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.
During Spring 2021, Packington gained two new memorial benches. Each bears a reminder of a special village volunteer who had served us all so well. Many of us walk round the village, and can now Rest Awhile ..
You’ll no doubt recognise where these benches are to be found in our village..
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..
Over 200 breakfast baps were sold for this charity event, raising over £1,000 for the British Heart Foundation. A flavour of the event is shown below, but a full album of 89 photos is on our Packington Post Facebook page
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?
To represent the interests of all Packington residents
To ensure a clean, healthy environment in Packington.
To promote road safety in and around Packington – including pressing for speed restrictions.
To provide inputs to planning applications circulated to the Parish Council.
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.
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
At the end of the first week of December, our village Memorial Hall committee chairman Chris Miles supervised the switch-on of these seasonal lights, hoping to cheer us all up a bit in difficult times..
An album of 13 images, showing the “VE Day 75th Anniversary Photos” is available on our Packington Post Facebook page
The Bassett family on Mill Street caught in a clever socially-distanced SelfieNick and Joy Gravestock about to elegantly indulge in their celebration tea
The unusual “lockdown” situation prevailing meant that residents had to be socially distanced, at least two metres apart, and to stay at home as much as possible. Our pictures in the Facebook Album reflect that Virus alert situation.
Pauline and Christopher Miles with a tasty layout of sandwiches and cakes
An album of 16 images, showing the “Packington Community Choir” with musicians, and village residents as choristers, is available on our Packington Post Facebook page
Aimee Harrison leads Packington Community Choir
The Packington Community Choir is a chance for a sing-song while remaining socially-distanced along the length of our High Street. Each week, choir leader Aimee Harrison chooses a song, and publishes the lyrics and how to sing them on her Facebook page.
The Musicians – Peter, Aimee, Joy, Nick and Lesley
The song on 14th May was “Let it Be”. On 21st May it will be “Something Inside So Strong”. Check for the details on the Community Choir Facebook page
School is a very different place to be recently, and certainly a lot quieter! We are, however, still working and keeping busy to ensure that all of our lovely families have work and activities available to them whilst they are staying safe at home. A few children of key workers are still attending school and we are remaining open to support these families when they need us. Our website here has more details of our activities.
Wesley’s hearse reaches the top of Mill Street, to be greeted there by many villagers
On 1st May, Packington Village turned out at 3pm to bid farewell to Wesley Ewing, a highly popular village stalwart over decades.
His funeral at Bretby was restricted by current virus-control rules to only 10 people, but his funeral cortège left Charity Farm, Mill Street, and proceeded up Mill Street at walking pace with family and mourners walking behind.
The route was lined with village people, many clapping, many tearful.. all the staff of Daybreak Services joined village residents to line the route as the hearse left High Street en-route to Bretby
Wesley leaves Packington on Friday 1st May 2020, and village folk have the chance to bid farewell on his way to his funeral at Bretby. We aren’t allowed to attend there due to current restrictions, but with social distancing we can all take part by lining the route as his cortege leaves his home in Mill Street, opposite the school, and proceeds round our village. Two metres – 6 feet – apart is required of each of us.
The hearse will travel at walking pace with the family walking behind in procession – an Irish tradition. The route is shown below: up Mill Street on foot, and then in cars down Normanton Road, along Heather Lane, turning up the length of High Street to leave the village on Ashby road.
The funeral is in the form of a cremation at Bretby at 4pm – but current restrictions mean only 10 mourners maximum are allowed there.
Village residents Chris Miles, Mike Coke, and Steve Plummer have contributed to this tribute to Wesley Ewing:
Wes was always able to find time to contribute to and get involved in local groups. As his family grew, he was involved with JPEG, Packington Junior Entertainment Group. His enthusiasm, along with Alison’s, saw many events organised by the Mums and Dads, and Wesley was right in there helping organise, establishing a real community spirit in children and adults.
In the early 2000’s Wes was instrumental in setting up FLOAT, a group of residents, the FLOod Action Team, when the Gilwiskaw Brook threatened to flood more properties in Mill Street. After much dogged determination, mainly by him, the authorities were persuaded in 2010 to take away the solid brick Little Lane bridge which was stopping the flow and diverting water into Mill Street. This partly solved the problem until the rains of 2019 and 2020 when FLOAT was resurrected. Again, Wes organised meetings to get action from all the responsible authorities who can help protect Packington from flooding.
“Wesley Ewing Bridge” brand new in April 2010
Wes set up a Food Group, a cooking / diner’s club following the refurbishment of the Memorial Hall. He ran sessions at the Hall for youngsters to learn to cook, and for adult groups too. For them it was a chance to bring their favourite wine to go along with the meal!
In recent years the Packington Big Breakfast has been a real success. According to organiser Mike Coke, when the Charity Big Breakfast was first proposed, Wes got him out of trouble by putting together a team of chefs, and organised the food requirements as well. This event has become a village fixture thanks to his input. He will be sadly missed by all the volunteers, especially Mike.
Wes had always been interested in security, and contributed a huge amount as a member of Neighbourhood Watch over the last four or five years. He acted as Chairman, and it is really down to him that Packington has an excellent security system involving cameras, police, and a full complement of active Neighbourhood Watch street co-ordinators.
Wes was one of the two remaining original members of the Packington Communications Group set up in 2002. Using the resources of Context, his printing and publishing company, he designed and printed over 100 editions of the Packington Post. Sitting with the Editor of the day, each edition often took hours of precious voluntary time to complete. It had to be right! With much input from other members of the team, this arguably resulted in one of the most professionally produced magazines in the country from a small village.
The Covid-lockdown has meant that the elderly and vulnerable have to be looked after. Wes quickly saw the need for this and, along with the Parish Council, Neighbourhood Watch and Packington Post, got things organised. As hub co-ordinator for the village he soon established a chain of command from volunteers within these groups, and the problem we hope is resolved. Thank you Wes.
Finally, Wes was a friend to many. You were always greeted with a smile and you knew he would help if he could. He was generous, he was kind and, for a person who often said that he hated meetings, could always be found putting the case for Packington residents at the many he attended.
Wes, we salute you, we will miss you, and thank you for all you have done for Packington.
May we remind you that
NWLDC collections of garden waste and cardboard recycling have been suspended until further notice.
ie NO GREEN BIN or YELLOW CARDBOARD BAG
Red box and blue bag as normal tomorrow and for foreseeable future black bin next week as scheduled
Please be considerate to near neighbours and avoid bonfires and simmering incinerators
particularly on these very warm ,calm days when windows will be open and people will be enjoying their gardens.
Thank you
This was last year – we hope it won’t be foggy this year !
Expect a short brief and choice of areas
Hi-Vis and bin bags provided
Please wear suitable footwear and gloves
Just 2 hours at most – when it’s done, it’s DONE
Complimentary hot drinks (and chatting !) at the Hall when we finish
As well as our village centre, we’ll tidy the lanes that lead into our beautiful village
Here’s what we achieved last time..
Packington Litter Pick 2020 is led by village resident Martin Bassett of Mill Street, who feels like most of us that we want OUR village to look nice! Spot the hideous litter on this video of Coleorton Lane, coming down into OUR village:
