Hazeland Court Project
The Glory of the Garden
Our England is a garden that is full of stately views,
Of borders beds and shrubberies and lawns and avenues,
With statues on the terraces and peacocks strutting by;
But the Glory of the Garden lies in more than meets the eye.
Rudyard Kipling |
Hazeland Court, Lutterworth. |
Some vocational students from Lutterworth College Enterprise Centre, under the tutorage of Jane Beaumont from Lutterworth College, Elaine Turner, a Governor of the College and a Rotarian, together with husband George Turner and friend Tilly Yates are in the process of transforming part of the Hazeland Court garden into a place of produce, plants and tranquility for the residents of the sheltered accommodation in Guthlaxton Avenue.
The idea of involving these students is to give them the opportunity to gain a NOCN Award in Garden Horticulture and at the same time giving them an insight into working with volunteers in the Community and developing their interpersonal skills and confidence.
Lutterworth College Enterprise Centre with the support of Lutterworth Rotary Club have worked in a practical way enhancing the local environment and helped to raise awareness in the wider community of the good contribution which young students have made over the last four years and hope to continue for many more.
The picture of Matt pruning the bush shows the shears bought by Lutterworth Rotary Club as part of their continued support of the Garden Project.
Peter J Osborn
Lutterworth Rotary
Duke of Edinburgh Award
On Thursday 8th September Betsy Mountford widow of Lutterworth Rotary’s late past President (2003-2004) (who died a year ago) visited the Enterprise Centre in order to present them with a cheque for £1,000 memory of her late husband, 
David. The money will be used to meet some of the costs borne by the students for the expedition section in doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Following the presentation of the cheque she was entertained by the students to a nice cup of tea and some cake made by students at the centre before being given a tour of the premises. She said how impressed she was at the number of courses they now ran having seen it in the early days when her husband and fellow Rotarians were wielding paint brushes in order to get it ready for students coming from the Lutterworth College for courses run there.
Jane Beaumont (teacher at the centre) replying on their behalf said that she too was impressed at how the centre met many educational needs for both the old and young in the town not previously met. This, she said, was due to the hard work put in by volunteers and staff for which she was very proud – and by people like Betsy who continue to support them.
Welcome to our New President Hugh Robertson Smith.
We look forward to an enjoyable year under new management.
The "change over" took place at the Lutterworth Golf Club on Monday evening, 27th June, 2011, where we enjoyed a good meal together with our partners.
Our new President Hugh Robertson Smith thanked members for their welcome and said he was a little daunted in following John Ensor. He hoped to be able to live up to John's high standard and achievements not only in the money the Club had collected for 23 different charities during the past year but also for the number of new members the Club had gained.
John in his farewell speech as President not only thanked both his wife and family for their support but also Club members for making his year so enjoyable.
During the evening we were entertained by a group of students from Lutterworth College, under the direction of Dr Martin Radcliffe head of music, they gave us a repertoire of songs.
Our speaker for the evening was Professor Peter Welton who recounted his many changing jobs until a chance lead him into a career in Art. As Emeritus Professor of Fine Arts at De Montfort University, we heard of the people he had met as a water colour artist and the commissions that allowed him to travel the world and paint pictures for the Queen and the Royal family. These stories vividly told will be remembered as a finale to a special evening.
We all wish Hugh our New President well over the next 12 months under his stewardship.
Rotary’s Misterton Plant, Craft and Food Fair – Sunday 15th May
Congratulations must go to Elaine Turner for organising and running our 5th event – ably assisted by Graham Johnson and members of the Lutterworth Rotary Club. Also, again we were privileged to be able to hold the event in Mrs Heather Craven’s Garden which is always kept in pristine condition looking 
over a large lake where disabled fishermen are allowed to fish.
Despite the fact we were not blessed with the best of weather, the morning brought clouds and rain which moved over by the afternoon it did not dampen our or our visitors spirits we had a record number of supporters who enjoyed the day viewing the many different stalls offering a wide range of products and promoting a legion of charities.
This year we tried to cater for the younger visitors where bungee/trampoline jumping proved to be a great attraction as was the opportunity of having a donkey ride around the upper lawn. Entertainment during the afternoon was provided by “Sounds like Music” whose music drifted across the lake to those taking advantage of a stroll in the grounds.
The display of Vintage Cars drew its crowd of motor enthusiasts and thanks are due to the Morgan Club for once again supporting the Fair.
By request our next Plant, Craft and Food Fair will be taking place at Misterton on 20th May 2012.
Funds accrued during the day will be going to the Rotary Foundation Charity and other Rotary supported charities. It is hoped that the Event will have raised over £2,000 for Rotary. Other Charities raised a total in excess of £3,000 – one being Macmillan Cancer Support who will benefit by at least £1,200. This 
was as a result of a stall of home grown garden plants and bedding plants kindly donated by the Greyhound Coaching Inn, run by Elaine Turner & Tilly Yates, raising £572 which will be matched by Barclays Bank.
The Lutterworth Rotary Club were overwhelmed by the support of the public and would like to say a big thank you to all who made the day so pleasurable and profitable and for the generosity of the local community.
We hope that you all enjoyed the day as much as we did and look forward to seeing you again next year but unfortunately we cannot promise that there will be a marquee available.
DOWN TO EARTH
The Rotary Club of Lutterworth invited the Radio Leicester BBC team to Misterton Hall (courtesy of Mrs. Craven) for the gardeners 
question time radio programme “Down to Earth”.
A group of around 30 keen gardeners plied the three experts – John Smith, Derek Cox and Ray Coombs - on problems they had had and were still having in getting the best from their flowers, shrubs and trees in their gardens. The questions were many and varied and it was interesting to hear the answers given.
Our thanks must go to Mrs. Craven offering to host “Down to Earth” for the third time in her lovely home. Stephen Butts from the BBC chaired the proceeding which is broadcast at noon on Sunday 13th March on Radio Leicester.
What better venue could we have had arriving via a drive flanked by a sea of snowdrops.
Report by Peter Osborn
Coventry – Derby – Gloucestershire – Hucknall – Leicestershire – Newark – Rugby – South Yorkshire/Lincs.- Wakefield and Warwickshire.