Category: Clubs and Societies

All the members of Illston on the Hill WI enjoyed a thoroughly delightful last meeting of 2025. We were treated to a fantastic papercraft workshop led by our very talented member, Hazel Cave. Hazel had clearly put in a great deal of time and effort preparing an impressive range of projects for us to make.  They included Christmas crackers, designer parcel wrapping, charming tree decorations and several other creative items, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.

Our youngest player is 8 years old, and the oldest is 76, so age is only a small barrier to having a go at table tennis. Your first session is free, including the coaching on Wednesday nights from 7pm (beginners) and 7.45pm (improvers) with free play from 8.30 - 9.30pm.

For the history and film buffs we have a talk entitled ‘Zulu and the Battle of Rorke’s Drift’ on Tuesday 3February at 7.30pm. How true to life, or not, was the depiction of this famous battle in the film Zulu?

I am Steve Taylor and an 8th degree black belt in Taekwon-do. I started training in 1977 and got my black belt in 1983, one year later I started teaching in Oadby where my classes soon reached 100 students per night. In 1988 I moved to Kibworth and shortly after opened a club in Kibworth Village Hall. Taekwon-do is a Korean military martial art comprising of self defence including against knives etc. Sparring, patterns and destruction.

The first meeting of the new year for the Kibworth & District Heritage Society is to take place on Wednesday 21 January in Kibworth Community Library at 7.30pm. This will be a talk by Kibworth resident John Freeland, he will be speaking about his great-granduncle, Alonzo Freeland. He was at one time owner of the premises which is now Somerby’s Chemist Shop on Station Street. Alonzo was both a chemist and a photographer and there will be several previously unseen photographs of Kibworth on view.

Over the weekend 3 and 4 January Norton & Gaulby Young Farmers went out across the South Leicestershire area to collect people’s Christmas trees for recycling. This year we have achieved record breaking numbers of 561 trees. We made £4494.50 all for three amazing local charities: ‘Yellow Wellies Farm Safety Foundation’ ‘Gems’ and ‘Derbyshire, Leicestershire &Rutland Air Ambulance Service.’

December marked the start of a number of festive gatherings, including the ‘Leicester City Centre Light Run’, a festive charity fun run at Wistow, and the club Christmas party. This year, we were lucky enough to offer members a prize draw thanks to the generosity of local businesses. A special thank-you goes to ’Bridge 67,’ ‘Kibworth Garden Centre’ ‘Rosie Made a Thing’, ‘Mollie Mae Cards’, ‘Elise Tear Sports Massage, and ‘Anita’s Holistic Health’ for their kind donations. A great night was had by all.

The accompanying photograph shows the current committee of the Fleckney Spinners Table Tennis Club. From left to right: Miriam Wohl (press and recruitment, safeguarding), Anita Pabla (quartermaster/mistress), Rob Logan (all-round good egg), Callum Harbidge (secretary), Bob Palmer (Chair, safeguarding). Not included James Robertson (treasurer).

Cinema in the Langtons presents 

After Christmas, I’d like to reflect on recent events in our village. We held a successful Christmas Fayre with lively chatter and laughter. The following Wednesday, Helen Benton, our village Pilates teacher, organised a well-attended ‘LOROS’ Coffee morning, raising another £500 for a deserving charity. This added to the £200 raised from CoCo mornings and £300 from the Christmas Fayre.