John’s Latest Ukraine Diary

Just a year after their first expedition to deliver humanitarian aid to Ukraine, a big hearted duo from a Ruddington pub have recently returned from driving further donations into the war-torn country. After the partial Russian invasion there, early in 2022, with millions of Ukrainians displaced and fierce fighting from its military trying to defend their country from bombs and bullets ever since, there’s no sign of Vladimir Putin’s ambition to seize more of Ukraine waning just yet. Consequently, Dave Frankie and John Noble (pictured top), the manager and owner of The Frame Breakers…

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Ruddington’s New Parkrun Life-Saver

Organisers of the weekly parkruns in Rushcliffe Country Park have taken delivery of a crucial piece of life-saving equipment – a defibrillator – which its own community stumped up the necessary funds for within a day! A social media appeal on March 30th raised the £816 required for the new, portable unit in less than half a day. The defibrillator arrived in Ruddington in time to be officially handed over on Easter Saturday morning by event ambassador Shane Sharkey to Geoff Hardy, Rushcliffe Parkrun Event Director Geoff Hardy (pictured above). Automated…

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Fancy Driving Thomas the Tank Engine?

If you ever dreamed of being a train driver when you were young, or you have kids who would love to do so, during the Easter holiday Ruddington Model Railway Club (RMRC) is giving you chance to ‘take control’ of some of Britain’s most famous childhood locomotives. This Sunday and Monday (9th & 10th April 2023), as well as the club’s indoor layouts running at Nottingham Transport Heritage Centre (NTHC) next to our Country Park, you can operate Thomas, James and Percy yourself on their outdoor ‘G Scale’ track. Organiser Sam Moss…

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Easter in Ruddington

Some of the talented creatives in and around our village have been hard at work again to drop yet another ‘Ruddington Yarn Bomb’! Whilst the pillar box topper on Church Street gets changed quite frequently, ‘Ruddington Yarn Ninjas’ have again pulled out all the stops in preparation for Easter 2023 by knitting and crocheting suitably designed pieces to decorate other locations – including our village centre church buildings. Some of these latest creations can be seen above, but there are even more to enjoy on the Ninjas’ dedicated Facebook page >>HERE<<. Katie…

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Ruddington’s Rescheduled ‘Big Sing’

It’s almost six months since we brought you the disappointing news that the ‘Ruddington Big Sing’ would not be returning for 2022 after all – having been cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It had previously taken place every two years. Postponed from 8th October last year, organisers Ruddington Community Choir have confirmed a rescheduled date this May – its traditional ‘slot’ in the village calendar – with tickets available now! Organisers stress that the ‘Big Sing’ is open to anyone and everyone who enjoys singing; you do not have to be a…

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Martin’s Amazing ‘Mind’ Fund-razor

A Ruddington based business development representative is now sporting this smooth new look – after he ‘braved-the-shave’ this week to raise funds for a national mental health charity. 20-year-old Martin Bassey {pictured ‘before’ and ‘after’ his sponsored head-shave above} works in the marketing department at HR, payroll, and finance specialists MHR, in ‘Britannia House’ on Mere Way. He raised over £1,200 for Mind in the process – more than four times his fundraising target of £300. Contributions have come from friends, family and colleagues plus a £500 donation from MHR itself. Martin’s mobile barber arrived…

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Council Cash For Our Village Market

Organisers of Ruddington’s popular monthly market on The Green are welcoming extra funding to support its growth and expansion. Through its ‘Strategic Growth Fund’, Rushcliffe Borough Council (RBC) has provided £14,800 in match funding for Ruddington Village Community Partnership (RVCP) to support the running of Ruddington Village Market – which now sees over 75 participating businesses each month and attracts thousands of visitors to our village. The market is set up and run by volunteers and this funding has gone towards a Market Manager post, advertising costs, pitch markers and equipment to help…

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International Women’s Day Award for Helen

Ruddington’s Framework Knitters’ Museum is celebrating its long-standing textile artist and technical demonstrator, Helen Brownett, by presenting her with an achievement award for International Women’s Day, which is TODAY (Wednesday 8th March 2023). The accolade is in recognition of Helen’s 28 years of service here, inspiring thousands of visitors and encouraging many to become interested in knitting on the museum’s hand powered ‘Griswold’ machines. Helen is best known for her elaborate ‘office’; which is filled with hundreds of yarns of wool, creating a unique and vibrant workspace! Museum manager Sarah Godfrey…

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Ruddy Bear’s Uganda Update!

It’s been a busy few months for The Mustard Seed Project, Uganda – the Ruddington based charity which was founded in 2017 by village schoolteachers Jayne Henson and Sally Squires after they visited rural Uganda to work with teachers on active learning activities. In our last update we reported how ‘Ruddy Bear’ was due to set off again on his travels last October – this time to Uganda with Sally {pictured top right} along with some of his bear friends who had been sponsored by villagers to give to Ugandan children – one…

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