A Diamond of a Day!
Rearsby Scene June 2012
A Diamond of a day!
I took a stroll down Memory Lane at the Coffee Club, on Tuesday morning. I asked what people remembered of Coronation Day and got a surprisingly varied response. Hard though it is to remember now, radio was the medium we all relied on then and so many people sat by their ‘sets’ and followed the happenings of the day, but if you were lucky enough have a television then, it seems, you filled your home with as many friends and neighbours as you could squeeze in.
Many remembered the street parties, which because the day was wet often finished up in church or village halls. Fancy Dress also suffered because of the weather; lots of the good news things had happened, England had won the test match and Everest had been conquered and these, apart from the royal events, were themes for the costumes. One lady told me of the Fancy Dress parade she attended going with the cricket theme as ‘England’s Last Hope’ and her friend who went as ‘Everest’ complete with flag on top, her cardboard mountain disintegrating as they made their soggy way to the village hall, where later they donned their Red, white and blue party frocks.
Some images from the royal procession stand out, one in particular was often mentioned to me, that of the Queen of Tonga in her open carriage, smiling and waving through the rain, Prince Charles standing on tiptoe and peeping round to see his mother, the soldiers lining the route. One lady, who was only three at the time, had camped out with her family and remembers being passed down to the edge of the pavement to sit between a soldier’s legs so she could have a good view of the procession.
I spoke to a man who was in the army at the time and who with a coach load of his colleagues spent the day in Brighton and the RAF man who was in hospital and missed his chance to line the royal route and finally the man who had worked all that day and missed the fun. So many wonderful and diverse memories of an amazing day, let’s hope the Diamond Jubilee gives us a whole lot more.
Jeannette Buswell
Notes on the Parish Council Meeting held on the 3rd May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Present; Councillors
Peter French (Chair) John Blankley, Martin Cooke, Janette Jones, Mrs. S Norledge (clerk)
Apologies. Simon Chenery, Ian Christie Smith
In Attendance, 5 members of the public.
Refurbishment of Children’s Play Area
After much work by the council, a committee of parents and interested parties has been set up. Officers have been appointed, the project is now moving forward; further positive news may be forthcoming. SUPPORT YOUR VILLAGE.
Police Matters.
Sadly we will be losing the services of P.C.S.O. Laura Grimley; she will be taking a career break in the USA. Thanks were expressed for her contribution to local policing duties. No crime was reported in Rearsby; East Goscote suffered two burglaries.
All residents should take note of the following: a White Transit Van with 3 men in reflective clothing, REG No S437 VUB. If this is seen please contact local police.
Rearsby Roses Development.
The plans of the proposed housing development have been amended to satisfy the requirements of the County Highways Dept. The latest turn of events indicates that the principal planning policy officer of C.B.C. is recommending refusal of planning consent due to reduction in the area of separation between Rearsby and East Goscote. Meanwhile the two councils are still considering the need to take expert opinion on this application.
Traffic.
Villagers continue to report speeding traffic around various parts of the village; the highways dept will be contacted on this issue. Residents in Mill Road have reported a potential danger point at the entrance to the Bloor development involving children & traffic. P.C. Longden is monitoring the situation.
Caught Reporter
(Please note the date of the planning meeting regarding the proposed Rearsby Roses Development will be 24th May; we await the results.)
Planning Applications
Mon, 14 May 2012
P/12/1148/2
Removal of 3x Fir Trees (Conservation Area Notice)
Pingle House 13 Mill Road Rearsby Leicestershire LE7 4YN
Mr Jonathan Proctor
Fri, 11 May 2012
P/12/1134/2
Felling of 1 Holly Tree and crown lift and trimming of 1 Sycamore tree (Conservation Area Notice)
8 Orton Close Rearsby Leicestershire LE7 4XZ
Mon, 16 Apr 2012
P/12/0884/2
Discharge of Condition no.12 of Appeal Decision APP/X24510/A/07/2062155. Protected species report.
27 Mill Road, Rearsby, Leicestershire, LE7 4YN
Bloor Homes (East Midlands) Ltd
Fri, 20 Apr 2012
P/12/0880/2
Erection of extension to rear of bungalow
24 Churchleys Avenue Rearsby Leicester LE7 4YF
Mr K R Wright
Gourmet Grazing At The Green
When Ben and Jo Meacock came to visit Jo's parents, Miranda and Alan Turner who live in Hoby, they always drove via Thrussington and saw the former village shop which had been empty for five and a half years.The couple had a busy life in North London. Ben managed a plumbing and bathroom showroom and Jo managed a chain of beauty salons. Before that Ben, who trained in graphic design, worked with his father as a publishing consultant and Jo worked for John Lewis on the food side. The couple were attracted to the different way of living that village life offers and opened The Green.
Their intention is to provide a delicatessan, general store and tearoom. Fine foods include extremely well kept cheeses such as Colston Bassett stilton, Sparkenhoe Red Leicester, Brie de Meaux, Rachel's goats' milk, Lord of the Hundreds ewes' milk and Pecorino. Local cooked ham comes from Vinny's the family butcher in Asfordby. There are continental meats from Tuscany and Spain and a selection of olive and flavoured oils which the couple intend to expand. There is a good selection of preserves, one of which is from Rutland and my favourite quince paste or membrillo which is wonderful with cheese. The bread from Hambleton bakery is superb and includes sourdough, white tin, 7 cereal, wholemeal, olive bread, teacakes and English muffins.
Ben and Jo also seek to meet more general needs such as milk, fruit, vegetables, butter, sugar, newspapers, sausages, bacon, black pudding, sweets, chocolate, ice cream and a range of attractive greetings cards.
Sourcing of produce is based on the couple's personal preferences, using local produce where possible, and the community within the village and beyond have given a wonderful welcome to the venture.
The cafe serves tea, coffee, cakes and sandwiches. At the back is a patio for outdoor eating in the summer. Ben and Jo see the enterprise as a growing development. They want to increase the product range to include fresh pasta and wine. They plan to serve soup, ploughman's and a cheese platter. All food sold in the cafe is available in the shop. The plan was to start slowly and gradually expand. We wish them every success.
Maggi Litchfield
County Councillors Report
I seem to have spent more time on Borough matters this month but as you are aware I look after the interests of Syston in that authority. Mathew Blain looks after your interests there.
Health Matters
At the County Council I have been continuing my work on the Adults Communities and Health Committee. We have been scrutinising the work of The University Hospitals Leicester, further and it does seem a lot of progress has been made over the year, so much so that the Chief executive Malcolm Lowe-Laurie has felt he can now move on and he resigned today (May 04 2012). I can confirm that UHL is now meeting its’ financial targets and all rumours concerning non-payment of staff, suspension of operations etc. have all dissolved. In their Quality Accounts (a sort of NHS Ofsted report) our hospitals gained satisfactory outcomes and in particular they were commended for
Reducing cancellations on the day of elective surgery by 50%
Demonstrated improving standards of end of life care
Improved awareness and diagnosis of dementia
Fear of infection has receded
Of 2,724 respondents to their own surveys UHL declare 78% respond that their overall experience was favourable.
The East Midlands Ambulance Service has achieved nationally commissioned targets of reaching a response rate of 75% to attending life-threatening calls within 8 minutes.
However UHL received notice that there were: -
X Concerns regarding Clinical quality with notice for immediate compliance. These should have been rectified by now.
X Still concerns about the number of trolleys on wards even though these are much reduced in number from earlier years.
All in all a good report and something we can be encouraged by. Although as my old headmaster used to continually inform my parents “Could do better”.
Academies Update
We have all, I am sure followed the Academies debate, especially residents with school children. LCC supports the present government’s policy of switching support to direct governance, effectively cutting out LCC as a general service provider but retaining its role as scrutineer and specialist service provider.
To date (April 2012) Wreake Valley College has converted to Academy status.
Currently St Michael’s and All Angels Rearsby, Gaddesby Primary, Queniborough CE School, Merton School Syston, Pochin School Barkby and Longfield High Melton are all in the process of achieving academy status by October 2012.
Like all new policies the formative years can be exciting but also problematic. LCC has concerns at the moment concerning provision of ongoing service in respect of countering truancy, bullying and ethnicity where you may have read in the press efficiencies have had to be made. In actuality Academies will have received an element of funding regarding these services from government, it is up to the schools themselves as to how they enforce these responsibilities. Do let me know if you have concerns.
Transport & Roads
Buses have been in the news this month. I am afraid this is all bad news. Beeby and South Croxton will probably soon see the end of the 100 service. I have every sympathy with those who rely on this service and have expressed my concerns strongly. However, when I hear that every journey on this route is allegedly being subsidised by £17, I cannot support such an unsustainable offer. I hope a compromise can be reached. I urge all residents affected by the diminution of the service to make their comments known. Log in to LCC website and follow the directions to make you comments or respond in writing to County Hall direct. Cutbacks on the subsidies for school transport have also been affected and I urge any parents with concerns to highlight them and give me a call.
TRAINS have been in the news again. Good Newsthis time. I attended the opening of The Loughborough Eastern Gateway project on May 4, which includes a complete refurbishment of the station, extending the platforms and improving the site‘s car parking facilities as well as providing better transit space for buses and taxis. A real Transport Hub. The site also includes a new road, which has improved the surrounding community from the nuisance of being part of a rush hour transit route as well as building some new housing and business units. The whole project was something I was heavily involved with in 2007-08 at the Borough Council so I was very pleased to attend the opening by Loughborough's Nicky Morgan MP. I impressed Nicky, the Mayor and Network Rail officials with whom I had worked on the project by arriving and leaving by train on a service from Syston! I was pleased to catch up with Nicky who was impressing Network Rail officials with her work in parliament, supported by LCC and CBC towards electrifying the St Pancreas Line as an alternative to expensive and controversial proposals for HST.
Forthcoming Events
Rearsby Open Gardens in aid of St. Michael and All Angels Church
This event is to be held on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th June 2012, from 2 till 6 pm. It will include open gardens, garage sales, art and craft exhibition in church and cream teas (lovely home made cakes). Admission £4 (children free) by programme obtainable from any of the gardens, village hall or church.
We already have 6 people willing to open their gardens but we would like more so if you are thinking about opening your garden or wish to hold a garage sale let us know as soon as possible. Local crafts peopleare welcome to show their craftsin church - let me know if you wish to take part.
Help is also wanted before and during that weekend so please get in touch with Rita Meade
Rearsby Walking Group
Rearsby Walking Group now meet for the summer season of walks at the Seven Arch Bridge at 6-45pm on Tuesday evenings, and anyone is welcome to join us.
Diary dates for organized walks during June are Tuesday 12th and 26th .
For more information contact Peter French.
Arthritis Care Syston Annual Concert
On Saturday June 30th there will be a fund raising concert at St. Peter and St. Paul’s church, Upper Church Street, Syston. The event, which will be presented by Mick Smith of Radio Leicester Eye, will start at 7.30pm; there will be an entrance donation of £5.
The programme will consist of recorded ‘classics’ from stage, screen & concert platform encompassing orchestral, choral and jazz. There will be an interval for light refreshments when a raffle will be held.
Further information contact Bryan Summerfield
CONGRATULATIONS go to David Cherry this month as he celebrates fifty years of becoming a priest. On Sund
ay June 10th he will be presiding over a service of Holy Communion from the book of common prayer. The service starts at 11am.so please do come along and join him to celebrate this important occasion.
Rearsby Churchyard
You may remember that a year or so ago Bishop Christopher consecrated the new churchyard extension for the village. Part of this new area has been set aside for the burial of ashes, and special arrangements have been made so that the place of each burial can be marked with a small headstone. You can have family ashes buried in the churchyard even if you don’t have a funeral service in church. Please contact the Vicar, Rev’d Lorna Brabin-Smith for more details.
Play In a Safe Place!
A number of residents have expressed their concerns to the Rearsby Parish Council regarding the dangers posed, especially to children, from vehicles using our village roads.
With the summer approaching, children will want to be playing outside much more often, and that is something to be encouraged. However the PC are receiving reports of children who with apparent
disregard to their own safety, are walking, cycling and riding their scooters down the centre of the road and even sitting in the roadway in the path of oncoming vehicles.
This behaviour should be a major concern to us all, and action needs to be taken before someone is seriously hurt or killed.
Parents. Please ensure that your children are made aware of the dangers they face, and encourage them to use the green spaces and play parks within the village. Always Find A Safe Place To Play!
Drivers.Please respect our village speed limits and park such that your vehicle does not cause unnecessary danger to other road users. Most importantly remember to expect that a child may
run into your path at any time, and that 30mph is often far too fast.
Please slow down and always drive at a speed appropriate to the situation you are in at the time.
Thank you for your co-operation.
Rearsby Parish Council
Coronation Chicken
What else could we choose for this month’s recipe? Below we’ve printed the original recipe created by Rosemary Hume, founder of ‘Le Cordon Bleu’ cookery school (& not her better known business partner Constance spry to whom it is often attributed) and also an easier version from the kitchen of our own culinary expert. Although chicken was a rare treat then, at least cooking this type of dish meant the meat would go much further; so a celebratory meal in austere times.
Coronation Chicken or ‘PouletReine Elizabeth’ as it was originally named.
Ingredients (serves 6-8):
2 young roasting chickens3-4 peppercorns
Water & a little wine to coverCream of curry sauce
CarrotBouquet garni
Salt
Poach chicken, carrot, bouquet, salt and peppercorns in water and wine, enough barely to cover, until chickens are cooked through and tender. Allow to cool in the liquid. Joint the birds, remove the bones with care. Mix chicken and curry sauce together, arrange and serve with rice salad.
Cream of curry sauce:
1tbls. Oil A slice or two of lemon , 2 ozs. onion finely chopped A squeeze or more of lemon juice 1dessertsp curry powder 1-2tblsps apricot puree One good teasp tomato puree ¾ pint mayonnaise 1 wineglass red wine 2-3 tblsps lightly whipped cream ¾ wineglass water a little extra whipped cream 1 bayleaf Salt,suger,a touch of pepper