Things are now beginning to take their final shape for the coming celebrations. The Beacon, which will be lit on Thursday night at 9.45 at The Fox, is now completed and will be a credit to the Village both on that night and at future occasions. The Friday Fun Day preparations are now almost completed. This day promises to be such great fun with loads of activities for all age groups to join in with. The Dog Show looks to be a great hit but surely the highlight of the day with be the first North Luffenham Inter Street Tug O’ War! The trophy has been hand made and is a spectacular piece of work which will be displayed in The Fox with the winning street’s name proudly engraved on it through the whole year. Have you got your team together yet?? We would love this to be a real fun competition, and would encourage as many streets to get involved as possible. Even if you don’t have enough people from your street this year why not “borrow” some from other streets?! Saturday’s horseshoe hunt is now completed and will be available for all to join in throughout Saturday. Finally Sunday’s Street Party is also nearly finalised. What a day that will be. Make sure you come along and join in all the festive celebrations. This really will be a Jubilee to remember!

Please could you spare time this coming Saturday the 21st May to tidy up The Oval. For gardeners there are piles of wood chippings so bring your wheelbarrow.

Meet 10.30 at the pavillion.

There will be an evening of Jazz and Soul at Barrowden Church on Friday 3rd June at 7.30pm – See poster for details

Please see the road closure notification.

The duration of the Closure shall be as follows: from 20:00 on 4th June 2022 to 07:00 on 6th June 2022 and from 21:00 on 11th June 2022 to 06:00 on 13th June 2022

Please note that the airfield is out of bounds tonight from 21:00 to 06:00 due to protection dog training

Preparations are well underway for the Platinum Jubilee from the evening of Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June 2022. Any help that can be given would be much appreciated.

If you are able to help please contact Simon Browning, Chair North Luffenham Platinum Jubilee Planning Group, email: simonbrowning958@gmail.com

Please find attached the Agenda and supporting papers for the above meetings

We are progressing fantastically with planning for the Platinum Jubilee weekend which looks to be a great weekend for all. However we do need a number of volunteers to help with setting up and taking down of various things before and after the events on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Please could you put out a request for willing volunteers to let me or one of the Jubilee Weekend planning team know if you would be willing to help us out for some or all of the weekend activities to help make this an occasion to remember for the Village.

Many thanks.

Simon Browning

Chair North Luffenham Platinum Jubilee Planning Group

Due to a sharp increase of training activity, the airfield will be out of bounds from the 9^th of May – 24^th of June.

However you may access it on Saturday and Sundays ONLY.

Kind Regards,

LCpl J R Tillotson | Training Wing Courses JNCO | 103 HQ & Sp Sqn | St Georges Bks, North Luffenham, Rutland, LE15 8RL

It is anticipated the works will take 5 days. The closure shall come into force when the
appropriate signs and diversion route are erected on site.
The duration of the Closure shall be as follows: from 30th May 2022 to 3rd June 2022

There are several local events taking place during the month ahead which would welcome your support 🙂

This evening – Tuesday 3rd May from 6.30pm
Cricket on the Oval – North Luffenham @ Home versus Upper Broughton.
If its slightly damp, shelter under the Pavilion canopy and bring along a flask of something warming or your usual tipple.

Wednesday 4th May – Good Companions gather @ 2pm in NL Community Centre
This month we welcome Derek Harris to talk about canal boats.
New members very welcome.
Contact Shauna on 07855 307150 or Alison 07769 322551

Saturday 7th May – Chater Community Choir Concert @ 7.30pm in South Luffenham Church
This is our first concert for over two years and all proceeds are going to the Church Repair Fund. Refreshments will be available afterwards in the beautifully refurbished Village Hall. Tickets available from choir members or Tracy Steward on 01780 729006 – or just come on the night to support this worthy cause.

Wednesday 11th May – Garden Club Meet @ 7pm in NL Community Centre
This month, our guest speaker is the lovely Nicola Oakey – local Award-winning garden Designer.
Refreshments (tea, coffee, wine) and Lucky ball Lottery will be available.
New members still welcome to join or its £3 on the night for non-members.

Saturday 21st May – Garden Club Plant Sale from 10am – 4pm @ The Fox
Come along and grab a bargain or two – bedding plants, perennials, herbs, & vegetable plants have been grown & nurtured by our members ready for this fund raiser.
If you have spare plants yourself, we’re collecting the evening before between 5pm-7pm at The Fox. Cash only on the day please.

Other Local Events Taking Place in May

Braunston May Fayre – May 5  
The Rat Race Dirty Weekend at Burghley – May 7  
Fika Saturday at South Luffenham Village Hall – 10:30-12:30 ~ May 14  
Rutland Choral Society, Rutland Showground, Oakham – May 14  
Spring Vegetable Week at Barnsdale Gardens – May 16  
Funhouse Comedy Club, Grainstore Oakham – 19 May  
Stamford International Music Festival ~ 19-22 May  
Rutland Walking, Cycling & Outdoor Festival – May 21  
Classic Wheels Oakham – May 22  
Rockingham Horse Trials ~ 20-22 May   
Tudor History Day, Rockingham Castle – 29 May   

Please find attached the agenda and supporting papers for the meeting mentioned above. Please note that this is a closed meeting

A village Gardening Club has launched a sunflower growing competition to raise funds for Ukraine.

The North Luffenham Garden Club has launched a ‘Sowing Seeds of Hope’ competition, with all proceeds donated directly to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal of the Disasters Emergency Committee, a coalition of 15 leading aid charities providing food, water, shelter, healthcare and protection to those fleeing the conflict.

Keen gardeners of all ages are encouraged to enter as there are three competition categories – Blooms (16 years and over), Buds (10 to 15 years) and Seedlings (nine years and under).

The winner of the Blooms category will receive a two-course meal for two at The Fox in North Luffenham, which includes a bottle of house wine or soft drink alternatives, winner of the Buds group will receive a £25 voucher to use at the Rutland Water Garden Nursery, while the Seedlings winner will receive a mystery gardening goody bag.

Chairman of the North Luffenham Garden Club, Shaun Ryan, said: “At the North Luffenham Garden Club, we wanted to collectively support vulnerable people in Ukraine and when we realised that the sunflower is Ukraine’s national flower, this competition sprang to life.”

“I’d like to thank our sponsors – The Fox in North Luffenham and Rutland Water Garden Nursery, for donating prizes and also allowing us to sell the seeds in their locations. To Nimble Media, for designing and printing the posters, letters and seed packets; and Pretty Wild Seeds, for supplying the seeds.”

“The club is looking forward to judging the entries – and together, we will nurture our sunflowers in aid of the Ukraine appeal.”

Packets of Ukrainian giant sunflower seeds, donated by Pretty Wild Seeds, are now available for a minimum donation of £2 to purchase from The Fox in North Luffenham, The Boot Inn South Luffenham, Rutland Water Garden Nursery, Edith Weston Village Shop, Welland Vale Garden Centre in Uppingham and Ashwell Garden Centre.

Entries are limited to one sunflower per person.

The competition will close on September 9.

Competition envelopes still available to buy & set your Sunflower seeds before the end of the month with a chance to grow the tallest sunflower 😊

Next term 26^th April – 1^st June

Contact Deb – deb@do-yoga.co.uk or 07973 508547

Friendly classes for women and men of all ages and experience.

Sessions are held in the lovely, newly refurbished South Luffenham village hall. 

Beginners Most Welcome

Classes taken by Deb King, British Wheel of Yoga Teacher for over 10 years.

Yoga classes consist of warming up joints and muscles, a wide range of postures for strengthening the body, improving balance and flexibility plus breathing exercises and relaxation.

Besides improving general health and well being, regular practice is effective for relieving arthritis, anxiety, insomnia, symptoms of the menopause, backache, joint problems, high blood pressure and many other issues.

Book your free trial class now – deb@do-yoga.co.uk

I’m getting in touch with good news to let you know that the full programme and bookings are now available for the Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival for week 1 and 2. The programme and booking form can be accessed on our website via the following link: https://www.activerutland.org.uk/walkingandcyclingfestival. I’ve also attached a copy of the festival poster and programme to this email.

If you use social media, follow us for updates on the festival and other activities taking place across the county, links below:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ActiveRutland1
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ActiveRutland
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activerutland/

Please can you promote to any groups you are a part of or share with friends/family that may be interested. We have some new family friendly activities this year during the half term in May. Further details below:

Rutland Walking and Cycling Festival

21^st May – 1^st June

The festival will be returning once again in May 2022, which will feature the Rutland Round walk around the county boundary. The first week is the Rutland Round which is a 65-mile circular route around the perimeter of the county, with its start and finish in Oakham and a couple of detours to visit Rutland Water. The 65-mile led walk will be split into six days starting on Saturday 21st May and finishing on Thursday 26th May. You can book to walk as many sections as you like or why not take on the challenge of the full Rutland Round.

The second week is made up of different walking and cycling activities such as a walking litter pick, family bike ride, family spring nature trail, canal walk and more. View the programme to find out about the exciting activities on offer and book your place on the Active Rutland website: https://www.activerutland.org.uk/walkingandcyclingfestival. If you’d like to hear more about the festival this year and future years, join the mailing list by emailing activerutland@rutland.gov.uk.