Local company PennyGuides Ltd have VE Day party packs available to dress up your houses and family for social distancing parties at your home, garden or street.

They have also produced a free “D-Day to VE-day” app at http://gogo2.uk/ve telling the whole story for the 75th anniversary.

Please have a look, everything is in a pack for you to celebrate on one day what our previous generation did for us…follow the app; the surrender document in May is something else.

Order your pack online at www.pennyguides.co.uk and follow PennyGuides on Instagram, Facebook and their YouTube Channel. All at #pennyguides.

Please remember our war winning heroes as well as the NHS.

Have fun…as far as safely possible

An online VE Day celebration is being organised by North Luffenham based small business Penny Guides. Penny Guides, which preserves veteran’s stories within interactive battlefield tours was born of a conversation at @ The FOX pub.  The original plan for VE Day was to celebrate with activities and opportunities to gather and share veteran’s stories at the pub over the long weekend. The event has had to be planned a little differently now, with a combination of online and bottom of garden celebrations, activities for adults and children, joining in with the national toast and clap for veteran’s at 3 pm. A detailed agenda is attached. Let’s get the bunting out!

More details can be found on the PennyGuides Facebook page

We’re new at The Coach House Inn, and we have a food takeaway app to order Sunday Lunch, Saturday Cooked Breakfast, and a range of ready meals for collection Wednesday to Saturday.

Call 01780 720 866, message us on the facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/thecoachhouseinn, or use the app at http://m.appbuild.io/kadd6 and choose your pick up time:

Ready meals: anytime Wednesday – Saturday

Saturday breakfast: 9am – 12pm

Sunday lunch: 12noon – 3.30pm

Looking forward to serving you.

Emma and Elliot

#fortheloveoffood #southluffenham #northluffenham #barrowden #ketton #morcott #edithweston 

Because of the current situation the Annual Parish Meeting could not take place nor could the usual distribution of the newsletter. Please click on the link below for the newsletter. This contains important information on the Local Plan and a questionnaire will be posted on this website to seek the views of residents. There are other significant issue for the parish so please download and read.

Dear resident,

I have been signing off these newsletters with the words “stay safe” but I’m going to start with that this time.  Staying safe isn’t just about staying Covid free, it’s also about being safe whilst you are taking your daily exercise.  Residents have recently been contacting me to say they’ve noticed a lot more speeding on our roads since the lock down.  Less traffic seems to encourage those who are on the roads to speed and whilst I don’t know whether they are even Rutland residents can I urge you all to remember speed limits are there for a purpose –even temporary ones where the roads are being resurfaced—so keep to the limit and avoid accidents.  For more information see: https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-council/council-news/council-and-police-call-on-drivers-to-slow-down/ Another safety issue concerns dog walkers.  Some of you walk your dogs on the St George’s Barracks site in Edith Weston/North Luffenham.  If you do please take VERY CAREFUL notice of the signage put up by the military.  The site is used for training the military dogs.  Military dogs are very well trained but if engaged in a training exercise might well see your pet, or even you yourself, as the enemy and it is not fair on the dogs’ handlers, or the army, to keep you safe if you have gone into an area you should not be in.  Stay safe –don’t go where you are not meant to be!

For those of you who use buses in Rutland please note, all operators are running a reduced service.  Check before you travel.  For those of you living in Empingham RCC is operating a free fixed time mini bus service for essential journeys between Oakham and Stamford.  You have to give at least one working day’s notice if you wish to use the service.  Call 01572 758138. 

I have said before that RCC’s Covid-19 pages are regularly being updated.  The latest is an additional section –a Young People’s page https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/information-for-young-people/ where, amongst other things, is a section on learning new skills.  In addition if you want information as a family on learning at home try https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/information-and-advice-for-residents/online-learning-and-activities/ Also, if you want to know which Council services are still running and which are not go to: https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/changes-and-closures-to-council-services/

And finally a competition for you and your family to enter to celebrate VE day on 8 May https://www.rutlandradio.co.uk/events/virtual-ve-day/

Stay safe.  Stay happy.

Gale Waller

County Councillor, Normanton Wardgwaller@rutland.gov.uk

The volunteers at the Rutland Food Bank would like to thank the residents of North Luffenham for their donation. In only a few days 37 kg of various food items have been donated and delivered to the Food Bank.

Your continued generosity would be appreciated but no fresh food items as these can go off in the time it takes to turn around collection and delivery.

If you need help from the Rutland Food Bank, the quickest way to reach them is by telephone – the team will put you in touch with someone who can give you a voucher:

tel:07852 783363. info@rutland.foodbank.org.uk. https://rutland.foodbank.org.uk

The Oakham distribution centre is open:

Monday, 1pm to 2.30pm

Friday, 10am to 11.30am

If you need help in accessing the Food Bank please contact the North Luffenham Good Neighbour Scheme 07825 697841 or nglns2020@gamil.com

Please find notice from RCC re temporary closure of Glebe Road

There have been enquires from residents about donating to the Rutland Food Bank. There has been a big increase in requests for help and donations are welcome.

If you would like to donate then donations can be left in a receptacle that will be inside the Telephone Box in Church St.. A resident in the village works at the Food Bank and will deliver them to their premises.

Some items are always in demand but others vary over time and these will be updated. The list below indicate the donations that are most useful.

The foodbank always runs low on the following items:

• Sponge puddings
• Tins of potatoes
• Tins of carrots
• Cereal Bars
• Packets of Sugar

Running low at present:

• Deodorants
• Washing up liquid
• Toothpaste for children
• UHT milk
• Tins of tomatoes

Dear resident,

I hope you all had a happy Easter and the continuing lock down isn’t getting you down too much. Don’t forget if you know someone is on their own, give them a ring, it’s far more cheering than an e-mail.  Rutland council is continually updating its web pages https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/health-and-nhs/health-and-support-services/coronavirus/ and although the headings remain unchanged the content does change –promise.  Hospitals locally are currently coping very well but have noted a significant reduction in attendance at accident and emergency departments.  If you are ill ‘phone your general practitioner, 111 or, in an emergency, 999 –we don’t want people getting seriously ill or dying because they don’t want to be a burden on the health service at this time. 

There has been some confusion over whether cemeteries are open or not.  Government guidance is now that if you enter a cemetery, to visit a grave for example, social distancing rules apply.   However, the organisation who maintains the cemetery, whether parish or church, is responsible for it and for ensuring the rules are followed so it is their decision on whether to open it or not.  

The good news nationally is that coronavirus seems to be under control but that will only continue if we all follow the rules.  Only go out for collecting medication and essential shopping, and preferably no more than once a week, and then only one person from the household.  Only take one form of exercise outside the perimeters of your home once a day.  Do not undertake unnecessary journeys, whether by bike or car, and this includes visiting family and loved ones; even if you have baked them a wonderful cake!  And above all keep your distance when you are outside your home.  Remember, family groups are those you are currently living with not members of your family who you don’t live with but might see in the street –you must still keep your distance from them. Stay safe.  Stay happy.

Gale Waller

County Councillor, Normanton Ward

gwaller@rutland.gov.uk 01780 722169

All dentists have been advised to cease all face to face contact. A new directive has been issued that advises those with dental issues not to go to their GP or A&E, but to contact dentists that are participating in a triage service. A full list of dentists operating the triage phone service will be provided on the RCC website.

 A Very Happy Easter,
with hope for everyone to keep their neighbours safe & well.

Small chocolate eggs can be had for the taking beside the cross which is
situated near the zebra crossing.

All eggs in foil which is untouched by human hand, sanitised & can be
easily picked up by its own cocktail stick!

Thanks from the Parish Church to Colin Heasell for some of the wood, to
John Dyckhoff for making the cross & to Lilliane Coogan for some of the
fabric flowers.

Dear resident,

First, a very happy Easter to you all.  I hope you are able to enjoy the weather safely and that those of you with children and grandchildren are keeping them entertained whist following the no socialising rules.  I’m missing my own daughter who was due to be spending the long weekend here in Rutland and sadly my contact with her is now only electronic.  Please don’t be tempted to visit grandparents or let your children play with children from another family; social distancing is still essential.  However, if you want something to amuse your children Visions Children’s Centre has come up with some ideas https://www.visionsccc.co.uk/sessions  as has Rutland Museum https://rutlandcountymuseum.org.uk/kids-crafts/

Not all children are safe and happy, however, and RCC has recently issued a press release about safeguarding children.  Here is part of it “Since the introduction of social distancing measures, brought in to limit the spread of coronavirus, the Council has seen a drop in reports to their safeguarding team. Council experts are concerned that, despite this drop, cases of child abuse may be on the rise, with fewer opportunities for it to be seen, reported and stopped. They are calling on residents to help make sure children are kept safe. If you have any concerns or something doesn’t look right, please let us know. Across the county front doors are being kept closed. But our door is always open.  Residents are asked to look and listen out for signs that may indicate abuse:

*           Very young children being left on their own

*           Children looking dirty or not changing their clothes

*           Children are withdrawn or anxious

*           Aggressive or repeated shouting

*           Sounds of hitting or banging and things being broken

*           Children crying for long periods of time

*           Relatives denied access to talk to children by phone or video call

To report concerns about children’s welfare call 01572 758 407 or email childrensreferrals@rutland.gov.uk <mailto:childrensreferrals@rutland.gov.uk> .

If a child is in immediate danger call 999 and ask for the police.”

Despite this lovely weather please don’t be tempted beyond your own garden other than necessary food shopping, a medical appointment or your own exercise.  And don’t be tempted to have a house (or garden) party.  The NHS needs us to keep lockdown so it doesn’t become overwhelmed.  Stay safe.  Stay happy.

Gale Waller

County Councillor, Normanton Ward

gwaller@rutland.gov.uk 01780 722169

We now have a twice weekly prescription collection scheduled with Empingham Medical Centre. We will collect from them after 4pm on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. 

The surgery have requested that any repeat prescriptions are notified 1 week in advance and not 72 hours as has previously been the case (You do not need to do this if your repeat prescription is automatically renewed each month).  This is to enable them to provide the key service that we all need so please help them by adhering to this.

If you let the good neighbours scheme know when you have submitted your prescription we can collect for you during the Wednesday or Friday afternoon pick-up. Email nlgns2020@gmail.com or call 07825 697841. Please leave your name as the surgery knows it, address, telephone number, whether you are exempt from charges or have a prepayment certificate, and your date of birth (requested by the surgery to make it quicker for them to process).

If you have an emergency prescription this can be collected any day by contacting us as above.

Thank you 

Good advice and useful contact details. Please click on the links below.