Category: Community

After we closed our doors on 18 March you may think we haven’t been doing anything at all in the library, but we have been so busy!

Given the amount of planning and anticipation we had for future events, it was with great sadness that the Village Hall has had to close its doors due to Government advice. That marked the end of the free VE Day lunch we were planning to host for the over 75’s, along with several Community Cinema screenings. It has also meant the cancellation of the Pre-School, Dance classes, Martial arts, Yoga, Pilates, the Kibworth Chronicle lay-up and numerous other events and societies who use the Village Hall on a regular basis. We sincerely hope that everyone involved in these organisations is keeping safe during this difficult and challenging time.

These are strange and scary times as the COVID-19 pandemic grips the planet. As of yesterday, the UK is in lockdown. This means that nobody is allowed to leave their homes except to shop for food and medicines, to care for a vulnerable person, to exercise once a day or to go to work only if it isn’t possible to work from home. Prior to that, we were asked to carry out social distancing, a minimum of 2m from another person, with a ban on all gatherings. This pandemic is merciless, nobody could ever have imagined anything so frightening could happen in our lifetimes. The schools and universities closed last week for the majority of pupils, it’s highly unlikely any of them will return for a summer term, and exams have been cancelled.

At the beginning of Lockdown, when schools were issuing guidance to parents about how to organise home schooling during the forthcoming weeks, my son and daughter in law prepared a timetable for the children’s daily activities. This included traditional learning, reading, maths, writing practice etc but also some more creative and diverting sessions such as painting and physical exercises. I knew the parents would be under pressure as they were both trying to work from home (one part-time and the other full-time) as well as home schooling, so I asked if I could help with any of the activities. After having my arm practically pulled off, I agreed to do a “Storytime” session via Facebook for half an hour every weekday in the 3 to 3.30pm slot.

At the beginning of Lockdown, when schools were issuing guidance to parents about how to organise home schooling during the forthcoming weeks, my son and daughter in law prepared a timetable for the children’s daily activities. This included traditional learning, reading, maths, writing practice etc but also some more creative and diverting sessions such as painting and physical exercises. I knew the parents would be under pressure as they were both trying to work from home (one part-time and the other full-time) as well as home schooling, so I asked if I could help with any of the activities. After having my arm practically pulled off, I agreed to do a “Storytime” session via Facebook for half an hour every weekday in the 3 to 3.30pm slot.

I have been monitoring the water level in a deep well in my garden in Smeeton Westerby and would like to compare my results with local daily rainfall data. Do you know if there is anyone in the Kibworth area who may have local rainfall data?

The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) has embarked on a second building repair project. This will revive the outstanding historic post mill at Kibworth Harcourt in Leicestershire. Kibworth is notable as the location for Michael’s Wood’s series, the Story of England, currently showing on BBC4, in which the mill features.

It is pleasing to note that the two large current building sites in Kibworth Beauchamp - those contracted by Miller Homes (off Churchill Avenue) and David Wilson Homes (off Fleckney Road) - have now started to show signs of life in this ‘new normal’ situation.

After a really wet and miserable winter, and a three-month closure of the locks for new gates, everybody was looking forward to things getting moving again.  Many boats had been trapped due to flooded rivers, others were planning to start their spring cruising, and hire fleets were gearing up for the Easter break. No sooner had the flight re-opened than came the bombshell that everything was to shut down because of coronavirus.

As in previous years, Calvin of The Kings Head Smeeton Westerby is selling plants in aid of the Gems Charity. He is however chronically short of plant pots and requires some urgently. Preferably big ones please but any are welcome. They can be left in the car park, where you can also view the plants that are for sale.