Birstall Post Feb. 2002 (223) cont.

Men’s panto

BY TRADITION, since 1947, the men of the Methodist Church present their pantomime in February. This year the all male cast present Little Miss Muffett from February 12-16.
Although the cast is all male, truth be told, they depend quite heavily on the ladies! Jean Valentine is the producer, Jill Bailey the pianist, Margaret Frisby looks after the wardrobe and bookings are handled by Rosalie Morling (tel:2675009 for the last few seats). Mind you Jean Valentine, producer, has a male assistant in Gerald Morling and Jill Bailey is being assisted by David Bark - and the rest of the orchestra is male!
The script, has been brought fully up to date, even the Space Centre gets more than a mention, and this year the programme has been revamped. The single folded page now runs to 16 pages (and may even by 20), but will cost a little more.
Rev Steve Hoggar takes our ‘All Age Worship’ on Sunday morning at 10.30am on February 3. This will definitely not be a pantomime but will be both lively and thought provoking. The theme will be ‘Blessed are the cheesemakers!’ If you care to join us you will be made very welcome. Our Boys Brigade and Girls Brigade will be participating. Steve Hoggar is an unusual breed - being an ordained Methodist Minister who runs an engineering business!
Mr Gordon Tatler from Anstey takes the morning service on February 10 and Rev John Hucknall (who lives on Birstall Road) on February 24. On the morning of February 24 there is a United Service (with St James) at the Methodist Church at 10.30am.
Our evening service highlight this month is the visit of Rev Alison Tomlin, the ‘chair’ of our Oxford & Leicester District. Best described as the nearest thing the Methodists have to a bishop! Our own minister Rev Chris Gray will take a healing service, with Holy Communion on the evening of 3rd, and Rev John Brown from Syston will be the preacher on 17th. All are welcome to any of our services.
There is no evening service at Birstall on the evening of 24th as there is a United Service at the Bishop Street Church in the city centre. On that occasion the President of the Methodist Conference (the nearest thing the Methodists have to an Archbishop) Christina Le Moignan will be the preacher.
Fund raising for the ‘Vision 2000’ project continues. This fund is for both cosmetic and essential repairs to the church itself. The biggest difference will be the change to the front of the church. Built in 1958, the church then had a pipe organ and the pipes were hidden behind a mesh screen on a wooden frame. It is sometimes called a ‘cheese grater’. The pipe organ has long gone (some of the pipes are in the organ at Longslade), and opportunity is being taken to improve the appearance of this organ screen by replacing it with wooden panelling and a central cross. It is hoped the final design will be acceptable to those who worship at the church.
Tickets are still available for the Ratcliffe Chorale on February 23 (tel Joan Rumball on 2675039 for tickets) and tickets are just going on sale for a Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday March 16 (tel Sue Moore on 2676207 which includes a buffet supper. £5 for each evening, proceeds for both events to Vision 2000.
Thank you to all who contributed to our carol singing around parts of the village. We raised £322 for NCH Action for Children. Thanks also to those who supported our Christmas appeal when we raised £583 for the Charnwood Christmas Shelter.
From Anthony Moore

Arrests

POLICE MADE several arrests in Birstall during December.
Six people were arrested for possession of class B drugs, and four local males were arrested in Beechfield Avenue for criminal damage and public order offences. They were charged and bailed to Leicester Magistrates Court.
On January 10 at 5pm a white male aged 40-50 years and six foot tall committed a distraction burglary at the home of a woman on Lambourne Road. He claimed to be a water board official.
Following a spate of burglaries in the Cliffe Road area, the Police have been mounting night time surveillance operations and loaning shed alarms to residents.

Back in ring

BIRSTALL BOXING manager Carl Gunns has signed his first boxer since his licence was restored to him two years ago.
Carl, the former manager of British Middleweight Champion Tony Sibson, has signed Cheltenham fighter Marcus Shaw, a cruiserweight. “He looks a very useful fighter, he’s very determined and wants to become British Champion” said Carl. “Perhaps he’ll be my second!”
Six foot five Marcus (22), won 12 of his 15 fights. Carl hopes to sign more fighters and is looking for premises to set up a gym in Birstall. Licensed by the boxing authorities as a manager, trainer and second, Carl is looking forward to rejoining the boxing game and will be doing some corner work at forthcoming promotions in Coventry.

Carol service

IT WAS standing room only for many people who attended the annual Wanlip Church Carol Service on December 23 and on a cold winter’s night, everyone appreciated the mulled wine and mince pies which were served afterwards in the Church Rooms.
The traditional service of nine lessons and carols has become so popular that the Church Council is proposing to organise two similar events next December on two separate evenings, on the Sunday before Christmas and on Christmas Eve at 6pm. The greetings card sent out to all houses in Birstall and Wanlip by the Churches Together Council, with details of Christmas services, encouraged a good attendance at all local churches.

WI news

AT THE December meeting of Birstall & Wanlip WI Mrs Gregory was re-elected as president and all other officers and committee agreed to serve again for another year.
The January meeting was held on January and thankfully the ice had gone and the forecast fog didn’t appear so 15 members were present. Everyone had paid their subscriptions so all received green membership books and a copy of the programme for 2002. During business members were asked for names of those wishing to attend the ‘Which Resolution’ meeting on January 14. Mrs Ann Greenwood sent her apologies for absence from the meeting and her thanks for all the good wishes and cards sent to her on her 90th birthday in December. Ann is the longest serving member of Birstall & Wanlip WI.
The talk was given by Mr John Hayman who brought along some examples and demonstrated the art of putting model ships into bottles. This proved to be very interesting and John was commended on his workmanship - and patience - in producing such small but perfect objects. They were not all confined to bottles either. Some were inside light bulbs and one even in the bulb of a car light. Everyone was fascinated and many questions came from the audience during the talk. Mrs Gregory proposed a vote of thanks to Mr Hayman and he was warmly applauded.
Next month the meeting will be on February 4 when Mrs Linda Robinson will talk about being a WI markets producer. The competition will be for a ‘Favourite Cold Cure’ either a recipe or the real thing!
As usual this meeting will be held in the Greengate Hall extension at Highcliffe School at 7.15pm

Planning

Mr & Mrs Batten - change of use from residential care home to children’s day nursery. Woodlands Residential Home, 1 Park Rd
Mr & Mrs Seligal - 1st floor extension to front & rear of detached dwelling. 491 Loughborough Rd
Mr & Mrs Rose - erection of 2 storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 34 Colindale Ave
Mr & Mrs Blount - erection of conservatory to rear of semi detached dwelling. 52 Elmfield Ave
Mr & Mrs Tebbut - erection of single storey extension to side of semi detached dwelling. 45 Blenheim Rd Mr S G Gohil - erection of 2 storey extension to front of detached dwelling, with double garage to side and single storey extension to rear including conservatory. 2 Acorn Close, Birstall
Mr & Mrs Higham - erection of 2 storey extension to side of dwelling. 26 Hollytree Ave
Mr & Mrs Maxfield - demolition of existing garage and erection of new garage with bedroom/en suite bathroom over. 1 Firfield Ave
Miss Sutton - demolition of store & erection of single storey extension to front and side of semi detached house. 2 Saltersgate Drive
Mr & Mrs B Skeffington - erection of replacement porch to front of detached house. 29 Cliffe Road

Your Say...

Your page 4 Birstall Post, Juniors Football team article reached me by courtesy of my sister in law Daphne Hartshorn of Gwendolin Ave. So ‘The Post’ has reached another corner, but not quite as far as St Peter, Barbados!
I think I can throw some light on the names that are missing. I think next to Dave (Razza) Perkins is a lad called Marsh, but I’m not too sure. For Neil Hartshorn read Ian (that’s me!) Hartshorn. Neil was my younger brother who unfortunately died of a brain tumour a few years back. Next to Tony Stewart is Dave Penny. The rest of the names are all OK.
As the Juniors became Seniors some joined the Birstall Social FC and others Birstall British Legion FC. There was always good friendly rivalry between the two.
Eventually I took over secretary of BBLFC but left in ‘63 to come to Somerset for work. Derek Pole then ran BBLFC for 30+ years and not so long ago organised the club’s 50th anniversary (you may have covered it!). Many of the names in that photo apparently were present.
I’m sure there’s still people from the team photo who can correct me if I have the Marsh name wrong. Hope you complete it for Millar.
Ian Hartshorn, Rannoch, Orchard Close, Cossington, Bridgwater, Somerset TA7 8LL
PS Ask Millar where little brother Alan is now.
* * *

I would like to thank the two young carol singers who called at my house just before Christmas. A knock came at my door and when I opened it two children politely wished me a happy Christmas and asked if they could sing me a carol. They gave me a lovely rendering of “We wish you a Merry Christmas and then turned to leave. I called them back to give them some money, feeling they had earned it, but was surprised when they refused it, saying they were just doing it because they wanted to.
How refreshing to find two youngsters who just wanted to do something to bring happiness without a thought of payment. I do not know who they are but I hope they will read this. Thank you both, it was a lovely surprise.
Mrs W Benskin
* * *

I was very upset one Friday on my visit to Birstall cemetery to find it was all locked up, I always thought it closed at dusk or 4.30pm as on the board on the gates. It was only on closer inspection I saw 3.30pm on Fridays. Surely this sign could be improved so it could be seen more clearly.
A Davis
* * *

Most of the Birstall Parish Council’s major meetings to discuss their contention that I should declare an interest in the Hallam Fields development, are held behind doors which are closed to the public, press, and sometimes to me, thus ensuring that the public are kept largely uninformed of actual facts.
It was to redress that situation, that I set out, in a letter in your December 2001 edition, how events had unfolded over the past two and a half years, in a way I believe to be absolutely accurate and fair.
It was unworthy of Mr Crayfourd and Mr West to seek to denigrate me through your columns, accusing me of unfounded accusations, and my letter of being one sided and full of half truths.
The need for my letter became clear when the Parish Council discussed C D Clarke at meetings on November 12 and 26, and December 10, 2001, all scheduled to be held in the absence of both the public and the press.
Your article, Parish Council Notes in the January 2002 edition, discloses that I suggested at the December 2001 meeting, that the Declarations of Interest issue be debated at an open meeting, chaired by an ex County Council solicitor, Mr Harrison, proposed by Cllr Stott a month earlier, agreeing to abide by and accept his decision, provided only that the proceedings were to be seen to be fairly and properly conducted, and agreeable to both sides, effectively confirming with the advice given to the Parish Council by the senior solicitor of a National Advisory body over two and a half years ago, but which they have consistently refused to implement.
Both Mr Crayfourd and Mr West have had the opportunity at the December 2001 meeting of the Parish Council, to support my suggestion for that open meeting, giving themselves, and anyone else who so wished, the opportunity then to hold me to account in public debate.
However, it seems they declined that opportunity, preferring to agree with the Planning Committee Chairman, Cllr A W Stott and Council Chairman, Cllr Nigel Coleman, that there was no need for such a meeting and that my suggestion was abhorrent, choosing instead the security of your columns, which action allows me no opportunity to make effective reply; just to have a dig at me.
CD Clarke
* * *

I wish to refer to the letters in the January issue of the Post in reply to my letter in the December issue regarding the half-pipe at Meadow Lane.
The first letter states that the ramp costs £18,000 not £35,000. I stand to be corrected, but my comments still stand.
The second letter is the rambling letter from Peter West. I am not going to comment on this letter other than Mr West should stop living in the past and look to the future, the future being the 100 youngsters who train on Saturday morning.
I would also point out to Mr West the letter from skateboarder Neil Hill in which he states “Skaters cannot use the ramp because it is covered with violent people who get in the way”.
In the words of Mr West “Need I say more?”
E Llewellyn (Worried Grandfather)
* * *

To have a stroke can be devastating, not only for the individual but also for family, friends and partners. Do you know someone who has had a stroke or cares for someone whose life has been turned upside down by the effects of a stroke?
Nominations are now being taken for The Stroke Association’s tenth annual Life After Stroke Awards. The awards are held each year and recognise the extraordinary courage that has been shown by people of all ages who have had a stroke, and also those who care for them.
There are seven categories: three for courage including an award for children who have suffered a stroke, one for art, one for community work, one for carers and one for volunteers. All those nominated receive a certificate of recognition and the award winners will attend a ceremony luncheon, which is supported by a host of celebrities, in London on July 16.
The nomination forms are available from: Life After Stroke Awards, The Stroke Association, Stroke House, Whitecross Street EC1Y 8JJ or tel: 020 7566 0315. The closing date for nominations is Friday March 15 2002.
Nicola Ryan
The Stroke Association
* * *

Birstall Royal British Legion Women’s Section would like to thank all who supported our Christmas Raffle night. The event raised over £300 thanks to the people of Birstall.
Mrs A Parkin (Treasurer)
* * *

The Civilian Committee of the 1947 Birstall Squadron Air Training Corps would like to thank everyone who contributed to the cadets whilst they were helping people to pack their bags at Somerfield Wanlip Lane over the Christmas weekend. The exercise was a great success.
Many thanks to all Somerfield customers.
Janet Masters
Chairperson of the Civilian Committee
* * *

In the December issue of The Birstall Post it was reported that Longslade students had scooped the top three prizes in a competition to design a new signpost. This was a competition organised by Charnwood Borough Council to design a signpost feature for the new Ashby Way cycle path. Well done those students, congratulations to them.
In the Parish Council Notes in December’s issue it was reported that Birstall and District Art Society is designing a village sign for the Front Street/Whiles Lane junction. It did not state whether this is being done at the invitation of the Parish Council but probably this is the case. There are undoubtedly some very good artists in the Art Society but good artists don’t necessarily make good designers.
It would have been much more appropriate for the Parish Council to hold an open competition for a village sign (as I suggested in a letter some time ago) so that students at Longslade and indeed anyone else in the village could have the chance to show their design talents in this way.
In Birstall library at the moment there is the booklet: ‘Leicester Rural Strategy 2001-2006’ published in July 2001. On page 26 under the sub-section ‘Involving Young People and Developing Youth Provision’ two sentences caught my eye: ‘Young people are discussed but do not have an input’ and ‘To give young people opportunities to voice opinions’.
Obviously the Parish Council are not allowing the talented design students at Longslade College or any other youngsters to have an input into designing the village sign at the Front Street/Whiles Lane junction.
Incidentally what are the long-term plans of Birstall Parish Council for the young people of the village? At the moment there are very limited facilities for a very small number of young people at the former Parish Council Offices on Sibson Road. Even this building appears to be deteriorating and it will need replacing in a few years’ time. Are there any plans to provide a much larger Youth Club building in the next few years? Indeed is this a facility which young people would like to have? It would be interesting and helpful for young people to publish their views in The Birstall Post.
Mr J Woods
Ed’s Note: We would be delighted to publish the views of any young person who writes to us regarding youth facilities. Remember to include your name and address.

Noticeboard

BIRSTALL SOCIAL CLUB
Members only
February 2 Dancing to Harmony
February 9 Dancing to C & J Sound
February 16 Dancing to Ready Mix Sound
February 23 Dancing to Kevin Thompson
March 2 Dancing to Alf’s Music
Free admission
Bingo Sat & Sun nights, Thurs plus Crack the Safe
Sun lunch plus Cash Raffle
Giant TV screen for all Sky Sports events
Function Room available for bookings with or without disco
Each and every Tues is Don’s Dance Night
Come and enjoy yourself
It’s the place to be
* * *
St Theresa’s Social Group
February 17
Day trip to Anglesey Abbey
To visit the Winter Walk of snowdrops etc
May 25-June 1
Holiday Lake Garda
June 28-30th
Life of Christ weekend
2002 Events List is now available
For more information on the above or new list please contact Daphne 2675721 or Sabina 2671731
* * *
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Interdenominational
on Friday March 1
St James Church
at 7.30pm
This year’s theme is
‘Challenged to Reconcile’
Prepared by the Christian women of Romania
* * *
Birstall Flower Club
on Wednesday February 27
at 7.15pm
in the Village Hall, School Lane, Birstall
New members welcome
Visitors £3
Demonstration: In the Bleak Mid Winter
* * *
Birstall Discussion Group
meets at Birstall Methodist Centre, Wanlip Lane
on Thursday afternoons, fortnightly 2-3.30pm
Do you want to meet new people?
Do you enjoy lively and stimulating conversation?
Then, why not join them?
Topics are usually taken from the NASO (National Adult School Organisation) handbook, this year’s theme being ‘The Diversity of Power’
Thurs February 14: Waterways of Britain
Thurs February 28: The Power of Sex
All welcome - just call in or contact Lynda Smith
Tel: 0116 2926054
* * *
Book Sale
An opportunity to buy
Christian books
on Friday morning February 22
9.45am-12.30pm
on Stonehill Avenue near ‘Notions’ shop
(in association with Birstall Fellowship Church)
* * *
Birstall Royal British Legion Women’s Section
Coffee Morning
Friday February 22
10am till 12noon
Books, cakes, bric-a-brac, tombola
All welcome
* * *
Birstall Fellowship Church
invite you to the next talk about My Life and My Faith
‘A Yorkshire Miner to Middle East Missionary’
on Wednesday February 6
at 7.30pm in the Community Room, Highcliffe School, Greengate Lane
* * *
The London Opera Players
present
Rossini’s ‘The Italian Girl in Algiers’
High Jinks in Algiers as the ruler, who is bored with his wife, tries to lure an Italian lady with hilarious results
Fully staged with Chamber Orchestra
on Wed February 6 at 7.30pm
at St Robert Martin Theatre, Loughborough University
Tickets: £9 (Concessions £6/Students £5)
Booking: Arts Centre 01509 222899
* * *
on Thursday February 21 at 7.30pm
at The Music Centre, Loughborough University
The Fine Arts Brass Ensemble
Programme includes:
Rossini: William Tell Overture
Panufnik: Spirit Moves (2001)
Bernstein: West Side Story
Weill: Threepenny Opera Suite
Praetorius: Dance Suite
Albioni: Adagio
Mussourgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition
Tickets: £6 (Concessions £5/Students £4)
Booking: Arts Centre: 01509 222899
* * *
Birstall Royal British Legion
Members’ Notice
Saturday February 2 Natina ‘B’ (solo)
Saturday February 9 Dawn Knight (solo)
Saturday February 16 Leighton Morrell (solo)
Saturday February 23 Tony John (comedy & solo)
Saturday March 2 ‘J’ ‘J’ (solo)
Tues Feb 13 Whist Drive 7.30pm start. Bingo every Tuesday night at 9.30pm. Every Saturday night dancing to live entertainment, bingo, free meat raffle and not forgetting ‘Open the Box’
* * *
Birstall United Football Club
Meadow Lane, Birstall
presents
Valentine Party Night
on Friday February 15
8 till late
Local DJ showcase
Joel tel:07990 807011 or 0116 2676970
Tickets £2.50
* * *
BELGRAVE LADIES BOWLING CLUB
Thurcaston Road
invites you to a
Coffee Morning
on Saturday February 23
at 10am
Bric a brac, home made cakes, books, raffle etc
Coffee/tea & biscuits
All welcome

Age Concern Info

Older Carers Need Cash Now - MPS
Protest is growing over the government’s failure to implement the promised extension of invalid care allowance to carers aged 65 and over.
Early Day Motion 117, tabled on July 11, 2001, welcomes the announcement made on October 3, 2000 that the age limit for carers would be raised and provision made to continue payment of the benefit for eight weeks after the death of the person being cared for.
The EDM notes that legislation will be needed to bring in these changes - but no mention was made of it in the Queen’s speech on June 20. The motion, which was signed by 53 MPs, calls on government to bring forward the changes at the earliest opportunity.

Patients’ Pension Cut Must Go - Baroness Greengross
Baroness Greengross argued in the House of Lords on October 17 that the government must urgently review the anomaly that older people pay for staying in hospital when no one else does. More than 30,000 pensioners had their pensions docked while they were in hospital in 2000, saving the state £60 million. “Pensioners believed that they had earned and saved that money during all their working days” Lady Greengross said.
Conservative work and pensions spokesperson, Lord Higgins, suggested that the government had ‘no idea’ of the true cost of ending the penalty as the figure of £60 million (provided in a parliamentary answer in July) was identical to that given by the last Conservative government.
Junior work and pensions minister, Baroness Hollis of Heigham said that a single person had their benefit reduced by £28 and one of a couple reduced by £14 a week, if they were in hospital more than six weeks. Housing benefit and council tax were not affected.
Overturning these provisions, which had been in place since 1948, would be ‘invidious’ as those in long-stay hospitals would keep all their pensions while people in residential care homes were left with only £16 a week pocket money after 12 weeks.

Pensions Minister Queries Whether Pensions Clawback Is Unfair
The government rejected campaigners’ claims that pensions clawback was ‘unfair and discriminatory’ during an adjournment debate on October 16.
Labour MP for Ilford North, Linda Perham, said the practice of clawback, or pension integration, meant hundreds of thousands of pensioners lost significant sums every year. An ‘obscure legal loophole’ in the National Insurance Act 1946 gave companies discretion to deduct the value of the basic state pension from the occupational pensions they paid although the Inland Revenue did not require it. Integration applies only to final salary schemes.
“Clawback is morally offensive because it is unfair. Women. generally leaving on lower salaries and therefore entitled to lower pensions, suffer the most” Ms Perham said.
If pensioners received their full and rightful amount, the Exchequer would be better off because the pensioners would pay more tax and would be less likely to qualify for housing and other benefits.
Ms Perham urged the government to look at the example of Ireland, where clawback was being phased out by freezing it at the 1998 level. Government should take “a serious look at how they can help those who have provided for their retirement yet find their pensions raided and their incomes slashed” Ms Perham said.
Pensions Minister Ian McCartney said the picture was “a little more complex than some of our colleagues appear to wish it to be”. He had agreed to have a meeting to discuss the issue with Labour MP for St Albans Kerry Pollard, and Ms Perham was welcome to attend. Integration had been introduced to reduce the contributions paid by both employer and employee. Those in integrated schemes paid less for their pensions than those in non-integrated schemes. Ending integration would force unexpected costs on employers and would require scheme members to make higher contributions than they did now.
Occupational pension schemes were voluntary and employers might stop providing them if clawback was abolished. Some companies such as Shell, Nestle and BP Amoco had reduced clawback but this had been done the right way - through negotiation between the companies and the unions, Mr McCartney said.

Age Concern Leicestershire & Rutland 2002 Holiday Programme
The 2002 Holiday Programme Brochure is now available. Contact 01509 230131 or 0116 2511474 for a copy. Exclusively for over 50s.
Jex Woods
Chairperson Age Concern Birstall & Wanlip

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