It’s now called “Mahikeng” but when they were besieged there during the second Boer war the troops must have been exceeding pleased to hear the relief column was nearly with them.

To those who are suffering a state of siege mentality brought on by the enforced closure of the Wheatsheaf  in Edith Weston, relief is at hand. The official re opening is on Saturday 3rd December.

Food will be available from the start but Christmas bookings are not being taken. All very much suck it and see for now.

When Cyril died recently he was in his Eighty Seventh year.

His wife for nearly sixty years was Maisie who died a few years ago. Cyril leaves his son Richard as the last Armstrong in Wing.

Cyril was born in 1929, the youngest of three children.  His family lived at Pickwell. Later Cyril went to school in Somerby and later still to Melton school. He left school at the age of 14, in 1943, – too young to be called up, but as he worked on a farm he was in a reserved occupation in any case.  Such work was vital to sustaining the country in time of war.

He and Maisie were married on 6th September 1952 in Ashfordby. They moved to “The Cottage” at Wing in 1953, when Cyril worked for Frank Ayers in Manton.

He had various jobs. He worked at Manton Station, he drove a lorry for Garrett’s Transport, he was a civilian driver at Ashwell Prison, and latterly a night patrol officer.

A regular at the Thursday Coffee morning for some years, his opinion on matters and tales from yesteryear are missed.

But Cyril was a farmer at heart, – a man of the land.  At one time he owned four tractors, and he had a big garden  of 3/4 acre  “The Ponderosa”, at Preston where he spend many afternoons pottering around with his agriculture and machinery.

Lately Cyril was cared for by the staff of Oakham Medical centre and of Manton Hall.

Ninety years ago the WING branch of the WOMEN’S INSTITUTE (WI) was formed.

To celebrate this fact the Branch decided to plant a tree on the recreation ground.

Below are some photos taken on the day to record the event. It is hoped to get more up if people will send their photographs to either John or myself (Paul)

Gloria, Richard and assistant Mary with the new tree.

Dennis was heard to shout “where is this tea you were talking about?” The technical term for this manoeuvre is “Sloping Off”, an old Indian Army Slang.

As Richard was saying “now that crowd has shoved off we can do the proper work”

After the tree planting and the posing for the worlds press, those members who were able to attend, adjourned to the Village Hall for tea and other comestibles.

Here are some shots taken by your roving reporter, it is hoped some better illustrations will be sent in by readers later.

To demonstrate what a little training can do just compare these two shots.

No. 1. Well fed and watered, somewhat satisfied but could do better.

No. 2. After a fifteen minute pep talk and an explanation of facial muscles.

Why does Sheila say I go on a lot?

The camera I was using for the occasion is one regularly used by the police to catch out opportunist thieves. I forgot to turn that feature off and you see what technology can do today. Not only can it tell when the subject is smiling, it can snap the odd opportunist, in this case of course the camera was mistaken, I just hope it does not automatically write out tickets when I take it back to the station.

Whilst your correspondent was closing the sun cover on the Maze photograph he heard some scuffling and muted mutterings from the recreation ground.

Vandals! he thought and shot off home to get a camera to catch them for posterity. Taken from the cover of the trees here is what was seen. The bulk of the miscreants had by then scarpered leaving these few to carry the can.

If you recognise any of these people do let us know at the usual address. At the rate trees are dying in the village we need to keep a sharp eye out for people lurking with spades.