All Saints’ Church Parish Magazine LEEK WOOTTON LINK · 2020-06-06 · events build up—this month we have the first of the races coming through the parish and lots more. Happy

MARCH 2019

All Saints’ Church Parish Magazine

LEEK WOOTTON LINK Leek Wootton | Guy’s Cliffe | Hill Wootton | Chesford | Goodrest | Wedgnock | North & Middle Woodloes

LEEK WOOTTON LINK | MARCH 2019

2

EDITORIAL

Welcome to the March 2019 edition of The Link.

If you have had a half-term holiday we trust that it was enjoyable in the exceptionally fine weather that we are currently experiencing. There will be someone out there who will tell us that we’ll ‘pay for it’, but it has been very nice to be able to be out in the garden tackling all of those chores included in the ‘March pottering’ that Jim writes about on page 19.

Personally, we have taken on a little more than ‘pottering’ and it’s all a bit tiring, but it’s a joy to hear and witness the birds and other animals in our gardens and to see the spring flowers and new growth when we walk the paths through the parish.

Along with Spring, the community also starts to emerge from ‘hibernation’ and events build up—this month we have the first of the races coming through the parish and lots more. Happy Spring!

Helen & Lesley Eldridge The Editorial Team

Cover Image: Comma (Polygonia c-album) butterfly in Chesford Woods

Articles for The Link: If there is anything you would like to include, please email

[email protected]

The deadline for editorial submissions for the APRIL issue is: FRIDAY, 22 MARCH

Advertisements for The Link or for www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk: 1 WEEK IN ADVANCE OF THE MAIN SUBMISSION DEADLINE

Via email to [email protected] or call Jim Perryman on 01926 850610

Would you like to receive The Link by email? Please email [email protected] and request your email copy

Back issues of The Link are available to view online at: https://express.yudu.com/library/82141/LeekWootton-amp-GuysCliffe-s-Library

Priest in Charge Jim Perryman t : 850610 The Vicarage, 4 Hill Wootton Road e : [email protected]

Church Wardens Jonathan Kingston t : 851181 32 Hill Wootton Road

Nigel Stallard t : 850548 Reading Room Cottage Church Lane

Readers Audrey Rowberry t : 851498 7a The Meadows

Nigel Stallard (see left for contact)

Secretary to the PCC Eileen Clayton t : 855124 2 The Hamlet

Treasurer to the PCC Mark Sayers t : 859389 36 The Hamlet

All Saints’ Church

WHO’S WHO?


3

FROM THE VICARAGE

Distortion – yes; fake – no! A certain President likes to hammer the media, labelling everything that is remotely critical of himself as ‘Fake News’ – whilst regularly proclaiming ‘alternative facts’ which have absolutely no basis in reality. I’ll name no names ☺!

However, I have to admit to having a fairly low opinion myself of much of the output from the media, with its divisive sensationalism, love of sound-bites, and (frequently misleading) banner headlines. Fake news? I doubt whether anything more than a tiny proportion is actually fake – but distorted news, most definitely. Often, of course, this comes from the editorial intention to force an opinion on its readership – not something that we would ever do in the highly-respected and entirely trustworthy Leek Wootton Link! But on the BBC news website front page today as I write for the March edition, there is the headline: Churches no longer have to hold Sunday services.

If people were interested enough to read the article (and for a while it was in the ‘top 10 most read’ list), they would have found it related to an apparent decision from the General Synod (the ‘parliament’ of the Church of England), to remove the need for parishes to get the Bishop’s permission to have a Sunday without a service in a Parish Church – but even that is rather an exaggeration!

The ‘Canons of the Church of England’ – the church’s law book – is of necessity very complicated. What Synod is trying to do is to simplify some of the rules, adjusting laws that are now obsolete to allow churches to more freely respond to the needs of their community and the reality of their circumstances. Laws which are generally ignored and not considered to be worth enforcing are usually bad laws – or at least laws which are past their ‘sell-by date’ – and the Canons contain some of these. Even I was fooled by the headline into thinking that there must be something significant going on here – but sadly no. The change is so minor and only relates to where parishes are grouped – normally rural parishes. The law which remains will still leave many/most parishes (Leek Wootton? No comment!) ‘bending’ the regulations. To be brutally honest, the decision by General Synod hardly justifies being considered as ‘newsworthy’ within the Church of England, let alone troubling the BBC news desk! The only reason why it is there seems to be to give a misleading and negative impression about the church. The news itself is not ‘fake’ but the impression that comes with it is a major distortion, which is disturbing.

I hugely value the work of those who bring us news from around the world – often at great personal risk – and I am totally opposed to any attempts to restrict press freedom. However, I do wish that that the media organisations in general would treat their readers/listeners with a little more respect – allowing people to make up their own minds when presented with the facts, rather than using presentation techniques which seem designed to mislead and distort. It may grab attention or make the news seem more interesting, but it doesn’t help true communication. Instead, I fear that it gives ammunition to those (like the aforementioned President) who would seek to undermine the vital role of journalism to call political leadership, and those in other positions of power, to account for their actions.

Jim Perryman


4

www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk

ALL SAINTS’ CHURCH www.leekwoottonchurch.co.uk

CHURCH SERVICES / EVENTS FOR MARCH 2019 Charity Prayer Focus for the month: Barnabas Fund

www.barnabasfund.org

Sunday, 3 March

Prayer Focus: Tidmarsh Road 8:00am Holy Communion (CW) 9:00am PANCAKE BREAKFAST followed by All Age Worship

All welcome, but please sign-up or contact Jim/Nicola Perryman in advance to let us plan for the right sort of numbers. DUE TO ROAD CLOSURES FOR THE WARWICK HALF-MARATHON, ACCESS TO THE CHURCH WILL BE SEVERELY RESTRICTED BETWEEN 9AM AND 10AM Please arrive early for breakfast and stay for the service.

Wednesday, 6 March ASH WEDNESDAY

10:30am Midweek Holy Communion 7:30pm Ash Wednesday Holy Communion including the imposition of Ash as a sign of penitence

Sunday, 10 March

Prayer Focus: Croft Road 9:30am Holy Communion with Children’s Groups

Sunday, 17 March

Prayer Focus: Woodcote Lane 8:00am Holy Communion (BCP) 9:30am All Age Worship (Faith and Life – a look at consumerism) 10:45am PCC Meeting

Wednesday, 20 March

10:30am Midweek Holy Communion

Sunday, 24 March

Prayer Focus: Woodcote Drive and Police Headquarters 9:30am All Age Holy Communion with Children’s Groups 5:00pm Trekkers Group (Y6-Y11) at the Vicarage

Sunday, 31 March MOTHERING SUNDAY

Prayer Focus: Quarry Close 9:30am Mothering Sunday Parade Service with Scouting and Guiding groups 6:30pm CTKD Taizé-style worship at Abbey Hill United Reformed Church, Kenilworth


5

* CTKD is the abbreviation for Churches Together in Kenilworth and District, which is the grouping of Anglican, Roman Catholic, Methodist and, United Reformed churches

in the town of Kenilworth and the villages of Ashow, Leek Wootton and Stoneleigh. CTKD also operates under the name ‘Love Kenilworth’. For more information on the

ecumenical events and links to the individual fellowships, see www.lovekenilworth.org.uk.

Sunday, 7 April, 3:00pm to 5:00pm

At All Saints’ Church, Leek Wootton

Messy Church values Messy Church values are about being:

Christ-centred, for all ages, based on creativity, hospitality and celebration

Come and join us for a great afternoon together of fun, fellowship and food –

with a focus on the celebrations of Holy Week and Easter!


6

CTKD Lent Discussion Groups 2019 The following groups will be following the Cover to Cover Lent study guide called “Who is the Christ?” by Anne Calver.

All leaders are keen to say that they hope that these will be as ecumenical as possible and invite anyone to join them.

Each session stands alone, so it is perfectly possible to join in with a few of them if other commitments prevent you attending every one.

The King’s Table in Warwick Road is holding some stock of the course booklet, but some leaders may have purchased copies in anticipation.

It will be helpful if you could contact the leaders listed below if you intend joining one of the sessions.

Details of groups: Monday evenings (fortnightly) at 7.30pm starting 4 March at ‘The Rock’, Warwick Road, Leek Wootton. Contact: Joanna Bignall (e: [email protected])

Tuesday evenings at 7.30pm starting 5 March at Kenilworth Methodist Church, Priory Road, Kenilworth Contact: Martin Johnson (t: 854777 / e: [email protected])

Thursday mornings at 10am starting 7 March at 31 Brooke Road, Kenilworth Contact: Anne Hill (t: 856014 / e: [email protected])

Thursday mornings at 10am starting 7 March at 42 Arden Road, Kenilworth Contact: Denise Coomber (m: 07734 489835 / e: [email protected])

Thursday mornings at 11am starting 7 March at Abbey Hill United Reformed Church, Kenilworth (in the Vestry). (coffee from 10.30am in Church Hall) Contact: George Jones (e: [email protected]) or Kath Shortley (t: 512451 / e: [email protected])

Thursday afternoons from 2.30-4.00pm starting 7 March at Kenilworth Methodist Church, Priory Road, Kenilworth Contact: Church Office (t: 863252)

Thursday evenings at 7.30pm starting 7 March at Reading Room Cottage, Church Lane, Leek Wootton Contact: Nigel Stallard (t: 850548 / e: [email protected])

If you have further questions, please feel free to contact me and I will try to find answers!

Martin Johnson t: 854777 / e: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]








7

www.mothersunion.org

LEEK WOOTTON MU Contact : Janet Jackson t : 258264

COMING UP:

Saturday, 2 March, 7:00pm – 9:00pm at 6 Draper Close, Kenilworth

Pamper Evening Further information and RSVP: Felicity (t: 857290). Proceeds to Make a Mother’s Day.

Wednesday, 6 March, 8:00pm at St John’s Church Hall

Gill Palmer giving a talk about Eco-Church

Thursday, 14 March, 1:30pm at 11 Rounds Hill, Kenilworth

Leek Wootton Group meeting: MU Updates Do bring a reading, poem or prayer about Mothering to share.

Tuesday, 19 March, 1:30pm at 6 Beechwood Croft, Kenilworth

Deanery Prayers: For family life and communities in our area

Mothering Sunday, 31 March Mothering Sunday has evolved from a time when people would return to their ‘Mother Church’ during Lent, to when those in service or apprenticeships would return home to their mothers with gifts such as hand-picked flowers.

By the early 20th Century, celebrating Mothering Sunday had waned in many places, but the institution of Mother's Day in the United States brought about renewed interest. This was a cause championed by the Mothers’ Union, amongst others, and later it was claimed that Mothering Sunday was celebrated in every parish.

Now a staple in the church calendar and celebrated on the fourth Sunday in Lent, Mothering Sunday is a time for us all to recognise the importance of those who have cared for and mothered us throughout our lives.

As you plan a gift for, or in memory of, your mother why not buy an ethical gift card from Mothers’ Union this year?

For many years now Mothers’ Union has offered the fantastic Make a Mother’s Day appeal, where ethical gifts have the added benefit of making a difference to mothers and communities around the world, nurturing hope in a hurting world, one life at a time.

For more information see www.makeamothersday.org

A PRAYER FOR MOTHERING SUNDAY

Heavenly Father, we rejoice with thanks for all those who have mothered us in

our lives.

In a world that is broken and in need of your motherly love, please use us to aid

others as you do us in providing comfort, nurture, protection and

support.

We ask that you grow us as carers to those who need us, so that we might

celebrate your goodness together even through our own brokenness.

Amen St Mellitus liturgy


8

Trekkers Youth Group @ All Saints For those in school years 6 to 11

Life is a journey, and as we enter that transition phase from primary to

secondary school and then begin to consider adult life to come, that journey

can become complicated. There are so many decisions to be made on the

way, and so many new pressures to deal with about self-discovery. Suddenly

the simple messages and the old stories about the Christian faith that we might

have grown up with can seem rather irrelevant to the complexity of real life and

the world-view of the 21st century.

Trekking is about undertaking a long

and challenging journey, normally with

others: often a journey of discovery

undertaken by young people to find out

more about their world and themselves.

Trekkers Youth Group is a place where

we are free to take part on that journey,

to explore some of life’s big questions

and to discover whether Jesus, the

‘Light of the World’, actually does have some light to shine on the way ahead.

We normally meet once each half-term on a Sunday late-afternoon at the

Vicarage: Nicola and Jim Perryman currently act as Trek ‘Guides’. New

members are very welcome – as are suggestions for topics to explore or other

things to do together. Past meetings have been a mixture of discussions,

games, films, etc. and normally end with a simple meal together, but the future

hasn’t been written yet!

NEXT TREKKERS MEETING: SUNDAY 24 MARCH, 5pm – 7pm

£2 contribution please to help with food and other costs.

Phone: 01926 850610 Text: 0744 948 0539

[email protected]

Parental consent forms are required for all church activities

involving under-16s and can be downloaded from the church website


9

www.leekwootton.org.uk

LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE

PARISH COUNCIL Clerk to the Parish Council : Helen Eldridge t : 853841

e : [email protected]

The Parish Council met on Tuesday, 5 February 2019, at Leek Wootton Village Hall.

CO-OPTION OF CLLR MAISEY Mrs Joy Maisey, a resident of Hill Wootton, was co-opted by the PC on 28 January 2019.

Discussions included the following:

SALE OF WOODCOTE The PC has received no further information about the progress of the sale of Woodcote. It has been contacted by residents who are concerned about increased traffic on the Warwick Road and especially the Woodcote Lane junction as the result of future redevelopment.

The PC cannot make a specific response until a purchaser/developer presents their ideas. In working on the Neighbourhood Plan (NP), which has been made and is in agreement with the Warwick District Local Plan (WDLP) concerns have been aired.

To date the PC’s discussions with WCC Highways have concluded that they do not perceive any safety concerns on Warwick Road and the historical planning applications for the new Police HQ in the grounds of Woodcote and the change of use to a care home were granted with WCC Highways being of the opinion that there is no problem with increased traffic at the Warwick Road/Woodcote Lane junction.

The issue of traffic calming through the parish is of ongoing concern to the PC and the NP includes some proposals. The PC will continue to monitor progress in this matter.

HOUSING NEEDS SURVEY The last Housing Needs Survey was completed in 2013. They have a life expectancy of 5 years and the PC feels an up-to-date Housing Needs Survey will compliment the made Neighbourhood Plan. The survey is now likely to be circulated with the April issue of the magazine.

COMMUNITY MAINTENANCE Road drainage works have been carried out between the Skew Bridge (railway) and Hill Wootton. Jetting of the drains under the A46 bridge on the Hill Wootton Road has been ordered and a damaged street sign on Waller Close has been reported to Warwick District Council (WDC).

A number of street lamps that were not working have been reported and repaired.

HORSE FAIR The PC has been contacted by residents regarding rumours about the horse fair being relocated to land south of Leek Wootton. At present this is an


10

unsubstantiated rumour. However, the PC has been advised that WDC is aware of the rumours and, if true, would have concerns, as would the police. The PC will remain in contact with WDC and advise of progress accordingly.

NEXT MEETING The next meeting is an ordinary meeting and will be at 7:30pm on Tuesday, 5 March 2019, at Leek Wootton Village Hall.

Draft and signed minutes of all Parish Council meetings are published on the website at www.leekwootton.org.uk. Any local issues can always be raised at meetings under Public Question Time or by contacting any of the Parish Councillors or the Clerk, details of whom are listed on all noticeboards, the Parish Council website, in the Parish Directory and the Bulletin.

WARWICKSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ROAD TRAFFIC REGULATION ACT 1984, SECTION 14

TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF B4115 ASHOW ROAD, CHESFORD, KENILWORTH

Warwickshire County Council proposes to make a Temporary Traffic Order closing the B4115 Ashow Road, Chesford, Kenilworth from its junction with Leamington Road to its junction with Hill Wootton Road, to vehicular traffic.

The closure is required to facilitate carriageway patching works.

The Order will commence on 12 March 2019 and will last for a period of 18 months, or until the works are completed, whichever is the earlier. However, it is anticipated that the works will be completed in one day on 12 March 2019.

PLEASE NOTE: It is anticipated that the works will be carried out between 08:00 hrs and 16:00 hrs and that the road will re-open outside of these hours.

Pedestrian access to and egress from properties and land situated adjacent to the length of road to be closed will be maintained at all times. Vehicular access will be maintained where possible.

Alternative routes will be signed and are available via:

Anti-Clockwise: A452 Leamington Road, A452 St Johns, Warwick Road, Coventry Road, Ashow Road

Clockwise: Ashow Road, Coventry Road, Warwick Road, A452 Leamington Road, Bericote Road Island, A452 Leamington Road

The Council regrets any inconvenience that may be caused. The team dealing with this Temporary Traffic Order at Warwickshire County Council is County Highways South (Tel: 01926 412515).

Any enquiries relating to the works being undertaken may be directed to the contractor dealing with this matter, Shaun Thornhill for Balfour Beatty (Tel: 02380 798 103).

S Duxbury, Assistant Director of Governance and Policy, Shire Hall, Warwick.

21 February 2019


11

Christmas Carols at the Anchor A most enjoyable evening of Christmas Carols held at the Anchor Inn on Christmas Eve raised £280 for the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Thank you to Sean for hosting the carols and providing sausage rolls and mince pies to the singers.

LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE

NEWS f LWandGC c LWandGC_Community

CONGRATULATIONS! Brenda & John Semple will celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 22 March. We wish them well on behalf of all their friends in Hill Wootton and throughout the parish.

From the

Parish Registers

Thursday, 27 December 2018

Burial of Ashes of

Keri Ann Elsy

Sunday, 3 March

WARWICK HALF MARATHON The Warwick Half Marathon, organised this year by The Jockey Club in aid of the British Heart Foundation and in conjunction with Warwick Rotary Club, will take place from Warwick Racecourse on Sunday, 3 March.

The marathon will follow the traditional route established by the British Heart Foundation over the past six years, including the Coventry Road through Guy’s Cliffe, the Blacklow roundabout, the Warwick Road through Leek Wootton and Woodcote Lane towards Beausale. Temporary warning notices have been placed at junctions within the parish and roads will be closed to vehicular traffic on that Sunday morning.

For more information go to: www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick/events-tickets/warwick-marathon

ADVERTISING

12

,


13

THE LEEK WOOTTON LINK Donation Appeal 2019 Following my article last month, may I thank everyone who has so far responded with a donation towards the production of The Link and the many who, where possible, have Gift Aided. We have also received donations from the Anchor Inn and Leek Wootton Sports Club and thank them for their generosity.

I would like to confirm that, although donations are handled through the charitable accounts of All Saints’ Church, all the money received in respect of the magazine, including the claimed Gift Aid, is used exclusively for production of The Link and does not go into general Church funds.

If you have not yet been able to contribute to this year’s appeal, we still look forward to receiving all donations and thank everyone for their support to date.

For those still to donate, please make any cheques payable to “Leek Wootton PCC”

Mark Sayers Treasurer to Leek Wootton PCC

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

14


15

CANCER RESEARCH UK Secretary : Shirley Calvert t : 859003

Thank you to everyone who attended the Skittles Evening with Fish & Chip Supper held on 6 February. It was a fun evening, which raised a fantastic £701.50.

Friday, 1 March 2019 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm

Jean & Jim’s Big Breakfast If you enjoy a good breakfast, then come along to Leek Wootton Sports Club on the above date for this popular event. No need for a ticket, just turn up on the day.

KENILWORTH PROBUS CLUB Chairman : Rodney Perry

Hon Secretary : Mike Cheeseman t : 852976

Since last month’s report, the club has held its ‘Annual’ Lunch at the Glebe Hotel, Barford, which was enjoyed by all in the very comfortable surroundings.

On 6 February a number of members visited the Triumph Motorcycle factory at Hinckley, which was reported to have been extremely interesting and informative.

At the monthly meeting on 19 February there was a most informative and well-presented talk by Liz Taylor, a volunteer speaker on the history, achievements and ongoing work of the Woodland Trust in protecting and expanding trees and woods that contribute so much to our health and welfare.

LW&GC PARISH SUMMER FÊTE e : [email protected]

Please note: In a change to the previously advertised date, the first planning meeting will now be held on Tuesday, 12 March at

7:30pm at Leek Wootton Sports Club. All are welcome.

ADVANCE NOTICE: The Summer Fête 2019, for the whole community, will be held on Saturday, 15 June.

ADVERTISING

16


17

www.leekwoottonwi.co.uk LEEK WOOTTON WI President : Genny Wilson t : 690701

Topless in Stratford The title of this month’s talk, ‘Topless in Stratford’ initially raised a few eyebrows! Slightly apprehensively, we listened as Geoff Holiday began his talk. Firstly, describing his career and the circumstances that led him to move to Leek Wootton and then, during an unexpected ‘gap year’ in his 40s, the offer to become a guide for the ‘Big Red Open Top Bus’ company, which operates around Stratford-upon-Avon. We now understood why the talk was entitled ‘Topless in Stratford’.

Geoff didn’t have any slides; instead, his approach was a ‘verbal 3D tour’ of the many historic sites of Stratford and, just like listening to the radio programme ‘The Archers’, as Geoff eloquently described each Stratford landmark, we imagined the journey in our own minds.

The Bishop of Worcester decided to develop Stratford as a Market Town; wood could be obtained from Wood Street, sheep from Sheep Street and swine from Ely Street. Geoff explained how William Shakespeare met Anne Hathaway and that they married in 1582, with Anne three months pregnant. William, a youngster at 18, while Anne at 26 was middle aged! They had three children together, Susanna, Judith and Hamnet and remained married until Shakespeare’s death in 1616. Upon his death, Shakespeare left his ‘second best bed’ to Anne in his will, as beds were considered to be a prized possession.

We learnt that a local community group was formed to raise three thousand pounds to buy Shakespeare’s House, raising more funds to subsequently purchase Mary Arden’s Farm, Anne Hathaway’s cottage and John’s Nash house (John Nash married Suzanna’s daughter, Elizabeth).

We learnt many interesting facts; that the word ‘avon’ means river, so the ‘River Avon’ literally means ‘River River’, and that there were nine rivers in the UK called Avon. That usually a village had an elm tree planted on the four corners of the village to denote its boundary, and that the word ‘bonfire’ came from the practice of burning bones exhumed out of graves, so that the grave site could be occupied by a new coffin! This is the reason why Shakespeare is buried in the chancel of Holy Trinity Church and is reputed to have composed this rhyme for his tombstone:

Good friend for Jesus sake forbeare, To dig the dust enclosed here.

Blessed be the man that spares these stones, And cursed be he that moves my bones.

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeares-family/susanna-hall/

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeares-family/judith-shakespeare/

https://www.shakespeare.org.uk/explore-shakespeare/shakespedia/william-shakespeare/william-shakespeares-family/hamnet-shakespeare/


18

The Shakespeare Theatre occupies a prominent position on the River Avon and primarily features plays from the extensive Shakespeare collection. Closed for refurbishment in 2007, it took three years for the theatre to be upgraded and modernised, with many of the original walls and features preserved.

It was a very interesting talk about the famous historic town on our doorstep and, just like the court jester jauntily skipping on the plinth, Geoff had jauntily shared a lot of history, interesting facts and many funny tales of his time as a guide on the Big Red Bus. All too soon it was ‘ding-ding’, and time for us to metaphorically catch the last bus

TODDLERS AT LEEK WOOTTON VILLAGE HALL Contact : Janet Jackson t : 258264

We meet on Thursdays, term-time 10:00am - 11:30am

For Babies to Pre-schoolers £1.50 per family

A warm welcome is extended for Parents, Grandparents and Carers

Baby area, craft, mat and ride on toys, snack-time and singing. Also, fun outdoors in our woodland play area. Just turn up and join us for a friendly and relaxed morning.

ADVERTISING


19

www.leekwoottonhorticulturalsociety.co.uk

LEEK WOOTTON & DISTRICT HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY Secretary : Steph Jones t : 855370

e : [email protected]

Wednesday, 13 March

7:30pm at the Village Hall

AGM—All are welcome.

UPCOMING EVENTS: Saturday, 8 June

Annual Garden Visit This year’s outing visit will be to Spetchley Park Gardens, Worcester on Saturday, 8 June 2019. We will be leaving from the bus stop layby (northbound) at 10:00am. On arrival, the Old Laundry Tea Rooms will be open for coffee. Spetchley is a mixture of formal gardens, hedges and tumbling herbaceous borders. It also has the largest private collection of Peonies. Lunch can be pre booked, or chosen on the day. There will be a 90-minute guided tour of the gardens after lunch. Tickets are £22.00 (not including lunch) and can be obtained by contacting Steph Jones (t: 855370 / e: [email protected]).

FOR YOUR DIARY: Saturday, 17 August

Annual Show—Photographic categories this year will be ORANGE and

SILHOUETTE

Tips for March March has crept up on us so quickly. This month is seen as the start of spring and when the clocks leap forward giving us extra gardening time in the evening. Last month we started to plan, this month our jobs are mostly preparation. Generally, it is about tidying borders and lawns, pruning back any old growth, preparing the ground in areas where you plan to put new plants. It’s also about cleaning and adding fresh compost to containers and getting your greenhouse ready for your early seed sowing. This time of year, when new shoots are starting to appear, we need to protect them from the invading slugs and snails so if you don’t like the idea of pellets try grit or crushed egg shells scattered around the shoots. This “March pottering” is a great way to unwind from a busy day at work. Jim Barr

ADVERTISING

20


21

www.historygroup.leekwoottonandguyscliffe.org.uk

LEEK WOOTTON HISTORY GROUP Chairman : Paul Eldridge t : 854347

What lies beneath? In January, whilst undertaking work to the yard at the rear of Anchor Cottages, builders made a startling discovery. Whilst removing gravel and earth to find the bedrock layer, which the cottages are built on, they found part of the yard was deeper and full of old bricks, stable blocks and a couple of randomly placed 3ft RSJs.

Eventually, a foot or so down a hole appeared, which was revealed to be a well. It was circular and apparently hand-hewn out of the sandstone rock, measuring about 3½ feet across and, with a mug on a string, the depth was approximated to 24ft. A cast iron pipe cut off at surface level was all that remained of the old pump system and two large flagstones covered all but a 6” gap through which there was a sheer drop.

The well was not securely sealed with only loose dirt, bricks and a couple of RSJs, which did not appear to be placed adequately across the hole. The builder, Dennis’ original plan had been to lay a hardcore layer and compact it with a whacker plate, which had they not been thorough in investigating the site, could well have resulted in the whacker plate and its operative disappearing down the well! Despite visions of a wishing well to adorn the yard, space would not permit, so a substantial concrete cap has now been poured to make the well safe, with the exception of a drain-sized hole for water run-off and inspection purposes.

A week or so after these events, whilst studying the History Group’s plan on the wall in The Anchor, we noticed a “P ” (P for pump) in Anchor Cottages’ yard, in just the right place for the well. However, a brief look at the surrounding properties shows lots more “P”s in the heart of Leek Wootton – hopefully other such wells have been responsibly capped and/or filled in!

ADVERTISING

22


23

www.ecochurch.org.uk

ECO CHURCH

Loss of insects A recent report concluded that there had been a rapid recent loss in the number of insects globally.

Why are insects important? There are many reasons, but perhaps three of the most significant are:

• Pollinators – they pollinate many of our fruit and vegetable crops.

• Detritivores – they are important in the decomposition of dead plant and animal material allowing nutrients to be freed for reuse.

• Food chain – they are a significant food source for many other animals and so their loss has great impact on whole ecosystems.

Why are they declining so rapidly?

• Climate change is probably part of the issue. High temperatures can kill insects and, in drought areas, can kill the plants they feed on.

• Pesticides used on crops kill all the insects and other invertebrates in and around the crops. This is done in order to produce high yields of clean crops for us, but kills all the insects, ‘good’ and ‘bad’, in an area. Particularly in an intensively farmed landscape, this wipes out insects in a whole area.

• Loss of habitat due to building, industry, pollution, agriculture etc.

What can we do? – a few suggestions In our own spaces:

• Don’t use pesticides in our own gardens - let nature create a balance that will enable all the insects to survive.

• Provide a wide variety of plants and flowers to attract a wide variety of insects.

• Provide places such as bee tubes for nesting insects and ‘untidy places’ for creatures, such as beetles, that like to eat slugs.

• Leave some grass to grow long for grasshoppers etc.

• Provide a pond – many insects have a larval stage that develops in water.

• Grow your own food that you know has not had pesticides used for its growth.

In what we buy:

• Buy organic so that pesticides have not been used.

• Accept food that is not perfect due to pesticides not being used.

• Buy from local producers that you can talk to about their methods of production.

In what we do:

• All the measures you can take to reduce climate change will help.

• Lobby supermarkets to take this issue seriously in the items that they purchase and in their labelling, so we as consumers can show what we think is important.

• Lobby government to use powers that they have to be effective in reversing this insect decline.

• Support wildlife charities, with money and time, to help provide great places for all wildlife, not just small reserves, but whole landscapes.

More details can be found online in articles in the Guardian dated 10 Feb 2019, 17 Jun 2018 and 18 Oct 2017. Search for ‘loss of insects’.

ADVERTISING

24


25

Coffee Time Quiz We’re spoilt for choice again this month, as Paul continues his ‘farewell tour’ and Norman has also submitted a quiz (...Eds.)

We’ll start with Paul’s quiz:

Hi everyone – this is my last round of questions as the host of the Coffee Time Quiz.

I have been posting questions in The Link since 2013, but will be stepping back from next month, so here is my final round. I hope that you have enjoyed the fun and hopefully you got plenty of them right – all the best Paul.

1. On a dart board which number is positioned directly opposite No 20; that is at the bottom of the board?

2. Continue the next two lines of the Scottish National Anthem; “O Flower of Scotland …”?

3. How many football clubs in the English leagues (Premiership to League Two) have the second name ‘County’?

4. Asunción is the capital city of which South American country?

5. How many years are celebrated by the Crystal Wedding Anniversary?

ODD ONE OUT QUIZ by Norman Rogers

1. Who never won the F1 World Drivers Championship; Mike Hawthorn, Alan Jones, Jacques Villeneuve, Stirling Moss, Kimi Räikkönen or Phil Hill?

2. Who never won the World Snooker Championship; Terry Griffiths, Alex Higgins, Graham Dott, Joe Johnson, Jimmy White or Stuart Bingham?

3. Which of the following is not a County in the Republic of Ireland; Clare, Offaly, Monaghan, Tyrone, Donegal or Sligo?

4. Who was never Emperor of the Roman Empire; Trajan, Vespasian, Tiberius, Antoninus Pius, Nerva or Julius Caesar?

5. Which Island is not in the Mediterranean Sea; Ischia, Capri, Jerba, Skopelos, La Gomera or Pantelleria?

6. Who was never President of the USA; Gerald Ford, Benjamin Franklin, Harry S Truman, Chester Arthur, Calvin Coolidge or Warren Harding?

7. Which of the following is not a fictional pub or café; The Feathers (Royle Family), The Woolpack (Emmerdale), The Skinners Arms (Steptoe and Son), Sid's Café (Last of the Summer Wine), The Nag’s Head (Only Fools and Horses), or Rick's Café Américain (Casablanca).

8. Who was never a TV Doctor Who; Patrick Troughton, Jon Pertwee, Robert Lindsay, Colin Baker, Sylvester McCoy or Peter Capaldi?

9. Which was not a Battle in The War of the Roses; Edgehill, Bosworth, St Albans, Tewkesbury, Barnet, or Towton?

10. Which football team has never won the FA Cup? Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic, Wigan Athletic, Cardiff City, Huddersfield Town or Leicester City

Answers on page 33


26

www.pawsitivevetcare.co.uk

PAWSITIVE VET CARE By Helen Perryman m : 07410411461

Deciding what to feed your dog can seem a minefield at times. Different opinions and advice abound on the internet.

Raw feeding is becoming a particular craze at the moment. Proponents of raw feeding claim all sorts of health benefits, such as reduced allergies, cleaner teeth and less obesity. Unfortunately, there is very little research to support these findings. Research has shown that the level of periodontal disease is not reduced by raw diets and I have personally seen many dogs on raw diets who suffer allergies and obesity so they are definitely not a cure-all.

Raw diets do, however, carry significant health risks. Cooking food destroys bacteria such as campylobacter and salmonella which is present in a significant amount of meat. By feeding raw meat to animals, these bacteria can pass through their intestines, potentially causing disease in the animal itself, but also becoming a health risk to their human family. These bacteria can cause severe problems, particularly in the young, the elderly or those with low immune systems.

Feeding a home-made diet, whether raw or cooked, carries a very high likelihood of being imbalanced and therefore leading to nutritional deficiencies on a long-term basis.

The key things to look out for when choosing a diet are:

• Is it properly balanced and suitable for your dog’s age and breed? Companies should be registered with the PFMA (www.pfma.org.uk).

• Does the company do long-term feeding trials to ensure the long-term health of animals on the food?

• Does the company have a veterinary nutritionist working for them?

A good diet is key to good health. Your vet should be able to advise you further.

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

27


28

http://leekwoottonsports.club [email protected]

LEEK WOOTTON SPORTS CLUB Secretary : Paul Baigent t : 07535 736556

Opening times:

Monday 7:30pm - 10:00pm when Darts team are playing at home (every other week) Tuesday 7:30pm - 10:30pm Wednesday 7:00pm - 10:00pm Thursday 7:30pm - 10:00pm when Crib & Dominoes team are playing at home (every other week)

Friday 5:30pm - 11:00pm Saturday 12:00 noon - 2:00pm & 5:00pm - 9:00pm Sunday 1:00pm - 9:00pm

Bank Holidays - Times vary

The Sports Club AGM will take place on Friday, 15 March starting at 7:45pm. All members are welcome to come along and get involved in some key discussions about the Club. There are some important items to discuss, including details of the new infrastructure improvement project (Project 20) and membership benefits. It’s also an opportunity for anyone who would like to stand for election to the Committee; nomination forms can be found on the notice boards within the Club.

The Club is holding a Cheese & Wine Evening on Saturday, 2 March and tickets can be booked for £10. Further events planned include the Grand National afternoon event on Saturday, 6 April starting at 12:30pm. As usual, an on-site bookie will be present to take your bets and there will be a buffet dinner as well as the bar. Tickets for this cost just £8. Future events will include a Club Skittles Night on Saturday, 11 May and live music events in early summer; further details to follow in later editions of The Link.

Here are some of our forthcoming events:

Saturday, 2 March Cheese & Wine Evening

Wednesday, 13 March Club Bingo Night

Friday, 15 March Club AGM


Saturday, 6 April Grand National Event

Saturday, 11 May Skittles Night

Thank you Totty Finally, just a short note about our Club President Tony O’Toole or Totty to most of us. Tony has been Club President for many years, having previously held a long list of positions within the Club and still now, in his seventies, doing a lot with social events and maintenance.

© leekw

oottonsport

s.c

lub

Tony with Stan Williams & Ray Key


29

Tony was instrumental in the conversion of the new Club house in 1989 following the demise of the Working Men’s Club and now, having launched the new infrastructure project, Tony has volunteered to join the working group.

We mention all this as, at this year’s AGM, Tony will be standing down as Club President to hand the reins onto someone else and everyone would like to say a big thank you to Tony for all he has done and all he continues to do. He has been and continues to be a great servant to the Club and we do recognise and appreciate all the effort you put in Tony.

Hopefully, there will be a good turn out at the AGM to raise a glass to Tony, to thank him and wish him well.

Tony’s story of the conversion from Working Men’s Club to Sports Club is on the Club website at:

http://leekwoottonsports.club/history-of-lwsc/recent-history-of-lwsc-presidents-recollections/

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

30


31

400 years ago, on 12 March 1619, Richard Burbage, English actor, died. A major shareholder in the Globe Theatre, and a friend and business partner of William Shakespeare.

200 years ago, on 28 March 1819, Sir Joseph Bazalgette, British civil engineer, was born. He created London’s sewer network as well as several notable bridges, embankments and streets.

➔ 100 years ago, on 17 March 1919, Nat King Cole, the American jazz/swing/pop singer and pianist was born. (Died 1965)

80 years ago, on 2 March 1939, Howard Carter, the British archaeologist and Egyptologist died. He discovered the tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamen in 1922.

75 years ago, from 24 to 25 March 1944, the ‘Great Escape’ took place. 76 Allied prisoners broke out of the Stalag Luft III

prisoner-of-war camp near Sagan, Germany after digging tunnels. 73 were recaptured and 50 executed. The event was dramatised in the classic film The Great Escape.

60 years ago, on 9 March 1959, the Barbie doll was launched at the International Toy Fair in New York City, USA.

50 years ago, on 4 March 1969, British gangsters Ronald and Reginald Kray (the Kray twins) were found guilty of murdering the criminals Jack ‘The Hat’ McVitie and George Cornell. They were sentenced to life imprisonment.

30 years ago, on 12 March 1989, Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web while working at CERN.

25 years ago, on 12 March 1994, the first women priests in the Church of England were ordained.

All in the month of MARCH

The World Wide Web—30 years on The World Wide Web was invented 30 years ago this month, on 12 March 1989, by Tim Berners-Lee while he was working at CERN, the European particle physics laboratory.

His innovation – a global hypertext document system originally described by his superior as “vague but exciting” –

was intended to help scientists share data across a then obscure platform called the Internet, but his decision to make the source code freely available meant it took on a life of its own and is now used by almost everyone with a computer.

He has never profited directly from his invention, but now spends much of his time trying to protect it from malign influences and is working on Solid, a project designed to provide “true data ownership as well as improved privacy”.

As a result of his original invention, Berners-Lee was named one of the 20th Century’s most important figures by Time magazine, received the prestigious Turing Award for achievements in the computer sciences, and was honoured at the Olympics. He was also knighted by the Queen.

Child-Friendly Search Engines Young children are using the internet to search and find content more than they ever have before, but is Google appropriate? In recent years, more and more safe search engines for kids have been emerging. Why not try Kiddle.co, Wacky Safe (from Microsoft), KidRex or SafeSearchKids.com? Read more at searchenginewatch.com.


32

ADVERTISING

How to get the best out of life in a village Have you recently moved, or are planning to move, to a village? It is a dream for many of us, and villages can be beautiful, with pretty cottages and roses at their doors, but villages can also be lonely places. So – here are some tips for how to survive – and enjoy village life!

1. Make the most of your children. Children provide their parents with an instant social network. Think of the school gate, the sports pitch, all those play dates and sleep overs. Get to know the network!

2. Join in. The village may look quiet, but there will be enough going on. Think community websites, Women’s Institute, local exercise classes, cricket matches, fête, flower show, church. Every event needs volunteers, and would welcome you. So what are you waiting for?

3. Get a dog, a horse, chickens… Well, at least get something that has fur or feathers, because country life revolves around animals. And while you are out walking your dog, riding your horse or chasing your chickens up a lane, you are bound to meet other animal lovers.

4. Volunteer. In towns, there are organised services, in the country you have self-help. So, offer to help people, to give lifts when needed, and even to pick up prescriptions. Youth charities and wildlife trusts need you, and so does the parish council, wanting the village to be tidy.

5. Take up gardening. It is the UK’s favourite hobby, and if you start gardening you will meet all sorts of people passing by your home, as well as other gardeners – who are in the main very nice people!

From Parish Pump


33

ADVERTISING

Coffee Time Quiz Answers From page 25

PAUL’S FINAL QUIZ

1. Directly opposite the No 20 on a dartboard is No 3.

2. It continues as follows; “O Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again”

3. There are three clubs with the name County in the English leagues; Derby, Notts and Newport.

4. Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.

5. The Crystal Wedding Anniversary is celebrated after 15 years of marriage.

NORMAN’S ODD ONE OUT QUIZ

1. Stirling Moss (runner up 4 times)

2. Jimmy White (runner up 6 Times)

3. County Tyrone

4. Julius Caesar ( He lived in the time of the Republic)

5. La Gomera (one of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic)

6. Benjamin Franklin

7. Sid's Café (it's in Holmfirth, Yorkshire)

8. Robert Lindsay

9. Edgehill (English Civil War battle)

10. Leicester City (runners up 4 times)

ADVERTISING

34


35

OUT & ABOUT IN LEEK WOOTTON & GUY’S CLIFFE See main articles for further details or visit the Parish Calendars at www.leekwoottonandguyscliffe.org.uk

Friday, 1 March St David’s Day

CRUK: Jean & Jim’s Big Breakfast 08:00-14:00 at the Sports Club

Saturday, 2 March LWSC: Cheese & Wine Evening

at the Sports Club

Sunday, 3 March Warwick ½ Marathon 2019

www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/warwick/events-tickets/warwick-marathon

Tuesday, 5 March Shrove Tuesday

Warwick Pancake Races www.warwickrotary.org.uk

Parish Council Meeting 19:30 at the Village Hall

Wednesday, 6 March Ash Wednesday

8-9 March Poppy Sale at St Mary’s Church

www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk/index.php?/stmarysredesign/events

Saturday, 9 March Coventry Cathedral Abseil 2019

www.mytonhospice.org/our-events

Tuesday, 12 March Summer Fête Planning Meeting

19:30 at the Sports Club

Wednesday, 13 March Horticultural Society AGM

19:30 at the Village Hall

Club Bingo Night at the Sports Club

Thursday, 14 March Leek Wootton MU

13:30 at 11 Rounds Hill, Kenilworth

Friday, 15 March Red Nose Day 2019

www.comicrelief.com/rednoseday

Sports Club AGM at the Sports Club

Sunday, 17 March St Patrick’s Day

Tuesday, 19 March Leek Wootton WI

19:45 at the Village Hall

20-24 March The Netherlands National Circus

at Warwick Racecourse www.thenetherlandscircus.com

Sunday, 24 March Coventry ½ Marathon 2019

www.mytonhospice.org/our-events


at the Sports Club

Sunday, 31 March Mothering Sunday

British Summer Time Begins 01:00

BUS TIMETABLE Timetable for Stagecoach Routes 16 (Mon-Sat, Kenilworth to Hatton Park via Warwick) and X16 (Mon-Fri, Kenilworth to Stratford College)

Leek Wootton Kenilworth MONDAY TO SATURDAY (except public holidays) Leek Wootton: 08:38 10:25 12:25 14:25 [16:55*]

16: Leek Wootton Hatton Park / X16: Leek Wootton Stratford MONDAY TO SATURDAY (except public holidays) Leek Wootton: [07:30*] 09:07 11:07 13:07 14:57

* X16 only runs Mon-Fri

X16 16


36

FEBRUARY IN PICTURES...

Leek W

oo

tto

n L

ink is

pri

nte

d b

y Y

ouT

ree P

rinti

ng

Serv

ices

Builder, Dennis and his colleague Sam, who discovered a substantial well in the heart of Leek

Wootton (see page 21)

Early signs of Spring

Imag

es ©

De

nn

is H

inch

ley

6 Feb: The CRUK Skittles Evening with Fish & Chip Supper was great fun.

Documents

All Saints’ Church Parish Magazine LEEK WOOTTON LINK · 2020-06-06 · events build up—this month we have the first of the races coming through the parish and lots more. Happy