Do you know where to find this local landmark and what is it’s...

5000 Distribution Issue 4 January 2017

Whitwick & surrounding areas

Whitwick • Thringstone • Swannington

. PLUS FEATURES ON:

Valentine’s DayLeon Spence ColumnFlood Action GroupTwo Whitwick War Heroes...AND LOTS MORE!

Do you know where to find this local landmark and what is it’s unique history?See page 3 for more details and how to win a prize!

Happy New Year

the voice

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Welcome... ...to our fourth edition of the Whitwick, Thringstone and Swannington Community Voice!

Front Cover Quiz... ‘Spot the Local Landmark’.How many of you can spot the landmark from our surrounding area featured on this January issue front cover?If you think you know the answer, please send your entry to Community Voice, 57 High Street, Ibstock, LE67 6LH or email [email protected].

The winner (drawn first out of the ‘hat’ of all correct entries) will win 3 bottles of quality wine.

Last month’s answer and winner:A Happy New Year to all our readers! One lucky reader will be starting 2017 with a little treat as Trevor Popay from Coalville successfully recognised last month’s landmark as the Ravenstone Almshouses.

Sue Stanyard from Lakeside Wills made this month’s draw assisted by Hannah from The Voice. Trevor will receive 3 bottles of wine to complete his New Year Celebrations!

Hopefully, this month’s landmark won’t prove too difficult, let’s see how many of you get it. Good luck!

page 2the voice

R

FABCO are hosting their GENUINE January Sale. When it comes to beds, you can’t beat the selection of quality sleep solutions you can see under one roof, including the “Which?” Best Buy mattress from Sealy. There’s some fantastic SALE OFFERS including clearance models, mattresses and bed frames…and don’t forget flooring and home furnishings….HUGE DISCOUNTS off high quality Egyptian 100% cotton bedding, luxury throws, feather-filled cushions, duvet cover sets, pillows and much, much more! You really can’t afford to miss this GENUINE JANUARY SALE at Fabco, Ashby. Happy New Year!

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the voice page 5 the voice

What’s on atThringstone House community centreThursday 12 January

Folk On The Green, starting at 7.30pm. This is a regular monthly event where people can come and play or just listen to folk music. There is no charge, and all are welcome.

Thursday 19 January

Thringstone Bingo at the centre. This is another regular monthly event. Eyes down at 7.30pm.

20-28th January

Traditional panto - Beauty and The Beast. Tickets are £8 and bookable by going onto the TPADS website, where you can pay by paypal should you wish to do so. See http://tpads.org.uk/

Saturday 25 February

Giocoso String Quartet. The music will be Haydn’s Op 77 no. 2 and Debussy’s Quartet in G minor Op 10. Tickets are £10 and available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/thringstone or from the centre office, which is open Monday-Friday 9am-12 noon..

Friday 17th March

We will have another Centre Stage production with Tim Kliphuis Trio playing the music of Stefan Grappelli. Again tickets are £9 and available from www.ticketsource.co.uk/thringstone or from the centre office, which is open Monday-Friday 9am-12 noon. The show will start at 7.30pm.

NITA PEARSON on behalf of Thringstone House Community Centre.

Aimed at our younger readers, here’s the latest in our series of short stories by author Rachel Greaves, told in rhyme about the adventures of an inquisitive Airedale, Ruffle and his escapades on a steam railway. The full range of these charming story and colouring books can be seen by visiting www.ruffletheraildog.co.uk or emailing [email protected]

But Eric wasn’t there – now where could he be?

Perhaps in the signal box – Ruffle would go and see!

Over to the signal box and up the steps they went,

The bright paw prints showed where Ruffle’s time was spent.

1 2

3 4

Ruffle puts his paw in it!

Along the platform edge had been freshly painted white,

It all looked very smart, gleaming in the bright sunlight.

Satisfied with his work, Eric went back inside the station,

Didn’t see Ruffle approaching hoping Eric had cooked some bacon.

Ruffle didn’t realise that the paint would still be wet,

So walked across the white edge – to the platform he wanted to get.

As he trotted hopefully across to the open store house door,

A trail of perfect paw prints followed upon the platform floor.

For each time Ruffle crossed the fresh white paint,

A new coat painted his toes, giving them a bright white taint.

Coming out of the store, Eric looked on in dismay,

White paw prints all across the platform, going in every way.

Eric followed the prints all over until at last he came,

To Ruffle sitting on a bench as though waiting for a train!

‘Ruffle! I have spent all day painting the white edge bright and new.

But you’ve spread prints on the platform, so the painting I must redo!’

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Here at The Community Voice, we are delighted to welcome Jayne Massey to our team.Jayne has lived in the village for many years and has a strong interest in, and enthusiasm for, the local community.A long-time member of the Management Committee at The Palace, Jayne has seen the building flourish from an empty shell to a thriving community centre at the heart of Ibstock. She is also one of the founder members of ‘The Palace Players’; the drama/pantomime group based at The Palace. Her love for drama has spanned several decades and she has been a member of the Coalville Adult School Drama for over 35 years.Jayne has previously worked at Ibstock Doctors Surgery for 7 years and also for 3 years with Ibstock Community Enterprises Ltd, at the Business Centre. Jayne admits that it has always been her secret aspiration to work for a newspaper or magazine, so she is very happy to report that it is never too late in life to realise one’s ambition!

Welcome to Jane

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CHRIST CHURCHLONDON ROAD, COALVILLE

Every Thursday the church will be open from 9.30 am until 12 noon.

Tea, Coffee and a Snack and Chat will be available in the meeting room.

Please join us and bring a friend – we look forward to seeing you!

Swannington Open Gardens 2017Come and join us at a meeting to discuss

this year’s event on Wednesday 1st February at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.

More gardens needed for the 2017 open gardens which will be held on 9th July.


Saturday 10th December, 4pm in the Village HallLight refreshments available

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With over 30 years experience in financial services, they are able to provide reliable advice regarding pensions, investments and protection products,such as life insurance and critical illness cover. However, their real focus is helping clients to plan for their financial future; looking at the important factors that help to build life-long financial security. As Kevin says, “The most important things in life are health and wealth – we can help on the wealth side.”

That is why Kevin places such importance on regular meetings at least once a year because things can change for a variety of reasons, health, goals and even regulations. For example, in recent times there has been significant changes to how you can take income from pensions or how you can use Stocks and Shares ISAs. Being local means that Kevin can always pop round if something important changes to offer the best possible advice .

The overwhelming priority of Bleathwood IFA Ltd is to offer sound advice depending on clients personal circumstances and to give realistic ideas as to what returns clients can expect on their investments. Kevin is adamant that this is the only way a trusted relationship can be established with a client, and this approach has born fruit as Kevin has many long term clients who he has been helping for many years.

Kevin is very involved in the local community and is a founder member of a local business networking group which meets every Friday at the George and Dragon, Thringstone. As well as helping local business to support each other, the group raise funds for local charities and food banks.

He has served as the Chairman of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Choir Concordia for 6 years and also enjoys a bit of singing too!

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the voice

c H A R I T Y c H A m P I o N S

A search on the internet lead Robin to an organisation called ‘Samara’s Aid’. This organisation offers help in getting aid to the ordinary people, in Syria and Iraq, who have been displaced by the fighting there.

‘Samara’s Aid’ was started by a young mother from Brighton. After seeing distressing images on television of people living in appalling conditions she felt compelled to act. She wanted to do whatever she could to get help to these people who are in desperate need of even the basic necessities in life. Realising that the more people that were involved in relief effort, the more effective it would be, Samara appealed for others to become registered collectors in their local areas.

In January 2016, Robin registered herself as a ‘local collector’ and set to work gathering donations in the Ibstock area. Having only recently moved to the area she was concerned that she did not know many people or have many contacts. However, 25 banana

boxes were soon filled with winter clothing, shoes and bedding. By October, another 50 boxes were filled and taken to Hinckley, from where they dispatched to their destination.

Both, St Denys Church, Ibstock and Christ Church, Coalville have helped to raise almost £1000 towards the effort, by holding jumble sales and cake stalls.

The humanitarian project has quickly grown and the amount of vital equipment and much needed aid has proved that people really do want to help however they can. There are lots of ways to get involved and, like Robin, registering as a local collector, is one of them.

For more details see www.samarasaidappeal.org.

To Syria and Iraq......with love from IbstockWhen local lady, Robin Lovell, heard an appeal by Canon Andrew White, also known as the Vicar of Baghdad, for practical help for the besieged citizens of Syria, she started to ponder upon how she could help. Raising funds and collecting donations is a huge task in itself. Transporting aid items 2,500 miles across the globe is quite another!

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The true identity of St. Valentine is lost in the mists of time. There actually appears to have been more than one saint by the name of

Valentine; possibly three. One story recounts the tale of a priest named Valentine who, on February 14th, in or around 278 AD, was be-headed

on the orders of Emperor Claudius II. It is certainly a long way from the romance, red roses and chocolates with which we associate and

celebrate that date today!

According to one legend, this cruel Emperor believed that Roman men were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment

to their wives and families. He decided that the most effective way to deal with this problem was to ban all marriages and engagements

in Rome! Valentine defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret.

Another version of events claims that Valentine was arrested and imprisoned for conducting Christian weddings at a time when

Christians were being persecuted in Rome. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be

sentenced to death. Due to the selflessness of his actions, even in the face of grave danger, Valentine was declared a saint.

Legend also has it that whilst in prison, Valentine left a farewell note for the jailer’s daughter, who had become his friend,

and signed it “From Your Valentine”. Thus began the custom of exchanging messages and poems of love and simple gifts, such as

flowers, which continues to this day.

St Valentine’s Day

the voicepage 11the voice

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“I’ll never forget the year that we decided to use dry ice. We were being technically ambitious and it floated off the stage and covered me and the first few rows. I couldn’t read the music.”

The words of Alan Price, veteran musical director and keyboard player for TPADS (Thringstone Pantomime and Drama Society) our local amateur dramatics company who have been producing their annual January show for more than forty years.

The society has been an ever present at Thringstone Community Centre since it was formed in 1975 when the fledgling company first took to the stage for their production of Aladdin, a pantomime they would re-stage four years later and the only show to date that has been reprised - each time with different scripts, I hasten to add - on three further occasions.

In addition to their repertoire of seasonal shows, Dick Whittington, Puss in Boots and Mother Goose all periodically occurring, the society has a history of performing top quality West End and Broadway musicals such as The Sound of Music or Oklahoma! – not always easy in a small venue - as well as comedy revues and and Cooney-esque farces.

But it’s the Pantomime, always scheduled for the last full week of January, which holds a special place in the hearts of Thringstone residents.

Perhaps at a time when most of us are feeling a little down after the highs and excessive spending of Christmas then Thringstone Panto is an opportunity for a simple night out of song, dance, corny jokes and extravagant costumes.

Perhaps the escapism of a fairytale land, watching the Ladybird books of our youth come to life, is what many of us need as we wait impatiently for solvency and lighter nights?

Just like the starriest of professional companies TPADS is proud of it’s “show must go on attitude”. Alan, who is in his 33rd year providing musical accompaniments (and the occasional sound effect) has missed just one performance, due to a bout of flu, since 1984.

Even winter weather doesn’t defeat the company with anecdotes of mishaps eventually becoming part of local legend.

Chatting alongside other society members Price recounts ‘the time smoke bombs set off the fire alarm, and the audience and cast including some fairies in very scanty costumes, had to wait outside until the fire service gave us the all clear.’

At this point Producer of this year’s show Mandy Baughurst interjects with a fond smile, “Do you remember we had to hide the pantomime horse on the other side of the building to preserve the magic for the children?”

And now the society and the show go from strength to strength, this year’s production Beauty and the Beast runs from the 20th to 28th January.

One of the stars of this year’s show is young local actor Scott Coleman who recalls joining the company 10 years ago when he played the part of Baby Bear ‘My Grandma got me to audition to keep me off the streets, but we’re one great big family and I can’t believe when I started I was the smallest bear, now I’m the titular Beast.’

There’s no doubt that with Thringstone Pantomime the family theme runs both sides of the curtains.

Ticket information can be found at the society’s website www.tpads.org.uk or telephone 01530 834575.

T P ADS & Pantos

Local writer and councillor, Leon Spence brings us his regular column

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Join the increasing number of local businesses using “The Community Voice”.

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DoWN1. Bird of prey (6)2. seize suddenly (3)3. Tall story (4)4. Attempting (6)5. Dreamlike (7)6. Level (4)10. Vague (7)12. Leave (6)13. Forward-looking (6)16. Monster (4)17. shopping precinct (4)20. Writing fluid (3)

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Whitwick and District U3A will hold its first General Meeting of 2017 on Friday 20th January. Details of all the varied Interest Groups will be available, making this an ideal opportunity to follow through those New Year Resolutions to be more active and meet new people.

The U3A offers friendship through learning and social activities to retired and semi-retired people. Everyone is welcome: the U3A is a non-political and non-religious organisation. Today, there are over a thousand U3As throughout the UK. As in Whitwick and District, members nationwide are taking advantage of life-enhancing opportunities.

Our speaker for January will be Peter Varden with a presentation entitled “The History of the 78rpm Record”. Peter presents the Jazz programme on Hermitage FM. He will share examples from his large collection of old recordings of music of many genres and take us back to the days of more simple technology.

Please come along to St. David’s Church Hall, Broom Leys, Coalville LE67 4RL at 1.45 for a 2.00pm start. More information about Whitwick and District U3A can be found on our comprehensive and up-to-date website at www.whitwicku3a.org.uk

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HAVE YOUR SAY ON 270 HOME PLANNING APPLICATIONGladman Developments have now submitted an outline planning application reference 16/01407/OUTM to NWLDC seeking permission for the erection of up to 270 dwellings with public open space, landscaping, sustainable drainage system, car parking area for New Swannington Primary School and vehicular access points from Thornborough Road and Church Lane.You can view the application online at www.nwleics.gov.uk where you can also submit your views. Alternatively, email [email protected] or write to Planning and Development, North West Leicestershire District Council, Council Offices, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leicestershire LE67 3FJ.

the voice the voicepage 15

LWelcome to Ibstock Tile & Bathroom Ltd.A family run business, ran by Sadie and Mark, take advantage of the free car park facing the showroom. Call in and visit our showroom, we will be happy to help with any of your requirements, we look forward to seeing you!

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WHITWICK AND THRINGSTONE FLOOD ACTION GROUPLots of people in Whitwick and Thringstone were affected by flooding on the 16th June 2016, but the Flood Action Group first met in November 2015 and involved residents who were first affected by the 2002 floods. Since this date the group has grown and met monthly.As a result of these meetings, the group, with the advice of the National Flood Forum, independent charity, has gathered the concerns of affected residents on ALL the local issues related to flash flooding.

This led to the Flood Recovery Surgery held at The Members Club, where the public could drop in and talk to the various representatives. From this the group formed an Action Plan.

Once this action plan was acceptable, a meeting was organised, again with the assistance of the National Flood Forum, with all the authorities involved in Flood Risk Management: The Environment Agency, Severn Trent Water, Leicestershire County Council Flood Risk Team and Highways Team, and North West Leicestershire Planning Team.

The group discussed and gained information about maintenance of the river debris screen by The City of Dan, sewage pumping station capacity, improvements to the flood warning service and sustainable development.

Severn Trent Water agreed to help residents by litter picking foul water flooded gardens and investigating identified sewer smells downstream of assets after flooding.

The County Council will investigate problems of highway drainage, bridges and built up road surfaces.

The Environment Agency is coordinating flood risk modelling of All Whitwick and Thringstone to inform future flood alleviation works.

The Group is still looking for information, PLEASE contact Mary Hill on 01530 831796.

If you are struggling with ANY issues relating to flooding, contact the National Flood Forum, who will help/advise you on 01299 403055 or [email protected]

Sign up to the free Flood Warnings Direct service, which sends texts, emails or calls you, at 0345 988 1188 or https://flood-warning-information.service.gov.uk/

mARble PRoPeRTY SeRvIceS gIveS bAckAs part of Marble Property Services Ltd commitment to giving back to the community, they recently sponsored a Christmas dinner for the elderly and infirm residents of Castle Donington at St Edwards Church Hall. The event was organised by Grow Cook Share, an initiative set up by the Castle Donington Volunteer Centre and food provided by Marks and Spencers. To help spread Christmas cheer Marble provided all the guests with special miniature bottles of spirits to aid the winter warming

Some of their staff attended on the day and amongst their highlights was meeting Castle Donington’s oldest resident Mrs Connie Hallam who is 101 years young.

Entertainment was provided by Shardlow School Choir led by Mrs Power.

Earlier this year Marble also sponsored 4 local ladies who undertook a ‘midnight walk’ through London on behalf of charity. After walking through the night, they successfully finished their mammoth 26 mile walk to raise money for Cancer Research early on Sunday morning. With Marble Property Services help they achieved their goal of raising £2,500.00 target and are also the proud owners of limited edition Marble Property Service Baseball Caps.

And you have to admit, even after walking a marathon, our Donington Dazzlers looked great in their Marble caps!

If you are looking to sell or rent out your home in the North West Leicestershire area, why not consider Marble Property Services, we care as much about giving you a great service as we do giving to the community.

Marble Property Services Robin Bailey with Connie Hallam who at 102 years of age is Castle Donington’s Oldest Resident

The lovely Donington Dazzlers (top photo l-r Deborah Harrison, Helene Smith, Sue Cumley, Nicola Cutts), as sponsored earlier this year by Marble Property Services for their charitable efforts in the name of Cancer Research.

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There is at last a realisation that people learn in different ways and the Government’s priority is to ensure that there are routes into all occupations through an apprenticeship. As John Hibbard of IMPACT Apprenticeships explains, hiring an apprentice could be just the route for business to recruit, train and keep staff when we have the lowest unemployment figures for 10 years.This means that a business can recruit an apprentice in any sector from construction, to legal or finance services, from nursing to space engineering– and almost anything in between. Apprentices can gain qualifications from Level 2 (school leavers at 16) right up to degree and post graduate apprenticeships but without the student debt!

With young people becoming ever more savvy in their career choice and understanding of their options - now is the time for employers to get ahead of the game and start planning their own apprenticeship programme to meet their skills gaps. From May 2017, the way apprenticeships are funded is changing. Employers with a payroll in excess of £3m will have to pay a levy which will be used to fund any apprenticeship training. Employers with a payroll which is less than £3m, will have 90% of the apprenticeship funded by the government. There will be financial incentives for employers who take on a 16 -18 year old and those who employ less than 50 people.

HOWEVER, if you recruit an 16-18 year old apprentice before April 2017 the government will fully fund the training, so why wait?

With 89% of employers reporting that an apprentice has helped improve their productivity and 83% of apprentices saying that an apprenticeship improved their career prospects, this could be a match made in heaven.

90% of apprentices will stay with the company that trained them, so a company’s investment in training is recouped very quickly.

Whether you are a young person looking for the first step into a career or a business planning their skills strategy, contact IMPACT Apprenticeships to find out more.

Providing Apprentices that mean business – you know it makes sense!

Call 01509 515410 or email [email protected] or visit the website www.impactapprenticeships.co.uk

The changing Face of ApprenticeshipsThree Road Names; One HeroRecently, Whitwick Historical Group was invited to mount

a display at an event in Thringstone which celebrated the lives of outstanding local individuals. The Group chose to focus on Thomas Elsdon Ashford VC, who spent the last decades of his life in Whitwick.

Readers in Whitwick who live in Thomas Road, Elsdon Close or Ashford Road may be particularly interested to discover the links between their address and this modest man. Being remembered in three road names is so appropriate for him since, for twenty years, he was a postman in the village. Indeed, Thomas E Ashford was the first British postman to be a holder of the Victoria Cross. The photograph shows him in his postman’s uniform wearing his VC medal.

The Victoria Cross is the highest award of our honours system. Awarded “For Valour” in the face of the enemy, it takes precedence over all other honours. Introduced by Queen Victoria in 1856, it was the first medal that did not depend upon birth or class.

Thomas Ashford’s life was certainly not one of privilege or high rank. He was born in 1858 in Newmarket and joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1877 as a private. It was whilst serving in Afghanistan in 1880 that he won his VC. The story of his bravery under enemy fire is told in contemporary newspaper reports and diary entries. The presentation ceremony, which took place in Madras before thousands of troops and many dignitaries, was a splendid occasion.

After leaving the army, Thomas came to Leicestershire, married and eventually settled with his family in Skinners Lane, Whitwick. As a postman, he covered twenty miles a day on the Grace Dieu round. Those who knew him commented on his modesty and unassuming nature.

Sadly, Thomas Ashford VC died at home in 1913, aged 54. His funeral reflected his heroism. It is estimated that eight thousand people came to Whitwick in an unprecedented show of respect. He is buried in Whitwick Cemetery. His grave is marked by a simple headstone which was commissioned by the Whitwick Branch of the Royal British Legion.

Thomas Elsdon Ashford VC was an ordinary man who did an extraordinary deed. His story is fascinating and it is pleasing that he is remembered every day through Whitwick road names. WHG member, Andrew Murby, has undertaken extensive research to uncover the full details of Thomas’ life as a soldier and a civilian. This history, which extends from East Anglia to Afghanistan and ends in Whitwick, is told in a new illustrated booklet available from Whitwick Historical Group.

REMEMBERING TWO OF WHITWICK’S WAR HEROES

Harold Smalley – A TributeWith Remembrance Day only recently passed we can still reflect on how previous conflicts have affected people close to home. The appalling environment of the Burma railway and tranquil woodland in Whitwick may seem like places that are worlds apart, but they are connected by a local man called Harold Smalley.

The newly planted 13 hectare woodland of broad leaf saplings has been named after this modest former soldier who served in the Leicestershire Regiment and who returned to his home in Whitwick where he worked as cobbler until he retired in his 70’s. Harold died in January last year at the age of 101.

Harold never spoke about his war time experiences until he was interviewed in 2014 when he revealed some of the horrors and hardships that he had endured. As lance corporal in the Tigers, he was captured near Singapore in 1942. Held for three years in a Japanese POW camp, he was put to work on the notorious Burma railway. In dreadful conditions, he survived beatings and near starvation to make it through the war. On a daily diet of just two cups of rice, Harold was forced to work non-stop for 13 hours a day, barefoot, in just a loin cloth. “Death was all around you’’ he said. ‘’If you got poorly, that was it. It was rare anyone survived an illness.” Harold attributed his survival to his good health and fitness. Both a keen footballer and cricketer, he had also biked regularly from his home in Hugglescote to his workplace Anstey.

The wood runs behind Hermitage Road and exits near Green Lane, just a few hundred yards from where Harold had his shoe repair shop.

Val Smalley, Harold’s widow, has visited the site with her daughter. She said: “It’s lovely, such a lovely thing. They’re only saplings at the minute, but when they grow that wood will be there forever. I know Harold would have felt so proud. It’s such a nice thing to do for a nice man.”

Woodland, planted nearby, has been named Thomas Ashford Wood, after another former Whitwick soldier, who was awarded the Victoria Cross for gallantry, in the Second Afghan-Anglo war in 1880 (see accompanying story left).

Leon Spence, Chairman of Whitwick Parish Council, said that it was a great privilege that the village could honour two great men with a lasting memorial.

Thomas Elsdon Ashford VC was an ordinary man who did an extraordinary deed. His story is fascinating and it is pleasing that he is remembered every day through Whitwick road names. WHG member, Andrew Murby, has undertaken extensive research to uncover the full details of Thomas’ life as a soldier and a civilian. This history, which extends from East Anglia to Afghanistan and ends in Whitwick, is told in a new illustrated booklet available from Whitwick Historical Group.

Ruffle visits The Palace!

A special visitor arrived at The Palace on Saturday 26th November. Ruffle the Rail Dog, star of our regular series of short stories, held a book signing together with author, Rachel Greaves. The life-like puppet delighted young fans as he welcomed them to the stall.Rachel has just sold her one thousandth book and now has links with several of the Heritage Railways around the country. She is also looking to add more books to the series during 2017 and building upon the success she has had so far.

every care is taken to ensure that all information printed is accurate. However liability cannot be accepted for any loss or damage due to any inaccuracies or omissions within this publication.

All rights reserved. No advertisements or editorial within this publication may be reproduced without the permission of the publisher. This applies to printed or electronic reproduction.

Printed and published by community voice, 57 High Street, Ibstock, leics le67 6lH.

To advertise please contact Steve Tilbury or graham Tyers on 01530 267300, or Hannah Playle on 01530 267344.

[email protected]

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Please bear with us, normal service will be resumed as soon as possible. That’s the message from Whitwick Parish Council as due to staffing changes, they have necessarily been operating restricted office hours since December with Wednesday afternoon opening temporarily suspended. The Parish Council is actively seeking to recruit a new Parish Manager but in the meantime the preferred method of contact is by email at [email protected] or telephone on 01530 459527 where you can leave a message. Regrettably, response times may be longer than expected during this period. The Parish Council apologises for any inconvenience.

STAFFING CHANGES AT WHITWICK PARISH COUNCIL

HERMITAGE TO MAKE WAY FOR HOUSING?NWLDC have floated a proposal to demolish the Hermitage Leisure Centre, sell the site for housing and build a larger new replacement in central Coalville. The reasoning for this is that the Hermitage is 40 years old, is running at full capacity (especially the fitness suite), significant investment is required to maintain the current operation and the new leisure central would support the regeneration of Coalville town centre. The lake and sports pitches would be retained.

No final decision has yet been taken but if NWLDC proceed to planning application stage, a public consultation will be held at that time. Should you wish to express a view in the meantime, you can lobby your local District Councillor, email [email protected] or write to Steve Bambrick, Director of Services and Deputy Chief Executive, North West Leicestershire District Council, Council Offices, Whitwick Road, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3FJ.

CHARLES BOOTH HISTORICAL EVENT AT THRINGSTONE HOUSEOver 200 visitors attended a highly successful, free event at Thringstone House in November. The event was organised by ‘Friends of Thringstone’ and several other local historical societies. The day commemorated not only Charles Booth, but also other notable people from the area. The occasion marked the 100th anniversary of the death of the local philanthropist, Charles Booth, who bestowed Thringstone House to the local community. Local historian, David White, presented a slide show looking back over the history of the village and it’s inhabitants. The sale of refreshments and a raffle helped to raise a total of £74.00 in aid of the Charles Booth bursary fund.

Holly Hayes Wood goes racing!On 30th October 2016 the woods in Whitwick came alive as the Trustees of Holly Hayes Wood hosted the first race of the season in conjunction with local running clubs. With Halloween-themed race marshals, the opening fixture of the Derby Runner Cross Country League got off to a great start in Holly Hayes Wood, Whitwick.Over 130 schoolchildren got the early race underway - and then there were over 600 adult finishers in the main race that followed. The determination on the runners’ faces (old and new) made for an enjoyable morning for competitors and spectators alike. Race Secretary, Paul Gregory, from local host-club Hermitage Harriers was delighted with the attendance and received many favourable comments on the race organisation and the scenic and testing woodland course. Hermitage Harriers would like to thank Friends of Holly Hayes Woods for the kind use of the woods for the morning.

Please mention you saw the advert in ‘The Voice’!

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