December 2022 Your Local Anstey, Thurcaston, Cropston, Newtown Linford, Woodhouse & Woodhouse Eaves

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Eat To Beat Joint Pain

Article by Gary Trickett

The term ‘arthritis’ literally means ‘inflammation of the joints’, and it is estimated to affect one in five of us. As you grow older your body is often unable to replace new cartilage to counteract any loss, allowing insufficiently cushioned bones to rub together causing inflammation, pain and stiffness. Excessive sporting wear and tear, through running or cycling for example, can accelerate this process, and some forms of arthritis are hereditary.

The good news is diet and natural remedies can go a long way to helping reduce joint pain and stiffness.

Let’s start with your diet first: some foods help with joint pain, others make it worse. Eating less of the foods that increase inflammation and more of the anti-inflammatory foods that help to reduce inflammation is a good first step. Reduce your intake of coffee, alcohol, fizzy drinks and foods made from refined white flour and white sugar, as these foods are known to promote unhealthy levels of inflammation.

Do eat lots of oily fish or plant oils, nuts and seeds, and plenty of fresh vegetables and berries; they are packed with nutrients and antioxidants that can help to reduce inflammation, and are key staples of the Mediterranean diet, whose anti-inflammatory characteristics have been the focus of a number of studies on arthritis and joint pain. Replace refined foods with brown rice, millet, barley, quinoa or buckwheat. These foods can be eaten in their whole food form, or try the pastas, noodles, breads and crackers made from them in place of your usual choices.

Local Author Releases Children’s Book

Hi, I’m Kirsty, author of the children’s book ‘PASCAL POODLE PERSEVERES’.

Here is a little bit about me…I grew up in Markfield and then moved to Groby at the age of 16. I have been a primary school teacher in Leicestershire schools for 12 years and it has always been a dream of mine to release my own story book for children to read and enjoy.

I have thoroughly loved writing this story and I was so happy when I found a local illustrator, Glen Holman, who could bring the story and characters to life.

This book has rhyme and alliteration throughout and it covers the import themes of teamwork, problem solving and perseverance. It is aimed at children aged 4-8 years and I would love for you to buy a copy to share with your little ones this Christmas.

Copies of Pascal Poodle Perseveres are available to buy online at Amazon.co.uk for £6.99

Not got a QR scanner or not working? Use this link: www.issuu.com/norwoodpress

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Magazine printed by Norwood Press, Moore Road, South Leicester Industrial Estate, Ellistown, Leicestershire, LE67 1EU

Spice things up! Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that are known to help relieve muscle soreness, menstrual cramps, headaches and arthritis. Turmeric is also well-documented for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant action in the body.

Another natural anti-inflammatory is Devil’s Claw, or Harpagophytum, a plant only found in the Kalahari Desert of South Africa. It has been used for many years to help reduce rheumatic, muscle and joint pain and studies suggest that long-term use of Devil’s Claw is not only safe, but may also lead to improvements in those with chronic lower back pain. Try A. Vogel’s Atrosan Devil’s Claw tablets. Atrosan may also be used to help with rheumatism, for the relief of joint and muscular pain.

For further information, visit Gary and his team at The Health Store, West Bridgford or call 0115 9814080.

Meet Santa

Receive a cuddly toy £3 per child Cakes and refreshments

Christmas raffle , cards & gifts December 10th 10am - 4pm

Article by Kirsty

Free Nutrition and Lifestyle Education

Article by Alan Chapman

It's actually very easy now to take responsibility for your own health and fitness, if you want.

Training is free, and you will feel fantastic and reborn, especially if you've been overweight, unfit, yo-yo dieting, sleeping badly, anxious, on tablets, etc.

You can change these things yourself, and it's much simpler and more enjoyable than you might imagine.

A healthy diet includes the tastiest foods - many that we've been told mistakenly are bad for us, but which are actually extremely healthy.

Also, sunshine/daylight and fresh air are all free and extremely healthy. So is walking in nature, singing, dancing, laughter and play, companionship, and particularly: good sleep.

So why do most doctors not teach and prescribe these things?

In the 1970s, after political lobbying, the 'high-carbs' and processed foods dietary guidelines were introduced in the USA/UK/Europe, and embedded into training for doctors.

Mental illness, obesity, diabetes and chronic illnesses exploded soon afterwards. So did the prescription of antidepressants, antibiotics and other drugs, all of which have bad side-effects.

And so decades ago, GPs and state healthcare services became distributors for the pharmaceutical industry: focused on big pharma treatment, rather than FREE illness prevention, natural immunity and natural healing.

Meanwhile the wealthiest few get richer, through the distortion and monetisation of health, and the addicting and dividing of societies. It's easy to see the connections - banks, pharma, politicians - debt, addictions, chronic illness.

Despite this, you can now easily take responsibility for your own health, lose weight, get fit, and reduce or get off tablets completely.

Our healthy nutrition and lifestyle training resources are all free.

It's up to you.

See LiveWildLiveFree.org, PHCuk.org, and LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk (esp the free app).

We are PHC (Public Health Collaboration) Ambassadors, HealthResults.com Practitioners, Nutrition-Network.org Advisors, and Practitioners for The-PHA. org (The People's Health Alliance). We guide individuals and employers in nutrition and healthy lifestyle.

It's MUCH easier than you imagine. And it's FREE.

This content is information not clinical diagnosis. Reference sources: PublicHealthCollaboration.org, LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk, HealthResults. com, Nutrition-Network.org, and other highly qualified NHS practising GPs and dietary professionals, especially in successfully treating obesity, diabetes and other chronic illnesses including depression. If you are under treatment/on medication, show your doctor the resources here, especially LowCarbFreshwell.co.uk and PHCuk.org

Rolls-Royce Retired Employees Association

Article by

December events on the 7th members are having a Christmas lunch with entertainment at Rolls-Royce Leisure. The 13th members will meet at Rolls-Royce Leisure from 12:30 to 2:00pm.

Protecting Your Family Inheritance

Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are fully vaccinated. LevLaw Ltd remains here for you.

Most people hope that their estate will pass on to their children and grandchildren eventually.

But this will not happen for many, unless careful arrangements have been made to protect their assets from being taken towards the end of their life to pay for care home fees. The solution to help protect your estate is a Will incorporating a Property Protection Trust (PPT).

A testamentary PPT can only be executed whilst both partners remain alive. Upon death of the first partner, their Will specifies that their share of the property is placed into trust and names the ultimate beneficiary of this share, normally the children and grandchildren of the deceased. The surviving partner, under the terms of the trust, has the unequivocal right to remain living in the property for the rest of their life. On the death of the second partner the Trust comes to an end and the property passes to the beneficiaries.

As the surviving partner does not own the deceased’s share of the property it is fully protected for the beneficiaries, so if the surviving partner requires care, or even remarries, this share of the children’s inheritance is protected. This last point can be particular interest to couples who have come together and have children with different partners.

A PPT can help each person in a relationship ensuring that their children inherit their share of the property, while giving their surviving partner the ability to live in the property for the rest of their life. If the surviving partner wants to move to another property, they can still sell the property and the proceeds to be used to purchase a new property, the terms of the Trust remain over the new property.

Newtown Linford Ladies Luncheon Club

At The Lingdale Golf Club

Article by Sheila Price

This Luncheon Club originally started in Newtown Linford but now has members from all over Leicestershire. If you wish to join us, see below.

November’s meeting started with a delicious 3 course followed by coffee and mints. This was excellent value for £19. After the meal Jo Golby entertained the diners with a talk on True Tales of a Tour Guide This was very funny with enlightening tales of a tour guide mainly at Warwick Castle and Calke Abbey. She often gave tours in costume dress and revealed many interesting and hilarious incidences during this time. Not forgetting, meeting many of the Royal Family members as well as well-known celebrities.

There is a monthly meeting on every 3rd Wednesday and you can have 3 visits initially to see

if you wish to join. Members pay an additional £20 a year to cover the speakers’ fees on top of their monthly £19 for their meal. There are no meetings in July and August but often an outing is arranged instead.

Next month’s meeting is earlier than usual and is on Wednesday 7th December with a three course Christmas meal and a Christmas Raffle in aid of The Cinnamon Trust.

The Menu Starter: Prawn cocktail Main: Roast Turkey and trimmings Dessert: Christmas Pudding Coffee/tea mince pies

The luncheon is at the following address:Lingdale Golf Club, Joe Moores Lane, Woodhouse Eaves, Leicestershire, LE12 8TF

At 12 noon to 3pm and afterwards there will be entertainment by:The Loros Choir

If you are interested in attending this Luncheon Club meeting, then please telephone Sheila Price 0116 2205225 before Friday 11th Nov to book a place. All dietary needs are catered for.

Article by Klara Dixon

Graham Burton

Anstey Parish Council

Article by Liz Hawkes

Christmas Lights

We hope you enjoy the Christmas light displays in the village provided by the Parish Council. This will be from the first Saturday in December until twelfth night. The display will be centred in The Nook with further light displays at Stadon Road, Bradgate Road and Leicester Road.

The Christmas lights that the parish council provide always provokes conversation and we would like to receive any feed-back you have on the displays.

This year the Council will not be running a Christmas Light competition for residents as the Events Committee do not want to encourage the extra use of electricity during the energy crisis.

Christmas Tea Party

This is a last-minute shout out to anyone aged 90 or over who would like to attend the Christmas Tea Party being organised for Thursday 8th December. Children from Woolden Hill Primary School Choir and members of the U3A Ukulele Band will be providing entertaining the Deputy Mayor of Charnwood will be attending. We realise that you may not see this announcement in time but don’t worry about phoning us close to the event to book your place. Telephone: (0116) 236 2646.

Anstey Cemetery

Memorial safety checks have been carried out recently at the Cemetery on Groby Road, a number of these memorial stones have been found to be unsafe. These have been identified with black and yellow tape around them and a notice put on them asking for relatives to make contact with the Parish Office.

If relatives to do not come forward the Parish Council will be looking to make them safe by laying them flat, this work will not take place until February 2023 to give people are chance to get in touch. If you have any questions about this work or need further information people do get in touch Telephone (0116) 236 2646.

Hedgehogs in Anstey

Anstey PC have teamed up with Hedgehogs R Us to help stop the decline of hedgehogs in and around Anstey. There are many things we can do to help including putting out food and water, making ponds/drains safe, making hedgehog homes and linking our gardens. If you are happy to make a hole in your fence to create a hedgehog highway please get in touch. The Parish Council have purchased 150 hedgehog highway frames to giveaway to residents who want to be involved.

John Sutherington Award

If you or anyone you know has achieved a sporting success or carried out an outstanding sporting activity in 2022, please get in touch with the Parish Office by 31st January 2023

The John Sutherington Award recognises the achievements of sports men and women, young and old and group activities. The award was set up in memory of John who was a Parish and Borough Councillor for many years and an avid supporter of local sports. There is a cash prize of £250.00 with this award along with recognition on a plaque installed at Jubilee Hall.

Caretaker Vacancy – Jubilee Hall

There is a vacancy at the Jubilee Hall for caretaking duties, this involves flexible evening and weekend work plus carrying out cleaning duties to cover for other members of staff on occasions. The setting up of the room for meetings and functions would be required.

If you are flexible in your availability for work and would like to know more about this vacancy please contact the Parish Office (0116) 236 2646

Parish Elections

Next year will be an election year and all 14 seats at the parish council are up for election. This role maybe something that interests you and if you would like to find out more about what’s involved do get in touch and we can provide you with further information.

Made up of 14 local people the parish council is representative of the community. Most people would find that they are eligible to be a parish councillor provided they are over the age of 18 and meet other certain criteria. Once elected Councillors attend meetings and make decision on issues that face the community. The Council is responsible for open spaces including play equipment within the parish, managing the Jubilee Hall, the Cemetery on Groby on Road, the Closed Church yard at St Mary’s Church and the public toilets. Projects such as extending the Jubilee Hall and events for the community. The Council works in partnership with local groups, other Councils including Leicestershire County Council and Charnwood Borough Council and the local Police.

Councillors have the opportunity to bring forward items that they feel are important to be discussed and their ideas can make a real difference for the community.

The following account is from Councillor Sue Billington on her experience of being a local Councillor.

I was co-opted onto Anstey Parish Council in November 2016 having seen a notice in The Nook for a casual vacancy. It was only the fact that I had watched a TV series called ‘The Casual Vacancy’ that I knew what one was, so a bit of coincidental alignment was at work there!

I looked up the vacancy details on the Anstey Parish Council website and telephoned the Chairman who at the time was Martin Broomhead; to ask about time commitment and skills required for the role. I was encouraged to apply by Martin’s description of the role and his overview of what sort of things the council got involved in. I found the application process was straight forward, and I submitted a personal statement saying why I wanted to be a councillor and what skills I had. I could see some value in utilising my background of Project and Programme management to the function of the council and I was looking for something I could get involved in that would make a difference to the local community. I was invited to present my application to the next full council meeting. I explained my interest in the role and why I thought my skills could add value. I was voted in and offered a seat at the table immediately; that was a bit of a shock.

Six years later and I am Vice Chair of the Parish Council and I Chair the Projects and Grounds Committee which many of you would know includes the remit of extending the Jubilee Hall. I also sit on the Finance, Staffing, and the Remembrance Committees. So, membership of committees is flexible meaning you can be on as many as you have the capacity for. I am retired now so I have time to be involved, however, councillors who are still working sit on fewer committees but still can make a major contribution.

It took a while for me to get to grips with the workings of the Council. It operates as a body with no individual having personal authority. This was quite a removal from my corporate role as Programme Director, where I was in control. The key to this operating model is to understand the vital role of the Parish Clerk. The Clerk is pivotal to the effective running of the Council. Our Clerk, Liz Hawkes, supported by her deputy Megan, keep the whole organisation running smoothly. The Clerk manages the council staff, groundsmen and administration staff, cleaners, and care takers. She does the paperwork to ensure we are financially compliant and keeps us legal by attending to all the statutory functions of the council. This leaves me and the other councillors to prepare for the scheduled meetings by reading the background, attending the meetings, and voting on decisions.

The range of topics that I get involved in is exciting and this is supported by a raft of available training courses. I have been involved in choosing the fittings for the public toilets, deciding the design of the new Peace Garden, choosing a replacement slide for the recreation ground. My main frustration is how long some projects take but who would have known that there is an underground stream running just where we want to extend the Jubilee Hall. We will overcome these obstacles, but patience was never my strong point; but it is a good thing that tenacity is.

I thoroughly enjoy the role of Parish Councillor and I hope that I have contributed towards the village in some way, and that I can continue to do so.

Remembrance Sunday

The Remembrance Day Parade and Service was extremely well attended we would like to thank all of those who were able to attend and involved on the day, including Rev Matthew Gough for carrying out the service, the U3A Choir, Royal British Legion, Anstey and District Funerals, Deputy Lieutenant David J Lindley, Oadby & Wigston Scouts and Guides, U3A volunteers and all the Scout, Guides and School children in the Parade.

Parish Council Meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month at the Jubilee Hall starting at 7.30pm.

Details of meeting are shown on the website, the agendas for meetings are published on the website at; www.ansteypc.org.uk/council-meetings.html all members of the public are welcome to these meetings.

Anstey Lunch Club

Where

The above lunch club has been operative for many years, but we would welcome new faces. It is run by a group of Royal Voluntary Service volunteers, who would be please to welcome people who are socially isolated, lonely, would benefit from the company of other similar people. This is not a ‘drop in’ lunch, as meals have to be ordered in advance.

Please contact Elizabeth Jarvis on 0116 2876110, if you require more information and are interested in doing us.

Anstey WI

Article by Sheila Timms

Before the business of their annual meeting, Anstey WI heard from Sean O’Hara, who is employed by Leicestershire County Council as a Community Recovery Worker Public Health. The role was created during the pandemic, to support individuals and groups struggling with isolation, loneliness, lack of confidence, fear of going out and health and wellbeing. Sean spends time in the communities he serves, including Anstey, meeting potential recipients of his services. Members were able to tell him about the group of ladies who meet on Thursday afternoons in

the library, the Cinnamon Trust and the food bank run by St Mary’s Church. Sean instantly agreed to visit the last mentioned in the week following the meeting, so his talk was mutually beneficial.

Angela Rossa, who is stepping down from the committee and her role as programme secretary, was thanked. Several winners of the cups that were due to be presented were absent, so the presentations were deferred until December.

Members were then able to work on pine cone characters kindly prepared by Jill Taras, adapting or simply decorating them. A few are shown in the photograph, as well as Angela receiving her thank you gift.

Friday Night Films In Thurcaston

Article by Richard & Diana

Having watched a New Era of Downton Abbey, in November, many felt they would like to view again the splendid costumes, vistas from the South of France and hear once more the clever witticisms, especially from Maggie Smith. This film was mysterious yet lavishly entertaining.

Death on the Nile- 2022 Version” will be shown on Dec 9th and lasts 127 mins.

Holidaying aboard a glamorous Egyptian river steamer, Hercule Poirot, played by Sir Kenneth Branagh, is caught up in a terrifying search for a murderer. With stars Jennifer Saunders and Dawn French, there are many unexpected additional twists to the original Agatha Christie mystery.

“Fisherman’s Friends - One and All ” will be shown on January 13th and lasts 111mins.

Inspired by the real life Fisherman’s Friends from Port Isaac in Cornwall, this comedy melodrama has romance and expectation. Can these singing fishermen overcome fame and grief to find harmony again? The cinematography is spectacular in this uplifting and heart-warming story.

“The Railway Children Return ” will be shown on February 10th 2023.

Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5, which includes a lucky prize draw and refreshments during the interval. You can pay for tickets at the door, if there are any left or pay in advance from :

Richard 0116 2363 066 or Diana 0116 2362 619

Gardening Club

Article by Anne and David Couling www.newtownlinford.org.uk/gardening-club.html

The evening with James AlexanderSinclair was a great success. The village hall was full of members and visitors who had come to hear from one of the best -known horticultural experts in the country. He did not disappoint. He was a most witty speaker who kept us enthralled for well over an hour. He told us how he fell into gardening by chance after being at a loose end on leaving university and how he learnt his trade before turning his hand to garden design.

He used pictures of the gardens he designed, showing them turning from a building site to a place of beauty. He has designed gardens, both large and small, all over the country and, unlike many garden designers, he keeps going back to make alterations as necessary and ensuring the garden retains its beauty. He has also designed several Horatio’s Gardens which are used by patients at spinal injury units in different parts of the country These are wheelchair friendly oases, providing spaces for patients to get outside away from the four walls of a hospital.

Our programme for 2023 is now complete and it offers a balance between nationally known speakers and local experts. There are several highlights. In January, we welcome Nicola Oakey, a young garden designer who was a finalist in the National Young Garden Designer of the Year competition. In April, our guest is Jim Buttress who was in charge of the royal gardens, including Buckingham Palace, Kensington Palace and St. James Park. Our celebrity speaker in October is Troy-Scott-Smith, who is the head hardener at Sissinghurst, one of Britain’s most famous gardens.

Our full programme is:-

January 24 Nicola Oakey – designing a Chelsea Garden

February 28 Robert Barlow – growing hostas

March 28 Don Witton from Sheffield – spring flowering plants

April 25 Jim Buttress – the royal gardens and parks

May 23 Justin Harrison – summer bursts of colour

June 27 Visit to Steve Budding’s garden in Cossington

July25 Summer Garden Party in Newtown Linford

August 22 Visit to Trentham Gardens

September 26 Bridget Blair – garden media October 24 Celebrity Evening Troy-Scott-Smith from Sissinghurst December 5 Christmas Party

And Cropston Gardening Club

Article by Richard Elks

Brightening Up The Shade

By Jeanette Merilion

The club was delighted to welcome Jeanette Merilion back to hear another of her well thoughtout and informative talks.

The large audience welcomed Janette who is a well-known international horticultural speaker, lecturer, and historian with a very successful garden design business.

The subject was “Brightening up the Shade”. As Jeanette reminded us, most gardens have a patch somewhere where there is either damp or dry shade. This often presents a challenge to gardeners to create some light and interest in those dark areas. But Janette talked about many plants that can brighten up even the darkest corner with the right planting.

Jeanette talked about almost 100 plants. Some of these were likely to be familiar to members, though

many would not. Each of these was illustrated by a good quality picture. A list of the plants featured in the talk was also supplied to audience members. This is always such a valuable aid when plant names are the main basis of any talk. It enables members to research the plants they wish to know more about before buying.

Janette recommended certain cultivars of well-known plants. For example, she suggested Sambucus Racemosa ‘Plumosa Aurea’ for a shady border with bright green leaves and red berries (rather than ‘Black Lace’, a common Sambucus). She also suggested cultivars of Elaeagnus, Ribes, Euonymus, Astrantia, and other well-known plants that would brighten up the shade.

As well as being very knowledgeable about plants, Janette is also a good ‘storyteller’ and throughout her talk she gave anecdotes about many plants and helpful tips on their cultivation, height and spread. So, despite covering a lot of information, Janette held the audience with her knowledge, humour, and easy presentation skills. It was an entertaining and informative talk.

This was the last Club meeting before our Festive Evening. It has been a super year for the Club with top-class speakers,

an excellent outing, and large audiences at most meetings.

We now look forward to the Programme of Events for 2023. An eye-catching poster will soon be available. Look out for it on local notice boards and in local garden centres in the New Year or contact: Dave Haddon (0116) 235 9758: david.haddon20@ntlworld.com

Or Richard Elks (0116) 236 8313: cropston161@hotmail.co.uk

The Gardening Club meets in the Thurcaston and Cropston Memorial Hall

Whether an experienced gardener or an enthusiastic beginner we are sure you will find something of interest in this year’s programme. New members are made most welcome. What’s more, it is excellent value!! The membership fee is still only £12 for the year (pro rota) or £3.00 per meeting. So, if you are interested in gardeningcome and give the Club a try.

Four Local Women Writers Launch Anthology Of Poems Celebrating The East Midlands

Article by Liz Nash

"Where We Live" is a collection of over 50 poems that is the work of four local writers who live in the East Midlands. The poems reflect the area's history, traditions and people and focus on villages of the Trent and Soar valleys as well as Charnwood Forest landmarks such as Beacon Hill and Bradgate Park.

The East Midlands is so often dismissed as an area of fabrication and industry, but this book highlights the fact that both manufacture and leisure can be sources of beauty and the writers pay tribute to the East Midland's identity.

In her introduction to the book, local author and poet Deborah Tyler-Bennett says, "The idea of being 'local' to an area makes writers ask how to depict what they know and see in a way that makes the reader both 'know' and 'see' this too."

Angela Reddaway, who lives in South Nottinghamshire says, "Leicestershire has played a significant role in my adult life, so I am naturally drawn to its history and landscape," and this is echoed by Liz Nash, "I live in a country lane on the edge of Charnwood and it's so inspiring here I like to turn to pen and paper to capture a scene or a memory."

Helen Sadler moved to Barrow Upon Soar from the Kent coast nearly 30 years ago and, like Angela, loves the history and landscape. "I still miss the sea, but I'm passionate about the canals in this area," whilst Jill Simpson decided to explore her village of Markfield as if she was a tourist.

"It helped me look at buildings and scenery as if I was seeing them for the first time" she says.

Where We Live, An Anthology, by Liz Nash, Angela Reddaway, Helen Sadler and Jill Simpson is published by Village Verse at a price of £ 9.50 and a £1 from the sale of each book will go to Rainbows Hospice. Copies can be obtained direct from the authors, who can be contacted at villageverse2022@gmail.com

Sambucus Racemosa ‘Plumosa Aurea’

Astrantia Major

Euonymus ‘Emerald Gold’

Aquilegia ‘Crimson Star’

Society

Article by Peter Smith

Our November began with the AGM. Our Chairman reported on a successful year of diverse events; our Treasurer reported a healthy bank balance; and a plea for new committee members was answered by two volunteers to secure the future of the Society.

After the formal business, we needed some light relief. This was amply provided by David Bell, a local author and born storyteller, who led us “Down the Garden Path” to discover the hidden world of the privy!

Outdoor lavatories were a common feature of rural life until comparatively recently: several of our members recalled the disused buildings from their childhood and when David wrote his book on the subject in 1999, he found examples that were still in use near Southwell (Nottinghamshire). He put out appeals on local radio and in newspapers, which led him to photograph surviving privies and collect a fund of stories about them. There were tales of visiting “townies” unable to find their way to and from the privy on a dark night, as well as alarming encounters with bats, wasps and nesting chickens.

Privies would originally have been built above a pit, which would need to be dug out once or twice a year by night-soil men, also known as “dilly men”. In settings such as farms there could be up to four seats side-by-side. Later it became more usual to place a bucket below the seat, which would be emptied each week – often through a small door at the back of the privy. That could lead to embarrassment if the night-soil men arrived unexpectedly while you were seated there. David also heard of pranks involving mischievous children, the back door and a stinging nettle…

The unpleasant job of emptying the buckets was sometimes given to children (hopefully the same ones!) A more common task for them was to cut up last week’s newspaper into squares and thread it onto a string for use in the privy. Rolls of toilet paper would only be purchased if guests were expected.

David was delighted to find a rare example of a privy with a handle that could be used to “flush” it with ash from a hopper. However, indoor waterclosets had been common for many decades and they eventually replaced privies completely. This was despite opposition from a few traditionalists who considered it unhealthy to carry on such business indoors – but on a cold, wet, November evening, I think we all felt glad that the privy has been consigned to history!

The Society takes a break in December. We hope you will join us on 11th January, when Peter Liddle will explain “How to Build a Castle”. www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk

Dreamstime.com

© Ploutarxina

Remembrance Service.

On Sunday 13th November I represented the Leicestershire County Council Chairman at the Remembrance Service and Parade at the Arch of Remembrance, Victoria Park, Leicester. This Service of Remembrance continues to remember those men and woman of Leicester and Leicestershire who have given their lives in the service of their country, in the cause of freedom, justice and peace.

The Service was led by the Bishop of Leicester. The Right Reverend Martyn Snow and Dave Andrews DL. During the formal wreath laying part of the service I laid a wreath on behalf of the people of Leicestershire. It was so good to see so many people attending this service. We will remember them.

Planning Update.

I have been able to request information from a previous pre-application for the proposed site south of Markfield Lane, Newtown Linford, planning application number P/22/1031/2.

In my opinion, although planning policy may have changed since this preapplication, it does refer to the areas that I have raised in my submissions to the Charnwood Borough Council consultation, these include ecology, highways and sustainability. I note in the pre-application response from the Council it is stated: ‘ From a highway point of view, they do not consider that the location of the site is sustainable, as it is someway from the nearby village centre of Markfield and is separated from the village by the very busy A50’. I suggest if the A50 was very busy 10 years ago, it has certainly increased in the number of vehicles travelling along the road today.

I understand the Council are aware of the important ecological features onsite and the adjacent ancient woodland.

May I take this opportunity to thank all the residents who have sent their submissions to Charnwood Borough Council. I will keep you informed whilst this latest application goes through the planning process.

On the 15th of November I attended the Appeal Hearing at Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) offices along with Newtown Linford Parish Council Chair, Sue Pritchard. This Hearing was because HBBC refused the application for up to 93 dwelling on land adjacent to Ashby Road, Markfield. The site is mostly within Newtown Linford Parish, you may recall Charnwood Borough Council permitted this development at a previous Plans meeting. We were able to take part in the Hearing process, I was keen to point out about the Markfield Neighbourhood Plan which, in my view, should be given full weight when decision are made, especially as the Markfield services and facilities will be used by the people living in the proposed houses. We now have to wait for the decision of the Inspector, possibly in the New Year.

Charnwood Community Action.

Charnwood Borough Council have relaunched the Charnwood Community Action Campaign to support people and Communities in the Borough who are struggling with the cost of living. The campaign will raise awareness of the support that is available to people, to help with the rising cost of living.

The campaign is also calling on local organisations and people who may be co-ordinating support to get in touch so all the information and help available in Charnwood can be brought together into one place. Any organisation, community group, business or individual that is offering support to those struggling with the cost of living crisis, may I encourage them to let the Council know by contacting Charnwood Borough Council website ‘Tell us about your event or support’. The support can be anything that is helping the residents in Charnwood, from a one-off event to an ongoing activity, specialist support to advice service.

The Council will add the information to the Charnwood Community Action Campaign webpage to help promote and sign-post to the support being offered. The Council will also share this information on the Council’s social media channels, e-mail alerts and printed materials where possible. The campaign web page is www.charnwood.gov.uk/cca.

New Parliamentary Constituencies.

The Boundary Commission for England is redrawing boundaries for Parliamentary constituencies in order to rebalance the number of electors represented by each MP, and the final consultation is now open. Constituency sizes currently vary widely, due to population changes since the last boundary review. The new map proposed by the Commission will make sure each constituency has between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, so that each MP represents roughly the same number of electors. The Boundary Review also requires that the number of constituencies in England increases from 533 to 543.

The Commission has listened to the feedback sent in from the public and have changed nearly half of the initial proposals published last year. The new revised proposals are now available to view via an interactive map on the consultation website. A final consultation is now open until 5th December2022 and is the last chance to provide your views on the constituency boundaries. The Boundary Commission for England has invited the public to visit their website bcereviews.org.uk and comment on the proposals.

The proposals show my Forest Bradgate Ward, which includes Newtown Linford, Ulverscroft, Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves, are proposed to be in a new constituency called Mid Leicestershire along with Anstey, Cropston and Thurcaston. This proposal changes from the current Charnwood constituency boundaries. Looking at the map provided, Mid Leicestershire includes Markfield, and Ratby but not Syston and East Goscote which will become part of another new constituency, Melton and Syston.

As we approach Christmas and the beginning of the New Year. May I take this opportunity to thank all the people involved with producing the ‘Your Local’ magazine, for the contribution they make throughout the year, communicating local news and interesting articles for local communities. May I also wish everyone a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

If you need to contact me on any issue, please write to 10 Groby Lane, Newtown Linford, Leicester. LE6 0HH e-mail cllr.david.snartt@charnwood. gov.uk or telephone 01530 244804.

Monday Club Cropston And Thurcaston Monday 10th October 2022

Article by Maja Tompkins

On 14th November Mr Peter Hunt, with his wife Judy, came to speak to us about their holiday to South America in early 2019, when they celebrated their Golden Wedding. First they flew to Quito in Ecuador, and then on to the Galapagos Islands, 800 miles to the west. All the islands are different, and the wildlife changes. There are about 185 species of birds in the Galapagos, plus many iconic creatures familiar to us from nature documentaries on TV. They were lucky enough to spot nearly all the "big 15" including land and marine iguanas, seals and frigate birds, tortoises, and even the Galapagos penguin, which seems out of place on the Equator!

Their boat carried 90 passengers, and they were brought nearer to the islands in a smaller boat, but the swell made it hard to film. The Government tries hard to minimise the negative impact of tourism, and numbers are strictly controlled. All groups must also have an official guide. The Charles Darwin Research Centre on Santa Cruz is doing a great job. In addition to watching wildlife, you could go kayaking, cycling or snorkelling, or go out in a glass-bottomed boat. Many creatures seem unafraid of humans and are merely curious. The islands were named after the giant tortoises which used to abound everywhere, but are now very rare. Lonesome George died in 2012 but another male, named Diego, had been living in the San Diego Zoo in USA and was returned, and he managed to father 800 youngsters! Normally many hatchlings do not even make it to the sea, as they are tasty snacks for various other creatures. On Floreana, a source of precious fresh water, a kind of Post Office service was set up by the British in 1793, involving a barrel for letters; this still exists, and it still works.

Mr and Mrs Hunt then returned to Quito, which was the Inca capital and which exports bananas. It is surrounded by volcanoes, and in 1989 Cotopaxi erupted violently. Tourists can go on the "Teleferiquo" and see the crater, but sometimes it is too misty. A few families actually live inside the crater (Japan has families living in volcanoes too). At the Museum of the Equator, you can watch demonstrations of how the northern and southern hemispheres affect everyday things differently. Water goes down the plug-hole in different directions. It is said to be impossible to walk along a painted straight line if you are on the Equator itself! Mr Hunt said the people were friendly, and the food was usually delicious. One popular export is "Panama" hats, which actually originated in Ecuador.

Their next stop was Lima in Peru, which has many factories but a nice coastline. An earthquake in 1940 meant that the whole centre had to be rebuilt. Another flight took them to Cusco, and then they took a train to the fabulous Machu Picchu, never discovered by the Spanish, which was excavated by Hiram Bingham in 1911-1915. In La Paz, they saw an alpaca farm.

Another city sacred to the Incas is Ollantaytambo. It was a military, religious and agricultural centre. You can still see the advanced irrigation system set up in the time of Emperor Pachacuti. Grain was stored in special houses at high altitude. The train journey through the valley was spectacular, and they saw some humming birds (which can fly backwards), and lovely flowers. The weather even cleared for them. At 2430 metres high, you can get altitude sickness, and only 200 hikers are allowed along the route each day. They saw some lovely birds near the hotel, and there are around 300 varieties of orchid.

In Cusco there are amazing examples of the Incas' expertise in stonework, where huge irregular blocks line the streets using no mortar, with no gaps between the stones. The Spaniards demolished Inca buildings, but they could not destroy the foundations. Then the only sleeper train in South America, the Belmond Andean Explorer, took Mr and Mrs Hunt to Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world. There were musicians and dancers at the stations, in very colourful costumes. They went across the Altiplano, and the weather could change very quickly. At 6.30 in the morning they arrived at Puno, which is where Peru and Bolivia meet, with the border snaking down the middle of the lake. The lake dwellers go fishing and raise chickens. The famous Totora reed grows all round the Lake, and is widely used for everything including raft-style houses and boat building. Thor Heyerdahl used boat builders from here to help construct his reed boats Ra and Ra II.

They visited a small island in the Lake called El Sol, where the Incas are believed to have originated, and then continued on to La Paz, which was carved out by glaciers. It is the site of a sacred spring which is said to bring health and happiness. The women tend to wear bowler hats, which were

Charnwood Group

Spring 2023

An interesting programme of events is being planned for Spring 2023. Please come along and support your local Wildlife Trust.

Regular indoor meetings are held in Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on the second Wednesday every month from September to May starting at 7.30pm. Admission is £2.50 for LRWT members, £3 for visitors, children free

Wednesday 11th January 2023 at 7.30pm

The "Eyes" have it!

Dave Robinson will introduce us to the amazing world of vision, defensive colouration and eye-mimicry in the animal kingdom.

Wednesday 8th February 2023 at 7.30pm

Discovery of the Rutland Sea Dragon

Joe Davis, Reserve Manager, Rutland Water Nature Reserve, will talk about finding one of Britain’s most significant Palaeontological finds.

Wednesday 8th March 2023 at 7.30pm

AGM followed by A presentation by Mat Carter, CEO, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust. Details to follow

Wednesday 12th April 2023 at 7.30pm

Cone Shells - Killers or Curers

Brian Hammond has collected shells all his life and the Hunterian Museum in Glasgow now houses around 10000 specimens from his unique collection. This talk is about these fascinating molluscs in the family "Conidae". These venomous & carnivorous snails hunt their prey, including fish, and some species have been known to kill humans. Their venom is very complex and is used extensively in drug research.

originally imported from Manchester for men but proved too small. Mr and Mrs Hunt visited the Witches' Market, which was rather sinister. Apparently they used to export Jequirity beans to the Eden Project which were used in jewellery, until someone found out these contain a highly poisonous substance. La Paz boasts 3 new cable car lines since 2014. Then they left Bolivia for Buenos Aires in Argentina, the home of the tango, which has the widest avenue in the world consisting of 18 lanes. There is also a giant sculpture of a tulip, which opens and closes with the sun. Eva Peron's grave is there too. She fought for women's suffrage and for the poor. The Plaza de Mayo is a reminder of a dark period when many young men simply "disappeared" in police /Government hands, and it includes symbols of the white scarves their distraught mothers would wear as they met in small groups to talk. The Iguazo Falls is where Paraguay, Argentina and Brazil join for possibly the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, and their hotel room had a view of the Falls. Next day they saw the Devil's Throat Cataract on the Argentinian side, where you can walk out on platforms over the roaring water. They saw many insects and birds, including a toucan. First they had sunshine and then rain. The end of their holiday was a visit to Rio de Janeiro where the views are stunning, including Capacabana Beach and the enormous Sugar Loaf mountain. To get to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, the largest statue in the world, you can take a cog railway. The San Sebastian Cathedral is shaped like a Mayan pyramid, and is heavily embellished with gold inside, a demonstration of the wealth of the Roman Catholic Church.

Club members will enjoy a pre-Christmas meal in early December. The monthly meetings will then resume at the Cropston Evangelical Church Room with a musical interlude on Monday 9th January 2023, starting at 2.15 p.m. Look out for further details on posters in your area. All visitors and new members will be welcome.

Mrs Maja Tompkins Mobile 07709-201881.

Deborah Taylor

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 0116 2350126

E: cllr.deborah.taylor@charnwood.gov.uk

Charnwood Community Action

A campaign has been relaunched to support people and communities in Charnwood who are struggling with the cost of living.

Charnwood Community Action was set up by the Borough Council and partners during the pandemic and it is being kickstarted once again to help communities. The campaign will be raising awareness of the support that is available to people to help with the rising cost of living.

The campaign is also calling on local organisations and people who may be coordinating support to get in touch so all the information and help available in Charnwood can be brought together into one place.

A range of support has been put in place nationally to help people, organisations, and businesses. The Council has created a webpage to bring that information together. Please visit: www.charnwood.gov. uk/cca for more information.

To keep in touch with updates about Charnwood Community Action, you can sign up to the Council’s email alerts www. charnwood.gov.uk/alerts

Cabinet Appointment

Cllr Baines has been appointed to the Cabinet by the Leader at Charnwood Borough Council. Paul becomes the Lead Member for Investment, including strategy and monitoring of council investments (treasury and commercial) and the council's capital programme.

Congratulations to Paul on his new appointment and we wish him well.

Charity Event

Paul and Deborah are hosting a charity evening to celebrate Burns Night on Friday 27th January 2023. All the profits from the evening will be donated to ‘Living Without Abuse’, a charity that provides help and support for anyone suffering from domestic abuse or sexual violence in Leicester, Leicestershire, or Rutland.

Please come and support us, it promises to be a great evening and we will be raising money for a very good cause.

All the details are on the flyer below. If you would like to book

tickets to join us the link is here: https://register.enthuse.com/ps/ event/BurnsNightSupper2023 or scan the QR code:

Leicestershire Residents and

Recycle Week

Recycle Week took place at the end of October and highlighted that recycling doesn’t have to be confusing or time-consuming.

As a national recycling campaign begins, the Council is encouraging residents to think twice about what they’re putting in their recycling bins in a bid to make the county a cleaner, greener place to live and work.

From food waste to nappies, a variety of non-recyclable items are still being incorrectly disposed of in recycling bins across the county. Putting in the wrong items can damage machinery, cause recycling loads to be rejected and cost the council money, as well as have a big impact on the environment and climate change.

Residents can visit www.lesswaste. org.uk to find out what can and can’t be recycled in their area. Here are some top tips:

• Recycling should be clean and

Paul Baines

Borough Councillor for Anstey

T: 07977 178869

E: cllr.paul.baines@charnwood.gov.uk

dry, so make sure to empty food and drink containers, give them a quick rinse and then leave to drain before recycling

• Remember to put lids back on to jars and bottles before popping them in your recycling bin

• Don’t forget to recycle items from all rooms in the house – including cleaning product bottles, toilet roll tubes and kitchen foil

• Nappies and food waste don’t belong in the recycling bin and should be placed in your general waste bin

• Textiles can be taken to a charity shop or clothes bank. The nearest clothes bank is on The Nook car park and the Coop car park.

Residents can find useful tips on reducing, reusing, and recycling their waste on the Less Waste website (link above).

Covid Commemoration Consultation

The government has launched a consultation on how the UK should mark the Covid pandemic and the people we have lost due to the virus.

The Rt Hon Baroness (Nicky) Morgan of Cotes, Chair, UK Commission on Covid Commemoration has said: " “The pandemic had a profound impact on all our lives and will be remembered in our history forever.

Through this consultation, we want to hear from as many people as possible about how we should remember those who lost their lives and those who cared for those in need as well as those who kept our essential services running or stepped up in other ways such as taking on volunteering responsibilities.

We know there are some incredible initiatives already happening across the UK and we want to build on this great work and consider further ways to commemorate and mark this period in our history”

You can find all the details here on how to respond to the consultation: www.gov.uk/ government/consultations/covidcommemoration-consultation

Charnwood Sports Awards

The borough’s sporting finest has been shortlisted for the Charnwood Sport Awards. The awards, organised by Charnwood Borough Council’s Sport and Recreation team, Active Charnwood, and the Active Charnwood Alliance, received 82 entries into this year’s competition.

The Charnwood Sports Awards highlight the work and dedication of individuals, clubs, coaches, and volunteers across the Borough. They also highlight schools and workplaces making a difference to health and wellbeing.

The awards ceremony takes place on Monday 5th December at Burleigh Court in Loughborough.

There is a total of nine categories for this year’s sport awards including the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust award which recognises inspirational people or groups who have gone above and beyond and made outstanding achievements, in the face of adversity.

The list of finalists can be found here: www.charnwood.gov.uk/ news/2022/11/03/charnwood_ sport_awards_finalists_announced

Paul and Deborah would both like to wish you a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help. Deborah and Paul

Scan here for updated news:

Deborah Taylor

County Councillor for Bradgate Division

T: 0116 2350126

E: deborah.taylor@leics.gov.uk

At the end of October, I attended the first Leicester ‘Hope Hack’ at the Peepul Centre. ‘Hope Hacks’ are a series of events being run across the UK to gather the collective views of young people on issues like safe spaces, fairness and equality, and services for young people. Hosted and facilitated by ‘The Hope Collective’ which was founded to support the 20th-anniversary legacy campaign for Damilola Taylor ( hwww.hopecollectiveuk. com ) they work in partnerships across England and Wales. The outcomes of the events will feed back into the government’s policy unit of the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities at 10 Downing Street. Some amazing young people from across the county and city were in attendance and shared their inspirational stories.

On Sunday 30th October, I attended the annual County Service in Kibworth Harcourt. It was well attended despite the rainy weather. On Monday 31st October I was at Police HQ in Enderby to host the first countywide Community Safety Partnerships (CSPs) to jointly look at the key priorities for community safety across the counties and city and how, as a partnership, we were going to deliver on those priorities.

On Tuesday 1st November, I headed north to Manchester to attend the annual three-day National Children and Adults Services Conference. This is a chance to listen to keynote speakers from across the country and network with colleagues from around the country and is an especially useful environment to share good practices. It was an inspiring conference, but a few very tiring days!

Back home I attended the annual ‘Pride in Practice’ Awards at the Tigers Stadium, which celebrates the amazing staff we have at the county council, who look after our vulnerable children and families and give us all a chance to keep families together.

I then headed to Sheffield for the day to attend the Local Government Association (LGA) Peer Mentor Conference and the following day I headed to Warwick University for the annual Police and Crime Panel (PCP) Conference to again speak to fellow Chairs of panels giving us time to learn from

each other. We had some great keynote speakers talking about the culture of all the country’s police forces and how PCP panels can add value to their communities.

On Sunday 13th November, Armistice Sunday, I attended the church service at St Mary’s Church in Anstey before heading to Newtown Linford this year to lay my wreath by the memorial stone outside The Linford, on behalf of all the residents within my division.

It has been a very busy few weeks with the training and conferences I have attended, whilst continuing to deal with all my casework. As we head into December, I am looking forward to a lighter schedule and spending time with family and friends during the festive season.

“zombie battery” fires started by carelessly-discarded batteries at its recycling facilities.

Both Coalville and Barwell recycling and household waste sites were forced to close temporarily earlier this year, after discarded batteries caused fires. In the UK, up to a billion batteries are used and thrown away every year. When they are thrown away with the general rubbish, or mixed with other recycling, hidden “zombie batteries” can easily ‘return from the dead’ and cause serious fires. Lithium-ion batteries are particularly prone to causing fires or explosions if they are not recycled properly.

Some battery types can ignite or even explode when they’re damaged in waste collection and treatment processes. Once this happens, the batteries can set fire to other materials present in the waste, such as paper and cards, leading to serious incidents that, in some cases, put lives at risk and disrupt vital waste services.

These batteries are most commonly found in products such as laptops, tablets, mobile phones, radio-controlled toys, Bluetooth devices, shavers, electric toothbrushes, power tools, scooters, and even e-cigarettes.

Residents are reminded to follow this advice:

• Never put batteries in your general waste or recycling bins

changes since the last boundary review. The new map proposed by the BCE will make sure each constituency has between 69,724 and 77,062 electors, so that each MP represents roughly the same number of electors. The 2023 boundary review also requires that the number of constituencies in England increase from 533 to 543.

Following feedback, the BCE has changed nearly half of the initial proposals published last year. The new revised proposals are now available to view via an interactive map on the consultation website: www.bcereviews.org.uk This website also includes all the details on how to submit your comments.

The final public consultation is open until 5th December and this is your final chance to provide your views on new constituency boundaries.

Cost of Living Increases

An extra £3.6m of Government cash is enabling Leicestershire County Council to step up the support it is providing this winter as the cost of living pressures bite.

Under proposals published on Monday 17th October, the money will be used to offer £1.5m emergency food and fuel support and will ensure 14,000 children across our county have free school meal vouchers during the Christmas, February half term, and Easter holidays.

Support for Ukrainian Refugees Families who have opened their homes to people fleeing war-torn Ukraine will get £150 more each month to support them with the cost-of-living pressures this winter.

Leicestershire County Council is using the Government Homes for Ukraine grant it receives to increase the payment it provides to host families from £350 to £500.

As the latest figures show, 1,420 people have applied for visas to live with families in the county, two new welfare officers have also been recruited, including a Ukrainian national who came to the UK under the national scheme, into a team dedicated to supporting Ukrainian guests and their host families.

Recycling Batteries

People in Leicestershire are being reminded to ‘take charge’ when it comes to the disposal of batteries.

Leicestershire County Council is supporting the national campaign – led by the Environmental Services Association - to tackle the growing number of serious

• Only recycle batteries using a proper battery recycling service, such as at your local recycling and household waste site, or battery collection point often found in supermarkets

• Remove batteries from broken devices if you can and recycle both the battery and the device separately.

If you cannot remove the battery, please recycle it with your old electricals.

Residents can find out where to recycle batteries responsibly in the county, and more about the dangers of Zombie Batteries, by visiting www.takecharge.org.uk

Parliamentary Boundaries

Parliamentary constituency boundaries are changing - and now is your final chance to help shape the new map.

The Boundary Commission for England (BCE) is required by parliament to undertake an independent and impartial review of all constituencies in England, to rebalance the number of electors in each constituency.

Constituency sizes currently vary widely due to population

The national funding takes the council’s wide-ranging support package to £14.8m and is on top of community fridges, innovative ‘green homes’ schemes, energy efficiency advice, and help for food banks and charities, all of which is helping to bring down household bills.

The vital support includes:

• Energy efficiency grants and advice - through the council’s Warm Homes Scheme

• £4m Greener Living

Leicestershire project - helping to cut household bills by providing fully-funded home improvements including loft and wall insulation, solar panels, heat pumps, and new energy-efficient windows and doors

• £15 free school meal vouchers for 14,000 children across Leicestershire - also benefiting families during Christmas, February half term, and Easter.

Voluntary groups, charities, public sector organisations, and others can refer people for support from the £1.5m emergency food and fuel support pot – any organisations wanting to register should email:

To find out more about the support go to: www.leicestershire.gov.uk/ cost-of-living or please contact me if you need more information.

Platinum Jubilee Sculpture

Five trees from Platinum Jubilee Sculpture are to be planted in Leicestershire in honour of the Queen.

The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) has selected five Leicestershire organisations to receive special trees from the ‘Tree of Trees’, the Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire has announced.

They will be officially planted by each recipient in the coming months. The recipients will each plant a sapling in the pot embossed with the Queen’s cypher, which will be gifted to another local organisation in the coming year. This will be repeated in the future every year.

The trees are part of the living legacy in honour of the late Queen, joining over a million trees already planted across the UK as

Rowan, silver birch, and alder trees are amongst the five trees selected to come to the county. The five trees were among 350 saplings that formed the 69-foottall Tree of Trees sculpture in front of Buckingham Palace during the Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.

The recipients who have been chosen to receive the trees are LOROS, Rainbows Hospice, Bradgate Park Trust, Abbey Park in Leicester, and Welland Park in Market Harborough. As a Trustee of Bradgate Park Trust, I was delighted to hear that Bradgate Park Trust was to receive one of the trees.

part of The Queen’s Green Canopy - an initiative to plant trees to mark the Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

I would like to wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.

If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help.

Deborah

For updated news scan here

Anstey Rugby Facing Tough Opposition Over The Next Few Weeks

Article by Chris Apperley

Back on 8th October we hosted one of the county’s larger clubs, Leicester Lions at Link Road who arrived with a large squad of players expecting a good win.

However, Anstey RFC took them by surprise with a 26-21 Win for the Home side.

At the time of writing we are a few days away from the return fixture at their place. The thinking is that they will be up for revenge, so the last Saturday in November looks like a tough one!

The final game in October was an Away league game at Stoneygate, the first time we have played against this well established (since 1888) Leicestershire side in many a year.

Stoneygate have had various Home grounds over the years in Leicester, settling at Covert Lane, Scraptoft from the mid sixties until 2013 when they moved out to Uppingham, which is where we thought we were playing.

However a last minute change of venue and the Anstey squad were off to Corby in Northamptonshire.

Undeterred by the extra travelling, Anstey fought out a thrilling 12-12 Draw on the day.

Into November and down came the rain, then more rain, to such an extent that our Link Road Playing Fields pitch was waterlogged and unusable for

our Home fixture against Old Newtonians on Saturday 5th.

What happened to the drought?

Anyway, Old Newts, at the last minute, agreed to host Anstey RFC, so off to their Hinckley Road ground we travelled.

It turned out one of the club’s best results of the season with the final result being Anstey 69-19 winners.

I big team performance that included Andrew Pollock scoring three tries.

Unfortunately, the next two games were called off by our opponents, East Leake and Pinley who were both short of players to make a complete team.

After the Leicester Lions game at the end of November, we have three league games in December against Oadby Wyggs, Shepshed and Aylestone Athletic.

Christmas and New Year the following weekends and 2023 here we come!

A big thank you for a further equipment sponsorship from Epsilon Electrical which was very welcome.

The 2022/23 season fixture list is on our website at www.pitchero.com/clubs/anstey/ teams/41334/fixtures-results

If you would like to get involved and start playing rugby, contact either our Chairman Shane Frear on 07725 642525 or Captain Graham Waring on 07764 461961 Ages 17-77 all welcome.

Anstey Chess Club

Article by Ben Vaughan

Venue: Anstey Methodist Church, Cropston Road

When: Thursday evenings from 7pm Web: www.ansteychessclub.co.uk

Firstly, may I apologise to our legions of fans for not publishing in last month's Your Local - I missed the deadline. Sorry about that.

Results

Having missed a month, there have been way too many results to go through individually over the past couple of months.

In summary, the first team, captained by Matt Connor this year, have started very well having played 4, won 3 and drawn 1 and currently sit in 2nd place in Division two of the league. Matt has urged caution as we have played the 4 sides at the lower end of the table - the real tests come up with facing the teams around us in the league in the coming months.

The 2nd team are placed in mid-table in the 3rd division having played 5, won 2, drawn 1 and lost 2. Captain yours truly is aiming for a mid-table finish/top half finish so we are on par at the moment.

The 3rd team are in the lower half of the table in the 4th division having played 5, drawn 4 and lost 1 in some incredibly close and action packed matches. We are using the 3rd team in the bottom division to give new members games and we'd only really like to avoid the wooden spoon in that division.

Champion

We also have a Champion in our ranks! Congratulations to our 1st team board one stalwart Julian Tarwid for winning the Summer County Challengers Tournament. He was presented with his trophies on 20th October.

Local Chess in Anstey

Myself, Boris The Toaster, Oskar, Julian and Bob have been out and about in Anstey. Some of you may have seen us on the Nomads' FA Cup day at the Nook Corner Coffee Shop sat outside and also Peppercorns in Anstey more recently. Plenty of people have been looking and checking us out - do come and say hello, we'd love to talk to you. Even if it is just to say that you read this article!

Venue

We are also very grateful to or members for helping us to fund the chess this year. Applications will be submitted soon for funding to either the Anstey Town Charity and the Anstey Parish Council - two organisations that have helped us in the past to fund your chess club.

Junior Coaching/Lessons

The Junior coaching sessions have started and are becoming increasingly popular with plenty of new faces coming along to learn the wonderful game that is chess, taught by yours truly. Many thanks to Beanies soft play above Potters Carpets in Anstey for hosting us. We are there from 9am-11am on Saturday mornings and the cost is £3 per child.

Ben Vaughan Anstey Chess Club ansteychess@hotmail.com 07469 207548

Art Group In Anstey

Article by John Morfey

We are a small, friendly group who have different interests: drawing, lino-cutting, 3D paper pictures, painting…

We each do our own thing, and support and encourage each other. We meet every Tuesday from 1-3pm, and we use the upstairs room at the Methodist Church in Anstey. It’s a large airy room with lots of space for social distancing.

If you want to make a bit of time for something (anything!) creative, you’d be welcome to come and have a cup of tea and meet us. Or contact John on 07808143772 or jandbmorfey@hotmail.com

Tel: 0116 251 0363 - sales@ designerbathroomsleicester.com www.designerbathroomsleicester.com - 74 Bradgate Street, Leicester, LE4 0AW

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Specialising in beautiful bespoke bathrooms and en-suites, specifically tailored to meet their customers’ requirements, they strive to create a bathing experience second to none. Just walking around their exquisite showroom, you have the opportunity to see a variety of over 35 room settings, each perfectly showcasing many industry top brands, as well as a taste of the Mediterranean with Italian and Spanish wall and floor tiles.

From speaking to the team at Designer Bathrooms it’s clear that they want everyone to be able to have a relaxing and inspiring bathing experience. As such they are proud of their quality of service, products and their single level showroom plus they also specialise in accessible

bathing. Their displays include walk in level floor showers, fold down shower seats, grab rails, digital push button showers, lever taps and comfort height toilets.

At Designer Bathrooms it is perfectly clear that they understand just how important it is to make the right choices, for what should be, one of the most relaxing rooms in your home. As such they listen to your requirements and will guide you through the entire process, from first thought to final tile.

So when you’re next considering a new bathroom or en-suite make over, why not pay Designer Bathrooms a visit? You’ll receive a warm welcome as well as expert advice.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm and Saturdays from 9am to 1pm Private car park available

They look forward to welcoming you soon….

Designer Bathrooms are a family business with two generations of experience based in the heart of Leicestershire.

Animal Charity Amazed By Over £1000 Raised In One Hour

Article by Laura Hadland

The community of Anstey in Leicestershire and clients of a successful local hair salon came together for a sponsored dog walk this week, raising over £1000 in just one hour for Leicester Animal Aid.

The walk commenced from the Barrie Stephen hair salon on the Nook, with many dogs and owners sporting eyecatching fancy dress for Halloween. More than 40 pooches participated, bringing the centre of the village to a standstill as onlookers enjoyed the spectacle. After a thorough leg stretch, the charity walkers retired to the Nook Corner cafe for dog-nuts, puppy-cinos and other canine-related treats.

“Barrie’s Halloween Hounds Sponsored Dog Walk in aid of Leicester Animal Aid was a great success,” said Helen Wilber from the charity. “We’re grateful to all who took part, human and canine or lent their support in another way. The money raised will help lost, abandoned, unwanted and relinquished dogs and cats and help to provide essential veterinary treatment, food, a cosy bed, toys and importantly, a safe and loving place for them to stay until they find their forever home.”

This event was the latest fundraising effort by award-winning salon owner and entrepreneur, Barrie Stephen, who has raised over £17,000 for Leicester Animal Aid since becoming an Ambassador for the charity four years ago.

“It’s the best event we’ve held so far,” Barrie said. “We had a fantastic turnout and I’m overjoyed that we have raised these much-needed funds for Leicester Animal Aid. They do so much to care for animals in distress, all without any central support. In the current economic climate, it’s important for us to come together as a community to keep our charities strong and resilient.”

Team Anstey - Make The Change For A Better You

Article by Angela Cohen

Whether you're looking for a new challenge or looking for a more active lifestyle, running isn't as scary as it sounds. We have members of all abilities and being active also has proven mental health benefits. We offer 4 free sessions to come along and try it for yourself so what do you have to lose? For more info, check us out over at www.teamanstey.co.uk

Platinum Jubilee Tree Planting Added To The Queen’s Green Canopy

Article by Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council

"On a breezy but sunny morning, in late October, Councillors and school children from Richard Hill Primary School, gathered at Jubilee Park in Cropston to attend the dedication of the Parish Council's "Jubilee Oak"planted to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee.

The Deputy Mayor of Charnwood, Margaret Smidowicz, cut the ribbon as seventeen Year Three pupils looked on. The two pupils holding the emerald green ribbon were Asa Foster and Lily Davies, who had, a few months ago, won prizes for designing a small corner of Jubilee Park, in a competition set up by the parish council.

A beautifully crafted oak plaque, at the base of the Jubilee Oak, will serve to remind visitors to the park of this special occasion. The latest oak tree, which was planted a few months ago, is thriving and will, in the future, grow alongside a similar tree, planted in 1977 to commemorate Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee.

We are delighted to announce that Jubilee tree planting has been uploaded to The Queen's Green Canopy (QGC) map."