East Leake
DIGITAL STUDY GROUP. Despite the continuing pandemic situation home groups for support and study at East Leake St Mary’s Church are continuing to meet digitally.
During the run up to end of last year the study group were exploring and sermon that had been given on the preceding weekend to help those involved to dig ‘a bit deeper’ into its meaning.
Any parishioner who is not part of group but who feels they would like to join or just find out more about them is being invited to contact the parish church curate, Michael Allen on curate@ourbenefic.org
WEEKLY REVIEW BY CHURCH. Digital and gathered worship are continuing at St. Mary’s Parish Church at East Leake during the current lockdown but the service pattern is to be reviewed on a weekly basis.
Every Sunday on the church’s website, Facebook and YouTube they have a main service streaming at 10am and evening prayer at 6pm. Gathered
Gathered worship with a limited congregation is allowed to continue in the current lockdown but with a fresh emphasis on social distancing, the use of face masks and the complete avoidance of any contact between households both during the service or any mingling before and after services.
The church is therefore continuing to run midweek services on Wednesdays and Thursday at 10am but this decision will be kept under review on a weekly basis.
ZOOM MEETINGS. East Leake parish council are continuing to hold meetings as best they can, with all of them taking place on-line on the Zoom system.
Residents can join the meetings by obtaining the necessary information needed to let them ‘attend’ from the new clerk, Sue Lewis.
A statement from the council asks residents to please note that due to the current Covid-19 Coronavirus situation, the Parish Council will meet virtually via Zoom (Please contact the Clerk for log-in and password) as permitted in The Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”).
WARM WELCOME FOR NEW TRADERS. The popular and successful East Leake Traders Association group would give a warm welcome to any new members.
Within the region of 60 village retailers and other business are already members with them working hard to create a vibrant local economy, particularly by marketing what they have to offer people both in the village and beyond.
Say the Association: “We are about much more than just commerce. We are proud of our village and are heavily involved in community life, organising the hugely popular annual Christmas lights switch-on and participating in the summer carnival.
“We also act as a voice representing businesses on issues affecting East Leake and acting as a conduit of information for local councils. East Leake Traders is a broad church covering a wide range of goods and services.
“We are always looking for new members, so if you live in East Leake or run a business, why not get involved?”
SPEAKERS AGREE TO RETURN. Speakers who had agreed to attend meetings of East Leake St Mary’s Church Women’s Group to make up their 2020 programme of activities, have all agreed to come back this year as soon if conditions allow the meeting to take place. But no one yet knows when that will be.
ELAP STILL ACTIVE. Although because of the coronavirus pandemic, and like every other organisation in the UK, East Leake Amateur Players (ELAPs) had many of their activities either cancelled or curtailed over the last 10 or so months,
Bu they are still active and last month work on producing a video with snippets from ‘Cinderella – Not quite a panto’ which is rehearsed with strict social distancing and COVID-19 secure measures in place.
In May this year they are planning for their Juniors to be performing ‘Attack of the Mega-Blast Destructoid Robot Thingy!’ at the NANDA Youth Festival although of course there is nothing to say at this moment that event will be able to take place, as will not a planned production by their adult section where they are looking to perform a new play under the title “Skeg and Chips” written by Geoff Freeman and which those who have seen its details are saying is sure to delight. The group are optimistically saying tickets will be available soon but again the national situation could take over and rule what happens..
SOCIAL DISTANCE MEASURES. The Lantern Lane primary school at East Leake has taken tough action to ensure that parents and children socially distance during drop off and pick up times, to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
The School has installed steel barriers around the edge of the school, providing a two-metre gap between the classroom doors and parents dropping off and collecting their children.
The barriers were installed by local firm, Hardstaff Barriers, in Kingston on Soar, which specialises in road safety and security barriers.
As part of Hardstaff Barriers’ commitment to nearby schools and the local community, the barriers were installed at Lantern Lane Primary School free of charge.
Hardstaff installed the red and white steel safety barrier system, known as M.A.S.S, just 24 hours after it received a request for assistance from the school.
M.A.S.S is also widely used across the UK as a road safety barrier. The system is specially designed to self-stabilise if a vehicle collides with the barrier, providing additional protection outside the school.
Donna Griggs, Business Manager at Lantern Lane Primary School, said: “We wanted to install the barriers to keep everybody at the school as safe as possible.
“We are confident that the barriers will reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19 during these busy times, when many parents are present in one place.
“We are doing everything we can to keep the children, their parents and our staff safe and thank everybody who has assisted us so far.
“The barriers also act as a reminder to socially distance and give the message that the school is serious about adhering to the rules.”
Dave Todd, Director of Hardstaff Barriers, said: “We were delighted to be able to assist Lantern Lane Primary School in this way, when the need to protect their pupils, staff and parents is greater than ever.
“The school has made the very responsible decision to install a robust steel barrier around its classroom entrances, providing an effective and highly visible social distancing system.
“As a local business committed to supporting the local community, we are very pleased that the school approached us and that we were able to swiftly step in and help them.”
SILVER MILESTONE. East Leake Parish Council surprised their new clerk Sue Lewis with a bunch of flowers to celebrate her 25 years of service with them.
Chairman Coun. Kevin Shaw said Sue had started with the council in 1996 and had worked with them ever since.
“She has recently started as the new Parish Clerk and we look forward to many more years working with her,” said the chairman, himself former clerk of the council and who had worked alongside Sue during his term of office in that post.
ACADEMY OPTIONS. Prospective students looking for sixth form places are being given information about options and resources at East Leake Academy.
If students are looking at options for sixth form study for September 2021 entry, they will find a number of resources on the Academy’s website.
Prospective students can watch a recording of the Academy’s live virtual open evening and subject information from course leaders.
Information is also provided on the Academy’s website of how to apply.
A range of sixth form courses is on offer at the Academy and the sixth form prospectus can also be seen.
If prospective sixth form students have any questions at all, the Academy is happy to help. Email the Academy at sixthform@eastleake-ac.org.uk undertaking some fantastic writing linked to the fairy-tale ‘Cinderella’.
“In Year 4, the children have been learning about the Romans and they had an excellent Roman day which involved the teacher dressing up in a Roman toga and carrying out a range of fun activities to learn more about this fascinating topic.”
In the last year the school has also focused on Anti-Bullying Week, been involved in a Primary Maths Challenge and planted a wide variety of new trees in conjunction with The Big Climate Fightback.
CHURCH PLEA. A plea is being made to parishioners in Sutton Bonington to consider giving a donation to the funds of St Michael’s and St Anne’s churches.
Normal income to both the churches has of course been hit this year by the coronavirus pandemic, particularly because the national situation meant the annual Church Fete which always draws a big crowd to The Hall could not be held, as could not the annual Christmas Market, that being yet another major fund raiser that had to be taken off the event calendar.
The two churches of the wo events have lost a lot of money by cancelling the two major fund raising events and leaders of them say it would be much appreciated if people could see their way to making donations to help towards this loss, thus giving support to what is readily acknowledged as the villages two beautiful, historic churches.
A comment from the two church wardens Beth Clarke and David Etherton says they realise that the pandemic situation has created a difficult time for many people but would be most grateful for any gifts that could be given, , however small.
The plea is for residents to please put donations in envelopes clearly marked ‘St Michael’s and St Anne’s Fund Raising’ and deliver them to any of the churchwardens as follows: Jill Crawford, 23 Main Street; Beth Clarke, 16 Gables Lea; David Etherton, 11 St Anne’s Lane; Edward Elton, The Hall. Cheques should be made payable to ‘St Michael’s with St Anne’s PCC’.
GRASS CUTTING. Parish councillors at Sutton Bonington have again given the grass cutting contract in the village to Kent’s Mowing Services. They have been appointed to undertake the work during 2021 following a report to members from the Playing Fields Group of the council.
Coun. Duncan Bembridge, the council vice chairman and the member leading the playing fields group, says they had received very positive feedback regarding the work the firm were doing in the village and as a result they had recommended the contract to them be renewed.
PLAYSCHEME UPDATE. Although advice from Notts County Council meant the 2020 Sutton Bonington summer play scheme had to join so many other things being called off because of the coronavirus pandemic there is good news that it is hoped this year it could be back.
Usually dozens of youngsters attend the scheme on the playing field at Sutton Bonington but the organisers had no option but to say the event last Summer was a non rummer.
But the heartening message from them is simple: ”We look forward to seeing you in 2021!”
PLAYGROUP TEA TOWEL. There is excitement in Sutton Bonington, and it is all down to a tea towel!
The village Playgroup have produced what they say is an amazing tea towel and stocks have now arrived.
The popular group have given huge thanks to Any Wear Embroidery for doing such a fabulous job of making the towels for them.
Say the group: “We have a limited supply available and will be delivering them to the village. If you would like to order - £9.99 each please contact us on 07977 545702 or e-mail info@suttonboningtonplaygroup.org
All proceeds from the sale of the towels will be going to the village playgroup charity, who have aims to try to renovate the playground for the children who are part of the group.
The playgroup say they have really missed their fundraising over the past year and are hoping the tea towel sales can help them to make a difference, and in anticipation of local people supporting them by buying a towel are offering thanks to those concerned for their support.
COUNCIL BUDGET. Sutton Bonington parish council have set a basic spend budget totalling £39,659 for the coming 2021-2022 financial year.
The expected expenditure includes £4000 on the playing field and £4,500 for the contractor to carry out various grass cutting that the council undertake. Environmental and other general maintenance work is expected to cost £2,750.
General council insurance will cost £1,900 while the council website is expected to cost around £1,000 during the year. Water costs will be £500, gas £425, with electricity being £100 more than that. The council will spend an estimated £275 on village hall hire and £375 on accountants fees. Subscriptions to NALC and other organisations will be £575.
A sum of £500 is set aside for donations to organisations and the defibrillators are expected to be going to need £350 to meet the running costs. A sum of £250 is set aside for election costs.