Free show for children
A FREE performance of Wind in the Willows
for children aged 5-10 comes to Rothley this month.
Senior Youth Theatre Group of Youth Arts Leicestershire will
be performing their new production 'Wind in the Willows' by Kenneth
Graham at different venues in Charnwood.
The performance is suitable for children aged 5-10 and followed
by a workshop for 7-10 year olds. Both - performance and workshop
- are free!
The show will be coming to Rothley on December 17 at Rothley
Village Hall (2pm performance and 3.30pm workshop).
This project has been funded by Awards for all.
For further information please feel free to contact Youth Arts:
01509 230076 or youthart@globalnet.co.uk
Organic deliveries
RIVER NENE Organic Vegetables has recently
launched its award winning organic fruit and vegetable box scheme
in and around North Leicester.
Jit Parekh of Birstall is the local distributor and will be delivering
fresh, organic produce direct from the farm in the heart of the
Fens in Peterborough, to your door.
Jit decided to begin the local box scheme in North Leicester
after years of working in the highly pressured environment of
marketing, working for Ford, Land Rover and Honda. He said: "I
have been trying to centre my family on living a more ethical
life. With two young children, I was keen to focus on a business
which helped educate others about the benefits of organic living."
He added: "I was becoming increasingly concerned with the
food available to me and my children, and I was keen to find
a way of educating others on the benefits of eating organically
and with River Nene Organic Vegetables I have found my voice.
My passion for cooking led me to River Nene Organic Vegetables
and we were very impressed with the quality and reputation of
the business. Vegetable box schemes are a great alternative to
the supermarkets, allowing customers to buy great tasting, seasonal
organic vegetables fresh from the farm."
Over 75% of the vegetables in the boxes are grown either on River
Nene Organic Farm or by a local grower group called Nene Organic
Growers. The company says they focus on flavour, freshness and
seasonality, not cosmetic perfection.
Most vegetables are picked on the farm one day and delivered
free direct to your door the next and more than 60 varieties
are grown and harvested throughout the year. The vegetable boxes
start from £7.50 and come in varying sizes, for one person
up to a large family.
To order call 0845 078 6868 or visit www.rivernene.co.uk
Harry Lovett
A MOUNTSORREL born man with a lifelong passion
for cricket has died aged 83.
Harry Lovett was captain of Mountsorrel Castle for 10 years and
led them to the North Leicestershire League championship five
times before becoming club chairman.
In 1962 he became a member of the management committee of Leicestershire
County Cricket Club and went on to be a key figure at Grace Road
over the next three decades.
He leaves a widow, Joan, to whom he was married for 61 years,
a daughter and a grandson.
Planning
Land Barons Way - retention of summerhouse and 7 security
lights
Land adj to 60 Hawcliffe Road - change of use of land from access
to residential curtilage
31 Berkeley Close - erection of porch to front of mobile home
10 Kestrel Lane - conversion of attached garage into habitable
room
3 West Cross Lane - erection of dormer window to rear for loft
conversion
Vicar remembered
A FORMER vicar of Mountsorrel has died.
Rev Canon George Crate (1928-2006) was Vicar at Christ Church
Mountsorrel from 1964 and at St Peter's Mountsorrel from 1983,
both until 1994. We all owe him a great depth of gratitude for
all his work in our two parishes during his long term of office.
There was a 'Celebration of George's life' at Emmanuel, Loughborough
on Thursday November 2. This followed a family service at Gilroes
Crematorium the same afternoon.
There were tributes from Roger Crate, Andrew Norris who was trained
by George as a curate in Mountsorrel 20 years ago and David Newman
who succeeded George as Rural Dean of Akeley East. There was
a talk by Jon Walker and a song 'God in my living' from Sim Walker.
A Commendation and Blessing was given by the Rt Rev Tim Stevens,
Bishop of Leicester.
Present were people from the Baptist and Methodist churches of
Mountsorrel, as well as Emmanuel Loughborough, Christ Church
Mountsorrel and St Peter's Mountsorrel.
There was a retiring collection towards the work of the Good
News Centre and Steps, the charity helping children with cerebral
palsy.
George was a Trustee of The Good News Centre in Loughborough
and they showed respect by closing the shop for the day.
George leaves a widow, Heather, and children Gillian, Roger and
Stephen.
From Peter Hodson
NHW news
AUGUST SAW a significant increase in reported
crime particularly in Burglary and Theft from Motor Vehicles.
I am pleased to report that September's crime is almost half
of August's, however we must not become complacent and must remain
vigilant in the weeks leading up to the festive season.
I continue to ask you to report incidents of antisocial behaviour
and to provide as much information as possible, especially descriptions
of clothing etc.
Crime Report September '06
Assaults and harassment: 12
This figure includes domestic violence incidents. All reported
assaults were not of a serious nature.
Burglary Nil
Burglary Other than a Dwelling: 3
1. 1 commercial building broken into on two separate occasions
and £5,000 of property stolen. Enquiries are continuing.
2. Shed broken into during the day on September 4 on Meadow Road,
a lawn mower stolen. No witnesses and no suspects at time of
writing. Enquires are continuing.
Theft From a Motor Vehicle: 3
1. Overnight on August 31 and September 1 on Halstead Road, two
vehicles broken into. A car stereo was stolen from one vehicle.
2. Overnight on September 15/16 John Wesley Close, entry gained
to a vehicle and a car stereo stolen.
Theft of Motor Vehicle: 3
1. Overnight on September 18/19 a motor scooter stolen from a
driveway on Boundary Road. Enquiries are continuing.
2. September 21, a commercial vehicle stolen from a works compound
on Granite Way. Enquiries are continuing.
3. Overnight on September 22/23 a vehicle was stolen from outside
a property on Loughborough Road. Enquiries are ongoing.
Damage to Motor Vehicle: 4
1. Two incidents of youths throwing stones/conkers at vehicles
on Halstead Road and Rothley Road causing damage to vehicles.
2. September 13 a vehicle parked on a private driveway on Martin
Avenue, suspects have thrown bricks through vehicle windows.
Enquiries are continuing.
3. September 7 a vehicle parked on Boundary Road when unknown
persons have used an implement to scratch lines along the driver
side panel of vehicle.
Criminal Damage: 2
1. Overnight on September 1/2 commercial premises on Rothley
Road, unknown persons have pulled guttering and tiles from roof.
Enquires are continuing.
2. September 17 double glazed unit smashed buy unknown means
to a property on Glenfrith Close.
Theft: 2
1. Sunday September 10 on Leicester Road five males caught attempting
to steal a vehicle. All detained and two are currently on police
bail.
2. September 2, suspects disturbed outside an address on Mallard
Close stealing a scooter. Suspects detained and enquiries are
continuing.
Crime Figures from October 1-31
Assault & Harassment: 10
Five of these assault were domestic violence related.
All other assaults were of a non-serious nature and classed as
Actual Body Harm and below.
Burglary Dwelling: 2
1. Halstead Road, in the early evening on Tuesday October 3,
the victim left a bag inside the hallway of their property, within
a short space of time persons unknown have entered property and
stolen the bag. No suspects and no witnesses. Enquiries ongoing.
2. Martin Avenue, in the afternoon of Saturday October 28, property
entered. No sign of forced entry, tidy search and property stolen.
Enquiries ongoing.
Burglary Other than a Dwelling: 3
1. Sunday October 15, a takeaway restaurant on Leicester Road,
a male enters the rear of the restaurant and selects property.
Suspect has been identified and charged.
2/3 Supermarket on Granite Way, entry gained on two separate
occasions by forcing entry, a selective search and a large amount
of property stolen. Enquiries ongoing.
Theft Cycle:1
October 10, a cycle left outside a shop in the Market Place stolen,
suspect has been identified and charged with this offence.
Theft from a Motor Vehicle: 2
1. October 26, Danvers Road, entry gained to the vehicle via
the insecure boot, a tidy search of glove box and cash stolen.
No suspects and no witnesses. Enquiries ongoing.
2. October 29, Vehicle left locked and secure outside address
on Leicester Road. Unknown persons have gained entry to vehicle
causing damage.
Theft of Motor Vehicle: 1
October 9, Boundary Road, vehicle left locked and secure outside
address, vehicle stolen. Suspect has been identified and charged.
Theft: 4
1. Halstead Road, overnight on October 4/5, two conifers are
stolen from the location. Enquiries ongoing.
2. Rowena Court, overnight on October 13, garden ornaments stolen
from location. Enquiries ongoing.
3. Boundary Road, overnight October 1, 40 canaries stolen from
an aviary at the rear of the location. Enquiries ongoing.
4. Kingfisher Road, October 13 , items of clothing removed from
a washing line at the rear of location. Some items later recovered.
No suspects and no witnesses.
Damage to Motor Vehicle: 4
Private vehicles on Leicester Road, Rothley Road and Glenfrith
Gardens were subject to damage to either the glass or the bodywork,
and it is believed that only one of these incidents may have
been caused by local youths.
An Arriva bus was damaged on Rothley Road, believed by local
youths. CCTV from the bus is being examined to identify those
responsible.
Criminal Damage: 20
As some of you may be aware there has been a recent spate of
damage to properties on Leicester Road, This accounts for half
of the reported damage offences this month, this is as a result
of a resident being unnecessarily targeted. Enquires are ongoing
and one suspect has been arrested and is currently on police
bail. Enquires are continuing to identify further suspects, due
to the nature of the incidents POSITIVE action will be taken
with those identified for causing these offences.
Other Damage around the village includes:
Window at a property on Castle Road damaged
Pharmacy on Rothley Road, window smashed
Off-Licence in the Market Place, window smashed - 2 suspects
charged.
Alpine surgery, Rothley Road, window smashed
Memorial Hall window smashed
Takeaway Restaurant Leicester Road, window damaged
Bus shelters and telephone boxes up and down the village have
had the windows smashed.
On the whole October was a reasonably quiet month and if it were
not for the damage incidents at Leicester Road the figures would
have been very respectable.
I am however concerned with the level of damage still occurring
in the village and would emphasise that we will do everything
possible to bring the offenders to justice.
From PC 1892 Del Gillespie
PCSO 6505 Chris Fielden
0116 222 2222
Crime Stoppers 0800 555 111
www.leics.police.uk
Open air service
MOUNTSORREL'S CHURCHES held an open air
ecumenical service on The Green in July.
The service was led by Rev Kerry Emmett, Priest-in-Charge of
Christ Church and St Peter's churches.
The Bible reading was from Romans 3: 19-26. It was read by Dorothy
Mee of the Methodist Church.
Prayers were led by Pastor Steven Cooper of the Baptist Church
and Janet Stacey of Christ Church.
The Baptist musicians provided the music for the hymn and choruses.
Dancers from the Davidic Dance Group from the Send Forth Church
in Loughborough (many of the members are from Mountsorrel churches)
provided worship with movement.
Our guest speaker, the Rev Canon Ian Knox preached on an anagram
of the word 'Grace'. He asked anyone who is perfect to stand;
the response of a toddler wandering across towards him caused
some amusement!
Peter Hodson said: "It was a lovely afternoon, it was raining
an hour before but a bright clear blue sky lasted for the whole
of the service. We had lots of support to show that the churches
in Mountsorrel are alive and well."
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Children’s safety education
WARNING ZONE is the new children's safety
education centre, in Syston, serving schools in Leicestershire,
Leicester city and Rutland.
Pic: Peter Cotgreave explains to
children from Mountsorrel School the danger of a burnt out car
Unique in the East Midlands, it is operated by the High Sheriff's
Crimebeat and involves Year 6 pupils (aged 10 and 11) in a number
of interactive scenarios that tackle issues such as railway trespass,
building sites, electricity, arson, alcohol misuse and fire safety
in the home.
Children from Mountsorrel School recently visited the centre
to learn safety lessons. Teacher Emily Kettle said: "It
has been very stimulating and very effective. This age 10 to11,
is the right age to catch children for them to learn this kind
of safety message."
Pic: Children being shown the hazards on a
building site
The centre has been developed as a permanent venue to replace
the annual two week long Safety Squad and Junior Citizen events.
It has been set up with assistance from Leicestershire County
Council, Leicester City Council, Rutland County Council, Leicestershire
Constabulary and Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, as well
as a variety of charitable trusts, organisations and businesses.
Project manager of the Warning Zone, Sharon Binfield-Hill, said:
"Opening to schools for the first time is a major milestone
in what will be a continual development of the facilities at
Warning Zone.
"Schools can now book in their Year 6 classes to learn about
how to stay safe and what personal responsibility means, but
we are also looking to make the facilities available for other
groups who would benefit from visiting us."
Work to design and build the set-piece activities at the Centre
has been going on for the past 11 months. Another area of work
has been the recruitment and training of volunteers who act as
guides for the visiting children.
Alan Godber, Centre Co-ordinator said: "We have been fortunate
in attracting some great people as volunteers. They have a wide
range of backgrounds and experience but all want to help keep
young people from coming to harm or being drawn into activities
that may affect their own futures and cause upset and misery
for other people."
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Parish Plan
THE MOUNTSORREL Parish plan group is continuing
to meet regularly and follow up many aspects from the Parish
Plan Report produced in 2005.
Below, the group reports on some outcomes and projects which
have been developed with the help of volunteers who responded
to their questionnaire.
o Four new Neighbourhood Watch groups have been established,
which is working well under the guidance of an excellent Neighbourhood
Watch co-ordinator.
o Volunteers have helped to develop the Website for Mountsorrel,
and support the work of the Parish Council. Further work is ongoing.
o Volunteers are now being contacted by Leicestershire Youth
Service to help support the work of the Youth Service meeting
in Mountsorrel.
o Volunteers have created a new Heritage Group, which meets regularly
under the chairmanship of Ken Wiblin. As a result, a new wildlife
garden has been established and further projects are envisaged.
o With the advice and support of the Parish Plan Group and the
Rural Community Council, a Drugs Support Course for carers has
been carried out and also there are two future trainers for Drugs
Support Work also to be trained. The course is aimed at parents
and carers, to help them to recognise the signs of substance
abuse, together with guidance on where to get specific help and
support.
The use of evidence from the Parish Plan
o The Parish Plan Report has been used to help provide evidence
to the Methodist Church nationally, for a future project for
young people at Mountsorrel Methodist Church, including the salary
of a Youth Worker.
o Evidence is to be provided on focussed areas of Mountsorrel
to support the Neighbourhood Management Project of Charnwood
Borough Council.
o Support is being offered by the Rural Community Council to
help set up funding bids, which would include evidence from the
Parish Plan, to boost existing funds for the Mountsorrel Memorial
Hall project and Youth Centre project, once outline planning
permission has been obtained.
Other activities
o Improved bus services. Roger Hill, the Vice Chairman of the
Group, has negotiated with Arriva Fox, through the Quality Bus
Partnership, to increase the number of buses going through Mountsorrel
on weekday term time mornings, due to the buses being too full
to stop in Mountsorrel. This has now happened, although further
negotiation is needed to make sure that only double decker buses
are used. A new service has been introduced direct from Loughborough
to Leicester.
o The group have helped negotiate an indoor meeting for young
people at the Memorial Hall.
o Suggestions on the design for the new Learning Centre on the
Green, which is in the Conservation Area, together with comments
from other groups have led to a redesign of the building to blend
in better with its surroundings.
o The group would like to support further the needs of young
people in Mountsorrel and are to meet with the Leisure Development
Officer of the Soar Valley Leisure Centre. The group would also
like to save the excellent mural on Boundary Road, created by
young people of the neighbouring roads, through a Charnwood Arts
Summer project a few years ago, as the area is currently being
developed for housing. The possibilities of doing so are being
followed up by Iain Kirtley the Neighbourhood Management Project
Officer for Charnwood Borough, who is working with the area.
If you are interested in helping with any of the projects above
or would like to join the group, please contact Peter Hodson,
the chairman on 0116 2303828,p.hodson4@ntlworld.com. The next
meeting of the group is at the Baptist Chapel at 7.30pm on Wednesday
January 17.
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Drug charges
A MOUNTSORREL woman has been charged by
Police with a total of eight offences relating to drugs.
The 24 year old has been charged with two counts of possession
of class A drugs with intent to supply, one count of possession
of class C drugs with intent to supply and five charges relating
to the possession of class A drugs
She has also been charged with obstructing a police officer and
failing to answer police bail.
Your Say...
I read, with interest, the item on trying to keep the 99 bus
running. I wonder if we need to look at this from a slightly
different viewpoint? At present Arriva already runs seven buses
an hour (six 127s and the X6) between Mountsorrel, Birstall and
the City Centre. This would easily compensate for the loss of
the infrequent 99 between these three places.
What I think is needed is for someone to look carefully at what
the 99 does and not be afraid to make a few changes to improve
it. The current route runs from Mountsorrel via Thurcaston and
then doubles back to Birstall before proceeding to the City Centre.
Why not add a short diversion to the route and run it round the
Beaumont Leys shopping centre? This would give the villages a
direct access to a major shopping area which, at the weekend,
also has a market. It would give the 99 a destination that would
be unique and, if properly promoted, would cause more people
to use it - as it would be going somewhere useful.
The way to make bus service successful is to run it to places
where people want to go. Many people from Birstall, Thurcaston
and Mountsorrel want to shop at Tesco, Wilkinson, Iceland, Boots
etc or have fresh fruit & veg from the market. Let's make
it easier for them to get there.
Neil Asher
I write in response to 'zero tolerance' printed in your September
issue.
I have been a resident of Mountsorrel for nearly six years. In
that time I have visited the pubs in the lower part of the village
on only one occasion. My husband and I were new to the village
so we decided to try to make friends with local people. We were
disappointed to say the least with the welcome we received in
the pub.
Bad language and a lack of respect for other people were the
general rule of thumb. It looked to us that the staff on duty
were intimidated by the customers and at times were little or
no better behaved themselves. Since then we have travelled to
Quorn or Rothley if we wanted to have a drink or meal.
My husband and I were pleased to read that Mr Bartle of the Lindens
on Halstead Road is taking a hard line with this sort of thing.
It is refreshing that someone of his apparent junior years has
adopted some decent moral standards. Last Saturday night (9/9/06)
we visited the Lindens and were pleased to find that it was as
we expected it to be from his letter. We had a thoroughly enjoyable
time and will certainly be going back. I did not see Mr Bartle
but would like to thank him and his staff for not only a good
experience but also a nice feeling. It is comforting to know
that there are people about these days who are prepared to stand
up and be counted. It is refreshing and very encouraging.
Sue Evans
When we retire and find we no longer have a continuous stream
of information or tasks we have to process we turn to other things
like golf, gardening and gossip. However, to many of us, especially
retired business men, even this leaves a gap in our enjoyment
or interest spectrum. Interaction or sensible (even technical)verbal
intercourse is missing and the 'little grey cells' begin to decline.
The answer is to maintain some contact with the wider world and
this can be achieved by participating in the monthly luncheon
organised by the Loughborough Probus (Professional Businessmen's
club).
Some 40 such gentlemen meet at the Carillon Banqueting rooms,
Ashby Square, Loughborough, nominally on the second Thursday
of each month. For a £5 joining fee and a charge of £10
per meal you can chat away to academics, engineers, doctors,
librarians and the like and thus exercise your thinking process.
Every quarter there is a 'Ladies' luncheon when your counterparts
or guest can join in and most Thursdays there is a guest speaker
to entertain us for half an hour.
The Secretary is Dr Ian Keil, 177 Forest Road, Loughborough LE11
3HS. Tel: 01509 212025 so why not contact him and come and join
us.
Norman Pratt
I read with interest the letter published from Anthony Bartle
at the Lindens on Halstead Road. Mr Bartle makes some very good
points and seems to be trying hard to better his business and
Mountsorrel in general. I am more than a little surprised that
the other publicans in the area were not keen to stand on his
side of the fence!
The article in the same issue titled 'Pubwatch Scheme effective'
tells a different story. Could you or anyone else please clarify
this confusing situation? This article states that 'the aim of
the pubwatch' is to stamp out violent behaviour and drugs'. I
would presume that Mr Bartle is claiming to have witnessed drug
abuse although he does not say that. If this is the case then
I would ask where they stand on this issue. I for one would not
feel comfortable in any establishment where this sort of thing
was overlooked and would go so far as to caution any professional
publican that did distance themselves from Mr Bartle's comments.
In my opinion the attitude he seems to have adopted at the Lindens
is the only one with any financial future. Mountsorrel has a
problem with antisocial behaviour and criminal damage. If we
all put our foot down like this then perhaps it wouldn't have.
Keep up the good work Mr Bartle, my family and I wish you success
in the future.
Mr P Southwell
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