Ashby Life Sept 14

2 Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

3Please mention ASHBY LIFE when responding to adverts

44

this issue 100

Ashby LifeEditorLiz Roberts

Telephone01530 417739

Email enquiriesAdvertising/[email protected]/What’s [email protected]

Webwww.ashbylife.co.uk

Facebookwww.facebook.com/ashbylife

Twitter@AshbyLife

AddressAshby Life LtdCastle HouseSouth StreetAshby de la ZouchLE65 1BR

Front Cover Image byLesley HextallPhotography

Ashby Life is an independentpublication. No part of thispublication may be reproducedwithout the prior permission ofthe editor. The use of thismagazine for canvassing ordirect marketing is strictlyprohibited.

Information is included onthe What’s On andCommunity Board pagessubject to space beingavailable. Whilst every carehas been taken toensure that the data inthis publication is accurate,Ashby Life cannot be heldresponsible for any errors oromissions or endorse com-panies, products or servicesappearing in this magazine. If you would like to advertise in Ashby Life

It’s a fantastic way to target potential customers and great value for money

See our website or call Liz on 01530 417739 for detailsNext issue is October and deadline for copy is Fri 12th SeptemberPlease note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended

Celebrating our 100th Issue It seems just likeyesterday when I put the first edition of Ashby Life together andsuddenly here we are at our 100th issue! I’d like to send a bigthank you to all the local businesses that have supported usand those who have helped to produce and distribute themagazine over the last 9 years for making this milestone possible.

A particular mention goes to Fairweathers, Castle Garage, Verity’s Nail Creations,Manor House School and F G Gardens all of whom have been with us since our veryfirst edition. We now have over 150 local businesses featuring within our pages,so if you are looking for a product or service pleaseremember to Think Local and Buy Local. Thanks!

Contents06 It’s Local10 On the Beat14 Seasonal Recipes18 Prize Competition22 Puzzle Page26 Christadelphian Church30 Book Reviews34 Ashby Museum News38 Young Ashby42 Behind the Scenes44 Ashby Town Council46 In Your Home50 Wordsearch54 Community Board58 Out and About62 All About You66 Spotlight On...70 Money Matters74 Ashby Health Centre78 Just 4 Fun84 Venture Theatre News88 Storytime92 Ashby Library News96 A Walk in the Forest100 Going Places104 In Your Garden108 This Month112 What’s On116 Puzzle Solutions118 Business Directory

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Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

Liz Roberts

Please mention ASHBY LIFE when responding to adverts 5

it’s local

THIS month sees Ashby hosting its first Fashion andBeauty week. The event will run from Saturday 27thSeptember through to Saturday 4th October andpromises to be lively, colourful and entertaining with awell-planned schedule of innovative ideas to entertainlocal residents and visitors to the town. At the start of Ashby’s FA B ulous week you’re invited toDress up for Ashby – look out for businesses in the townsporting costume or fancy dress and feel free to join in.Throughout the week there will be the chance topersonalise your own piece of bunting to brighten thetown up plus two FA Bcompetitions. Entry forms for theDesign a T-shirt competition will be available at in avariety of venues and the winners will get their very ownT-shirt designs made up for them by Ashby Image.There will also be a fashion themed trail with items tospot in window displays around the town, entry formsavailable in venues locally.On Tuesday 30th September The Mews Restaurant arehosting a Swishing evening. This includes the chanceto view a video and take part in a discussion aboutfashion and attitudes to it while enjoying a glass of wineplus a fun session of browsing and swapping. Someoneelse’s cast offs could become your treasured outfit!Tickets can be bought from fair2all on Bath Street orGeorgia May’s Vintage Wardrobe in Market Street.Ashby Film night, on Wednesday 1st October featuresthe classic fashion film ‘Funny Face’ and on Thursday2nd fair2all will host a fashion show at Manor HouseSchool. Their fair trade fashion shows are alwayswonderful events with fashions and accessories both onshow and on sale on the night. Tickets are availablefrom fair2all in Bath Street. The Friday night, 3rdOctober, also offers evening entertainment with the LyricRooms holding a Fashion through the Decades party.

There will belive music anda buffet –dress with the theme ofany decade from WWI to present day is optional. Ticketscan be purchased at fair2all or Georgia May’s VintageWardrobe.You may have already seen posters up in townadvertising The Scarf – this is an attempt for Ashby toget into the record books by setting a record for thelongest scarf knitted in a week by a community. Yourtown needs you to help with this please – yes, every oneof you, even those who can’t currently knit! Sessions willbe arranged where non-knitters can learn the art duringthe weeks leading up to Fashion and Beauty week. Totake part in the challenge and help Ashby get in therecord books you need to register online atwww.thescarf.org.uk or pick up a form at the TouristInformation Office, Specsavers or Woodlander. There isalso more information available about knitting classes,if you need one, when registering. By getting sponsorsyou can help to raise funds to provide a new communitycentre in the town and there is also the chance tonominate a charity of your own. Wool and needles willbe provided, on Saturday 27th September, for all thoseregistered, and then it’s just a case of getting knitting.Scarves will be collected at the finish venue on Saturday4th October – how long do you think we can manage? Amile? Right around the town centre? Let’s get knittingand see!To round off the week the FA B organisers have come upwith the imaginative idea of live models within towncentre shop windows. The Dressing Room in Bath Streethad a live Alice in Wonderland (pictured above) in theirwindow during the Ashby Arts Festival – the live Alice wasthen replaced with a doll sized version when she neededa break. This great idea attracted such a lot of attentionthat it is planned to extend it to other suitable shopwindows for Fashion and Beauty week so take a strollaround town on Saturday 4th October and see just howmany live models you can spot.

How do you brighten up the town centre, have lots of funand encourage people to use the local shops? You have aF A B ulous event of course!


Ashby Fashion and Beauty week runs from Saturday 27th September through to Saturday4th October. You can find out more on Facebook by following Ashby’s FABulous.




WHEN you have a chance, I would recommend thatyou have a look at the police.uk website.

The police.uk website was launched in 2011 toprovide the public with street-level crime and anti-social behaviour data for their local area.

Police.uk has crime data for all police forces inEngland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Since itslaunch, it’s had over 60 million visits.

The website was re-designed last year and has a rangeof new features which aim to inform the public aboutcrime in their area, and the action taken by the policeto tackle it.

Key features of the site include:

• Interactive crime maps which users canpersonalise to focus on a specific area.

• A film allowing the public to discover how they canhelp the police during the investigation of a crime.

• Information on crime prevention measures.

• Users can register for e-mail alerts informing themwhen crime data for their area is updated.

You can also find details of your police and crimecommissioner, and neighbourhood policing team,together with details of upcoming neighbourhoodpolicing meetings.

PC MARK ARJOOtelephone: 101 voicemail ID: 1667

email: [email protected]

on the beat

Hello everyone...

www.police.uk/leicestershire/L14/



Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk12


seasonal recipes

GET STARTED1 Preheat the oven to 220°C, 200°C fan,

Gas 7. Place the butter and 150ml waterinto pan and heat gently until the buttermelts. Bring the mixture to a rolling boilthen quickly tip in the flour and a largepinch of salt and beat with a woodenspoon until the mixture forms a smoothball that comes away from the sides ofthe pan. Cool for 2-3 minutes.

2 Gradually add the beaten eggs, beatingwell after each addition, until the mixtureis firm and glossy. You may not need toadd all the beaten egg.

3 Spoon the mixture into a large disposablepiping bag fitted with a large plain nozzleand pipe 10 x 9cm lengths of the pastryonto a large dampened baking sheet.

4 Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20minutes until the pastry is risen, goldenand crisp. Pierce each éclair with the tipof a knife to allow the steam to escapeand bake for a further 5 minutes.Transfer to a wire rack and leave to cool.

5 Halve each cold éclair. Whip the creamand vanilla extract together in a bowl untilsoftly peaking and drop spoonfuls intothe bottom halves of the eclairs.

6 Sift the icing sugar into a bowl and beatin the coffee to make a smooth icing.Gently dip the top half of each éclair inthe icing. Carefully sandwich the éclairsback together.

YOU WILL NEED• 50g butter• 65g plain flour• 100g icing sugar• 2 medium eggs,

beaten

• 300ml doublecream

• 1 tsp vanilla extract• 1 tbsp cold strong

black coffee

A luscious teatime treat

YOU WILL NEEDFor the Pastry• 200g plain flour, plus extra

for dusting

• 100g butter, cut into smallpieces, plus greasing

• 1 egg yolk

• A little water

For the Filling• 400g salmon fillet

• Butter/groundnut oil

• Salt & black pepper

• 2 large handfulswatercress

• 4 eggs

• 400ml double cream

Serves4-6Ready in90 mins


GET STARTED1 You can make the pastry in a food processor or rub the

butter into the flour in a bowl with your fingertips. Addthe egg yolk and just enough water to bring the dough toa firm ball.

2 Roll the pastry out to line a loose-bottomed 24cm wide,3.5cm deep tart tin. Lightly butter the tin, and then dustit with a small amount of flour. Lower in the pastrymaking sure you push it right into the edges and don’ttear it. Trim the excess and pop in the fridge for 20mins.

3 Set the oven at 200°C/Gas 6. Put a baking sheet in towarm. Line the pastry case with kitchen foil and bakingbeans and slide onto the hot baking sheet. Bake for 15mins, then remove and carefully lift the beans out.

4 Return the pastry case to the oven for five mins, until thesurface is dry to the touch. Remove from the oven andset aside. Turn the oven down to 180°C/Gas 4.

5 For the filling, place the salmon in a baking dish, brushwith oil or butter, season lightly and bake for 15 mins, oruntil the flakes break apart easily. Remove from the oven.Leave to cool a little then break into large pieces andplace in the tart case.

6 Wash the watercress leaves removing and discarding thethickest of the stems. Put the wet watercress into asaucepan, cover tightly with a lid and place over a highheat. Cook for a couple of mins or until the leaves wilt alittle but keep their colour. Turn the watercress over andlet it steam a further few seconds then remove from theheat, cool under cold running water, and squeeze dry.

7 Tuck the watercress into the tart case in between thesalmon pieces. Gently whisk the eggs and cream, pourinto the case and bake for 25 mins, or until set. Servewarm.

Salmon &Watercress Quiche

Makes 10Ready in1hr pluscooling

CoffeeCream Eclairs

Peppery watercress andsalmon make a greatcombination




prize competition

WIN £25 IN OUR PRIZE COMPETITION We’ve hidden a copy of our logowithin one of the adverts in the magazine (not on the front cover) - just tell us the name of the companywhose advert it is hidden in and you could be in with a chance of winning £25. Send your answer to usat: Competition, Ashby Life, Castle House, South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1BR.

If you don’t want to cut out the entry form you can send the answer on a postcard) or enter by email to:[email protected].

Entries close on Friday 12th September. The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. The winnerwill be notified and a cheque for £25 sent within 14 days of the closing date, the winners name will also be publishedon our Facebook page. Multiple or automated entries are not allowed. We will not pass your details to any thirdparty. We may use your details to send you marketing emails from Ashby Life in the future – if you would preferthat we did not, please tick the box.

NameAddress

PostcodeEmail addressThe logo is hidden in the advert for

on page

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of our July competition, Amy Gordon, whocorrectly found the hidden logo in the advert for Ashby Music School on page 16.





puzzle page

SU

DO

KU

Fill in the grid so thatevery row, everycolumn and every 3 x 3box contains the digits1 through 9, with norepetition.

That’s all there is to it.

You solve the puzzlewith reasoning andlogic - there’s nomaths involved andno adding up.

It’s fun, it’s challenging,it’s additive!

Solutions to allpuzzles can be foundon page 116.

QUICK CROSSWORD1 In addition (4)3 Greets (8)9 Painful condition (7)

10 Childminder (5)11 Developments (12)14 Appropriate (3)16 Braid hair (5)17 Winter sport (3)18 Purposefully (12)21 Time-piece (5)22 Distinctive (7)23 Moving very fast (8)24 Questions (4)

1 From the United States (8)2 Tantrum (5)4 Used for seeing (3)5 Condensed (12)6 Parts of an hour (7)7 Speaks (4)8 Talented (12)

12 Delete (5)13 Two wheeled vehicles (8)15 Rigid support frame (7)19 Departs (5)20 In debt (4)22 Male child (3)

Solu

tions on

page 1

16

ACROSS

DOWN





www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Children are really quick to pick up things.We’ve all heard children repeating whatthey’ve heard others say. Parents can spell

out words like b-i-s-c-u-i-t but once your child canspell, no conversation goes unheard. They pick upthings like sponges; learning an instrument, asecond language, how to play a sport. Sadlyhowever, there are also many things that caninfluence them negatively.

When bringing up children who are learning sorapidly, you can sometimes think: are they gettingenough depth to their lives? Is a good educationenough? What about a happy family environment?Perhaps a good circle of friends? But sometimesthere needs to be more. Some might call it a moralcompass or an appreciation of religion and its rolein society. There are times in your life when havinga faith, or belief in a higher being, is all you have toget you through the tough times. It can be anincredible support when you believe that someone

is watching over you.For centuries, children have been taught the basicsof a belief, be it Christianity or another religion, butas each generation comes along, the fundamentalsof love, respect, morality, honesty, kindness andpatience are being passed-on less and less. Theseare the roots that give us as people, and as a society,stability.Sunday School and Youth Club can be a reallypositive influence for children. It’s a safe place tomake friends, have fun and learn about God andthe morals for daily life. It may also help balanceout some of the negative influences societyunfortunately provides.Why not come along to Youth Club on the first andthird Friday of the month at 6.30pm or to ourSunday School each Sunday at 10am? Over thirtychildren of all ages already do and they simplywouldn’t change it for world.

Useful passage to look up: Proverbs ch22 v6.

Influences Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.uk





book reviews

Bonkers: My Lifein Laughs...Jennifer SaundersWe couldn’t talk about Dawn French andnot include Jennifer Saunders’ memoir, Bonkers. A self-confessedprocrastinator, Saunders seems to be under the impression it’s a bitof a miracle she’s achieved anything. There’s never been a life planshe says, more a sort of stumbling from one thing to the next, but itseems to be working for her. The book follows her haphazard workinglife alongside fellow ‘bluffer’ French and is full of their adventurestogether as well as those had whilst working on her own series suchas Absolutely Fabulous. Then of course, there is her battle withcancer; again, not something she had planned for. She doesn’t shyaway from talking about the tough times and it seems that laughterreally could be the best medicine.

How to be a Woman. . . Caitlin Moran

Moran’s definitive guide to being female will tell every Miss, Mrs and Ms everythingwe’re supposed to be doing as we totter through life in toe-crushing heels, as well asraising all the questions we’re not supposed to ask, such as ‘do we really need to wax?’and ‘should a sense of broodiness be in-built?’ It’s a laugh-out-loud book that will makeyou feel better about your old lady chin whiskers and your inability to get on atrampoline post kids. Billed as being ‘part memoir, part rant’ this is a laugh-out-

loud funny book that will reassure the ‘fairer sex’ and educate the male population,provided the blokes can get past the chapters on puberty.

Bossypants... Tina Fey

Hollywood star Tina Fey has a unique ability to make us feel like she could be ourbest friend. In fact, she wouldn’t look out of place sat at your kitchen table, lookingfrazzled, glass of white wine in hand, telling you about her adventures into planningher daughter’s Peter Pan-themed birthday party. Bossypants follows Tina’s rise tofame from jobbing stand-up comic, to writing sketches for Saturday Night Live. Thewoman whose Sarah Palin impersonation is more wellknown than, well, Sarah Palinis funny, often painfully candid and incredibly self-deprecating, and you can’t helpbut love her for that. She gives the impression of being a woman on the edge; jugglingan amazing career with her family life, and dropping a few balls along the way.

Dear Fatty... Dawn French

National treasure Dawn French has had an amazing career as a funny girl and this memoir is written as aseries of letters to people who have influenced her life. ‘Dear Fatty’ is a fantastic blend of honesty, poignancyand controversy, just like the comedy actress herself. As one half of the nation’s best-loved female comedy-duo, French and Saunders, she and her partner in crime redefined the roles of women in entertainment. Withtheir sideways look at life that started with performances in Comic Strip they’ve sent up pretty much everyonein their hugely successful TV series. French tackles everything, from her career to her father’s death, and notforgetting a nation’s obsession with her size. A brilliant read.


Barbara Streisand may havebeen the ‘Funny Girl’ of the

silver screen, but some of theseladies have been making

audiences laugh their BridgetJones-style big pants off foryears. We’ve put together aselection of books by funny

women, for funny women, or justwomen in general…or men who

want to talk about problems withhair in unwanted places, and

how to walkin highheels.

Funny Girls




Ashby Museum's Great War Exhibition was formallyopened on Monday, 4th August by the Chairmanof Leicestershire County Council, Bill Boulter.

He expressed his admiration not only for the qualityof the display but also for the obvious hard work andcommitment put in throughout each year by all thevolunteers. Major Richard Bream, formerly a DeputyLord Lieutenant of the County, was also present aswas the Revd. Brian Robertson from St. Helen'sChurch, several members of the local British Legion,and members of the Blackfordby War Memorial Project.

Visitors were able to study the sombre and movingmemorabilia in the display cases and gaze on thecentral 'grave' with its original wooden cross broughtback from the Front. The villages of Blackfordby,Coleorton, Lount and Packington also had displaysof relevant material. The exhibition runs untilChristmas.

This exhibition has beensupported through thegenerosity of Jim andGill Hoult in makingthe museum theirofficial charity forJim's Tractor Run andFun Day on the BathGrounds.

Three books, ‘Lest We vvvvForget’, in memory of the fallen in the Great Warare now on sale in the Museum. They cover Ashbyand its surrounding villages; the Ibstock and Heatherarea; and the northern parishes (Diseworth, CastleDonington, Kegworth and Long Whatton). Proceedswill be used to support local ex-servicemen andwomen in genuine need, working through the localbranch of the British Legion.

ashby museum news


FRIENDS OF ASHBY MUSEUM Come and join us on Wednesday September 10th for an afternoon talk about ‘Miningin Leicestershire’ given by Keith Gilliver, followed by tea. This starts 2pm at the museum. Cost is £3 for talk andrefreshments. Call or email the museum to book a place. Calling all quiz enthusiasts: The Ian Clews Memorial Quiz willbe held at Packington Memorial Hall at 7pm on Friday 10th October. Teams of 6 are required but we can find anyonewho would like to come a place. Cost is £10, to include a fish and chip supper. Booking forms available from the museumto which they should be returned by Friday 3rd October.




young ashby





behind the scenes

Find out a bit more about some of the people who live and work within thelocal area – each month we will be interviewing someone from an organisationor business in Ashby or the surrounding areas. This month...

Sue Crooksthe lady behind the very successful Ashby Ladies Business Group and owner ofSJC Marketing. For more on the Business Group visit www.ashbylbg.co.uk.

What inspired you to start Ashby Ladies Business Group andwhat do you love about it? I’d been along to local networkingand business events and found that they often seemed to bea predominantly male environment with few new, independent,businesses. I felt that these events weren’t really represen-tative of the area as a whole. The thought behind the groupwas to offer an environment where local business womencould gather together and support each other. The grouplaunched in April 2012 and our members now range frommulti-million pound businesses to mums who work part-time- they include business owners and women who manage orrepresent a business. Ultimately they are business womenwhatever their role. I love to help bring the business ladiestogether and it is great to see our members giving each otherbusiness, advice and support and also becoming friends. What is your favourite local restaurant? The Vine is very closeto my office - I love to go there and enjoy a glass of fizz plustheir tapas. Poppys (in Rushton’s Yard) is great too for Panini

and salads, and they will deliver when we are busy in the officeand can’t get out.Where do you like to go for a day or evening out? I lived inLondon for some years and I still enjoy a weekend down theredoing touristy things with my teenage daughter, like the opentop bus, a nice meal or seeing a show.What is your favourite local shop and why? Well I like themall! My offices are above Souk de la Zouch and I do go in therea lot, especially for the candles and scarves and Norths forsome delicious cake (when I am not dieting). Ashby has somewonderful shops.What do you like best about Ashby? I think we have a lovelytown - it’s great to see it when the town centre is busy at aweekend or when a special event is on and there is a buzz! If you could change one thing about the town what wouldit be? I’d like to see all the businesses working together tohelp each other and the town as a whole. Sometimes thereis a lack of communication. Also maybe some businessesextending their opening hours - I find sometimes that the towncan be a little quiet later in the afternoon. If you didn’t live in this area where would you live and why?Spain, I enjoy ‘proper’ Spain for the food, way of life and thesunshine. What is the best thing that has happened to you recently? I’velost a lot of weight with the help of a personal trainer andfitness classes and I feel loads better for it. Although I havelots more weight to lose. I have also just changed my businessfrom being a sole trader to a Limited company and amemploying staff locally. And finally, we opened the 3rd branchon the Ladies Business Group in Loughborough, where I wasborn and we had the support of the Minister for Woman, NickyMorgan, who is so passionate about women in business. It wasquite an amazing day. And when this magazine comes out wewill be launching the group in Burton-on-Trent too.



DATES FOR TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS are published on the Community Board pages of Ashby Life each month. The publicare welcome to attend and there is always a slot for public questions. Find out more about your Town Council by visiting theoffices at South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, calling 01530 416961 or via the website at: www.ashbytowncouncil.org.uk

As autumn approacheswe can look back ona great summer for

outdoor events – Jim’s TractorRun and Family Fun Dayattracted a very large crowdthis year with plenty ofentertainment for everyone.Pinder’s Circus, held on theBath Grounds back in June,also proved to be extremelypopular with many childrenenjoying their performances.We are hoping that this small, family run, circus will returnto Ashby in future years. The town centre has also beenshowing its summer colours with not only displays fromthe floral towers but also the flags of St George flying forthe World Cup and then Union Jacks to celebrate theTractor Run and Family Fun Day.

We are pleased to report thatthe new play equipment isnow installed on the play-ing field at Willesley. Thiscomprises of a good sele-ction for all ages, includingsets of multi play apparatus

for toddlers and older children, cradle and junior swingsand springers. New benches and sets of goal posts havealso been provided. The official opening of this projectby mayor, Councillor Andrew Badger, took place onAugust 17th and the equipment is already being enjoyedby a good number of people.

We are pleased to be able to report that as a direct resultof negotiations between Ashby Town Council and OaklandHotels Ltd the planning application to build houses onpart of the Bath Grounds has now been withdrawn. Thisis a really positive outcome to our work. Ongoing we arestill in negotiations with the owners of the land with aview to securing the long-term future of this importantarea of the town.

There are a number of planning applications pending inthe area - these include applications for a solar farm onland off Moira Road and for housing off Willesley Lane

and at Butt Lane inBlackfordby. There is alsoa public enquiry coming up

in September regarding the application byHallam Land Management Ltd to build 70houses on land off Lower Packington Road.

The planning permission has now been grantedfor the new Blackfordby War Memorial. Themembers of the Blackfordby War Memorial FundCommittee achieved their goal of raising over£9,000, to build a new traditional stonememorial for the men of the village who gavetheir lives in both World Wars, in just 6 months.The memorial, which will be in the form of astone obelisk, is to be sited adjacent to theyouth club and in front of the boundary of theMethodist chapel. We are now looking forwardto the stone mason starting work.

The community event to mark the centenary ofWorld War I took place on 3rd August at StHelens Church in Ashby. Organised by BrianRobertson in conjunction with the British Legion,this event was very well attended.

With regard to the Neighbourhood Plan, thefocus groups mentioned in our last newsletterare now meeting. The aim of a NeighbourhoodPlan is to set out how we would like to shapeour town for years to come – if you are notalready part of the focus groups but wouldlike to put your views forward do please get intouch with Karen Edwards at the Ashby TownCouncil offices.

Looking ahead: We will soon be welcoming theannual Statutes Fair to Ashby once again.This year’s Statutes run from Friday 12thSeptember through to Tuesday 16th September.Family day will be on Sunday 14th Septemberand the usual road closures will take placewith Brook Street and Market Street beingclosed off and a one-way system in operationalong Bath Street, Derby Road, North Streetand South Street. We also have a date foryour diaries – Ashby’s Christmas event willtake place on Saturday 29th November, wewill bring you more on this in our nextnewsletter.

ashby town council


Planning for the Future


in your home

Thinking of having some building work done?Then forward planning is vital. Our expertKatherine Sorrell has some handy advice...

Ready, Steady, Go?It may sound obvious, but do you know exactly whatwork needs doing to your home? Think structure first,then decoration. Are the walls and roof safe and soundIs the house warm enough in winter? How good is yourboiler – have you got hot water whenever you need it? Doyour windows stick; do your stairs creak, do your guttersdrip or is your plaster crumbling away?

Aim to get all the boring but necessary repairs andrenovations out of the way – you might want to look fortradespeople (from builders to carpenters, electricians toplumbers) in the pages of this magazine – before turningyour attention to paint colours, floorings and soft furnishings.Then sort out your budget, agree a programme of work andget ready to make a few cupsof tea.

Before Work StartsIf you want your project to runas smoothly as possible,make sure you get thefollowing issues sorted inadvance:

• Hours to be worked

• Access to the house (espe-cially if you won’t be livingthere), and security

• Parking

• Storage of tools and other equipment

• Who is responsible for clearing the working area in advance, andcleaning up afterwards

• Use of a WC, and a sink to clean tools

• Disposal of rubbish

• Use of power points

• Potential aggravation to neighbours (anything from loud building noiseto playing a radio)

Rules and RegulationsBefore you start any building work – and especially if it’s a major change suchas an extension or conversion – find out whether or not you need to obtainplanning permission from your local authority. Go to planningportal.gov.uk/permission for lots of information. If you live in a listed building, green

belt or a conservation area,you should be especiallycareful to get the nec-essary consents – it isa criminal offence tofail to apply for listedbuilding consent when required,for example, so it is always worth checking with yourlocal planning authority. You may also be surprisedto find that Building Regulations cover most aspectsof work to your home, from the energy efficiency ofnew windows to electrical installations. It isimportant that you comply with them, because ifyou don’t you could be asked to alter or remove thework. You would also have problems when youcome to sell your property. Confirm with yourbuilder that he is taking responsibility forcompliance – and get the necessary document-ation to prove it once the work is finished. If youare doing the work yourself, talk to the buildingcontrol department of your local authority.

DIY SafetyKeep safety first and foremost if you’re

doing any building workyourself. Never attemptany work that you are notcompetent to handleand, if it involves gasor electricity, call in aprofessional. If necess-ary, take the time to do acourse, read a book or atleast watch relevantinternet videos. Use theright tool for the job, andensure it’s in good

working order before you start. Makesure you know how to use hire toolsproperly. Wear appropriate clothing,keep pets and children out of theway, tie long hair back and don’tsmoke on the job. Heavy lifting tobe done? Get help at theappropriate time. Be especiallycareful when using a ladder,don’t rush or cut corners, andstore tools and equipmentsafely. Ventilate any areaswhere there are fumes or dustand, last but by no meansleast, keep a first aid kithandy, just in case.

Getting thebuilders in?

GOING GREEN? Now is the time to decide on anyenvironmentally friendly features that could saveyou money in the long run. Some eco measures,such as ground source heat pumps and windturbines, are best suited for new builds or top-to-toe renovations, but others – solar panels andrainwater recycling, for example – are more easilyachievable. Don’t overlook the straightforwardoptions: fitting double or secondary glazing,installing water-saving showerheads andinsulating your loft. Even tiny moves such asconnecting an energy monitor or using energy-saving light bulbs can make a big difference.





wordsearch





Creative Writing for all A new WEA course, will be held on Tuesday afternoons,1pm to 3pm, in Ashby Library. The course starts on 30thSeptember and is suitable for everyone. Cost is £53.90for seven sessions. For more details, phone the WEA on01509 268 636 or Helen Johnson on 01530 414 247.

Age UK Will Writing offerTwenty four offices of local Solicitors have agreed toreduce their will writing charges for older people to £35plus VAT for a single uncomplicated will. The offer isavailable from 1st September until 31st October. Detailsare available from 0116 299 2233.

Blackfordby War Memorial The members of the Blackfordby War Memorial FundCommittee have raised over £9,000 since the projectstarted. They would like to give thanks to East MidlandsAirport Community Fund and Ashby De La Zouch TownCouncil for grants and to Ashby Museum for a pledgefrom the proceeds of a forthcoming book on the fallenof the district in the first world war. The remainder hascome from generous donations.

Newlands House Volunteers are sought for Newlands House. This is a carehome for very disabled, wheelchair user adults.Volunteers can help with a variety of services, frombefriending, playing games and going with residents onoutings to helping with fundraising events. Hours areflexible and travel expenses can be paid. If you wouldlike more information contact Sally Anderson, VolunteerCo-ordinator on 01283 763 014 or email [email protected].

Coleorton and New Lount Volunteer GroupDates for September are: New Lount 2nd, 6th and 30thSeptember. Coleorton Wood 16th and 20th. Worksessions start at 10am and usually last 4 hours.Volunteers are welcome to come along for all or part ofthe sessions. For more details email [email protected] or see www.cnlvg.moonfruit.co.uk.

Tara Kadampa Meditation CentreRelaxing meditation and practical advice, at LegionHouse, South Street, Ashby, LE65 1BQ. Classes restarton 11th September and run until 23rd October, from7.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursdays. There is no need tobook, just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Cost £6, contact01283 732 338 or email [email protected].

Ashby Town TeamThe ScarfGroups and teams are being sought from across ourcommunity to help make a new world record by knittingthe longest scarf ever made in one week. Each team willbe sponsored to raise funds for a community centre forAshby. Wool, knitting needles and training are allprovided. Entry fee is £5 for each team member and

covers the costs of the wool and knitting needles. Theevent runs from 27th September to 4th October. Seethescarf.org.uk

Ashby Ivanhoe Travel ClubMr J Shaw who used to keep us updated on the AshbyIvanhoe Travel Club retired back in March this year. Theclub is now in full swing again with new organiser, JulieNelson. They meet at the Pithiviers Rooms of IvanhoeCollege, North Street on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdaysof the month. Speakers are invited to give talks onworldwide subjects illustrated with slides of their travels.Talks begin at 7.30pm promptly and finish at 9pm.There is no joining fee or annual subscription, just acharge of £1.50 per meeting. For more informationcontact Julie Nelson on 01530 588 197 or [email protected].

Coalville Community ChoirThis group meets every Monday from 1.30pm to 3pm inMargaret Street Church Centre, Coalville, and anyone iswelcome to join. For more information contact MicheleCrooks on 07910 644 965.

NWLDC Consultation on Local PlanningHave your say on what should be included in the newLocal Plan for the district, which will set out how the areawill develop and change over the next 15 to 20 years.The plan will shape how many homes, roads, offices, andshops are built and where, and which open spaces willbe created and protected. Local people now have thechance to say what they think using an online form atwww.nwleics.gov.uk/localplanmysay. Members of thepublic have until Friday 19th September 2014 to makecomments.

Microchipping for DogsNew legislation comes into play in 2016 makingmicrochipping for dogs compulsory. NWLDC is offeringan ‘at home’ microchipping service at a cost of £15. Tobook an appointment contact 01530 454 545.

Ashby De la Zouch Round TableWhat are you doing on Wednesdays? Are you maleage between 18-45? The Round Table offers the chanceto meet local people, take part in a wide variety ofactivities and participate in fundraising for localcharities. If you are interested in joining or havemore questions please email [email protected] call 0779 287 7927.

Ashby de la Zouch Town CouncilCalendar of MeetingsThe Licensing, Planning and Transportation Committeesmeet on Monday 1st September and the Town Councilmeet on Monday 8th September. Members of the publicare welcome to attend and there is a slot for publicquestions. Meetings take place at Legion House, SouthStreet and start at 6.30pm.

community board





out and about


Why is our local river so special?

The River Mease may look like anytypical small lowland river. Itglistens when the sun shines, it

swells with muddied water after rain.However, despite decades of beingignored, abstraction, drainage, engin-eering and pollution this little knownriver has managed to retain pockets ofpristine nature conservation interest tomake it a very special place.

The source of the Mease lies close toNorton Juxta Twycross. The GilwiskawBrook is its largest tributary and joins itfrom Ashby. Measham gets its namefrom the river which surrounds it onthree sides. The Mease flows throughfarmland, before flowing into the RiverTrent at Croxall.

Until recently many of the banks andfloodplains of the Mease had beentaken over by the pretty but devastatingplant, Himalayan Balsam. This plantcan dominate the riverbank by out-competing other species. In the winterit dies back to nothing leaving a bare

earth bank vulnerable to erosion.Himalayan Balsam is incredibly succ-essful but it does have shallow roots making it very easy topull out. Teams of volunteers and contractors coordinated by the TrentRivers Trust are now in the fourth year of removing this pest species andthe plant is thankfully on the decline along the Mease. We can’t rest thoughas just a few plants remaining could spread and once again cause havocto the native riverbank community. If you see it please pull it out.Despite some of the physical problems that face the river, it has beendesignated as a river of national and international importance for natureconservation. The Mease supports a number of nationally threatenedspecies including otters and the river is designated both as a Site of SpecialScientific Interest (SSSI) and a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). There are a number of things we can all do to benefit the Mease. Visit it,walk by it, get to know it and the wildlife that lives in it. Report pollutionif ever you see it. Keep an eye out for invasive weeds, particularlyHimalayan Balsam. Consider using low phosphate detergents. If yourproperty is not connected to mains drainage and you have a septic tank,think about what you put down your drain and make sure you empty thetank regularly.If you would like to learn more about this special river or help look after it,please join the ‘River Mease Waterside Care Group’. This group meets forriver walks, litter picks, and other river management activities. They arekeen to recruit new members and volunteers. To find out more about thegroup call Alan Graham on 07923 878 880 or find them on Facebook.

Photo by Alan Graham




WHEN my daughter entered secondaryschool and started to become moreindependent, I decided to buy her amobile phone to keep in touch andcheck that all was well. But I soondiscovered that we had differentagendas!

She treated her mobile phone like anadditional body part. It accompaniedher everywhere – to the dinner table, tothe bathroom, to bed. She checked itconstantly, and the 300 texts permonth that I thought adequate, soongot swallowed up in her incessant cyberchatter.

Much has changed since then. Textingwas once the major attraction, but nowmobile phones can have any numberof uses, from accessing social mediasites such as Facebook4, Instagram1 andTwitter, to using apps like WhatsApp3

and Snapchat2 and for gaming, videosand music.

Mobile phones are a great way to stayin touch and they are indispensablein emergencies, but they can also bea huge hindrance. Young people aremuch less active, preferring onlinegames or social media sites to sports and otheractivities. Conversation has been replaced byinstant messaging or texting, and schoolwork

for some students is suffering due to long hours spenton phones instead of on their studies or even sleep!

To ensure that mobile phones remain our children’sservant and not their master, a few ground rules needto be set in place.

First, decide if your child is ready for their own phone.If they are generally responsible and trustworthy andable to look after their own belongings, maybe theyare. The average child receives their first phone at theage of 12. This seems like a sensible time to me.

Seriously consider buying a basic model for their firstphone. At this stage it’s all about safety, not socialstatus or games, and the phone should be regardedas a tool, not a toy. Only consider a smart phone whenyour child is quite a bit older.

Set limits for the number of texts or minutes. Amonthly capped contract can help with this, or alter-natively a pay as you go scheme, which will only allowa certain spend before it needs topping up again.Consider taking out insurance should the phone getlost or broken, and ask your child to contribute to thecost as they get older and are able to earn.

Designate certain times when the phone should beturned off or left behind - such as at the dinner table,after a certain time in the evening, or in the bedroom- and limit the number of hours they spend on thephone to leave time for other interests.

Finally, make sure you follow your own rules. You can’texpect your child to abide by them if you don’t, as you aretheir greatest role model!

Should myCHILD havea PHONE?


all about you

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Ashby de la Zouch & District Round Table

I’m sure that many of us will remember the SuperHeroes fundraising for Children in Need in MarketStreet but did you know that they are members of our

local Round Table group? How much do you know aboutthe group, its activities, aims and members? The Ashbyde la Zouch & District Round Table is currently on thelookout for new members so this month we shone thespotlight on them to find a bit more about the historybehind the organisation, its ethos and activities.

The Round Table is a social networking and charitableorganisation for men from the ages of 18 to 45 years andoffers a wide choice of activities which can range from asimple night at the pub to fun outings such as whitewater rafting. Sporting fixtures and tours are alsoincluded in their impressive list of up coming dates.

Founded in 1927, the Round Table organisation is non-religious, non-political and non-sectarian. Although thename conjures up visions of King Arthur and his roundtable it was in fact inspired by a speech made by the thenPrince of Wales who suggested that ‘Young business andprofessional men of this country must get together roundthe table…’ – this speech not only resulted in the nameof the organisation but also its ethos to ‘Adopt, Adapt and

Improve’, principles that are still at the heart of RoundTable.

Our local Round Table meets on Wednesdays at a varietyof venues. Membership is free to under 25’s for the firsttwo years. There is a small membership charge for thoseover 25 plus the cost of any activities. As well as gettingto meet other men who live close by members haveaccess to Round Table groups in other areas so theycan enjoy socialising and activities while working awayor on holiday. With the Round Table now having groupsthroughout the world this offers a great chance to makenew friends and enjoy experiences right across the globe.

Each year groups usually organise and take part in somecharity fundraising events, locally this could be dressingup as Batman for Children in Need or taking part in theSanta Sleigh runs during December, there is noobligation to commit a certain amount of time but thechance is there to get involved in the local communityand make a difference.

If you’d like to know more then contact James Burrowseither by phone on 07792 877 927 or via email [email protected]. You can also find Ashby de laZouch Round Table on Facebook.


spotlight on...




money matters


CURRENTLY under UK law VAT is payableon the net amount after deducting thediscount, whether or not the customer takesadvantage of the PPD and pays promptly.

For example if you sell some goods for£10,000 plus VAT and offer 5% discount ifthe customer pays within 10 days then VATis charged at 20% on £9,500 being £1,900,rather than 20% of £10,000 which is£2,000. Even if the customer takes 30 daysto pay and therefore does not qualify for thePPD, the amount due will be £11,400.

This rule regarding PPD is in the process ofbeing changed and from 1 April 2015 VATwill be due on the amount the customer

actually pays. So using the above example if the customerfails to take advantage of the PPD he would need to pay thefull £10,000 plus VAT of £2,000.

The business making the supply will have to issue a creditnote to account for the PPD where this is taken up. So usingthe same example if the customer takes up the discount thenthe credit note would be for £500 plus £100 VAT.

Apparently PPD have been widely used by suppliers oftelecommunications and broadcasting services and so theuse of PPD to reduce VAT due has already been blocked inthose sectors from 1 May 2014. This applies where thecustomer cannot recover the VAT charged.

If your business currently offers PPD you need to considerthe changes required to your invoicing procedures from1 April 2015.

Businesses that currently offer prompt payment discounts (PPD) to their customers need to be awarethat there are some changes ahead to the rules.

VAT and prompt payment discounts

If you would like to discuss the above or require any further information, please contactLisa Emery on 01530 416688 or [email protected]

by Lisa Emery of Baldwins Accountants




ashby health centre


Ring! Ring!Ring! Ring!

Ring! Ring!

Ring! R

ing!

Ring! Ring!

Ring!

Telephone StatisticsI hope you are finding our new phone system betterthan the old one. We did have a few teethingproblems but it has mainly settled down now. Weare able to get statistics on the number of calls wereceive and I thought it would be interestingto share some of them:

• We are dealing with between 3500and 4000 calls each week.

• Monday is our busiest day when weusually deal with about 300 more callsthan any of the other days.

• We have most calls between 7.30am and11am although the phones do continue toring steadily all day.

Flu time againI know it’s hard to believe but flu jab time is almosthere again. We will be running our usual Wednesday

flu clinics and as we did last year we’ll be doinga couple of Saturday clinics. Having learned fromlast year we expect to open for longer this year butwe’ll let you know the details once they’re finalisedin the next few weeks. This information will be putup around the surgery and on our web site.

If you are over 65 or in one of the groups that iseligible for a flu jab please ring and book from early

September.

This year the nasal flu vaccinations forchildren will be running again for childrenthat are aged 2, 3 or 4 on the 1stSeptember 2014.

Shingles vaccinations are still availablefor those who were aged 70 or aged 79 onthe 1st September 2013. We are expecting

this program to be extended to thosewho are 70, 78 or 79 on the 1st September2014 but we are still awaiting the finalinformation. Again please watch out for

information around the surgery andon our website about this.

MONTHLY UPDATE




just 4 funS

olution

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age 116

Solu

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page 1

16

Each letter in this puzzle isrepresented by a numberbetween 1 and 26. The codesfor three letters are shown.As you find the letters enterthem in the box below.

CODEWORD







venture theatre news

Our September/October play features an impoverished Cornish tin mining community on theeve of the First World War, an outstanding Cornish rugbyplayer and a unique personal local connection with Ashby.


BERT Solomon was the rugbyplayer. It was said that he had aspecial ability to know exactlywhere every man was on the rugbyfield at any moment. He waschosen no fewer than 26 times toplay for the Cornwall rugby unionteam but in 1910 came a specialmoment. Bert was chosen to playfor England, the first Cornishmanever to do so.Now Bert was a quiet, unassumingman, not one to bask in the gloryof this honour. What’s more, hehad another interest. He bred andraced pigeons. On the day of the

England v Wales match he failedto appear as the London boundtrain pulled into the station. Hewas at home devotedly caring fora breeding pair and could not bepersuaded to leave the birds. It issaid that his mates lay down infront of the train in an attempt tostop it from departing!

But what has all this got to dowith Ashby de la Zouch? Well, it’sa true story and Bert’s grand-daughter, Angela Solomon, nowlives in Ashby and is a member ofthe Venture Theatre. The play willbe directed by Angela’s partner,

PaulSmith.Paul has awealth of theatrical experience soyou can expect a very professionaland innovative production.

So, did Bert make it to the match?Did he play a part in England’svictory over Wales? And did he evergo on to further glories? You’ll haveto come to the play to find out.

Hellfire Corner runs from Thursday25th to Saturday 27th Septemberand Wednesday 1st to Saturday4th October. See our website fordetails: ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk

Hellfire Corner





storytime

My GoblinMost people, when asked to describe a goblin, woulddescribe a creature who is an ugly brute of a beast;without manners and excessively rude. My goblin wasnothing like that. He was as soft as my favourite jumperand always there when I needed him.

One of my earliest memories is of me dancing at the topof the stairs. While I was dancing my dance, I trippedover my foot and toppled headlong. I screamed, waitingfor the bump: that never came. A pair of strong, shortarms caught me and I was cushioned by a downy softbody. I stopped screaming so I could stare at this thingthat had saved me. His deep, deep blue eyes staredstraight back, looking right inside me. We looked at eachother. Two living things trapped in a moment. The spellwas broken by my mother racing along the landing. Thegoblin blinked, ran down the remaining stairs anddisappeared.

I tried to say that a goblin had caught me, but toddlersaren’t taken very seriously when they make outlandishclaims like that.

Throughout my childhood, the goblin would appearat opportune moments, catching me, stopping me,protecting me, saving me. I started to do increasinglymore dangerous tricks on my bike, just to see mygoblin. I was desperate to know more about him, to talkto him, to ask him all my questions. But I never got thechance. He only appeared when I was in real danger andwhen I was too shaken to speak.

Just before my sixth birthday, I took a ramp too quicklyon my bike and crashed spectacularly. I howled. Therewere grazes all over my legs and blood was running downto my socks. I felt bereft. My goblin hadn’t saved me.As my injuries were cleaned up, I sobbed at having lostmy guardian angel.

The years rolled on and I moved away. The memory ofthe goblin faded until I was telling myself that I hadinvented a friend who was there when I needed him most,a solution for something I lacked. There was no otherexplanation. A goblin who rescued me when I was indistress? This isn’t what rational people think.

My parents aged, as parents do and my father died,leaving my mother, alone, struggling with the onset of

Alzheimer’s. My brother and I battled with sharing thecare load and tried our best to be the support our motherneeded. But there is no stopping a disease so forceful,so devastating. We watched as our momma slipped awayfrom us. Everything that made her who she wasgradually eroded away. Memories evaporated, withconfusion and worry replacing them.

One rainy Thursday morning, we gently told mum thatshe was moving to a home. We told her about thewonderful nursing staff, the beautiful view from her newwindow, a peaceful garden she could walk in, knowing allalong that she wouldn’t remember, that the move the nextday would still come as a shock, an earth shuddering,world shaking trauma.

We left her that evening, reassuring her we would beback the next day. She smiled benignly, not reallyunderstanding. I remember walking away down herdrive, heart heavy and aching, tears unshed but stingingin my eyes.

When I unlocked her front door and let myself in the nextmorning, it was eerily still.

I found her, crumpled, at the foot of the stairs. On myknees I listened to see if she was breathing.

“Mum,” I said, “Can you hear me?” The tears were fallingnow, streaming down my cheeks and dripping onto mycoat. Painfully she opened her eyes. She held out herthin, translucent hands and grasped my fingers. She toldme about a goblin that had caught her as she fell. Thathe had comforted her as she lay, cold and frightened.That he had cashmere soft fur and the deepest of blueeyes. That he had made her feel safe. Secure. Loved.

As I held her, she slipped away. With me one momentand then not the next. There wasn’t an earthquake orcrash of thunder to signify this event. Nothing to showthe world that my mother was dead.

The funeral was held a week later in the local church andall the village came. She was respected by the peoplewho knew her. I never told anyone what she said, not evenmy brother. Goblins still aren’t the things you can talkabout.

By local author, Kate MallinderFind Kate on Twitter @KateMallinder




ashby library news

You can always expect a warm welcome at AshbyLibrary. Join for free to use the computers andborrow books, DVDs and talking books. We also

do 1-2-1 iPad and computer taster sessions. Comeand chat to us and we will be happy to help you.

Well done to all 4 to 12 year olds who completed theMythical Maze Summer Reading Challenge by reading sixlibrary books! Hurry to the library if you have notfinished yet, there is still time as the challengesfinishes on 13th September!

OUR REGULAR EVENTS:

‘Wriggly Readers’ and ‘Story and Rhymetime’ forchildren aged 0 to 5 years and their parents andcarers. Join us for stories and songs every Fridaymorning 10.30am to 11am.

After Story and Rhymetime, fortnightly 11am to noon,come along to ‘Bumps & Babies’, a meeting placefor new and expectant mums: free advice andinformation sessions run by the National ChildbirthTrust.

The friendly ‘Knit and Stitch’ group meets everyMonday 2pm to 4pm. Bring your project and come fora chat.

‘Tiny Talk’ baby signing classes take place everyThursday 9.30am to 10.30am and another session11am to noon. They are £5 per session. Pre-bookingessential.

The unusual and popular‘Ukulele Playing Group’meets every Wednesday10am to 11.30am. £5per session. Call JoannaStevenson on 07415798134.

Come and practice Hatha Yoga every Tuesday, 7pm to9pm. Contact British Wheel of Yoga qualified instructorLorna Kirk for more details on 01530 416135.

To aid flexibility and ease joints, try Therapeutic Yogaevery Wednesday 7pm to 9pm, and the first Friday ofevery month 7pm to 9pm. Contact qualified instructorLiz Underwood for more details on 07812 007202 oremail [email protected].

For more information pleasecontact Ashby Library on

0116 305 5917.





a walk in the forest

Hough MillQuite a short walk this month but with a great focal point. There are many footpathsin the area around Swannington so do feel free to take an ordnance survey map andexplore further, there is certainly plenty of scope. If you go online to www.swannington-heritage.co.uk you’ll find information about the Windmill and the industrial history ofthe area as well as a selection of walks around the village. As the site of the Mill wasn’topen when I went I started the walk from Limby Hall Lane but do please be considerateif you are parking in this area so that you don’t blockaccess to fields or driveways. Allow 45 minutes forthe walk and a bit of sight-seeing at the Mill – theroute contains a fairly long section of quiet lane aswell as footpaths and a bridleway.

Leave Ashby via Nottingham Road taking the A511towards Coalville at the roundabout by Tesco and then the A512 towardsLoughborough at the A42 roundabout. Continue along the A512 for about 2 milesuntil you pass the George Inn on your left. Take the next turning right after theGeorge Inn into Moor Lane and the first turning left off Moor Lane into Limby HallLane. After a short distance you will see a green post signalling a bridleway off tothe left(1) – this is where we start our walk. I parked on the left shortly before thissign but if Hough Mill is open you may prefer to park there (access is by continuingon the A512 to the roundabout at Peggs Green and then turning right towardsSwannington) and then walk up to the mill and use the alternative starting point.

From Limby Hall Lane follow the bridleway sign up a gravel drive. The drive soonends with the path becoming a grassy lane that was laden with ripening blackberries when I went. After a shortdistance you will pass by a yellow post marking a footpath that crosses the bridleway(2), continue straight aheadboth here and also when you pass another path leading off to the right a little further on. The bridleway ends at

a metal gate where you are quite suddenly presented with the sight of thebeautifully maintained windmill directly ahead of you(3).

After a pause to admire and explore the millcontinue your walk by turning right from the metalgate at the bridleway exit to go down to Gorse Field(*alternative start point). Follow the wide grass pathdown the incline to reach a metal gate and then gothrough it to reach a similar gate a few yardsfurther on. After passing through the second gateyou will see the end of a hedgerow facing you and,embedded into the vegetation to the right of it is ayellow footpath post. Don’t be tempted to try totake the path to the right of the hedge - it was veryovergrown when I went – instead go to the left ofthe hedge where you will find an obvious grassytrack which leads you downhill with a cream

coloured building visible off to your left. As it nears the bottom of the hill thetrack bears around to the right before ending where it reaches Limby Hall Lane.

Turn right along this quiet lane and keep following it. You will pass a bench onyour left(4) and then, as you come up to the 30mph signs, the road forks – bear round to the right here. Pass byLimby Hall Lodge and several bungalows on your right and then, on reaching the brow of the next hill, you willreturn to the public bridleway sign at the start of the walk (if you parked at Hough Mill you will need to turn righthere and follow the bridleway back to the mill).

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All walks are checked shortly before publication but please be aware that paths may change over time and with the seasons.






Local company Villair, are a team of specialist traveladvisors with combined travel experience of over 170years. Whether you are longing to tour the world,take a luxury cruise of a lifetime, explore Australia orNew Zealand or plan to get married in a tropicalparadise, they can help.

Their consultants are adept at creating tailor-madebespoke itineraries for discerning travellers seekingauthentic experiences around the world. They arethemselves seasoned travellers, each with individualexpertise in the destinations they have visited, andthey offer a high level of personal service with greatattention to detail.

During 32 years in business, Villair have built up

strong relationships with independenttour operators, hotels and ground

handlers in order to ensure that your travelarrangements run smoothly. They take pride

in offering value for money, unrivalled personalservice and you can rest assured that you’re fullyprotected by ABTA and ATOL.

On 8th October Villair are holding anAUSTRALIAN ROADSHOW at the Royal Hotel in

Ashby de la Zouch, 6.30pm for 7pm start.

Why not go along and start to plan that trip of alifetime? For further details see their main adverton page 102. To register your interest please call01530 413055.

SO many of us dream of that once in a lifetime trip but howdo you plan it and make sure that the memories will be just as special as your dreams?

Are you dreaming ofa trip down under?

going places




in your garden

This summer I was really impressed with a superbdisplay of annual bedding plants in aquite unexpected venue; it wasLeicester Racecourse. Theplanting there was a greatlesson in how to make anordinary space reallywonderful. It goes with-out saying, that the racetrack itself was like animmaculate green jewel,fit for the finest thor-oughbreds, and the wellmaintained buildings wereimpressive anyway but thelandscaping and planting reallymade it look great. The parade ring, where the horses are onshow before a race, was encircled with tubsfilled with flowers and the whole occasionwas exciting and quite grand. The areasbetween the track and the buildings, whichcould have just been dull viewing platforms, weretransformed into areas of bright colourful works ofart. Within the whole racing complex the view betweenbuildings was interspersed with bursts of hugebrightly coloured baskets, troughs generously spaced,all brimming with flouncing froths of colour. Thisgreat achievement was of course carefully planned.Jake Croft, who manages the track and landscaping,took delivery of 6,000 annual plants to achieve thissuccess. The order was placed with the nursery inJanuary and the plants were grown to order. As wellas physically kneeling over, placing, planting and dead-heading all those plants, the watering through thesummer takes 4 hours a day. Just Jake and Paul lookafter all the landscaping, paddocks and tracks –amazing!

We all know that well planned landscaping makes a

good first impression. At Leicester racecourse, as wellas being one of the busiest turf racing tracks in the

country with horses racing up to two times aweek, the whole complex hosts conferencing

to local and national businesses andregular Chamber of Commerce meetings.The pride and success of theirachievements in a great floral displayhas been recognised by bodies suchas East Midlands in Bloom whereLeicester Racecourse was awarded asilver-gilt last year.

For a special afternoon or evening out atthe races (with a horticultural interest)

or for conferencing and eventsinformation see www.leicester-

racecourse.co.uk.

Back to your gardens - now itis September and you areemptying your summerbaskets and troughs, do try

and keep the colour and displaygoing. Consider autumn planting

using pansies, violas, primrosesor polyanthus. Plan ahead and in the

bottom of pots puts in some spring bulbs (plump andfirm to twice their own depth.) Try narcissi, alliums,crocuses and scillas. Short lived spring floweringplants such as wallflower and sweet william can beplanted in pots now too. The common ivy isunderestimated and does well in pots. The variegatedvarieties show their delicate leaf form and willlook pretty throughout the winter and add abackground to your other plants. Happy gardening.

FrancescaEmail [email protected]

Photograph courtesy of Gillian Day

RHS Show Garden Medalist, Francesca Sinclair, looks at how to make the most of yourgarden and garden jobs for this time of year. Francesca offers a full garden design service- find out more at www.francescasinclair.co.uk

A FEW MORE JOBS FOR SEPTEMBER:

1 Keep on weeding and treat perennial weeds with systemicweed killers which will work down to the base of the plantthough the winter

2 Clean out the green house

3 Start digging over heavy clay soil and add organic matter 4 If September is very warm keep watering newly planted

plants5 Plant spring flowering bulbs

On your marks for an unexpected WOW!





SUCCESS in conkers relies on a good HorseChestnut. The best are firm, uncracked andsymmetrical. Drill through the centre andthread a shoelace through the hole, knottingit securely.

The aim is to smash your opponent’s conkerwith your own and if you achieve this, yourconker becomes a one-er. From here it getsa bit more complicated. If it then smashesanother one-er it becomes a two-er. If it thensmashes a two-er it automatically becomesa four-er. If it then smashes a six-er itbecomes a ten-er and so on. Still with me?

The rules of conkers are many and varied. Irather like the one which states that if you

drop your conker your oppo-nent can yell ‘stamps’ and crushyour conker with his foot. If youyell ‘no stamp’ first, he’s not

allowed to do this. Good luck withthat one in the heat of battle!

Dense conkers are best. If yourssinks in a bucket of water it’s a goodone. Less legitimate ways to success include baking your conkerin a low oven, soaking it in vinegar or coating it in nail polish - allguaranteed to improve your chances of success in opencompetition.

The official world conker championship is held annually inAshton in Northamptonshire. Contestants are not allowed to usetheir own conkers. They also dispense with the points rulementioned earlier, and no-one is allowed to stamp on anyoneelse’s conkers, which surely takes some of the fun out of it.

In recent years health and safety has resulted in a ban onconkers in schools up and down the land. This is a shame andperhaps we should campaign to get conkers back intoplaygrounds as part of our rightful heritage.

Most sources agree that the gloriously eccentric game of conkers began in England, though it’s played in North America, Canada, Ireland and Switzerland.

this month


Conkers




what’s on...

2nd SeptemberAshby Royal British Legion meet onthe first Tuesday of the month atIvanhoe Social Club, 1 Wilfred Place,Ashby LE65 2GW at 7pm, visitorswelcome. For more information call01283 220 534 or email [email protected].

Blackfordby WI – ‘Laura Ashley’ withspeaker Mary Lander. Meetings onthe first Tuesday of the month atBlackfordby Village Hall, 7pm. Formore details contact Gill Massey01238 212 380.

3rd September Bradgate Flower Club – HarvestSupper plus 'Corn Dollies' by JudyMarshall. Meeting starts 7.30pm atNewtown Linford Village Hall (LE60AE). Please bring a contribution tothe supper. Visitors are welcome,charge of £5 is made. Details fromLilian Coleman on 0116 236 3191.

4th SeptemberAshby Castle WI – Sheelagh Powelltells the history of yoga with ademonstration. Ashby Congregat-ional Church, Kilwardby Street, 2pm.Visitors pay a small fee and arewelcome to join. Refreshmentsavailable. Call Lesley for more detailson 01530 455 957.

5th, 6th and 7th SeptemberBritish Superbikes at DoningtonPark. Advance tickets now availableto purchase, children under 13 gofree if accompanied by a payingadult. See www.donington-park.co.ukfor further information.

5th SeptemberCentury Theatre at Snibston – ‘MrMorgan's Last Love’ (12A). Heart-warming drama set in Paris as alonely widower strikes up an unlikelyfriendship with a much younger wo-man. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3.50on the door. Tel 01530 278 444.

6th September George Huxley’s Jazz Band atVenture theatre, 7.30pm Tickets £9from Ashby TIC or call 01530 560649.

Ballroom and Sequence dancing -Blackfordby Village Hall from 8pm to11pm. Admission £3, raffle, bar,refreshments. For more informationcall 01283 213 481 or 01283819 447.

Charity Fundraiser at Twycross Zooin support of Children with CancerUK. Raffle, prizes and a VIP experi-ence. From 10am to 6pm. Bookyour tickets on line at http://cancerfightgoeswild.eventbrite.co.uk.

7th SeptemberCharity Ploughing Match organisedby Ashby Young Farmers. Vintageand modern machinery, 9.30am to2pm at Normanton Lane, Heather.The field will be signposted fromthe A447 at Ibstock. In aid of theR.A.B.I. helping rural people. Entryforms available from Mr R Hewitt,Dunnsmoor Farm, Dunnsmoor Lane,Hartshorne, Swadlincote, DE11 7AP.Tel. 07971 278 001.

8th SeptemberAshby History Society - AGM followedby talk on ‘Ashby in the First WorldWar’ by Ken Hillier. Meetings on thesecond Monday of every month.7.30pm at Ashby Methodist Church,Burton Road. Visitors welcome. Formore details call 01530 415 654.

9th SeptemberAshby Writers’ Club – Speaker SteveDunn, crime novelist, 7.30pm to9.30pm at Congregational Church,Kilwardby St, Ashby, LE65 2FQ.Visitors are welcome, cost £4 perspeaker meeting, £3 per comp/manuscript meeting (includes coffeeor tea).

Ashby Civic Society – A talk on‘Impact of WW1 on Ladies Fashion1905 to 1925’ by Philip Warren.8pm at Legion House, Ashby.Visitors welcome, for more detailscall 01530 415 654.

10th SeptemberAshby Wine Circle – Wine tastingpresented by Ken Sterne. 7.30pm atBrown Court, Atkinson Road,Westfields, Ashby. LE65 2LZ.

National Trust Group - A Blue Badgeguided walk around Leicester, visitingsites associated with King Richard IIIincluding his burial site and restingplace. For further information pleasering 01530 563 003.

13th SeptemberCancer Research UK Coffee/Tea and Cakes - Homemade cakesand preserves for sale, craft stallsand more. 10am to 12.30pm,Swannington Village Hall, MainStreet, Swannington. LE67 8QL.

17th SeptemberAshby Spa WI – ‘My Life as a RolyPoly’ by Sue Cadman. Manor HouseSchool, South Street at 7.30pm. Youdon’t have to be a member to attend,£3 charge for visitors. For more [email protected].

18th SeptemberCentury Theatre at Snibston - ‘Blastfrom the past’ tell the story of WWlthrough music and songs. Starts7.45pm. Tickets £8 advance, £10 onthe door. Available online or call01530 278 444.

19th SeptemberLRWT North West Group - John Bluntof Staunton Harold outlines thechallenges and rewards of managinghis estate for wildlife and farming.The hall and park are regarded as oneof the most beautifully proportionedand situated great houses in Britain.This group meets monthly for talks,visits, conservation work and socialevents. All talks are in the church hallof Ashby Methodist Chapel, BurtonRoad, Ashby and begin at 7.30pm,entry £2. To find out more call DavidMaltby on 01530 222 934 or JimFootitt on 01530 262 389.

Netherseal Village Hall - 'SummerFlowers' a flower arranging demon-stration by Lee Berrill, NAFASdemonstrator. Starting at 7pm,tickets £5 available from 'TreasureHall' in Pass's Courtyard, Ashby, or bytelephone from Anne 01827 373 907or Pat 01283 760 408.

September into October

continued on p114



what’s on...

20th SeptemberAshby Farmers Market – 9am to 2pmat Manor House South Street. Bring-ing you the finest foods from theregion and specialist stalls. Freeparking.

20th SeptemberCentury Theatre at Snibston - DerekAcorah, one of the UK's most recog-nised mediums. Starts 7.30pm.Tickets £18. Tel 01530 278 444.

22nd SeptemberCAP Money Course – This greatcourse offers you a chance to con-sider your spending, budgeting andsaving and better manage yourfinances. Free of charge with accessto online help and workbook. Therewill be three Monday evening sessionsstarting at 7.45pm at the coffeelounge, Ashby Baptist Church, BrookStreet. Sign up or enquire by text orphone 07790 542 041 or [email protected]. CAPMoney is supported by the Ashbychurches.

23rd SeptemberAshby Writers’ Club manuscriptmeeting: members’ own work,7.30pm to 9.30pm at CongregationalChurch, Kilwardby St, Ashby LE652FQ. Visitors are welcome, cost £4per speaker meeting, £3 percomp/manuscript meeting (includescoffee or tea).

24th September Active Forum, Active Retirement - Atalk by Harry Macpherson on CoachHolidays at the community room,Prior Park at 2pm. A small chargeincludes light refreshments. For moredetails email Helen on [email protected].

25th to 27th September Venture Theatre – ‘Hell Fire Corner’ byD.M.Thomas. A true story about thelives of Cornish people in the early1900s and about one man inparticular, Bert Solomon. Bert was aCornish miner whose amazing talenton the rugby field saw him rise tobecome the first Cornishman to playfor England. Tickets available fromthe Ashby TIC or call 01530 560 649.

26th September Coffee in the Chapel in aid ofMacmillan Cancer Support. Raven-stone Court, Hospital Lane, Raven-stone, (formerly known as the Alm-shouses) from 10am to noon. Coffee,tea, biscuits and cakes plus tombolaand stalls. You are asked to make adonation, all proceeds will be for thework of Macmillan nurses.

Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘TheTop Ten Beatles’. The Midlands' prem-ier Beatles tribute band in concert.Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £10, availableonline or call 01530 278 444.

27th September Packington and Normanton LadiesGroup - 50th year celebration lunch.From noon at the Packington WarMemorial Hall. You can catch up withfriends, both old and new. ‘FineCuisine’ will be preparing the mealwith a choice of main course, sweets,drinks and there will also a celebrationcake! Tickets £18, pleaser contactDoreen Gasson on 01530 412 012 oremail on gasson123btinternet.com.

29th SeptemberNational Trust Group - Annual dinner(after AGM) rounded off with aperformance by Ken Knowles, TownCrier of Lichfield for four years. Go foreither the dinner alone, or the AGMand dinner. For further information,please ring 01530 563 003.

1st to 4th OctoberVenture Theatre – ‘Hellfire Corner’ byD.M.Thomas. A true story about thelives of Cornish people in the early1900s and about one man in part-icular, Bert Solomon. Bert was aCornish miner whose amazing talenton the rugby field saw him rise tobecome the first Cornishman to playfor England. Tickets available fromthe Ashby TIC or call 01530 560 649.

1st OctoberBradgate Flower Club - 'Nature'sFantasia', demonstration by LyndaStamp. Meeting starts at 7.30pm inNewtown Linford Village Hall (LE60AE). Visitors are welcome, cost £5.Details from Lilian Coleman on 0116236 3191.

2nd October Pack Up Your Troubles - Leicester-shire Commemorates World War Iat The Curve, Leicester with music,songs, poetry, comedy and art. Fortickets see www.curveonline.co.uk.

3rd OctoberCentury Theatre Snibston – ‘Jimmy'sHall’ (12A). Based on true story of amusic hall and social club in 1930sIreland which incurs the wrath of thelocal priest. Directed by Ken Loach.Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3.50 pay onthe door. Call 01530 278 444.

4th October Craft Fair at Memorial Hall, Copt Oak,Whitwick Road, Leicestershire, LE679QB from 11am to 3pm. Admissionadults £1 and Under 16’s 50p.Ulverscroft Grange tearooms andcharity shop also open 10am to 4pm.For more details email [email protected] or call 01530244 914.

7th OctoberAshby Royal British Legion meetingat Ivanhoe Social Club, 1 WilfredPlace, Ashby LE65 2GW at 7pm.Visitors welcome, for more details call01283 220 534 or email [email protected].

Blackfordby WI AGM at BlackfordbyVillage Hall, 7pm. For more detailscontact Gill Massey 01238 212 380.

September into October continued

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Email the details and contactnumber to [email protected]. Deadline for sub-missions for the CommunityBoard or What’s On pages ofthe October 2014 issue isFriday 12th September.

Information is published sub-ject to space being available.Ashby Life cannot be heldresponsible for any errors oromissions or endorse com-panies, products or servicesappearing in the magazine.



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Accountants & PayrollAshby Payroll Bureau 53Baldwins 71Haines Watts 9 & 119JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd 47RDG Accounting 40Aerials & SatelliteAB Aerials & Satellites 93ArchitectsA G Dezign 33Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, ToysGreenwood Days 58Indivijilly Wrapped 52Souk de la Zouch 49Watch & Clock Repairs 103Business ServicesEternal Rainbow 56SJC Marketing 56SMB Virtual PA Services 42Carpenters & JoinersDerek Verey 15Garden Studio Creations 25S S Joinery 55The Ten Mile Timber 13Carpets & InteriorsAgadon 3Ashby Carpets 5Ashby Stoves 98Botanic Blinds 74Boundary Carpets and Floorings 34Coalville Furniture Superstore 57Fairweathers Carpets 19The Bed Shop 32Toons 43Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 65Child Care/NurseriesK & C Kids Cabin 17Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry ServicesBreedon Carpet Care 111Deanclean 79Energise Cleaning & Gardening 76Extreme Clean 21Karen’s Ovengleam 29Safeclean 29Spotless Cleaning 93The Bee’s Knees 72Toni's Ironing Angels 89ClothingJust for You 87The Shoe Box 72Community Organisations/CharitiesAshby Round Table 66Country Stores/ General StoresIvanhoe Countrystore 97Domestic AppliancesContracool 74Contract & Domestic Services 67I.M.P. Domestic 65Ray Pittam Engineers 77Driving SchoolsBardon School of Motoring 94RDT School of Motoring 89ElectriciansA & J Bartlett Ltd 107Burton Alarm Systems 37D & B Electrical 17M & J Electrical Contractors 115Estate AgentsFish 2 Let 109John German 28P A Wrigley Surveys Ltd 49

Events/Event ServicesDonington Park Racing 20 & 68Moira Village Hall 39Financial ServicesBleathwood 12Ian Goodship, IFA 81Independent Insurance Bureau 70FloristsIndigo Acres 95Food & GroceriesAshby Farmers Market 40Conibears Kitchen 99Funeral ServicesA E Grice Funeral Directors 82Art Stone Memorials 37Furniture Repairs & RestorationAncient & Modern 77GardenArtisan of Ashby Ltd 111Bonington Tree Services 8Broadleaf Landscapes 18Charnwood Tree Services 45Eden Tree Care 16F G Gardens 82Francesca Sinclair & Associates 91GDR Landscapes 94Green Thumb (Ashby) 105Roughly Refined Garden Service 87Stone Drives & Landscapes 92The Ten Mile Timber 37Hair & BeautyClassic Cuts 73Trendset Hair 85HealthcareAshby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic 67Ashby Dental 94Ashby Osteopathic Clinic 8Candor Care Ltd 86Caring Hands 79Dr Jin 56Future Minds 82Juliet Brooke Chiropody 15Leicestershire Hypnotherapy Practice 81Prestige Nursing 91ProPhysio Ashby 80Traditional Acupuncture 100Vision Express 48IT ServicesAshby Web Design 53The PC Clinic 69UK Bits 13Kitchens & BathroomsAshby Tile & Bathrooms 2Holmetree Kitchens 15Provencale Kitchens 77Tiles 4 Less 36Victory Kitchens 84LocksmithsHazlewood Locksmiths 67The Lockie 47Motor ServicesA D Car Cosmetics 94Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd 41Chips Away 117Mobile Automotive 91Motorhome for Sale 93Music, Dance & DramaAshby School of Music 25Joseph Southgate 89

Painters & DecoratorsAce Decorating 33Holywell Painting & Decorating 76John Clark 52Pet ServicesAsh Farm Boarding Kennels 21Woodward Veterinary Practice 107Places of WorshipAshby Baptist Church 76Ashby Christadelphian Church 26PlasterersA C Ellison Plastering and Tiling 103Matt Charles Plastering Services 76R & H Plastering 25TCL Plastering & Property Maint. 81Plumbers & Gas ServicesAdrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 79Batemans Plumbing & Heating 75CCA Gas Plumbing 21D B Plumbing 37Ignite Gas Services 69James Pepper Property Solutions 103S D Hill (Plumbers) 7Therm Heating 99Property Repairs & MaintenanceAshby Glass 11Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 8AW Plastering and Building 31Can’t Get One 49Cloudy 2 Clear 102D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 91Handyman Maintenance 24James Beckett 47James Pepper Property Solutions 29Michael Brooks Home Improvements 13Roof Tech 116RSJ Roofing 45TS Roofing 89Window Mate 65Pubs, Restaurants & Take AwaysLa Spezia Pizzeria 103La Zouch Restaurant 52Link Measham Cantonese Restaurant 63The Blue Bell 87The Courtyard Café 90The Lyric Rooms 33The Vine 106Wong Kwei 83Zamani's 60 & 61Recruitment ServicesA & A Recruitment 17Schools and TuitionAppleby Community Languages 10KME UK Ltd 23Manor House School 50Slimming ServicesLighter Life 39Solicitors & Will WritersCrane & Walton 52Martin Hall 69Simpson Jones Solicitors 108Sports & FitnessBranston Golf & Country Club 59Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 120Field Sport UK 42Fitness Republic 51Fitsteps 35North West Leics Swim Academy 27The Golf Centre (Coalville) 113Tony Hough Personal Training 110Travel & HolidaysMacphersons Coaches 72Villair Travel 101




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