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.

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.

Stamford Arts Centre Theatre re-opens on the 19th July with the Shoestring’s new production of the sparkling 19th Century comedy London Assurance.

The first ever performance of Dion Boucicault’s London Assurance was on 4 March 1841 at the Theatre Royal Covent Garden where it ran for three months. More recently, revised by Richard Bean, who wrote One Man, Two Guvnors, it was an outstanding success at the National Theatre in 2010.

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.

From David Wood, the new High Sheriff of Rutland:

As my Declaration had to be held privately, I was unable to outline my objectives and plans for my shrieval year which the letter now attempts to do.

Besides my responsibilities as High Sheriff in supporting the judiciary, police and emergency services, I also want to focus on two key objectives:

The first is to support those suffering from rural poverty be it financial, loneliness or isolation.  Rutland is a comparatively wealthy county but there are many people who are in need which has been exposed even more due to Covid 19. There are many wonderful volunteers and organisations who are helping these people and I would very much like to meet these helpers to thank them by recognising and showing support for their efforts.

The second objective is to visit all the villages in Rutland as well as our towns of Oakham and Uppingham with two things in mind – firstly to find out how everyone has coped during this difficult time and to meet members of the community (particularly those referred to above) but also to see how they are addressing the challenge of climate change with initiatives to conserve biodiversity and sustainability – in their gardens, meadows, hedgerows and verges, allotments and churchyards. This will tie in with the Council initiative “Future Conversations” and the work that we are doing at Rutland Agricultural Society of which I am Chairman. At the end of the year, I will take great pleasure in awarding a tree to three of the most inspirational villages.

These visits will be very informal. If you would like to act as a guide to introduce me around your village, please let me know by my email rdavidwood1@gmail.com .

In terms of events and key dates, we will have to see how lockdown and Covid plays out during the year. However, some of my plans are:

•   Jeffy and I hope to hold an event to meet as many people as possible.

•  On July 11^th There is the Farming and Food Festival on the Rutland Showground

•  There will be a Justice Service this year at All saints Oakham – probably in the autumn.

•   If conditions permit a fund-raising Choral Concert in All Saints Oakham Parish Church on Saturday October 9^th.

•   I have real ambition to hold a Christmas lunch in the pavilion at the Rutland Showground for approx. 120 people who are in need and might otherwise be alone at Christmas.

Part of the A6003 near the village of Manton is closed until 5 July 21 as Network Rail repairs the bridge. Over the next three months, teams will demolish the bridge and then install a new, stronger one from underneath.

From: Judith Oakley

PLEASE – a new payment system, not using BACS. CAPTAIN TOM 100 Challenge.

The family of Cpt Tom are challenging others to do a 100 ‘somethings’ in his honour by May 3rd.

I am taking on this challenge, 100 miles in 30 days, to help to fund the rebuild of the wall of Wing Parish Church. I am hoping 100 people will each sponsor me a penny (or more!) a mile. I measure the distance I walk on the pedometer on my phone so I will have proof I have done it BUT can’t guarantee the exact measurement!

I have been walking round my garden daily since June (even when covered in snow and ice).

Could you please pay the sponsorship money to the Church via this recently created new online giving page which enables UK taxpayers to donate under the Gift Aid scheme, which augments the size of their donation by 25%. Here is the link: – https://givealittle.co/campaigns/eec37098-504e-45ce-b934-59435e869a15 or just put the money in my mailbox at 6 Top Street, Wing.

I am starting today and hope to have completed the challenge by May 3rd – I will keep you posted with my progress about every 10 days.

There is a story by Joanne Beaver that brings a little smile to our Covid, Church Wall fallen down existence at https://wingrutland.uk/the-church-wall/ and permanently on The Church main menu.

On Thursday we launched the Future Rutland Conversation, a chance to share what you value most about life in Rutland and what you want from the future. Whether it’s transport, leisure, employment or the environment that matter to you, we want your views on lots of issues, to help shape the future of our county. Get involved in the conversation today and have your say: http://www.rutland.gov.uk/futurerutland