KIBWORTH RUGBY FOOTBALL CLUB

1923 - 2006

The Kibworth Rugby Football Club was established when a number of rugby enthusiasts met in St Wilfrid’s Institute, Kibworth, on 13^th December 1923. The meeting agreed to form a Rugby Club in the village, the Club would be known as the Kibworth Rugby Football Club. The shirts would be black along with navy blue shorts although the kit soon became all black. The first game was arranged for Boxing Day 1923 but there is no record of the opposition or the result. The first recorded fixture was played against Wigston ‘A’ on 2^nd February 1924. Several fixtures were played up to the end of April that year.

The 1924-25 season saw regular fixtures played against Belgrave Juniors, Aylestone Athletic, Kettering, Syston with a total of 28 fixtures played during the season. The pitch was in a boggy field (now Brookfield Way, Kibworth) known as the ‘Floodies’ and accessed through a gate adjacent to the Railway Bridge on Station Street. The changing rooms were situated at the rear of the Old Swan Public House.

During the third season the Club won the Leicestershire Junior Cup beating Highfields Medway in the final that was played at the Leicester Tigers Welford Road Stadium.

The Club moved into the next decade with a healthy financial and playing strength; after a few years the Club was able to field two teams and appoint a coach. The Club moved to a new ground at the Old Recreation Ground in the village (this was possibly the Smeeton Road Recreation Ground which is very close to the Old Cinema) and utilised the Old Cinema as changing rooms. (The Old Cinema is now the Kibworth Scout Hut). During this period the club became more established financially with the playing strength increasing. The social side of the Club also started to flourish with the first club dinner held in1938.

With the outbreak of the Second World War rugby along with most other sport, was suspended.

It was not until 30^th January 1950 that a number of former Kibworth Rugby Football Club players got together and decided to revive the Club. A playing field in Fleckney Road, Kibworth was utilised and changing rooms were again located at the Old Cinema. The first game was away against Old Wyggestonians on Saturday 23^rd September 1950 which Kibworth lost, however the remainder of the season went very well with the only loss being the first game.

As the years passed with the Club flourishing a decision was made to relocate the Club to Market Harborough for the 1957/58 season. The club played at the Little Bowden Recreation Ground with changing rooms at the Three Swans Hotel and later at the Collegiate School. Wellingborough Rugby Football Club were the first opponents to play at the new venue. The Club continued to prosper and during the 1958/59 season a 3^rd team was formed and match fees were introduced. The Club faced problems with the availability of the Little Bowden Recreation Ground having to play some games at Bowden Hill. The Club began negotiations during the 1960/61 season to use a rugby pitch at Gores Lane, Market Harborough, which culminated in the building of a Clubhouse and changing rooms at Gores Lane. The first fixture at the Club’s new home was against Wellingborough RFC on the 7^th October 1962.

The move to Gores Lane propelled the Kibworth Rugby Football Club forward, fielding three senior teams with a Colts team following in 1963. The new facilities enabled the Club to become an integral part of local rugby and the social side of the Club’s activities also expanded. To cope with the growth of the Club an extension to the Clubhouse was built. Kibworth Rugby Football Club progressed into the next decade as a very successful enterprise

The 50^th anniversary of Kibworth Rugby Football Club’s foundation was marked with a game against their first opponents, Wigston, in April 1973.

The next major step forward was the Club’s purchase of the Gores Lane ground, from the Symington Company of Market Harborough which was completed on 13^TH March 1980. This enabled the Club to increase the facilities with a second pitch and an extension to the changing rooms completed in 1985. The new extension was opened with a game against Wellingborough RFC on 20^th October of that year. The Club expanded its playing strength and was fielding four teams plus a Colts side and started planning the introduction of a mini/junior section.

In 1988 a major transformation of the Club began when negotiations with McAlpine Builders commenced culminating in the sale of the Gores Lane ground to the McAlpine Company in 1989. Kibworth Rugby Football Club moved to a new ground in Northampton Road, Market Harborough. The new ground had three pitches, floodlights and an impressive clubhouse and changing rooms. These excellent facilities were opened on 15^th October 1989 by the President of the Rugby Football Union followed by a game against an international XV.

Kibworth Rugby Football Club continued to flourish in their new surroundings as it progressed into the next decade eventually fielding six senior teams, Colts and a mini/junior section. The success of the club continued into the new millennium, however a major change to the club was on the horizon.

2006 saw the demise of the Kibworth Rugby Football Club when the members voted to change the name of the Club to Market Harborough Rugby Union Football Club.

Acknowledgements

Market Harborough Rugby Union Football Club

Memories of Kibworth by Joan Spain

The Great Kibworth Run Part 2

Age 8 to 11

1^st Girl and winner                             Elise Tear                                                 0.17.13

1^st boy and 2^nd                                    Anthony Markley                                       0.17.14

Age 7 and under

1^st Boy                                                 William  Adams                                           0.18.45

The race was held on Sunday 28^th September 2003 in memory of Dr Richard Warner who served as a GP in Kibworth and died in 2002 from kidney cancer. He was one of the original group who conceived the run and assisted in organising the first Great Kibworth Run.  His widow, Dr Jo Warner, donated the Richard Warner trophy to be presented to the winner of the half marathon and also joined the Run Committee. The Hope Foundation for Cancer Research was the Run’s Charity and the response from competitors and spectators was quite outstanding.

The 2003 race replicated the first event with the addition of a 1/3^rd marathon course with the aim of encouraging runners who could manage the shorter distance and also the timing of the fun runners. This necessitated a new course for the 1/3^rd marathon which followed the ½ marathon route to the Saddington reservoir turn where the routes split and the 1/3^rd marathon turned left and re-joined the 1/2 marathon route at the Gumley X roads. A Great Kibworth Run website had been developed to widen access to the event and enable entrants to download entry forms.

A total of 706 runners entered the three races and the number of runners registering ‘on the day’ exceeded expectation to the extent that medals for some ½ marathon and fun runners ran out and had to be presented at a later date.

RESULTS

½ Marathon

Winner                                    Stephen Gale              1.15.09

1^st Female and 25^th                 Sandra Grimes            1.32.22

1^st Veteran and 10^th                Shane Edge                 1.24.44

1/3 Marathon

Winner                                   Tony Harrison             0.56.46

1st Female and 9^th                 Debbie Marsden         1.05.18

Fun Run

1sy boy                                    James Yarwood           0.14.24                                              

1^st girl                                      Jessica Edge                       0.16.3 9

Charity Donation:                                                      £32,220

Hope Foundation for Cancer Research

The 2005 run was held on Sunday 25^th September following a similar pattern to the previous events with the addition of a power walk race which followed the 1/3 marathon course. The fun run had become popular and very competitive for children of all ages so the fun run timing range was increased to include fun run age groups, 7 years and under, 8 to 11 years and 12 to 14 years. Entries for the 4 races amounted to 780 with 157 entering on the day.

RESULTS

½ Marathon

Winner                                                                        Rob Pullen                  1.22.51

1^st  female, 1^st female veteran and 12^th                     Sandra Grimes            1.33.44

1^st  male veteran and  4^th.                                           Shane Edge                 1.28.01

1/3 Marathon

Winner                                                                        Brent Stevenson         0.53.53

1^st  female and 15^th.                                                    Clare Turner                1.05.37

Power Walk

Winner                                                                        Mike Spencer              1.50.05

First female and =2^nd.                                                Jane Thorpe                1.55.26

Fun Run                                                                      Diane Render              1.55.26

Age 12 to 14

1^st boy                                                                        Zaccharie Tyler             0.13.57

1^st  girl and 8^th                                                             Jessica Edge                  0.15.20

Age 8 to 12 

1^st boy and 2^nd                                                           Jonathon Monk            0.14.22

1^st  girl and 26^th                                                           Alexandria Sloan           0.17.19

Aged 7 and under

1^st boy  and 44^th.                                                         Joshua Ashman              0.18.10

1^st  girl and 129^th.                                                        Louise Jones                    0.23.44

Charity  Donations:   

Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Headway                            £5,100,00

The Hope Foundation                                                                     £5,100.00

The run Committee decided that a proportion of the funds raised by the Great Kibworth Run would be used to support local community activities, with an emphasis on children’s groups, youth groups and sporting organisations with a maximum award limited to £500.00.

A small Committee comprising of one from the run Committee and three from the Kibworth and District Chronicle was formed to adjudicate on the applications.

Grants to Local Organisations:                                                    £

Kibworth Methodist Youth Group                                               240.00

South Leicestershire Mobile Toy Library                                      350.00

Kibworth Primary School Parent Teachers Association              500.00

Kibworth 3^rd Brownies                                                               500.00

CARE Shangton                                                                           500.00

Kibworth 1^st Cubs                                                                       500.00

Kibworth Joint Recreation Committee                                       500.00

Toddlers (Mother and Toddlers)                                                500.00

ADS and Aspergers Support Group                                            500.00

South Leicestershire CVS                                                            500.00

Kibworth and Smeeton Junior FC                                              500.00

Kibworth 1^st Scouts                                                                     500.00

The 2007 run was held on Sunday 30^th September 2007 following a similar pattern to the last event with the addition of a half marathon team race. With the Great Kibworth Run becoming financially stable 223 direction/information signs along with stands and stakes  were purchased.  For the first 3 runs signs had been borrowed from The Ivanhoe Runners.

581 entries were received by race day and a further 202 entered on the day.  The weather was fine with competitors and spectators having an enjoyable event.

  Race starter briefing runners before start

Fun Run start

           Runners powering through Kibworth section    

Medal hanging team at the ready

RESULTS

Half Marathon

Winner                                                  Sean Fenwick                              01.12.41 

1^st Female and 5^th                               Nicola Clay                                 01.19.44 

1^st  Male Veteran and 4^th                     Graham Stephens                      01.18.57 

1st Female Veteran and 38^th               Wendy Joy                                   01.34.08

1/2 Marathon Team Race 

1^st  Male Team                                      Kibworth and Fleckney Men’s A         Time unavailable   

1^st  Female Team                                  Kibworth and Fleckney Ladies            Time unavailable 

1/3^rd  Marathon

Winner                                                David Turvey                            00.49.49 

1st Female and 5^th                                Sally Newman                          00.54.37  

 
1^st  female  1/3 Marathon

Power Walk

Winner and 1^st female                         Toni Boa                                   01.20.34  

Power walk winner approaching finish

1^st male and 4^th                                   David Robbins                           01.47.12

Fun Run

Age 12 to 14

1^st Boy                                                   Stephan Ashman                    0.17.44

1st Girl  and 27^th                                   Lorna Grubb                             0.21.26

Age 8 - 11

1st Boy  and 5^th                                     James Hatton                         0.18.40

1st Girl  and 21^st                                   Emily Hollis                             0.20.40

Age 7 and Under

1st Boy  and 41^st                                        Kieran Ashman                     0.22.57

1st Girl  and 104^th                                     Jocelyn Parkes-Bowen         0.26.36

CHARITY DONATIONS

Hope against Cancer                                                                          £2,300.00 

(plus £1,000.00  raised by the Hope Team)

Age Concern (Leicestershire & Rutland)                                             £3,300.00

Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland Headway                                 £3,300.00

Midlands Immediate Care Scheme who provide essential

medical cover during the Great Kibworth Run                                   £500.00

Grants to local organisations:

Foxton Primary School,                                                                       £200.00

Home Start                                                                                          £316.00

Laughton/Mowsley Cricket Club                                                        £425.00

Kibworth 1^st Cubs                                                                              £425.00

3^rd Kibworth Brownies                                                                        £425.00

Fleckney Mother and Toddler Group                                                £177.00

Fleckney and Kibworth Running Club                                               £425.00

Kibworth Playscheme                                                                         £425.00

Sunflower Radio                                                                                 £425.00

Kibworth Primary School                                                                     £425.00

Kibworth Primary School Parents Assoc.                                           £425.00

Kibworth Centenary Brass                                                                   £350.00

The 5^th Great Kibworth Run was held on 27^th September 2009 and once again held races to suit competitors of varied abilities and ages. A major innovation this year was the introduction of ‘on line’ entries thus saving considerable administration time. This proved very successful with 585 entering before there event. A further 223 entered on the day. To deal with the late entrants a separate reception desk for each of the four races was provided to register the runner and issue race numbers. Barney Haynes, who had joined the run Committee, donated a trophy, to be presented to the 1^st female finisher in the 1/2 marathon, in memory of  his late wife Sarah. The highlight of the day was the Fun Run where 245 runners crossed the finish line.  These runners, aged from 1 to 56, some in fancy dress, made for a great spectacle. The 'Keep on Moving' team made up of over 30 adults with learning disabilities, many of whom had  previously taken part in little or no physical activity, enthusiastically completed the 2-mile course to great cheers from the many spectators.

Keep on Moving Team

RESULTS

Half marathon

Winner^t and 1^st male veteran             William Nock                                      1.18.23  

Winner ½ half marathon presented with the Richard Warner frophy by Martin Corry   (England and Tigers Rugby captain)

 1^st Female and 13^th                                Beverley Gray                                     1.30.44

1^st female veteran and 36^th                  Angela Ladkin                                     1.39.42

Third marathon

Winner                                                  John Mulholland                                0.57.09

1^st Female and 11^th                               Kathyrn Lovelock                                  1.05.34

 1^stfemale 1/3 marathon reaches the finish

Power Walk

Winner and =1^st                                    Sarah Thompson                                            1.48.16

              Catherine Rich                                      1.48.16

1^st male and 8^th                                      Michael Hemmingway                           1.55.00

Fun Run

Age 12 to 14

1^st boy                                                  George Bettsworth                                   0.14.55

1^st Girl                                                 Emily Hollis                                               0.15.21

1^st girl Fun Run 12 to 14

Age 8 to 11

1^st Girl and winner                             Elise Tear                                                 0.17.13

1^st boy and 2^nd                                    Anthony Markley                                       0.17.14

Age 7 and under

1^st Boy                                                 William  Adams                                           0.18.45

Winner 7 and under fun run with Martin Corry

 1^st Girl and 4^th                                     Holly Coulson                                           0.21.44

CHARITY DONATIONS :

Macmillan Cancer Support                                         £11,800

Grants to Local Organisations

The Well                                                                      £250   

1^st Kibworth Cubs                                                       £300   

Fleckney and Kibworth Runners                                 £300   

Harborough Expedition Scouts                                    £250   

1^st Kibworth Brownies                                                £250   

Kibworth Theatre Company                                       £300   

2^nd Kibworth Brownies                                               £200   

Kibworth Methodist Pre-School Nursery                   £150   

Kibworth Tennis Club                                                 £250   

Teddy Bears Play Group                                             £300

Wilfrid’s Children’s Group                                          £350

Kibworth Primary School Parents Association           £350

Mowsley Primary School                                            £350

Kibworth Pre-School Nursery                                     £300

The 2011 Great Kibworth Run was held on Sunday 25th September following the format of previous events. The most popular races are the ½ marathon with 201 entrants and the fun run with 165 entrants. Unfortunately, some of the records of this run are not available.

Results:

Half Marathon

Winner                                    Mark Powell                            01.12.48

1^st Female and 17^TH                Julie Lamb                              01.29.10

Third Marathon

Winner                                    Jamie Short                            00.47.02

1^ST  Female and 12^th               Rachel Swan                           01.03.09

Power Walk

Winner                                     Dale Broughton                      01.31.32

1^st Female and 2^nd =               Sandra Ankers                       01.44.34

                                                 Pauline Churchill                    01.44.34

Fun Run:

Age 12 to 14

1^st boy                                       Oscar Trier                              0.12.21

1^st girl and 7^th                            Charlotte Mathews                  0.14.16

Age 8 to 11

Winner                                       Henry Hopkinson                    0.14.01

1^st girl                                            Olivia Hartley                          0.15.09

Age Under 7

Winner                                      Joseph Humphreys                 0.15.08

1^st girl                                       Eliza Parsons                           0.20.25

CHARITY DONATIONS:

Macmillan Cancer Support                          £11,600.00

Unfortunately, there is no record of the grants to local organisations.

The 7^th  Great Kibworth Run was held on 29^th September 2013. The closure of the main route into the village by Network Rail to replace the Station Street railway bridge affected the usual road closures in High Street and Smeeton Road. However, with the co-operation of Leicestershire County Council and additional marshals the run was able to go ahead.

It was a perfect day gorgeous weather, large field of runners and lots of spectators made this Great Kibworth Run a big success.

RESULTS:

Half marathon

Winner                                    Simon Allen                                         1.15.25

1^st female                               Tori Green                                           1.26.20

1^st Male veteran                     Graham Stephens                              1.21.39

1^st Female veteran                   Julie Lamb                                          1.31.51

Third marathon

Winner                                      Jamie Short                                      0.47.52

1st Female                                  Debbie Napier                                   0.56.44

Power Walk

Winner and 1^st female                Catherine Rich                                1.41.49

 1^st male and 2^nd                         Michael Hemmingway                    1.41.55

Fun Run

Aged 12-14

1^st Boy                                            Ben Masser                                      0.11.29

1^st Girl                                           Tessa Rhodes                                   0.14.22

Age 8 to 11

1^st Boy                                          William Adams                                 0.13.13

1^st Girl                                           Alexandra Peet                                0.14.13

Age 7 and under

1^st Boy                                          James Butcher                                  0.14.23

1^st Girl                                          Lucinda Thompson                          0.17.20

CHARITY DONATIONS :

Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland                                                             £7,000.00

The winner of the age categories in the 2-mile fun run earned a prize

 for the school they attend:

 Lucinda Thompson, Kibworth C of E Primary School                                    £1,000

William Adams, Kibworth High School                                                           £1,000

James Butcher, Old Mill Primary                                                                   

School, Broughton Astley                                                                                     £1,000

Tessa Rhodes, Oakham School                                                                       £1,000

EPILOGUE

The 2013 Great Kibworth Run, the seventh, became the last of the very successful Great Kibworth Runs. After organising seven bi-annual events, between 2001 and 2013, a number of the original organising Committee members had decided to retire. The Great Kibworth Run was unusual in that it was organised by a small Committee of local villagers who recruited volunteers to help on the day of the event whilst most other runs are organised by running clubs with far more resources.  This put a heavy work load on the Committee members practically on the day of the event.

From the first run the event became a favourite fixture for many in the Kibworth area and   attracted entries from as far afield as Scotland, the South of England and many places in between. Over 51,000 people, with ages ranging from babies in pushchairs to 70 years entered the seven runs which raised a total of over £110,000 for many local charities. The original objectives of the organising Committee were achieved but more would have been possible if the event had continued.

Although four people joined the organising Committee over the years, requests for additional people to join the run Committee, to keep the event going, were unsuccessful and regrettably the decision was made not to continue the Great Kibworth Run.

Prologue

The Great Kibworth Run was held on 7 occasions between 2001 and 2013 becoming a popular event for running enthusiasts and the local community. The run was born out of a desire by a small group of local running enthusiasts who in 2000 decided to organise a run in Kibworth with the objectives of:

• providing an activity, which would involve members of the local communities of all ages and abilities.
• raising funds for local charities.

The Great Kibworth Run 2001

A small Committee was formed to organise the first event and decided to hold a half marathon and a family fun run. The size of the task soon became apparent and advice was sought from the Ivanhoe Runners, a running club experienced in organising running events. Tasks included Affiliation to England Athletics, obtaining sponsorship from local businesses, selecting and measuring the routes, arranging a reception area for competitors to enter and receive race numbers, deciding the position of marshal points (65) and direction/information signs, water stations, start and finish areas, the timing of the runners.

The start and finish positions were located in the Kibworth High School (now Kibworth Mead Academy) grounds, off Smeeton Road, with race administration located in the adjacent Leisure Centre. The route for both runs required the closure of Smeeton Road from the High School to High Street and High Street for 1 hour to allow runners to use the roads safely. The road closure order was granted by Leicestershire County Council and necessitated planning diversion routes and road sign positions. The race route followed Smeeton Road to High Street, Meadowbrook Road, the recreation ground, the Kibworth Primary School grounds to return to Smeeton Road where the fun run turned towards the finish and the half marathon continued along the rural section of the course for the next 11 miles before returning to the finish line via Smeeton Road.

The first Great Kibworth Run was held on Sunday 30^th September 2001. Entry forms were printed and made available for potential entrants. Volunteers were recruited for all the many tasks required on the race day to hold a successful event.

Completed entry forms were received and, along with those who entered on the day, total entrants exceeded 500. Of these runners most were local, 10 entrants in the Fun Run were 5 years and under and 5 entrants in the Half Marathon were 60 years and over. The event was a success and many letters were received from competitors praising the event.

RESULTS

Half Marathon

Winner                                      Ishmaq Ahmed                    1.14.51

1^st female and 11th                  Sandra Grimes                    1.28.21

1^st male veteran and 4^th          Les Chesterton                    1.24.58

1^st female veteran and 22^nd    Nicki Wray                           1.37.30

Fun Run

1^st boy                                        Eddie Glaister

1^st girl                                        Jessica Bridgewood

Charity Donation:                    £17,182

St Luke’s Hospital, Market Harborough,

Palliative Care Fund

How race day unfolded and the thoughts of one of the Committee members:

6.30 am           The organising Committee meet at the Kibworth High School, at least the weather is fine. A lot of nerves, is it going to be successful?

6.40 am           Two teams, one for Kibworth and the other for the villages on the route set off to erect route signs, 136 in total and water stations.

7.00 am           Didn’t realise how much noise a mallet hitting a wooden stake made at this time on a Sunday morning, hope we didn’t disturb too many people.

8.00 am           Return to Leisure Centre, it has started to rain, that won’t help. Thankfully only a short shower. All signs, stakes, tape and water stations in position.

8.30 am           Start and finish area laid out. Runners’ reception area prepared in the Leisure Centre, all we need are some runners. Have much needed bacon sandwich.

9 am                Three cheers! A runner has arrived to enter the event, what a relief, at least one competitor.

9.15 am           More competitors arriving, looks promising.

9.30 am           The place is a hive of activity, registered entrants arriving along with more entering on the day, weather still fine although it is a bit windy, things looking very promising.

10.00 am         The Great Kibworth Run T/Shirt stall is doing an excellent trade. Entrants for the Family Fun Run arriving, there is a feeling of excitement about the place. It is going to be OK.

10.30 am         Place is full of people, the warm-up session is about to start. All marshals for the road junctions and road closures on first half of the route in position. That’s a relief, we couldn’t hold the event without them.

10.45am          Road closures in place making Smeeton Road and High Street a safe environment for the runners. Some of the fun runners are very young, glad we opted for road closures even though it was bound to cause some inconvenience to motorists. Plenty of spectators at the start and along the road into High St.

10.50 am        Real air of excitement and anticipation, warm up sessions ends, runners asked to take their places at the start, half marathon at the front, fun run behind.

11.00 am         Start whistle blow for half marathon runners.

11.01 am         First rows of fun runners straining at the leash wanting to set off, shall we let them go now, no, it is too close to the half marathon runners.

11.02 am         Whistle blows again, the fun run has started. Starter has to jump aside to avoid being overrun by 235 enthusiastic young runners who are so keen to get going.

11.10 am         The leading runner is already flying past the High School entrance with a lead of at least 1 minute over the second runner. If he goes on at this pace he will be back before all the fun runners have finished. Good crowd of spectators cheering the runners on their way creating a great atmosphere.

11.15 am         All marshals, a total of 65, now in position for the second part of the course, we owe these volunteers a big thank you, you couldn’t hold the event without them. It is no fun being stuck at a cattle grid near Gumley Cricket Pitch on a windy day for 2+ hours with a few cows for company, thank goodness it’s not raining.

11.16 am         First fun runner approaches the High School having overtaken a number of the half marathon runners, he gets a terrific cheer from the crowd. Runners from both events pouring along Smeeton Road towards the High School where good work by the marshals ensures that the fun runners are directed to the finish and the half marathon runners are directed towards Smeeton Westerby and 11 more hard miles. Tremendous enthusiasm from the young runners some of whom are very competitive as they approach the finish. The crowd really appreciates the efforts of these runners.

11.35am          All runners have cleared the road outside the High School, decide to lift the road closures 25 minutes earlier than anticipated. This eased the inconvenience to motorists.

12.00 pm         Growing anticipation among the increasing number of spectators gathered around the finish area waiting for the leading runner to arrive. The team who will time and record the runners as they finish are in position along with medal presenters, stop watches, clip boards and medals at the ready.

12.13 pm         Cheers from the spectators indicate the first runner is about to arrive. He turns into the High School towards the finish, there are no other runners in sight. Hope they haven’t taken a wrong turn.

12.22 pm         Second finisher in sight and arrives to a noisy reception from the crowd. Steady flow of runners arriving at the High School to great cheers and encouragement, some horrified to find they still had to run around the football pitch before reaching the finish. One runner finishes then joins a friend who he accompanies to the finish and is timed again putting the results out of sequence and causing much annoyance to the timers.

1.15   pm         The last runner arrives to a good cheer, he had run almost all the course with a leg injury, yet despite advise to give up, finished the run.

1.20 pm           Presentation of prizes:

1.40 pm           Runners and spectators begin to disperse, bit of an anti-climax but relief that the event was successful. Lots of praise from runners who really enjoyed the event.

1.45 pm          Start to clear up, collect all the signs from the route.

4.00 pm          All done, time for a pint at the Kings Head.

The Great Kibworth Run Part 2 includes winners and donations for the races every other year from 2003 to 2013 plus several photos!

The City, Kibworth Harcourt

The City is an unusually named small cluster of dwellings situated in a lane to the left off Albert Street just before the junction with Carlton Road. The origin of the name is unknown however there is the thought that places called ‘The City’ were because they were towards ‘London’ so effectively south of the community, whereas areas called ‘Scotland’ were to the north. Burton Overy has a Scotland area!  So maybe in Anglo Saxon or Roman times, the community stretched thinly from the Kibworths (south) to Burton Overy (north) resulting in the name ‘The City’.

Excavations to the north of The City have uncovered evidence that property existed in this area during and after the Roman occupation.

It is possible that some of the mud and thatched cottages existed in medieval times and there is evidence they were there in the latter part of the 18th century where the cottages had been built along both sides of the brook which flowed through The City towards and across Albert Street, then known as Hog Lane.  (see Early Modern Kibworth Harcourt Village Centre- The Pig Market)

One of the original houses-No.1 The City (demolished in 1940’s)

The brook which flowed through The City often overflowed resulting in flooding of the lane and the dwellings, the people must have lived in poor unhealthy conditions at this time. It is believed that the poorest occupants of the village lived there. There was a pump in the City which supplied water during the rainy season, however drinking water had had to be fetched from the pump in Main Street opposite the Old House, quite a trek carrying water.

By the late 1880’s the brook had been diverted through a culvert under the lane and Albert Street.

The City was described by local historian, F.P. Woodford, in his book ‘History of Kibworth and Personal Reminiscences' as: “three mud thatched cottages and three small brick and thatched cottages as well as other houses”

Acknowledgments

Kibworth to Smeeton ‘A Stroll Down Memory Lane’ by Philip J Porter
History of Kibworth and Personal Reminiscences by  F.P. Woodford

Christ Church is a grade ll listed building situated on Saddington Road, Smeeton Westerby. Prior to the building of Christ Church, residents of Smeeton Westerby attended the benefice church of St Wilfrid’s in Kibworth Beauchamp.

The Laying of the Foundation Stone:

The foundation stone was laid on 1st August 1848 with considerable ceremony.

The following is a report of the proceedings published in the Leicester Advertiser:

“They commenced with a divine Service at St Wilfrid’s Church, Kibworth Beauchamp, which was crowded with a respectable congregation including nearly 50 of the Clergy of the neighbourhood, amongst which (besides the Rector and Curate) were Revs. W. C. Humphery, & F. Apthorp, R Fawssett, C. Gutch, J. Parker and Morris of this town. The whole of the congregation at the Service had the deepest of attention and interest, and a hallowed feeling to pervade the heart. The prayers were said by the Rev. Stuart Eyre Bathurst, the Rector, assisted by the Rev. J.R. Shortland, Curate, the Communion Service by the Rev. W.H. Anderton, the vicar of St. Margaret’s, and the epistle by the Rev. Charles Gutch, Curate. The Rev. W. H. Anderton then delivered a very appropriate and impressive discourse from the 11^th verse of the 2^nd Psalm. The Sacrament of Holy Communion was administered by the clergy, and a great portion of the congregation. The collection at the doors and the offertory amounted to nearly £80.

After the service a procession was formed by the clergy, walking in their robes two abreast, followed by the school children, while the inhabitants brought up the rear, the whole forming a most cheering and delightful sight. On approaching the site of the new church, the officiating clergymen, in their surpluses, chanted the 132^nd Psalm and on arriving at the site, the 122^nd and the 127^th Psalms, the 7^th and 8^th verses of the 3^rd chapter of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians were said. After prayer for the Bishop, the Priest , who shall be appointed to Minister at the altar of the new church, the architect, benefactors, and all, who whether by counsel or by labour, shall aid in the erection, the Rural Dean asked the question – Who is willing to consecrate his service this day unto the Lord? When J. B. Humphrey, Esq. one of the laymen present, on behalf of the donors, offered a stone , as a foundation stone for the church, and J. Marriot, Esq. delivered a very appropriate address. The Rector then proceeded to lay the stone, and the 8^th Psalm was sung. This was followed by prayer for unity, for the preservation of the church from all common and profound uses , and for a blessing on the good work, and the interesting ceremony was concluded with the Benediction. The procession was re-formed, preceded by the Duke of Rutland’s band to the Rectory (Kibworth Beauchamp) , where the clergy, the children, and the inhabitants partook of the refreshments provided for them, and enjoyed themselves during the remainder of the day with the worthy and benevolent Rector.”

Christ Church

Christ Church front aspect

 Christ Church was designed in 1848-1849 by Henry Woodyer, a graduate of Merton College, Oxford, and built by G. Myers using grey stone in the decorated style of the 14^th century.  An example of this style can be found in the west elevation which has a single large window with flowing tracery set within an unusual and heavily moulded pointed arch with an octagonal bellcote above.

The church has north and south aisles, nave, chancel, vestry and an octagonal bell turret.

The wide aisles and nave towards the chancel

Photographs by kind permission of Leicester Photo Ltd.

The font is situated by the west window and has an elaborate carved wooden cover.

The Service of Consecration for the Church was held on 31^st August 1849 with The Bishop of Peterborough accompanied by his Chancellor, and the Rev. E  T Vaughan, Vicar of St. Martin’s, Leicester, were welcomed by Rev. S E Bathurst, Rector of St. Wilfrid’s, Kibworth.

In the years following the Consecration the  Rev. E Loch and then the Rev. Aretas Ackers were appointed curates of Christ Church.

At a meeting on 12^th April 1852 at St Wilfrid’s Church the Rector announced that  the Smeeton Westerby part of his property would be for the sole use of the Minister of Christ Church. He also announced that the Rev. R Fawcett of Christ Church, Leicester, had been appointed Curate at Christ Church, Smeeton Westerby.

The township of Smeeton Westerby became a separate ecclesiastical parish in 1852.  The advowson remained with the Rector of St Wilfrid’s Church, Kibworth Beauchamp.

During the latter months of 1894 and into 1895 severe gales had swept across the district causing damage to the Church.  In July  that year a fete was held in the village to raise funds for repairs to the roof of the Church.

In 1907 a new organ was purchased at a cost of £320 and a service of dedication of the organ was held on 11^th April 1907. In 1921 the burial ground was extended. Over the years extensions to the Church have included a kitchen area and toilet facilities.

There is a marble wall mounted World War l memorial in the church with the following inscription:

IN GRATITUDE TO THE  LORD OF HOSTS

 FOR  VICTORY  IN THE GREAT WAR

AND IN  MEMORY of

(LIST of 11 NAMES)

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY?

1914 – 19

Acknowledgements

Leicester Photo Ltd.
Kibworth to Smeeton ‘A Stroll Down Memory Lane’ by Philip J Porter
British History on Line
The Leicester Advertiser
The Imperial War Museum
Historic England

BLONDIN

Who was Blondin?

Jean-François Gravelet was born in 1824, changed his name to Charles Blondin and became a world famous French acrobat and tightrope walker. His fame and fortune followed his tightrope walk over the gorge below the Niagara Falls in 1859.

The Kibworth Connection.

Rumour has it that Blondin visited Kibworth Beachamp for a demonstration of his skills.

Myth or Fact?

Francis P Woodford in his book, A History of Kibworth, adds some weight to the story that Blondin gave a performance in High Street, Kibworth Beauchamp.

Woodford describes the event as follows:
‘The Royal Oak Public House (in High Street) was kept by Mr Staines. It was from the roof of this house to that of one of the houses opposite, that Blondin had a rope stretched, on which he walked blind-folded, and wheeled a barrow across; and also on which he balanced a stove and cooked a pancake, which he tossed in the air, to the thrills and wonder of a great crowd below but only to a small addition to his purse.’

The performance by Blondin followed his usually performed stunts. Woodford does not give a date for this performance but Blondin gave a number of performances in England including locations in and near Leicestershire.

12^th July 1861 Derby ArboretuMr John Stain ham.

13^th July 1861 Aston Park, Birmingham.

30^th July 1861 Nottingham.

1^st July 1862 Whitwick Cricket Ground, Leicestershire.

11^th and 12^th September 1862 Campbell Street, Leicester .

These performances indicate that Blondin was near enough to Kibworth to have given his performance, most likely between his performances at Whitwick and Leicester. There is no record of a Mr Staines as the landlord of the Royal Oak Public House, however on 28^th May 1867 the licence for the Royal Oak was granted to a Mr John Stain. Blondin was in England during 1869 and gave a performance at the Crystal Palace in November that year.

So examining the evidence, if indeed he did visit Kibworth Beauchamp, it could have been in 1861 whilst in England giving performances at Whitwick and Leicester or during John Stain’s tenure as landlord of the Royal Oak when he was in England in 1869.

Myth or Fact-will we ever know for sure, but it makes for a good story.

NB. Blondin gave his last performance in Belfast in 1886.

Acknowledgements

Kibworth to Smeeton A Stroll Down Memory Lane by Philip J Porter 
Encyclopædia Britannica 
Wikipedia

Smeeton House, 3 Main Street, Smeeton Westerby is a Grade ll listed building, first listed in 1989. 

Smeeton House (front aspect)

Smeeton House was originally two small cottages built in 1734. Around 1800/05 the cottages were converted into one with the addition of a three-storey front extension.

The house is built of brick since rendered with plaster. It has a slate roof, a gabled chimney and a moulded cornice. There is a central four panel door with a glazed overlight. On each side of the door are single canted bay windows.

Smeeton House is now partially obscured by trees.

Following the extension to the house it became a school ‘The Smeeton House Academy’ and was one of the three schools in Smeeton Westerby during this period with the pupils attendance funded by their parents.

The following is an advertisement for the Smeeton House Academy:

By 1841 Smeeton House Academy was a successful boarding school run by James Buzzard. Studying at the Academy were 29 male pupils aged between 10 and 15 years.

In an advertisement for the school some years later Mr Buzzard said:

In September 1850 Mr Buzzard informed parents of his intention to move the school from Smeeton House to Peatling Hall, Peatling Parva, in September the following year. By this time there were 48 pupils at the school.

The Smeeton House Academy was closed until 22^nd January 1852 when a Mrs Hacket ran the school until late 1856 when, once again, the school closed.

Miss Caroline Gimson, who had been running a school at West Langton, moved her school to Smeeton House where she reopened Smeeton House Academy on 19 January 1857. It is likely that the school finally closed in 1875.

The house is now a private dwelling.

Acknowledgements

Kibworth to Smeeton ‘A stroll down memory lane’ by Philip J Porter
British History Online
Historic England

THE KIBWORTH CONGRGATIONAL CHAPEL

Congregational Chapel on Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt

The Kibworth Congregational Chapel is located on the A6 Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt near the Wistow Road junction. The Chapel is a Grade II listed building, first listed in December 1966.

The two storey Chapel was built with red brick with a Welsh slate roof. The central entrance door to the west of the Chapel is dated 1759.  The Chapel was extended to the east in 1811 to include a vestibule, a vestry, and a schoolroom. In 1815 a gallery was constructed in the Chapel. An organ was donated in 1930 and a few years later the pews were replaced with oak seats. There is a small graveyard to the rear of the chapel along with a building which was once a stable. The Manse is attached at a right angle to the north of the Chapel built in 1794 of red brick and is three storeys tall. Another house of similar style was built to the rear at a later date.

Inside the Chapel premises is a marble tablet dedicated to Phillip Doddridge DD.

Tablet dedicated to memory of Philip Doddridge DD

In 1841 Thomas Gook, the travel pioneer, was passing through Kibworth Harcourt, near to the Chapel, on his way to a Temperance Meeting in Leicester when he had an idea about organising a railway excursion from Leicester to Loughborough, possibly the forerunner of modern tourism. There is a plaque commemorating this on the outside of the Chapel.

THE ORIGINS OF THE CHAPEL

Following the Act of Uniformity of 1662 enacted by the Cavalier Parliament which required reordination of many pastors, gave unconditional consent to The Book of Common Prayer, advocated the taking of the oath of canonical obedience, and renounced the Solemn League and Covenant. Many Pastors, unable to accept these conditions, left the established Church resulting the growth of the dissention movement.

In 1672 after the Civil War and the Restoration a Meeting House situated in the yard at the rear of the Crown Inn Leicester Road, Kibworth Harcourt, was licensed for Presbyterian worship. (See The White House-Early Modern)

In about 1609 John Jennings became the Pastor of the dissenting congregation at the Meeting House until his death in 1701. He was succeeded by his son John Jennings Jnr. who established a dissenting academy at the Meeting House which opened in 1715.  When John Jennings Jnr. moved to Hinckley in 1722 the congregation purchased the Meeting House.

From 1723 to 1729 Philip Doddridge, a former pupil of Jennings at the academy, became the minister and principal of the academy at Kibworth. (See Philip Doddridge DD-Early Modern)

The Dissenting Congregation at the Meeting House became Congregationalists and in 1759 the Meeting House was destroyed by a fire. Voluntary subscriptions raised funds for a new building, and the Congregational Chapel was licensed for dissenter’s worship in 1761. The Chapel was in use as a place of worship until the end of the 20^th century and is now a private dwelling.

Acknowledgements

British History on line
The Story of England by Michael Wood
https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/2625384/kibworth-congregational-chapel 
British listed buildings.com

The central cemetery pathway

The Kibworth Cemetery is situated on the A6 Harborough Road, Kibworth Harcourt in Leicestershire.

During 1891 an extension to the graveyard at St Wilfrid’s Church was discussed at Vestry Meetings. It was decided that an extension to the graveyard was not feasible and on 29^th February 1892 a meeting of village residents was held in the Village Hall and a Burial Board was formed.

The elected members of this first Burial Board were:

• Rev. Charles Henry Thomas Cruttwell (Chairman, Anglican Minister)
• Rev. Edmund Hipwood, (Congregation Minister)
• Mr. William Henry Ward
• Mr. George Reginald King
• Mr. William Harcourt Lovell Clark
• Rev. John Newman (Methodist Minister)
• Mr. William Horton
• J.S. Dickinson, (secretary)

The first meeting of the Burial Board was held on 8^th March 1892 when the secretary was instructed to enquire from the owners of 7 potential sites whether they would be willing to sell from 2 to 4 acres for a Cemetery. The 7 potential sites were reduced to 2, the current site on Harborough Road owned by Merton College, Oxford and allotment land between the Railway and Harborough Road belonging to Mrs. Haymes.

The Board decided that the sites should be subject to survey by A.J. Draper the Diocesan Surveyor to ascertain their suitability for a Cemetery having regard to the nature of the sub-soil and the facilities for drainage.

At the Board’s meeting on 5^th May 1892 the meeting agreed to borrow money from the Public Works Loan Commissioner to fund the purchase of the land and the work required.

Following the report from Mr Draper the Board decided to purchase the Merton College site.

At the Board Meeting on 25^th June 1892 a draft contract to purchase 4 acres 3 roods and 28 perches of land from Merton College, Oxford was accepted.

This decision was placed before a Vestry Meeting on the 4^th July 1892 when some opposition to the draft contract was expressed.

At the Vestry meeting on 11^th October 1892 the following was proposed:

‘that there should be only one building erected on the Burial Ground and that such building be a Lychgate on the unconsecrated land’, and ‘that two thirds of the Burial Ground should be consecrated and one third unconsecrated.

At their Burial Board meeting of 1^st November 1892. Mr. Coleman, the occupier of the Merton College field, was awarded £26-10s-0d compensation for loss of the field.

A loan of £2,000 was granted and on 3^rd January 1893, Charles Edward Hare, a Bank Manager, was appointed as the Burial Board’s Treasurer.

Tenders were issued as follows:

Contract 1

For Levelling & Draining: £202 to £398, was awarded to Edward Mason of Kibworth.

Contract 2

For Making & Fixing wrought iron fencing, entrance gates etc. £175 to £290, awarded to Edward Mason.

Contract 3

For the Lychgate £408 to £675-15s-0d was awarded to Mr Haycock of Great Glen.

Tenders 1 & 3 were withdrawn. Edward Mason submitted revised tenders of £235 for Contract 1 and £413 for Contract 3. These tenders were accepted, leaving Mason Builders responsible for all the construction work.

On 10th May 1893 the purchase of the site from Merton College was completed at a cost of £750.

The first phase of the cemetery was completed in 1893 and consecrated in June of that year. The first burial, Florence May Kimbell aged 4 years, took place in August 1893.

Improvements to the Cemetery have seen access improved and pathways upgraded.

The Kibworth Joint Burial Board is now made up of representatives from both Kibworth Parish Councils and they have regular meetings to discuss burial costs and further improvements.

In 2021, an Epitaph software licence was purchased from Edge IT by Kibworth Harcourt Parish Council for the Joint Burial Board, for all of the burials since 1893 and in future, to be recorded and when completed, the details are due to be made available online.

Natural Burial Area

Kibworth Joint Burial Board has reserved an area for natural burials. This area will not have any headstones and only biodegradable coffins and caskets will be allowed.

The Natural Burial Area

The Lychgate

The Lychgate was built between July and October 1894 by Edward Woodford Mason, son of John Mason, one of Kibworth’s most celebrated builders and founder of the family firm. Historic England listed the Lychgate as a Grade II listed buulding in September 2022 ((Ref 1480910) - https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1480910?section=official-list-entry).

The Lychgate (front aspect)

Lychgate (rear aspect)

In February 1895 a wooden bier was presented to the Burial Board by Mr Haymes. This beautifully crafted trolley was pulled by the village Sexton. The bier would collect the coffin from the deceased's house and take it to the cemetery entering through the Lychgate into the burial ground.

Inside the Lychgate showing the bier and inside of the front doors

The Joint Burial Board agreed in 2021 to have the bier renovated and it is due to be cleaned, polished and any repairs made by a specialist from Lubenham in 2022.

After restoration the bier was returned to the Lychgate on 5th October 2022. (additional information by Kevin Feltham).

 Acknowledgements

Stephen Butt
The Kibworth Chronicle
Kibworth Joint Burial Board and current chairman, Dr Kevin Feltham
Kibworth History Society