Category: Community

Sometimes we can be deceived by what we see, and we here at Foxton Canal Museum are a case in point!

Every time you visit a website, send or receive a message or email, buy or book anything online, comment on a post, upload a photo, or find directions on your phone, you’re adding to your digital footprint. 

Network Rail thought the ‘consultation’ on the evening of Tuesday 23 May at Kibworth Grammar School Hall would be a ‘tick box’ exercise. 19 professionals turned up, there could have been more in the wings. They believed they would return to their superiors and say the public had been consulted and everything was OK.

It was a gloriously sunny day for Kibworth’s very first Yard Sale. Charlotte Price had organised the event via social media and had invited Facebook friends and neighbours to run a home ‘car boot’ sale of their unwanted goodies from their front gardens, so no rental costs involved. Charlotte included online a map of the village and a list of streets where participants could be located. Prospective purchasers toured the village on foot, in some cases looking for bargains to buy. A great day was had by all. Another event is planned for the future. Smeeton Westerby and Saddington have asked to be involved next time.

Following on from the success of our opening weekend when we greeted over 100 visitors to the mill, and the recent feature about the mill on ITV regional news, we have been delighted with the level of interest and support shown by the community. 

I recently found a vintage photograph of the Old Rectory in Mill Lane, Smeeton Westerby, together with an obituary issued by ‘The Times’ newspaper in London dated Thursday 16 March 1911. Which relates to a member of the Sale family who occupied the property for 25 years. 

It is a sad statistic that one in five children cannot read well by the age of 11. The Summer Reading Challenge, with the support of public libraries, is on a mission to change this. The Challenge will launch on Saturday 1 July and will run until Saturday 2 September.

Odonata are the ‘tooth-jawed’ insects, a group which includes Damselflies and Dragonflies. Late May to early October are the best months to look for these insects which are often stunningly beautiful when seen close-up but ferocious, as the name ‘dragonfly’ suggests, if you are a smaller insect. 

Kibworth Grammar School Hall Trustees held their monthly meeting on 17 May with our main focus on fund raising ideas to meet the ever increasing costs of running the hall. Although the hall has regular bookings and plenty of children’s parties, we are approaching the summer holidays and the annual slowdown of usage. Our brainstorm included a musical Film Night with attendees theme-dressed or maybe an afternoon Tea Dance with delicious homemade cakes.

We are a local company based at Kibworth Business Park and are able to offer each member of our team the opportunity for a paid Corporate Social Responsibility Day each year.