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

BILLESDON & DISTRICT PARISH NEWS & VIEWS

Billesdon from the air … Jonathon Morris The Churches of Billesdon cum and Rolleston; ; with and Keyham For ZOOM services, contact the Administrator – Area Dean & Coplow Benefice: [email protected] Parish Priest: Rev’d Alison Booker, The Vicarage, Road, Billesdon Tel: 0116 259 6321

Curate: Rev’d Rosie Homer, 20a Weare Close, Billesdon LE7 9DY Tel: 0116 259 9517 BILLESDON ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

The following services are held by ZOOM 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, Goadby (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 HUNGARTON ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST

Sunday services: 1st Sunday Holy Communion by ZOOM 9.00am ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST Churchwardens: Cynthia Mclaughlan (0116) 259 5680

KEYHAM ALL SAINTS Sunday Services: 2nd Sunday Holy Communion by ZOOM 10.00am

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:

Please let the Vicar or Churchwardens know of anyone who is sick, or who E C GILBERT Ltd would appreciate a visit. Holy Communion may be brought to anyone who is Great Glen unable to get to Church. Tel: 0116 259 2267 May 2021 Vol 33, Issue 5 Editor: Richard Walkden, Billesdon 259 6505 e-mail: [email protected] Advertising: Charles Stewart, Goadby 2598310 Ramblings indifference. This effectively decriminal- ises rape and makes our streets unsafe For any parents, the re- for 50% of our population. Yet we are ward cannot get any great- not up in arms! er, than watching your off- The implications for society include spring freely demonstrat- myths of slut shaming, pre-destiny and ing your values… my 18 blame around rape. It crushes female year old son squeezes the equality and freedom of expression and toothpaste tube from the right end! A repeats another generation who don’t lifetime of work fulfilled in that moment! know what “NO” means and by the As we bring our children up they copy same token what “YES” means too. the very nuance of our ethics and val- Half of us cannot freely live an emanci- ues so don’t be surprised when your pated life, engage socially, be out child becomes you! Thus from nice mid- alone, get drunk or dress provocatively dle class backgrounds, we conclude we without danger, precaution or fear of and our children should grow up good rape. people? But statistics suggest some- In Pakistan, PM Imran Khan recently thing is badly wrong… blamed women's inappropriate dress for Statistically, men commit serious crime , the increase in reported rape in his 11 times every hour in and country. Fortunately then, in England Wales! Assault.. robbery? Not a bit of it… its serious sexual assault! and Wales, we don’t judge women by Between 2014 and 2018 rape prosecu- dress, values or sexual history... tions dropped dramatically whist report- We move forwards very slowly, only ing's have trebled . There were over last June, the CPS put a stop to the 55,000 rapes reported to the police in practice of police demanding the victim 2019 in England and Wales with 700 sign a “Digital Process Notice” allowing convictions. In 2020 the chance of a access to victim Phone, PC and all so- complaint even becoming a charge was 1 in 70! cial media and photographs to deter- mine the credibility of a rape complaint. Statistics average out and can misrep- So sexting (Sending naked pictures) is resent, so can we draw comfort that it likely to render a rape victim defence- doesn't happen in our community? I less. How perverse! What happened to truly hope so, and in my heart of hearts consent? I cannot believe anyone, I know, within this community to be a victim or villain, The website, “everyone's invited.uk” God forbid! has ripped the lid off serious sexual as- sault in schools with 15000 student tes- But that's not my point, rather, that the crime is so predominant and continues timonies at school and university since because of an implicit acceptance of the June 2021. Cont... norm by collective silence or worse, 3 That’s your child's school, grand- child's, sisters, sons, grandsons and brothers school. Rape culture perme- ates everywhere and insidiously grows by our complicit silence. Civilisation has flourished because of a hard wired reproductive urge. Sexual assault is not the same. It is narcissis- tic emotional immaturity, inability to ra- tionalise urges and “own” behaviour The Churches of Billesdon cum rather than projecting this conduct onto Goadby and Rolleston; Skeffington; others without consent or empathy. Hungarton and Keyham But this can be challenged in our soci- ety. For children, empathy, is learned May 2021 will see us celebrate Pente- cost (Whit Sunday) on 23rd , it’s some- behaviour during maturing of a child, times referred to as the Church’s Communicating feelings , learning con- ‘Birthday’ there are traditions about sent early and not just about sexual wearing red to church that day, not consent but children asking before tak- done so often now but it is usually a ing and enjoying the pleasure of giving happy, celebratory occasion and in any and sharing and experience walking in church I’ve been Vicar of has always the shoes of others. involved Cake! Last year our churches were shut. I For adults, acknowledge the damage remember as we approached Pente- of rape banter. “Don’t drop the soap in cost, waiting for the change we hoped the shower” is innocuous to you and me was coming when churches would be but to the wrong mindset its as good as allowed to re-open, I was hoping it a green light. Rape culture is never would be for Pentecost but in the end it funny. Be aware of how rape culture was just after that. permeates social interaction.. “Boys will This year there will be no cake. One of be boys” is greenlighting male things I have found most difficult is the behaviour being consequence of their complexity of the laws that have sur- gender not a mans responsibility. A rounded our efforts to keep everyone safe during this pandemic, law made short skirt is not a green light to a moral piece by piece and in haste has often judgement, it is a woman's right to meant there are inconsistencies. So… experience freedom and a mans obli- while I can offer a friend cake in my gation for constraint. garden at 2m apart the government guidance prevents me from doing so in Rape culture isn't a typical parish church – no matter how far back I stay! magazine topic and I hope it hasn't caused offence but it needs addressing I know that this is to keep us safe and I have, and will continue to follow all the so our loved ones are safe.... rules to keep us all safe, but I have to Richard Walkden Cont... 4

Projectors and Screens in both Lounge and Main Hall be honest about my heavy heart that Billesdon Chapel misses the expression of my Christian faith. Elsewhere in this mag- azine you will find an I miss the fact that we can only share article describing the bread not wine at Communion, I miss changes we are plan- singing, I miss cake (during the sermon ning to make to the and after the service!) I miss shaking a Chapel building. hand or receiving a hug, I miss being able to smile at everyone who comes For over 200 years the building has through the door of church without a served the church and community well, face covering in the way. but we now need to make some chang- es so that it can continue to provide a Still – we have come so far together and great space for us all. there is definitely light ahead, I am glad we were able to gather on Easter Day in In the article you will be able to read the church and that soon we will be able about the changes we are expecting to to do all those things that I (and many make, I just want to explain the reason others) miss, so until that glorious day, for the developments. We want the we’ll keep on loving and caring and Chapel building to be a contemporary keeping one another safe, being thank- community space which can be used ful for our Shop and Pubs and Post Of- more frequently by more people with an fice that have kept us going. objective of developing (take a deep breath for this!) a safe, open, welcom- Thankful that the Church Clock is mend- ing, accessible, flexible, intergeneration- ed and we can meet a few folk at least. al space updated to 21st Century stand- Thankful for every blessing – no matter ards of hygiene, sound, presentation, how small. In this last year I’ve learned lighting, heating and furnishing, within to be more grateful I think for things I current building regulations, allowing the maybe took for granted before. opportunity for church and community growth both in person and on-line. With prayers for all who live and work in our villages. I think you already know that it is not just Revd Alison church buildings that I’m interested in, I want us all to consider how we develop From the Registers… and build our lives. Billesdon Funerals: Jesus said: “Everyone who hears my Christine Stella RICH, 7th April, teaching and applies it to his life can be Norman VANN, 13th April, compared to a wise man who built his Notice of APCMs: The Annual Parochial house on an unshakable foundation”. Church Council Meetings will take place Now, that is something to think about. again on Zoom this year: If you want to know more about building Billesdon cum Goadby & (chapel or life), read the article and chat Rolleston, on Tuesday 25th May 2021 with me. If you have any ideas how the Skeffington, on Thurs 13th May Chapel building can be used for commu- 2021 If you wish to attend, please nity and church growth please let me contact Rev'd Rosie, login details [email protected] know.

7 Keeping in touch by pleasant spring weather and an as- sociated raising of spirits. Although the We are keeping in contact by seasons have been delayed due to the WhatsApp, Facebook, phone, email, cold in early March, the bulbs in bloom text, post or any other way. We want have added to our wellbeing. The to ensure that everyone is cared for snowdrops are well past but the daffo- and encouraged through these continu- dils on the approach to the village add ing difficult times. to the cheer. Sunday Worship We are meeting online together on Sunday mornings at The natural attractiveness of our sur- 10.30am for Sunday Worship. roundings has been enhanced by the action of Clare and Alan Shaw who Sunny Days have been very socially conscious litter Whilst our group for pre-schoolers and picking along the approaches to their parents/carers is unable to meet Goadby village. Sterling work and in person, please note there is a dedi- greatly appreciated. cated Facebook page and email ad- dress: SunnyDays-Home(Facebook) We are all aware of the effect that the and [email protected] lockdowns have had on the elderly, om to keep connected. particularly as most who read the B Home Group & D P N & V, are within that On Wednesday evenings at 7.30 p.m. group, but there are those at the other is our online Home Group. This is an end of the age spectrum who have also opportunity to encourage one another been affected. I took the opportunity to and pray. You can join these meetings speak to one family in Goadby whose by phone or on the internet – please let two daughters were preparing for us know if you want the details of how GCSE and school leaving exams at the to join us. time of the first lockdown. Schooling Contact Brian Boley, 07485- has adapted with much of the pressure 046000, [email protected] being placed on the parents responsi- ble for home supervision. Brian Boley Billesdon Baptist Chapel However, it does seem that the quality Goadby Gleanings of learning has been enhanced when not within a mixed ability class room One year ago we were coming to terms with all the associated interruptions and with our first experiences of lockdown distractions. Those pupils at the end of and all the restrictions that the regula- their school years have had additional tions imposed. Little did we dream that pressures. Closure of schools was an- we would have to endure, not one such nounced with great suddenness. GCSE spell of limitations, but three. and A Level exams abandoned with Here we are slowly being released much confusion. from the last exhortation to “Stay at Those students were faced with an as- Home”. Unlike the first experience, this sessment process that they had not last restriction was held during typical anticipated; for some this worked in winter weather which led to most resi- their favour but for others, who usually dents feeling trapped. The general reacted to exam pressure with a final mood was low. The first few days of the sprint, were left being assessed on a easing of restrictions was accompanied 8

Cont. from page 9 will have read in previous magazine previous year of rather casual editions. work. End of schooling traditions were lost and friendships, built up over five Costs have come in below what I was or more years, ended without the usual expecting, but are in the substantial goodbyes. thousands nonetheless. Grateful thanks are due to all who have helped For those trading school for university, financially to make this possible. If you the contrast seems extreme and, for would like to contribute towards the those looking on from afar, the oppor- cost, and the more who do, the easier tunities to adapt much restricted. How- it is for all of us, please drop your do- ever, as one family said, “what you nation through the vicarage door, or to don’t know, you don’t miss”. the churchwardens, Keith Evans or Andrea Grindley. Friendships are still made through con- tacts in shared accommodation rather As and when concerts in church are than meeting in class groups. Sport once again do-able, we shall look for- opportunities are limited and differ from ward to putting on a half hour’s music institution to institution but social clubs on an occasional Saturday morning, have been absent during the past aca- with this particular fund-raising facet as demic year. For most first year stu- our focus. dents at university, the experience of attending lectures in a formal lecture Simon Ainge (organist and director of theatre has not happened. On line music, St John the Baptist’s Church). teaching has been universally accept- ed and is likely to remain within the Woodland Pool teaching curriculum. Springtime is all about renewal and One issue that students down at the pool there are new begin- do have is with the lack nings everywhere you look. While the of refunding for the loss pussy willow has almost come and of face to face teaching gone, the leaf buds on the trees and and accommodation shrubs are bursting into life and, de- that was paid for in spite the occasional frost, and even a advance. light snow shower in early April, prim- Charles Stewart roses are plentiful and cowslips are beginning to show themselves in the HRH Prince Phillip meadow. As I type this, I am watching the 41 gun The pool itself now contains a number salute in honour of HRH Prince Philip. of returning amphibians, the resulting Every minute, guns were simulta- patches of spawn indicating that some neously fired in different parts of the of them have already found mates, and kingdom, and at sea. A moving, if you hear a high trill coming from the wordless moment, timed to perfection. reeds it will be the Little Grebe, re- The purpose of my few lines turned from its overwintering on lakes and reservoirs to hopefully breed now is to reflect how wonderful it is to again, as it did last year. Having re- see and hear the church clock once ported hearing the first Chiffchaff, a again functioning. A lot of work has spring migrant, in the middle of happened behind the scenes, as you Cont..page 13 11

March, if the amount of song is any- hours chimes working again. The engi- thing to go by there are now more than neers from the Cumbria Clock Compa- one. For anyone wondering if they can ny visited us on Wednesday 7th April to recognise the song, it goes something complete the work to the hour’s like “chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff, chiff-chaff”. Other birds reported include a pair of chimes. Treecreepers, Green Woodpecker, They had a difficult time setting the Great Spotted Woodpecker, Long Tailed Tits and Buzzard. The FB page clock up, arriving at 1.30 pm and not leaving until 6.45pm. A small problem took a lot of patience to find and deal with. They asked me to apologise to those of you who had to endure the constant ringing of the hours chimes as than ran them through the 12-hour cy- cle. Unfortunately, this was the only way that they could test the mechanism under load to both identify the problem and to test that it had been fixed.

We now have a fully overhauled clock to serve the village again, I am sure many of you will be pleased to see that this historic time piece is working as it should after such a long time without its presence. Alan G Parker.

is being well utilised, alerting us to the return of the amphibians as well as sharing photographs of birds seen such as Yellowhammer, Great Tit, Blue Tit plus the resident Robin, the latter delight- ing both adults and children alike. Jo Edwards

Church Clock

This, hopefully, is the last bulletin about the Church Clock. Many of you will have noticed that we now have the 13 Billesdon WI Moss, his volunteers and the Baptist Chapel, on behalf of the Parish Council March has been a busy month. We and indeed the whole community. enjoyed a talk from Canine Partners at our meeting on the 17th . On the 29th, More exciting news is that we have we had an Easter Bonnet Tea Party, been awarded funding by Platform it’s amazing what you can do on Zoom! Housing Group, through their And the hats were fantastic! Some of 'Community Fund'. Platform you may have spotted small groups of Housing Group are the landlords and Ladies going around the village on the managers of the Knights Close devel- 31st looking hard at buildings, whilst opment. They have awarded us eating Easter eggs! This was our 2nd £5,000.00 for use at the Woodland Treasure Hunt during Pool and the wildlife section developing Covid, and was greatly within their green paddock area in enjoyed by everyone. Knights Close. Next Meeting. Wed April 21st 2.30pm on Zoom This will assist us in developing the David Allen - Manners, wildlife areas for the benefit of the please dearest! May 19th – Resolu- whole community and we can look at tions discussion Lois Parker the problems that require attention. Such as Ash dieback, pruning of ma- Good News For Billesdon Wildlife. ture trees so they remain safe, coppic- ing the woodland area to encourage Good news for Billesdon wildlife, fur- biodiversity, cutting and seeding the ther to the planting of two heritage Elm wildflower meadows, maintenance of trees supplied free by Goscote Nurse- the main pool to ensure that we retain ries and the collection and planting by an amount of open water and it’s not Jane Tregoning, Stephen Bishop and clogged with the reed beds. It may also volunteers, we added two feature trees provide the means to develop a plant- to our Woodland Pool. As much as an- ing scheme. With the funding present- ything these trees were supplied in the ed by the Edith Murphy Foundation this memory of Capt. Sir Tom Moore to gives us £10,000.00 to cover costs and mark his achievements. Perhaps in the should anyone have any suggestions future we can add to this and arrange of how to apply this we would be further planting of heritage trees such pleased to hear them. Meanwhile, to as Oaks, Elms, Alders etc. make the best use of this money we are consulting with many experts within Billesdon Baptist Chapel have also do- their field, such as LCC’s Senior Envi- nated a bird nesting boxes for villagers ronmental Officer, their Estates Manag- to install in their gardens or environs. er and the Forestry & Arboricul- These were supplied by Malcolm ture Officer. Moss, specifically designed for different species. 46 boxes were allocated to We are also consulting with the Nation- the area and 10 boxes to the Wood- al Trust, the Woodland Trust, the Tree land Pool. Five for Robins and five for Council, Plantlife and RSPB among Blue Tits, three of each were also sup- others. Hopefully, these will be able to plied and installed in the Knights Close advise and guide us and I intend to wildlife area with the consent of Plat- form Housing. 28 boxes were snapped present their findings to the community up by locals. I would like to express our and the Parish Council. appreciation and gratitude to Malcolm John Williams 14

Village People 128 Service. There’s plenty more to his story which lack of space here prevents me Alan Parker from recounting. So how about other particular highlights from his forty three Alan’s career history years with the NHS? Coping with the chronicles the devel- aftermath of the Welford Road Ambu- opment of the Ambu- lance Station destruction by fire was lance Service in this one. A County Hall lunch with the Queen country, and the part following the impressive work his staff he has played in it. did at the Kegworth air crash stands out He left school in Sur- too. rey at the age of fifteen, dabbled with farming and then joined St Johns Ambu- Then there was that unusual incident at lance Surrey Ambulance Service. an emergency RTA call out in his early days. He and his partner arrived on the In those days the job was little more scene involving a lorry in a ditch, and an than driving and lifting – known as injured man in the road. They headed off ‘scoop and run’ – until the Miller report to hospital with him only to discover that introduced the first real staff training and there was another person involved in the Alan became one of the first to qualify. incident who was missing. A series of promotions after marriage to It turned out that the lorry had hit a man- his blind date Lois saw them move from hole cover during road works, and a Dorking to Guildford then Derbyshire search revealed the missing man and South Yorkshire. Alan oversaw the trapped while working inside the man- challenges of the amalgamation of ser- hole, the cover having been accidentally vices before ultimately being appointed replaced during the incident. Chief Officer of the combined Leicester City, and Rutland Service. Since retirement he has been involved in extensive consultancy work involving He inherited a run down HQ in Leicester hospital emergency planning, and some- where staff morale was very low, and set where amongst all of this has been ball- about revamping things as part of a na- room dancing to the level of medal win- tional push to increase skill levels in the ning, running a dance band (they played Service (no hint of them being called the last event in the former Billesdon paramedics) despite resistance from the village hall) and spending twenty six nursing and medical professions. years as a City magistrate. An incremental approach saw the intro- Then there’s bell ringing and looking duction first of blood pressure monitoring after the church clock. Oh, and driving training, and eventually defibrillators be- their motorhome here there and every- ing fitted to all ambulances. Alan proudly where, including to the Arctic Circle. saw all his front line staff trained in their own time due to low funding levels, a Silly me, I forgot to ask sign of how things had moved on. what he does in his spare time. Alan’s final challenge before taking early retirement in 1999 was as project officer Peter Francis in the merger of Notts, Derbyshire and Leicestershire services into what is now known as the Ambulance 17 Developing the Chapel Building The pews will be removed, and the floor levelled off necessitating the cur- There comes a time in the life of most rent doorway to be blocked off. homes when changes need to be made to adapt to circumstances and ways of This will create a space more suited to life, whether that is painting a nursery events and meetings in the 21st century and putting up stairgates, knocking and the flexibility of use for different down a wall to create more living space activities. In addition, there will be or putting in a stairlift to give easier ac- some improvements to the current fa- cess. The Chapel as ‘our home’ is no cilities. different. If you want to look at the development The wooden pews have been there for plans here is the link to the Harborough some considerable time and the en- Planning Portal: https://tinyurl.com/ trance doorway is not particularly billesdonchapel A new chapter for the friendly in terms of being accessible by Chapel building with the same purpose those who are disabled or those visiting it has always had, but serving us all for the first time. After a great deal of better. prayer and consideration plans have been drawn up to reorder the building. As for the colour of the walls that is a whole new discussion point further The vision is for a single storey flat down the line. roofed extension to the left side of the building, which will become the new I do like the sound of ‘Brave Ground’ brighter, lighter more welcoming en- this year’s colour of the year by one of trance and access into the main build- the paint manufacturers – described as ing through the side. ‘a warm, earthy tone, it creates a feel- ing of stability, growth and poten- tial: and provides a firm foundation for change and crea- tivity’.

Now that is what we are aiming for with the develop- ment of the Chap- el building.

Please sponsor this page! 18

Billesdon Cricket Club other teams in the various age groups. This year in addition to the U10 and Following the restrictions of U13 teams will also be fielding a devel- the last year hopefully the opment team for older juniors to help- first Saturday league ing them make the step up to seniors. games of the 2021 season should have Thanks to, players, coaches, managers taken place at the end of April. Mem- and parents who worked very hard to bers have been working hard to get the build the junior section. ground ready and hopes are high for another successful and enjoyable year. Good luck to all for an enjoyable sea- Games for 1st and 2nd XI teams are son of cricket in Billesdon! due every Saturday to September. Paul Miles Mob: 07749 422547 The Saturday senior captains are Paul Coplow Centre update Vinas for the 1st XI and Sam Wigginton Due to the generosity of both central for the 2nd XI. Billesdon are fielding and local Governments, we have re- teams in a number of cup competitions ceived grants in excess of £20,000 including the National Village Cup. over the past twelve months. This has Billesdon have been drawn away at enabled us to continue to maintain the Baston, S/Lincolnshire, in this year’s Centre despite the lack of revenues competition with the game being over that period. Whilst the outdoor sports court was re- played on Sunday 25th April. th opened for bookings on 29 March 2021, planned other re-opening dates Junior practice sessions at Coplow are as follows: Lane will be every Thursday night (6pm start) throughout the summer, from 12th April 2021: open for educational 22nd April to end of August. The ses- and young person’s events such as sions are being run by Billesdon’ s club Rainbows, Brownies, ballet, Brain Art and Cook Stars coach, Finlay Moore, with support from th Tom Flowers Cricket Coaching. The 17 May 2021: open for all other indoor events such as Table Tennis, Badmin- professional coaching sessions held in ton and various exercise/fitness clas- previous seasons are very popular and ses. Bookings can be made directly enjoyable for all the juniors who attend. online at: http://www. thecoplowcen- The club are aiming to build on that tre.com/whats-on/ success this year and any young per- or booking enquires can be made via: son, primary school age or older, who [email protected] would like to play cricket at Billesdon is very welcome to attend. Just turn up We look forward to welcoming you all on a Thursday night at 6pm or contact back to the many classes we host, to Ben Miles 07532 216808 for details. drama/panto productions and to our fundraising events. In addition to the junior coaching ses- Paul Collins Chairman sions matches will be played against 21 From the Nursies to small animals, nets, rubber bands, May is generally cans, strimmer's mowers and pools known as “silly season” at where they cannot get out. Mostly the Nurseries! Every inch of THANK YOU to all those who contribute indoor space will be full to to our charity cans. the brim with tender bed- ding plants. The first of Daphne Bates which we start selling are the basket and container Parish Council News- plants. They won’t be hardy We will all be expected enough to be outside until the end of the to cast our vote, either by going to the month but if your willing to bring them Poling booth or completing the postal inside on colder nights or grow them on vote sent to you recently. Although these in a greenhouse it will give your display a elections are all about local representa- good head start. When planting your tions, they are as, or more, important baskets less is quite often more, the temptation is to cram as many plants in than national ones. Our district repre- as you can. If you plant a little more sentative can have a big effect, and bring sparsely they will soon fill out and do to bear changes important to us, help us better for having a little more room to when we need assistance with a prob- grow into. lem, speak for us when nobody else will hear our argument, attend Council meet- When planting up a basket a Geranium ings and are our main artery into the sys- makes a good centre piece, then around tem. It is important that we vote, ensur- the outside, a trailing fuchsia, nonstop ing an important links to local govern- begonia and ivy geranium. Then infill ment. So put May 6 th in your diary. with plants of your choice, Bacopa or Diascia and Creeping Jenny do really At Parish Council level, recent weeks well. Alternatively, just plant 3 tuberous have been quiet, with hope that we might begonias that will give you a stunning hold regular meetings in person rather display. There will be enough nutrients than zoom. You may have seen in the in compost for a month or so but after, a press that Council liquid feed every 7-10 days will keep are preparing to update their local plan, them happy. When watering the best and ‘called for sites’, a process where way is to hold the basket up and if it feels landowners notify HDC that they have light water it, if it’s heavy leave it and land available for development. A first check the following day. stage in formulating the plan, and may involve us in reviewing local submis- If you regularly take off the dead heads sions, if we are in the long term to build you should have a basket to be proud of more houses. All this is not going to hap- until well into September. John Par- pen overnight.!! Enjoy the sunshine, son don’t litter and pick up your dog poos. Leicestershire Hedgehog Rescue Sun- day May 2nd to the 8th is Hedgehog Simon Ford Awareness Week. There will be notices Chair Billesdon Parish in the village identifying dangerous items Council. 22

Billesdon C of E Primary School band (provided by school in the inter- ests of fair testing!) This event usually March-ing back to full strength! brings Dads, Grandads, and Uncles The school, and the rest of the country, into school to work in tandem with their experienced the first step back towards child with high levels of competitive- a more normal life with all children re- ness. It seemed that there had been turning to school on the 8th March. The many training sessions going on at children have been delighted to be with home as the children produced egg their friends in their mobiles of varying design and use of bubbles again and slot- an elastic band! ted back into our Covid -safe routines very As an alternative chal- quickly. lenge, an egg decorating competition is always It has been a busy held as well – this year’s month for the school as theme was “lockdown” – we switched from re- and the creations brought mote learning to class- in to share with everyone were amaz- room learning, whilst still celebrating ing! The school rounded off the spring the many events that weave into the term with a wonderful Easter Service school calendar. This month we cele- brated World Book Day in a hybrid fashion – both at home and in school – on 4th March. This day is always a mo- tivating day for our children and, once again, our children had great fun dress- ing up as their favourite book charac- ters and were challenged with reading in interesting places! which, with the help of Reverend Ro- sie, told the Easter Story using videos Once back in school, of songs, poems and acting from each we have been com- of the class bubbles which was shared mitted to ensuring that with the whole school using our digital as much of our usual learning platform. timetable continues. Essential events such as Parents Evening, external spe- We are looking cialist visits, fire drills, etc. were adjust- forward to forging ed as required and of course, we could ahead in the sum- not pass up the chance to hold the mer term with Billesdon Great Egg Race! This year, wider choices of we could not invite our parents in for after school clubs this extremely popular event but we and hopefully, a continued gradual lift- made sure that the show went on in ing of restrictions. each bubble. The challenge this year was to create an “egg mobile” to Lisa Willcocks, A/Headteacher transport an egg over the longest dis- tance using the power of an elastic 24

Article 7: Gar- accessed from the outside, meaning ages and that the doors cannot be taken off in an Sheds attempt to gain entry. Bolts could also With some rather varied weather in the be attached to the doors and drilled into past few weeks, and a few welcome the floor, to further strengthen this. announcements from Downing Street, If your garage/shed has clear windows, we are working towards a stage where it is important that all valuable items we can finally tentatively tread out of which may be targeted by thieves, in- the front door to pastures beyond. From cluding bikes, lawn mowers, ladders the end of March, we can visit friends and power or garden tools, are covered and family in a socially distanced man- over, or the view from the window ob- ner, whilst outside, including a private scured from view. garden. You could also consider an alarm for This means, we need to dust off our outbuildings, which sets off a really loud gardening tools (and potentially our siren if the beam or contact sensors are barbeques if the weather is right), to triggered by movement within the area. welcome people safely, to our garden If you have an existing alarm system in havens. So, in order to keep gardens your home, it may be worth extending pristine, your lawn mown and hedges this to your outbuilding, to give it an trimmed… extra level of protection. You will need some crime prevention Here at the Crime Reduction Team, we tips to keep safe those tools and all of have plenty of garage and shed alarms the other essential items stored in your available so if you would like some, or if sheds and garages! you have any questions, please get in The items which are most often target- touch and we will more than happily ed in an outbuilding are bikes, mowers help! and garden and power tools. It is worth Georgie Greensmith and Al Cook, fastening anything valuable like these, to the floor or wall, with a ground an- chor or other various locks. This should also be done with ladders, which could be taken from your outbuilding and used to gain access to the upper floors of your house. This can also be said for any tools which may be lying around, which could also be used to gain access to your home, so it is important these are locked away securely. Any doors to the outbuildings should be secured with a sturdy pad bolt and padlock, which can be obtained online or in any good DIY store. Certain types of locks cannot be cut by bolt cutters, and are ideal for gar- ages and sheds, such as disc padlocks, which are definitely worth considering. Also for the doors, you could potentially look at anti-tamper screws or coach screws for the doors, which cannot be 27