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Pic: Katie Handford (3) and George Clarke
(3) were two of the performers in Woodland Day Nursery's Christmas
play
Ralph the reindeer
RALPH THE green nosed reindeer stepped
in for a poorly Rudolph in Woodland Day Nursery's Christmas play.
Children at the nursery on Park Road enjoyed performing in 'Ralph
the Reindeer', taking the part of elves, reindeers and Mr &
Mrs Claus.
Good citizens
RECOGNISING AND applauding the often unseen
work of the many good citizens of the village is the aim of a
new award, announced by Birstall Parish Council.
The ‘Birstall Citizen of the Year’ award is the idea
of Parish Council Chairman Stuart Jones. He said: “The idea
is to recognise the work of those who usually go unrecognised,
not professionals, doctors, teachers, or councillors, who do
important work, but the people who give their time and energy
as volunteers to help the community. I hope the award will encourage
people to do more for Birstall.”
The award would be presented annually at the Birstall gala.
The Parish Council would welcome nominations from readers for
the 2005 award. These can be sent to Birstall Parish Council,
The Village Hall, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leicester LE4 4DH,
and should include a description of the work done by the person
nominated.
The deadline for submission of nominations is June 1, 2005
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Pic: (l-r) Trustee Margaret King, Paul Taylor,
Trustee Edith Murphy and Cllr Neville Mayes loading up a car
before setting off delivering parcels
Land & Lewis parcels
FORTY EIGHT boxes of Christmas groceries
were delivered to elderly and needy people in Birstall, courtesy
of the local Land & Lewis charity.
Trustee Edith Murphy said: "We know that the recipients
appreciate someone calling on them and saying hello. There are
many people who are alone at Christmas time."
Six parish councillors helped deliver the parcels, which contained
a variety of items including sherry, biscuits, mince pies and
Christmas pudding.
Put your views to council chairman
RESIDENTS ARE being invited to bring their
concerns questions and ideas to Birstall Parish Council at a
new weekly surgery.
Chairman of the Parish Council, Stuart Jones, will be available
every Wednesday from 2-3pm at the Village Hall on Birstall Road.
He said: “The aim of the surgery is to find out what villages
want for Birstall and to give them the opportunity to ask questions
and state their concerns.”
If you wish to attend the surgery, you will need to make an appointment
- telephone the Parish Council on 2676191
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Pic: (l-r) Carl Gunns, SAGA radio's John Shaw
and Andy Corbett
SAGA radio interview
CARL GUNNS from Gunns’ Gym and Andy
Corbett from Birstall Village Cricket Club were interviewed on
Saga Radio in November.
They took part in a live interview with presenter John Shaw on
his Reflections programme. The main object of the programme was
to talk about giving something back to the community. An estimated
50,000 listeners heard Carl speak about his boxing community
gym and that the membership now stands at over 400, and how the
gym helps get children involved in after school activities and
keeps them off the streets.
Andy Corbett told listeners about Birstall Village Cricket Club
and how the Junior sides have increased to six and the membership
to over 80 youngsters.
Next year Gunns’ Gym will be two years old and a party is
being arranged for mid February. Carl has invited Saga Radio
and boxing stars of the past and present and the gyms various
sponsors will also be in attendance. Full details will appear
in the Birstall Post in the February edition.
Group aims to preserve cemetery
A NEW group has been formed to help protect,
preserve and promote public interest in Belgrave cemetery.
Chairman of the ‘Friends of Belgrave Cemetery Group’,
Dorothy Marshall explains: “We began our campaign when some
of the headstones were vandalised last August and we thought
we needed to raise public awareness of the place.”
The cemetery was opened in 1881 and the five acre site, north
west of Redhill island, and on the edge of Birstall, contains
many elaborate Victorian and Edwardian headstones.
A chapel that once stood in the centre has now been demolished,
but the lodge house remains and is still occupied.
The cemetery is maintained by Leicester City Council. Dorothy
said: “My quest is to encourage Leicester City Council to
show more interest in the maintenance of the grounds, trees,
fences etc. I’m happy to say they are making an effort,
but we need more public interest.”
She added: “While to some a cemetery is a sad place, to
others it is a place of comfort. In the middle of our city we
have a site of peace and tranquillity and in this materialistic
world we now live in, it is a place to reflect that when we depart
this life for the next, I for one would like to be remembered
for what I achieved and not for what I owned.”
The group would like to hear from anyone who has interesting
information about the cemetery, or who would like to join them.
Contact Dorothy Marshall, 23 Sandgate Avenue, Birstall, Leicester
LE4 3HQ Tel: 0116 2672018
Boy killed in crash
A FIFTEEN year old boy from Birstall has
been killed in a car crash on the A6.
Jamie David Yendall of Stonehill Avenue died in the accident
on December 2 which is still being investigated by Police. He
was in the front passenger seat of a white Ford Escort XR3i.
The driver was taken to Leicester Royal Infirmary as was the
rear seat passenger who has a serious leg injury.
Police have drawn no conclusion about whether the Escort was
in a collision with a silver Volkswagen Polo. The 17 year old
driver of the Polo was arrested after the incident on suspicion
of causing death by dangerous driving and was released the next
day, pending further enquiries.
A 16 year old who was in the Ford Escort was also arrested and
later released.
The accident happened at 9.35pm on Thursday December 2 about
300m south of the A6/A46 junction. Yellow chalk markings drawn
by police accident investigators surround a lamppost where dozens
of bouquets and tributes to Jamie have been tied. Firefighters
needed several hours to cut the three people in the Escort free.
Jamie was a student at Longslade College and lived most of his
life in Rothley where he was well known for his BMX riding skills.
Longslade Principal Dr Mike Griffiths said: “Jamie was a
loveable lad; he had a polite and pleasant manner and was well
liked by his peers.
“In College he was beginning to realise his potential. He
had ambitions to work in the building trade and had recently
made much progress towards obtaining a qualification in Construction
on a link course at Loughborough College.
“Jamie loved working with his hands and had over the years
spent time working with students with learning difficulties at
Maplewell Hall School on a ‘Youth Bike’ project where
they renovated old bikes and entered them in a national exhibition.
Jamie had won awards for this work.
“Jamie will be remembered in the College for always trying
to make the best of any situation. We have set up a book of condolences
for staff and students and are planning ways in which the whole
College community can celebrate his life.”
Police say no-one has come forward with information about the
accident and say they are disappointed with the lack of witnesses
Sergeant Simon Adkin of the force’s traffic team is leading
the investigation. He said: “I am urging anyone who may
have witnessed the collisions or saw any of the vehicles prior
to the collisions taking place to contact me. Any information,
no matter how insignificant it may seem, could help with our
inquiries.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact Sgt Adkin on 0116
222 2222 or call Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous,
on 0800 555111
Parish says goodbye
THE PARISH of Birstall and Wanlip is preparing
to bid a regretful goodbye to the Rector, the Rev Malcolm Lambert
and his wife Ruth, who are moving in early February to the neighbouring
parish of the Resurrection in Leicester to take up the task of
leading four city churches.
Malcolm and Ruth came to Birstall five years ago with their two
school-age children (now at university) and in this time a great
deal has happened. Ruth was ordained and served as curate in
Mountsorrel; recently she was appointed Anglican chaplain at
the Leicester General Hospital.
Revd Malcolm Lambert
Malcolm has proved an inspirational preacher and teacher inside
and outside the church, as has been proved by his work with the
children in the local primary schools. He has established a new,
informal Sunday service and encouraged many ordinary people to
take on leadership roles in preaching, pastoral work and outreach
beyond the church.
Now Malcolm feels himself called to tackle the mammoth job of
Team Rector for the churches of St Gabriel, St Peter’s,
Belgrave, St Alban’s and St Matthew, an enterprise to which
he and Ruth will certainly bring their usual enthusiasm and energy.
We are sad to see them leave but send our prayers and good wishes
with them. Malcolm’s last services at Birstall will be on
Sunday morning January 30 and at Wanlip, for the joint service
of Candlemas, on Wednesday February 2 at 7.30pm.
Malcolm said: “I have very mixed feelings about leaving.
I have really enjoyed my time in Birstall and Wanlip. It has
been an exciting time in the life of the churches here. At the
same time, I am excited about the new challenges we will face.
The highlights here have been the creation of a new congregation
- our ‘open house’ service at 11am - and the development
of a parish ministry team. What I will remember most are the
people I have worked with in the church and in the community.
Thanks to all of you.”
It is likely to be several months before a new rector can be
appointed to Birstall and Wanlip, but the two churchwardens of
each church will have the responsibility for the day-to-day running
of the churches during this period and visiting priests will
ensure that Sunday communion services are held as normal. Both
congregations will be determined to meet the challenge of the
next few months and ensure that the Anglican church remains an
important part of village life.
Maureen Holland
Another loss to the church in recent months has been the church
office secretary, Maureen Holland, who retired after thirty years
in this valuable part-time job. Her computer expertise, ability
to cope with telephone enquiries and acquired experience in dealing
with the ‘people’ aspect of her job will be much missed.
The church is hoping to find a successor as soon as possible
(for any enquiries contact Malcolm on 2674517). Maureen is continuing
as editor of the Churches Together magazine ‘Contact’.
From Beryl McHugh
Service station closes
ROTHLEY SERVICE Station has closed after
a last minute appeal to English Heritage to have the building
listed failed.
Owners Chevron Texaco have decided to sell the site for development.
English Heritage said that the building had too many alterations
to justify awarding listed status, and a £250,000 offer
by a local firm Elite Taverns to buy the building and continue
running it as a petrol station was turned down by Chevron Texaco.
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Pic: Mandy Cross of Birstall Slimming World
Birstall class wins gold
A BIRSTALL Slimming Class has been awarded
a Slimming World Gold Award - only 80 groups out of 5,500 in
the country have received this accolade.
The award is made for weight loss, attendance and commitment
from members.
Mandy Cross, who runs the Birstall Slimming World group on a
Tuesday at the Village Hall says: “This job is so very special.
Watching someone change from having no confidence, being embarrassed
about their size and wearing shapeless clothes ... to someone
who looks and feels great, brings its own rewards on a daily
basis. But to have your work recognised in this way is, I must
admit, a very proud moment for me.”
In the last year, Mandy has helped the Birstall members lose
more that 6000 lbs, making Birstall one of the best weight losing
areas in the country.
For further information on Slimming World, please look at the
website www.slimming-world.com or contact Mandy on 01664 567260
or come along on a Tuesday at either 4pm, 5.30pm or 7pm.
Next Mayor of Charnwood
THE NEXT Mayor of Charnwood will be Birstall’s
Roger Wilson.
Cllr Wilson (70) will take up the civic position in May 2005.
He said: “It is an honour that the Council have elected
me and I am looking forward to it, particularly getting out and
meeting people, the people I have been representing as a councillor.”
Cllr Wilson is currently Deputy Leader of the Borough Council
and leader of the Liberal Democrat group - he will step down
from these positions during his time as Mayor.
Cllr Wilson has lived in Birstall for 45 years, and now lives
on Hallam Avenue with his wife Sheila, who will be the Mayoress.
He said: “I think it is a recognition of Birstall that I
have been chosen, and as someone coming from the village, I feel
it is an honour.”
Earnest Shardlow was the last Charnwood Mayor from Birstall.
The Conservative group nominated a candidate for Mayor, Ron Jenkins,
but Cllr Wilson was elected by 25 votes to 22.
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