As the exiled son of one of the large Grantham families of the period 1930s/’40s, I wonder if I may be allowed a few thoughts on the subject that seems to be dividing the town, namely the desirability or otherwise of a statue to Mrs Thatcher.

While stating the obvious, that she would have had no part whatsoever in the dubious practices of MPs uncovered in recent years, it cannot be denied that the respect and faith in our MPs of all parties by us, the general public, is at an all time low. If indeed non-existent, as witness the two recent cases where MPs were forced to resign after both were found to have lied after initially denying the offence for which they were later found guilty. As I understand it, there is already a tablet affixed to the house where Mrs Thatcher lived. If that is so, then I really do think the good citizens of Grantham should, in the words of that song by Beatle Paul McCartney, “Let it Be, Let it Be”.

Jim Stevens

Peterborough

Grantham classic motorcycle racer Jason Dixon returned to action for the start of the Thundersport GB Golden Era race series at Brands Hatch over the weekend.

The weekend started poorly with a flooded test day on Friday necessitating a full wet tyre set-up.

With the electronic timing transponder not functioning, Saturday’s qualifying was timed on a traditional watch and Jason was stunned to only be 20th quickest.

Positioned in the middle of the 38-rider grid for race one, he hooked up his classic 2003 Aprilia RSV Mille-R Colin Edwards Replica well off the start line and made up a few places into Paddock Hill bend. He slowly picked off riders and crossed the finish line in a commendable fourth place.

Jason and his team opted for a wet front and dry rear tyre for race two – which proved to be the wrong decision. Jason said: “As hard as I tried, the rear tyre would not grip so after four laps I decided to pull in before I crashed.”

Sunday two races were both recorded for television and once again conditions were not good. With a very wet track, the team took no chances and selected a full wet set-up for the first race of the day.

Jason started in a promoted grid position of 11th and enjoyed a tremendous start to get up to fifth after a couple of bends.

He soon realised he had the pace to run with the race leaders and settled into third, before slotting in behind race leader Craig Geoff. However, the race was decided by slower riders on the track.

Jason said: “Craig disposed of the back markers much easier than I did and got enough of a gap to win.”

Jason’s race was still not over and he lost his runners-up spot after he made a small mistake round Druids, finally crossing the finish line in third.

Jason’s big, torquey 1,000cc Aprilia got bogged down at the start of race two and it took a while for the Grantham rider to reel in the field, but he still managed a creditable sixth place to end the weekend on a high.

He said: “A big thank you must go to team Dixon for preparing a great bike.” Jason also expressed thanks to his sponsors Treads To Go, R. P. Motorsport and Browny’s Boxing Gym.

Jason’s two Sunday races are due to be televised by Motors TV on Thursday (March 28) at 9.30pm.

He will be back in classic bike action for rounds three and four of the race series at Donington Park over the Easter weekend.

Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch):

Forest have no game on Saturday.

Bookings are being taken for away games at Burnley on April 1, kick-off 3pm, Cardiff City on April 13, kick-off 3pm, Middlesbrough on April 16, kick-off 7.45pm, and Millwall on April 27, kick-off 3pm.

For details contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

Grantham Town Supporters’ Club lotto (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners for March 16 draw.

£200 – 601 J. Barnes; £10 – 802 T. Lawson; £5 – 316 J. Quinn, 130 P. Eaton, 655 M. Trafford, 575 V. Barrand, 744 J. West, 104 S. Jackson.

Grantham Town joint manager Gary Sucharewycz says his side have not given up following another disappointing defeat against AFC Fylde on Saturday.

Despite the loss, Sucharewycz said the Gingerbreads’ “work ethic” was good.

He said: “Last Saturday again came down to individual errors. It was a good overall effort from everyone and over the remaining games, that is what is needed.

“We have got the right attitude within the team. I have been involved in teams at this stage of the season before when everyone has given up. There is none of that at Grantham.”

Today’s (Saturday) game at fellow strugglers Stocksbridge Park Steels could be under threat with more snow forecast for the weekend.

Kallum Smith is fully fit but Deon Meikle is seeing specialist for his hamstring problems.

THURSDAY DOUBLES

Results (week 11): Kanada St 6 4 Cobblers, Smokey Mountain Duo 10 Giraffes 0, Cool Runnings 10 Lavender Hill Mob 0, Spare Parts 3 Old Codgers 7, New Venture 2 Revrite 8, Jetsetters 5 Last Resort 5; female – HGS 179 Magdalene Leicester, HGH 235 Magdalene Leicester, HSS 451 Julie Newman, HSH 615 Magdalene Leicester; male – HGS 237 Gregg Ross, HGH 274 Gregg Ross, HSS 606 Gregg Ross, HSH 717 Gregg Ross; team – HGS 424 Cool Runnings, HGH 506 Cool Runnings, HSS 1118 Cool Runnings, HSH 1364 Cool Runnings.

Positions: 1 Smokey Mountain Duo 93pt, 2 Revrite 75, 3 Cool Runnings 65, 4 Last Resort 61, 5 Old Codgers 61, 6 Giraffes 60, 7 Cobblers 59, 8 Kanada St 57, 9 Jetsetters 43, 10 New Venture 32, 11 Lavender Hill Mob 31, 12 Spare Parts 23.

MARREN TILES TRIOS

Results (week 30): Grumpy Old Men 6 Team Powerplay 5, 9ers 1 Crafty Foxes 10, Magic Weasels 2 Oddsods 9.

Highs: female – HGS 174 Jackie Dickson, HGH 210 Jackie Dickson, HSS 487 Jackie Dickson, HGH 595 Jackie Dickson; male – HGS 230 Stephen Speechley, HGH 266 Stephen Speechley, HSS 602 Stephen Speechley, HSH 710 Stephen Speechley; team – GS 603 Team Powerplay, HGH 690 Team Powerplay, HSS 1580 Team Powerplay, HSH 1841 Team Powerplay.

Positions: 1 Team Powerplay 184, 2 Grumpy Old Men 170½, 3 Team Bar 162, 4 Magic Weasels 145, 5 Crafty Foxes 126, 6 Oddsods 114½, 79ers 88.

Witham Wheelers’ early season time trialists battled wet and windy weather in the LRRA 25-mile event at Saxilby on Sunday.

Despite the difficult conditions throughout, Chris Carter took 12th place in 1hr 2min 2sec and James Carter was fastest juvenile in 1.08.49.

Also riding were Martin Hedley 1.04.01, Bill Harrison 1.07.16, Chris Crawford 1.07.47, Tony Hardenberg 1.11.21 and Dave Herd 1.11.56.

l There was a good turnout of Wheelers for the second round of circuit races at Darley Moor, near Ashbourne, on Saturday.

Junior Harry Browning sprinted to third place overall in the third category race, with Paul Conneely taking a top 10 finish and Chris Carter just outside the top 20.

The under-16 juvenile race also went down to a bunch sprint with Reece Egner, Karl Baillie and James Carter just missing out on top 10 finishes. Adam Egner rode well in the under-14s but missed out on a top placing.

Peter Cocker (Forme Racing) contested the elite race and worked in a supporting team role, after a team-mate got in the early breakaway, and finished around 20th in the final sprint.

l Twenty-six Wheelers set off on the club’s latest reliability ride on Sunday morning.

The hilly 60-mile route was made worse by rain around half distance that then turned to snow, with some riders calling it a day before the finish. The ride took in 13 hills including ones at Branston, Harby, Long Clawson, Stathern, Terrace, Woolsthorpe and Denton.

This Sunday’s ride is a 100-mile route to Rockingham and back. Visit www.withamwheelers.co.uk for details

The latest phase in the construction of Grantham’s Priory Ruskin Academy, in Rushcliffe Road, has just been completed.

On March 14, the student council, members of staff and coun Ray Wootten visited the construction site for the new building.

A spokesman said: “As part of the process of engaging the students with the new build they were asked to sign the first length of steel that had been put in place.”

The academy is currently split between two sites but once the £13.5 million school has been constructed it will be on one site, accommodating around 1,200 pupils.

The build had originally been scheduled for completion by September this year but was delayed until February 2014 due to planning issues between the school and neighbours.

A table top sale will support Help for Heroes on Saturday, March 30.

The sale at Fulbeck Village Hall will be accompanied by the Grantham Ukelele Club, who will play throughout the day, and Veronica on saxophone.

The sale will include crafts, refreshments, cakes and a raffle. Anybody who would like to book a table at the sale can call Liz on 01476 594562. It costs £5 per table.

The sale takes place from 10am to 4pm.

A party of heads and senior teachers from across Russia visited the National Junior School in Grantham and Harrowby Church of England Infant School.

The group, who hailed from areas such as Siberia and the Urals, won a competition arranged by the Eureka Institute of Moscow, which organises training and in-service courses for teachers throughout the 50 regions of the country.

The party stayed in Lincoln for four days and also visited local secondary schools, the Bishop’s Palace and the cathedral. They also spent several days sightseeing in London before flying back to Moscow.

A Grantham driver has had his claim for pothole damage to his car rejected by the county council.

The motorist, who does not wish to be named, had to get a wheel replaced after it was damaged when he hit a pothole in Hill Avenue, Grantham, in February. When he contacted the council he was sent a claim form and filled it in. But this week he received a letter from the council to say it was not responsible for the damage to his car.

The driver told the Journal: “I am upset about it. I think I had a good case. I would have thought they were responsible and I am in the right. They should have to compensate anybody who has suffered damage.”

In the letter, Mark Holroyde, Executive Director of Resources and Community Safety, said the council would not accept liability for the incident. Mr Holroyde said: “The council is the Highway Authority and therefore it has a duty to maintain Hill Avenue, Grantham, in a safe condition and will rely on the statutory defence provided by Section 58 of the Highways Act 1980. This part of the Act provides the council with a defence to claims if it can show that it has in place reasonable maintenance policies and inspection systems. The council contends that it has such policies and systems in place.”

Mr Holroyde added: “I am advised that there have been no other reported incidents or complaints regarding the incident location in the period of 12 months prior to your incident.”

After the incident was reported a red cone was placed in the pothole, but a few days later it disappeared. The Journal was told that a week later told the hole “was repaired in a fashion”.

See today’s Journal for our front page report on road users’ demands for action to be taken on Grantham’s potholes.

What do you think of the council’s response? Have you suffered damage as a result of hitting a pothole in Grantham? Leave a comment here, on our Facebook page or contact graham.newton@granthamjournal.co.uk

A decision on the future of the region’s ambulance service is due on Monday morning.

The East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) trust board is due to meet in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, to make its final decision on its Being the Best consultation. This details a radical change to the way the service operates, in part replacing all ambulance stations with area hubs and stand-by points.

Meanwhile, Lincolnshire’s health scrutiny committee has said it will write to the Secretary of State to ask for EMAS’s “flawed” consultation to be reviewed – with the committee’s ultimate goal being a return to a dedicated ambulance service for the county.

The decision to write to the Government was made at its meeting on Wednesday after the committee expressed concerns over EMAS’s recent consultation process and its ambulance response times.

Councillor Christine Talbot, committee chairman, said: “On behalf of all residents in Lincolnshire – who deserve, and are not receiving the best response times from their ambulance service – the health scrutiny committee for Lincolnshire has today decided to ask the Secretary of State to review EMAS’s consultation.

“We believe the consultation is flawed; key parties were not invited to comment, new options not consulted on, and both public and stakeholder events poorly attended.

“Despite the goalposts changing, and new options being introduced at the 11th hour, EMAS’ proposals still entirely fail to address how they will start meeting response time targets for our county.

“EMAS has not met targets for the last 21 months in Lincolnshire and this isn’t good enough. It is not acceptable for voluntary organisations such as LIVES and other emergency services, who make a valuable contribution to response times, to prop up the ambulance service.

“The committee therefore has no confidence that EMAS’ pledge of ‘Being the Best’ will happen in Lincolnshire without considerable extra financing and will therefore be referring the matter to the Secretary of State. Our ultimate goal is to return a dedicated ambulance service to the county.”

At the same meeting, the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) was quizzed about its death rate figures being higher than expected.

Coun Talbot said: “The complex way that death rate figures are compiled do not tell the whole story and we need to separate avoidable deaths and causes in ULHT’s control from unavoidable deaths and local circumstances which they cannot influence. This will determine if any changes need to be made and the committee was reassured by ULHT’s determination to review and understand this data – and make changes if required.

“The data does not take into account Lincolnshire’s higher elderly population and it was also noted that a number of patients who would previously have been treated in Nottinghamshire have been coming to our county following changes at Newark A&E.

“That said, we believe significant progress has been made in identifying the issues.

“We asked for reassurances on nursing staff levels and were pleased to hear that an ongoing review is a ‘key element’ of their improvement programme. The committee hopes that, if needs are identified, sufficient funding will be made available. We also asked how minimising infections were being dealt with, and whether other demographic pressures can be managed.

“Our county’s residents deserve to have the confidence that they will receive the best possible care. We want to know that the right people are picking up on the indicators, and trigger points, as quickly as possible so issues are brought to light and addressed. The Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire will therefore continue to watch this situation closely on behalf of the county’s residents and have asked ULHT to return in September.”

Heavy snow continues to cause problems on the roads in Grantham and surrounding areas.

Police have reported a jackknifed lorry on Occupation Road, Gonerby, this morning and the road blocked. They are also saying traffic is being prevented from going up Harrowby Hill, but is travelling down at the moment.

Police are warning motorists not to go out in their cars unless absolutely necessary.

Grantham Town’s match at Stocksbridge Park Steels is postponed.

Thanks to the person who removed the flowers from my mother’s grave which I placed there for Mother’s Day.

I put them there on the Friday and when we visited on Sunday, somebody had taken them.

What would their mother have thought if the person had taken them to put on her grave?

I had to dash around on Sunday to find some more.

What you did really spoilt my day.

Mr D. Baker

Saltersford Road, Grantham

I have to write in disgust at the organisers who were involved in the scoring process for the under-9s group in Grantham Athletics competition held at The Meres Leisure Centre on Sunday, March 10.

After the competition had been completed, the organisers announced the results and awarded the prizes accordingly. However, during the process they announced that there was a glitch and some of the results may have to be altered and prizes changed accordingly.

So they awarded all the certificates and medals and first place trophy, then afterwards called the under-9 competitors who had received prizes back and then reshuffled the awards. This resulted in the first place girl having her trophy and medal revoked and demoted to third place. One girl dropped out of the top six altogether and one girl was demoted from fourth to sixth place.

The disappointment was plain to see and the girls responded with a professional and mature attitude. I find that amazing after the cruelty meted out by the organisers.

These girls had been proud to receive their awards after months and months of hard work, only to have the embarrassment of having these altered in front of family, friends and well-wishers.

The organisers should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves and at the very least should apologise unreservedly to every competitor. I was ashamed to witness this lack of professionalism and was really upset at the despair of the girls who showed fantastic sportsmanship and took the disappointment extremely well. They were a credit to their sport, family and tutors.

Let’s hope next year we see the same professionalism from the organisers or, better still, a new organising team altogether.

Well done girls, Grantham is proud of you all!

Stephen Whyles

Walton Gardens, Grantham

On Monday evening I had the privilege of attending the Rock Challenge as president of the Rotary Club of Grantham, through our Rotary Swimarathon sponsorship of youth. I witnessed what can only be described as a truly inspirational evening.

Something we Granthamians should be so proud of is our Grantham and District students, both junior and senior.

The standards were as high as any West End show and worthy of all the awards received.

We often associate all young people with a handful of anti-social and disrespectful individuals, but we in Grantham Rotary believe in our young people and will support them whenever we can.

If the students performing on Monday evening, exhibiting talent, dedication and teamwork are our future, then we are certainly in safe and competent hands.

Irvin Metcalf

President,

The Rotary Club of Grantham

Thanks to the supermarkets and shoppers in Grantham for supporting us over the past 12 months in raising funds for a trip to Uganda.

Unfortunately, due to a change in circumstances in Uganda, this trip can no longer go ahead. A small group of guides will be going on a similar service trip later this year and the unit will plan another trip in the future.

Teresa Patchett

Unit Guider, Senior Section

I would like to thank all the very kind people who assisted me when I felt unwell while in Dysart Road, near the traffic lights outside PC World on Thursday morning, March 7.

The ambulance crew were so kind, as were the staff and lady doctor at the A&E department, who attended to me.

Fortunately, after a few tests, I was able to return home.

Mrs S. Pontin

Address supplied

I would like to sincerely thank those who signed the petition regarding the town’s ambulance station - you deserve all our thanks.

This proves the pen is mightier than the sword.

Talking of swords, it was great news to hear that Grantham’s Prince William of Gloucester Barracks will have new life blown into it, which can only be good news for our town.

There must have been a major dilemma within Nick Boles’ head on which of the good news to use in his ‘piece’ in our Journal (March 8), regardless of its prosaic level, that would accrue him the most publicity.

Our Nick is a political town crier of the highest order and I have decided he should be elected to the High Chamber of the highly secretive Post Turtles Club.

What, I hear you ask is a Post Turtle? Did you not know, most politicians are ... Post Turtles.

Well, when you’re driving down a massively pot-holed road in Grantham, and you come across a fence post with a turtle balance on top, that’s a Post Turtle.

Still puzzled? Let me explain.Well you know for sure that it didn’t get up there by itself, it doesn’t belong up there, it doesn’t know what to do while it’s up there, it’s elevated beyond it’s ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of person puts it up there in the first place.

So, there you have it.

Roy Coldham

Peascliffe Drive, Grantham

Avid collector Dave Morgan opened Time Machine Records in Westgate, Grantham, in 1986.

Previously he ran Airwave Music in Castlegate, when music fans had three other specialist shops in town to choose from.

Dave, who is 64 and married to Helena, went to the Charles Read School at Corby Glen and did a craft apprenticeship at the Grantham Journal.

Dave says his favourite artists to collect are The Everly Brothers.

His love of music was shaped by his father Danny playing 78s by Fats Domino and Little Richard.

Dave was born in Manchester and at the age of four moved to Ropsley, where he lives today.

A model made by Dave of the High Street in the 1950s is on display in the town museum.

Time Machine sells a wide range of vinyl and CD records and the shop is lined with colourful items from Dave’s collection.

He says vinyl is enjoying a resurgence, especially among young people.

The shop is open most days until noon and every Saturday.

Caricature by Terry Shelbourne