June 2013 Rearsby Scene
Jottings June 2013
I wonder what we can expect, weather-wise, in June after a month when we had summer and then back to winter in less than a week. Central heating off then on again! At least the fruit trees and shrubs have blossom so perhaps we might have a good harvest. Last year I didn’t have a single apple, pear or gooseberry.
Once again our Village Hall is on the ball. All round sound is now installed. This will greatly enhance the showing of films and the performance of concerts.
I have often drawn your attention to the way in which certain individuals in the village take the initiative to work for the good of the community. One such a person is Gill Garner. For many years she was the Chairman of the Village Hall Committee when plans were drawn up for the new Hall and the difficult job of raising the money required. At that time the Post Office was based in the old Village Hall and she suggested to Rearsby that it would be a good idea to serve coffee during opening times. She has continued to organize this successful weekly event. Many thanks for all she continues to do for the community.
It always amazes me how the contributions to the magazine vary from month. During the early part of the year they were few in number then last month we had to leave out a couple which were not ‘date sensitive’. My apologies if we have to do this.
There has been a lot of talk recently regarding the possibility of the Post Office opening in the Village Hall. It now appears that discussions with the Post Office are continuing and the Village Hall Committee will be explaining the position in the July/August issue of the magazine. I have therefore decided to leave any discussion on the subject until a final decision is made.
Many of you will soon be going on holiday – enjoys yourselves.
Mary Beskeen
Notes on the Parish Council Meeting held on the 1st May at 7.30pm in the Village Hall.
Present, Councillors:
Peter French (chair), Ian Christie-Smith, Martin Cooke, Janette Jones, Mrs. S Norledge (clerk), and P.C.S.O Brian Geeson.
Apologies, John Blankley and Simon Chenery.
In Attendance, 5 members of the public.
Rearsby Roses Development The planning inspectorate has now awarded the developer outline permission to build 60 properties on the site, subject to detailed plan approval.
Repair & Maintenance. A “Pothole Survey” is to be carried out; this will be used to assist the highways dept in their efforts to locate & repair. Several sewage drains have been recently reported as blocked, they have quickly been made operational by the Severn Trent dept.
Police Report. A spate of vehicle related crime has emerged in Rearsby, which includes wiper blades and number plates. As a counter move to number plate theft, 10 local garages will be able to supply tamper proof screws. A burglary has been reported in Station Road, forced entry at the rear of the property, and was the method of entry. Personal possessions and a motor car were amongst the items taken. All of these crimes are quite despicable, but highlight the need to stay secure and vigilant. Please report all “strange vehicles” to the police.
Children’s Play Area. The project continues to progress, playground equipment has been identified by the committee and the primary school will be asked for their opinions.
Public matters. Members of the public voiced their concern about the probable loss of the Post Office facilities.
Road Traffic. Speed and vehicle checks on Melton Road and Station Road will continue.
Flooding. A flood warning system that will operate along the Brookside, is now operational.
Caught Reporter
Planning Applications
Wed, 17 Apr 2013
P/13/0682/2
Felling of one willow tree. (Tree Preservation Order)
15 Gaddesby Lane Rearsby Leicestershire LE7 4YJ
Mrs Jennifer Woods
The Village Grows
I would like to welcome Lisa Woolman to our distribution team. Lisa has recently moved into the new Blue Stones development and has volunteered to deliver their R.S. magazines for us. I accompanied her for her first time and we chatted to people as we went from door to door. It was great to hear people talking happily about their move to Rearsby and how peaceful and pleasant they found the village to be. We sometimes forget, I know I do, how lucky we are to live in such a lovely spot.
Jeannette Buswell
Pollarding of Willow Tree on Brookside for safety reasons
Over winter it became apparent that the main trunk of a Willow tree on Brookside adjacent the seven arch bridge was diseased and decayed, and there was considered to be a significant risk that this tree may collapse. Given the tree’s proximity to the children’s play park and Church Lane/Brookside, expert advice was sought from the arboriculture experts from both Charnwood Borough and Leicester County Councils. The experts concurred that the tree could be saved by pollarding its branches back to the main trunk thereby allowing it to grow back again and extending its life span.
As the tree is in the village conservation area, planning permission needed to be applied for before the work could be carried out. The application was duly made on behalf of Rearsby Parish Council by the tree warden during March, and following the approval of the application on 11th April pollarding was carried out.
Peter French (Chairman – Rearsby Parish Council)
Dog Fouling
In response to concerns raised by residents, Rearsby Parish Council would remind owners that dogs should not be taken onto the children’s play park off Brookside/Church Lane nor the playing fields behind the village hall. Anyone walking a dog along the public footpath which runs from Melton Road through the playing field behind the village hall are required to keep to the *footpath and not to allow their pet to run free.
* Line of footpath follows right hand side of the field.
Under no circumstances should dogs be toileted on either park due to the serious health risk, in particular to the children who use these areas.
Environmental offenders can be reported in confidence to Charnwood Borough Council on 01509 634564
Forthcoming Events June 2013
The return of … The Walking Treasure Hunt
Lyn & Dave would like to invite you to take part in another walking treasure hunt around a local village on Tuesday evening 18th June, starting from 6.30pm onwards.
The cost will be £7.50 per head to include refreshments afterwards. Please contact Lyn/Dave on 07710 448253 to book your place by 10th June. We must have 20 people booked by that date for it to go ahead.
The starting point will be notified to you a couple of days before the event………. We wouldn’t want you having a sneak preview would we!!!!
Cinema Club Night
Rearsby Village Hall CINEMA CLUB NIGHT will be on Thursday 20th June 2013
The film LES MISERABLES will be shown which has a 12 certificate.
This musical phenomenon will sound fantastic on our recently improved sound system and we hope everyone will come along to enjoy the evening.
The Village Hall will open at 6.45 pm and the film will start at 7.15 promptly – bring your own drinks and nibbles
Friends of Rearsby Church
Sponsored walk Saturday 22 June
Please join the Committee for a 3 mile countryside walk from Rearsby on Saturday 22 June, beginning at Church at 10 am. Sponsor forms are available from Ann Bassett (01664 424376), Kathy Ledger (01664 424311), Rita Meade (01664 424696), and from Church after services on Sundays. There will be refreshments in Church after the walk. We hope this will be a fun walk for all the family. Funds raised will be used for vital repairs in Church. Thank you for your support.
Tots and Tinies
Do you have babies/young children to look after?
Could you do with a break and some adult conversation?
If so - why not come along to Tots and Tinies at St. Michael and All Angels church on the 1st Thursday of the month from about 12- 2pm?
It is a very informal get-together – not a service and parents/grandparents & carers have a chat while the children play. Tea/Coffee is provided and if you would like to bring along some nibbles to share they would be welcome. (As its lunchtime some Mums bring along a picnic for their babies/toddlers).
Our next get together will be on Thursday 6th June - if it’s a nice day we will meet on the park by the swings at the bottom of Church Lane.
Please come and join us. If you want more details ring Rita 01664424696.
The mystery of the missing Wheel chair foot rests??
We have somehow mislaid the foot rests for the wheel chair in church – have you seen them or have knowledge of where they might be?? Please give me a ring ---Thankyou Rita 01664424696
Auster Aircraft’s Memorable Day
The day was one which you can really only dream about. Not only were years of meticulous planning and organising brought to a successful conclusion but the weather also played its part and in a cloudless sky the wind remained hidden and the sun shone as if we were in the Sahara.
The Auster faithful gathered on Saturday 20th April at the Rearsby Business Park to remember and commemorate what happened there.
Picture of the crowd?
The site was host, prior, during and post the Second World War to the development and production of Leicestershire’s most prominent aeroplane the Auster.
The event was inspired by the owner of the Rearsby Business Park Mr Ivor Vaughan CBE who planted the idea of a commemorative plaque some eight years ago. The idea lay dormant until the start of 2011 when it was taken up by Chairman of the International Auster Club Heritage Group (IACHG), Mr Gordon Hallam who spent the following two years preparing for just this day.
A good-natured crowd of over a hundred, including ex-Auster employees, International Auster group members, members of the Leicester Museum Services, members of the IACHG and local media were welcomed to the event by Mr Hallam under a cloudless sky.
Picture of Gordon and Ivor
He introduced the event’s patron Mr Ivor Vaughan who talked with some passion about the Auster and the reason he was so inspired to mark both the aircraft’s role and the role of the many hundreds of people who worked to develop this remarkable machine.
He said “we are gathered here today so as not to forget the hard work, innovation and engineering expertise of the people who worked here, and to permanently commemorate and record what happened here because the Auster was one of Leicestershire’s best”.
He also spoke of the remarkable Mr A L Wykes the founder of the Company whose vision led to the production and ultimate success of the Auster aircraft.
He then paid tribute to probably the very first ‘Apprentice’, Austers own Mr Gordon Hallam, a lifelong admirer of the aircraft who in Ivor’s own words “smote aside all obstacles” and ensured that the day actually happened and also that it went exactly to plan.
The crowd, some clad in Auster apparel, were then marshalled by members of the Air Training Corps to the front of the business park ready for the unveiling of the plaque.
Under a sky blue cloth and RAF colours, the plaque was revealed by Mr Ivor Vaughan to gentle but quite emotional applause from the Auster enthusiasts.
Picture of the unveiling here
Then exactly on time the faint, low hums of Gypsy Major engines were heard getting closer and closer. Every camera in the crowd swung skyward and two Auster aircraft came into view. They didn’t roar like jet engines nor did they leave vapour trails, but elegantly moved across the brilliant blue sky over the crowd before turning gracefully for a final flypast. Despite the Austers’ role during the war their appearance seemed to suggest a link back to gentler times. The crowd were quiet and respectful as the Austers flew past the second time, held in place by their own individual memories of their time with the aircraft. It was very possibly the last time some of the crowd would ever see the Auster fly.
Picture of the two Austers here
It felt rather emotional as the Austers disappeared over the horizon and people started the short trip to Queniborough Village Hall for refreshments courtesy of Mrs Beryl Preston and her team.
Tables had been prepared for over a hundred and they were packed as people enjoyed their well earned coffee, tea, biscuits and cakes. ‘Auster’ was in the air as people reminisced and shared their memories of their time with the aircraft. With the cakes and tea and chatter the atmosphere in the hall was reminiscent of the days when the Auster was at its peak, people seemed to have more time for each other and high teas and tea dances were the order of the day.
With the IACHG’s role now coming to a conclusion they took the opportunity to share their remaining books, pictures, prints and memorabilia with the Auster enthusiasts. Six lucky ticket holders walked away with wonderful pictures of the Auster aircraft, the ATC were presented with three prints in thanks of their hard work on the day.