Issue No. 72 July/August 2014

Village Voice The newsletter of Bottesford, Easthorpe, Muston & Normanton

Bottesford Village Gala May 2014

Bottesford Village Gala May 2014

Bottesford Youth Club The young people of Bottesford Youth Club (BYC) brightened up the day of the annual fun run by wearing coloured T-shirts, and some senior club members completed the whole course pushing (or riding) go karts and shopping trolleys kindly donated by the Co-Op.

They raised funds on Gala Day with a variety of games, sweets and cakes. The most popular game was 'throw a wet sponge' which was no surprise given the sunny weather. A total of 303 sponges were thrown and the young people were great sports, taking turns to get soaked! Even Youth Leader David Bishop took a turn.

Over £500 was raised across the weekend at stalls and from sponsor-ship for completing the fun run. "We'd like to say a BIG thank you to friends and families of the BYC members for supporting them", says Amanda Bishop Secretary of BYC Commit-tee. She also said "The money raised will go towards activities, equipment and games for the young people, and also towards alternative premises which we are hoping to secure within the village as the recent refurbish-ment of Old School means the facilities are currently struggling to meet the needs of the young people”. For more information or to volunteer call Amanda 07850 572838.

Having fun on the outdoor gym The outdoor gym equipment on Grantham Road, close to the Skate Park, was installed in March 2014. The equipment was fully grant-funded following applications by the Parish Council. It is proving to be very popular with visitors to the village – why not give it a try?

Opening of Refurbished Playground Picture shows the opening of Hoopers Close playground in April, the first of several in Bottesford to have a significant makeover. Grants secured by Bottesford Youth council (supported by the Parish Council) helped to pay for the work. To mark the occasion, refreshments were provided and £26.00 was raised for the Scout Hut.

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WW1 Centenary Events at the Primary School Earlier this year Jez Jaggard visited the School. Wearing the uniform of a soldier who served during the war, he described daily life in the trenches. His stories and collection of artefacts stimulated many interesting ques-tions from the children. Also, a reporter from BBC Radio Leicester recorded material that will be part of the BBC’s World War One At Home series. Pupils used material from the school logbook to discover how children coped with the impact of the war. Their stories and songs from the period will be broadcast in the Autumn. In May, Year 3 and 4 children joined children from the Vale primary schools at Belvoir High School in a concert of songs from the period of the First World War. Narrators provided links describing the songs and soldiers’ feelings about their wartime experiences. The concert was a great success. The enthusiastic performance ended with a mass rendition of Land of Hope and Glory.

Children discover Church ‘Treasures’ at St. Mary’s Bottesford In May, children from Sycamore class of Bottesford C of E School had great fun exploring the treasures of St Mary’s Church using a new Trail, which has been produced by Grantham and District Decorative and Fine Arts Society (GADDFAS). Working closely with members of the church, the Trail has been designed for children aged 8-12 years so that they will have a fun way to discover the treasures of this church. The Trail is now open for ALL children to use – just pick up a clipboard on your way into the church. There is also a de-tailed answer sheet to be used by parents and carers. Special thanks go to Margaret Beattie, Christine Sheardown and June Graveson for all their time and commitment to this project.

Bottesford anniversaries gleaned from the Grantham Journal. 1974 Mr Reed, head teacher at Belvoir High School, opened the Bottes-ford adventure playground on land adjacent to Silverwood Road. The project took 15 months to design and build and cost £150. Lack of main-tenance caused Health and Safety concerns and the equipment was dis-mantled and the site is now School View. 1984 In January the Midland Bank vacated its premises opposite the Coop on Queen Street and the Parish Council took on the lease to create a Parish Room. The Mayor of Melton performed the opening ceremony.

Parish Council Corner New faces at the Parish Council

The Parish Council has recently wel-comed two new members of staff and a new Councillor.

Sharon Pyke joins the Council as Clerk. Sharon divides her time be-tween Clerk roles for Bottesford Parish Council and Barkestone, Plungar and Redmile Parish Councils. She is based at the Old School on Wednesdays and Fridays between 10am and 2pm. Ron Steel (pictured) likes to keep busy and the role of part-time Parish Warden offered the ideal opportunity to put his many practical skills to good use. Over the coming months you’ll see him out and about around the parish, making sure that things are properly maintained. Our newest Parish Councillor, Alan Gough, has retired from the construction industry and lives on Vaughan Avenue in Bottesford. Many local residents will already know him through his links to the Methodist church in the village. Coming soon.... Over the coming months a number of other initiatives will be com-pleted and some will get underway. Things to look out for include: Grantham Road Play Area – new play equipment coming soon thanks to a £45,000 grant from WREN and £6000 from Leicester-shire County Council’s Shire Grant Scheme. A new slide and swings are also on order for the Muston play area. Neighbourhood Plan – this will determine how and where the four villages of the Parish will grow in the future. There will be a num-ber of opportunities to find out what it’s all about so please make sure that you come along and have your say! For more information contact the Parish Clerk on 01949 222478 or email clerk@bottesfordpc.org.uk

Good neighbour scheme Bottesford Good Neighbour scheme is delighted to report that the scheme continues to flourish and by the end of a May it will have completed approximately 100 jobs. These are mainly transport related, but also included varied tasks such as changing light bulbs and clothing altera-tions. Given the success of the scheme, we are urgently looking for more volunteers to help us. We are holding a coffee morning on Monday 7th July at the Old School starting at 10am. This is a good opportunity to come along and meet the team. If you are interested in using the scheme or volunteering, please contact us on 07849 311740. If you require assistance during the summer holi-days, which commence Monday 14th July we would appreciate as much notice as possible due to volunteer holidays.

In March 2007, Pat Honey started a ‘singing circle’ which had 15 members and met once a month in the Chapel Schoolroom. Paul Babbage played the piano for 2-part harmony singing. Not long afterwards Barbara Cobb was contacted by Jenny Barratt and asked if she would be interested in helping Bottesford U3A start a choir. ‘As my life-long interest is 4-part harmony singing I agreed and the rest, as they say, is history,’ says Barbara. Barbara has always loved to sing and was a member of her school choir, then Bingham Operatic Society and Bingham Choral Society with whom she has sung for 30 years. Barbara became the musical director of an octet of s i n g e r s c a l l e d H a r m o n y Incorporated for 23 years and also was MD of the Radcliffe-on-Trent Savoyards 2000 for 7 years. Since Barbara took over the U3A choir the numbers have increased to around 50 and the repertoire of songs has also grown. The choir’s first public performance was at the U3A Christmas Party in 2008 and since then they have performed at a variety of venues in and around the Vale of Belvoir. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of the month in the Chapel Schoolroom from 2pm till 4pm so if you would like to join in, then just come along or contact Val on 07582469401 or val.lever@hotmail.com

SPOTLIGHT ON…. Bottesford U3A Choir

Two Very Different Reasons to Visit St Mary’s Church Peregrines When you read this, the next generation of Peregrine Falcons should soon be ‘flying the nest’. The number of visitors drawn to the church, the website (www.stmarysbottesford.co.uk) and Facebook (St Mary the Virgin Bottesford) over recent weeks has been staggering and donations received will go quite a way towards purchasing our own camera, monitor and cabling for next season, to replace the equipment kindly loaned this year by St Wulfram’s Grantham. Food Bank It’s also opportune to remind readers of the trolley in church, used to collect donations of food and toiletries for Grantham Food Bank. We are able each month to deliver a full trolley-load of goods to Grantham, which is so necessary and appreciated by the growing number of local families facing food poverty. Please keep your donations coming, when you come along to watch the peregrines or you’re passing by the church. Your contributions really are appreciated.

What’s On in July...

Important: To publicise your event in the ‘What’s On’ column for Sept & Oct, please ring 844823 or email t.taffs@btinternet.com by 30th July.

And in August…..

1st & 3rd Wednesday of each month

Lite-Bite Lunch Group is held at the Methodist school room from 12noon to 1pm. Everyone is wel-come.

Sat 5th 10.30am - 4pm

WW1 Centenary Concert in St Mary’s Church with the Belvoir Wassailers and “Enchanted” Ladies Choir. Tickets £6 (£5 for Friends of St Mary’s) from the Church Office, Co-op or Spar Shop.

Sat 5th & Sun 6th

10.30am - 4pm Bottesford Open Gardens. Sixteen gardens across the parish. Programmes £3.50 from the Co-op or Spar Shop.

Mon 7th 10am Good Neighbour Scheme coffee morning. Meet the team.

Weds 9th 7pm VoB Ramblers. Gunthorpe (Church on Main St) 5 miles to mill at Caythorpe. Contact Anny 01159664205. For full list see: http://vbrambler01.blogspot.co.uk

Thur 10th 2.30pm

Methodist Friendship Group. The Elsham Singers will be performing at the METHODIST CHURCH, Devon Lane. Everyone welcome. Refreshments served. Details Glenys Bradshaw 842893

Sun 13th 10am - 4pm

Elderflower Festival, Knipton Cricket Club. See advert p5.

Mon 14th 7.15pm

Parish Council meeting. Fuller Rooms. Residents are welcome as observers.

Tues 15th 7.30pm

W.I. 'The Life of Beatrix Potter', Marian Foers. VC Hall

Thurs 24th 2.30pm

Methodist Friendship Group. the Chapel School-room, Devon Lane. Brian Gordon on 'Being a Prison Chaplain/Visitor'. Refreshments served and all are welcome. Further details from Glenys Bradshaw 842893.

Weds 30th July and 20th August, 2pm

Police Team Beat Surgery. Zaro’s Coffee Shop, Queen Street. Come along and have a chat to your Local Police Beat Team about what matters in your Community.

Thurs 7th 2.30pm

Bottesford Friendship Group's annual outing to Grimsthorpe Castle. Details from Glenys.

Mon 11th 7.15pm

Parish Council meeting. Fuller Rooms. Residents are welcome as observers.

Thurs 21st 2.30pm

Bottesford Methodist Friendship Group will hear about the training and work of Medical Detection Dogs from Denise Taylor. Contact Glenys.

To be arranged W.I. Outing Contact: Marion Orr 843629

Letters “With regard to the article concerning the Bottesford Playgroup I would just like to add a little more information regarding the formation of it. It all began in a house owned by the Watt family on Grantham Road. All of us who heard about the meeting were anxious to attend as several children were due to start at the Primary School within that year. Those present on that night so many years ago are as follows. Liz Bradshaw, Denise Morton, Floss Pritchett, Jill Silverwood, Pat Pearson, Ester Sheardown, Mrs Mitten, Jane Watt and Kathleen Fisher. If I have forgotten anyone I apologise. The following afternoon I went to see Irene Pacey who was a friend of mine and asked if she would consider running the playgroup as and when it was set up, she readily agreed and suggested that Joy Simpson who would be returning to the village shortly would be the perfect person to assist her. How could anyone have forseen how successful this venture would prove to be as Irene and Joy alongside various committees brought this dream to fruition? I was so pleased to see Nannie Bradshaw, as she became to be known by children and Mothers alike , in the photograph, Who could ever forget her comforting presence calming frightened children and reassuring anxious parents. I know that all of my children remember her with affection as many more do I've no doubt.” - Kathleen Fisher

Maddie Sharpe's fundraising Quiz Night, held at the Village Hall in April, was a great success and a thoroughly enjoyable evening. Over £500 was raised for Mission Zambia, a charity set up by Nottingham Medical School to help support orphans in Zambia whose parents have died of AIDS. Will Wiseman presided over eight rounds; a particularly popular round being 'Detect that Theme Tune' which had participants reminiscing over half remembered TV detective dramas! Blooming Beautiful Botanical Bottesford This year, the Open Gardens Weekend is being organised by St Mary’s Church, over the weekend of Saturday/Sunday 5th/6th July. Repre-sentatives from the Bee Conservation Society and the Woodland Trust will be on hand to speak to visitors. Programmes are on sale at the Co-op, the Spar shop and the gardens that are open ‘on the day’. Village Voice Photo competition 2014 Don’t forget to look out for photos for our photo competition which has the theme of heritage. The photos could be of people, buildings, groups... There are 3 age groups: under 11, 11 – 17 and 18+ and the closing date is 30th October 2014. Vale of Belvoir Out of School Club The Club, situated on the Belvoir High School campus, will be running its very popular Holiday Club in the weeks commencing 28th July and 4th August. On offer will be lots of art and craft activities; sport; cooking; dance; hair and beauty sessions and a bouncy castle. Further information and application forms can be found at www.voboosc.co.uk Alternatively: ring 845006 or Email: OSC@belvoirhigh.leics.sch.uk.

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Village Voice Contacts Advertising: Email vvadverts@hotmail.com or phone 842141 Editorial: Dilys Shepherd on 843505 or Susan Meech on 843402 Deadline for September/October Edition (Issue 73): 20th July. E-mail: vv@bottesford.org.uk Facebook: ‘Village Voice, Bottesford’ Website: www.villagevoice.bottesford.org.uk includes our ‘Extras’ page. Whilst every care is taken in the printing of notices and advertisements, the committee accepts no responsibility for any inaccuracies or consequences which may arise from them. Views expressed in the Village Voice do not necessarily reflect those of the committee.

Karl joins GB swimming sprint squad Following another successful year Bottesford resident Karl Morgan, 19, has been selected for the senior national sprint squad based at Loughborough. Last year he represented GB at the World Junior Championships in Dubai at 50m and 100m freestyle and also reached the senior finals at both distances in the GB championships. This year he has improved his 100m time further, to 50.32 seconds, and now aims to continue moving up the senior rankings. Bottesford Football Club Needs You Bottesford Football Club is an established, dynamic, standard chartered football club with its own multi-pitch ground. It caters for all age groups and has a rapidly expanding and progressive junior section. Further development of the Nottingham Road site is planned to start in October this year. The Club is now looking for new players to strengthen the Under 18s team and to create a new Under 14 squad for next season. In addition there are vacancies for a Junior Teams Liaison Manager and a Communications Manager. For more information about the Club and for details about joining a team or helping out in a managerial capacity please contact Danny Gribby on 07770 853545 or email: bottesfordfc@outlook.com. Also on the Village Voice extras page. Cricket club Bottesford Cricket Club opened their Grantham and Melton Association campaign against local rivals Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir. They also marked the occasion with the opening of their new J.W. "Bill" Sutton Memorial Scorebox. The Scorebox was officially opened by Bill's wife Barbara and his son Godfrey who is chairman of the c l ub . B i l l ' s b ro the r - i n - l aw Brian Stubley made a speech. Unfortunately the match didn't go the home side’s way, Woolsthorpe won by seven wickets after Bottesford were all out for 78.