Big Breakfast 2022 – Saturday 5th March 9am to 1pm

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Many of us think this is THE major village event, each year bringing village folk together for a memorable occasion. Many of us enjoy the breakfasts, but also enjoy helping with the event as volunteers. This year Debbie Hamilton is organising, and will be delighted if you can assist, and happy too if you can come and enjoy the breakfast, with profit going this year to local charity Hospice Hope. Here are the details:

See you there?

Book Launch and Signing – Saturday 4th December 2021 – 10 am to 1 pm, at Memorial Hall

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Our Packington Village History Group PVHG is to publish a new book about life in the inter-war years in our village. Prepared from archive recordings of interviews two decades ago of village elderly residents, the new book is to be launched on Saturday 4th December 2021, at the Memorial Hall meeting room, from 10 am to 1 pm.

2021 Packington Children’s Christmas Party! (Now sold out)

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UPDATE: SOLD OUT

This is the first year we have ran this event and we have been overwhelmed by the support the event has been shown. Unfortunately due to venue capacity and the need to ensure everyone gets to meet Santa, we are no longer able to accept any further registrations. If you want to be added to the cancellation list or notified of next years event please submit your details using the form below.

MEET Santa Claus | See REAL reindeer | DANCE at the Christmas Disco | PLAY Christmas party games | SHOP the Christmas Stalls | EAT and DRINK Festive Refreshments

Introducing the first annual Packington Children’s Christmas Party, organised by a satellite group of Ashby Rotary Club with all proceeds going to local charities including, “Rainbows”, “Wishes for Kids” and other Rotary charities.

The party will take place on Saturday, December 18th between 14:30 and 18:00 at Packington Memorial Hall. Children will be able to meet Santa and some of his reindeers, as well as having fun playing party games being organised by a children’s entertainer and dancing away at the disco. There will also be a range of Christmas stalls and festive refreshments for children and adults. 

The event will be free of charge, with all the children receiving a small gift from Santa, but any donations made would be very much appreciated.  Spaces are limited but you can reserve your tickets by clicking here.

🔥 2021 Packington Bonfire Party 🔥

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We are all excited for the return of the annual Packington Bonfire Party on Friday 5th November. The bonfire will be lit as near to 7pm as possible and there will be two sessions of display fireworks. In the interval there will be a sparkler session for youngsters accompa­nied by an adult, this will be free of charge. 

Entry will be via the top entrance to the play-area, on Vicarage Lane. If you park in the Recreation Ground car park, please walk up Vicarage Lane to this entrance, it is a safer access in the dark. The event itself is free but we shall ask you for a donation, which can be gift-aided, and will help the charity to pursue its aims. 

Hot dogs, burgers, punch and drinks can be pur­chased, and we hope you all have an enjoyable time. Please come and support this event no matter what the weather. There will be over £750 of display fire­ works – the charity had to pay a hefty £400 insurance premium to stage this bonfire, so we need to see the whole of Packington on the Recreation Ground.

Please DO NOT BRING ANY OF YOUR OWN FIREWORKS to this event. This includes sparklers. It is a condition of the insurance that only authorised fireworks are displayed, in a safe and secure environment.

Proposed Development of 11 New Homes at Ashby Road, Packington – Initial Information

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Above: Initial Draft of the proposed development

The Developer’s agent, Andrew Large Surveyors of Staunton Harold, are to hold an informal drop-in display and presentation in our village Memorial Hall at 6 pm – 7:30 pm on Tuesday 12th October. David Harris-Watkins with colleagues of the Surveyors will be there to explain the proposal, and to take note of any suggestions or amendments from village residents.

Plan view above of the site of the proposed development
With thanks to Google Maps for this excellent satellite view of the proposed development site

Duck Races – Major Excitement on Bank Holiday Evening !

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Bank Holiday Monday – 30th August 2021 – saw intense excitement at the annual Packington Duck Race, when the coulmn of leading ducks stalled at the last ten metres of Gilwiskaw Brook – slowed, then reversed by a strong breeze from the South!

Duck Steward Chris Miles had been following the leaders, and using his microphone to inform the large audience of excited children – and excited adults too – of the running order of duck numbers, but the sudden reversal caused astonishment.

Eventually a winning coterie of several huddled-together ducks crossed the finish line, and thus the Winning Numbers in Race One were: 133, then 140, third 25.

The second race saw similar heart-stopping changes in duck-leadership, with the eventual result: winner 213, then 247, third 191.

Community Orchard – meeting on Saturday 19th June 2021 10am at Normandy Wood

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Our village’s Community Orchard needs YOUR help – Parish Council chair Chris Miles is organising a review – can YOU help? FREE FRUIT for the village? Here are the team from 2012:

“As was mentioned in last addition of Packington Post, the Packington Orchard Group needs resurrecting and I’m planning a meeting of new and existing members for a walk about at the orchard.

This will take place, downpours permitting, on Saturday 19th June at 10am. We will meet at Normandy Wood car park and walk to the site where we will take stock of the orchard.

Very little work has been done over recent years and I propose that we make a plan of action if necessary.

Hope to see as many of you as possible at 10am Sat 19th June 2021

Thanks everyone – Chris”

Satellite view showing Normandy Wood car park on Measham Road and the Orchard area to the South West. Thanks for the map, Google..

Vote for … a new Packington Parish Councillor. Choice of two:

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As well as the District and County Council elections on Thursday 6th May, our own village Parish Council election takes place that day .. or earlier if you have a Postal Vote, as 25% of us apparently do.

There are two candidates to fill one vacancy:

  • Bob Herritty
    Independent, Motivated High Street Resident
  • Russell Powell

Russell Powell writes:

My name is Russell Powell and I have put myself forward to represent you as a Parish Councillor. I am 44 years old and live in Packington with my wife, Amy and our two year old son, Freddie. I grew up in Packington and my parents also still live in the village.
I am a chartered accountant and am the finance director of our family logistics business as well as a director of an accountancy practice. I’m an avid sports fan who enjoys playing golf and football (despite my body telling me otherwise!)

I am passionate about our village and am excited about trying to make a difference in ensuring our community continues to be enjoyable and safe for all residents.

The areas I would like to help influence, if elected, are:
Community – I want to ensure our first class community spirit is maintained. The village’s events and activities bring us all together and these traditions should continue along with any new ideas for the future.
Safety – the safety of residents is of utmost priority and everyone should feel comfortable, whether it’s by reducing speeding through our village, ensuring pathways are safe or tackling crime.
Facilities – maintaining and building upon the village’s facilities, such as the recreation ground and Memorial Hall. These facilities enhance the community spirit.

Communication is also key in keeping residents informed about these areas along with all village matters. Packington is a wonderful village and I want to help protect its future so that residents old and new can enjoy village life as much as my family and I do.

This publication is promoted by me, Russell Powell of 15 Century Drive, Packington, LE65 1GQ and displayed by Packington Post electronically on my behalf.

Bob Herritty writes:

Dear Packington Resident,

I am standing for Parish Councillor in the election on the 6th of May 2021 and would like to ask for your support. So who is Bob?

I am a 4 year resident of Packington – Welsh by birth. Happily married to Ann and living in Westcroft on the High St.. I am a director of several international companies that specialise in batteries and power electronics. I am a member of Ashby Rotary Club and can be seen walking behind the Santa sleigh in “Hi Viz” if you look carefully. I have previously served the community I lived in as a member of the board of Action for Children Wales and as a governor of Headlands Independent Special School.

What are my key motivations to seek your support?

  1. To represent the interests of all Packington residents
  2. To ensure a clean, healthy environment in Packington.
  3. To promote road safety in and around Packington – including pressing for speed restrictions.
  4. To provide inputs to planning applications circulated to the Parish Council.
  5. To support our local businesses and communal facilities.

Please vote on the 6th May and stay safe. Thank you!
Published by: R M Herritty, 51 High St, Packington, LE651WJ and Displayed by Packington Post electronically on my behalf.

Bull and Lion Re-opens – Monday 12th April 2021

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New team lead the way

With restrictions easing, the new team at our Bull and Lion were busy on Monday 12th April 2021, starting at 11 am, serving meals until 3, then meals again from 5 until 9 pm, with drinks service thoughout. Although they are only allowed to cater for those seated outdoors, the weather was bright and cheerful, and the sunshine warm enough to make this an enjoyable experience.

New landlord Steven Johns is second from left in the picture above, accompanied by his business partner John Mitchell at right, with colleagues Hayley and Damien Bevan. Between them they have been busy re-decorating and re-arranging the building and especially the kitchen and garden areas, to help make their restaurant and drinks services sparkle.

We need to BOOK because of limited availability outside – use Facebook Messenger to their “Bull & Lion Packington” page identity, or they have the plain old telephone at 415257

One request – cash payments if possible! Although we’ve all become used to paying by card and phone, their new card-reading terminal is often out of its short radio range at the far end of the garden tables, and they have to rush back and forth with it across to the main building to complete electronic tranactions! Cash payments would ease their load until this can be sorted!

Two happy customers enjoy the Monday afternoon sunshine