TWO table tennis teams from Carlton le Willows Academy made it through to the last four in the country in a national school teams final at the weekend.
The Academy’s U19s and U13s teams battled it out for top spot at the English Schools Table Tennis Association’s National Team Championships in Hinckley on Saturday – with the Year 8 team taking third place and the U19s eventually finishing in fourth place at the event.
“Reaching the finals was a massive result for both teams, who played some of the best schools in the country during the regionals in Bradford last month, said Carlton le Willows head teacher Craig Weaver.
“To be in the final four – so, one of the best school teams in the country is just amazing. I’m so proud of all our players, who gave it their all.”
The appearance in the final comes just a week after Carlton le Willows was presented with Table Tennis England’s coveted Partner of the Year Award, during a ceremony that recognises commitment to table tennis from volunteers and personalities across Britain.
Rachel Shenton this week took home the Oscar for best Live Action Short for her film “The Silent Child,” which tells the story of a deaf girl born into a family who can hear.
Shenton had promised co-star Maisie Sly, who suffers from hearing loss, that she would give her winning speech in sign language if she won.
The event has led to praise from all corners of the world, and one local signing club couldn’t be prouder.
Hannah Lindahl, who is club leader at Little Signers Club North Nottingham, said she was ‘thrilled’ by the film’s Oscars success.
She said: “The film highlights the isolation of children with the invisible disability of hearing loss and, as a result of this film, British Sign Language and hearing issues, particularly for young people, are being given a global stage.”
Little Signers Club North Nottinghamshire offer classes in Arnold and Ravenshead which teach sign language to babies and toddlers. This allows them to communicate with their parents and carers before they are able to talk.
As they get a little older, the signing is used to help support language development and allows easier clarification during the toddler stages when speech can be very unclear or words are frequently pronounced incorrectly.parents and tots affected by hearing loss and aim to give them the ability to start signing for themselves.
PICTURED: Maisie Sly in The Silent Child
Hannah said: “British Sign Language has obvious benefits for those with hearing difficulties but it also provides a wonderful connection and understanding for everyone when other members of the community can join in too.
“Babies and toddlers can let their parents know what they need, reducing tantrums and distress. Pre-schoolers and older children can use it to support language development, spellings and literacy. Children and adults with other invisible disabilities find signed communication a lifeline. Many other people will remember having learned the signed BSL alphabet at brownies or cubs – and with a little practice, it will all come flooding back.
Little Signers Club was launched in February 2010 and the successful teaching scheme is now being licensed out across the country. In addition to its British Sign Language based classes for children and parents, the organisation publishes delightful ‘Rhyme and Sign’ Adventures, which children of all ages and abilities love.
Hannah added: “It’s lovely to see all the little ones totally engaged with signing. They have a natural instinct for it and they bloom as soon as they realise that they are understood. Signing is such an incredible activity to do and the parents who come along to classes enjoy adding a new skill to their repertoire too. It really has something for everyone and it’s so easy to learn!”
To register interest in Hannah’s free signing sessions, arrange a free session at your local baby / toddler group, Children’s Centre or to join a local class, please call 07856 021 527 or email hannah@littlesignersclub.co.uk
A Carlton apprentice is discovering the benefits of earning and learning after taking up a post at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre.
Cairon Evans among a group of 16 and 17-year olds who recently took up the opportunity to become hospital apprentices at the city’s largest hospital so they can learn first-hand about front-line care.
They have been working alongside nurses and doctors to help provide care for patients in a variety of areas.
Cairon is working on a healthcare of the older people ward at QMC and says he has learned more than he expected.
The 17-year-old said: “It’s really good and interesting. As well as learning you’re getting paid. When I first started I found it quite challenging. But now I know what to do, I’m confident, and I get lots of appraisals and ‘thank yous’ and it makes a difference. When you’re seeing things happen and you’re learning on the spot it’s better for you.
PICTURED: Queen’s Medical Centre
“You get so much help from the ward manager, all the staff, to get things done.
“I work with the elderly. I help with their observations, bladder scans and things that would be more clinical. I like working with the staff, we’re a real team – we all work together.
“I enjoy working with the patients – they are all different and it’s good to be able to help them.”
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH), which operates QMC and City Hospital, is increasing the number of apprentices in line with government targets and is offering apprenticeships in a variety of areas not just on wards.
Emma Cross, Apprentice Trainer at NUH’s Institute of Nursing and Midwifery Excellence, said the apprentices were an important part of the team and it was good to recognise their efforts during national Apprenticeship Week.
She said: “These roles don’t replace nursing and other staff but lend important support and learn a great deal while they are with us. They are getting real experience working in many areas and putting their efforts into something positive and earning at the same time.
“For many it will be their first step in a long career in health care.”
Cairon said he would recommend an apprenticeship at NUH and says the experience has helped him focus on what he wants to do and give him a way of starting a new career.
He said: “I just love it. I want to progress. My main goal is to go to university and do my nursing degree.”
For more information about apprenticeships at NUH contact Place Michelle , Apprentice Lead, Michelle.Place@nuh.nhs.uk.
A man from Arnold has been saved from blindness thanks to the keen eye of his optician.
Retiree John Campbell, 61, is now urging everyone to get their eyes tested regularly after a one-off appointment at the Arnold branch of Specsavers detected a life-changing condition which might have left him blind in a matter of months.
John had accompanied his wife to her appointment at the store on Front Street, when he decided to book himself in while he was there.
During the appointment, store director and optometrist, Vineet Nehra, spotted an anomaly and immediately referred him to hospital.
“It was very clear that John needed urgent medical attention,” said Vineet.
“He had a very advanced case of what we call acute glaucoma, which for him had been symptomless up to this point, and his eyes were struggling under a build-up of pressure on his optic nerve.
“We have very sophisticated glaucoma screening technology in store, which we offer as part of all regular eye tests, and this takes a photograph of the back of the eye, so I could see exactly what was going on.’
Vineet referred John to the eye casualty department at Queen’s Medical Centre for an urgent appointment, and John was diagnosed with advanced glaucoma.
John said: “I was in a state of complete shock after Vineet told me that I needed to go to hospital.
“I had just come back from holiday with my wife, and didn’t suspect anything was wrong – I had no symptoms whatsoever to indicate there might be a problem.”
John was treated with a course of eye drops before receiving specialist operations on each eye, called a trabeculectomy, which involves draining fluid from the back of the eye to release pressure.
John added: “I feel incredibly lucky to have received this treatment, and without the initial diagnosis and quick actions of Vineet at Specsavers, I would have already lost my sight to this condition. I really owe it to him that I still have my sight, and I would encourage everybody to go and have their sight tested on a regular basis – it’s such an important health check.”
A leading ticketing agency based in Nottingham has issued advice to gig-goers in Gedling borough to help them avoid being ripped off when buying tickets online
Gigantic – which is the UK’s third largest primary ticketing agency – has issued the advice after four major ticket resale websites were rapped this week by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The ASA found that Seatwave, StubHub, Viagogo and GetMeIn were not up front and clear with consumers about additional ticket fees and charges that are added at the end of the booking process, such as booking and delivery fees.
In the wake of the ASA’s findings, primary ticket seller Gigantic shares its guide for getting hold of in demand tickets safely for the hottest shows.
Look for the STAR
Get to know what ticketing websites are primary and secondary. STAR – the Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers – is the self-regulatory body for the entertainment ticketing industry in the UK. All STAR members are primary agencies and abide to follow a code of practice: https://www.star.org.uk/all-members.
Subscribe and stay in the know
Once you’ve distinguished what sites are in fact primary ticket sellers, sign up to its mailing list. You’ll receive regular updates of what is going on sale in advance; can set reminders and have the best chance of getting tickets the moment they go on sale.
Research before you buy
The official website for the artist or event should always be your first port of call, as it will tell you when and where to get tickets from. The site will provide links to ticket agencies that have been allocated tickets directly from the event promoter. You can also check the artist or event’s social media channels for ticket links. Plus, don’t forget to check for any purchase restrictions that may be in place, i.e. the lead booker needs to attend and all arrive together.
Miss out? Don’t fret!
If tickets sell out then don’t fret. Quite often extra tickets are added for shows at a later date. By signing up to the venue’s and agency’s waiting lists, these additional tickets will become available and you’ll be notified.
Branch out
Consider your options. Is the artist you want to see performing elsewhere? How about a UK city break or weekend trip to Europe to see your favourite band? If you’re able to be flexible and the budget allows it then tickets might still be available in other locations.
Police have again put a dispersal order in place in parts of Arnold tonight from 6pm.
The order will start tonight (March 9) and be in place until 6am on Sunday (11)
The order will cover the town centre.
A spokesman for Nottinghamshire Police said: “Police Officers, PCSOs and Gedling Neighbourhood Wardens will be out and about in the area interacting with the public and helping to keep the streets safer”
The orders have been put in place after residents complained of feeling intimidated by large groups of youths in the town centre carrying out anti-social behaviour.
A dispersal order was put into place last Thursday.
Police officers also confirmed they had visited other areas in the borough, including Netherfield and Colwick, in relation on ongoing antisocial behaviour issues.
Residents in Gedling borough are being warned about a telephone scam where people are told they are owed a PPI rebate but have to pay an upfront amount to claim it.
The warning comes after an 81-year-old woman from Southwell was targeted by the scam on February 26, stating she was owed £4,190 but had to pay the tax first.
The pensioner was asked to go to the Co-op in Southwell and obtain £225 in Paysafe cards and the caller would ring her back and arrange for the cheque to be delivered from a solicitor.
He then rang again to ask if she had bought them and asked for the codes on the vouchers.
Luckily the woman didn’t buy the vouchers and realised it was a scam.
PC Deborah Bakin, beat manager for Southwell and surrounding areas, said: “Please be aware that anyone ringing to say you are owed money for PPI and requesting money first may not be genuine.”
Although previous proposals were originally made nearly 40 years ago in the 1980s, the current development process concerning Dark Lane is now approaching 13 years! Detailed planning permission has already been granted – hence the commencement of works to the entrance on Main Street opposite the petrol station, a while ago. However, the developer Langridge Homes is currently seeking to vary the existing planning permission, having submitted a fresh application (ref. 2017/1263). There are a number of aspects to the new application which raise concerns. Particularly those which could have a negative impact on local heritage and the visual amenity of the landscape with respect to views to and from the surrounding countryside. Indeed the latest application seems to propose that the houses are positioned in a more linear manner – forming very harsh edges to the development, with the largest of the dwellings (mainly 5 bedroom properties) located on the highest ground to the south. Hopefully English Heritage (now Historic England), which had been very concerned about the original development proposals, have found the time to take an interest in this latest application.
In addition the proposals appear to be out of conformity with key policies of Calverton’s recently adopted Neighbourhood Plan – without the necessary housing mix and attention to design and landscaping. The new proposed site layout plan also makes clear a longer term intention to extend the development westwards onto land currently occupied by the riding stables towards the James Seely Park.
Unfortunately, the consultation period for this application has now closed, but the Pres. together with the Parish Council and other local residents, have made representations – in the hope that this planning application is refused.
Dark Lane walkabout
PICTURESQUE: Dark Lane several years ago before development began
If you haven’t walked along Dark Lane recently, now’s the time to enjoy the better weather. You can start at Woods Lane, opposite the Admiral Rodney on Main Street, go up the Lane and turn left just before the entrance to the Riding School. This is Dark Lane which continues behind the Nursing Home and then across the new access road for the proposed buildings. Turn right at the corner of St Wilfrid’s School Field, through a narrow gateway, Dark Lane continues up the rise, past footpaths on the left to Renals Way (near Keenwell Pond). The path then slits into two, one way is on lower ground in a little valley (Dumble) and then up a steep bank. The other way is by taking a left fork where the path follows the edge of the bushes and trees on the top of the Dumble bank. The paths eventually meet further up the hill and continue by the edge of the field up to Spindle Lane and Foxwood. From here you can either turn right and keep going until you come to Georges Hill or turn left towards Bonner Hill, passing another path on the left back to the village. Alternatively you can turn right after a short distance at the edge of Foxwood, this path takes you down towards Woodborough.
Gedling Borough Council’s emerging Local Planning Document (LDC) has been subject to an independent examination – the Parish Council, with the support of the Preservation Society, submitted comments and made representations at the relevant hearing sessions. It was hoped that the independent examiner will be persuaded to suggest that Gedling makes certain modifications to the part of its development plan that covers Calverton – principally the deletion of two of the proposed development sites, Flatts Lane and Hollingwood Lane/Main Street junction.
We will have to wait until the examiner’s report is published to find out whether the changes that we have requested are likely to be made. The current consultation into the LDC’s main modifications is open until March 26th, visit the Library or GBC’s website for more information. A final consultation is expected to take place following the publication of the examiner’s report.
Pres Clips
The planning application submitted to Gedling Borough Council for indoor entertainment at Oscar’s has been given conditional permission as the proposed diversification of use would assist the viability of an existing business and would have no undue impact on the amenities of the surrounding area.
Permission, with a number of conditions, has been granted by Gedling Borough Council for the demolition of 2 existing cottages and the erection of 2 new dwellings together with the conversion of existing school house into a 3 bedroom dwelling on Burnor Pool.
Approval is being sort by “Coal & Lace” on St. Wilfrid’s Square for the sale and consumption of alcohol on the premises daily from 11 am to 11 pm.
The Calverton Garden & Heritage Trail, organised by the Pres Soc, is due to take place again this year, probably on a Sunday towards the end of June. If anyone would like to open their garden, large or small, please contact Chris Peck (965 4843) for further details.
The Pres has receive a request regarding the coming of the Black Death (1348/9) to towns and villages in Nottinghamshire. Please get in touch if you have any information.
For more information, contact: Chris Peck, Secretary, Calverton Preservation & History Society, 0115 9654843 or pressoc@ntlworld.com
This column is also published in the March print edition of the Village Gazette – a local magazine for Calverton
Work is set to begin on converting a former social club into a new pub in Carlton.
Lincoln Green brewery this week revealed they will shortly begin converting the former Latvian Social Club in Standhill Road into a new boozer they have named The Brickyard.
PICTURED: The former Latvian Club on Standhill Road
An alcohol licence has now been granted for the premises and it’s hoped The Brickyard will be open for business on April 27.
The new pub will offer a wide selection of real ales and aims to become infamous for their unique collection of gins on offer.
The Brickyard will become Lincoln Green brewery’s second pub in the borough. The popular brewer also owns the historic Arnold pub The Robin Hood and Little John, in Church Street.
A Colwick firm invited it’s longest serving employee and first ever customer to join them in celebrations to mark twenty years in business
Wastecycle marked its 20th birthday with coffee and a giant cake served up to all its employees on Tuesday.
The company that was founded by Mike Shearstone and Paul Needham in 1998.
Mr Needham was joined by the company’s first and longest serving employee Richard Ashby and Andy and Peter Stephens from customer John A Stephens, which has worked with Wastecycle since day one.
The company, which has premesis on Colwick Industrial Estate, has an annual turnover in excess of £44 million and recycles or recovers 98% of the waste it collects.
“We have enjoyed tremendous growth in the last twenty years, and are really proud of how the business has developed in that time,” said Mr Needham.
“We set out to make a difference to our customers by recycling their waste and passing on the cost savings. We wanted to help them reduce their impact on the environment by recycling their waste into sustainable recycled products rather than landfilling.
“During the last 20 years we have diverted over 5 million tonnes of waste from landfill.”
He added: “We’ve certainly exceeded our initial expectations in 1998, and our four sites are now busier than ever.”
Wastecycle’s first employee, Richard Ashby was given the honour of cutting the company’s birthday cake.
He said: “I’ve seen a lot of changes since I started working here. I’ve seen the company grow from one small site to its current 20 acre resource management and recovery park in Colwick. I’ve seen us expand into Leicester and the investment of millions of pounds into new vehicles and equipment.
“I’ve seen a lot of people join the company. I’m not quite ready for retirement, so I guess I will see a lot more change as we continue to grow. Wastecycle is a fantastic company to work for, and I’m sure everyone is really proud to celebrate its 20th anniversary.”
Peter Stephens of John A Stephens said: “We’ve been pleased to see Wastecycle grow and they’ve helped us reduce our costs and lessen our impact on the environment. I’m very pleased for Paul and his team. Here’s to the next 20 years!”
To find out more about Wastecyle, please visit www.wastecycle.com or call 0115 0115 940 3111.
