March 2015 - Loughborough Community Eye

LOUGHBOROUGH

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FREE MONTHLY LOCAL NEWS, EVENTS, PUZZLES, COMPETITIONS & MORE

ISSUE 17 - MARCH 2015

COMMUNITY EYE

IN THE GARDEN WITH BEL

EASY BREAD Make The Perfect Homemade Loaf

Growing Colourful Alpines

VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

Carillon Tower & War Memorial Museum

RNIB GOES TO THE RACES

Plus Find Out How You Can Donate & Support Annabel

ARE YOU A KNITTER OR DO YOU KNOW ONE?

Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland Is Calling For All Knitters To Join The Big Knit

ROTARY BEACON EASTER BUNNY RUNS

Challenge Yourself For A Worthwhile Cause

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Charnwood Landscaping Hard Landscaping Specialist

WORKSHOP Come and have a go at this fantastic opportunity to make various objects with balloons.

SATURDAY 28th MARCH 2015 LOUGHBOROUGH LIBRARY

• Block Paving • Patios • Decking • Turfing • Fencing Fully Insured, Local Company

Contact us to arrange for a free consultation T: 01509 550422 - M: 07541304447 E: charnwood.landscaping@hotmail.co.uk W: www.charnwood-landscaping.co.uk

11.00am – 1.00pm Book early to avoid disappointment.

Limited places.

The workshop is suitable for children (4+) to adults.

Contact Loughborough Library for further information Tel: 0116 305 2420

WELCOME

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WELCOME TO YOUR MARCH COMMUNITY EYE MAGAZINE It’s been great to see some blue skies and the sun finally showing its face, although the temperature has been low, it’s left me with a spring like feeling!

I hope you enjoy reading our magazine and have fun entering our competitions. Bel again has some great gardening tips and you can have a go at baking your own bread by following our recipe.

FRONT COVER PHOTOGRAPH BY:

Ian Plimmer © ____________________________________

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NEXT ISSUE OUT DEADLINE DATE: 14th April 2014 DELIVERY DATE: 20th April 2014 Deadline and delivery dates are subject to change depending on how far we are ahead or behind. ____________________________________ The views and opinions expressed in this magazine are those of the original advertisers & contributors and do not necessarily represent Community Eye or Open Box Promotions Ltd. Open Box Promotions Ltd reserves the right to amend or refuse to publish articles or adverts submitted for publication. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission.

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Please do keep sending your articles and photographs in, we are always looking for front cover images and you can send them to communityeye@openboxpromotions.co.uk If you are interested in advertising please do call Dawn who will be happy to talk you through your best options.

NICKY MORGAN MP AND “THE CIVIL WAR IN LOUGHBOROUGH” NEW BOOK RELEASED Loughborough MP, Nicky Morgan, has written a children's activity non-fiction book about Loughborough during the Civil War, published today.

ARE YOU A KNITTER OR DO YOU KNOW ONE? WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE MONEY FOR LOCAL OLDER PEOPLE

It is time to explore the past with this fantastically fun “cut out and play” title packed with amazing facts, fun activities, cut-out characters to colour in, puzzles and more interesting information than you can shake a stick at.

With a bold and accessible look, this title allows younger readers to discover why holding a match at night was a really bad idea, how spending a penny could get you thrown in prison and what to do if you met a man named Praise God Barebone.

Fun, informative and educational, this is how to get children interested in history.

ABOUT THE BOOK Title: The Civil War in Loughborough Author: Rt Hon Nicola Morgan MP ISBN: 978-1-910440-28-5 Publisher: Bretwalda Books Price: £4.99

Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is calling for all knitters to join in The Big Knit this year to raise much-needed funds to help keep local older people warm and healthy this coming winter.

Last year we received an incredible 47,000 little hats and need your help to match this challenging total which will assist our winter warmth campaign 2015. Innocent drinks will donate 25p for each little hat which will adorn the smoothie bottles sold in supermarkets early in 2016.

Knitters can get the simple knitting patterns online at www. ageuk.org.uk/leics or by calling the Business Development Manager on 0116 2237344.

Please arrange for your knitted hats to be at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland (Ref: BDM), Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LA by the end of September.

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LOCAL NEWS

“It’s more than just about the rugby” was the thought of many down at Derby Road recently when students from Brooksby Melton College visited the HQ of the Loughborough Rugby Football Club as part of their programme of work experience and what is hoped is the first part of the refurbishment of the club.

Under the guidance of Dominic Bowyer, Lecturer in Countryside Management the students planned and undertook the clearance of the overgrown hedge growth within the clubs grounds putting in it’s place a new hawthorn hedge.

Mr. Bowyer remarked…“It has been really great getting involved with LRFC and helping out the local community and it provides students with ideal opportunities to not only practice their skills but boost their C.V’s as well”.

The Loughborough Rugby Club are not only indebted to the students of Brooksby Melton College for the work but several others also. Nick Berry of Outwoods Tree Services, a former student of Brooksby Melton College took time out of his busy schedule to bring his equipment to the site to support the students, “The students really enjoyed the day and especially relished the opportunity to work with somebody from the industry. The fact that Nick was a past student

inspired the students to see what they can achieve once they graduate”, explained Mr. Bowyer.

Also, the club wish to thank Six Acre Nurseries of Costock who supplied the hawthorn ‘whips’ that were planted to form the new hedge and Adam Goodall, Head of Green Spaces at Charnwood Borough Council for his help and advice on undertaking the work.

A spokesperson for the Rugby club stated…”it’s a fantastic piece of work that has been successfully planned and undertake by the students, the entire area along the A6 has been opened up to reveal a fantastic park land that will become a credit not only to the club but Loughborough and the Charnwood Borough Council also.

For any one travelling into Loughborough along the A6 we now have the rugby club along side the Golf Centre welcoming visitors to a famous sporting town”.

The final words of a successful event go to Dominic Bowyer “ We are really pleased to be able to help the rugby club and would loved to be involved in the future”.

On the pitch it’s congratulations to the Loughborough Under 15’s that won the Leicestershire RFU County Plate following a 10-0 victory over Ashby RFC. March see’s the Finals of both the Leicestershire Under 13’s &

14’s County Cup Finals involving the Loughborough age groups and hoped continued success for the club.

For the Ladies it’s Quarter Final time in the RFU Intermediate Cup and a visit to Henley RFC. The Minis section stage their own Loughborough Tournament on Sunday March 22nd with all welcome to witness a truly remarkable spectacle of youngsters enjoying themselves.

REMAINING FIXTURES:

The battle against relegation for the Senior Men’s XV continues with just three games remaining as we go to press and seven points separating the bottom four teams in the Midlands Division Two East (North) table.

Congratulations must go to the Loughborough Under 16’s who recently enjoyed a highly successful tour to France defeating Olympique St Genis Laval by twenty seven points to ten, fittingly in the middle of the Six Nations programme of fixtures.

21st

Dronfield vs. Loughborough 1st XV

KO 3.00pm

28th

LOUGHBOROUGH 1st XV vs. WEST BRIDGFORD

KO 3.00pm

11th

LOUGHBOROUGH 1st XV vs. Market Bosworth

KO 3.00pm

All Welcome, Free Admission, Hot & Cold food & Bar - For other teams fixtures visit the LRFC website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/loughborough

ROTARY BEACON EASTER BUNNY RUNS Challenge yourself by tackling one of the Rotary Beacon Easter Bunny Runs for a worthwhile cause!

The fourth Easter Bunny Runs, organised by the Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon, will take place in Beacon Hill Country Park on Sunday April 19th. The event starts at 12 noon, at the Beacon Hill Lower Car Park, Breakback Road, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8TA. There are two off-road courses on paths and bridleways. The 10km double climb of Beacon Hill is for serious runners, while the 3km easy loop is for fun runners, who can wear Easter Bunny costumes.

Activities for families include a bouncy castle and an egg hunt. Food, drinks and massages will also be available.

Money raised will be donated to the Multiple Sclerosis Society, Headway brain injury association, and other charities supported by Beacon Rotary. Teams of six or more runners can choose to support their own charities.

You can register online at: www.beaconbunnyrun.org, by post, or on the day. For an entry form by post, write to Beacon Easter Bunny Run, 40 Sanders Road, Quorn LE12 8JN or phone 07906 915589.

Start training now and join us in a day of fun and achievement for all the family!

‘FLYING PIG’ SET TO STAR AT GREAT CENTRAL RAILWAY’S - ‘MODEL EVENT’ Friday 19th, Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st June. LMS Ivatt Class 4 loco, No.43106, fondly known as the Flying Pig, will headline the giant model rail expo which is set to have over 120 exhibits this year! To find out more visit www.gcrailway.co.uk/modelevent

LOCAL NEWS

CARILLON TOWER & WAR MEMORIAL MUSEUM 01509 263370 - carillonmuseum@gmail.com - www.loughborough-rollofhonour.com

WAS LOUGHBOROUGH BOMBED IN WW2?

We were contacted by a gentleman asking if Loughborough was bombed in WW2. In response I repeated a story told to me by my father. Loughborough was not targeted but a German bomber ditched a couple of bombs which landed in Tucker’s Brick Yard behind what is now Tesco's car park at Shelthorpe.

The resulting explosions collapsed the bedroom ceiling at No 1 Howe Road and the people who lived there charged a penny per person to view the damage, the queue extended half way up Park Road.

An uncle of mine told me that the Home Guard nearly came to blows with the Air Raid Wardens as to who was responsible for picking up the empty cases fired by the chasing British fighter planes that had landed in Park Road.

Later in life I thought it must have been the German Dornier bomber that crashed out Burton on the Wolds way; on the night Coventry was bombed. (It wasn’t)

However I was myself ‘shot down’ and told that the story was not true and that no bombs were dropped on Loughborough, searching the internet does bring up a couple of mentions that bombs were dropped but no evidence. See website http://goo.gl/Vtayn8 I then spoke to my aunt who was nine at the time and she clearly remembers the incident and she added a rather interesting snippet, she lived on Woodthorpe Avenue at the time, their back garden backed onto the Shelthorpe School playing fields, apparently the fence between the gardens and the playing field was removed so that the people living in the area could get to the air raid shelters, located on the edge of the fields, quickly in the event of an air raid.

She also remembers the Dornier, her brother setting off on his bike the next day, in search of the crashed aircraft and souvenirs. The picture on the left shows the wreckage at Prestwold Hall being guarded against

VOLUNTEERS WANTED! Can you spare one afternoon a week? We need a small number of volunteer Museum Guides to manage the upper floors of the Carillon Museum during the open season; Good Friday till 30 Sept 2015.

Interested? Come along, take a look, have a chat see what it entails.

If so get in touch email: carillonmuseum@gmail.com

VC WINNER HONOURED

souvenir hunters like my uncle and his friends.

I was also corrected on a matter concerning the Dornier, the common believe is that the crew deliberately crashed the plane in open countryside therefore sparing Loughborough but I had the theory that they knew of the existence of the airfield at Wymsewold and were headed for that. However Mr John Collier pointed out that the minimum of research would have revealed that Wymsewold airfield had not be been built in 1940. That’s me told!

We have just a couple of pieces of the Dornier in the museum but there must be other bits about?

Do you have a souvenir taken from the crashed Dornier, know of any records of the bombing or any anecdotes of the incident involving the aircraft? We are hoping to have a display to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the incident if we can find a venue.

EASY BREAD INGREDIENTS

• 500g / 1lb 2oz Strong white bread flour • 1¼ teaspoon salt • 1½ teaspoon bread yeast • 2 teaspoon sugar • 300ml / 10fl oz water

The picture on the heading is of Pte William Buckingham VC who won Britain’s highest award for bravery in the First World War.

NOTE: A bread tin is good but the dough can simply be placed on a baking tray.

On March 10 and 12 in 1915 while serving with the 2nd Battalion, the Leicestershire Regiment, he displayed “conspicuous acts of bravery and devotion to duty” in rescuing and rendering aid to the wounded while exposed to heavy fire, especially at Neuve Chapelle.

Preheat the oven to 230°C / 450°F.

On Thursday 12th March 2015 the decorated stone was laid in the graveyard of St Andrew’s church in Countesthorpe, next to the war memorial.

The stone is one of four commissioned locally by the Government to recognise the outstanding valour of those who were awarded the VC in the First World War.

COOKING METHOD

Put the flour, yeast, sugar and salt in a largish bowl and mix all the ingredients together well.

Slowly add the water to the mixture and blend it in.

When all the water is added, continue mixing with your hands for 5 minutes more. Place the dough on a floured surface.

Knead the dough for 10 more minutes until it becomes stretchy and elastic (To knead dough, place it on a floured surface, flatten it out. Fold it in

half towards you then flatten it again with the palms of your hand. Repeat) Separate some of the dough and make three 10cm (4in) rolls from the dough. Fit the rest of the dough into the oiled bread tin or on an oiled baking tray.

Plait the three rolls of dough and pinch the end of the plait together to hold them.

Cover the dough with a wet tea towel (to stop the surface drying) and place it somewhere at room temperature away from draughts. Two hours later the dough will have doubled in size and be ready for baking.

Put the dough in middle of the oven for 35 minutes. Remove from the oven when the top is a light golden brown.

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Have you got what it takes to make a difference?

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For more information about the event, or for more guidance on a career as a Personal Assistant, call us on 0116 305 4699 or e-mail us at Admin.TeamCountyHall@leics.gov.uk

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WINDOW DRESSING

Fabulous Fabrics Recently I have been to some of the many fabric shows and as usual have fallen in love with so many collections.

Two of the stand out ranges available at the moment come from Clarke & Clarke With fabric names such as Woburn, Hatfield and Chatsworth, the inspiration for this collection is the classical English country house. A mix of embroidered patterns on linen, woven checks and jaquards are available in the softest tones of duck egg, heather, mustard and taupe. I particularly like harewood, with its dove design.

All fabrics are suitable to mix and match, with complimentary plain linens.

Looking at the vibrant colours and bold prints of this collection it is not surprising that the inspiration came from the spice markets of Zanzibar.

With an exciting colour palette of aqua, indigo and fuschia among others, this collection will definitely bring a strong design and colour statement to your soft furnishings.

From now until the end of March we are offering 20% off all Clarke & Clarke fabrics.

For more details please call Caroline Thompson Acacia Curtains and Blinds 0795 1619046

Contact Caroline Thompson Telephone 01509 821016 Mobile 0795 1619046

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Outdoor Solutions • Landscaping specialist • Driveways • Patio and paths • Fencing and gates • Turfing Call Tim Dorman 01509 839694 or 0116 2364410 Mobile 07792645878

Charnwood based 20 years experience One step and you’re there!

GARDENING

T

GROWING COLOURFUL ALPINES

he daylight hours are lengthening and the weather is improving, so when the sun shines I’m nipping out to the garden with every chance I get!

I’m busy creating new flower beds and getting the veg plot ready for spring. If you’d like to try your hand at growing your own produce this year see below for details of my ‘Grow along with Bel’ project.

Viola ‘Columbine’

‘Newcroft Gardening Club’

One of the first splashes of colour to brighten up the garden centres and nurseries in spring is from Alpine plants. They are irresistible after the winter months and I always buy a dozen or so each year. Alpine plants don’t need to be confined to a rockery though; they are lovely in pots, troughs, baskets and borders too.

Alpine plants originate from regions with good drainage and usually cold, dry winters, with high light levels. In order to grow them successfully in our gardens we need to emulate the conditions they thrive in naturally. Alpines will need a sunny spot and a free draining compost is essential to stop root and base rot during our wet winters. I make up a mix for pots of around one part John Innes no.2, one part horticultural grit & one part multi-purpose compost but some garden centres sell ready mixed alpine compost.

Anywhere that’s sunny, freedraining and not smothered by other plants will suit Alpines, but

‘Grow along with Bel’

I like to grow them in pots so I can appreciate their diminutive stature. I can move the pot near to the house or onto the patio whilst they are in flower and then pop them out of the way in the Autumn-Winter. Shallow dish-like pots are best as they drain well and alpines only need a short rooting space.

My favourite Alpines Try a selection of these mixed together in a pot or plant them in a gravel garden or rockery: Aubretia – blue/pink/purple flowers in spring; Viola ‘Columbine’ – dappled blue/white petals; Lithodora – Striking azureblue flowers; Saxifraga – tight cushions topped with white/red/ pink blooms in spring; Armeria – aka Thrift with grassy cushions topped with pompoms throughout spring/summer; Sempervivum – aka House Leek green-bronze spiky rosettes; Campanula carpatica or similar with blue/purple/white bell flowers; Aquilegia alpina – small form with nodding blooms; Dianthus aka dwarf Pinks – highly scented repeat flowerers; Erodium – carpeting plant with white/pink blooms; Phlox subulata – carpets of blooms in early summer in pink/ white/blue/purple; Pulsitilla – furry foliage and feathered blooms in late spring.

surface, a water and then they will provide you with a lovely colourful display during Spring-Summer.

Newcroft Gardening Club I’ve had the pleasure of helping out with the Newcroft school Gardening Club recently, led by teacher Emily Gould, the group of budding student gardeners have been having fun learning how to cultivate soil, sow seeds and grow produce for use in the schools kitchen. It’s been lovely to help such a well behaved polite group of children and I hope they go on to grow their own produce at home too.

‘Grow along with Bel’ Ever wanted to have a go at growing your own veggies, fruit and flowers, but not sure where to start? Well over the next 6 months I’ll be posting advice on what & when to sow, grow and harvest & how to keep the weeds and pests at bay on my Facebook page.

Like my page to keep up to date & get involved with ‘Grow along with Bel’ www.facebook.com/ belgriersondesign It’s been a busy start to the year and summer will soon be here so next month I’ll be looking at some of my favourite plant combinations for colourful patio pots.

Once planted give them a top dressing of horticultural grit on the

Bel Grierson

Garden Designer & Plantswoman

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LOCAL NEWS

COUNCILLOR

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

T: 01509 236971 E: cllr.jonathan.morgan@charnwood.gov.uk

T: 01509 262723 E: nicky.morgan.mp@parliament.uk

JONATHAN MORGAN OUR GREAT OUTDOORS The last few weeks have started to smell and feel like spring, and the seasonal cycle of events have started again; from lambing to bluebells, and runners to lawnmowers.

By the time you have read this article, several hundred runners will have completed (or possibly not!) the Loughborough half-marathon – an event that I happily watch, but am not brave enough to run.

It’s great that the race has now become a fixture in our town, and its popularity reflects the health and sportiness of our residents. Whilst waiting for my family members and friends to complete the course, I am always in admiration of the times that many of the abled and disabled competitors achieve – I doubt that I could achieve something similar on a bike.

The improvement in the weather has also enabled me to take family and friends for slightly warmer and longer walks, whether it’s up, around, and over Beacon Hill, or over the softer, undulating fields on the outskirts of the town. It’s also only a week or two till the Bluebells open at Outwoods, carpeting the woods blue and green, attracting admirers from far and near.

It is a time of year when I realise just how much varied and beautiful open countryside surrounds us, and why I’m so pleased that the Borough is such an enthusiastic supporter of the Charnwood Forest Regional Park. It’s important that we have a way of defining and describing where we live and what we value, so that we can protect and promote it more widely. The Park borders the National Forest, which is still defining itself, but is certainly becoming greener and more forest like in parts. Our own Regional Park is more varied, and not just a forest – but includes all of the woods and parks that we enjoy around us, as well as other areas that will one day become as valued, such as the old Mountsorrel Quarry.

There are many facets to the Council’s work, many don’t have a daily impact, nor attract large amounts of funds or plaudits, but are invaluable to our long term plan for our community and countryside – and the Charnwood Forest Regional Park is one of the best.

SUPPORTING OUR SERVICEMAN I can remember the first discussion about the Duke of Westminster’s

ambitions for Stanford Hall, and the description of the impact it would make nationally, for the servicemen and families that would use it, and locally, for those that will be directly employed by, or service it.

There is still some time until it will be up-and-running, but when it does, Loughborough will notice its presence as its closest town. We will not only play host to the serviceman themselves, recovering from their injuries, but also to their visiting families and those that work at the centre. I’m looking forward to seeing this large influx of people into our town, because I know that they’ll be impressed by our welcome and the support they will get from us. A positive approach to our servicemen is embedded in the Military Covenant, recently agreed by the Council, and a document that is well worth the read.

SUPPORTING OUR COMMUNITY Charnwood Council are been proud that they have been able to continue funding local community groups over the past few years, recognising the important role they play in supporting our residents that need the most help.

To further the work that such groups do, Charnwood Council has recently agreed to part fund a Community Support officer, to work alongside our community groups, to try to support them, whether it be for fundraising, or specific projects in support of those already underway. The aim is to allow groups to flourish, become more self-sufficient, and more effective in what they do best.

Jonathan Morgan

Loughborough Liberal Democrats hold advice surgeries.

For further more details call 01509 561458.

NICKY MORGAN

March 8th is International Women’s Day and this year’s theme was “Making it Happen”.

This Government is on the side of women and girls and it was a privilege to be part of International Women’s Day events in London and Leicestershire to mark progress made but to highlight further areas for improvement.

I was delighted that Charnwood College student, Rhiannon Marshall, helped me to organise a local International Women’s Day event in Loughborough. We invited girls from each secondary school. Rhiannon got them thinking about some of the equality issues facing women whilst local businesswoman Emma Moore from Print Monkey talked about women and enterprise and East Midlands MEP, Emma McClarkin and I talked about life in our respective Parliaments.

I have mentioned in previous columns the enormous diversity of new businesses being set up locally and this trend continues as I found out when I recently met Sweena Chauhan who has set up First Class Learning Maths and English Tuition which holds classes in Shepshed and Quorn. More details can be found at: www.firstclasslearning/quorn As regular readers will know I am very proud of my links with Loughborough College’s Bridge to Work programme. I was therefore delighted to be able to extend an invitation to 10 Downing Street to my fellow Bridge to Work steering group members. Bridge to Work is a very important programme for young people in Loughborough and so many people have worked hard on it since it started. I hoped the visit was one small way of recognising their efforts. I think we were all just sorry we didn’t get a chance to see Larry the Downing Street cat!

I continue with my programme of working with local employers so was pleased to visit Cento Group

to help them celebrate their 10th anniversary, 50 cycles to hear about their expansion plans and Visual Answers Optometrists in Barrow. I was also the guest speaker at a local Chamber of Commerce breakfast. And I helped to chair the Loughborough BID annual landlords’ meeting.

I was very pleased to join the 30th anniversary Christian Aid lunch.

These “simple” lunches have raised £100,000 for some of the most vulnerable people in the world over the past 30 years and have involved a real partnership between Loughborough’s churches. I was honoured to be invited to join this very special occasion with the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood.

And congratulations to everyone who took part in the world record martial arts attempt organised by the Loughborough Aikido Community Group at Garendon Social Club.

I attended my first Leicester Riders basketball game held at Loughborough University. I have really enjoyed watching basketball on TV but never quite understood how the game works until now. I am pleased to report they won against the London Lions. I also enjoyed an afternoon at Loughborough Dynamo watching their match against the Stocksbridge Park Steels – I’m afraid to say they didn’t win on that occasion.

I also recently visited the Carillon Cricket Club, with Sports Minister Helen Grant MP to mark the launch of Sport England’s “This Girl Can” campaign and also to announce that the Club’s women’s cricket team will now play in the Women’s Midlands Premier League.

Finally I was honoured to be named by the readers of Asian Voice as their “Cabinet Minister of the Year” in late February. This is a real privilege and I am very grateful to them.

Nicky Morgan

My name is Annabel Baxter and I am running the London Marathon for the Royal National Institute for the Blind, RNIB. I have worked at RNIB Loughborough for 2 years now and I have seen the work that the charity does first hand. At the college I work with blind and partially sighted young people also with

Learning difficulties.

As a college we aim to promote life skills and to encourage independence. It is because of these young people that I have chosen to run the London Marathon for the RNIB. I want them to see I am dedicated to supporting them in becoming more independent in their everyday lives.

LOCAL NEWS

LABOUR CANDIDATE

DR MATTHEW O’CALLAGHAN M: 07894 229499 E: matthewocall@gmail.com

When I first started work in Loughborough for Fisons more than 25 years ago, the town was a busy centre with lots of independent shops. Much has changed since then. Lots more houses have been built around the town and the University has grown significantly with its students making a major contribution to the retail economy.

In shopping the major development has been the Rushes Shopping Centre anchored by Tesco and a few high street brand names such as Next and TK Maxx.

I was on the BBC TV Sunday Politics Show recently (Sunday 8th March available on i-player) and was asked how Loughborough Town Centre was faring in the recession. I conducted a survey recently of all the empty shops and charity shops in the town centre. I found almost 50 (46 to be exact) empty shops and 12 charity shops.

Without the charity shops there would be almost 60 empty shops in the town they provide a useful function in at least filling up the empty spaces, collecting funds for their charity and in recycling.

The empty shops were in all shapes, sizes and conditions.

Some were almost ready for a new client to move in straight away and start business the next morning. Others needed much work, which would put off new retailers coming into the town centre. Asking around, the cost of the rent for some of these properties, the length of the lease and the conditions attached to the letting appeared to be prohibitive for small, start-up businesses.

These prices and conditions seem more appropriate for London than Loughborough. In fact some of the lettings agencies for retail properties throughout the county are based in London and seem to have little idea of the reality in towns like Loughborough.

They don’t seem to be bothered

what the town centre looks like with all their empty shops being happy to wait out the recession until they can charge the full rent on their portfolio. Removal of concessions on council tax for empty properties seems to be one of the few incentives to get them to consider shorter leases at more affordable prices.

The Council also has its role to play in helping town centre regeneration with grants towards refurbishment and council tax holidays while new businesses get established.

Provision of more parking and at reasonable rates for shorter periods must be a priority. The Council has supported the recent increase in the Pedestrianisation of the town centre, but retailers I have talked to in the East of the Town have yet to see the benefit. I know of a number of people who live in Shepshed and elsewhere to prefer to visit other towns in the area (Shepshed to Coalville for example) rather than shop in Loughborough.

It’s not just the Town Centre that faces the challenge of empty shops there are several in the suburban areas of the town. In other areas where they are building vast housing estates such as off Haddon Way there is hardly a shop for miles and no provision of leisure or community facilities.

These should have been included in the plans for the development.

And finally talking of housing developments; the Inspector has asked the Council to consider a new set of figures for housing numbers into the future which will delay him publishing his findings even further. Meanwhile the clock is ticking on the Garendon Application for 3,200 homes which the Council’s Plans Committee may consider without the Inspectors Report.

I shall continue to oppose the application and its consideration before we know the Inspectors view on the Core Strategy.

Matthew O’callaghan

I am holding an "RNIB goes to the races" night at Shepshed High School on the 28th March 2015.

Tickets are £6 adults and £4 children under 12.

Doors open at 7:30 with first race starting at 8pm.

For tickets call Annabel on 07805840105

www.justgiving.com/annabelbaxter1st

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LOUGHBOROUGH LIONS 3 C’s CYCLE RIDE

SUNDAY 26 APRIL 2015

In aid of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance Loughborough Lions first cycle ride!

The route will start and finish at Loughborough University and go through Shepshed, Belton, Long Eaton, Worthington to the Cloud Trail and on to Trent Lock, Dishley and back to Loughborough. A refreshment post will be available at the halfway point at Breaston.

This is a really enjoyable ride, not a race, through our lovely countryside and will suit both experienced and keen amateur cyclists at around 50 miles.

It will cost £5 per cyclist - each one receiving a t-shirt and a medal. Each entrant is asked to raise sponsorship of a minimum of £50.

I really appreciate any donations to my cause.

Text RNIB70 £5 70070

READY TO GIVE YOUR BUSINESS A BOOST?

raised of £1,650.00 target

The route/entry forms will be on: www.loughborough.lions105e.org.uk or from Ann Parsons, 91 Farndale Dr, Loughborough, LE11 2RG Tel: 01509 232422: mail@charnwoodties.co.uk

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KIDS ZONE

CHRISTIE CAT AND HER YUMMY CARROT MUFFINS

Easter Poem

Christie Cat decided to bake some yummy carrot muffins. The sun was shining and she could hear the birds singing through her open kitchen window.

It’s Easter and by now it should be very clear that the long awaited Springtime at last is here.

Winter storms are finally behind us. Shout hooray!

Christie started to weigh out all the ingredients she needed and put them in to a large mixing bowl.

Long days of sunshine now are not so very far away.

Christie then went to the pantry to get the carrots but Oh NO! She hadn’t any left. She was very sad, Carrot muffins are her favourite and she was really looking forward to them.

Easter time. It means renewal and re-birth.

Reminds us all that we must care for planet Earth.

Just then Christie Cat heard Daniel Dog shouting “Hello” over the garden fence.

Chocolate eggs, they really are symbolic.

As new born lambs in field and meadow frolic.

“Lovely day Christie” He shouted.

“I suppose so” replied Christie.

Fruity hot cross buns are very good to toast.

“What’s wrong?” said Daniel.

Should we choose beef or turkey for our Sunday roast?

Christie told Daniel all about her plan to make carrot muffins and that she hadn’t any carrots left so would have to have plain muffins instead.

Easter is a busy time for gardens, so rejoice!

Those nodding golden daffodils, the flower of choice.

“Don’t worry” said Daniel Dog, “I have lots of carrots growing in my garden, I shall go and dig some up for you.”

At Easter time the cycle of the seasons starts anew.

Christie was so happy, with Daniels help she finished baking her carrot muffins and as a thank you she invited Daniel to stay and share the muffins.

Plans for the summer holidays we now review.

So Christie and Daniel sat in the garden eating homemade (and home grown) carrot muffins and drinking fresh lemonade.

Passed down the generations for us all to hear.

The Easter message should by now be very clear.

By Chris Rose

“Do you know what Daniel?” said Christie, “I think cakes taste better when shared with friends. I think you’re right!” said Daniel.

KIDS WORD SEARCH

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What you’ll need: • 2 sheets of yellow paper • 1 sheet of orange paper • 2 paper fasteners • 2 large wiggly eyes (optional) • White craft glue • Scissors • Pencil • Pen or dark crayon How to make it: 1. Trace both hands onto the yellow paper and cut out.

2. Draw an oval onto the other yellow piece of construction paper.

3. Lay the oval on the table and position the wings (hand cut outs) behind it, using the photo as a guide.

4. When the wings are where you want them, carefully poke the fasteners through the construction paper to attach the wings. Using fasteners allows the wings to flap up and down.

5. Cut out a small diamond shape and two legs from the orange paper.

6. Fold the diamond in half to create the beak and glue one side of the diamond to the yellow paper so that the beak is three dimensional and can open and close.

*Available in colours Black & White in either Plastic or Rubber cases for iPhone 4/4s - iPhone 5/5s - whilst stocks last.

FIND THE EASTER WORDS

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Spring Flower Egg

Bunny Bonnet Basket Please tick the boxes below.

iPhone 4/4s

iPhone 5/5s

NAME: AGE: ADDRESS:

7. Glue wiggly eyes (or draw your own) above the beak.

8. Position the legs under the oval. When you have them where you want them, glue them in place.

9. Use the pen or dark crayon to write a message on the front of the card.

TEL:

EMAIL: SEND ENTRY TO: Community Eye, 42 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester, LE9 2HQ - Closing date 28th April 2015

HEALTH & WELLBEING

which can be impossible to read without pinching and zooming. Modern devices can increasingly be operated by voice control interfaces such as Apple’s Siri, which can reduce the amount of time spent looking at them.

START THINKING SMART

We’d also recommend adjusting the brightness to a comfortable level, while sunscreens and anti-glare covers can prevent headaches being caused by reflections or bright sunlight. This latter issue may also be overcome by wearing sunglasses.

With an estimated 35 million smartphones in the UK , and tablets increasingly replacing PCs and laptops, mobile communication devices are here to stay.

Mild eye strain caused by overuse of mobile devices can be reduced by using eye drops or trying to blink more frequently. Because people tend to stare intently at computer screens, they blink less than during other activities - this can accelerate the onset of dryness and fatigue.

However, the human eye wasn’t designed for these 21st century gadgets, so it’s important to use them in moderation.

The tiny lettering on smartphone screens may cause eye strain without appropriate reading glasses, we can advise you about vision correction products and prescription strengths. Reading glasses are often recommended for people over the age of 40, and today’s varifocal lenses can also help you to navigate those closely-packed lines of text.

Devices like the Kindle e-reader replicate the appearance of a traditional book to reduce eye fatigue, and they’re designed to be held at arm’s length – a useful tip for any mobile device.

Never spend more than 20 minutes looking at a portable device without giving your eyes a minute to re-focus elsewhere, and zoom in (by pinching two fingers on the screen and pulling them apart) whenever it’s possible to do so. Handheld gadgets can shrink their text to fit the available space,

“Never spend more than 20 minutes looking at a portable device without giving your eyes a minute to re-focus elsewhere, and zoom in whenever it’s possible to do so.”

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A PERSONALISED PHOTO PHONE COVER*

*Available in colours Black & White in either Plastic or Rubber cases for iPhone 4/4s - iPhone 5/5s - whilst stocks last.

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Fill in each 3x3 block using the letters DRAGONFLY So there are no repeats in any block, horizontal or vertical line.

Please tick the boxes below.

iPhone 4/4s

iPhone 5/5s

NAME: ADDRESS: TEL:

EMAIL: SEND ENTRY TO: Community Eye, 42 Forest Rise, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester, LE9 2HQ - Closing date 28th April 2015

“We’d also recommend turning down the brightness levels as much as possible, while sunscreens and antiglare covers can prevent headaches being caused by reflections or bright sunlight.”

To combat this, eye drop lubricants are available to aid comfort. For more advice on this issue, please call into the practice. Any recurring headaches or blurred vision should immediately be reported to us so that we can examine your eyes and identify possible causes.

Did you know? The world’s first smartphone was launched in 1994, combining email and cellphone capabilities. It was called the IBM Simon, weighed over a pound and didn’t really catch on.

Submitted by Bonita Irish FBDO Hallcroft Opticians T: 01509 650666 E: info@hallcroftopticians.co.uk W: www.hallcroftopticians.co.uk

Love Your Feet!

Plantar Fasciitis “Foot Pain” Submitted by Sally Prytherch Hinds Feet Foot Care T: 07806786616 E: hindsfeetfootcare@gmail.com W: www.hindsfeetfootcare.co.uk Plantar fasciitis is characterised by heel pain, but can also affect the rest of the foot. The ligament like tissue running from the heel to the middle of the foot can become damaged resulting in thickening and inflammation, though often, there is no direct cause.

Pain is most noticeable on getting out of bed in the morning with the sufferer having to ‘hobble’ across the room. It is made worse by wearing flat shoes with poor cushioning and little arch support or by any situation which puts extra strain on the feet.

Carrying excess weight and walking barefoot on hard surfaces can exacerbate the condition. Plantar fasciitis is common in people with flat feet and those with high arches and affects more women than men, with one in ten people experiencing it during their lifetime.

A combination of various strategies can help relieve symptoms including resting the foot wherever possible. Foot wear providing

USEFUL WEBSITES:

heel cushioning and arch support will aid comfort, as will heel pads or shoes with a 1cm heel which shortens the ligament by raising the heel. Anti-inflammatory medication or ice packs wrapped in a cloth and held against the foot for 10 to 15 minutes may help reduce inflammation.

Calf stretching exercises which can also loosen a tightened Achilles tendon may reduce symptoms but must be done daily to be effective.

Pilates is a good form of stretching exercise and a ‘Pilates band’ can assist with calf and foot exercises.

Readymade or custom orthotic insoles can help support and realign the foot which can greatly relieve symptoms, and orthotic footwear with built in support is available. If simple measures are not effective a discussion with a GP or Podiatrist is advisable as in severe cases steroid injections or other treatments may be necessary.

Exercises and further information can be found at www.nhs.uk.

www.nhs.uk - www.patient.co.uk - www.foot.com/site/professional/foot-facts

14

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16

MOORS FARM DAY NURSERY On March 9th Moors Farm, a brand new children’s day nursery in Hathern was opened by the proprietor’s children - who enthusiastically cut the red ribbon!

A former bed and breakfast, the building was subject to a lot of renovation work over the last few months and is now a fantastic 69-place early years provision for the community.

Hathern is experiencing a lot of expansion at present and it is hoped that Moors Farm Day Nursery will compliment the excellent provisions already in the area whilst offering parents choice and availability.

The nursery is owned by Robin Batten and Katey Lester and they own two other successful nurseries in Leicestershire. Robin Batten said, “ We were aware of the development happening in this area and knew that this would create an increasing demand for childcare. Quite by accident we found Moors Farm and we knew immediately that it could provide a wonderful setting for a nursery.”

Co-owner, Katey Lester, added, “We have been lucky to find such an amazing building that

The nursery offers parents and their children an 18 bay car park, 2 outdoor play areas and a public footpath linking the nursery to the village. Safeguarding is the manager’s primary concern as Heidi Morris, Nursery Manager, explains, “Our priority is to protect the children and offer parents & carers peace of mind. At Moors Farm we have installed 36 CCTV cameras to monitor the setting.

External gates and doors have key coded locks and we use a video entry system to control access to the building.” has so many lovely architectural features for the children to enjoy.

Our settings offer a very neutral environment that is not distracting for the children and allows their amazing work to stand out. Moors Farm is a really soothing and homely space that uses natural resources to create wonderful play opportunities. We are really excited to be here and to be part of this dynamic community.”

From the main road Moors Farm Day Nursery looks like a small dollhouse but this is deceiving. It is actually a large, bright and airy building with good sized rooms.

There has been a lot of interest from prospective parents/carers and the nursery team hope that the rooms will soon be bustling with busy children.

Prospective parents/carers are welcome to view at any time without prior appointment or telephone Heidi on 01509 842968.

Technology extends to the children’s teaching too as the nursery uses software to record each child’s learning journey and this can then be accessed by the parent/carer who can add their own observations based on the child’s activities away from the nursery. Heidi said, “This is a great resource because it ensures that no area of the child’s learning and development goes un-noticed.

More importantly, it involves parent/carers in their child’s learning which is so important.

We really place great emphasis on developing a positive partnership with parents and this goes some way to achieving this.”

Moors arm NOW TAKING BOOKINGS 01509 842968 - moorsfarmdn@hotmail.com A brand new children's day nursery providing full and part time care Moors Farm Day Nursery, 126 Loughborough Road, Hathern, LE12 5JB