some practice runs once again during December so … KEEP A LOOK OUT for SANTA near you.

The Club continue to meet for breakfast on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month at 7.30am to 8.30am at The Stamford Arms, Groby and in the evenings on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays for speaker evenings and socials.

Our October speaker was Peter Tyldsley ( Land Agent) at Bradgate Park who gave a fascinating insight on how the iconic parkland developed through the history of the Grey Family.

A Beetle Drive was arranged at Loros in aid of the Rotary “Polio Eradication” programme on the 27th October as a social for members and friends.

Forthcoming Events Events planned for November and December include the following activities • 25th November – 5.30pm – 6.30pm A Wine and Cheese Welcome Evening ( inviting any local residents who may be interested in joining Bradgate Rotary) and followed by a Wine Tasting Evening of local Leicesterhire Wines ( courtesy of Rothley Wine Company) • 5th and 5th December – Christmas Fair at Bradgate Park and The Santa Fun Run in Loughborough ….and of course we will be preparing for Santa’s arrival – Ho! Ho! Ho!

I’m getting worried. My boomerang should have been back hours ago.

16

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

County Council to discuss changes to waste sites CHANGES TO Leicestershire’s waste sites to save £670,000 will be discussed by councillors next month.

The proposed changes include reduced opening hours at the 14 sites across Leicestershire and new charges for non-household waste.

The proposals, being discussed

by Leicestershire County Council’s ruling cabinet on November 18, are designed to help save the authority more than £670,000.

If agreed, the proposals would see all sites move to five-day opening all year round, 9am – 4pm October to March and 9am – 7pm April to September.

New charges would also be introduced for non-household waste such as rubble, concrete, bathroom suites and fence posts.

Additional changes to be discussed by councillors include the introduction of permits for paint disposal and a review of charity and parish council waste permits.

Recycling and reuse credits given to voluntary and community organisations would also be revamped following feedback, to ensure credits are only paid on items that cannot

easily be recycled elsewhere such as mattresses and carpets.

Letter

In Memory of

Family tree research leads to Groby Church

Able Seaman

H W Henstock Bristol Z/4690, Howe Bn. R.N. Div., Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve who died on 17 February 1917 Age 19 Son of William and Rhoda Henstock, of Bradgate Stables, Groby, Leicester.

Remembered with Honour Queens Cemetery, Bucquoy

AFTER MANY years of researching my Mother’s maiden name PYKETT, I have found and visited relatives in Australia.

My Grandfather’s brother Frederick, went to Australia in 1914. He became an Anzac soldier - 6353 Pte Frederick Pykett - in 1916. At the end of WW1 he returned to Leicester and left a photograph of himself in full Anzac uniform with my Grandfather, and it was this photograph that started my research.

I then decided to find my Grandfather’s other brothers and sisters.What a surprise! I discovered that his sister, Annie Louisa Pykett, married Wilfred Hardy Rodwell, who is buried in Groby Church.

In the 1930s/40s they lived in The Cottage, Bradgate House, Bradgate Hill, Groby. Wilfred was a chauffeur for the owner of Bradgate House, John Dewhurst Mantle.

On Wilfred’s grave there is an inscription to his son: “OUR DEAR SON PTE. WILFRED ROY RODWELL 1ST LEICESTERS, DIED 18TH APRIL1943.(POW JAPAN) AGED 26.”

Also in Groby Church is a grave for RHODA HENSTOCK 23rd May 1967 aged 102 years.

Researched showed me they had a son HORACE WALTER HENSTOCK living at Bradgate Stables, Bradgate House, Groby. His father William was a coachman. Horace died in WW1 on 17th February 1917.

When I found the two plaques for WW1 and WW2 in the Groby Church these two names were not there. After talking to members of church and reviewing my case notes, a request was made that theses two names would be added to the two new plaques at the War Memorial with the support of the Groby Ex Servicemans Club.

The new Plaques were unveiled on Remembrance Sunday 8th November 2015. Many thanks to all concerned who made this happen so we may remember them.

In Memory of

Private

Wilfred Roy Rodwell 4857322, 1st Bn., Leicestershire Regiment who died on 18 April 1943 Age 28 Son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Rodwell, of Leicester.

Remembered with Honour Kanchanaburi War Cemetery

Harry Hawksworth

Every Saturday morning 9.30—12noon Advent Windows Catch

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

Nine years ago I asked the girl of my dreams out on a date, and today I asked her to marry me. She said no both times.

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

17

Chris Beardshaw comes to Newtown Linford Gardening Club THE LATEST celebrity evening at Newtown Linford Gardening Club saw TV gardener Chris Beardshaw delight a full hall of 150 people as he told us all about his gold medal garden at Chelsea two years ago.

This garden spotlighted the charity which supports sufferers of arthritis and was designed to show the different sensations which arthritis sufferers experience and the plants which can be used to relieve the pain and discomfort of arthritis.

The garden became a personal project because Chris has suffered from arthritis since childhood. It was designed to have three sections; one showing the despair of severe suffering; one to show the hope of having relief and a third to show the joy of feeling free from pain. He chose some trees which were gnarled and twisted for his first section and bright cheerful ones for the final area.

The centrepiece of his seated area in a spectacular glass shelter was a frankincense bush which we know as a gift from the Magi to the baby Jesus as it is a cure for pain and suffering. We learnt that there are quite a lot of plants which herbalists can use to relieve suffering and that different people can get relief by omitting certain foods from their diet.

As he was speaking to a hall full of gardeners he concentrated some of his time on explaining which plants he had chosen for the three areas and showed us how these plants can be enhanced by the way they are combined in a bed. Because most of these plants were ones readily available in local garden centres this was especially useful to his audience.

He finally told us that our gardens should reflect our own personal feelings and that the word ‘garden’ comes from the word for paradise. We should, therefore, look at our own gardens and ask ourselves whether it was the place where we would like to spend our time in eternity. If the answer is ‘yes’ then our gardens are right for us, but a ‘no’ response should lead to us altering the offending area and planting something which we would like.

We had a wonderful evening listening to a very gifted speaker and a highly knowledgeable gardener, who sent us away feeling royally entertained and inspired to approach our gardens with a fresh eye and renewed enthusiasm.

And I quote ...

If you’re smart, you’ll always be humble. You can learn all you want, but there’ll always be somebody who’s never read a book who’ll know twice what you know.

David Duchovny

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I accidentally gave my girlfriend a glue stick instead of a chapstick. She’s still not talking to me.

18

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

Groby Gardening Society News

AT THE start of our October meeting, Roy informed members of the passing of Jenny Brewer.

Jenny was a real stalwart of our Society and did much over the years to help run the society and its events such as the village show. The thoughts of all were with Mike and his family as all stood for a minute’s silence.

Our very own Graham Jackson gave a very interesting and informative talk to our October gathering. The slides he displayed were superb and represented scenes of interest from around the world, as well as nearer to home. He started by admitting that he was a plantaholic. He unashamedly confessed to enjoy plants in general, but particularly the raising and growing them. The essence of his talk was that no one should have a difficult or even non-existent area in which to grow plants. These difficult or seemingly non-existent places are really marvellous opportunities to put the correct plant or plants. Graham disarmingly showed and talked about his failures, but his persistence was usually rewarded by matching the correct plant to the tricky spot in question.

Many of the useful suggestions Graham made were from his own experience in his Groby garden and his disguise of unsightly sheds, garages, walls and fences was fascinating. Ivy, roses such as “Rambling Rector” and clematis seemed ideal for some such tricky situations. The use of diverse containers was inspirational as they included common chimney pots, sinks, tin baths, wellies, shopping bags and even blue engineering bricks.

(The ones with three or four holes). To overcome the loss of soil from the bricks, Graham cunningly used plug of flower arrangers’ oasis material, as

this allowed drainage but prevented the loss aforementioned.

His use of sedums and sempervivums must have given ideas to many and his talk was a good advertisement for the very versatile and diverse alpine plants. Examples of more unusual “gardens” included old vehicle tyres, raised beds made from tree trunks and straw bales and roofs of buildings or out-buildings. Containers holding water were shown to house water lilies and marginal plants. In short, almost anything can be made into a plant habitat if the opportunities are recognised. Finally, for those absolutely stuck for any sort of garden Graham showed what could be done with a large bottle. Some may remember the popularity of these bottle gardens some years ago. The aim was always to create a balanced environment in which maintenance was a minimum requirement.

The swapping table THIS WAS the first time that we have tried a seed and plant swap.

Unwanted packets of seeds were brought by members and made available to all, completely free of charge. After lifting and dividing perennial plants we all have excess clumps left over. Some of these fully labelled clumps were brought in and made available. Judging by the interest shown and the dearth of material left, it looks as though this innovation could be an annual event.

An apology!

UPON re-checking the award of prizes at the show, an unfortunate error was discovered.

The W.I. trophy for a W.I. member with the second most points in the show should have been awarded to Evelyn Jelffs and not Mrs P. Kelb.

Mrs Kelb did very well, but was not a W.I. member. Sorry!

2016 trips ALTHOUGH details have not been finalised for most trips and outings, we like members to know that we are trying to arrange an early outing, probably in February.

Details should be available for the Christmas meeting. Hopefully, we can also include a one trip to Stratford and Charlecote Park, an autumn visit to the Batsford arboretum and our extended 2/3 day trip.

Future Meetings • • • •

November 12th: November 18th:

December10th: January 14th 2016:

“Fragrance and colour in winter” - J. Amos Social meal at The Stamford (5.30pm)-signing board available at monthly meetings Christmas meal Annual General Meeting

If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 0116 287 6637) or E mail e.atherton637@btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson

My doctor asked if I drink to excess. I told him I’ll drink to anything.

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

Help socialise our kittens APPEAL FROM REDGATE FARM ANIMAL SANCTUARY

COULD YOU spare an occasional hour for Redgate to help socialise our kittens?

At the moment we have about 14 cats and kittens at Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary near Markfield, and we would like to ask your kind Herald readers if they might be able to help us with the following requests.

Firstly, ‘socialisation’ through company. We’d love to see you even if you cannot re-home any of our lovely little residents - but might you be able to come and sit with them for a short while every now and again (any day between 11am and 3pm). This helps to keep them company, as cats and kittens do get lonely too. Animals in long-term care can also show signs of depression. Also, the problem for all animals in an unnatural setting such as any rescue centre, is that they can become institutionalised and with kittens this can mean they can start to go a bit ‘wild’. What rescue centre animals need is company, play, fuss and perhaps even a bit of background music. Would this kind of volunteering appeal to you? There is a in each pen where you could sit and provide warmth and company for the little ones. Bring a book or a radio.

Secondly, (you knew this was coming!), as we have lots of cats and kittens coming into Redgate Farm (and, luckily, being re-homed), we are always short of cat and kitten food pouches and kitten biscuits. If you would think about bringing us some cat/kitten food, or donating in the donation bins at Markfield Community Centre or Jollyes, Coalville, we would be so very grateful.

We are full-throttle with fundraising events for the animals from now till Christmas too, so please come along and support our Christmas Fayres, stalls, raffles, displays and tombolas. Luckily, our local halls and organisations have some truly fabulous events coming up: • Bagworth Community Centre Christmas Fair – Friday 6th November, 7 – 9pm • Thornton Community Centre Christmas Fair – Saturday 14th November, 10.30 – 2.00pm • Coalville Town Centre precinct – Saturday 21st November, 9am – 4pm • Markfield Community Centre Christmas Market – Sunday 6th December, 11am – 3.30pm • And Christmas tree festival at St. Martin’s church, Desford, 5th – 7th December Thank you! And don’t forget to keep an eye on the Redgate website: www.redgatefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk telephone 01530 243 925, or visit any day, 11.00am – 3pm.

The way to a woman’s heart

CHRISTMAS is not a time to be alone, and so men will do well to bear in mind some recent research. This Christmas, if you want to woo a woman, feed her first.

As the scientist in the journal Appetite explained: “We found that young women had greater brain activation in response to romantic pictures in reward-related neural regions after having eaten than when hungry.”

In other words, romantic dinners are worth it.

And I quote ...

My father was a dreamer - my hero. He was a smart, tough guy from Poland, a cutter of lady’s handbags, an old socialist-unionist who always considered himself a failure. His big line was: ‘Don’t end up like me.’

Alan King

Jo Leadbetter, Secretary Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary

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

GARDEN WASTE CONSULTATION:

what do you think of it so far?

R EADERS OF a certain age may well respond with ‘rubbish’ and some might say that’s a fair assessment.

Last month the Spotlight reported that householders were to receive a questionnaire asking for their opinion about the future funding of the garden waste collection service.

Residents were to be invited to select their preference from two possible options and return the survey to the council by Friday 30 October or complete the survey online at www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ fundingsurvey. The deadline came but for many the questionnaire didn’t, and at the November Parish Council meeting only one member said that he had received it. On 28 October a spokesperson for the Borough Council said that “There was a slight delay with the printing of the questionnaire, which had a knock-on effect with the delivery to residents. However, we have extended the deadline to Friday 6 November so that people still have the opportunity to take part.”

The scale and real cause of the problem may have become more apparent in the following couple of days and by 30 October a decision had been taken to include it in the Borough Bulletin with a new deadline of 11th December.

“The survey - called Difficult Times, Difficult Choices –should have been delivered to every home in the borough during October,” a new statement explained, “but the council has become concerned that the third party contractor employed to complete the delivery has failed to post a survey to every household as they were required to do.” Feedback has enabled the Council to confirm that some deliveries were made in Groby but presumably there is no way of assessing the scale of the non-delivery.

The survey asks whether residents would be prepared to accept an increase in council tax of approximately £16 per year or alternatively an annual charge for the garden waste service of £35 per year. The garden waste charge option would be introduced alongside a council tax increase of 2% (around £2.20 per year for a band D property). The new annual charge would be for 25 collections a year, alternate weekly excluding Christmas. This will be the equivalent of £1.40 per household per collection, for those who use the service. Those who choose not to pay will have the service withdrawn. This will be in addition to an increase in the council tax of 2% for all households.

If the option to increase Council Tax by £16 is the most popular, then the council will be legally required to carry out a local referendum, as the increase in council tax will be over the 2% referendum limit If a referendum resulted in a ‘no’ vote, then the council would be obliged to introduce a charge of £35 per year for garden waste in order to meet the shortfall.

The choice residents now have to make is not the one presented to parish councillors – although the increase to Council tax of £16 is roughly the same it only covers the garden waste collection. The paper, tins, bottles and plastics bin is not mentioned.

Chief Executive of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council, Steve Atkinson said: “Although we have already taken action to make £1.5 million of the savings needed, we still have a shortfall that simply cannot be found without severely cutting services. This is not something that the council ever wanted to ask, but continuing reductions in government funding have left us with no option and we are legally required to set a balanced budget and legally required to go to referendum, if we intend to increase our element of the Council Tax by more than 2%. We are asking residents, therefore, for their opinion on the best way to raise what is still needed, to inform the decision which Councillors will take later in the year.”

Norman Griffiths

All the latest news from Groby WI JO CARTER gave us an insight into the life and career of Laura Ashley, nee Mountney, was born in 1925 into a mining community at Merthyr Tydfil.

She lived with her Aunt Elsie in and old Victorian house. The lifestyle was quite ‘posh’, afternoon tea was served in the parlour on a tray with bone china cups and saucers.

At 14 years old she went to a secretarial school and at 15 years moved to London to look after her father. During World War II she served in the W.R.E.N.S. She met and marred Bernard Ashley. Theirs was a volatile relationship but they set up a partnership creating ‘English ‘milkmaid’ style clothes. Her grandma had taught her the craft of quilting and she was inspired by a W.I. display of traditional handicrafts.

Jo brought along samples of Laura’s earlier designs, some quite drab.

The nightdress was a total cover-up from neck to toe. A quote from Jo ‘a garment guaranteed to give ladies a good night’s sleep’. Their range was extended to furnishings and wallpaper, also in the same ‘milkmaid’ style.

A disaster, the pattern came off the first batch of wallpaper when hung, fortunately, the second batch was successful. These business ventures were fraught with problems, at one stage their company actually owed the bank £300,000.

Scarves proved to be the first successful product, selling to High Street chain stores. Their creations eventually brought them a considerable fortune. Laura became a millionaire, a great achievement for a woman at that time. A determined lady, she learned to swim at 59 years old.

At the 25th anniversary of the company, all members of staff were given a £5 bonus. As they employed a huge number of people worldwide, the gift was a very generous one.

Laura retired to the Bahamas but, sadly, she met an untimely end, falling downstairs at her daughter’s home and died ten days later of a brain haemorrhage A few of us went on an Autumnal walk at Calke Abbey, it was lovely. The drive up is a line of lime trees which had turned a beautiful golden colour.

This drive, by the way, was planted for Sir Vauncey Harpur–Crewe’s 21st birthday. We had about 1½ hours walk around part of the Estate, a lovely dry day and not too far for our first Derbyshire walk for a while. After this, we made our way to Staunton Harold Tearoom where we had a very welcome sarnie and drink. I saw my first Father Christmas there, of course children he wasn’t real, just a lifesize stuffed one but he had on a lovely full length white furry coat which made me very envious and he gave us a wave and smile.

Our November meeting is our AGM which I must admit doesn’t take us that long. All Committee members will be standing again but we hope we shall have a few new ones who would like to join us. After business we then get down to our Social Evening. At one of these evenings anything can happen and usually we have lots of fun. This takes place at the Village Hall, next to the Library, across from the Post Office on Thursday, 19th November at 7.30p.m. By the way I have seen next year’s programme and it looks very good.

The following piece was penned by Owen Lawrence ...

On a dark and windy night, the indomitable ladies of Groby WI approached the forbidding entrance of Beaumanor Hall to enjoy their annual pie night, to be met by staff dressed as goblins, witches and ghouls.

Being served by a scythe carrying Grim Reaper complete with ‘scream mask’ was, to say the least, an interesting experience.

Nothing could dampen the spirit of our Groby ladies though as they sat down to enjoy a Halloween themed pie and pudding. Not a hair was twitched, not a nose was wrinkled, as they tucked in with gusto to, among other things, Chilling Chicken and Mummified Mushroom pies, followed by Paranormal Puddings such as Slayer Chocolate Sludge Cake and Deathly White, Repulsive Raspberry Roulade. A great night was had by all with husbands and friends (honorary ladies for the night) tucking in with equal gusto.

What’s the theme for next year I wonder: perhaps fish and chips in the dungeons of the Guildhall ?

Evelyn and Margaret (& Owen)

I’m really pleased with my new fridge magnet. So far I’ve got eight fridges.

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

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

Finances at HBBC THREE chief officers of the Borough Council, Mr Steve Atkinson, Mr Sanjiv Kohil and Julie Kenny have produced an open letter to all councillors entitled “Clarification on the financial position of the council”.

Extracts of the letter from the three Chief Officers: Recent articles in the local press referring to the need for drastic measures to bridge the funding gap to prevent the authority going “bankrupt” have been most alarming for all of us and jeopardises the very good financial reputation of this Council.

We therefore (as the Council’s Statutory Officers) feel duty bound to send this clarification note to you as we feel that the financial position has been grossly misrepresented.

Unfortunately it is the word “insolvency” that has been picked up and has been used to completely misrepresent the financial position of the Council.

Notwithstanding all of the above, we can assure you that this Council is NOT at risk of going bankrupt and never will. It has £4.2m in earmarked reserves and another £1.1m in general fund balances which it could utilise (but will not have to) and it would then look towards service reductions (which again we will not have to because of sound financial planning).

It should also be emphasised that if this Council was at any risk of going “bankrupt”, the Council’s external auditors (PricewaterhouseCoopers) would not be in a position to give an “unqualified” opinion on the authority’s value for money position or standing as a “going concern”.

All Members will be aware from the September Council meeting that the auditors did not qualify either opinion in 2014/2015. That said, the auditors did raise a valid concern that, unless Members gave direction on the budget strategy for 2016/2017, the financial stability of the authority could be jeopardised.

This message has been continually reiterated to Members through the many workshops that officers have held and the consultation demonstrates that this urgency has been acknowledged. This is welcome.

We trust that this clarification note will be helpful in setting out the accurate position. A similar (but abbreviated) note will be circulated to staff, in order to address any anxieties they may feel having read about the potential “bankruptcy of the Council”.

Ted and my thoughts are whilst the financial position of the council may be a complicated issue to

Borough Councillors’ News

Increases to Allowances IN ONLY the first meeting of the new council, following the annual general meeting “Mayor Making” ceremony, the administration opted to put up their own allowances in an inflation busting increase.

Ted and I voted against this increase.

Combined Authority Martin Cartwright Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 078 50 70 70 50 E-mail: hbbc@appliancehome. co.uk Write: Maverick House, 10 Pine Tree Avenue Groby, LE6 0EQ

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

understand. Having to produce a letter to address fears and anxieties of the staff and its customers you the residents is an unprecedented one.

A full copy of the letter is available by e-mailing: hbbc@ appliancehome.co.uk

of 30th October was extended as a result. But who was aware of this extension? Not many resulting in a lower return of reply on such a vital issue. It annoys me that such an important issue resulting in significant costs to residents is carried out in such a rush, leaving little or no time for those the council so wish to hear from to respond. That is unless you did it online, but this also is open to abuse as you could fill in many forms and or choose to return your postal form thereby fundamentally changing the outcome of the results.

The ramifications of either option.

Option 1: Would require a referendum at significant cost to the council, and therefore you and I. Option 2: An inflation busting 2% increase in council tax and a £35.00 annual charge for removal of green waste. The green waste collection is heavily reliant on enough residents opting to pay the charge and continuing to do so for many years to come. Inevitably residents will make their individual choices on this but there will be cut off point whereby the cost of providing the service out weighs the benefits in terms of return for the council providing it.

So the only choice you have is to pay more!

Difficult Times Difficult Choices THIS LEADS into the document delivered to Groby Residents on Friday 23rd October 2015 titled “Difficult times Difficult Choices”.

Residents are asked for their opinion on two options.

Option 1: An increase in council tax of approximately £16.00 per year for an average band D property. Some will pay more some less, (requires a referendum), or Option 2: To pay inflation busting 2% increase in council tax and to pay £35.00 a year for the garden green waste collection service.

(Does not require a referendum.)

What a disgrace, delivered by the bin men without much time for residents and council tax payers to consider the questions being asked of them and to return their forms as the deadline for return was 30th October.

This was due in the main to delays in printing and the delivery of the questionnaire. The deadline

Newbold Verdon Jazz Club

THE NOVEMBER booking for the Jazz Club saw Matt Palmer’s Jazz Buddies entertaining a good sized and very enthusiastic audience.

A fairly new band, but every man a seasoned and respected Midlands musician. Together they gave us a great evening of traditional Jazz.

The next concert is on Friday, 4th December 8.00pm at Newbold Verdon Social Club when The Sussex Jazz Kings will be playing. Everyone welcome, do come along and enjoy yourselves. For more information ring Kelvin 01455 822824 or Pauline 0116 2865496

THE CITY, County and District Councils were working on proposals to create a combined authority.

Due to where HBBC sits in the boundaries, we had the option to join one or both of two combined authorities. This would not have replaced HBBC as a council but would have allowed HBBC to work more closely with other authorities on issues such as planning, transportation etc.

Funding for key projects was also likely to be another positive outcome of joining a combined authority. Despite this, the administration voted against both combined authorities available to HBBC, even though the Chief Executive stressed the benefits of being in, and how easy it was to come out of it if things did not work out.

Sadly, having voted to stay out, the option to join at a later date is both costly and difficult to achieve.

Cllr Hollick and I voted to join both combined authorities.

A50 Road Works AT TIMES, the bad old days have returned to those wishing to enter and leave Groby, due to the current roadworks being carried out on the A50.

This is made worse by traffic ignoring the signs not to block the junctions. The benefit will be a good one in the end - more about that next month in our report - but in the meantime we would like to appeal to everyone to show good driving skills, by not blocking the junction resulting in fewer delays, not just for yourself but every one else.

We Are Here To Help You Should you have any comments or problems you would like us to mention in our articles please get in touch.

Please remember if we can ever be of service to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact us, our details are listed above.

Kind regards

Martin Cartwright & Ted Hollick

My kids are very optimistic. Every glass they leave sitting around the house is at least half full.

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

Jottings

23

News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Airport security EVEN WITH Christmas approaching there will no doubt still be some Groby residents planning a winter escape to the sun over the next few weeks.

Those that are travelling might be concerned by the news that the recent incident involving a flight from Egypt may have been caused by an explosive device placed in the hold of the plane. If that is eventually shown to be true it throws into doubt the integrity of the security and screening at the airport.

Anyone flying from East Midlands Airport can be re-assured about the security locally. “Staff members are subject to the same security regulations as passengers, as set by the Department for Transport,” a spokesperson for the airport explained. “ For those passengers wishing to see the latest guidance on security measures, please visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com.”

As the Spotlight went to the printers there were no additional security measures in place. “We always advise passengers to arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours before their flight,” she added. “There has been no change to the security restrictions at East Midlands Airport.”

Parish Council meetings ALTHOUGH the full Groby Parish Council only meets once a month there are also sub-committees which have regular meetings.

They consider issues raised in their area of responsibility and will report back to the full council and make recommendations. Members of the public are welcome to attend, though some items might have to be discussed in a closed session.

If you would like to attend there are Planning and Development Meetings scheduled for 18 November and on 2 and 16 December at 7.30pm. The next full council meeting is at 7pm on 7 December.

Need coal or other fuel?

SWIFT SOLID FUELS, who took over from Wood & Co of Markfield last year, are bringing a new approach to a traditional industry.

Unlike the old fashioned coal merchants of earlier times, they offer fast, timed deliveries so you don’t need to be waiting around. We all know how precious time is these days.

They stock a huge variety of fuels to suit your needs, including Biomass pellets alongside the traditional house coal, smokeless coal and quality seasoned hardwood logs.

Having undertaken training with the Coal Merchants Association, they offer a vast product knowledge and are very happy to offer advice for individual appliances, particularly for log burners and multi fuel stoves.

If you need advice, give them a call.

Markfield Weekly Table Top Sale Opens Friday 20th November 2015 at Markfield Community Centre, Mayflower Close, Markfield LE67 9ST 8.30am till 11.45am (Set up from 8am) Tables supplied - £6 each or £9 a double

SELLERS STAND RENT-FREE OPENING WEEK WITH THIS ADVERT Ring Mick on 07747 052878

I would write more but I’ve already told you more than I know.

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

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Over the winter period the Longshaw estate, including the tea-room and shop, is open every day from 10.30am to 4.00pm and there are wonderful walks on the moors.

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Chattabox does Christmas!

At other properties there will be a sixteenth century Christmas at Hardwick Hall (pictured above) near Chesterfield. The Hall, park and tea-room are open 28th November to 20th December from Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am to 3.30pm.

There will be a yeoman farmers Restoration Christmas at Woolsthorpe Manor every Friday to Monday from 4th to 21st December. There will also be Christmas events at The Workhouse in Southwell, at Kedleston Hall near Derby and at Calke Abbey where there will be a Christmas Craft Show on the first two weekends in December, 11.00am to 6.00pm.

The NT Leicester Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 25th November when Alison Saxby will present an illustrated talk on The Work of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission. The meeting will be held at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester at 2.30pm.

There will also be an evening meeting on Tuesday 8th December at Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm when David Bell will present an illustrated talk entitled Down the Garden Path – Leicestershire Privies.

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

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

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer

How is it that I always seem to buy the plants without the will to live?

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

A Neighbourhood Plan for Groby?

Norman Griffiths takes a first look at what it might involve AT THE November Parish Council meeting the issue of Neighbourhood Plans was raised and it was suggested that a Steering Group should be set up.

Locally the Market Bosworth Plan was recently overwhelmingly approved by referendum, though less than one voter in four turned out to vote after the project team had put in three years of work. It has cost Market Bosworth £16,500 to produce the plan. However, there will be ongoing costs associated with implementing the plan which will increase the total required. Market Bosworth received some grants, but the financial support available can be subject to change.

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council passed on a grant from central government and there were also grants from the Big Society Grant and the Community Development Foundation.

At nearly 10pm, and as the last item on the Agenda before the council went into closed session to discuss staffing matters, there wasn’t time to fully discuss the topic. It will be discussed again at the December meeting, but it sounds as if it could be time for Groby residents to be thinking how they can get involved.

So what’s it all about?

A neighbourhood plan is a framework and policies for guiding the future development, regeneration and conservation of an area.

It forms part of the statutory development plan for the area.

It may contain a vision, aims, planning policies, proposals for improving the area or providing new facilities, or allocation of key sites for specific kinds of development. It may deal with a wide range of social, economic and environmental issues (such as housing, employment, heritage and transport) or it may only focus on one or two issues. Neighbourhood plans have to be subjected to an independent examination and referendum in order to bring them into force.

Neighbourhood planning was introduced in 2011 through the Localism Act. It allows local residents and businesses to have their own planning policies in a neighbourhood plan that reflect their priorities, deliver tangible local benefits and have real weight in planning decisions. Local people can also grant permission for development through ‘neighbourhood development orders’ and ‘community right to build orders’.

Neighbourhood Plans In very simple terms, a neighbourhood plan is: •

•

•

A document that sets out planning policies for the neighbourhood area.

Planning policies are used to decide whether to approve planning applications.

Written by the local community, rather than the Local Planning Authority.

A powerful tool to ensure the community gets the right types of development, in the right place.

A neighbourhood plan is an important document with real legal force, therefore there are certain formal procedures that it must go through. These are outlined below.

To find out more about the process have a look at our roadmap guide.

Neighbourhood Development Orders A NEIGHBOURHOOD development order is a way of granting planning permission for certain types of development wanted in an area, without the need for a traditional planning application.

This follows a similar process to a neighbourhood plan.

Neighbourhood development orders could for example, grant permission for flats above shops in an area or give permission for changes to shop fronts in the high street.

Community Right to Build The Community Right to Build is also part of neighbourhood planning.

It allows communities to gain planning permission for a specific proposal on a site, without going through the traditional planning application process.

Projects could include developments such as: • Family homes to sell on the open market • Affordable housing for rent • Sheltered housing for local residents • Community facilities such as a community centre or children’s playground.

The information in this article is taken from http://mycommunity. org.uk/programme/ neighbourhood-planning, where there’s lots of useful information and a short explanatory video about Neighbourhood Plans.

Alternatively just follow the link from www.grobyonline.tk

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Christmas comes to Abbey Pumping Station TOYS from Christmases past will take centre stage in a vintage-themed event at Abbey Pumping Station Museum next month.

The Christmas Toys and Steam Day takes place on Sunday, December 6, from 1pm to 5pm.

Festive fun will include a live band playing well-loved Christmas tunes in the engine house as the mighty beam engines turn.

Collections of classic Christmas toys will be on display, train rides will be on offer and gifts will be available at the craft stalls.

The museum’s collection of vintage vehicles will also be on display and the fairground organ will be playing.

Visitors wanting to get out of the winter weather can savour the warmth and refreshments on offer at the LMTA café.

Admission costs £8 for a family ticket, £3.50 for adults, and £2.50 for children and concessions. There is also a small charge for train rides.

Further information is available from Abbey Pumping Station Museum on 0116 299 5111.

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

Elizabeth Woodville School News Dyslexia Awareness Week 5th – 11th October 2015

Basil Brush Visits Groby College - Boom Boom!

THE SCHOOL had a special week of assemblies and activities to raise awareness of dyslexia.

Children learnt all about what dyslexia is and what we can do to help. Did you know?

• 1 in 5 people have dyslexia • For people with dyslexia words can often look mixed up or move around.

• People with dyslexia can be incredibly clever and do amazing things. They are often very creative.

Children and staff participated in a range of awareness building activities in classes and took part in a very special poster competition.

Congratulations to everyone who entered especially our 2 winners!

See our website at http://www. elizabethwoodvilleprimaryschool. co.uk to view our assembly PowerPoint and resources.

For more information and further reading, you can also visit the British Dyslexia Association website. http://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk

Year 2 find out about ‘Farm to Fork’ THE CHILDREN in Year 2 recently took a ‘Farm to Fork’ trip to Tesco at Beaumont Leys.

They were shown the in-store bakery and even made their own bread to eat the next day. The children learnt about the different fish sold in the store and the fishmonger showed them how he prepares the fish for the customers.

The cheese counter was interesting and ‘tasty’ as they were given some cheese to taste. It was a great trip and the children learnt where our food is grown around the world, alongside our theme of ‘Don’t Forget Your Passport’.

Y6 outdoor and adventurous day at Beaumanor Hall CLASS 6 went to Beaumanor Hall for an enjoyable day of adventure!

The activities included zip wire, rock climbing, abseiling, a night walk and bridge building. We had lots of fun, but some of us got very wet when our bridges failed!

The weather was fantastic and Class 6 enjoyed having the time to work with each other and have a go at some new things. It was the

perfect day to get practise in before our residential in March 2016 and not a bad way to spend a Friday!

Take a look at some of the pictures to see what we got up to.

Rice Bowl Cup - First Round Greenfield 0 – 3 Elizabeth Woodville Our Year 6 children, drawn against Greenfield Primary School, embarked on what they hope will be a successful run in the prestigious Rice Bowl Cup. On the Friday before half term our team journeyed to Greenfield, Countesthorpe, for our first round fixture.

The game started well for Elizabeth Woodville but despite immense pressure on the Greenfield goal, we just couldn’t seem to score. On the stroke of half time, after great defensive work

by Daniel Badelek, William Alves skipped past three onrushing defenders to slot the ball home. In the second half, further Woodville pressure resulted in two more stunning goals from Alves and also our resident goal poacher, Noah Watson. Woodville secured a convincing 3-0 victory. We now await our next opponents.

Prestwold Cross Country Championship TWENTY of our KS2 pupils took part in the annual cross country competition at Prestwold Hall, Loughborough.

The children have all performed brilliantly, securing many medals and high placed finishes. Our runners, who are all members of our cross country club, ran by Mrs Taylor, are now in training for the final and deciding event.

GROBY Community College recently had a very special guest come to visit ... BASIL BRUSH! Basil spoke to students during a ‘Question and Answers’ session on fame, puppetry and how to succeed in the Performing Arts world.

Basil also attended our Annual Awards Evening and stayed for selfies afterwards with both staff and students!

Broadway Comes to Loughborough

LUT Arts will be bringing Broadway to Loughborough on Thursday November 19th when they screen the US stage hit “Of Mice and Men” at Loughborough University’s Cope Auditorium.

In one of the first events of its kind, this performance, filmed on stage in New York by National Theatre Live, will be screened as live.

This landmark revival of Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck’s play is a powerful portrait of the American spirit and a heart-breaking testament to the bonds of friendship.

Golden Globe® winner and Academy Award® nominee James Franco (127 Hours, Milk) and Tony Award® nominee Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Girls) star as Lennie and George, two displaced migrant ranch workers in search of new job opportunities during the Great Depression in California.

Arriving in Soledad, the quick-witted George and Lennie, a strong but gentle man with a child-like mind, find employment on a ranch that seems as if it could finally lead to their dream of buying a farm of their own.

But violence is never far away and their dream turns sour when the bonds of friendship are stretched to breaking point.

“Of Mice and Men” can be seen on Thursday November 19th at the Cope Auditorium, Loughborough University.

The performance begins at 7.00pm and tickets are available now on 01509-231914, from the Loughborough Town Hall Box Office or online at www.arts.lboro.ac.uk.

When they start getting the 5-day forecast right then maybe I’ll listen to their climate change theories.

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

Shoebox Appeal 2015 for Leicestershire people in need HARRISON MURRAY Estate Agents, with The Bridge Homelessness to Hope, are launching a Shoebox Appeal to help those that really need it this Christmas.

They will be collecting items at Harrison Murray in Groby between Monday 16th November – Monday 14th December.

All of the donated items will be going to The Bridge Homelessness to Hope who do a great job helping those in need throughout Leicestershire.

Please donate whatever you can but in particular the following items will be really useful • Tinned items, with a ring pull if you can • Microwaveable pouches of food • Dried food which can be made just with hot water eg Noodles • Hats, gloves and socks Anything you can donate will go so far this Christmas! Please donate anything you can.

Address: Harrison Murray Estate Agents, 11/11A Ratby Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0LS

GE to open new NDT Technology Solutions Centre in Ratby

ON NOVEMBER 18, GE’s Inspection Technologies business is to open a Technology Solutions Centre to provide customers with a facility to test GE’s Non-Destructive testing (NDT) technologies to solve their specific inspection problems.

The new Technical Solutions Centre (TSC), the first in the UK, will be located in Ratby, near Leicester, just 1.5 miles from the Groby manufacturing site of GE Measurement & Control.

The TSC in Ratby will showcase GE’s radiographic X-ray solutions including advanced computed tomography (CT) equipment, the advanced computed radiography scanner CRxVision, portable digital detector arrays, and the x|cube compact 225 for radioscopic casting inspection. The new centre will be permanently staffed by applications engineers, who are experts in the various inspection technologies and can provide advice and help in their application.

27

Health for Teens website shortlisted for Best Website 2015 award LEICESTERSHIRE Partnership NHS Trust (LPT)’s Health for Teens website (www.healthforteens.co.uk) is in the running for a prestigious industry award, having been shortlisted for an Association of Healthcare Communications and Marketing (AHCM) award in the ‘Best website’ category.

The Health for Teens site, the first of its kind within the NHS, is aimed at and co-designed with 11-16 year olds.

It enables young people to easily access health and emotional wellbeing information and advice from school nurses and clinicians in a format that suits them. Since its launch in March 2015, the site has had over 33,000 page views and over 8,000 unique visitors. A Health for Teens twitter account has been set up to drive traffic towards the website, and links to other social media platforms such as Instagram and Snapchat will also be incorporated in the future.

The AHCM awards ceremony will take place at the Birmingham Hilton Metropole on Thursday, 12 November. Lynda Scott, Chair of the AHCM, said: “These are the only awards that recognise and reward excellence in NHS communications, marketing and engagement. We were thrilled to receive the largest number of nominations for awards this year. Our independent judging panel of experts, drawn from national leaders in communications, were really impressed with the quality and variety of work our teams are doing to improve patient care.”

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

Urgent appeal for volunteer families FRIENDS of Chernobyl’s Children (West Leics) are appealing for volunteer host families who could offer a secure, loving home for a child living with the after effects of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster for one month next summer.

The charity is also urgently seeking hosts for two English speaking interpreters who will be accompanying the children on their trip.

All host families need to live within 30 mins commuting distance of the charity’s day centre in Markfield and should ideally have their own transport. Hosts will be required to drop off their child/interpreter in Markfield between 8.30am and 9.00am each weekday morning and pick them up again at approx. 4.30pm each weekday afternoon. The children will be expected to spend evenings and weekends with their host families.

All host family members aged 18 and over will be required to have an enhanced DBS check and provide details of two referees. There are no age restrictions but hosts need to be fit, able to manage a vulnerable young child and willing to provide them with a loving and stable home for 4 weeks.

Group Coordinator John Buckby explained “We have a long waiting list of children who would really benefit from a month of respite from the conditions they endure in their homeland, but we are desperately short of volunteer host families.

Although the children will not be arriving until 30th July 2016, there are lots of formalities that have to be completed in Belarus before the children are able to travel and time is against us. We need to sign up potential hosts by early December if we are to stand any chance of offering a place next summer to just some of the really needy children on our waiting list.

Hosting can be a hugely rewarding experience and I would love to hear from anyone who is interested in working in partnership with the charity to provide a life-changing recuperative holiday for a child from Belarus. My fingers are firmly crossed that local families will come forward in time.”

For more information about the charity’s Family Hosting Programme, visit www.focc-westleics.org.uk or contact John Buckby on 01455 285799 e-mail john.evolution@btinternet.com.

Library newsletter

Christmas is just around the corner at Groby Library

THERE IS a nip in the air, the nights are closing in and the aroma of mixed spice and brandy is wafting around the house from my kitchen. Christmas is just round the corner.

Preparation is well underway to make the Groby Christmas Mystery Trail a fun and festive event for all the family to enjoy. We have been working together with various groups within the village to make this event something magical. The hats have been ordered, chocolates sampled and clues are in place ready for our Christmas detectives to come and solve on Saturday 5th December from 3.30 till 6.30pm. Who knows where it may lead and who you might see?!! Tickets include a Santa hat, Children’s chocolate prize, a mince pie and festive drink and must be bought in advance from Groby library. Adults £3, children £2 and a family of two adults and three children £11. Under 1’s are free.

Alongside the mystery trail there is also a Christmas Fair being held at the library, which is free admission for all, so if Grandparents don’t fancy the trail they can still be part of the fun. There will be a delicious festive food stall and Chaplin the Butchers will be on hand to take your orders for Christmas. You will find Christmas cards, gifts and decorations, some of which have been made at our Christmas workshop we have been running in the lead up to December. We will also have a raffle, mince pies, hot and cold drinks including festive punch and hot chocolate. Yum! yum!

On Saturday 19th December the Rotary Club Santa and his sleigh will be visiting the library from 11 till 12 o’clock.

There will also be colouring and Christmas story time throughout the hour, so bring your little ones along to say hello.

There are still some tickets left for the Wind In The Willows at Chatsworth House Christmas coach trip on Tuesday 15th December. Tickets, which include travel by executive coach and admission to the house and gardens, are £22 for adults, £17.50 for a child over 3 years old and £10 for under 3s.

Please contact me on 07957370633 for more details.

Janet Bishop

Book Spot The Kind Worth Killing

by Peter Swanson A devious tale of psychological suspense involving sex, deception, and an accidental encounter that leads to murder. This is a modern re-imagining of Patricia Highsmith’s classic Strangers on a Train from the author of the acclaimed The Girl with a Clock for a Heart.

On a night flight from London to Boston, Ted Severson meets the mysterious Lily Kintner. Sharing one too many martinis, the strangers begin to play a game of truth, revealing intimate details about themselves. Ted talks about his marriage and his wife Miranda, who he’s sure is cheating on him. But their game turns dark when Ted jokes that he could kill Miranda for what she’s done. Lily, without missing a beat, says calmly, “I’d like to help.”

From there, Ted and Lily’s twisted bond grows stronger as they plot Miranda’s demise, but soon these co-conspirators are embroiled in a game of cat-and-mouse - one they both cannot syurvive - with a shrewd and very determined detective on their tail.

Crocodiles can grow up to 20 feet, but most have just four.

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

Graphics Win Top 5 Awards!

29

St Philip & St James Church, Groby

Christmas Tree Festival 2015

Christmas Around the World Saturday 5th December Entry Free

10.00am - 6.00pm

Sunday 6th December

Ent ry Fre e

2.00pm - 6.00pm

CONGRATULATIONS to Groby Community College, as Graphics teachers Mr Lishman and Miss Cowley achieved another 5 ‘Good Schools Guide’ awards this year for Graphic Design.

The subject has now won a total of 14 national awards over the last 5 years, in which 5 have been awarded this year due to the results of the students at GCSE, AS and A Level.

Mr Lishman and Miss Cowley, pictured above, are both delighted with the awards and incredibly proud of the students for their hard work, effort and commitment to succeeding in their area.

Without the students and their passion for the subject, these awards wouldn’t be possible.

WELL DONE!

Tues 8th / Wed 9th / Thur 10th / Fri 11th 3.00pm - 5.00pm

Refreshments and other items on Sale

My boss said he’s going to fire the employee with the worst posture. I’ve got a hunch it might be me.

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

Stones Hits Wordsearch

If you can find 12 Rolling Stones Hits in this issue’s Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal. This month we are offering a £20 Voucher to spend at a local restaurant of your choice.

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the titles of 12 hit songs by the Rolling Stones. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: MOVES LIKE JAGGER, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by RUBY TUESDAY 1ST DECEMBER 2015. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s homburg will win the voucher. Good luck!

Here are the twelve Stones Hits you have to find:

SATISFACTION • GET OFF OF MY CLOUD • BROWN SUGAR RUBY TUESDAY • START ME UP • JUMPING JACK FLASH THE LAST TIME • HONKY TONK WOMEN • PAINT IT BLACK ITS ALLOVER NOW • LITTLE RED ROOSTER • ANGIE Name: .................................................................................................

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

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: J. CHESTERFIELD of Lime Avenue, Groby.

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

Historical Hysterical Christmas! Glenfield Millennium MIKE KENNEDY Green News An Evening With Actor, Writer, Producer, Director, Wrestler and Comedian

at THORNTON WOMEN’S INSTITUTE on THURSDAY 10TH DECEMBER 2015 - 7.30 p.m. at THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTRE

Mike has 32 years of experience in the entertainment industry, having started at the young age of six on the stage.

It took volunteers just over an hour to plant new daffodil bulbs in the Marie Curie Field of Hope on the Millennium Green. These will add some extra brightness in the Spring when they flower. Thanks to those who came to help and got rather wet while they were working.

He has gone on to appear in three West End shows as well as television and radio, including roles such as Sgnt Wilson in the stage version of Dad’s Army, Doody in Grease, Nathan in The Full Monty and Buttons in Cinderella to name but a few. He is also an entertaining and informative speaker on a variety of historical topics and is one of Tutbury Castle’s leading historical guides for ghost hunting events!

Join us for our annual Carols on We will be delighted ot welcome him to Thornton, as he promises to open our eyes to the real history the Green to celebrate the Christmas behind Christmas, the unwrapping of the origins of Christmas meals, the Christmas tree, mince pies and Father season. Last year’s earlier start proved Christmas himself. Mike will tell us more about some of the oldest traditions of Christmas past that we still use popular so we are again starting at today, as well as the strangest and most bizarre Christmas celebrations. Why was Christmas outlawed and why 4.30pm on Saturday December 19th was it illegal to make Christmas pudding? Where did red Santa originate from and what about the green and at the entrance to the Green. Wrap up even blue Santa? All these questions and more will be answered in Mike’s festive fun-packed presentation. warmly and if you can bring a torch Mince pies and most excellent home-made wine will be served. to read the carol sheets that would be THERE WILL BE A CHRISTMAS RAFFLE. useful. Afterwards you will be rewarded We will hold a “Present Exchange” where you may bring along a wrapped present (to the value of £2) and take with a hot drink and seasonal nibbles, away one to open as a surprise on Christmas morning. such as mince pies.

The MEMBERS’ COMPETITION is for a decorated Christmas bauble.

WHY NOT COME ALONG TO ENJOY A FUN-FILLED AND VERY “CHRISTMASSY” EVENING IN GOOD COMPANY? If you enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass YOU WILL BE MADE VERY WELCOME. Visitors’ Fee £3 which includes refreshments. it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished

Muriel Walker

with it. Thanks!

Today I gave my dead batteries away - Free of charge!

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

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