Sharon Broughton-Eley explains why parents are protesting at the proposed closure of Charles Read Academy in this Journal video.

Thousands of people have signed a petition against the closure of the school.

FOR MORE ON THIS STORY SEE THIS FRIDAY’S JOURNAL.

A man who refused to co-operate with police officers was told he should have paid attention the last time he was in court.

Tafara Washoma of Harlaxton Road in Grantham appeared in court in October and admitted a public order offence after losing his temper with police.

After that case, chair of magistrates Ian McDonnell told Washoma: “A bit of advice I can give you is: be compliant. You get wound up, the police get wound up and there’s only going to be one winner - and it’s not you.”

On January 15 Washoma, 32, again lost his cool with officers and found himself facing Mr McDonnell once more after admitting another public order offence.

Mr McDonnell said: “The last time I lectured you about not kicking off with the police. I said that if you don’t comply you will find yourself back in court. I hate to say I told you so.

“Smile and be happy. Comply with them because it won’t work any other way.”

The court heard how Washoma was in the King’s Arms when officers came in. He began arguing after one of the officers questioned the age of a friend.

Despite the efforts of the officers, Washoma refused to calm down and called the policemen “cowards”.

Kate Hartley, prosecuting, said Washoma was given numerous chances to calm down.

Washoma was fined £30 and ordered to pay £20 in compensation. His conditional discharge for the October offence was allowed to run.

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division

Hednesford Town 3

Grantham Town 0

The Gingerbreads recorded their fifth straight defeat in the league against title-chasing Hednesford Town. The home side controlled the game from the moment they went in front in the first half and finished Grantham off with two goals in the opening 10 minutes of the second half.

Hednesford took the game to Grantham from the word go. Elliott Durrell curled a free kick three yards wide in the opening minute, and it only took them six minutes to open the scoring. A throw into the Gingerbreads penalty area was not cleared and Ben Bailey was given room to turn. He fired a shot into the net off the inside of the post.

The home side dominated the game, winning many free headers and troubling the Grantham defence regularly. Jamey Osborne turned Adie Hawes easily after 13 minutes and drove a low cross into the Gingerbreads’ penalty area. Rhys Lewis covered well to clear from Aaron Rey.

Grantham created a chance with the first corner of the game. Nathan Watson and T. J. Nightingale worked together well to turn the home defence and force the flag kick. It dropped to Deon Meikle but he fluffed his shot and the chance was gone.

The home side seemed content to sit deep and break quickly. Midway through the half, Durrell and Neil Harvey combined to lay the ball wide for Nathan Woolfe. He stepped past the challenge from Alistair Asher and drove a fierce shot across the face of Jake Turner’s goal.

Turner reacted quickly when first Meikle, then Emeka Nwadike lost the ball in midfield. The newly signed Grantham goalkeeper was quickly off his line to smother a chance for Durrell.

With Woolfe giving Asher a torrid time on the Grantham right, Hednesford put a lot of crosses into the Gingerbreads’ defence. Woolfe seemed to beat Asher every time he got the ball, but from the best cross, Dave MacPherson headed wide.

Late in the first half, Hednesford had further chances to add to their lead. Darren Campion played in Harvey, who let the ball run for Rey. Good defending by Grantham this time snuffed out the danger. On the cusp of half time, a long punt from Dan Crane found Rey who turned Meikle easily, then shot across the Grantham penalty area.

There was no respite after the break as two goals in the first 10 minutes sealed the game for the home side. Jamie McGhee shot well over the top for Grantham before Rey added a second goal for Hednesford. Woolfe delivered another cross after scampering away from his marker. His cross took a deflection and Turner tried to punch over two players. Rey got a touch and looped in a header.

Woolfe delivered a free kick into the Gingerbreads’ penalty area a few minutes later and Turner was all at sea again; this time his defence rescued him.

But there was no rescue on 55 minutes. Harvey was allowed to turn on the edge of the Grantham six-yard box. His shot hit Tommy Hannigan and looped high in the air. With the Grantham defence watching, the ball dropped just inside the post to give Hednesford a three-goal lead.

Turner worked hard to keep the score at three goals. Grantham’s efforts at breaking down the Hednesford defence all came up short. Either an offside flag, a poor cross, or a pass into space rather than to a red shirt meant Crane had an easy afternoon in the Hednesford goal.

The Gingerbreads did not get a shot on target until the first minute of injury time at the end of the game. Even then, when Lewis and Hannigan flicked on a free kick, Hawes’s shot was weak and went straight to Crane.

Grantham Town: Turner, Asher, Meikle, Hannigan, Hawes, Lewis, Watson (McGhee, 45), Nwadike (Elliott, 76), T. J. Nightingale, MacVicar (Troke, 62), Smith. Subs not used: Maddox, Demidh. Att: 463.

Grantham Tennis Club’s weekend started with the men’s winter second team facing a test at home against unbeaten Mapperley on Saturday.

With both teams on 100 per cent records this season, something had to give – and it did in favour of Grantham who won a close match. The team comprised Colin Walton, Adam Bramley, Daniel Mole, Mark Ottey, Nigel Birch and Martin Garrett.

The ladies’ veteran second team travelled to Woodhall Spa where they were defeated 8-0. The Grantham were Pam Aust, Janet Ibberson, Sue Cox and Jo Jones.

On Sunday, the mixed doubles first team lost to David Lloyd Aspley with the team of Richard Cragg, Jackie Wilson, James Drennan, Sophie Fletcher, Simon Cormer and Sue Cox.

The ladies’ winter team comprising Laura Dixon, Liz Stokes, Elaine Pulfree, Rachel Pulfree, Angela Anderson and Lorraine Walton triumphed 58 games to 52 in spring-like conditions over Attenborough.

The ladies’ winter third team faced East Bridgford B at home and enjoyed a close-fought victory. The victors were Jo Carstairs, Sarah Isaac, Claire Marris, Holly Richardson, Jill Pindar and Katy Dines.

Grantham’s second team took on Burton Joyce in the Nottingham Indoor League and won again with the team of Jackie Wilson, Liz Williams, Simon Cormer and Karel Meuwissen. Another victory could see the team with the prospect of promotion.

Grantham Tennis Club’s men’s winter second team are, from left – Nigel Birch, Adam Bramley, Mark Ottey, Colin Walton, Martin Garrett and Daniel Mole.

Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch):

Forest are away to Charlton Athletic tomorrow (Saturday), kick-off 3pm.

Bookings are being taken for away games at Sheffield Wednesday on March 2, 5.20pm, Hull City on March 16, 3pm, and Burnley on April 1, 3pm.

For details contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

As someone who used to drive on the A1 daily, I am no stranger to the tragedies and frustrating delays that accidents can cause.

Lately, it seems that more and more heavy goods vehicles are involved in these accidents.

I would be interested to hear people’s thoughts about whether heavy goods vehicles should be banned from using dual carriageways and motorways during peak times.

Would this reduce the risk of congestion, accidents and loss of life? I’m not sure, but I feel the roads would be a lot safer during these busy periods.

As so many cars use the roads these days, it’s of paramount importance that we ensure the roads are as safe as possible for the people that use them.

I wonder whether HGV drivers are overwhelmed with the amount of driving they have to do and that a ban during peak times would give them a chance to have a break. It seems that lack of concentration or tiredness can often be the cause of accidents.

I’m not suggesting that HGVs are the sole cause of accidents because they’re not, but on the face of it the loser in a collision between a car and an HGV will inevitably be the car because of its size and weight in comparison to the HGV.

The obvious drawback of banning HGVs during peak times is that many supermarkets and retailers use HGVs to deliver their goods across the country.

However I feel it would improve the efficiency of both their logistics and their employees who may use these roads to commute to work.

I’d love to know what your thoughts are: should HGVs be banned from dual carriageways and motorways during peak times?

l What do you think about Alison’s points? E-mail: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

On a miserable February weekend it was a delight to find a cosy little restaurant at Heckington Windmill.

On our first visit there, my family discovered a lot more than we could have hoped, not least the tea rooms which serve a whole range of homemade dishes, cakes and snacks.

The windmill itself is well worth a visit and you can take a guided tour of its five floors. It is the only example of an eight-sailed windmill in the country and it is thought to be one of only three in the world. At the moment the sails are being renovated, but normally the windmill is fully working and making flour which is used in the tea rooms’ dishes.

After a cold, wet and windy, but very interesting tour of the windmill, food and drink in the tea rooms was very welcome.

We all chose the leek and potato soup with mustard seeds, hoping it would warm us up and it did exactly that. It was a meal in itself, very substantial and quite spicy.

The tea rooms put on a daily specials board on which you will find a range of interesting dishes, with, as the website says, a Viennese twist. Among the dishes you will discover are goulashes, grostels and strudels.

On the day we visited we were invited to try a number of cakes made with Heckington Windmill flour which they are intending to put on the menu. We tried sponge cakes, scones, ginger biscuits and fruit cake, all delicious.

The Heckington Windmill Trust recently won a Heritage Lottery Grant of almost £1 million which will be put to use in developing the site and well worthy of it it is too.

While visiting the windmill, don’t miss out on the 8 Sail Brewery next door in the old engine shed in which we were given a tour and explanation of how the beers are made there.

For windmill and tea room opening times and full details ofwhat to do and see go to the website at www.heckingtonwindmill.org.uk

****½

Review by Graham Newton

A Grantham mum-of-three has spoken out after a series of medical blunders meant she had to have her leg amputated.

Lorraine Brewin, 46, of Gannet Court in Grantham has received a six-figure interim payment after errors meant she lost her left leg below the knee.

The pay-out comes as United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust - the authority responsible for Grantham Hospital and Lincoln County Hospital - admitted that inadequate care following a routine operation led to the amputation.

Mrs Brewin told the Journal: “Hopefully they will learn from what’s coming out now. I don’t want to be in public but it’s about making sure what happened to me doesn’t happen to anyone else.

“I don’t want them to go through the same thing I went through. If something changes then it will be worthwhile speaking out.”

In January 2009 Mrs Brewin went to Grantham Hospital for an operation to remove varicose veins.

She underwent the operation in the morning and expected to be discharged in the afternoon only to suffer a dangerous build-up of blood in her leg - called compartment syndrome.

She was eventually transferred to Lincoln County Hospital for further surgery. However, further delays and a lack of physiotherapy meant she had to have her lower leg amputated in January, 2010.

Mrs Brewin said: “The last three years have been the most upsetting and physically painful of my life and the fact that the amputation could so easily have been avoided had I received the right care is something I don’t think I’ll ever get over. Before the surgery I was fit and healthy apart from the varicose veins but I’ve been wheelchair bound ever since.

“My whole life has changed and it took a while for all of us to accept the situation and I often feel that more of me is missing than just my leg. It’s depressing being stuck at home while David is at work full time and I miss working too. I’m in pain and uncomfortable all the time and have terrible nightmares about what I’ve been through.

“I feel like I’ve lost my independence too and although my family help care for me it’s not been easy for any of us.”

Mrs Brewin and husband Dave have received news they will receive a six-figure interim payment to allow the pair to start re-building their lives. The money will be used to buy a new specially-adapted bungalow.

Mrs Brewin said: “It’s a huge relief the settlement has now been agreed because moving into a new, specially-adapted house will be a fresh start for all of us and more suitable for my needs. The family has lived in the same house for 13 years but I can’t manage the stairs on my own and while there’s a toilet downstairs, there are no bathing facilities.

“A new home will help me regain my confidence and independence and make me feel more like the old Lorraine again. I just hope the hospital trust has learnt from their mistakes so other patients don’t have to go through what my family and I have in future.”

Mrs Brewin’s corner has been fought by specialist medical law and patient rights experts at Irwin Mitchell.

Zoe Brodrick from Irwin Mitchell is representing Mrs Brewin in her on-going battle to secure the funds she needs to live as normal a life as possible despite the injuries she has sustained.

She said: “Lorraine is likely to suffer constant pain and discomfort for the rest of her life as a result of the avoidable errors at the hospitals where she received treatment.

“She is reliant on a wheelchair and is facing an ongoing struggle to adapt to her new life as well as coming to terms with the fact that had she received the correct treatment and after care the amputation could so easily have been avoided.

“Despite this Lorraine is relieved the trust has now accepted full responsibility for the failures in her care, though she is frustrated that it has taken three years for them to do so. We hope that lessons have been learnt by the trust to prevent other patients suffering from similar mistakes in the future.”

UPDATE: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised for the standard of care Mrs Brewin received and insist the organisation HAS learnt from the mistakes.

A spokesman said: “United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has apologised to Mrs Brewin for aspects of care she received in January 2009 which did not meet the standards she was entitled to expect.

“The Trust fully investigated the case and over the last four years many steps have been taken to ensure staff receive further training in the rapid escalation of a diagnosis and in responding to changes in a patient’s condition.”

Last year saw the very first GlobalSwimarathon launched right here in Grantham.

It was a tremendous success with a Guinness World Record 4,546 people taking part around the world simultaneously, raising more than £65,000 to help eradicate polio worldwide.

This year’s event will be on Saturday, February 23 - Rotary Day.

The Journal spoke to Rotarian Paul Wilson who has been communicating with clubs worldwide in his role as social media co-ordinator.

How did the GlobalSwimarathon come about?

The idea came about in late 2010 we started working on it in April 2011, trying to get clubs around the world

involved.

It was quite an ambitious idea, wasn’t it?

The first time it was mentioned everyone laughed and the first time I mentioned using social media to get all these clubs around the world involved I had the same

reaction. But it actually proved a brilliant way to communicate with clubs.

You have taken on the social media mantle. What’s your social media background?

I joined Rotary in 2011 and quit my job in 2012. I have worked in IT but I was convinced that this was the direction for me so I’m now a social media consultant on the back of the work with the swimarathon.

Logistically it must be very difficult to organise an event on six different continents...

Yes it is. We’ve got messages coming in around the clock - especially now we are getting to the sharp end. Last year everything was done around the world at the same time to go for the record but this year it is all happening on Rotary Day on February 23 around the world. We have filled every hour of the 24-hour UK time. We know that for 24 hours someone, somewhere around the world will be swimming in the event. What’s unbelievable for me is all the trouble in Egypt yet there are 12 clubs in Cairo taking part.

The event is only in its second year. Are you aiming to make it bigger each year?

We want to make it as big an event as we can to raise as much money as we can. This year there are twice as many countries involved and last year we raised £66,000. There is every chance we could get close to £200,000, maybe even £250,000. That translates to half-a-million children getting an immunisation. It’s quite hard to communicate to people just how big this event is and yet it doesn’t cost us anything to run - not a penny.

And it has all come from Grantham. Does that make you proud?

Absolutely. I think it’s amazing and we should all be proud. There was a little boy from India on the front page of the Journal last year and he has been in touch on Facebook. He is India’s youngest paralympian but he said his ambition isn’t to get to the paralympics, it’s to come and swim in Grantham. Hopefully one day we can make the arrangements, maybe even next year for the 25th anniversary of the RotarySwimarathon. That would be amazing because he symbolises everything.

Who can take part?

Anyone. Just turn up and bring your kit between 10am and noon and you can swim. All we ask is a £2.50 donation.

A body has been found by police searching for a 55-year-old Grantham woman reported missing earlier today.

Police are unable to confirm the identity of the person at this time but say they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Earlier today Lincolnshire Police released an appeal for help finding Alexandra Dryburgh who went missing from her home in Belton Grove yesterday.

-------------------

Alexandra Dryburgh, 55, left her home in Belton Grove, Grantham, at around midday yesterday after saying she was going for a walk.

Police say this type of behaviour is extremely out of character for Mrs Dryburgh and they and her family are becoming increasingly concerned for her safety.

Mrs Dryburgh is described as white, around 5ft 1in tall and of medium build. She has hazel eyes and shoulder-length blonde/grey hair.

She was last seen wearing a green v-neck sweater and dark grey jeans with a short double-breasted black coat.

She is known to like walking in Queen Elizabeth Park, off Belton Lane in Grantham and could be in that area.

Police are appealing for her to go to her nearest police station or to call the police on 101 or 999 as soon as possible to let people know she is safe and well.

Officers are also asking anyone who sees her to get in touch with them as soon as possible via the 101 number.

A Grantham academies trust is one of only seven from across the country to be told it is under-performing and must buck up its ideas.

The West Grantham Academies Trust has received a “pre-warning” letter from the Department for Education, with ministers demanding urgent action to bring about substantial improvements, or they will receive a warning notice. If improvement does not follow after that, further action could be taken.

Secondary schools within the trust are St Hugh’s in Grantham and Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen.

The DfE said eight academies were sent similar letters last year and “largely responded extremely well to the challenge”. It is expected that the West Grantham Academies Trust and others follow suit.

A DfE spokesman said: “The majority of sponsored academies are thriving under great leadership. Their GCSE results are improving at five times the rate of other state-funded schools.

“Sponsored academies took over schools that were consistently under-performing which can take time to reverse.

“But results in a minority of sponsored academies remain stubbornly low. We will not tolerate long-term under-performance in any school – including in an academy.

“As with maintained schools, if these academies do not make the progress we expect, we will take further action. This may result in a change to the sponsorship arrangements.”

A fire which began at a recycling plant near Grantham overnight continues to burn this morning.

Road closures are in place to keep traffic away from Mid UK Recycling on Barkston Heath, near Ancaster.

The A153 Willoughby Road in Ancaster is closed in both directions at the High Dike junction. Ermine Street is also affected by road closures. Diversions are in place.

More to follow.

UPDATE: The A153 is closed between Honington and Sleaford.

The High Dyke is closed between the Old Somerby roundabout and the junction with the A17.

Drivers are being urged to use their local knowledge to find alternative routes.

The reason for the wide closure is that there are various fire engines in the road and cars would not be able to get by.

* Have you passed the fire today? Did you take any photos? E-mail them to us by clicking on the link above.

Perfect weather for the latest Witham Wheelers reliability ride encouraged 39 riders to tackle a rolling 64-mile route taking in Castle Bytham, Witham on the Hill, Edenham, Heckington and back via Londonthorpe.

After several weeks of poor weather, fitness levels varied but all groups kept together well. First on the road were on schedule at an average 15.4mph with special mention going to Tony Hardenberg, Suzanne Holdsworth and D. Winthorpe who persevered to finish despite becoming detached from the main group.

The second group was the biggest with 21 riders, however a couple of punctures halfway round caused them to split with most riders finishing in either 17.5mph or 18.2 mph average, with a few struggling on the run-in as the distance began to take its toll.

The third group, with only six riders, had a good workout, splitting on the run back into Grantham but all finishing around the 20mph average.

There was also a separate group which took on a less ambitious route but had a really enjoyable ride of 34 miles at around 14.3mph.

This Sunday is a hilly but scenic route via Melton, Tilton-on-the Hill and Oakham. First group to tackle the full route leaves at 8.45 from the Cricket Club in Gorse Lane. There will also be a shorter route leaving at 9.15am which is suitable for the more inexperienced rider.

East League Division 5

North (West)

St Ives 4th 3

Grantham 1

A strong Grantham side arrived in St Ives confident of doing the double over their opponents, having won 1-0 in the reverse fixture, but came away disappointed.

Both sides started brightly in an end-to-end early period of the match. However, given increasingly more time on the ball and with their players beginning to find space down the flanks, St Ives took the lead and repeated their goal-scoring feat shortly after.

Shell-shocked by their inability to get a foothold in the game, Grantham stumbled to the half time whistle. Improvement in the second half saw fresh attacking impetus for a few moments, but most of the second half followed the pattern of the first.

The home side capitalised on an unfortunate Grantham clearance and a forward converted high into the roof of the net.

Grantham’s only moment of quality came in the final 30 seconds when David Braunton played a glorious, defence-splitting diagonal to free skipper Benjie Groom who sprinted clear, before drawing the opposition keeper and slotting inside the far post.

For his excellent work on the left, Will Hill was named as Specsavers man of the match.

Grantham: Leadenham, Richardson, Wraith, J. Hill, Johnson, W. Hill, Gray, MacAllister, Braunton, Nix, Groom.

Goalkeeping legend Bob Wilson OBE will be appearing at Stubton Hall on Friday, March 15.

The former Arsenal and Scotland number one will be talking about his life as a footballer and popular television presenter at an event organised by anti-wind farm group re-VOLT.

The event starts at 7.15pm. Tickets are available through the reVOLT website at www.re-volt.co.uk

Funds are being raised by the group which opposes the proposed wind farm at Temple Hill, near Brandon and Stubton.

Tickets £25 and include a light supper.

A district councillor is calling for a future stopping point for rail passengers at Poplar Farm to allow people living in the yet-to-be-built new homes the chance to commute to cities including London.

Great Gonerby councillor Jeff Thompson, an independent, has written to South Kesteven District Council outlining his suggestion.

He says: “I don’t care how much employment provision is forthcoming, the fact remains that many occupiers of new properties at Poplar Farm, as well as existing ones at Gonerby Hill Foot, will commute to London or one of the aforementioned destinations (e.g. Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Manchester, Liverpool).

“I remain, therefore, of the strong opinion that we must allow for the provision, possibly at some future juncture, of a facility to allow passengers to board a train at Poplar Farm; it makes absolutely no sense that they get into their cars to travel to Grantham station in order to do precisely that – and believe me they certainly will.

“The way I see it, we are not speaking of a station here, simply a warm and pleasant waiting room with some cycle and car parking. I know that this is possible as I well remember loading potatoes bound for the Rhine Army onto rail trucks at a siding in precisely that location.”

It is clear from Coun Thompson’s letter that he has raised the idea in the past but fears he has “not been taken too seriously”.

Here is Coun Thompson’s letter in full:

The article in The Sunday Times really does emphasise the importance of allowing for the future provision of a rail passenger facility to be incorporated in the development plans at Poplar Farm.

Karen is aware that I have been beating the drum about this for a considerable length of time, yet I sometimes believe that as a lifelong rail supporter and enthusiast, I have not been taken too seriously!

This site is blessed with the close proximity of a railway which terminates at Grantham to the south, and on to Nottingham, Sheffield, Derby, Manchester, Liverpool and many other difficult to access cross-country destinations; it also passes the ever growing Vantage Park and Downtown at Gonerby Moor on its way to Sleaford, Boston and Skegness to the east and west.

So important is this line considered to be, that LCC and others have invested considerable funding into what it calls the “Poacher Line”; not least of all a whole new section of “anti - Beeching” track known as the Allington Chord opened in 2005 to allow this coastal traffic to access Grantham without having to use the short stretch of the East Coast Main Line from Barkston to Grantham.

I don’t care how much employment provision is forthcoming, the fact remains that many occupiers of new properties at Poplar Farm, as well as existing ones at Gonerby Hill Foot, will commute to London or one of the aforementioned destinations.

I remain, therefore, of the strong opinion that we must allow for the provision, possibly at some future juncture, of a facility to allow passengers to board a train at Poplar Farm; it makes absolutely no sense that they get into their cars to travel to Grantham station in order to do precisely that – and believe me they certainly will.

The way I see it, we are not speaking of a station here, simply a warm and pleasant waiting room with some cycle and car parking. I know that this is possible as I well remember loading potatoes bound for the Rhine Army onto rail trucks at a siding in precisely that location.

I do assure you that I am very serious about this as once the area becomes shrouded in tarmac, concrete and brickwork this unique opportunity will be lost forever.

Coun Jeff Thompson

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF COUN THOMPSON’S PROPOSAL? E-MAIL: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

Two fighters from Brown’s Boxing Gym will be in “white collar boxing” action at Dudley in the West Midlands on Saturday night (February 23).

Grantham boxers Mickey Blackburn and Mick Fleming both train at the Willow Lane gym, off Harlaxton Road, run by Russ Brown and sponsored by Grantham Clothing Company.

Thirty-nine-year-old Mickey’s bout is a British Boxing Union light-middleweight English title fight.

Russ was sure his charge was up to the challenge: “We are confident we are going to win the title.”

Mick, 36, will contest a BBU lightweight Midlands area title eliminator bout.

Pictured are Mickey Blackburn (left) and Mick Fleming. Photo: 977C

Westgate’s make-over is now complete.

The final touch to the Grantham town centre area is the installation of trees.

Five are chanticleer pear trees, a tough species suited to street locations, while the sixth will be a common alder. This is yet to be planted, near to the Guildhall Street junction.

It was chosen as that particular spot requires a tree which can better handle increased drainage.

An incredible event organised in Grantham but involving people across the globe will take place on Saturday.

The second Rotary Global Swimarathon will see more than 15,000 swimmers taking part in more than 250 swimarathons across the world - all to raise money for Rotary’s End Polio now campaign and other good causes.

The event is organised by the Rotary Club of Grantham and worldwide the event is expected to raise more than £200,000. This week the event already passed the $5,000 mark through online contributions and two events held early.

Organiser Paul Wilson said: “Worldwide the event is expected to raise over £200,000 for End Polio Now and is the biggest same day event ever staged by Rotary International as well as being the biggest same day annual swim ever.”

The Grantham event will be held at the Meres Leisure Centre from 10am until noon on Saturday. You can just turn up on the day and swim for a minimum donation of £2.50.

The special guest at the Grantham event will be Paralympian Fran Williamson. Bring your camera along and you can have your photograph taken with Fran, the Olympic Torch and the official Rotary Global Swimarathon World Record Certificate from last year’s event.

Donate at www.justgiving.com/rotaryclubgrantham

Advertising feature

Treat mum to a very special treat this Mother’s Day with a meal out at the Olde Barn Hotel in Marston.

As passionate members and winners of Tastes of Lincolnshire, the hotel sources its food from the best locally grown or produced ingredients. It has an atmospheric restaurant with a fixed price evening menu and a popular Sunday lunch carvery. The traditional bar offers a varied selection of dishes to suit most tastes and budgets with bar snacks starting from just £3.95.

Or perhaps a gift voucher could be that extra special gift. The hotel offers a range of beauty treatments and pampering and currently has a Mother’s Day gift voucher available consisting of an Indian head massage and facial for just £35.

The Olde Barn Hotel is conveniently located just one minute off the A1. A converted farmstead, it maintains much of its original charm and character whilst providing the convenience of modern facilities.

It has 101 well equipped bedrooms, including executive suites with four poster beds and jacuzzi baths and specially designed rooms for guests with disabilities.

The hotel also has two function suites and is a popular venue for family parties and weddings, and has seen an increase in weddings since introducing their popular £1,000 wedding package.