NEED A GRANT

Community and voluntary groups across Erewash have another chance to apply for grants of up to £2,000 to help them with their work in the borough. Erewash Borough Council has opened a further round of funding through its Community Grants scheme and wants local groups to get in touch and apply for support ahead of the closing deadline of 12.30pm on Monday 24th July. Countless groups have been helped over the last few years through the grants scheme, ranging from Scout groups to charities like Sight Support Derbyshire. Councillor Gerri Hickton, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Community Engagement, says:

“We want to get the message out to groups in all corners of our borough that these grants are on offer to help them. We have helped so many since we launched this scheme but we still want to hear from the many more groups we know are out there working to help people living in Erewash. It doesn’t matter how small the group is, we want to hear. Will a grant of up to £2,000 help you? Then get in touch now!”

The deadline for community grant applications is 12.30pm on Monday 24th July. Full details of the scheme and how to apply for a community grant are available at www.erewash.gov.uk  - via the ‘Community and Living’ tab and the link to ‘Grants’.

Anyone needing help or advice regarding completing the application form can contact the council’s Community Engagement Officer Colin Handley via email colin.handley@erewash.gov.uk or on 0115 907 2244.

STILL TIME TO BLOOM

Green-fingered Erewash residents still have time to enter this year’s Erewash in Bloom gardening competition ahead of the deadline, Friday 7th July. Organised by Erewash Borough Council’s Pride in Erewash campaign, the annual competition features a range of categories to suit gardeners of all ages – including best front and rear gardens, best wildlife garden, top hanging baskets, best allotments and a fun tallest sunflower award for youngsters. There are also awards on offer for schools and businesses.

It is quick and easy to enter online at www.erewash.gov.uk/erewashinbloom or entry forms are available from Ilkeston and Long Eaton town halls. Councillor Mike Wallis, Erewash Borough Council’s Lead Member for Culture and Leisure, says:

“This remains a very popular competition with all our gardening gurus out there and they make it a very difficult task for the Bloom judges who are always bowled over by the quality of all entries – hats off to all the residents, businesses and schoolchildren who put the flower power into our borough. So if you haven’t entered yet, let’s hear from you!”

NEW MAYOR OF EREWASH

The new Mayor of Erewash is Councillor Mary Hopkinson, who was formally elected to the role during Erewash Borough Council’s annual meeting on 18th May. Councillor Hopkinson, who has represented the Little Hallam Ward on the Borough Council since 2011, will serve residents as the First Citizen of the Borough for the civic year 2017/18. During her mayoral year, Councillor Hopkinson will be supported by her husband Peter, while her friend Mrs Megan Walker will step in for some events.

A variety of fundraising events will be held during the year and the Mayor has chosen to support and promote four charities – Sight Support Derbyshire as she herself has an ongoing sight problem; The Canaan Trust, the Long Eaton-based charity which helps those people who find themselves homeless; Ben’s Den, a charity which offers holidays for families with terminally ill children and, as she is conscious of the many people who are affected by dementia, The Alzheimer’s Research UK. Councillor Hopkinson is looking forward to representing the residents of Erewash during her civic year:

“I feel very honoured to have been elected as Mayor and it is my greatest pleasure to serve the residents of our wonderful borough during my civic year, which I will do with great pride. I am well aware of the inspiring and valuable work that goes on daily in all corners of Erewash and I look forward to attending events during this year and to meeting residents of all ages and hearing their stories. There is much of which we can be proud in Erewash and I am truly excited to be in a position to promote this during the coming year.”

Councillor Hopkinson was born in Ilkeston and educated at local schools – Bennerley Infants, Granby Juniors and Hallcroft Girls School. Her working life started at Booths factory in Ilkeston before taking a career break to raise her two daughters Joanne and Ruth. She returned to work in the offices at Winster Products and finally Domestic Industrial Pressings. The Mayor is involved with a variety of local organisations including the Ilkeston 50+ Forum; she is Secretary to the South Derbyshire Neighbourhood Watch Scheme and is a founder member of the Ilkeston Lioness Club. The Reverend Christine French of All Saints Church, Kirk Hallam, will be the Mayor’s Chaplain during her year in office.

The new Deputy Mayor of Erewash is Councillor Chris Corbett, who represents the Wilsthorpe Ward, for which he has been the borough councillor since 1999.
He has been the Leader of the Council for the last 10 years before stepping down this month to take up the Deputy Mayor role.

TAI CHI IN THE GREAT OUTDOORS

Erewash residents have the power to tap in to the health benefits of Tai Chi when weekly hour-long sessions start again in the relaxing surrounding of Victoria Park in Ilkeston every Tuesday from 6th June.

The free sessions are run by Tai Chi experts and will take place throughout the summer between 10.30am and 11.30am and are suitable for all ages and abilities. No booking is required, just meet at the pavilion within the park or find the group out on the grass.

The free classes previously ran through the autumn and were well attended and are now returning as part of a ‘summer of wellbeing’ in the park. The known health benefits of the ancient Chinese low impact exercise include reducing stress, improved posture, balance and general mobility and increased muscle strength in legs.  It is suitable for most people and can be adapted to suit those with a disability, including wheelchair users.

LONG EATON PROBUS CLUB

Long Eaton Probus Club Visit Monday May 29th 2017
“TRENT COLLEGE ARBORETUM”

Members and their partners today spent a very pleasant morning at the Trent College Arboretum, guided round by Mr David Pinney, formerly Head of Biology at Trent College.
Whilst the weather was not too unkind it was still quite cool, but this did not detract from the very interesting and knowledgeable David Pinney who gave the members some very interesting facts about the arboretum and the many trees within the grounds. Having completed the tour of the Arboretum the members and their partners finished the morning with lunch at Bennetts on Derby Road Long Eaton. The members concluded by thanking club member Ken Pye for organizing this very pleasant event.

EXHIBITION SALUTES TOTON

A fascinating exhibition which pays tribute to Toton Sidings opened at Erewash Museum on Friday 26th May to revive memories of what was once the largest marshalling yard in Europe. The Museum has worked in partnership with the Long Eaton and District 50+ Forum on the project and the display is expected to generate a big interest from railway fans and the many local families with connections to the Sidings over the years. The Forum was awarded funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to research and create the display, which is called ‘Toton Sidings Remembered 1856-1984’ and will run in the Lally Gallery until Saturday 15th July. The exhibition features photos of the marshalling yard and the people who worked there plus other memorabilia – some of which has been loaned by local people.

Toton Sidings processed around two million coal wagons a year in its heyday and the display will look at the history of the site while also featuring newly commissioned poster art on how the yard worked. The collection has been developed and put together by a project management group that included Forum members and project leaders Pete Wearn and David Farley, local railway historians Brian Amos and Phil Burton and Helen Martinez and Debbi Mills of Erewash Museum.

Admission is free. Contact 0115 907 1141, email museum@erewash.gov.uk  or visit the Facebook page /erewashmuseum

LONG EATON PUBLIC THANKED

Police haves thanked the public for their help in an appeal for information after a robbery on West Park in the town. At the end of last month, DC Mark Walker appealed for information after a 16 year-old victim was threatened in an attempt to take his bike.
A 15 year-old boy from Long Eaton has now been interviewed after members of the public came forward with information about the incident which happened on Saturday, April 22nd.
DC Mark Walker, who issued the original appeal, said: “ I would genuinely like to thank those members of the public who came forward with information about this incident, this was pivotal in identifying the suspect.
“Thankfully incidents like this are very rare in Long Eaton and so the response from the public helps to send the message that this type of behaviour will not be tolerated.
“As the boy arrested is a juvenile the matter has now been passed to the Erewash Youth Offending Team for consideration.”
A Youth Offending Team (YOT) is a team made up of representatives from the Police, Probation Service, Social Care, Health and Education. They identify the things that may be contributing to the young person's offending as well as measuring the risk they pose to others. This enables the YOT to identify suitable programmes to address these factors, and, hopefully, prevent the young person offending again.

40 YEARS JAIL FOLLOWING ORGY OF VIOLENCE

Four men two from Long Eaton were sentenced to 40 years in jail following a 40 minute robbery spree. The offences occurred on August 21st 2015, the offenders were sentenced last week. Four robberies were committed and one of the victims suffered a fractured skull. The orgy of violence began in New Lawn Road, Ilkeston, were the gang punched and kicked a man before making of with his phone. Still in Ilkeston they attacked a fifteen year old boy and stole his rucksack. They moved on to Hickings Lane Stapleford  where a 55 year old man was attacked, he was later found in the road minus his phone. Finally they reached Hayworth Road, Sandiacre, again a phone was stolen from a 28year old man. This time the victim suffered a fractured skull and a bleed on the brain. 
A Derby man and a man from Top Valley were sentenced to 9years each. Nathan Wooltorton, 25, of Wellington Street Long Eaton received a sentence of 10 years 3months. They all pleaded guilty. Kyle Tams, 29, of Windermere Gardens who pleaded not guilty was sentenced to 12 years.

MAYDAY GALA DOG SHOW 2017

The Mayday Gala had arrived again in Breaston, Derbyshire and it was a little overcast. There was a lot of hustle and bustle as people began to set up for the event.
The dog show area needed setting up ready for the registration to commence. This year the categories were puppy, small breed, medium breed, large/giant breed, waggiest tail (2 classes), best rescue, Golden Oldie 

and dog the judge would most like to take home.
At 10.30 am the first entries arrived to sign up to the dog show, one by one the lists for each category increased. A small fee was charged & all monies raised are to be donated to the Dogs Trust. A goody bag with various items donated by pet product manufactures was gCiven to each entry.
A 80 dogs were registered in total and everyone was thrilled with their goody bags. This raised £80 for the Dogs Trust at Loughborough.
Once the two judges had seen all of the dogs they had to pick a shortlist & then 1st, 2nd & 3rd places were decided, we also had a highly commended award. Each winner was awarded a rosette & a prize which had been donated by various pet product/food manufactures.
Best in Show was held with the winner of each class & the judges had a tricky decision to make as to which of the eight dogs would be awarded the Best in Show title. A trophy cup was presented to the winner and the second and third places received a trophy. In all it was another well attended event. A big thank you to all our sponsors for their generous contributions.

LONG EATON SEA CADETS

Long Eaton Sea Cadets have the wind in their sails ahead of a bumper summer of activities – and they’re looking for more youngsters to get on board with them. The Oakley’s Road unit, which is also known as Training Ship Indomitable, is getting ready for the outdoor season and a bumper calendar of events. Through their excellent relationship with Attenborough Sailing Club there are regular opportunities to practice their skills on water close to home.
There will also be trips sailing around the UK and to take part in water sports at the likes of Gosport, Bristol and Plymouth in addition to the annual camp. It’s not all water-based activities with other opportunities available including rock climbing, social activities and taking part in the Duke of Edinburgh Award.

 It’s opportunities that Long Eaton Sea Cadets have been providing for local youngsters since their formation in 1943. They currently have 25 cadets overseen by eight adult volunteers. Commanding Officer Barry Singleton, said: “Heading in to the spring is the perfect time to join the Sea Cadets as we have a full calendar of activities lined up to keep us busy here throughout the summer.
 “We work hard achieving BTEC qualifications but we also enjoy ourselves and the depth of skills and experiences our cadets gain here takes people by surprise. As an adult volunteer here, one of the biggest things for me is seeing the kids develop and blossom. It’s a privilege to see them come out of themselves while learning a host of new skills and making new friends. The response we get from the general public in Long Eaton is also great. They react brilliantly to seeing the cadets out in uniform and we’re proud to be a part of this community.”
Long Eaton Sea Cadets parade at its Oakley’s Road, NG10 1FQ base on Thursday nights between 7pm and 9pm. Junior Sea Cadets are aged between 10 and 12 years with Sea Cadets aged between 12 and 18. For more information on the unit visit www.sea-cadets.org/longeaton or search for their page on Facebook. You can contact the unit on email at long.eatonseacadets@btinternet.om