APRIL 2024 GLENFIELD GAZETTE online

April 

2024 

MONTHLY NEWS, INFORMATION & ENTERTAINMENT FOR GLENFIELD 

Bill Green - a true 

gentleman of Glenfield 

IT IS WITH a heavy heart that I am sharing the sad 

news that William “Bill” Henry Green passed away on 

Friday, 8 March 2024. 

Bill was a wonderful 

husband to Patricia, 

an outstanding father 

to Michael, Dave, Paul 

and myself, a treasured 

father-in-law and a 

fabulous Grandad and 

Great-Grandad. He was 

also an amazing friend to 

so many people. 

Bill, was born in 

Birmingham, but moved 

to Glenfield 66 years ago, 

settling into village life 

and raising his family. 

He was one of the 

original volunteers who 

built the Glenfield 42nd 

Scout Headquarters on 

Stamford Street. He 

continued for many years 

to fully involve himself 

and his family in numerous Scouting activities and was a keen fund 

raiser for the group. 

For most of his working life Bill was a self-employed decorator/ 

builder and if your house had anaglypta wallpaper on its walls, we 

feel quietly confident that it would have been Bill who put it there. 

He later worked for JR Camping where he maintained all their stores 

across the Midlands. It didn’t take long for the company directors 

to catch on to his enthusiasm, motivation and unrivalled charisma, 

this helped make him a perfect salesperson. This led to him getting 

more involved in selling all things ‘Camping’ – it was clear to all he 

absolutely loved that job. 

Bill was part of the Shark Diving Club based at Stoney Stanton but 

found himself travelling all over. 

When he eventually retired, part of his free time would find him on a 

golf course challenging his sons, daughter, and daughter-in-law to a 

round, it quickly became the highlight of the weekend. 

A big Leicester Tigers Rugby fan, he was a member and dedicated 

supporter for over 18 years, sometimes to listen to him during a 

spirited match you could believe he would have been one of their 

better players himself. However, he had never actually physically 

played the game. 

His family was everything to him and time spent with them was 

always precious but he also found time to indulge in a few hobbies 

such as reading, gardening and generally being a good neighbour 

and friend to so many people of Glenfield. 

He will be missed by so many. 

The funeral is to take place on Monday 8th April 2024 

at 10am at Countesthorpe Crematorium, Foston Road, 

Countesthorpe. 

Family flowers only please, donations for Alzheimer Society which will 

be kindly accepted at the service. 

Anne Mann 

Daughter 

New sing-along community 

hub coming to Glenfield in May 

A NEW LOCAL community group is giving you the chance to 

sing your heart out and then enjoy a cuppa, a cake and a chat. 

What could be a more mood-boosting way to spend a couple 

of hours?! 

“For two hours I can completely switch off from the outside world and just 

focus on the joy of singing. I don’t have to worry what I sound like and have 

very much enjoyed revisiting songs from my past and sharing the experience 

with others.” 

The ‘sing-along community hub’ will take place in Glenfield every 

Thursday between 1.30pm and 3.30pm starting on Thursday 9th May. 

The hub has been launched by Musical Village, a family of choirs and singalong 

groups catering for people of all ages and abilities. Musical Village has 

been operating in Leicestershire for 15 years and has a simple aim: to bring 

communities together through music. 

You don’t need to worry if you’re not pitch perfect or you don’t like the idea 

of performing to an audience. The hub is not a choir, but rather an informal 

group where you can come together with like-minded people and have fun 

singing your favourite songs and socialising. No audition is necessary, and you 

are not expected to know all the lyrics - a song booklet will be provided! Songs 

can range from 17th century classics, such as Scarborough Fair, to current pop 

songs and everything in between. Sessions always start with a series of fun 

warmups to prepare the voice and then everyone discusses each song in turn. 

Memories are evoked and we often discover that we have all been singing the 

wrong lyrics to well-known classics all our lives! 

You’ll be singing along to backing tracks and you’re encouraged to sing in 

your own style, at your own pitch, and follow the tune as you know it! If you 

do not know the song, you can just sit back, enjoy, and tap your foot! 

Everyone is invited to stay for tea, coffee, and cakes, creating an opportunity 

to socialise, make new friends, and reconnect with those you may not have 

seen for a while. Research has shown that singing in a group has wide-ranging 

benefits for both our physical and mental health, including exercising the brain, 

improving breathing, posture, and muscle tension. Developing your social 

network is key to maintaining health and when we add in a regular dose of 

laughter too, then this group is hugely beneficial to all. 

If you’d like to find out more about the new sing-along community hub, you 

can find details on the Musical Village website: www.musicalvillage.co.uk or by 

calling 07873 254 279. 

Becky Williamson 

Come and do some gardening on 

the Millennium Green! 

THE MILLENNIUM Green Trust 

run monthly gardening sessions 

on Saturday mornings starting at 

10am. 

We are heavily reliant on volunteers 

to keep the green looking great. 

Anyone is welcome to join in and no 

experience required. 

2024 DATES: April 6th, May 4th, June 1st, July 6th, Aug 3rd, Sep 7th, 

and Oct 5th. 

If you would like to find out more, please get in touch via our 

Facebook Group or the website: glenfieldmillenniumgreen. 

weebly.com or FACEBOOK: Glenfield Millennium Green 

ARTICLE & ADVERT DEADLINE FOR NEXT MONTH’S ISSUE IS 20TH APRIL - DON’T MISS OUT!

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GLENFIELD GAZETTE APRIL 2024 

Make sure you have 

Voter ID at the 

upcoming elections 

ALL VOTERS will need to show an accepted form of photo 

ID at the polls taking place on 2 May 2024. 

In April 2022, the Government passed the Elections Act 2022 which 

requires all voters to show ID at polling stations. This means that if you’re 

planning to vote in person, you’ll need to bring an accepted form of photo 

ID with you. If you turn up at the polling station without any accepted ID 

or a Voter Authority Certificate, you won’t be allowed to vote. 

Most voters will already have an accepted form of photo ID that they can 

use, but it’s important that you double check the list of eligible forms of ID 

in advance to make sure that you don’t miss out on your chance to vote. 

All accepted forms of ID must include your photo and be suitably secure, 

such as a passport, driving license or blue badge. If you have an accepted 

form of ID but the date has expired, you’ll still be able to use it if the photo 

is still a good likeness. 

Don’t have anything which is on the list of eligible ID? Don’t worry, you 

can apply for a Voter Authority Certificate. This is a temporary form of ID 

issued by the local authority which will allow you to vote. 

It’s free to and easy to apply either on the Government website by 5pm 

on Wednesday 24 April. You should only apply if you don’t already have an 

accepted form of ID. 

No photo ID needed for a postal vote 

If you would prefer not to show ID at a polling station, you can apply 

online to vote by post or proxy. Photo ID isn’t required to apply or vote in 

these ways, although your proxy will be required to show their own ID at 

the polling station. 

The deadline for applying for a postal vote is 5pm Wednesday 17 

April 2024, and the deadline to apply for a proxy to vote on your 

behalf is 5pm Wednesday 24 April 2024. 

Still have questions? There’s lots of information on the Electoral 

Commission website. 

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I went to a friend’s house and he said “make yourself at home” so I threw him out. I hate having people over.

4 

APRIL 2024 GLENFIELD GAZETTE 

Solution on page 24. 

Across 

1. Sets of things offered at auction (4) 

4. Contagious infection of the skin (8) 

8. Inflammation of a nerve accompanied by pain (8) 

9. Musical work (4) 

10. Complacently foolish (5) 

11. Wine merchant (7) 

13. Light wind (6) 

15. Male servant (especially a footman) (6) 

17. Fingerless gloves (7) 

19. Assembly of witches (5) 

22. What remained in Pandora’s box after she let 

out all the evils (4) 

23. Gambling game with a revolving wheel and a 

small ball (8) 

24. Small item of cutlery (8) 

25. Measure of 36 inches (4) 

Down 

2. Large body of salt water (5) 

3. Medical instrument used to inject (7) 

4. The smallest quantity (4) 

5. Medicated lozenge used to soothe the throat (8) 

6. Salmon-like fish (5) 

7. Hard cheese originating in Switzerland (7) 

12. Italian painter and sculptor, ___ da Vinci (8) 

14. Horizontal plant stem with shoots above and 

roots below (7) 

16. Preparation of food for eating (7) 

18. Time of life between the ages of 13 and 19 (5) 

20. Organic compound (5) 

21. One of five siblings born at the same time (4) 

Pictograms 

Here’s an award that’s 

relevant for our families 

IF YOU’RE A follower of our national 

news broadcasts on TV you may have 

tired of the speculation about who will 

win most at the Academy Awards, the 

Golden Globe Awards, or the BAFTA 

Film Awards. 

They get lots of coverage, unlike many other 

awards much more relevant to our daily lives. 

An example of these alternative awards is the 

Pumping Marvellous Foundation Awards for 

Professionals for Being Simply Marvellous. A bit of 

a mouthful, and not half as catchy and memorable 

as ‘The Oscars’. 

Many families will be affected by heart disease, 

and the Pumping Marvellous heart failure charity 

recognises the value that health care professionals 

Dr Ian Loke 

bring to the treatment and patient outcomes. Measured by the individual patients’ 

experience the award reflects the direct impact the winners have in the local community, 

producing the highest standard of care for their patients. 

For those with heart problems, having the expertise of those delivering heart services 

locally at Glenfield Hospital is reassuring. And the good news is that cardiac consultant 

Dr Ian Loke has received a “You’re simply Marvellous” award from the charity. The 

Pumping Marvellous foundation emphasises the importance of the patient perspective in 

recognising and rewarding health care professionals. 

One of the patients who nominated him commented on how approachable and friendly 

he is, in addition to being patient, caring and a good listener. Dr Loke, who is also 

president of the Take Heart Charity and sits on the education committee of the British 

Society for Heart Failure, has been recognised for outstanding service to heart failure. 

He was appointed to a consultant cardiology post in the university of Leicester 

Hospitals in 2007, and was a awarded a distinction with his MD thesis in 2008. He 

is currently the lead for heart failure in the Glenfield Hospital, which has one of the 

highest admission rates for heart failure in the United Kingdom. He is also a complex 

device implanter and is involved in many research studies both locally and nationally. He 

established one of the first urgent heart failure clinics in the UK a decade ago, cited as 

an example of exemplary service in the European Society of Cardiology and one of the 

busiest in the country. 

Norman Griffiths 

Spot the difference! 

There are 10 differences between the two 

There are are 10 10 differences between the the two two images images below. below. How many How many can can can you you you spot? 

spot? 

PICTOGRAMS 

2 words 

2 words 

CURIE 

8 words 

TIGER 

ZEBRA 

CROCODILE 

CHOPIN 

L I F E 

IT 

IT 

IT 

Answers on page 24. 

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6 

Spring has Sprung 

PO Box 8, Markfield, 

Leics. LE67 9ZT 

Tel: 0116 287 3122 

info@glenfieldgazette.com 

www.glenfieldgazette.com 

The Glenfield Gazette is a monthly 

local magazine delivered free to 

approximately 5,000 homes and 

businesses in Glenfield. 

Contact Mike Wilkinson with 

your articles, news items or 

advertising enquiries. 

Printed by Norwood Press 

in Ellistown. 

The opinions expressed by 

contributors are not necessarily 

those of the Glenfield Gazette 

Production Team. The inclusion of 

any group or organisation in this 

publication does not necessarily 

imply a recommendation of its 

aims, methods or policies. The 

Glenfield Gazette cannot be held 

responsible for the information 

disclosed by advertisements, all of 

which are accepted in good faith. 

Every effort is made to ensure the 

accuracy of information in this 

magazine, but no liability can be 

accepted for loss or inconvenience 

caused as a result of error or 

omission. The Glenfield Gazette 

reserves the right to amend, 

shorten or refuse to publish 

articles and/or advertisements 

submitted for publication. 

All contents © The Glenfield 

Gazette. None of the articles or 

adverts contained in this magazine 

are to be reproduced in any way 

without first obtaining written 

consent from The Glenfield 

Gazette. 

Mother’s reward 

A man was decorating his 

new den and decided it was 

a good place to display all 

the awards he and his two 

sons had won at various 

athletic competitions. When 

he had filled two whole walls, 

he remarked to his wife that 

it was a shame she had no 

awards to contribute. 

The following day, she 

produced, neatly framed, the 

birth certificates of their two 

sons, and added them to the 

display. 

By Roy Denney 

DAYS ARE GETTING warmer and the clock 

has gone forward, birds are gathering 

nesting material and early bulbs are out 

and gardens are welcoming once again. 

As you start getting out and about don’t miss the 

chance to visit our green surrounds. Daffs are out in 

all of them trees are budding, the first overwintering 

butterflies are putting in an appearance, bees are 

buzzing and although it may be more welly than 

boots underfoot but blossoms are appearing and it 

all heralds better times to enjoy what we have on 

our doorstep. Easter was early but with our changing 

climate wild flowers were putting in appearances 

As April unfolds bluebells will be coming out and 

there is a glorious display in the woodlands of 

Fishley Belt beside the disused golf course. you will 

also find wood anemones and wood sorrel there this 

time of year. If you walk south from there into the 

nature reserve the hawthorn and blackthorn are full 

of blossom in cheerful untended hedgerows. Cross 

Ratby Lane and walk the length of Clanfelde Hills 

and you will see all sorts of wild flowers. 

If you want a fairly long walk, I suggest doing this 

in reverse but starting in Ratby. 

Catch the 26 bus and get off as it enters Ratby 

by the M1 and walk back to pick up the path on 

your right (Roman Way) Follow this till it hits the 

old railtrack and then go left under the road beside 

the brook and almost immediately go right over the 

wooden bridge into Brookside Meadows. Don’t follow 

the gravel track but keep right to come out above 

Boden’s at the foot of the slip road. Turn right up the 

slip road and just before the roundabout cross over 

to your left where there is a pedestrian refuge in the 

crash barriers. You will see a footpath sign in front 

of you that will take you the length of Clanfelde Hills 

and you can then follow the route back through the 

areas mentioned above. 

To the north of the village Gynsill Meadow 

has daffodils on show and with the seasonal 

considerations in the present maintenance regime 

some of its old rarer wild flowers are making a 

comeback. Snake’s Head Fritillaries have been seen 

the last two springs. 

For a real display of spring flowers though, 

Brantings Park cannot be beaten. Planted up 

from scratch in the last 15 years it has now been 

declared a local wildlife site. It was cleared to bare 

earth after contamination and brambles and thistle 

pushed to the edges. Thousands of shrubs bushes 

and trees have been planted 

mostly donated or grant-aided 

and a scattering of native wild 

flower and meadow-grass seeds 

introduced, but nature has taken 

over and done the rest. 

The mixture of copses, grassland 

and tangled hedging is just what 

birds and butterflies want. 

There is no need to dash off to 

Bradgate Park where most wildlife 

runs from the crowds when we 

have all this on our doorstep. 

True the deer are tame there 

unlike the roe that occasionally 

visit the Brantings. 

There are some excellent spots 

slightly further away but you need 

to get off the beaten track. The 

eastern parts of Swithland Woods 

have wonderful displays of spring 

flowers and parts of the Outwoods and Altarstones are 

rich in bluebells 

If you do decide to wander further afield, we are lucky 

to have both Charnwood Forest and the National Forest 

not far away. Do though use public transport if at all 

possible. Bus services pass by all side of Charnwood 

Forest but unfortunately, they are run by three different 

companies with no joint ticketing. The National Forest is 

far more extensive and better served by buses but much 

of it is recently planted woodland and not yet rich in wild 

flowers. The 26-bus village hops through much of this end 

of the Forest. 

When as now seems more likely than for many years the 

Ivanhoe line is adapted for passenger traffic that will also 

get us to many parts of the forest. Most local authorities 

put considerable sums into a pot for feasibility studies just 

a few years ago and it is hoped that the HS2 savings 

might be coming our way to fund it. Blaby put £10,000 

in the kitty. While there will be no station very close to 

Glenfield it would take a lot of traffic off the A50. The 

biggest challenge is where to terminate it in Leicester as 

the old route near the centre has been developed. 

I can’t believe someone broke into my house and stole all of my fruit. I am peachless.

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8 


Glenfield Bowling Club 

Ellis Park, Stamford Street, Glenfield 

2024 OPEN DAYS 

OPEN TO ALL 

Sunday 28 April 10 am - 5 pm 

Monday 29 April 4 pm - 7 pm 

Flat soled shoes required for the 

Green. We will provide everything 

else you need. 

Here you will be able to find 

out how to join our friendly 

atmosphere and play Lawn Bowls 

at any level, from beginner to 

expert. 

We welcome all ages, genders and 

abilities. The Club, also has coaches 

on hand to help you along the way 

should you require them. 

We hold social evenings during the summer season, with 

the occasional event during the winter months. 

Bowls is truly one of the few sports which everyone can 

play regardless of age, ability or gender and provides gentle 

exercise.To try bowling, all you will initially require is to 

wear flat shoes on the rinks. 

Along with a warm welcome, we offer 3 free 

sessions for you to decide whether bowling is for 

you. We look forward to seeing and bowling with you. 

Contact: Lesley Riley on 0116 287 6341 

or Derek Turner on 0116 287 6102 

Do YOU run a club, team or 

association in Glenfield? 

If so, why not drop us a line and tell us a bit 

about it, and we’ll include a free brief mention in 

the Gazette. 

Email: info@glenfieldgazette.com 

St Peter’s Church News 

APRIL, once we’ve 

dodged the showers, 

is very clearly the 

month in which it 

begins to feel like 

Spring has sprung. 

Whether it’s the blossom 

on the trees, the early 

flowers putting forth their 

beautiful petals, the return 

of the migratory birds or 

the washing of the cricket 

whites laid up over the 

winter, everything speaks 

of new life, fresh starts. 

This April the entire 

month is part of the celebration of Easter, that feast which above all 

others reminds us of the reality of the triumph of life over death, love 

over fear, hope over despair. The realisation of God’s promises that the 

darkness of all that grinds us down will be swept away in the light of 

resurrection. 

One of the things we’ll be reflecting on at church is what Jesus’ 

resurrection – and our promised resurrection – means for how we 

approach the world around us. Sometimes we’ve had a simplistic 

understanding of what the resurrection means – that life after death 

means the world will fade away and people will live on in heaven. 

Sometimes that has led to some disastrously wrong attitudes and 

thinking– not just the ‘bring on the apocalypse’-type nihilism which 

leads some to support war in Israel/Gaza, but also the ‘it doesn’t 

matter’ approach to using up the world’s resources and polluting what 

is left. It’s all earmarked for destruction, so why bother taking care of 

it? 

This past month St Peter’s has 

achieved Bronze EcoChurch status 

– by complete coincidence, within 

a few days of Glenfield Methodist 

Church doing the same – an award 

which reflects the commitment of 

the church in all kinds of areas to 

minimise our negative impact on 

the created world around us. 

Being resurrection-focussed 

does not mean caring less about 

the world God created – in fact 

it should lead us to be more 

concerned about a world which God 

intends to renew and restore. April, Spring, Easter, should lead us to 

enjoy that blossom, those bird, the bat on ball, and care about them 

more deeply. 

Richard Trethewey 

Rector of St Peter’s, Glenfield and All Saints, Newtown Linford. 

Tel: 0116 287 1604 

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10 


New Documentary: Free to watch 

Climate: The Movie (The Cold Truth) 

THIS NEW DOCUMENTARY offers a different perspective on 

the man-made climate change debate. 

This film exposes the climate alarm as an invented scare without any basis 

in science. It shows that mainstream studies and official data do not support 

the claim that we are witnessing an increase in extreme weather events – 

hurricanes, droughts, heatwaves, wildfires and all the rest. It emphatically 

counters the claim that current temperatures and levels of atmospheric CO2 

are unusually and worryingly high. On the contrary, it is very clearly the case, 

as can be seen in all mainstream studies, that, compared to the last half 

billion years of earth’s history, both current temperatures and CO2 levels are 

extremely and unusually low. We are currently in an ice age. It also shows 

that there is no evidence that changing levels of CO2 (it has changed many 

times) has ever ‘driven’ climate change in the past. 

Why then, are we told, again and again, that ‘catastrophic man-made 

climate-change’ is an irrefutable fact? Why are we told that there is no 

evidence that contradicts it? Why are we told that anyone who questions 

‘climate chaos’ is a ‘flat-earther’ and a ‘science-denier’? 

The film explores the nature of the consensus behind climate change. It 

describes the origins of the climate funding bandwagon, and the rise of the 

trillion-dollar climate industry. It describes the hundreds of thousands of 

jobs that depend on the climate crisis. It explains the enormous pressure 

on scientists and others not to question the climate alarm: the withdrawal of 

funds, rejection by science journals, social ostracism. 

But the climate alarm is much more than a funding and jobs bandwagon. The 

film explores the politics of climate. From the beginning, the climate scare 

was political. The culprit was free-market industrial capitalism. The solution 

was higher taxes and more regulation. From the start, the climate alarm 

appealed to, and has been adopted and promoted by, those groups who 

favour bigger government. 

This is the unspoken political divide behind the climate alarm. The 

climate scare appeals especially to all those in the sprawling publiclyfunded 

establishment. This includes the largely publicly-funded Western 

intelligentsia, for whom climate has become a moral cause. In these circles, 

to criticise or question the climate alarm has become a breach of social 

etiquette. 

Watch it FREE by visiting the website at www.climatethemovie.net 

DEALING WITH 

ROAD RAGE 

ROAD RAGE is 

still very much a 

problem. 

In recent years, 

outbursts of conflict 

between drivers have 

been widely publicised. 

And it is natural 

to feel concerned 

about encountering 

aggression when 

driving. But we 

must all keep the 

risk in perspective, 

says Green Flag, the 

motoring assistance organisation. 

For all that it’s never gone away, 

incidents of unprovoked rage 

on the road are still quite rare. 

The chances are that you will 

never experience anything really 

traumatic from another driver. 

There are some useful tips on 

steering clear of road rage that you 

can keep in mind. 

Avoiding road rage 

• Keep your own stress level low 

by allowing plenty of time and 

ensuring you know where you 

are going. 

• Always try to look confident 

and in control, not nervous and 

vulnerable, even if that’s how 

you feel. 

• Be polite and courteous, even 

when other drivers behave 

unreasonably. 

• Stay calm. 

• Don’t allow yourself to be 

provoked or answer back. Avoid 

confrontation. 

• If you make an error of 

judgement, wave an apology to 

placate the other driver. 

• Drive with your doors locked 

at night in busy urban areas 

and keep them locked when 

stationary. 

• Keep the sunroof and windows 

closed if you’re forced to move 

slowly in areas where you feel 

uncomfortable. 

• Never give lifts to strangers. 

• But a road rage situation may 

happen, regardless of you being 

careful to avoid it. When in such 

a situation, there are some tips 

to keep in mind as well. 

Dealing with 

road rage 

• Be ready for rudeness or 

aggression from other drivers. 

• If you feel threatened, 

remember that your primary 

aim is to defuse the situation 

and get away. 

• If another car pulls up alongside 

or someone harasses you, avoid 

eye contact. 

• If you have to stop, stay in the 

car with the doors locked and 

engine running, ready to drive 

off or reverse away. 

• If you are followed, drive to 

the nearest police station or a 

busy place such as a garage 

forecourt. 

• Use the horn and hazard 

warning lights to attract 

attention. 

• If you have a mobile phone, call 

the police for help. 

• If you don’t have a mobile, keep 

a plastic toy phone handy. It 

could be enough to deter an 

aggressor. 

• Memorise the registration 

number of the other car, its 

make and colour and anything 

you can about the driver’s 

description. 

Helping others 

If you see someone else being 

harassed, don’t be tempted to 

assist on your own. Call the police, 

either on your mobile or from a 

public phone when it is safe to 

stop. 

One final tip 

Music can help cool the situation 

and can calm the mind. If you 

yourself struggle with road rage, 

or you are in the car with someone 

who does, try to create a soothing 

atmosphere in the car, such as 

with calm conversation and a nonaggressive 

choice of music. Doctors 

recommend listening to something 

with a slower rhythmic rate than 

your heart beat, such as classical 

music. Ideally, avoid dance music 

or anything with a really heavy 

bass beat. It could hype you or 

other people in the car with you up. 

Keep the volume at a reasonable 

level. Booming noise can distract 

you and may annoy other drivers. 

And drive safely! 

My wife keeps complaining about having a headache that won’t go away. I keep telling her that I have a name.

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT COMING UP AT 

GROBY CLUB 

APRIL 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Saturday 13th April 

KELLIE JENS 

Excellent Entertainer 


LAURA ELSON 

Local Favourite 

Tickets 

£30.00 


LEE WILKINSON 

Very Good Performer 

MAY 

ENTERTAINMENT 

Saturday 4th May 

TREYC COHEN 

Excellent Singer 


LIBERTY PAIGE 

Great Vocalist 


MARC BOLTON 

Top Quality Showman 


CHRIS ROBIN 

Regular Favourite 

16-18 Leicester Rd, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DJ Phone: 0116 287 1809

12 


Optical Boost For Menphys 

EDMONDS & SLATTER 

opticians dedicated 

their winter fundraising 

endeavours to support the 

local charity Menphys. Their 

collective efforts culminated 

in an impressive total 

donation of £1255.71 being 

presented to the charity. 

Menphys, a longstanding 

Leicestershire-based charity, has 

been aiding local families for over 

five decades by providing a variety 

of services for children and young 

adults up to the age of 25 with 

additional needs and disabilities. 

The organization strives to offer 

equal opportunities and enable 

them to lead ordinary lives. 

Throughout the festive period, the 

staff at Edmonds & Slatter actively 

participated in Christmas jumper 

days across all their practices. 

They also organized winter raffles 

in conjunction with local Christmas 

light switch-on events and sought 

voluntary donations from patients 

following complimentary glasses 

repairs and adjustments. 

Tim Cole, Director at Edmonds & 

Slatter, emphasized the importance 

of community engagement for 

independent opticians, stating, 

“As independent opticians, it’s 

really important for us to engage 

with the community, and all of the 

team at Edmonds & Slatter have 

volunteered their free time for our 

charity events.” 

Is your SMART METER 

working properly? 

IN HIS March 27th 2024 article in the 

Daily Telegraph, Matthew Lynn claims 

that households may well have been 

overcharged for their energy use, at a time 

when many are already struggling to pay their energy bills. 

Matthew explains that, according to the latest figures from the 

Department for Energy, Security and Net Zero, of the 30 million meters 

installed in British homes, almost FOUR MILLION are not working 

properly. The estimate was 2.7 million in June last year, but has now been 

revised dramatically upwards. 

Matthew writes: “If ITV is looking for a follow-up to it’s hit drama about 

the Post Office scandal its producers and script writers do not have to look 

very far. It is playing out in real-time right now. In reality, the smart meter 

fiasco risks turning into the next Horizon scandal.” 

The Glenfield Gardeners’ Association 

The Glenfield Gardeners’ Association 

January and February are quiet in the garden but our gardening club meetings were not 

same. We were all pleased to be back after the winter break. There were lots of talk of 

JANUARY gardening plans and as February well as lots are of gossip quiet too. in the We were garden joined but by our William Stanger f 

gardening Whatton House club Gardens meetings January. were He took not us the through same. the We long were and interesting all pro 

The Glenfield Gardeners’ pleased Association 

that it has been 

to be 

to 

back 

restore 

after 

the gardens 

the winter 

which had 

break. 

become forgotten and neglected. We 

There were lots of talk of new gardening plans as well as lots of gossip 

our A.G.M. very brief in February so Susie from ‘Windowsill Plants’ in Market Harboro 

January and February are quiet too. in We the were garden joined but by William our gardening Stanger club from meetings Whatton House were Gardens not the 

in 

could 

January. 

bring 

He 

along 

took 

a 

us 

wonderful 

through 

collection 

the long and 

of indoor 

interesting 

plants 

process 

such as 

that it has 

same. We were all pleased to been Peperomia be back to restore after and variegated the the gardens winter Monstera. which break. had Susie There become was were very forgotten entertaining lots and of talk neglected. of new 

gardening plans as well as lots of gossip too. and We gave kept were our us lots joined A.G.M. of really very by brief William useful in advice February Stanger on so Susie from 

from how ‘Windowsill to keep houseplants Plants’ in healthy. Market Harborough It would could 

Whatton House Gardens in January. He took us through the long and interesting process 

bring seem along forgetting a wonderful about them collection is better of indoor than plants 

that it has been to restore the gardens which had such 

killing 

become as 

them 

Peperomia forgotten 

with kindness. 

and variegated and 

Over 

neglected. 

watering 

Monstera. We Susie kept 

was very entertaining and gave us lots of really 

our A.G.M. very brief in February so Susie from 

useful 

and ‘Windowsill poor 

advice 

light 

on 

are Plants’ 

how 

the 

to 

two in 

keep 

biggest Market 

houseplants 

causes Harborough 

of 

healthy. It 

could bring along a wonderful collection of indoor would houseplants seem plants failing forgetting such to thrive. as 

Pictured about them is better 

Peperomia 

L-R: Amy 

and 

Coleburne 

variegated Monstera. Susie was 

than Plans very 

killing for entertaining 

our them annual with Garden Show in August have started. S 

E&S - PR/Marketing, 

Laura Shephard Menphys and gave categories us lots already of really decided kindness. useful are Poetry Over advice ‘A watering Day on the Life..’, Photography ‘Seasonality’ and 

Fundraising/Marketing, and Creatures poor light Great are and the Small’ two and biggest Art ‘water-just causes of go with the flow’. 

how to 

houseplants 

keep houseplants 

failing to thrive. 

healthy. It would 

Emma Sharpe Menphys head 

of services, Tim Cole E&S seem forgetting If Plans anyone would our about annual like them more Garden information is Show better August about than the show or would like to help out e 

Director, Lucy Haines E&S have before started. or at the Some event categories then please already do get touch. The show schedule with a full li 

killing them with kindness. Over watering 

Optical Assistant, Natasha decided categories are will Poetry be available ‘A Day in shortly. the Life...’, Our speaker next month is Melanie Arnold f 

Cornish E&S Optical Assistant and poor Photography 

Cornerfield 

light are 

Flowers. 

‘Seasonality’ the 

She 

two 

will 

biggest and 

talk 

‘All 

to us 

Creatures causes 

about running 

of 

her cut flower business on her farm 

ABDO, Anisha Smith E&S Great and Small’ and Art ‘water-just go with 

houseplants failing to thrive. 

Dispensing Optician. the All are flow’. welcome to come along to our meetings. You don’t have to be a member. We m 

The name Menphys, derived from at If 7.30pm anyone on would the fourth like more Tuesday information of the month about in the St Peter’s show or Church would Hall. like Yearly to member 

Plans for help our out either annual before Garden or at the Show event in then August please have do get started. in touch. The Some 

the combination of “Mental” and is just £16 or you can come for the evening for £3, an absolute gardening bargain and t 

“Physical,” categories reflects already the charity’s decided are show schedule with a full list of categories will be available shortly. 

is 

Poetry 

always tea 

‘A 

and 

Day 

biscuits. 

in the 

Check 

Life..’, 

out 

Photography 

our facebook page 

‘Seasonality’ 

for more details 

and ‘All 

dedication • OUR SPEAKER NEXT MONTH is Melanie Arnold from Cornerfield 

Creatures 

to assisting 

Great 

children 

and Small’ 

with 

and 

Flowers. 

Art ‘water-just 

She will talk 

go 

to 

with 

us about 

the 

running 

flow’. 

a diverse range of needs. Amy 

her cut flower business on her 

www.facebook.com/ggaglenfield/ or ring us on 07791488784/2313732 

Coleburne, Charity Coordinator at farm. 

Edmonds If anyone & Slatter, would expressed like pride more information All are welcome about to come the along show to or our would meetings. like You to don’t help have out to either be a 

in supporting before or Menphys, at the stating, event then please 

member. 

do 

We 

get 

meet 

in 

at 

touch. 

7.30pm 

The 

on the 

show 

fourth 

schedule 

Tuesday of 

with 

the month 

a full 

in 

list 

St 

of 

“Many of these needs go hand in Peter’s Church Hall. Yearly membership is just £18 or you can come for the 

hand categories with visual impairments, will be available so evening shortly. for Our £3, an speaker absolute gardening next month bargain is and Melanie there is Arnold always tea from and 

we are biscuits. Check out our facebook page for more details at www.facebook. 

Cornerfield very proud Flowers. to be able She to will talk to us about running her cut flower business on her farm. 

offer this boost to their funding.” com/ggaglenfield/ or ring us on 07791 488784/0116 231 3732 

Laura Shephard, Fundraising and 

Marketing 

All are 

Manager 

welcome 

for Menphys 

to come along to our meetings. You don’t have to be a member. We meet 

expressed at 7.30pm thanks on to all the involved fourth Tuesday Take of the month a in St look Peter’s Church at Hall. Yearly Sora membership 

and commented, “We would like 

to thank 

is just 

Edmonds 

£16 or 

and 

you 

Slatter 

can 

for 

come for the evening for £3, an absolute gardening bargain and there 

their is continued always tea support and to biscuits. help us Check - out and our facebook be page for amazed! 

more details 

raise vital funds and awareness 

SORA is an 

for Menphys. Their fundraising 

www.facebook.com/ggaglenfield/ AI (Artificial or ring us on 07791488784/2313732 

will make a great impact to our 

services, for example £1,000 Intelligence) 

enables Menphys to provide a team application 

of specialised staff to run, manage that can create 

and deliver Saturday respite clubs realistic and 

for a full six-week period while imaginative 

£742 would provide a child access scenes from text 

to our after-school provision for a 

instructions. 

whole year.” 

The text instructions 

for the video on the 

right were: A stylish 

woman walks down 

a Tokyo street filled 

with warm glowing 

neon and animated city signage. She wears a black leather jacket, a long 

red dress, and black boots, and carries a black purse. She wears sunglasses 

and red lipstick. She walks confidently and casually. The street is damp and 

reflective, creating a mirror effect of the colorful lights. Many pedestrians 

walk about. 

To see more amazing examples of what Sora is capable of, visit the 

website at https://openai.com/sora 

The videos include: historical footage of California during the gold rush, 

a tour of an art gallery with many beautiful works of art in different styles, 

a white vintage SUV with a black roof rack as it speeds up a dirt road 

surrounded by pine trees on a steep mountain slope, several giant woolly 

mammoths approach treading through a snowy meadow, and a closeup 

video of two pirate ships battling each other as they sail inside a cup of 

coffee. It seems that if you imagine ANYTHING, and describe it in text, 

then Sora will create a video scene of it. Whatever next? 

My wife says we should split up because I keep pretending I’m a detective. I said good idea, we can cover more ground that way.

Leicestershire Police and Crime 

Commissioner Election 

Polling Day Thursday 2 May 2024 

Crime is 

Down 4.4% 

across 

Leicestershire 

Vote to Re-Elect 

Rupert 

MaTThEws 

PCC Rupert 

Matthews with 

Cllr Roy 

Denney & Cllr 

Nick Chapman 

My Ten Point Plan for a safer Glenfield & the Brantings 

1 - Improve neighbourhood policing. 

I will open more police offices to the public and 

keep more beat officers on the beat. 

2 - Tackle burglary 

Burglary is down 6.8%. I will continue to deploy 

anti-burglary patrols and prevention advice. 

3 - More high profile visible policing 

I will ensure all villages & estates are regularly 

visited by police officers. 

4 - Target anti-social Behaviour 

ASB is down 11.5%. Neighbourhood Watch 

groups and Parish Councils will get the training 

and resources they need to tackle ASB. 

5 - Ban politics from policing 

Local police will continue to concentrate on policing, 

not politically correct activities seen elsewhere. 

6 - Combat knife and violent crime 

Serious violent crime is down 12.1%. I will support 

the expansion of stop & search. 

On 2 May 

Vote to 

Re-Elect 

7 - Fight the growth of drug crime 

Drug crime drives violent crime, theft and 

burglaries. I will continue to support our 

undercover teams. 

8 - Boost policing in rural areas 

Rural Crime is down 10.2%. I will enhance the 

Rural Policing Team with drones and other 

equipment to help them tackle rural crime. 

9 - Tackle speeding and Road safety 

I will crack down on e-scooters and road racing 

and extend the use of the new-style “speed vans”. 

10 - Restore public trust in policing Bad 

behaviour by officers will not be tolerated. 

* All figures are official Police figures comparing 

crime figures for January 2023 to January 2024 

Details on 

www.RupertMatthews.org.uk 

or scan the QR code. 

Rupert MATTHEWS X 

Published & promoted by Adrian Thompson on behalf of Rupert 

Matthews, both of LCCA, 8 Pinfold Gate, Loughborough LE11 1BE.


16 

NOVEMBER 2023 GLENFIELD GAZETTE 

10 

Breast cancer research 

scoops international award 

RESEARCH BY a University problems, swelling or shrinkage of 

of Leicester Makes 10-12 PhD Preparation student time about the breast, 1 hour and Cooking issues moving time 1-1½ their hours 

into the side effects of arm and shoulder, as well as feeling 

tired or being sick. 

breast Whether cancer you’re treatment 

reducing your meat intake “The 1. study Preheat also highlighted the oven to some 160°C / fan 140°C / gas mark 3. 

have or catering been for internationally 

plant-based friends and significant Grease associations a deep between 20cm round cake tin and line with nonstick 

effects baking - breast paper. 

recognised. 

family over the festive holiday, this classicturned-vegan 

Jandu, is the has perfect clinched centrepiece. shrinkage 2. Melt was the associated vegan butter with or coconut oil in a saucepan along 

certain side 

Harkeran 

the prestigious European Breast worsening with Quality the brown of Life sugar, (QoL) citrus zest and juice, and rum 

Cancer Ingredients Council Young Investigator scores, worsening brandy breast (if using). and Bring to a boil and Harkeran simmer for Jandu 2 

Innovation • 250g vegan Award butter for her or work coconut oil, arm symptom minutes, scores, then as remove well as from the heat. 

which plus investigated extra for greasing patients’ quality increased 3. Add pain the and dried fatigue. fruit and candied Her peel research to a large was bowl, supervised pour 

of • life 175g following soft light breast brown cancer sugar “In addition, over the study vegan confirmed butter/coconut by oil Professor mixture, and Christopher stir well. 

surgery • Finely and grated radiation zest treatment. of 2 oranges and that increasing 4. Whisk the together number the fl our, ground Talbot, almonds, Professor baking of Radiotherapy 

Radiotherapy juice of 1 is a common 

of radiotherapy powder, doses salt plays and spices a in a separate Genetics, bowl. from the Mix University the of 

treatment • Finely for grated cancer zest but and poses juice of 1 lemon significant apple role in purée exacerbating into the dried fruit Leicester mixture, Department then fold in of the Genetics 

a risk (reserve to tissues 1 tbsp and organs juice for the icing) side effects. fl our Patients mixture who until received just combined. and Genome Biology, and Dr Tim 

surrounding • 150ml rum it with or brandy, some patients plus extra fewer larger 5. Pour doses the cake of radiotherapy batter into the lined 

Rattay, 

tin, 

Associate 

smooth 

Professor 

the 

in 

more 

(optional) 

sensitive 

for 

than 

feeding 

others and at reported surface a higher with QoL.” a spatula and bake 

Breast 

for 

Surgery 

1½ hours. 

at the 

Remove 

University of 

risk of side effects. 

Leicester Cancer Research Centre 

• 875g mixed dried fruit of your choice, QoL is a the score cake derived from from the oven a and let it cool completely in the 

Harkeran said: “The award was 

and Honorary Consultant Breast 

such as sultanas, raisins, currants, person’s perception tin. Once cooled, of physical, pierce holes all over the top of the 

totally unexpected but a wonderful 

Surgeon at the Glenfield Hospital, 

cranberries and chopped fi gs and psychological cake and with social a skewer, drizzle over 2 tbsp rum or brandy, 

surprise. It’s a huge motivation 

who said: “This phenomenal award 

apricots 

functioning. and let it soak in. Make sure the surface is fully dry 

and validates my efforts to pursue 

reflects the quality of Harkeran’s 

• 100g chopped candied peel Harkeran before added: decorating. “There is 

impactful projects within clinical 

research and also recognizes our 

• 175 g plain fl our 

increasing 6. When interest you in are patients’ ready selfreporting 

icing symptoms, sugar, functional aquafaba and lemon 

to decorate, 

cancer research in the future.” 

group’s whisk work together in the clinical the and 

• 125g ground almonds 

The award is also shared with 

genetic juice epidemiology in a large bowl of breast 

• 1 tsp baking powder 

status and until quality you of have life a to stiff enhance and glossy 

Eva Blondeaux from the IRCCS 

cancer icing. treatment Cover with side-effects and 

• ¼ tsp salt 

their clinical clingfi care lm through until needed. symptom 

Ospedale Policlinico San Martino in 

survivorship.” 

• 2 tsp ground cinnamon management. 7. Heat the apricot jam in a small 

Genoa, for unconnected research, 

Professor pan, then Michail brush Ignatiadis over the 

• ¾ tsp ground ginger 

“PROs allow top and the sides patient’s of the cake. 

with each awarded 2,500 Euros. 

from the Institut Jules Bordet in 

• ½ tsp ground mace 

experience 8. Roll to out be a the central marzipan part into a rough 

Harkeran presented her results at 

Brussels, circle Belgium, about 2.5mm is Chair of the 

• ¼ tsp ground cloves 

of clinical thick research, on a providing work surface lightly 

the 14th European Breast Cancer 

14th dusted European with icing Breast sugar. Cancer 

• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg 

vital information Lay it over about the the cake and gently 

Conference (EBCC) in Milan this 

Conference smooth it and onto congratulated the top 

• 225g apple purée 

impact of and treatment down around and care the and sides, so 

week (March 21). 

Harkeran. that there is no air 

For the icing 

therefore trapped allows a inside. more holistic Neaten by smoothing 

Her study, which looked at 

He said: over “We with established the fl at this of 

• 625g icing sugar, plus extra for dusting 

interpretation. 

your palm or the rolling pin and 

2,059 breast cancer patients from 

award trim in away order any to reward excess. young 

• 75ml aquafaba 

“These 9. results Spread underscore over the icing the in swoops 

Europe and the US, highlighted 

and and mid-career flicks to look investigators like snow 

importance of considering both 

discrepancies 

• 1 tbsp lemon 

between 

juice 

Patient 

using a spatula or the back of focusing a spoon. on Let breast the icing cancer set research. 

patient-reported and clinicianreported 

outcomes when evaluating 

Reported 

• 4 tbsp 

Outcomes 

apricot jam 

(PROs) 

completely for a few hours before Harkeran’s cutting. study Decorate is an outstanding with 

following • 500g surgery vegan marzipan and radiotherapy, 

frosted redcurrants and rosemary example sprigs of carefully (if liked). conducted 

the impact of breast cancer 

compared to those reported by 

research that stresses the 

radiotherapy on long-term quality 

their clinicians. 

importance of the patient reported 

of life and enable us to make 

outcomes on top of physician 

Harkeran explained: “Although informed choices about appropriate 

assessments when evaluating 

patients were more likely to state treatment.” 

quality of life in women with breast 

they had pain or other issues 

Harkeran used data collected as cancer.” 

associated with their treatment, part of REQUITE - an observational 

this wasn’t necessarily noted by 

Harkeran’s research is funded 

cohort study which recruited breast 

their clinicians at the same time 

by the Wellcome Recipe extracted Trust Doctoral 

from A 

cancer patients across 18 centres in 

period. Around 70 per cent of 

Training Programme Very Vegan Christmas in Genomic by 

Europe and the US who underwent 

patients who undergo radiotherapy 

Epidemiology Sam Dixon, and Public published Health by 

surgery and radiotherapy with and 

Hamlyn, priced £16.99, 

after breast surgery, experience 

Genomics. 

without chemotherapy. 

with photography by 

side-effects, including skin 

Charlotte Nott-Macaire. 

Glenfield 

Friendship 

Group 

Are you retired 

and want some 

company with 

local people? 

Why not give 

our friendship 

group a go! 

Come and join 

us, you will 

be more than 

welcome! 

We meet at 

Park House 

Stamford St. 

Glenfield 

EVERY FRIDAY 

1PM-2.30PM 

We look 

forward to 

seeing you! 

My wife asked me to put ketchup on the shopping list. Now I can’t read any of it. 

I accidentally went grocery shopping on an empty stomach, and am now the proud owner of Aisle 4.


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17 

SOMETIMES you need to 

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Marnie is stuck. 

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flat, stuck battling the long 

afternoons and a life that often 

feels like it’s passing her by. 

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increasingly reclusive, taking 

himself on long, solitary walks 

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When a persistent mutual friend 

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A cop just knocked on my door and told me that my dogs were chasing people on bikes. My dogs don’t even own bikes.

18 


GLENFIELD PARK WI 

MICHELLE BURTON came to 

Glenfield Park WI to talk about 

her unusual hobby, namely 

collecting antique sewing 

machine. 

In lockdown she decided that she would 

like an antique sewing and although her 

husband was a little taken aback at the 

news she was determined to go ahead. 

Her initial attempts were disappointing as 

every time she was outbid by a man in 

Northampton. but showing true grit she 

got up at 5.30 one morning to bid for one 

being offered on ebay at 6.20. 

Fortunately she was successful and 

acquired the machine for £8.50 and the 

rest is history. She then went on to acquire 

more machines at least 20. Michelle 

pointed out some of the differences 

between machines and how they had 

progressed and also pointed out how 

ornate some were. 

The first machines could only do 

chain stitch but with the introduction 

of shuttles they became more like the 

modern machines. Treadle machines were 

introduced for the first time in the 1920s. 

Groups of women would band together to 

buy a machine as they could be expensive. 

We also learnt the history of the sewing 

machine. We saw a picture of the first huge 

machine form the C18th but it was not until 

1857 that the first machines were patented 

with 3 manufacturers competing, Willcox 

and Gibbs, Singer and Jones. 

In the end all 3 patents were awarded. 

Jones opened a factory in Manchester 

while Singer moved to Clydebank where 

at their height they employed 16,000 

people and even had their own railway and 

station. The only other firm to have one 

was Bournville. They eventually ceased 

production in the 1990s when the huge 

6 storey building was demolished. Jones 

became a Japanese firm and renamed 

Brother. It was a fascinating insight into 

the history of the sewing machine and was 

lovely to look at the machines and see how 

primitive some were but also to admire the 

gold decoration. 

• WE ALSO ENJOYED an outing to 

Stoneywell Cottage , a National Property in 

Charnwood Forest where we were given a 

guided tour of the house and learnt some 

of the history of the family and the house. 

Afterwards we wandered through the 

gardens admiring the daffodils and the 

spectacular rhododendrons. Of course the 

visit wouldn’t have been complete if we hadn’t indulged in some refreshment. Well we are the WI and have to test 

the baking! A very rewarding visit. 

Join me on an Italian walk this June 

I AM WALKING the Cammino Materano in Southern Italy in the region of Puglia 

from June 10th - 19th. 2024 

This is 170 km (108 miles), seven days walking at an average of just under 15 miles per day. It’s a 

Self Guided Walk, mostly flat easy walking from Bari (coast) to Matera (inland). 

I am walking SOLO so if anyone would like to join me in this adventure, please e-mail me at 

cosmic784@hotmail.com. The website - https://camminomaterano.it - has details. It is in Italian, 

so you need to click on the Translate button (‘Traduzione’) to get it in English. 

Ash Kotecha, Groby 

Fact or Fiction? 

THE NOTION that living 

people outnumber the 

dead has been widely 

circulated, but let’s delve 

into the actual numbers. 

Total Number of People Ever 

Lived: Demographer Carl Haub 

estimated that approximately 

106 billion people have ever 

been born since the emergence 

of Homo sapiens around 50,000 

years ago This calculation 

includes all human history, from 

the agricultural revolution to the 

present day. 

Current Population: As of now, 

there are over 7 billion people 

alive on Earth 

Comparison: The number of 

people alive today is a mere 6 

percent of all those who have 

ever lived. In other words, for 

every person currently alive, there 

are approximately 14 people who 

are no longer with us 

Conclusion:Contrary to the myth, 

the living do not outnumber 

the dead. The vast majority of 

humans who have ever existed 

have already passed away, leaving 

a rich tapestry of history behind. 

So, while our world teems with 

life, it is humbling to recognize 

the countless generations that 

have come before us. 

Advertise in 

The Gazette 

Advert 

Size 

Sixteenth 

of a page 

Eighth 

of a page 

Quarter 

of a page 

Half 

of a page 

Full page 

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195 wide 

132 high £99 

plus VAT 

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275 high £159 

plus VAT 

405 wide 

275 high £249 

plus VAT 

FREE ADVERT DESIGN 

Call Mike on 0116 287 3122 

info@glenfieldgazette.com 

I was struggling to get my wife’s attention. So I simply sat down and looked comfortable, that did the trick.


19 

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0116 216 2550 

Unit 5, Mill Lane, Glenfield, LE3 8DX 

Glenfield 

Country Market 

Craft Fair 

Saturday 11 th May 2024 

10am – 4pm 

Groby Village Hall LE6 0DQ 

Free entry 

Refreshments served all day 

Stalls include 

Home-made baking and preserves, 

plants and local produce, 

hand-made crafts, 

jewellery, 

cards 

gifts 

And a large range of items from other local 

crafters 

FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY 

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I just realized my countertop is made of marble. I have been taking it for granite all these years.

20 


Ever thought 

about the sport 

of Archery? 

IT’S A SPORT 

for all ages and 

abilities. 

Apollo are a locally 

based Archery Club 

and we will be holding 

Have-a-Go sessions in 

April & May. Come and give it a try. 

We are based at the Kirby Muxloe 

Sports & Village Club in Ratby 

Lane, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester LE9 

2AQ. 

Membership is open to all ages and 

abilities – you do not need to be 

super fit or competitive to enjoy 

Archery. 

Currently our members range in 

age from 10 to 85 

Juniors are only permitted to shoot 

if a parent, guardian or other 

appropriate adult, authorised by 

the parent/guardian, is present. 

Members’ interests range from 

those who shoot purely for 

personal pleasure to those who 

shoot widely in competitions 

beyond the Club and the County, 

and from those who shoot 

occasionally when the fancy takes 

them through to those who don’t 

want to miss a single practice 

night. 

We hold Taster Sessions and Have 

a Go’s as an introduction to Archery 

– and Beginners Courses for those 

who wish to go further. 

Call Ken Charlesworth on 07789 

526540 for more information. 

Living Without Abuse 

LWA Appeals For 

Marshals For 

Leicester Big 10k 

The Leicester Big 10K is 

back! And once again LWA 

is a charity partner. 

The event takes place on Sunday 

14th April in Abbey Park, Leicester. 

We are looking for volunteer 

marshals to support the running of 

this event. FOR EVERY MARSHAL 

LWA PROVIDES THE ORGANISER 

DONATES £25 TO OUR CHARITY. 

Marshals are required to attend a 

briefing from 8 – 8.15 and then they 

are stationed at points along the 

course to point runners in the right 

direction (which is also marked by 

arrows). Marshals are finished by 

11.30 am. Full details about what is 

involved are shared nearer the time. 

Further details here: https:// 

www.tempoevents.co.uk/events/ 

leicesters-big-10k/ 

If you can help, please contact 

Emily Corrigan at emily@lwa.org. 

uk or telephone 07584 002640. 

Get games in your hands, on your head 

and on your TV too 

This is a golden age for gaming. Services such 

as Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus 

give you access to hundreds of games for a 

fl at monthly fee, and there’s a huge range of 

hardware from cutting-edge consoles and cute 

handhelds to virtual reality headsets. The only 

downside is that all that choice can make it hard 

to choose. We’re here to help. 

Cutting-edge consoles 

The two big players in home gaming are 

Microsoft and Sony, with the Xbox Series S/X 

and PlayStation 5 respectively. Both firms 

are expected to launch slightly more powerful 

versions of their current consoles later this year, 

so if you’re buying the existing ones try and get a 

discount: price cuts will be coming once the new 

consoles ship. 

Both fi rms offer disc-free consoles, the Xbox 

Series S and PS5 Slim, which rely entirely on 

digital games. That saves money when you 

buy the console but it does mean you can’t use 

second-hand game discs from the likes of CEX 

or eBay, so bear that in mind. But both Xbox and 

PlayStation have game subscription services 

that give you access to a library of popular 

games. Xbox Game Pass is £12.99 a month and 

the equivalent PlayStation Plus tier, which gives 

you new games as well as old ones, is £13.99 

per month. 

The other key console here is Nintendo’s muchloved 

Switch, a handheld that can also connect 

to your TV. 

Play on PC 

There’s also a world of gaming on PC, where 

you can access Microsoft’s Game Pass for £7.99 

per month or buy games individually on Steam, 

which is a massive library of PC games (and 

which is also available for Steam’s handheld, 

the Steam Deck, as well as third-party gaming 

handhelds). Some PC games are also available 

in virtual reality for compatible headsets such as 

the HTC Vive, but those headsets are expensive 

and need quite powerful PCs too: the HTC Vive 

Pro 2 is £1,299. 

Glenfield 

Plastering 

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If you want to play in virtual reality, there are two 

serious contenders right now: the Meta Quest 

and Sony’s PSVR2. The Sony one needs to 

be connected to a PS5 but the Meta headsets 

– the 3 is the current one but the 2 is still widely 

available, much cheaper and a really good buy 

– are self-contained. You won’t get big-name 

Sony games like Horizon: Call of the Mountain 

for Meta but there are tons of fun games for the 

platform, and you can also connect a PC to play 

some games on the headset too. 

Xbox Series X 

The best of Microsoft’s current 

consoles is very powerful and 

still has a disc drive, so you 

can buy second-hand games. 

An Xbox Series X with a 

Game Pass Subscription is a 

tremendous gaming system. 

£409, argos.co.uk 

PS5 Slim 

This more affordable PlayStation 5 removes the 

disc drive and slims down the original’s rather 

bulky box so you can fi t it around your furniture. 

PS5 games tend to cost a little more but there 

are some spectacular titles to play. 

£419, argos.co.uk 

Meta Quest 2 

Want to game in 

VR but don’t want 

to spend £500- 

plus on PSVR2? 

Meta’s slightly older headset is a good budget 

option with a decent library of entertaining VR 

games and some fun VR experiences too. 

£249, johnlewis.com 

Nintendo Switch OLED 

Nintendo is famously the home of family-friendly 

gaming, and the latest Switch is a fantastic 

handheld that’s also a home console. It’s 

arguably the most fun 

gaming console around. 

£309, Nintendo.com 

G P 

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My wife just nudged me and said, “You weren’t even listening, were you?”I thought, that’s a strange way to start a conversation.


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21 

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I was sitting drinking coffee in my slippers this morning, when I thought to myself, I really need to wash some mugs.

22 


Small Ads 

• GARDEN COMPOST BINS 

(Blackwall) x 2 - 330 Litre Includes 

Base Plate and Lids. 

Price: £5.00 each. 

Tel: 07716 100273 (Glenfield) 

Jay Blades. © BBC RICOCHET 

With its heart-warming stories and incredible 

transformations, the BBC TV series The Repair Shop 

is one of the nation’s favourite TV shows and has 

picked up a slew of awards in recent times, including 

a TV BAFTA and a National Television Award. 

The series, which is described as an “antidote 

to throwaway culture” sees a group of expert 

craftspeople bring treasured antiques and muchloved 

pieces of family history back to life, proving 

that anything can be restored to its former glory. 

Host Jay Blades says: “We have created a big 

family in the Barn. We’ve got a crazy uncle, a 

funny grandad, a mother, etc. We’re a family 

who come together to help people. It’s about 

kindness, and that’s a very good thing.” 

Before being on TV, Jay was a furniture restorer 

and was running a charity that taught teenagers 

about furniture restoration. The Guardian online 

ran a piece on him and it went viral. Recalls 

Jay: “Almost overnight I started hearing from 

TV production companies. I did BBC Money for 

Nothing then I was approached by the makers 

of The Repair Shop.” Jay has hosted the show 

since it began in 2017. 

Let’s meet the team of expert craftspeople 

bringing damaged treasures back to life: 

Siblings Suzie and Steve Fletcher 

Suzie is a Master English Saddle Maker and the 

show’s resident leather expert, while horologist 

Steve restores clocks and watches. 

Jay Blades MBE, is an upholsterer who runs his 

furniture restoration company, Jay & Co. 

William Kirk is the show’s wood restoration expert. 

Amanda Middleditch and Julie Tatchell 

are toy restorers and are lovingly known as the 

Teddy Bear Ladies. 

Kirsten Ramsay is The Repair Shop’s 

ceramics conservator. 

Sonnaz Nooranvary, who has been on the 

show intermittently since 2017, is an upholsterer. 

Jayesh Vaghela is the resident hat expert. 

Pierro Pozella is an expert in fixing cameras. 

Dave Burville is a professional organ builder. 

Dominic Chinea is the resident metal expert. 

Lucia Scalisi is the painting conservator. 

Brenton West is a silversmith and antique 

photography specialist. 

And last, but by no means least, Scottish actor 

Bill Paterson narrates the show. 

The show is filmed at the Weald and Downland 

Living Museum in Chichester, West Sussex. The 

workshop viewers see on screen is a building 

called the Court Barn that, according to the 

official museum website, dates from the late 17th 

or early 18th century. 

The open-air museum, which is spread over 

40 acres and comprises more than 50 historic 

buildings dating from 950 AD to the 19th century, 

is open to visitors all year round. The barn itself 

is not, however, and the museum doesn’t offer a 

repair service outside the show. 

Episodes are available to watch on BBC iPlayer. 

You can apply to appear on the show through an online application form at www.ricochet.co.uk – 

Ricochet being the production company behind the show. All applicants must be aged 18 or over. 

• GARDEN SHREDDER - £45. 

• Large SWING HAMMOCK SEAT 

with CANOPY - £45. 

• Large plastic PATIO TABLE and 

CHAIRS - £45. 

• Crates of FIREWOOD (not logs) - £8 

each. 

All in good condition. 


• Macallister electric CIRCULAR SAW, 

in a box never used. £30.00 

• MITRE SAW, on stand £20.00 

• Earlex electric WALLPAPER 

STRIPPER, in a box £25.00 

TEL: 07505 060164 (Glenfield) 

• Stirling (Ruby) MOBILITY 

SCOOTER. Breaks down into 4 

sections for easy lifting and makes 

it easy to fit in most car boots. New 

batteries fitted recently and serviced. 

Comes with charger and front shopping 

basket, and puncture proof tyres. In 

very good condition, well looked after. 

Price: £350 o.n.o. 


Sell Your 

Unwanted Items 

in the Gazette 

SEND DETAILS by post or email 

- sorry, we can’t take them over 

the phone. This is a free service for 

private individuals, not businesses. 

Maximum 8 items please. Post to: 

Gazette Small Ads, PO Box 8, 

Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or 

you can email details to: info@ 

glenfieldgazette.com 

PLEASE ENSURE that you put 

‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, 

and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL 

ADDRESS (not for publication, just 

to let buyers know where you are). 

They say don’t go grocery shopping while you’re hungry. But it’s been a week and I just keep getting hungrier.


23 

Adorable dogs searching 

for fur-ever homes 

The Easter holidays can be a great time for families to 

find a new furry family member and settle them into their 

homes, so The Adoption Mission Programme from Pedigree 

& Whiskas is working with rescue centres in the Midlands 

to encourage prospective owners to consider adopting. 

Here are some of the pooches 

currently looking for a home: 

VIOLET: Meet Violet, 18-months old 

Weimaraner. She has a large heart 

with very small confidence. 

All Violet wants is to feel secure and 

have trust in people again. A very 

loyal and loving girl with people she 

knows, Violet is happy playing with her 

toys, having cuddles on the sofa and 

massages. She certainly wants the life 

of a lady of leisure. 

Violet has not had the nicest start to 

life and requires a very calm, loving 

and patient owner who will reassure 

her and help her thrive into a beautiful 

Weimaraner! She will need further 

guidance around housetraining, 

meeting and greeting new people and 

visiting the Vet. We would advise garden exercise whilst Violet settles in 

and as her confidence grows around being on lead. 

ZIGGY: Meet Ziggy, a 2-years old 

Lurcher. Ziggy was a worried boy 

on arrival as he was found with his 

belongings tied up as a stray. 

Overtime Ziggy’s personality has 

shone through and he is such a sweet 

and loving boy! He enjoys playing with 

his toys and will drop them by your 

side and have cuddles on the sofa. 

Settling back into a new home may 

take time as Ziggy can be sensitive to 

day to day sounds and change, but 

with patience and confidence we hope 

he enjoys his new home. He is very 

smart and loves his interactive games 

and like most lurchers is very fast on 

his paws. He does require on-lead 

exercise and a muzzle as he does not 

enjoy the company of other animals and has a very high prey drive. 

OTTER: Meet Otter, a two year old 

Akita. He’s a sensitive boy who is very 

loving and loyal once he has built a 

bond with you. He still thinks he’s a 

puppy when playing and does get 

excited very easily, but has matured 

whilst with us into a charming young 

man. Otter walks lovely on the lead, 

enjoys playing with his toys and 

carries one around and leans in for 

cuddles on the sofa. 

Otter’s confidence has grown 

massively whilst being at the centre 

but introductions to new people must 

be done in a particular way and very 

slowly as he is very wary of people’s 

intentions and his new owner must 

respect this. He has opened his circle 

to other dogs and loves to learn; 

finding treats is one of his favourite 

games. 

For more information about 

any of these dogs, please 

visit the Leicester Animal 

Aid website or email info@ 

leicesteranimalaid.org.uk. 

I tried runway modeling once. It was a huge disaster. Now, I’m not allowed back at the airport.

24 


Planning Apps 

IN GLENFIELD 

Erection of a two storey front 

extension and single storey rear 

extension - at 12 Glenfield 

Frith Drive, Glenfield 

Leicester LE3 8PQ 

Proposed two storey rear 

extension - at 21 Stelle Way, 

Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8HN 

Proposed two storey side 

extension, first floor rear 

extension and front porch - 

at 161 Dominion Road, 

Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8JB 

New porch and ramp for disabled 

access - at 154 Station Road, 

Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8BR 

Application to determine if prior 

approval is required for the 

installation of roof mounted solar 

PV system - at Unit A, Roman 

Avenue, Glenfield, Leicester , 

LE3 8JT 

Two storey rear and side 

extension - at 56 Tournament 

Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 

8LQ 

Erection of retaining wall and 

retention of engineering works 

to lower the land level - at 

Sandown Court, Station 

Road, Glenfield Leicester LE3 

8BT 

spot the difference 

ANSWERS 

1. Star on boy’s pyjamas missing, 

2. Mum eyes shut in reflection, 

3. Toothpaste tube in boy’s hand 

missing, 4. Sink overflow missing, 

5. Mum slippers different colour, 

6. Pocket on mum pyjamas 

missing, 7. Shampoo bottle on 

shelf missing, 8. Boy looking up 

at mum, 9. Towel on rail different 

colour, 10. Mum hairbobble 

missing. 

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 

Across: 1 Lots, 4 Impetigo, 

8 Neuritis, 9 Opus, 10 Inane, 

11 Vintner, 13 Breeze, 15 Lackey, 

17 Mittens, 19 Coven, 22 Hope, 

23 Roulette, 24 Teaspoon, 

25 Yard. 

Down: 2 Ocean, 3 Syringe, 4 

Iota, 5 Pastille, 6 Trout, 

7 Gruyère, 12 Leonardo, 

14 Rhizome, 16 Cookery, 

18 Teens, 20 Ester, 21 Quin. 

PICTOGRAM ANSWERS 

1. Party Animals 

2. Poles Apart 

3. Life is full of its ups and downs 

Glenfield WI March Meeting 

GLENFIELD WI enjoyed an excellent carvery held at 

Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Social Club in March. 

The evening was the finale to our 102nd Birthday Celebrations 

and was enjoyed by 37 members. Entertainment was provided 

by John Parnell, who performed a number of magic tricks at our 

tables during the meal and then invited our President to volunteer 

and help him with a card trick on the stage. 

Having 

impressed 

us with his 

magical skills, 

he very kindly 

explained how 

the trick was 

done. I wonder 

how many 

members will 

practise their 

newly learned 

skill, before 

impressing 

their family at 

home? It was a 

very enjoyable 

evening, with the time flying by, so it seemed all too soon 

that we were collecting our coats and ordering taxis. 

The April meeting will be held once again at St Peter’s 

Church Rooms on Wednesday April 10th at 2pm. The 

speaker is Graham Sutherland who will be speaking 

about Wicked Women, a mixture of fact and humour. Why 

not come along and listen to what he has to say? We are 

always pleased to welcome visitors to our meetings. 

BUSINESS NEWS 

Morrisons 

makes £1bn loss 

as debt interest 

payments surge 

AS REPORTED IN RETAIL 

GAZETTE, Morrisons pulled 

in a £1bn loss last year, 

as debt interest payments 

related to its private equity 

takeover soared. 

Accounts for the grocery giant’s 

parent company, Market Topco, 

revealed it fell to a pre-tax loss of 

£1.1bn for the year ended October, 

as its interest costs surged to 

£735m. 

These were related to external 

debt and inter-company loans, with 

its debt-financing bill 23% above 

the £593m incurred the year prior. 

Sales dropped to £18.4bn from 

£18.7bn the year before, as 

underlying profits excluding debt 

interest costs hit £970m from 

£911m. 

Additionally, fuel sales at the 

supermarket fell more than £560m 

to £3.4bn, before it offloaded its 

337 petrol forecourts to Motor 

Fuel Group three months ago in a 

£2.5bn deal. 

GAS-SERVWELL 

Established 1984 

All gas appliances 

serviced, repaired 

and fitted 

˜ 

˜ 

˜ 

˜ 

OAP 

General Plumbing & Repairs 

Reduced 

Same Day Priority Breakdown Visits Rates 

Power Flushing and Heating Upgrades 

5-15 year Guarantee On Fitted Boilers - Parts & Labour 

Tel: 0116 236 7923 Mob: 07860 735066 

Email: bobzgas@gmail.com 

REGISTER 

GENERAL PLUMBING 

& REPAIRS - No Job Too Small 

Enjoy this issue? 

Please pass it on to a friend or 

relative when you’ve finished 

with it. Thanks! 

Did Bruno Mars end up catching that grenade because I haven’t heard from in a while?


25 

Did you know that Glenfield has a weekly 

Country Market? 

A wide range of homemade cakes and preserves, quality 

crafts, plants and home-grown produce are on sale. 

0116 234 0548 

We can take care of every detail, advise and help you 

on each and every step of the way. 

• Qualified Funeral Directors 

• Floral Tributes arranged 

• Hearse, Limousines and 

alternatives available 

• Monumental Service 

• Car parking available 

• Online tribute and 

donation profile 

• Catering suite 

• Chapels of rest 

• Funeral plans available 

• 24 hour service 

Refreshments are served 

Free admission. 

Card payments now available 

Come along to see us and to support this local event. 

Where? St Peter’s Church Centre, LE3 8DP with parking! 

Funeral arrangements can be made in the comfort of 

your own home if preferred. 

When? Each Friday morning 9am-11am 

For more details contact: glenfieldmarket@gmail.com 

Follow us on Facebook: The Glenfield Country Market 

Talbott House, Leicester Road, Anstey, Leicester, Leicestershire LE7 7AT 

Email: talbotthouse@ansteyfunerals.com Website: www.ansteyfunerals.com 

I hate Indian restaurants. Every time I try to order bread, they always say they have na’an.

26 


I 

WAS 

NOT born in 

Leicester but in 

Worthing Sussex. 

However after 

marrying a Leicester Girl, 

I have lived here over 50 

years now. 

Although a different area, childhood 

memories are similar. In those days 

of course there was more respect 

for any members of the older generation 

- be they Policemen, Park 

Keepers, Teachers or your Parents. 

I remember the local Bobby Mr 

Murray would be seen on his bike 

with a raincoat over the handlebars 

and as he passed by would clip you 

around the ear with it! 

“What was that for Mr Murray?” 

we would say, “We haven’t done 

anything!” which probably was not 

true! He would just reply “That’s for 

when you do!” Pinching Apples off 

a resident’s tree one of the possible 

things we might have done! 

The Park Keeper would always turf 

us off the park as our ball usually 

ended up on the roped off cricket 

pitch where we would duck under 

the rope to get it back. 

However, in those days we would 

be out all day in the holidays, or 

after school on school days, and 

nobody worried where you were as 

long as you were back for teatime. 

I always loved trains as later I 

spent 43 years as a Signalman. 

We used to go to the local station 

and level crossing with our Ian 

Allan Spotting Books with a 

packed lunch and a bottle of pop. 

This was usually all gone well before 

lunchtime so one of us had 

to go to the local chippie for sixpence-worth 

(2½p in new money) 

of chips each. Again we could be 

there all day and nobody worried 

where we were. Sometimes though 

we did get moved on after putting 

a halfpenny on the railway line on 

the level crossing so a train would 

flatten it into a penny! 

School days 

WE WALKED to infant and junior 

school. While at the infants Mum 

took me. At age 7 in the juniors, 

I went on my own. When I went 

to the All Boys Secondary School, 

we biked the 3 miles each way. 

However if it rained one of the 

lads’ Dad had a car, so we got a 

lift to school and Mum would give 

me the coppers for the bus home. 

However some of us would spend it 

in the Tuck Shop. 

On the bus home, which was one 

with an open platform at the back, 

five of us would jump on and race 

upstairs two hiding under the seats 

so we had enough for three half 

fares! The Conductor would come 

up and ask where the rest were 

but we just said there were only 

three of us. However as we raced 

off he realised and shouted after 

Ted Cook’s 

Childhood Memories 

us saying he would report us to the 

school! 

Next morning at school, Mr 

Williams the Head Master would 

say he had a complaint from 

Southdown Motor Services. We just 

played dumb! 

Cross country run 

There was one time at the 700 

boys Secondary School that we 

really got into trouble. It was on 

a sunny hot June afternoon. Every 

Friday was cross country run day, 

over the South Downs in a circular 

trip, taking about two and a half 

hours. This day my mate John and 

I did not fancy this run in this heat 

- there was no water given out as 

now! So we decided to drop back to 

the rear of the group and when we 

were at the back slid behind a bush 

as the others raced on ahead. The 

idea being to rejoin the back when 

they returned! 

For some reason this day they did 

not come back that way. Due to the 

heat, they stopped and went back 

via the road. 

Now of course we had no watches 

or mobile phones, so we just settled 

back relaxing in the sunshine. We 

did not really know how long we 

had been there until I said to John 

the sun was going down, so perhaps 

we should make our way back 

and say we got lost as the group did 

not keep to the usual route. 

We got to the drive up to the 

school where there were three or 

four Police Cars parked. Not knowing 

why, we ran up to the school to 

be met by the Head Master shouting 

at us and asking where we had 

been. Not only were the Police 

there, our Mums were too. They 

were just pleased to see us - unlike 

Mr Williams who did not believe our 

excuse for being 5 hours overdue! 

Needless to say we had to be punished. 

The cane was thought to be 

too quick, so we got two weeks 

detention - morning break, dinnertime, 

and after school which meant 

no playing games in the street after 

school! However on the Monday 

morning after on arriving at school 

we were heroes in our friends eyes! 

Another thing about after school 

as we got into the 4th Year aged 

14 was the cycle round to the Girls 

Secondary School and the Life 

Learning Exercises behind the bike 

shed! 

Summer holidays 

As for holidays, we lived by the sea 

so if not at the station it was down 

to the beach. I did spend time at 

a cousin’s farm for a week in the 

Summer Holidays and a couple of 

weeks me and a mate would get a 

Railway Runabout ticket in the local 

area. 

My first real holiday was with my 

Mum at 13. Mum worked various 

jobs to pay for our week. We got 

a Southern Railway Weekly ticket 

which took us all the way to Devon 

by Steam Train and on the journey 

down we had a steak lunch which 

cost 17/6 (87½p) 

My Dad like my Mum was 42 when 

I was born. Dad had been in Burma 

in the war and I never knew what 

he did until well after his death 

when I got his war records. All 

he told me was he drove a wagon 

looking for water and any fighting 

he would turn the other way 

- which of course I found out was 

not true. He did drive but not looking 

for water! 

I had a brother 17 years older than 

me so it was like having two Dads 

when young! What I did right for 

one it was always wrong for the 

other, so Mum had to keep the 

peace! 

At work with Dad 

Dad after the war became a bricklayer 

and sometimes I would go 

with him - no health and safety in 

those days. 

One day it was pouring with rain 

and Dad and the others and me 

were sitting in the hut. The men 

were playing cards when all of a 

sudden the Boss turns up. All the 

men except my Dad go outside 

and start carrying wood around. I 

ask Dad why he has not gone out 

and he says even if was not raining 

he cannot do anything until the 

“Chippies” had done some more. I 

said is that where the others had 

gone. Dad just laughed and told 

me to go and look. 

I went outside and I could see the 

others moving wood around. The 

Boss called me over. “Stand here, 

lad” he says then he asks me what 

I think these men are doing. I tell 

him moving wood around. The Boss 

smiles and asks me where my Dad 

is. I hesitate but the Boss says “He 

is in the hut, is he not?” I nod. The 

Boss says Dad has got more sense. 

The Boss said he was tempted to 

stay for a bit to see how long the 

men could keep moving the wood 

around but he was on his way very 

quickly. Back in the hut I told my 

Dad and he said they all knew that 

the Boss knew what they were doing 

but they were just playing the 

game. It did not seem a very good 

game to me! 

As I said, there were no mobile 

phones - in fact we did not have 

a phone and if anyone was to be 

called it would be after 6pm when 

it was cheaper! This meant a trip 

to the local post office which had a 

call box next to it. 

We did not have a tv, just a big old 

electric radio, which is probably 

why I still love the radio and why 

recently I have found some of the 

old programmes on line, like The 

Navy Lark, and what used to frighten 

the life out of me - Journey Into 

Space. 

Our first tv 

In 1959 my Dad won a £50 premium 

bond which paid for our first 

Ecko tv set - a huge piece of furniture. 

It was black and white of 

course, but we did get a colour set 

in 1969, paid for out of my wages! 

Dad did not like it at first as 

he thought it was not natural! That 

was till he saw the Snooker! 

We never had a car until my brother 

- who had moved out and back 

a couple of times - got a green 

Austin 1100 in 1963. So Mum and 

me sometimes got a lift. 

At one time he took our Nana for 

a spin at 93mph! She never knew 

how fast she had been! There was 

no limit at the time! 

Dad earned £13 a week in the 

Winter and £17 in the summer 

when due to light evenings there 

was overtime. Mum did various 

cleaning jobs and later worked at a 

local hotel as a chambermaid. 

We were not rich but I was never 

short of anything, so looking back 

Mum must have been very good 

with the budget. 

At the football 

Dad worked half day on Saturday 

and after a shave we would go to 

Woodside Road to watch Worthing 

play footie. I went back there a 

few years ago they still play there 

but it cost me £8 to get in. I said 

to the gate man “Last time I came 

here it was two shillings.” He made 

some comment about me not being 

a regular supporter. I had to 

agree but I still watch for the result 

in the internet. 

When I started work on the railway 

I used to go to see Brighton 

and Hove Albion play, and have 

been a fan for many years from the 

bad times to today’s better times. 

I now follow Leicester as well, as 

do my three lads. 

My last girlfriend said I was unnecessarily mysterious. Or did she?


27 

The Glenfield Gardeners’ 

Association Annual Show 

on Saturday 17th August at 

St. Peter’s Church Hall, Glenfield 

The show is open to EVERYONE 

email glenfieldgardeners@gmail.com for the show schedule. 

Alterna?vely look for a copy on the Glenfield Gardeners FaceBook 

page. Paper copies will be available June/July 

* * * SNEAK PREVIEW * * * 

CraDs 

79 - Decora?ve memory / keepsake box 

80 - 3D picture framed / unframed using any material e.g. buRons, 

pebbles, jigsaws, corks. No size restric?on 

Art 

83 - Subject for picture: ‘Water, just go with the flow’ 

Poetry 

84 - A day in the life of… 

Photography 

85 - Seasonality 

86 - All creatures great and small 

We would love to see more entries 

from Glenfield people 

One again, we would like to thank Glenfield Television 

for their con?nued support and sponsorship 

I once sat next to a very pushy insurance salesman at a Robbie Williams gig. And through it all, he offered me protection...

My biggest problem with the younger generation is I’m not in it.

APRIL 2024 GLENFIELD GAZETTE online

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