.

5000 Distribution OctOber 2017Issue 13 Whitwick & surrounding areas

Whitwick • Thringstone • Swannington

.

Do you know where to find this

local landmark?See page 3 for more details

and how to win a prize!

ANNIVERSARY 1937–2017Email: info@hallsltd.co.uk

Front cover photograph by Nick Linnett Photography • www.nicklinnettphotography.co.uk

PLUS.... Ghostly tales of Swannymore Road

‘Woodstock in Whitwick’ review

The origin of Halloween

Remember, the 5th November!

Regular features & lots more!

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Welcome... ...to the latest edition of the Community Voice!Front Cover Quiz... ‘Spot the Local Landmark’.How many of you can spot the landmark from our surrounding area featured on this month’s front cover?

If you think you know the answer, please send your entry to Community Voice, 57 High Street, Ibstock, LE67 6LH or email info@yourcommunityvoice.net.

The winner (drawn first out of the hat of all correct entries) will receive a £10 one4all voucher. Good Luck!

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CONTACT THE COMMUNITY VOICEPost: 57 High Street, Ibstock, leics le67 6lH

Telephone: 01530 267344email: info@yourcommunityvoice.net

www.ourcommunityvoice.co.uk

James Hayles HND. RRMFully insured and NPTC qualified

Tree Surgery, Spraying Specialist & Ground Maintenance

including Mowing, Fencing, Hedgecutting, Turfing etc.

LOGS SPLIT & DELIVERED £110 Large Load01530 271186 (home) • 07970 950129 (mobile)

Shackerstone Fields, Snarestone, Swadlincote, Derbyshire DE12 7DE

LOOK OUT FOR WHITTIE!Looking out for Whittie is proving to be a popular pastime with our readers! Last month he was spotted by many, hiding behind the advert for Kats Antiques, Vintage and Collectables Centre on page 12. The first correct answer drawn out of the Community Voice hat was sent in by Craig Beeby, who will receive a £10 GIFT VOUCHER!But where is he this month? If you spot him, send us your details, and which advert he is hiding behind, using the contact details listed below

Last month’s quiz answer... and winner!Many of you correctly identified our mystery local landmark as the Packington Lock-up or Round House. An Eighteenth century lock-up made of small red bricks in an octagonal plan. It has a pyramidal octagonal brick roof and a stone finial. These rural village lock-ups were used for the temporary detention of offenders who were usually released the next day or brought before the local magistrate.

This month’s prize has been won by Ian Marshall and our picture shows the prize draw being performed by Sarah from T Underwood of Ibstock (see their advert on page 9).

Let’s see how well you do with our next landmark!

▼

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other beautiful items to furnish your home, such as quality throws, bedding, wall art, fashion-colour cushions and mirrors, along with various ornamental show-pieces to add character to your home.

FABCO’s showroom also features some of the very best hand made beds from Relyon, Somnus and Sealy. NEW IN…. is a fabulous collection of Swedish-designed sofa and chair combinations, along with a classic leather sofa & chair collection. There really is no where quite like FABCO, so why not pop in for a coffee, a chat and let them turn your dreams and ideas into a reality! They are open 7-days a week and are located next to Aldi, opposite Pets at Home and Wickes.

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CLLR TONY GILLARD Tel: 01530 452930 • Mob: 07970 894257

E-mail: tony.gillard@outlook.com

Whitwick and District U3A will hold its next General Meeting on Friday 20th October. If you are retired and looking for activities which are engaging and sociable for the cooler months, the U3A may be what you need.

With a membership of over 270 local people and almost fifty varied Interest Groups, keeping busy and making new acquaintances is readily achievable. Group Leaders and others will be on hand at the General Meeting to answer any questions and pass on information about the opportunities on offer.

The speaker at the October meeting will be Dr Julie Attard with the topic “Whitwick’s Big Dig”. The Big Dig took place over a weekend in July 2015 and proved to be a fascinating community event. Julie’s talk will reveal what was discovered about the ancient village of Whitwick. Not only did Julie coordinate the Big Dig, she also led the Charnwood Roots Project for its four-year duration. Her lively enthusiasm for archaeology should ensure an interesting presentation which will also include a short film made during the Big Dig by U3A member, Chris North. (Please note: this talk has been rearranged for October following its postponement last year.)

To listen to Julie and find out more about Whitwick and District U3A, come along to St. David’s Church Hall, Broom Leys, Coalville, LE67 5RL. Please arrive at 1.45 for a 2.00pm start. The U3A is a non-religious and non-political organisation: everyone is welcome. Alternatively, please visit www.whitwicku3a.org.uk where full details of our thriving U3A can be found.

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Continuing our series of new topical short stories featuring that mischievous rail dog, Ruffle, called ‘Ruffle’s Walks’...

Within each story Ruffle will send a secret word to his readers in the form of underlined, italic capital letters scattered in the text. Once you have found the letters, rearrange them to form a word that is relevant to that month’s story. At the bottom of each story it will tell you how many letters you are looking for. The actual word answer will be shown on page 23. Woof - have fun!

For more information about Ruffle’s storybooks visit www.ruffletheraildog.co.uk

Ruffle’s walks – apple bobbing!It was a cold autumnal morning as Ruffle walked through the gate leading to the station garden. Eric and Ben were sitting at the wooden bench busy carving pumpkins for the weekend trains. Ruffle spotted some shreds of pumpkin on the floor under the bench. He trotted over and began to crawl Under on his tummy in an attempt to reach the small orange scraps.

‘Hey! Ruffle, stop moving the bench. The pumpkins nearly fell off then!’ exclaimed Ben as he moved quickly to catch an orange sphere, just managing to Prevent it from rolling off the bench. Ben reached under the bench and grasped Ruffle’s collar to pull him out.

Eric put his pumpkin down and stood up, looking round the garden.’

‘Come on Ruffle, let’s find Something for you to play with and keep you occupied whilst we finish off these pumpkins. Now, where did I see that ball?’

Eric soon spotted the ball and threw It across the garden for Ruffle to chase. Ruffle chased after the ball then brought it back to Ben to throw again as Eric had sat back down. Ben threw the ball and an obliging Ruffle retrieved the ball once more. But it was hard to concentrate whilst also playing with Ruffle and after several throws, Ben became frustrated.

‘Ruffle! I’m not getting anything done!’ groaned Ben and gave the ball a more enthusiastic throw than he intended. Ruffle watched as the ball sailed over the grass and bounced against the wall. It then landed with a PLOP into the Near-full water bowl that Eric left out for Ruffle.

Ruffle ran over to the bowl and stood watching the ball floating on the top of the water. He tried to grab the ball, but as his teeth almost closed around the top of it, the ball was Pushed under the water. Ruffle immediately lifted his muzzle out of the water, gave a snort, then sneezed. He stood and looked again at the ball that was now bobbing tantalizingly up and down in the water. Ruffle made another grab for the ball, determined to pull it out of the water. This time his nose went right under the water as his teeth managed to pin the ball to the bottom of the bowl. He quickly brought the ball out of the water and dropped it onto the path. Ruffle shooK his head then sneezed again as the water tickled the inside of his nostrils.

Ben, who had been watching Ruffle’s determined efforts to retrieve the ball, turned to Eric.

‘Eric! That’s what we can play at the weekend - apple bobbing! We can put some apples in a bowl of clean water and try to get theM out by just using our teeth – no hands allowed! Thanks Ruffle! I’d forgotten all about that game!’

®Why don’t you have a go at apple bobbing like Ruffle? Make sure you have a towel handy though as you could get wet! If you hear a lot of sneezing, it might be Ruffle having a go…

Try the Ruffle “Find the word” competition - this month’s word has 8 letters. The answer is on page 23’.

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HAUNTEDTwo Great Events for October!First – our regular monthly meeting takes place on Tuesday 17th October, when Ian Retson of the Woodland Trust will be talking about the history of woods and wildlife across the U.K. We can promise you an interesting evening with slides and illustrations, followed by refreshments. Why not come along (and bring a friend, too) and find out what a friendly bunch we are! The meeting will be held, as usual, at the Methodist Chapel on Thringstone Green, at 7.30pm.

Second – back by popular demand – our third Ukulele Crazy event. The venue will again be The Miners’ Welfare Social Centre, Homestead Road, Thringstone LE67 8LL. This time we are giving the evening a Halloween theme. Tickets are £5.00 and doors open at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. Book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

For more information on both the above events please contact: Susan (our social secretary) on 01530 459295 or email: thringstonewi@gmail.com

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The history of this phantom is unknown but we are in the season of spooky tales as Hallowe’en approaches. Along with carving pumpkins into “jack-o’-lanterns”, trick-or-treating and watching horror films, telling scary stories has become an established Hallowe’en activity. The origin of Hallowe’en is disputed: there are both pagan and Christian practices that have evolved into the commercial event we have today. Yet, no matter how we feel about celebrating Hallowe’en, a good ghost story is worth the telling.

Whitwick is a very old settlement, sited on the edge of Charnwood Forest, undeveloped for centuries. This is the perfect setting for unearthly tales. One example comes from the Middle Ages when the Comyns were Lords of the Manor based at Whitwick Castle. Red Comyn, the beast of Whitwick, was a huge and notorious man. His hobbies were fighting, drinking and womanising. No local pretty

maiden was safe from his clutches. After his early death, a terrifying story began to spread. A huge wolf with long red fur and a taste for the flesh of young maidens was prowling in the Forest near the village. It was soon accepted that this creature was Red Comyn in the supernatural form of a wolf!

The following story will be a familiar one to several readers. The locations may be different but the ghostly happenings are not uncommon. This story is based in Vicarage Street, Whitwick, in the former Glynn’s shop where a poltergeist made its presence felt. Here, allegedly, things moved around of their own accord; taps turned on by themselves; staff in the shop could hear the distinctive sound of knitting needles when there was no one there and a young boy was so scared by a ghostly experience that he dare not sleep in his room again.

Volunteers at Whitwick Historical Group

have collected more stories of manifestations and strange happenings at Whitwick Castle, along Loughborough Road and close to the Monastery. Call in at the Old Station Building (un-haunted as far as we are aware) to learn more or share your own experiences. Visitors of the human kind are always welcome.

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THE PALACE IS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES, CELEBRATIONS & COMMERCIAL USE• Commercial hire packages available at very reasonable rates

• Seats 120 people around tables or 200 in rows

• Well equipped kitchen and bar facilities

• Good disabled access and large free car park opposite building

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS

Contact Gary on Tel: 01530 262400 for details of SPECIAL OFFERS to discuss your individual requirementsHigh Street, Ibstock, Leicestershire LE67 6LH

High Street, Ibstock, Leicestershire, LE67 6LH. Tel. 01530 262400SEE OUR WEBSITE www.thepalaceibstock.co.uk FOR MORE DETAILS

FORTHcOMIng EvEnTSFOR ALL EvEnTS WHERE TIcKETS ARE ISSUED: Advance tickets: from The Palace Tel: 01530 262400 or Halls Tel: 01530 260460. Tickets can be purchased ‘on the door’ (subject to availability). Please check with ticket outlets to avoid disappointment.

Friday 13th October – SPEcIAL FILM nIgHT presented by The British Silent Film Festival on Tour. This is a unique opportunity in North West Leicestershire to see Alfred Hitchcock’s film ‘BLAcKMAIL’. Made on the cusp between silent and sound cinema, this example shows how cinema in the late 1920’s adapted to the revolutionary new technology. ‘Blackmail’ was Britain’s first full length ‘talkie’, which started life as a silent film, until Hitchcock saw the potential of sound. Door/Bar opens at 7.00pm. Introduction and film starts at 7.30pm. Pay on the door: £3.00.

Saturday 14th October – LIvE BAnD nIgHT @ THE PALAcE Doors and Bar open 8pm. Band performing at 9pm. Admission £3, pay on the door.

Friday 20th October – FILM nIgHT - ‘THE PROMISE’ (Pg13) Set in 1914 as the Ottoman Empire crumbles into war-torn chaos. Doors/ bar open at 7.00pm. Film starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: £5.00/£4.00.

Saturday 21st October – PALAcE SOcIAL DAncE Doors & bar open at 7.00pm with dancing from 7.30pm ‘til 10.30pm. Tickets: £5.00.

Friday 27th October – PALAcE ‘HALLOWEEn’ BIngO. A great social night out! Doors at 7.30pm. Eyes Down for a full (haunted) house at 8.00pm! Licensed bar & refreshments. Everyone welcome.

Saturday 28th October – Our ‘HALLOWEEn’ themed community Morning 10am – 12 noon. Our usual community morning but with a SPOOKY twist Bring your little horrors along to make their own ‘MOnSTROUS MASKS’ or help paint our ‘ScARY SKELETOnS’ to decorate the Palace. Special ‘gHOULISH’ gOODY BAgS’ for all the children taking part. Also a variety of market stalls selling locally produced goods, including delicious homemade cakes. Light refreshments available.

Saturday 28th October – ‘ScARY SKITTLES’ nIgHT! FISH AnD cHIP SUPPER IncLUDED. 7.30pm start. A Halloween themed skittles night! Fancy dress optional, but prizes for the best costumes, so why not get into the ‘spirit’ of the evening! Special extra Halloween games and prizes to keep the little ones & young at heart entertained. Tickets: £7.00 Adults and £4.00 under 16’s.

Saturday 4th november – ROYAL BRITISH LEgIOn FUnD-RAISIng cOncERT (organised by the Ibstock branch of RBL). Doors open 6.45pm and concert starts 7.30pm. Licensed bar. Tickets: from Chantal Lester on 01530 450897 or email chantal-lester@yahoo.co.uk

Sunday 5th november - InDOOR cAR BOOT SALE – Open to the public from 9.00am until midday. For more details or to book a stall contact Pat on 07903 851243.

THE PALACE IS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE FOR PRIVATE PARTIES, CELEBRATIONS & COMMERCIAL USE• Commercial hire packages available at very reasonable rates

• Seats 120 people around tables or 200 in rows

• Well equipped kitchen and bar facilities

• Good disabled access and large free car park opposite building

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Spectres, Poltergeists and Ghostly TalesSurely one of the most attractive routes into Whitwick is along Swannymote Road. Lined with trees with over-hanging branches, tall hedges, grass verges and dry stone walls; this is a country road that is delightful in any season. In the dark, however, this is a lonely, eerie place without street lights or houses. It is believed by many to be visited by a ghostly figure. One night, two local ladies, Monica and Ann, both witnessed a sight never to be forgotten. A spectre, in the shape of a lady dressed all in white, floated in the air for a few moments before disappearing. Others driving along have seen the apparition cross over the road.

Swannymote Road: delightful during the daytime; creepy and spine-tingling in the dark.

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Community Office, 3a Market Place, LE67 5DT 01530 459527

WHITWICK PARISH COUNCIL

www.whitwickpc.org.uk Open:

Wednesdays 1 – 4 pm Thurs/Fridays 10 am – 1 pm

KNOW YOUR COUNCILLOR – THIS MONTH MEET COUNCILLOR TIM PULFORD

News from your Parish Council

LIGHTING YOUR WAY Last month the new LED lights were installed on the driveway at Whitwick Park, which the parish council has put in to help visitors from Park Hall leave safely after attending any evening events. The job was done ahead of schedule by a great team of staff from the Highways Delivery Team of Leicestershire County Council – partly thanks to the stormy weather

cancelling their planned job. This was a bonus for Whitwick to get these improvements in place now.

This month the Parish Council will be using lamp posts to display 70 large poppies along the route of the march for the Remembrance Parade. We are grateful to have been given permission by the County Council to put them up and we were one of the first parish councils in Leicestershire to place an order. Some people are even talking about making a donation towards the cost of buying them – what very kind people there are in Whitwick! If you would like to make a donation, however, small or large, please just drop your cheque in at the Community Office (payable to “Whitwick Parish Council”). All donations will be notified to your local branch of the Royal British Legion!

FOLLOWING ON FROM PROBLEMS in Whitwick Park we send a BIG THANK YOU to our neighbours and visitors who have reported vandalism in Whitwick Park to the police and to the council. Your eyes and ears are helping us and continue to be important so let’s all carry on working together to keep your Park a safe and

special place. Just call 101 to report a crime Wonders of Whitwick – tell us more (Email clerk@whitwickpc.org.uk with your good news)

ALLOTMENTS : Plot holders have volunteered to run the new Walkers Flats Allotments Self Management Group. Text or call Ian Gregory (Chairman) on 07767 358393 to register if you are interested in a part plot.

EXTRA PARISH COUNCIL MEETING ON TUESDAY 3 OCTOBER AT 7 PM (NWLDC) GUESTS TALKING ABOUT FUTURE OF HERMITAGE CENTRE

COUNCIL MEETINGS COMING UP ARE 19 OCTOBER, 16 NOVEMBER HELD ON THURSDAYS AT 7.00PM AT PARK HALL, WHITWICK PARK, NORTH STREET, LE67 5HB

Ward: Hermitage (Elected 2015) I am married to Jane and have lived in Whitwick for the last 26 years. I have only become interested in local politics and issues in the last few years, which include opposing the development of the Whitwick green wedge. And so I decided to stand for the parish council, to hopefully give something back to the village I proudly call home.

I am always keen to hear what the people of Whitwick have to say about the village, so please call or stop me to have a chat.

What’s on at Thringstone Community CentreSaturday 14 October - 14 October - Craft fayre at the community centre. Starts at 12 noon and on until 5pm. Lots of lovely craft stalls with plenty of gift ideas. Buy early for Christmas.Friday 20 October - Lesley Smith as Nell Gwynne at the community centre. Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £8 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/thringstone or direct from the centre office, open 9am-12 noon Monday-Friday.Friday 10 November - Annual Village Quiz Night. Teams of up to 6 people welcome to take part. Event will start at 7.30pm. Entry forms available from the centre which must be completed and returned with the £5 per person entry fee before 31 October please.Friday 17 November - Hicks and Goulbourne at Thringstone Community Centre. Tickets are £9 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/thringstone or direct from the office, open from 9am-12 noon Monday-Friday.Saturday 25 November - Moonshiners at Thringstone Community Centre. Starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £6 from www.ticketsource.co.uk/thringstone or direct from the centre office, open 9am-12 noon, Monday-Friday.

Meetings • Class Rooms • WorkshopsConferences • Parties • Weddings • Licensed Barsemail: thringstonehouse@btconnect.comwww.thringstonecommunitycentre.org.uk

Thringstone House Community CentreThe Green, Thringstone, Leicestershire LE67 8NRTel: 01530 222337

ROOMS FOR HIRE

Why are missed appointments at the doctor’s surgery such a big problem?Each month a number of patients don’t turn up for their appointment, and don’t let the Practice know that they won’t be attending. This is a big problem because:

1. It’s a waste of precious funding as each appointment costs £15. If there are 50 lost appointments in a month (as there often are in a small Practice), this amounts to a waste of £750 that could have been spent on seeing patients. It’s even more in a large Practice, and nationally the cost to the NHS is billions of pounds.

2. Missed appointments take up slots that could have been offered to someone else. Think of the times you may have wanted to see a doctor quickly and had to wait for your appointment. It’s annoying to think that someone didn’t turn up and could have cancelled that appointment, which could then have been offered to you.

So with this in mind, please keep your appointment or cancel it so that someone else can have it.

Sent by Drs Virmani and Bedi’s Practice Patient Participation Group

OPEN PUBLIC MEETING

Friday 27th October - 7.30pm

THRIngSTOnE HOUSE cOMMUnITY cEnTREThe trustees will be explaining

what is happening and how they intend to take the Centre

forward Questions and comments from the public will

be welcomed.

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page 10the voice

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pictures, militaria, china, glass, furniture, kitchenalia, giftware and much more.

ALSO WANTED• All Gold & Sliver Jewellery Including Scrap & Broken Items • We pay more the highest prices in the area. • Costume Jewellery• All Coins • Militaria & Medals • Stamps • Watches • Silver & Silver Plate• All interesting antiques, collectables & furniture. Free valuations everyday - Over 40 years experience

50 High Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3EEFind us on facebook - Open everyday inc bank holidays10.00am - 4.00pm home visits available

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The Hermitage Leisure Centre was the venue for the amazing community event known as ‘Woodstock in Whitwick’. This year was the first ‘Woodstock Weekender’.

The weather presented a few challenges, with rain, and even hail at one point, but the ‘Woodsto ckers’ did not let that deter them. They turned out in their thousands to enjoy the festival, brollies at the ready, to help raise money for local good causes.

The committee had worked hard all year to ensure that it was a fun packed weekend including music, kids amusements, dodgems, waltzers, cocktails, doughnuts, burgers and even a dog show!

A committee spokesperson said ‘Once more, we are so proud of all we have achieved. Hundreds of volunteers, musicians, technicians, sponsors and supporters make this possible, so a massive thank you to them all. Without them there would be no ‘Woodstock in Whitwick’. They extend their thanks to ‘Individual Pixel’ for the amazing photographs, many more of which can be viewed on the festival Facebook page. They invite people to visit and ‘like’ the ‘Woodstock in Whitwick’ page and tag themselves and their friends in the photos.

The first ‘Woodstock Woofers Dog Show’ was a resounding success with over 40 canine contestants lined up to join in the fun. Local car enthusiasts entered the ‘Woodstock Show and Shine’, showing off their pride and joy.

The organisers are thrilled to announce that they will be giving away another £10,000 this year, bringing their total donations to over £70,000!

Everyone is welcome to join them for the cheque presentation night, on October 14th at The Hermitage Leisure Centre, as they give their donations to the chosen good causes. The first three to be nominated are, The Marlene Reid Centre Community Transport Dept, Shepshed Dolphins disabled swimming club, and the Marie Curie Nurses.

‘Woodstock’ are planning further dog walks with the ‘Woodstock Woofers’ and are also holding a Christmas community event, and then.... ‘Woodstock 2018’, here we come! Get these dates in your diary now; August 18th and 19th 2018 for ‘Woodstock Weekender Version 2.’

WOODsTOck iN WhiTWick15 years of Fundraising Fun!

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Apply in first instance to Hannah, Graham or Steve on

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FANCY PUTTING YOUR BRAIN TO THE TEST?Here’s a bit of fun to get you thinking.(Answers on inside back cover - no cheating!)

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ACROSS1. Large house (7)5. Pieces of information (5)8. Profits (5)9. Gruesome (7)10. Retaliated (7)11. Form of transport (5)12. Hostility (6)14. Stick (6)18. Permit (5)20. SIncere (7)22. Creatures (7)23. Doctrine (5)24. Ledge (5)25. Sweet (7)

DOWN1. Tycoon (7)2. Dissonance (5)3. Perceptiveness (7)4. Wanderers (6)5. Aspect (5)6. Vegetable (7)7. Austere (5)13. Discomfort (7)15. Mocks (7)16. Pull out (7)17. Stopped (6)18. Accumulate (5)19. Dock (5)21. Bird of prey (5)

When we posed the question, ‘How far does your Community Voice’ travel?’ earlier this year, we had no idea that it would be quite so far!!

The undisputed winners of this quest has to be Martin and Anne-Marie Batho of Whitwick! They shared their far-flung travels with their copy of the Community Voice magazine to such places as, Orlando (including all the Disney parks, Seaworld, the Kennedy Space Centre, plus the Universal theme parks). On this journey alone, it clocked up an amazing 9000 miles, but it didn’t stop there! Next, there was an additional road trip around Florida, adding a further fantastic 750 miles to the journey. It was then off, once again, only this time to southern Spain, as the accompanying photos testify!

However, we also have two worthy ‘runners-up’; Mr Bott and Mrs Bott of Thringstone, who took up our challenge with great enthusiasm. Their trip centred around the concerts of Sir Cliff Richard and covered an amazing accumulative total of an 1545 miles in 16 days and took in 10 terrific performances by Sir Cliff!

Congratulations to both couples for entering into the spirit of our challenge and taking the time to send in details of their travels and photos of their destinations, accompanied, of course, by the obligatory ‘Community Voice’!

How far DID your Community Voice Travel?

Happy Halloween!When witches go riding and black cats are seen,the moon laughs and whispers,‘tis near Halloween.As a lot of the history of Halloween wasn’t actually recorded for centuries much of it is rather sketchy and subject to debate. Now, celebrated across the world on the night of 31st October, it generally involves children dressed in scary costumes playing party games or roaming from house to house, demanding ‘trick-or-treat’, in the form of sweets.

The origins of Halloween, however, may be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, around 2000 years ago. The Celts lived across the lands we now know as Britain, Ireland and northern France. Their Pre-Christian Celtic year was determined by the growing seasons and Samhain marked the end of the summer harvest and the beginning of the dark cold winter with a festival which symbolised the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

The Celts believed that, on the night of 31st October, ghosts of the dead would revisit the mortal world and large bonfires were lit in each village in order to ward off any evil spirits that may also be at large. The Celtic priests ensured that the hearth fire of each house was re-lit from the glowing embers of the sacred bonfire as protection and to keep them warm through the forthcoming long, dark winter months. They would bring home an ember from the communal bonfire at the end of the night. Carried in hollowed-out turnips, these embers created a lantern,

resembling the ‘Jack-o’-Lantern’ (the custom of carving pumpkins is a relatively modern innovation, imported from the United States).

When they invaded from mainland Europe in 43 AD, the Romans conquered much of the Celtic tribal lands and, over the next four hundred years of occupation and rule, they appear to have assimilated many of their own celebrations into the existing Celtic festivals. One such example may help to explain the current Halloween tradition of ‘bobbing’ for apples. The Roman goddess of fruit and trees was known as ‘Pomona’ and her symbol was an apple.

In the decades that followed, Christian teaching and faith started to arrive, along with the Christian Festivals. Amongst them was ‘All Hallows’ Day’, also known as ‘All Saints Day’; a day to remember those who had died for their beliefs.

Originally celebrated on 13th May, Pope Gregory had the date of the ‘All Hallows’ feast moved to 1st November, sometime in the 8th century. It is thought that in doing so, he was attempting to replace or assimilate the Celtic Samhain festival of the dead with a related, but church approved, celebration.

The night or evening of Samhain, therefore, became known as ‘All-hallows-even’, gradually followed by ‘Hallow Eve’, ‘Hallowe’en’ and eventually, the familiar ‘Halloween’.

In medieval times, one popular ‘All Souls’ Day’ practice was to make ‘soul cakes’. In a custom known as ‘souling’, children would go from door-to-door begging for the cakes, much like modern ‘trick-or-treaters’.

So the Halloween customs now popular throughout Britain, such as bobbing for apples and carving faces into hollowed-out vegetables such as swedes, turnips or pumpkins, which are then illuminated from within by a candle, may have evolved from some very ancient origins indeed!

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19/11 Living Crafts at Blenheim Palace £4119/11 Llandudno Christmas Fayre, Food, Drink and Craft Festival £2723/11 Gloucester Quays Victorian Christmas Market £2323/11 Stratford Upon Avon Christmas Market £2223/11 Liverpool Albert Docks or Mrs Browns Boys £22 / £7526/11 Chatsworth House Christmas Market £4526/11 Birmingham International Tattoo £5329/11 Princess Diana Exhibition at Kensington Palace £4629/11 York Christmas Market £2503/12 Worcester Victorian Fayre £2204/12 Liverpool: The Beatles Story including a John Lennon Exhibition £3907/12 Lincoln Christmas Market £2407/12 The Nutcracker Ballet - Birmingham Hippodrome £6908/12 Elvis on Tour -The Exhibition £4908/12 Black Country Living Museum Traditional Christmas Evening £3609/12 York Christmas Market £2509/12 London Winter Wonderland at Hyde Park £2510/12 Gloucester Quays Victorian Christmas Market £23

10/12 Skipton Christmas Market £2511/12 Harrogate Christmas Market & Betty’s Afternoon Tea £4912/12 Emmerdale Studio Tour and Leeds Christkindelmarkt £4813/12 Greenwich Market £2513/12 Borough Market and the South Bank £2514/12 Christmas Show and Festive Lunch at Wicksteed Park £4915/12 Manchester INTU Trafford Centre & Salford Quays £2416/12 Birmingham: German Christmas Market £2016/12 Christmas Carols at the Royal Albert Hall £8916/12 Chester & Cheshire Oaks £2517/12 Ironbridge Victorian Christmas £33 21/12 Magic of Hogwarts at Christmas £6523/12 Peter Pan’s Christmas in Neverland – Birmingham £79

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CHRISTMAS THEMED DAY TRIPSto put you in a festive mood. A selection of our festive day trips:

19.11.2017 Llandudno Christmas Fayre £2723.11.2017 Gloucester Quays Victorian Market £2326.11.2017 Chatsworth House Christmas Market £48 Plus MANY MORE! Visit our website www.robertstravelgroup.co.uk for our extensive programme!

BRAND NEW DAY TRIPS ADDED! Book onto our fantastic trips to see a show at Birmingham Hippodrome!

23rd December 2017 Peter Pan £79pp

1st February 2018 Beautiful, the Carole King Musical £65pp

22nd March 2018 Evita the Musical £69pp

11th May 2018 The Band – Musical £85pp

19th May 2018 An Officer & a Gentleman Musical £85pp

7th June 2018 Titanic the Musical £69pp

During the summer, a charity cycle ride in aid of ‘Rainbows’ took place from Leicester City Football Club stadium to the Lancashire town of Preston. It was inspired by a young cancer patient, by the name of Preston, who very sadly lost his courageous battle against the disease. The event took place in honour and memory of this brave young boy. The aim was to raise funds and awareness for other youngsters who are affected by life-limiting and life-threatening conditions. The ride covered a distance of 144 miles and raised a amazing total of £5,761.00.

‘Rainbows’ is a charity dedicated to meeting the needs of children and young people from the East Midlands who come to their Hospice.

‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’, which took place on Friday, 29th September, is Macmillan’s biggest annual fundraising event for people facing cancer. The first ever Macmillan ‘Coffee Morning’ happened way back in 1990. It was a small affair with a simple idea; friends getting together over a coffee and donating the cost of their cuppa to Macmillan in the process. It was so effective that they did it again the following year, only this time on a national scale. Since then, the ‘Coffee Mornings’ have raised over £165.5 million for Macmillan! Now, people all over the country host their own ‘Coffee Mornings’ and donations on the day are made to Macmillan. Last year the event raised an amazing £29.5 million and this year their aim was to rise even more.

So, if you hosted a Macmillan ‘Coffee Morning’, whether it was at your school, church, workplace, village hall, community centre or home, let us know how your event went. Here at the Community Voice, we would love to know what you did to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support as part of ‘The World’s Biggest Coffee Morning’.

‘THE WORLD’S BIGGEST COFFEE MORNING’In aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

Preston4Preston; in memory of a brave young boy

Hundreds of runners took part in Coalville’s second annual Colour Run. This colourful event, organised by Leicester Charity, Living with Abuse (LWA), with support from North West Leicestershire District Council, helped to raise thousands of pounds for charity. The highly successful day ended with a party in Coalville Park, which featured live music, stalls, games and dancing!

Our photo shows Ava, from Hugglescote, enjoying the carnival atmosphere at the event.

Raising funds and lots of fun at coalville colour Run!

Who needs trick or treat? We used to have proper Halloweens!It’s that time of year again when it starts to get darker a little earlier each day. The crisp fallen leaves of September are turning to slush and the wellington boots are being checked for cobwebs and spiders as they are being taken out of their summer storage place and we pray that their rubber hasn’t perished since we last used them six months ago.

In just a couple of weeks we’ll be thinking of bonfires and fireworks; do we plump for an expensive and ultimately disappointing display in the back garden or venture to a much larger, equally expensive and, with the queues, probably just as disappointing display elsewhere? Oh, what a choice we have!

But before that we have the joys of Halloween to navigate.

It has been said once or twice, and usually by my own children, that I can be a bit of a curmudgeon. I’m not in to Bonfire Night or New Year’s Eve shenanigans. I positively abhor Valentine’s Day; but if there is one ‘holiday’ that I really, really enjoy then it is the spook laden festival that is Halloween.

I love trying to scare the living daylights out of children trick or treating as I don masks that become more and more grotesque each year. I’ve turned pumpkin carving into an art form and set out a growing number of decorations at least a week before the event; my favourite being my giant, talking Jack O’Lantern.

I don’t have truck with those who tell me Halloween is just an American import. So what if it is? It’s a fun one, and, after all we Brits have a long and glorious history of appropriating the good traditions of others; who doesn’t love a curry?

Of course, when I was growing up forty odd years ago in Thringstone Halloween was very, very different.

Trick or Treat was exotic and something that we only ever witnessed in sitcoms or horror films. I don’t think I ever saw a pumpkin until my Dad decided one year to try growing them in his vegetable garden instead of Marrows; quite a big deal when those precious veg could be baked with mince or even more desirably used to make rum. Even when he had some limited success there was still the problem that no one actually knew how to cook these gigantic orange spheres once harvested.

No, when I was growing up my brothers spent hours making their very own lanterns, usually out of turnips but memorably once utilising a rather withered parsnip. Let no one ever complain that carving a pumpkin is tough if you’ve ever tried scooping the centre out of an uncooked swede.

The best part of Halloween though was the oppor tunity to terrorise elderly people. Well, not elderly people per se, that would be callous, but one in particular.

Over the road from where I lived as a child lived Edgar, one of those old characters that every village has. Edgar had been retired for many years and being a confirmed bachelor had looked after his own parents until they had reached their late eighties.

I had known this kind but eccentric man, who had spent much of his early life touring with show people, since I was an infant and there weren’t many days when he didn’t pop over to visit us for one reason or another. For as long as I can remember my Dad loved winding him up.

Every Halloween of my childhood Dad would ask me if I wanted to go ‘spirit knocking’ and every year I would answer in the affirmative. Looking back I’m not sure that I ever played a great role in our annual adventure as my father would carefully thread cotton through a button before tip-toing over the road and sticking a drawing pin into the old wooden window frame at Edgar’s house.

We would creep up the John Street jitty until our presence was covered by darkness and my Dad would pull on the thread as we both heard the distant knocking of the button on the glass pane, or could it have been a long dead spirit?

Every year would be the same with Edgar coming out at first worried and then shouting repeatedly into the darkness “Give over, I know who you are” and each year after ten minutes or so we would reveal ourselves to him safe in the knowledge that he would have forgotten our antics by the time another twelve months had passed by.

Our love of holidays and anniversaries are undoubtedly shaped by our childhood experiences of them and to me, spending that time with my Dad, Halloween was special.

I’m sure that our antics would today be called ‘anti-social behaviour’ and perhaps they were; but come October 31st as we moan about all of those trick or treaters I always try to think maybe parents are creating those treasured memories that their children will look back on fondly in a few decades time.

Sometimes we are all eager to condemn the youth of today. Sometimes we forget that there is nothing new under the sun and we too were young once.

Local writer and now former councillor, Leon Spence brings us his regular column

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FENCING BLOCK PAVING TURFINGFENCING BLOCK PAVING TURFING

October sees the launch of an exciting edition to the ‘Ruffle’ series of children’s stories. Titled ‘Ruffle the life saver’, it is specifically aimed at giving primary school-aged children knowledge about CPR and the use of defibrillators to promote the message that everyone can be a potential life saver.

The book was written and illustrated by Rachel Greaves in association with the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) – a trust set up to promote awareness of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) and how lives could be saved by the prompt use of defibrillators. Joe, a teenager Rachel knew from a toddler, sadly collapsed and died from SADS whilst out jogging.

‘Ruffle the life saver’ is set against the familiar surroundings of the little heritage railway where Ruffle frequently visits. On this particular visit, a driver on a steam train ‘driver experience’ collapses and Ruffle fetches help. The story unfolds by explaining how

CPR and the use of the station’s defibrillator help save the driver’s life. The message is that even if children aren’t physically able to attempt or maintain CPR, knowledge of it and about the use of defibrillators could save a person’s life – everyone can be a life saver!

The JHMT was so impressed by the story that they have purchased enough ‘Ruffle the life saver’ books to donate one to every primary school in Leicestershire – Rachel and Joe’s home county. The official launch takes place at the start of National SADS Week on Monday 2nd October 2017.

You can watch a promotional film of Ruffle The Life Saver on the website at: ruffletheraildog.co.uk/news/

Ruffle’s Xmas offerFor readers of ‘The Community Voice’, Ruffle has a special offer just in time for Christmas! Purchase the 4 offer story books (Ruffle the Rail Dog/seaside, Ruffle at the fair, Ruffle and the one-eyed bear and Ruffle saves the day) for £12 and receive ‘Ruffle and the picnic’ free (normally £3). The books are proving very popular for under 5s to be read to as well as to more independent readers up to a reading age of approximately 11 years. The packs are available to purchase from Community Voice, 57 High Street, Ibstock, LE67 6LH.

Ruffle THe lIfe SAveR!

Doesn’t the time fly by!! Can you believe that it is a whole years since the 1st issue of the Whitwick, Thringstone and Swannington Community Voice rolled off of the presses, back in October 2016? The magazine continues to go from strength to strength. It has now become firmly established in the community and has proved to be extremely popular with our readers, local contributors and advertisers alike. We regularly receive really encouraging comments from our advertisers about the great response they have had to their adverts. Due to a steady rise in the number of advertisers taking advantage of our 5000 distribution through letter boxes, in 3 local villages, we have recently seen an increase the number of pages in the magazine. This increase means that we are able to feature more local interest stories and we are always ready to hear your news!

We have been amazed by the reports we have received for our regular ‘Charity Champions’ feature; often including two, or even three, local individuals or groups, in each monthly issue. It is wonderful to know that there are so many selfless people in the vicinity, who go out of their way to raise funds for good causes.

We have updated our website to include an on-line trade directory for local businesses and access to all back issues. You can also follow us on both Facebook and Twitter!

Many thanks to all of our readers and advertisers for your support and heartening comments and please remember to keep your interesting stories coming in to our office!

Kind regards from the Community Voice team.

HAPPY birTHDAY To us!

Your Whitwick , Thringstone and swanningtonCommunity Voice celebrates its 1st YeAr in print

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201810th JanuaryLocal Photo and Video Night and AGMThis year’s AGM will be accompanied with a show of recently discovered or acquired photographs and video for the collection of the local history.

14th FebruaryAdventures in Bomb Disposal - Ian GregoryEver wondered what a bomb disposal expert does and stays alive? Well Ian will tell you the adventures he has had, without thankfully any live demonstrations!

14th MarchHistory of the Quorn Workhouse - Sue TemplemanFor over 100 years workhouses dominated the social horizon and were feared and welcomed in equal measures. Sue will take us through the life of one local workhouse in Quorn.

11th AprilDonington Manor House - Richard KnoxRichard is responsible for the Donington Manor House and he will take us on a journey through the history of the house from its begin to its recent refurbishment of this popular local Museum.

201711th OctoberPalitoy’s 80th Birthday - Bob BrechinIn 1937 Palitoy opened a new toy factory in Coalville which was to become the home of Action Man, much of which was overseen by Bob who will give an insight to the factories history and products.

8th NovemberReminiscence of a Snibston Curator - Stuart WarburtonIn 2015 Snibston Discovery Museum closed its doors for the last time. Stuart was the first curator at the Museum and his talk is a personal view of the museum’s history, development and closure.

13th DecemberFind Your family - Maureen PartridgeWhat better way to spend the winter months than researching you family history and Maureen is the best person to help you find your family with personal experience and practical advice.

Coalville Heritage SoCiety Programme of talkS - 2017/18

The Coalville Heritage Society has once again organised its series of its popular local history talks from October 2017 through to April 2018. The talks at the Ebeneezer Baptist Church on Ashby Road, Coalville and start at 7.30pm and last for about an hour. The talks are open to everyone but non-members will be expected to make a small contribution of £2.00 per talk. All the talks start at 7.30 and last for about an hour. The forthcoming programme is;

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cHARleS DIcKeNS’ DRAmA AT ceNTuRY THeATReCoalville’s unique former travelling theatre, The Century Theatre, is to host a live adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic novel BARNABY RUDGE. The play will be presented by PACT (Performing Arts at Century Theatre) on Tuesday 10 October 2017 at 7.30pm.

Northumberland Theatre Company’s production premiered at the Alnwick Playhouse Theatre on 6 September and is now on a 36-date nationwide tour.

The drama is described as a gothic tale of mystery and suspense, set against the 1780s Gordon Riots, which begins with a bang, - a double murder. Apprentices plot against their masters, fathers and sons fall out spectacularly, there’s blackmail, abduction and violent clashes on the streets of London. As one would expect from Dickens, there are some brilliant characters, including quite a few villains, and Barnaby Rudge even has a talking pet raven called Grip.

PACT is grateful for the support of Centre Stage in being able to present this latest production by Northumberland Theatre Company who have a long reputation in rural touring across the UK.

Tickets are priced at £10 and can be obtained by calling the box office on (01530) 278444 or by booking online: www.centurytheatre.co.uk

4th November 2017live music

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Ashby Road, Thringstone, Coalville, Leics LE67 8UH. T: 01530 222 282e: thegeorgeanddragon2014@outlook.co.uk www.georgeanddragonthringstone.co.uk

page 21 the voice

The story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, to murder King James I and members of parliament, is well known and every year, on 5th November, the anniversary of the plot, the planned act of treason is remembered with bonfires and fireworks all over the country; but here are a few things you may not know about the infamous conspirator.

Guy Fawkes did not die from being hung, drawn and quartered.

The traditional death for traitors in 17th-century England was to be hanged from the gallows, then drawn and quartered in public, but it was not to be Fawkes’s fate. As he awaited his grisly punishment on the gallows, he leapt to his death, no doubt to avoid a more horrific death. He died from a broken neck and his body was subsequently quartered. His remains were sent to ‘the four corners of the kingdom’ as a warning to others.

Guy Fawkes was not the ringleader of the Gunpowder Plot.

There were 13 conspirators in the plot, which was masterminded by Robert Catesby, a Catholic, who spoke out against the English crown. But it was Fawkes who gained notoriety after the plot was foiled because he was the one caught red-handed in the cellar, waiting to ignite the 36 barrels of gunpowder. For two days he was the only conspirator captured by the King’s men.

Guy Fawkes won the unlikely admiration of King James I.

Even under torture, Guy Fawkes remained defiant. He withstood two days of torture before confessing to the plot to blow up the House of Lords. He also expressed his regret at having failed to do so. His steadfast manner earned him the admiration of the King!

Guy Fawkes was Protestant by birth.

Despite becoming an enemy of the Protestant establishment, Fawkes was, in fact, born into the Protestant faith.

The Houses of Parliament are still searched once a year to make sure there are no conspirators hiding with explosives.

Before the annual State Opening of Parliament, the Yeomen of the Guard still search the Houses of Parliament to make sure there are no would-be conspirators hiding in the cellars. This has now become more of a tradition rather than a serious anti-terrorist precaution and is ceremoniously carried out by old, candle-lit lanterns. The actual cellar that Fawkes tried to blow up no longer exists. It was destroyed in a fire in 1834 that devastated the medieval Houses of Parliament.

It is now thought that the gunpowder would have done little damage to Parliament. The 36 barrels of gunpowder that Fawkes planted in a cellar below the Houses of Parliament would have been sufficient to raze it to the ground, while causing severe damage to neighbouring buildings. However, some experts now claim that the gunpowder had “decayed”, and would not have properly exploded even if ignited.

Local connections...

We also have our local connection, of course, with Donington-le-Heath Manor House. Whilst it is not quite such a close connection as was once thought, we do know that the house was once owned by the Digby family, a member of which was a leading conspirator in the gunpowder plot.

Remember, remember, the fifth of November. Gunpowder, treason and plot...

If you have an interesting local interest story and want to share it with us then please send us 500 words by email with 2/3 accompanying print quality pictures and we will do our best to publish it in the Community Voice.

Simply submit your article and photos to us at: info@communityvoice.net

every care is taken to ensure that all information printed is accurate. However liability cannot be accepted for any loss or damage due to any inaccuracies or omissions within this publication.

All rights reserved. No advertisements or editorial within this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. This applies to printed or electronic reproduction.

Printed and published by community voice, 57 High Street, Ibstock, leics le67 6lH.

To advertise please contact Steve Tilbury or Graham Tyers on 01530 267300, or Hannah Playle on 01530 267344.

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PLEASE NOTE THE DEADLINE DATES FOR OUR NOVEMBER ISSUE ARE

Deadline date for bookings for the November issue is Fri 20th OctDeadline for copy for the November issue is Tues 24th Oct

ANSWERS:A) ‘Count Dracula’ by Bram StokerB) ‘Frankenstein’ by Mary ShelleyC) ‘A Christmas Carol’ by Charles DickensD) ‘The Witches’ by Roald DahlThe answers to all of the clues are books of a scary nature. Three of them were penned by male authors, but ‘B’ was from the imagination of a female writer. Therefore B is the odd one out.

THE ODD ONE OUT!

RUFFLE’S “FIND THE WORD” IS: PUMPKINS

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You can order online at www.nwleics.gov.uk/freetreescheme2017. The deadline for applications is 27 October. Trees will be available for collection on Sunday 19 November 2017.

Could you help brighten up your garden, street and district by planting a free tree this year?North West Leicestershire District Council is once again working in partnership with the National Forest Company and HK Wentworth to offer the Free Tree Scheme in an effort to make our district even greener.Residents of North West Leicestershire can choose two trees from four varieties and can also apply to the “Hedge Fund” to order up to 30 metres of hedging.

Holly (ilex aquifolium) The common holly grows as a shrub or tree and has bright red berries and shiny leaves. The leaves are spiny and have a waxy texture. Holly is evergreen and will grow almost anywhere, including in difficult conditions such as waterlogged or chalky ground. In autumn, leaves turn a rich red colour.

Cherry Plum (prunus cerasifera)Masses of pure white flowers smother the branches in early March before the leaves appear. This is followed in autumn by tasty red or yellow, spherical cherry plums that grown on mature plants. The cherry plum is a popular ornamental tree for garden and landscaping use.

Hazel (corylus avellana)One of the smallest native tree species, hazel grows more like a shrub than a tree, only reaching approximately 20 feet in height when mature. Its leaves are comparatively large and round with a distinctive point. The leaves are slightly hairy to the touch and have a wrinkled appearance when fully out.

Whitebeam (sorbus aria)Is a medium-sized deciduous tree, rather upright when young, with dark green leaves, white-felted beneath, and clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by red berries in early autumn.

Grab a tree for free 2017in the National Forest and beyond

The Hedge Fund this year is Hawthorn and Hazel mix with a Whitebeam at 10 metre intervals

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)A fast growing, deciduous hedging plant. It heralds the arrival of spring, hasan abundant and spectacular display of white scented blossom and it develops glossy red haws in autumn. It grows to 15 metres but it can be trimmed after flowering or in the autumn to keep it smaller.

You can order online at www.nwleics.gov.uk/freetreescheme2017. The deadline for applications is 27 October. Trees will be available for collection on Sunday 19 November 2017.

Could you help brighten up your garden, street and district by planting a free tree this year?North West Leicestershire District Council is once again working in partnership with the National Forest Company and HK Wentworth to offer the Free Tree Scheme in an effort to make our district even greener.Residents of North West Leicestershire can choose two trees from four varieties and can also apply to the “Hedge Fund” to order up to 30 metres of hedging.

Holly (ilex aquifolium) The common holly grows as a shrub or tree and has bright red berries and shiny leaves. The leaves are spiny and have a waxy texture. Holly is evergreen and will grow almost anywhere, including in difficult conditions such as waterlogged or chalky ground. In autumn, leaves turn a rich red colour.

Cherry Plum (prunus cerasifera)Masses of pure white flowers smother the branches in early March before the leaves appear. This is followed in autumn by tasty red or yellow, spherical cherry plums that grown on mature plants. The cherry plum is a popular ornamental tree for garden and landscaping use.

Hazel (corylus avellana)One of the smallest native tree species, hazel grows more like a shrub than a tree, only reaching approximately 20 feet in height when mature. Its leaves are comparatively large and round with a distinctive point. The leaves are slightly hairy to the touch and have a wrinkled appearance when fully out.

Whitebeam (sorbus aria)Is a medium-sized deciduous tree, rather upright when young, with dark green leaves, white-felted beneath, and clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by red berries in early autumn.

Grab a tree for free 2017in the National Forest and beyond

The Hedge Fund this year is Hawthorn and Hazel mix with a Whitebeam at 10 metre intervals

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna)A fast growing, deciduous hedging plant. It heralds the arrival of spring, hasan abundant and spectacular display of white scented blossom and it develops glossy red haws in autumn. It grows to 15 metres but it can be trimmed after flowering or in the autumn to keep it smaller.

You can now find The Voice online and on social media!

answers the three big financial questions:

Bleathwood IFA Ltd, Bleathwood House,

45 Upper Packington RoadAshby-de-la-Zouch,

Leicestershire, LE65 1ED

An exclusive service from Bleathwood IFA A Financial Software System that models

lifelong cashflow to ensure you can fund your life goals with confidence.

Will we be alright if...?Can we afford to...?What happens if...?

For a review and a demonstration as to how Prophecy can illustrate your financial future, call Kevin Cunningham on 01530 417 943

Email: info@bleathwoodifa.co.uk

So, what is a final salary pension? It is one which pays a retirement income based on a percentage of your final salary and length of service either at retirement, or at the date of leaving the company or the scheme closing (which is a common situation today). These pensions tend to offer inflation protection so you don’t lose out if you decide not to take your pension straightaway, plus dependent benefits.

You will have many reasons you are now, quite rightly, considering your long term retirement strategy. For instance: The Chancellor’s introduction of ‘Pension Freedom’ in March 2014; very low interest rates increasing the transfer values; employers moving away from Final Salary schemes and understandable concern about high profile pension schemes been in deficit like BHS and Tata Steel reported earlier this year.

It is very easy to accept a seemingly high cash transfer value offer. They have primarily risen due to falling interest rates and lower returns on government bonds, and when interest rates fall in this way, it becomes more expensive for companies to pay pensioners their incomes. BUT is it right for you?

Your situation is unique, so you need advice based on your circumstances. It is vital to conduct a variety of stress tests. Look at various “what if” scenarios. Include all your other long term savings and assets, then establish what your best choice is for the future. Why? Because if you take the cash option, you cannot put the ‘genie back in the bottle’ - it cannot be reversed, so you need to know the facts unique to your situation and this could involve seemingly unconnected issues such as your state of health, tax implications, family and life aspirations.

When taking expert financial advice it is become common place for a two stage process to be considered. Stage 1 – pay a fee for an Independent Financial Advisor (IFA) to assess your occupational scheme, complete the research and stress testing, consider the ‘what ifs’, considering your unique circumstances and objectives. If the answer is NO, retain the valuable benefits

of your scheme. If the recommendation is YES, a further fee is charged to implement advice and transfer out of the scheme into a personal arrangement.

Not all financial advisers can offer this type of advice. We are required to hold specialist qualifications, so do check when considering consulting an IFA - Only deal with companies authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority. You can check authorised companies by calling 0800 111 6768.

It’s one of the most important decisions you’ll make this year, if not this decade. It can take many weeks or even months to collect the information needed to ensure the advice offered is appropriate to your situation. Your decision is something not to be rushed – it is your money – it is your future. Get the qualified advice you need to make an educated decision.

Kevin CunninghamBleathwood Financial Services

Should I transfer my Final Salary Pension – Yes or No?In recent years, I have been asked this question quite often. When I come to answer it, you might think that I sound like a politician being interviewed by Jeremy Paxman – anything but a straight answer! However, being brutally honest, your circumstances are unique so a straight ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ is an unqualified flip of a coin. Giving up a very valuable guaranteed income for a seemingly generous cash lump sum is a big step, so my qualified position always starts from a “No” unless together, we can prove saying ‘Yes’ is more beneficial to you now and for the long term.

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