As we could not hold our usual coffee morning in the village hall, my wife arranged with “Rural Community Council (Leicestershire & Rutland))”, a charity tackling issues and reducing disadvantage in communities across Leicestershire, Rutland and surrounding areas, to visit Wing every Wednesday from 10am to 11am with their Rural Coffee Connect van, giving FREE COFFEE during the lockdown.

It was well received by the villagers and we had many people visit.

We were so enthusiastic that we have been asked by the charity to do TWO sessions on Wed 26th, the usual 10-11am and a second one 12:30-2pm while the BBC take video for the TV show Escape to the Country. If you just want coffee, tea or chocolate then this will be served at either session but if you want to be a TV star please come along to the afternoon session.

Wing has survived the lockdown partially due to the good people at Rural Coffee Connect a project run by the other RCC, (AKA Rural Community Council (Leicestershire & Rutland)), a Charity tackling issues and reducing disadvantage in communities across Leicestershire, Rutland and surrounding areas.

They have been serving FREE REAL COFFEE from their van every Wednesday morning from 10:00 to 11:00 in the Village Hall car park until 9th June. It has proved to be really popular with the residents as a way to get together again in a Covid-safe environment.

Established in 1924, the RCC has a diverse role to build the capacity of volunteers and voluntary organisations; help people into volunteering, employment and training; build connections to reduce loneliness and isolation; support people to enhance their mental wellbeing; and help to improve and maintain vital community facilities.

They also act to raise awareness of issues impacting rural communities and provide a platform to celebrate and promote the people, groups and businesses that positively impact Leicestershire, Rutland and the surrounding rural areas.

The coffee is provided by a grant from the Lottery Fund but the good people serving it are mainly volunteers from the RCC Charity.

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See their website at https://www.ruralcc.org.uk/

They do wonderful things for the district.

Judith Oakley and Paul Kitson have raised over £1,600 plus gift aid from their respective walks in contribution to the rebuilding of the graveyard wall.

Judith walked 100 miles around what used to be her garden between April 8^th and April 29^th for a total of 100.35 miles, as a Capt. Tom Challenge.

Paul walked the Rutland Boundary. The recorded distance was 65.8 miles in less than 22 hours.

They thank you so much to all those who sponsored them. Paul says “I for one am feeling very humbled by your generosity and very glad that I did it.. Now for the next challenge..…”.

Judith says any help to turn her desert back into a lawn would be appreciated.

Now, to cheer everybody up, and to welcome audiences back to live theatre, Shoestring will be presenting six performances of this uproarious comedy at 7.45pm from Monday-Saturday, July 19^th-24^th. For tickets contact the Arts Centre Box Office, 01780 755611, or www.stamfordartscentre.com.