February 2017 - Ashby & Measham Community Eye

ASHBY & MEASHAM

COMMUNITY EYE

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FEBRUARY 2017

WERE YOU A SCHOLAR AT KING EDWARD VII GRAMMAR SCHOOL? Reunion On October 14th 2017

IN THE GARDEN WITH BEL

Bulbs For The Summer

TIPS FROM THE TOOLBOX

How To Make Jam - Easily!

TOWER OF LIGHT Presentation

ASHBY MEN’S BREAKFAST GROUP

Andrew Bridgen MP Speaks To The Group

GOOGLE VIRTUAL FIELD TRIP Ivanhoe College Welcomes Google

CASTLE VIEW WILDLIFE WALK

Friends Of Ashby Bath Grounds

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LOCAL ADVERTISERS Dog owner for 25 years offering a reliable, bespoke & friendly dog walking service.

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Doors Porches Conservatories Fascia Soffit & Guttering Composite Doors Bi-Folding Doors Garage Doors Misted Sealed Units Replaced Aluminium Windows & Doors

Betteridge Windows & Doors, Leicester Road, Measham

T: 01530 272106 M: 07870 690160 E: jbetteridge.upvc@gmail.com Find us on  Betteridge Windows & Doors

Early Spring Concert at

Holy Trinity Church, Ashby Saturday 4th March 2017 at 7.30 pm featuring

Resonance

a fusion of Celtic, folk and world influences with a twist of faith. www.resonancemusic.co.uk

They are awesome aren't they... if that is the strength of their cd, I'm not going to play music by anyone else next week" Monica Winfield, BBC Radio Leicester.

"Full of wonderful harmonies, beautiful instruments, uplifting, calming and inspirational songs, a joy to the ears and the soul" Addy Tyler - Evington Echo

Also

Local Guest Singers

Sandy Marcus-Smith and Ian Harris Tickets £8 (children under 16 £5) Tickets available from Christian Aid reps. or tel. 01530 467183 or on the door

01530 251312

LOCAL NEWS

Were You A Scholar At King Edward VII Grammar School Coalville?

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Your Chance To Get Involved With The Biggest Youth Team Football Event In North West Leicestershire The Raven7 Football Tournament 1st & 2nd July 2017 On Saturday 1st & Sunday 2nd July we are holding a youth football event at Coalville Town Football Club, Owen Street, Coalville. This event has doubled in size from 2014 and will see 1200 young players from across Leicestershire and beyond compete in excess of 250 mini soccer matches, with ages from under 7’s up to and including Under 13’s, all in one weekend with hundreds more Managers/ Coaches / family members/friends all watching the event.

Well in excess of 3500 people will attend the weekend’s football and on top of this the publicity on the day will be frequently mentioned through our social media and Coalville Town FC website, which will add to the exposure. It’s a great opportunity to promote your business, a positive tournament affiliated with Leicestershire County FA which involves both boys and girls team’s is something which you will be proud to be part of.

The sponsorship packages on offer are as follows: £50 for a ¼ page event programme advert, every car will have a fee to pay for parking and will receive the programme as part of the payment. We have a print run of 800 programmes and will also place a copy of the programme on our website

to enable you to download this will increase the amount of people who will see your advert supporting ‘youth football’. £150 to sponsor an individual age group competition i.e. U7, U8, U9 U10 Boys, U10 U11 or U12 Girls plus Ladies, the event programme and a mention in all references to the age group which is sponsored. We will also manufacture and display a banner of your company (we will need your artwork/logo) promoting your sponsorship of the event for the whole weekend.

You are welcome to join us for the presentation of the trophies and medals.

The Raven 7s Tournament main sponsor package is £650 this includes your company name mentioned in all references to the tournament. A sponsors welcome banner (2ft x 12ft long) at the single entrance to the tournament which we will get manufactured and displayed on your behalf (we will need your artwork/logo).

You will also get a full page in the event programme. All competition winners will receive a Raven 7’s winners T Shirt with your company details on for each player. We will also take a group photo of the kids taking part in the event with your sponsorship banner and frame this for you.

As with all sponsorship packages here at Coalville Town FC we are keen to work with the sponsor to ensure we both get value from sponsorship so please feel free to contact me on the number below with any questions or ideas you may have, we are also holding a 9v9 tournament first weekend of June should you also wish to discuss any sponsorship opportunities for this tournament.

Kind Regards Wayne McDermott CTFC Raven 7’s Organiser Tel: 07876 140 248 Email: ctfc_supporters_club@ hotmail.co.uk

If so then make a note in your diary for October 14th 2017. We are organizing another reunion, and very much hope you will be able to attend. It will be held at Newbridge High School on Forest Road, the old school building.

Parking is available there.

We have sent out letters and emails to people on our data base, but our contacts are limited so if you, or anyone you know would like to attend please let us know. Preferably by email at CGSReunion@clubmember.org or Geoff Haines Tel 0116 2546591, CGS Reunion 13 Brampton Avenue, Leicester, LE36DA. Venue: Newbridge High School Forest Road, Coalville Date: October 14th 2017.

1pm to 9pm.

Cost: £4.00 or a further £6 if you require a Ploughman’s meal (This must be pre booked) It would be helpful if you could tell us if you are coming if possible, but you can just turn up on the day and pay at the door.

Do try and come, share your memories and make new friends.

You will be made very welcome.

NEW Arriva Bus App and M-Ticket App

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LOCAL NEWS

Tower Of Light Presentation On Friday 3rd February, there was a Presentation at the Church Hall of St Laurence Church, Measham, where the amount raised by The Tower of Light was revealed. The Tower of Light 2016 at Measham was to support a Community Project to raise money in order to locate a Defibrillator in a box at a central location within the village, accessible to anyone, which could be used in an emergency to save the life of someone who had suffered a cardiac arrest.

The lights on the tower of St Laurence serve as a reminder of those friends and relatives, who can no longer be seen at Christmas, because of one reason or another. It is because of this that more and more people feel that this is a comforting way to remember loved ones, and also assist the local Community to benefit as well.

Over the past few years, donations have been passed to the Marlene Reid Association, the local First Responders, the Medical Centre and Measham Welfare Junior Football Club.

Our area is lucky to have a very active and supportive First Responders Group, and it is with the help of this team that we have been able to obtain terms which have allowed defibrillators to be purchased at discounted prices. However, the cost of these special accessible boxes and the Defibrillators is in the region of £1,000.00, but there is also a further cost involved in fitting them. We were hopeful of being

able to provide one, and believed that the Church Hall at St Laurence would provide a fairly central location for the Defibrillator. We were pleased to obtain Canon Vivien Elphick’s agreement to that.

Response to this Village Project has been magnificent, not only from our residents, but also from our local Companies. We have received large donations from Cameron Homes, Bloor Homes, Hewitt Robins International, BBCS Limited, Pickerings Plant Limited, AB Produce Limited & British Car Auctions.

The total amount raised by the Tower of Light 2016 is Four Thousand Two Hundred & Nineteen Pounds, so we will be able to supply, not one Defibrillator, but three, which is a wonderful result for our Community.

But that is not all. At present, the Cooperative is in the process of building a new Supermarket in Measham. We have been informed that our Community Project is fully supported by the Cooperative, and there will be a further Defibrillator fitted outside the new Supermarket, to add to those that will have been already fitted by the Tower of Light funding.

We would like to thank everyone for those generous donations this last year, and will confirm the locations for the additional Defibrillators. The Community First Responders will be holding training programs to show that these life saving machines can be accessed and used by anyone. You never know, you may someday, with the help of a Village Defibrillator, help prolong the life of a person suffering a heart attack.

Ashby Museum News We have been delighted with the response to our recent requests for volunteers to work at our town museum. We welcome Sarah Roberts, Dennis Bradley and Margaret Coley to our team of front-of-house custodians and Julie Starkey, who will be helping with research. Of course we will be very pleased to expand the team even further so do get in touch if you can offer two hours a fortnight.

To accompany the Friends’ talk in March, there will be a display in the Loudoun Gallery featuring the Museum’s collection of timepieces by local makers, supplemented by photographs from other sources.

Thanks to the skills of the County Record Office conservator, and the financial support of the East Midlands Museums Service, we have had the Great and Little Appleby Parishes Estate Map of 1838 conserved. It is available for anyone to view.

Friends of Ashby Museum On Wednesday March 15th at 2 pm. Ivan Hallam will give a talk on ‘Time in a Rural Town and Village’ at the Museum. He will focus on the work of local clock and watchmakers, such as William Measures, William Salisbury, Samuel Deacon ad Samuel Kirk Peplow. The cost is £3, which will include tea/coffee and biscuits.

Bardon Hill Juniors Football Club Bardon Hill Juniors Football Club are looking for new players to join their Mini Kickers Team (age 4-5 years) U6's and U7's Teams.

We train on Saturday Mornings on the 3G pitch at Newbridge High School. The first 2 sessions are free.

We provide a safe, enjoyable environment, where children can learn, be active and form friendships, but most of all have fun!

BHJFC is a growing, FA Charter Standard accredited Club, all Coaches and Committee Members are CRC checked and all teams are managed by an FA qualified coach.

For more details please contact: Louise King, Secretary on 07983 134033 or email: louiseking76@googlemail.com If you're interested in coaching a team or sponsoring the club please also contact Louise King.

LOCAL ADVERTISERS advertorial

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Group Managing Director Marcus McGee believes that Which? have endorsed Cloudy2Clear’s long standing company policy of delivering the highest standards possible at all times. ‘Our service is simple. If your double glazing has misted up we can replace the glass at a fraction of the cost of a new window, in any type of frame, and with a new 25 year guarantee. But it’s not just about saving people money, although that

obviously helps. Whilst a number of tradespeople perhaps don’t focus on customer care as much as they should do, we make sure we turn up when we say we will, do the job the customer requires and leave their house as clean as a whistle.

Locally Cloudy2Clear service the Ashby & Measham areas and manager Martyn Kemp agrees that this approach is a major factor in his success. ‘The truth is that it’s not just the personal satisfaction that I

get from doing a good job but also it makes good business sense. I get a huge amount of business from friends and family of people I’ve done work for, which just goes to show how much a little bit of effort is appreciated as both my customers and, obviously a body as nationally important as Which? now recognise.’

So, if your windows are steamed up, broken or damaged give Martyn a call for a free quotation on 0800 61 21 118 and he’ll be happy to help!

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Public car park to rear of shop - Free parking every Sunday

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We can also paint your own tired furniture. Please ask for more details.

Chris Lewis Counsellor / Psychotherapist

R.M. Page C.M.B.H.I. CLOCK REPAIRS Collection & Delivery Service

91-93 High Street Ibstock, LE67 6LH 01530 260394 07891 298820

Chris’s Therapeutic Counselling chriscounselling@mail.com - 07828 463368 www.chrispersoncentred.co.uk 30 Moira Road, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 2GA Also in Nottingam & Loughborough

Variable opening hours please call to enquire

www.clockrepairsleicestershire.co.uk

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LOCAL NEWS

Ivanhoe College Welcomes Google On Monday 6th February Ivanhoe College students had an amazing opportunity to go on a virtual field trip with the help of the Google Expeditions Pioneer Programme.

Google Expeditions Pioneer Programme is a new app based product that allows teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips, immersing students in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and giving students a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom. The Wildlife Conservation Society, PBS, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and the Palace of Versailles contributed to developing the curriculum for students. These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas - 360° photo spheres, 3D images and video, ambient sounds - annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools. While nothing replaces hopping on the bus for a field trip, Expeditions provide an unparalleled opportunity for supplemental learning.

Students use a Google Cardboard, which is a virtual reality viewer made almost entirely of actual cardboard, to immerse themselves in the experience. Cardboard allows anyone with a modern smartphone to experience virtual reality. There have been more than 5 million Cardboard viewers shipped since they were announced by Google in 2014.

A Google associate was at school all day, training the Ivanhoe staff in the morning and assisting the delivery of the sessions for students throughout the day. They brought with them 60 phones, 60 Google Cardboards and 2 tablets to run the Expeditions from.

Teachers use the tablet to guide what the students can see through their viewers, as well as providing facts about what they can see.

Our students took part in a number of sessions that included a virtual trip around Google Head Office, as far away as Quebec and the Taj Mahal, as well as exploring under the sea, in space and an exhilarating trip around the human respiratory system. The students could not believe the eye-watering realism of the views that allowed them to immerse themselves in the sessions led by their teachers.

Year 9 student Lottie was very impressed, “This is so cool!”, she said, “I’m definitely going to download this at home!”

Isobel from Year 8 said, “I liked visiting Brazil, it was great flying over the sea. It was bit scary though as it was so real” Sekou from Year 7 said, “The graphics were much better than I thought they’d be, the 3d effects were really good.”

Subject Leader for Computing Mr Thornewill said, ”This is such an exciting new opportunity for schools, and we are very proud to have been selected as one of the first schools to experience it. The level of excitement & engagement from both our staff and students shows this technology has the potential to greatly add to, the already fantastic, learning that takes place here at Ivanhoe.”

College Principal Anne-Marie Blewitt said, “Our students really enjoyed the experience of the virtual expeditions across the world. This technology opened up the world and encouraged students to be curious, explore different places and even to swim with sharks. An exciting learning experience which we hope to build on and develop further in the future.”

Measham Community Library We are holding a Mad Hatter’s Tea Party on 18th March from 10-12pm This is to celebrate the unveiling of the Mosaic teapots created with community involvement by Mantle Art. There will be tea, coffee, cakes, and craft activities.

Prizes for the best fancy dressed Alice Wonderland character.

Come and join us!

New extra opening hours: Thursday mornings from 10 – 1pm!

We have tea, coffee and biscuits as well as the use of computers there are several group activities during the week such as Knit&natter, our monthly book club and Rhyme Time.

We are always looking for volunteers come and join our friendly team!

We have space available to hire for groups.

Contact email: meashamcomlibrary@gmail.com Registered Charity No. 1167493

LOCAL ADVERTISERS

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Come and see our exciting new displays of beds and bedroom furniture

Coalville Furniture Superstore, 79 - 81 Belvoir Road, Coalville LE67 3PH (former Co-op department store) Tel: 01530 833311 Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm, Sunday closed. Car park at rear.

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LOCAL NEWS

Homelessness Theatre Production At Ivanhoe College On Tuesday 31st Jan and Thursday 2nd February, Year 9 students at Ivanhoe College, Ashby de-la-Zouch, watched a gripping performance of the play ‘Until It’s Gone’, presented by the Zest Theatre Company. The play is a hard-hitting production for 1318 year olds, based on the true life experiences of homeless young people. The play is now in its ninth year of touring and has been seen by over 70,000 young people across the country.

‘Until It’s Gone’ focuses on the realities of being homeless, and the impact this can have on young people’s lives. The production aims to educate young people on the issues that can lead to homelessness, increase knowledge of the realities of homelessness and signpost young people to the services and support available.

The play follows Craig, a student whose choice of actions and words towards his friends and loved ones sees his life spiral into a tangle of homelessness, parenthood, crime and drug abuse. The play explores the importance of communication in all of this. Following the play, students and the cast took part in a practical session where they could further discuss the issues raised.

Here are a selection of comments from a diverse range of our students about how the play affected them and their attitudes towards the issues raised: Thoughts on homelessness

“Homelessness can happen to anyone, any time and isn't just about living on the street" Some students said they were now more aware of what they could do to prevent themselves ‘getting into those situations’ and one added, "I want to respect what I'm given more because homeless people have very little".

Thoughts on relationships "After watching it I want to try and have positive relationships with adults: especially those I live with and to resolve arguments with people I live and go to school with by talking about it, rather than walking away".

"It made me think I should be nicer to people and to be careful who I hang around with.”

Thoughts on drugs and crime "Not all homeless people are drug addicts, but becoming involved in drugs, whether homeless or not, can result in a damaging criminal record” Miss Haywood, Subject Leader for LifeSkills said, “We really appreciate the support we have had from parents and families in promoting the social, moral, spiritual and cultural and emotional development and wellbeing of our students, in particular through or LifeSkills program. We were very proud of our students for showing such maturity during the performance, and in the follow-up work we have been doing with them in class.”

A trailer of the production can be seen here https://zesttheatre.com/ until-its-gone

Andrew Bridgen MP Speaks To The Ashby Men’s Breakfast Group The men's breakfast in ashby takes place on the second Saturday of each month, except august. It offers a platform to a different speaker each month, the floor is then opened to questions.

Organiser David Watson said: “The men's breakfast is a Christian based group which is open to men of all faiths and none. We have speakers on a range of topics of interest to men and meet at 8.00 am on the 2nd Saturday of each month. The breakfast is informal and there is no membership required. Each month I email the location and speaker to those on the mailing list.”

Andrew Bridgen MP said: “Each year I attend the men’s breakfast on the 2nd Saturday of January to give a speech on the political picture over the last year, and offer my insight into the year attend. The breakfast is always well attended and is attended by a range of men. I would urge anyone interested to get in touch with David to receive the speaker list for 2017.”

Anyone who wants to attend should contact pamanddavid@watsonashby.co.uk for the location of the breakfast and for catering numbers.

LOCAL ADVERTISERS

Ashby & Measham Clubs & Groups Do you run a local community club or group in Ashby & Measham? Please send us your details to: communityeye@openboxpromotions.co.uk

Ashby Big Band

David - 01530 458706 07886194993 ashbybigband@aol.com www.ashbybigband.com -------------------------------------------------

Measham Karate Club

07761131043 meashamkarateclub@gmail.com www.meashamkarateclub.co.uk -------------------------------------------------

Ashby Art Club

01530 412116 www.ashbyartclub.org We meet on Monday evenings at 7pm. Smisby Village Hall, Main Street, Smisby, Ashby, LE65 2TY -------------------------------------------------

Ashby Civic Society

Margaret Mabey 01530 412410 kenward.ashby@gmail.com We meet on the 2nd Tuesday in the Month at Legion House, 27a South Street, Ashby, LE65 1BQ -------------------------------------------------

Measham Bowls Club

Sue & Stuart Boothroyd 01530 274104 stuartboothroyd@btinternet.com High Street, Measham, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, DE12 7HR -------------------------------------------------

Ashby Bowls Club

info@ashbybowlsclub.co.uk www.ashbybowlsclub.co.uk The Green, Bath Grounds, Ashby, LE65 1BJ -------------------------------------------------

Venture Theatre

Ken Ward - 01530 589268 www.ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk North Street, Ashby, LE65 1HS For ticket sales please call Ashby Tourist Office on 01530 411767.

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Ashby U3A

Anne Donegan - 01283 760348 secretary@ashbyu3a.co.uk Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby, LE65 2FQ -------------------------------------------------

Ashby African Drummers

Kaye Gillanders - 0777 2281699 ashbydrummers@googlemail.com Check us out on Facebook or visit our website: www. ashbydrummers.webeden.co.uk We are a community based group and meet once a fortnight on a Wednesday (next session Wednesday, 28th September) from 7.30pm - 9.30pm, at Moira Furnace, Furnace Lane, Moira, Derbyshire. DE12 6AT. The first taster session is free and then usually £3.00 per session

thereafter. We sometimes have guest teachers visit, so best to contact us prior to coming to secure a drum and check suitability. We welcome people of all ages and abilities although children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult.

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Ashby Civic Society Monthly Events 2016/2017 14th March 8pm

13th June 2pm

Houses of the Grey family

Visit to Woodhouse Community

Hear of Time Team digs at Groby

Garden £ 5 * Essential to book

Old Hall and latest digs at Lady

Guided walk and talk around the

Jane Grey in Bradgate with

beautifully restored walled garden

Archeologist, Peter Liddle.

followed by tea and homemade cake. What's not to like?

Legion House, South Street, Ashby Call Susanne for details 01530 415654

Call Margaret to book 01530 412410

Ann 01530 458110 www.bridgewebs.com/ashby Different bridge sessions offered for all levels of bridge player, Monday and Thursday evenings, Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings, at Hood Park Leisure Centre.

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or just come as a visitor

Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety.

Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety.

webs.com

webs.com

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11th July 2pm

11th April 8pm

Visit to Blackbrook Long Horn Cattle

History of Rolls Royce

£5 *Essential to book

Roy Hirst takes us through the history

See world famous prize winning

Frank Bedford - 01530 467183 For retired professional and businessmen meets monthly in Ashby. We enjoy a pub lunch, speakers, a programme of outings and functions and each others company. The club welcomes new members.

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of Rolls Royce from its founders to

cattle and hear how the breed was

the vibrant Company it is today.

developed by Robert Bakewell.

Ashby Bridge Club

The Ashby Probus Club

Ashby & District Stroke Support Group

Pat - 01530 413723 A friendly group for stroke survivors and their carers. We meet alternate Tuesdays at Brown Court Ashby from 2pm-4pm. Meetings involve speakers, meal sout,and general chat.

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Ashby Meditation

Irene - 01530414290 www.tarakmc.org Weekly classes on Thursdays 1st, 8th & 15th Dec (restart 12th Jan) at 7.30 in Legion House, South Street, Ashby.

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The Trinity Badminton Club

Secretary - 07801 700 664 The club is a small friendly club of average ability (non league) meeting Monday evenings at Holy Trinity Church Hall, off Kilwardby Street, Ashby from 7.30pm – 9.00pm. We play from Jan to May then Sept to Dec. New members always welcome.

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Ashby Chess Club

N Roberts - 01530 455957 Chess club open to adults and juniors. Juniors start at 6.15pm and Adults start at 7.15pm. Meets every Thursday at Ivanhoe Social Club, Wilfrid Place, off Bath Street, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 2GW. -------------------------------------------------

Inspect owners fine art gallery Legion House, South Street, Ashby

plus tea and biscuits.

Call Susanne for details 01530 415654 or just come as a visitor

Call Margaret to book 01530 412410

Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety.

Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety.

webs.com

webs.com

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9th May 7.30pm

8th August

Short AGM and Cheese and Wine

No meeting this month - Enjoy

*Always a favourite

the summer and see you on 12th

Deb Spencer from local Long

September

Clawson Diary will enthuse about the home of Stilton cheese.

Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety. webs.com

Legion House, South Street, Ashby

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Call Susanne for details 01530 415654 or just come as a visitor Visit www.ashbydelazouchcivicsociety. webs.com

Ashby Croquet Club

Rupert - 01530 272833 www.ashbycroquetclub.org.uk We play all year round on 3 lawns situated at Moira Miners Welfare DE12 6BP (opposite Conkers Waterside). Until the end of March we meet on Wednesdays and Sundays at 11.00 am and play for 2 hours. A friendly welcome is always assured.

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Ashby Writers’ Club

David Bell - 01530 413371 Ashby Writers’ Club meets on the second and fourth Tuesday

of each month, 7.30pm-9.30pm at Congregational Church, Kilwardby St, Ashby LE65 2FQ. Membership: £15 per annum.

Visitors are welcome at a nominal fee of £4 per speaker meeting, £3 per comp/manuscript meeting (includes coffee or tea).

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Tai Chi

Robin Taylor - 0773 8939271 r.taylor@virgin.net Class every Monday morning at Measham Leisure Centre 11.30 to 12.30. Beginners welcome.

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10

LOCAL NEWS

Tips From The Toolbox How To Make Jam – Easily!

For many people, jam making is as much a passion as it is a hobby. It is a wonderful way of preserving seasonal fruit to be enjoyed the whole year, while some jammakers simply enjoy giving their decorated jars as thoughtful gifts.

Jam as we know it emerged in the 19th Century. Before sugar became a reliable and cheap source from the West Indies, it was considered a spice and consequently a luxury only the wealthy could afford. Preserves made from sugar were too precious to spread thickly on toast; instead they were presented on delicate silver spoons at the end of a feast and were called “spoon sweets”. Jam reached the masses in the 1880’s when it was used to make the dark wholemeal bread eaten by the working classes more appealing.

means it will be spreadable.

For a first attempt at jam-making, I recommend using fruits naturally high in pectin as these will allow a good set without the addition of jam sugar or powdered pectin.

High pectin fruits include apples, cranberries, gooseberries, plums, damsons, citrus fruits, blackcurrants, redcurrants and quinces.

Low pectin fruits (strawberries, raspberries, peaches, blueberries and blackberries) are often combined with those with a higher level of pectin to help it set.

So why not give it a go? Post a photo of your end product on our Facebook page, we would love to see how you get on! (ashbytoolbox) I have created an easy recipe using a few plums which should yield a 1lb (454g) jar of jam. As we are using a small amount of fruit, you should be ok with a lidded saucepan with a heavy base. You will need: 12oz (340g) of plums (stones removed) under ripe or just ripe is best – (approx. 4 medium) 12oz (340g) of granulated white sugar (caster sugar also works) 1 tablespoon of water Before preparing the fruit, place a small plate in the fridge. This will be used to check the setting point later.

The good news for someone starting out making their own jam is that you can get away with using equipment you’re likely to have in your own kitchen.

1. Wash plums and cut into quarters.

2. Place fruit together with the water in a heavy based pot (I used a 20cm diameter saucepan).Add the lid and bring to the boil.

Basic terms and what they mean: Jam: chopped fruit cooked with sugar, boiled gently but quickly and sealed for long term storage.

3. Simmer on a very low heat until the plums have softened (approx.

20mins) stir every now and then to prevent fruit sticking and burning.

While the fruit bubbles away, sterilise a jam jar. Wash in hot soapy water, rinse and place in the oven at 180° (fan 160° or gas mark 4) while still wet for 15 minutes.

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7. Ladle the hot jam into the sterilised jar. Add a waxed disc and screw on a lid or secure a cellophane disc with a rubber band. Et Voila! A delightful jar of homemade plum jam. Enjoy!

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If you would like to learn a little more about preserving we will be holding an informal demonstration on Tuesday 4th April from 6pm. Come and join us at The Larder (The café next door to the Toolbox, 7 Coxon’s Mews, Ashby) all are welcome.

6. Boil for around 6 minutes until setting point is reached. To test, take the pan off the heat and place a teaspoon of jam on the chilled plate. Allow to cool and push your finger through the jam.

It should wrinkle up as it starts to congeal. If it is still runny you haven’t reached setting point.

Return the pan to the heat, bring

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5. Turn up the heat until the mixture comes to a rapid boil.

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back to a rolling boil and retest again in a few minutes.

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Set: this refers to how hard or soft the preserve is. A “hard set” means a stiff jam while a “soft set”

I PER EX

Pectin: a gelatine-like ingredient commonly used to thicken and gel jams, jellies and preserves. It is found naturally in fruits, but can also be bought in a powdered form.

4. Now remove the saucepan lid, keep on a low heat and add the sugar. Stir continuously until the sugar has dissolved. (You can check this by running a wooden spoon across the base of the pan. It should feel smooth. If it scratches or feels “gritty”, the mix needs a little more time)

IENCED

There are many advantages to making homemade jams. It’s a simple way to use up any bumper crop of fruit, you know exactly what is going into each jar, they taste fresher and the process lets us control the sweetness in the final product.

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So is it really worth the time, effort and expense involved in turning fruit from the garden or farm into jam? The simple answer is yes, of course it is!

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Canal Boats Get Lifted Out Of The Canal At Moira Furnace

Our two boats were lifted out of the Ashby canal at the Moira Furnace on the 17th February 2017. All went well and Nigel's organisation was great.

The boats will now be inspected. The Joseph Wilkes which carries hundreds of people every year on boat trips will have it's 3 yearly safety checks and painting. Work will also be done to Firefly which is a working boat and keeps the canal serviceable. We hope to extend our trips, but in summer the weed growth in the canal gets that bad that the boats cannot use certain sections. We do need some more volunteers to help if possible. Just a few YOURhours LOCAL ROTHLEY DECsuch 2016.qxp_Layout 1 16/01/2017 16:47 or Page 1 moirafurnace@hotmail.co.uk a week can make a difference. Call 01283 224667 email

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LOCAL NEWS

Friends of Ashby Bath Grounds - Castle View Wildlife Walk

PHOTO: The illustration above shows the ‘Vision’ the friends have for the Castle View Wildlife walk, opening up the footpath to the Bath Grounds and the planting of additional trees and native flowers. (The illustration was kindly painted by Di Lorriman) neighbours backing onto the footpath.

Public support was extremely

encouraging and the amount of

work surpassed our expectations.

Twenty five volunteers contributed The footpath between Prior

Park Road and the "cattle arch" leading to Mendip Close was a neglected area which had

become dark and tunnel like over the years limiting the views to the Castle and Bath Grounds.

In January 2016, The Friends had a

‘vision’ to incorporate this footpath into the Bath Grounds and make

it a natural continuation from the

new heritage footpath. We wanted to open up the conservation area

vistas around and across the Bath Grounds, improve the wildlife

diversity and make the footpath a pleasant and safer walk into and out of the Ashby.

over 400 hours of their free time

to clear two thirds of the ‘hedge’

range of wildflowers to the area.

This will strengthen the ecological

Bath Grounds. This phase was

a cycle of wildlife which is self-

the wildlife walk bordering the

completed in November 2016.

The Friends also achieved funding

balance on the grounds, creating supporting and attracting more

species of birds, butterflies, moths and insects. The Friends are also looking to install bird, bat and

insect boxes, a new bench and

interpretation board to complete

from site. Phase 1 work was

the Castle View Wildlife Walk

completed in April 2016.

during 2017.

To progress with Phase 2 the

If you are interested in

the Town Council with more detail

on the Bath Grounds, please call

Friends were required to provide

volunteering for community work

about our ‘vision’ for this area and

Clare Birch on 07958 232291

the benefits to creating a wildlife

or contact us via our email;

walk for the local community,

ensuring that the area had a long term solution and met the low maintenance criteria.

In developing our presentation to the Town Council we consulted

onto the footpath, the local

police, County Council and a local ecologist.

2016, following consultation with

planting to introduce a wider

continue an ‘avenue effect’ along

wood material being removed

immediate neighbours backing

Wildlife Walk project in February

10 new oak and beech trees to

and three large lorry loads of

the Bowls Club, Cricket Club,

Council, we started phase 1 of the

the sapling stumps and fund

including over 50 one tonne bags

with and were supported by

With the consent of Ashby Town

agreed to fund the removal of

The Friends gained the approval

of the Town Council to complete the next phase of improvements to this very important route into Ashby. The Town Council also

bathgroundsfriends@gmail.com from the Town Council and the

County Council to secure the Prior Park end of the Wildlife Walk with an access gate and fencing.

Towards the end of 2016 the Friends were successful in

securing further funding from

Ashfield Healthcare and the Hicks Lodge Trust allowing the next

phases of the Project to continue.

Phase 3 started at the beginning

of February 2017, with the Friends volunteers carrying out further improvements to the Wildlife

Walk including; improving the hedgerow, ground work, and

LOCAL NEWS

13

Bulbs For The Summer Whilst I write, there are flurries of snow passing my office window accompanied by the chirrup of birds hoping for the temperature to rise soon. We may be in the depths of a cold spell this week but I know that by the time you read this, March will be upon us and the sun will be shining more often and those birds will be busy finding spaces to nest.

Cannas

Dahlias

Enter any nursery, garden centre or DIY store now and there will be rows of shiny packets with pictures promising bright and colourful blooms later in the summer. It’s worth thinking ahead now and picking up a few of these bulbs/tubers to give colour later in the year.

Dahlias I’ve already been tempted by Dahlias this year and have 5 tubers awaiting potting to join the half or dozen or so I have lifted and stored from previous years. I particularly like Pompom dahlias with their neat and compact blooms which i find fit well in to small-medium arrangements or vases. I’m often taken by the promise of the large cactus and decorative Dahlias which can bear blooms the size of dinner plates! I do struggle to fit these in to my vases though and think they are better used as a decorative border plant rather than for cut flowers for me. I’ll be trying ‘Burlesca’ this year which is a new variety with pink-coral pompom heads. ‘Wizard of Oz’ was my

Bel Grierson

Eucomis

Garden Designer & Plantswoman

favourite from last year with its pale sugar pink flowers.

Eucomis A weird and wonderful looking bulb whose flowers resemble Pineapples! These are very large bulbs and consequently can be quite pricy but they are worth it.

They need a well drained garden soil or can be grown in pots which helps to display them. Eucomis bicolour is a favourite of mine with green-cream blooms edged with burgundy. Newer cultivars include ‘Sparkling Burgundy’ which has purple foliage and purple-pink flowers on tall spikes. Both are worth seeking out.

Lilies Summer wouldn’t be summer without Lilies in the garden perfuming the air with their intoxicating fragrance. The orientalis species has a huge array of colours to choose from and have a distinctive scent. The pixie lilies are ideal for containers as they flower on short stems, although some lack fragrance.

For those who like their plants super sized, the Regale Lilies or the recently introduced Tree Lilies carry large flowers of tall stems and are really showy.

Gladioli Not one to just be grown by the flower arrangers amongst us.

Gladioli are so distinctive and showy whether grown for cutting or planted in mixed borders or pots belgriersondesign info@belgrierson.co.uk

to give striking displays of blooms in an amazing rainbow of colours.

I particularly like the magenta and purple coloured varieties like ‘Belle de Nuit’ and ‘Espresso’ Crocosmia These can often be found on offer as bulbs in the spring and offer the chance to grow them very cheaply rather than buy ready grown plants later in the year. I favour the shorter varieties for use in borders. C. ‘George Davidson’ is a sunshine gold-orange which teams well with lots of the late summer hot coloured perennials and ornamental grasses.

Cannas These unassuming tubers grow to the most spectacular exotic looking plants by mid-late summer.

Ideal for containers on the patio they give a summer holiday feel.

The foliage is broad and comes in shades of green, bronze and purple. Topping tall flower stems, vibrant blooms unfurl in bold fiery shade of red, orange, coral and yellow. Not fully hardy, these need protection from frost so it is best to start them off with some shelter.

I hope I’ve tempted you to pick up a few bulbs/tubers and have a go at growing them yourself. Next month I’ll be getting to grips with common garden weeds, looking at annual and perennials and the best ways to eradicate them.

www.belgrierson.co.uk 07506750250

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LOCAL NEWS

COUNTY COUNCILLOR

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

M: 07429055402 E: Sean.Sheahan@leics.gov.uk

M: 01530 417736 E: andrew.bridgen.mp@parliament.uk

SEAN SHEAHAN

ANDREW BRIDGEN

Your response to HS2

OFSTED and the County Council

Time is running out for responses to the HS2 consultation. The deadline is 9th March. You can send your response by post (no stamp required) to FREEPOST HS2 PHASE 2B ROUTE REFINEMENT CONSULTATION, by using the on-line form which can be found on the website https://route2b. dialoguebydesign.net or simply sending an e-mail to route2b@ dialoguebydesign.co.uk

OFSTED have recently issued a report which says that Leicestershire County Council ‘requires improvement’ in the way it delivers children’s social services. There are many areas of concern, but one item that really stands out is excessive caseloads for social workers and lack of management input to support them. Put simply, the service is overstretched, and vulnerable children are more at risk.

If you live in Measham and wish to object to HS2, I would suggest the best arguments to use against it are as follows: The business case for HS2 is flawed. The Government have failed to demonstrate how they will achieve the promised journey saving times from East Midlands city centres to London, via their choice of station for HS2 at Toton.

Money would be better spent on improvements to the existing rail network, which would be quicker, cheaper and avoid the years of massive disruption caused by HS2.

The new, eastern route around Measham would create noise impacts that cannot be mitigated.

Where the line crosses the Mease, the sound of the trains will be projected a great distance, due to the height of the viaduct and the channelling effect of the valley side. Houses on the Poets’ and Riverway estates would be severely affected by noise.

The peace and tranquility of Measham cemetery will be shattered. No amount of mitigation or compensation can make amends for that.

Measham would become an island, trapped between the A42 on one side and HS2 on the other, something which HS2’s own guidance says should be avoided.

If you require further help or advice, the local campaign group, MAPA HS2 Action, are planning drop-in sessions to help with consultation responses in Measham and Appleby. Details are on their website www. mapahs2action.org.uk or go on Facebook and search for MAPA HS2 Action Group.

How the County Council plans to address this situation will become clear in the next few weeks. The Children and Families Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which I Chair, meets on 6th March.

One concern I have is that the Council’s ruling Administration will only come up with enough resources to partially implement OFSTED’s recommendations.

Through the Scrutiny Committee, I shall be pressing for them to be fully funded.

Weight limit enforcement Last month, I wrote about the difficulties with enforcing weight restrictions on many of Measham’s roads. A meeting has been penciled in for early March to bring together county highways, the police and the parish council to thrash out all the issues.

I was interested to read in a recent Local Government Association (LGA) press release that it wants councils to be able to fine lorry drivers who flout weight restrictions. Local authorities in Wales and London already have powers to do this, which takes the burden off the police, who as we know do not always have the resources to carry out enforcement. I do not see why these powers cannot be rolled out across all of England.

The LGA says Government would need to enact secondary legislation to bring into force the necessary provisions of the Traffic Management Act (2004) Part 6.

I shall be raising this at the next meeting of the County Council and calling on Leicestershire to back the LGA’s stance.

Last week the Prime Minister set out the Government’s 12 negotiating objectives for Brexit.

I believe each of these objectives were reasonable and fair to both the UK and the EU. A sensible organisation looking at this situation objectively would allow free trade in goods between the EU and the UK with access to services where the regulatory framework allowed. If the EU refuse this sensible proposition then we should not be afraid to walk away and adopt World Trade Organisation rules. We have Countries queuing up to negotiate trade deals with us, primarily the new United States administration who I believe will take a dim view of any vengeful antics against the UK by the European Union.

It is an established fact that the trade between EU Countries.

Looking at this deal from business perspective, it would an act of kamikaze proportions to risk damaging this relationship for the sake of exacting punishment and revenge against a Country that democratically decided it does not wish to remain part of your organisation.

It also serves to highlight why we have taken the right decision in not being shackled to them any longer as their reaction to the referendum result has been tantamount to bullying.

Let us also not forget how much money the UK has pumped into the EU project. It amounts to over £60 billion in net contributions since 2010 alone, and many billions of pounds before that.

Money we had to borrow and on which we are paying interest.

Britain’s contribution to the EU budget amounts to more than the rest of the member countries combined if you exclude Germany. If you also consider the many billions of pounds more that we spend on defence than Germany, France or Italy, there is a realism that the UK has propped the EU up for many years and that should be appreciated during the negotiation.

If in its attempts to frighten other EU nations who might be thinking of leaving, the EU look

to punish the UK in any trade agreement talks, let us not forget who would really suffer. It is the people of Europe and their jobs and prosperity. The car worker in Germany, the tourist worker in Spain, the farmer in France.

The EU elite would do well to remember this.

As I write this, the Supreme Court have decreed that Article 50 will need Parliamentary approval to be triggered. This is a disappointing but not a surprising decision, and I do not believe it will hold up invoking article 50, as the Government will move swiftly to enact the legislation and keep to the timetable that has been set out.

There is much concern regarding the proposal to downgrade one of the A & E departments in Staffordshire at present and the potential threat to the unit at Burton which would cover a significant portion of the District.

I and my colleagues for whom Burton serves are very clear that this should not happen.

Burton has a very busy A and E department and we have growing populations.

We do need public support however and I would urge all of those who share my concerns to sign the petition against the downgrade which can be found at www.saveburtonaande.com On the wider issue of the NHS, there has been much in the media about the pressures within the organisation. There is obviously an ever growing demand, particularly for A and E services. A and E attendances are up nearly 25% since 2010, that’s 4.3 million more admissions and whilst we are putting billions of pounds more into the NHS, it is not just more money that will deal with this issue. We need to look at primary care and how to better direct the estimated 30% of people for whom A and E is not the appropriate treatment centre.

We also need to look at the issues delaying discharge such as the setting up of care packages so we can ease up the ‘bed blocking’ problem. The Government is doing what it can to improve the NHS to keep it sustainable for the years to come.

LOCAL ADVERTISERS

Can you help bring the 1620s House to life?

To find out more about this exciting opportunity book onto either of our open days

Friday 24 March 10am - 12.30pm Sunday 9 April 2 - 4.30pm

Join our team, share and learn skills. Get in touch!

Tel: 0116 305 0552 Email: nicola.seika@leics.gov.uk

leicestershire.gov.uk/volunteering /doningtonleheath The 1620s House and Garden at Donington le Heath is on the south west corner of Coalville LE67 2FW

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Volunteer with our 1620s House interpretation team and welcome our visitors, tell them about the history of the house and the fascinating objects within it, have a go at a range of period crafts, pastimes and chores!

Enjoy gardening in lovely surroundings?

To find out more about this exciting opportunity book onto our open day

Wednesday 29 March 10am - 12noon

Join our team, share and learn skills. Get in touch!

Tel: 0116 305 0552 Email: nicola.seika@leics.gov.uk

leicestershire.gov.uk/volunteering /doningtonleheath The 1620s House and Garden at Donington le Heath is on the south west corner of Coalville LE67 2FW

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Become a 1620s Garden Volunteer and support maintenance and development projects, tend to the vegetable patch, give garden tours and share and learn new skills with our team in these lovely period gardens.