Rothley Post Jan/Feb 2008 (68)

Centre setback

PLANS FOR the new £1.2million Rothley Centre have suffered a setback with the lottery turning down a request for £300,000 of funding.
The new centre was given planning permission in summer 2007 and will be built on the play area next to Rothley library.
The Parish Council is leading the project. Chairman Percy Hartshorn said: "We will need to start again with our funding and try to negotiate a better deal with Charnwood Borough Council for vacating the existing Rothley Centre."
The new centre will contain a meeting/function room, kitchen and an office, with a gated car park.

Time capsule sealed in hotel

A TIME capsule has been sealed in the Rothley Court Hotel to mark the bicentenary of the Act that abolished the slave trade.

Pic: Holding the time capsule are Brenda Sutherland,
Terry Sheppard, Peter Joyces & Stephen Baum

The hotel was once the home of Rothley's squire Thomas Babington who had a close association with William Wilberforce, the author of the 1807 Act.
The capsule was sealed and placed in an alcove on the ground floor of the hotel at a special event on December 18, attended by the Chairman of the County Council Mike Jones, the Deputy Mayor of Charnwood Ken Pacey, Wolde Selassie, chair of Leicester Afro-Caribbean Arts Forum and other invited guests.

Pic: the capsule in the display cabinet

Rothley organisations and groups as well as some larger county organisations have submitted items for the capsule contemporary with 2007, and it is hoped that the capsule will be opened in 2107 to mark the tercentenary of the Abolition Act.
Contents of the film capsule include:
o a cheque book and credit card in the name of William Wilberforce provided by the Alliance & Leicester
o embroidery from Bradgate Sewing Circle
o Rothley Scout Group badges and a photo
o a 2007 fixture list from Rothley Cricket Club
o a Rothley Imps football shirt
o the minutes of the Rothley Parish Council's 2007 Annual Meeting
o two maps of the village and a set of photographs of Rothley on a USB memory stick
o a DVD of the commemorations held at Rothley Court on March 25, 2007 to mark bicentenary day
o two copies of the Rothley Post newspaper
The event was organised by the Bicentenary Planning Group: Peter Joyce, Stephen Baum, Brian Verity, Brenda Sutherland and Terry Sheppard.
Stephen Baum said: "It has been very interesting to put together all this local information about Rothley in 2007 and I would love to be here in 100 years when the capsule is opened."

Help tidy Rothley

DO YOU have a litter problem in your road?
Litter comes in many forms, not just paper, out of date posters, cans and bottles but leaf litter and other forms of vegetation.
All it needs is someone willing to take responsibility to keep their road tidy with the result of improving the appearance of the whole village.
Why not contact Brenda or Marion to take your involvement further?
Brenda Sutherland 0116 2302766 or brenda.sutherland1@ntlworld.com
Marion Vincent 0116 2303405 or vincent.vangogh48@virgin.net

Christmas crowds at switch on

ROTHLEY'S CHRISTMAS lights switch on event attracted its biggest crowd ever and raised nearly £400 for BBC Radio Leicester's Ruby Rainbows appeal.

Pic: switching on the lights are (l-r) Tony Wadsworth,
Percy Hartshorn, Julie Meyer and Revd Mark Chandler

The event, organised by Anne Harmer from Rothley Parish Council Office, kicked off with Radio Leicester's Tony Wadsworth and Julie Meyer switching on the lights before the crows were entertained by the singing of Rev Mark Chandler.

Pic: Serving festive food outside Templars
are Rosie Wathan, Rebecca Beloc and
Claire Dignan

Many local organisations had stalls on the Green including the Churches, St John's Ambulance, the Scouts and Rothley Lions while the shops on Woodgate served drinks and nibbles.
Anne Harmer said: "Thanks to all the shops for pulling together and the Rothley public, I can't thank them enough for turning out. It was a super evening."
Total for Ruby Rainbows Appeal £392.50:
Shopkeepers' raffle £100; Baptist Church buckets £83.30; Rothley Lions buckets £117.70; Rose Squire £10; Anmol restaurant £21; Hartley's Estate Agents £60.50.

Parish Council notes

A FULL meeting of Rothley Parish Council was held on November 19.
It was reported that due to illness, PC Steve Rhodes will be temporarily replaced with PC Keith James. There were no household burglaries in October, and one burglary other than dwelling with a kettle was stolen from a store room on Loughborough Road. In the first two weeks of November there were 11 burglaries. PC James said it was important to make your house look occupied when you are out by having lights switched on with times switches.
County Councillor Peter Osborne reported that the County's component of the Council Tax would have to increase by 10 per cent to maintain current staffing levels, due to the government's funding formula.
The Council received a report on a meeting with the County Council's Highways Department. The Parish Council understood that in 2001 there had been an agreement to build an island at the Anthony Street, North Street junction. County say they have no plans to do so. The Parish Council agreed to continue pressing for an island/mini- roundabout. The County has suggested moving the white lines forward at Anthony Street to give a better view for motorists exiting Anthony Street.
The Parish Council has reported to the County the problem of speeding traffic on Hallfields Lane. A 30mph speed limit is planned for Swithland Land and the Ridings.
The council agreed to request that the parking restrictions outside Babington Court be removed.
The two tennis courts available for public use at Rothley Tennis club are being damaged by bicycles and skateboards.
It was agreed to increase the cemetery rates by 20 per cent. This is the first increase since 2000.
A full meeting of Rothley Parish Council was held on December 17.
PC Keith James reported that there were two arrests made on the Ridgeway for possession of illegal substances. He said that a stop and search operation was helping to keep the crime figures low.
The County Council says that there is insufficient evidence of the need for a mini- roundabout at the Anthony Street/North Street junction, with only one personal injury accident in the last five years.
A resident on Hallfields Lane has damaged some newly planted trees near his property. He has been reported to the Police.
The Council agreed to request a review of the speed limit on Westfield Lane which it says should be 30mph
It was reported that the lottery have turned down a request by the Council for £300,000 for the new Rothley Centre. The Council agreed it would need to look again at its funding arrangements for the £1.2million project.

A FULL meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council was held on October 18.
PC Rhodes reported that there were three crimes in Cropston in July and five in August. Thurcaston: July one crime and August two. He said that crime was down 26 per cent on 2006 and that two people were arrested for a burglary in Thurcaston.
PC Rhodes said he would be conducting speed checks in the area and visiting Thurcaston school to talk to children about 'Stranger Danger'.

Projects’ Christmas show

ROTHLEY YOUTH Project has been able to engage some of its young people in the delivery of a Christmas dance show this year, as part of a programme of activities funded by the John Salmon Trust.

Pic: Rothley Youth Project's Christmas Show

The girls have been working hard over the past few months with their coach Gemma Evans on dance routines including Jingle Bell Rock and Santa Baby which they performed at the local residential homes in Rothley and Mountsorrel.
Lesley Peasant said: "The residents were delighted at their colourful and cheerful presentation and gave kind donations towards the Rothley Youth Club. The girls also put on the show to family and friends which was enjoyed by all and was a fine celebration of their commitment and enthusiasm towards the project.
Further activities are currently being discussed with the Soar Valley Leisure Centre for the new year as part of their community development, with the possibility of introductory sessions to the gym facilities and the weekly hire of the sports hall with a coach.
The Club is now looking for applicants to fill the position of youth worker, to help run the new Tuesday sessions in the new year. Working with the 14+ age group they would be employed through the County Youth Service and have the opportunity to benefit from a range of ongoing support training. If you feel you've got what it takes and are interested in finding out more, please contact Lesley Peasant on 0116 2302234.

History Society news

The AGM at our November meeting was well attended, and after the formal business Brian Verity gave us an update on our local archaeological affairs.
For our meeting on December 12 we welcomed Major Kenneth Campbell (perhaps better known as Gareth King). The Major served with the 42nd Black Watch Regiment in India during Queen Victoria's reign. We listened to two fascinating and mind-boggling stories about strange 'goings-on' during the Major's service in India.
We then had a break for mince pies and a glass of wine or orange juice, before Major Campbell continued with a story set in the 1600s. In a small village, there is a statue of a man with a missing right arm and a missing left leg. He was, and still is, regarded as a local hero. Another chilling and 'shivers up the backbone' story. But I shan't steal the Major's story - you will have to hear the Major tell it.
Our heartfelt thanks go to Gareth and of course to so many of our members, who turned out on a very cold December night.
Put the post-Christmas blues behind you and on January 16 come with us on 'A Journey Through History and Snowdonia on the Festiniog Railway'. In the comfort of the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane our train departs at 7.30pm for an hour of Peter Johnson's illustrated talk.
I know that there are a lot of railway enthusiasts out there. So do come along and find out more. It sounds most interesting and not only to railway enthusiasts but to people like me, who don't really know much about the subject. I am certainly looking forward to hearing more.
For our February meeting we have David Ramsey coming to tell us about 'The Slate Industry in Leicestershire'. Slate is very much a part of our Leicestershire heritage. One only has to look at the local old houses in Rothley and the surrounding villages to discover the beauty of the Charnwood area slate. Surprisingly, at least to me, is the fact that there are several different types and colours of slate in Leicestershire. I have already heard David talk about slate and found the subject so interesting that I felt we would all welcome and enjoy his talk.
As I told you in the last Rothley Society news item in the Rothley Post, we have booked an outing to the Potteries. This follows our speaker, Jane May who works at the New Walk Museum. Jane is coming to us in March, and will give us an insight in the 'History of Ceramics'. Ceramics go back many hundreds, even thousands of years, and we hope to skim the surface to the present day and be able to relate it to what we perhaps already know and will certainly see on our outing.
I said that I would tell you more about our outing. This takes place on Wednesday April 9. We shall leave the Rothley Centre at 9am and travel to the well-known Wedgwood Pottery at Barleston.
There we shall have the choice of doing our own thing. Some of the attractions on offer are: the theatre where you can see a 20 minute story of Josiah Wedgwood and his immortal legacy; the museum where there is a special Exhibition of Slavery, where you can see items specially manufactured for the Abolition of Slavery. Did you know that William Wilberforce visited Josiah Wedgwood at his home in Staffordshire? Or perhaps a self-guided tour round the factory? You can even try your hand at various ceramic activities. I know what I want to do.
Lunch can be taken in the restaurant at Wedgwood before we move on to Burleigh Pottery in Burslem. It is a most fascinating pottery. Perhaps you watched the BBC's Antique Road show which was filmed at Burleigh?
At Wedgwood we shall have seen a very modern and up-to-date pottery, but at Burleigh we step back in time. Burleigh is the only pottery still producing objects using the same methods and the prints from a hundred plus years ago. Among other famous artists, Charlotte Rhead, known for her Art Deco pieces, worked here. It is the last Victorian working pottery in England and has the feel of a museum (a time capsule perhaps) on the side of the canal which proved its usefulness in the heydays of the English pottery industry. They are very famous for their blue and white pottery, which is exported all over the world. Perhaps you would like to buy a piece of this distinctive pottery.
Well, enough of temptation! If you are interested in joining us, then do come along before March; application forms for this outing will be available at our January 16th and February 20th meetings. The cost of this outing is £25.50. don't leave it too long before applying as outings are booked up very quickly.
Our meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month at the Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane and we start at 7.30pm
Don't forget we now have our own website: www.Rothleyhistory.co.uk and www.yahoogroups.com
From Noreen Wilson, Rothley History Society

THERE WAS a full capacity audience for Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society's October meeting when Brian Kibble talked about "Anstey, Then and Now".
Having been born and brought up in the village, Brian clearly has a great devotion to his birth place and has accumulated an in-depth knowledge of its historical and social development. His talk was complemented by a superb collection of photographs.
He began by recounting the different spellings of the name "Anstey". In Saxon times it was " Hanstige" , by 1086 the "H" had been dropped as recorded in the Domesday Book, in the 14th C it was "Anesty", during the reign of Henry VIII it changed to "Anstie", later "Ansty" and finally around 1900, as we know it today, "Anstey".
Right through to the mid 19th C, Anstey was a relatively small village with the population recorded in 1840 at 820, compared to Thurcaston at that time, which had 1200 residents. It certainly appears that the Enclosure Acts of the 1760`s and the Industrial Revolution throughout the 1800`s were the main factors which led to the structure of the village as it is now. For example, following on from the Enclosure Acts, three commissioners were assigned to Anstey in 1761 to set out field and road systems that, in general, still exist in the 21st C. All roads were required to be 45 feet wide with drainage ditches either side and a good example of this is along Anstey Lane towards Thurcaston - the section alongside the present - day allotments.
Given the time restriction for his talk, Brian limited his reminiscences of the village, past and present, to Gynsills Lane, Leicester Road, The Nook and Bradgate Road (the latter being known as Main Street up to 1900). The pleasant approach along Leicester Road into Anstey is characterised by The Green and Anstey Brook, the source of the latter being in Thornton Heath. The brook is spanned by the Sheepwash Bridge which had to be widened in 1698 in order to accommodate the width of the carriage carrying King William on his way to visit Bradgate. A beautiful picture of the five-arched packhorse bridge taken around 1930 showed a nearby shed (long since demolished) that then housed the village hearse and fire engine. Between the packhorse bridge and the present Leicester Road lies the original area where there was a ford in order to cross the brook. There are records of a water-mill existing in 1308 and the present building dates from the 1800`s. The early 1800`s saw the impact of the railways as a form of transport and the nearest station for Anstey residents was at Glenfield, accessed via Gynsills Lane.
The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw prolific building development with many of the homes built then remaining today. Gas came to the village in 1896 and gas street lamps were installed, all single burners apart from the one in the centre of The Nook which was a double. The gas supply pipe is still visible alongside the Leicester Road Bridge. An electricity supply was introduced in 1924. With the advent of motor transport, there were as many as five garages in the village at any one time.
A house on Leicester Road, near Latimer Street, was used as the first local telephone exchange serving Anstey and the surrounding villages, when all calls had to be connected via the operator. Later a new purpose built exchange was erected at the boundary of The Green and still stands today, but is now a bed and breakfast establishment.
Archive pictures showed us that the Leicester Road area and The Nook have always been prone to flooding when the brook overflowed. In the past, flooding was far worse than today and pictures showed that properties in The Nook were constructed with entrances accessed up several steps to avoid floodwaters invading homes and businesses. Even early buses were built on high chassis`, enabling them to be driven through floodwater.
More pictures illustrated the many changes and uses of properties in The Nook, from dwelling places to shops and business premises. So many beautiful buildings, many of them thatched cottages, were demolished in the 1950`s and 60`s to make way for properties that make up the centre of Anstey as we know it today. There was no roundabout in The Nook in the early 20th century, just the solitary double burner gas lamp in the centre. People were able to linger to chat, and children play in The Nook because there was so little traffic!
Progressing along Bradgate Road, there were various businesses to be found such as the slaughterhouse, which served the six working farms in the village. It was a common sight to see cattle being herded along the road at milking time. The shop that now houses Sykes the Jewellers was originally built for Worthingtons the grocers and Brian remembered many of the other village shopkeepers he knew during his lifetime growing up in the village, recounting some entertaining stories about them. Pubs such as the Coach and Horses in The Nook and The Old Hare and Hounds on Bradgate Road remain today, albeit in different format.
The parish church of St Mary`s which was rebuilt in 1846, stands on its hillside vantage point overlooking the village centre. Passing the old school building (now private residences), the chapel used as storage space for Harris` hardware store and The Crown public house, we reach the Top Green and the farm which was at the original outer boundary of the village.
Currently, there are twelve different building sites in Anstey with the old shoe factories being demolished to make way for new housing, so that many parts of the village have changed beyond the recognition of its inhabitants of 100 years ago.
We hope that Brian will be able to return next year to continue his fascinating tour of the village of his birth.
Our meeting on 20th November 2007 began with the A.G.M. very swiftly conducted by our Chair, Jo Elks.
The only retirement from the committee was Janet Edwards, and Jo thanked her for her contribution to the work of the committee and presented her with a small gift. After discussion about continued increases in costs of speakers, it was unanimously agreed for the annual subscription to be increased to £8 for members and visitors will pay £2 per meeting.
Following the A.G.M. our speaker was Gareth King, whose topic was "Battles in the Midlands" and covered the period of the English Civil War. After the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 there had followed just over 150 years of relative peace in England until August 1642, when Charles I raised his standard and called for support in his cause to fight the Parliamentarians (Roundheads).
Despite the bloody and vicious battles of the medieval period, by the beginning of the Civil War England still did not have an organised and equipped army, ready to fight in any conflict.
Troops on both sides were recruited from tenant farmers, yeomen and even prisoners and the unemployed, of which there were many.
At the beginning of the war organisation was hit and miss with difficulty obtaining uniforms, equipment and food, the latter being obtained by each side raiding towns and villages.
Between 1642 and 1644 there were numerous hit and miss raids and skirmishes in places in Leicestershire, including Queniborough, Melton Mowbray, Mountsorrel and Cotes. In 1645 Leicester was taken by the Royalists, which ultimately led to the major battle of Naseby in Northamptonshire, when the armies of General Sir Thomas Fairfax from Yorkshire and Oliver Cromwell's East Anglian cavalry combined to defeat the Cavalier armies led by Prince Rupert.
By this stage in the war, the King`s cause was rapidly failing due to lack of funds. Parliament in London had a stranglehold on the country `s finances and generally speaking the areas / places that had supported the King were less wealthy. Oxford, the King`s headquarters fell to the Roundheads in June 1646 and the war was virtually ended.
The first meeting of 2008 will be on Tuesday 15th January, 7.30pm at the Old School, Thurcaston, when Pauline Fitchett will talk about her personal experience of growing up in a mining community.
Annual Subscriptions will be due, and the new programme of events available.
The February meeting will be on Tuesday 19th, 7.30pm at The Old School, Thurcaston.

Cracking results

THE PILBEAM Academy of Dance held an Exam and Medal Test on Sunday December 9 and produced a Christmas Cracker.
The Examiner, Miss Karen Yates FDDA came from Stourbridge in the West Midlands and in a nine-hour day, 96 entrants aged from four years old, up to our Ladies Tap Class, gained exemplary results to produce one of the very best sessions in the Academy's long history of exam success.
On an individual front Mrs Antonia Pilbeam FDDA, principal of the Academy awarded this year's Progress Cup, for achieved improvement during 2007 to Miss Hannah Lewis of Rothley.
The 2008 calendar will start on Monday January 7 where a few vacancies are still available.

Horticultural society

THURCASTON & Cropston Horticultural Society's October speaker was Anita Thorp.
Although the title of the talk was Autumn Plants it also covered the other seasons. Anita and her husband Andrew, whom she said she has been forced to bring because she was a non-driver, started their interest in gardens on their honeymoon.
They own a specialist nursery selling a wide range of unusual plants, such as alpines - low growing herbaceous perennials - woodland and scree garden plants. They grow 125 varieties of snowdrops, variegated mollis and wild flowers including celandines and dandelions with pink flowers.
Although Anita was 'up front', Andrew who was sitting at the back of the room, couldn't help adding his comments, sometimes to the annoyance of Anita, but all in good fun making it a very entertaining evening. Some of the plants on display were for sale, so it was first come, first served.

WI news

THE NOVEMBER meeting of the Rothley Women's Institute began with the AGM.
Following the business meeting the members were treated to a slice of delicious cake which had been brought in by one of our longstanding members, Elizabeth Chittenden who wanted to show her appreciation for the support and encouragement she has received over the last few months of her illness. She was warmly welcomed back to the fold.
During the tea break a number of visitors arrived along with guest speaker Charles Denton, Managing Director of DB Shoes based in Rushden, Northampton who manufacture wide shoes. Mr Denton gave an excellent presentation on the various stages of manufacture that shoes go through before they reach the shelves in the stores.
He passed around examples of animal skins, processed and polished into very soft leathers. We heard about the cutting room being a 'clicking' room, the sound of the cutters knives cutting tables. We learned of the difference between 'back part moulding' and fore part moulding'- side and seat lasting! And how this lovely soft leather then gets 'roughed up' in preparation of the sole application after which its sole gets a degreasing cement applied and is finally pressed into place.
The almost completed shoe has a sock inserted, gets thoroughly checked out is cleaned and boxed up awaiting the likes of you or I to give it a try out. DB shoes are one of the few companies left in the UK who provide a fitting service on site for those who have a problem finding a suitable shoe for problematic feet, with a range of up to four different widths in all shoe sizes and a huge range of colours and styles to choose from.
It is very reassuring to have a company on our doorstep who can provide such a worthy service. The members were very appreciative of the information and enjoyed a worthwhile presentation.
In January we commence a new season of meetings and anyone who would like to drop in for a visit will be most welcome. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month, the exception being January, when it will be the 9th and not the 2nd, 2-4.30pm Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane. Looking forward to meeting you.
From Mo Bulmer

THURCASTON & Cropston WI held their AGM on November 1.
The committee were re-elected to serve for another year and Mrs Daphne Grieff was again elected as President.
After the business side of the meeting had been dealt with refreshments were served. Members then entertained themselves playing games. These were great fun and everyone expressed how much they had enjoyed themselves.
A cold wet December night did not deter our members from coming to their Christmas meeting where there was a mouth watering buffet to enjoy, followed by the drama group's latest extravaganza.
Their anticipation was well founded. The committee as usual, had organised an excellent buffet, followed by the drama group's performance of an Old Time Music Hall. This included songs, poems and a sketch. The monologue about Albert Ramsbottom's visit to the Tower of London had everyone laughing and the sad ditty of 'The Dolly in Front of a Lorry' tugged at many a heartstring. Everyone joined in the songs and the doggie sketch was appreciated by the dog lovers in the audience. It was a most enjoyable evening.
Our next meeting will be held on Thursday February 7 at The Memorial Hall, Anstey Lane, Thurcaston when Val Williams will give a talk entitled 'Arctic Experience'.
The competition is a photograph of a snow scene.

Monday Club

AT THE September meeting of Cropston and Thurcaston's Monday Club, Mrs Pat Wadd produced some weird and wonderful items with which to baffle us in the form of an Antiques Quiz.
Pat told us that Joseph Priestly had invented carbonated water in 1772 so becoming the father of fizzy drinks and in 1809 William Hamilton developed the curved bottomed 'torpedo' - forcing the bottle to always lie on its side to aid fizzy liquid to maintain contact with the cork to eliminate air leakage. In the 1870s Hiram Codd, a soft drinks maker, developed his technique for bottling lemonade by the insertion of a glass marble as a stopper into the neck of the bottle, as when shaken the pressure from the fizzy pop forced the marble against the neck to form a seal. Our mystery item was used to break the seal. Not unreasonably the bottle was called the 'Codd Bottle'. Pat went on to say that 'wallop' was a slang term for beer and beer drinkers, being disdainful of bottled soft drinks, and may have eventually led to the expression 'codswallop'. Pat's unusual collection and quiz certainly made us think how times have changed.
On October 8 our annual charity fundraising Harvest Meeting was once again a huge success, with a heavily laden table full of contributions of fruit, vegetables, pies, biscuits and cakes, tins of all varieties, fruits and soups. Amidst a very happy atmosphere created by readings of poems both jovial and poignant, jokes long and short and the supping of tea with a wonderful array of cakes made by our member, Mrs Diana Whatton, the goodies flew off the table under the very enthusiastic salesmanship of Mrs Rita Frith. The total achieved was a very successful £45.47 towards our ongoing fundraising for Heartlink. The meeting was thoroughly enjoyed by all concerned.
November saw the membership held spellbound by a talk given by Mrs Jillian (Paddy) Laban. Press cuttings and photographs displayed to illustrate the story of her life and as a female lorry-driving grandmother, she must indeed be very rare.
Paddy comes from a farming family based in Melbourne, Derbyshire. She was one of seven sisters and started her career with a milk round.
For 30 years she ran a market stall at Long Eaton selling farm produce. Then over lunch one Sunday she announced to her family she had decided to try her hand at driving HGVs. After several attempts (and thanks to the gift of a pair of 'lucky knickers') in 1988 at the age of 52 Paddy finally passed the test for a Class 1 licence and has not looked back since (except to reverse or change lanes!) Paddy, who is now in her 70s, recounted some of her many adventures driving HGVs and trucks of up to 44 tons with 18 gears along the highways and byways of Britain. She left us in awe of her tremendous driving skills, energy and enthusiasm and particularly of her sense of humour as a woman in a male orientated industry. She said her job required self confidence and was obviously not for the faint hearted, but she still loved driving and fortunately still enjoyed the good health and stamina required for early morning starts and long working hours.
As well as the many interesting stories and press reports about her life, Paddy told us she had also been interviewed for radio programmes such as Radio 4's 'Home Truths' with the late John Peel and had also participated in phone-in programmes.
She also mentioned various awards designed to promote the road haulage industry to women and in particular her success in the 2003 Women of Transport Awards. Paddy, as one of the Road Haulage Association's glamorous adventurous grannies, is certainly a 'queen of the road'.
Although in her 70s, Paddy said that she did not feel that she was in her twilight years. She still has aspirations and ambitions and hopes to continue driving her HGVs for some time yet. When she eventually does retire, and take life a little easier she hopes to buy a motor-home and go touring and also to write a book about her life. Now that would make interesting reading! Until then, if you see a Laban HGV, sporting a collection of flags, it will almost certainly be glamorous granny Paddy at the wheel enjoying her 'Life as a Lady Lorry Driver'.
On December 10 the Christmas season was kick-started for the membership, by enjoying a delicious Christmas lunch at the Birstall Golf Club after which we experienced quality entertainment performed by Mr Ian Rogerson and associates.
There were many songs, poems and extracts from the most popular shows, which were professionally presented and even the Monday Club Choristers played an important part with their rendition of the aches and pains, pills and potions version of 'My Favourite Things'.
We then continued with a large selection of carols to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas which, with audience participation, was vigorously enjoyed by all.
The club is hopeful of swelling the numbers of members in 2008 in order to maintain quality speakers and a low subscription (£10) to offer a happy and social facility to the villages. Do come along and try us - our meetings are the second Monday of each month, 2-4pm, in the hall at the rear of the Cropston Evangelical Church in Cropston, opposite the Bradgate Arms with whom we have an agreement allowing us to park our cars in their car park for the duration of the meeting. We are a friendly club and you will receive a warm welcome and are assured of an enjoyable afternoon.
I would like to take this opportunity to wish the villages of Cropston, Thurcaston and Rothley a Good and Healthy New Year.
From Ann Farndon

NHW news

ROTHLEY, THURCASTON and Cropston's Police Officer Steve Rhodes is on sick leave and his beat has been taken over by PC 1276 Keith James. In November, two people were arrested for burglary dwelling, one person for burglary other, one for going equipped and six for possession of illegal substances.
In December, there were two arrests for burglary in Knight's Crescent. Five people were dealt with in Rothley for possession of illegal substances.
Crime Report, Rothley, Nov & Dec 2007
Theft 1, burglary 6, burglary other 10, theft of vehicle 1, theft from vehicle 6, damage 5

Planning

44 Town Green Street, Rothley - change of use of ground floor from Estate Agents to Management Consultancy
4 Marl Fields, Rothley - erection of single storey extension to rear of dwelling
90 Swithland Lane Rothley - erection of two-storey extensions to the sides and rear, a single storey extension to rear and a detached garage & orangery to rear
4 School Street, Rothley - erection of double garage, store and link to side of dwelling
27 North Street, Rothley - erection of replacement kitchen extension to rear of terrace dwelling
5 Rowe Leyes Furlong, Rothley - erection of conservatory to rear of dwelling
21 Cossington Lane, Rothley - demolition of house and buildings and erection of 12 dwellings
64 Grangefields Drive, Rothley - erection of pitched roof over extension to front of dwelling and installation of dormer window to rear.
177 Station Road, Cropston - proposed alterations and extensions
63 Station Road, Cropston - erection of single storey extension to front and first floor extension to rear of dwelling
Rothley Station Bridge, Rothley - retention of railway sign
Ashcroft, 247 Station Road, Rothley - erection of garden wall (1.8m high) and entrance gates to front of dwelling
193 Station Road, Cropston - erection of single storey extension to rear for link corridor, conservatory and swimming pool and erection of single storey extension to side with pitched roof
10 Ridley Close, Cropston - erection of conservatory to rear of dwelling

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