Rutland County Council is currently consulting on a planning application submitted by Heidelberg Materials (Castle Cement) for the extension of Grange Top Quarry (application 2024/0066/MIN). The proposals include revised access arrangements, which may alter HGV traffic patterns on the A606 and possibly the surrounding villages. Residents who wish to view the application documents or submit comments can do so via the County Council’s planning portal;  https://publicaccess.rutland.gov.uk/onlineapplications. Search for application 2024/0066/MIN and click “Make a comment”. The consultation period closes on 11 March 2026. You can contact Empingham Parish Council if you would like more information or you need any help.

A performance of country, folk, and pop songs by the very talented Athenrye Duo

Saturday 21st February 7.30   

St Peter’s Church, Barrowden 

Bar. Doors open from 7.00.

Tickets £15 from Barrowden Community Shop

online at https://wegottickets.com/event/687763

or from Chris Barrett 07818 176549 / Steve Preston 07754 118257

Proceeds shared between The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust and St Peter’s Church 

https://www.instagram.com/theduoathenrye

This Post will expire at 7:22am on Wednesday March 18th, 2026.

We are so excited to be presenting Handel’s Messiah for our Spring concert on Saturday
28th March at 7.30pm, Oakham School Chapel, Oakham. Rehearsals are now well under
way of this powerful and much loved work under the enthusiastic and expert leadership of
our musical director Jamie Conway. We will be joined by the Raikes Consort orchestra
together with professional soloists. This will be the biggest production Rutland Choral
Society has ever put on making this a stand out, not to be missed concert.
Jamie says “The Messiah is in many ways the pre-eminent choral masterpiece. I am so
excited to bring this story to life with the Rutland Choral Society. The choir has come on a
tremendous journey in the two and a half years I have been working with them, and they
perform with not only beautiful singing, but such meaning and a connection to the music and
libretto. This is a wonderful opportunity to experience all three parts of the Messiah
performed with the Raikes Consort and a top-rate team of soloists.”
Make sure you don’t miss out and get your tickets now priced £20 (under 16’s free) from
choir members or https://wegottickets.com/rutlandchoralsociety

The Fish and Chip van will be at Pinfold Close this evening from 6:25 to 7:15pm

As I write this I am pleased to report that a record number of horses have been entered for the races. This makes for an even better than hoped for event. However there has been some interesting news from some of the local stables which I felt I needed to share with you.

Following a recent veterinary health inspection at a North Luffenham Stud, the county’s leading racing Shetland Pony has been rule out of the forthcoming race night with a mystery long term illness. The stud had requested the veterinary visit as Shetland Shifter had been noted to have a very, very sore inflamed throat resulting in a hacking cough. The result of the visit was that the vet immediately ruled Shetland Shifter out of any racing for the foreseeable future with a mystery illness that currently he is unable to diagnose accurately. In making this ruling the vet commented, “I cannot be sure exactly what is wrong with Shetland Shifter but is is patently clear from examining her that she is a little horse!”

We have also had photographic evidence sent to us of another horse due to race who is currently recovering from surgery. The secretly taken photograph, shown below would seem to suggest that the outcome of the operation may not be entirely satisfactory!

Don’t forget, tickets for this great event are available from The Fox or from the people named on the posters that are posted throughout the village.

It really is going to be a fantastic evening, so don’t miss out, make sure you secure your tickets before they run out and then watch this space for more updates!!

We are hosting an extra special open meeting on Wednesday 25th February with a special guest speaker – BBC Gardeners’ World presenter Adam Frost. We are extremely excited to welcome him to our Club and are very much looking forward to his talk, ‘How I Garden’. 
The event will take place in North Luffenham School Hall and doors open promptly at 7pm.

Please do join us for an inspirational talk, refreshments (tea, coffee & wine available to buy) & our extraordinary raffle to make it a really memorable night.

A limited number of tickets are now available to buy from The Fox, North Luffenham for just £27.50 per person (cash only please).

As you will probably know, the scheduled Uppingham <> Stamford R5 bus was replaced by an “On Demand” CallConnect Bus service (although there is still a scheduled bus 3x a day during school term time)

Bus timetable – Bland’s R5 | Rutland County Council

Users of CallConnect are encouraged to book via the app

Callconnect | Rutland County Council

However for users who are not able to use the app, you can also call the booking team on 03452343344 and they will arrange your journey.

Given the interest shown by so many of you for this fantastic upcoming event on Saturday 7th March I thought, in the light of the recent downpours and the ground becoming so waterlogged, that you might be interested in knowing what has happened to the training routines of some of the competitors. Clearly the jockeys and stable hands are taking this event very seriously and have taken to using alternative training methods given everywhere is so wet.

The team training Nobbled Nag found their stable underwater and so have resorted to water polo methods of training, a tried and trusted method for training horses!

Here we see Nobbled Nag and his stablemates at a recent training camp!

And we also have a picture taken secretly at a training facility just outside Empingham following an arduous swim in the swollen River Chater by Equine Enchantress and her hapless stablemate Cunning Fox

Don’t forget, tickets are available from The Fox or from those people named on the posters around the village. Either pop in to The Fox or give one of these lovely people a ring and they will be able to provide you with your tickets to one of the very best race meetings to be held in the UK this year!

Act soon – time is galloping away!

Mid January, dark days and long nights! Is there no end to the gloom?

YES there is! The North Luffenham Fun Club is very pleased to announce the first North Luffenham fun event of 2026. The North Luffenham Race Night to be held in the School Hall on 7th March.

This is going to be an evening of fun and games for the whole community (over 18’s only at this event to comply with legal requirements) . A series of races with tote including the ultimate pig race. These races will be accompanied by other interval games. A guaranteed fun filled evening to drive away the winter blues and usher in Springtime. There is also a licensed bar. Tickets cost £10 and included in that price is your first drink! Posters around the village (and at the bottom of this message) tell you who you can contact to buy your tickets. Tickets can also be bought from The Fox, so just pop in and ask at the Bar. What an excuse to visit the pub in Dry January!

Tickets are proving popular so don’t delay.

Like the pantomime, these fun events are aimed at all North Luffenham villagers, so why not end January with a bang and pick up your tickets for this fun filled event. See you there!

One of the horses currently in training for the big event!

Everyone is welcome to Breakfast church at 9:30am Sunday 21st December in the North Luffenham Community Centre. We will be looking at the events leading up to Christmas from Joseph’s point of view.

Yes! it’s nearly that time again. I kid you not, the last two rehearsals have been the best yet. Everybody is looking so good this year. We just can’t wait to show you what we’ve come up with this year. Saturday’s rehearsal showed the true talent everyone possesses (it was a very short rehearsal!!!).

The lights are booked again, the sound track is set. Our brilliant make up artist has signalled her readiness. Our great props person has come up trumps again!

This is one you just can’t miss. This has just got to be the best way to start your Christmas week. Don’t forget this extravaganza will be staged in The Fox Car Park on Sunday 21st December at 6.00pm. As always there will be a cash bucket collection so please do give what you can on the night. It is true to say there is nothing like this pantomime anywhere else!! Last year you were all so generous – so a big thank you in advance.

Just to prepare you all here are a couple of reminders from last years pantomime!

Get ready – IT’S COMING TO THE PUB NEAR YOU!

We look forward to seeing you all on Sunday!

The Cast of 2025

After some feedback, the Fish and Chip van will be in North Luffenham at an earlier time tonight.

It will now be here between 4:30 and 5:45

You can pre order by contacting them on 07899919998

Nanny’s Fish and Chip van will be visiting North Luffenham every Friday, starting from tomorrow Friday 12th December.

They will be in the village from 7PM to 8:30PM, parking on Pinfold Close

Sat 3rd Jan 2026, New Year French Bal with Cri du Canard at Stamford Arts Centre Ballroom

Cri du Canard are a French folk trio, currently based in the North of England. With passion and experience coming out of their ears, these three highly regarded musicians throw themselves into their work, performing and leading workshops across the UK and EU with expertise, humour, and panache.

After properly establishing this band in 2021 – following a glorious summer’s evening of music, dance, and food – Grace, Sam, and Dave warmly invite you to share in the joy of French and Breton music, dance the night away to these infectious, energy-infused grooves, or simply sit back and enjoy the hypnotic interplay of fiddle, flute and box.

Expect to be transported to the beating musical heart of France, with an experience as nourishing for the soul as a good bowl of boeuf bourguignon.

Cri du Canard are Grace Smith (violon), Sam Partridge (flûte traversière en bois) and Dave Gray (accordéon diatonique). 

Important Information

Date: Saturday 3rd January, 2026

Venue: Stamford Arts Centre, Ballroom

Tickets: £15 (£8 under 25s)

Running Time: 3 hours

Please note this is a dancing event and seating will be limited

Due to unforeseen circumstances, North Luffenham Garden Club are sorry to advise that Adam Frost has cancelled his appearance at our Garden Club meeting on Wednesday 10^th December. The good news is that we have secured him for a new date – Wednesday 25^th February 2026 @ 7pm.  

For those of you who have already bought tickets, we do hope that you will be able to join us on this new date and would appreciate your confirming by email, by the end of January 2026 whether:-
– you are able to attend on 25th February 2026
or
– you are unable to attend on 25th February and require a refund

In either case, please contact us via our email address at northluffenhamgardenclub@gmail.com. 

For that special Christmas present, we do have tickets available for the 25th February 2026 to enable friends & family to join us at this open meeting and enjoy Adam Frost speak!
These are available from The Fox in North Luffenham for only £27.50 (cash only please).

with thanks for your understanding & festive wishes,

North Luffenham Garden Club Committee