Don’t forget to have a look at all of this week’s businesses featured in our Advent Calendar. The doors are open on the South Rugby News website!

There’ll be a bumper weekly review on 23rd December, followed by the next review on 6th January. Paid subscribers - you will still get your usual news by email throughout the festive period.

In South Rugby News this week

Update: Ling Hall landfill fire

🔓 9th December 2021

Warwickshire Fire and Rescue posted on twitter today that two fire engines and a high volume pump have been on site overnight at the Ling Hall Landfill fire.

Windows on a winter wonderland

🔓 10th December 2021

There'll be a trail of festive windows in Dunchurch from 17th to 19th December.

Mark Pawsey MP gives statement on coronavirus restrictions vote

🔓 10th December 2021

"I am concerned by the inconsistency of a message that says it is safe to attend an office party, but not to go into work."

Carols around the tree cancelled

🔓 10th December 2021

Bilton's Christmas tree carols event called off due to pandemic concerns…

‘The debate on real or fake Christmas trees is thorny’

🔓 11th December 2021

Which is better? Read on...Warwickshire Waste’s latest newsletter reignited the real vs fake Christmas tree debate for the county’s residents.

Demand for school places will increase

13th December 2021

Warwickshire County Council cabinet endorses annual education sufficiency update; but capacity for extra secondary school pupils in South Rugby is low.

Rudolf comes to Dunchurch

13th December 2021

Rudolf has arrived in Dunchurch - and is here to stay for Christmas.

The statue of Lord Scott has once again been dressed up by mystery festive villagers.

Bilton's Bear back in business

🔓 14th December 2021

The Bear on Bilton Lane has reopened its doors following a complete refurbishment, just in time for Christmas.

More time to take part in consultation on new road

🔓 14th December 2021

The consultation period will be extended for the new road planned to bypass the north of Dunchurch.

Parish council meeting cancelled due to Omicron worries

🔓 15th December 2021

Dunchurch meeting cancelled, but Cawston goes ahead.

Saxman Steve receives British Empire Medal

🔓16th December 2021

Mr Ray was awarded the BEM in Her Majesty’s Birthday Honours List for services to the community during the pandemic.

In other news…

Cawston needs a caretaker

Cawston parish council is looking for a new caretaker to manage and maintain Cawston Community Hall. The caretaker needs to have experience of maintaining or cleaning a public building, have basic IT literacy, be willing to undertake training and work some evenings/weekends. The post is 20hrs per week, with a salary between £9.84 and £10.04/hour. The deadline for applications is Thursday 16th December 2021, 5pm. For an application pack and to discuss the post please contact the parish clerk on clerk@cawstonpc.org or 07393 640110.

Covid-19 figures for Rugby

For the week up to 12th December 2021:

• 590 people had a confirmed positive test result. This shows an increase of 39 people (7.1%) compared with the previous seven days.

• 0 deaths within 28 days of a positive coronavirus test.

• 84,417 people had received one dose of the vaccination; 77,936 had received two doses; and 41,896 had had a booster or third dose. That’s 80.4%, 74.3% and 39.9% of the total population aged 12+.

• The estimated R number for the Midlands as of 10th December 2021 is 0.9-1.

Source: coronavirus.data.gov.uk

Book a vaccine online or attend a drop-in clinic

What’s on

Please remember to wear a face mask in public places where required, wash your hands regularly with soap and maintain social distancing. Share your events or special offers with us at editor@southrugbynews.co.uk.

• Naughty Elf Christmas Trail: From 1st December then daily, 10am to 3pm, Draycote Water. Activity sheets cost £4 from the visitor hub. Find out more on their Facebook page.

• Winter Wonderland Windows: 17th to 19th December, Dunchurch. Read more

• Bilton Silver Band Christmas concert: Saturday 18th December, 7.30pm, St Mark’s Church, Bilton. Free admission.

Rugby Rokeby Lions Club - Santa’s travels

The Rugby Rokeby Lions will be helping Father Christmas visit our communities this year, and fundraising for local causes at the same time. Here’s a pick of his stops in South Rugby:

• Thursday 16th December, 6pm: Dunchurch, starting from the village hall

• Sunday 19th December, 5pm: Cawston, Ophelia Cresc, Elborow Way, Potsford Road

• Thursday 23rd December, 5pm: Overslade estate, starting from Fish Plus

• Christmas Eve, 5pm: Rokeby and Hillside estates

Donations can be made in person or online.

Church services

Saturday 18th December:

• Sacred Heart Church, Bilton, 5pm mass: public worship and on YouTube. No booking necessary to attend the service, but please wear a face mask, wash your hands and observe social distancing. 

• St Edmund’s Church, Thurlaston: Carol service at 6.30pm

Sunday 19th December:

• Sacred Heart Church, Bilton: 9.30am mass, public worship and on YouTube. No booking necessary to attend the service, but please wear a face mask, wash your hands and observe social distancing. The Children’s Liturgy has started up again at Sunday Mass. All are welcome. Tea and Coffee in the Hall after Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart.

• St Mark’s Church, Bilton: Communion at 8am and 10am in St Mark’s and via Facebook/YouTube. Also Service of Nine Lessons and Carols at 6pm (booking required)

• Dunchurch Baptist Church: 10.30am at Dunchurch Methodist Church, also livestreamed. Also Carols by Candlelight at 7pm (not livestreamed)

• St Peter’s Church, Dunchurch: 10.30am service. Also Carol Service at 6.30pm.

• Bilton Evangelical Church: 10am, in-person and online service. Also Intergenerational Carols and Nativity at 4pm (book online)

• Bilton Methodist Church: 10.30am in person

A note from St Mark’s, Bilton: Due to the large number of people they would normally welcome to their services over Christmas, people must book places in advance for some of the most popular events. Therefore the services of Nine Lessons and Carols on 19th December (6pm); and the Crib Service (3pm) and Carols by Candlelight (6pm) on 24th December will be by booking only (please print off and bring tickets with you).  You can book places online from 1st December until the Sunday before the service. 

Sports reports

Coventry Alliance Football League Division 3: Bourton and Frankton 4, Crick Reserves 2

Bourton and Frankton returned to action after a two week lay-off by earning a well-deserved 4-2 home win over Crick Reserves.

After a fortnight off due to postponements, the villagers were good value for their success and gained revenge for their cup defeat at the hand of the same opposition in their last outing.

They did have to recover from going a goal behind to do so as George Smith and then Michael Lunn then gave Bourton the lead before Crick levelled matters by half time.

However a Danny McManus penalty and a strike from Tom Armitage in the second half tipped the balance in Bourton’s favour for a very welcome three league points.

• This Saturday Bourton and Frankton travel to league leaders Kenilworth Sporting, kick-off at 2.15pm.

Democracy: coming up next week

No meetings this week.

Foodbank

This week the foodbank urgently needs cream crackers, razors, UHT milk, long-life fruit juice, mince pies, Christmas puddings, shortbread biscuits and cranberry sauce. They’re running low on deodorant, chocolate spread and evaporated milk.

There are donation locations throughout South Rugby. See the full list of drop-off points.

Rugby Farmers Mart

This week’s prices per head, at a glance:

• Prime steers: £2,086 (Charolais x sold by Page Bros)

• Prime heifers: £1,644 (Limousin x sold by J D Stephens)

• Prime bulls: £1,477 (sold by M P Amor, Henley in Arden)

• OTM cattle: £1,694 (Charolais sold by J & I J Tivey)

• Prime lamb SQQ: £149 (Texel x sold by M & C Morris)

• Prime lamb: £172 (Beltex x sold by P Batchelor)

• Ewes: £170 (Charollais x sold by Poulson & Co)

• Calves: £380 (Limousin bull calf sold by Peter Hemmings)

• Store lambs: £121 (Charollais sold by Charlie Mann)

Rugby Farmers Mart is held on a Monday at the Charolais Pavilion, Avenue M, Stoneleigh Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire CV8 2RG.