Author: thorntonvillage

Despite the weather last Saturday there was just a two hour window of opportunity at 10am, when it stopped raining long enough for six hardy villagers (all over 70) to turn up armed with trowels, spades, rakes, muddy boots and waterproofs to work in the churchyard.

Twenty pots of snowdrop bulbs were planted, together with 30 metres of hedging along the borders, whilst a good deal of lichen was scraped off the church masonry, and the footpath cleared of fallen leaves.

Thanks to Shirley, William, Barry, Chris, Mary and Gill for their intrepidness and hard work.

I’m sure there will be another working party soon – any form of help is always welcome.

It’s not all hard slog, as soon as the church clock strikes 11 – we all gather for a short break, under the lychgate for coffee, biscuits and a natter.

Who wouldn’t want to work in a place with a view like this!

Sadly there were no blue skies on Saturday- this photograph was taken at a previous working party in November.

Along with the ongoing general maintenance of the churchyard, which has included the necessary taking down of another diseased beech tree (at a cost of £3000) last week, the Friends of St Peter’s are working towards creating a small garden of remembrance within the churchyard and spreading more plants throughout the grounds.

If you have any spare plants, for example, snowdrops, cyclamen, primroses, bluebells, daffodils, celandine, forget-me-nots (a few rhododendrons in the hedgerow perhaps) or any other suggestions, especially for plants that would bring colour in the summer and autumn, please get in touch.

Email thorntonvillage@aol.com

Two, new, three-seater benches (made from 100% recyclable plastic) have been purchased with money donated by two local groups, the Ratby Ramblers and Glenfield U3A and will be placed in the churchyard in the next few weeks.

For those amongst us (like me) who struggle to get up the very steep footpath from the reservoir, one will be strategically placed on the left side of the path half way up the hill, on the flatish piece of land in line with the furthest tray shown in this photograph.

The FOSP’s are always busy raising funds for use towards the upkeep and improvements within the grounds and the church itself.

Unfortunately two diseased beech trees and faulty heating have made a big dent in the funds they had raised towards providing a stairlift in the church and creating the garden of remembrance, but your help is invaluable by supporting those fund raising events.

There are three such events coming up in the next few weeks – all to be held at Thornton Community Centre.

Clear Out Sale – Saturday 25th February

Folk group, Govannen’s Ceilidh – Saturday 11th March – (a few tickets remaining)

Thornton Quiz night and Fish and Chip supper – Saturday 1st April – (SOLD OUT)

If you have any fund raising ideas, or would be willing to organise an event, then please do get in touch.

Thornton Community Centre is on Facebook.

Click on the link below for more information on the centre, photographs, events etc.

This is an ‘open’ link so you do not need to be registered on Facebook to view.

https://www.facebook.com/people/Thornton-Community-Centre-Leicestershire/100087116036125/

Happy New year to you all.

We have 60  metres of hedging to plant before March so I’d like to have a working party to try to plant at least 30 metres this coming Saturday 14th January from 10 until 12 noon.

Even if you make it for a short time that would be great. 

Bring any tools you think would be useful – spade, trowel for example and especially stout gardening gloves and a drink.

If you don’t fancy planting, there are several graves that need a good tidy, branches to collect up, etc.

Hope some of you can make it and the weather works for us.

Shirley G (Churchwarden)

The Nosh & Natter luncheon is back after a 2 year break due to Covid ‘lockdowns’.

This group was originally created four years ago for retired and semi retired ladies who live in Thornton to get together once a month over lunch.

It has been decided that for the new year all lunches will be held at the Bricklayers Arms, but instead of midday on a Wednesday as before, it will be at a later time, and the day of the month may vary to allow for more accessibility.

The first luncheon of the new year will be at the Bricklayers Arms, Thornton on Thursday 26th January at 1.30pm.

If you would like to come then please email – thorntonvillage@aol.com at least a week before the date so that we can confirm the booking and numbers with Anna & Nic.

There will be restricted access through the churchyard via the Lychgate all day on Wednesday 4th January from 8am to allow the felling of another diseased beech tree.

To access the reservoir please use the footpath through the recreation ground, the path by the side of the school, or via Reservoir Road.

I am really sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.

Shirley Garlick (Church warden)