Ashbylife dec14 emag

2 Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

3Please mention ASHBY LIFE when responding to adverts

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Ashby LifeEditorLiz Roberts

Telephone01530 417739

Email enquiriesAdvertising/[email protected]/What’s [email protected]

Webwww.ashbylife.co.uk

Facebookwww.facebook.com/ashbylife

Twitter@AshbyLife

AddressAshby Life LtdCastle HouseSouth StreetAshby de la ZouchLE65 1BR

Front Cover Image byLesley HextallPhotography

Ashby Life is an independentpublication. No part of thispublication may be reproducedwithout the prior permission ofthe editor. The use of thismagazine for canvassing ordirect marketing is strictlyprohibited.

Information is included onthe What’s On andCommunity Board pagessubject to space beingavailable. Whilst every carehas been taken toensure that the data inthis publication is accurate,Ashby Life cannot be heldresponsible for any errors oromissions or endorse com-panies, products or servicesappearing in this magazine. If you would like to advertise in Ashby Life

It’s a fantastic way to target potential customers and great value for money

See our website or call Liz on 01530 417739 for detailsNext issue is January and deadline for copy is Friday 12th DecemberPlease note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended

Christmas Greetings…December is always my favourite issue – so many lovely Christmas featuresand events. We’ve got a couple of great Christmas recipes, last posting dates,details of how to send your local cards via the Scouts Post, where and whenyou’ll find Santa in the run up to the big day and a tongue in cheek interviewwith the man himself! There’s also a great article about the Christmas truceduring World War I, a Christmas quiz and, to make sure you enjoy theholidays, a Christmas Survival Guide. That justleaves me to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Contents06 Behind the Scenes10 Puzzle Page14 All About You18 This Month22 Ashby Health Centre26 A Walk in the Forest30 Last Posting Dates34 In Your Garden38 Wordsearch42 Santa Sleigh Routes46 Venture Theatre News48 Book Reviews52 Young Ashby56 Seasonal Recipes62 Christadelphian Church66 Fun Quiz70 Just 4 Fun74 Ashby Museum News78 Church Services82 On the Beat86 In Your Home90 Prize Competition94 Community Board98 Days Gone By102 Money Matters106 Ashby Library News110 Storytime114 Scouts Christmas Post118 What’s On124 Puzzle Solutions126 Business Directory

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Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk

Liz Roberts

this issue 103

Please mention ASHBY LIFE when responding to adverts 5


behind the scenes

Find out a bit more about some of the people who live and work within thelocal area – each month we will be interviewing someone from an organisationor business in Ashby or the surrounding areas. This month...

Santa ClausWe caught up with someone who only visits Ashby once a year but he is a bit special!

How did you become involved with Christmas and what do youlove about it? Well I’ve been doing this job for a very long timeso it’s hard to remember how I started but I think I was born toit – a bit like the Queen is. It’s hard work being Santa, but I dolove receiving letters and of course riding on the sleigh pulledby my wonderful reindeer is great fun. I get to travel plenty tooand see the whole world!

What is your favourite local restaurant? My busy scheduledoesn’t really allow time to eat out – in fact it’s hard to find timeto grab a bite at all in the run up to Christmas. Fortunately somefamilies leave a little snack out – I love a mince pie or slice ofChristmas cake (though it is beginning to show on my waistline)and the reindeer are very fond of carrots.

Where do you like to go for a day out? When I can leave MrsClaus and the Elves in charge I like to sneak out to shops orparties where I can sit down for a while and meet all the localchildren. It's also nice to catch up with friends at the Rotary Cluband Round Table.

What is your favourite local shop and why? Sweet MemoryLane in Elford Street has so many tasty treats, I find it verytempting! Shellbrook toys are wonderful, especially for thoselittle stocking fillers. Extreme Games in Mill Lane Mews isgood for the electronic games that many youngsters like nowand I find Just Bikes on the Green most useful too.What do you like best about our town? The reindeer lovethat it is at the heart of The National Forest (Rudolph hasdistant relatives living in the park at Calke Abbey). Thepeople of Ashby and surrounding villages are also verygenerous - my friends from the Rotary Clubs and RoundTable go out for me in the run up to Christmas, taking aspare sleigh and talking to the children and manage tocollect lots of money which is all donated to very goodcauses. I'd like to say a big thank you to everyone who givesso generously.

From 1st December you can track Santa online atwww.noradsanta.org.

puzzle page

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QUICK CROSSWORD7 A red fruit (6)8 On every side (6)9 Deceased (4)

10 Hold back (8)11 Sprinkle (7)13 Weeps (5)15 Concerning (5)17 Farewell (4-3)20 Acquainted (8)21 Require (4)23 Disclose (6)24 Thick, oily substance (6)

1 Finished (4)2 Outlaw (6)3 Expedition (7)4 Severe (5)5 Terror (6)6 Completely (8)

12 Green vegetables (8)14 Bravery (7)16 Allied (6)18 Beast of burden (6)19 Feminine (5)22 Simple (4)

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ACROSS

DOWN


Fill in the grid so thatevery row, everycolumn and every 3 x 3box contains the digits1 through 9, with norepetition.

That’s all there is to it.

You solve the puzzlewith reasoning andlogic - there’s nomaths involved andno adding up.

It’s fun, it’s challenging,it’s additive!

Solutions to allpuzzles can be foundon page 124.

Find us on the web at www.ashbylife.co.uk12

CHRISTMAS can become a time ofstress and worry, especially if webecome too focussed on trying tomake it ‘perfect’. Ask yourself, whatis most important to me aboutChristmas? Then, keep focussed onthat and let go of the rest. Don’toverburden yourself by believingeverything has to be just like the‘ideal version of a perfect familyChristmas.’ Your Christmas is justthat, the one that fits you and yourcircumstances. It can be howeveryou want it to be.

Find out about the closing times ofshops and delivery times if orderingonline. Check latest posting dates(see page 30). It’s also useful to keepdetails handy for pharmacies thatwill be open, and have medicalnumbers such as NHS Direct close

by, and the vet too if you have pets. If travelling by car, find out whichpetrol stations will be open and check tyres, oil and water before yougo. Revised bus and train timetables are usually published well inadvance, so hunt these out too.

For most people being with friends and family is important at Christmas,but it’s not necessary to force everyone to be together just because it’sChristmas. If people haven’t got on for years, it’s very unlikely thatsome turkey and a spot of tinsel will heal the rift. Why risk a big row andbe anxious all day? Choose to see small groups of people instead.

Whatever type of Christmas you want, you probably wouldn’t choose tospend most of the day cooking. Try to avoid this by planning, andaccepting help. Sharing with friends, family and neighbours is part ofthe Christmas spirit. Let go of needing to do everything yourself.

If things don’t go quite to plan - ask yourself does it really matter?Chances are you will remember it with a smile in years to come.

However Christmas turns out, and however much you have or don’t have,choose to be grateful. No matter how difficult things are - notice whatyou have rather than what you don't have and you will find plenty ofChristmas joy.


all about you

ChristmasSurvival Guide

Christmas Eve 1914. The Western Front. Weeks of rain haveended and mud is becoming ice. Despite calls for a Christmasceasefire, fighting has continued throughout December,although today it seems half-hearted in many places.

Staff Sergeant Clement Barker is in his trench with hiscomrades. Across No Man’s Land, the Germans are decoratingtiny trees sent from home with candles as they sing Stille Nacht(Silent Night). “The trenches were a blaze of Christmas trees,” oneTommy recalled, “and our sentries were regaled for hours withtraditional Christmas songs.” In some places, English troops

decide that they “ought to retaliate in some way.”“So we sang The First Noël... they all beganclapping; and then they struck up another favouriteof theirs, O Tannenbaum.”

At Barker’s trench, a German soldier appears.“He said that if (we) did not fire, they wouldn’t inthe morning,” Barker wrote later. Next morning,Barker’s men cautiously venture out to retrieveand bury their dead. No shots are fired. Soonthey’re shaking hands with the Germans andexchanging gifts, and then “a football is kickedout of our trenches, and Germans and English playfootball.”

Henry Williamson, who later wrote Tarka theOtter, also recalled football matches, but behind

German lines; if British and German troops played together, he made no mention of it. However, despite themyths surrounding Truce matches between both sides, some are well-documented in letters. Two soldiers of the6th Cheshires described a huge, free-for-all match in Wulverghem, Belgium, where No Man's Land was lessdamaged by shell fire.

Williamson recalled the Germans singing Silent Night, too, before inviting the English closer. His unit suspecteda trap. “We crept out... expecting any moment to fall flat with the machine guns opening up. And nothing happened.”Both sides were soon exchanging gifts and greetings, and similar scenes were occurring at many pointsalong the Front. Cig-arettes, rations, uniformbuttons and even add-resses were exchanged. One English trench received a German chocolate cake, together with a ceasefire requestand an invitation to an impromptu concert. “Just think,” wrote one soldier to his family, “while you were eating turkeyI was talking and shaking hands with the very men I had been trying to kill a few hours before!”

The truce at Williamson’s position held for four days before orders arrived to end fraternisation, while the Germanswere warned to expect visits from senior officers; they sent a message across, explaining that they would have tofire their machine guns, but would fire high to avoid hitting anyone.

For Barker, peace lasted a little longer too. “Night came and still no shots. Boxing day the same, and has remained soup to now,” he wrote a few days later. But gradually fighting resumed. Captain J.C. Dunn’s account of resuminghostilities is poignant: “I fired three shots in the air and put up a flag with "Merry Christmas" on it, and I climbed on theparapet...[the Germans] put up a sheet with "Thank you" on it, and the German Captain appeared... We both bowed andsaluted... he fired two shots in the air, and the War was on again.”

Both truces (and football games) had occurred in earlier wars. So what makes the 1914 Christmas Truce especiallymemorable? Perhaps because in a war that cost over 10 million lives, it was, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle said, “onehuman episode amid all the atrocities.”

this month

TheChristmas

Truce

By Alison Runham


“The trenches were a blaze of Christmas trees...”

German soldiers of the 134th Saxon Regiment and British soldiersof the Royal Warwickshire Regiment meet in no man's land,December 26th.

ashby health centre

GENVASC StudyWe are pleased to let you know that if you come for oneof our NHS Health Checks you can now help with researchto tackle heart disease through the GENVASC study.

The NHS Health Check is to assess your risk of gettingheart disease, stroke, kidney disease and diabetes. Thecheck involves testing a sample of your blood andchecking factors which we know have an influence on thechances of you getting one or more of these diseases,such as your age, sex, blood pressure, cholesterol leveland whether you smoke or have diabetes. Everyonebetween the ages of 40 and 74, who have not alreadybeen diagnosed with one of these conditions or havecertain risk factors, is eligible to be invited (once every fiveyears) to have an NHS Health Check. If you are in thecriteria and haven’t had yours yet please book in atreception.

The GENVASC study is aiming to try and find outif genetics are also a factor in heart disease and howbig a factor. To do this you will need to have a second

blood test especially for the study and allow theresearchers use of some of your medicalinformation in the future. This information will beused confidentially by the researchers inconjunction with your blood sample to try andidentify any link between heart disease andcertain genes.

If you agree to take part you will be given extra timefor the results part of your health check so thehealth care assistant can do the consent forms withyou and take the study blood sample.

TWITTERWe are excited to let our patients know that theHealth Centre is now on Twitter. Follow us on@AshbyHlthCentre for the latest news andinformation.

CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEARWe would like to wish all our patients a MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you foryour support throughout 2014. We will be closedon all bank holidays and weekends throughoutthe festive period but open as usual for the rest ofthe time.

MONTHLY UPDATE


Explore AshbySomething a bit different - this month’s walk follows some of the tucked away paths on acircuit around Ashby town centre. We take in the beautiful Bath Grounds, pass by AshbyCastle and St Helens Church, follow paths through the cemetery and allotments and strolldown the shopping areas of Market Street and Mill Lane Mews. Whether you are a newcomerto Ashby or have lived here for years this circuit is an interesting wayof exploring areas of the town that you may not know. We've started

from Hood Park Leisure Centre but as it is a circular route feel free to join at whatever pointis closest to your own house if you live in town.

The walk starts from the car park adjacent to Hood Park Leisure Centre - if you are driving turn left offNorth Street just before the library to access Hood Park. You can also park by the library and walk up tothe Leisure Centre.With Hood Park Leisure Centre on your right take the path between the chestnut trees that leaves HoodPark (1), passing the children's play area and skate park on your left and the playing fields on your right.Continue on this path to cross over Meredith Road and very soon after this you will see a green footpath post. At this post turn left offthe marked public footpath (2), go over a small bridge to cross the Gilwiskaw Brook and follow the path up to emerge beside SmisbyRoad Newsagents.

Cross straight over Smisby Road and go up Rotherwood Drive which is opposite you. Leave RotherwoodDrive where it bends sharp left, going through the metal barriers and up the footpath straight ahead ofyou. Follow this path through a second set of barriers and around to emerge onto Sherbourne Drive.Turn left along Sherbourne Drive and left again at the end of the road as youenter Canterbury Drive. Keep following Canterbury Drive - you will pass by apath leading off to the left and then over the end of Roedean Close. Stay onCanterbury Drive as it bends around and goes uphill, passing by somegarages and another path off to the left. Further up the hill the road has ahammerhead on your left – at this point, between numbers 55 and 53 youwill find our next path (3). Go through the metal barriers, turn right along the

path and then keep to the right to go up a slope that runs behind some garages. The path bears left afterthe garages and then emerges onto Burton Road immediately opposite Hill Street.Cross straight over and continue ahead down Hill Street, a pretty little road with its high path, railings andold thatched cottage. At the end of Hill Street turn right up Moira Road for a short distance and justbefore reaching Tower Gardens cross over to the entrance to the cemetery.Go through the main gates and into the cemetery. (*The cemetery is open from 9am to 4pm in winter - if you are outside these hours you willneed to continue up Moira Road and look for the path off to your left that goes between the houses and then down into the allotments*). Walk

straight ahead through the cemetery and then keep on the main path as it bears around to the right goingtowards a fence made of metal railings that runs along the boundary to the cemetery grounds. On reachingthis fence turn left and then walk along for a short distance with the railings on your right to come to agate on your right which leads out of the cemetery and into the allotments.Turn left and follow the gravel track as it goes down through the allotments (4) to come out on the end ofWilfred Gardens. Keep straight ahead down Wilfred Gardens and past thefire station to reach the mini roundabout at the junction of Bath Street andStation Road. Cross over and walk through the car park of the Royal Hoteland into the Bath Grounds (5). Turn right, following the path towards thecricket pavilion, but before reaching it bear off to the left to cross over thelarge area of open grass. Initially aim for a gap in the fence on the far side

of the grass but as you get nearer to it bear left to leave the Bath Grounds via the metal gateway thatleads out into Prior Park Road.Cross over Prior Park Road and turn right and then very soon left to go up Prior Park Lane(6). At the topof Prior Park Lane turn left and go along Mount Walk (7), passing playing fields on your right and then theback of the castle grounds (8) and St Helens Church on your left. When Mount Walk ends at the corner ofUpper Church Street turn left by a blue bollard to walk down beside St Helens Church and come out near the top of South Street. Turnright along South Street, passing by the Lyric Rooms and then turn left at the end of the road, down Market Street.

Cross over Market Street at the first set of pedestrian lights, close to theMarket Hall, and then continue downhill for a short way until you pass Dean& Smedley Chemists on your right. Turn right here into Mill Lane Mews – anattractive lane of shops that always looks lovely at Christmas time. At theend of Mill Lane Mews cross over South Street via the zebra crossing and gostraight up the road opposite you to return to Hood Park Leisure Centre andthe start of the walk.

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All walks are checked shortly before publication but please be aware that paths maychange over time and with the seasons.


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a walk in the forest


last posting dates

in your garden

IT is not hidden or a secret, but theBluebell Arboretum and Nursery are afind that would make any gardener orplantsman's heart glow. Just on theedge of Ashby, this woodland gardenhas an exquisite array of unusualtrees, a nursery that does not justhave the usual plants found in chainnurseries but actually has rare plantsto buy and staff with encyc-lopaedic knowledge whichthey willingly and generouslyshare.

In November I attended aguided tour around thewoodland garden hosted byone of the owners, RobertVernon. His stories of thetrees he has planted there givea glimpse into the broad andfulfilling life he has had travellingworldwide and working as a specialist nurseryman.The two and a half hour tour explained thedevelopment of the nine acre garden over 22 yearsand explained the characteristics and identificationof many different and rare trees, how big they willget, and how long they will live for. A splash of Latinteaching helps to understand the formal Latinnaming of trees. Whether you go on an organisedtour or just wander round by yourself for a smallentrance fee you will have a delightful time; it is so

quiet and peaceful, with such visual delight.

In the winter the Betula (Birch) trees stand out. In thewoodland garden it is not just the bright white Betulassuch as the superb ‘Grayswood Ghost’, but a collectionthat shows beautiful peeling bark in colours ranging

through to a chocolate colour on thevariety Betulis var. Jacquemontii

‘Wakehurst Place Chocolate’.Robert explains which

variety of tree will growwell, slow or fast, howbig it will be - all withsuch enthusiasm youwould wish you couldhave your ownarboretum.

This woodland gardenis of course going to

become even moreimpressive as the trees

grow and newly planted areasdevelop. The Giant Redwoods

which have been planted there couldlive for 3,000 years and will eventually beenormous - 85 meters high and 8 meters wide.

On a more usual domestic scale the friendly staffcan advise on a selection of trees for a small garden.

They will answer questions to help ensure you have theright sort of tree for the space you want to fill - real valuefor money then.

The family run nursery does not just have a superbselection of trees but also shrubs, grasses andherbaceous plants plus gift vouchers.

Happy Christmas and New Year!

RHS Show Garden Medalist, Francesca Sinclair, looks at how to make the most of yourgarden and garden jobs for this time of year. Francesca offers a full garden design service- find out more at www.francescasinclair.co.uk

JOBS IN THE GARDEN:

1 Sharpen any blunt tools with a sharpener or whetstone.2 Brighten up tubs and borders with Primulas.3 Harvest sprouts (pick from the base upwards), parsnips,

kale and cabbages.4 Cover crops sown in the autumn, such as broad beans, with

a fleece.

5 Net cabbages and brassicas so they are not eaten by pigeons.6 Wrap any non frost proof pots and garden ornaments with

bubble wrap.7 Clean plant pots and seed trays.8 Decorate for the season with cuttings from your garden,

Holly, Ivy or spotted Laurel for garlands, table displays orwreaths.

Smisby Treasure

Francesca Email [email protected]

Photograph courtesy of Gillian Day


wordsearch



santa sleigh routes

THE props department at the VentureTheatre is a veritable treasure trove ofobjects, almost anything you can imagine

from crockery and glassware to vintage radios and oldbattered suitcases. But working on the props teaminvolves a lot more than knowing what’s in the storeand producing it for the various plays. We talked toSylvia Brooks and Wendy Allen, two of the membersof the theatre in charge of props, to find out more.

For any production, the job starts with a very carefulread through the script to list all the props required.“Sometimes the author lists these,” Sylvia told us.“Others do not, and sometimes it doesn’t become apparentuntil the actors start to play out their parts that certainobjects will be needed.”

Not all the props required will be found in the theatre’sown props department. “We have a few members whohave a gift for tracking down the more unusual props,”Sylvia says. “As a props person, you are always keepingan eye out for suitable things, almost without conscious

effort. Charity shops are a likely source along with jumblesales and car boot sales. You have to think, can somethingbe altered, repainted or used in conjunction with somethingelse? After all, the theatre is all about make-believe,imagination and illusion!”

During the early stages of a production, the actors willmake do with temporary props but a few weeks intorehearsals they are introduced to the real ones so thatthey get used to them

During later rehearsals, and of course the productionitself, the props team will be in the wings ready toreceive props as they come off stage and hand outothers as needed. Sometimes, props people need togo out onto the stage while the curtain is still up toretrieve or rearrange props

Sylvia told us “It would be great if more members had ago – younger ones and those who might fear they couldn’tdo it. There would always be help from old “stagers” to ironout any concerns.”

For further details visit ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk

venture theatre news

The Props Person


book reviews

THE GIFT ‘The Gift’...Cecelia Ahern

If you ever thought there weren’t enoughhours in the day then meet Lou Suffern, aman who is constantly needs to be twoplaces at once and who is struggling to keepup. He finds it impossible to really ‘be’ in the present, whether it’sat work or at home with his family. One day he meets a homelessman called Gabe and, taking pity on him, sorts him out with a job inthe post room. But there’s something not quite right about Gabe.

He always appears to be in more than one place at once. It’s a bit ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for modern times,and goes to prove that as we suspected, time really could be the greatest gift of all.

THE FOOD ‘Great British Bake Off: Christmas’...Lizzie Kamenetzky

‘Stuff your face with plates of blinis, fah-lah-lah-lah lah’ or however it goes! Christmassimply can’t go wrong with Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry helping you along yourmerry way. There are master class recipes as well as contributions from all fourprevious winners and other memorable contestants. It’s packed with plenty ofinspiration without causing you too much perspiration whilst slaving over a hot stove.It could be a present to yourself…or whoever you’ve talked into doing the cooking.

THE FAMILY ‘A Proper Family Christmas’...Chrissie Manby

Whenever someone tells you this is what they want, they mean the nostalgic Christmas card, cookie cutterimage. They don’t mean the arguments, tears and recriminations that usually go hand in hand with the festiveseason. This is the story of two clashing families, brought together by the need to help the Buchanan’sseriously ill daughter, Izzy. The matriarch, Annabel, was adopted and so needs to find her own biologicalparents to see if Izzy can be saved. It sounds like a tear-jerker but it’s a warm and fuzzy one for Christmas.

THE WEATHER ‘Let it Snow’...John Green, Maureen Johnson and Lauren Myracle

Here are three touching and romantic stories that all stem from one incident, as a young girl decides to ditchthe stranded train she was travelling on and heads out into the blizzard. The tales then take place over thefollowing few days as the residents of Gracetown struggle to cope with the ChristmasEve storm. Written by some of today’s best-selling authors they are like threeperfectly wrapped little stocking fillers.

THE ESCAPE PLAN ‘Eat, Pray, Love’...Elizabeth Gilbert

If all else fails and you really can’t stand your in-laws, or even your husband for anyamount of time past Boxing Day, then why not just escape from it all? At 3am,Elizabeth’s seemingly perfect life is keeping her up and making her depressed. So,she ups sticks and heads off in pursuit of happiness. Her travels take her to Italy,India and then on to Bali, finding food for her soul and her belly along the way. It’sthe perfect antidote to all that forced happiness and fun.

We’ve got Christmas all wrappedup this year, with a set of books

designed to have every aspect ofthe holiday covered. If all else

fails though, there’s always theoption of packing it all in and

doing a runner…and we’vethought of that as well.

for ChristmasA Gift


young ashby


seasonal recipes

GET STARTED1 Preheat the oven to 150°C/130°C

fan/gas 2. Grease a deep 18cm squaretin and line the base with bakingparchment. Toast the almonds undera medium grill until just golden thenroughly chop. Mix in a bowl with thepistachios, figs and orange zest.

2 Sift over the flour and cocoa powderand stir well then stir in the cinnamonand ground cloves. Set aside.

3 Put the caster sugar and honey in aheavy-based pan and heat gently untilthe sugar has dissolved. Bring to theboil then let the syrup bubble gently forabout 5 minutes, without stirring themixture, until it begins to thicken.

4 Remove the pan from the heat andquickly add the nut and flour mixturestirring well with a wooden spoon. Spooninto the prepared tin and smooth thesurface using the back of a damp spoon.

5 Bake in the preheated oven for about 1hour then remove the cake from the ovenand leave in the tin until completely cold.Remove the cake from the tin, peel offthe lining paper and dust thickly withicing sugar. Use a sharp knife to cutinto squares to serve.

Serves 8-10Ready in5 hours

GET STARTED1 Heat half the butter and the olive oil in a frying pan and fry

the leek and shallots for 6-7 minutes until softened. Removefrom the heat and stir in the apricots, breadcrumbs,chestnuts and half the thyme leaves. Season well with saltand freshly ground black pepper and leave to cool.

2 Preheat the oven to 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5. Line a largeroasting tin with buttered foil. Use about one third of thestuffing mix to stuff the neck end of the turkey (press therest of the stuffing in a shallow ovenproof dish to cookseparately). Weigh the stuffed turkey and calculate thecooking time - allow 20 minutes per 450g plus 20 minutes.Place the turkey in the lined roasting tin and smear all overthe skin with the remaining butter. Sprinkle over the rest ofthe thyme leaves and season.

3 Cover the turkey with a tent of buttered foil and roast in thepreheated oven for the calculated cooking time, bastingoccasionally. Uncover the turkey for the last 45 minutes untilthe skin is golden and the juices run clear when a skewer isinserted into the thickest part of one thigh. If the juices stillrun slightly pink return the turkey to the oven for a further15-20 minutes then check again.

4 Leave the turkey, loosely covered with foil, in a warm place torest for at least 20 minutes. Stretch the bacon rashers withthe back of a knife and cut each rasher in half. Wrap the shortrashers around the cocktail sausages, securing with a cocktailstick. Place in baking tray and cook in the oven for 20-25minutes until golden and cooked through. Drizzle a couple ofspoonfuls of juices from the turkey over the stuffing in thedish and cook in the oven at the same time as the bacon-wrapped sausages for 20 minutes.

5 Serve the turkey on a large warmed platter with the bacon-wrapped sausages and garnished with fresh herbs. Servethe extra stuffing separately along with all the vegetables.

Panforte de Siena

Roasting the turkey in a’tent’ of buttered foilwill keep it moist andsucculent.

Roast Turkey


with Leek, Apricot & Chestnut Stuffing

YOU WILL NEED• 100g butter• 1 tbsp olive oil• 1 leek, trimmed and

chopped• 2 shallots, peeled & chopped• 75g ready to eat dried

apricots, finely chopped• 150g fresh white

breadcrumbs

• 100g cooked chestnuts,finely chopped

• 2 tbsp fresh thyme leaves• 5.4kg oven-ready turkey,

giblets removed• 16 cocktail sausages • 4 rashers smoked streaky

bacon• Fresh herbs, to garnish

YOU WILL NEED• 150g whole

blanchedalmonds

• 125g pistachionuts

• 175g dried figs,chopped

• Grated zest of1 orange

• 75g plain flour

• 2 tbsp cocoapowder

• 2 tsp groundcinnamon

• ¼ tsp groundcloves

• 115g caster sugar

• 175g runny honey

• Icing sugar, fordusting

Makes 25Ready in 1½ hours+ cooling

A traditionalItalian Christmastreat packedwith nuts, figs,honey andwarmingspices.

www.ashbychurch.co.uk

It’s that time of year again - the Christmascountdown! Some of you may be well-organised,having everything under control and ready for

the big day. Many of us, however, are still rushingaround trying to make preparations before it’s toolate. There’s gifts to buy, cards to write, food tobuy, decorations to put up – the list always seemsendless, will we ever be ready in time?

Yet with all the rushing around, how many of uswill remember the real reason we are celebratingChristmas? Maybe you will find time to attend acarol service or nativity play and be reminded ofthe birth of Jesus. Of course the story doesn’t endthere – it gets even better! Without the birth of Jesusthere would be no hope for the future. Fromreading the Bible, we know Jesus died for us, wasraised back to life, and will soon return to achieve

peace at last. Surely that’s something even moreexciting to look forward to?

So, the Christmas countdown is on. As each newwindow is opened on the advent calendar, theexcitement builds – we’re one day closer to Christmas(one day less to do those jobs!). But it’s also oneday closer to the return of Jesus.

From experience we know that by working away atour Christmas jobs list, we will eventually be ready forDecember 25th and able to enjoy the results of all ourpreparations. In a similar way we need to prepare forthe return of Jesus and make sure we are busy, readyand watching. Let’s pick up our Bibles and read aboutthe amazing things God promises us when Jesusreturns again – a wonderful time of celebration,happiness, peace and safety.

It might have all started in a lowly stable justover 2000 years ago, but the Jesus countdown isdefinitely on...!

Useful passages to look up: Matthew 25 vs 31-46.

The countdown

IS ON...Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.uk


fun quiz


just 4 funS

olution

s on p

age 124

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Each letter in this puzzle isrepresented by a numberbetween 1 and 26. The codesfor three letters are shown.As you find the letters enterthem in the box below.

CODEWORD



FRIENDS OF ASHBY MUSEUM Thanks to those who came to our AGM. We are planning a full programme of eventsto support the museum next year. The first of these will be a Folk Entertainment evening at Packington Memorial Hallon Saturday 14th February at 7.30pm. More details in January.

At the AGM of Ashby Museum,Andrew Bridgen, M.P. for NorthWest Leicestershire, donated an

encaustic tile from St. Stephen's Hall inthe Palace of Westminster. The tile was anexample of those designed by AugustusWelby Pugin, between 1846 and 1852,and was originally produced by HerbertMinton of Stoke-on-Trent. It was removedfrom St. Stephen's Hall in 2013, andis part of a limited release from theconservation project at the Houses ofParliament.

Mr. Bridgen congratulated the Museum onanother successful year and commentedon the project to ensure Lt. Col. PhilipBent VC was remembered by a comm-emorative paving slab, soon to be placedin the garden behind the Market StreetWar Memorial. NWLDC Chairman, Coun-cillor Graham Allman, also gave a short speech ofsupport from both the District Council and Ashby TownCouncil. The Mayor of the Town Council, Andrew Badger,was also present. Brian Berry, Chairman of Trustees, led theproceedings and thanked all councils and Mr. Bridgen fortheir unwavering and invaluable support. He reviewed theyear, which had seen an increase in visitors and someexcellent temporary exhibitions. The present one, on theGreat War and the area's Fallen, will end on 1st March.

The Museum paid host to Vernon Coaker, the M.P. forGedling and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, onSaturday afternoon. He was accompanied by JamieMcMahon, Labour's candidate for the North WestLeicestershire constituency. They were welcomed byBrian Berry, Chairman of Trustees, and Kenneth Hillier,

Vice Chairman.

They spent over an hour atthe Museum, concentratingin particular on the movingdisplay in the Loudoun Galleryon the Fallen of the Great War.They then toured the mainZouche Gallery and the ArchiveRoom upstairs. Mr Coaker waspresented with a copy of therecently published book, 'LestWe Forget', which detailsthe backgrounds and militarycareers of those local menwho made the supreme sacr-ifice in the conflict a centuryago. Mr Coaker later emailedto say "Wonderful exhibition andmuseum... all the best with yourimportant work".

On November 5th our World War 1 exhibition wasvisited by more than 90 year 5 and 6 pupils fromBurton Road School who came to enrich theirlearning experience.

The next Kids' Club will be on the 6th Decemberfrom 11am till 2pm. There will be many activitiesincluding designing your own history poster anddressing up in 17th century costumes. Free entryand all the family are welcome.

Following the celebration of 300 years ofRavenstone Hospital, a splendid book has beenpublished to give the history from foundation totoday. Copies are on sale at the Museum and wouldmake a good Christmas present.

ashby museum news

Chairman, Brian Berry, with the Mintontile presented to the Museum byAndrew Bridgen M.P.

church services


WITH Christmas nearly here, I will give a quickreminder about the law on Drinking and Driving.The only safe limit of alcohol to have in your bloodand drive is zero!

It is not advisable to even have one drink and drive asalcohol impairs your judgement and lessens yourreflexes. The official amount of alcohol is 35 micro-grammes per 100ml of breath reading. This cannot betranslated into an exact amount of units as it dependson many factors - height and weight, time when last drinkconsumed, etc.

Depending on the amount of alcohol you consumed youcould still be over the limit the following morning, evenafternoon. Even if you feel fine and ‘sober’ it does notmean that you are not still over the legal limit. There isno definitive answer as to when you would be under thelegal limit as it depends on a lot of factors. Your bodysize and other factors in your genetic makeup affect thissort of rule.

As a very rough guide for a healthy adult, ignoring thefirst hour you should deduct an hour for each unit ofalcohol you consume. A unit is half a pint of normalstrength lager/beer, a single measure of spirits or a

standard glass of wine. This is not a rule that should berelied upon but a warning as to how long alcohol canlinger in your system and the possible consequences ofdriving the following day. If you eat a meal whilstconsuming alcohol this does help to soak up the alcoholand release it at a much slower rate (but eating muchlater after an evening of heavy drinking does notgenerally help).

However, lack of sleep and feeling unwell can affect yourdriving and there are other offences that you couldcommit if you drive after a heavy night out even if youare not over the limit. You can purchase breathalysersbut we cannot recommend any brand or comment onhow reliable they are.

If you are stopped the day after and are over the limit,you are classed as a drink driver and will face the samepenalties. Ignorance of the alcohol level in your systemis no defence.

So if you are indetending to drink the best advice we cangive is leave the car at home.

Have a safe and enjoyable Christmas and New Year.

PC MARK ARJOOtelephone: 101 voicemail ID: 1667

email: [email protected]

on the beat


Hello everyone...

in your home

IN the Scandinaviancountries extremesof landscape, fromforests and fjords toboiling geysers andthe Aurora Borealis,

are all around you. In winter, daylight is fleeting, andkeeping warm is a vital part of life. No surprise, then, thattypical homes feature thick log walls, small, south-facingdoors and windows, and thatched or birch-bark roofs.Inside, vividly coloured decorations in bright, rustic folkstyle provide relief from the long hours of night and theexpanses of snow. Carved wooden spoons, bowls, cups andchests, strongly coloured, woven rugs, blankets andcushions, and beautifully painted furniture in ochres, redsand yellows are the timeless tradition.

Appealing as it is, there is much more to Scandinavian stylethan colourful rusticity, however. What we now called‘Gustavian’ style became popular in the late 18th century,encouraged by the young King Gustav III of Sweden, underwhose patronage the grandeur of Versailles and the skilledcreations of master furniture-makers like Hepplewhite andChippendale were interpreted by native craftsmen in agentler and more restrained way, blending neo-classicismand romantic Rococo into a unique, northern Europeandecorative style. Think symmetry, pale colours (buttermilkand Baltic blue, grey and peppermint), painted floorboards,ribbons and swags, glass chandeliers, gilding, mirrors anddelicate wooden furniture with tapering legs and subtlycarved details.

Another major influence, a century or so later, was Swedishartist Carl Larsson and his wife, Karin. In the 1890s thecouple decorated their rural cottage, Lilla Hyttnås, in aunique and innovative way, combining folk and Gustavianstyles with contemporary European influences: Arts &Crafts, Art Nouveau and Japonisme. Light and airy, prettyand functional, the look was all gingham and geraniums,bread crocks and baskets, rag rugs and spriggedchina. When Carl’s watercolours of the house werepublished, the public response, in Sweden andfurther afield, was overwhelming; his books, in theearly 20th century, did a great deal to popularisewhat we now see as the typically Scandinavian styleof easy-going Gustavian, folk arts and an open-plan

love of light and space. Andwhat he started, a certainSwedish flat-pack furn-iture giant continued. Ikeaopened its first UK store in1987 and then – who canforget? – in 1994 launchedits Gustavian-style furniturerange, accompanied by anadvertising campaign that urged us all to ‘chuck outyour chintz’. It sold like hot glogg, and the rest ishistory – now we all crave the clean-lined, bright anduncluttered look, styled with pretty colours anddashes of folk art.

Create a Scandinavian feel this Christmas bycombining folk and sophistication, cosy andminimalism. Keep it simple – too much clutter isdefinitely not a part of this particular look. Yourcolour palette is, of course, mainly red and white,with green, brown and black for contrast, and theoccasional dusting of glitter or artificial snow. Naturalaccessories such as twigs, branches and fir cones area great starting point, with generously sized garlandsand wreaths made from woven greenery. A sprinklingof metal lanterns with flickering candles createsatmosphere, and a real Christmas tree is, of course,the centrepiece (clip-on candles optional).

In general, materials should be as natural as possible,from bark to hessian, felt to Fair Isle, emphasising allsorts of appealing textures. If you can knit, sew orotherwise make your own decorations, so much thebetter but, if not, there are plenty of gorgeousaccessories in the shops and online created bytalented craftspeople. Perfection is not required:simply that appealingly homespun look. A row ofknitted stockings, for example, would be just perfect,while linen sacks with folk-style embroidery are ideal

for larger presents. A gingham table runner isdelightful, as are wooden or woven willowstars, berry garlands, miniature trees,appliquéd bunting and reindeer baubles.

You’ve got the idea? Then raise a cup ofschnapps and fill your home with festive

Scandinavian cheer.


Who doesn’t love Scandinavian style? It combines classic withcontemporary, pretty with practical. And it’s the perfect lookwith which to dress up your home for Christmas.ScandinavianChristmas

prize competition

WIN £25 IN OUR PRIZE COMPETITION We’ve hidden a copy of ourlogo within one of the advertisements in the magazine – just tell us the name of the company whoseadvert it is hidden in and you could be in with a chance of winning £25. Send your answer to us at:Competition, Ashby Life, Castle House, South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1BR.

If you don’t want to cut out the entry form you can send the answer on a postcard or enter by email to:[email protected].

Entries close on Friday 19th December. The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. The winnerwill be notified and a cheque for £25 sent within 14 days of the closing date, the winners name will also be publishedon our Facebook page. Multiple or automated entries are not allowed. We will not pass your details to any thirdparty. We may use your details to send you marketing emails from Ashby Life in the future – if you would preferthat we did not, please tick the box.

Name

AddressPostcode

Email address

The logo is hidden in the advert foron page

CONGRATULATIONS to the winner of our October competition, Thomas Gill.


Coleorton and New Lount Volunteer GroupDates for December are: New Lount on 13th andColeorton Wood on 9th. Work sessions start at 10amand usually last 4 hours. Volunteers are welcome tocome along for all or part of the sessions. For moreinformation email [email protected] or seewww.cnlvg.moonfruit.co.uk.

Win a Car RaffleThe Rotary Club of Ashby Castle will be making thedraw for their 'win a brand new car' raffle, in aid ofRainbows Hospice, at the Ashby Christmas Event inMarket Street on Saturday 29th November. LocalEngland cricketer Matthew Hoggard should be on handto make the draw at 2.30pm and find out who has wonthe VW Move Up! They will also be supporting Santaand his sleigh in Market Street, so be sure to go downand see them.

Newlands HouseSanta’s WalkAt Hicks Lodge, Moira on 7th December to help raisemoney for Newlands House residents. £5 entry fee,choose your own route from easy to longer trails aroundthe Hicks Lodge grounds. If you want to help themeven more, pick up a sponsorship form and get friendsand relatives to sponsor you to do this event. If you getmore than £10 sponsorship money, the cost of yourticket is refunded. Buy a santa hat or bring your own.Medals for kids and sweets for kids aged up to 70.Tickets from Newlands reception or call 01283 761202.

The Palace, IbstockChristmas FestivalFriday 12th December 4pm till 8.30pm and Saturday13th December 10am till 2pm. Visit Santa in hisEnchanted ‘Frozen’ Castle, £2 per visit including a gift.Free admission to indoor Christmas Market with IbstockCommunity Choir, Enchanted Harps, story-telling room,vintage barrel organ, children’s entertainment and lotsmore. Plus ‘Fun on the Fair’ on Ram car park, behindThe Palace. See www.thepalaceibstock.co.uk.

Volunteer with Ashby Food BankAshby foodbank is a church lead community projectworking as part of the Trussell Trust foodbank networkand has given 10,000 meals to people in crisis sinceopening in May 2013. Could you help them as avolunteer? Please see ashbyfoodbank.org.uk or call07542 118 878.

Tara Kadampa Meditation CentreRelaxing meditation and practical advice to help in ourdaily life, at Legion House, South Street, Ashby, LE65

1BQ. Classes from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursday 4thDec, 11th Dec, 18th Dec, there is then a break andclasses restart on Thurs 15th January. There is no needto book-just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Classes cost£6, for details or further information contact 01283732338 or email [email protected].

Age UK Leicestershire & RutlandDon’t dispose – Donate. Age UK Leicestershire &Rutland are looking for donations of unwanted goods,particularly furniture and bric-a-brac but also booksand clothing. All of their 23 charity shops around thetwo counties will gladly accept donations whilstfurniture can also be collected from homes by calling0116 278 1208.

Just ActThis is a new website to help community groups getsupport, funding and advice. Just Act is for anyonecurrently involved in a community project, or anyonelooking to get more active in their local area. To findout more about the site and how you can get involved,visit www.justact.org.uk.

Small Grant SchemeCould your community benefit from a cash boost of upto £500? North West Leicestershire District Councilhave now launched their Small Grant Scheme for localcommunity and voluntary groups. Grants are availablefor one-off pieces of expenditure for projects,equipment and other items, which will help yourorganisation to do more, to reach more people, toprovide better services or just to try somethingdifferent. The grant scheme can make a big differencein helping communities get schemes and projectsstarted. Application forms to be completed online atwww.nwleics.gov.uk/grants. Further information andadvice from [email protected].

Poppy Appeal A big thank you to the Poppy Appeal Volunteers aroundAshby de la Zouch & District for giving up their time tohelp raise money for the Royal British Legion PoppyAppeal. www.britishlegion.org.uk/branches/ashby-de-la-zouch.

Ashby de la Zouch Town CouncilCalendar of MeetingsThe Town Council meets on 8th December and theLicensing, Planning and Transportation Committee on15th December. Members of the public are welcome toattend and there is a slot for public questions.Meetings take place at Legion House, South Streetand start at 6.30pm.

community board


days gone by

For billions of children world-wide, from the Twenties until…well, for happy ever after,

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmaswithout a special piece of magic fromWalt Disney. Born in December 1901,this entrepreneur, business magnate,cartoonist, animator, voice actor (abig thank you from Mickey Mouse),producer, director and screenwriterspent most of his life not just fulfillinghis own dreams but creating dreamsfor countless generations to come.

Part-way through producing TheJungle Book, on December 15 1966,Walt Disney (pictured top) died of lungcancer. According to rumour his bodywas cryogenically frozen pendinga cure for the disease. Well, whowouldn’t want to believe that WaltDisney is in suspended animation?

1st: Following the declaration ofindependence from Britain, Rhod-esia’s Prime Minister, Ian Smith, andHarold Wilson held talks aboard HMSTiger, in the Mediterranean, with nopositive outcome.

8th: The USA and the USSR signeda treaty prohibiting nuclear weaponsin outer space.

21st: Russia launched Luna 13,

which made a soft landing on themoon three days later (is anotheratmosphere, eg the moon’s,technically ‘outer space’? I justwondered).

23rd: The final episode of ReadySteady Go! was broadcast. Thisprogramme had been a regularfeature of Friday evenings sinceAugust 1963 and the viewing figurespeaked on 20 March 1964, whenthe Beatles were interviewed, beforeperforming their then current hitCan’t Buy Me Love, as well as It Won’tBe Long and You Can’t Do That.

The first screening of The Good, TheBad and The Ugly, starring ClintEastwood, took place in Italy.American audiences would have towait another twelve months to see itand it didn’t premiere in London until

’68. This film was memorable asmuch for its evocative music asanything else.

24th: I bought my first three-piecesuit, off-the-peg from Burton, for£14.10/-. It was a bit short in thearms but as long as I kept my handsin the pockets it didn’t show.

31st: I went swimming in the Thamesat midnight. Well, it seemed like agood idea at the time. Fortunately Iwas rescued by a passing policelaunch and spent the first few hoursof 1967 in A&E. My three-piece-suitwas ruined.

Three best-selling singles were:

Green Green Grass Of Home,Tom Jones (pictured below)

What Would I Be, Val Doonican

Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys

The average price of a housewas about £3,840


What happened in...

money matters


The Benefits of Trust PlanningARE you concerned with safe guarding your assets for this and futuregenerations? If so a Trust Deed will ensure your assets are utilised exactlyhow you wish them to be.

A Trust Deed is a legal document setting out an arrangement which transfersproperty, including shares and money, to trustees or a trust company toadminister for the benefit of those named in the deed or Will.

Trusts are usually set up during an individual’s lifetime but they can also bearranged after death via the individuals Will.

There are numerous reasons for setting up a Trust, the main ones being:• To provide effective tax planning, especially in reducing the liability of inheritance tax.• To ensure that assets remain in the family after divorce.• To hold assets for children until 18 or an age deemed they will be mature enough to receive the assets.• To provide benefits to individuals but to ensure they have restricted rights to the asset.• To protect property from being sold to cover costly home bills.

A Trust is an independent legal entity and assets are therefore taxed separately for capital gains tax, incometax and inheritance tax purposes, away from an individual's personal estate.

The tax laws relating to Trusts has changed over the recent year and is extremely complicated. If you'd liketo know more, call Lisa Emery at Baldwins (Ashby) Limited on 01530 416688 to arrange for a freeconsultancy review on your financial affairs.

ashby library news


You can always expect a warm welcome at Ashby Library. Join for free to use the computersand borrow books, DVDs and talking books. We also do 1-2-1 iPad and computer tastersessions. Come and chat to us and we will be happy to help you or call us on 0116 305 5917.

JUST FOR CHRISTMAS • Come in from the cold, have a

cuppa and enjoy some carols!Woodcote Primary School Choirwill be visiting the library tointroduce us to the festive seasonwith some songs. 1.30pm onTuesday 9th December.

• We all know that Ashby isFABulous so why not visit yourFABulous Library and check outour fashion and beauty displaythroughout December?

FOR FAMILIES• ‘Wriggly Readers’ and ‘Story and

Rhymetime’ for children aged 0to 5 years and their parents andcarers. Join us for stories andsongs every Friday morning10.30am to 11am.

• After Story and Rhymetime,fortnightly 11am to noon, come

along to ‘Bumps & Babies’, ameeting place for new andexpectant mums: Free advice andinformation sessions run by theNational Childbirth Trust.

• ‘Tiny Talk’ baby signing classestake place every Thursday9.30am to 10.30am and anothersession 11am to noon.

KNITTING AND SEWING• ‘The friendly ‘Knit and Stitch’

group meets every Monday 2pmto 4pm. Bring your project andcome for a chat.

• Embroidery Club meets on thefirst Thursday of every month7.15pm to 9.30pm. ContactAngela Regan 01283 210422.

MUSIC• The unusual and popular Ukulele

playing group meets everyWednesday 9.30am to 11.30am.

£5 per session. Contact JoannaStevenson on 07415 798134.

• Zouch Acoustic and Folk Club.Meets 8pm every third Thursdayof the month. Contact BrianLangtry 01530 416251.

HEALTH AND FITNESS• Come and practice Hatha Yoga

every Tuesday 7pm to 9pm.Contact British Wheel of Yogaqualified instructor Lorna Kirk formore details: 01530 416135.

• To aid flexibility and ease jointstry Therapeutic Yoga, everyWednesday 7pm to 9pm.Contact qualified instructor LizUnderwood for more details:07812 007202 or [email protected].

• Join Slimming Club everyTuesday 7pm to 8pm with CarolTimms 01530 416883.

storytime

“I’ll lock up while you getthe first round in”, Trevortold Barry, scratching hisbeard.

“Aren’t we changingout of our work clothes?”Barry said.

“Not tonight”. This was hisChristmas Eve ritual, thepub regulars expectedit. Once Santa and hiself arrived at the bar

everyone knew Christmas had finally arrived.

Trevor had been the Santa at the precinct grotto for years. The kids he’d oncebounced on his knee now brought their own kids to tell Santa what a goodlittle boy or girl they’d been.

“Busy year”, Trevor said, “there’s only one present left, we were cutting that a bitfine”.

“What’ll happen to it?” Barry asked. He was new to the elf game, slightlyscatterbrained, but good with crowd management Trevor thought.

“It’ll go in storage until next year”. The grotto was no more than a sheddecorated with tinsel, but for the last ten days over-excited kids had beenqueuing out the door.

“Off you trot now, mine’s a pint”, Trevor said switching off the lights.

Left to himself, Trevor locked the door and dropped the key in his coat pocket.A job well done he thought. As he turned to go he felt something pulling oncoat.

“Excuse me Santa is the grotto still open?” a young lad said. He was just a scrapof a thing, Trevor nearly tripped over him.

“Sorry lad, we’ve shut up shop”. The boy’s bottom lip began to wobble.

“But I wanted to see Santa”. The boy whimpered. Just what I need, thoughtTrevor, a blubberer on Christmas Eve.

“Well, you’re seeing me now aren’t you?”. Trevor said and ruffled the boy’s hair.

“And get a present”, the boy added.

“Well you should’ve come earlier”, Trevor said gruffly. It was more than his job’sworth to let the lad into the grotto without his elf present; health and safetyand all that.

“I did, but your elf said I had to pay and I didn’t have any money”, the boy saidrubbing his eyes. Trevor softened. Poor kid.

“Listen lad, don’t cry”. He crouched down, “tell me, have you been a good boythis year?”

The boy nodded uncertainly. Trevorchuckled. He put his hand in his pocketand pulled out all his loose change.

“Here, find yourself something nice withthis”. The boy held out his hand andgrinned,

“Thanks Santa”.

Trevor stood up slowly, his old kneesached.

“Happy Christmas”. He waved, andheaded towards the pub. There was acheer from the regulars as he walked in.Barry was standing at the crowded barlooking sheepish.

“Where’s my pint?” Trevor said.

“I left my wallet at the grotto”, Barry said.“There’s no pockets in these tights”.

“We’d better nip back for it”, Trevor sighed,“I’ve got the key here”.

He dug his hand into his pocket, andknew straight away what he’d done. Thepocket was empty.

“I’ve dropped a real clanger”. He groanedand bundled Barry out of the pub. Theboss would have his guts for garters forthis.

“Oh no!” Barry gasped as they reachedthe grotto. Trevor was afraid to look.

“You’ve left the key in the door”. Barrypanted.

“Did I?” Trevor could breathe again,“Must have been distracted by that kid.” Hescanned inside the shed as Barryretrieved his wallet from behind theinflatable Rudolph.

“No harm done”. He smiled, putting thekey safely back in his pocket.

He was ready for that pint. It was lucky,he thought, that his elf hadn’t noticedthe pile of small change where the lastpresent used to be.

Present

The


scouts christmas post


what’s on...

29th NovemberAshby Christmas Fair with Food Gusto,Santa, children’s rides and live music.Town centre from 10am to 4pm. Star of Wonder - Outdoor Nativity Playon the steps of Ashby Baptist Church,Brook Street at 6.30pm, followed byrefreshments. Craft Fair at Legion House, SouthStreet. 10am to 4pm. Part of theAshby Christmas Event. For moreinformation contact Mary Tuckey on01530 413 434.

2nd DecemberAshby Royal British Legion – AnnualGeneral meeting at Ivanhoe SocialClub, 1, Wilfred Place, Ashby LE652GW at 7pm. Visitors welcome. Fordetails call 01530 417 747 or [email protected] WI – ‘Pantomime Dame’with speaker Richard Westcott. AtBlackfordby Village Hall, 7pm. Formore information contact Gill Massey01238 212 380.

3rd December Coffee Morning and Christmas Fair –The annual Christmas fair at NewlandsHouse, Main Street in Netherseal. Thisis a great chance to buy Christmaspresents whilst enjoying a tombola,raffle and festive refreshments. Entryis free, from 10am.

3rd to 6th December‘The Haunting’ - A spine tingling playadapted from several of CharlesDickens' ghost stories by Hugh Janes.Venture Theatre 7.30pm, ticketsavailable from Ashby TIC call 01530411 767.

4th DecemberAshby Castle WI – Professionalmusician Nick Wallbank entertains atthe Christmas party. Meet at AshbyCongregational Church, Kilwardby St.Anyone is welcome to come and join.Refreshments are available. Pleasering Lesley on 01530 455 957 formore information.

5th DecemberCarol Service by Candlelight -Staunton Harold Church at 7pm.Entry is free and all donations will bepassed on to Hospice Hope. Seasonalrefreshments will be served after-wards,and parking is available in theLion Court car park, courtesy of Mr

and Mrs Blunt. Singing will be assistedby the Calke Abbey Volunteer Choir. Palace Christmas Social Dance - Avery popular evening of ballroom, latin,and sequence. Doors and bar open at7.30 pm. Dancing from 8pm till 11pm.Entry £5. The Palace, Ibstock, call01530 262 400 for more informationor see www.thepalaceibstock.co.uk.

6th December Ravenstone Institute - ChristmasDance with live group ‘The Revivals’performing songs from the 60s. From8pm until 11.30pm, with licensed bar,please take your own nibbles. Proceedsto Ravenstone Institute Fund, allwelcome. Tickets £7 call, Tom or Janeton 01530 415 196 or 07806 934 474.‘A Christmas Treat’ - The Leicester-shire Co-op (Snibston) Band inconcert. The Palace, Ibstock. Doorsopen 7pm for 7.30pm start, tickets £8(£6 concessions) available from JohnBall on 01530 831 446 or HallsElectrical, High Street, Ibstock, 01530260 460.Open Day at Smisby Village Hall -Ashby Arts Club in conjunction with theSmisby WI. Exhibition and sale ofmember’s paintings, photographsfrom Ashby Camera Club and livedemonstrations by artists, table topstalls. Coffee/tea, home-made cakesand lunch by the W.I. Christmas Fair – A variety of stalls,refreshments (including all-daybreakfasts), games and raffle. AshbyCongregational Church, KilwardbyStreet, Ashby from 10am to 3pm. Freeentry and all welcome.

7th December Indoor Car Boot Sale at The Palace,Ibstock. From 9am till noon.Admission 20p, for more details or tobook a stall call Gary on Tel 01530 262400.

6th to 7th DecemberCinderella - The Panto Company'spantomime production is filled withlively characters, up to date chart hitsand slapstick humour. CenturyTheatre at Snibston. Saturday 2pmand 6.30pm, Sunday 2pm. Tickets£8.50 standard, £7.50 groups (10+).01530 278 444.

8th DecemberAshby History Society - Melanie Wilsontalks on ‘The Leicestershire Heritage

Apple Project’ She will explain its work,and will answer questions about applecultivation. Methodist Church, BurtonRoad, Ashby de la Zouch at 7.30pm,visitors welcome. For more informationcall 01530 415 654.Ashby Canal Association presents afilm and social evening, with ascreening of ‘Song of the Soar’ byAshby producer Brian Langtry lookingat the varied aspects of Leicester-shire's famous river, plus an illustratedup-date on the current phase ofrestoration of the Ashby Canal north ofSnarestone. Donisthorpe WoodlandCentre (DM's), Donisthorpe. Adm-ission free. For more details contact01455 290 462 or 01530 412 516.

9th DecemberAshby Civic Society – Christmas Socialat Donington Le Heath. Good food,good company and entertainment inthe barn at Donington Le Heath ManorHouse. Entertainment will be medievalmusic from Nick Gravestock. Tickets£7.50, booking essential. For moredetails call Suzanne 01530 415 654.Ashby U3a – Tea and mince pies plusentertainment from The UkelelePlayers at the Congregational Church,Kilwardby Street, Ashby, 2pm. Allwelcome. Visitors £1.Christmas Concert - At Calke Abbeywith the Concorde singers andtraditional carols, followed by supperwith homemade soup and rolls. Formore information please ring 01530243 051.

10th DecemberAshby Wine Circle – Christmas socialevening. Members to take their ownfavourite dish. Meet at 7.30pm, BrownCourt, Atkinson Road, Westfields,Ashby de la Zouch. LE65 2LZ. ‘Hobson’s Choice’ (U) - This is theoriginal silent version made in 1920,only recently rediscovered. Ashby FilmNights will be showing this as part ofthe British Film Institute’s initiative toshow films made during the 1st WorldWar. Cyrus Gabrysch, one of theresident pianists at the BFI on theSouth Bank, accompanies the film.The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de la Zouch,LE65 1AB. Film starts at 7.30 pm,doors and bar opens at 7pm, tickets£5, available on the door. Seeashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

November into December

continued on p120


what’s on...

10th DecemberAshby-Pithivers Twinning AssociationChristmas walk and lunch. Forinformation or to book, call PeterWilkinson on 01530 414 689 or seewww.ashbydelazouchtwinning.co.uk.

Ashby Ivanhoe Travel Club – ‘Africa,Namibia’. A talk by Mr C Fone. Pith-ivers Room of Ivanhoe College, Ashbyat 7.30pm prompt. All are welcome,no joining fee or subscription, just£1.50 per talk. For details contactJulie Nelson on 01530 558 197 oremail to [email protected].

10th DecemberThe Palace Wine Club - Wine tastingevening starting at 7pm. Presented byMajestic Wines, tickets £8 and limitedto a maximum of 30 places. Call Garyat The Palace on 01530 262 400 orCorinne 01530 451 725 to reserveyour place.

12th DecemberLRWT North West Group – AGM andsocial occasion. To include a showingof ‘100 years of the Wildlife Trusts.’Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton Road,Ashby, 7.30pm. Entry £2. For moredetails please call David Maltby on01530 222 934 or Jim Footitt on01530 262 389.The Ockbrook Big Band – At VentureJazz Club, North Street, 8pm. Ticketsavailable from Ashby TIC call 01530411 767.Comedy Double Bill - Off The KerbProductions presents a hilariousdouble bill of stand-up comedy fromtwo of its brightest rising stars,Romesh Ranganathan and Suzi Ruffell.Century Theatre at Snibston, starts8pm. tickets £10 advance, £12 on thedoor. Book online at www.centurytheatre.co.uk or 01530 278 444.

13th December‘Caught in the act’ - Simon James inhis acclaimed Michael Buble tribute, adazzling seasonal show. Concertstarts at 8pm, doors/bar at 7.30pm.Tickets £10. Advance tickets from ThePalace call 01530 262 400 or Halls01530 260 460. Tickets can bepurchased ‘on the door’ (subject toavailability). Please check withticket outlets to avoid disappoint-ment. Advance booking is highlyrecommended for this event. www.thepalaceibstock.co.uk.

Christmas at Ulverscroft Grange -Take the children to see Santa in hisgrotto, and enjoy a visit to the TeaRoom and charity shop. ShuttlewordClarke Foundation, Ulverscroft Grange,Whitwick Road, Ulverscroft, Leicester-shire, LE67 9QB from 10am till 4pm.See shuttlewood-clarke.org or call01530 244 914.

17th DecemberAshby Spa WI - Christmas Celebration.Manor House School, South Street at7.30pm. You don’t have to be a mem-ber to join the meeting, there is a smallcharge of £3 for visitors. For detailsemail [email protected].

18th DecemberThe Zouch Acoustic and Folk Club -Ashby Library at 8pm. All your oldfavourites will be there so come alongand sing, read a poem, juggle or justhave a good night with music. Pleasetake your own drink and glasses.‘White Christmas’ (U) - ClassicHollywood musical starring BingCrosby and Danny Kaye plus PatheNewsreels and usherettes. CenturyTheatre at Snibston, starts 3pm,tickets £5 adults, £4 groups (10+),£3.50 children 14 years and below.Note: Carers come free for this event.Book online at www.centurytheatre.co.uk, or call 01530 278 444.

20th December Ashby Farmers Market – 9am to 2pmat Manor House School, South Street.Bringing you the finest foods from theregion and specialist stalls. Freeparking. Christmas Concert - Broom LeysChoral Society with guests theLeicestershire Co-op (Snibston) Bandat St John's Church, Hugglescotestarting at 7.30pm. TraditionalChristmas combination of brass bandand choral music with audienceparticipation and carols. Tickets £8 toinclude wine or soft drink and mincepie, children aged 16 and under free,tickets available on the door or toreserve please phone 01530 412 374.MTS (Musical Theatre School)Christmas Show - Doors/bar at6.45pm. The Palace, Ibstock, Tickets£6 Adults, £4 children and under 4’sfree. To book call 07969 688 215.Christmas Dance with organist PhilBrown. Blackfordby Village hall from

8pm to 11pm. Refreshments, bar andraffle, Admission £3. For details call01283 213 481 or 01283 819 447.

21st DecemberMarket Bosworth Farmers Market –from 9am to 2.30pm at MarketSquare, Market Bosworth CV13 0LJ.Bringing you the finest foods from theregion and specialist stalls.

22nd DecemberSing Christmas – A Radio Leicesterevent. An evening of carol singing,followed by refreshments (mulled wineand mince pies) at 7pm AshbyCongregational Church, KilwardbyStreet, Ashby. Free entry, all welcome.

31st December New Year’s Dance with organist ChrisJohnson. Blackfordby Village hall. Bar,refreshments and raffle, ticket onlyevent. Admission £8. For details call01283 213 481 or 01283 819 447.

1st January 2015LRWT North West Group – New Year’sDay walk. Enjoy woods, wildfowl andthe promise of spring on the StauntonHarold/Dimminsdale circular walk.Meet at 1pm in the Staunton Haroldlower nursery car park. Entry £2. Formore details please call David Maltbyon 01530 222 934 or Jim Footitt on01530 262 389.

6th JanuaryAshby Royal British Legion – Meetingat Ivanhoe Social Club, 1, WilfredPlace, Ashby LE65 2GW at 7pm.Visitors welcome, for more infor-mation call 01530 417747 or [email protected].

December into January 2015


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FUN QUIZ

1. Auld Lang Syne2. Cry and Pout 3. Sting 4. Mr Blobby5. Galway Bay6. Jingle Bells7. The Vietnam War8. 26th 9. Gary Barlow10. 184

business directory

Accountants & PayrollAshby Payroll Bureau 76Baldwins 103Darcey & Bate Accountants 123Haines Watts 9 & 127JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd 68RDG Accounting 72Aerials & SatelliteAB Aerials & Satellites 58Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, ToysAshby Jewellers 116Souk de la Zouch 82BuildersKeith Armston Building Contractors 54Business ServicesEternal Rainbow 68Carpenters & JoinersDerek Verey 15S S Joinery 75Carpets & InteriorsAgadon 3Ashby Carpets 5Ashby Stoves 29Boundary Carpets and Floorings 97Coalville Furniture Superstore 96Fairweathers Carpets 83Florrie May Interiors 101JWM Interiors 53Roger James Furnishers 45The Bed Shop 113The Wooden Spoon 85Toons 107Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 60Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry ServicesBreedon Carpet Care 16Deanclean 40Extreme Clean 68Karen’s Ovengleam 100NRJ Pureclean 117Roughly Refined 104Safeclean 8Spotless Cleaning 58The Bee’s Knees 54Toni's Ironing Angels 45ClothingMr Robinson’s Menswear 23The Shoe Box 49Country Stores/ General StoresIvanhoe Countrystore 27Domestic AppliancesContracool 51Contract & Domestic Services 72Ray Pittam Engineers 122Driving SchoolsBardon School of Motoring 99RDT School of Motoring 11ElectriciansA & J Bartlett Ltd 14Bright Sparks 25Burton Alarm Systems 112D & B Electrical 100M & J Electrical Contractors 17Estate AgentsFrank Innes Estate Agents 12 & 13Home Energy Assessments 11John German 111Events/Event ServicesAshby Christmas Fair 119Elvis Presley Tribute Show 19Overseal Pyrotechnics 40

Financial ServicesBleathwood 105Ian Goodship, IFA 6Independent Insurance Bureau 43FloristIndigo Acre Flowers 121Food & GroceriesAshby Farmers Market 89Conibears Kitchen 15North’s 28 & 102Sence Valley Farmers Market 61Smithards Bakery 39Sweet Memory Lane 67Funeral ServicesA E Grice Funeral Directors 63Art Stone Memorials 108Furniture Repairs & RestorationAncient & Modern 16GardenArtisan of Ashby Ltd 8Charnwood Tree Services 93Eden Tree Care 115F G Gardens 99Francesca Sinclair & Associates 32GDR Landscapes 45Green Thumb (Ashby) 35Prestop Park Farm Christmas Trees 73Roughly Refined Garden Service 63Stone Drives & Landscapes 20Sunnyside Garden Centre 91Hair & BeautyK H Hair 57The Temple Hair Spa 55Trendset Hair 71Uruku 37Vanilla Funk 124Verity’s Nail Creations 63HealthcareAshby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic 43Ashby Dental 45Ashby Osteopathic Clinic 112Candor Care Ltd 41Dr Jin 77Future Minds 38Juliet Brooke Chiropody 93Nustop Ltd 104Prestige Nursing 40ProPhysio Ashby 59Traditional Acupuncture 25Vision Express 69IT ServicesAshby Web Design 76Midland IT 117The PC Clinic 49UK Bits 58Kitchens & BathroomsAshby Tile & Bathrooms 2Holmetree Kitchens 112Kingswood Design & Interiors 37Phoenix Tiles & Bathrooms 95Provencale Kitchens 46Tiles 4 Less 95Victory Kitchens 30LocksmithsHazlewood Locksmiths 108The Lockie 22Motor ServicesA D Car Cosmetics 11Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd 87Chips Away 24Ford and Punto Spares 100

Music, Dance & DramaAshby School of Music 104Joseph Southgate 60Painters & DecoratorsAce Decorating 72Holywell Painting & Decorating 11Pet ServicesAsh Farm Boarding Kennels 117Pet Deli 93Woodward Veterinary Practice 60Places of WorshipAshby Baptist Church 57Ashby Christadelphian Church 62PlasterersMatt Charles Plastering Services 15R & H Plastering 100TCL Plastering & Property Maint. 29Plumbers & Gas ServicesAdrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 16Batemans Plumbing & Heating 50Burn & Bishop Plumbing & Heating 104CCA Gas Plumbing 108D B Plumbing 117James Pepper Property Solutions 54S D Hill (Plumbers) 7Therm Heating 49Property Repairs & MaintenanceAshby Glass 109Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 85AW Plastering and Building 92Can’t Get One 122Cloudy 2 Clear 44D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 60G & D Property Services Ltd 84Handyman Maintenance 80James Pepper Property Solutions 114Michael Brooks Home Improvements 43Roof Tech 81RSJ Roofing 89TS Roofing 32Window Mate 8Pubs, Restaurants & Take AwaysLa Spezia Pizzeria 25Link Measham Cantonese Restaurant 47The Blue Bell 51The Courtyard Café 33The Vine 31Wong Kwei 36Zamani's 64 & 65Schools and TuitionAppleby Community Languages 66Manor House School 99Solicitors & Will WritersCrane & Walton 81Martin Hall 32Simpson Jones Solicitors 51Sports & FitnessAshby Ivanhoe Football Club 77Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 128Fitsteps 88Sandra De Silva Yoga 29The Golf Centre (Coalville) 21Tony Hough Personal Training 20 & 97Taxi ServicesAbbey Cars 108


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