October 2014 groby spotlight complete magazine

Spotlight Mid-October 2014

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

Savings from cuts ‘may have to be paid back to the Lottery’

County Council challenged to rethink Library Closure Plan Liberal Democrat County Councillor Michael Mullaney has challenged the County’s Conservative leadership to rethink plans that could see 37 Libraries in Leicestershire, including Groby’s, possibly close.

The County Council is asking for volunteers to run these libraries but if volunteers can’t be found they will be closed.

At the County Council meeting held on Wednesday 1st October, Michael Mullaney asked the County Cabinet Member in charge of libraries to rethink the plans.

Michael Mullaney said “Libraries are an extremely important local community facility, to close them would be a really backward step.

“Here in Hinckley and Bosworth libraries in Barwell, Burbage, Ratby, Groby, Newbold Verdon, Markfield, Desford and Market Bosworth are threatened with closure.

“The whole plans do not make financial sense. The County Council expect to make £800,000 from the transfer or closure of these Libraries.

However, one of the Libraries threatened with closure, Newbold Verdon, had a £781,402 grant from the Big Lottery Fund. If the County Council closes it they may have to pay back all or some of that money, making the closure programme pointless. It is worrying that the County Council still can’t say how much they will have to pay back the Big Lottery Fund if they close Newbold Verdon Library”.

Groby Blues under-15s win 7-1 in their new kit!

EQualities Award for Groby Community College Groby Community College has become the first school in Leicestershire to achieve a prestigious national award in recognition for its commitment to equality.

Like all public bodies, schools and colleges have a statutory duty to challenge inequality, foster Groby Community College’s Chair of Governors, good relations Mrs Helen Brown and Dr Chris Derrington and tackle discrimination against individuals and groups irrespective of gender, disability and ethnicity. The EQualities Award pays tribute to those that go the extra mile to become equalities champions. To gain the award, which is recognised by Ofsted, staff and governors undertook a systematic review of the college’s policies and practice and supplied a wide range of evidence which was independently assessed and verified.

The award was presented by Dr Chris Derrington, Director of the EQualities Award who said ‘In our view, Groby Community College is a very worthy recipient of this award. The quality of the evidence provided in order to achieve the accreditation was truly outstanding and demonstrates a genuine determination on the part of staff and governors to challenge and overcome inequality, raise aspirations and prepare young people for the responsibilities and experiences of later life. The core values embodied within the college’s moto ‘Achieving excellence together’ are communicated and reinforced in so many ways. Not surprisingly, this commitment to excellence and equality ensures that all students achieve well, regardless of their background or circumstances.

For more information go to www.equalitiesaward.co.uk 01162 879760

07925 802265

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Groby Blues under 15’s received their brand new kit for their recent league match away at Castle Donnington JFC. The team went on to win the match 7-1.

Manager Steve Jordon would like to thank Ami at the Groby Fish Bar for his continued support and sponsorship of the team.

Boiler & Gas Fire Installation & Servicing Central Heating Breakdowns & Repairs Landlord Safety Certificates Hob & Cooker Installation System Power Flushing System Upgrades Burst Pipes Leaks

NEED A NEW BOILER? SEDBUK ‘Band A’ Condensing Boilers Installed At Very Competitive Prices

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 15th November - Advert/Articles needed by 1st November

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

TICKETS: Journey through the ages Supported by The Fleet Auction Group Advance £5, Saturday 1st November 2014 Gate £7, from 5pm Under 3s free at Family of 4 (2+2) £18

Live music from Jersey Budd and Rihanna Tribute

(Pre-booking only)

Ashby Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3LN Tickets available at Snibston and www.snibston.com See website for other stockists. Tel 01530 278444 • Email snibston@leics.gov.uk

Me and my brother inherited some furniture from the local zoo. I’m glad to say I got the lion’s chair.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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

LE67 9ZT

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News from Elizabeth Woodville School

Super Learning Days Time To Remember

Telephone

01530-244069 Email us at: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

We warmly invite you to join us at GROBY UNITED REFORMED CHURCH on SUNDAY 2nd NOVEMBER 2014 at 3pm .

GIVING THANKS FOR THE LIVES OF THOSE WE LOVE .

There will be light refreshments served after service.

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

Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head.

Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press.

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

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

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

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

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

All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

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

NEXT ISSUE OUT Sat 15th November Advert/Copy Deadline: Saturday 1st November

TO ADVERTISE: Call 01530 244069

Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

To celebrate the start of our ‘Nose in a Book’ theme, the children and staff at Elizabeth Woodville Primary School enjoyed two Super Learning Days.

The fun started on Thursday 4th September with children and staff dressing up as book characters. There were so many different characters, ranging from Professor Dumbledore to Where’s Wally to Thor, and that was just the staff costumes! The day started with an unusual assembly where Miss Trunchball made a boy named Bruce Bogtrotter eat a whole chocolate cake! Then the children spent the day visiting different classrooms with activities centered around an author. Some of the authors children learnt about were Nick Butterworth, Quentin Blake and David Wiesner. Children enjoyed lots of activities including planting seeds, learning a song from Matilda the musical and inventing their own superheroes.

The excitement continued on our second Super Learning Day, where children spent the morning doing activities linked to their teachers’ favourite childhood books. During the afternoon we welcomed parents and visitors into school to tell us about their favourite childhood books. We heard about lots of interesting books, some of which we didn’t know about before! It was great to find out about new books and why people liked to read.

Our Super Learning Days were a really exciting way to kick start our ‘Nose in a Book’ theme. Children will continue to learn about different authors and texts across the curriculum for the rest of this half term. We are looking forward to this and our next Super Learning Day for our next theme.

School place closing date looming The school place application closing date is looming and parents are being urged not to miss the deadline.

Last month, Leicestershire County Council sent around 10,500 letters to mums and dads, explaining the process for children who transfer to secondary school in the autumn term 2015.

Moving to the next school is not automatic and parents are encouraged to apply before the 31st October closing date. The transfer process is the same for a local authority school or a recently-converted academy.

If parents apply late - even if they live next door to the school - their child may not get a place.

Anyone expressing a preference for a non-catchment school is urged to also apply for a place at their child’s catchment school.

To find out more, please visit www.leics.gov.uk/admissions, email: admissions@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6684.

I saw a coconut-flavoured biscuit playing football. It was Wayne Macarooney.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Parish Council Consultation Although the response to the consultation regarding Groby library in the August Spotlight wasn’t substantial it was consistent with earlier attempts to uncover the views of local residents about local issues.

The questionnaire allowed respondents to say that they didn’t want a library, but only 2% took this option. Most respondents supported an increase in the Council Tax precept.

On 19 September the County Council’s Cabinet considered a report on the outcomes of a three month consultation on proposals for the future of library services and approved further work on the suggested alternative options for savings received as part of the consultation responses. This includes a recognition of the challenge received during the course of consultation about the basis for identifying the 16 major libraries. The cabinet also requested a member scrutiny panel to review the proposals for support which is provided to community partnerships prior to a decision being taken in November by Cabinet.

So no final decision has yet been taken about the future of village libraries and work continues to develop the detailed proposals. “We are aware that several community groups are considering how they can take on the management of their local library,” said a County Council spokesperson.

“Some are already taking steps to ensure they are in a good position to take over. We want to reassure groups that this work will not be wasted and encourage them to continue.”

The proposals included providing a transition fund to help with set-up costs and the details of this fund will be considered as part of the support package by the scrutiny panel. “Therefore, we cannot currently provide financial support to groups. We would however advise all groups planning to spend money on the activities above to notify us before they are incurring such expenses.”

The good news is that local Councillor O’Shea will be part of the scrutiny panel. He writes more about libraries in his monthly Spotlight report.

Eight nice legs, shame about the bite When a Spotlight reader opened his Daily Telegraph in September and saw a report describing how a Colchester mum found a cocoon of spider’s eggs in her bananas he may well have wiped a bead of perspiration off his forehead.

He recalled that in July he had also found eggs amongst his bananas, and with hindsight perhaps felt relieved that they hadn’t hatched, as they were possibly Brazilian wandering spider eggs.

Spiders that arrive with bananas are seldom welcome visitors and the Brazilian wandering spider is perhaps one of the least desirable in your fruit bowl. The species are known to have some of the most toxic venom in the world, causing loss of muscle control and breathing problems, and eventually death. What happened to the Colchester mum reads like a movie screenplay, as a pest control team descended on her home and took everything that had been in contact with the eggs, including her waste bin and vacuum cleaner.

It’s not the first incident - last year a woman noticed white spots on the banana she was eating and then saw that spiders had started hatching out onto her kitchen table and running across the room. Her family was forced to abandon their home. A Tesco store in Kent was closed temporarily after a Brazilian wandering spider was found under a box of bananas.

So if you spot a kitchen waste bin offered free to anyone who will collect it in the Spotlight small ads make sure you ask all the right questions....

I went to the head office of the RSPCA today. It’s absolutely tiny. You couldn’t swing a cat in there.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

A new 24 hour cash machine Good news for residents who live in the area around Budgens.

A new external cash machine allows free cash withdrawals whenever they need it. If you weren’t happy with the report about the proposed display cabinets next to the cash machine in Rookery Lane you may be interested to hear that this has now been reduced and is now a proposal for 2 cabinets.

Sculpture in the garden

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Readers who like to look at sculpture may have been tempted to make the trip to Chatsworth House to see the Sotheby’s Beyond Limits exhibition.

Spread out across the garden, it includes what have been described as some of the most original monumental sculpture being made today. This ninth exhibition has more than 20 sculptures by different artists from around the world including one of China’s best known and highly acclaimed artists, Xu Bing, along with Marc Quinn, Christopher Le Brun and Aristide Maillol.

It runs until October 26th and is included with the £12 admission charge for the gardens. Concession tickets are available.

Those who do not want a long drive to Chatsworth or would prefer a free event should look no further than the University of Leicester Botanic Gardens on Glebe Road, off London Road near ASDA. They are hosting their 13th Sculpture Exhibition in the gardens and there is still time to visit as it also runs to the 26th October. There are 45 exhibits dotted around the gardens, the work of UK-based and international sculptors.

“The Garden exhibition was launched in 2002, with a vision that sculpture should re-enter the every day landscape of ordinary people, not only to be seen in museums and art galleries, but on the streets, in parks and in front of public buildings,” explained Helaine Blumenfeld OBE FRBS in here foreword to the exhibition guide. She paid tribute to the Vice Chancellor,Professor Sir Robert Burgess, whose vision brought together the sculptors, gardeners and everyone that helps make the exhibition a success, “Those of us who have been privileged to be involved with this exhibition year after year have seen it develop from what was a very modest show in 2002 to a significant sculptural event attracting world-class sculptors.

Sculpture in the Garden has become an eagerly anticipated summer event for visitors from all over the United Kingdom and beyond.”

So hope for a sunny autumnal day, put your coat on, and enjoy an hour in the garden followed by a cup of tea in their cafe.

David Smith - 1 The Burrows, Narborough

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

I spent the last two weeks sitting on a large book. It was my annual holiday.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Spotlight Small Ads • Table and Four Chairs: Birch effect top & seats - chrome legs.

Table - 90 cms square, 75 cms high.

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Is it time to ‘ditch’ the concept of retirement?

A new business “Age Audit” includes an 8-point action plan to support companies who want to respond to the challenges and opportunities of ageing.

To advertise, call Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069

The Age Audit has been published by the International Longevity Centre-UK (ILC-UK), the leading think tank on longevity and demographic change as part of the ICAEW BusinessFutures project.

The Age Audit points out that unless businesses respond to ageing, UK plc faces significant fiscal and economic challenges. If the over 65s are unable to find employment, those who are in work will account for a diminishing proportion of the population. Tax revenue from those in work may fail to keep up with demand for social security from an increasingly large proportion of people aged over 65 and out of work. Demographic change may mean that future economic growth may be dependent on either substantially increasing the productivity of those in work or the numbers of people over 65 in work rises.

The Age Audit reveals that: • The over 65s in the UK currently spend around £2.2 billion per week (£114 billion per annum) on goods and services. Assuming their weekly spending rises in line with annual inflation of 2%, they are likely to be spending over £6 billion per week (£312 billion per annum) by 2037 • From now until 2037, the 15-64 age group in the UK will, on average, grow by just 29,000 per annum. By contrast, the number of people aged 65 and over will rise by 278,000 on average each year.

• Across more economically developed countries, the proportion aged 65 and over will rise from 16% to 26% and the proportion over 80 will rise from 4.3% to 10%.

ILC-UK argue that if businesses make the right decisions to support increasing flexibility in the workplace, to raise the health and wellbeing of the workforce, to counteract ageism and to embrace continuous learning, the concept of retirement as we think of it today will no longer have any use.

Launching the Age Audit, ILC-UK Chief Executive, Baroness Sally Greengross said: “Ageing poses both an opportunity and a threat to businesses around the world. With growth in the number of people aged 15-64 likely to slow over the coming decades, businesses will be forced to put emphasis on recruiting older talent and ensuring lower levels of “brain drain” from their organisations.

At the same time, consumption of goods and services by the over 65s is likely to grow at a faster rate than any other demographic group necessitating innovations in design and marketing to tap into the “grey pound”.

Businesses that anticipate and plan for these winds of change will be best prepared to flourish, while those that fail to prepare could struggle to survive and grow.”

Charles Carter, ICAEW Director of Regions, added: “If businesses focus exclusively on the under 65s, they will be missing out on a vast and growing talent pool. Indeed, just to fill the likely number of vacancies over the next decade will make the employment of older people a necessity rather than a luxury.”

How businesses can respond to ageing: introducing the eight-point action plan 1. Think strategically about ageing 2. Deliver flexible working 3. Become age neutral 4. Support those with disabilities as well as the wider health and wellbeing of the workforce 5. Embrace continuous learning 6. Support intergenerational fairness 7. Help people afford a good retirement 8. Tap into the “grey pound”

• Epson print cartridges: T1281 Black T 1282 Cyan T1283 Magenta T1284 Yellow Ordered in error Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 231 2070 • Garden Frame: 110 x 70 one light with toughened glass, cost £180 last year.

Price: £100.00 O.n.o.

• Set of golf clubs: irons and woods, bag and trolley, suitable for beginner Price: £35.00 Tel: 0116 287 7787 • CAR ROOF CARGO BAG. Robust and waterproof. 330 litre capacity. Base 700 mm x 700mm.

Complete with securing straps, hard and soft base for roof bars. Very easy to store after use. Used twice. Cost £41.00 new. Accept £20.00 Tel: 0116 2876847 or mobile: 0744 395 8399 • Two Ikea lycksele Single bed chairs with bright red covers Price: £70.00 for the two.

• Two low black comfortable chairs with metal frames Price: £20.00 • Wooden venetian blind - 6 feet wide Price: £10.00 • Piano stool - with lifting lid for music storage Price: £10.00 o.n.o.

Tel: 0116 231 2954

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

So I went to my GP and said I feel like I’ve been hit on the head with a set of bongos. He said you’ve probably got slight percussion.

Someone said to me that lemons very sharp so I tried using one to carve a turkey.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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I went to a posh party and everyone was drinking and knitting. I got Pimms and needles.

18/09/2014 10:18

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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

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Have you seen that great cricketing cook? Chef Boycott.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Message from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

Wheelie bin stickers BOROUGH Councillor Martin Cartwright has brought to our attention that some residents are unhappy with the way the recycling information stickers have been applied to the blue lidded wheelie bins.

The Borough Council apologises for any inconvenience this has caused. If anyone would like a replacement sticker then these can be requested by emailing streetscene@hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk or by phoning 01455 238141.

Leaf some green stuff in the garden The clocks go back this month, and we will be putting our gardens to sleep for the winter.

But this autumn, when you tidy up, do not tidy away too much.

Many insects and wild creatures will be relying on some ground cover or hideaway to call ‘home’ for the winter.

Several piles of twigs or prunings, left around your garden in discreet places, will provide great winter ‘snugs’ for toads, grass snakes and other small garden inhabitants.

‘Spent’ seed heads provide cover and food for birds over the winter.

Above all, before you light any bonfires on 5th November, take care there are no hibernating hedgehogs inside!

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Parking – can you help someone who wants to be part of the solution not part of the problem?

Norman Griffiths talks to the driver who wants to park responsibly On street parking in Groby is one of those issues which won’t go away. All sorts of compromises have been tried but there is no sign that a permanent solution that would be fair to both residents and employees of GE Sensing is in sight. Warned about the problem of parking one new starter at the company decided that she would make her own attempt to find a solution.

“Wondered if you can help,” she wrote. I’m due to start a temporary contract job at GE Druck and will be commuting. I understand parking is an issue and wondered if you could give any advice about available car parks in the area. I’d also be interested in maybe renting a spot on someone’s drive if that could be a possibility don’t know if you could advise how I might get in touch with anyone interested.”

You’ll not be surprised that she had to be told that it was likely because of the shortfall in parking facilities she would have to join her fellow employees who park on the street, something she really didn’t want to do as she knows from first hand experience the annoyance it can cause.

“Mainly I am just looking for somewhere reliable to park which doesn’t annoy the local residents,” she added. “At one point in my life I had a neighbour running a business from home and all their customers used to park on the road outside my house and it used to drive me bonkers. All perfectly legal but so irritating so I completely get the nuisance that can be caused.”

The one glimmer of hope in her appeal was her willingness to pay to rent a spot on someone’s drive.

Suggested in the Spotlight some time ago there has been no feedback to show whether any employees or residents came together in this way. One of the websites mentioned at the time has been renamed www.justpark.com and there are a couple of listings for parking available on drives in Groby with rental prices of £159.50 and £212.50 per month. That is probably beyond the reach of the average employee locally.

This leaves our correspondent with the problem of where to park considerately, and provides an opportunity for the community to meet the employees half way if they have some spare parking space available for a modest monthly rental. You may feel that you want to help someone who shares your views about on street parking. In fact following her appeal a temporary spot has been found for her thanks to the

kindness of a local resident. But it is only temporary and so she needs a more permanent resolution. In return you receive a small income and if you are away from home all day have the comfort that a car parked on the drive gives the impression that someone is at home. Recently most burglaries in the village have taken place during the day.

Earlier this year Communities Secretary Eric Pickles announced that new regulations prevent councils from making money from ‘resourceful and entrepreneurial families, adding that government guidance would encourage people to make a bit of extra money, and insisted that homeowners have a ‘fundamental right’ to rent their driveway.

So if you can help take a commuter’s car off the road, whilst at the same time putting some money in your pocket, you can email contact@grobyonline.tk and your email will be passed on. If you want to make direct contact you can text or call 07973 780853.

More information and advice is available on http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/ cheap-parking-rental, or follow the link from www. grobyonline.tk.

I remember the first thing my mum said when I was born. She said ‘Ah, I was expecting you.’

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

National Trust Leicester Association News The National Trust is the 3rd largest landowner in the UK with over 625,000 acres of land which is 1.5% of all the land in England, Wales & Northern Ireland. 60% is farmland and there is also a large area of woodland with the largest woodland estate being Ashridge in Hertfordshire which covers 5,000 acres.

Don’t forget to send us your news.

Thanks!

Whilst you may not have heard of the Ashridge Estate you may well have seen it on film as it is regularly used by film makers for woodland scenes.

Indeed, every shot of Russell Crowe, as Robin Hood, riding through the forest was filmed at Ashridge.

The Trust is currently carrying out a detailed survey of all the ancient and notable trees on its 190 woodland estates.

The age classification of an ancient tree changes with the species of tree. An ancient Oak tree must be over 600 years old. Overall Britain has 60% of the ancient trees in northern Europe.

The oldest tree on National Trust land is the Ankerwycke Yew Tree (pictured above) at Runnymede in Surrey which is estimated to be 2,500 years old.

Closer to home there are ancient Oaks at Calke Abbey which are the remains of a medieval woodland that covered a vast area south of the river Trent. One specimen called the “Old Man of Calke” is over 1,000 years old.

At Woolsthorpe Manor near Grantham there is arguably the most notable tree in the world, Newton’s apple tree which inspired Sir Isaac Newton’s theories on gravity.

With the leaves turning to their autumn hues now is a wonderful time to visit any of the National Trust estates, most of which are open throughout the year.

The NT Leicester Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 22nd October at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester at 2.30pm when Sally Henshaw will present an illustrated talk on Richard III and the Greyfriars Dig. There is also an evening meeting on Tuesday 11th November when Mick Evans will present an illustrated talk on Packwood House Gardens. The meeting will be held at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm.

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

BOOK SPOT The Beatles Lyrics: The Unseen Story Behind Their Music Edited by Hunter Davies Hardback priced at £25, eBook £12.99 The Fab Four wrote their songs as the mood came upon them - at any time and in any place.

They were scribbled onto napkins in restaurants; jotted on to the backs of birthday cards or letters, and scrawled on to hotel stationery; ‘Yesterday’, ‘Eleanor Rigby’, ‘Yellow Submarine’ - every Beatles classic has a great story behind it.

Hunter Davies, the author of the Beatles’ only authorised biography has tracked down over 100 of these original manuscripts, most of them never seen before, from across the globe. In this definitive volume they are gathered together and reproduced in superb quality.

Davies, who knew and worked with the Beatles during their heyday, examines every song in forensic detail. Placing each one in context he determines: how, when and where they written; what the Beatles were doing at the time of writing, and when they were recorded; who the songs are about, and how the original differs from the final version.

In this fascinating exploration of their lyrics we gain an extraordinary insight into the remarkable creative process of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century. Ultimately this is the definitive story of the Beatles’ lives told, uniquely through their music.

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So I rang up my local building firm and said I wanna skip outside my house. He said, I’m not stopping you.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Today I was taking the mickey out of a bloke with a ridiculous wig on.

He had the last laugh, though.

He sentenced me to five years.

Enterprise Week at Martinshaw School

Anyone visiting Martinshaw Primary School during the week beginning Monday 15th September 2014 would have been instantly struck by the smell of baking wafting throughout the School and the sight of wet children, in P.E. kit, spending playtime and lunchtime clutching foaming buckets of warm water; washing cars.

Yes, it was ‘Enterprise Week’ in school.

In class, the children had been learning about the value of money; how to add up, calculate change and its importance in our lives.

To test their entrepreneurial skills, Mr Elson (headteacher) gave each class £30, as a loan, on the proviso that they invested it and increased it.

Any profit made would be used to spend on their own class resources.

Some bought buckets; sponges and car shampoo. Others bought ingredients for cakes and biscuits. Bird feeders and bracelets were produced. Early years started its own photography business, setting up a photo booth for family portraits, duly framed of course, and sold back to the families.

Waistlines expanded: a car park full of sparkling cars, photographs adorning dining-room walls and the loans returned to Mr Elson. A very successful week, a great learning experience and every class made a substantial profit.

Owen Lawrence

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Glenfield Millennium Green News

Julie Mayer dashes into the Millennium Green during Clueless!

The Millennium Green played host (briefly) to Radio Leicester at the end of the August 17th edition of “Clueless” –their Sunday morning treasure hunt of the airwaves.

As Trustees prepared for the Picnic on the Green, due to start at 12.00 noon, Julie Mayer dashed through the gate looking for treasure having followed clues which took them to various parts of the County.

After finding the ‘treasure’, which had been cunningly hidden behind one of the notice boards, Julie accepted a cup of coffee as her reward and spoke to some of those present before heading back into the City.

After such an exciting start the picnic that followed was rather an anti-climax.

Attendance was poor, possibly affected by unsettled weather and a change of date from Saturday to Sunday. However those who came had an enjoyable time. A few races were run, kites were flown and hot cups of tea or coffee very welcome.

Help us plant new Daffodil bulbs

How well do you know your spouse?

Radio Leicester’s Julie Mayer broadcasting from the Millennium Green

We hope for a better turn out to plant new daffodil bulbs in the Marie Curie Field of Hope which is to be found in the woodland area of the Green.

The first planting here (of several thousand bulbs) took place in October 2001 and for several years the daffodils made a stunning show in the spring. However their numbers have diminished over the years and we hope to fill a few gaps, and extend the area covered, by adding more.

Come and help on Saturday October 25th from 10.00am. The ground in this area of the Green is uneven so strong shoes or boots are needed.

If you have bulb planters or spades please bring these along too. Tea and coffee will be available and donations are invited for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

Chris Tordoff

At a seminar on Marriage, the minister was stressing how essential it is that couples discern what is important to their partner.

He challenged the men: “Can you even name your wife’s favourite flower?”

Baffled silence followed, until one husband nudged his wife with a hopeful smile and hazarded: “It’s MacDougal’s Self-Raising, right?”

Secretary Glenfield Millennium Green Trust

My favourite composer is Handel who later teamed up with Hinge and Bracket to form The Doors.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News Village Show The Show, held on August 16th was thought by many to be one of the best in recent times.

There were increased numbers of entrants as well as more entries than ever. Pleasingly, some entrants were first-timers and hopefully enjoyed the experience enough to return next year. The success of the show depends upon so many factors coming together.

Most importantly is the band of volunteers who contribute so much. It would be unseemly to name names, but from the moment that the staging and the tables are erected to the sweeping up at the end there is a veritable army of people doing their bit. At the heart of everything is the catering side of the show. Many peoples’ experience is enhanced by a cup of tea, a cake and a chat with friends. None of this would be possible without our W.I. colleagues. Amongst the many exhibits this year were some remarkable entries. None were better than some of the wonderful craft items submitted. Although not huge, a special mention needs to be addressed to the amazing exhibits in the Chidren’s section. Well done to you all!

This year there was a special award. It was The Banksian medal.

This is a medal awarded by the R.H.S. via G.G.S. to the person with most points in the horticultural sections of the show. This is made up of the flowers, fruit and vegetables. The award commerates the contribution that Joseph Banks, the famous 18th century plant hunter, gave to horticulture through his exploits for Kew gardens. A bronze medal, inscribed with “Groby Gardening Society”, this award cannot be won by this year’s recipient in 2015. This first year the award has been presented to Kay Blick, a stalwart of the gardening Society and the Groby W.I. Other awards follow:-

Special prizes Class 50 (Sponsored by the Allotment Society) A vegetable tray 1st Phil Dew

W.I. Trophy Groby W. I. member with second most points in show Angela Taylor The Morris Cup Most points in show Kay Blick

The Parish Council Cup Second most points in show Phillippa Brown The G.G.S. cup Best exhibit in show Lyda Hawkes Croxtall Shield Most points in floral section Rosemary Chapman Jarram Shield Most points in fruit & vegetable section Ernie Marston Gamble Shield Most points in flower arranging section Molly Matson Firth Shield Most points in the cookery section Phillippa Brown

Balderston Trophy Groby W.I. member with most points in show

Kay Blick

Parish Council Young persons Cup for:Best exhibit in young persons sections Model garden Esme Window

Young persons sections

Groby’s Mr Bean As reported in last month’s “Allotment News”, our longest bean competition was won by Ernie Marston.

As if this was not enough, Ernie

Class 52 then went on to win the same class A creature

at the Swithland Show.

1st Ben Window A 22” bean won him the accolade 2nd Esme Window there, but it is rumoured that he 3rd Lewis Rae

The Atherton Trophy had a reserve bean of 26”, although Most points in the handicraft it was of a lower quality.

Class 53 section Flapjacks Well done Ernie, but can he hold Lynda Hawkes 1st Molly Rastall on to his title next year!?

2nd Ben Window Callis Shield 3rd Esme Window Most points in container section Kay Blick/Alvar Johnson Class54 • November 13th: Birthday card The Woodland Trust Richardson Plate 1st Helen Chick

by Sarah Croft Winner of class 51 • December 11th: (items for the salad)

Class 55 Christmas meal and Jane Marston Model garden entertainment 1st Esme Window D. A. Colledge Shield • January 8th: Winner of class 77 Annual General Meeting Class 56 (a packed lunch) Humpty Dumpty Our monthly meetings are held Pauline Anderson 1st Ben Window at 7.30pm on the second Thursday 2nd Esme Window of the month, usually in the United

Future Meetings

Best exhibit in:

Floral section A vase of mixed flowers Amanda Harriman

Reformed Church rooms on Chapel

Class 57 Hill. Details about membership Small flower arrangement and the events programme can 1st Ben Window be obtained from Alvar Johnson.

2nd Esme Window

(Tel. No. 01162877870) or E mail

Container plant section anjjmj1@outlook.com Class 58 A fuchsia Items in matchbox Lynda hawkes 1st Lewis Rae

Alvar Johnson

Fruit and vegetable sections Collection of mixed vegetables Phil Dews

Class 62 Flower arrangements sections “All white on the night” “Lest we forget” Molly Matson 1st Kay Blick

Cups & Trophies

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2nd Esme Window

A Sensory Evening: Sept 11 This was a thoroughly

Cookery & preserves sections

enjoyable evening which Kiwi Jam signalled a departure from Jane Cole Handicrafts sections

Needle work Lynda Hawkes

our normal format for meetings.

A full report will appear in the next edition of Spotlight.

The Sunday School story was about Lot’s wife who was turned into a pillar of salt. One little boy’s arm shot up. “Yes, Jeremy?” said the teacher. “Please, Miss,” said Jeremy, “My Mum looked back once when she was driving home – and she turned into a lamp post.”

I wanted to sue the airline over the damage to my luggage but my lawyer said I didn’t have much of a case.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Going to the tip?

Check it’s open...

Talented local footballers

Groby Juniors Under-9 Changes in tournament winners waste site opening hours New opening hours for Leicestershire’s recycling and household waste sites (RHWS) came into force this month.

If you work from home, you can save a fortune on Christmas presents.

Just wait for the postman to deliver your neighbours’ parcels to you when they’re out.

From 1 October autumn / winter opening times will apply with sites open five days a week from 9am to 4pm.

The five day pattern of opening is being arranged so that all sites are open at weekends and a proportion of sites remain open each day for use by the public in the week.

The RHWS at Kibworth, Lount, Lutterworth, Melton, Mountsorrel, Shepshed and Whetstone will be closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays The RHWS at Barwell, Bottesford, Coalville, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Oadby and Somerby will be closed on Thursdays and Fridays.

For more information about when individual sites are open or closed in the winter, and for more details on recycling and waste in Leicestershire, visit: www.leics.gov. uk/waste.

Seven day spring / summer opening hours will resume on 1st April 2015.

Well done to Groby Juniors u-9’s for winning the Motorpoint cup at the Loughborough Dynamo Summer Tournament.

In five games played the boys only conceded two goals both against Allexton in a 2-2 draw and went on to win the final on penalties.

This is only their second season together but already they are starting to look like a very good side.

Can you help?

Groby Juniors Under-11 Girls team need your help The Groby Juniors under-11 Girls team are looking for help to manage the team.

Anyone interested should contact Emanda Kerr on 07860 546828.

News from Age UK

Big Knit - Don’t sit on your hats!

PLEASE get them in to one of our shops or Resource Centres as soon as possible and at the latest by 17th October.

As you know, for every innocent soft drinks bottle sold wearing one of the hats, Innocent and Sainsbury’s will donate 25p to our charity and our target for 2014 is a massive 40,000!

Thanks to our fantastic band of knitters, we are presently about half way to that target. Contact 0116 2237344.

Handyman Service Announces Home Energy Check Programme We are delighted to announce that we have secured grant funding to deliver the EON Home Energy Check Programme.

Whilst winter may still seem a long way off, it is reassuring to know that Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland will be helping many older people to keep warm and well this winter.

The grant will enable our Handyperson service to carry out an ‘energy fit’ check that will enable us to assess the energy efficiency of a person’s home, offer advice on how to save energy and, where appropriate, install simple and practical energy efficiency measures. The equipment that can be provided includes low energy bulbs, draught excluders and cold alarms that sound an alert in the event a room’s temperature drops below a certain temperature.

In order to qualify for a free energy efficiency check, you need to be over 55 years of age. In today’s world, where rising energy bills are a concern for many older people, you may know of someone who would benefit from this free service, including people that you are working with, friends and neighbours. For more information about our free energy efficiency checks, please contact: 0116 2992254.

I took lessons in riding a bicycle, but I could only afford half of them. So now I ride a unicycle.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Pass it on but not the flu!

Lunchtime Talks at Coalville Library Come along to Coalville library’s series of monthly lunchtime talks. The talks fall every second Wednesday of the month from 12.30pm until 1.30pm and tickets very often sell out fast.

You are welcome to bring along your lunch for the session and a tea/coffee is included in the price of £2.50 (for library members) and £3 (for non-members).

Please pre-book your ticket from the Counter at Coalville library before the talk. Here are the next two sessions:

•

•

•

‘Traditional Sausage Making.’ With Alf Pallett. A talk about the wide variety of sausages available and a sausage making demonstration, with a chance to taste rare varieties.

Wednesday 15th October “Polly Put the Kettle on; A talk about Tea.” With Elizabeth Riding.Come along and listen to this returning popular speaker to find out more about the story behind your cup of tea! Wednesday 12th October.

‘The 1914 Christmas Truce.’ With Dr John Sutton. A moving account of the temporary truce between troops at Christmas time during WW1. Wednesday 10th December.

Don’t delay – get your ticket now!

For further information please contact the library on: 0116 305 3565.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) has produced two new animated films to prepare children and young people for the forthcoming nasal flu immunisation pilot programme.

The Trust has been commissioned by NHS England to deliver one of the largest nasal flu immunisation pilots in the country, and will be offering the vaccine to 97,000 healthy school children from years 1 to 8 across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland between October to December this year.

The ‘Flu Heroes’ film for primary school children can be viewed on the Stopping Flu page of the new LPT Health for Kids website - https://www. healthforkids.co.uk/illness/stopping-flu/ Suzanne Leatherland, Flu Immunisations Project Lead from LPT said: “We will be offering the vaccine to around 97,000 children across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. We hope that the films will allay any fears and show children and young people what to expect when receiving the nasal flu spray. There are no needles involved and we really wanted to get this message across in the films. We will be working closely with schools as part of the communications campaign to inform children, young people and their parents and carers about the vaccination.

“Parents of all children that will be immunised will receive a pack of information during September. You and your child can learn more about the flu vaccine by visiting our new health website from school nurses: www. healthforkids.co.uk or view the films on Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust’s YouTube channel.”

The films have been funded by NHS England. Dr Tim Davies, Public Health Consultant for NHS England in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, said: “We are thrilled with the films and hope to disseminate them across all the pilot areas in England. This year all secondary school pupils in school years 7 and 8 across Leicestershire, Leicester city, and Rutland will be offered the nasal spray vaccine as well as all primary school aged children (school years 1 to 6). It is the best way to help protect all of these children against the flu.

“Fluenz is safe, simple and painless, and by having the nasal spray, children are less likely to pass the virus on to friends and family. This is important as flu can be a really serious illness for some. The immunisation is expected to be introduced nationally for all children over the next few years, but pupils in Leicestershire are amongst the first to get it. I would encourage all parents of pupils covered by the pilot to discuss the offer of the free immunisation spray with their children. We strongly recommend they take up the offer to ensure they will be flu free as winter approaches.”

Good idea!

Put together a Memory Book Do you have grandchildren?

Then this winter, during those long dark days, why not spend some time putting together a sort of scrapbook of memories to pass on to them? Things you might include could be: where you lived when you were a child; what your school was like, what games you most enjoyed, who your best buddies were, what pets you had, what your first job was, and how you met your partner. What was your first car, and where was your first home as an adult? Add a selection of photographs that you have from the past. The website www.blurb. co.uk has lots of ideas to help you create your memory book.

I got my wife a bag and a belt for her birthday. She wasn’t happy, but at least the hoover works fine now.

www.grobycoll.com

CAMP TANZANIA 2014

The Groby Community College team at the Ngorongoro crater From left to right: Becky Pogson, Hannah Mugglestone, Lizzie Pye, James Dawswell, Jaina Patel, Dan George, Jaina Mistry, Ross Dixey, Corey Carroll, Adam Flavell, Jordan Waite, Jake Fenn, Kieran Oldershaw, Jonny Lloyd, Ellis Kube, Melissa Murray, James Wynne, Jess McGee, Adam Kissai, Alison Hall, Matt Richardson, Alfie Poulton, Ashley Nathwani, Harry Wallace, Owen Mitchell and Oliver Dudman On 14 July 2014, 23 students and 2 staff from Groby Community College set off for Tanzania after two years of planning, fundraising and numerous injections. Guided by our expedition leader Jonny, it took two days of travelling to get to our first camp in Moshi, at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro and acquaint ourselves with our first tent of the month.

After all the sitting around, the group were desperate to get going on the first bit of project work and enthusiastically mixed concrete, laid blocks and joined pieces of metal for three days at the local primary school. It was the first stage of a new classroom to be built over the summer. Even with all the work there was still time for a football match with the children, a dance lesson at a local house and Swahili lessons in the evening.

The time at Moshi flew by and soon we were back on a bus headed for Tanga. The long journey was well worth it as Camp Tanga was

absolutely beautiful – perched on a small cliff overlooking the incredibly blue Indian ocean with a dining area built around a large baobab tree. Whilst there we worked on building another classroom, a tree nursery, repairing school desks, seaweed farming, flip flop carving and weaving mats from palm leaves. It wasn’t all work though as this is where we did our four day PADI scuba diving qualification including two days diving a reef in the Indian ocean.

At our final camp near Lake Manyara we made mud bricks for a house for a local man. Basically, if you need a wall building from any material – ask one of these guys. From here we visited a Maasai village and did our safari days into the spectacular Ngorongoro crater where we saw almost all the “big five” and had a much disputed cheetah sighting.

Suddenly our four weeks was almost over and after a long bus journey back to Nairobi we just had time for a bit of reflection on what we had seen and achieved (see the student quotes on the next page). It was an incredibly experience living out of our comfort zones and working on projects to help others and by the end some people were already thinking about their next trip.

It was a privilege to work with such a committed group of young people who represented the college impeccably.

We were constantly praised for their work ethic when the leader saw how much they achieved at each project.

Seeing each person develop and the self confidence in some increase dramatically was incredibly rewarding for us and added an extra dimension to an already amazing trip.

Dancing in the Maasai village!

Miss Pogson and Mr Dixey Groby Community College

www.grobycoll.com

OUR BEST MOMENTS OF THE TRIP! “Getting a letter from a little girl from the school in Moshi” - Jaina Patel “The last day of project work in Manyara—making bricks, having a mud fight and seeing how happy Mr Samson was when he received the clothes Jake donated” - Lizzie Pye “Learning how to do local arts and crafts with an artist using flip flops” - Alison Hall “Meeting all of the kids and seeing their faces and how happy they were over something as small as a pencil case with pencils” - Corey Carroll “Star gazing with Jess on the edge of the cliff in Tanga” - Mel Murray “When the village children ran up to us and I gave them a ride in the wheel barrow we were using to move mud for the mud house” - Adam Kissai “Playing football with the kids at Moshi” - Harry Wallace

“Ellis and James letting flies in the tent, then gassing themselves out with DEET” - Oliver Dudman

“Engaging in the culture and spending time with people when you know you have changed their lives” - Owen Mitchell “Football match against the local team in Tanga” - Ellis Kube “Giving some pencils away at the school and seeing how happy they were” - Ashley Nathwani “The last project day in Manyara building Mr Samson’s house and having a mud fight” - Hannah Mugglestone

“Seeing the lion cubs and all the other animals on safari” - James Dawswell “The first open water scuba dive” - James Wynne

“Views from the top of the Ngorongoro crater” - Jordan Waite “Giving Mr Samson some gifts” - Jake Fenn “Going to the school at Moshi and seeing the happy faces of the children when we went into the classroom” - Matt Richardson

2016 Expedition is to ECUADOR GALAPAGOS

Find out more about this amazing opportunity by speaking to Mr Dixey at Groby Community College

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Crowd-Editing Publisher Invites Readers to Make Good Books Better Literature is littered with anachronisms and mistakes - from a striking clock in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar to the changing colour of Madame Bovary’s eyes - but what if writers could call on the wisdom of the crowd to improve their work before it goes to print?

Advance Editions, launched last month, is a bold new approach to publishing which makes good books better by drawing on the experience and knowledge of readers worldwide.

Using the website www.

AdvanceEditions.com, readers are invited to contribute to a final crowdedit of two pilot books - ‘Rogue Elements’, a fictional spy thriller by Hector Macdonald, and ‘Dispatches from the Kabul Café’, a non-fiction memoir by Canadian journalist Heidi Kingstone.

Readers have 90 days to give feedback to the authors and suggest ways to refine their books. They may spot errors, bring unique expertise or put forward ideas which they feel should be considered. The authors will then have the opportunity to incorporate suggestions before publication, crediting the most helpful contributors in the final book.

Anyone can sign up as a contributor at Advance Editions, through a very simple registration process. To create a profile they can upload a photo, and link to their own websites or Facebook and Twitter.

Books selected by Advance Editions undergo the usual professional editing process before being made available to early readers a few months ahead of final publication.

During this suggestion period, the first half of each publication can be downloaded as a free pdf, kindle or epub file. The complete advance edition of the book will also be for sale via Kobo, Amazon and Barnes & Noble at a 60% advance discount (priced around £2).

SHIRE ‘Community Solutions’ Grant Fund Leicestershire County Council has committed £260,000 (in 2014-15) for the SHIRE Community Solutions Grant Fund.

The grant fund will support and enable voluntary and community sector organisations (including social enterprises and Town/Parish Councils) to: • develop sustainable initiatives to provide preventative and early intervention services that help reduce demand for high-cost services; • develop alternative services to make up for public service reductions; and • take over services that the County Council is no longer able to provide

What sort of projects are the County Council looking for?

The key focus of the fund will be to prioritise projects which address vulnerability, disadvantage and access to essential services.

Applicants will be expected to clearly demonstrate the difference their projects will make to local communities.

Who can apply for the SHIRE Community Solutions Grant Fund?

The following types of organisations can apply: Registered Charities, Town and Parish Councils, Constituted Community Groups, Social Enterprises, Charitable organisations operating a not for profit business model, Other Community-based organisation which re-invests any income back into the social aims of the group/community, Schools, academies, colleges and universities (only for non-curriculum related activities).

The maximum amount of funding eligible organisations can apply for is £10,000.

Grants will only be available to Leicestershire based organisations and applications from non-constituted groups will not be considered.

Groby Village Society

Preservation ~ Conservation Communal Interests

Forthcoming Events Thursday October 23

Great Central Railway History, Decline, Restoration Mr Mike Riley

Thursday November 27

‘The Story of the Unknown Warrior’ Dr John Sutton 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

What is the application process?

The application process contains two key stages: an Expression of Interest stage, followed by a full application: Stage One: Expression of Interest: Organisations interested in applying for funding should firstly contact the Grant Officers to discuss their project proposal.

If the Grant Officers feel that the proposal is potentially suitable for funding, the organisation will be asked to complete and submit an Expression of Interest form, containing a description of the project, the level of funding required, why the project is needed and what it will achieve.

Expressions of Interest will be assessed by County Council officers, in liaison with representatives of other Council departments and partner organisations where required. Feedback will be provided to organisations within 6 weeks of submitting their Expression of Interest.

Stage Two: Full Grant Application Stage: If an Expression of Interest is approved, the organisation will be asked to complete and submit a full application form. Application Forms will not be available online and will only be provided to those organisations who have had their Expression of Interest approved.

For more information about the Grants offered by Leicestershire County Council, go to: www.leics.gov.uk/grants, or email shiregrants@leics.gov.uk.

Further information around grants, funding and other related support for community organisations can be accessed via the Leicestershire Funding Toolkit, which is hosted by Voluntary Action Leicestershire.

How does your waist compare to your height?

If you want a quick way of determining whether you should lose weight or not, simply measure your waist, and compare it with your height.

The secret to a long life is having your waistline no larger than half of your height.

A recent study by Cass Business School at City University, London, based on two decades of medical research, said that a waist to height ratio of 80 per cent or more could reduce your life expectancy by up to 20 years.

Apparently a really difficult crossword clue prevents depression. It stops you getting two down.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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A pressing engagement BBC Launches Search for UK’s Most Talented Dancers Apple The BBC is to turn the spotlight on the UK’s best young dancers with the launch of the first ever BBC Young Dancer 2015.

The nationwide award will invite young dancers to submit entries to compete for one of six places in a televised Grand Final to be shown on BBC Two in May 2015.

Four programmes featuring highlights from each of the Category Finals with introductions to the respective dance styles and behind-the-scenes content will also be shown on BBC Four in the weeks running up to the Grand Final, giving an insight into the demands and dedication needed to pursue a career in one of the most rigorous and disciplined art-forms.

In this first year, entries are open to performers in four categories: Ballet, Contemporary, Hip-Hop and South Asian Dance, with the winners from each category (and two wild card places) earning a position in the Grand Final at Sadler’s Wells, London, on Saturday 9 May which will be televised live on BBC Two. The Grand Final will be judged by a leading panel of dance experts: Artistic Director of New Adventures, Choreographer and Director Matthew Bourne; Choreographer and Dancer Akram Khan; Choreographer and Director Wayne McGregor; English National Ballet Artistic Director Tamara Rojo; Dancer and Choreographer Kenrick Sandy; and Alistair Spalding, Chief Executive and Artistic Director of Sadler’s Wells.

The project is part of the BBC’s continuing commitment to the arts and support of new artists joining BBC Young Musician as a showcase for talented and dedicated young performers, and is also a part of BBC Four’s ‘Year of Song and Dance’, a year of programming exploring the extraordinary power of song and dance across a whole spectrum of eras and styles.

BBC Young Dancer requires entrants to submit a video of two solo pieces by 1 November 2014. Website for entry details and more information: bbc.co.uk/ youngdancer

Website worth a visit www.weareklic.com

Press in Groby!

Churches Together in Groby, in partnership with Groby Allotments Society, are holding an Apple Pressing Event on Sunday 26th October, between 12 noon and 4pm at Groby Village Hall.

There will be lots to see and do, refreshments, crafts, competitions, activities and information.

If you have apples, bring them to press, and bring bottles for juice.

Celebrate the abundance of the earth’s harvest, which God gives us for free!

KLiC is an artist-led collective currently in residency at Leicester’s The Y Theatre.

They devise and produce original theatre, film, writing and performance work as well offering Artist support.

The work is created collaboratively, with each member of KLiC able to contribute to the planning stage of each production and then have the opportunity to be involved in the writing, directing, acting and producing stages, as well as the marketing, promoting and technical aspects of shows.

KLiC is committed to developing talent and developing the careers of its members. To this end it will periodically run workshops, try to support and facilitate any ideas members may want to develop as well as offer professional mentoring.

If this sounds like something you’d like to be involved with, come say “hi” at one of their events. They’re a friendly bunch (especially if you bring biscuits) and they’ll make sure you’re fully involved from your first session onwards. You can also get in touch via the CONTACT page of the website for a virtual introduction.

I bought a new dog yesterday. I’ve called him Rolex. He’s a watchdog.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Temporary closure at Coalville Library Coalville library will close temporarily for two weeks next month (November) as work takes place to add two new classrooms for Leicestershire Adult Learning Service to offer courses for adults.

The library will close from Monday 24th November and it is planned to reopen at 9.30am on Monday 8th December.

There are a number of ways that members of the public can access library services during the closure, including visiting other locations in the north-West Leicestershire area at Ashby, Measham, Ibstock, Kegworth and Castle Donington.

In addition, many library services are now available online.

Customers can join, renew and request books, download eBooks and get access to information from the online reference library and the 24/7 enquiry service, Enquire.

For further information, please contact the library on 0116 305 3565.

For more information please visit: www.leics.gov.uk/libraries

Update from Emma Pye Groby Community College’s German Youth Ambassador As part of my year as a UK-German youth ambassador, I was fortunate enough to take part in a conference in Berlin over the summer.

The conference, with the other 49 youth ambassadors - both German and British, allowed us to share our experiences from throughout the year and evaluate our projects and achievements.

The accommodation for the conference was just 20 minutes outside of Berlin and consisted of loads of amazing buildings and gardens!

Over the two days we self and group assessed the year we had taken part in as ambassadors and even made videos including tips for next year’s ambassadors.

We not only worked hard but also had a bit of spare time, meaning we were able to explore a bit of Berlin for an afternoon which was brilliant. As well as doing the obvious tourist bits (the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag building), the German ambassadors knew some of the quieter areas which were great to explore!

Throughout my year as an ambassador I organised a ‘Great German Bake Off ’, helped out at a German Christmas workshop at Elizabeth Woodville Primary School and managed to set up a pen pal scheme for the year 10 (now 11) class. All the projects were really successful and I hope the pen pals will stay in contact! I’ve enjoyed every aspect of being an ambassador (even the few stressful bits!) and it’s been great being able to promote something that I love, in terms of both the German culture and the language. I wish that I had another year to continue my ambassador role, but I definitely hope others from Groby Community College will consider applying this year as I can thoroughly recommend the experience!

Emma Pye - German Youth Ambassador

Many celebrities are into lettuce. Elton John, he’s a rocket man.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Warning A Poem by Jenny Joseph When I am an old woman I shall wear purple With a red hat which doesn’t go, and doesn’t suit me.

And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves And satin sandals, and say we’ve no money for butter.

I shall sit down on the pavement when I’m tired And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells And run my stick along the public railings And make up for the sobriety of my youth.

I shall go out in my slippers in the rain And pick flowers in other people’s gardens And learn to spit.

You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat And eat three pounds of sausages at a go Or only bread and pickle for a week And hoard pens and pencils and beermats and things in boxes.

Have you heard about the CAP Money Course?

A FREE course to help you take control of your money CAP Money are offering a FREE short course (3 weeks, 1 evening per week) aimed at putting the joy back into money by teaching people how to chart their household income and take control of their expenditure.

With households feeling the squeeze on their disposable income, we’ve all got to get a bit more savvy about our money to get through these tough times. If you know how to save and budget effectively, it can have a hugely positive impact on the whole family.

Money Coach Steph Beeston-Clarke, who will be leading the sessions said: “We hope that we can help people, quietly and confidentially, take control of their money rather than relying on guess work so they can plan for the future and weather the storm.”

The course starts at Markfield Congregational Church Hall, on November 6 starting at 7.00pm. Places are limited, so book early.

• To book your place on the local course telephone 01530 243606 / 07572852684 or email stephbc@sky.com • To find out more about the CAP Money course visit www.capmoney. org

About CAP Money – the debt prevention course The CAP Money course is the pro-active educational arm of Christians Against Poverty.

It is sometimes run by the centres that do debt counselling but mostly the courses are run by churches where congregations want to do something to empower people to fight poverty before it hits.

The CAP Money course isn’t for people with debts (though they can be catered for). It’s for everyone – students to the newly retired, single people and for families because we’ve seen that learning how to set a budget and stick to it helps to debt-proof people in the long term. There are more than 1,200 churches in the UK delivering CAP Money in their locality. www. capmoney.org

But now we must have clothes that keep us dry And pay our rent and not swear in the street And set a good example for the children.

We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.

Christians Against Poverty is a home-grown debt counselling charity which is determined to reduce poverty in the UK caused by debt.

But maybe I ought to practice a little now?

So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.

It partners its financial expertise with the care of the local church to offer free debt help and a solution to people through 218 centres. The fastgrowing charity intends to have a debt-counselling CAP centre in 500 towns and cities across the UK by 2015. For more about CAP see www.capuk.org For further information contact CAP’s National PR Manager Marianne Clough by email at: marianneclough@capuk.org or telephone 01274 761924.

Or find us on Twitter and Facebook.

About Christians Against Poverty

If you look like your passport photo, you’re almost certainly not well enough to travel.

21

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Local slimmer loses 3 stones in eight months!

Finding Slimming World and Zumba helped Elizabeth Clark shimmy herself 3st slimmer in eight months.

Elizabeth, from Anstey in Leicestershire, says: “I’d reached my heaviest-ever weight and felt embarrassed and uncomfortable about it, especially in my role as a PE teacher. So, I went along to my first Zumba class at the local school hall in December 2011 and joined Slimming World shortly after.

“I remember introducing myself to the instructor at that first Zumba class, then hiding at the back in my baggy T-shirt. It was a relief to see that people of all ages, shapes and sizes were there. I soon got into the swing of things and it was such good fun that I completely forgot about feeling self- conscious!”

The 27-year-old adds: “What I love about Zumba is the way you learn to let go and get swept up by the music. It’s such a good laugh and a really sociable way to get fit, as well as being a great all-over workout.

I find some types of exercise, like going on the treadmill at the gym, really boring and repetitive. With Zumba, you’re not watching the clock and willing it to end.

“When I’m feeling a bit tired and grumpy after a long day I might be tempted to swap going to my class for a night on the sofa, but I know that as soon as the music starts I’ll get a second burst of energy and my mood will lift. I enjoy Zumba so much that I’ve started teaching it at school! Earlier this year I led a Zumbathon for Sport Relief, and lots of children and staff got involved. I’d never have wanted the pupils to see me shaking my stuff when I was heavier.”

After joining Slimming World Elizabeth began following the club’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan, which encourages members to satisfy their appetite on lots of healthy foods including fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat, fish, eggs and more, so that they can lose weight without ever going hungry or feeling deprived.

Since joining Zoe Furber’s Loughborough Slimming World group in January 2012, Elizabeth has dropped from 11st 10½lbs to 8st 10lbs. She reached her target weight in August 2012 and is currently a member of Hazel Hickson’s group in Groby, Leicestershire.

She says: “As I lost weight, Zumba started to tone me up nicely, too. I noticed a real difference in my upper arms, and all that shimmying also helped to whittle my waist and flatten my stomach. As my body confidence grew, I moved away from wearing loose clothes that hid my shape and felt good wearing more flattering outfits that showed off my new figure, like fitted dresses and strapless tops. If I miss one of my weekly classes now because of a holiday, I can really tell I haven’t had a good workout!

“Combining Food Optimising and enjoyable exercise has really

worked for me and I’m the happiest I’ve ever been about my body. I’m marrying my fiancé James in a beautiful wedding dress this December. I used to dread having my photograph taken – now I won’t be camera shy for my big day!”

Elizabeth’s full story features in the October 2014 issue of Slimming World magazine, on sale in Slimming World

groups and on newsstands now. For more information about Slimming World or to find your nearest group visit www. slimmingworld.com.

The Groby Slimming World group is held every Thursday at Groby Community Centre at 9.30am, and at Groby Community College at 5.15pm and 7pm.

Karen Hirst

Photos courtesy of Slimming World magazine/Bill Morton.

A recent survey showed six out of seven dwarfs aren’t happy.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Exhibitions at Hinckley’s Atkins Gallery this autumn

Space Half Term Event at Coalville Library

TWO exhibitions are being held in Hinckley’s Atkins Gallery this autumn.

The first runs until Friday 17 October and is called “Between Spaces”, featuring the work of Jill Journeaux.

The second runs from Wednesday 22 October until Wednesday 19 November and is an exhibition by the G8 group of artists entitled “Arbores”.

The g8 artists are a group who produce challenging contemporary work for collaborative exhibitions and projects. Their most recent work has been inspired by The National Forest.

“We hope that our work will enrich the viewers’ experience visually and enable them to appreciate their own place as part of nature. The inspiration for our project comes from our own memories, personal experience and the transformation of the area,” say the group.

There is also a “Meet the Artists” session on Friday 24 October, between 6pm and 8pm, when the artists will be available to talk and answer questions about the exhibition and their work.

This will be followed on Saturday 1 November by an “Arbores” drawing workshop, which will explore ideas from the National Forest. Those taking part will be encouraged to use a variety of materials and approaches to explore the shapes, texture and linear quality of the hidden and often-overlooked elements of the forest.

The workshop will take place between 10am and 1pm and is intended for beginners as well as more experienced artists. The cost is £15.

Ever wanted to be an Astronaut? Are you curious what it would be like to go into space? Chris Darby is coming from the National Space Centre in Leicester to tell us all about it on Thursday 23rd October.

How to be an Astronaut is for all the family and with the talk will be a space challenge sheet for children to do in the library throughout the event and free activity sheets to take home too. Also back by popular request are hot chocolate and cookies for refreshments, all included in the ticket price.

Booking is essential due to popular demand and tickets costing £3.00 per adult, £1.50 for children and under 5’s free. Places are already filling up

23

Soothing power of music Does someone you love have heart disease? Want to help prevent them having a heart attack? Praying or playing music to them can be very effective safeguards, right up there with proper diet, exercise and not smoking.

Greek medical researchers have found that prayer and music, or socalled psychological interventions, can more than halve deaths and cardiovascular events such as a heart attack in heart disease patients.

Dr Zoi Aggelopoulou, a Greek nurse, said: “The nurses on our coronary care unit observed that patients were less likely to have another heart attack, die, or return to hospital when we talked to them about their treatment, played music for them or helped religious patients to say prayers.”

Various medical studies have found that psychological factors such as depression, social isolation, low socio-economic status and chronic stress such as occupational or marital distress, can increase the likelihood of a heart attack in the first place.

fast so don’t delay in booking your place now.

Telephone Coalville library: 0116 3053565. email: coalvillelibrary@ leics.gov.uk

British Sausage Week

If you like sausages, then 3rd to 9th November is a great week for you!

Visit www.lovepork.co.uk/porkproducts-cuts/sausages/recipes for some great recipes.

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How come Tarzan was always grumpy? Because he had a chimp on his shoulder.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Britain’s Got Talent: Birmingham Auditions The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite: Thursdays We now have SKY and ESPN Ask about our new menus! www.bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street.

T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 25th Oct: The Boneyard Blues Band - Blues & Rock Covers.

Fri 31st Oct: Halloween Special With The TBC Band - Fancy Dress Optional, With Prizes For The Best Costumes - 9pm Sat 1st Nov: Children’s Halloween Party - From 4pm until 6pm - With DJ Chic Sat 1st Nov: Finding Georgia American Country Rock & Blues Band, With Female Singer And Special Guests 9pm.

Sat 8th Nov: The Upbeatles Charity Evening For Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary Sat 15th Nov: Timeline - 60’s Rock And Pop Covers Band With Female Singer.

Sky & BT Sports Free Room Hire Available For Your Perfect Party - Bingo Every Tuesday Evening - View Our Website On www. facebook.com/TheThorntonClub The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield.

T: 01530 242 496 Sat 4th October: TRACY - female singer - party night Sat 29th Nov: NEIL WARNER singer/all-round entertainer Sat 20th Dec: JOHN DANIELS brilliant guitar/vocalist ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS All live TIGERS games Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth.

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

Sat 11th Oct: SOCIAL DANCE - £2 on the door - 8pm start - Bingo & Raffle Sat 25th Oct: MARTYN RUSSELL singer - FREE to enter Also on Sat 25th Oct: in the big room HALLOWEEN-THEMED FAMILY DISCO - FREE entry.

Sat 8th Nov: SOCIAL DANCE - £2 on the door - Bingo & Raffle Every Tuesday night - target shooting - call for details Every Monday night: DOMINOES only £1.50 entry, which includes supper.

Bargain!

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

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

Ask about our free room hire for those special family occasions.

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

Friday 31st October - Lady Bacardi Drag Act plus Male Vocalist See advert on page 30.

The Bull’s Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Sat 1st Nov: THE DEL SHARRONS Sat 8th Nov: PHIL CARR Sat 22nd Nov: MOJO HAND All FREE Entry!

Garden & Pub Games etc.

POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays - starts at 8pm The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights Every Fortnight:Next two are Saturday 11th October and Sat 25th October with ‘King of the Road’.

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Friday 10th October: Savannah Very Good Female Solo Sat 11th October: Limited Edition - Very Good Local Band Fri 17th October: Chrissy - Local female solo Sat 18th October: Backbeat Z Excellent live band Sun 19th October: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 24th October: Kellie Jens - a quality entertainer.

Sat 25th October: Cameo - very good duo.

Sun 26th October: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 31st October: UB 42 - brilliant tribute and ska band - Tickets £4:00 members / £5:00 non-members Sat 1st November: Mallenia - very good male/ female duo Sun 2nd November: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 7th November: Scandal Quality duo Sat 8th November: Randell brilliant solo artist Sun 9th November: Jill daniels - with a Vera Lynn tribute + Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz SEE ADVERT ON PAGE 25

The nation’s favourite talent show, Britain’s Got Talent is back on the road once again scouring the length and breadth of the country with its biggestever open audition tour visiting a total of eleven cities across the UK and Ireland.

The show will be heading to Birmingham on Sun 26th, Mon 27th & Tues 28th October to uncover some of the best talent around, looking for wonderful, weird and astounding acts for next year’s series. Aspiring stars can attend auditions between 11.00am – 6.00pm at The International Convention Centre, Broad Street, Birmingham, B1 2EA. This year’s winners musical theatre boy band Collabro, who were crowned in front of an audience of 13million viewers at home, have gone on to amazing success having secured a No.1 hit with their debut album Stars. The band will also be touring next year alongside fellow 2014 finalist Lucy Kay, who is set to release her debut album Fantasia this week.

TALENTED: Simon Cowell celebrating Collabro’s debut album reaching number 1.

Other success stories from this series include musical duo Bars & Melody whose single, Hopeful reached number 5 in the chart in July, and swing band Jack Pack, who have recently signed a deal to release their debut album in 2015.

Anyone looking to emulate the success of previous finalists should take a chance and apply now for the open auditions which are taking place between October – December this year ahead of the judges audition tour in 2015. The open auditions will be visiting more cities than ever before with 11 locations across the UK and Ireland.

The show is open to any performer of any age, from any background, with any talent - all they need is a skill and star quality which they think will impress.

Anything goes from comedians to contortionists, dancers to drag acts and acrobats to animals, just follow the link to apply www.itv.com/ talent

Groovy ...

Newbold Verdon Jazz Club On Friday 5th September, a good audience were entertained by the Frog Island Jazzband at Newbold Verdon Social Club.

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

The band played the music of Jelly Roll Morton, King Oliver and Johnny Dodds amongst other tunes from the 20’s and 30’s in traditional New Orleans style. The band have been playing together since the 60’s and have played throughout the UK and Europe.

Once again a good evening of enjoyable jazz.

Friday November 7th will see Annie Hawkins Jazzmen entertaining us. Annie - pictured right plays the double bass and is supported by a talented group of musicians.

I went to the Royal Albert Hall and it was full of pushchairs. It was Last Night of the Prams.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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My telephone tells me if the host of Big Brother is trying to ring. It’s got Davina McCall waiting.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

So I said to this bloke, I said can you take my pulse? And he ran off with my lentils.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Libraries On the 19th September the Cabinet considered the report on the recent consultation on the library review.

It was agreed to press ahead with the reduction in opening hours of the main 16 libraries. The Cabinet asked the County Council to set up a Community Libraries Scrutiny Review Panel to advise it on future infrastructure support (IT, property etc) and make recommendations as to what the future County Council “offer” should be for those communities wishing to run their local library.

I have been appointed to serve on this important panel and I want to make it clear I want as many people as possible to come forward with their ideas to help support our local libraries. Once this panel has looked at what support package can be offered, I will be in a better position to keep you informed. I want residents to know that I am working with both Ratby and Groby Parish Councils. As your County Councillor I will do everything I can within my power to protect the library services for residents.

To be clear, the 16 major market town and shopping centre libraries will continue to be funded by the County Council, but with a 20% reduction in opening hours. The Community Libraries Scrutiny Panel will advise the Cabinet on the development of an infrastructure support package enabling communities to run their local library in partnership with the County Council. An online library service is available 24/7 to those with internet access and a mobile library service will continue to operate a regular service to most villages without a static library.

Planning Application Ref: 13/01029/COU Wallace Drive Groby Residents may be aware that the above planning application for the Gypsy and Traveller site was deferred at the planning committee in April.

A public meeting was held on Thursday 18th September at the Groby Club which was well attended. Residents of Bradgate Hill and Wallace Drive continued to voice their concerns. They voted overwhelmingly to set up their own residents fighting fund when told by the Chairman of Groby Parish Council that the Parish Council would not be able to finance any appeal costs if the application was

refused and went to appeal.

We have been informed by the planning officer dealing with this application that the earliest date that this application could be heard by the planning committee is now the 11th November. Both myself and Peter Batty will keep residents updated.

Nick Rushton, the Leader of the County Council, together with senior cabinet members will be setting up a meeting with Leicestershire’s MPs in Westminster to impress upon them the dire financial outlook LCC is facing and will be lobbying them to sort of a fairer funding formula for local government. The Scottish referendum outcome has given this added weight and impetus.

Leicestershire is both low funded and low spending. The low spend per head reflects the County Council’s low funding position.

Leicestershire is the third lowest funded and receives £56 (23%) per head less than the average County Council. If funded by the Government at the same level as the average County Council, Leicestershire would receive £37M in additional resources.

Consultation on proposed changes to voluntary and community sector support for children and families During 2013, Leicestershire County Council announced that it was facing its biggest ever financial challenge.

This means that we need to save £120 million by 2018/19 and we are transforming our services in order to achieve this. Our Children and Family Services department currently spends £3.25 million on buying support from the voluntary and community sector (VCS).

This proposed approach is more strategic and would enable us to better measure what is working and how it is improving children and families lives, reduce duplication and bureaucracy and make a saving of at least £800,000.

To give your views, please read the consultation document and

LETTER

Responding to Anonymous letters The majority of Parish Councils will, at some point, receive a letter of complaint that is unsigned and unidentifiable.

MTFS/Budget update We continue to see big reductions in our Government grant, and although we have repaid £35M in debt and found savings of £85M, we still have to reduce our budget by £120M by 2018/19.

27

complete the feedback form below.

Your views are important and will help to shape how our savings are made.

Consultation period: The formal consultation on these proposals is from 22nd September to noon on the 30th November Who can get involved: Open to everyone.

How can I get involved: Full details about the consultation can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/ haveyoursay/vcs

Consultation on the draft school and educational places strategy 2014-18 As the number of children in Leicestershire increases, we need to ensure that there are enough places in schools and colleges in the right areas around the county to meet this demand.

This consultation asks for your opinions on our approach, our priorities, how we will fund changes, and how we will work with our partners to ensure they are achieved.

Consultation period: The formal consultation on these proposals is from Monday 8th September noon on 17th October 2014 Who can get involved: open to everyone.

How can i get involved: Full details about the consultation can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/ haveyoursay/schoolplaces Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support and remind you I am only a phone call away.

Regards

Ozzy O’shea

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

What a Parish Council doesn’t understand is why the writer does not have the courage to criticize with clear identity, regardless of the consequences the writer may think he or she will face.

A Parish Council cannot act on the concerns raised if they cannot ask for further information or for clarification on the matter raised with the writer or even courteously send an acknowledgment of receipt.

Yours sincerely

The Clerk to Groby Parish Council

GROBY PLAYERS

Tickets selling fast for ‘Day of Reckoning’ As you read this, tickets are selling fast for our next production in November.

The play, ‘ Day of Reckoning’

by Pam Valentine, is a mixture of humour and pathos, and describes a typical British village committee meeting on a cold January night to discuss arrangements for the summer fete.

The characters begin to reveal themselves, much intrigue and innuendo abounds, but it is Act 2, during and after the fete, that the secrets and agendas of ‘ordinary people’ unravel.

We have some new cast members and director. Rehearsals are going well, so I hope you will come along for a great evenings entertainment, and support the local community, as all our surplus from the ticket sales , after production costs, go into the Village Hall funds.

The venue is the Village Hall, Groby on the 6th/ 7th/ 8th November 2014. Time 7.30pm, (doors open at 7pm) Tickets 6.00.

Tickets are on sale in the Village Hall Groby, every Saturday morning in October, from 10am-12noon, or

by Telephone, Text or email.

Telephone 0116 287 7373 or mobile: 07790 861033 or email: dot@dhollins.freeserve.co.uk (‘’Day of Reckoning’’ is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD )

Me and my mum don’t get on. We never argue, but if a bus stops in front of us, we don’t get on.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News from the Rotary Club On Saturday 20th September Rainbows Hospice held their open day.

MARKFIELD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP PRESENTS

THE VILLAGE CINEMAS OF LEICESTERSHIRE

A talk by Brian Johnson of Leicester It is the early 20th century and the new media miracle of the cinema is sweeping the country. Not only were cinemas the preserve of large towns and cities but many villages also provided their own small picture houses. Markfield was one such village.

We at The Rotary Club of Leicester DeMontfort were fortunate to run a Tombola stall on their behalf. We raised £516.00 on the day, Thank You to all who bought tickets.

Here you see Peter and Julie Dorans with their table of generous donations of bottles

Learn about this fascinating history and join us at the CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH HALL, MAIN STREET MARKFIELD Tuesday 21st October 2014 at 7.30pm All are welcome Non-members £2 and Members £1 including refreshments

Halloween Dance/Party 1 November at Markfield Community Centre Another exciting event to be held with the theme being Halloween fancy dress(Optional).

Entertainment is Astra, an international singing star, well known for her Motown music.

Tickets are £10 Each which includes a finger buffet. Prizes for the best dressed character.

Xmas Hampers We are still looking for volunteers to make a Xmas Hamper which will be given to those that need them at that time of year.

If you are interested and would like to know more information please contact Peter Dorans on 07752 026070

Mind your back!

Lots of everyday activities can take a toll on your back, even if you don’t notice it at the time. Here are a few tips that will help you to avoid back problems: Firstly, while standing to perform ordinary tasks like ironing or folding laundry, keep one foot on a small step-stool. Then, when bending from the waist, always use your hands to support yourself. Don’t sit or stand in the same position for too long. Stretch, shift your position and walk about a bit when you can. When sitting, keep your knees a bit higher than your hips and bend them at a 90-degree angle. Your feet should be comfortably on the floor (if they don’t reach the floor, put a book or a small stool under them).

Finally, remember that even using a vacuum cleaner can take a toll on your back. So tackle a large room in chunks, spending no more than five or ten minutes at a time on this task. Simple tips like these will pay dividends.

APPLE DAY: Sunday 26th October 12noon – 4pm at the Village hall

Celebrate the abundance of the earth’s harvest, which God gives us for free! refreshments, apple pressing, crafts, competitions, activities, and information.

More details of the Apple Day on the fliers around the village, or look at the church website.

Fair Cuppa:

an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall.

Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00noon

Catch

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

9.30-11.30am, at the URC.

ChurCh OPEN FOr PrAYEr

will restart in the Spring

Urban Saints groups this term: a safe place where children and young people can build friendships, have fun and explore faith.

Please note, Quest will not be running this term. Groups meet at the URC: - for 7’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 6.30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s o Fri at 7.30pm All of these activites,along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND. For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James 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

I didn’t have a happy upbringing. I remember my third birthday party. I was 15.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

29

All the latest news from Groby WI W

e had a wonderful weekend away trip to Cambridge.

We call it that but in reality it was Friday and Saturday. We began by arriving mid morning at Audley End House just outside Cambridge.

I don’t think anyone had been before so we were looking forward to it. It is a Jacobean mansion built in the early 1600s.

Needless to say we began with a cuppa and biscuit, just to gather our strength. We were to spend about five hours there, all thought that it was a long time but believe me it wasn’t long enough. We assembled in the Hall for a brief talk on the history of the building.

Before 1600 it was a Benedictine Monastery (Walden Abbey) but Henry VIII gave it to Sir Thomas Audley who then converted it into a house. It was then demolished by his grandson the 1st Earl of Suffolk and a much grander mansion built.

Capability Brown Audley End House is now only third of its original size, it must have been massive because it is still huge. It has parterre gardens, ‘Capability’ Brown parkland and a wonderful walled organic vegetable garden. After this brief talk we partook of Diane’s lovely packed lunch, she must have been up at the crack of dawn. Down to the stable block where we watched a very confident young lady explaining the art of riding. We then wandered around the stables.

There were three different saddles, a sidesaddle, cowboy and one other I can’t remember. Anyway Janet wearing a silk very large top hat decided to ride sidesaddle. No matter where she put her legs it just wasn’t right. A kind, knowledgeable lady put her right.

Back to the House for a tour.

Lord Braybrooke gave the House to English Heritage but still owns the paintings, contents etc on the first two floors. It is a magnificent place, lovely pictures and furniture.

We kept somehow coming back to Lady Jane Grey and Richard III. In one portrait an elderly lady in a black cap and gown we were told was Aunt to Lady Jane Grey. However when it was being cleaned it was revealed that originally she was wearing a bright gown with lace trimmings.

I think that when Lady Jane was beheaded they covered her in black for mourning, that’s just my thought.

Coal in the attic I was most impressed with the Coal Gallery. It was in the attic, can you believe it. Coal was lifted to

AUDLEY END HOUSE: Groby WI visited this Jacobean mansion during their recent weekend away trip the top of the house, stored and fires fed from there. The Great Drawing Room, designed by Robert Adam, proved problematic as it had to be the grandest room for receiving guests but it possessed a very low ceiling, and this was considered most undesirable at that time. Clever chap, he solved the problem to a large extent by making the furniture unusually small, and lowering the chair rail. Onto our hotel just outside Cambridge where we then enjoyed a great evening.

The next day a tour of three Cambridge Colleges. Every time we were asked where we were from and we said Leicestershire, it created a lot of interest, we are definitely on the map. For example, one of King’s College’s biggest benefactors was Richard III, Queen’s College’s benefactor has his Queen, Anne Neville. It was pointed out in one of the marvellous stained glass windows, I think it was in King’s but I may be wrong, baby Jesus had bright red hair and the Virgin Mary looked like Anne Boleyn, apparently it was done to keep in favour of Henry VIII. We really enjoyed the tour.

Then to finish off Afternoon Tea at Hattie’s, the full Monty, we all finished up well and truly ‘stuffed’.

A wonderful trip, due of course to our Diane, a great trip organiser.

A lot of Spotlight readers will have met Helen, the brains and energy behind the Groby Sings Choir.

She came to our September meeting to fire us with her enthusiasm and get us musically motivated but also to enlighten us about her new job; her full title is ‘Pioneer Priest amongst people who are homeless for the West Leicester Mission Partnership’. That really is a mouthful for anyone to live up to.

We commenced with warming up exercises familiar to her Choir members: wriggling, rolling shoulders, chewing on an imaginary toffee which, true to form, gets stuck in the teeth, the tongue then gets into action to remove the obstruction. This was followed by screwing up the face and opening the mouth really wide, as in the painting, ‘The Scream’. I wish I could have been out front to witness our members grimaces.

Ready for the fray we went into scales by numbers with difficult variations. We then attempted a short song in Hebrew. A good tip here, if the words of a song elude you just mouth the words ‘rubber duck’. Useful to know in those senior moments.

Plight of the homeless Helen confesses to being quite naughty and disorganised in her youth and found her calling to the Ministry quite difficult. Helping to eradicate social injustice and inequality are her passions. As a political activist she has taken part in several demonstrations, including Greenham Common.

At the moment the plight of the homeless is her priority. Apparently, there are three main reasons why a person can finish up on the streets: marriage break up, loss of job, depression often followed by alcohol and drug abuse, mounting debts and falling into the trap laid by moneylenders. The exact number of homeless in our City is not documented. In Council jargon they are labelled as ‘Stock’.

These unfortunates quickly become institutionalised, relying upon hostels. Unfortunately, these are rapidly closing down, there is no public funding or duty of care.

Helen is in the forefront of a new project, the opening of Soundcafe.

The aim of this is to provide a safe place for the homeless to meet and share the company of others over a ‘cuppa’ and cake. The meetings will take place on Wednesdays, beginning 1st October in The Great Hall, St Martin’s House, next to the Cathedral. She would also like to get off the ground a scheme whereby groups of people, say three Churches or other Faith groups, would buy a property to house two homeless persons with ongoing support from the community, in the hope that they would eventually be capable of moving out to live an independent life, thus enabling more people in need of assistance to move in. I think she suggested that the Leicester Diocese already have a project in hand and were hoping to complete in March next year.

We do wish her well in her worthwhile endeavours, needless to say she would welcome with open arms anyone who would like to assist in any way.

We’re in the skittles final We had a Group Skittles match and Groby won the match.

The next round is the final, so we will be playing for the cup. Here’s hoping that we can get that magnificent ‘eggcup’ size trophy again, that’s the good news the bad news is whoever wins it has to clean it!

A number of us had a visit to the new National Trust property, Stoneywell. We were guinea pigs as they are trying to sort out various routes, problems etc before the official opening in March. I must say it is really coming together. When I first went I thought there wasn’t much to shout about but now it really is something.

The house, the home of the Gimson family, contains some lovely Arts and Crafts. The building itself is, to say the least, ‘quirky’ and very pretty to look at. The gardens are coming on a treat, they cover a few acres with further acres of woodlands. A few of us have volunteered to help out there when it opens officially next year.

Next month’s meeting on the l6th October is, as usual, at the Village Hall at 7.30pm. It is Farmhouse Cookery at Christmas, a talk given by Brenda Featherstone. So please come along and get some ideas for the coming event which is coming up very fast.

Evelyn and Margaret

The other day I tied my head to a dog’s tail. I just fancied a bit of a chinwag.

d Search Puzzle

http://puzzlem

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

30

Conspiracy Theories Wordsearch

Passcode/Create New User

N O I T A N I S S A S S A K F J C H

R I Z E P X N U J E O V N F R W T R

E W N X O F O P F O E M O D Q A F Y

D N A E G T E X U M O N I E E E Z I

R W O Y E X X U Q O W B T D A B D T

O Y F Y F L E F N D X L A G Z V P D

D G E J T Q E L J X I N D L A O V V

L Q M U Z F A V L J A C I O U U B Y

R A W I Z N I L E I T H R B O S P F

O Q X E D U E F D N W E O A T Y M Z

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

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

Send your entry to: what is the truth?, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 1st November 2014. Remember to include your name and W W E N N E E P address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s balaclava will B X G C X M R E win the Meal for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel. Good luck!

T I Q W B S A D Y M U L U J S Q

N H S E S M X E I T L W K B A U

E O J E U U V G R R F A X W B D

R J C N D V L T Q A R R J Z E Z

Z N D J I F N U V I E M K E K P

I T M O T N A H P L T I G L X L

O P B U J E E H R S A N K Q T X

A K O I L A D O Y M W G W W I S

AREAFIFTYONE CHEMTRAILS GLOBALWARMING JFKASSASSINATION MOONLANDING NEWWORLDORDER NINEELEVEN PEAKOIL PHANTOMTIME PRINCESSDIANADEATH ROSWELL WATERFLUORIDATION

Here are the 12 Conspiracy Theories you have to find: AREA FIFTY ONE • CHEMTRAILS • GLOBAL WARMING JFK ASSASSINATION • MOON LANDING • NEW WORLD ORDER NINE ELEVEN • PEAK OIL • PHANTOM TIME PRINCESS DIANA DEATH • ROSWELL • WATER FLUORIDATION

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

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

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: JOSEPHINE CHILDS of Poplar Close, Groby Your prize - a Voucher for a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel will be sent to you within 21 days.

Newtown Linford Gardening Club All the activities of the garden club are now geared towards the highlight of our season – the visit on Tuesday 4th November of garden designer Adam Frost.

Created by Puzzlemaker at

Our celebrity event each year is becoming very popular as we welcome people who have a prestigious status in the world of horticulture.

DiscoveryEducation.com Adam frost is no exception. As the designer of no fewer than six gardens which have won gold at the Chelsea Flower Show, he ranks among the great designers of the present day. As a result his profile is increasing sharply; he appeared regularly on the TV coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show and has had several TV appearances on other programmes since then.

It is not common for celebrities to come to Newtown Linford, so we look forward to the occasion. Some of you will remember the visit of Christine Walkden last October and we expect a similarly interesting evening. There are still some tickets left however and visitors are invited. We know other garden club members will join us for this special event.so if you would like to come, tickets for the evening (£10) can be obtained from the club secretary ,by e-mail, phone or letter.

We have welcomed a large number of new members this year and will be pleased if others want to join us. If you are interested in our activities just contact the secretary (tel. 01530 242452 or e-mail 01530242452@talktalk. net), or come to one of our meetings to see how you like it before making a commitment (£2 for visitors). Alternatively give us a ring and ask for a copy of our programme for the coming year and we will be pleased to send one to you.

Anne and David Couling I passed this man playing ‘Dancing Queen’ on his didgeridoo. I thought, ‘That’s Aboriginal’.

Hel

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • OCTOBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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I met this homeless secret agent. The name’s Bond, Vagabond.