This Thursday sees the lifting of the government’s so-called ‘Plan B’ Coronavirus measures in England – brought in by Boris Johnson last November due to the threat of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 overwhelming our NHS. Whilst the number of cases in the UK surged again over Christmas, recent data suggests a levelling off of Coronavirus infections and a generally less severe illness from the new strain – at least for those who are vaccinated or who have had a previous COVID-19 infection and recovered from it. Therefore, from…
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What’s Happening at our Heritage Railway?
For almost two years now a most familiar weekend sound drifting across Ruddington has been sadly missing – that of the distant whistles and gentle chugging of steam trains making their way in and out of Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre. Please find our January 2023 update >>HERE<<. In fact, heritage passenger services last ran at Great Central Railway (Nottingham) (as it was then known) during the February 2020 half term – before all trains were cancelled and the centre closed to visitors due to the initial Coronavirus outbreak. Whilst other attractions at…
Read More‘Ruddy Kind Acts’ Initiative Launches
For the past few Christmases, residents of Ruddington have benefitted from ‘Random Acts of Kindness’ – where a mystery benefactor and his helpers have posted hundreds of envelopes marked ‘R.A.K’, each containing £100 in cash to lucky local recipients in our village, Clifton and Silverdale. Some villagers even had a wad of money thrust at them whilst walking down the street! After the identity of the generous individual behind it was finally revealed in December 2021, it inspired creatives from the ‘Handmade in Rudd’ group to launch their own community initiative – dubbed ‘Ruddy Kind…
Read MoreReported Crime Continues to Rise
The latest figures from Rushcliffe Police show there was another increase in incidents recorded by officers in Ruddington last month. Whilst numbers are still relatively low, there were 33% more offences logged for our village in December 2021 than the month before. Perhaps the most concerning involves a 12 year old child reportedly being bitten by “a large grey dog” on Vicarage Park – with police still trying to trace this potentially dangerous animal and its owner. Historically our former Sainsbury’s store on Dutton’s Hill was targeted frequently by shoplifters…
Read MoreMystery Christmas Cash Donor Unmasked by National Newspaper
The identity of the generous individual responsible for envelopes stuffed with cash being delivered to households in Ruddington, Clifton and Silverdale for the last six Christmases has been revealed by The Daily Express. Just before the big money-drop this Christmas – when £5,000 in fifty envelopes handwritten with “R.A.K.” or “Random Act of Kindness” each containing £100 in £20 notes were posted through the letterboxes of lucky local recipients – the newspaper identified the ‘Secret Santa’ as self-made millionaire Joe Soiza. Mr Soiza hails from Clifton and founded Nottingham-based online healthcare company UK…
Read MoreBoxing Day Action at Elms Park
A charity soccer match – which traditionally takes place in Ruddington every Boxing Day – returns this year. After being cancelled by COVID-19 last Christmas, spectators are warmly welcomed back to Elms Park on December 26th 2021 at 11am for what promises to be a feast of family fun and football. The game is being run by Ruddington Village Colts Football Club – which is benefittng from the proceeds this year. This time the match is between Coaches & Parents and Current Players. The plan is that it will be played on the ‘slope…
Read MoreChristmas 2021 Church Services
The main Christmas Services from our village churches are as follows: St Peter’s Church Christingle Services: 4pm and 6pm on Christmas Eve. Please note: Places are sold out! Midnight Mass: 11pm on Christmas Eve – no tickets needed Christmas Day Service (chocolate nativity): 10am on Christmas Day – no tickets needed Ruddington Baptist Church Christmas Day ‘ Nativity Story Service’: 10am-11am and it will be held in St Peter’s Room Ruddington Methodist Church Boxing Day Sunday Service: everyone is welcome, no booking required Track and trace, face masks and hand gel will…
Read MoreRuddington’s Royal Date with Kate
If you settle down to watch “Royal Carols: Together at Christmas”, being shown this Christmas Eve on ITV, be sure to look out for a couple of well known faces from our village. Attending the star-studded evening at Westminster Abbey, by special invitation from Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge, was Ruddington Co-op Member Pioneer Gwen Eyre (above left) who took along Carol Jaggers (right) as her guest. Carol and Gwen co-organise the over 55s coffee morning in Ruddington, whilst Carol has volunteered with Ruddington Girl-Guiding and the local food banks for many…
Read MoreOmicron Christmas Closures and Cancellations
Just when it seemed the Coronavirus pandemic was under control in the UK, another variant of COVID-19 is forcing significant changes to our festive plans for the second year in a row. With daily infections now reaching a record high, seemingly driven by the highly contagious new Omicron strain, the Government is still largely putting its faith in the mass vaccine rollout to see us through. Indeed Ruddington hospitality venues are largely grateful that no official restrictions on them have been re-imposed just yet. However, perhaps partly due to this…
Read MoreCountdown to Christmas in Ruddington
Whilst some of Ruddington’s main Christmas celebrations have already been and gone, residents and visitors can still look forward to more festive fun and activities over the holiday period. Continuing caution about Coronavirus – particularly the new Omicron variant – has led to some organisers and venues asking people to carry out a COVID-19 lateral flow test before mingling with others, and to wear face coverings according to the Government’s new ‘Plan B’ rules. Booking systems have also been introduced in some places to keep down numbers during the busiest…
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