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Trinity Bear completes the London Marathon
Ever courageous (remember the bungee jump!) Trinity Bear continues his mission to raise funds for the disabled facilities at Holy Trinity's Church Rooms by taking part in this year's London Marathon.
Riding on Colin Vesty's back, the determined pair power walked in the heat amid crowds of participants to raise the sponsor money that will bring the church nearer to its target.
The road, said Colin, was packed with slow runners so it was hard to get a move on. It took them 4 hours 44 minutes and 11 seconds to complete the mammoth race, coming in at a respectable 20867th out of around 36,000. Unsurprisingly, since he had piggy backed his way to the finish line,Trinity Bear said that he would relive the experience again tomorrow.
Colin, however, said “Never again..” To find out more about what is happening at Holy Trinity Church, please visit the website www.holytrinitybarrow.org.uk
No news on Willow Way
It has been a story of stop-go-stop-go on the Willow Way development and now it appears to be stop again. After the last edition's front page headline 'Developers hoping for summer start on Willow Way', action seems to have stalled. This is a story which we are keeping an eye on and shall report on any developments in the next issue.
Quorn Park celebrates a Centenary
When the Quorn Hunt moved to their new home at Quorn Park on Paudy Lane (between Barrow upon Soar and Seagrave) in 1905, the total cost of the site was £11,000 and it provided accommodation for 35 horses, 200 hounds and 20 men. When they moved on to new premises at Kirby Bellars in 1991, Quorn Park subsequently became home to 30 families.
Many changes have taken place in the past few years but the outline shape of the original buildings remains and, of course, locals still refer to it as "the kennels"! The distinctive clock tower looks a little sorry for itself at the moment and the management committee at Quorn Park are currently looking at ways to raise funds to replace the clock workings that mysteriously disappeared and to fund a replacement weather vane.
Now in 2005, one hundred years after its completion, the site residents would like to find out more about its local history. Do you have any interesting, personal stories (or photographs) about the site that you could share with us? If so, the management committee would be delighted to hear from you. Please write to them, or email care of the Editor, Barrow Voice. All photos will be handled with care and returned to owners as soon as possible.Thank you.
Barrow wins website Oscar
Barrow and Fleckney have just became the first ever winners of the annual Leicestershire Villages website competition at Beaumanor Hall. In March, the Leicestershire Rural Partnership held its annual event for Site Editors but this year, for the first time, prizes were awarded to projects in the community.The Barrow team won a digital camera for "the greatest impact on their community" and Fleckney won for the most innovative project with the digitisation of its historical archives.
The camera has been lent to young Jess Acton, who has been busy taking photos of Barrow seen from her youthful perspective.
If any other community organisation or individual has a community project in mind and would like to borrow the camera, contact Judith Rodgers on 01509 412063 or rodgers_david@hotmail.com
A new feature of the village website, www.barrowuponsoar.org.uk is "Village Walks" from which you can download the Fossil Trail and the new Barrow Walks leaflet.
You will also find lots of new material in the Village History section including fascinating oral records. John Nurse, Site Editor, would like to add a section on "the war years in Barrow" and he asks if anyone has any stories, pictures or memories of the First or Second World War that could be used. If so, contact him on 01509 414626 or john@nursej.co.uk
LOG ON TODAY TO FIND A MASS OF USEFUL INFORMATION ABOUT THE VILLAGE. OR CONTACT JUDITH IF YOUR ORGANISATION WOULD LIKE ITS OWN PAGE
Judith Rodgers John Nurse
Postie feels on top of the world
In a previous issue, I interviewed Andy May about his planned sponsored hike up Kilimanjaro and promised a follow up article.Andy kept a diary of his experience and has kindly let me extract parts to help give a flavour of his remarkable journey.
It started on Sunday 23rd January with a trip to Heathrow, where Andy met with the other 51 member of the group - all wearing their boots to ensure that they didn't get lost in transit.After a delay and a nine hour flight into Nairobi, the group had a six hour minibus journey through sunburnt flat grassland and shrubs. On the journey they watched for zebra, giraffe and other wild animals and passed through a village of Masai warriors dressed in their bright red cloaks. Once into Tanzania, excitement mounted as the group got their first glimpse of Kilimanjaro, its snow capped top shining in the sun. By this time they were level with the clouds and higher than Ben Nevis.
The next morning saw the group acclimatising and minimising altitude sickness with a six hour walk through a tropical rain forest trail, followed by a climb of Maundi Crater. Once accomplished the group slept at camp despite thunderous rainstorms, cold and the sounds of snoring mixed with monkeys screaming.
Day two for the bold group consisted of another eight hours walking at a steeper gradient through alpine heathland with giant heathers and gorse bushes, with the promise of Kilimanjaro ahead as the clouds swirled around them. Once dark, the stars came out with the Plough appearing upside down, Orion on its side, the Milky Way in all its splendour and the piece de resistance - a shooting star.
The pattern of acclimatisation walks and spectacular thunderstorms followed the next two days, along with a warning that the air at 4000 metres was too thin for rescue helicopters to operate, so the only way down was via a one wheeled, two-man stretcher.The evening of the third day brought another challenge, as along with wind and sunburn, the intrepid adventurers had to deal with snow.This made the final midnight push up the mountain even more hazardous as the snow had melted the frozen scree.The water in Andy's drink bottle froze during the climb and after five hours of exhausting zigzagging, the altitude unfortunately got the better of him (as it had for a large number of others in the group), and his guide sent him back down the mountain. Of the fifty-two people in the group, only fourteen reached Uhuru Peak. In the final 24 hours of the climb, each person walked for nearly 18 hours, had climbed the equivalent of Ben Nevis, and descended nearly twice as much, through temperatures varying from 35 degrees C to minus 15 degrees C.
Once back at the base hotel,Andy enjoyed afresh the delights of lager, electricity, running hot water and European style toilets. From there, following a night of rest, the adventure took one last turn as en route to Nairobi a huge thunderstorm turned the road into a river. However, the buses managed to stay on the road and deliver the group safely to the airport.After a relatively uneventful flight and a joyful reunion with loved ones,Andy returned to Barrow and has subsequently collected over £3,000 in donations for Scope.
Laura Hegarty
BUSCA - What we do for you
A NEW IDENTITY...A CHANCE FOR YOU!
Don't worry.The Community Association is still in the same safe hands as always, but it was decided that the time had come to update the logo so at the same time, we took the opportunity to give Barrow its full title.
CONNOTATION OF FUN...
The new acronym of BUSCA has the advantage of becoming a word in its own right with the connotations of fun, entertainment and theatrical performance. Because the Community Association organises many forms of entertainment in the village, it seemed fitting.
THE NEXT GENERATION...
The new BUSCA logo will be the identity which will carry the Association to the next generation of villagers.
We have many thousands of pounds of funds, the organisational team and the contacts to make your ideas a reality.All you have to do is have a WISH, an IDEA or a PROJECT... If it's for the benefit of the village or its people, we'll back you with people, advice, help, contacts, organisation, enthusiasm... and MONEY!
IT'S NOT YOUR VILLAGE...
Anybody who lives or works within the village is automatically a member of BUSCA. But it's not really YOUR village unless YOU take part in its life.
THE STRANGEST IDEAS...
There is no idea which we will not consider (as long as it's legal!). For example a recent idea proposing WHEELIE-BIN RACING in the High Street was met with great enthusiasm!
A VOICE FOR YOUTH...
Youth may be just a state of mind, but BUSCA is particularly looking for ideas from the village's younger element - We want to do what you want us to do - It's your call!
CHALLENGE BUSCA...
If you've got a wish, an idea or a project...Talk to us! Phone Laura Hegarty on 01509 415315.
WHAT DO WE DO?
Villagers are not always sure of what the Association does, so here's a quick run down:
- The Christmas Street Entertainment (do you remember the dancing camel?)
- The Village Bike Ride BBQ
- Entertainment at Humphrey Perkins - dances, Panto Group and Youth Theatre productions plus visiting theatre productions
- The Fireworks Proms Concert
- Barrow Voice
- The Roundhouse
- Barrow Fossil Trail & the recent Village Walks leaflet
- Barrow and Charnwood Crafters
- Village Website
- Support for BOSCAPS
- Funding for signage at the Millennium Park and so on...