Category: Clubs and Societies

2019 Errazuriz Max Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon (Majestic, Waitrose £12.99)

Your Christmas table is laden with a multitude of different flavours like turkey or chicken, sausages, bacon, vegetables and cranberry sauce. What sort of wine will stand up to all of that?
You need something with fruit, intense flavours and enough tannin and acidity to cut through the richness on offer.

Andrew Wynne describes himself as being ‘in a pure state of creativity’. This is what he brought to the Kibworth Art Lovers’ November meeting. Through a series of slides, he shared his passion for a variety of forms of batik art. These originated in Indonesia, Africa, India and Japan. Andrew currently runs creative workshops, up and down the country, mainly with children in primary and secondary schools. These explore mosaics, African textiles, silk painting and various craft forms all with a cultural focus.  In the second part of our meeting, we were given the opportunity to watch an inspiring demonstration of some of the basic techniques which may easily be practised at home.

We held another very enjoyable quiz night on 10 November. Those who took part included representatives from Dementia UK (on behalf of Admiral Nurses) and Harborough Musical Memory Box. They received cheques totalling £2400 from our President, John Ruddock. Admiral Nurses provide support for dementia sufferers and their carers. The Musical Memory Box provides a social, therapeutic singing group for those experiencing memory problems or who feel lonely.

It was good to see so many of the uniformed  groups following the Band and attending the Remembrance Day service. Shame about the weather, but it did not diminish the turnout.

Wow what an amazing night we had! Thank you so much to everyone who came to our ‘Night at the Movies’ Concert on Saturday 25 November. It's safe to say it was a huge success and thoroughly enjoyed by everyone. We have had amazing feedback from all our friends and family as well as our own pride for being part of the wonderful KLC family. “It was a spectacular concert – our best yet!”  “So proud to be part of this wonderful choir.”  “Such a wonderful evening – I was so impressed by the choir and song choices – a fabulous start to Christmas!”

Many of you will have seen that the Children in Need campaign this year raised millions for national charities. Your Rotary Club is appealing to you to think about donating locally.

South Leicestershire has a woodland coverage of 3-4% (Surrey’s coverage is 25%) and it is decreasing with Ash dieback. Harborough Woodland is a not for profit community group set up in February 2020. Its aim is to increase woodland cover by planting trees and hedgerows and to reduce the risk of flooding through natural flood management (NFM). NFM schemes use vast numbers of trees and hedges. The roots, soil and fungi of one metre of mature hedge is a live sponge that can hold and slowly release 3 to 5m3 or tonnes of potential flood water (hedgelink.org.uk)

In the 1950s a number of ancient fossils were unearthed of which one, Charnia, has given its name to a variety found not merely in our backyard but also worldwide. In its beginnings Charnwood was part of Avalonia an ancient continent 60 Degrees south of the Equator including most of Britain, Ireland and Newfoundland - 600 million years ago. The very oldest rocks have their genesis as the result of a volcanic eruption that is vaguely near Whitwick and was formed in the Pre Cambrian era. Then came the Cambrian age, its most famous rocks found in Swithland slate. By the advent of the Permian era - 260 million years ago we find Charnwood, now near the Equator, part of the Pangea supercontinent; a desert environment. This is evidential by aeons of dry sand, blasted by the wind to form the current shape of the hills.

Illston On The Hill WI held their AGM in November. This proved to be a very lively meeting. All the various statements were read, digested and approved. The current officers and committee were re-elected. In order to try and encourage some new blood on to the committee we are introducing ‘friends in the WI’. One or two members will be invited to attend a couple of committee meetings during the year to familiarise themselves with the procedures of the WI and give them an insight into what the various tasks entail. We are hoping this will whet appetites and lead to some new and inspirational ideas. The AGM was followed by our annual supper which was lovely.

Lots to look forward to at Christmas but what about the New Year? Do you enjoy singing or listening to music? Most of us do. The Foxton Community Choir will be holding a Taster Evening on Thursday 11 January 2024 from 7.30pm in Foxton Church.