 | Packington Postall about Packington village in Leicestershire, England |
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 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.
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
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 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
News from the School – May 2020
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.
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
See the album of photos on the Packington Post Facebook page here
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.
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
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:
This is THE village event, where we all have the chance to be part of something REALLY SPECIAL – just come along and eat a top-level Packington Breakfast, AND / OR help by joining the team of villagers for just one hour.
Quality produce supplied by: Taylors Butcher of Ashby de la Zouch; and our own Daybreak Services of Packington
This year Highly Topical Special: Packington Neighbourhood Watch table with display and information on our village defence posture. Meet some of our NHW team and learn about YOUR street representative.
This year we are supporting a special charity – Dementia UK
Not from Packington? We welcome you as honorary villagers while you enjoy a full Packington Breakfast. Just turn up! All proceeds to charity!
Full English Breakfast £8
Children’s Portion £4
Vegetarian Full Breakfast £7
Breakfast Bap £4
Join us? For just one hour (more if you want) YOU could take orders, lay tables, make tea, make toast, cook, warm plates, serve meals, serve hot drinks, serve orange juice, clear plates, wipe tables and re-lay, use the commercial high-speed dishwasher, use the low-speed glass washer, smile at all the happy eaters – call Mike on 560430 to book your chance to star for an hour in this amazing event, where we all get to say hello to other village residents, and where volunteering camaraderie can make a major boost to YOUR seratonin level!
The Aldi “Ashby 20” is a 20-mile road running race through Packington on Sunday 15th March 2020, starting at 10am. About 1,500 runners will take part, and there are road closures for safety, for a likely maximum period from about 8am to about 3pm. Full details can be found here on the Ashby 20 website
Runners come from Ashby, go down Packington’s Mill Street, then do two anti-clockwise laps of the roughly-circular course shown on the map below. The anti-clockwise left side of all roads of the circle are CLOSED during the race. Roads are open only in the opposite clockwise direction. In Heather village, traffic may flow alternately in both directions using Stop / Go boards
At the Bull & Lion on their second lap, runners turn up High Street, Packington, and on up Ashby Road to their finish at Ashby. There is a full schedule of Road Closure details in a table here on the Ashby 20 website
No wonder the small Packington Communications Group (PCG) were in celebration mode in the photo above – since 2003, the Group has produced ONE HUNDRED issues of Packington Post, our village bi-monthly magazine. Issue 100, distributed during the weekend of 18th / 19th January 2020, is another bumper 16-page edition.
The 9 “core” members of PCG want to pay tribute to the extensive help received from the village:
PCG want to say a BIG THANK YOU to all in the village who have helped to make the Packington Post such a success.
We hope to repeat the success of previous Bonfire Parties, again on the traditional date : Remember, Remember, the 5th November..
There is a need to build a safe bonfire. If you can bring material to burn, check the contents before you take it to the site with Chris Miles. He can be contacted on 01530 414378 or 07856 179485. Recent bonfires have been terrific because we have used pallets and fencing – smoke was limited with no green material or toxic waste. If you bring a shed roof, please remove the bitumen felt and put in in the black bin at home. Last year everyone who contacted us was helpful in this regard.
Anyone who has any easily combustible wood such as old fence panels, pallets and old sheds, can bring them to the bonfire site, or make arrangements for collection by calling the contact numbers below. We are now accepting wood, with just one week to go.
The Bonfire Party will be run on similar lines to previous years. Entry will be via the top entrance to the play-area, in 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.
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.
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.
We always require more volunteers to run this event. We need to help set up before; then help on the night; then help to pack away afterwards. Anyone PLEASE contact me prior to the event so that we can be organised, as soon as you can – just ring Chris 01530 414378 or Mob 07856 179485
The money raised at last year’s bonfire night has been spent on a new eight-seater picnic table, and on repairs to the fencing and the posts surrounding the play area. See you on the 5th?
7:00 Wes Ewing, Packington Neighbourhood
Watch
Introduction & Update
7:10 Tony Gallagher, NW Leicestershire Police
Keeping yourself safe in your home;
measures you can take, and how to report
crime
7:20 Samantha Hancock, NW Leicestershire
Police – Cybercrime
Computer use and social media, phone and
text scams, how to report scams
8:00 Santander Bank
The rise of bank fraud; most common
scams, how to protect yourself and what are
your rights
8:30 Q&A
9:00 Close
