What’s been happening at Markfield Community Centre

Ron Grantham  -- Chair Markfield Community Association

Launch Event

After an unavoidable delay I am now really pleased to announce that the official opening of new Centre’s extension and refurbishment project will take place during the afternoon of Saturday 20^th June. The official bit with the dignitaries and all those who made a major contribution to the project will take place at 1pm BUT from 2pm to 5pm you are all warmly invited to come along and see what the Centre now has to offer. You can see the new main hall extension, the internet café and the Community Office where the local Police Beat Team are based. The 637 Bus and other displays by some of our clubs at the Centre will also be on show. As mentioned before the day will culminate in a celebration family fun disco from 7.30pm with dancing and games provided by our ever-popular CHAOS Disco. During the evening you will find out who one the “I Love Markfield” Tee shirt competition – we have had some brilliant entries but there is still time to get your photographs in and win a prize for your efforts in promoting Markfield around the world. Ticket for the disco are only 50p each and can be obtained from the Centre on a first come first served basis. Please be advised that due to this major event the Centre’s car park will be closed during the morning and afternoon to allow access for display vehicles the 637 Bus etc.

Community Payback

Although all the major project works have been completed it has now made some parts of the Centre look a bit tired and drab so, the Probation Service are currently busily painting internal walls, doors and woodwork through with ex-offenders on the Community Payback scheme and our thanks go to them.

Celebration Events

Now that all the building works have been completed it is really nice to see the Centre buzzing with family celebrations and parties here are just a few of those that have taken place over the past month or so:

Cian’s Christening

On Sunday 3^rd May March the Lay family and friends celebrated the Christening of baby Cian the son of Matthew and Julie Lay and brother of Callum. This event was especially significant for the Centre as Matthew, your Borough and Parish Councillor, has provided a tremendous amount of support and work to get all the new projects at the Centre funded and completed. Welcome baby Cian and we look forward to the day you join our Junior Youth club or playing footie on the MUGA with your Dad.

Ann Gee’s 70^th Birthday Party

On Saturday 16^th May villager Ann Gee celebrated her 70^th birthday with her daughters Gail and Debbie and son Steve as well as a host of family and friends. For some reason Ann disappeared to the toilets as the embarrassing birthday speech started – I won’t reveal the content but she valiantly composed herself to cut the Birthday cake. We look forward to your 80^th Ann and happy birthday from all at the centre.

Double Birthday Party

On Saturday 2^nd May villager Emma Hill celebrated her 26^th Birthday along with her mum Mandy Wills (52). The family used to run the Red Lion in Desford. This licensing background has now extended to running a bar in Spain – the Premier Bar in Cabo Roig on the Costa Blanca. So if you are ever in that locality on holiday – pop in and see them for a warm welcome.

Double Fortieth Birthday Party

Finally but not least Michelle Bourne and Nigel Finney held a joint fortieth birthday bash on Saturday 30^th May. This was a very unusual and fun packed evening with everyone, including the kids, dressed up in 60’s gear. So we had an impressive range of costumes from Elvis look a likes (well nearly) to characters from Star Treck, Thunderbirds, the Beatles, hippies, rockers and more. They did such a fantastic job on their fancy dress it was really hard to recognize them from their normal day-to-day appearance. Also a space hopper arena, electric buzzer game and the old-fashioned floor games were there to add to the fun and games throughout the evening. Lots of funny stories about Michelle and Nigel were announced during the Happy Birthday chorus but I will only mention a couple. Michelle can Tesco’s have their shopping trolley back now and Nigel best of luck with the all charity and challenge bike rides.

NEW at the Centre

Citizen’s Advice has now started an outreach service at the Centre every Tuesday mornings from 9.30am to 12.30pm. No appointment is needed just drop in and get advice free. This service is there to help you especially in these difficult financial and recession times.

The Markfield Police Beat Team of PC Nike Diaper and PCSO’s  Caz Pontin and Ross Leach now have a base at the Centre. They are now holding regular “pop in” sessions at the Centre. A list of dates is now available at the Centre if you want to speak to them on non-urgent matters.

In addition you can also get help, advice and support from members of the Borough Council’s Community Safety Team through the Centre or, in respect of domestic violence contacting Lynn Harvey Williams on 01455 633737 or 07966 202171 or, in the case of anti-social behaviour Maddy Shellard on 01455 255866

Slimming World has started new sessions on Monday evenings starting at 7pm. If you want to know more please contact Julie on 07968 761269

Gigglers is a new project aimed at supporting mums and dads with babies and provides a whole range of advice, support and activities for parents and their children. It runs on Thursday mornings from 9.30am to 12md. Please see posters in Centre for details.

With other pubs in the village and surrounding area the Community Centre has joined in with the newly formed Ratby and District Pubwatch. This scheme is part of National Pub Watch that aims to ban people who cause trouble, use or supply illegal drugs from ALL licensed premises in the scheme.

Forthcoming Dates for your Diary

The below are just a few dates of forthcoming events over the year that you may wish to attend.

20^th June                       Centre’s Official Opening and Family Celebration Disco

15^th July                        National Blood Service Doner’s Day

8^th August                      Charity Day in Aid of D.E.B.R.A

26^th September              Charity Barn Dance

30^th September              Charity Fashion Show

15^th October                   Church Harvest Festival

11^th November                National Blood Service Doner’s day

21^st November                Church Christmas Fayre

12^th December               Redgates Animal Sanctuary Christmas Party

For booking and enquiries please contact Markfield Community and Sports Centre, Mayflower Close, Markfield LE67 9ST or ring 01530 242240. Visit the Centre’s web site

 www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com

Ron Grantham

A message from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council - SAFETY CREW MESSAGE

TETTIGONIIDAE ALERT

“What on earth are you talking about now” I hear you say. Well tettigoniidae is Latin for the species of creature called the grasshopper and includes the dreaded variety know as the LOCUST. As we all know the locust has a nasty habit of swarming in hot weather, migrating across the land and consuming vegetation in whole districts on a devastating scale. “Yes, interesting but what’s this got to do with crime” I again hear you ask. Well, sitting here writing this article on a glorious Sunday afternoon with the sun beating down, lawn mowers humming and the delicious aroma of the first of the afternoon’s BBQ’s wafting across the gardens I can also detect the first signs of a mutant version of the locust rustling in the bushes, behind the garden fence or behind the potting shed. This is the perfect time of the year for this often-nocturnal creature to emerge from its lair to strike alarm, dismay and devastation in our local communities. It is the dreaded GARDEN HOPPER. This nasty creature loves to prey on us law-abiding citizens and steal our hard-earned and treasured possessions for themselves. They creep about back gardens hopping from one to another over fences just looking for an opportunity to strike. Their favourite feeding grounds are houses where some kind person has conveniently left the back door or windows open because it is hot or they are busily distracted through tending to the garden or stoking up the BBQ. Having located this easy feeding ground into the human house the Garden Hopper quietly hops and helps itself to any goodies it can find before hopping off to the next garden to seek out more prey and lucrative supplies for its own needs or to sell on to other nefarious pets. Seriously folks, opportunist house burglaries always start to rise at this time of the year and carry on throughout the summer so, please be wary about leaving your doors and windows open especially in hot weather and don’t let the GARDEN HOPPER become a plague upon you all.

Finally if you have any information on crime, disorder or drugs you can ring CRIME STOPPERS anonymously on 0800 555 111. This is a confidential line and your information may help to solve a crime or recover stolen property