A MEMORIAL at County Hall will honour Leicestershire’s Armed Forces.

The new memorial will show four life size bronze soldiers taking part in a military drill and it will be unveiled in the autumn at Glenfield.

It has been created by sculptor Kenny Hunter who is Glasgow based and highly regarded.

The memorial is called Stand Easy and as well as showing four soldiers taking part in a military drill also features crossing paths and a central inscribed plaque.

Leicestershire County Council is creating the £75,000 tribute to commemorate local servicemen and women who have lost their lives in conflicts around the world since 1945.

David Parsons, leader of the county council, said: “Kenny’s design is a thought provoking and sensitive interpretation, and will provide a place of contemplation, reflection and respect for the public and visitors.

“By implying the absence of a fifth soldier, the tribute conveys a sense of loss yet also symbolises camaraderie, unity and personal identity.

“We owe a huge debt to local men and women who have died fighting for their country in conflicts around the globe, and we believe that honouring their lives with a lasting tribute is the right thing to do.

“We hope that the memorial will become a central point for remembrance across Leicestershire and I look forward to seeing it take shape.”

Kenny is working with a group of armed forces recruits and young people to help develop the plaster casts which will be used in modelling the bronze figures.

Bereaved families have been invited to work with him to develop the inscription that will be going on the central plaque.

A FAIRTRADE trail of the town has been organised by a school in Harborough as part of Fairtrade Fortnight.

Children from Market Harborough C of E Primary School have designed a fairtrade trail around town of shops and cafes that use fairtrade products.

They have also produced a map and questions for people taking part in the trail and these will be given out by staff at Midlands Co-operative in Coventry Road.

Along the trail seekers will find treats at Oxfam, Holland & Barrett, Sapphire, Joules, Cot n Togs, Starbucks and Sainsbury’s.

There will also be a prize draw for all of those who take to the trail.

Pupils are also hosting an afternoon tea at the school in Fairfield Road and are baking lots of fairtrade treats for the occasion.

Elderly residents who live at homes near to the school have all been invited and the children will be putting on a dance to entertain everyone who comes.

There will be a raffle with fairtrade prizes donated by businesses in Harborough including The Ice Bar and Aldins.

It is on Thursday, March 1 between 2.30 and 4.30pm.

VOLUNTEERS from the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal will be out in force on Harborough’s streets this Friday and Saturday (february 24 and 25).

They will be outside the Sainsbury’s store in St Mary’s Place and out and about in town. A tombola stall will be at the Market Hall.

]]> 1.3544646 Tue, 21 Feb 2012 14:24:16 +0000 http://www.lutterworthmail.co.uk/appeal_over_kidnap_allegations_1_3542522

POLICE are appealing for witnesses following an allegation of attempted kidnap of a 17-year-old girl in Desborough.

Police said the teenager was walking along Rothwell Road at about 8.35pm on Saturday when a man approached and asked her to get in to his car.

The victim managed to retreat and flag down a passing car, the said.

The suspected offender then left the scene in a black Renault Clio.

A 32-year-old man has been charged in relation to this incident and appeared at Wellingborough Magistrates’ yesterday (Monday) where he was remanded until Monday 12 March.

Police say enquiries are ongoing and officers are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident to come forward.

Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should phone Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A COMMUNITY centre in Welland Park providing changing rooms, meeting facilities and business accommodation could be open by next year.

The Welland Community Centre, which would have a cafe as well, is currently at the consultation stage.

It has been the dream of members of Harborough Improvement Team (HIT) to create the community centre since 2006.

Partners involved in developing the project include HIT, Self Unlimited, Harborough District Council and Leicestershire County Council.

A consultation event was held at the Market Hall on Tuesday where details were provided about the centre.

It is proposed the centre will be available for community activitieses which would include events, meetings, sport and leisure.

It will also provide employment and training for disabled people from Self Unlimited.

Once completed it is proposed that the centre will be a flexible multi purpose building which will provide a space for meetings, events and functions, conference and banqueting facilities, hireable changing rooms and possible office space for community and voluntary services.

It is also proposed the centre could provide accommodation for civil wedding services and receptions.

Martin Hill, chair of HIT, said: “I think this is an exciting project with the potential to develop an attractive building and sustainable businesses in Welland Park that benefits all of the community.”

Once the feasibility study and community consultation have taken place it is proposed that building work will be completed next year provided the funding of up to £1million can be obtained.

There has been criticism of the centre however.

In a letter to the Mail, Janet Gee, said: “The proposed meeting rooms, banqueting suite etc. may be nice in theory but in the wrong place and arguably not needed anyway. How often are banquets held in Harborough?

“Excellent and more accessible facilities already exist at The Three Swans.

“I am not against development per se - I am against unnecessary development, development in the wrong place and development we can’t afford.”

Another consultation is happening on Wednesday at Welland Park Cafe from 10am until 4pm.

A TEAM of budding engineers from Lutterworth College scooped two awards in a regional competition to build a miniature Formula 1 car.

The team, featuring Alex Stewart, Ricky Raybould, Elliot Stark, Lloyd Clarke and Stuart Goldie, which is called Adactus, took the central region title in the Formula 1 class and won the best-engineered car prize.

Their success has earned them a place in the national finals which take place in March at the Big Bang Science Fair at the NEC in Birmingham.

The competition involved building a model Formula 1 car to race along a straight track in the fastest time possible.

Lutterworth College has been sending teams to take part in the event for a number of years, and their success has seen the college send teams to Singapore to take part in international competitions.

For more information about the team and their progress in the competition, visit their website at www.adactusf1.com.