News
since January 2003
Friends
of Chernobyl's Children (East Leics) launched
In September/October
a group of 7-8 year old children from Belarus will stay in homes in this area
for a month. At the end of April a group called Friends of Chernobyl's Children
East Leicestershire (FOCCEL) was formed to organise the visit and raise funds
to cover the costs involved.
In 1986 80%
of Belarus became radioactive following the Chernobyl disaster. In another 24000
years the area will be clean again. Meanwhile the children of Belarus suffer.
FOOCEL's
aim is to give some of these children a longer lease of life by hosting visits
to their homes for a month, every year for at least five years. Each month spent
in clean air, with uncontaminated food, extends their lives by 1-2 years. This
is a medical fact. For each child hosted, a minimum of £350 needs
to be raised to cover the cost of airfare and medical expenses and to provide
food and clothing supplies to the children on their return home.
There are
now enough host families to accommodate the children, but what is needed is
money and the fundraising effort has now begun in earnest. As well as appealing
to businesses and individuals to sponsor a child, FOCCEL is planning many fundraising
events, starting with a
Sponsored
Walk/Bike Ride on 8 June
Starting at 10am from Queniborough School
Sponsor forms are available from Rearsby Post Office
This is very
much a family event, with two options in each category (2 or 5 mile walk, 8
or 25 mile bike ride). FOCCEL is hoping for a good turnout from Rearsby!
If you would
like to sponsor a child, please call 0116 260 8813 and speak to Rachel
Branston (Project Coordinator).
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Change at the Parish Council
There
will be four new faces on the Rearsby Parish Council when its new term
of office begins (in May).
The
new councillors are Stuart Beeken, John
Blankley, Charlotte Cook and John Lambert. They
join existing councillors Tony Crump and George Friendship.
The
members standing down from office are Angela Fielding, Alan
Green, Bob Lewis and Geoff Trolley.
(With
only six people standing for a total of six available seats, there has
been no need for an election.)
One
of the council's first jobs will be to elect a chairman.
Rearsby Parish Council now has its own dedicated website. To go there
now click
here
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Chairman
of Parish Council retires
At
the election in May, Alan Green is retiring as Chairman of the
Parish Council. He has been a councillor for five years, Chairman for
four and has had to co-ordinate the issues of the By-pass, the Village
Hall redesign, Bog Lane access, the Preacher's Stone as well as the many
small but important matters, which must be co-ordinated in a village like
ours.
The
most important of these projects must be the seven-arched bridge in which
worked with English Heritage to bring the project to fruition. Alan has
always been available to hear the worries of villagers, to give a lead
to the Councillors, to mediate when necessary and to represent our needs
to Charnwood Borough and to the County Councils. Alan will, no doubt still
be seen from time to time at his observation post overlooking the Ford
and we hope he will enjoy his return to private life, still remaining
as informed and enthusiastic, as he has in the past.
We
wish him and Joyce every good wish for the future.
George
Friendship, Vice Chairman, Rearsby PCC
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Liz
& Brian move on
This
month (March) sees the departure to the North East of Liz and Brian,
the very popular tenants of The Wheel, one of Rearsby's two public
houses, not forgetting Stella, their aptly named boxer dog, who
leaves with them. Liz and Brian will now live close to Newcastle-on-Tyne
at Wallsend.
They
arrived in Rearsby in early 1996 and soon established a reputation for
good pub grub and well kept beer. "They are a popular and hardworking
couple", said the Chairman of the Parish Council," and they have taken
a full part in the life of our village." The couple have also run temporary
bars for village functions, in particular at village hall evenings and
at they were involved in last year's most successful Golden Jubilee celebration
held on the Playing Field. In conjunction with Ivan Roberts, who organises
the event, the annual Tug of War for charity has grown to be a Boxing
Day must for those seeking exercise and fresh air before drinking time.
Their
regulars, as well as casual drinkers, will miss them and the cheery service
that they have provided over the years! Liz and Brian said: "The move
is tinged with sadness especially as we will miss our friends, neighbours
and customers but most of all, the thing we will miss most of all, is
the loyalty and hard work of our staff."
A
Regular
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Top marks
for our village school
Rearsby School
has recently received external recognition in two areas.
* Firstly, in the recent lists of achievements
at Key Stage 2, the school was placed 9th overall out of 165 primary schools
in Leicestershire.
* Secondly, the school has achieved the status
of 'Investors in People', a mark of the standard of excellence achieved by all.
Congratulations to the Headteacher, the teachers and all the members of staff,
who contributed through their hard work and dedication to this prestigious award.
The 'Investors in People' logo can now be displayed on all letterheads.
| Village
Design Statement unveiled to a packed hall |
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The
Rearsby Village Design Statement (VDS) was launched
at a cheese and wine party attended by more than 150 people in
the village hall on 13 January. And there
was no shortage of praise for the eagerly-awaited document, which
had taken the 14-strong VDS team 18 months to research, write,
get approved and publish.
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Before
handing over a copy of the design statement to parish council vice-chairman
George Friendship, VDS chairman Brian Frodsham stressed the importance
of the project he and his team had undertaken. As well as setting out
vital guidelines for future development in the village, he said, it
is a fascinating record of how the village has evolved over the years
and what it is like today (illustrated by some 47 colour photographs).
He went on to speak of Rearsby's rich heritage and how we should all
take responsibility for preserving it.
Following
George Friendship's words of acceptance on behalf of the parish council,
special guest Jeremy Prescott outlined the role of Leicestershire and
Rutland's Rural Community Council (of which he is chairman) in sponsoring
Rearsby's VDS; it was, he said, the best he had seen. Finally Terry
Ainge thanked Brian for leading the project and for his former work
as chairman of the Bypass Action Group.
The
evening was very much an informal occasion, giving villagers the chance
to chat with the VDS team and invited guests (among them representatives
from East Goscote, Charnwood and Leicestershire councils and Lafarge)
and of course purchase copies of the design statement. It also gave
groups in the village the opportunity to promote their work and activities:
the History Society, Friends of Rearsby Church, Rearsby Scene, the Guides
& Rainbows and the art club all had displays, providing added interest
to the evening.
The
VDS is available from the Post Office for a minimum donation of £1
and can be downloaded from this site free of
charge from the end of February.
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Left
to right: Terry Ainge, vice chairman of the VDS team; Jeremy Prescott,
chairman of the Leicestershire & Rutland Rural Community Council
(sponsors of the VDS); Brian Frodsham, chairman of the VDS team;
George Friendship, vice-chairman of Rearsby Parish Council; John
Lambert, project manager and author of the VDS
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More
pictures of the launch
Click on each one to view a larger image |
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Jeremy
Prescott
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What
is a Village Design Statement?
A
Village Design Statement (VDS) is a document, produced by local
residents in consultation with planners, which provides guidelines
to developers on what they can and cannot do to a village. Its
purpose is to help control development so that the village's essential
character can remain.
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Council
appoints Heritage Warden
George Friendship
has been appointed Heritage Warden by Rearsby Parish Council. George, a member
of the Parish Council himself, is by profession an historian.
The warden's
duties cover archaeology, local history, maps and heritage projects, natural
history, buildings, graveyards, footpaths, etc. Individuals and groups are invited
to contact George to let him know their interests and skills and to help at
first carry out an audit of local matters of interest.
Click
here to contact George now and register your interest in any heritage issue.