We are delighted to report that the Plant Sale at The Fox on Saturday was really well attended and a great success.
A big thank you to the people who worked hard behind the scenes to grow, deliver & arrange the stock for the day, and to those who came along to support the event.
For folks who missed it, here’s a video of our Garden Club Chairman – Shaun Ryan – introducing the Sale & all the plants on offer😁…
We have set up an honesty box to give good homes to any remaining plants; you’ll find these available to purchase in the new outdoor covered courtyard area of The Fox; please give generously😊 & thanks again for your support.
This time next week you will start to see the village transform as we start to put up the bunting around the village. We would love it if you all joined in and added any flags and bunting to the fronts of your properties as well. Let’s make North Luffenham the best looking Jubilee venue in Rutland!
Many of you will have received your official Programme of Events over the weekend outlining the full list of activities over the whole event. I hope you will agree it looks as if we are all in for a great time!
As I delivered my set of Programmes yesterday it was great to hear villagers talking about the whole event and some early claims being made as to the feats their streets would be performing in the Tug O’ War! It is so heartening to hear people coming together like this which is just what we hoped for. If your street hasn’t got a team together yet why not knock on a few doors and see who you can drum up. If you are lost for a team please do contact me and we will see what we can do about creating some “joint street teams” as well.
No doubt the dog groomers will be getting booked up as well, as our canine friends build up to the dog show. I know our dog has been following a strict dietary regime for the last few weeks now. (If its food I’ll eat it!!)
Finally, for this update, I am sure you will all agree the new Beacon looks fantastic. Many many thanks to Jason and his dad for their brilliant efforts. It will burn bright next Thursday alongside all the other beacons across the nation.
Over the next few days every house in North Luffenham should receive an official Programme of Events. In it you will find dates and times of all the events over the four days. You will also find rules and an entry form for the Tug O’ War.
The Village Fun Day on the Friday is looking spectacular. Please do try and come along as there are many activities to join in and have fun with. Lots of prizes to be won. If you don’t want to try your hand at any of the games why not have your face painted instead! There will be light refreshments and an informal bar.
The Horseshoe Hunt on the Saturday is now finalised. You will see posters of horseshoes dotted around the village, some of which will be accompanied by fascinating historical facts about the village. There is a competition attached and to enter this you will just need to pick up a competition sheet from outside The Fox. Find the Horseshoes, identify the flag associated with that horseshoe and then, when you have them all, complete a short tie breaker question and return the form to The Fox.
You will also find copies of the official North Luffenham Village Walk Information Sheet. Please fell free to take one round with you and identify each of the places mentioned. The information about the history of this village contained in this guide is absolutely fascinating and confirms what a brilliant village we all live in.
Please return the guides after your walk so that others may enjoy them.
The competition sheets and guides will be available from 11.00 onwards.
Why not stop and chat with your fellow villagers on your way round? Then meet again in The Fox afterwards for a well earned drink to share your new found knowledge of North Luffenham!
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.
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
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
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
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
A report has been received from a resident of Kings Road that someone entered his property through closed gates whilst he was out, and deposited an old mattress into a skip in his garden.
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 Companionsgather @ 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
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 😊
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.
