Syston Town News » Syston Young Peoples Page

World Cup Treat

admin — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 04:01:40 +0000

Coca-Cola World Cup Competition winner Damon and his father also Damon had an exciting trip to the World Cup between the 15th and 20th June. Their all inclusive trip was as a result of Damon junior winning one of the pairs of tickets in a Coca-Cola run competition. They started their journey from Heathrow to Cape Town, where they stayed in the Capetonain Hotel. They had a tour of the City on the Wednesday evening including a visit to Table top mountain. Thursday they had some time for themselves to relax or enjoy the festive mood in Cape Town before going off in the afternoon to a tour of Cape Winelands, although not Damon juniors idea of fun! On Friday they again had some free time and then had a pre-match meal before going to the Green Point stadium for the highlight of their visit to see England play Algeria although not the best performance!
Saturday morning gave them time to recover from the match, a visit to Canel Walk before they made their return journey home to Heathrow were they arrived on Sunday morning, tired but thoroughly pleased to have had such a fantastic adventure.
Damon plays for the under 14’s Thurmaston Magpies who also had reason to celebrate as they have again finished the season at the top of their division. Well done to them and to Damon who hopes to be able to play for his country in a future world cup event.

Lucky Break for Charlotte

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:02:29 +0000

Charlotte Wilkinson-Burnett, of 1181 ATC squadron,17, had a lucky break on Tuesday 6th April after her plaster cast was signed – by Prince Harry.
She was among 60 youngsters from the four cadet forces, the Combined Cadet Force, the Sea Cadet Corps, the Army Cadet Force, and the Air Training Corps, on a training exercise in South Wales. The group had travelled to Powys, and had expected to undertake a 25km trek in the Black Mountains alone.
But they were stunned when Harry met them on the final leg of the walk back to base near Crickhowell in the Brecon Beacons. The Prince even took time out to sign Charlotte’s plaster cast after she broke her wrist playing hockey.
The third in line to the throne wrote: ‘Get well soon, Harry’.
Charlotte plans to keep the autograph as a souvenir. She said: ”The cast is coming off on 18th May but I’m keeping it now, it’s going in a glass box.”
Charlotte joined 60 teenagers from across the UK on a three-week expedition to Lesotho in July, where they will help development projects run by Sentebale, the charity Harry set up in memory of his mother Princess Diana.
The young cadets will paint schools and help out in other projects run by the charity in Lesotho, one of the world’s poorest countries with a population decimated by Aids.
The expedition, which will also allow them to go trekking in the Drakensburg Mountains and visit Boer War battlefields in neighbouring South Africa, is part of a series of events to mark the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement.
Harry, who met the cadets at the end of a 25km training walk in the Black Mountains near Crickhowell, thanked them for their efforts in helping his charity and gave them his thoughts on getting fit for the expedition.
The prince, who was in the army branch of the cadets at Eton, said: “You will really enjoy it, it will be a hell of an adventure. Once you have met them your lives will be very, very different because you will have an understanding you never thought you would of the way people have to live out there.”
He joked that the secret to getting fit was ”no burgers and no PlayStations”, and added that the cadets would experience “a bit of hard labour, a bit of digging, a bit of baby cradling for the girls and maybe the boys.”
Expedition leader Lt Col (Retd) Nick Arding RM said Prince Harry’s visit was a “great boost to morale”.
He said: “He stayed for around one and a half hours and it was a great boost to morale seeing him. Prince Harry clearly had a great time meeting all these young men and women who are assisting a charity very close to his heart. He was very relaxed and informal and the cadets all enjoyed spending time with him.”
The Lesotho expedition, which takes place from 24th July to 18th August, is one of over 150 events taking place at national and regional levels to mark the 150th anniversary of the cadet movement, one of the oldest and most successful voluntary youth organisations in the world.
Today it numbers 131,000 young people, led by 25,000 adult volunteers, in well over 3,000 sites across the UK.
The year of celebrations launched on 17th February when 26 cadet ambassadors had an audience at Buckingham Palace with the Queen, patron of Cadet150 and The Duke of Edinburgh.
Forthcoming Cadet150 events include a Royal review of the Cadet Forces at Buckingham Palace on 6th July and expeditions to the Himalayas, Nigeria, the Italian Dolomites, Peru, the USA, Kenya and Namibia.
Cadets will also be planting 150,000 trees in partnership with the Woodland Trust. For more information, visit www.ArmyCadets.com

Leicester Sailor Passes Royal Navy Basic Training

admin — Sat, 01 May 2010 04:01:05 +0000

An 18-year-old Royal Navy recruit from Syston, Leicester, was on parade on Friday 2nd April to celebrate the successful completion of her basic training.?
Trainee Logistician Amber Dewick arrived at the gates of HMS Raleigh, in Cornwall, in January to undergo nine weeks of intensive training designed to transform her from a civilian into a sailor. The course culminated in the passing-out-parade attended by families and friends.
The former pupil of Wreake Valley
College said: “I am full of determination and have always wanted to be in the Armed Forces. I joined the Royal Navy to have one of the best careers, to see the world and to enjoy a high quality of life. Training has been an amazing experience and it feels great to have passed the course. I have learned so much, finding out that I could achieve things I never thought I would be able to do. I’ve passed all my tests, knocked three minutes off my original mile and a half run time and achieved a level one certificate in First Aid. I’ve also met some good friends along the way. The course has made me realise that I can do anything I put my mind to.”
The Royal Navy’s basic training course is designed to teach recruits the basic skills they will rely upon throughout their time in the Service. It includes a series of mental and physical challenges to promote team working. With the first phase of her Royal Navy training complete, Amber will transfer to Defence Maritime Logistics School, which is based within HMS Raleigh. There she will learn the skills required to enable her to join a team at sea, who specialise in providing official hospitality services and carrying out other key tasks necessary on a modern warship.
Details of career opportunities within the Royal Navy are available online at www.royalnavy.mod.uk or by calling the Recruitment Line on 08456 07 55 55.

Change of Command at 1181 Squadron

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:30:51 +0000

Pilot Officer Andy Houghton has taken over as Squadron Commander at the Air Cadets in Syston. He replaces Flight Lieutenant Matthew Faulkner who has moved to the Voluntary Gliding Squadron 643 at Syerston, Newark. This is an ATC gliding school and in his address to the Cadet he hoped to see some of them there when they doing training, so he would be keeping a watchful eye on their future progress. He is also take on the role of Squadron officer nearer to his home at 348 Ilkeston Squadron. He has been working with the Cadets at 1181 Syston squadron since 2004 after gaining his flight officer rank. He has been a member of the ATC since July 2002 when he took his commission. There are 30 Cadets at Syston and 8 volunteer staff. One of these is also leaving the squadron to take a more active role with the Royal British Legion in Syston. Diane Reeves has been a volunteer with the 1181 Squadron since 2005.
Andy Houghton who took his commission in …….?? Is looking forward to continue with the development of the Air Cadets in Syston and any young person aged between 13 and 17 years interested in becoming a member can contact Andy Houghton on 0116 260 3948 between 7.00pm and 9.30pm Monday and Thursday evenings.

Starlets Performance at Wreake Valley

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:07:54 +0000

On Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th February the Starlets presented a night at the movies and musicals to a full house on both performances. The school of performing arts put on a packed show with a wide range of dances to entertain all ages. The company is made up of dancers from as young as three years old and ranged up to the adult dancers who all gave their best to wow the audience
at both performances. The atmosphere was electric as the audience awaited for the show to begin. The opening number was Moulin Rouge performed by the stage classes, this was followed by the boys in Ghostbusters. It was good to see a group of boys participating in this show and they performed well throughout in the many different styles and periods, including a tribute to Michael Jackson and Grease. The baby class as always stole the heart of the audience as they performed dances from Mary Poppins, GiGi and High School Musical. As well as being joined on stage by school principal Miss Kerry Langham to perform Do Re Mi from the Sound of Music. The Junior Stage class performed Hand Jive from Grease, Tomorrow from Annie, Fat Sams grand Slam from Bugsy Malone as well as Lord of the Dance, Fame and Titanic. The senior stage class performed, One from A chorus line, Wash that man right out of my hair from South Pacific, Copone from Feet of Flames and Flash Dance. The adult classes, including the Happy Tappers, entertained everyone with Dream girls, Lord of the Dance, Spirit of the Dance, Shaking the Blues from Easter Parade, Copone and Mama Mia which included a solo performed by Holly Taylor. Other solos where performed by Sophie Wright who danced to My Girl. The ballet class performed Masquerade from Phantom of the Opera and featured James Prince as the Phantom. Miss Kerry and Miss Louise performed a couple of swells from Easter Parade. The boys also performed the South Pacific classic Nothing like a Dame, featuring Liam Daisley, Dean Newbrooks and Adrian Glover. A superb show of talented dancers of all ages and at the end of the show Miss Kerry presented all the company with a medal for taking part as well as special awards and a teacher prize for the most progress achieved in the year.
The performances raised over £200 which will go to two charities, Mollys Angels and Mablethorpe Holiday home.

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Syston Under Six’s Football Team

admin — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 04:05:49 +0000

The Syston under 6′s train on Donkey Park, Necton Street on Saturday mornings at 10.00am. They are currently recruiting for more players to create a second team.?
They have great parent support and encourage players from the reception years of school. If anyone is interested please telephone Andy Disney on 0116 260 8786.

Seed Tree at Merton School

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

School children at The Merton School have been collecting packets of seed and adding them to their Seed Tree shown in the picture below. The children were given a list of vegetable and herb seeds to donate by the U Foundation which helps a range of projects in Zambia. The range of seeds included pumpkins, carrots, lettuce, radish, thyme and sage to name just a few. At the end of February the Tree was dismantled and all the packets of seeds given to fund raiser for the charity and parent Mrs Sarah Elton. The seeds will be taken out to the projects in Zambia on the next planned visit.
If you would like to donate or know more about The U Foundation then you can visit their website at www.theufoundation.org

Local Cadet Chosen To Go To South Africa

admin — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:02:02 +0000

Last year Charlotte Wilkinson-Burnett was lucky enough to be chosen to attend a selection weekend in Somerset for a tri-service event, with another 80 air cadets, sea cadets and army cadets from all over the UK after getting through the preliminary rounds earlier on in the year. Fortunately enough, she was one of the 50 cadets selected to go out to Lesotho, South Africa in July 2010 during the selection weekend. There were more than 12,000 cadets from the UK who applied to be considered for this expedition with only 50 making the final team. Cadet 150 is the working title of a tri-service project designed to celebrate and promote the success and values of the cadet movement in its 150th year in 2010.
Charlotte is a 17 year old female who is currently an air cadet at 1181 (Syston) squadron in Leicestershire. She is a very outgoing and determined person who strives to achieve her very best in life. Being awarded this once-in-a-lifetime trip is the best opportunity anyone could ever wish to be considered for. She is a very outdoors person who frequently travels to the Lake District to take part in mountain walking and also fell running, which she also competes at National level. In October 2009, she was selected for the Under 20s Great Britain World Mountain Running Team where she came home with a team gold and an individual 14th place.
In July 2010 she, along with 49 other cadets from across the UK, will depart on an expedition out to the Kingdom of Lesotho, South Africa for a 21 day tri-service expedition. The expedition will be run by Outpost’s Ltd, a company that specialises in expeditions to South Africa. HRH Prince Harry has agreed to be the patron of the expedition and therefore the cadets will be supporting his chosen charity which is Sentebale. Prince Harry will fly out to Lesotho and travel around the various parts of the country with the cadets. Sentebale was founded by Prince Seeiso from the Lesotho Royal Family and Prince Harry from the British Royal Family in response to the plight of the neediest of Lesotho’s people, its orphans and vulnerable children. Sentebale’s priority is to reach the people who are not normally reached by existing aid organisations or the government. In particular they support herd boys, who live in remote mountain country and do not attend school; victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse who cannot live at home; the deaf, blind and disabled; as well as both one and two parent orphans. Whilst out in Lesotho, apart from helping out with the charity all cadets will also undertake a wide range of activities such as; acclimatisation and environmental awareness course, trekking across the Drakensburg mountain range, paddling, abseiling and also a battlefield tour of Rorke’s Drift and Islandwana.
For Charlotte to attend this expedition she has to raise funds of £3500, this will include £1000 for travel and then costs of clothing and equipment which she has estimated at a cost of £2500. She has to raise this amount of money to make her eligible to travel to Johannesburg. Without this amount she will lose the opportunity. Charlotte said “Although I am a keen walker, the majority of the kit I have will not be suitable for the expedition as it is a completely different climate to the UK as I will be travelling in July which is their winter period. Any donation of clothing, kit or sponsorship money for this expedition would be most gratefully received by me as I have realised that £3500 is a lot of money to raise in such a short period of time. Any sponsor for this expedition will be published and any company name will be printed on my kit.”
On her return from Lesotho, she plans to host a presentation evening and will invite sponsors so she can show them what she will have gained from the experience in Lesotho, how the expedition went, and most of all, to thank everyone for helping her. Anyone interested in sponsoring Charlotte for this expedition can contact us at the Syston Town News and we can pass on your details.

Syston Youth Project Re-opens

admin — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 16:03:36 +0000

Syston Youth Project has been in its present building since 1997 when the old building was replaced, providing a facility for young people from the age of 11 to come and meet friends and use the facilities i.e. table tennis, pool etc. Picture right shows, Andie Hastie receiving the cheque from Sue Smith, SADCOTE Chair, along with Claire Allsop and Naomi Carbelt.
SYP is open Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7.00pm to 9.00pm and young people can drop in and out as they please, though they do have to sign in as a register of users is kept. No charge is made to use the facility though we do charge for tea and coffee and the much loved cheese toastie!
Run by a committee, there are two paid workers and two volunteer workers and a full range of help and advice is available to the young people, if we cannot help we will find someone who will.
SYP is affiliated to Young People First who support the project with training help and advice for the workers and is very grateful for all the support it receives from Syston Town Council, without their support the project would struggle to continue. We also receive support from various other bodies including Leicestershire county council and local businesses.
Last year we were given an opportunity to put a bid to the Leicestershire Youth Bank for money to refurbish the Youth Project. This bid however had to be put together by the young people and they had to decide what they wanted and how much it would cost. They had to complete the form and give reasons why it would benefit the group. The application was sent in and we were lucky enough to be successful and we received £7,600.
In mid July the project closed and the refurbishment started. This seemed to take forever and we did not reopen until mid November. In that time we had even more good news, The Syston District Chamber of Trade very kindly gave us a cheque for £250 and provided the workers with polo shirts and fleeces with our logo on, these were presented on our opening night. The money will go to help fund broadband connection for the group.
Since reopening we have had a steady stream of young people using the facility, on average we have 20 young people down each night and have had over 50 young people come down.
SYP is a much needed and well used facility, providing a safe environment for young people to meet and have fun and we are looking forward to this year when we hope to provide trips out to the Outdoor Pursuits Centre and to GOALS.
We are always pleased to see new faces at the project and are willing to take on board any suggestions from the young people as to what they would like us to do and anyone is welcome to come down and see what we do and have to offer.

Girls’ Brigade Enrolment Service

admin — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 04:01:42 +0000

On Sunday 15th November a service was held at Syston Methodist Church to welcome new members of the 1st Syston Girls Brigade Company and also to recognise the promotion of Kathryn Pepper to Captain and retirement of Janet Russell, the former Captain.

All of the girls participated in the service performing a song with actions and a drama, both based on the story of Noah’s Ark.
The Company meets on Tuesday evenings at the Methodist Church Hall between 6.45pm and 8.00pm and new members are always welcome. Weekly activities include games, cookery, and other activities with the aim of enabling the girls to live their lives to the full. Activities planned for November and December include making Pudsey biscuits for Children in Need and a Christmas activity and carol singing evening.