Produced and Distributed since 1989 July 2021 By St John the Baptist Church

BILLESDON & DISTRICT PARISH NEWS & VIEWS

I saw an elderly lady who lives on Brook Lane sitting alone in the church ground today and I said “Good morning” to her, she replied by telling me what a beautiful view it was from the bench and that a photo should be taken of it for the village magazine. It would certainly make one lady very happy. Rachel Toach dŚĞŚƵƌĐŚĞƐŽĨŝůůĞƐĚŽŶĐƵŵ'ŽĂĚďLJĂŶĚZŽůůĞƐƚŽŶ͖^ŬĞĨĨŝŶŐƚŽŶ͖ǁŝƚŚ,ƵŶŐĂƌƚŽŶĂŶĚ<ĞLJŚĂŵ &ŽƌKKDƐĞƌǀŝĐĞƐ͕ĐŽŶƚĂĐƚƚŚĞĚŵŝŶŝƐƚƌĂƚŽƌʹƌĞĂĞĂŶΘŽƉůŽǁĞŶĞĨŝĐĞ͗:ƵůŝĂ͘ƵŶŶĂΛůĞŝĐĞƐƚĞƌĐŽĨĞ͘ŽƌŐ

3DULVK3ULHVW Rev’d Alison Booker, The Vicarage, Road, Billesdon Tel: 0116 259 6321 &XUDWHRev’d Rosie Homer, 20a Weare Close, Billesdon LE7 9DY Tel: 0116 259 9517 BILLESDON ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

The following services are held by =220 except Thursday when the church is open 10.30 - 11.30 for private prayer. 1st Sunday: All Age Worship. 3rd Sunday: All Age Holy Communion. 5th Sunday: Launde Deanery Churchwardens: Mr K Evans, 6 High Acres (0116) 259 6438 Mrs A Grindley, 3 Forge Court (0116) 259 6741 Secretary: Mr J Williamson (0116) 259 6448 Treasurer: Mrs. H Howe [email protected] Organist & Director of Music Dr Simon Ainge 07971 833110 Children’s Groups: Mr & Mrs Ratcliffe (0116) 259 6246

GOADBY ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Sunday Services: See Church noticeboard Churchwardens: Keith Evans & Andrea Grindley See contacts above Hon Secretary & Churchwarden: Charles Stewart, Hillcroft, (0116) 259 8310 Hon Treasurer: Hugh Stevenson, The Dower House, Goadby (0116) 259 8294

SKEFFINGTON ST. THOMAS BECKET

Sunday Services: see church porch and printed notice.

Churchwardens: Mrs B Preston (0116) 259 9147 Mr W G Ginns, White Lodge (0116) 259 6301 Secretary: Mr D Holland (0116) 259 6550 Treasurer: Mrs Valerie Chouler (0116) 259 9477 Organ: Mr D Holland & Mr M Griffiths (0116) 259 9254

ROLLESTON ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Sunday services: 1st Sunday see church porch Churchwardens: Cynthia Mclaughlan (0116) 259 5680

KEYHAM ALL SAINTS Sunday Services: 2nd Sunday see church porch

Churchwardens: Richard Windle (0116) 259 5281

Hugh Henderson (0116) 259 5214

NOSELEY ST. MARY

BILLESDON BAPTIST CHAPEL Sunday Service: 10.30 Sunday Worship & Wowzers (on ZOOM) Contact: Brian Boley Tel 07485 046000 This page is kindly sponsored [email protected] by: E C GILBERT Ltd Please let the Vicar or Churchwardens know of anyone who is sick, Great Glen or who would appreciate a visit. Holy Communion may be brought to anyone who is unable to get to Church. Tel: 0116 259 2267 July 2021 Vol 33, Issue 7 Editor: Richard Walkden, Billesdon 259 6505 e-mail: [email protected] Advertising: Charles Stewart, Goadby 2598310

Ramblings cluding, the article lacked local connection and the magazine should not try to be a Having consulted the village Face- national paper. However and additionally, book pages and asked for views on its not a bad thing to make people sit up a recent controversial article, I was and think. Wise words, worthy of conclud- both appreciative and enlightened ing the issue on content. by your response so “Thank You!” I was invited down to my nearest watering People feel our community is not exempt from hole to join a group of locals to watch the foot- the issues raised, which include those who ball on Sunday afternoon, in a courtyard dap- have had direct experience of the subject pled with sunshine and plenty of seating. A matter and are in support of the controversial great time was had by all. Of course the sun- article. I also received suggestions for reci- shine, warmth and football result reflected in pe's, articles on local memories and local cur- the success of the day and I left with a re- rent affairs minder of what a great bunch of people we have in our community. All responses are gratefully taken on board and hopefully will be addressed in future. It I hope , Scotland and Wales remain does demonstrate the value of feedback and I in the contest and I would urge anyone who is hope it might illicit more. I confess to having looking for good company whilst watching had a secret delight in having received a re- future matches, to join in. sponse from an apparently indifferent reader- ship. Interesting to note now what commercial impact celebrity players have in interviews. Something I hadn't considered, to my dis- Ronaldo removed Coca-Cola bottles from his comfort, was that a younger generation read podium and vocally recommended water and the magazine. So going forward, a page com- Pogba removed Heineken beer from his podi- mitted to our younger generation seems ap- um as alcohol is against his faith. propriate as well as tailoring articles to consid- er younger readers. This seemingly simple act caused ripples in the stock market. And set me wondering if our Coaxed, into the garden by the weather I whole village controversially changed or looked over my wall to compare mine and my stopped a particular product with all the me- neighbours gardens. I do feel I am now way dia attention we could muster, what impact ahead on the veg growing but nowhere near might it have? on the obligatory, perfect English lawn. Hus- band and wife were out gardening and finding We could call it the “Parish Protest” and it difficult to refrain from an insidious remark nominate offending products for their impact on the inequality of task allocation between on us or the environment, company policy the two, I endeavoured tongue in cheek, to stir towards issues we hold dear, or a nations up controversy. actions.

But, with no takers, as it appears, a state of A logo like “We Protest against Palm-Oil” in harmony exists, over the wall, we entered into a broad banner across the village, could have a conversation about the latest magazine. Its us determining huge multinational companies difficult to report verbatim as occasional inter- future policies. ruptions do occur but I gleaned opinion in- Of course this is only fantasy, I am not been very much muted. sure it is in the nature of the average ru- ral English-person to stand up and pro- As we think of how blessed we are to test, It was the mantra from the two wars live in our rural space ‘normal’ might seem idyllic, and in many ways it is, but that “We do have it good” and “We anyone who watches programmes like shouldn't complain” even during the Spring or Autumn watch or indeed any worst of times. nature programme knows that amidst the beauty and tranquillity there is Is that our Achilles heel or do these struggle and pain, fighting and hard- communities identify too strongly with the ship, life and death, as well as love and establishment to protest? friendship of course. But, our friends across the channel had And so it is for us, despite our sur- two wars and equal hardship and boy do roundings we have not been immune they express their views when riled. from the loss this last year has brought. Bashing into our ships around the Chan- nel Islands and closing roads with trac- So whether back in church (which we tors. This is of course not a call to action are doing sometimes) or on Zoom as we gather weekly, we will wander on anything in particular or a chal- through the beauty of this season but lenge…. I’m just saying... also wonder at the comforting pres- ence of God in the difficult times, when Richard Walkden suffering comes and there seems to be The Churches of Billesdon cum no good explanation – sometimes no explanation at all, simply no words. We Goadby and Rolleston; have this time to think about our faith in ; Hungarton realistic ways, not ignoring the way the and Keyham world is, but recognising the way it is and exploring what our faith means in At this time of the year in this world which we inhabit. the church we are journey- ing through the ‘Sundays This ‘ordinary time’ can be anything but after Trinity’ often known as ‘ordinary ordinary. It is a time of growth and time’. Our church colour is green and in thinking, a time of faith and doubt, many ways it is a peaceful space. questions and answers, but most of all it is a journey and when we arrive at The celebrations of Easter, Ascension, the next season we will be different Pentecost and Trinity Sunday are all because of the journey. over and it is as though we can now find some space to go for a wander in Wherever you are this July, whatever it our green and beautiful countryside. brings, I pray for good wanderings and good wonderings. This year of course it has been rather different… space to wander and the Rev’d Alison appreciation of our beautiful surround- ings has definitely increased. The cele- brations of everything though have

Projectors and Screens in both Lounge and Main Hall Billesdon Baptist Chapel

Last month I said Sunday Worship we were waiting for planning permission Sunday 4 July, 10.30 a.m. at the Coplow for the chapel build- Centre, Billesdon marks the start of our ing development – face-to-face gatherings whilst the Chapel building is redeveloped. I am very pleased to say that permission has now been granted, and the construc- These will be all age worship services tion work should have started by the time throughout July and everyone is most you read this. welcome. It is the intention to run Zoom alongside so you can join in using that Now what happens? We were just about too. to gather together in-person and the building is out of use! So, we are going to Sunny Days meet at the Coplow Centre (every Sun- day at 10.30am) throughout the Summer Sunday 4 July, 3.00 p.m. at the Coplow and Autumn until the building work has Centre, Billesdon we will be holding a get been completed. together with drinks and cake. This will be a great opportunity to see each other I can hear some people saying, “but that again in person and say goodbye to won’t feel like church because you will those children starting school and wel- not be meeting in a church building”. It all come any new parents and children prior depends on what you think ‘church’ is. In to re-starting Sunny Days in September. the bible there is mention of the church building: September restart of Sunny Days on Fri- day 3 September at the Coplow Centre, This entire building (the church) is under Billesdon 10.00 – 11.15 a.m. Please note construction and is continually growing the change of day until we return to the under (the Lord’s) supervision until it ris- Chapel. es up completed as the holy temple of the Lord himself. Keep in touch via Facebook page Sunny Days and email billesdon- This means that God is transforming [email protected] each one of you into his dwelling place, through the power of the Holy Spirit living Home Group in you! (Ephesians 2:21-22) Our online group meeting via Zoom on It is not about the building at all, it is all Wednesdays at 7.30 p.m. This a great about the people – the people are the opportunity to encourage one another church! It doesn’t matter where we meet and pray. If you want the details of how as long as we are God’s people meeting to join us via phone or internet let us as the church family. Please come and know. join us – who knows where your curiosity Contact Brian Boley, 07845 046000, might lead! [email protected] Brian Boley Goadby Gleanings On another issue, I had reason to explore the self-testing for Covid I well remember the times when a 19. The testing kits are available visit to Ikea was considered fun. from many outlets and fortunately come with clear instructions. Imag- - Wandering around the vast barn ine my surprise when I examined like showroom viewing Skandi style the box containing all the required furnishings, with strange names, swabs and reagent dispensers to and choosing items for the first see, in bold letters on the side of homes of offspring. The assembly the box, MADE IN CHINA. What of such purchases was another have we achieved? matter and there the fun ended. Not only did China export the virus I had thought that those days were (either by chance or by inefficiency) long past until I bought an office but their industries are making sig- chair from John Lewis. The said nificant business selling products to chair arrived in a compact box ac- help us, and other companied by a single A4 sheet of countries, combat the paper on which there were four dia- effects of the pandemic. grams on how to construct the Incidentally, the test chair. was a clear negative! There was no text, only drawings, Charles Stewart. with arrows leading from circles containing individual parts found within the box. The “instructions” Parish Council even showed by a stick drawing of a person that the task could be Some thoughts of the Chair of achieved by a single person. Billesdon Parish Council

Alongside the person was a time of When I drove back into Billesdon 15 minutes. The time required to yesterday afternoon, after a six complete the assembly. Forty five hour drive from Cornwall, I was re- minutes later, and with much minded what a great place we all sweating, swearing and contortions, live in. The parish sits in a rural part two of us completed the construc- of the country, is cared for by all tion. who live in it, and looked after by all who care for it, and it shows. Either I have failed to appreciate the passage of time or those in the I make these observations having retail industry have no idea of inad- just spent two weeks on holiday equacies of their information (remember what those are?) sheets! Cont..pg 11

Cont from Page 8 Billesdon Good Neighbour Scheme in Cornwall battling with all the cir- Some good news from the cus that is the G7 meeting in Carbis Billesdon Good Neighbour Scheme Bay. (BGNS), our coffee mornings will We were staying near to Falmouth, restart at the Old School in July/ and had an excellent time, despite early August. Please look out for closed carparks, road restrictions, our posters. and helicopters flying here and there, most of the time. Other functions are also now re- starting, however, transportation This wasn’t helped by it being half will not re-commence until we have term during the first week, when the clarified our driver availability. The area was so full, trying to find somewhere to park was a chal- BGNS supports villagers ‘in need’ lenge. whatever their age and that support can be: The peace of sunny Billesdon was magnificent. ‘Assisting and collecting shopping from Don’s and delivering to clients Anyway, back to reality, where we homes, picking up prescriptions, are having our first face to face Par- befriending, 1:1 walking support, ish Council meeting next week, for occasional help with gardening, mi- over a year, so things can return to near normal! nor household repairs, help with letter writing/forms, help with basic I suspect the agenda will contain IT issues or helping at our coffee some of the old favourites, and so if mornings’. I miss the opportunity to mention litter and dog poo here, I would not If you are aware of someone new to be serving the Parish properly. the village please contact us so Keep up the good work in these that we can arrange delivery of a much visible areas. ‘Billesdon Welcome A reminder to contact any of the Pack’ (produced by the Parish Parish Councillors (see the web site Council). for details) if you have any issues you want raised. Also we would greatly welcome any new members; if interested please Simon Ford do get in touch. Contact: [email protected] or Chair Billesdon 07548621777 Parish Council.

Woodland Pool Whatever the season or weather there’s always something to see or photograph down at the pool, but this time of year is especially productive. Deliberately arriving early one morning to avoid the sun casting harsh shadows on the petals, I photographed Meadow Cranesbill, Buttercups, Cow Parsley and Red Campion in the top meadow before slowly making my way down the main species of spider. I also found the tiny path. pink flowers of Cut-leaved Crane’s- bill, a plant I’d not previously noted. Along the way I searched for insects and caught sight of a 7 Beside the pool I turned my attention spot ladybird crawling along the to looking for damselflies and stem of an umbellifer, its prey of dragonflies, the former way a tiny fly held tightly in its outnumbering the latter. mouth. I became very excited on discovering Down in the lower meadow, what I thought was an emerging where grasses dominated rather dragonfly, halfway up a Yellow Iris than buttercups and cow leaf, so waited…. and waited…..and parsley, I searched carefully for waited, but sadly, to cut a very long insects and, over a hour or so, story short, the bird, or rather the was rewarded with several Small dragonfly, had ‘flown’, and what I was Tortoiseshell butterfly actually looking at was the exuvia, or caterpillars nibbling on their food larval case, left behind. Still a first plant of nettles, a Dock Bug though. eating dock leaves, a tiny hover- fly perched atop a seeding grass It was now five hours since my arrival head, several Azure Damselflies so with a brief stop to photograph the flying around in search of a top meadow, now in full sun, I mate, a tiny bright green beetle decided it was time to go home. on the dock, a small fly, a Jo Edwards Froghopper which leapt/hopped around from one plant stem to another and an unknown day evening from 7pm. Over to FF Hancock,

Hello everyone, welcome back to Hi everyone! My Billesdon Fire stations monthly update. name is Joe Hancock and I am a firefighter We’ve had a steady month this month at Billesdon Station. I with calls. We have attended a Tractor lived in Billesdon for 4 and trailer fire at Hallaton which we years before moving attended alongside station. to Tugby last year.

I’m pleased to report that we managed I am a keen rugby to save the trailer. We’ve also had a fan, having spent 10 call to standby at Eastern station which years playing rugby is on Hastings Road, from there we for Lions attended an automatic fire alarm as RFC. I also enjoy my trips to the USA, well as a bin fire. in particular the Rocky Mountains, alt- hough COVID-19 has put a temporary hold on those trips for the time being!

I have been in the Fire Service for two and a half years now and I can honest- ly say that joining is one of the greatest decisions I have made.

Being in the Fire Service has opened We’ve just successfully run our first the door to many new experiences - ‘Have a go day’ at Billesdon station, as not just in terms of the incidents that a result of this we have a potential 6 we attend as a station, but also the new recruits coming to join us over the training and courses that are available coming months. to me as a firefighter.

The have a go day allows any person I am the Billesdon station lead for the interested in joining to have a go at the Home Safety Check service which is a physical tests required to join the ser- free service offered by the Fire Service vice. This includes an equipment car- and it’s partners. ry, Ladder Climb, Ladder lift, working in a confined space, casualty evacuation Checks are approximately 30 minutes long and take place at your home or and equipment assembly. over the phone. This service is availa- We are always looking for potential ble to the public although we do try to new recruits, if you are interested send focus our visits on people and places us a message via Facebook or pop in where we know there is a higher risk of fire. to one of our drill nights on a Wednes-

We offer advice on how to prevent fires and what to do in the event of a fire, and in some cases we may fit free smoke alarms if required. If you would like to request a Home Safety Check or to find out more, make contact through Facebook or pop into the station

We have just finished our latest recruit- ment campaign for retained firefighters open water inspections and water safe- for the station. ty and I will introduce you to Crew Man- My own basic firefighter training is still ager Hurst. fresh in my mind and I loved every mi- Stay Safe! nute of it. Facebook: Billesdon Fire Station. The skills that I learnt and can also ap- ply to my everyday life are invaluable: first aid, fire safety at home and at People coming and going work, even knots and lines that come in useful when I’m camping! One of the suggestions raised in my recent opinion poll was to include a We will be recruiting again later this section of the magazine for people who year and possibly next year as well. have moved into the village or are leav- Keep an eye out for the adverts around ing. the village and in the Parish Newslet- I think this is a great idea and I am ter. aware of a few new faces and if you are one and you are inclined to make If you live within 6 minutes of the sta- yourself known please contact me. tion and are interested in a challenging but rewarding career then On Call Fire- Information like your hobbies interests fighting could be for you! If you see me and a photograph if you feel happy to around the village please do feel free to do so would be would be great. say hello. Naturally for anyone who might be leaving the village an announcement of I’m always happy to stop and chat and your departure in advance will allow answer any questions that you may people to say their goodbyes and wish have about the Fire Station or joining you farewell. the Fire Service. Rich W Next month I will talk to you about our

Please sponsor this page! Page 17 Parish Bee Keepers Note..

Bee-Base is an information re- source for beekeepers, but per- haps its main function is as a register of beekeepers and their apiaries, which enables inspec- tors to target inspections to api- aries close to disease out- breaks. For this register to work, it must be up to date and accurate; NBU inspectors don’t want to miss a beekeeper who has just moved into a disease risk area. Bee- keepers move house, close apiaries, the hives that they manage. This open new ones, increase and decrease amendment will allow us in England to their colony numbers. comply with the Animal Health Law, which is necessary for future working Our experience is that beekeepers of- relationships with the European Union. ten register and then forget to update Similar arrangements have been made their records when their circumstances for Wales and Scotland. change. Over winter 2020/21, as a re- sult of feedback, the Beekeeper Per- No action is required from beekeepers sonal Records functions have been – the default setting has been set to redesigned, made simpler and more ‘Yes’, given that Varroa is endemic in interactive, making them easier to up- the UK (with a couple of very specific date. exceptions). The new layout is much clearer: there COLOSS would like to invite all English are large buttons to ‘Add New Apiar- bee keepers to complete the hive loss ies’, ‘Edit Apiary’ and ‘View History’. survey for 2020; in particular we would There is now a map with each apiary like to get better handle on data for the record, showing the apiary location and and Rutland area. you can drag a marker around to en- Last year they received 1255 valid re- sure the apiary is in the correct loca- sponses, which represents about 4% of tion. all beekeepers in England, with your Also new is a mandatory ‘Varroa Pre- help they can improve on this and get a sent?’ tick box – this is in response to more accurate picture of Winter losses the new Varroa recording requirement at a Local, National and European lev- added to the Bee Diseases and Pests el. Survey closes 4th June Control (England) Order 2006. This The survey can be access through the came into force on 21st April and re- following link https://www.bee- quires beekeepers and/or officials to survey.com/index.php/253937 report the presence of Varroa in any of

Billesdon Cricket Club Andy Ford (32) gave great support as Billesdon amassed 228 for 4 in 40 There were mixed for- overs. The visitors were always be- tunes for Billesdon’s hind the asking rate and were bowled cricket teams during out for 127 runs. May but there were still some excellent individu- At Queniborough on 22nd May Ben al performances. Miles continued his good form with 56 runs to help Billesdon score 145 runs The 1st XI were involved in some very from 40 overs. James Stiff took a wick- close games during the month with the et with the first ball of the home sides weather playing a decisive role in sev- reply. However it was Anthony Voss eral of them. who proved to be the match winner taking 6 wickets for just 13 runs as The game at Melton saw Billesdon rec- Queniborough were bowled out for just ord 192 for 6 in 45 overs. Opener Jim 55 runs. Nourish scored 41 runs. Josh Hallam (68) and Sam Blackwell (47 not out) Barkby were the visitors for a Sunday also batted very well. On the day friendly fixture on 30 th May. This was Leicester City won the FA Cup this an excellent game played in great spirit match ended when rain usually associ- by both teams. The main aim was to ated with the football season arrived in give the opportunity for young cricket- Melton. The result was decided on run ers in both teams to gain experience of rate in the home teams favour when playing in senior cricket. Matthew Hog- play was ended. The following week gard, former England bowler and Ash- Kirby Muxloe were the visitors to es winner, made a guest appearance Coplow Lane and it rained again but as 12th man for Billesdon when one of this time Billesdon emerged the victors the young fielders sustained an injury. when play ended early following a Hopefully the experience of playing heavy shower. Billesdon had scored (albeit very briefly!) with an ex England 153 all out with Josh Hallam scoring and Leicestershire player will stand the 78. In reply Kirby Muxloe had scored club’s young players in good stead as 59 runs in 20 overs before rain set in they get older. but crucially behind the required run rate giving Billesdon the win. The junior season has also been af- fected by the rain with two of the The 2nd XI enjoyed a great win over Thursday night coaching sessions hav- neighbours Houghton and Thurnby at ing to be cancelled. Hopefully the sun the start of the month. Feature of this will shine for the rest of the summer game was 2nd XI Captain Sam Wig- and allow more games and coaching to ginton scoring 119 not out, his first cen- take place. tury for the club. Ben Miles (45) and Paul Miles Remove any faded flowers of bedding and perennial plants to prevent them from going to seed and encourage repeat flowering. Liquid feed hanging baskets and containers every 7-10 days to keep them looking healthy and keep a look John Parsons... from the out for aphids. Nurseries! If we get a hot dry spell raise the cutter How can it be July already! on the mower to help reduce scorching. It’s been a hectic few months at the If you can leave one corner nurseries, last summers lockdown of your garden to go a bit inspired a lot of new gardeners and wild it will be appreciated by with foreign holidays restricted this many beneficial insects, if year lots of us are making the most of we all do this it will give home and making our gardens a nice nature a good helping hand. place to be in. John. The extra demand has caused a few shortages within the industry but thanks to our small team working so hard we just about managed to keep up. In the veg garden you can still be making sowings of lettuce, peas, Swedes and carrots Now is also the time for planting winter vegetables. Savoy cabbage, sprouting broc etc.

Keep a look out for caterpillars the best way to prevent attack is by pac- ing a fine net over them, if not you will have to spray with an insecticide or a soapy water solution which works well but you will need to catch them when that are small before they do too much damage.

Huge Congratulations to Lucy Crock- er and Stuart Whatton who tied the knot on Saturday 29th May on a most glorious and sunny day.

They then spent the weekend in their beautiful walled garden celebrating with family and friends.

Long time villager, Stuart, moved here from in 1994 starting life in Brooke Lane and moving to his home and carpentry workshop on The Market Place in 1998.

Lucy, a newer village member, moved to White Hart Close in 2009 and can be seen every morning walking Molly, her adored Collie from her new home on the green, across the Billesdon fields in between man- aging holiday properties in Devon.

Congratulations to you both!

to gain access to windows, such as the bins, or any garden furniture, so consid- er their placement.

Article 9: A Brief Guide to Window Se- If you have your windows ajar for venti- curity lation, these should be closed and locked before you leave the house. Well, we have finally had our first Some windows have latches, which glimpse of Summer! Hurrah! With the they can be put on, which allows for the weather and Covid restrictions allowing window to be open, but these are still for more barbecues, social events and vulnerable to any potential intruders. time in the garden, we can catch a few of those rays and a tan! There is the option for purchasing and applying window restrictors to reduce Whilst it is getting warmer and we have the movement of the windows. Further- our windows open for ventilation, it is more, if your house has sash style win- important to consider security of our dows, you can apply sash stops to the windows, to prevent becoming a victim frames, which prevents the window of crime, whilst enjoying the weather. from being opened fully, and reducing Glass is the weakest point of a house, the amount of space, so people will not making windows and doors a natural be able to climb in. target. Downstairs windows are those There is also the handy option of put- most at risk, as they are more easily ting window alarms onto the glass of accessible (lock away any ladders any large opening windows. These which could provide access to the up- work on the shock or vibration of the stairs) Access could be made more dif- glass, so your windows can open and ficult by locking your windows with a shut in the heat, but will react and make key, if that is possible. This may seem a really loud noise if anyone attempts to like common sense, but using the win- force them. If you would like any of dow locks drastically improves the se- these for your windows, let the Crime curity of your windows and they really Reduction Team know! can make all of the difference! Georgie Greensmith and Al Cook, In addition to the ladders, it also good Crime Reduction Officers to note that implements could be used

Village People No Dance in Leeds. 130 Her exploration of the links between Katharine Markee expressive dance, improvisation and emotions seems to provide the ra- An iconoclast at tionale for her childhood instincts and eight years old? has continued to inform her approach Could that be possi- to work and life in general. ble? (OK, I’ll wait while you look it up.) That is Katharine’s dad’s description of She has worked with dance / theatre her, perhaps not quite at the age of companies, on short films and taught at eight, but he had obviously already seen The International Centre for Circus Arts by then the early shoots of an approach and Trinity Laban amongst many. She to life that was far more interested in was, for a time, Co-director of her own testing and exploring boundaries rather dance theatre company until ‘the admin than being constrained by them. was the killer!’ Talking to her is an exercise in expan- Kath’s working life has spanned New sive thinking in itself. It’s a rare experi- York’s Off-Broadway, unlikely flower ence to have someone paint a picture of festivals in the deserts of the U.A.E, and their life which is threaded throughout midnight village hall rehearsing. She with the same themes, preoccupations, says her life has been rich in everything energy and values from start to – well, but money, but said without a hint of nowhere near the finish. regret. There’s an apposite quote on her Face- Some will know that she has run Con- book page attributed to Maya Angelou: temporary Dance, Creative Movement ‘If you’re always trying to be normal you and Laugh Therapy workshops locally – will never know how amazing you can (advertised through her “Yes be.’ That sounds like a battle cry not Lets” (Facebook page) all examples of only for herself but also one which sym- her desire to give people the confidence bolises her approach to working with that what they offer, creatively, is always others. valuable and deserves to be nurtured. She has moved on from “organising” her A particular concern relates to what she siblings into performing plays, choreo- sees as the stifling effect of the current graphing dances and eating crisp sand- school system which, in its imposed fo- wiches with her teenage friends through cus on targets, runs the risk of squash- a journey of expressive arts, contempo- ing creative thought, expression and rary dance and physical theatre and now resilience. life coaching. ‘Young people need to be given a Her artistic potential was first nurtured at chance to find their voices and develop Wreake Valley College and an Art Foun- confidence through their creativity.’ dation at Loughborough but finding the constraints of 2D too restrictive she em- To that end her classes encourage barked on a combined Arts degree in individual physical expression rather Brighton and then a training at the than the emulation of a set style. Northern School of Contemporary Cont…. This connects directly with her more recent Billesdon WI move into life coaching, in-spired by a driving curiosity about other people, young We had a good attendance at and old. “Striving to enable people, all these our Members Meeting on May years, I realised that coaching was the way 19th. Part of our discussion forward - I make a space for people to think was to do with starting our – to find their own answers and ways to Meetings again at the Coplow take positive action. You lead the way!” Centre, and it was decided, after a show of hands, that Kath’s coaching most Members would prefer website is at to have Meetings in the KathMarkeeCoaching. afternoon, but still on the third Wednesday of the month. We hope that our first face to Peter Francis face get together inside will be in September but Planning Applications obviously we have to wait for the guidance to change. It was our Resolution discussion also, the topic being ‘a call to increase awareness of the subtle signs of ovarian cancer’, this was carried unanimously. We then had a ‘Show and Tell’, with various unusual stories and items. Our next Meeting will be on June 16th, 2.30pm on Zoom, and will be a talk from Robert Cross on Rural Policing.

All are welcome.

Lois Parker Contributions from our next generation. -Wow I would love to see more of the creative work done by our families. The Sea of Blue This is a terrific start from Bethany and The sea of blue if anyone else could do some creative The sun glinting through writing and possibly include a picture, I would be very proud to publish the Their heads like bells chime in the work in the magazine. breeze Rich W They cuddle around the roots of trees

The carpet really never ends

Red admirals and cabbage white Spirit at Play Flutter in and out of the speckled (Illston on the Hill) light has a place for one horse to come and stay as a Ferns and nettles peeking through boarder. We are offering the The sea of blue boarding as a fund raising By Bethany age 12 project to help the organisation get back to working with the people who so badly need us to help them. All the money paid for boarding goes to Spirit at Play which is a charity dedicated to helping autistic and troubled children through equine therapy. We have a yard where the horses live naturally as a herd, with open shelters and fields. Bethany’s poem she made up, whilst For more information please on a recent walk through a bluebell call Judith Edwards on wood with the family 07904 053899. Rachel Toach