News from Smeeton Westerby – September 2026
As we leave our glorious summer behind and head towards autumn, I’d like to look back on some of the highlights that brought our village together over the past few months. Back in July, we held our annual Brass on the Grass featuring The Oddfellows Brass Band. This event has just grown over the years and we were delighted to see so many people coming to enjoy this free concert. At the end, an amazing £1,139 was collected in donations to support a charity dear to the hearts of the band members. Three weeks later, we held our Village BBQ. It was great to welcome so many people as they arrived with their picnics to have a very enjoyable and sociable evening together.
Our next event, ‘A fundraising Afternoon Tea with Entertainment’, was hosted by Duncan and Betty Robinson in their beautiful garden. They wanted to raise money for two most deserving charities, LOROS and The Matt Hampson Foundation. Our prayers for a break in the rain were answered and we had an amazing afternoon. The food was excellent and the entertainment spectacular. A grand total of over £3,000 was raised. We have to thank everyone for their amazing generosity.
Now for some very sad news!
For those of you who walk through Smeeton Westerby and cut through the churchyard, you will know that we leave our church open during the day so that people can go in and enjoy the peace and quiet and take time to sit and think or pray. However, when going to lock up one evening, we found that intruders had gone inside and thrown items at the leaded windows, smashing four in several places, including the ancient stained-glass window behind the altar. This happened, we have since discovered, on both Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July. Having investigated the cost of repair, we are looking at approximately £7,000. The police do know the names of the culprits, but it seems so sad that such mindless acts could cause such damage, added to which throughout the summer, we felt it necessary to keep the church locked.
Dates for your diaries
The Kings Head
On Friday 19 September, it’s a Charity Bingo Night. These are really popular so please book.
Friday 9 and Saturday 10 October is ‘Pie Feast’ when they will be selling a variety of hot and cold homemade pies; whilst on Wednesday 14 October it’s ‘Meet the Brewer’ with The Langton Brewery.
And finally, from Friday 16 to Sunday 18 October, it’s Oktoberfest again, a mini German Beer Festival with German wurst and snacks.
Village Hall
By the time you have received this Chronicle, we will have held our Village Quiz Night and Harvest Supper Celebration, and our Macmillan coffee morning, but our next event is our CoCo morning on Wednesday 21 October when, once again, you can join us for coffee and good conversation, 10.30 am–12 noon.
FYI, our Christmas Fayre this year will be held on Saturday 12 December, 2–4.30 pm. If anyone would like to book a table, please ring Janet on 07950 409 610.
Christ Church
Our services return to normal this month, with our all-age Harvest Festival being held on Sunday 20 September at 10 am. This is always a very special service loved by adults and children alike, so please do join us.
Janet Gilbert
Leicestershire Wildlife Hospital Table-Top Sale – 10 October
