April 2011 Groby Spotlight Magazine

Next issue out on 14th May • Article/Advert Deadline: 30th April

The News & Information Magazine for Groby, Field Head & The Brantings

Coast to Coast bike ride for charityAt the begiNNiNg of the New Year we put the three Peaks adventure to rest. The final total for the 2 charities ADAPT

and WENLO (Riding for the Disabled) was fifteen hundred pounds, a great total. I would like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to everyone who has supported our charity work, especially all the people on my post round who continue to sponsor and encourage me to undertake these escapades!. They are always the first to ask “What have you got planned for the coming year?” even as early as Christmas.‘What to do next?’ was the question we

pondered before the suggestion of a ‘Coast to Coast’ arose. The sustran cycle route of Whitehaven to Sunderland totalling approximately 140 miles, give or take a few wrong turnings! Was agreed. It should take about 3 days and with the planning together with the training going well we are hoping to go during May this year. Longer days and better weather than September when we usually embark on our adventure, should make life a little easier but then with the english climate, who knows!Please catch me on my post round or

pop into Groby Post Office if you wish to sponsor me and I shall keep everyone informed of how we get on. The monies that we raise will go to ADAPT to help support the families of premature babies. The charity is always extremely grateful for the funds as it receives no government support and is a much needed service to the hospitals in Leicester offering care, support and encouragement to parents when they need it most.

Simon Moore

Great rowing result in CambridgeFurther to the excitement of the Oxford and Cambridge rowing event, Leicester juniors rowing team attended the Junior head in Cambridge on March 27th with fantastic results.The Leicester team ended the day with a host of

wins, including Brookvale students Oliver talbot (Groby) and Josh Sharman who won the J13 double event. Oliver also won with his 4 team mates in the J14 Quad as cox. Leicester regatta is being held on April 17th with

crews attending from around the country. Racing starts at 9am-5pm. Refreshments available. www.leicester-rowing.co.uk

Parish Council Message

Annual Meeting of the Groby & Field Head Parish:

ChANge OF DAtePLeASe tAke NOtiCe that the annual meeting of the Parish will now take place at 7.30pm on Monday 9th May 2011 in the Parish Council Chambers, Village hall, groby.A number of established Groby organisations

have been invited to give a brief report of the opportunities or facilities available to local residents which are provided by their group or organisation.The main purpose of the meeting will remain as a

report from the Parish Council on its work over the last twelve months and its plans for the future.

Cllrs Martin Cartwright and Ted Hollick join the Lib Dems at HinckleygrObY hiNCkLeY & bosworth borough Councillor and Parish Councillor Martin Cartwright, along with groby Parish Councillor Colleague ted hollick have left the Conservative Party and joined the ruling Liberal Democrat group at hinckley & bosworth borough Council.Both Councillors will be presenting themselves as

Liberal Democrat candidates in the forthcoming Local Elections in Groby.

BMX Track almost here!

Work is about to start on Groby’s brand new BMX track. Read more in Norman’s Jottings on page 23.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 2440692

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3Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 244069

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grObY Community College and its cluster of feeder schools, including brookvale, ratby Primary, Lady Jane grey, Martinshaw and elizabeth Woodville, would like to firstly thank the groby Spotlight for including an ar-ticle a few months back which has attracted 4 enthusi-astic volunteers who are now helping to run our newly formed Let’s get Cooking Club.The Club is designed very much to get children and fami-

lies cooking from scratch, making very healthy and nutritious meals, often using ingredients that they have never tried or tasted before.So far we have had 27 children plus their families take part in

the project. Our next venture is to provide delicious smoothies at the Primary School Sports Day to encourage children to eat more fruit and live healthier lifestyles. We will always let the children have copies of the recipes we use. Our Lets Get Cooking Team would love to pass on a massive

thank you to Budgens Superstore who have kindly donated a large proportion of the ingredients for us each week, to ensure that we can offer this activity over a longer period of time. We’d also like to thank the Co Op Members Relations Team who came to help out at one of our family sessions and also donated vouchers for us again to purchase ingredients and ensure that we can continue to offer our Let’s Get Cooking sessions to more children and families in the future.Children are selected for the Let’s Get Cooking project by

their own school teachers and places are limited. However, if you are interested in supporting this great opportunity please do not hesitate to contact me on 0116 281 7017 or email [email protected]. We will always welcome

new volunteers, donations of ingredients or funds to purchase additional equipment or to improve the facilities that we cook in. Thanks for a great start to all those that have been

involved – we will keep you updated with our progress.

Helene Chadwick Extended Services Cluster Coordinator and the Lets Get Cooking Team!

Residents urged to be vigilant

Borough council places ‘Stop’ Notices on land at the KlondikeON 30th MArCh 2011, the Leicester Mercury reported that hinckley & bosworth borough Council has taken action to try to prevent land near to groby Pool from being turned into a travellers’ site.According to the report, people living near the former allotments opposite

Groby Pool raised concerns after part of the land - known locally as the Klondike - was covered in Tarmac.Some residents fear it is the first step towards a travellers’ site being put on

the land. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has now imposed temporary

“stop” notices on the land, to prevent further development on the site. No planning application has been submitted. The council has formed an out-of-hours response team to be on standby to deal with anything further that happens on the site.

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

LE67 9ZT

Contact Mike or Susan on 01530-244069

Email us at: [email protected]

Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue

in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings.

Composed and published in the Parish of Groby &

Field Head.

Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press.

The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press

releases, events, general items of interest and news items

submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs

and local authorities.

The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily

those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication

does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims,

methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by

advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith.

Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this

magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience

caused as a result of error or omission.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend,

shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted

for publication. All contents ©

Groby & Field Head Spotlight. None of the articles contained in

this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining

written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

NEXT ISSUE OUT Saturday 14th May Advert Deadline:

Saturday 30th April

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Ad rates: page 18


I used to belive that anything was better than nothing. Now I know that sometimes nothing is better.

Spring Clean on the Allotments CONtAiNeD within the groby Parish Council budget and Precept report for the coming year are the words ‘well managed by the groby Allotment Society’. Just seven words but to the

committee it is an appreciation of all the voluntary hours spent in management. The plots don’t run themselves and with the backing of our members we aim to achieve a high standard of control and maintenance. Without this the plots would be a free for all, as they were over forty years ago. There was no regular inspection of plots, which now we carry out a number of times a year. Health and Safety was not

considered. I can remember a car servicing business in a large shed on Ratby Road site. Trees and inappropriate bushes were planted as one wished, plot boundaries moved without permission and worst of all many plots became a place to deposit unwanted household junk, especially at the back of sheds: Broken glass, old spades, metal sheets and complete

doors and window frames. So why am I telling you this? It is because when a plot is vacated now we have a clearing up job to do and it costs money that could be better spent improving the site in general. Orchard Close is in better shape, as it is a much newer site and was in a reasonable state when we took control but it still needs a close

watch. Permission must be sought to plant only dwarf stock fruit trees, erection of sheds. Herbs and flowers and only fruiting bushes are acceptable and strangely the allotment law allows hens and rabbits. During the war pigs were also included. There is a wonderful all working

together atmosphere on both sites, recently demonstrated when we needed three plots clearing for new tenants. Small junk the new tenants have no problem with and can bag up and take home to the dustbin or plastic bottle box, but an expensive skip was needed in this case with one more to follow soon. Members rose to the challenge. A dangerous shed demolished and was burnt with a lot of old wood. On another area two old sheds were burnt together with a large buddleia, which had to be chain sawn down. We employed a qualified chain saw operator to remove two inappropriate strange ornamental Accumulated rubbish ready for the skip, will it all go in? Jamie made sure it did.

Shed dismantling, fortunately the fox that lived underneath it was not at home on that day.


If a man tells a woman she’s beautiful, she’ll overlook most of his other lies.

trees, more buddleia and holly. Buddleia will grow sixteen feet tall and is classed as an invasive species scattering thousands of seeds every year. The fencing to one side of the chapel footpath has recently been replaced. The old was repaired, re-erected, by four volunteers again saving money. So

all the above is called management and needs organizing and all done by volunteers. Fortunately members can see the benefits of control unfolding, so the time will come when a new occupant can reoccupy a plot immediately. I write this on the 19th March and

last night we had a frost, which lowered the temperature to 5 degrees below in a greenhouse, even with a lamp burning. So planting out all but hardy broad beans can still be a risk. I know of potatoes that have been in for three weeks. We may be lucky and miss the late frosts but last year a late frost caught not only potatoes but also early runner beans. It’s the same gamble every year but isn’t that the fun of gardening? You can see more photographs

of the big clear up at the allotment website - visit: www.grobyallotmentsociety.tk

Is your allotment your favourite green space?hAVe YOu ever wondered why

estate roads like Mallard Avenue and Highfield/Glebe Road stop dead at the Ratby Road allotment boundary? Perhaps the answer is that someone thought that as the allotments were not so popular

Report From John Thornton and well kept 50 years ago they might eventually be released for building land. Bloors may have lost the latest attempt to build more houses in Groby but that doesn’t diminish the attractiveness of the remaining open spaces, particularly those in the heart of the village. In the final analysis it is only the people of Groby, their councils and councillors, and in the case of allotments the Secretary of State, that stand in the way of development of the remaining open spaces. That’s why it’s important to take part in the Green Spaces Consultation being organised by the County Council.Details and a link can be found at

www.grobyallotmentsociety.tk. You may value the allotments because you have a plot there. Or it may be that you live nearby and enjoy the open views, particularly across to the old part of the village on Chapel hill.. You may feel that the remaining parts of the village that have never been developed should continue as open space, or you may just value walking your dog along the footpaths, watching the changing seasons on the plots and chatting to the gardeners.Whatever the reason it’s time to

register your interest as you only have until April 15th to have your say. If we all leave it to someone else we might not like the outcome. Do it now.

Kathy our secretary delivering tea for the thirsty workers


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New Homes Bonus Money

£349k cash boost for new homes in Hinckley and Bosworthhinckley and bosworth is set to receive £349,762 extra this year through the New homes bonus.Through the New Homes Bonus, the Government will match the council

tax raised from new homes for the first six years, with a further bonus of £350 per year for each new affordable home. Empty homes brought back into use will also qualify.The cash was announced on Monday 4th April in the House of Commons

and is new money over and above councils’ existing budgets. Local authorities are free to spend their money on anything they like, from Council Tax discounts for local residents, to reinvesting it in more new housing.Commenting, Cllr Stuart Bray leader of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough

Council said: “This is great news for Hinckley and Bosworth. The New Homes Bonus is a powerful incentive to get house building going again, and reward communities at the same time. “The previous Labour government’s record on delivering social and

affordable homes was woeful. But the extra incentive for affordable homes is vital at a time when it is so difficult for local people – particularly youngsters – to get on the housing ladder. “Today’s announcement will also provide a much needed economic boost

to our local area at a time when public finances are tight.”Commenting further, Liberal Democrat Local Government Minister

Andrew Stunell, said: “Labour’s approach was a failure and house building declined to its lowest peacetime level since 1924. “The New Homes Bonus will reward councils who kick-start house

building in their local area, and will help top-up their finances at this difficult time.”

CAN YOu think of a more pointless exercise than tracing your family tree?Not only is it the ultimate in self-centred obsessions, you

can’t talk to your friends about it without boring them rigid.Let’s face it - who cares that one of your ancestors used to

run a coaching inn at Chalfont St.Giles? I’ll tell you - nobody cares, except you.The trouble with genealogy is that it sounds like a really

worthwhile thing to do. But apart from it being a complete conversational turn-off, it also involves loads of work.Real family tree enthusiasts are the modern equivalent

of train spotters. Any spare time they get is spent at the library - or on the computer - poring over ancient electoral registers.After what seems like years of research, the will exclaim: ‘Aha! My great,

great, great grandfather was a farm labourer. How fascinating!’ And they’ll rush off to mark up their wall chart before phoning all their friends and relatives to relay the gripping news.And isn’t it strange how they’re only interested in the respectable members

of their family tree? They yearn to be descendants of someone, rich, titled or famous, because all of these excellent bloodlines have combined to produce - guess who? That’s right - the family tree tracer himself.If impressing your friends with your ancestry appeals to you, there’s no

need to go to all the trouble of tracing your family tree. Just make it all up!Tell your friends that you are a direct descendant of Alfred the Great.

While they step back in amazement, tell them that another bloodline connects you to Galileo, and that you are a distant relative of Sir Francis Drake. It’s a lot less bother than the real thing, and the only way anyone can

disprove what you say is by tracing your family tree for you, thereby saving you the job.

Is Fred right about the uselessness of genealogy, or is he worried that the milkman might be his father? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK by writing or emailing to YOUR ROOTS NEED DOING, Groby Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT (email: [email protected])

FRED

�Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 244069

I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is willing to learn from them.

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New books at Groby LibraryAren’t libraries brilliant? You can just walk in - join for free - and then borrow books without paying! Absolutely fantastic.

Here are a few of the terrific recent titles available at Groby Library.

The First Ruleby robert CraisFrank Meyer had

got out of ‘ the life’ safely. He had put an end to his mercenary days, turned over a new leaf and settled down with his wife and children. It had been a hard decision but, encouraged by his boss and friend Joe Pike, he had walked away. Ten years later, a group of armed men break into his Los Angeles home and brutally gun down him and his family. It’s a vicious, cold and professional job. The crew leave no trace behind except the bodies. But they have made one catastrophic, and almost certainly terminal, mistake - Joe Pike. Because Pike is now determined to hunt down and eliminate everyone involved in the attack, one by one. And it doesn’t matter that, as he starts to investigate, he discovers that these criminals are bigger and better organised than he ever could have imagined, because they are about to learn the first rule... Don’t make Joe Pike mad...

Homecoming Girlsby Val WoodHull, 1874. The

beautiful, mysterious Jewel Newmarch, adopted as a baby, turns heads wherever she goes - her exotic looks point to her origins far away from the streets of Hull. Even at her cousin Elizabeth’s wedding, she is the belle of the ball. But as she looks on at the happy, newly-married couple she feels a restlessness and intense longing to know her own roots.And so she decides to return to

her birthplace in America, taking the bride’s twin sister Clara as her companion. In discovering the mysteries of

Jewel’s past the girls realise that this is a life-changing voyage of discovery for both of them, as they learn important lessons about family, friendship, love and home. But most importantly, love…

One Grave Lessby beverley ConnorLong ago, forensic

anthropologist Diane Fallon served in South America at the World Accord International. Years later, haunted by the massacres a continent away, she has been trying hard to put the past behind her. Until now...Working late at her museum, Diane hears a terrified cry that

leads her to an injured man - and recognises him as a fellow WAI staffer from her days in South America. Clutching a child’s femur in his hands, he whispers, ‘It was one of us...’ and dies. Now Diane is faced with some

deadly questions ? why was her former colleague trying to visit her? Why did he carry a human bone? Who did he mean by ‘us’, and just who attacked him? More importantly, is Diane the next on the list?

Savage landsby Clare ClarkIt is 1704 and,

in the swamps of Louisiana, France is clinging on to its new colony with less than two hundred men. Into this hostile land comes Elisabeth Savaret, one of twenty-three women sent from Paris to marry men they have never met. With little expectation of happiness, Elisabeth is stunned to find herself falling passionately in love with her husband, infrantryman Jean-Claude Babelon.But Babelon is a dangerous man

to love. Witness to Elisabeth’s devotion is another of his acolytes, Auguste, a young boy despatched to act as a go-between with the ‘redskins’. When both Elisabeth and

Auguste find their love challenged by Babelon’s duplicity, the consequences are devastating.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 244069�

Credit cards are VERY dangerous. Every time I try to use one somebody starts chasing me with scissors.

Groby Gardening Society NewsSpring at last! At our March meeting it was a pleasure to welcome helen Osborne from Church View nursery in barkby. Helen regularly is on the panel

of “Down to Earth” and runs this small nursery with her partner. Helen’s talk was entitled “Spring in the garden” and to help with this she had the support of her partner and a delightful small dog. This dog stayed in its own flower pot at the front of the room for the entire evening. It never tried to get out or make

any noise whatsoever, although it did keep a beady eye on the audience and, of course, its mistress. Helen was clearly in love with her subject and managed to convey enthusiasm and more than a little knowledge. She and her partner are in that happy group who have managed to make a living out of their hobby. In addition to a sparkling talk, Helen brought along a wide selection of spring and vegetables plants to sell. She did a roaring trade whilst tea and biscuits were being served.

What can you get for £80?Well, quite a lot if you are a gardening Society member.This year for £80, members are

travelling to Liverpool, Chester and Ness Gardens before travelling back to Groby. In Chester, there is an overnight stay at the lovely Crowne Plaza hotel which includes an evening meal and a sumptuous buffet breakfast. The entry fee to Ness Gardens is also included as is a

private guided tour of the gardens. To round the trip off, we then will have an English type tea at Ness in one of their private function rooms. There are still a few places left, so if you would like to come along, just give Alvar a ring.

The Society’s Plant Salethis popular annual event takes place on Saturday morning 14th May. Last year bedding and vegetable

plant bargains were disappearing rapidly and some varieties were sold out within a very short time. Be sure to be there for 10 o’clock to avoid disappointment!

The ShowAs usual the village Show will again have a Young person’s Section. This year, however, there will be

a brand new cup to be awarded to the best exhibit in this section. The Parish Council Young

person’s cup has been generously donated by our Parish Council and the society is very grateful to it as we are able to replace its rather battered and weather-worn predecessor. There are six classes in the Young person’s section and

these are: 1. A creature made from fruit and/

or vegetables2. Shortbread biscuits-5 on a plate

(recipe on page 10 of the schedule)3. A decorated plant pot4. A model garden-using a

standard seed tray5. Faces-a display of four

decorated fairy cakes to be judged only for decoration.6. A miniature flower

arrangement-not to exceed 10cm. overall (i.e. height, width and depth)We think there is enough choice

for all and we hope parents will take the opportunity to encourage children’s artistic abilities.

Forthcoming eventsApril 14th: “Wild Flowers and Waterways”May 12th: “Madeira-A garden in the Atlantic”May 14th: The Plant sale at The Village HallJune 9th: Visit to Hebb’s FarmJuly 22nd/23rd: Visit to Liverpool, Chester & Ness gardens

We always welcome new members and casual guests at our monthly meetings that are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month, usually in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the

events programme can be obtained from Alvar Johnson. (Tel. No. 01162877870) or E mail [email protected]

Alvar Johnson

•

•

•

••

The Crowne Plaza Hotel

National Trust Leicester AssociationSuDburY hALL and the Nt Museum of Childhood, near burton upon trent, are celebrating 40 years of opening to the public this year.

The Hall was built by George Vernon in 1660 and transferred to the National Trust in 1967 following the death of the 9th Lord Vernon. Sudbury Hall was built mainly in the Jacobean style and has a large and impressive Long Gallery. The State Rooms also contain very rich plas-terwork and a number of wonderful wood carvings by Edward Pierce and his famous pupil Grinling Gibbons. Over the last 40 years the NT have preserved the building, added to the collection of furniture and con-tents and opened new rooms to the public.

The Museum of Childhood is locat-ed in the Eastern range of buildings, which was the service wing of the great house, and was the subject of a £2.2 million re-development in 2008. The collection of childhood items and toys were all conserved and are now displayed in the latest state of the art display cases. There are also a number of toys and games in most galleries for children and adults to play with. A special exhibition “Playmobil to Puppy Love”, looking at toys from the 1970’s, is just one of the anniversary events taking place. A children’s Easter Egg Hunt will take place over the holiday weekend.

At Calke Abbey the British Wildlife Photography exhibition continues until Sunday 17th April and on that same day there is a Fine Food Fair. Also at Calke there is the usual chil-dren’s Easter Trail from 22nd to 24th April.

The National Trust Leicester Association commences its pro-gramme of summer outings in April and the programme of afternoon and evening meetings will recommence in September.

For more information on the NT Leicester Association and its Talks Service call, 0116 2229133

Alan Tyler Chairman, NT Leicester Association

LETTERDaisy Close carrier bag mysteryi LiVe on Daisy Close, and at the back of me is a field which is accessed from Leicester road, which is popular with dog walkers. Recently I’ve noticed some of them go into the field with a carrier bag, but

leave without it! What I would like to know is, ‘What are they doing with them?’

Concerned resident

Plant Sale & Seed Swap

Saturday 7th May at 11amCalling all Gardeners - this third

annual event is to be held at ellistown School, Whitehill road

and will provide gardeners with a chance to recycle surplus young

plants and seeds, save money, and try some different varieties. www.eagsociety.co.uk


My husband says I never listen to him (at least I think that’s what he said).

STREET FAIR & CEILIDH

25th June 2011 Markfield Road, Groby

12 NOON TIL 8PMCeilidh will start at 5pm

Applications are invited from anyone who would like a stall.We would also like to hear from local Bands and Artists who could

perform a 20-30 minute spot throughout the day.There will be fun and games for all age groups with many attractions.

Everyone is invited.Further details can be obtained from:

0116 287 672401530 243469

[email protected]@aol.com

Keep watching the Spotlight for more information

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What disease did cured ham actually have?

All change on the buses WheN some years ago Arriva decided to route the 28 groby service through the residential roads of the village, opinions were divided. Some residents welcomed the new hail and ride service whilst others were furious at the plan to run buses through narrow streets past their homes.In March 2011 the 28 service

was cut from half hourly to hourly, reviving the controversy. But Groby is not the only community dealing with the impact of changes to public transport services – the sunny Mediterranean island of Malta will also be adjusting to new services this July.

Routes changeThe changes to timetables for

Groby involves the first major change for a few years, with the 26 to Coalville being rerouted through the centre of the village instead of travelling along Sacheverell Way. Whilst this broadly maintains the frequency of the service some residents feel that they will be disadvantaged. Those with heavy shopping to carry from Leicester, and travelling to the Glebe Road/Pymm Ley Lane area, complain that if they miss the 28 they either have to wait an hour for the next one or carry their shopping from

one of the bus stops on the through routes to Coalville. Some elderly or frail passengers also find the 28 useful to get them to or from the supermarkets and shops, post office and banks, or the doctor’s surgery. This has proved particularly helpful with the introduction of free travel for the over 60’s.Others take a different view and

have breathed a sigh of relief at the thought of fewer buses weaving in and out of parked cars on the estate streets. And for those who need to travel to Ratby, or who like the idea of a waterside walk at Thornton

followed by a pint or pub lunch, the change to the 26 route is most welcome.Both groups might agree,

however, that the new timetable is less convenient. Instead of a 15 minute service there are now two buses within 10 minutes followed by a 20 minute wait, sometimes resulting in standing room only at peak times.

Arriva on MaltaMeanwhile down on sunny

Malta the changes are much more dramatic, as Arriva take

responsibility for providing bus services on the island. Anyone who has visited Malta will be aware that their bus service is unique and has the feeling of being in a time warp. In recent years some more modern buses have been introduced but many older buses have survived and have become a tourist attraction and part of the charm of holiday travel on the island. The bus service has resembled a mobile transport museum, with examples of buses that will be seen nowhere else in the world.This is partly the result of

the way the service has been organised, with centralised control of timetabling and routes but individual ownership of the vehicles. This led to the customisation of buses by their driver owners, many of whom are

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Norman Griffiths finds Groby is not alone in changes to

its bus services


Our marriage was a love match, pure and simple - she was pure and I was simple.

also mechanics. Many buses had their own individual identity with lots of highly polished chrome, names, added paintwork detail or murals, as well as pictures or hangings in the front windscreen area.

A trip for thrill seekers...A trip on the buses didn’t just

attract those who needed to get somewhere by public transport. There were also the thrill seekers, as in the intense heat of the Maltese summer the air conditioning consisted of leaving the door wide open. If you had a seat near the front hanging on to something was essential in order not to be thrown through the door when the bus negotiated bends. The buses were also attractive to those who disliked conversation, as the engine noise was so loud that conversation could sometimes become impossible. And then there were the transport enthusiasts and tourists who had probably seen nothing like it, found it hugely enjoyable, and were amused by the bell system which often consisted of a pull cord which ran the length of the bus. Not all the buses were like this

and from 1981 onwards steps were taken to modernise the fleet, though even these additions tended to be second hand imports from the UK. In 2009 the average age

of the 500 buses operated by the 400 licensees was 35 years, with some examples from the 1950’s still clinging on. It’s perhaps not surprising that between 1979 and 2009 there was a decline of 50% in the number of bus passengers.

EU rules prevailSome form of reorganisation was

considered necessary and when Malta joined the EU they were bound by the rules on competitive tendering. Arriva won the contract with the major benefits promised including a lower state subsidy, lower fares, night services, more routes with higher frequency, air conditioning on all buses, and 70% of the fleet being new buses.So the next time you complain

that the bus to town feels like a boneshaker remember that you don’t know what comfort is until you’ve taken a ride on a 1950’s Malta bus. But you only have until July to savour the experience on the road and no doubt after that time you’ll have to pay an admission charge to a transport museum. And who knows, if our dire financial circumstances prevail it may be that in a few years time perhaps we’ll be getting Malta’s second hand Arriva buses on our Groby routes. You can see more photographs of

Malta’s buses on www.grobyonline.tk .

Groby Players News - From Dot Hollins

Drama production was a sell-outgrObY PLAYerS’ production of ‘Death by Fatal Murder’ by Peter gordon, was a sell-out, and appeared to be hugely enjoyed by all the audiences. There were a few disappointed people who found they could not buy tickets

a month before the production, as we had sold out, so the moral is to reserve tickets as early as possible next time, ( oh yes, there will be a next time!!) It was the end of an era for the group , as the wooden stage, that we had

hauled up and down over the years, was given to a new home,( a school in Thurcaston). The village hall committee have bought a new stage, with a large donation

from the ‘Thomas Herbert Smith Trust’, for all users of the Village Hall. The new stage is more accessible and easier to construct, in variable sizes. A bonus for all users who wish to put up some kind of staging. We look forward to ‘treading the (new) boards’ again next time, so look out

in the ‘Spotlight’ for the announcements and get your tickets in good time.

Fancy a Day Trip by Coach?ANDreWS of Leicester have some really super day trips on offer with local pick up points. here are three:

royal Crown Derby & Matlock bath On Thursday 21st April. Prices: £14/£12/£10. Coach Travel only. (Titanic Replica China exhibition has additional charge to go in.)

hatton Shopping Village (Locks and Farm Village next door) On Wednesday 27th April. Prices: £12/£10/£8. Coach Travel only.

NeC gardeners World On Friday 17th June (Must be booked by 25th April). Also Summer Good Food show on same day. Prices: £27/£25/£18. (Admission and Coach travel only)

To Book – Tel: 0116 287 7017 or email [email protected]

•

•

•


I have all the money I’ll ever need - if I die by 4 o’clock today.

Spotlight Small Ads

Advertise your items for sale FREE.

Send us the details, cost of item and your contact phone number for the display box, together with your

home address for our purposes only (not for publication).

Max 4 items, please. Max price: £300. See page 3 for Spotlight

contact details.

BRIDESMAID/EVENING WEAR • One sapphire-blue shot-silk DRESS fully lined size 18-20, worn once, lovely simple design. Price: £25, • One gold coloured pure silk DRESS, fully lined, worn once, stiffened underskirt, size 12-14, very elegant style. Price £40. T: 0116 287 8651.

• TV 16”. Price £10; • Bontempi electric ORGAN. Price £20, • CORDWAY quality corded pelmet boards, 1 x 8’ & 1x 9’8”. Price: £8 each, • WATER FILTER complete, boxed, new. Price: £5. T: 0116 231 1247 (Buyer Collects).

• Put-me-up BED. Price £60 ono, • CHAIN SAW electric, Black & decker. Price: £100 ono. T: 0116 287 7292.

• MANTELPIECE: teak with marble front, hearth and brass fender. Price: £60 ono, • 16” GAS FIRE with coal effects. Price: £40 ono. T: 0116 287 4983.

• BOOKS 50 Paperbacks/Hardbacks thrillers, v.g.c. Price: £20 • TRI-WALKER 3 wheels, chrome, lightweight, handbrakes, easy folding for storage. Price: £15.

United Reformed Church helps to promote Fair TradeFOr A NuMber of years groby united reformed Church has been officially accredited by the Fairtrade Foundation as a Fairtrade Church.

They did their bit on the weekend of 5th March to promote fairer deals by sending teams, working in pairs, to spend six hours talking to customers in Budgens and the Co-op helping to promote the fair trade goods sold in store. Customers and staff alike joined in the fun and listened to the serious business of how fairly traded goods transforms lives. Many customers already had a goo d knowledge of the goods on offer and were happy to chat about the products. A free competition was held at the Co-op to answer

three questions on fair trade and was won by Joyce Hackett of Newtown Linford. The free competition at Budgens was to guess the number of fair trade items in a basket and was won by Margaret Bobs of Dalby Drive, Groby. Congratulations to both ladies, who were delighted with their prize bag of fair trade groceries.Did you know that Leicester was one of the first cities to

gain Fairtrade status in 2002? The Fairtrade Foundation has licensed over 3,000 Fairtrade certified products for sale in the UK. This mammoth list includes tea, coffee, chocolate, sugar, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, apples, citrus fruits, juices, biscuits, cakes, honey, jam, rice, herbs & spices, wines, yoghurt, ice cream, flowers, sports balls and cotton products to name just a few!!! The Guinness World record attempt at the longest length of

bunting. On Sunday 13th March directly after the morning service at the United Reformed Church, members decorated triangles of Fairtrade cotton bunting and Urban Saints decorated more the next day. Groby’s bunting triangles and thousands more from all round the country have been sent to the Fairtrade Foundation who will join them all together for World Fair Trade day on May 14th, to try and beat the record for the longest strip of Fairtrade cotton bunting.

Members of the fair trade teams that were in the Groby supermarkets


I went to see a concert in Bermuda and the guy playing the triangle just disappeared.

ANSTEY & DISTRICT FUNERAL SERVICESBEREAVEMENT SUPPORT

As pArt of our aftercare service, we now offer a monthly Bereavement Aftercare & support Group, which has been set up to provide a FrEE support service, not just to our clients, but to ANY bereaved person, irrespective of their age, creed, religion and length of bereavement.

the group meets on the 3rd saturday of every month in the catering suite at Anstey & District Funeral services between 10am and 12noon.

next dates: Sat 16th April and Sat 21st May ARRAN BRUDENELL, Tel: 0116 234 0548

Road Safety in action!

JOShuA Cooledge and Nisha Mistry the road Safety officers from Lady Jane grey Primary, PC Ned kelly and PCSO russ Leech spent some time checking the speed of cars on Leicester road groby.Using a speed gun they found out that the top speed was 47miles per hour,

the speed limit on this particular road is 30mph.Seven speeding motorists were stopped and the children read to the

offenders the following statements:“Stick to the speed limit of 30mph then I have a 80% chance of living if you

hit me.”“Do 40 in a 30 mile an hour zone and I have 80% chance of dying.”The message is clear to all – slow down before it’s too late.

thursday April 28 eggstravaganza

Mrs. Elizabeth Riding

thursday May 26 images of Madagascar

Miss Pat North

Groby Village SocietyPreservation • Conservation • Communal Interests

Forthcoming events

Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact

Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842e-mail:- [email protected]

Non Members are Welcome


I always try to go the extra mile at work, but my boss always finds me and brings me back.

Norman Griffiths digs around to find the story behind the programme

ChANNeL FOur’S time team programme has probably gained some new fans locally following the broadcast on March 20th of the dig at the Old hall in groby. Top of the list must surely be

the owners of the Hall, Paul and Vivienne Dickens. “I confess that we’d only started watching the Time Team programmes since contacted by them,” Paul said in an article on the Channel 4 website.Paul’s interest in the history of the

site was heightened by the historical survey on Groby Old Hall in 2009. Whilst looking at the part medieval wall to the rear of the Hall he re-marked to Neil Finn, of the University of Leicester Archaeological Services, that there must be so much more beneath the ground. “I suggested Groby Old Hall to

Time Team,” said Peter Liddle, Community Archaeologist at County Hall. “I have been interested in the site for many years but the change in ownership of the house meant that a survey of the fabric was undertaken by Neil. At much the same time the rebuilding of the churchyard perim-eter meant that the below ground potential of the site became clear and I thought that 3 days of excava-tion and geophysics could answer many of the outstanding questions - which is what happened!”

Events moved quickly Little did Paul and Vivienne think

that within months they would be hosting a meeting with representa-tives of Time Team, the archaeolo-gist who had researched the site and authored the historical survey, the local conservation officer, and a rep-resentative from English Heritage. “Everyone seemed very positive about the proposed venture,” said Paul “and following a further visit and careful look over the site, an April diary date was confirmed.” The farm buildings adjacent to the

Hall were used as a base for opera-tions and were turned into a canteen area, an area for the technicians and a room in which to do some filming.

They were complemented by a ca-tering van and mobile toilet block.

Research, research, re-search Before the dig came extensive in-

vestigation. “Searching through historical documents at the archives is one of the most rewarding parts of the job,” said a production team member. “Often we can be first people to locate original documents referring to our sites. The next ref-erence we uncover could give us vital clues as to what’s buried in the ground. At Groby that moment came when I was thumbing through the county records. In an inauspi-cious brown envelope were a series of black and white photos of a 1950s excavation on the motte at Groby. These showed that deep inside the motte were a series of huge stone walls, including a staircase leading down into the heart of the mound.

These encouraged the team to get digging.”

All help welcome Two amateur Leicestershire ar-

chaeologists, David Burr and Richard Snodin, took part in the in-vestigation of the site and found that they were quickly absorbed into the team. They were also trained in the correct conservation of the various materials (pottery, glass, bone etc.)

before they set to work. “It quickly became apparent that the Time Team crew are really friendly and welcoming,” they explained in an article in their local village newslet-ter. “They were all very happy to spend time explaining everything or simply having a chat. We were to be assisting with ‘finds processing’ - and were allocated our own area to work in and provided with every-thing we would need to accomplish our tasks.” This comment about the Team confirms the view of those who stood, watched and shivered in the church yard, as although mem-bers of the public weren’t allowed access to the site during filming, Tony Robinson did go over to talk to a group, and explain what was hap-pening.Those local residents who watched

the work from the churchyard will remember the weather, and so does one of the Assistant Producers. “My most enduring memory of that first morning isn’t the archaeology, but the temperature – it was absolutely freezing,” he commented on the website. “There was only one heat-ed room on site, the incident room, and I’ve never seen so many people find so many excuses to be in there at once.”

Ducking and weaving Getting enough material for the

programme is demanding in three days as it seems a minute on screen can take an hour to film and can be shot from up to four different angles. Around 20 hours of footage is con-densed and edited down to 45 min-utes or so of screen time, and with a small site making sure each of the three film crews is in the right place

PETER LIDDLE, who was instrumental in bringing Time Team to Groby, is a Community Archaeologist at Leicestershire County Council. His job involves working with individuals and community-based groups to research and present to the public Leicestershire’s archaeological heritage. He also organises the local Festival of Archaeology which this year will take place from 16th-31st July. This involves events, guided walks and talks across the County and includes a talk by Peter on the Time Team dig at 7.30pm on July 16th at Donington le Heath Manor House.

Time Team uncovered

Peter helped to make it happen

ABOVE: Peter Liddle (right)

with presenter Tony Robinson


Some people hear voices. Some see invisible people. Others have no imagination whatsoever.

at the right time can be challeng-ing. “At Groby this proved to be a bit of a problem,” he explained. “On site each crew tries their best not to appear in the background of each others shots. Groby was so compact it was almost impossible to stay out of each others way. We would have to duck and weave across site to get ready for the next piece of film-ing.” The days were long and film-ing didn’t end until after 6pm. There was however a welcome break at 4pm for the Time Team tradition of tea and cakes, an opportunity to compare notes and discuss tactics.

Exhausted but happy It seems that by the end of Day

Three everyone was exhausted, but thrilled with how the dig had gone. After three days the team felt that they were able to fill in some of the gaps of over 600 years of his-tory at Groby Old Hall for Paul and Vivienne, coming to the conclusion that the original motte and bailey had been superseded by a huge and very wealthy palace complex which would have impressed visitors to the site. This in turn was followed by a rather grand house that replaced the buildings excavated, perhaps in the early to mid 15th, explained Peter Liddle. “This was later extend-ed in the newly fashionable brick - a scheme probably still unfinished when the family switched its atten-

tion to Bradgate.,” he added. No wonder the site was described as an architectural theme park.Months of preparation, and three

days of intense activity, were fol-lowed by a further two days of re-cording the findings and tidying up. It’s all left residents with a better understanding of the outstanding historical connections on the door-step and Paul and Vivienne with an experience that is sure to be retold many times. “Whilst we wouldn’t want it repeating on a regular ba-sis the Time Team visit was a great experience and we met some lovely people,” concluded Paul. You can read the articles by Paul

and Vivienne and the production staff referred to in this article on the Channel 4 website http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team/articles . The experiences of amateur archaeologists David Burr and Richard Snodin can be found online at http://walthamthorpearnold.leices-

tershireparishcouncils.org/uploads/174c04f29ce1f81073215978.pdf . The easy route is to go to www.grobyonline.tk and follow the direct links.if you missed the programme

and didn’t record it you can watch it online until April 16th.


What’s Irish and stays out all night? Patty O’Furniture.

the following incidents were reported to the Police in the local area during March 2011.

Description Groby Field Head

House Burglaries Actual: Garendon Way. Attempted: Ulverscroft Drive

1 Actual 1 Attempted

0

Garage, Shed, Outbuilding Burglaries Actual: stamford Drive Attempted: stephensons Way

1 Actual 1 Attempted

0

Theft of Motor Vehicle: Markfield road 1 0

Theft from Motor Vehicle: Windsor Avenue, Crane Ley road, Victoria Drive, stephensons Way, Leicester road

5 0

Damage to Motor Vehicle: Woodlands Drive, stamford Drive

2 0

Non-Domestic Assaults 5 0

Anti Social Behaviour Incidents 2 0

Crimes That Don’t Affect Residents Homes or Cars Theft: 4 / Damage: 3 / Other: 3

10 0

TOTAL (Actual) 27 0TOTAL (Attempted) 2 0

PC 0918 Ned kelly • Sergeant Matthew trott

Local crime news in more detail is available at www.groby.org.uk

Information supplied by Martin Cartwright, Secretary - Groby Branch Neighbourhood Watch Tel: 0116 2874500 • Mobile: 07850 707050

Email: [email protected]

In An Emergency dial 999. Contact the local police on 0116 222-2222. Next meeting: thursday 9th June 2011 at 7.30pm at groby Village hall

Crime Figures for March 2011

Churches Together in Groby

Urban Saints During term time, held at the URC chapel: games, friends, crafts and a Christian basis to discussions. - for 5’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 3.45pm, 6.30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s o Fri at 7.30pm

More details on the church websites

Fair Cuppa: an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall. All tea/coffee is fair-trade. Thursdays: 10.00—11.30am.

St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk

Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church

www.grobyurc.com Mrs Norma Whittaker 287 6606

Children/Youth Worker Deb Goodhead 07730 596309

Sunday services: see websites and church magazines

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER, with events open to all: Mon 18th and Wed 20th St. P&J open for quiet reflection and prayer, 7.30-8.30pm Tues 19th Emmanuel Apostolic Gospel Choir at St P&J(venue t.b.c.) Thurs 21st Passover meal with Rabbi Yehoshua from the Teshuva Messianic sysagogue in Leicester, held at the URC, beginning at 7.30pm Good Friday 22nd 10am Christ in the city Centre 7.30pm Evening Reflection for Good Friday Easter Sunday 24th Celebration services in both churches: check the website for details

1�Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 244069

Regular naps prevent old age ... especially if you take them while driving.

Bradgate Twinning

Ooh La La: BTA Kazoo Quintet to the RescueFriDAY 25th March saw big Cat Productions present their Cabaret evening in support of bradgate twinning Association.After wining and dining to a superb hot supper

prepared by the legendary BTA catering team, the show began. It included a potted version of Verdi’s Aida (by magic), humorous sketches, and even a bedtime story. Little Red Riding Hood had an interesting twist (or was it totally twisted?). It was certainly different to my childhood memory – never the less it got thunderous applause!The show was totally varied including music and song from classics to music hall, and support from BTA members,

including comediennes Leslie & Barbara performing a “Two Ronnies” news sketch to great laughter.Disaster almost struck but luckily the BTA Kazoo Quintet came to the rescue. The final piece should have been the

Milton Keynes Classics Orchestra, but they had got stuck on the motorway. In stepped BTA to produce a rousing end to the evening with the last night of the proms. This was expertly directed by conductor David Worth-Rattle, with singing led by Britannia herself and complete with rousing audience participation. Such talent in Bradgate!So once again if you missed it, you missed a treat. BTA social events are fun; members put in a lot of effort but get

great rewards. It is so pleasing to see people having fun. Of course there is another side - the underlying purpose of the events is fund raising. This helps to pay for the entertainment of our French Twinning visitors in November, just like they entertain us when we go to Rouen each spring bank holiday in May. There are still a few places left on the coach to Rouen– so come along and experience real France and real French people who absolutely love England and the English – and you don’t have to speak French!Finally – look out for the Summer Quiz posters and (if you can’t come to France) give us a try on 11 June at

Newtown Linford. Tables are for eight, but you don’t have to come as a group – teams will be matched up if required. Contact 0116 221 3786 to find out more about us.

Martyn Wroe

Free Local history event • Are you perhaps a Local Historian/researcher, History Teacher, Librarian or someone with responsibility for teaching research skills to Year 12/13 students?• Do you have a passion for Libraries and an interest in how they are going to develop into the future with regard to technology? • Do you use a computer to collate, manage and share your research? • Would you like to learn more about developing technology, especially the growth of the Internet?

IF YOU HAVE ANSWERED YES and if you are free on Tuesday 10th May from 10am – 2pm, your are cordially invited to a FREE event at the University of Leicester (the John Foster Hall, Manor Road, Oadby – about 2 miles south of Leicester city centre). A complimentary lunch will follow for all participants.

We will have fantastic presenters from the British Library; the Leicestershire Record Office and the Universities of Leicester and Salford; plus technology from the Media Zoo.

You will need to book a place in advance please as we are also providing lunch (and resources to take away). Please telephone: Jo Leadbetter on 0116 229 7597 or 01530 230 455. Or email: [email protected] Nb. Deadline for receipt of

bookings is thursday 5th May.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 2440691�

I have learned there is little difference in husbands, so you might as well keep the first.

Scores on the doorsNorman griffiths finds out how local businesses rate for food hygiene

Whether you go out for a meal, for a drink or opt for a takeaway, or arrange for your child to have school dinners, you assume that the establishment will take its hygiene responsibilities seriously. But around one million people

suffer from food poisoning every year, and the Food Safety Agency (FSA) has developed the Food Hygiene Rating System to try and reduce the number of cases which result from poor standards outside the home. The ratings will help consumers make an informed choice about where they eat or shop.Hinckley and Bosworth Borough

Council has switched to this national rating scheme and locally food outlets, such as restaurants, takeaways and pubs, are inspected by Environmental Health Officers to check that their hygiene standards meet legal requirements. The hygiene standards found at these inspections are rated on a scale ranging from zero at the bottom (which means ‘urgent improvement necessary’) to a top rating of five (‘very good’). Groby Ex-servicemen’s Club on

Leicester Road was pleased to announce recently that it had gone through the inspection process last January and had emerged with a top rating of 5. “Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s Environmental Health Inspector inspects everything down to the rubber seals on fridge doors, under cabinets, ensures meticulous food records are being kept, and temperatures observed,” explained a spokesman for the Club.“Having a single nationwide

scheme will mean a level playing field for businesses across the country, and consumers will be able to recognise and use the ratings in their own area, as well as further from home,” explained Catriona Stewart, Head of the Food Hygiene Ratings Team at the FSA. “So it’s great news that Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have switched to the new national scheme.”The food safety officer inspecting

a business checks how well the business is meeting the law by looking at:• how hygienically the food is

handled – how it is prepared, cooked, re-heated, cooled and stored• the condition of the structure

of the buildings – the cleanliness, layout, lighting, ventilation and other facilities

• how the business manages and records what it does to make sure food is safe.Businesses given ratings of

‘0’ or ‘1’ must make urgent or major improvements to hygiene standards. The local authority food safety officer will use a number of enforcement tools as well as giving advice and guidance to make sure these improvements are made. If the officer finds that a business’s

hygiene standards are very poor and there is an imminent risk to health – this means food is not safe to eat – the officer must take action to make sure that consumers are protected. This could mean prohibiting part of an operation or closing the business down. The good news is that the Club

is not the only organisation to score the top rating and 88% of the premises rated in Groby were satisfactory, good or very good with 65% getting the top score. When inspected one local outlet was reported as being in need of improvement and one needed major improvement, but as this was in 2010 no doubt the Inspector will have worked with the owners to improve the situation.The Food Hygiene Rating

Scheme is a ‘national scheme’ run in England, Wales and Northern Ireland with a similar scheme run in Scotland. The scheme is not running in all areas as each local authority can choose whether or not it wants to take part or run their own local schemes. The Agency is encouraging as

many local authorities as possible to run the ‘national scheme’ to enable consumers to be able to compare hygiene ratings of food businesses both in the local area and further away from home. It’s easy to find out if a business

has been inspected and rated under the scheme by using the search facility on the FSA website. It’s not so easy to get more detailed information about a particular business’s hygiene standards. Although more detailed information will be included in the food safety officer’s inspection report if you want to see this the FSA suggests you make a ‘Freedom of Information’ request to the local authority that carried out the inspection. You can search the ratings

database by using the direct link from www.grobyonline.tk or typing into your browser http://ratings.food.gov.uk/QuickSearch.aspx?terms=v5fCODQk+kQKvDgGAlO6XQ%3d%3d&lang

On the perils of holding a rose queen celebrationthe rectorySt. James the Least of All

My dear Nephew DarrenOn reflection, inviting your parishioners to join in our annual rose queen

celebrations may not have been entirely wise. It was cheering to see that your people arrived on carnival floats, although less happy that they should be being pursued by the police trying to recover lorries temporarily liberated from your local coal merchant.Once the procession started, your drivers did not seem to have grasped

the fact that the vehicles were expected to tour the village slowly, for the benefit of spectators, instead of treating it as a competitive race, resorting to driving anti-clockwise around roundabouts in order to queue-jump. I noticed that numbers on your floats gradually diminished as they were flung off while careering round corners. Those who had a walk of several miles back home while dressed as pirates and ballerinas had my sympathy. Our tea ladies however, were less sympathetic when hay bales were spun off as your drivers demonstrated handbrake turns in the car park, felling our Women’s Guild like a row of skittles.The local police normally use the afternoon to do a little gentle point duty

while drinking gallons of sweet tea; this year, the number of tickets issued for unsafe vehicles, dangerous driving and assorted tax and insurance lapses should boost our constabulary’s figures for the next twelve months.I must concede that the group who decided to make a papier mache swan

for one of your floats showed great imagination. It was such a pity that they did not know a fifteen foot swan would be driven under a twelve foot bridge. The drama of its emergence, headless, was only exceeded by the following float which appeared to have a group of Brownies being savaged by a demented, bodiless, vulture.I am sure that some of your people’s offers to help this year’s Princesses

campaign for election for Rose Queen next year were well-meant. However, outlining systems for vote rigging and elector intimidation take a competitive spirit a little too far.The crowning of the Rose Queen is always a high point to the afternoon,

but could I point out that the “gold” crown is metal foil and the “diamond” sceptre is a piece of yellow glass. So could we please have them returned before next year?Your loving uncle,

Eustace

Groby Spotlight Advertising RatesAdvert Size Width Height Colour Black & White

Sixteenth Page 45mm 65mm £20.00 £13.50

Eighth Page 95mm 65mm £40.00 £27.00

Quarter Page 95mm 132mm £65.00 £45.00

Half Page 194mm 132mm £120.00 £80.00

Full Page 194mm 268mm £190.00 £140.00

Tel: 01530 244069 or email: [email protected]


Women should not have children after 35. Really ... 35 children are enough.

134 Station Road Glenfield LE3 8BR Tel 0116 2871100

32–34 Main Street Ratby LE6 0LL Tel 0116 2390009

Half Price Colour Sale

During APRIL With this voucher.

Selected stylists only.

www.whiteshairandbeauty.com

Bookings must include a cut & finish at list price. This promotion cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer and is subject to availability.


Junk is something you’ve kept for years and throw away three weeks before you need it.

Groby WI News from Margaret Gamble A COuPLe of days before our monthly meeting, ros on checking that our speaker was coming, spoke to his brother who said that he was in india. So, upwards and onwards we

quickly planned other “entertain-ment”. Four of us did a little ditty of a version of All Things Bright and Beautiful (it boiled down to four ladies looking for a man) and that went quite well. Then we had a cou-ple of quizzes. This sounds rather dull but the laughter that came from different groups made it a great so-cial time. Let’s say that some of the answers the ladies came up with were not exactly the correct ones but gave everyone a good laugh. It was our Annual Council Meeting

this month at the All Nations Centre when members from all over Leicestershire and Rutland have a chance to get together and this year there were 350 of us. Of course we began with Jerusalem which I must say with that number of ladies always sounds good. Then the Lord Mayor, Colin Hall gave us a Civic Welcome and said he was very pleased to be invited to this prestigious event!

4,000 members and risingOur “Chair” (I dislike that title)

Rosemary Heyes, is a really lovely lady, who makes mistakes, just laughs about them, cracks jokes and gets on with it. According to Rosemary we have 4,000 County members and we are gaining more each month. Rosemary told the story about 2 la-dies at a petrol station, one filled up and it cost a fortune, the other filled up £10 at a time as it did not seem so dear. The one that filled up said you can’t do that as the fuel at the bottom wouldn’t get used and surely it must have a sell by date. The National Chairman (the big

chief) Ruth Bond (who happens to have been born in Leicestershire and whose mum is still here), then spoke and said they were sending

out 1,000 new member packs a week. In the course of her duties she has met with Bianca Jagger, Annie Lennox and has been to Downing Street. She said that it was not Ruth Bond who was invited but the WI. A member from Quorn spoke for

the majority of us about the with-drawal of cheques. The debate continues but the Government’s Payments Council’s option of an alternative “paper based” idea appears to defeat the argument. Members were encouraged to write to their M.P. etc.

Went from 36A to 34DDWe then had our guest speaker,

Caroline Aston, a top journalist. Her chief interests are Queen Victoria and her descendants and Edwardian High Society especially dealing with etiquette, style, food and fash-ion. Caroline was a very amusing speaker. She covered a wide range from the Americans’ obsession with plastic surgery, apparently there is even a Nose Catalogue you can choose from. Then there are the operations that go wrong, finishing up with mouths that look like “hens bottoms” or “trout lips”. Back to her favourite subject, the Edwardians, when tiny waists were in and bos-oms out. Caroline reckoned that the bosom entered a ballroom before the rest of the body. Talking of which she told of the time she went for a new bra. A “bra consultant” took command of her. Caroline said she went into the fitting room a 36A and came out a 34DD.

Codpiece sprang a leak!Going back to Elizabethan days, a

cod piece was not something you had with chips and mushy peas but something a gentleman would wear to promote his virility. A well known chappie of the day apparently over did it when he was presented to Queen Elizabeth I and sprang a leak leaving a trail of sawdust, the Queen was not amused. Ladies also had their little deceptions. If the lady had a rather small, let’s say chest, she

would pack it with fresh hay which was all very well until a passing horse might get a whiff, very tasty. Caroline was a great laugh but we did learn a lot, not sure it was of any use but it may be one day.

Protest problemsThen we went on our annual

London Trip. I must point out that we had booked this before we knew the big Protest was going to happen. All went normally until we reached in-ner London. Then suddenly the bus found itself behind loads of people who came from all over, side streets etc. The driver abandoned our usu-al drop off and eventually reached the Aldwych. Our plans had to be changed of course, it was absolutely packed and we gathered that our day would be around Covent Gardens. After a stroll around the market and a rather nice pub lunch we made our way for our Royal Opera House visit. An extremely pleasant young man introduced himself as our guide. He began by telling us the history. It has been around in vari-ous forms since the 1700s but in the l990s the new Bow Street additions took place and were completed in 1999. The new and old parts were I thought stunning. There were 7 floors (I think) but we began by go-ing into the actual Opera House, magnificent in crimson and gold. We were in what I call the circle so we looked down onto the stage. It was a hive of activity. About 20 men were busy shifting large pieces of

flooring around and doing various jobs. I couldn’t believe that the pre-vious night there had been a ballet and now it was being made ready for the opera Aida. Apparently tech-nicians can change the sets around in a matter of hours. Then we went to the top of the building where we were able to view the stage etc from another angle. Going down a flight or so we were able to see the wings from both sides. Onto the first of two costume areas where young ladies were busy making costumes for the leading singers/dancers. They were sent the measurements, busts were then made up to the quoted sizes and the costumes made. The “ordi-nary chorus” usually had costumes which were in stock but usually kept in Wales (apparently thousands of them going back years). Onto the next room where the costumes were in use for the current shows. We saw the ballet rehearsal rooms, which have to be kept at a certain temper-ature as the dancers get cramp etc if it gets cold. We went on and on and we were all taken aback about what goes on behind the scenes. Did you know centuries ago, sailors when they couldn’t get a ship used to work in theatres hence the word “rigging”.

Tea at the WaldorfAfter about 2 hours we were back

outside, we were unable to travel elsewhere because of the protests but enjoyed ourselves looking at the various shops etc, having a cream tea and finishing up at the Waldolf Hilton for a cuppa before catching our bus, how’s that for the end of a lovely day. I must say all the protes-tors we saw were perfectly well be-haved and good natured. April’s speaker sounds very prom-

ising. Maggie Smith’s talk is about Corsets, Camis, Swimsuits and Smiles so if you are interested come along on the 21st April at 7.30p.m. to the Village Hall, you are very wel-come.

The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London


I managed to get a good job working for a pool maintenance company, but the work was just too draining.

Referendum and Elections coming up soon

Where will you be on Thursday 5th May?With local borough and parish elections and the first uk-wide referendum in over 30 years taking place on thursday 5 May, hinckley & bosworth borough Council is urging voters in the borough to be ready to have their say. The referendum is on the voting system used for elections to the UK

Parliament. The question being put to voters on 5 May is:“At present, the UK uses the ’first past the post’ system to elect MPs to the

House of Commons. Should the ’alternative vote’ system be used instead?”With several bank holidays coming up, residents who are going to be away

on 5 May can also apply to vote by post or by proxy.Yvonne Hughes, the Borough Council’s Electoral Service Officer, said:

“Now is the time to make sure you are registered to vote before the deadline on Thursday 14 April and to apply for a postal or proxy vote. You can call 01455 255830 or 01455 255835, or print off the forms from www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk.”Chris Hinde, the Electoral Commission’s regional manager, said: “People

don’t always realise that they can have their say in different ways, including by post or by asking someone they trust (a ‘proxy’) to cast their vote for them. So if anyone is going to be away on Thursday 5 May, they should take a few minutes now to make sure their voice will still be heard.”

Try bowling at at Desford Bowls Club Open DayAN OPeN DAY is being held at Desford bowls Club, at Sport in Desford, Peckleton Lane (opposite the Caterpillar Works) on Saturday 30th April 2011 between 2.30pm and 5pm.Come along and enjoy a

cup of tea, and have a try at bowling.Bowling is a good, healthy sport for all, and you’ll be made very welcome

by members of this friendly club.For more information, telephone Brian on 01455 824645 or Terry on 0116

287 3392.


Whenever I read about the perils of drinking, I give up reading.

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the king’s Speech (12)Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helen Bonham Carter

the king’s Speech is the tale of elizabeth ii’s father and his remarkable friendship with maverick speech therapist Lionel Logue.

Fascinating, moving and often humourous it charts the personal relationship that developed between England’s reluctant King George VI, plagued by a nervous stammer, and his irreverent Australian speech therapist.

As the second son of George V, Prince Albert “Bertie” was not expected to ascend to the throne, but when his brother Edward abdicates to marry American Wallis Simpson, Bertie, as his successor, is crowned King George VI.

George becomes King as radio is taking off as a mass medium and the Second World War looms. Thrust into the international spotlight he must speak not only to the nation but to the people of the British Empire, across the world. His wife, Queen Elizabeth - the future Queen Mother - is tireless in her belief in him. Having tried all the traditional doctors she engages unorthodox outsider, Logue, to help him find a voice that can inspire a nation on the brink of war.

the tourist (12)Starring Angelina Jolie and Johnny Depp

the tourist is perhaps first and foremost a valentine to the city of Venice.

Jolie plays Elise, an international woman of mystery, somehow caught up with a glamorous thief who’s double-crossed a gangster, Shaw (Steven Berkoff, splendidly menacing).

On a train from Paris to Venice, Elise meets Frank (Depp), a schlumpy math teacher from Wisconsin on holiday. Before the train hits Venice, poor Frank has become entangled in a dangerous web that he can’t begin to understand. As the plot unfolds, a group of stone-headed thugs dashes after Frank and Elise, darting through canals, across tile rooftops, and into some of the most beautiful hotel rooms in the world.

Made in Dagenham (15)Starring: Sally Hawkins and Bob Hoskins

it’s 1968, the year of revolution and students are demonstrating the world over.

Meanwhile in Dagenham in Essex as far from the swinging sixties as possible, the Ford motor company is about to face its biggest ever threat, and from the unlikeliest of places: the female sewing machinists.

The women down tools in 1968 when they are reclassified as “unskilled”. With humour, common sense and courage they take on their U.S. paymasters, an increasingly belligerent local community, and finally the government itself, to strike an everlasting blow for equal pay for women. The catalyst for the women’s struggle is fast-talking, no nonsense “Rita” played by Sally Hawkins, whose fiery temper and occasionally hilarious unpredictability proves to be a match for any of her male opponents.

BOOKSPOT: The GuideBy Dr.William George Holdenthe product description of the guide on AMAZON reads: “the only book you’ll ever need to achieve anything you want in life. A guide to personal development like you’ve never seen before. this book doesn’t just tell you what to do to achieve anything you want in life, but why it works and how to do it.”

Unlike most self-help books, The Guide takes the form of a story - an interaction between two close friends.

Maya and Paul have known each other since they were children, and through the years have strived in vain to find success in their lives. Each had got married and had a family, still searching for the elusive thing that would bring success and happiness for themselves, their families and each other. Subsequently, their lives and work had moved them apart and they had not been in contact for the past 12 months.

But then Maya contacted Paul to tell him that she had found the answer! She knew what was responsible for the success or failure in people’s lives, and more importantly, how to consciously take control of it.

They arrange to meet and Maya tells how she has learnt the secret behind everything that happens in our lives. She becomes Paul’s guide and teaches him the techniques required to overcome any challenges which might prevent him achieving his lifetime desires. Paul is an enthusiastic student, and his passion and desire to put his new skills into action comes across to the reader. You can’t wait to read the next chapter to see how he uses his newly acquired skills.

Rather than just being a nice inspirational read, it holds very practical advice along with some in depth explanations on subjects like our self talk and how we can control it to deliver the results we desire in life. Highly recommended.


Nobody can be exactly like me. Even I have trouble doing it.

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JottingsNews in Brief

with Norman Griffiths

Groby BMX nearly here the wait is nearly over for local bMX riders. Following the decision at the

end of last year to proceed with a revised scheme, which didn’t involve the further delays that the formation of a club and new grant applicatons entailed, the project to provide the track and improve the parking has quickly moved to realisation. The weather forecast may be for a wet June but that is hardly likely to dampen down the excitement of the opening of the new BMX facility. The Parish Council is hoping that

work will be commencing on the track as this edition of the Spotlight is being printed. The work should take about 6-8 weeks to complete. Car park re-surfacing will take place provisionally on 17th May, said Parish Clerk Beverley Greenwood. Shortly after completion the line painters will arrive, then the shelter and signs will be installed. “Completion date, realistically I would suggest is in the first two weeks of June 2011,” said Beverley.

Lost and foundif you visited groby Pool over the weekend of 19/20 March and inadvertently left something behind you probably think you’ll never see it again. But here’s some good news

- it was found and is waiting to be reunited with you. Call 07962373983 and describe the item you left to claim it.

A vision of Grobytime team has probably generated renewed interest in the history of the village. The Vision of Britain website

(http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk) gives an insight into how Groby must have looked in the late nineteenth century. It has an extract from John Marius Wilson’s Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales which in 1870-72 described the village as :

“GROBY, or GROOBY, a village and a chapelry in Ratby parish, Leicestershire. The village stands near the Leicester and Swannington railway, 4½ miles WNW of Leicester; was once a market town; and has a post office under Leicester. The chapelry has a peculiar ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Real property, £3, 889;

of which £825 are in quarries. Pop., 461.The manor belonged, in the Confessor’s time, to Ulfi; belonged afterwards to Hugo de Grantesmaisnel, who built a castle on it; passed to the Greys of Groby and Bradgate; was the birth place of Lady Jane Grey; and belongs now to the Earl of Stamford. The castle was demolished abint the

year 1176; and is now represented by only a minnd. Bradgate Hall, the hunting seat of the Earl of Stamford, is a large edifice in the Tudor style; was built in 1856; and stands amid extensive pleasure grinnds. Groby pool is a fine sheet of water, occupying 40 acres. Slates are quarried. The living is a p. curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Ratby, in the diocese of Peterboringh. The church was built in 1846, and has a small tower. There are a Wesleyan chapel and a national school.”

It would be an understatement to say that much has changed in Groby since 1872.

Green spaces consultationthe consultation exercise being undertaken by Leicestershire County Council ends on April 15th.You can participate online using

an interactive map which can be found at http://www.lsr-online.org/greenspace or following the link from www.grobyonline.tk. This consultation is worth a few minutes of your time if you value the remaining green spaces in the village.

Memories of Groby’s marathon manJohn Offord from groby, who ran the county’s fastest ever marathon, took his running shoes to the special event at Curve in Leicester as part of the ‘Our Sporting Life’ exhibition. The project aimed to raise

awareness of Britain’s sporting heritage and enabled participants to share their sporting experiences, heroes, images and the stories that have inspired them. “I ran Leicestershire’s fastest ever marathon in 1984,” John told the Leicester Mercury. “ I managed to run it in two hours 13 minutes and 52 seconds in a race in Westland in Holland.”


A man is given a pig’s ear during a transplant operation. A month later he goes back to the hospital for a checkup. ‘Any problems with your hearing?’ asks the doctor. ‘No, it’s fine,’ replies the man, ‘Although I do get a bit of crackling.’

My wife made me join a bridge club. I jump off next Tuesday.

1st Prize: A £25 Meal Voucher to spend at Frankie & Benny’s! 2nd Prize: A £10 DVD hire

Voucher to Spend at Glenfield Moviezone!

FruitY WOrDSeArCh

LAST issue’s first prize winner was SArAh LeMMON of Lawnwood road, groby. You win a £25 Meal Voucher to spend at

Frankie & Benny’s New York Italian Restaurant. The winner of the second prize - a £10 DVD Hire Voucher to spend at

Glenfield MovieZone - was Mr.J.MArShALL of Leicester road, groby.Congratulations! Your vouchers will be with you within 21 days.

if you can find 12 CitruS FruitS in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win A £25 Meal Voucher to spend at Frankie & benny’s New York italian restaurant & bar at Meridian Park, Leicester - or a £10 DVD hire Voucher to spend at glenfield Moviezone (see ad on page 15).All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line through - 12 citrus fruits. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).Send your marked entry forms to: JUICY, Groby & Field Head Spotlight,

PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Wednesday 4th May 2011. Please remember to fill in your name and address. The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the Frankie & Benny’s voucher and the sender of the second will win the Moviezone DVD hire voucher. Good luck!

Here are the 12 CitruS FruitS you have to find:

CLEMENTINE • GRAPEFRUIT • KUMQUAT • LEMON LIME • MANDARIN • MINNEOLA • POMELO

SATSUMA • TANGELO • TANGERINE • UGLI

name: .................................................................................................

Address: ................................................................................................

.................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last issue’s winners

M N C G U N E K S T E M U Z O L I M E N G U Z I Y N A P T C C U N O A M L U V P I N R I B N W Y N Q V R I K B T D C L S D E L U E F H V E Q N A J S H H T A T E O T A N G E R I N E O T R P Q G L X Q S M I I Y O W L A M U S T A S I E N E N L S R E Y H V J K A R L D O O E G F B G F B Z I U F C M Z B M O B A L N I I T Y W E T U K O B Q W D J A V L I L I P K W P P C C I A Y T P Y Z Y H H D F L W F Q N D G E D R W A T O A J M F U Z Y G R P Q T T X L Q

CLEMENTINE GRAPEFRUIT KUMQUAT LEMON LIME MANDARIN MINNEOLA POMELO SATSUMA TANGELO TANGERINE UGLI

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

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From Groby’s Local PCSO 6128 Russ Leech

FirStLY i would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself, my name is russ Leech and for those of you who have not already met me i am the dedicated PCSO for the groby beat.In the last few weeks we have had a couple of

unfortunate incidents in the village where local residents and their dogs have been bitten by dogs that were running loose. Could I please remind all dog owners that it is their responsibility to ensure their pets are secure within their property or when out on a walk they are on a lead and if necessary are wearing a muzzle.On a more positive note PC Kelly and I have been working with the

children from both Elizabeth Woodville and Lady Jane Grey Primary Schools, conducting speed checks. This has proved a massive success with the children educating the drivers about the implications of speeding. Further initiatives like this are planned over the coming months with the aim of reducing speed and making Groby’s roads safer for everyone.I would like to finish by asking you all to look out for a neighbour and

report anything suspicious, either by reporting it to 0116 222 2222 or leaving myself (6128) or PC Kelly (0918) a voicemail message. It may seem like nothing at the time but it could be vital information which can help solve a crime, helping us to keep Groby the wonderful village that it is!

PCSO 6128 Russ Leech


My sister’s expecting a baby, and I don’t know if I’m going to be an uncle or an aunt.

What’s On At Our Local Pubs & ClubSs

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk nOTICe TO MeMBeRS new Members Welcome Fri 8 Apr: 3rd TIMe LUCKY Sat 9 Apr: TIMBO Sun 10 Apr: Super Sunday ‘50’ Fri 15 Apr: JAMIe Lee Sat 16 Apr: CHRISSY Sun 17 Apr: Super Sunday ‘50’ Fri 22 Apr: THe RAPIdS Sat 23 Apr: CARRIe diamond Sun 24 Apr: Super Sunday ‘50’ Plus Kids easter Bonnet Parade Fri 29 Apr: AL Sat 30 Apr: SeAn LAneY Sun 1 May: Super Sunday ‘50’ Fri 6 May: nATASHA FOX Sat 7 May: TWO FOLd Sun 8 May: Super Sunday ‘50’ BIG SCReen SKY SPORTS (See Ad on P.19)

The Stamford Arms 2 Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 5616. (SUndAYS are 3 ~ 6pm) Sat 9 Apr: GIn & TOnIC Sun 10 Apr: STeVe RAFFLeS Sat 16 Apr: STOnePARK Sun 17 Apr: MOJOHAnd Sat 23 Apr: IRReSPOnSIBLe Sun 24 Apr: Ann dUGGAn Fri 29 Apr: ROYAL Wedding Celebration Sat 30 Apr: SKYSCRAPeR Sun 1 May: ACeMen Sat 7 May: AndReW Randell Sun 8 May: HISS & BOO KARAOKe ~ every Wed OPen MIC ~every Thurs QUIZ – General Knowledge + Find the Joker ~ eVeRY Sun QUIZ – Music ~ eVeRY Tues

The Nag’s Head Station Road, Glenfield T: 0116 287 2794 every THURS 9pm – QUIZ (General Knowledge) Free to enter. Win Beer. SKY SPORTS (See Ad on P.14)

The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Tribute nights £2 entry after 7pm. (Fri 8 Apr: MICHAeL BUBLe) Fri 22 Apr: ABBA Usually Fortnightly Thereafter. Quiz nite: every 2nd Tues

The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKe nights:- Sats 9 Apr & 23rd Apr. (’King of the Road’) Fri 29 Apr: Garden PARTY – ‘Kids Fun in the Garden’. (Royal Wedding on TV also)

The Bricklayers Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ nite – Thursdays www.bricklayersarms.net

Classics/Donington le Heath The Manor House Barn T: 01530 817214 Sat 14 May: dreamboats & Petticoats – 50’s & 60’s £30 (Incl: Meal) Booking essential.

The father of a family - who was a big-time techie - got his oldest daughter an iPhone for her birthday. He also got an iPad for his son. Later he bought an iPod for the youngest daughter. Then, when his wedding anniversary rolled around, he got his wife an iRon. That’s when the fight began.


How beautiful it is to do nothing, and then to rest afterwards.

Groby In The Late 1950si AM prompted to write the following having first read in the mid-March Spotlight the good news that planning permission has been refused for the housing development next to the cemetery, and then reading one of Norman griffiths’ other articles where he says “those Senior citizens who have lived here all their lives will remember groby as a small village with a quarry surrounded by farmland.” Indeed I do, having lived in

Groby for over 50 years and for many of them surrounded by that very ‘farmland’, until we faced a similar development plan which unfortunately did not get refused.I thought your readers might be

interested in the accompanying photograph of our family home; The White Cottage, now to be found at the end of Whitehouse Close off Highfield Road. It was taken in 1958 just before my parents moved in. It would not surprise me if several

Groby residence do not know it exists as it is completely surrounded by houses. I believe my Father counted twenty seven gardens backing on to our garden at one time. It has even been known for observers to remark “Who ever built a cottage amongst all these houses?!”It was originally called ‘Cowpen’

Cottage and was a game-keepers home on the Earl of Stamford’s Estate and can be found on many old maps of the area. The middle portion is about 250 years old and was originally thatched. Adaptations and extensions have since taken place each side. It was approached via Chapel

Hill. Crane Ley Road did not exist then, and Chapel Hill followed the

stone wall that hid Smith’s coal yard which is now where the new development is. The lane curved between the cottages round to where the United Reformed Church is and just where the footpath starts, beside the white house, was our top gate. Here we had a box where papers, mail and milk were all left for us to collect. I remember well having to traipse through two fields, whatever the weather, to make the collections.The track then followed the route

of the footpath down through a field, where we used to toboggan, passing what would be the end of Mallard Avenue, where there was a second gate. Then up through another field to our garden gate which would be about level with the front gardens of numbers 8 and 10 Glebe Road.So it can be seen from the

photograph that those two houses now occupy what was our entrance and front garden. The wavy privet hedge is still in the cottage garden. The rest of the garden stretched all the way to the spinney with the top part turned over to a paddock. This is where four houses on Highfield Road are now situated,

together with their gardens and the road between. The spinney was a great play area for my sister and I.From looking at the photograph,

the fields all around give an impression of being mowed in strip pattern, but in fact they were very undulating, quite an unusual formation, and therefore really only suitable for cattle grazing – a hazard that invaded our garden on more than one occasion!I remember frequently crossing

the field behind the cottage to see the railway line and watch the old steam engines drawing the granite filled trucks away from the quarry. The line of this is now the footpath that follows Ratby Road and then carries on passed Rothley Brook Meadow to come out on Sacheverell Way. One day my Father was aware

of preparation being made at the top of Leicester Road for a housing development, so he went to County Hall and was horrified to see the proposed plans for hundreds of houses and our cottage was right in the middle. Highfield Road was even dotted through our paddock and no one had said anything to us yet! Furthermore, a completely

new access was shown by way of what is now Whitehouse Close, meaning we would now enter our garden in front of the cottage.Naturally, my parents were not too

pleased to see all this, especially as it all appeared ‘cut and dried’ and no approach had yet been made to them. My Father set about making enquiries and eventually, after months of negotiation, a deal was reached whereby the builder got his land at the top and bottom of our garden and we received in exchange the first plot that would have been overlooking the drive and the cottage would be connected to main drainage and gas services.So now, on about the line of the

hedge between the two fields, is situated Whitehouse Close and the cottage is completely surrounded. Several years ago my parents also sold off the rougher part of the garden in the photograph and two bungalows were built.It was at this time, during the

planning process, that various preservation groups descended on the property. Fortunately, not enough of the ‘old’ construction of the cottage remained to make it a ‘listed’ building but they did add 100 years to the age my parents thought it was. However, not to be out-done, they did place preservation orders on two oak trees which actually we had grown from acorns and they were not remnants from the old Estate!I treasure my memories of when

Groby was surrounded by farmland and that is why it is welcome news that this latest plan has been rejected. I hope the present and future residents of this lovely village will continue to fight any more plans to take away what little remains around us.

David Hartridge

2�Groby & Field Head Spotlight • Mid-APRIL 2011 • Tel: 01530 244069

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Millennium Green News

At the AgM of the Millennium green trust the Chairman reported that the green continued to be well used by a variety of people. There were continuing problems with drainage and these would have

to be addressed by the Trustees as a matter of urgency. The gardening group continued to meet regularly to help keep the Green in good order and specific parts of the garden area were now being ‘looked after’ by individuals or family groups. All of these volunteers were praised for their hard work. The Treasurer

circulated a draft copy of the annual accounts and said he was pleased that the target figure for maintenance of £3,000 had been achieved again. The 100 Club, the Plant Sale and the Garden Party were the main money spinners and everyone who had helped with these events in any way was thanked. A list of proposed events had been prepared before the meeting and was approved with some additions.

Easter Egg HuntThe first event on the Green is the Easter Egg Hunt which this year will be

held on Easter Monday, April 25th from 10.30am to 12.00 (noon).The cost for each child who takes part has been kept at £1.50, with the reward of an Easter Egg for all contestants. Refreshments will be available for adults as well as children. Hopefully the weather will be kinder than last year when prolonged rain caused the ‘hunt’ to be cancelled.At the end of the same week we have been asked to make the Green

available for a picnic to celebrate the Royal Wedding. It will be held from 3.30pm on the day of the wedding (April 29th) and will take the usual form of “bring your own picnic, seating etc”. We will put notices with any more details on the Village Hall Notice Board, in the library and boards on or near the Millennium Green. The Gardening Group is meeting this year on the first Saturday of each

month from 10.00am to 12.00 (noon). Everyone is welcome and you can come for just a short time or stay for the morning. At the first session on March 5th a litter-pick was organised and 8 bags of rubbish were left by the gate for Blaby District Council to collect. If you are growing your own plants from seed don’t forget our Plant

Sale which this year is taking place on Saturday May 28th. We welcome donations of extra plants to sell on this day.There is now a very smart ‘post’ box on the Green, near the main gate, for

you to put used postage stamps in. Thanks to a local resident who made this for us.

Chris Tordoff

Don’t forget to send us your news!Contact details are on page 3.

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April 2011 Groby Spotlight Magazine

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Transcript of April 2011 Groby Spotlight Magazine