EVERYBODY WAS KUNG FU FIGHTING

Diversity comes in many forms. I do like to get a bit of everything on the blog that reflects the varied experience in and around Leicester. I was taken by surprise by an open-air Kung Fu lesson outside the Royal British Legion club in Wigston. And for diversity-upon-diversity, yes, there's a white Rastaman in there. That's not me he's up against - perish the thought. It was a little bit frightening; those cats were fast as lightning!

SMALL STEPS TO PEACEFUL WORLD

This letter appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Small steps to peaceful world

A few days ago, I saw a little girl go out of her way to put her empty plastic drink bottle into a rubbish bin in Bell Street, Wigston.

Two weeks previously, I had seen a grown woman throw an empty bottle into the perimeter hedge of Aylestone leisure centre.

I was reminded of this contrast by Bruce Kent, the veteran peace campaigner, who visited the city to talk inspiringly about the lunacy of renewing Trident.

Bruce eloquently outlined the causes of war on a number of levels, including the breakdown of relationships between individuals and its mirroring at community and national levels.

He suggested there are many ways we can all contribute to the promotion of peace at home and in the wider world. It seems to me that, by showing respect for her environment and other citizens, the young girl in Wigston was doing her bit.

This is one of countless examples of how we can build up harmony between people, whether at family, local, national or international level. So let us look more creatively at what can be done. There may be other kinds of active engagement that can help to preserve the planet and use its limited resources to promote peace and harmony rather than hasten its obliteration by war.

Kevin Commons, Wigston

WOMAN ARRESTED IN GRAFFITI PROBE

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Woman arrested in graffiti probe

A 55-year-old woman has been arrested in connection with an incident in which anti-religious slogans were painted on the walls of a church.

As reported in the Mercury yesterday, the slogans, containing offensive words, were painted on three outside walls of the Central Avenue Christian Church, in Wigston, between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The woman has been released on police bail.

VANDALS PAINT OFFENSIVE SLOGANS ON WIGSTON CHURCH WALLS

This article appears in today's Leicester Mercury:

Vandals paint offensive slogans on Wigston church walls

Vandals have daubed anti-religious slogans over a church and community centre.

Officials at Central Avenue Christian Church, in Wigston, discovered the crude messages yesterday and its minister and volunteers spent the day trying to wash the graffiti off the walls using a high-pressure hose.

The slogans were painted on the front and side walls of the building in 9in-high letters.

Minister the Rev Alan Robinson, said: "The slogans were not very nice stuff, but we don't believe they were particularly aimed at our church, they were more against the Church in general.

"There are an awful lot of people who don't believe in God and don't think anyone else should either.

"I don't know how long it will take to get rid of.

"A police officer who came to investigate was going to ask if Oadby and Wigston Borough Council could help us remove it using its equipment.

"The police are very concerned and they took away a lid from the tin of paint which had been left behind.

"It's the first time we've had any problems such as this since we bought the building in about 1990.

"We demolished most of the building and rebuilt it as a church and community centre using voluntary labour."

From Monday to Friday, Central Avenue Community Link works with the church to operate a day centre for people with learning difficulties.

Mr Robinson said: "We help about 30 people aged from 25 to 50 and above with handicrafts, outings and computers.

"We are still running – this won't stop us.

"We're just about to start a drop-in centre on Tuesdays for anyone of any age who is lonely – because there is so much loneliness in the community.

"We have about 30 members but we are very active and very much involved with the community.

"We do more in the community than a lot of the larger churches."

Mr Robinson, who is one of two ministers at the church, said: "Whoever has done this hasn't just attacked the church, they've attacked the hub of the community as well."

A Leicestershire Police spokeswoman said: "Offensive words were painted on to the wall in Central Avenue some time between 6.50pm yesterday and 7.10am today.

"Anyone with any information about the incident or who may be responsible is asked to contact us."

The police can contacted on 101 or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111

AHMADIYYA BUS POSTER CAUGHT ON CAMERA

At last I manage to get a photo of one of the posters sponsored on buses in and around Leicester by the Ahmadiyya Muslim community. I posted a blog entry on this subject earlier this year, following an article in the Leicester Mercury announcing the plan to have these posters displayed on buses here. Since then I've seen lots of the posters, but haven't been able to get a photo of any in the wild. I've never been able to get my iPhone out of my pocket fast enough as the bus speeds away into the distance!

This picture is of an Arriva service number 48, outside Bushloe High School in Wigston. The poster promotes a link to the Ahmadiyya website.