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Summer Activity Programme For Children

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:12:11 +0000

Charnwood Borough Council’s Leisure Services have launched the Summer Activity Programme for children, offering a wide range of sporting and leisure activities to keep them entertained during school holidays.
There will be different sport and physical activity coaching courses for children up to the age of 16 years, including Cheerleading, Ultimate Frisbee, Tae Kwan-do and many more.
Activities can be booked by completing a booking form, available on the Council’s website, http://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/holidayprogrammes or over the telephone by calling 01509 634 673 between 1.00pm to 4.00pm from Monday to Friday. There is something suitable for all age groups and activities will take place at various venues and parks across the Borough.
There are also family events such as, free Play Rangers Summer Tour, which includes different arts and crafts activities, dancing, den building, photography, nature play and various other family fun activities.
The Family Fun Days will provide everyone the chance to try a variety of activities; sporting games, bouncy castles, face painting, sports tasters, adult health checks and mini play days for the younger children.
For more information, please contact Helen Bird, Children & Young Peoples Activity Coordinator on 01509 634 673.

Football Courses July 2010

admin — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:57:09 +0000

Week long courses are being run by Mark Hedley Soccer at Syston Rubgy Football Club, Barkby Road, Queniborough.
Between Monday 26th to Friday 30th July.
The courses are open to boys and girls of all abilities.
Times: Ages 4 to 5 years 10.00am to 12.00pm.
Ages 6 to 13 years 10.00am to 3.00pm.
Prices range from 1 day to 5 days:
4-5 years are 1 day £8, 2 days £12, 3 days £18, 4 dyas £24 and £30 for five days.
6 – 13 years are 1 day £14, 2 days £24, 3 days £32, 4 days £40 and £48 for five days.

For further details and to book a place contact Mark Hedley on 0116 279 1560 or email: markhedleysoccer@googlemail.com or visit the website www.markhedleysoccer.co.uk

BIG CHARITY SUPER DRAW, WITH £3000 AS TOP PRIZE

admin — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:53:52 +0000

Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People has launched its fourth annual Super Draw giving supporters the chance to win a top prize of £3,000! The raffle tickets come in books of 10 and are £1 each ticket.

Rainbows hopes to raise over £25,000 from the sale of tickets. This will go towards providing comfort and care for some of the poorliest children in the East Midlands region.

The draw this year will take place on the Friday, 30th July 2010 and the deadline of handing in the tickets is Friday, 23rd July 2010.

Jas Dosanjh, Lottery Sales Executive at Rainbows said: “Everyone is being brilliant and helping us by buying tickets for themselves or selling them to friends. People are selling raffle tickets in their workplace and even taking them into schools for parents and teachers to sell. It’s fantastic that everyone is willing to support their children’s hospice.” She adds, “We will also be selling tickets at the Rainbows ‘Miles for Mums Midnight Walk’ taking place on Saturday, 17th July 2010 at Loughborough Town Hall.”

To help sell tickets or to receive additional books to sell, call Jas on 01509 638 058 or email on jas@rainbows.co.uk.

Outdoor Adventure Sessions

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:09:27 +0000

Charnwood Borough Council’s Active Together team is organising outdoor adventure based sessions throughout the summer at Beaumanor Hall and Quorn Hall.
Outdoor activities taking place throughout the summer include
Wet & Wild Men’s Day on 24th July,
Ladies Adventure Day on 21st August,
Scaling the Heights, Men’s Day on 11th September.
Introduction to Climbing: 4 week course, every Saturday commencing 31st July.
Active Together is a county wide project aimed at increasing the levels of physical activity amongst adults.
To book any of these courses or for more information, please contact Hannah Holmes on 01509 634 673.

Ridgeway Ramblings by Mike Preston

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:08:15 +0000

What is a normal week in the life of a councillor? This week I have gone from China to Magistrates Courts to Mice and Bells. My week started with a visit by a delegation from Leshan China. This was followed by a programme for BBC television about mice and then moved on to a visit to the Magistrates Court in Loughborough and finally to take part in the installation of the Great Paul Bell case in Loughborough. Who says I have a boring life?

China
My first job of the week was to meet a trade delegation of visitors from Leshan in China. The visit started with a presentation about Charnwood and Loughborough. It included items about the Bell foundry, Great Central Railway, The University, Charnwood Forest and many other local areas of interest. This was supported by a video and a slide show. This was followed by a general discussion about Charnwood and its local industry which included the University. After the normal photograph the visitors said goodbye and they went on their way to the University.

New balls, please for mice homes
Later in the week I was asked to be filmed with some field mice, a local tennis club has given a number of worn out tennis balls to be used as homes for field mice. The BBC wanted to do a story on this item for BBC news. Tennis balls provide new nests for harvest mice. Animal conservationists are getting help from a local tennis club to stop it becoming ‘game, set and match’ for Britain’s smallest mammal. It is hoped they will help protect the endangered species from their many predators. Harvest mice weigh only six grams when adult – around the same as a 20p piece. The mice normally weave their homes out of shredded grass and reeds part way up tall stalks. But their habitat has come under increasing threat from intensive farming methods. The tennis balls will now be used to encourage breeding in existing mouse strongholds. A small hole will be bored into the top of the used balls. The mice can then make their nests in relative safety from birds of prey and weasels, which are too big to get through the hole. The filming took place in my garden where we have a family of field mice; we hope to use the balls to promote their survival and to allow an enlarged colony. I will keep you informed of their progress.

Old Magistrates’ Court – Conversion Plans
The Cabinet approved the recommendations for refurbishment of Court No.1 at the Old Magistrates Court in Loughborough. It is one of the few remaining Victorian Court Rooms in the country, which will be open for use to local businesses and community groups and the Council itself. The Court building will also house the Citizens Advice Bureau and the Glebe house project, for more see detail www.glebehouseproject.org.uk The efficient and cost effective refurbishment of the Old Magistrates Court will secure a long term revenue stream for the Council, identified in the Business Plan, and demonstrates its commitment to meaningful partnership working. Located in Loughborough Town Centre, the Old Magistrates Court only recently came into the Council’s ownership. Members have resolved to use the building for the benefit of the local community and the works to Court No.1 are a part of this plan. I think that Court No.1 is a historic asset for Loughborough which we want to see put to good use. Our plans provide a new and unique meeting facility for Loughborough. It will benefit all sectors of the community as well as promoting social enterprise. An added benefit is that the room will provide us with somewhere to hold Council meetings. Most local people will never have seen the inside of this impressive traditional Courtroom. Our plans will make it fully accessible to the whole community.”

The Bells the Bells

Finally Loughborough Town Centre Partnership in association with Charnwood Borough Council, Taylor’s Bell Foundry, Leicestershire County Council and St Paul’s Cathedral in London, have sponsored the installation of the Great Paul Bell Case in the Town Centre at Loughborough. The bell case was used to cast the Great Paul Bell which is installed in St Pauls Cathedral, why not go to Loughborough to have a look at this historic item of local technology. In 1881 on the 23rd November the Great Paul was cast by John Taylor & Co. It is the largest bell in the country. The bell was first rung on 18th March 1882 at Loughborough before being transported to London. After being hung it was dedicated on the 3rd June in the same year. The bell weighs 17,002 Kgs (37,483 lbs), just think, this was transported in the days before lorries, it must have made the horses work hard?If you would like any more details of the Bell Foundry why not visit their web site at www.taylorbells.co.uk/. I have visited the company on a couple of occasions, it is fascinating to visit their museum and if you take one of the guided tours you may be lucky and see a bell being cast.
Mike Preston
Contact Details:
If you want to get into contact with me then please use one of the following methods:
Telephone: 01664 424647 Fax 01664 424647 (Please Telephone First)
E-Mail Mike@mepreston.com or Try www.telmike.com

Complimentary Race For Life Programme by Results Weight Loss

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:08:08 +0000

On Saturday 15th May, 30 to 40 females showed up to the launch of the Race for Life training programme that is currently being held by Results Weight Loss in Thurmaston. Personal trainer and managing director Joe Hanney said “It was a fabulous turn out and it just shows how much the Cancer Research Projects means to all these ladies, I am so excited to get this started and more importantly start to raise as much funds as possible as well as getting these ladies over the finishing line at the event.”
Results Weight Loss has worked with well over a thousand females and they came to understand the main barriers that females were feeling towards taking part in the Race for Life event and one of those being the event distance. Joe Hanney decided to offer an eight week complimentary training programme and gym membership to help those females that were finding it hard to convince themselves that they could actually complete the distance of the event. “This is so empowering and a complete mind shift to see so many females attend this event we are holding.” Joe said.
For more information or to interview both Joe Hanney and the participants please feel free to contact him on 0844 844 2471 or email info@resultsweightloss.co.uk

The Rotary Club Of The Wreake Valley Officially Open Disabled Facility

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:08:03 +0000

The residents of Syston now have a new facility in their Central Park, thanks to the Rotary Club of The Wreake Valley. Rotarian Fred Sleath, when President of the Club, was looking for a project for the benefit of the people of Syston. He approached the Town Manager who suggested that the provision of a disabled toilet facility in Central Park was high on the list of needs but low on the list of priorities.
The members of the Club gave their support to the idea and a project was born. The Club set about raising the funds to enable the provision of the facility. Various money raising events were held. The most popular of these was probably the annual Real Ale Festival which is now held in April of each year. Once the funds were in place plans were drawn and the necessary permissions obtain and a builder contracted to undertake the work.
The facility was formally opened on Wednesday 26th May by Rotarian Fred Sleath and Ruth Wheeler, widow of the project architect John Wheeler. The keys to the facility were handed over to the Councillor Mrs Josie Branston of Syston Town Council and it is now available for public use.
If you would like to put something back into the society in which you live and at the same time enjoy a number of social events and activities why not join us? We are always happy to welcome new members and would be pleased to give you the opportunity to find out what Rotary is all about. It is not a secret society and you are welcome to visit us without any obligation or permanent commitment just to see what it is we do and why we are the largest international voluntary organisation of its type. After all 1,212,700 Rotarians in 33,660 Clubs in 178 countries cannot all be wrong, there must be something really worthwhile in what we do, so why not be a part of it!

SYSTON FEAST

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:06:59 +0000

Feast Sunday falls on the first Sunday after 10th July although the church is dedicated to St Peter, whose day is on 29th June. The discrepancy is said to be due to the change of calendar in September 1752 when 11 days were added, but Syston continued to observe the Feast according to the old calendar. The feast was commonly called the Wake. Its origin is with the Church. In olden times the Saturday was kept as ‘awake night’ watching and preparing to come to the Lord’s Table on the Sunday morning. It was a family occasion, boys and girls on farms or in service would come home for the feast.
Along with the services came booths with sweetmeats etc and dancing in the churchyard and on the village green!
The dancing was replaced with a funfair on the Recreation Ground (Central Park) and Feast Monday was a half day holiday and the Church held a Feast Tea, usually in the vicarage garden often combined with a sale of work.
The traditional meal for the feast was roast duck and green peas, washed down with homemade cowslip or parsnip wine.
For many years Holland’s was the fair to visit Syston and in later years the fair was set up in High Street in the field between Turn Street and the railway line, on the St Peters football ground (now Millers Close) and also on East Avenue on the Dog Track field.
We have now come full circle as the fair is now back on the Central Park but in September, not July.
The picture above of about a hundred years ago shows Syston ladies on the Recreation Ground, the nearest sign on the marquee reads ‘Ye ancient rite of ye pastrie cookes’ and the legible part of the other sign reads Syston Feast… The Symphony… Wednesday…

Lost Cat – Can You Help?

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:06:55 +0000

We have had a letter asking for help in finding a much loved pet who became lost on Tuesday 18th May.
The cat’s owner explained that she and her cat live in Thurnby Lodge and so he doesn’t know the area at all. The cat is called ‘Hoyce’ and he is 12 months old, they were visiting the vets in Syston for him to be neutered when he unfortunately escaped from his basket and ran across the main road into the gardens. Both his owner and her brother have been back searching and calling for him but have had no luck. They have put posters up with details and a picture of him, see below. They think he may have been spotted but by the time we got there he was gone. He is a grey striped tabby with long legs that make him look gangly. She is desperate to get her little boy back.
So if you see or have seen a cat meeting Hoyce’s description please contact us here at the Syston Town News on 0116 269 3221 and we will pass on your information to his owner.

NEW MAYOR FOR THE BOROUGH OF CHARNWOOD

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:06:43 +0000

Councillor Jill Vincent was elected as Mayor for the forthcoming civic year at the Annual Council Meeting on 10th May 2010. She has represented Southfields ward in Loughborough on Charnwood Borough Council for 15 years, and has lived there for about 45 years.
Councillor Vincent was born in London; she studied fine art at St Martin’s School of Art and Design. She taught at the Open University and worked as a lecturer and researcher, finishing as Assistant Director at the Centre for Research in Social Policy at Loughborough University; she is a Visiting Fellow at the Department of Social Sciences.
Her interest in the arts has been a strong theme throughout her life. She has been active for many years in support of arts in prisons and with offenders. She is also committed to voluntary and community action, being Chair of the Joint Board at Voluntary Action Charnwood and John Storer House Foundation.
At Charnwood Borough Council she has served on the Cabinet and a variety of committees. Councillor Vincent’s charity will be STEPS, based at The Old School in Shepshed. It offers Conductive Education for babies and children with problems gaining motor skills. It works with families and enables each child or young person to be healthy; stay safe; make a positive contribution; and achieve as much independence as possible.
Councillor Vincent’s daughter, Emma Aronica is the Mayoress for the year. Emma is an experienced senior Nurse Practitioner who works at the Walk-in Centre.