roundabout june 2011 - woodhouse parish council · roundabout aims to promote local events, groups...

Editorial policy

Roundabout aims to promote local events, groups and businesses and to keep everyone informed of anything that affects our community. We avoid lending support (in the form of articles) to any social, political or religious causes, and we reserve the right to amend or omit any items submitted. The final decision rests with the editors.

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Management and production

Roundabout is managed on behalf of the community and published by the Editorial and Production Team comprising Richard Bowers, Evelyn Brown, Peter Crankshaw, Amanda Garland, Andrew Garland, Tony Lenney, Rosemary May, Neil Robinson, Grahame Sibson and Andy Thomson.

Content editor for this issue: Evelyn Brown

Cover and Jubilee issue pull-out souvenir: Neil Robinson

Advertising managers: Amanda and Andrew Garland

Desk-top publishing (page layout) for this issue: Andy Thomson

Printing: Loughborough University Printing Services

Roundabout is available to read or download from the parish council website at www.woodhouseparishcouncil.org.uk/roundabout.html

Distribution: Roundabout is delivered by volunteers to every address within the parish boundary – just under 1000 households and businesses, including all the surrounding farms. Please let us know if any house or business in Woodhouse Parish is not receiving Roundabout, or if you can help out with deliveries.

2 Roundabout July/August 2012

Contents

Page

Editor’s note 5

Parish council news 5

News in brief 7

A grand day out 12

Crafty developments at the post office 15

Celebrating the Jubilee in Woodhouse 16

Jubilee issue pull-out souvenir centre pages*

Jubilee Open Gardens 19

Jubilee neighbourliness in Woodhouse Eaves 21

How well do you know your village? 26

What happens to the ‘green bin’? 29

Beacon Hill update 31

Garden matters for July 33

The last word 34

Contributions to Roundabout Inside back cover

What’s on in July/August Back cover

Deadline for submissions to the September 2012 issue:Friday, 10th August

Email to [email protected] hand in at the post office

Content editor for September 2012 issue: Peter Crankshaw

*The pull-out is a separate file on the web.

Roundabout July/August 2012 3

Editor’s noteThe Queen’s Diamond Jubilee will be history by the time you receive this issue of Roundabout. However, by making it a Jubilee issue we hope to provide our readers with a record of people in the parish getting together, not only to celebrate the Queen’s outstanding reign, but also to enjoy each other’s company in the spirit of fun. We are indebted to Neil Robinson for donating his professional skills to make the centre-page, souvenir pull-out special, and also to all those who have sent us reports and photographs of their parties.

Tongue in cheek, Nina de Salis Young asks, ‘When’s the next one?’ (p.22). Why do we have to wait for the next one? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Woodhouse Parish designated one day in June every year as ‘Have fun with your neighbours day’, when we roll out the street parties and barbecues? Thinking about the amount of recyclable rubbish that must have been left once the partying had ended, it is fascinating to learn what happens to it after it is carted away in your green bin (p.29). Meanwhile, in keeping with the royal theme, Andrew and Caroline Selby describe a remarkable day out at Buckingham Palace (p.12).

Evelyn Brown

Parish council newsVillage pump

You may have noticed that the old village pump on Main Street was beautifully decorated for the Open Gardens/Diamond Jubilee celebrations, thanks to Ken Funnell who has kindly agreed to maintain it temporarily. The council’s gardens contractor had taken it on but was not able to maintain quite so many flowers.

Diamond Jubilee efforts

The Local History Group approached the council for funds to help towards the cost of a plaque to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee. It will join the plaque produced for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee at the base of the council’s flag pole by the War Memorial on Church Hill. The plaque was created by James Toon, son of Jim, using slate kindly supplied by Col Martin and Cllr Jane Martin from The Brand. Meanwhile, the WI approached the council for permission to display a wishing tree outside the village hall on Main Street (see ‘News in brief’). The request coincided with an offer of £200 from the county council for any tree planted for the Jubilee. The parish council is very grateful to both these village groups for their ideas and contributions towards these lasting memorials.


The Jubilee was also the trigger for our village hall caretaker, Jean Mawby, to adopt the planters at the front of the hall; these were originally bought through the Millennium Fund. Jean also maintains the garden at the side of the hall. She is warmly thanked for making it suitably festive for the Jubilee and also available for the open gardens weekend. The council also appreciated the efforts of allotment holders in hosting visitors.

Residents’ enquiriesAll residents’ enquiries are recorded, together with any responses made before or during the council meetings; they appear in the published minutes. If the same request is made more than once, this helps to identify future policy and plans, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.

New housingCharnwood Borough Council is our local planning authority, and makes all the planning decisions. It has just published its draft Core Strategy which sets out the need for housing and the places where new homes might go. It is a most important document which will determine future planning applications. The parish council will make a response on your behalf but anyone can respond to the consultation. Either ask the parish council for details or go to the borough council’s website: www.charnwood.gov.uk and follow the directions to the relevant page.


Road accidents

The notorious Beaumanor bends have continued to claim victims; some 16 crashes in the past 18 months. The county highways authority put out for consultation their plans to make some improvements to road signs and the road surface. The parish council agreed to the proposals, although it was not convinced that the changes will reduce speeding or accidents.

Scout hut news

Following emergency repairs the scout hut has been given a six-month extension. The scout group and the council are continuing to make grant applications but the amount needed is still a long way from being met.

Ann Irving, Clerk to the Council

For Parish Council information including meeting dates and minutes see http://woodhouseparishcouncil.org.uk/

News in briefJudging of Woodhouse Eaves in bloom

On Monday, 2nd July, starting at 9.00am and lasting one-and-a-quarter hours, two judges representing East Midlands in Bloom will tour the whole of Woodhouse Eaves, assessing the care lavished on the many gardens, play areas and allotments – as evident in the recent open gardens event. The owners of village shops have played their part by installing decorative hanging baskets and flower troughs. The judges will be looking at our efforts to make our area cleaner, greener and an excellent place in which to live.

Eric Allsop

Urgent – need another editor

Do you like writing and have you an interest in what’s going on locally? If so, and if you have time to spare and enjoy meeting interesting people, you could be just who we’re looking for. We need someone to help edit Roundabout on a regular basis. You would join a small team, together with our existing editor and desktop publishers, and would take responsibility for five out of the ten annual issues. Some knowledge of word processing and electronic communication is essential.

If you think you might be able to help, please ring Tony Lenney or Rosemary May on (01509) 890 606.


Update on the Forest Rock Garage site

In the April issue of Roundabout we reported that the parish council had formally objected to late amendments to the Forest Rock housing development plans that had been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council. Clerk to the Woodhouse Parish Council, Ann Irving, reports that the borough council’s plans committee met on 24th May to consider the revised application, and approved it by a majority of 10:1, with one abstention. The amendments mean that some properties will now have three stories and some will become five-bedroom homes.

Woodhouse Parish Council Chair, Mark Woodland, and borough councillor David Snartt, both spoke against the amendments which they considered to merit a fresh application. It was also suggested that the Section 106 (of the Town and Country Planning Act) agreement with the developers concerning a contribution to local infrastructure and services, such as education and leisure, should be reviewed; however, it was pointed out that as preparatory demolition work on the site had cost more than anticipated, the financial viability of the development had decreased. The parish council is continuing to challenge the agreement on the grounds that the educational element contains nothing for St Paul’s School in Woodhouse Eaves. There has been no progress with respect to the library contribution, which goes to Quorn.


A copy of the planning officer’s report and other information can be viewed at the newsagent’s shop in Main Street or via Charnwood Borough Council’s website; search using planning number P/12/0396/2.

Editor

May Day Challenge updateFollowing this year’s May Day Challenge, £3,900 has been donated to various Woodhouse Eaves village activities, benefiting pre-school children through to senior residents. The scouts have received £2,500, a very welcome contribution to their new hall. Other recipients include the Little Owls play group, the village sports clubs, the Women’s Institute and the Evergreens. It is particularly appropriate that the WI should be on the

receiving end this year, given the time they put into making the Challenge a huge annual success. Starting well before the first walkers and runners arrived (and finishing well after they returned) the WI prepared around 400 generous ploughman’s platters for participants’ and helpers’ lunches. Together with bowls of fruit and plates of cakes, the lunches provided the perfect end to the event.

Editor

Another tree lostIf you wondered why Church Hill in Woodhouse Eaves was closed to traffic on Thursday, 7th June, it was because a large sycamore tree in the grounds of the old vicarage had fallen without warning across the road, demolishing the garden wall. This is the second tree to fall along this stretch of road this year (see Roundabout, March 2012). The reason for its spontaneous collapse is not clear but one theory is that the recent bouts of persistent rain may have allowed significant amounts of water to penetrate the tree where forks have split the trunk. When the disposal team sent by Leicestershire County Council Highways Department cut up the trunk, it was noticeable that the core of the trunk was very wet.

The county council and Charnwood Borough Council regularly check trees alongside highways and in borough council owned areas, and the parish council has recently commissioned a full survey of trees in the playing field and along the school path. The lower tennis court was decommissioned, temporarily, pending further assessment of an ash tree overhanging the court. Any work that needs doing will not take place until after birds have finished nesting.

Ann Irving


A generous ploughman’s platter

Nursery children celebrate

The children of Woodhouse Day Nursery celebrated the Diamond Jubilee with a tea party. We decorated the nursery with flags and bunting, including bunting made by the children themselves. Parents and families were invited to come along for a buffet in the garden and to spend a couple of hours playing with their child. The older children talked about the Queen and why we celebrate her Jubilee.

Kimberley Watson, Deputy Manager

News from the Women’s Institute

Woodhouse Eaves WI enjoyed an evening of ‘Bittersweet chocolate’ in March during which Nigel Holling related the history of chocolate-making, and invited members (who needed very little encouragement) to try an assortment of his delicious handmade chocolates. Continuing on the theme of diet and nutrition, in April Patsy Rayner gave a talk on Japanese food, and members were again invited to taste and try various delicacies. Patsy makes frequent trips to Japan to visit her son and Japanese daughter-in-law, and was able to give an intriguing insight into the Japanese way of life.

Our WI celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee by placing a wishing tree outside the village hall. The tree, which is an oak, was decorated with colourful cards bearing good wishes to the Queen and her family. It will soon be transplanted at the bottom of the playing field to replace the old oak which was recently felled.

Members are looking forward to their annual outing (see ‘What’s on’ for details). For more information about our WI please contact our Secretary, Jeanne Rodwell, on 0116 230 2915.

Cheryl McGreevy, Press Officer


The WI wishing tree

The children’s tea party

Dressed for the occasion

While the Woodhouse Eaves gardens were open in early June, there was a small display in St Paul’s Church of ‘royal’ memorabilia, including a record of how past jubilees were commemorated in the parish. The most touching item, however, was the little dress with Peter Pan collar, worn by Amanda Hubbard on Coronation Day in 1953, and made by her mother.

Evelyn Brown

Cricket Club report

The start of the season was spoiled by rain, with both Saturday sides losing two matches. Unfortunately, the match results have been nearly as bad as the weather because both sides are yet to record a win. James Simpson scored the first half-century with 52 for the 1st XI against Newbold Verdon, and Andy Stovell took 65 off the Leicester Ivanhoe bowlers. The top performance with the bat came from Brett Collins who, in his first match for 18 months, clocked up a massive 133 against Braunstone Town. The Thursday XI, however, have enjoyed some success; the highlight being a win over Loughborough Town in the Joe Orton Cup. Loughborough Town were kept to 91, thanks to Andy Stovell’s 4 for 12; Callum Greasley, with 36, saw the village home with two overs to spare.

To end on a sour note, the club’s heavy roller was vandalised recently. We have to ask what sort of mindless person(s) would do this causing, as it


Amanda Hubbard’s Coronation dress

Dressed for the occasion in 2012

does, considerable cost to the club. More importantly, it upsets the volunteers who spend considerable time endeavouring to keep Woodhouse Eaves’s playing field looking neat and tidy.

Don Bennett

The oldest ‘villager’

This ‘villager’ has been in Woodhouse Eaves for 117 years but very few people seem to know it exists, where it can be found, or how much help and support it needs to survive. What am I talking about? Woodhouse Eaves Cricket Club which can be found off Main Street, beyond the playground and tennis courts.

The club runs four teams a week from April to September and is seriously short of players of all standards and ages. At present there is no junior side due to the lack of a qualified coach with time to spare.

So serious has it become that cricket and the club could easily disappear from the village. In the past the club was an important part of the village scene and most of the players lived in the village or nearby. We would like the club to be well known by the village again. Why not take a walk down to the cricket ground and see for yourself the lovely setting and good pitch facilities? Surely we cannot let such a tradition fade away without a fight.

Can you help in some way? If so please phone me, John Gillingham, on (01509) 890 193 or Don Bennett on (01509) 890 828. We look forward to hearing from you.

A grand day outIt was just before last Christmas when I (Andrew) received a phone call from a lady who introduced herself as ‘Dawn’. My immediate reaction was that this was yet another cold-caller trying to sell me something I didn’t want and hadn’t any possible use for. I’m glad I gave her the benefit of doubt because she continued to say that she was ringing from the Lord Lieutenant’s office to tell me that I had been nominated to attend a garden party in May. Garden party? It took a while for the ‘penny to drop’; I then managed to say, ‘You mean the garden party, at Buckingham Palace?’ ‘Yes, that’s right’, she replied. ‘All I need is your address and I shall pop the details in the post.’ As I hung up I couldn’t help thinking, did that really just happen?


I heard no more about the party until early April when the ‘official’ invitation arrived in the post (thank you for the theatrical presentation, Jim, our ‘postie’) with the envelope bearing the EIIR crest. Inside was a lovely embossed invitation to a garden party on 22nd May. Now this was for real!

Disaster averted

The night before the big day Caroline damaged her right foot (that’s another story altogether) and was in a lot of pain. The next morning she could not bear to put any weight on it. Oh no! All our plans were beginning to fall apart. We consulted Dr Clay about a pain-killing injection but he did not recommend it; however, he did offer the use of a wheelchair from the surgery. A wheelchair! That was not part of the plan, at all, but it seemed the only option given the situation that we now faced.

Three hours later we arrived at St Pancras, with me trying to get to grips with pushing Caroline through the busy station concourse. The transition to taxi was quite uneventful until we hit the gridlocked traffic on our way to SW1. The driver said that he would struggle to get anywhere near the palace; the Mall was closed in one direction for the preparations in front of the palace for the Diamond Jubilee. As he thought, we were stopped by the police who were diverting traffic away from the palace but on being told of the wheelchair he waved us through, right up to the front gates. No sooner had we got out of the taxi than we were taken through a special entrance, thus avoiding the queues. The same thing happened wherever we went during the afternoon, including being served tea.

A glimpse of the Queen

At about 4.00pm the band played the national anthem which signalled that the royal party had left the palace and were making their way towards the royal tea-tent. This seemed to take forever because the route went through two lines of guests, and we assumed that the royals were stopping and chatting to people. I was told that over 3,000 people had been invited; however, the expansive gardens to the rear of the palace meant that there was plenty of space for everyone. Unfortunately, from our position we only caught a fleeting glimpse of the Queen as she made her way to take tea with the ‘special’ guests.


Yeoman Warder on duty (source: www.nfassociation.org)

The weather was absolutely glorious; it was the first day of the late-May heat wave and we were beginning to wilt; not ideal for pushing a wheelchair. We decided to avail ourselves of some shade from the trees that were on the far side of the gardens. To get there we had to walk alongside the line of people who were waiting to see the Queen, once she had finished tea. At the far end, near to the rear of the palace, we spotted a crossing-point patrolled by two Yeoman Warders. As we were about to cross we were waved through by an official in a morning suit who said politely, ‘Follow me, please’, and so we walked in the direction of the Palace and some very welcome shade.

An unexpected meeting

We were ‘parked’ with about eight other wheelchairs; some five minutes later we heard clapping and looked round to see the royal party exit from the line of people we’d noticed earlier. As you would expect, the Queen was at the head of the party; she then came over to enquire if we’d had a nice time and remarked on the wonderful weather. She was followed by Prince Phillip, who also asked if we’d enjoyed the day, and then Princess Anne and Prince Andrew, who both found time to chat with everybody. The Duke of Kent followed up by shaking hands with everyone and then proceeded to follow the royal party back into the Palace. We looked at each other with an


expression of disbelief at what had just happened! It marked a very memorable end to a fantastic day out. Admittedly, it didn’t start well but what a finale! Every cloud has a silver lining!

Andrew and Caroline Selby

Andrew is too modest to say that his nomination was in recognition of the energy he has expended, in various ways, to raise money for the Help the Heroes charity. We can’t show you any photos of the ‘grand day’ because cameras were not permitted. Ed

Crafty developments at the post officeIn November 2010 Roundabout welcomed Dave and Jennifer Cox who had just taken on the running of the post office in Maplewell Road. They spoke warmly of everyone’s kindness and understanding in helping them through a difficult learning period. Twenty months on they don’t feel immodest in confirming, ‘We now know what we’re doing and where we’re going’, though occasionally strangers still come in and say, ‘Are you the new people?’

Expanding the focus

And where they are going is likely to be of interest to many readers. Regular patrons will be aware of changes and refurbishment in the shop and post office area since they arrived; however, Dave and Jennifer are now about to extend the retail area by opening up an adjoining room, formerly a lounge, to develop an art and craft space. Jennifer’s photographic skills have been on display and for sale from the outset, as has the work of her brother Peter, a craftsman potter from Broughton Astley.

More recently samples of the work of other craftspeople have appeared, such as Mervyn Greenhalgh’s wooden bowls and artwork from Alan and Kathleen Harrison. Dave and Jennifer now feel that existing space is stretched to the limits and there is a need to expand.

Losing domestic accommodation is not a particular problem for the couple; their two daughters have flown the family nest with their husbands, although they still live nearby. Jennifer believes that on the occasions when family and friends gather for a meal the new art and craft gallery will provide an agreeable backdrop.


Crafts on display

Helping to keep a service available

Nationally, the post office seems determined to press ahead and close as many discrete outlets as possible, while developing ‘post office locals’ in supermarkets, filling stations and other retail premises. Such developments will not, of course, offer the range of services currently available in our small parish. What Dave and Jennifer are doing should help to preserve that range of services for our community, as well as offering a new retail experience to a wider audience from within the villages and outside, by selling artefacts and collectables of gallery quality at craft-market prices. We wish them well and hope that everything will be in place by the time you are reading this issue of Roundabout.

Tony Lenney

Celebrating the Jubilee in WoodhouseMonday, June 4th – what a day! The sun shone down all day long, and the Woodhouse Community Hall and orchard were a blaze of colour with Union flags and red, white and blue bunting decorating the verges, the gateway and the hall, and spread all around the field.

Children in action

The fun began at 10.30am with the children in the hall; no second invitation was needed. The room was soon alive with children and their mums and dads; wonderful crowns and portraits of the Queen were designed and painted, and there was excellent face-painting by Shirley Reynolds. Some special faces left the hall that morning. Many thanks must go to Shirley for her time and effort, not only in the morning but also into the afternoon. At 11.00am the benefice bell-ringers rang the ‘Jubilee bells’ at St Mary’s Church for us.

Home for lunch, then back at 1.45pm for the children’s flag-waving Jubilee procession around the orchard; then out onto the verge and across to the church, led by accordion-playing Sarah Brookman. The Union flag was raised at the church to the playing and singing of the national anthem in celebration of the Queen’s achievement. Finally, a party photograph of the children, parents, family and friends completed this part of the day (see souvenir pull-out).


Fun following the face-painting

Fun and games in the orchard

How quickly a queue formed for free ice cream; a good thing really as this allowed the race track to be made ready for the afternoon’s events. With very much enthusiasm and endless energy the youngsters lined up for their races. Who will ever forget the sights and sounds of the ever-popular sack race, potato race, egg-and-spoon race, dressing-up race and the three-legged race (particularly if your partner’s your dad!)? At least dad was able to avail himself of a well earned beer from the beer tent after the effort.

In between races people tried their hands (or heads) at apple bobbing, the coconut shy, hook-that-duck or the ladder game. Most importantly, everyone had a go at splat-the-rat. Every child proved to be a winne, and after the final race and game it was on to that well-earned tea.

The Jubilee tea party

Responses to the day were so numerous that both the hall and marquee had to be used for our 4.00pm tea. All credit must go to Janice Slater and all those who provided and helped set up for tea. The hall was decorated as a street party with bunting and matching table decorations, while a more rural-village approach was adopted for the marquee. The tea, sandwiches and cakes were very well received, along with that welcome sit-down.

Thank you Mark Woodland, Chair of the Parish Council, for being with us and presenting each child with the special Woodhouse Diamond Jubilee Commemorative Mug designed by Sarah and Hilary Fairbairn; a potential collector’s item?

Rocking the evening away

There was no more time to rest, however, because the band was soon due, and there was the barbecue to set up and light. The Annie Duggan Band


Mark Woodland presents a commemorative mug

Races in the orchard

was ready at 7.00pm and the orchard was soon rocking to her voice and the music. A great first session of music from the band was more than well received and then, after the interval, the audience were further entertained when Annie invited the children, parents and musicians from the village to join her on stage.

At 10.00pm the ‘big bang’ was heard. This heralded the commencement of the firework display. From somewhere in the churchyard came the first whoosh of a rocket, and what followed was a truly splendid display of fireworks which seemed to go on forever. However, all good things must come to an end; with the final crescendo of the fireworks the main events of the day were over, and tired children and families began to pack up and make their way home. A hardened few remained to chat in the hall before also calling it a day as the lights finally went out at midnight.

A very big thank you must go to the committee for their unstinting effort and commitment, and to all those who contributed and helped with the event. The success of the day depended on their efforts, along with everyone who attended; efforts which made the Woodhouse Diamond Jubilee Celebration in honour of the Queen such a memorable day.

David John


Jubilee Open GardensIn The Times of 7th June, Richard Morrison reported an American tourist at the Thames Pageant asking him, ‘Are we by the Thames or in the Thames?’ as he shared Richard’s puddle. Visitors to Woodhouse Eaves Open Gardens on pageant day might well have wondered something similar, with rain persisting from before dawn to well after dusk.

Wise to the weatherMost people had heeded the weather forecasts and so went to enjoy the many and varied gardens on the Saturday, 2nd June. Amanda Hubbard, open for home-made cakes, cream scones and drinks, had record takings, 50 per cent up on the equivalent day last year, with queues ten deep at one time, and not enough chairs to seat everyone.

Sunday, 3rd June saw a marked contrast; however, a few doughty souls braved the weather, including Liz Peacock, Alan Hull and their friends Dean and Sylvia Bird, all visiting from Lincoln. Liz told me that they had planned to come and weren’t going to let a little rain stop them. Sadly the flowers and shrubs, which had looked so perky the day before, were greatly subdued under a weight of water.

Commemorative gardens

One of my enduring memories of Coronation year 1953, as a child growing up in one of the many vast housing estates which had spread round the fringes of London in the late 1930s, is the co-ordinated, patriotic planting of the pocket-handkerchief front gardens; small squares of lawn surrounded by narrow borders with repeated sequences of red, white and blue bedding plants – a pattern that persisted for years afterwards.

Although there was far less evidence of patriotic planting in Woodhouse Eaves to mark the Diamond Jubilee, bunting was abundant, and both the Holts in Beacon Road and Amanda Hubbard joined in the spirit of the


Amanda’s band of helpers

Liz Peacock and Alan Hull, undeterred

occasion with enthusiasm. The Holts’ gate posts were adorned with planters, painted all round with the Union flag, and it’s rumoured that the Queen, herself, paid a fleeting visit, on duty in the front garden. A little further up Beacon Road the Hollands displayed a former Belfast sink, crammed to capacity with red, white and blue petunias, while the delightful little summer house at the bottom of Amanda’s garden boasted Union flag wall-decorations, cushions, door mat and themed tea-towel.

No matter what their size or design, all the gardens were stunning, reflecting the many hours of loving care that have gone into maintaining them. As ever, we owe a debt of gratitude to the gardeners who have allowed us to share the rewards of their labours.

Evelyn Brown

Jubilee neighbourliness in


The Queen pays a visit

Painted planters

Woodhouse EavesAll credit to Woodhouse for a magnificently co-ordinated effort in providing a whole day of Jubilee celebrations on 4th June. Celebratory planning was a little slower to gain momentum in Woodhouse Eaves but by the time the Jubilee arrived, street parties had sprung up in Charnwood Rise, Hill Rise, Rawlins Close and Victoria Road, while neighbourly barbecues were burning in Beacon Road, Main Street, Perry Close and probably plenty of other places that Roundabout didn’t get to hear about. The reports of some of these events (below) show not only that community spirit is, happily, still flourishing in Woodhouse Eaves (even if on a less grand scale than in Woodhouse) but also the fun that can be had when it’s evoked.

Editor

Victoria Road makes merry

How do you hold a street party on a hill as steep Victoria Road? After briefly considering shortening the legs on one side of each table and chair, we decided to go for the largest flat area in the road – the front of Julie and Jeremy Barden’s house. They responded enthusiastically by transforming the front of the house into a magnificent party venue with stage and re-laid lawn, plus red, white and blue hanging baskets and gazebos, as well as plenty of chairs and tables for everyone to sit at for tea.

We kicked off with jazz from the Victoria Road Jazz Band consisting of Ed and Nina de Salis Young. Around 50 residents and honorary residents flocked in, bearing vast platters of food and jugs of Pimms. After tea lots of people joined in the egg-and-spoon (spoons held in mouths) and duck-on-the-head races, to general amusement. For the kids there was splat-the-corgi (rather than ‘rat’) and hook-a-duck, although by far the most


Up goes the gazebo in Charnwood Rise

Celebration cup cakes

popular game was rolling the tyres from Michael Cooke’s go-kart down the hill at high speed.

After an entertaining speech by Gordon Ambler we were treated to an impromptu accordion and singing performance from Klaus Kaiser and Martin Cooke, followed by a spirited karaoke rendition of ‘You bring me sunshine’ from Marion Knell, Ann Morris, Liz Bolt, Suzanne Barlow, Joy Hogben and Catriona Kelly.

We ended the day with dancing to 1950s rock ’n roll, to the delight of the adults and the embarrassment of the teenagers. However, even the teenagers admitted later that they’d enjoyed the party as much as anyone else. When’s the next one?

Nina de Salis Young

Barbecue and boules in Rawlins Close

Long grass was the problem for Rawlins Close residents. Thanks to the county highways department, the community grass was eventually cut on Friday, 1st June, and a great team effort meant that the area was cleared in readiness for the party on the 4th. The day began with promise as the gazebos were erected (just in case), and tables, chairs and gas barbecues appeared from everywhere.

Delicious food and liquid refreshments were produced; barbecues were lit and the party began, with table-tennis games and a boules competition organised for the benefit of everyone. Luke Eve added to the occasion by playing the national anthem on his electric guitar. As we drifted away around 8.30pm, the day was declared a great success by all those present.

Hugh McArthur

Perry Close quizzes its residents

Long-standing residents Audrey and Richard Bowers and their daughter, Miriam, together with newcomers Stuart and Roo Unwin, generously co-hosted an afternoon barbecue for their neighbours in Perry Close and that small part of Herrick Road that is geographically ‘Perry’. Our hosts stocked the barbecue while the invitees provided a plethora of mouth-watering, waist-expanding desserts.


Enjoying the barbecue

Audrey decided that as the occasion was essentially a royal one, she would see how much we knew about British monarchs going back over 1,000 years. Some 16 pictures of monarchs or their consorts were scattered round the garden but, despite much pencil-chewing, to our shame most of us didn’t get much beyond the two Elizabeths, Queen Victoria and Henry VIII (plus Edward VII, who looked too much like his son, George V, for some people to be sure). However, we all went away feeling that at least we knew our neighbours much better, especially the new guys on the block.

Evelyn Brown

Flag-waving in Charnwood Rise

Charnwood Rise is the steepest of the roads leading off Maplewell Road and also the narrowest, so residents gave up the unequal struggle to hold an actual street party. Instead, Rosemary May and Tony Lenney lent their front garden for the erection of gazebos, flag-waving and general partying.

Editor


Cheers!

Wanging wellies in Hill Rise

The Hill Rise street party went ahead as planned on Tuesday, 5th June and, despite a dubious weather forecast, the rain held off and everyone had a great time. The street was decorated from top to bottom with bunting, and the party-goers all dressed the part in red, white and blue.

Around 60 residents joined in to enjoy an afternoon of party food and drink, and games for the children. Egg-and-spoon races, potato rolling (for which Hill Rise is perfect), and welly-wanging were all contested with great enthusiasm but the children’s tug-of-war, held on Church Walk at the top of Hill Rise, was

particularly popular. It soon expanded to include adults from rival teams composed of the odd numbers in the road versus the even numbers.

Her Majesty even made an appearance from the balcony of number 21; in reality a papier mâché replica, courtesy of Penny Batzoni who made her ‘in


A gracious wave from the Queen

the bath’, it’s said. She stood dutifully on the balcony for the whole duration of the Jubilee festivities, only retiring when the rain soaked her to the bone and her royal wave slowly wilted. We can only say that she was tremendously stoical, as is her tradition.

Sally Matterson

It seems that the Queen has excellent multi-tasking skills, able to make appearances in both a front garden in Beacon Road (p.20) and on a balcony in Hill Rise, while simultaneously sailing down the Thames on a barge. Ed.

Residents of Main Street know how to party!

On Monday, 4th June, there were not one but two parties on Main Street to celebrate the Jubilee. Amanda Garland organized a barbecue for about 25 of her family, friends and neighbours in her back garden, and there was an air of ‘Dunkirk Spirit’ as guests arrived with chairs, tables, gazebos and barbecues. The great thing about the event was that many people got to know each other for the first time. The other party came about when a group of friends began talking in the Curzon, and then asked if they could use the car park at the front of Selby’s garage for their festivities. Permission was kindly given and a rather good time was had by all.

Andrew Garland


A happy time for the Garlands

A good time at Selby’s Garage

How well do you know your village?This local quiz from our heritage wardens raises some interesting questions, with fascinating answers and some additional information. Ed.

1. Why does Woodhouse Eaves have several pubs while Woodhouse has none?

2. Why was Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall built, and by whom?

3. Why is there only a base of a windmill left on Windmill Hill?

4. How do you pronounce ‘Maplewell’?

5. Where is Pepper Street in Woodhouse?

6. What were the two previous names given to Meadow Lane in Woodhouse Eaves?

7. Which local buildings did William Railton, who designed Nelson’s column, also design?

8. Which is the oldest pub in Woodhouse Eaves?

9. What was the purpose of the bell above the central arch at Home Farm in Woodhouse?

10. How did the name ‘The Brand’ originate?


Villages Quiz Answers

1. Woodhouse Eaves has always had more pubs than most villages; at one time there were six serving the community, from thirsty farm workers to American GIs. The village of Woodhouse (mostly owned by the Beaumanor estate, or serving it) was under the strong influence of the Perry Herricks of Beaumanor Hall, who disapproved of drinking, and discouraged it in the vicinity. They would not be impressed if they knew there is now an excellent bar inside Beaumanor Hall!

2. Woodhouse Eaves village hall, formerly ‘Woodhouse Eaves Tea and Coffee House’ (and parish hall and reading room) was donated by Mrs Sophie Perry Herrick of Beaumanor Hall to provide an alternative pastime for the villagers to the numerous public houses in the village.

3. The original windmill was bought second hand from Derbyshire in the 18th century to grind flour for the Beaumanor estate; it was last operated in 1895. A scrub fire started in dry gorse on 15th April 1945; however, as the fire service could not get appliances up the hill, water was taken up in a small tender which needed to be constantly replenished from village water-pumps. The fire won. One beautifully refurbished village pump still remains on Main Street today.

4. Much controversy surrounds the pronunciation of ‘Maplewell’. Phonetically it should be ‘Maple-well’, though in 1528 it was called ‘Mapulwell’ and belonged to Thomas Cotton, Lord of the Manor of Thurcaston. Both pronunciations are used within Woodhouse Eaves.

5. School Lane in Woodhouse was previously known as Pepper Street. Lane End cottage in School Lane was endowed as a free school in 1691 by Thomas Rawlins. It closed in the 1860s, though its name lives on through Rawlins Community College in Quorn.

6. Meadow Lane was named Bakehouse Lane after the village bakehouse on the corner (now a chemist’s shop). Before that it was known as Garbage Lane (which may explain why you can find rubbish such as broken plates and bottle tops in the field crossed by the footpath to Brand Lane).

7. St Paul’s church, which was built in 1837, and Beaumanor Hall, built in 1848, were both designed by William Railton.


8. The oldest village pub is believed to be The Bull’s Head. Originally it provided hostelry with stabling and, like many rural pubs at the time, it was also a local butchery.

9. In an era when only the wealthy could afford time pieces (watches), the bell was rung to tell the farm workers to begin their work at the start of the day, and when to finish at the end. The farm formed part of the Beaumanor estate.

10. Before motorisation, when livestock was frequently moved for grazing and taken to market along the roads, beasts could often become lost or mixed with other herds. Branding was important for identification; it was done locally at the junction of the lanes leading to Swithland and Woodhouse Eaves; ‘The Brand’.

Cathy Schou and Kate Moore, Heritage Wardens


The arch at Home Farm

What happens to the ‘green bin’?In the May Roundabout I wrote about what happens to the contents of your black bin once it has been collected. The contents are sorted and what can be composted is composted; the rest is coarsely sorted, cleaned and then sent off for even more sorting. However, the ‘good quality’ recyclable material comes from your green bins. This is of far higher value to recyclers as it is less contaminated by gunk such as baked beans or fish bones.

Introducing the Materials Recover Facility

Until last August, recyclable paper and cardboard waste, glass, and metal waste were collected separately. Many people were surprised to learn that it can now be collected all in one bin, along with some plastic items. Recyclable waste-handling has become so developed that relatively clean waste can now be separated efficiently at what is called a ‘Materials Recovery Facility’, or MRF (pronounced ‘murf’).

Casepak have built a £21 million MRF in Leicester, collecting a lot of green-bin waste from around the city, the county and some surrounding counties. It is, in essence, a huge warehouse with a purpose-built mega-machine which occupies a quarter of the space in the warehouse and is capable of sorting 26 tons per hour (or 150,000 tons per year). The machine is so large that there are 20 to 30 people working away in several cabins embedded inside.

Waste arrives in trucks which are weighed before being tipped out into a collection area. This space is indoors, and I was very surprised to see that the pile was being sprayed with water; the reason being that the waste starts to decompose (composts!) and can get so hot that the pile may catch fire, so there are massive water pipes all around which will flood the space if this happens.

Sorting out the waste

The first stage in the process is a simple pre-filter. This involves the first people inside the machine; they pull out some of the more obvious problem materials, like lumps of wood, tyres and chunks of concrete, as well as an awful lot of plastic film. The latter is plucked out by the operator and placed into the mouth of an enormous vacuum-cleaner pipe in the ceiling. There


Some of what’s in the green bins

are several staffed stations inside the machine where plastic film is manually filtered out in this way; it seems that this is the hardest material to filter mechanically.

After the coarse filtering, during which the ‘fines’ (smaller fragments of waste) are filtered off, the rest of the material is passed through a series of rotating bars with cams on them, arranged as a stair which is called, would you believe, a ‘NewSorter’™. This simply juggles the waste, allowing glass and heavier items to fall to the bottom while lighter paper is filtered to the top of the stack. After a post-sort to get rid of any more plastic film, paper is sent directly for baling. Whatever is left is passed through another two NewSorters to separate out larger items, such as magazines and telephone directories. What drops out at the end of this stage is just glass, plastic and metal. Glass items are broken and then, with other smaller ‘fines’, passed back for sorting into mixed paper, glass and iron; an electromagnet filters off iron and steel (e.g. tin cans).

What happens to the rest?

Now comes the really neat part of this machine. The remaining waste is scattered loosely on a very wide conveyor belt travelling at 600 feet per minute (or about three metres a second). At the end of the conveyor, light is shone through the waste items as they fall off the belt, and sensors detect if the light passes through an item. If so, one of many (I forgot to record how many!) nozzles blasts air, propelling the item in question up and into another collection conveyor. This was fun to watch because plastic bottles just seem to leap into the air. Two of these high-speed separating devices filter out PET and HDPE plastics.

An eddy-current separator, with its magnetic field moving across the conveyor belt, filters off aluminium to the side, and a simple, fixed electromagnet filters out iron-based metals (tin cans etc.). All that is left is mixed plastics which cannot be easily separated further. All separated materials are then fed back towards the baler. The operator selects the material that is to be baled; the machine compresses it and then spits out a handy fork-lift-truck-sized bale to be sent off for further processing.

I was pleasantly surprised to see that there was very little contamination of the sorted material, for example of aluminium cans (mostly drinks cans) by steel cans (e.g. baked beans and soup tins). Similarly, the filtered glass had no apparent metal or paper in it.

Only six per cent of the waste is classed as residue, i.e. particles too small to be filtered by the plant. The residue is sent to a processing plant


elsewhere; nothing at all goes to landfill. The plant itself is as environmentally friendly as it is practical, getting 14 per cent of its energy demand from air-source heat pumps.

Bertil Schou

Beacon Hill update

As Beacon Hill Country Park is within Woodhouse Parish, its management is of concern to all of us. The parish council always takes a keen interest, which is why annual site visits take place where council representatives meet with those who do the managing. At this year’s meeting on 6th June livestock, leisure and other facilities, and the controversial felling of trees were on the agenda.

Cattle, sheep and pigs

If you walk in the country park you will be familiar with the longhorn cattle at the top of the hill. These have been joined by four young highland calves; an added attraction with their shaggy ginger coats and cutely fringed faces. Although there is plenty of grazing for the cattle in summer, in winter they are fed on grass from nearby fields.

Further down the hill two more alpacas have been brought in to help guard the various breeds of sheep in the enclosure because it was felt that the existing pair was growing a little too old for the job; however, it seems that the new arrivals have had a rejuvenating effect on their companions. Meanwhile, the pigs on the other side of the hill continue to cause a few problems for unwary horse riders. Sociable animals, they come galloping

down towards the bridle path when they hear riders approaching, squealing and grunting at high decibel levels, and spooking the horses.

Livestock are important for the country park because their grazing helps to maintain the heath land of the middle and upper slopes and its flora and fauna. Bracken is particularly invasive; its rapid spread, historically, was triggered by human activity because it was once cultivated to provide bedding for animals and stuffing for mattresses. As part of stock maintenance the rangers check and count the animals on a daily basis.


A pair of curious pigs

Leisure in the park

Barbecue picnics in the park are commonplace and the rangers are still trying to find appropriate heat-proof materials to fix to tables for disposable barbecues. Sadly, the use of these sorts of barbecues on grassed areas has led to the extensive occurrence of dead patches. The outdoor play area is now completed (sign-posted from the main path, not far from the lower car park) and is providing children with a focus for imaginative play.

Visitors, of course, necessitate car parks and toilet facilities. Improvements are needed to the lower car park in the longer term because this is the one which provides the best access to family activity areas, such as the labyrinth, the outdoor play area and the main picnic area. The ‘green’ toilet block in the top car park, powered by small wind turbines, is due for refurbishment. Photovoltaic cells in the solar roof-panels generate electricity which is used to operate the barrier entrance to the upper car park.

Tree felling

The felling of mature trees in and alongside the park, including some beeches on Beacon Road, has caused concerns among the public. Such work is only carried out when trees pose a serious risk of injury to people. On closer examination, an apparently healthy tree-trunk may be rotting at its core (see the timely example of the fallen tree on Church Hill; ‘News in brief’, p.9). The felled wood is a source of raw material for the resident chainsaw sculptor (see May Roundabout, p.33). What is unusable is left on the ground to provide a natural habitat for various insects, fungi and lichens.

Sometimes we take the country park for granted; however, it is salutary to remember that it continues to offer a wide range of pleasures only through the hard work of a diminishing number of rangers.

Evelyn Brown


Children enjoying the play area

Garden matters for July 1. Do not cut the lawn too short because the grass will be under a lot of

pressure at this time of the year if there is hot sun. Remember not to feed it any more until autumn.

2. After the first flowers have faded, it is time to look after your roses. Give them a good feed with a high potash and magnesium content fertilizer.

3. Do not forget to feed hanging baskets as well as watering them daily. All your tubs will need feeding once a week so that they will look their best when you sit outside.

4. There is still time to set late peas, cabbage (winter), cauliflower (autumn), French beans and beetroot. Late setting of carrots should miss the root fly. Always water drills before sowing.

5. Keep checking the tomato plants, removing side shoots and feeding them when the first truss has set. This needs doing once a week. For outdoor plants, remove the centre (above the fourth truss) to aid the formation of tomatoes and to help the fruit ripen before autumn.

6. After your beans and peas have finished, do not pull up the roots. They contain storage pods for nitrates which will add goodness to your soil.

For details of the next meeting see ‘What’s on’.

Neil Roberts


The last word

Jubilee memorabilia

So, what couldn’t you resist as a memento of the Diamond Jubilee? Third place in the bad-taste stakes goes to a solar-powered model corgi which nods its head when the sun shines (£16). In second place is a two-litre jelly-mould in the shape of the Queen’s head, retailing at £10. First place, however, has to go to a ‘sick bag’, designed by artist Lydia Leith and decorated with a picture of the Queen. – Sourced from i, 31st May 2012.

Memorable moments

In the run up to the Diamond Jubilee, a poll commissioned by the London Eye asked people to name their ‘most iconic’ moments of the 60 years of the Queen’s reign. In the top ten, alongside notable events such as the Coronation (1953) and Margaret Thatcher becoming the UK’s first female Prime Minister(1979), were the Sex Pistols going to number one in the charts with ‘God save the Queen’ (1977) and The Beatles’ last gig on the roof of the headquarters of Apple Records (1969). – i, 29th May 2012.

Barking(side) mad

A motorist in Barkingside, northeast London, was given a £60 parking fine after stopping his car to ask a

traffic warden for directions…the warden ignored his request for help and took a picture of his car instead. Days later, he received a fine in the post. – The Week, 26th May 2012.

The future’s not so orange!

In a letter to The Guardian back in April, Brian Lewis from France asked, ‘If the Merkel-Sarkozy double-act has been termed “Merkozy”, can we now look forward to “Merde” [Merkel-Hollande]?’

Who’s being conned?

In The Guardian on 2nd June, Simon Hoggart highlighted the ‘healthy snacks’ advertised on the Ocado website which bear the following helpful description. ‘Pack has 6 sausage rolls (12 if halved).’ Now, there’s a bargain – buy six, get another six, free!

He also reports that a friend of his received a letter from his ten-year-old son’s school explaining that children would not be taken to watch the Olympic torch because ‘The children’s safety and well-being are of paramount importance, and it is felt that the risk is too high.’ It appears, however, that ‘parents may take their children out of school to watch.’ Hoggart commented wryly that ‘it’s fine for them to be trampled to death by crowds maddened with Olympic fever, provided it’s not the school’s fault’.


Contributions to RoundaboutWe publish items of interest to the communities of Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves, such as news of local events, groups and businesses in accordance with the editorial policy (see inside front cover). We can write up people’s stories for those who prefer to talk, rather than write. We do not publish notices of births, deaths or marriages. Most articles are under 800 words and we think they should be!

Format: electronic copy in ‘Word’, using ‘Arial’ font, is most useful, although we accept hand-written items that are legible.

Pictures are welcome; digital if you have them, otherwise prints.

What’s on: brief notification of events in the ‘What’s on’ schedule is free. Send event details to Roundabout at the addresses below. Note that we normally include only ‘in parish’ events, may abbreviate the details and are not obliged to include all items submitted.

Adverts: requests for further publicity, even for charities, incur a charge per issue of £8.50 for a quarter page or £17.00 for a half page. Full-page advertisements are not normally accepted. Contact the advertising managers, Amanda and Andrew Garland, on (01509) 890 839 or via the methods listed at the bottom of the page.

Copy deadline: please see the bottom of page 3.

Send any material for Roundabout by:

Email: [email protected]

Hand or post: Roundabout, Woodhouse Eaves Post Office, 45 Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves, LE12 8RG.


What’s on in July and AugustJuly

Mon 2nd 7.00 Parish council meeting. All welcome. Village Hall

Sun 8th 9.30–3.00

Conservation volunteer day, habitat conservation tasks. For details tel. 0116 305 5000.

Beacon Hill Country Park, free

Thu 12th All evening

Gourmet food & wine evening. Fund-raising for Matt Hampson Foundation (young people seriously injured through sport). Booking essential.

The Bull’s Head, £35 (inc. glass of wine)

Mon 16th 8.30am WI outing, trip to Bakewell and Denby Pottery plus cookery demonstration. For details tel. 0116 230 2915.

Village Hall car park

Thu 19th 2.00 Guided walk of Beacon Hill, Peter Liddle (Leics. archaeologist). For details tel. 0116 305 5000.

Upper car park, adults £3; parking £2.50

Thu 19th 6.30pm W’houses Garden Club, visit to Ridgewold Farm, Wymeswold (NGS).For details tel. 07541 440 971

Village Hall car park, £3.50 inc. refreshments

Sun 22nd 10.00–2.00

Beacon Hill, Love Parks Week craft demonstration day. Chainsaw carving, rustic carpentry.

Lower car park, free; parking £2.50

August

Sun 12th 9.30–3.00

Conservation volunteer day, habitat conservation tasks. For details tel. 0116 305 5000.

Beacon Hill Country Park, free

Wed 15th 7.30 WI, ‘The life and works of George Formby’, Kevin Barfield. Comp: A musical box.

Village Hall

Sun Mon

26th 27th

Beacon Hill, National Forest Wood Fair. Timber & logging, wood crafts, children’s activities, food stalls.

Upper car park, currently ticket cost not known

Looking ahead: Woodhouse Eaves Horticultural and Craft Show, Saturday, 1st September, Village Hall. See www.woodhouse-eaves.co.uk/show/ and June Roundabout.

Check for more local event details on these web sites:www.woodhouse-eaves.co.uk/diary/www.leicestershirevillages.com/woodhouseeaves/local-events.html

roundabout june 2011 - woodhouse parish council · roundabout aims to promote local events, groups...

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