Graham Wright

Museum Volunteers’ Accolade from The King!

14th November 202321st November 2023 Graham Wright

It’s been revealed that individuals and groups volunteering at Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum (FWK) have been awarded the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service 2023. Announced on His Majesty’s 75th Birthday today (14th November 2023), it is the highest Royal accolade a local voluntary group can receive in the UK, and is equivalent to an MBE. FWK is one of 262 local charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive our new King’s first awards this year. Their work, along with others from across the UK, aims to remind us about…

No Parking on Parkyns Street!

12th November 202312th November 2023 Graham Wright

Visitors to Ruddington village centre are being warned there’ll be fewer parking options for the next four days as one of the streets closest to our shops and amenities is closed to vehicles during essential work. Parkyns Street is scheduled to be shut in both directions from 8.00am this Monday 13th November until 5pm on Thursday 16th from its junction with Church Street to its junction with High Street – with diversions in place.** It’s for the installation of a new gas connection to the four new-build houses there. Once this is…

Best Local Shop & Pub Competition Returns

10th November 202310th November 2023 Graham Wright

The annual contest run by Rushcliffe’s Member of Parliament in the run-up to each year’s ‘Small Business Saturday’ has just been launched. It’s when Ruth Edwards MP asks residents in her constituency to nominate and vote for both their favourite independent shop and the public house they love most – and Ruddington certainly has some strong contenders in both categories! Previous runners-up in our village have been The Bottle Top and Philo’s Deli (pictured top with Ruth) – who both could be in contention again – alongside other, popular Ruddington establishments. Ruth believes…

Ruddington Remembers

8th November 20239th November 2023 Graham Wright

A brand new knitted postbox topper and poppy wreath made by the famous ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ are among the ways our village is paying its respects this year to those who gave their lives to defend our country. Also returning to the St Peter’s Church railings in front of the War Memorial is the giant poppy, comprising over a hundred individual poppies, which was crafted last year by both members of the Yarn Ninjas and Ruddington Women’s Institute. The pillar box ‘topper’ outside the Co-op on Church Street is new…

Applications Open for Infant & Junior School Places

6th November 20238th November 2023 Graham Wright

Whilst the official deadline for parents of village youngsters to apply for their Secondary School places outside Ruddington in 2024/2025 has now passed, the process for Infant and Primary children hoping they’ll be schooled here is only just beginning. Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC) has announced that from today (Monday 6th November 2023) applications are open for kids starting in reception and children due to transfer from an infant school to junior education (Year 3) in September 2024. For children who will turn five years old between 1st September 2024 and 31st August 2025, and…

Revised Pub Plans Published

4th November 20234th November 2023 Graham Wright

As anticipated, a new planning application with a slightly scaled down extension to an historic Ruddington public house has been submitted to Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC). It’s after original plans revealed in July, to substantially expand The Frame Breakers at the corner of High Street and Kirk Lane, received a negative reaction from some villagers and Ruddington Parish Council and so were withdrawn even before being put in front of the authority’s planning committee for consideration. Originally a three storey side extension with two storey side and rear extension to the existing building was proposed. Whilst many…

November Village Market Cancelled!

2nd November 20234th November 2023 Graham Wright

Organisers of Ruddington’s popular monthly market have announced their decision to cancel this month’s event over health and safety fears due to the extreme autumn weather. It was due to be held this Saturday, 4th November on The Green and, as normal, would have featured around 80 stalls, food and drink, ‘live’ music and other attractions. However, the effects of Storm Ciarán on top of other recent persistent rainfall have made ground conditions on The Green unsuitable. Mark Pinks, of Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP), says: “As a community group of village…

Moving the Goalposts!

31st October 202331st October 2023 Graham Wright

During the summer we reported on an unpopular decision by Ruddington Parish Council (RPC) to remove the netting from one of the goalposts in Sellors’ Recreation Ground to discourage people from using it. It’s after some new ‘Fairham Green’ residents, who’d recently moved into the houses built just behind it, complained to custodians RPC that stray balls from young people playing football there were hitting their cars and windows. Before any serious damage was caused, it was decided to take away the net at that end of the pitch temporarily, until a solution could be found. Its…

2023 ‘Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards’ Nominees Announced

28th October 202319th November 2023 Graham Wright

Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has revealed volunteers from Ruddington are up for gongs in two different categories during next month’s ‘Celebrating Rushcliffe Awards’ alongside a singer and keyboard player who runs frequent health and wellbeing music sessions here and a young, Ruddington sportswoman. The annual ceremony celebrates the best of the Borough’s health & wellbeing and food & drink sectors, volunteers, environmentalists, clubs and organisations alongside other local businesses and enterprises. Over 30 groups and individuals have been shortlisted for this year’s awards. Those on the shortlist include Mark Pinks for ‘Volunteer of the…

Painting Pictures in Our Park

26th October 202326th October 2023 Graham Wright

The Visitor Centre at Rushcliffe Country Park was the venue for another recent gathering on Rushcliffe Social Prescribing team’s ‘Friendship Calendar’ – aimed at engaging with local people to tackle social isolation. Rushcliffe Borough Council‘s ‘Reach Rushcliffe’ initiative funded this free session in Ruddington last month, which was attended by over a dozen people. They learnt tips on how to paint using watercolours whilst meeting like-minded people and, hopefully, making some lasting friendships. The one-off taster was hosted by village resident Debra Webster of Ruddington Art & Craft Society. as…