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Pic: the Mayor of Charnwood Ken Pacey (right)
with Rothley's Vicar Rob Gladstone unveiling the plaque
Abolition day
HUNDREDS OF people attended a special event
at the Rothley Court Hotel to mark the bicentenary of the abolition
of the slave trade on March 25.
Pic: Terry Sheppard
Almost 200 people had prepurchased the book 'Rothley and the
Abolition of the Slave Trade' by Terry Sheppard and Iain Whyte
and turned up with their friends to collect their signed copy,
and many more arrived during the afternoon. Over 400 copies have
now been purchased, and lots of people are digesting the nature
of the abolition struggle and the part Rothley's squire Thomas
Babington played alongside William Wilberforce. The authors Terry
Sheppard and Iain Whyte say they are very pleased and grateful
that so much interest has been shown in the book.
Pic: the Macauley room
The History Society team were helping visitors understand the
overall history of the place, from their base in the Templar
chapel. Upstairs in what was the Babington Drawing Room broadcaster
Sandra Herbert hosted the Dramatic Readings from 18th century
documents, the interview with the Babington descendants, and
the performance by the Kaine Gospel Choir. The bar lounge area
was constantly full of people watching a 15-minute narrated screen
presentation of the Abolition Struggle, while in the Wilberforce
Room there was a non-stop trade in the book and other memorabilia,
with hotel staff working hard to meet the demand for refreshments.
Pic: singers with the Kaine Gospel choir
Pic: visitors in the Chapel
Pic: Harrison Greenwood-Brown & his mum Shona
look at the displays
At 4.45pm a large crowd assembled around the monument on the
lawns at the Court to witness the rather solemn Act of Commemoration
leading to the unveiling of the new plaque marking the day. Rothley's
Vicar Rob Gladstone called on all those present to remember the
immense suffering of the African peoples involved in the Slave
Trade, and to take heart from the labours of the Christian people
of this place towards bringing it to a halt in 1807. With Charnwood's
Mayor, Cllr Ken Pacey, Rob Gladstone ceremonially unlocked the
chains on the memorial and unwrapped the new plaque. It can be
seen on a visit to the Hotel, as can the permanent display inside
the wall cabinet in the hotel's hallway area, which includes
the unusual key used to unlock the chains, and the slave shackles
specially made for the event.
Terry Sheppard said: "It was immensely rewarding to see
so many people turn out for the event. All I could have hoped
for when first reading those Babington letters at Trinity College
came together on the day. So many friends worked so hard to bring
the spirit of those times alive for all those visitors. It is
doubly pleasing that our own and Charnwood Council's Heritage
Plaque initiative came together to leave a permanent memorial
of this memorable event on the lawns at the Court".
The book is still available in Rothley Post Office or by telephoning
Terry Sheppard on 0116 2302931. From the sale proceeds a substantial
donation will shortly be made to the modern charity Anti-Slavery
International. Colour images of the day and the text of Rob Gladstone's
Act of Commemoration can be viewed on www.rothleychurch.org.uk/Slavery.htm
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Shop owners fight robbers
ROBBERS FLED empty handed from a Thurcaston
shop when the owners fought back.
Four men entered Tebbatt Electronics at 5.30pm on Monday February
26, while owner David Tebbatt (74) and his sons Richard (45)
and Chris (49) were in a back room.
Richard said: "Chris went out first, then Dad joined him
and then I came out. No-one said anything, it was strange, they
just started pushing us, that's when punches started being thrown."
The family believe the gang intended to hold them in the rear
of the shop while they stole stock and loaded it into a van,
which was parked outside.
But the resistance shown by the Tebbatts forced the robbers to
flee. Richard said: "They ran down Anstey Lane to their
van. The whole thing happened so quickly it was all over in a
couple of minutes."
David Tebbatt was punched, had his glasses broken and his hearing
aid was damaged in the assault.
The robbers are believed to be aged between 18 and 22. Anyone
with any information that might help the Police with their enquiries
should ring them on 222 2222.
Parish elections
PARISH ELECTIONS are held every four years
but there were no elections on May 3 as there were fewer candidates
nominated than there were seats on the council.
In these circumstances, all the individuals nominated automatically
become councillors after the close of nominations.
The following individuals have been elected to Thurcaston and
Cropston Parish Council: Audrey Flower, Thomas Green, Richard
Younie, Neville Bird, Mark Nowak, Malcolm Tillyard
The following individuals have been elected to Rothley Parish
Council: Carol Collett, Peter Finch, Elizabeth Fothergill, Shona
Greenwood-Browne, Percy Hartshorn, Olwen Jones, Brian Popple,
Douglas Sutherland, Alfred Wise
Longslade improving
LONGSLADE COMMUNITY College is an improving
school with many good features according to Ofsted inspectors
who visited the school in March.
In 2002 the college failed its Ofsted inspection and was placed
in 'special measures' which were removed in 2005. The report
states: "the forward looking and judicious leadership of
the principal and senior staff has accelerated the college's
improvements since the removal of special measures…the college
provides a good curriculum with some outstanding features."
The inspectors found that teaching and learning were good overall,
with some "outstanding teaching existing alongside the satisfactory."
The proportion of students achieving five or more GCSE grades
has increased since the last inspection, reflecting improvements
in teaching, the curriculum and students' attitudes to college,
says the report. The proportion of students achieving higher
grades at A level increased significantly in 2006 and Longslade
was one of the most improved schools in the area measured on
GCSE results, which are well above the national average.
While recognising the improvement in exam performance the inspectors
found: "achievement is no better than satisfactory because
across the full range of subjects taken by students it is too
variable."
Progress for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities
is described as good by the report.
The report found that the personal development and wellbeing
of the students was good and that has been: "a significant
improvement in attitudes and behaviour since the last inspection
as a result of a strong ethos of mutual respect and most students
much enjoy their education. A good proportion of students take
opportunities to participate in the wide range of activities
organised by the college."
Behaviour management is generally good, say the inspectors. "Incidents
that do occur are dealt with promptly and efficiently by staff.
However, a small but significant proportion of parents think
behaviour could still be better."
The inspectors identified a 'big picture' of an improving college
with innovations that are motivating and attracting good quality
teachers and support staff. Leadership is forward-looking and
judicious and demonstrates good capacity for even more improvement.
Longslade's Principal, Mike Griffiths, said: "Students and
staff are extremely pleased that their hard work has been well
recognised, but want to get even better over the next few years.
Our aim is to be 'Outstanding' next time the Inspectors come
visiting - our staff and students are proud of Longslade and
have an ambitious vision to become an even more successful and
exciting school for the future."
Read the Ofsted report at www.ofsted.gov.uk
Prizes with Royal Mail
A ROTHLEY postie was awarded £100
after a local couple nominated her for a Royal Mail award.
Pic: Postwoman Sue Lewin with Pat
& Geoff Allen
Postwoman Sue Lewin won the prize in the Royal Mail's 1st Class
People Award 2007 which aims to recognise the unsung heroes of
the local community.
She was nominated by Pat and Geoff Allen who said she did an
exceptional job and was always smiling and cheerful even in the
harshest of weather. The couple were entered into a prize draw
run in conjunction with the awards, and have won a £1000
holiday, courtesy of the Royal Mail.
Schools text parents
LONGSLADE COLLEGE is one of 16 schools
in the county that is to start texting parents when their children
are absent from school.
The scheme was successfully piloted at other schools including
Lancaster School in Leicester. Now the scheme is being extended
to the 16 schools in the county that the Department for Education
and Skills has identified as having a particular problem with
persistent absenteeism.
Landlord not guilty
A PUB landlord accused of assault has been
found not guilty by a Magistrate's court.
Anthony Bartle, landlord of the Lindens on Halstead Road, Mountsorrel,
appeared at Loughborough Magistrates Court on March 6, 2007 facing
a charge of common assault following an incident at the Lindens
in 2006.
The complainant alleged that he was assaulted by Mr Bartle at
closing up time.
Magistrates found Mr Bartle not guilty. When delivering his verdict,
the magistrates said that the complainant had instigated the
assault upon Mr Bartle and that Mr Bartle's actions in response
amounted to lawful self defence and in all the circumstances
prevailing at the time were lawful and necessary.
Magistrates said that the complainant had refused several requests
for him to leave the premises having been allowed ample drinking
up time, had become rude and abusive and had instigated the assault
upon Mr Bartle while in drink.
The Magistrates stated that Mr Bartle was a man of exemplary
good character, a model licensee running a good public house.
Youth club opens
ROTHLEY YOUTH Club is now up and running
after its official opening in March.
Pic: the Youth Club is officially
opened: (l-r) Olwen Jones, PC Steve Rhodes, Bhups Narsey, Mayoress
Maureen Pacey, Zoe Wetherley, Mayor of Charnwood Ken Pacey, Chrid
Godrich & Lesley Peasant
The portacabin building on the Fowke Street playing field was
opened by the Mayor and Mayoress of Charnwood, Ken and Maureen
Pacey, who were shown around the facility by youth workers Zoe
Whetherley and Bhups Narsey.
Three years in the planning, the project has been led by the
Rothley Youth Project Management committee, consisting of youth
workers, local residents and a parish councillor. They have been
successful in raising £40,000 from a number of sources
including the National Lottery and the Edith Murphy Trust.
The building has sofas, a table tennis table, table football
and a small kitchen.
Hannah Jackson (16) was at the official opening. She said: "It's
going to be a great place for us, somewhere warm and comfortable
when we want to come inside."
The youth club is open on Thursdays from 7-9pm and an additional
night is being planned, along with a programme of summer activities.
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