home
back to Back Issues list

Birstall Post Mar. 2002 (224) cont.

Wanlip sailing club members take to the water

Wanlip Sailing club

HIDDEN AWAY behind gravel workings between Birstall and Syston is Wanlip Sailing Club - right on your doorstep!
The Club was founded in the 1970s and is set in farmland on an eight acre lake. There is a clubhouse and fenced boat compound.
Wanlip is considered a friendly and safe place to learn to sail and for family dinghy sailing as you are never far from land. More experienced sailors are normally on hand to offer help and advice.
The sailing season starts in March and continues until December. Racing, informal sailing and sail training take place throughout the season and there is a year round social programme.
Club fees are kept as low as possible to allow families to enjoy their membership. If you would like to know more please telephone Chris on Leicester 2303173.

Methodist news

THE METHODIST Men’s Pantomime played to six packed houses in February. There was sufficient demand to have put on a further Saturday performance. Perhaps another year. By all accounts all enjoyed it, and if you didn’t get a seat I won’t attempt to explain how Del Boy, Rodders and Uncle Albert (Only Fools and Horses) and Thunderbirds managed to fit into Little Miss Muffett! During five of the performances £308 was collected for LOROS. The men will decide (at their meeting on March 21) how the funds from the Pantomime ticket sales will be allocated.
A few tickets are still available for the Murder Mystery Evening on Saturday March 16 at 7.30pm. Tickets are £5 and available from Sue Moore (tel: 2676207) and this includes a light supper. Proceeds to Vision 2000.
The Vision 2000 committee hope they are at last able to finalise the proposed plans for the various improvements to the interior of the Church. One of the ‘hold-ups’ was the only piece of work to the exterior - namely disabled access to the main front entrance to the Church. The original design was to have a gentle slope replacing the slabs in front of the Church, so from whichever direction you approached, the slope led up to the front door. If you walked past the door, you would walk up one side and down the other. However this is not in line with current thinking on disabled access, and fresh plans have been drawn up. Once the whole project has been approved (by the Church at a special meeting ) it still has to go to the Charnwood Planning Committee.
Part of the proceeds for Vision 2000 goes to the building of a Church in Arumba in The Gambia - there they don’t even need planning permission!
Another Vision 2000 event is a ‘Good as New Boutique’ on Saturday March 23 from 10am to 2pm. On sale will be clothing, accessories, jewellery, cosmetics, soft furnishing and (good) bric-a-brac. Coffee and light lunches will be available.
From Tony Moore

WI news

MRS LINDA Robinson was the speaker at the February meeting of Birstall & Wanlip WI. Her talk was about WI markets and she is a producer, and also is very involved with the whole organisation of Leicestershire & Rutland WI Markets Ltd.
Though still known as WI Markets, in 1995 they separated from the National Federation of Women’s Institutes and became self financing and with their own logo and motto ‘Fresh Approach to Traditional Skills’ and are now a thriving business with markets held in most towns and are often to be seen with stalls at agricultural shows and farmers markets. Mrs Robinson first started in the plant and flower part but has since expanded her skills to baking and general organisation. Mrs Freda Jones proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Robinson and after the meeting members were able to purchase plants and ‘goodies’ from her stall.
During business time, names were taken of those wishing to attend the Annual Council Meeting at the De Montfort Hall on March 20 and a delegate was appointed. Several items were noted from county news also. The skittles team had lost their final match to Thurcaston & Cropston WI but a very pleasant evening had been spent at this event.
The competition for a ‘favourite cold cure’ was won by Mrs Betty Barker. This cure seemed to favour tots of rum with an occasional sniff of the cork of a cough mixture bottle in between. Sounds most effective!
Next meeting is on March 4 and members were reminded to wear comfortable clothing (ie trousers) as Mr P Maloney will be demonstrating Tai Chi. This is a follow up to a very enjoyable evening of Tai Chi in last year’s programme. The meeting will start at 7.15pm in the hall extension at Highcliffe School, Greengate Lane, Birstall. Any visitors will be most welcome to come, male or female!

Green waste

GREEN WASTE for composting will be collected by Charnwood Borough Council from April.
The collection in partnership with Refuse Contractor, Onyx Municipal, will be introduced across the Borough over a three-year period.
The first Charnwood residents to benefit will be those living in Anstey, Birstall, Barkby, Beeby, Cossington, Cropston, East Goscote, Newtown Linford, Queniborough, Rearsby Rothley, Sileby, Syston, South Croxton, Thrussington, Thurcaston and Thurmaston.
To use the service you:
1. Buy the sacks at 50 pence each from various Parish Councils and businesses across the area.
2. Fill five sacks or more with green waste for composting. You can pool together with neighbours, as long as there are five sacks available at one collection point. This is done in order to keep costs down.
3. Call the Council on 01509 634715 or 634698 to arrange collection. This will be collected within seven days from an accessible spot on your property.
Once collected, the green waste is transported to the County Council’s Composting Facility at Lount in the north of the county. This is then made into County Compost, which is available to buy at Household Waste sites across the Borough.
Charnwood’s Recycling officer, Julie Deakin, said: “Residents in these areas, will benefit from this worthwhile service, and will know that their garden waste is being dealt with in a useful and environmentally responsible way”.
Further information can be obtained by contacting the Recycling Line on 01509 634712.
In Birstall, you will be able to buy these sacks at the Parish Council Offices on Birstall Road and Birstall DIY, 285 Birstall Road. These should be available to buy from late March.

England place

BOWLER SUE Wilson has been selected to play for England at the International Paralympics Committee World Bowls Championships in Australia this April.
Sue, a member of Birstall Ladies Bowling Club, has very little sight and first competed in this event when it was last held four years ago in South Africa.
She has to fund the £1400 trip herself and has already received promises of £550 from various bowling organisations and her own club. If anyone can help in even a small way please contact Betty Smith on 2216743.
Birstall Ladies already have a very active Junior section of bowlers who play on Friday evenings for 50p per session and are always looking for new men and lady members who will be given a warm welcome.

Book sale

BIRSTALL LIBRARY will be holding another of its popular book sales from Thursday March 7 until Tuesday March 12.
Amongst the items featured in the sale will be a range of children’s books, craft books, cookery books and some reference titles and maps. There will also be hundreds of novels and other non-fiction books at bargain prices.
Group librarian Jo Hopkinson said: “The library books ales are always popular with customers and are a great way of picking up a cheap paperback or children’s story book for your holidays”.
The library has also recently received a large influx of new books following some additional funding. 268 new books were added to stock for January alone, compared with a monthly average last year of 92. The new books are on display together with the top ten titles which are received every month.

Your Say
Readers’ letters

Everything is better over there except our survey maps so why not use the survey map?
Unless someone can tell me otherwise the Park and Ride at Wanlip has nothing to do with Loughborough Borough Council so when Loughborough Borough Council published a development plan several years ago it gave wrong information and therefore any development should not proceed until full details of a Park and Ride plus bus lanes is known.
I believe (unless officially told otherwise) the Park and Ride plus lanes is planned between Central Government (most of the money), Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council.
Birstall Post states that they have plans of the proposed changes. These plans should be published now, not a section at a time.
Why cannot we have all the details?
Les Briers

Something is surely very wrong when the Parish Council, considering approval of the final proposals for the Sibson Road Enhancement Scheme at its February meeting, did not allow consideration of the scheme’s reduction of parking spaces at the vital A6 end of Sibson Road and in front of the financial business premises just round the corner on the A6; and did not even look at the plans during consideration of the final design of the £230,000 project before approving its proposals.
C D Clarke
 

The anniversary of the demise of George VI will have brought back memories to many readers.
I was a reluctant conscript at that time, and having completed trade training in the sticks of Shropshire was posted to Borden in Hampshire together with other mechanics and was introduced to our new CO. Being last in, I knew the ropes “Keep your b....... boots off his carpet”.
“Are you a V.M. too?” he enquired sweetly. “No sir, a V.M. three”.
Col Jones muttered something under his breath, in Welsh perhaps, which sounded like “There’s always one”.
My first rescue job was one Saturday, and with no other Vehicle mechanic on camp I was sent out with the duty driver to Col Taffy’s rugby team. Repair was simplicity itself. I switched over to a full tank of fuel. “Aren’t you going to road test it?” enquired the team captain. “Sorry, sir I don’t have a licence”.
The M.T.O. sent for me the next day I was ordered to do two laps of the barrack square ”In the Hillman utility of course” he added.
I elected to drive in a clockwise direction so I could survey the white washed boulders with ease, and circumnavigated safely.
“He’ll do! Give him a certificate of competence Sergeant and make sure he gets plenty of practise”
Sgt Williams a man with little charm but a wicked sense of humour duly obliged and the next day I received my first assignment. I was to convey a visiting officer to a camp near Windsor in the missing wanderer an old Ford V8 which only fired properly on six cylinders and had dodgy king pins. It also had a crash type gear box which didn’t help.
The whole MT section turned out to see me off, perhaps also to discuss how to share out my sweet ration, should I not return, and I collected my Pakistani Captain from the officers’ mess. I peered at him from just above the steering wheel, my face drained of blood - and my hands visibly shaking.
He never spoke throughout the journey and I began to worry lest all commissioned officers had an aversion to Vehicle Mechanics class three.
Hours later or so it seemed as we approached Windsor Castle, a burly bobby jumped out in front of us “Stop” Do not move”.
Was my dilatory driving that bad? or perhaps he’d never seen an Asian officer before.
But no, the gates opened and a public crier appeared to proclaim Elizabeth II Queen of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and Head of the Commonwealth.
22464734 Cfn Cyril H Cox R.E.M.E. retired

The Churches of St James the Great Birstall and Our Lady and St Nicholas Wanlip will hold two Annual Meetings for the parish of Birstall and Wanlip on April 17. At the Annual Meeting of parishioners (which anyone resident in Birstall and Wanlip may attend) we elect four churchwardens. Then at the Annual Church Meeting (open to anyone whose name is on the Church Electoral Roll) we receive a financial report and a report on the activities of the parish and conduct a series of elections. This year the Electoral Roll is being revised. If you are a member of the Church of England who lives in the parish, and would like to be included on the Roll please telephone the Church Office on 2671797, Wednesday-Friday, 10am to 4pm and we will be happy to send you a form. If you would like to see a copy of the Annual Report, again please contact the Church Office.
Kathryn Mobbs
Hon Secretary
Birstall & Wanlip Parochial Church Council

My thanks to the many friends in Birstall, who filled the Church of St James, at the funeral of my wife on February 7. Also to the Rev Malcolm Lambert, the church staff, including the M.C.S. Funeral staff who did a wonderful job of conducting the funeral at the church, and the bearers at the graveside.
The total number of cards received from her stay in Glenfield Hospital over Christmas, the Get Well cards and the final sympathy ones, came to a total of 246. For the last fifty two years we both met and walked with many friends around the village and fields on the riverside, no wonder my legs ached. The changes we saw from the little village to its present size.
My thanks also to the Editor of the Birstall Post for this column and to those who sent cards from over the country and overseas.
Mr N Cooke (Nobby)

I would like to thank all my friends for their cards, letters and phone calls of good wishes and encouragement during my recent operation.
Joan Neal
Flat 2 Riversdale Court

Calling all former members of the Guide Association.
Are you aware that we have a Trefoil Guild in Birstall? This is open to anyone who has made the Guide or Scout promise, and no longer holds a uniformed appointment. Apart from social contact it is an opportunity to keep in touch with today’s movement and sometimes help with such things as badge testing. If you would like to know more, ring either of the telephone numbers given. We meet once a month and would love to welcome you. Please call.
Mrs J M Wainwright 2673055 or Mrs M Mansfield 2674122

Club attacked

BIRSTALL UNITED Social Football Club was the victim of an attack by vandals on Saturday January 26.
Although no damage was done to the clubhouse a set of tubular steel goalposts were driven forcibly into the ground to a depth of between two and three feet.
From the evidence of several sets of mountain bike tracks, entry was gained via the unlocked gates at the entrance to the allotment gardens off Meadow Lane.
Club Secretary Jeff Plumb said: “Apart from the damage to the equipment, myself and a fellow committee member counted 51 empty Fosters lager cans, 4 Stella Artois cans, 2 Guiness cans, 2 alcopop bottles and a half bottle of vodka strewn on the pitch in the vicinity of the stand on the playing field side of the pitch. The fingerprint boys would have had a field day but for their limited resources!
“Does the sale of the above ring a bell with any off-licences or supermarkets in the village?”
He added: “We estimate that upwards of a dozen drunken teenagers were involved in this mindless spree which, due to the remote location of the scene, the local Police seem powerless to prevent.” The incident was reported to the Police the following day and the Parish Council were also informed.
“Ironically, a match had been scheduled to be played on the pitch the same evening but had been cancelled due to the inclement weather which obviously did not deter the mindless morons who will no doubt derive some devious satisfaction from the result of their night out” said Jeff.
If they have the mental capacity, or indeed the inclination to read this article, one wonders how they would react to violation of their own property.”

Planning

Mr Patel - installation of roller shutters to front of premises. 95 Sibson Rd
Mr Taylor - erection of 2 storey extension to side and single storey to rear of semi detached house. 17 Hawthorn Ave
Mr Latif - erection of 2 storey extension to side and rear of detached house and single storey extension to rear. 22 Birstall Rd.
Mr & Mrs Ballard - erection of conservatory to rear of semi detached dwelling. 24 Sycamore R.
Mr P Downs - single storey extension to side of semi detached house. 19 Went Rd.
No applicant name. 2 storey extension to rear, 1st floor extension to side, insertion of 1 dormer to side for loft conversion to detached shop. 19-35 Sibson Road
Mr & Mrs Okey - single storey extension to side and rear of semi detached dwelling. 37 Oakfield Ave.

Bag snatch

LEICESTERSHIRE CONSTABULARY is appealing for witnesses following a theft in Sibson Road, Birstall.
At about 5.45pm on Saturday January 26, two women were walking towards the bank. As they approached the junction of Sibson Road and Loughborough Road, a man snatched one of their bags and ran off towards Hill Rise.
The bag contained a substantial sum of cash. No one was injured during the incident.
The suspect is described as Asian, aged between 18 and 20, about 6’ tall and of proportionate build. He was wearing a blue hooded top with a motif or lettering on the front and dark trousers.
DC Stuart Frobisher of Melton CID said: “We are particularly keen to trace the driver of a silver ‘P’ registered Hyundai car which was parked on Sibson Road at the time of the incident. If you were the driver or know of someone who was, please contact the police as you may have vital information about this crime.”
Anyone with any information is asked to call DC Stuart Frobisher on Leicester (0116) 222 2222 ext 4253 or Crimestoppers, which is free and anonymous, on 0800 555111.

TG news

IN FEBRUARY, the Social Studies group of the Townswomen’s Guild welcomed Mrs Jill Bailey as their new leader with helpers Mrs Christine Gunn and Mrs Thelma Lane.
The first meeting with Jill at the helm, greeted Mr Iain Munro on his home ground as headmaster of Highcliffe School, Birstall, as the guest speaker. Mr Munro explored the changes in education since he began his career in the middle 70s. His audience listened intently as most of their children went through the difficult years of change in the 70s. Mr Munro was interesting, positive and re-assuring that education is now back on track. He was proud of his students achieving high standards in fundamental subjects and music. A donation was given to the school fund.
A tour of the Leicester Mercury took place on February 11 when the Social Studies group spent a couple of hours with Mr Alan Kent a well informed tour guide. Many remembered the Leicester Mercury moving to its present site and were surprised to see how large the offices are, and to marvel at the technology of today. Mr Kent gave everyone earplugs because of the deafening noise of the machinery working at such speed in turning out newspapers in their thousands daily. Refreshments were then offered at the end of what was a very interesting afternoon.
The choir still needs new members. For more details please contact Jean Sumner tel: 2675430.
The next AGM meeting of the Townswomen’s Guild will be on Tuesday March 19 at 7.30pm at Highcliffe School, Birstall.
From Anne Boden

Mobile library

DID YOU know that a mobile library visits the Harrowgate Drive area of Birstall once a fortnight on a Wednesday afternoon?
The mobile library offers a range of books for adults and children including large print, books on tape and picture books. Books can also be ordered from any library in the county and the driver assistant Fred Smith (pictured) is very friendly and heppy to help with any book enquiries. The mobile also has a lift for disabled or frail people.
Existing customers of Birstall library are welcome to use the mobile library in addition to the Wanlip Lane library. Just bring your existing library card or other proof of ID to use this free service.
The Birstall stops have recently changed slightly and are now as follows:
14 Fielding Road 12.30-12.45pm; 66 Queensgate Drive 12.50-1.05pm; 27 Woodgate Drive 1.10-1.25pm
The visit dates in March are March 13 and March 27. If you’ve not visited the mobile before, call in and see what we have to offer.

Medals

BIRSTALL’S BERNARD Crayfourd has been reunited with his service medals after a passer-by spotted them lying in a hedge.
The Birstall Post reported in last month’s issue how Bernard’s medals were stolen from the wreckage of his car which had been smashed by a joyrider on Wanlip Lane.

Noticeboard

Wanlip’s quiet corner

THE TOWER just visible to motorists speeding along the A46 ring-road, is probably the most that local people ever see of the ancient church in Wanlip, the Church of Our Lady and St Nicholas.
Mothers with small children attending the nursery in the Church Rooms are aware of the four-square grey stone church nearby but rarely give it a second glance unless the graveyard happens to be under its early spring coverlet of snowdrops. The neighbouring farm and its outbuildings, which previously gave the area a truly rural feel, have recently been converted into new residential dwellings, but if you go through the farm gate into the church car park you still seem to be far away from the busy-ness or Birstall.

Wanlip Church

Three or four times a year, such as the popular May Fair organised by members of the church or the annual Christmas carol service, the car park will be full to overflowing. However, every Sunday evening the church comes alive when the choir and congregation arrive for evensong at 6 o’clock. The three main churches in Birstall have modern buildings and a modern style to their services but few people realise that, at Wanlip, those who appreciate the older traditional ways can come to enjoy a sung service of evening prayer in the beauty and calm of a centuries-old place of worship.
The church is more than 600 years old and until the 1930s had a higher status than Birstall parish church. Built in the 14th century by the Walsh family (whose brass memorial in the floor of the church is probably the oldest in the country with an inscription in English rather than Latin) It was later in the patronage of the Palmers. Nothing now remains of their home, Wanlip Hall, which was demolished in the 1930s. Even though they have no residence in the county, the Palmer-Tomkinson family (yes, you have seen the name in the tabloid newspapers!) still have to be consulted when a new Rector is appointed to the parish.
Only a small proportion of the regular attenders at the church are Wanlip residents. most, including the two churchwardens, John Ward and Shirley Scott, live in Birstall, but all visitors are welcome to share an hour of worship based on the book of Common Prayer. Next time you fancy a pleasant stroll along Wanlip Lane past Longslade School and the Rectory Nursery Gardens why not take a right turn past the red phone box and view this quiet corner of our parish of Birstall and Wanlip?

Youth charter

FIVE STUDENTS from Longslade have helped formulate a Youth Charter for a nationwide scheme.
Leah-Ann Thompson, Amy Thomas, Alison Ringe, Dan Pearson and Gemma Plonczyk joined a large group from Leicester to create a draft charter that will be agreed by youth groups nationwide. The scheme will be launched nationwide in September.
Ingrid Spencer, Longslade’s Acting Head of English, said: “It was a fast paced intensive session and all five were actively engaged in all aspects of the work. The final document is a fine example of clarity and thought and will benefit young people in the county for years to come.”

Trespass reported

HIGHCLIFFE SCHOOL has thanked local residents for calling the Police when they see people trespassing on the playing fields or near the school buildings.
Recently, Police caught up with a group of youths and took down their details. The school or the Police can now contact their parents to try and prevent damage to school property.
Officers are encouraging more residents to call in as soon as they see people trespassing on any school grounds. This will enable them to build up a picture of activity and work to prevent criminal damage.

Age Concern Info

Penalised for Being Ill
Age Concern is campaigning to expose the hardship that older people suffer because social security rules say that their pensions and benefits must be cut for longer stays in hospital.
The state pension for a single person is cut by £28.30 for a hospital stay of six weeks or longer. At any one time, more than 30,000 sick older people are enduring cuts to their pension and sometimes they also lose other benefits such as income support, housing benefit and council tax benefit. People will also face cuts to their pension credit when this new benefit is introduced. Age Concern is concerned about the injustice to pensioners of losing some of their pensions at a time when they are sick and vulnerable. Many will not be able to pay essential household bills, some go into rent arrears, many spend months after leaving hospital trying to get benefits reinstated and to obtain back payments - often when they are still unwell and trying to convalesce.
Over the new year period Age Concern has received strong backing from MPs and health professionals for its campaign. At the time of writing, 175 MPs have signed a Commons Early Day Motion, tabled by Gwyn Prosser MP, in support of Age Concern’s campaign and a review of the rules. Peers from all parties have been supporting efforts in the House of Lords to end hospital down rating, through debate and amendments to the current State Pension Credit Bill.
Anyone can support the campaign by writing a letter to their MP, urging their MP to sign the EDM (if they have not already done so) and asking for wider support, including intervening in the proceedings of the State Pension Credit Bill when it reaches the House of Commons.
Pension Promises in Chancellor’s Pre-Budget Report
The Chancellor Gordon Brown announced additional benefits for pensioners in his pre-budget report but Age Concern challenged him to set clear targets to reduce pensioner poverty.
The highlight of the Chancellor’s proposals was the Pension Credit Scheme, which aims to encourage younger people to save and to reward older people’s savings. But the extra layer of complexity that the scheme will bring to an already complicated benefits system hangs like a cloud over the incentive. This is especially the case as 60 per cent of pensioners will soon be subject to means testing - which will no doubt infuriate many older people. Mr Brown said that his system intended to “reward rather than penalise the modest savings and occupational pensions of the majority”.
As with the current rules for Minimum Income Guarantee (Income Support) the proposals mean that people aged 60 and over on low incomes will have their income topped up to a specified level (estimated to be £100 for a single person and £154 for a couple in 2003). Those aged 65 and over who have an income above the level of the basic pension (eg from occupational pensions, earnings or savings), will have extra cash from the savings part of the credit made available to them. For every pound of income above the level of the state of the pension they will receive 60 pence Savings Credit up to the maximum levels. For example, based on the 2003 rates, a single person with a state pension of £77 a week and a private pension of £10 a week would receive a top up of £13 Minimum Income Guarantee (MIG) bringing their income up to the specified level of £100. But with the Pension Credit they would also receive an extra £6 Savings Credit. Older people whose income is too high to receive MIG may also benefit from the proposed scheme with savings rewards. Single people with incomes between £100 and £134 will be entitled to Savings Credit of between 20p and £13.80. Couples with incomes of between £154 and £200 will be entitled to between 20p and £18.60. Although the earlier consultation paper proposed replacing the current system of capital limits and tariff income with a system based on actual income from capital, the Government has now decided to reform the current system. Under the new proposals £6000 will still be disregarded but there will be no upper capital limit and the current assumed rate of income from savings of around 20% will be reduced to 10%.
Gordon Lisham (Executive Director of Age Concern) has said: “The Pension Credit is well intentioned and will for the first time reward savings. However, it will result in more than half of all pensioners being on means tested benefits. Older people who have paid a lifetime of contributions should be able to receive an adequate income through the basic state pension without having to resort to means testing”.
Pre-budge guarantees for pensioners are:
An above inflation increase in the basic state pension for April 2002 of £3 for a single pensioner and £4.80 for a couple.
In future years the basic state pension will increase by at least £100 a year for single people and £160 for couples. The pension will be increased by at least 2.5% or more if inflation is higher.
Free TV licences for all pensioners over 75.
For the poorest pensioners a Minimum Income Guarantee of £100 a week in 2003.
For every pensioner household a £200 winter fuel allowance every year of this parliament.
From Jex Woods