Birstall gala in July
LOTS TO see and do for all the family is
promised as Birstall celebrates summer with its annual Gala on
the School Lane playing fields.
Gala committee member Mary Allen writes: “This year it will
take place on Saturday July 3 and Sunday July 4, on the Birstall
playing fields.
The Saturday entertainment will be a disco from 2-9pm. Music
will be provided by Joel McCann and Carter & Co (Discos)
Ltd. Sunday will be the Family Fun Day, starting with the Open
Air Service led by the Rev Chris Gray and assisted by the Rev
Malcolm Lambert and continuing throughout the day with entertainments,
stalls, drinks and food. There will be a lucky number on the
programme which will be drawn at the Proms in the Park in the
evening with a cash prize of £100. His Worshipful The Mayor
of Charnwood will attend, together with the Mayoress.
“During the course of the day, there will be several different
things going on, from sports and goal shootouts to body tattooing
and card making for children and young people of all age groups.
Prizes will be awarded to the best in the age category. We hope
you all dress up for the Fancy Dress Parade in the afternoon,
we would like to see as many as possible in the parade.
A look-a-like Del Boy is going to visit us during the afternoon
and we will end the afternoon with the Royal British Legion Standard
Bearers.
The Proms in the Park takes place from 7.30pm and the day ends
with a fireworks display. Come and enjoy two days of free entertainment.”
Birstall Gala is a Birstall Parish Council project.
Formal garden
BIRSTALL PARISH Council has decided to
convert the disused No.2 bowling green, next to the Sibson Road
Car park, into a formal garden.
This was one of the suggestions put forward by members of the
public in response to a request in the Birstall Post.
One very interesting idea was a ‘children’s cycle roadway’
but, unfortunately, the site was considered to be too small for
this to be practical.
Cllr Jeff Cassidy, Chairman of the Estates & Recreation Committee,
commented: “We felt that people would appreciate a quiet
area where they could sit and read or talk in pleasant surroundings.
We are also confident that our groundstaff will design a garden
that Birstall can be proud of.”
Toddlers
GREENGATE MEDICAL Centre are introducing
a monthly toddler clinic.
Starting on Tuesday June 15, 10-11.30am and every third Tuesday
of the month from then onwards, there will be a toddler clinic
held at the surgery. This as an opportunity to see a health visitor
or children’s nurse to discuss your child’s health,
growth and development, behaviour, potty training, bedwetting
or any other concerns about your child or family.
Please contact Cara Rowlett, Health Visitor, on 0116 2671578
for more information or contact the surgery to make an appointment.
Scrum in the sun
BIRSTALL RUGBY Club held their annual President’s
Day event at Stonehill School in May.
The event is organised by Birstall’s long established Rugby
club and invites members of the community to come along and enjoy
a day or rugby with their local team.
At the start of the event youngsters are invited to participate
in a tag rugby tournament, this is aimed at introducing the sport
to younger members of the community as rugby is no longer a sport
practised at many schools including those in Birstall.
The club has struggled to find new players due to this situation
and so has tried to introduce the sport itself, but needs the
help of volunteers and more players. The Junior Facility at the
club has seen some success and so would like to expand on this.
Pics: (top) the teams contest a lineout and
(above) a scrum as Andy Reed MP (centre, standing) looks on
The presidents’ day event is an opportunity to display the
game and Birstall’s own rugby team to members of the community.
This year saw an exceptionally large crowd on the sidelines in
what was glorious weather. The fun started at 10.30am with the
youngsters tournament. Supervised by Ivan Smith, Paul Smith and
Jeremy Cross, all current players and trainers with the club.
12.00 saw the adult teams take to the pitch, Birstall’s
1st team sported their new blue shirts and consisted of present
1st team players, Veterans team players and Youngsters about
to come into 1st team rugby. The president’s team, organised
by Loughborough MP Andy Reed, the president and a long standing
player of Birstall RFC, appeared in red commonwealth lions shirts
and consisted of players past and present including special guests
from the sport and media.
After team photos the game was kicked off by Andy Reed for the
presidents 15. Spectators witnessed an outstanding game of rugby,
close fought to the end, resulting in a 17-12 victory for the
presidents team.
This game will remain in the memory of one player as it was his
last appearance for the club. Roy Porter has been a Birstall
player for more than 25 years. He has produced many outstanding
and motivational performances in a Birstall shirt but has finally
decided to hang up his boots. All associated with the club wish
to thank Roy and wish him all the best for the future.
It is now time to look at the club’s future. Birstall rugby
club needs new players at all ages and volunteers to help with
training and social events. if you would like to join a long
established club, visit the Trees public house who are the club’s
main sponsor to see the memorabilia on display and get further
information.
Thanks to all involved this year, until next time good luck.
From Phill Lewin
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Your Say...
When will the bus companies which service Birstall realise
that Double Decker busses and even full size single deckers do
not safely fit on our back roads? I have witnessed several times,
the surreal site of the driver having to get out and knock on
doors to ask people to move cars in order to get passed. What
happens if he doesn't find them?
The crazy thing is, when this happens, there is invariably less
than half a dozen passengers on the bus at the time. Now I know
we all want a bus service, but why on earth do the bus companies
need to use a double decker bus to transport five people? Why
don't they buy minibuses to use during quieter times of the day,
cutting their operating costs, and making things easier for their
own drivers and other road users?
Nicholas G.Black
128,Stonehill Avenue
Birstall
Leicester
On Thursday April 22 I witnessed a most bizarre incident.
There were surveyors on the A6, some distance south of the A6/A46
junction. The surveyor with the pole was in the middle of the
road, and moving quickly out of danger when cars approached with
speeds of 50-60mph. Then a sports car came along. You could feel
that the driver was putting his foot on the accelerator. The
man with the pole jumped for his life when he realised that the
car approaching had a speed of 70-80mph. After that the survey
team had a conference.
Apart from two boards on the side of the road that warned drivers
of a survey team there were not any danger cones.
Why didn’t the survey team seek help from the police. The
next day the survey was made nearer to the pedestrian crossing.
Were accurate measurements made? Is this the way the new estate
will be planned?
Les Briers
Did you grow up in a Leicestershire village? If so, you might
be able to help.
I am currently researching a book which takes a nostalgic look
at village life between 1930-1970. I would love to hear from
anybody who has photographs, or memories which they might like
to share. The book covers all aspects of village life, such as
rural industries, country crafts, transport, customs, fetes and
fairs, village sports, country pursuits, hunting, village shops,
the village hall, the church, the pub, the village bobby, the
school, village clubs and organisations, art, music, well know
local characters, or anything else to do with village life.
Perhaps there was something unique about the village you lived
in, did it have its own traditions? Or was there something that
took place in your village that made it famous, or infamous?
What type of jobs did people do? Did you belong to a successful
village sports club? Did your village have a drama, WI, boy scout,
girl guide group etc? Can you remember how the community celebrated
great occasions such as VE Day and the Coronation. Anything that
might be of interest?
The book will be published by a well-known international publisher,
so your photographs, or memories, will be enjoyed by a wide audience.
If you think you might be able to help, please write to Henry
Buckton, PO Box 2770, Glastonbury, Somerset BA6 9XD. or email:
henrybuxton@tiscali.co.uk. All photographs will be returned.
Many thanks
Henry Buckton
I, along with several others, presented ourselves to the appointed
site on 24/04/04 in the hope of obtaining some of the advertised
Smart Water and other safety equipment supposed to be available
between 10.30-12.30.
Sadly, no one seemed to be bothered to turn up to sell said kit.
At least four other people arrived at the time I was there all
looking to purchase these kits.
I think that after going to the trouble of advertising these
kits and a time and place to collect them at least someone would
have bothered to turn up to provide them.
Do you think it would be possible to let us know where and when
it may be possible to obtain these packs with a bit more reliable
service than there has been so far.
D H Davis
I’m writing this letter, as I’m totally fed up with
annoying neighbours who do nothing but complain, I’ve lived
in Birstall for 15 years and have two kids, 15 & 11 years.
What are my neighbours complaining about you ask.
Do my children roam the streets causing trouble? No
Do my children go around smashing phone boxes, breaking into
cars, doing drugs? No
Do they then give verbal abuse to any adult in the street? No
Do they smoke, or shoplift...No
So what can my neighbours possibly complain about?
The fact that my two play football in our own back garden, that’s
right, I said football, on occasions the ball accidentally gets
kicked over the 6ft steel fence they erected, when my eldest
son asks quite politely for the ball back, what does he get.
I’ll tell you, a load of abuse off them, “You’re
kicking it against the fence”, “You’re doing this”,
“You’re doing that”. Well I’m sick of it,
I brought up my kids to know right from wrong and to respect
all adults, and this is how he gets repaid for it. Then that
same rude person keeps the ball in their house. Well what does
that say! How sad is that, to stop two kids bored in the holidays,
playing in their own garden.
Perhaps I should let them smash a few windows, cause genuine
havoc round the village, they might get better thought of.
Well, here’s a message to those who complain, keep the balls,
I’ll keep my kids’ self respect and buy them a new
ball each time, at least I know where my kids are and what they
are doing. Which is more than can be said for a lot round here.
Name and address supplied.
Saturday May 8, 2004
Here lies the space
Where our Acer once grew
That was snatched in the night
By God knows who
They must have been desperate
Or really just tight
To steal a plant from a garden
in the dead of the night
So I hope it was worth it
You thief with a spade
I hope the leaves die & wither
and the plant starts to fade
So neighbours beware
That the garden you are making
May not just be for you
But for someone else’s taking
Mr & Mrs Wildbore
I am writing to urge your readers to back the Help the Aged
campaign against bogus callers, rogue traders and distraction
burglars, by asking their MP to sign a Parliamentary motion.
Help the Aged has been working with Gordon Marsden MP, who has
recently presented a Bill to Parliament, calling for a ban on
doorstep selling of property repairs from unsolicited callers.
We know that selling property repairs is one of the main ‘fronts’
used by rogue traders, bogus callers and distraction burglars,
and that criminals are targeting older people across the country,
charging outrageous prices for shoddy work or no work at all.
Work done as part of the help the Aged SeniorSafety campaign,
showed that around 400,000 vulnerable older people are targeted
each year by bogus callers in Britain and we know that older
people are particularly likely to fall victim to this type of
crime. We offer advice and information, and can provide SeniorLink
units in older people’s homes which they can use to call
for support and advice when people knock on their door.
A total ban on all doorstep selling for property repairs will
be the only sure way to protect older people from rogue traders
and distraction burglars.
I appeal to your readers to take action now, to contact their
MP Stephen Dorrell asking them to back Gordon Marsden’s
Bill and sign up to Early Day Motion 219 from Paul Truswell MP.
Lysa Ralph
National Senior Safety Manager
Help the Aged
It was comforting to hear on Radio Leicester last week a Charnwood
Councillor explaining the discussions which are being conducted
on the plans for refuse collection. They have noted our dislike
of wheelie bins and are thinking of ways to keep the green bags
as we like them so much!
May I take this opportunity to commend the erection of smart
new street signs to follow up the arrival of the village sign
at the roundabout. It is helping to improve the look of the area.
Mrs Jean Ward
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Longslade open day
DANCE, MUSIC and drama are just some of
the activities on show at Longslade Community College’s
Open Day on June 17.
The aim of the day is to give students the chance to undertake
longer projects not usually possible within the college timetable,
to allow parents and students from high schools to visit the
college and find out what is on offer and to open Longslade to
the wider Birstall community.
Activities taking place include:
scenes from Romeo and Juliet
dance and music performances
an election campaign
a weapon of war, probably Roman, will be built and fired on the
day
A Euro Cafe will be available where food technologists and language
students will combine their skills and sell the food in Euros
an Award Assembly
Held on Thursday, June 17 from 2-7.30pm, Longslade welcomes all
visitors to come and see their local college in action. To reserve
a place call Longslade on 267 7107.
That’s a lot of bowls
A LOCAL bowls club is aiming to set a new
world record for marathon bowls by playing continuously for 60
hours.
A team of six members from St Margaret’s Co-operative Bowls
club on Birstall Road are making the attempt, starting at 6am
on Friday June 18.
Club spokesman Lol Mounteney said: “In June 2003 whilst
viewing the Guinness World Records web site I found a record
for a continuous outdoor bowling marathon, which was held by
Horley Bowling Club in Surrey and stood at 48 hours. After talking
to a number of St Margaret’s members it was agreed that
we would make an attempt to beat this record.
“I contacted Guinness World Records and registered my intention
to challenge this record and received the relevant rules and
conditions that have to be followed when making a record attempt.
“The original World Records was established by Horley Bowling
Club in 1999 at 24 hours. Since then it has been broken five
times. Firstly by the Orange City Men’s Bowling Club, New
South Wales, Australia who raised the record to 31 hours 6 minutes.
Then it was increased to 40 hours 8 minutes by Durie Hill Bowling
Club, Wanganui, New Zealand before being regained by Horley Bowling
Club in May 2002 at 48 hours. Since our decision to try for the
record Drayton Bowls Club, Toowoomba, Queensland Australia increased
it to 52 hours and Lloyds Hotel Bowls Club in Manchester, the
current holders, improved it to 54 hours 30 minutes.”
Besides breaking the World Record, the club intends to raise
money for three charities: The Leicester Royal Infirmary Neo
Natal Hearing Unit, The Glenfield Hospital Cardiology Unit and
Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland Headway who provide support
for people with brain injuries.
There will be a car boot sale on the morning of Sunday June 20.
For more information and to book a pitch (cars £5, vans
£8) call Roger Baker 2697876.
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Age Concern info
Pension Credit Update
The Government has announced that the period for backdating Pension
Credit from October 2004 will be extended to 12 months. The original
intention was that backdating would only be for a maximum of
3 months after that time. Until October 2004, Pension Credit
can be backdated to the start of the scheme in October 2003 (as
long as the claimant has satisfied the conditions).
New regulations came into force in April 2004 which cover a number
of points including:
When a person aged 65 or over is receiving help with housing
costs, a change in non-dependants’ circumstances which would
reduce the award will take effect 26 weeks after the change occurs.
The rules on notional capital have been clarified to ensure that
a person will not be considered to have deprived themselves of
capital if they were using it to pay off a debt or to purchase
goods and services in circumstances that were ‘reasonable’.
Online Solicitors for Disabled People
The Solicitors Room is a new online service set up by a panel
of solicitors in association with the Disability Alliance. The
service is intended to ensure that disabled people, including
those with mobility or hearing disabilities, are able to access
legal services. The website allows a secure file to be set up
for each client that will enable clients to instruct their solicitor,
exchange messages and view their files.
Further details are available on the Disability Alliance website
at - hhtp://ww.disabilityalliance.org.
The new service is at - hhtp://www.thesolicitorsroom.com
Ageist Loan Policy Stops Lifelong Learning
The Government’s policy of refusing student loans to people
over the age of 54 was condemned as ‘blatantly ageist’
by Baroness Greengross in the House of Lords on March 1. She
asked Baroness Ashton, the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
at the Department for Education and Skills, about the Government’s
plans to amend rules for student loans to benefit older and part-time
students. The Minister replied: “The age limit is 50 for
eligible students...those aged 50 to 54 at the start of their
course can also apply for a student loan provided that they plan
to return to work after finishing their course. We already cancel
loans at the age of 65 and have no plans to change the age restriction.”
Baroness Greengross said she was “disappointed” by
the Government’s response and pointed out that the Lords
Economic Select Affairs Committee recently concluded that “student
loans were blatantly ageist”. “Given that people live
longer and will have longer working lives, how can the Government’s
current policies really encourage lifelong learning?” said
the Baroness.
Age Concern England believes that the current upper age limit
of 54 for new student loans is a clear example of age discrimination
and has urged the Commons committee examining the higher Education
Bill to support a New Clause 3 which reads: “Access to Student
Loans - In determining eligibility for student loans age may
not be taken into account.”
Michelle Mitchell, the charity’s Head of Public Affairs,
said: “Age Concern frequently hears from people who have
been unable to take out student loans because of their age. It
is one of the most blatant pieces of age discrimination in any
area of public policy. It is certain to be challenged in the
courts when age discrimination legislation, which covers higher
and further education and vocational training, is introduced
in October 2006. Our vision of society is one in which the wide
range of capabilities that people of all ages possess are recognised
and individuals are judged on their merits rather than on the
basis of uniform age-based policies. That is why we are urging
committee members to support the new Clause 3.”
“As long as you’re learning you’re not old”
- Anonymous
“Older persons should have access to the educational, cultural,
spiritual and recreational resources of society “ - UN Principle
“The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child
into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm”
- Aldous Huxley
“Age is of no importance unless you are a cheese” -
Anonymous
“Older persons should be able to pursue opportunities for
the full development of their potential” - UN Principle
Ageism is unacceptable. Age Concern is against all forms of unfair
discrimination and challenges unfair treatment on grounds of
age.
Survey on Age Discrimination in Work
Age Concern London and Reed Consulting have published the findings
of a survey of people over 50, looking at experiences of age
discrimination at work. Respondents were mainly clients of Reed’s
online recruitment service aged over 50, who are likely to be
representative of people seeking work or hoping to move jobs.
The survey found that 85% of respondents believed they had been
turned down for a job because of their age. About 90% thought
promotion prospects became limited at a certain age. Respondents
felt that employers could give older workers more support by:
improving the image of older workers; increasing promotion opportunities;
and introducing flexible working arrangements. However, many
older people were opposed to help targeted exclusively at older
people.
The survey also asked about intentions for retirement. Over half
of respondents planned to retire over the age of 65 or hoped
to carry on working indefinitely.
Age Discrimination : The Evidence
A survey on age discrimination in employment by Age Concern London
and Reed Consulting. 3pp. Available free from Hannah Conning,
Age Concern London, 1st floor, 21 St Georges Road, London SE1
6ES. Tel: 020 7820 6770. Fax 0207820 1063. Email: hconning@aclondon.org.uk
Deaf People’s Experience of the NHS
The Royal National Institute for Deaf People (RNID) has published
a report into experiences of the National Health Service by deaf
and hard-of-hearing people.
The report was developed in anticipation of the Disability Discrimination
Act 1995 which places a legal obligation on the NHS to make reasonable
adjustments to accommodate the needs of disabled people and comes
into force in September 2004. It concludes that urgent action
is needed to meet this obligation.
The research found evidence of problems in both general medical
practices and in hospitals, including difficulties in face-to-face
communications (in particular for British sign language users);
in making an appointment; and in understanding a diagnosis or
prescription. The report highlights the potential dangers to
the health of deaf and hard-of-hearing people from this situation.
The report recommends a number of steps to improve communication,
focusing on the training needs of frontline staff, the use of
technology and the involvement of deaf and hard-of-hearing people
in developing services.
A Simple Cure. 12pp. Available free from RNID, 19-23 Featherstone
Street, London EC1Y 8SL. Tel: 0808 808 0123. Textphone: 0808
808 9000. Fax: 020 72968199. Also available on the internet at
hhtp.//www.rnid.org.uk/pdfs/support_us/asimplecure.pdf
Jex Woods
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