IT’S COMPETITION TIME!

May 21st, 2012 | No Comments »

As we begin to see more sunshine (although as I write this, it has been raining for days and is forecast to continue!) and the days grow longer, it’s time to remind you about the competitions running this summer in Ruddington.

The BEST KEPT VILLAGE COMPETITION depends on the co-operation of all residents and businesses to help keep the village tidy and well cared for. The Parish Council ground staff do their best to keep open spaces maintained but it is often the carelessly discarded crisp bags or pop cans that give the wrong impression. Judging for Round 1 will take place between 4^th and 21^st June.

Also being launched this month is the Parish Council’s ‘PHOTOGRAPHIC’ GARDEN COMPETITION which started in 2011 and was a huge   success. You can enter any time from May to the end of September – just take a picture of your garden at its best or during a particularly interesting stage and send it in with an entry form.  (Pictured – Last year’s winning entry of the Photographic Competition taken by Mr P Brown)

And for those keen gardeners among you, keep up your planning and planting ready for the judging of the ANNUAL GARDEN COMPETITION in July. Entry forms and full details for both the Garden and the Photographic competitions will be available
either from St. Peter’s Rooms or click here to download.

Finally, to all allotment holders in the village, the ALLOTMENTS COMPETITION will be judged in July and you are automatically entered unless you ask not to be. Notices will be supplied for display at the allotments in the weeks leading up to judging so keep your eyes open.

Click here for more information about the above competitions and to download Entry Forms.

Prizes and certificates for all Parish Council competitions will be presented at the Presentation Evening which will take place on Tuesday 23^rd October at St. Peter’s Rooms. Happy gardening!

CHILDREN’S SPORT RELIEF!

May 17th, 2012 | No Comments »

The Ruddington Childminding Group was formed over 30 years ago by local Ruddington Childminders. There have been many attend the group over the years and we have used various venues around the village. We currently have 9 members who meet twice a month at a local church where we are allowed to use the toddler group toys for our sessions – which is a fantastic help!
Our room hire has been paid for by Surestart over the past years but we have also held sponsored toddlers’ walks to raise funds for the group. We plan activities for the children under the Early Years Foundation which allows them to socialize in a group and form friendships.
The picture shows the children showing off their Sport Relief Certificates after taking part in an obstacle course, playing bat and ball, frisbees, hoola hoops and lots more, encouraging all the children to get active and helping to learn that exercise is fun!
If anyone needs any information regarding childminding services within the village please contact our group secretary Tracey Sadler on 07825287470 who will then be able to pass on individual childminders information.

OUT OF VILLAGE BUSINESSES – PART 3

May 14th, 2012 | No Comments »

This month we round off our journey of discovery of lesser-known businesses on the outskirts of Ruddington. These are just as important for our local economy and employment – as well as providing amenities for residents out of the main village centre.
At the north-eastern edge of Ruddington, at the end of Rufford Road, you’ll find The Corner Shop.  The name says it all really – a handy newsagents, off licence and convenience store to serve the community.  It’s now a thriving business despite having been rescued from closure just a decade ago by current owners Stefan and Karen Swann – who now seem to enjoy a constant stream of customers from dawn until dusk seven days a week! They also do a delivery service for elderly and housebound customers.  During the summer plants are on sale at the front of the shop – and that’s when their other business ”Parklands Celebrations” comes into its’ own.  This is a joint venture with Debbie & Colin Lowther at Parklands Stables – the venue for a luxurious marquee available for weddings and other special occasions. Debbie also runs a franchise of Trophy Pet Foods from her Ruddington base.
Right next door to The Corner Shop you can also get your hair done! Flix Hair Design is a modern salon promising a friendly
atmosphere and a personal service, and is run by stylists Deborah & Collette – with over a quarter of century of hairdressing experience between them.
Venturing out along Ashworth Avenue onto Loughborough Road you’ll find Ruddington’s only surviving filling station – selling competitively priced Esso petrol and diesel as well as being another outlet for newspapers, groceries and a range of motoring accessories. Ruddington Service Station also offers snacks, a car wash, and tyre pressure check & inflation facilities.
For working parents, over the road in the former gatehouse for Ruddington Hall there’s Tiny Teddies’ Day Nursery – with places
for up to 37 children aged two months to eight years.
Finally, for older children, we venture to the north-western end of the village to discover East Midlands Sports Direct.  Formerly Bridge Stores and then Powers Pottery it was relaunched as a sporting and teamwear shop around eight years ago by Steve Wilson – and has gone from strength to strength.  The business now also sells clothing and uniforms for many of our local schools as well as offering a bespoke embroidery and printing service.
So, you see, there really is much more to Ruddington than initially meets the eye.
(By Graham Wright)

21 YEARS OF COFFEE

May 7th, 2012 | No Comments »

In April, the Wednesday Coffee Morning held at St Peter’s Rooms, celebrated its 21st year with champagne and cake (and coffee!). Over 30 members attended on a very wet morning to enjoy the celebration and thanks were expressed by members to organiser Lorna McCullough, Judy Grande, an original helper and Pat Slater. We marvelled at the fact that when we started there were no mobile phones, no computers and all that they entail. The first rotas for the helpers were typed on a typewriter with carbon paper but they all knew how to make a good cup of tea and coffee.
The idea of the Coffee Morning was, and is, for friendship and chat. We make a point of staying open all year unless Christmas Day or New Year’s Day falls on a Wednesday and anyone over 55 is welcome.
21 years ago most of our helpers were too young to become members but things have changed and we are all now fully fledged and fully qualifying members!
Early on in our time we also had lunch served by Pat Oliver which was very popular, but now we just meet from 10.00am to 11.00am, finishing in time for the Community bus which brings people from all over the village.
Very occasionally we have visitors who come in to talk to us and one of these introduced us to mosaic making which was much
enjoyed and members work can now be seen incorporated into a display on the perimeters of East Midlands Airport. Once a term children from James Peacock School come down to give us a hand and to meet the members. Young and old mix well together and the children enjoy hearing about the old school that used to be in the building – they are always amazed when they hear that the toilets used to be outside!
21 years ago we charged 20p for the morning, then 30p, and from this month we have had to put it up to 50p but we hope you will all
agree that this is a real bargain. Many thanks to all who have helped us in the past and to those still helping us as we start another 21 years of Coffee and Chat.
(By Lorna McCullough)                          

THE NOISE IN RUDDINGTON – 30th June & 1st July

May 7th, 2012 | No Comments »

The Noise will be taking place in Ruddington on 30^th June and 1^st July this year. This exciting event, organised by Ruddington Baptist Church, is focussed on community action and showing God’s love in practical ways. It’s a great opportunity to make a positive difference in our village. Why do we do it?  We try to look after Ruddington, and share the good we’ve been given: time, skills, resources and friendship.  Over the weekend, we’ll be bringing volunteers of all ages together to tackle some of
Ruddington’s needs. Last year teams of young people and adults were allocated projects and tasks to complete like: interior painting, garden clearing, hedge cutting, fence or shed painting.
If you know anyone who is unable to carry out these sort of tasks for themselves (such as a pensioner or unwell community member), then please do contact us, we would really like to help by sending a team on either 30 June or 1 July.  We only ask that the jobs must be in Ruddington and, if we are visiting your home, you will need to be in on one of the two days of The Noise. Please call Nic and Dina Morton on 0115 921 3376 with your suggestions. If you would like to take part as a volunteer, download a sign-up form from our website www.ruddingtonbaptist.org.uk or visit the website to find out more!

RUDDINGTON CHOIR STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 50 YEARS

May 1st, 2012 | No Comments »

This year is one of big celebrations, with the Olympics 2012, the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and Ruddington and District Choral Society’s 50^th Anniversary.  Starting as a small group of about 20 singers in 1962, the choir practised in Church House near the Framework Knitters’ Museum.  Sue Rivington was a founder member when only 18. ‘Our first concert was Handel’s ‘Messiah’, singing in St Peter’s Church, Ruddington. We are a friendly choir and have some long standing members.  Also our Musical Director and Pianist are also singers, which helps at rehearsals. Our Anniversary performance on Sunday, December 16^th will be Handel’s ‘Messiah’ at St Peter’s Church’, says Sue. On Saturday May 26^th the Choir will perform ‘Joshua’ by Handel at St Giles Church, West Bridgford, starting at 7.30 p.m.  Tickets from Perkins Hardware, Choir members (0115 9211451) or at the door.

OUT OF THE VILLAGE BUSINESSES – Part 2

April 23rd, 2012 | No Comments »

Last month we ventured out of the village centre to begin a journey of discovery – of lesser known businesses away from the busy high street that are also vital for local employment and our region’s economy. This month we continue at the southern boundary – calling in at Ruddington Fields Business Park.
Most village residents will know that this site was reclaimed from a World War Two MOD depot which was decommissioned in 1983.  Over 200 acres were redeveloped as our Country Park – which was opened in 1993. But 38 acres were earmarked for business use – and the number of companies which have moved onto the site over the last twenty years may surprise you!
One of the most high profile is Experian – given a royal seal of approval last year when The Duke of York flew in by helicopter to
see the huge data centre at work and praised the company for developing innovative ideas.  Welcome Financial Services is also a major employer, at Britannia House, whilst independent christian bank, The Kingdom Bank, now has its headquarters here alongside Salt Insurance, Assemblies of God Inc and the AOG Property Trust.  Nottinghamshire County Council administers its employees’ pension funds from Oak House. Capita IT has chosen to have one of its 15 UK offices in our business park whilst ERGO promises “full-scale ICT solutions”.  Telecom equipment and systems giant NEC also has a base on Mere Way. Medical firms include Quotient Clinical & Bioresearch and Pharmaceutical Profiles.  Greene Tweed offer “sealing solutions for the most extreme environments” – manufacturing components for the aerospace, oil field, petrochemical processing, semiconductor and solar industries.  And there are dozens of other smaller businesses, too numerous to mention, renting office space and carrying out their trades within many of these state-of-the-art buildings!
Finally, Ruddington Fields Business Park also has a big role in education – The National College for School Leadership is based at
Limehouse.  But one of its biggest boasts is EMCAT – incorporating South Nottingham College and the East Midlands’ Centre
for Automotive Training.  For over 15 years this has been creating the mechanics of tomorrow with help from The GM Academy, The Honda Institute and other partners.  And, only last month, the new Kia Academy opened there – which has not only four workshops and seven training rooms but also a replica Kia Showroom to focus on the sales’ side of the business!  They plan to train more that 700 apprentices there over the next ten years.
So there really is much more to Ruddington than initially meets the eye – and we’ll unearth even more surprises next month! (By
Graham Wright)

GET WILDLIFE GARDENING

April 16th, 2012 | No Comments »

Thinking of making your garden more wildlife friendly or want some ideas to go further ? Worry not – help is at hand from various sources. Local Laura Turner is creating a film on wildlife gardening – “The Wildlife Gardening Project” – supported by a web site containing practical video clips on a variety of topics. http://www.wildlifegardenproject.com/. There is also a Natural England website to consult www.naturalengland.org.uk/wildlifegardening
In addition the Notts Wildlife Trust`s - South Notts Local Group also has a set of wildlife gardening booklets including specialist topics about birds and butterflies. If you want one of those sets please send your address to G Dyne (NWT), 6 Lyons Close, Ruddington, Notts NG11 6BQ or E Mail to gordon.dyne@gmail.com