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Veterans’ Breakfast – and yet more Armistice planning

Thanks again to Mark & Tracey Taylor who run the Veterans Breakfast Club at The Grainstore on the first Saturday morning of each month. Good company & good breakfast guaranteed – come along next on 9.30 December 1st. Veterans of any age and their families are welcome.

While there I was asked whether anything is happening in Oakham to celebrate the Armistice actually at  11am on the 11th Nov.   I didn’t know – I’ll be attending the service in Uppingham at that time – but I have discovered that the answer is yes.  A “Homage on the High Street” will be  taking place outside Crown Walk at  11am.

The main Oakham Remembrance Parade through the town is at 2pm and the Remembrance Service at All Saints starts at 2.30pm. All are welcome.

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Rutlanders are amazing! Community Champions evening

I was delighted to welcome over 300 guests to the Officers’ Mess at Kendrew Barracks yesterday evening, to celebrate the amazing work of Rutland community heroes and volunteers.

Referring to a recent survey that put Rutland at the top of ‘happy places to live’, my speech to our community champions and assembled guests included:

“Rutland is a happy place not only because we have beautiful countryside and stunning market towns but because we have a community culture of altruism, doing our best for others and volunteering…”

Thank you to everyone who attended this community champions event. It has been a true honour having the chance to celebrate the successes of our community together, at Kendrew.

More information about (and photos of) some of the stars and the highlights is available on my  Twitter pages – see https://twitter.com/RutlandLL .

 

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‘The Rutlanders Return’ community play

What a community play! Utterly gripping, compelling and it made me laugh – and also want to cry. I knew that ‘The Rutlanders Return’ would be good, but I have to admit I didn’t expect it to be this outstanding! Brilliant staging, acting, music, singing and local research. The after-effects of WW1 in Rutland in the years immediately after the war, brought to life. Congratulations to all involved.  Funds raised go to the Royal British Legion.

In one week  two great community happenings, making all think about the lessons of WW1 – this play and the display of 10,000 ceramic poppies at Oakham Castle. Both outstanding & original. Congratulations to all for engaging all generations. Do not miss the poppies & try for play tickets at  .. , if there are any left…

 

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Something you didn’t know about your dog?

Did you know how powerful a dog’s sense of smell is? Apparently it is equivalent to being able to taste a teaspoonful of sugar dissolved in three Olympic-size swimming pools. No wonder sniffer dogs are so  effective. Thanks to the 1st Military Working Dogs Regiment for a fascinating visit.

The photo is of Mollie and Flossie, my dogs.  Flossie (the Cocker Spaniel) has been described as ‘a machine for transporting a nose, at high speed, less than an inch above the ground’.

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A field of poppies at Oakham Castle

It was magnificent to have horses from the Melton Defence Animal Centre at Oakham Castle yesterday for the opening of the ‘ Project. Rutland may be a small county but we live up to our motto – a lot in a little. Yesterday was a huge success. Do go along and look at the poppies.  All made by Rutlanders, every one is different.  They go on sale after 24th November, proceeds to The Royal British Legion.

Thank you especially  to all those at Catmose College for being the hub of the project.  Without the kilns and the staff’s  support this fabulous community art installation could not have happened at Oakham Castle and we would not have had yesterday’s fantastic event. Well done everyone, particularly Vickie G!

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A female first for Uppingham

For the first time ever in Uppingham, Remembrance Sunday’s events will have four female leads: High Sheriff Sue Jarron, Mayor Miranda Jones, Vicar Rachel Watts and myself. How appropriate for the centenary of women’s suffrage and the Armistice – it is said that their contribution to  WW1 revolutionised the position of women.