Village news

If you would like to contribute to Village News, write to Andy Rush, Editor, Loughborough Echo, Ark Business Centre, Office 7, Gordon Road, Loughborough, LE11 1JP or email: andy.rush@trinitymirror.com

Sutton Bonington

Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com GRAFFITI REPORTED. Instances of graffiti on the children’s play equipment at Sutton Bonington has been reported.to members of the parish council at Sutton Bonington. The council are informing Rushcliffe Borough Council of the situation.

PUPIL PARLIAMENT. The politicians and voters of tomorrow have taken the chance to probe councillors and officers as part of a Pupil Parliament at Rushcliffe Borough Council. And included in the youngsters involved were pupils from Sutton Bonington Primary School.

The Rushcliffe Learning Alliance event saw children from over 20 primary schools across the borough meet Deputy Leader Coun. Debbie Mason and planning officers to ask tough questions on issues that matter to them in the council chamber at Rushcliffe Arena.at West Bridgford.

Green space, housing development, traffic, how the budget is spent and where on facilities in parks and playgrounds were among the issues they asked as teachers and teaching assistants accompanied the seven to 11-year-olds to ask the questions.

Coun. Mason said: “This was a wonderful exercise to educate local children on the background of how a council makes its decisions.

“They were very enthusiastic and I hope it was an enjoyable learning experience for them. It’s very important we listen to them and understand their needs and expectations.

“Understanding how we arrive where we are as a councillor through the election process, how the council is run and how they can affect the decisions they can make when they reach voting age is critical for every generation.

“We want them to know how have their voice can be heard on local matters and decisions that will shape their lives.”

Mr Dan Rhodes, Headteacher at Bunny Primary School co-ordinated the visit on behalf of the schools in conjunction with the Rushcliffe Learning Alliance.

He said: “The children had a really enjoyable afternoon asking some searching questions. They were honest and to the point and it is little wonder some politicians find the questions from those of a younger age among the most challenging to answer.

“It was an excellent trip to the Council and one we hope to repeat in future for more pupils to learn from.”

LITTLE SIGN OVER SURGERY. Sutton Bonington Parish Council have had confirmation from the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group that there is little sign at the moment of hope for a new or improved Doctors’ Surgery for the village.

Say the parish council: .” After a long time, the NHS Clinical Commissioning Group has informed the council that no money is available to provide or support a new surgery in the village. This

situation is likely to continue for some time” PARISH PRECEPT FIGURE.

Sutton Bonington parish council have submitted a precept figure of £25,801 to Rushcliffe Borough Council to cover its intended expenditure for the 20182019 financial year. The money is raised from the council charge from all properties in the parish. The figure for the coming year compares to the one of £23,640 for the current year.

CHURCH FETE. Sutton Bonington’s annual Church Fete in aid of St Anne’s and St Michael’s Funds will again be held in the lovely grounds of The Hall, by kind permission of Claire and Edward Elton. It is taking place on Sunda, June 10 at 2.30pm.

Churchwarden Mrs Beth Clarke says they are going to need more helpers to set up for the event. And she gives a welcome message to those who will be involved: “You will all be delighted to know that the old wooden tables, which were old when Arthur Clarke renovated them in the 1980s, have been replaced by modern tables which, although still quite heavy, fold in half to make them much more portable and they take up less storage space. They are also splinter and woodworm free!”

Mrs Clarke says 20 tables have been bought from the Parish Lines account. “A few of the old tables have found loving homes, but the rest went on the PTA bonfire last November.”

Says churchwarden Beth Clarke: “Make a note in your diary. We’re looking forward to a beautiful day!”

PARISH CHURCHES MEET. The annual meeting of St Michael’s and St Anne’s parish churches at Sutton Bonington takes place on Sunday April 22nd at St Michael’s Church, immediately after morning service, and will be at approximately 11.45am. The first part of the meeting is entitled The Annual Meeting of Parishioners when everyone who lives in the parish can attend and vote for the churchwardens.

The second part of the meeting is The Annual Parochial Church Meeting when reports are received from church organisations, the accounts received and questions are invited. Only those on the Church Electoral Roll are entitled to vote in this part of the meeting.

Mrs Beth Clarke says they are sorry that Julia Watts has decided to retire from being Churchwarden at St Michael’s, and they thank her very much for all the work she has put in over the last few years. If anyone feels they could take on the or would like to know more, please speak to Revd Michael Brock.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The next meeting of the Sutton Bonington Horticultural Society is on Thursday next week, April 19, when Hilary Hutson s set to return to explain about colour in the garden how gardeners see it, why fruits are many different colours, why insects are different colours and how to plant different coloured flowers for the best effect.

The meeting as usual will be starting at 7.30pm in Sutton Bonington Village Hall Library.

Kegworth

Mike Elliott 0115 937 6506 elliottnews@btconnect.com PLAYERS’ ANNIVERSARY. After last year celebrating their 70th Anniversary, Kegworth Players are now busy with their more normal activities , including staging two plays a year with the next one being ‘Runs in the family’ by Ray Cooney and which will be staged in Kegworth Village Hall on the 17th, 18th and 19th May. Producer will be Sally Hind.

The Players stage 2 plays each year; in May and November and are always looking for new members. If anyone is interested in getting involved, either on stage or behind the scenes, they would love them to join.

If anyone is not sure where they would fit in they would be welcome to join in the meeting they have on the first Tuesday of the month at 8pm in the back room of the Red Lion on High Street. “Feel free to pop along and have a chat!!” is the message from the group.

Contacts: Rita Pearson - 01509 821 941 Rita. pearson3@gogglemail.com Brenda Moore – 01509 672 886

EASTER MARKET SUCCESS. The forced change of venue for Kegworth’s annual Easter Market -- from the Market Place to the Village hall – proved a big success, and there were comments from some of their visitors they liked it better.

A couple of days before the Market was to be held, and in view of the poor weather forecasts from the Met Office which said very heavy rain, strong winds and even snow was possible, the decision was taken to move indoors to the hall.

Organiser Julie Cooke said the move had meant a lot of contact being made with all those who were due to be there in the Market place but they managed this and everything turned out well.

There were over 30 stalls on display, from village organisations and people who were selling handicraft items they had made. And there were scores and scores of visitors to the hall to give the event a nice social atmosphere.

Refreshments including Hot Cross Buns were on sale throughout the three hours the event operated and they helped provide the whole activity with a friendly social atmosphere.

Morris Dancers who were to perform in the Market Place put on their display in the hall by making good use of the stage.

A couple of visitors to the event commented they preferred the hall venue to being outside, saying it was much more comfortable for them.

PUPPET SHOW. Kegworth Village Hall is hosting a hosting a puppet show by the award winning puppet company Box Tale Soup on Saturday this weekends, April 14, at 2pm.

The performance will be The Wind in the Willows adaption of Kenneth Grahame’s classical riverbank story.

BEARD SHAVED OFF. Kegworth scoutmaster Jim Field looks a different man this week – he has had his long standing beard shaved off to raise money for charity and is thanking everyone who has supported him so far.

He initially set a target to raise £750 and in the first few days after his ‘shave’ had topped the £500 mark of income on his JustGiving page. He promised to shave off both his beard and “my beloved moustache” if he reached the £750 figure. The beard shave had a target figure of £450 and so when that was raised he lost his beard, publicly, at the Kegworth Easter Market.

Mr Field said the effort had been years in the planning and he felt the time had finally come to donate his facial hair to charity

And he has promised that should the income figure reach £2000 he will shave half off head and an eyebrow

Mountsorrel

FOLLOWING up on Mountsorrel Heritage Group’s very successful World War 1 exhibition in 2014 it has been developing a book to mark the Centenary of the Armistice in 1918.

The book, entitled Mountsorrel in the Great War commemorates and records the 402 men who either lived or were born in Mountsorrel, and served in the armed forces during the war.

From that 402 the village suffered 95 casualties who did not return and had 16 men taken as Prisoners of War.

Also commemorated are the 10 ladies of the Mountsorrel Branch of the St John’s Ambulance who served in the Voluntary Aid Detachments including three in military hospitals in France and two more at military hospitals here in England.

The stories of all of these are set against a description of the village as it was in those first years of the 20th Century.

The foreword was written by Colonel Robert Martin, OBE DL, grandson of Major William Martin, formerly company secretary of the Mountsorrel Granite Company, who was killed in action at the Battle of Frezenberg whilst commanding C Squadron of the Leicestershire Yeomanry.

The book runs to approximately 200 (A4) pages with over 160 illustrations in some 14 chapters including:

• The Village at the time of the Great War: Describing the businesses, social life, churches and social life of the village in the first years of the 20th Century.

• Mountsorrel Territorials and Yeomen: The stories of the road to war of C Squadron, Leicestershire Yeomanry and F Company, 5th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment.

• Belgian Refugees: The arrival and life in Mountsorrel of a Belgian refugee family.

• Conscientious Objectors: The backgrounds of two village men who were conscientious objectors.

• Women at War – the Mountsorrel Voluntary Aid Detachment: The stories of those who served at home and abroad in the village VAD.

• Quarrymen at War and the effect of the war on Mountsorrel Quarry: At the time of the War the Mountsorrel Granite Quarry was the main employer in the village with many quarrymen serving in the village territorial unit. Serving at first as infantry with the Leicestershire Regiment many were later transferred to Royal Engineer Quarrying units.

• Individual Stories: The individual war stories of four Mountsorrel men who served in; the Royal Navy, Royal Marine Light Infantry, Leicestershire Regiment and the Royal Air Force

• Homecoming and Remembrance: The demobilisation and welcome home of those who served in the war and the building of Castle Hill war memorial and other memorials in the village.

• Mountsorrel Servicemen in the Great War: Pen pictures of the over 400 Mountsorrel men born or resident and identified as having served.

The book will go on general sale at the Mountsorrel Revival on August 12, priced at £12, but is available to order now at a pre-paid price of £9.

Full details are at http:// mountsorrelarchive.org/ category/history/military/ world-war-1/

A SPRINGTIME GATHERING. Mountsorrel Methodist Church invites you to “A Springtime Gathering” with Afternoon Tea on Saturday, April 14, from 3pm to 6pm.

There will be Quizzes, Board/ Table Games, and a Beetle Drive.

To help with catering tel. 0116 237 4961 or 01509 414193 for Tickets, priced at £5.

There will be sales tables with jams & preserves, plants, and tombola.

All proceeds are for church funds. ST PETER’S PARISH CHURCH AGM. All are warmly invited on the evening of Sunday, April 15, ( The Second Sunday after Easter) to the Parish Church of St Peter (Market Place) Mountsorrel for a sung service of Choral Evensong at 6pm.

The Office will be followed by St Peter’s Parish Annual Parochial Church Meeting with cheese and wine.

Quorn

Joan Bloodworth 01509 620481 mail@joan99.plus.com FREE CONCERT. There is to be a free charity concert in aid of Heartwize a new charity demonstrating CPR and use of defibrilators to pupils in senior schools.

It is being held at Quorn Village Hall on Saturday, April 14 at 7.30pm. Doors open at 7pm. Loughborough Male Voice Choir will be performing.

There will be free glass of prosecco or orange juice in the interval, a raffle and a bucket collection for Heartwize.

ST BARTHOLOMEW’S. Services this Sunday at St Bartholomew’s Church are; 8am Holy Communion with Rev J Pugh, 10.30am Holy Communion (Sung) with Rev D Bowler, 6.30pm BCP Evening Prayer also with Rev D Bowler. This week we include a retiring collection for Intercare.

QUORN NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN - NEXT STEPS OPEN DAY.

The Quorn Neighbourhood Plan ‘Next Steps Open Day’ was held on Saturday, March 24. Before the doors were opened Dennis Marchant, the Neighbourhood Plan Advisory Committee chair presented Paul Goodman the parish council administration Assistant who was retiring with a small gift and card from the committee and thanked him for his guidance and support of the Quorn NP process.

It was a cold and wet morning but still over 140 residents took the time and trouble to come and agree or disagree with the emerging policies and to speak to the team of volunteers. Gary Hughes parish council chairman, Hilary Fryer county councillor, Richard Shepherd borough councillor and Nicky Morgan MP also called in to add their support.

The findings will now be analysed by Yourlocale our consultants and the ‘pre-submission’ draft document prepared ready for presentation to all the stakeholders including the residents for comment.

The dates of the six-week pre-submission consultation will be in line with Regulation 14 of the Neighbourhood Planning Regulations (2012) and will be publicised soon.

Costock

VILLAGE OPEN DAY. Plans are being finalised for another Costock Village Open Day, and it will be held on Sunday June 24th.

Th e move to hold the event follows the success of the event in 2014, and currently planning another similar event for this year is under way and will include an exhibition in church about Costock at the time of the Great War, very timely as November 11, this year marks the centenary of the ending of WW1

Other suggestions for the day include residents demonstrating and/or exhibiting their craft or hobby, opening gardens to visitors, organising an activity in your garden, sponsoring publicity or exhibitions and new ideas that might be put forward.

There will be plenty of opportunity it for residents to take part by helping on the day in the village hall or church and those who would like to get involved in the day are invited to contact Kath Owen on 01509 (852974 or costockjubilee@gmail.com)

ANNUAL PARISH AND VILLAGE HALL MEETING. Two important meetings are planned in Costock on Wednesday next week, April 18.

They will be held in the village hall, with the first starting at 7.45pm and which is the annual parish meeting, when residents can raise any matter they wish concerning the village.

That meeting will be chaired bt Coun. Kath Owen, chairman of the parish council. And immediately at the end of that meeting there will be the annual meeting of the Village Hall meeting.

The village hall meeting will be chaired by Mr John Collins

Oaks in Charnwood

FAMILY SERVICE. All are welcome to St.James’ the Greater Church, LE12 9YD on Sunday, April 15, at 11am (please note the new time) with Rev Lydia Humphreys. A Sunday School is available for the first part of the service. Parents can leave their children or stay with if preferred.

MOTHERS’ UNION. The Oaks Mothers’ Union Holy Communion service is Monday, April 16, at 2.30pm in St. James’ the Greater Church, LE12 9YD with Rev Lydia Humphreys. Our guest speaker is Glennis Wilcox from the Shepshed Food Bank.

Any donations of non perishable items of food (no Pasta) are most welcome. Refreshments will be served afterwards.

Members from other branches most welcome along with non members. Please contact Sheila Shelton Deputy Leader 01509 769802 if you wish to join us or for further information.

Gotham

NATURE RESERVE GROUP. Gotham’s progressive Nature Reserve group are planning an open gardens event in the village later this year, and will be their major fund raising event for 2018.

Arrangements are well in hand for the event which will be held on Sunday July 22, and more details wll be made known soon.

The group chairman Mr Bob Stentiford has been presented with a Notts Wildlife Trust ‘ Wildlife on your Doorstep’ award, handed over to him by Mr Gordon Dyne from the Rushcliffe Nature Conservation Strategy Implementation Group.

The photographic competition organised by the group was highly successful and resulted in some super entries. John Jones, a national and international photographic judge, had a difficult job to decide on the winners. The under 16 award went to Barney Howard and the over 16 winner was, for the second year running, Ed Binch.

Anyone willing to offer their garden for opening on July 22 is asked to please email Pat Clarke at gnr.secretary@ hotmail.co.uk as soon as possible to sign up.

Rempstone

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING DATE. Rempstone Parish Church are to hold their annual Parochial Church Council meeting on Wednesday next week, April 18, at 7.30pm.

Willoughby on the Wolds

COMMUNITY PARK IDEAS NEEDED. Willoughby Community Park Association are looking for ideas from people who use it on what they would like to see provided there.

Says Jeremy Rochfort, one of the leaders: “We are looking at the next phase of facilities and equipment for the village park. We would love to hear from all users of the park. Tell us what you would like?

What would make you visit the park more frequently? Have you seen something in another park that you would like to have on your own doorstep?

Your feedback will help us to plan and work towards the ongoing development of our village park.”