Your village paper MP expresses concern at Rail Editor: Freight plans Lorraine Jackson 101 Stanton Road South MP, Alberto Costa, has expressed his concern at recently announced plans by developers, DB Symmetry, to construct a new logistics site with an accompanying rail freight terminal located to the south of the village of .

Tel: 01455 274733 Th e plans which were recently unveiled by DB Symmetry, would cover a site of almost 500 acres and would include a 1.5 million square foot E-mail: [email protected] warehouse which, if constructed, would become Leicestershire’s largest building.

SAPCOTE NEWS Mr Costa said, “I am extremely concerned at the developer’s plans for • Published by SRGMC (Sapcote Recreation this gigantic logistics park to the south of Elmesthorpe, located close Ground Management Committee) to Junction 2 of the M69, in my constituency. My office has already been contacted by a very large number of constituents regarding this • SRGMC has no opinions on the articles in this matter and they too have expressed their deep concerns about the edition potential impact on local roads, the surrounding environment and other • All articles submitted will be included in the local infrastructure. Until just a week or so ago, there appeared to be earliest edition where possible, and the editor on very little in the way of public consultation on this matter, and it is simply behalf of the SRGMC reserves the right NOT to unacceptable that my constituents are being given very little publish any material deemed to be unsuitable. consideration in this case”. • The views and opinions expressed in this and any edition are NOT those of the editor unless Mr Michael Lee, Chair of the Fosse Villages Neighbourhood Plan, also detailed accordingly said, “Villages like , , Sapcote and will be overwhelmed by employee and service traffic. DB Symmetry proposes opening Coventry facing slip roads at M69 Junction 2 for HNRFI truck traffic. In 1970 the Secretary of State for Transport absolutely refused to allow their construction due to the inadequacy of the local road system even then. There has been DEADLINE FOR NEXT SAPCOTE NEWS absolutely no subsequent road improvement. Add 8,400 employees daily being drawn to the HNRFI facility from a very wide area and you have a traffic, pollution and safety disaster which will utterly destroy the All articles and adverts to be forwarded to environment of our villages. The developers must re-examine the the editor by: practical access needs for this facility, and their own under investment driven greed”. th 12 August 2018 Mr Costa added, “I too only received notification of this development in a letter from DB Symmetry a few weeks ago, and I was rather disappointed with the contents of that letter which provided very little detail. As a result of this, I have urgently written to the Managing Director of DB Symmetry inviting him to a meeting in Westminster so that we can discuss this proposal in greater detail. Since my election in 2015, I have been working very closely with the Sharnford Traffic Action Group (STAG) and Sharnford Parish Council to address the troublesome traffic issues that many of the Fosse Villages experience and as such, it is of paramount importance that both I and my constituents fully understand the proposals before us”. For further information contact: Will Bateman, Senior Parliamentary Researcher, 07814 840296 Page 2 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

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For more information please telephone Tony Griggs 01455 274245 or 07816 951636

Page 3 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE PARISH COUNCIL NEWS Report of the Chairman of the Parish Council Council, City Council the seven district councils It was with great sadness that, early in January, we and the Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership. Whilst we learnt of the death of our long-standing county welcome the idea of planning for the future and providing councillor, Ernie White. Mr White had been a county a framework to allow this to happen, we do not subscribe councillor and a district councillor for many years and to the idea that a consultation on a vision is sufficient had supported the Parish Council and the people of authority for the approval of an expressway and the Sapcote in a whole range of matters over that time. Mr construction of 90,000 houses and associated White regularly attended the Parish Council meetings development at unknown locations, without further and provided assistance and advice on a range of reference to a full public consultation. matters. During his period in office he was leader of both Leicestershire County Council and District In addition to our concerns about the lack of a second Council. He will be sadly missed. consultation, we also have concerns over the lack of detail of the route of the proposed expressway, the lack of In November last year Marian Cross, our litter warden, information on access and exit points, the accuracy of the retired after 25 years’ service with the Parish Council. overall housing needs forecasts and we have particular Marian kept the village a litter free environment for 25 concerns over the lack of information on secondary road years. She has done an excellent job over this period improvements to take the additional estimated 400 million and this is evidenced by the number of favourable traffic movements per year. We now await the response of comments received about the cleanliness of the the consultation and to see if our bid for second village. Marion is now taking a well-deserved opportunity to comment was successful. retirement and the thanks of the Parish Council go to Marion with every best wish for the future. Joy Sparks Because of its concern, the Parish Council organised a has now been appointed to this post and has already public meeting which was held on 22 March and where commenced work. there was unanimous support for second consultation once detailed proposals had been formulated and, before During the year, Sapcote and Stoney Stanton parish the proposals were incorporated into local plans. councils collaborated on the refurbishment of the Representatives of the seven local parish councils and Stanton Lane footpath. This work has now been meetings who were present, all spoke in support this completed and many walkers are now enjoying a second consultation as did members of the public who wider footpath free from potholes and overgrown unequivocally supported a second consultation. The vegetation. Parish Council has now written to our district councillors in an attempt to gain their support for a second consultation At its January meeting the Parish Council approved a and this letter has been attached as an addendum to the precept increase of 2.375%. For a band D property Parish Council minutes of April 2018 which can be found this amounts to an annual increase of £1.99 per year on the Parish Council’s web site. which equates to just over16p per month. Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange The Parish Council is still awaiting the formal Some 18 months ago we were made aware that there handover of the Grace Road public open space. Once were tentative proposals for a rail freight interchange this happens we can install the long-awaited dog and which was to take up a substantial area on the western litter bins. We are pressing Council to side of the parishes of Sapcote and Stoney Stanton. This approve the transfer as soon as possible. proposal is rapidly becoming a reality albeit on a smaller 178-hectare site to the east of the M69. The proposed Strategic Growth Plan development will include general industrial facilities, In January of this year we saw the commencement of storage and distribution warehousing together with a rail the consultation period for the Strategic Growth Plan port and a lorry park. It is also proposed to include a which is a long term, high level vision for growth that is dedicated access road directly to and from junction 2 of being prepared jointly by Leicestershire County the M69 by opening the south facing slip roads.

Page 4 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE PARISH COUNCIL NEWS cont’d This proposed development designated as being of recommended boundary changes will be confirmed and national significance because of the motorway and rail will become effective from 1 April 2019. I would like to pass connections, and accordingly it is being dealt with by on my thanks to all those residents who supported the Parish the National Infrastructure Planning Unit of the Council on this important change. Planning Inspectorate with local planning authorities being consultees only. Fly Tipping

As a first stage, we have now responded to the Fly tipping is a continuing concern in local communities Scoping Opinion detailing what we would like to see and this illegal activity has seen a sharp rise in recent included in the Environmental Impact Assessment years fuelled by more and more restrictions at County Statement. Clearly, we have many concerns about Council recycling sites. Again, this year we have this development not least of which is the traffic experienced the blight caused by this illegal dumping and impact not only on the village but on the wider area it seems that even the entrance to the cemetery is not and especially with the proposed opening of the M69 out of bounds to fly tippers. We would encourage southern slip roads. There is also the matter o everyone to be vigilant and immediately call the police if fincreased nitrous oxide and particulate emissions; such an incident is witnessed. light and noise pollution; the environmental impact on the land around the development including Burbage Emergency Plan common and the impact upon the residents of the During the year the Parish Council implemented an caravan sites. emergency plan for Sapcote. While the Parish Council can only have a subsidiary role in emergency situations it This first stage consultation on the content of the has nevertheless taken this initiative to provide support, environmental statement will be followed by a public when necessary, to back up the emergency services in consultation which will take place later this year and providing low key, but nevertheless important activities, has to be completed before the developer can apply such as providing shelter, reception facilities, sustenance for planning consent. Our response to the Planning etc. The Parish Council has now equipped itself with the Inspectorate in respect of the environmental appropriate basic materials to allow it to carry out this statement has also been attached as an addendum to role. This is a new role for parish councils and Sapcote is the April 2018 minutes on the Parish Council website. the first parish in Blaby District to formally adopt an emergency plan, a record we are rightly proud of. I would Parish Boundary like to thank Gareth Twitchett for his valuable work in drawing up the Plan and Vic Howell for his follow up work I reported last year that the Parish Council was uneasy in managing the operational side of the plan. about the location of the new Jelson site straddling the border of the parishes of Sapcote and Stoney Stanton Defibrillators and as a result had requested that a boundary review be carried out with a view to bringing the whole site into Last year I reported that the Parish Council was been the parish of Sapcote. We had been concerned for spearheading a drive to obtain two defibrillators for the some time that the Area of Separation had become less village and that we had acquired the telephone box effective with part of the Stoney Stanton built outside the Post Office to house one of them. As many of environment being attached to Sapcote and the case you will be aware, we now have both defibrillators up and for a boundary change became even more compelling running and thanks to the First Responders a number of when the County Council declared that the whole site familiarisation courses have been held to ensure that was to fall within the catchment area of All Saints villagers are comfortable with using these appliances. Primary School. Following a consultation, which Both defibrillators are now accessible 24/7 365 days a overwhelmingly supported the boundary change, Blaby year and their locations will be advised to anyone dialling District Council has agreed a draft recommendation to 999 to enable resuscitation to be carried out prior to amend the boundary to include the whole of the site in emergency services arriving on scene. I would like to the parish of Sapcote. Under the Community thank Vic Howell for the work he has done in bringing this Governance procedures, a second consultation was initiative to fruition, and to Jonathan Haw and the First now being undertaken and hopefully, following this, the Responders for their invaluable assistance. Page 5 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE PARISH COUNCIL NEWS cont’d Voluntary Work Recreation Ground Management Committee £ 7,930 Notwithstanding recent major housing development, Good Neighbour Scheme £ 500 Sapcote is still a relatively small village with a vibrant Heritage Group £ 200 community, many of whom make a positive contribution Youth Club costs £ 3,036 to village life to make it a better place to live. We are Youth Club grant £ 225 fortunate to have a number of groups and organisations who make village life what it is in providing a range of Christmas Committee £ 500 services and activities for the benefit ofthe whole Bloom Group £ 525 community. These people selflessly give up their time to Community Library £ 1,000 help and support others and without them the village Community library Maintenance £ 1,370 would be a poorer place. I would like to place on record First Responders £ 500 my thanks to these people for the work they carry out. Total £15,786

One group that epitomises this community action is the volunteer litter pickers who selflessly spend hours Employees clearing the ditches of litter on the outer extremities of In addition to the Clerk, this Parish Council has two paid the village. Without these volunteers gathering employees who work on a part time basis carrying out countless bags of rubbish the village environment would important work for the benefit of the village. As I not be as it is, so our thanks go to them for their mentioned earlier, Marian Cross retired last November continuing efforts in improving the cleanliness of our after keeping the streets and playing areas of the village village. free of litter for the last twenty five years, Victoria Preston carries out the general maintenance of the cemetery and I would also like to thank Lorraine Jackson who, for a the War Memorial garden. During the year she has made number of years, has edited the Sapcote News. This substantial improvements to the cemetery with a magazine, which is free and goes to every household in programme of maintenance and planting. I would like to the village, is wholly funded by the Recreation Ground thank these employees for the work they do in helping Management Committee and is delivered by volunteers. keep the village looking clean and tidy. Once again, I This is an important publication for keeping the village must voice my appreciation for the support and depth of informed about local events and issues but without the knowledge that Mike Guntrip has provided to the Parish services of Lorraine and the other volunteers and the Council and to me personally. Without this commitment funding by the Recreation Ground Management from him Sapcote would be a poorer place. Committee we would be poorer for it. This is another Members example of the important role played by volunteers in our community. I would also like to thank our District Councillors Sheila Scott, Iain Hewson and Deanne Woods, for their work on The Bloom Group under the leadership of Diane Brannan behalf of the people of Sapcote over the past year. They has again provided the village with a wonderful display have championed a number of causes and kept us throughout the year, many thanks for their hard work and abreast of a whole range of issues and initiatives being commitment. dealt with by Blaby District Council and Leicestershire County Council. I would also like to take this opportunity The Community library has gone from strength to to pass on my personal thanks to the members of the strength during the last year with new initiatives such as Parish Council for the support they have given to me bi-monthly talks at lunch time together with while I have been Chairman. refreshments provided by the volunteers.

To emphasise the Parish Council’s support for voluntary Finally, I would like to pass on my thanks to those and support groups the following amounts were paid in members of the public who take the trouble to come grants/costs to or in respect of local organisations over along to the Parish Council meetings and to all those the past year: who, in various roles, contribute to life in the village and its environment and make it a pleasant place to live. Anne Davies, Chairman Page 6 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

Class Timetable for Autumn / Winter 2017: Sapcote & Sharnford ‘Drop in ‘classes

Tues 12 Midday Sapcote Pavilion Thurs 10am Sharnford Community Centre Fri 10am Sapcote Pavilion

Mixed Level classes: easy & hard options given, work at your own pace. £7 'Pay as you go' or £60 for block of 10 [to be used within 12 weeks on any classes] Men & Women Welcome. Minimum age 16 years.

Website : www.yogawithadele.co.uk www.facebook.com/yogawithadele1 Tel: 07837927227

Page 7 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

Letters to the Editor Dear Editor At the recent funeral (Nuneaton 27th March) of John Joseph Neville of Spa Drive who passed away on 4th Leicester Animal Aid March a collection was taken as was his wish the sum of £400 was raised and his wife Gwen asked the Sapcote Leicester Animal Aid is a rescue and rehoming MacMillan group to direct this to the MacMillan Nurses / Cancer Care charity. centre for cats and dogs, based just outside of the South Leicester village of in This has been deposited with the charity and on behalf Forest Road. of the family and friends of John.

Every year, we care for more than 500 dogs and cats Jenny and the local group would like to pass on their very grateful thanks on behalf of the charity and also who are lost, abandoned, neglected unwanted or their commiserations for their loss. relinquished because their owners can no longer are for them. Many thanks John Walden We provide care for up to 40 dogs and 30 cats at any one time. Each and every one receives good food, veterinary care and individual attention to help them feel secure and loved, perhaps for the first time in

their lives. Stepping Stones Preschool Methodist Church, Leicester Road, Sapcote Each dog and cat that comes through our doors is assessed by our experienced team and our goal is to ensure the right home is found for every animal, no matter how long it takes.

Learning Through Play ! We provide on-going guidance and practical help to established for 20 years both new and existing pet owners, so when you offer Offering excellent care, fun and friends one of our animals a home, you can rely on us for in our bright airy setting with a lovely outdoor space advice for months, and even years afterwards. for outdoor play – everyday! Thank you for all your donations –everything is sold to provide funds to keep the Centre going. If you have Call us to arrange a visit any saleable items (toys, clothes , bric a brac) please to see what we can offer your child leave on my doorstep at 8 New Walk. Also please remember to visit our shop at the Centre which is Or visit our facebook page at: open daily from 10 – 2. Stepping Stones Preschool Sapcote Diana Dunne Tel: Sadie on 07593534118 or email: [email protected] Stepping Stones is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of all children

Page 8 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

MACMILLAN COFFEE MORNING 2018

The Sapcote MacMillan group once again invites you to come along to the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning to be held at the regular venue of the Pavilion on Friday 28th September. We should like to extend our welcome to all the new residents in the various new developments in the village and look forward to seeing as many of them as possible together with all are stalwart regulars. We would be most grateful for any new or unwanted gifts you could donate and also for any raffle prizes. Donations of home made cakes, jams and pickles would also be very much appreciated before or on the day, as would any surplus home grown vegetables you may have. We will also take any jewelry that you don’t think you may wear again. A collection of tins, bottles and packets for the Tombola stall will be made in early September, so please look out for ladies pushing trolleys around the village! The wonderful support you continue to give and have given over the years is greatly appreciated and we look forward to seeing everyone again this year to support this very worthwhile charity. Contacts: Jenny Chapman 01455 273801 Vivian Lee 01455 273207

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS IN THE SAPCOTE NEWS Sapcote News is published quarterly and discounts are provided for advertising for: Full Page £30.00 (1 issue) or £28.00 each (4 issues) Half Page £16.00 (1 issue) or £14.00 each (4 issues) Quarter Page £8.00 (1 issue) or £7.00 each (4 issues) Eighth Page £4.50 (1 issue) or £4.00 each (4 issues)

Pictures can be added at no extra cost Just e-mail your advert to Lorraine Jackson at [email protected] or Telephone 274733

Page 9 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE METHODIST CHURCH Leicester Road, Sapcote

Minister: Rev Tim Woolley

01455 635654

www.sapcotemethodistchurch.co.uk or follow us on facebook!

Enquiries and Information please contact Les Makepeace 01455272415

Room Bookings: Alan Watts Tel 01455 272747

Our Church newsletter can also be found online too!

What’s on? • Sunday Service Our Sunday Service starts at 10.30 am and you are welcome to join us for Coffee has resumed to its original time of after the service.

For children we have children’s church in the church hall. Crafts and activities for all ages. For babies and Toddlers we have a crèche area in the church There is often an Evening Service held on a Sunday too. This can be in the format of a Prayer and Praise, Healing and Wholeness or a discussion group. Log onto our website or check out our newsletter found online for the next evening service.

• Café Church 1st Wednesday of each month 7pm Café opens for your evening meal followed by discussion, songs and chat

• Messy Church 3rd Sunday of each month - Suitable for the whole family kids and adults alike! – crafts, talks, painting, cooking, sports, games and chat

Finishing with a shared tea – bring along a sandwich or two, or cake to share with your messy church family

• Thursday Afternoon Tea 2.30-4.30 A weekly event – all are welcome for tea and cake – come along for a chat and make new friends

• Youth Club Year 7 upwards to come join us on a Thursday evening from 7-8.15pm, We provide a space for our young people to hang out, play games and eat snacks! Fancy an oreo milkshake? Contact Ben on 07720977145

Page 10 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

Huncote: Thurlaston: : Croft: : Stoney Stanton: Sapcote: Aston Flamville: Sharnford: Parva 7th May 2018

FOSSE VILLAGES NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN SUBMITTED FOR FINAL STAGES OF APPROVAL

Following the major changes in planning law and procedures back in early 2011, and the success of the “Blaby South” Community Forum parishes in working together, the Chairman of the Forum – Mike Lee – was asked if the villages would be prepared to work together to develop a unified Neighbourhood Plan. This was then an entirely novel concept as all the other national “frontrunner” pilot plans were based on single settlements. Sapcote was appointed as the “lead” Parish, managing the budget and acting as a contact point.

The 11 villages elected to work under the group name of “The Fosse Villages” - Huncote, Croft, Potters Marston, Thurlaston, Leicester Forest West, Stoney Stanton, Sapcote, Aston Flamville, Sharnford, , plus initially Elmesthorpe. Each village was to develop its own plan, to be co-ordinated with the assistance of the group’s planning consultant – Colin Wilkinson, of Planit-X, plus Leicestershire and Blaby District Councils’ Planning Departments.

The first stage included training sessions, plus a stakeholders’ meeting with neighbouring councils, the police, highways etc, in May 2012. There followed in Q3 2012 exhibitions in each village, with the hamlets represented at neighbouring villages. A key requirement was that the plan had to align with the housing numbers allocated from central government to BDC, BUT the Neighbourhood Plan would determine its location and identify key open spaces and leisure and heritage assets that had to be protected.

Initially, FVNP progress was severely hampered. Nationally, each neighbourhood plan was allocated a grant by central government. The Fosse Villages had to undertake 11 times the work, with only a single grant! Despite Westminster and Whitehall meetings the Housing Minister was unable to provide any additional funding to the FVNP group. Elmesthorpe decided to opt out, but the remaining 10 villages have worked very hard to overcome the deficit, and the FVNP operation is now on a financially secure basis. In the interim, due to central government policy, extensive new residential developments ensued in Huncote, Stoney Stanton, Sapcote and latterly Sharnford.

Due to a huge amount of very successful hard work, project management and mutual assistance between the villages and hamlets, the plan has now been fully developed in detail. It covers not just housing, but employment, traffic modelling, leisure and heritage assets etc., and public consultation.

The FVNP plan was then completed to the first consultation phase in Q1 2017. Every household and business in the FVNP area received a plan consultation questionnaire document, tailored to each parish and response could be made on line, via hard copy or where required with personal assistance from volunteers. The process was fully covered in the local press, on BBC local radio and via social media and the FVNP website.

Page 11 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

Huncote: Thurlaston: Leicester Forest West: Croft: Potters Marston: Stoney Stanton: Sapcote: Aston Flamville: Sharnford: Wigston Parva 7th May 2018

This input produced the current consultation document, which will be circulated during May, and the response will be considered by the FVNP Joint Working Board. The Plan will then be submitted to BDC prior to its being submitted to an Independent Examiner in Q4 2018. If approved BDC will then arrange the required referendum in Q1 2019, and if the plan is passed by a simple majority, the Council will adopt it.

It should be understood that the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange proposal, is a Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) that is operated by the Planning Inspectorate and is not subject to the Neighbourhood Plan process. Nevertheless, the FVNP Group has been continuously active in putting forward the interests and views of the 10 villages and adding recommendations, objections and comments to protect the interests of its residents.

Extensive comment has been made also been made on Magna Park, Coventry Airport, the Freight Interchange, the Leicestershire “Visions” Strategic Plan to name but a few. A major element of much of this comment has been the total inadequacy of the area’s road system and the massive and dangerous traffic congestion on roads like the B4114, B581, B582, B4669, A5, B578, their very high pollution levels, and utter lack of any remedial action.

FVNP Group Chairman Mike Lee said “Developing the Fosse Villages Neighbourhood Plan has been an epic exercise. If it was not for the success of the co-operative work put in by each Parish, and the help of BDC, LCC and Planit-X, the FVNP document would not be at this decisive stage.” He continued “From now on the wishes of the Fosse Villages and their residents will carry increasing weight in the consideration of development applications. This will help to protect the individuality of each village and to protect them from further speculative and unwarranted development. I would like to thank everyone involved for the massive amount of work that has gone into the development of the Fosse Villages Neighbourhood Plan, along with the ability of the villages to work together – it represents a strategy for the future of our area”.

Page 12 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE BLOOM GROUP

To Celebrate our tenth Anniversary year we will be planting a rainbow of colour all around the village. You will see new areas being developed with planters outside the Co-op and the Church planted with bright jewelled colours and various additional areas being adopted. We are all volunteers who take pride in our village & more volunteers mean more flowers. All help is greatly received whether it’s watering, painting of the benches, planting, grass cutting, or baking a cake & supporting our fundraisers, because without the funds raised we can’t make SAPCOTE BLOOM. A big thankyou to all our supporters & volunteers, we hope you can join us in 2018 too?

Events to look forward to: - 2nd June - Summer Fayre Stall at Sapcote Library

11th July - Strawberry Teas at the Pavilion 2.30 - 4.30 pm

27th October - Autumn Fundraiser at the Methodist Church 11.00 - 3.00 pm

November - Christmas Light Switch On 6.00 pm

We have received donations from families in memorial of loved ones, which gives lots of comfort to friends & families. In the last few weeks we have received donations in memory of Windsor and Lesley. If you can spare a few hours & would like to volunteer please get in touch with Jill Keeber on 273122 for more information or just come and say hello when you see us around the village we’re a lovely bunch! Fully insured, Affiliated member of the R.H.S. Page 13 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

SAPCOTE HERITAGE GROUP

SEA AND SKY SNAPSHOT IN TIME from the time of Nichols in the early At our February meeting, local bird man Ken Reeves 1800s to the late 1960s early 1970s. This was a street by gave a beautifully illustrated presentation of a holiday street tour showing how the village, its environment and he had arranged with other enthusiasts to the Outer buildings have changed over the last 200 years. By Hebrides.. We were entranced by the wonderful bird making use of old maps, enlarging old pictures, and pictures and the superb views of mountains and getting the audience to look at the background of them, fantastic beaches. other buildings could be seen that had been replaced over the years. There were so many interesting memories and A TRAM RIDE TO THE PAST comments that the talk had to be curtailed half way An illustrated presentation by Malcolm Riddle ‘The through and will be continued on a future occasion. Origins and Decline of Leicester’s Trams’ was the OUR HERITAGE subject of our March meeting. The first horse bus service in Leicester started in 1863. Running four times Members of the Heritage Group will be manning a stall at a day the cost was six pence inside and four pence on Sapcote Community Library’s Summer Fayre on June 2. top. In 1872 plans were drawn up to bring horse trams Last year’s display created a lot of interest from visitors. to Leicester and services began on Christmas Eve This year the main theme will be the First World War. 1874. The first tram cars were designed to hold sixteen Visitors will also be able to browse through files of village passengers but sometimes they were overloaded with photographs and illustrated histories. forty. The drivers and conductors worked for 15 hours, FESTIVAL OF ARCHAEOLOGY seven days a week for the princely wage of twenty-five Sapcote Parish Archaeological and Heritage Warden shillings (£1.25p) . Steam trams were tested in 1876 but Keith Hextall has been asked to participate in the they were not taken up in Leicester as they were Leicestershire and Rutland Festival of Archaeology again considered too slow. By 1886 Double Deckers holding which runs from Saturday 14th – Sunday 29th July. Keith 46 passengers were in operation. Horse drawn buses has agreed to reprise his slide show of Sapcote – A ran until 1902. Leicester Corporation wanted an Snapshot in Time. This will commence at 7.00pm in All electrified service and in the end they decided on the Saints Church Hall. Profits from the £3 admission charge trolley wire system. A complicated job was to build track will be donated to All Saints Church Organ Restoration round the clock tower in ten days. Fund. Refreshments will be available. Over 390 horses had to be sold off and the horse drawn FUTURE MEETINGS buses were sold to farmers who used them for hen houses etc. By the end of 1904 over 100 trams were June 20 – Members and guests afternoon visit to operating. In 1905 twenty one trams had the upper Chilvers Coton Heritage Centre including talk and tea. deck covered in and it took fourteen years to get all the others covered. During the Great War ladies were July 19 - Members and guests evening social at Leire employed as conductors but not as drivers. By 1933 with Derek and Mary Forster the era of the motor bus had arrived and the first of the tram track closures took place. The war came and August 16 - Members and guests afternoon guided plans to scrap the trams were shelved as no petrol or tour of Kelmarsh Hall diesel would be available for a new fleet of buses There were many breakdowns during this period owing to a September 20 - Recent Excavations in Roman lack of maintenance and the inevitable power cuts After Leicester -Mathew Morris the war more tram routes were closed and on November 9, 1949 Leicester’s last tram went on its final All indoor meetings are held in All Saints Church Hall, journey and the power was turned off. The trams were Church St, Sapcote at 7.30pm unless otherwise stated. sold for £5 each. Those not sold were destroyed. LOOKING BACK Non-members are welcome to attend for a donation of £4 At our April meeting Chairman, Keith Hextall put on a per person. fascinating slide show entitled SAPCOTE – A Contact Keith Hextall (Chairman) – 01455 274662 for further details. Page 14 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

S.R.G.M.C. and SAPCOTE CLUB Present A RACE NIGHT

Saturday 22nd September 2018 Tapes Up at 8pm Admission: £8 (incl. supper), £3.50 (no supper) Tickets contact Tony Griggs 274245 & at Club Bar from Sunday 5th Aug

Page 15 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

ALL SAINTS CHURCH SAPCOTE Welcomes you to Sunday Worship 11am Morning Worship is lively and relevant for all the family Toys are provided for children under 5 FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE TELEPHONE REV. MICK NORMAN TEL: 01455 272215

www.allsaintschurchsapcote.co.uk MESSY CHURCH – Usually held on the First Sunday in the month, in Church at 4.00pm. Fun activities for all the family. Starts in All Saints Church followed by light tea in the Church Hall next door. Messy Church - May 13th, June 3rd, July 1st , August no service, September 2nd and October 7th.

All Saints Church building, which has good heating, lighting, sound and hearing loop systems, can be found on Church Street near the junction with Cooks Lane. For enquiries about baptisms/weddings contact the Rector Rev Mick Norman on 272215. The adjacent All Saints Church Hall (next to Sapcote Library) has kitchen, toilets and baby changing facilities. For enquiries about All Saints Church hall bookings contact Christine Glover on 274597.

LITTLE SAINTS On Monday mornings in All Saints Church Hall next to All Saints Church, young children and their carers meet for two hours to meet up with other children, play with the toys and have some refreshments. The children, aged 4 or under are all welcome. All we ask is a donation per child of £1 or less each Monday they attend. We do have a few places left. If you are new to the village with young children or have recently had a baby join your family, we would be pleased to meet you. Our hall is small so we only have 25 children on the register. For further details, please call Margaret Riley 01455 271595 or e-mail me at: [email protected]

ALL SAINTS “DROP IN GROUP” Everyone is invited to join the Drop In Group held in All Saints Church Hall, Sapcote held twice a month on Tuesday mornings at 10.15am. As from 5th July “Drop In Group” will meet on Thursday mornings instead of Tuesdays. They enjoy a cup of Tea or Coffee with hot buttered toast and marmalade. We have time to chat and enjoy the company often with jokes and lots of laughter. The morning lasts about an hour. Please come with a friend. There are no steps and we have toilet facilities for disabled and wheelchair users. There is no charge but small donations are always welcome. Dates – Tuesdays 5th & 26th June,Thursday 5th July, Thursday 2nd August, Thursday 6th and 20th September, Thursdays 4th & 18th October and Thursdays 1st and 15th November . Our Mission Statement: All Saints Church, Sapcote belongs to the world wide Christian family. In response to God’s love for us, we will: • Love God • Love others as ourselves • Make Jesus known to others

FOR FURTHER DETAILS PLEASE TELEPHONE REV. MICK NORMAN TEL: 01455 272215

Visiting Preachers at All Saints Church

June 17th 11am David Montieth, Dean of Leicester Cathedral June 24th 11am Cathy Lee from the Tearfund Charity July 15th 11am Gary Weston, Area Dean August 5th No service at All Saints Church so instead United Benefice Workship at 9.15am St Helens Church, Sharnford

August 19th No service at All Saints Church so instead Songs of Praise with Archdeacon Claire Wood at St Helens Church, Sharnford at 6.30pm Page 16 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

WI NEWS

Spring with Sapcote W.I. Members later gave the day a universal vote of popularity, both as a venue able to Annual Meeting accommodate as many as wish to attend and to In the last report I mentioned the up- coming give space for meeting and greeting, and for the Annual County Meeting to be held at quality of the speakers. Bruntingthorpe, - a venue choice which caused Monthly Meetings some consternation. We needn’t have worried. With 1300 members and others, the opening The speakers at our monthly meetings this last singing of Jerusalem raised the roof, though quarter have also been very varied. maybe the over-loud backing track had some In February we enjoyed another visit from Ken effect. The business meeting of the Agenda gave Reeves, bird watcher extraordinaire, resident in an extensive overview of the year’s activities and Sapcote but with his heart in Norfolk. His stories Finance, and we were pleased to welcome the about his twitching trips may not have thrill National Chairwoman, Lynne Stubbings, as the potential, but ‘it’s the way he tells them’. first speaker, telling of how she came to the post. In March Charles Hanson descended, yet Next, Lady Gretton gave us an insight into her another captivating character with fanciful role as Lord Lieutenant, (or should that be Lady stories. He passed his experienced eye over ‘ Lieutenant?) antique’ items brought by members and tried not The most inspiring speaker was Mandy Hickson, to disappoint when the value was modest. one of the R.A.F’s first female fast jet pilots. She In April we were challenged to re-think whether talked of her determination to be a pilot from an our wardrobes contained the right coloured early age and how she learned from her efforts to garments for our complexions. Being sorted into achieve her ambitions. Her story of the highs and groups with varying attributes, and being lows of her 17 year career, illustrated with a advised what we should wear caused heated fantastic video earned her a standing ovation. discussions. Lunchtime gave us time to admire the At the May meeting we focus on the serious, competition entries, shop at the ‘Market Stalls’ – campaigning aspect of W.I., taking part in a for a new handbag, or chocolates, or watch the debate on whether we should all be more Jerusalem Jammers, the Federation’s own involved in supporting those with Mental health affiliated side of Garland Dancers. issues. This gives our delegate to the National The afternoon speaker was Edwina Currie, who Annual Meeting an idea of how she should vote willingly stepped up when John Craven had to on our behalf. give priority to BBC filming. She told of her The time for refreshments at the end of the childhood in Liverpool, graduation from St.Anne’s meeting is one aspect of W.I. that is wellknown Oxford, her time on Birmingham City Council and by all, member or not. But did you know that its parliamentary life, peppered with anecdotes. importance is as time when members are able Since leaving Westminster she has written 11 to select course to attend, theatre trips to book books. and visits to make. With membership growing steadily it has to be run with forward planning and precision.

Page 17 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

WI NEWS cont’d

Theatre trips give tremendous pleasure. Many Join us? members are on their own, or have a partner who Recently , as a result of last year’s Resolution prefers other entertainments, so the opportunity to concerned with combatting loneliness, Sapcote see a show with friends is a real treat. In this part W.I. have begun an alternative social group, of Leicestershire we have a number of venues based at Sapcote Garden Centre, on an where shows of top quality are staged. Concordia afternoon towards the end of the month. in Hinckley has 9 affiliated companies, as well as Members act as hostesses and welcome promoting local bands, choirs dance schools and anyone to join them for a cuppa and chat. touring companies, whereas Curve in Leicester, Recently 10 ladies have enjoyed an afternoon established for 10 years, provides World class together. performances for the city and its surroundings. You may think the prices are expensive, but it is And just so you won’t be disappointed Sapcote possible to see London Quality theatre at W.I. will be providing cakes for the Village Fair provincial rates. on June 2nd.

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Page 18 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

POETS CORNER View from a Window There were green fields over the hedge WOODWORMS Birds twittering and singing noisily Awakening the day for every being in the vicinity Woodworms, I wonder what they’re for And how on earth did they get in my door The tranquility beyond, calming and serene Do they crawl or do they fly Rabbits are noiseless you know Power lines for pigeons to lean Well they got in, I can’t deny Waiting as time passes, for what! My precious wardrobe that I bought Would last me all my days I thought Reversing beeps with endless monotony Then one day when looking around Overnight mounds of earth changing the view Inside my wardrobe dust I found The chatter of voices alien too Where cows used to graze and perhaps a horse And then I realised to my dismay or two The blighters had eaten half my ply away Now my precious wardrobe cannot stay Terrified rabbits unearthed with nowhere to go I’ll have to throw the thing away Nothing stops the machines, so we have to And buy a replacement (with a sigh) Adjust albeit ever so slow The birds still nest in the hedge though And make sure that it has got no ply

Jean Kirkland Hewins Gilbert

SAPCOTE COMMUNITY GROUPS SUMMER FAYRE & 7th ANNUAL FUN RUN SPONSORED BY NATIONAL LOTTERY

SATURDAY 2ND JUNE - 10am – 3pm Outside Sapcote Community Library, Church Street TO BE OPENED BY DENISE LARRAD ‘UNSUNG HERO’ AT BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR AND WHO IS ALSO TAKING PART IN FUN RUN Brass Band/ Tea & Cakes / Pre Loved Book Stall / Face Painting / Bouncy Castle / Reptiles/ Craft stalls and many more surprises

HELP SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE COMMUNITY GROUPS Page 19 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

POETS CORNER cont’d Will it be good - will it be fine? By the time this appears are we drowning in tears or now enjoying, after the disastrous dampest downpouring, warmer days to calm our fears.

Are we basking in June, are we having a swoon - did the Sapcote Fayre immediately shoot to the stratosphere COME TO SAPCOTE or fizzle out short of the moon. Sapcote Club Hinckley Road And was there so much fun Sapcote in the Charity Run Sessions every Tuesday or was there a squall At 5.15pm & 7pm to drive everyone into the church hall, still awaiting the sun. For further details contact Claire 07796 434882 Did Unsung Hero Denise open the day with ease as to wend the day well, inspiring so many: hearts to leap and swell - did God grant it fine - or tease?!

David Allinson April 2018

There will be no charge by the Club and we hope that, as the group grows, it will be run by them and decisions on what to do will be theirs. Do you think this is worth a try? Would you be interested in attending such a group? Probably you might know someone who would like to spend an afternoon away from their own 4 walls for a drink and gossip, or to watch a film on a big screen, or play a game of cards/dominos etc. Wednesday Social Group As Sapcote has no Village Hall we must try to use The Sapcote Club Committee have considered for what is available in the village and the Club is able some time starting a ‘get together’ facility to offer and willing to offer this small gesture to hopefully villagers something to do during the week. We enhance village life. have finally arrived at a consensus on what to We intend to open for the first time on Wednesday offer. 13th June when there will be tea/coffee & cake We plan to open our Function Room on available also to break the ice we will offer a Wednesday afternoons for the sole use of choice of films for those attending to pick from & villagers to come and relax, watch films, have a have ‘an afternoon at the cinema’. Tea Dance or a Games afternoon, in fact anything If you are interested contact Tony Griggs 01455 that takes those attending their fancy (within 274245 or just turn up on the day. reason).

Page 20 of 20 Q2 – April – June 2018

Opening Times Day AM PM Monday 9am – 12.30 Closed Tuesday 10am – 12 noon 5pm – 7pm Wednesday Closed Closed Thursday Closed 2pm – 5pm Friday Closed 2pm – 5pm Saturday 10am – 1pm Closed Sunday Closed Closed

WEDNESDAY LUNCHTIME TALKS SUMMER READING CHALLENGE 12.30pm – 1.30pm Mischief Makers 7th July until the 8th September Listen to entertaining and informative talks whilst enjoying There will be pranks galore and a ton of fun at Sapcote library delicious tea, coffee & scones this summer! Children aged 4-12 years can take part in Mischief ONLY £4 Makers, an exciting free reading challenge.

th Wednesday, 19th September Celebrating the 80 anniversary of the much-loved comic, the Beano, children can join in the fun by reading six library books Keith Hextall - It Started with a Barrel – A Sapcote Girl’s Story or e-books, of their choice, throughout the summer and they will be able to collect six special stickers - including some smelly Wednesday, 21st November ones - for their colourful collector’s map. Participants will also be rewarded with a red and white striped wristband (like John Martin - The Story of Sherlock Holmes Dennis’s famous jumper!) as they read their books and a certificate and medal when they complete the Challenge. To book your place - call in at the library, or e-mail [email protected] All children taking part are entitled to free admission to or Telephone Teresa on 01455 272496 Bosworth Battlefield and Donington-le-Heath Manor House by showing their Mischief Makers folder at reception (one child per full–paying adult). It’s free to join the library and there’s something for all the family to enjoy!

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