The following message has been issued by Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland Dr Sarah Furness

Thank you to everybody supporting our Rutland Community through this difficult time. I am so impressed (but not unduly surprised) with the altruism and community spirit that has been shown as a response to Coronavirus in Rutland. It has come from all quarters. I would also like to congratulate Rutland County Council who are doing an outstanding job in difficult circumstances.

Sadly many of the Lieutenancy plans for a celebration of VE Day have had to be cancelled, postponed or changed thanks to Covid-19. There had been such great plans. We will hope to celebrate with a Party in the Park, a parade and a gathering to raise a toast next year. However, this year there will be two Covid-19 appropriate, socially distant, celebrations for VE day which is on Friday May 8th. There will also be a virtual service on Sunday May 10th. I would be really grateful if you could alert all in your parish to these.

First, please encourage everyone to enter a competition for the best decorated windows to celebrate VE Day. All the information is on this link. www.rutlandradio.co.uk/events/virtual-ve-day/.  Rutland Radio are supporting this with me, the High Sheriff and RCC. There will be prizes for the best and many will be featured in the run up to May 8th.

Secondly, I am suggesting that at 3pm on May 8th (when I would have led Rutland’s celebrations, along with other Lord-Lieutenants in their respective counties, by raising a toast) everyone in Rutland raises a glass or a cup of tea/coffee, waves a flag if they have one (or can make one) and cheers from their windows or front gardens, rather as they do clapping for Care Workers on a Thursday evening. It would be good to have a county wide celebration on the day.

Thirdly, there will be a special church service broadcast on Sunday May 10th at 10.30am. I will be reading a tribute. The service can be accessed on http://oakhamteam.uk

Please everyone keep safe! Spring is here and summer not far off.

Dr Sarah Furness PhD
Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Rutland

UPDATE ON THE COMMUNITY MEDICINES COLLECTION SCHEME

We have been operating the Scheme since 23rd March and have so far collected prescriptions for 23 villagers.  This not only saves trips to the pharmacies by villagers themselves but reduces the number of contacts the pharmacists have thus reducing the risk of infection.

I am grateful to both Octavia and Alison for undertaking the weekly collections from Uppingham and Oakham respectively and then attending to the distribution of the prescriptions in the village.  They are doing a great job.  I am grateful also to the others who are on the reserve list for collections.

The pharmacy at Uppingham surgery tell us that they are so busy they need to know by Tuesday afternoon at the latest what prescriptions we want to collect on the Friday.  At present, Boots next to the Oakham doctors has greater flexibility but we only want to make one collection a week from each pharmacy so please provide plenty of notice.

My contact details are debrathatcher@hotmail.com or 01572 823910.

Thank you.
Debra Thatcher

Age UK has asked that two documents be circulated to all Parish and Town Councils in Rutland.

The first is a Newsletter informing you of all the services that there are available for those over 50’s. Information such as where you can find Social Groups, Befrienders, Age UK Macmillan Services, Ideas of things you can do whilst staying safe at home and of course useful websites and telephone numbers.  Please click on the following link.  Rutland News April 2020

The second is a useful link with regard to Coronavirus with information on what to do and what to look out for. Please click on the following links to read them in full.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/coronavirus/coronavirus/

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/discover/2020/03/ways-to-help-older-people-coronavirus/

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call or email  your local contact at Age UK in Uppingham or Oakham. Their details can be found in the April Newsletter.

Stocks getting low from the Easter Weekend?

Just to let you know that you can can get a fruit/veg box and freshly baked sourdough bread delivered to your door.

Delivery day will be Thursday this week because of Easter.

Fruit/Veg Boxes are £15.00

Large White Sourdough £3.95  Small £2.00

Large Country Sourdough £3.95 Small £2.00

Farmhouse Tin loaf made with Pate Fermentee £3.95

Orders will need to be in by the end of the day today – Tuesday, April 14th

Many thanks
Martin