Gilmorton History Group Newsletter

April 2025

 

Over the past year the history group has been looking at a project to install a Village Information Board (VIB). This will be located within the village boundary and give information about the village, buildings, pathways, nature etc.  A vast amount of work has been going on in the background looking at suppliers, costs, location and content etc. and recently an application was submitted to Harborough Council Heritage for a grant to foot the cost and we have been successful in the application. Their minimum grant is £5,000 which based on estimates would be enough to supply two VIBs.

 

There is still a considerable amount of work to carry out before the VIBs are installed but John Buckle, who has taken the lead on the project, must be thanked for his considerable hard work for nearly two years to get to this stage. Our April event will be the official launch of the VIB and you will get a sneak preview of the boards before their installation in the village. The displays will show the design and content of the boards. 

 

We had originally booked April 15/16th as the launch dates but John Buckle is not available on those dates and we felt it necessary to change the dates to those where John was available. THE NEW LAUNCH DATES ARE APRIL 8TH at 6.30pm AND APRIL 9TH at 10.00am. On the Tuesday there will be specially invited guest including Parish Council, businesses, Church, School etc. 

 

Don’t forget our photographic competition. This will run throughout the first part of 2025 with a closing date of 31st August. It is open to everyone and all entries will displayed at the November event Pictorial Gilmorton. Prizes will be awarded to two categories, one for adults and one for under 16s. Rules regarding entries are attached so get those cameras out and get shooting.

 

This year sees the 80th anniversary of VE Day on 8th May. All our war related events are always well attended so we can’t let this one go by. Events are being held nationally and include church bells to be rung at 6.30pm, lighting of the memorial lamp and beacons at 9.30pm together with the singing of the national hymn “I vow to thee my country” and much more. 

 

Our event will be run on the actual day – Thursday 8th May in the village hall from 12.00 noon to 7.00pm. Closing at 7.00pm will give everyone chance to be at the Playing Fields for the proposed beacon lighting.  The beacon is currently being inspected for safety and we do hope we can light it this year.

 

 

The Royal British Legion will be in attendance again after their two minutes silence at the Lutterworth Memorial. We will have our usual war themed displays including war time music and videos of the announcement that the war had ended with all the celebrations. The hall will be decked with flags and bunting too.

 

The next event in September will be TRANSPORT and it will be looking at transport in the village over the years. We hope to have some classic cars and motorcycles on display in the car park. 

 

And finally Pictorial Gilmorton November 4/5th where we will have our own pictorial displays about Gilmorton coupled with the photographic entries. 

 

Just a reminder too that membership is now due for 2025 and can be renewed at any of our events in 2025. You can also pop your renewal into an envelope at No. 4 Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton complete with your details.

 

Membership is still at £10 for the year and will give free entry to all regular events, a monthly newsletter and early notification of special/ticketed events.

 

Renewing membership will always ensure you are kept up to date via your monthly newsletter.  Between newsletters you can always log on to our website where you will find details of all our upcoming events. Our archives contain 26 different categories with over 340 documents which include write ups and photographs. Everything on the website is freely available for both downloading and printing.  

 

The history group is still on the lookout for suitable people to join us on the committee. Help is needed even more so as Jen, one of our committee members, is soon to be leaving the area. This means our committee will very soon be down to just three!!!  Alternatively, if you feel you could offer any help without being committed to a committee you are just what we need.

 

So, if you feel you could be part of the team and get involved in Gilmorton’s fascinating history, we would love to hear from you.

 

 

 

 

Start date will be Saturday 1st February 2025 and will run through the year until the closing date Sunday 31st August 2025.

 

Two categories = Adults and Children’s (up to 16 years).

 

Entry to include (on reverse side) - name, age if under 16, address, contact details, brief description of entry.

 

The preferred entry is via a printed hard copy but digital entries can be made via the history groups email address This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 

 

Content must be within the Gilmorton Parish boundaries.

 

Content can be of people (individuals or groups), animals, roads, buildings, wildlife, farms etc.

 

Entries can be submitted in sealed envelope at any history group event or at No. 4 Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton.

 

We are unable to return photographs but entries can be removed at end of the event – 12.00 noon Wednesday 5th November.

 

Entry to the competition means you agree to the possibility of your entry being placed on the history groups website or used in other publications.

 

Entries will be judged independently and winners notified accordingly.

 

There will be prizes for each category.