On Friday evening, Dudley Moore came to Cropwell Bishop – or, at least, his music did.

It is now 20 years since he died of a rare degenerative disease at the age of 66. He is best known for his comic sketches on TV, his films and his ‘high profile’ life.

Yet, as his illness gradually took over his life, he declared that the thing he missed most was his music.

Even before he was a teenager, he was playing the organ at local church weddings, and he later won a scholarship to study music at Oxford University. It was only later that his comedy talents came to the fore.

Nevertheless, music always remained at the core of his life and many of his appearances on TV would include a spot with him playing the piano. He would later write the music for 6 films – including those that he starred in.

Dudley was 25-years-old when he formed the Dudley Moore Trio and they released several LPs (long playing records) from the 1960s onwards.

Last night, The Chris Ingham Trio played, “The Jazz of Dudley Moore”. The audience of over 30 people at The Old School were entertained with a wide range of Dudley Moore’s music played in the style of his 1960s trio.

But it was more than just music. Chris Ingham, the pianist, introduced each piece by setting the scene.

As well as relevant background notes on their origin, he described the characters who inspired them. This all added to the musical experience of the audience.

Over the last two years, Covid has prevented the “Live and Local” shows in Cropwell Bishop. Now they are returning, and so are the people who appreciate the experience of real, live performers, playing real musical instruments just a few metres in front of them.

The performers are not the big players that appear at Wembley, Glastonbury and festivals – and they don’t earn millions of pounds for each performance. But neither are they tiny remote figures 100 metres away playing via giant amplifiers and speakers.

The Chris Ingham Trio were at one with the people in the Old School and, when the last few pieces included some singing (Dudley Moore style!) and then finally, Dudley Moore’s classic song, “Goodbye”, the place felt like a mini music get-together in an old-style pub.

Long live the “Live and Local” shows.

Tony Jarrow

We are still looking for a support act and DJ to help us out with the return of our village favourite, Picnic in the Park.

We have our headline act “Freddie” booked but are requiring a DJ with equipment for the event to play upbeat music and do some kids entertainment etc., throughout the event.

If you know someone that has done this kind of entertainment previously and wouldn’t mind dusting off their decks, then please give us their contact details by e-mailing:

clerk@cropwellbishop-pc.gov.uk
or phoning:

0115 9894656 or 07798735757.

We are also in need of a support act/acts to fill the evening and make our event complete. Acoustic small band, any genre band that would be willing to give us their time, skiffle, blues etc…. please can you help?

If you think you may know someone, give them a nudge, and ask them to contact the Clerk by e-mailing:

clerk@cropwellbishop-pc.gov.uk

or phoning:

0115 9894656 or 07798735757

Or, you can send me their contact details so that we can get in touch with them directly.

We would like this event to go with a bang, so please get your thinking cap on and see if you can conjure up someone to join us to celebrate the return of, “Picnic in the Park!”

Thank you

Janice Towndrow
Parish Clerk

The weather this Sunday morning was beautiful – sunny, little wind and no chill in the air.

Ideal for a cycle ride in the Vale of Belvoir, so perfect for the Velo Belvoir cycling event organised by Michelle Oldfield of Cropwell Bishop.

Hundreds of riders took part. Enthusiasts took on the challenge of a 76 mile route, while others started an hour or so later and followed a family-friendly 28 mile route.

You can view all 200 photos taken of the riders by clicking this link:

Velo Belvoir Photos

The event will raise funds for Cropwell Bishop Friends of School and Dove Cottage.

Tony Jarrow

Was it the arrival of sun and the absence of wind that brought people out of their homes this morning?

I don't know, but it was certainly the busiest Saturday Cafe at the Old School in two years.

It was like the days before Covid, with every table taken and tea and cakes being continually delivered to people sitting around them.

It was an occasion for seeing old friends and swapping news – and the sale of tickets for upcoming events at the Old School was brisk; maybe a sign of confidence that the threat of Covid is nothing like it was. There was not a mask in sight.

Today also saw the start of Hilary's 'Book and Jigsaw Exchange'. There was a continual flow of people browsing the stacked shelves and some were bringing additional books and jigsaws. The idea was certainly a great success and its future looks promising. Next month there will be a fresh supply of books and jigsaws.

The Saturday Cafe team of helpers made a special collection for the people of Ukraine and the takings from Hilary's stall were added to it. As a result, £70 will soon be on its way to the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal.

On a personal note, I can assure you that the cakes are as delicious as they always were!

Will we see you at the next Saturday Cafe on 28th May?

Tony Jarrow

Last night, it was the Annual Meeting of the Electorate at the Old School, an occasion which Cropwell Bishop Parish Council is duty bound to hold.

It enables the Council to give feedback and allows residents to raise issues.

In recent years, this has been a straight forward and uncontroversial aspect and last night’s meeting was no exception.

The Parish Council has sought to enliven these annual meetings by inviting a guest speaker – often one with links to local government.

Last night they did things differently by having two speakers, who are both residents of Cropwell Bishop, speaking about themselves. And the result was an Annual Meeting that outshone those of recent years.

I dare say, the positive atmosphere of the event gave an uplift to everyone there: it is just a pity that there were not more people there to enjoy the feeling.

Most of us watch sport at live events, or on TV, and you may wonder what it is like for the competitors: last night we found out.

The first speaker was Helen Darby-Dowman who won an Olympic medal 2004.

Maybe you knew that we had an Olympian living in Cropwell Bishop but, most likely, you don't know how she got there.

You would not have been aware of the role of serendipity that led to her first jumping into a canoe, the rapid success that followed, the numerous injuries that battered her dreams, the support of others, and how vital is the mental approach in sport.

We watched her medal winning performance as recorded by the BBC and Helen provided much background detail of that day.

Helen’s experience of life after world-level competition was also interesting but probably of less interest to the following speaker who is at the very early stages of a sporting career.

Eve Young is a 15-year-old schoolgirl who has been into swimming for a long time. No doubt many of you were at that age – but not in the way Eve has been for several years.

Even at that young age, you do not reach top national level on pure talent, you have to work hard at it. Eve gave a composed and illuminating talk on her sporting journey to date.

You will have seen synchronised swimming on TV. It all looks so serene but, be in do doubt, the swimmers have to be as fit as any competitive swimmer – and they have to achieve perfection in their routine.

Eve revealed the training needed to maintain fitness, the constant niggle of injuries and the regular journeys to Bristol to take part in training sessions. School holidays merely become opportunities for more training sessions.

Her father was at last night’s event and, it goes without saying, that the support of family is absolutely essential to enable the sporting progress of a teenager.

The Parish Council has also helped a little by giving some financial support – as it has done with several young athletes in the village.

Eve has developed the skill to maintain the ‘beat’ of a routine in her head, to hold her position in the water using complicated hand and leg manoeuvres, and hold her breath for a minute while swimming under water.

She has already competed abroad in several international competitions and is looking forward to future targets.

It is too early for Eve to focus on a particular goal in the years ahead, but her composure at last night’s event suggests that whatever her future dream becomes, she will have equipped herself well for the challenge.

Tony Jarrow