Long walk
TWO RIVERSIDE pupils have raised £120
for the Rainbows hospice by completing the 15 mile Walk of Life.
Luke Brennan (11) and David Agnew (11) took four and a half hours
to complete the walk which followed a route from Victoria Park,
to Abbey Park, Braunstone Park, Knighton Park and Victoria Park.
Luke said: “It felt OK while we were walking but for the
next few days we had pretty stiff legs. It’s the furthest
we’ve ever walked - it’s further than you think!”
Pic: Luke Brennan and David Agnew with their medals and certificates
for completing the Rainbows Walk of Life.
Give your views
BIRSTALL RESIDENTS are being invited to
a public meeting to give their views on the kind of community
facilities they would like to see on the new Hallam Fields development.
The aim of the meeting, organised by Birstall Parish Council
and Charnwood Borough Council, will be to establish potential
uses for the new community recreation centre and the sports pitches/playing
fields.
Local individuals, groups and organisations are invited to the
meeting in the Village Hall, Birstall Road on July 9 at 7.30pm.
Potential uses for the community building already identified
include: badminton, boxing, martial arts, short mat bowls, fencing,
judo, keep fit, table tennis, short tennis, dances, meetings,
arts events, luncheon clubs, pre-school playgroups, fund raising
events, drama workshops and adult education.
Suggestions already made for the playing fields include football
pitches, cricket pitches and good quality tennis courts.
Charnwood Borough Council’s Steve Lewis-Roberts will be
at the meeting. He said: “I’d like to get some reaction
to the draft ideas published in the June Birstall Post, and take
on board any new ideas and suggestions that come up. Having heard
residents’ views, we can then feed them into the negotiations
with the developer and report them back to the planning committee”.
He added that the July meeting would also be an opportunity to
suggest environmental improvements that may be required as a
result of the development, for example, pedestrian crossings
on Sibson Road.
Development of the Hallam Fields site will be phased. Mr Lewis-Roberts
said: “The school will be needed at an early stage, when
200 houses have been completed, and because the community building
will be joined to the school, it will be provided sooner rather
than later.”
Prizewinning garden
A BIRSTALL garden designer and builder
was part of a team that won Best in Show at the BBC Gardener’s
World Live 2001 show.
Jes Oughton of Curzon Avenue built the garden, called ‘California
Dream’ with the assistance of nine amateur gardeners for
the show at Birmingham’s NEC.
Designed by Gardener’s World presenter Chris Beardshaw,
the garden was described by Jes as “a vibrant, hot, dry
garden, with steel planters and lots of water features”.
The construction of the garden, which took three weeks to design
and build, was featured in an edition of Gardener’s World
broadcast in June.
As well as winning Best in Show, the garden also won an RHS Silver
Gilt.
NHW news
THE POLICE are still concerned that bicycles,
mobile phones and cars are being targeted in the area.
A number of cases have been reported that newspaper boys and
girls are having their cycles stolen from them whilst out delivering
the newspapers. They should try and keep the cycles with them
at all times and of course they should have them coded, this
will help the Police to return them to their rightful owners
if they are recovered later.
Mobile phones are being taken from school children when they
leave school and they start to text their friends. The advice
is do not use the mobile in the street, unless you really have
to. Don’t carry it in your hand. Keep it in a pocket or
bag. Be aware of other people around you. If you do have to use
it and above all use it with a pin number, then it is of no use
to anybody else if they take it.
Theft from cars is still taking place. This subject was mentioned
last month. Remember to close all the windows. Lock the car securely.
Put any bags, coats etc in the locked boot out of sight. Don’t
leave it unlocked even for a second. Remember there is a thief
about. It could be your car that’s the target.
Holiday time reminder: stop the papers, and the milk, leave a
light to come on at night. Get a neighbour to keep an eye on
the house, take the rubbish bag in when the refuse men have been.
Then go and have a good holiday.
From Peter Allen
Birstall & Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch.
Objections to mast
PLANS TO erect a 50 foot mobile phone mast
in the grounds of BT’s telephone exchange on Fielding Road
have resulted in objections from local residents.
BT Cellnet plan to erect the mast at the rear of the site, close
to the railway line. Miss Jane Sharman lives next door to the
exchange. She said: “It will be a terrible eyesore and is
such a large thing it will certainly affect property prices.
I’m also worried about the health and safety aspect.”
Mr Eric Phillips is another neighbour. He said: “Having
lived here for 40 years we have seen a lot of development, but
to sit in my garden and look up at this mast rearing up into
the air is not at all nice.”
Birstall Parish Council are supporting the objectors on the grounds
that the mast presents a serious loss of amenity, the appearance
is out of character with the street scene, and there is no evidence
that BT Cellnet have sought to share an existing mast, such as
the one on Birstall Golf Course.
Bestsellers at library
FROM JULY Birstall library will be receiving
copies of the top ten bestselling hardback fiction every week.
There will also be a weekly list of the top ten so that books
on loan can be requested by customers if required.
Also now on display are two new promotions. “Sad and Romantic”
is a collection of moving novels. With authors ranging from Sebastian
Faulks to Carol Shields, this is an ideal selection for anyone
who enjoys a poignant read. All the books are paperbacks so are
ideal for holiday reading. “Travellers Tales” is a
display of books by travel writers (at home and abroad) and is
also ideal for holiday escapism.
Meanwhile, the library also has a new family history CD Rom.
“Soldiers who died in the Great War” lists approximately
635,000 soldiers killed in the First World War. Users can search
by name or regiment and get a print-out of a memorial scroll
for that person.
Abbeyfield week
BIRSTALL’S ABBEYFIELD homes organised a week of activities
in June.
Our picture shows the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood, Tony and
Eva Stott, at the start of the week’s events, joined by
Evelyn Chapman, Sybil Goddard, Arthur Wright, Dorothy Manser
and Irene Collins.
Parish Council Notes
A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on June
11.
Councillors considered a petition from residents objecting to
a planning application for children’s play equipment at
The Trees. Landlord Dianne Lee was present and explained the
application details. The Council voted unanimously to support
the application.
The Council agreed to support objectors to the telephone mast
on Fielding Road.
It was reported that following a Periodic Electoral Review Birstall
will have four Borough Councillors, and not five as at present.
Councillors discussed the merits of seeking advice from their
consultants before responding to the Modified Local Plan. It
was reported that £7,500 had already been spent this year.
The Council agreed to pay for further consultants’ advice.
Butchers J Michael of Sibson Road have requested an additional
litter bin for outside their shop, having themselves paid for
the existing bin. The Council agreed. Cllr Maureen Ackroyd said
the shop “is a credit to the village”.
Cllr Neville Mayes suggested that a more substantial bin is required
for the Kingsgate Avenue shops.
Cllr Richard Hopwood proposed that yellow line parking restrictions
on School Lane near the junction with Curzon Avenue should be
requested.
Cllr Shirley Scott proposed that Council meetings follow a contextual
agenda. This will be discussed at the next meeting.
The date of the next meeting is August 13.
Highcliffe memories
Colin Dwelly
AFTER ALMOST 12 years as headteacher of
Highcliffe School, Colin Dwelly will be retiring at the end of
this month.
Colin first worked at the school in the early 1970’s as
a teacher. Colin said: “It was then I decided I would apply
for the headship if it became vacant, because I thought that
Highcliffe was a terrific school”.
He added: “I’ll have so many wonderful memories about
my time at Highcliffe - working with a great teaching and support
staff team and a truly professional senior management team, the
best governors I have ever met, happy, healthy and quick witted
children, summer holiday playschemes, memorably music performances
by children and Birstall Brass producing their CD under the management
of Alan Holford who is an exceptional teacher”.
Colin says he’ll miss the children’s jokes the most,
and gave an example: What did one eye say to the other? Between
you and me there’s something that smells.
Head of Brass and Percussion at Leicestershire & Leicester
Arts in Education Alan Holford said: “Since I have known
Colin there has been a very strong tradition of instrumental
music making at Highcliffe. This has not only continued but flourished
at the school through Colin’s interest and commitment to
the arts in providing young people with an opportunity to learn
to play a musical instrument, to discover a talent and to develop
an interest and skill in music which many will take with them
into adult life. On behalf of all the peripatetic instrumental
teaching staff from Leicestershire & Leicester Arts in Education
at the school we would like to extend to Colin our very best
wishes for a long and happy retirement”.
Colin plans to spend his retirement drinking wine and learning
how to ice skate, as well as cooking, playing golf and snooker,
sailing, driving, hillwalking, travelling, learning to ski and
spending time with family and friends.
Election results
THE GENERAL Election result for the Charnwood constituency.
Electorate: 74,836
Dorrell, S (Con) 23,283 (48.24%
Sheahan, S (Lab) 15,544 (32.21%
King, S (LD) 7,835 (16.23)
Bye, J (UKIP) 1,603 (3.32%)
Con. Majority: 7,739. Turnout: 64.49% Swing: Lab to Con 2.77%
The County Council Election result for Birstall
Coleman, N (Con) 1,562
Smith, M (Lab) 946
Wilson, R (LD) 2,162
United are hosts
BIRSTALL UNITED Under 13’s played
host to 8 football teams in an international football tournament
at their Meadow Lane ground over the weekend of June 2.
Two teams from Etoile near Lille in France joined with local
teams from Beaumont Leys, Anstey, Quorn, Oadby, Glenfield and
Birstall to enjoy a feast of football.
Birstall United Under 13’s, league division 3 champions
this year, had previously visited Etoile at Easter for a similar
tournament in France.
Birstall United manager Ian Black said “The weekend has
been a great success both on and off the field”.
The tournament was closely contested and the winners, Etoile
‘A’ eventually triumphed in a tense penalty shoot out
against Anstey Swifts.
This cultural exchange has been a tradition with Birstall United
for many years and was enjoyed by all the participants.
On behalf of Birstall United Under 13’s, Andy Morgan, Director
of Football, said: “We would like to thank everyone for
their tremendous help and support during the tournament. It was
a credit to Birstall”.
TG news
ON JUNE 4 the Social Studies Group walked the Birstall Trail,
on a fine evening with local historian Mr Shirley Scott, who
was a fountain of knowledge and humour. Afterwards a light supper
was served at the British Legion.
The next TG meeting will be held on Tuesday July 17 with an ‘Evening
of Song’ by Jill Bailey.
From A Boden
Holly Hayes garden party
Natasha Walton strokes a stuffed fox
HOLLY HAYES environmental garden party attracted hundreds
of visitors in June.
William Bryan (2) takes a closer look
Sophie O'Sullivan, Assistant Ranger at Watermead Country Park,
has a close encounter with a water snail
Club expands
BIRSTALL VILLAGE Cricket Club under 10’s are hoping to expand
next year due to the amount of players who have joined the club.
Manager Andy Corbett says: “At the start of winter nets
at Longslade School, I had four players who qualified for the
under 10 age group, having lost five players to the under 13’s.
I advertised in the Birstall Post and the word got round the
schools and we’ve ended up with around 20 players and with
only eight players in a team we’re hoping to have two teams
enter next year’s leagues.”
The club also had a problem with not enough kit to go round,
but thanks to the Charnwood Borough Council Recreational Services
they received a large bag of cricket equipment through a grant
to encourage Sport for Children out of school activities. Head
Coach Rob Drake says: “We’ve got new stumps, 32 balls,
12 bats and our own boundary markers to help with training, it’s
just a pity we can’t pick every player but next year hopefully
we can.” The club are awaiting details of an exhibition
match at Leicestershire County Cricket Club.
Birstall Village 1st team are having problems at the moment -
they are bottom but one in the league. Chairman Douglas Topley
says: “The lads have only lost one game so far but haven’t
won one either, they are the draw specialists and with a couple
of wins they’ll soon be out of danger.”
Highlight of the season so far was 2nd team Captain Steve Findley
taking his first ever hat trick (3 men out in 3 balls) on his
40th birthday. What made it more amazing was that all three men
out were caught on the boundary by the same fielder Ian Hunt
- what are the odds of that happening? It’s a funny old
game!
Pic: I Hunt (Vice Chairman), D Topley (Chairman), A Corbett (Manager),
R Drake (head coach), L Ballard, J Slingsby, W Wragg, S Glover,
J Drake, R Smith, G Corbett, D Glover, G Hargrave, T Corbett
Thanks
LONGSLADE COLLEGE are saying thank you to all who sent in
the Tesco Computers for Schools Vouchers, Time Free Software
for Schools vouchers and the Tiny PCs for Schools vouchers.
The final total on the Tesco vouchers was 10,828, over 1,600
more than last year, and although they did not achieve the target
required for the PC (11,990), the College have been able to order
new software for the Connect network which would have cost £364.00,
as well as 50 floppy discs and 10 mouse mats. Vouchers are still
being accepted as they can be banked with Tesco ready for next
year’s collection.
The totals for the Time software vouchers were 3,791 school vouchers
and 538 home vouchers, enough for 32 CD titles covering most
of the curriculum areas.
The College now has 5 Tiny PCs for schools vouchers but need
20 for a PC. This offer runs until August 9, 2001.
Longslade IT Assistant Mrs Beatty said: “Your support and
co-operation have been very much appreciated and, with your help
once again next year, we’ll be able to relieve Tesco of
that PC! Many thanks also to all those people who munched their
way through hundreds of packets of Walkers crisps for the benefit
of our library. We have been able to order several lovely new
books and tapes.”
Old Rothley
ROTHLEY HISTORY Society is appealing for old photographs,
documents or other historical items for an exhibition to be held
in the village in September.
If you have any items that you would like to lend to the Society,
please contact 2302625, 2303604 or 2302820.
Items will be looked after and the exhibition will be manned
at all times. The venue is the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane
on Saturday September 29, 10am-4pm, and Sunday 30, 10am-3pm.
On the Saturday evening there will be an Antiques Roadshow, when
you can bring along items for valuation. Tickets are £3
including cheese and wine and valuations are £1.50 per
item.
WI news
JUNE 4 was the 84th birthday meeting of Birstall & Wanlip
WI.
21 members and guests sat down to a fish and chip supper after
a short business meeting and the atmosphere was very relaxed.
An order had been placed with the local ‘chippy’ and
Gerald Morling was a willing courier and guest. This was a new
venture and a complete change from our more usual faith supper.
Everyone expressed their thanks to the committee for making the
arrangements, through spokeswoman Betty Barker. The meal was
followed by hilarious entertainment mostly by committee members.
Some amusing poems and a mini version of Cinderella preceded
a lovely selection of songs from Eileen Mosedale with rounded
off the evening. A card signed by all the members and a bottle
of wine was presented to Colin and Bernie Dwelly. Colin is retiring
in July as Headmaster and Community Association Warden of Highcliffe
School and Bernie as Deputy Warden. Both were founder members
of the association and have worked tirelessly to make it the
success it is today. Birstall & Wanlip WI owe them a great
debt of gratitude for their help and advice over recent years.
The competition for a party hat was won by Margaret Phillips
and the raffle by Rosemary Kelham.
There will not be a meeting in July. The next one will be on
August 6 when Mrs Chandon Patel will talk again about Asian customs.
The competition will be for a pretty scarf.
This meeting will be in Highcliffe School Hall Extension, Greengate
Lane at 7.15pm. Anyone wishing to attend as a visitor will be
made welcome.
July Birstall Post continues here
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