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Ramblings

I was hugely gratified to hear just how Aside, that is, from our Housemaid, many people have said they missed Kessiah. She was from the Ndlovo clan receiving their regular parish newsletter. and Zulu royalty. A large statuesque With the general lack of response to any woman, she was not taking any nonsense of the many appeals sent out through from a little boy irrespective of his various articles it is easy to imagine one pretentions. With my mother and father’s wasting time providing this magazine. So, complete authority she dispensed in that light if you do value your magazine discipline, firmly and frequently on my please review your stance on passive bare posterior, without any particular involvement and participate with a letter indignity from me, as she had been a part or an article which lets your community of our family from when we were little. know your out there and you want to be heard and counted!!!! I did not see this relationship as out of kilter with my society as many of my It is my opinion that “Black Lives friends had similar relationships with their Matter”. I appreciate this rambling may Housemaids. To this day Kessiah will not be to everyone’s taste but recent calls me “Tommy Trouble” from a song events have started me thinking and as a she used to listen to on the radio. On catharsis I would like to share my views. reflection, I am not ashamed of my As a White South African I might have an childhood as in the same way I wouldn’t inside line on some experience of racism judge some other child in the same and its effects. circumstance but we have to grow up and with that came change. I was born and grew up near Johannesburg and as a child I had no On becoming a teenager and naturally sense of the symbolism of “Separate anti-establishment, did I review my stance Development” as we White South on my society, including racism and like Africans understood Apartheid to mean. many of my friends started protesting Separate facilities seemed sensible to a against whatever injustice was the theme child, as if we didn’t have white benches of the day. We wore black armbands for in the park all the benches would be the murder of Steve Biko, Rick Turner and full…. Blind to the inequality of this Ruth First and many black leaders whose development I enjoyed the privileged life names are lost to me. I became part of a my parents and environment provided. group of likeminded pseudo-liberals who Why should I look over at the other side of would equally have no hesitation in this separation as I was very happy thank sharing a racist joke, as protest against you and I had adult black servants at my an injustice. This pervasive hypocrisy beck and call? and the views of the more sincere members of the group turned my head. My parents were English, my mother with strong sense of right and wrong taught us When our phones were tapped, I to always to be polite and respectful to discovered the extent of my mother’s our employees as we had a contract for involvement Domestic Workers Union their labour in exchange for wages and who strove for pay, holiday and pension not a right to their servitude. rights for black domestic workers. My father was enraged at finding out my mother had been briefly detained during a 2 protest in Johannesburg Cathedral, and Mozambique, Zambia and Angola where demanded she get her priorities right!! if reports were to be believed (and we did) She completely ignored him. we ran amok with impunity.

We, as English liberal whites were very So at 18 when I was called up to do my anti the Afrikaans Nationalist Party. The national service, my motivation became “Nats” held all the power and dispensed it clouded as communism didn’t seem according to their want, serving their attractive to me as a privileged white and constituencies with infrastructure while if the press was to be believed the enemy leaving English Liberal constituents out of were at the gates, infiltrating and blowing the light. My mother told us about things up and I was needed. government off shore slush funds for black-ops where the enemy were either I enrolled with uncertain motivation. bribed, blackmailed or bombed into During my basic training I was told that “I silence and to purchase arms and should be proud to shed my blood on the equipment in sanction busting deals with soil of the land that bore me” This left me European countries. pondering feelings that the land didn’t belong to me either because it belonged The South African Nationalist government to Afrikaans or the Blacks but certainly not having measured international opinion me. We had a very pragmatic English decided to focus their media efforts not on Staff Sargent Dalton who was happy the enforcing separate development but during smoke breaks to expound his as a Christian nation “Fighting views on the purpose of war and its Communism”. This ensured a number of context in the South African Theatre. He western nations would overlook the undid all the indoctrination we had been enforcement of Apartheid in the name of given by agreeing with my hypothesis that fighting the Red Scourge and justified we would never win the war, but he went many South African churches preaching on to say we would never lose a battle. politic from the pulpit. … to be continued So for the average South African white teen, his family, government, community, St John The Baptist media and his Church convinced him that the white man was superior and best placed to serve and enlighten the large With COVID-19 number of black people in his world and restrictions that his national service as patriotic duty loosening, I hope and an opportunity to use our our renewed sense overwhelming moral and military of neighbourliness and superiority to send the communist helping whoever we can, however we terrorists packing. can, will continue. As things hopefully get easier or more Our media was full of continuous ‘normal’ from now, our attentions have dramatic footage of our successes on the also been battlefield. The media’s treatment of the turned further outward - with the George sabotage of oil refineries and other Floyd tragedy and the Black Lives Matter strategic targets, further fuelled our hatred campaign, Pride month, and the Grenfell of this insidious enemy who was best Tower anniversary. You may have seen in grappled with in their bases in the 3 media that the Bishops of Leicester and actively challenge all kinds of injustice other senior staff “took the knee” in and prejudice. sorrow for the What are our blind spots? What do we injustices in society, and also in simply not know about the struggles some acknowledgement that our own record is people far from perfect face? What do we choose to ignore? and must change. What assumptions do we make? An in It is no secret (and dare I say, no considering surprise) that research has shown that these things, working out what CAN we COVID has worst do, and what do we need to challenge – affected the most physically or socially at a vulnerable people, the most personal, local or wider level? disadvantaged and the St Francis of Assisi is a great inspiration. most discriminated-against. Ask me about his mission of peace to the Jesus taught that the “Kingdom of God” Sultan of Egypt during the Fifth was all about raising up people to equal Crusade...in 1219 levels, this was perhaps one of the first recorded which we also read in the prophet Isaiah instances of ‘modern’ Interfaith Dialogue! about justice, healing, bring nations (or Let us pray with St Francis: different Lord, make me an instrument of your types of people) together. St Paul wrote peace; that through Jesus Christ, all divisions of where there is hatred, let me sow love; race or where there is injury, pardon; gender or class would be broken down where there is doubt, faith; into a new unity. Going right back to the where there is despair, hope; beginning, where there is darkness, light; one of the creation narratives in Genesis and where there is sadness, joy. illustrates humankind being created in O Divine Master, God’s grant that I may not so much seek to be image, and not only that, but “male and consoled as to console; female” ... an example of equality in to be understood, as to understand; difference. So, I wonder what kind of “new normal” to be loved, as to love; might now emerge in the coming months. for it is in giving that we receive, I hope it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and pray that it means we increasingly and it is in dying that we are born to value the life of every human being, and Eternal Life. Amen. we may

The Chapel Keeping in touch What we are doing at the moment We are keeping in contact During these difficult times of physical by WhatsApp, Facebook, phone, distancing and isolation it email, text, post or any other is more important than way. We want to ensure that ever to keep in contact, everyone is cared for and and so we are doing the encouraged through these anxious following things. times. 4

All our meetings are currently online: Sunday Worship His love of sport of every kind was We are meeting together on Sunday legendary - rugby, golf, horse racing, mornings at 10.30am for Sunday swimming, tennis - taking part if at all Worship possible, or at least watching avidly. Sunny Days He loved live theatre of every kind, from For pre-schoolers and their carers. On his support of the local drama society to his many outings to London theatres, Tuesday mornings at 10.00 am we are Leicester Curve or Kilworth House. getting together for "carpet time" with He was generous to many village songs, a story and a catch up. activities, in particular sponsoring this Home Group magazine from its inception and On Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm is supporting many local charities. He will be our online Home Group. This is an missed. opportunity to encourage one another and pray. ALLAN Cuppa and a Chat Dear Readers We are also joining together for a cuppa and a chat every Tuesday and I would like to take this opportunity to say Friday at 4.00pm a very heartfelt “thank you” to all my You can join these meetings by phone neighbours, friends and all at the Post or on the internet – please let us know Office for all the love and support at this if you want the details of how to join heart-breaking time. My family and I are us. overwhelmed by all the love and support Contact Brian Boley, 07485 which has been given through Allan’s illness and after he sadly, suddenly

046000, [email protected] passed on Easter Monday.

WE SADLY SAYING GOODBYE TO.. A very big hug to you all at such a time, which we need each other the most. ALAN DAY 10th June 1930 - 25th April 2020 Thank you again.

Love Joan and family XXX Long time village resident Alan Day sadly died on 25th April, a few weeks before his They say that a “Community completes a 90th birthday. child”. I would like to hope that at the other end of the road a community is Born and raised here in the family home - reduced when someone passes away. ‘Sunfield’ on Leicester Road, his affection We all can think of people who have for and his support for village passes away over the years who, whilst activities never failed. For many years he sitting over a pint we reminisce over. was chairman of the village hall “Remember so-and -so” who used to do committee - long before the Coplow such-and-such. And so the people who Centre was built - raising large amounts we have lost are remembered as is the of money for the upkeep and case with these valued members. improvement of the old building.

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GOADBY GLEANINGS our community. Sadly, this has led to an increase in fly tipping and general littering During June of the countryside. All correspondents to the village said the B&D P N&V raise this subject but we a fond farewell are obviously preaching to the converted. to Margaret Those who are guilty do not read the Harris who left magazine. Nor do they read notices to live placed with the intention of deterring nearer her them. Recently four, prominent, custom family on the made notices were placed at either end of South Coast. Margaret moved to the the two laybys on the Rolleston section of village with her husband, Peter, more the B6047. Despite their presence, the than 30 years ago. Both were great road has been filled with household supporters of all village activities until rubbish. This wanton anti-social Peter’s sudden death in 2015, thereafter behaviour, and the national disgrace of Margaret maintained her interest in local our country exporting commercial waste activities. A farewell tea party was held for to other countries to “process”, is a blight her before the lockdown but her house that will tarnish our nation for generations removal was necessarily delayed until the to come. We urgently need to educate our various formalities permitted. We now children who will, in turn, educate their welcome Martin and Veronica Taylor and parents. family in Margaret's place. Margaret Harris was involved in 2000, with three We have remarked upon the changing other Goadby residents, in producing a seasons in these columns. This year photographic album of all the village these changes are more relevant because households, to recognise the millennium. of spending more time in our immediate Along with an accompanying “History of surrounds. The arable fields around us lay Goadby”, this is stored in the church. Our fallow over winter due to the very wet enforced confinement at home has been conditions until the end of March. Instead an ideal opportunity to repeat the of the greening of winter crops nothing exercise. As a result, a companion album happened until the machinery could enter “Goadby 2000-2020” was completed, the fields to drill spring barley, wheat and posing the original residents alongside oats. During June we saw these crops those currently occupying the same take hold and the fields are now thriving; homes. This, in future years, may be seen although not with the crops that the as the answer to “what did you do during farmers would have intended last year. lockdown?”! Of all 32 homes in the What is very noticeable is the absence of village, only three are occupied by the the masses of yellow from oil-seed rape. same families. There is absolutely none this year around Goadby! The gradual easing of the coronavirus restrictions has allowed greater freedom Charles Stewart and a noticeable increase in traffic around

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WOODLAND POOL Save for a light frost on 12th May, the sun grounds for continued to further shine throughout butterfly the month and species as insect life summer responded. progresses.

Aside from Down at the pool, both the Moorhen and numerous the Little Grebe each raised three chicks, species of flies the juvenile grebe chicks now fending for and beetles, many with beautiful markings themselves and venturing further out into but difficult to remember Latin names, the the pool as they look for food - insects, star turns were the dragonflies and larvae and small fish. damselflies. First to appear was the Large Red Damselfly, followed closely by the The flora and vegetation in the top Azure Damselfly then the Blue Tailed meadow has grown at a rate of knots and Damselfly, and all had just one thing on very quickly the previously prominent their mind, mating and reproduction. No areas of Cowslips disappeared under wonder really, with the average life span of swathes of Buttercups, Umbellifers, Nettles, Red Campion, Sorrel and now a damselfly being one or two weeks and a Cranesbill, plus the odd patch of Ox-eye dragonfly anywhere from two to six weeks. daisy. Down by the pool, Buttercups are One afternoon I watched as literally giving way to Yellow Rattle, Purple Vetch, dozens of pairs of Azure Damselflies flew Yellow Vetch and both Red and White over the water in Clover. search of a suitable object to Dragonflies and damselflies continue to perch on so that dominate the area around the pool though the female could a few fly further afield in search of prey so lay her eggs on I have seen both Common Blue Damselfly the underwater and a Southern Hawker up in the top vegetation, the meadow. I also watched, mesmerised for result being 14 pairs side by side on a ten minutes, as a female Emperor floating reed stem, a truly memorable Dragonfly laid her eggs into floating sight. Dragonfly species seen so far are vegetation at the water’s edge. I thought two darters, the Broad Bodied Chaser and that the right-angled body position she was the Four-Spotted Chaser, both of which adopting was to help lay the eggs but later perch then dart out at passing prey, and a learned it was a signal to territorial males blue and green hawker, ‘hawking’ for prey that she did not want to mate. as it flies over the water.

Meadow Brown and Small Skipper Down by the pool I spotted the yellow and butterflies put in an appearance towards black caterpillars of The Cinnabar moth on the end of the month and I saw two day a small patch of Ragwort as well as a flying moths, a Mother Shipton and a Silver Silver-ground Carpet moth amongst the Y, both feeding on the buttercups around buttercups. the pool. Hopefully the top meadow and I’d not explored the two woodland areas for other flower areas will provide feeding a while, but thanks to the sterling effort of 7 a few to clear a path, I was able to walk The Big Butterfly Count is deliberately held through the big wood and was rewarded mid-July when most butterflies are at the with birdsong, butterflies and a large stand adult stage of their life cycle and, as the of Rosebay Willow-herb. The path through commencement date of 17th July the trees on the other side of the top approaches for this year’s count, I have meadow revealed Self Heal and emerging already observed an increase in the Dead Man’s number of species on the wing. Along with Fingers fungi. an abundance of Meadow Browns, When I predominately found in the long grass of eventually left, the top and bottom meadows, the other House Martins species of butterfly that I’ve noted so far were swooping are Ringlet, Red Admiral, Large White, low over the Small White, Large Skipper, Small water for a Skipper, Small Tortoiseshell and Comma. drink.

Jo Edwards (Thanks Jo... lovely pictures too…)

The side paths at the Woodland Pool are ……………………………………………….. a constant challenge in the summer. Peter Francis dressed up!! ………………………………………………..

LEICESTERSHIRE website for information on the latest scams POLICE NEWS we are seeing and advice on how to protect yourself: actionfraud.police.uk/ Sadly, 2,378 victims have lost a combined We’ll be restarting our beat surgeries as total of over £7m to soon as we’re able to. In the meantime, coronavirus-related Neighbourhood Link is another great way scams - as of Friday, 12 to keep in touch with your local June, 2020. A total of £7,099,441 has been Neighbourhood Policing Team. Signing up reported lost by 2,378 victims of with Neighbourhood Link is easy, free and coronavirus-related scams. Action Fraud convenient, once registered you will reports that it received 12,323 reports of receive email alerts from the Harborough coronavirus-related phishing emails. Town and Harborough North Beat Team who will send you policing news relevant to Unfortunately, criminals are continuing to your local area as well as crime prevention exploit the coronavirus pandemic to advice. defraud innocent members of the public. Currently, coronavirus-related frauds It’s also a great opportunity to provide make up less than 2% of all fraud reports feedback by completing the ‘Your Views’ received. To keep this number as low as survey which gives you the chance to tell possible, it's important that people are aware of the very simple steps they can take to protect themselves from handing over their money, or personal details, to criminals. Please visit the Action Fraud 8 us what you want us to prioritise. and a quantity of alcohol has already been Neighbourhood Link is free to sign up to, seized. it’s a confidential and secure service and Those individuals causing constant you can unsubscribe from it at any time. problems will have warning letters sent to them, or their parents, explaining that if the bad behaviour continues, they could be issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order, which could include being banned from certain areas.

Beat Surgeries In line with government guidance around Covid-19, we have postponed our community consultations www.neighbourhoodlink.co.uk and beat meetings. Our officers will continue to be active in your community. June was a very busy month for us, as We will re-arrange events as soon as we the restrictions imposed due to can. Remember you can always report Coronavirus are gradually being eased, crime by: people are getting out and about more. • Reporting online via leics.police.uk/report-online We have seen an increase in reports of • Calling 101 drunken, anti-social behaviour, particularly • Contact the neighbourhood team email: in the areas of Little Bowden Recreation harboroughandwigston.npa@leicestershir Ground and Symington’s Recreation e.pnn.police.uk Ground in . Extracted from Issue 17 July 2020

Officers are using powers which allows them to confiscate alcohol also happening

SCAM WARNING Do Not reply to this mobile phone text message… it’s a scam..

9 from adults, but say underage drinking is 10

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Once again if anybody has questions, queries, moans or groans, please contact CHAIRMAN’S any councillor, who will try and help. BLOGG Simon Ford Some views of the Chair of the Parish Chair of Billesdon Parish Council. Council Things seem very quiet at present, due in part to the current state of lockdown, or release from lockdown, whichever applies. The fly tipping incidents, recently reported, were speedily cleared up by HDC.

We are lucky to live in a rural community, that still take note of social distancing, and most of us probably don’t venture far from the safety of the Parish. I know that my two children who live in London, get the view that most of the younger generation there think it’s all over!

Of course, we are having to deal with any spin off from the continued lockdown in Leicester, which hopefully won’t spread to far east or last to long.

The Parish Council continues to operate Following the disbandment of the using ZOOM, and as I have commented Sustainable Billesdon Group, previously, works to a point, but does not responsibility for the management of the give all the necessary interactions to get Woodland Pool wildlife area has reverted the best out of the group. to the Billesdon Parish Council. Over the last year or so the Council has been It would appear that with the continued exploring options for looking after this easing of lockdown, we may be able to valuable and unique asset. We can now make a start on things like the necessary report some exciting developments. pruning of the two trees on the village green The first challenge has been funding. Apart from general maintenance, the reed Those of you keen followers of Facebook beds at the Pool require a great deal of will have seen that we agreed with an attention to keep an amount of open ecology company to create a Great water for wildfowl. The reeds need Crested Newt area, at the Woodlands periodic dredging and removal. This was Pool, totally managed and paid for by last completed 18 months or so ago at the them, so we expect things to get cost of £4,000 and will be required again underway in the next few months. in the not too distant future.

The second big challenge is the labour

12 involved in maintaining the site. This was along with others. With all these different previously undertaken by volunteers who organisations involved this could greatly are no longer available. The work is enhance our diverse habitats. The heavy. We have had discussions with grassed areas could be made into several charitable bodies that could assist enhanced wildflower meadows and more us and we have applied for aid from local trees could be planted in the correct government and other agencies. areas. It will be good to give the school further scope to be involved. Ecology were willing to carry out an ecological survey of the site All being well the work on the ponds will free of charge. Their findings are very start later in the year. Let your parish positive. There is a strong possibility that council know what you think and watch we have great crested newts (GCN) in the this space! area, the nurturing of which would greatly John Williams. Billesdon Parish Council enhance the status of the area, almost to becoming a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). To encourage this and Neighbourhood Watch due to the presence of goldfish in the main pool which predate on amphibian Lockdown has been a journey of spawn, EMEC suggest building two new communities looking ponds on the site (pictured below). after communities, making them more resilient together. The stories that you The design of these extra ponds would have shared with us have inspired us to allow them during the winter months to do more! As we start to come out of the hold water which the GCNs require, but to lockdown, Neighborhood Watch has dry out through the spring and summer so become more relevant than ever before. that any fish there would die off naturally. Actively supporting our neighbors and . The brown areas next to the ponds building community resilience will enable would be a basking bank and hibernacula us to work more closely together to (look it up!) using the spoil from the achieve more. excavation of the ponds. They also We must look at how we can connect with suggest that we install stock fencing to the army prevent incursion by dogs and children. of volunteers that the pandemic has activated Following discussions with EMEC and and the Natural , the latter have agreed to role Neighborhood Watch cover the full cost of creating the ponds. can play within No planting will be necessary as they will communities going be naturally colonised by plants found in forward in the ‘new and around the large pool. Natural normal’. The ways in England's budget also includes funds to which we maintain and develop our pay for pond maintenance. EMEC will visit communities has changed, as has the the ponds to carry out eDNA testing to ways in which we communicate with each monitor the newts’ presence. other. During lockdown we have seen an increase in the use of and Rutland Wildlife Trust virtual conferencing platforms, such as are also interested in being involved with Zoom, Skype and Microsoft Teams. Many us, as are the Tree Council, the of our members, and the Central Support Woodland Trust, Plantlife, LCC, and HDC 13

Team have found these to be more studied for a B Ed degree with honours In efficient, inclusive cost-effective way of Bristol, where she reports four very happy holding meetings. We are likely to see years. Taking time out afterwards, she these ways of communicating continuing, travelled around Australia for 6 months while not replacing face to face contact. and learned to scuba dive. On her return, Grace has taught in a variety of schools in We mustn’t forget the connections we Leicester City, Rutland and have made in our communities and the many that put themselves forward to Leicestershire, working with age groups protect others. There are many people from age 4 to 11 but definitely preferring who joined local groups to look after the the older age groups. vulnerable, elderly, and isolated residents, Grace is now the Headteacher of a large who want to continue the work they started. We encourage you to look at how primary school in Oadby with 460 we can support that swelling sense of children. This includes a SEND (Special community and enhance it through Educational Needs and Disability) provision. She also works for the SEND We will shortly be launching a campaign team at County Hall and has been part of to engage and encourage Covid-19 the Parliamentary Review for education. volunteers to use their skill set and She and her deputy were invited to The enthusiasm to continue supporting their Houses of Parliament for the launch of communities in other ways. Engaging with that review, which memorably included existing activities such as the Calling Tree drinks on the terrace overlooking the campaign, which reduces isolation and River Thames. At the time of writing, due loneliness, is an ideal way to continue to to Covid 19 the school has been open help the vulnerable. Extract from the national Neighborhood Watch every day, school holidays included, to Scheme. July Edition look after keyworker children.

Village People No. 118 She knows that many local people will remember her dad, Chris Brown, who Grace Brown died when she was 15. He was a huge I’m sure you’ll recognise Grace from this part of Billesdon cricket club and was portrait, which is one of her favourites captain of the second team for many from a huge personal collection created years. She jokes that her mum Maureen by youngsters at her schools. must have liked cricketers as she later married Norman Briers who played for Billesdon born and bred, Grace went to Leicestershire CCC. Billesdon primary school, never I asked what memories she has of being thinking she would a child in Billesdon. She remembers one day be a playing out on bikes all the time, building headteacher. She dens and generally being outside as attended Kibworth much as possible. The highlight of the High School and summer holidays was the Billesdon then on to Robert Holiday Bible Club where ‘all the village Smyth in Market children had a ball’, from Hunt the Helper Harborough. She (student helpers dressed up and hid

14 around the village) to evening trips to village hall committee - long before the Bradgate Park. The Baptist Chapel ran Coplow Centre was built - raising large the club. amounts of money for the upkeep and improvement of the old building. And a final word from Grace. ‘To help out His love of sport of every kind was during Covid 19 I have been collecting legendary - rugby, golf, horse racing, miniature shampoo and shower gels for swimming, tennis - taking part if at all the ITU staff to use: also crochet hearts, possible, or at least watching avidly. that are given to the most poorly patients. He loved live theatre of every kind, from Huge thanks to Billesdon WI for their his support of the local drama society to amazing contribution. I can’t crochet but his many outings to London theatres, they sure can!!’ Leicester Curve or Kilworth House. He was generous to many village activities, in particular sponsoring this magazine from it’s inception and supporting many local charities. He will be

missed.

ALLAN

Dear Readers I would like to take this opportunity to say a very heartfelt “thank you” to all my

neighbours, friends and all at the Post Office for all the love and support at this heart-breaking time. My family and I are

overwhelmed by all the love and support which has been given through Allan’s illness and after he sadly, suddenly

passed on Easter Monday. The social distancing guidelines outside A very big hug to you all at such a time, the shop are quite amusing! which we need each other the most. Thank you again. Love Joan and family Peter Francis XXX SADLY SAYING GOODBYE TO.. They say that a “Community completes a ALAN DAY 10th June 1930 - 25th April child”. I would like to hope that at the 2020 other end of the road a community is Long time village resident Alan Day sadly reduced when someone passes away. died on 25th April, a few weeks before his We all can think of people who have 90th birthday. Born and raised here in the passes away over the years who, whilst family home - ‘Sunfield’ on Leicester sitting over a pint we reminisce over. Road, his affection for Billesdon and his “Remember so-and -so” who used to do support for village activities never failed. such-and-such. And so the people who For many years he was chairman of the 15 we have lost are remembered as is the When I moved into the office in July 2011, case with these valued members. I employed two staff and administration was very paper based. Now the "new normal "is digitally based and with video Letters to the Magazine… contact systems this means, as well as face to face meetings, I can operate from my home in Tugby. Dear Rich, The recipes are an excellent idea - I would like to thank the people of definitely welcome for simple food Billesdon and surrounding areas for their variation. support and friendship over the years. It Thanks, has been my pleasure to be part of your Yvonne Veitch community and hope to see you all soon.

The Coplow Centre Committee are Keep safe and well delighted to announce that we have Kind regards installed two 22KwH EV Fast charging points in the car park (far left as you come in). Nic

Thanks are due in no small part to the Hi, financial support received from both the I wondered if you would include a small Community Post Office and the Parish article in your newsletter asking dog Council. walkers (they know who they are) whom walk their dogs around the perimeter of Whilst the facility is available to all public the cricket ground to refrain from throwing generally (utilising the “Pod-point” app), it their dog poo into the sheep field, as the will be free of charge to all residents sheep obviously eat the grass and be within the parish of Billesdon between reminded to take their poo home. 08.00 and 18.00 hours, as we will be Many thanks using the electricity generated by the Mrs Palmer Centre’s solar panels . To take advantage Thank You of this offer you will need, prior to usage, We at Billesdon Shop would like to send a to send your name, e mail and residential heartfelt thank you to all our customers address to: regular and new ones alike for you continued support. We were grateful that [email protected] we managed to adapt our ways of working so we could provide a service This will mean that we can control usage when so many businesses struggled. We of the facility, ensuring that non-residents could not of carried on without our pay a commercial rate. customers. That is YOU!

We have been very fortunate to have the Dear Editor, help of local volunteers who collected and delivered orders for us during the I have with a heavy heart, reluctantly lockdown and are very grateful for all their vacated my office next to Billesdon Post help. Office.

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We also would like to thank our amazing (to allow re stocking of deliveries and are local suppliers who kept coming subject to change) throughout, delivering such lovely produce. We are very lucky to be able to Monday 8am - 12 2pm – 4pm sell goods from amazing local suppliers such as fabulous meat from, March Tuesday 8am – 12 2pm – 4pm House Farm in Great Dalby, Doughty’s Butchers in Tugby and Clarkes of Wednesday 8am – 12 CLOSED Queniborough Butchers. As well as delicious frozen ready meals from Clarkes Thursday 8am – 12 2pm – 4pm of Queniborough. We are happy to sell the most gorgeous yogurts from Manor Friday 8am – 12 2pm – 4pm Farm in Thrussington, The best Strawberries in the world (in my opinion!) Saturday 8am – 12 CLOSED from Seldom Seen Farm, Free range eggs from Robinsons Farms, East Sunday 8am - CLOSED Langton, Free range Duck eggs from 10.30am Dandelion Farm, Keyham, Fresh Bread from Wesses of Market Harborough and of course Bottles of Beer from Langton *Please can you make sure you supply a Brewery in Market Harborough as well as Telephone Number and Address on all some very tasty wines from a selection at orders please* Duncan Murray Wines at Market Harborough. *We will contact you by telephone when complete to arrange payment by card Our Face Book page ‘Shop Billesdon’ is a or BACS.* good place to see what is new in, what stock we sell. (Bank Transfer sort code 54-21-50 Account number 07823800 put your Contact us: name as reference. Email: [email protected] Then the order will be left for collection in one of the shop vehicles as instructed. Telephone: 0116 2596 267 If you are having to stay at home then a And finally. We are now open. We hope delivery service may be available via the you like the new look and hope we have Good Neighbour not lost the charm of our shop. We are Regards from all at Billesdon Shop. still adapting and things may change as guidance does but we very much look COVID 19 Update forward to seeing you soon. As we return to normal life in England If you are shielding, we can still offer a Scotland and Wales, changes are afoot… ‘Click and Collect’ service. Please speak to Sarah for more details. The latest changes include: Opening Times Beauty Businesses are to reopen having been closed but plastic screens are 17 required – Oh if only I could draw a surpassing South Africa soon if this cartoon of a hairdresser doing someone’s doesn’t get sorted. hair from behind a screen. This easing does include nail bars but not Nicola Sturgeon is threatening to stop the “eyebrows”.. English from crossing the border as they are statistically doing a much better job of Both staff and customers are required to Covid control! Nobody has mentioned the wear masks which might speed up the difference in population density although process as conversations will be more the BBC has reported that over 90% of difficult. Covid deaths occurred in England….

I believe on a farm in Worcestershire 73 BBC quote..” The majority of the UK's of 200 workers were quarantined. They deaths have been in England, with more are confined to the farm in while the local than 40,000 so far - about 90% of the total council is providing food and necessities. for the UK. Scotland and Wales reported no new deaths on Monday. This type of activity is going on all around Scotland's official death toll remains the country with multiple localised 2,490. Data on death registrations from isolations employed to contain the virus. the National Records of Scotland (NRS) Todays announcement is that South suggests there had been 4,173 deaths by Africa has surpassed the UK in its 5 July. The total number of deaths in mishandling of the Covid 19 pandemic Wales is 1,541. with an exponential growth curve… Northern Ireland reported two deaths over the weekend, bringing the total to 556. “ Leicester is still in lockdown and the outbreak seems to have been linked to On Saturday, the Department of Health and exposed Leicester’s seedy and Social Care confirmed 44,819 people sweatshops. The knock-on effect is died in UK hospitals, care homes and the people in East Leicester have less money community from coronavirus. This totals to spend because of their exploitative pay the deaths at around 55,000. The US levels. Unsurprisingly this does not have set a record for testing the most manifest in low price garments but rather people with over 800,00 tests completed. increased margins for the criminal paymasters of this exploited group. The rate of positive tests came back at around 9% which is a rise from 5% three No one seems sure on masks yet, talk of weeks ago. The WHO has a yardstick for compulsory masks has been set back this is a rate over 5% being cause for with BJ saying yes but Michael Gove concern and suggesting communities saying not necessarily but its good have yet undiscovered cases. manners to do so. Unsurprisingly Mr Gove could not save face as BJ put his The US had Thirty-one states above 5%, foot firmly down. . with Arizona at 27%, South Carolina at 19% and Florida at 19%. Mr Gove went further in changing the governments message on working from I cannot easily find a comparative figure home to saying people should return to for the UK or England thus have no way work! I can see us returning to top spot

18 of knowing what we have as a rate of They aren’t too hot and impart a positive tests. lovely flavour. • 3 tablespoons of cooking salt. It does seem reasonable to suggest rates • 3 tablespoons of Corn Flour. are climbing again but it is important to note this is a small rise against a Combine all the ingredients into a suitable significant drop on the graph I was container and liquidise. I use my electric looking at on the government website. whisk which seems to do a great job.

FOOD I usually decant this into two or three jars which I put in the fridge and leave for a BBQ Chicken recipe from Africa. few days at least.

Not wishing to be outdone by readers The secret to its success in cooking is recent recipes I have a favourite which I allowing the chicken to marinade in the bring with me from Mozambique where sauce for at least 24 hours. the dish originated and is used in fish and chicken. This Pipi-Piri sauce recipe is Light your BBQ at least an hour before comparable with any restaurant in the UK cooking and two hours before eating time. without mentioning any names! To prepare the chicken spatchcock the carcase splitting the bird down the chest. I make this in quantity and refrigerate it, With a very sharp knife make deep which seems to improve the flavour. incisions through the skin and into the flesh below diagonally across the breast, • 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice legs and wings to allow the flavour to • 1 cup cold water penetrate the meat. Cut the skin • 1 cup oil. I use sunflower oil as it separating the thigh from the breast to seems to improve the final flavour allow the flavour into the joint and help the rather than olive oil which changes cooking process. the flavour. • 1 cup vinegar. I use red grape Place your splayed bird on the grill over grey coals and cover with foil or a lid to vinegar which I get from Makro for contain the emerging steam. Monitor the under a fiver. cooking progress watching out for signs of • 8-10 large cloves of garlic chopped the meat catching too much heat. Turn • 3 tablespoons of Paprika more for over every ten minutes and generously colour than taste but if you can get baste the side just turned up to turn any scorched/hot meat into a glaze. hotter / smoked Paprika all the better in my view, but it might Allow covered standing time and enjoy. warrant changing the chilli volume slightly. BEES AND BEE KEEPING • 3 tablespoons of crushed Chilli. I use Kashmiri Chilli flakes which I get Bee Keeping is not normally in the village from Pak foods on Uppingham rd. magazine but due to the slightly bizarre world we are living in I get a chance to 19 add the sort of stuff Giant Asian Wasps accidently introduced I am interested in into France in a consignment of Chinese sharing. garden ceramics feed on small insects including pollinators like the honey bee. As we know the They have spread over much of Europe domestic bee, Apis and cost millions to prevent, control and mellifera or the eradicate, aside from the damage they do honeybee is to agriculture from the resultant lower threatened by a number of separate pollination levels. factors which collectively affect their They are notorious for wiping out a hive of survival. bees in a single attack hovering outside the hive and picking on returning bees Unfortunately, I feel filled with pollen and nectar. Currently at a the media in order to very low level in the UK it is vital that get the public attention people know what they and their nests attach sensationalism look like and their discovery is reported. to bee news and because we don’t see dramatic predictions coming true, we Their nests are formed high in trees and begin to doubt the truth of the information. not easily spotted I believe there is no doubt bees are unless you threatened, whether that is from are looking. insecticides, Varroa mite, Asian wasps, The only Colony Collapse Disorder, American or means of European Foulbrood bees are having an destroying the increasingly difficult time. All of the above nest is to threats to bees involve humans as a raise access vector in some way. There is no value in equipment trotting out the sensationalist statistic of and treat the nest with a wasp killer. what will happen when bees disappear because bees are tenuous and will hang Foul Brood is an infection within the hive on for dear life and their disappearance is often brough about by a bee keeper not likely to be preceded by other dramatic maintaining preventative hygiene. The events. hive suffers from a disabling infection which renders the brood a soggy mass Varroa Mite a tiny red/brown mite arrived which is the means of identification. from Indonesia via humans and feeds on brood and worker bees’ blood This condition is sub-divided into (hemolymph fluid) transmitting diseases European and American foul brood. The which are then vectored from mite to mite European condition can be treated as it and then back to the host. Indonesian isn’t as infectious and with appropriate bees controlled Varroa by vigorous husbandry it can be managed. American cleaning which Asian, European and Foul Brood is terminal and the hive must American bees have not been able to be destroyed to prevent spreading. This develop, nor has man has discovered a was introduced by American servicemen lasting treatment or bread a resistant bee. who insisted on bringing in their own 20 honey to US airbases and thus spread the I recall a metal plating company in Wigston disease. loosing custom to Turkey and shutting down. Quality issues which emerged once Currently Nottinghamshire Beekeeping the deal was done arose too late to save the Association have alerted us of an company. outbreak of European Foul Brood in the Nottingham area. Beekeepers should be Money circulating locally raises the tax vigilant as the disease is easily base. OF the £100 spent and £75 being transmitted often by the beekeeper. spent locally means the government taxes both transactions without the consumer BUY LOCALLY suffering resulting in the tax base becoming higher and raises local GDP and a higher tax base. The result is that governments end up Even Donald Trump has enacted a law “Buy earning more money even though American, Hire American” which consumer spending remains exactly the encourages Americans to support local same. business with obvious benefits: -

We reduce our national dependence on Competition on price, quality, design and delivery to the benefit of the consumer imports. The case for UK manufacturers being able to produce a quality comparative emerge. Big super suppliers are product to an inferior Far Eastern product oligopolistic with few companies which is shipped half way around the world controlling the market and having the bargaining power and money leaving the is a no brainer. With modern marketing and local economy. manufacturing adaptability we should be competing against this market both in providing a quality product and at a Small businesses are more environmentally reasonable price aside from the benefit of friendly with a smaller ecological footprint providing employment. The risk is imports than all the bigger corporations sourcing become predominant and supply is tenuous their products locally. Less fuel is used aside from local business suffering and getting the products to the stores compared closing down. This affects local economies to multinationals who bring everything to a with the person in the street having less to central hub then to regional hubs and spend making things more expensive. finally to the retail point Packaging is reduced with goods requiring A consumer spending £100 locally results minimal boxing for local delivery as is costs in £75 staying within the local economy like refrigeration if a product has a short because small businesses employ locally supply journey. and buy materials locally. Many examples exist of retailers changing suppliers away from local sourcing at the cost of local jobs.

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