Star of Grantham and District Darts League’s awards night was Angie Emms who scooped seven trophies on the night.

Angie collected awards for Ladies’ A League winner, Ladies’ A Team Knockout winner, Ladies’ A Singles winner, Mixed Pairs winner, Ladies’ A Doubles runner-up, Ladies’ A 180 Trophy, and Highest Score in a Final.

Royal Queen A retained the A League winner’s title for the fifth consecutive year.

The awards presentation was held at the Westgate Club with prizes presented by president of Lincolnshire County Darts Organisation John Stanton. MC for the evening was Dave Pearsoon and Pip Leadenham scored matches all night.

Awards, Competition Play: Men’s A and B League Doubles - 1 M. Parke and K. Baker (Billiard Club), 2 K. Bristow and L. Humphries (Woolsthorpe Club); Men’s C and D League Doubles - 1 A. Haynes and D. Greengrass (Stag), 2 M. Haynes and E. Freestone (Grantham FC B); Mixed Pairs - 1 A. Emms and R. Selby (Three Gables), 2 L, Jackson and D. Virden (Westgate Club); Ladies’ A League Doubles - 1 M. Jones and A. Dodwell (Three Gables A), 2 A. Emms and A. Hardy (Three Gables C); Ladies’ B League Doubles - 1 J. Reece and R. Turner (Railway B), 2 A. Brocklesby and S. Lawson (Three Gables B); Men’s A and B League Singles - 1 A. Preston (Royal Queen B), 2 B. Harrison (Gonerby A); Men’s C and D. League Singles - 1 B. Thorpe (Ropsley Fox), 2 J. Webster (Electric Club); Ladies’ A League Singles - 1 A. Emms (Three Gables C), 2 E. Prince (Three Gables A); Ladies’ B League Singles - 1 R. Turner (Railway B), 2 A. Dowsett (Railway B).

Competition Presentation: Mixed Fours - 1 Westgate Club, 2 Gonerby Club; Mixed Sixes - 1 Three Gables, 2 Railway Club; Men’s A and B League Team Knockout - 1 Royal Queen A, 2 Harrowby FC; Men’s C and D Team Knockout - 1 Hunters C, 2 Stagger; Ladies A League Team Knockout - 1 Three Gables C, 2 Westgate Club; Ladies’ B League Team Knockout - 1 Colsterworth Club, 2 Railway C.

Highest Score in a Final: ladies’ - 140 A. Emms; men’s - 180 J. Baker.

180 Winners: Ladies’ A League - A. Emms, M. McInnes, A. Dodwell (Three Gables), C. Johnson (Stagger), J. Smith (Electric Club); Ladies’ B League - J. Drury (Electric Club A), T. Wesson (Royal Queen A); Men’s A League - 3 A. Preston (Royal Queen B); Men’s B League - 2 I. Mann (Springfield A); Men’s C League - 3 B. Thorpe (Ropsley Fox); Men’s D League - M. Glover, J. Baxter (Castlegate), C. Nicholson, S. Foster (Electric E), J. Wacey (Grantham FC B), P. Bennett (White Lion), J. Brompton (Three Gables B), B. Newcombe (Hunters B).

League Presentations: Men’s A League - 1 Royal Queen A, 2 Gonerby Club A; Men’s B League - 1 Billiard Club A, 2 Billiard Club B; Men’s C League - 1 Stagger, 2 Hunters C; Men’s D League - 1 Three Gables A, 2 Kings Hotel; Ladies’ A League - 1 Three Gables C, 2 Westgate Club; Ladies’ B League - 1 Railway B, 2 Railway C.

Highest finishes: Ladies’ A League - 117 W. Short (Westgate Club); Ladies’ B League - 90 C. Charnock (Railway C); Men’s A League - 160 K. Bristow (Woolsthorpe Club); Men’s B League - 152 S. Gurd (Electric B); Men’s C League - 130 D. Pinchbeck (Stagger); Men’s D League - 127 J. Hill (Hunters B).

More than 1,600 homes in Grantham and South Witham will soon have their black and silver bins emptied on a different day.

And everyone in the South Kesteven District Council area now needs to have their bins ready for collection by 7.30am as collection times will almost certainly vary.

From Monday July 1 homes on Grantham’s Sunningdale Estate, Victoria Street, Stamford Street and Edward Street will see their collection day change as will residents in parts of South Witham. South Kesteven District Council’s portfolio holder for healthy environment, Coun John Smith said: “Our district is growing, and to help us cope with the increased demand for our services and to make the most efficient use of our vehicles and fuel, our waste and recycling rounds have been restructured.

“This means that some homes will have their bins emptied on a different day. We have worked hard to keep the number of properties affected to an absolute minimum and everyone who is affected has been individually notified by post.”

Anyone who is uncertain whether their collection day is changing should either visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk/binday or call (01476) 406279.

Cllr Smith added: “The vast majority of people in the district will not be affected – the changes only relate to 1,600 homes out of almost 61,000 properties in South Kesteven.

“But the thing that will affect everyone is that bins must be presented for collection by 7.30am because the restructuring of the rounds to maximise efficiency does mean that the times our crews visit properties may be very different from the times people are used to.

“My message is clear: Have your bin out by 7.30am and we will do the rest.”

Garden waste green bin collections are not affected by the changes.

A cadet from Grantham’s 47F Squadron Air Training Corps took to the skies at the weekend as the RAF celebrated the Queen’s birthday.

Tom Joseph, 17, of Sunningdale in Grantham was one of around 50 cadets from across the country who were given a place on one of the aircraft taking part in the royal fly-past of Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

At 1pm a formation of 30 aircraft, led by Chinook and Merlin helicopters flew down the Mall and over Buckingham Palace to mark the end of the Queen’s birthday parade.

Millions watched on TV but we caught up with Tom this week to find out what it was like from the air and to hear how his fellow passengers reacted.

** How did the opportunity come about?

I was asked, and told to be outside at 5am! But I was pleased to get the chance. I’m not the type of person who usually gets recognised. I’m usually in the background.

** Was there any jealousy from other cadets?

Not really. Everyone was just pleased for me. There’s always going to be a bit of jealousy but, if anything, they would like to be given the chance. I remember once missing out on a trip to Gibraltar and feeling jealous but it also gave me something to aspire to. I wanted to do the same thing.

** How did the day begin for you?

We went outside at about 5.45am and then we went to pick up other cadets from around the region. We then went to RAF Brize Norton and were processed and checked to make sure we were okay to fly. There was quite a lot of waiting time.

** Which plane did you fly in?

We were either going to be going on the Voyager or the VC-10 - I’d been on the VC-10 before so I really wanted to go on the Voyager. Luckily, I was the first person off the bus so I got right to the front of the aircraft so every time the pilot opened the door we could sneak in and have a look!

** What was the moment like when you flew over the Mall and Buckingham Palace?

Well, when we were going over London the weather was really bad and a lot of people on the flight were sick. So when we went over Buckingham Palace I didn’t even realise because I was too busy dealing with people who were being sick! It’s quite funny really. We were flying at about 500ft over Buckingham Palace and the reason everyone was being sick was the wind which was causing the aircraft to go from side to side.

** Did you feel sick?

If I’m being honest I did feel a little sick at times. I fly gliders all the time and never feel sick but seeing other people being sick...

** Yeah, I know what you mean. How long were you in the air for?

Four hours and 20 minutes...that’s one of the reasons people started being sick. I slept all of the way home. Like I say, there was a lot of waiting, but it was worth it.

** Is it nice to think you were part of the Queen’s birthday celebrations?

It’s brilliant. But when I watched it back on television it felt quite unreal that we were flying over. I watch it every year on the television because I’m a bit patriotic like that so it was just weird to be a part of it.

A Last Night at the Proms concert will take place at St John’s Church, Spitalgate, Grantham, tonight at 7.30pm.

Entry to the concert is £6 per person. Take along your flags to wave along with the music!

After the news of the return of the Mallard steam locomotive to Grantham for the first time in 50 years, this week we feature two photographs from that famous day in 1938.

The main picture features the crew of the Mallard after their record-breaking speed run on July 3, 1938. Pictured are fireman T. Bray, driver J. Duddington and Inspector J. Jenkins.

The inset photograph shows the Mallard at Barkston junction before departure on the record run.

The Mallard broke the record between Little Bytham and Essendine, setting a new record of 125.88mph which still stands today.

The Mallard will return to Grantham for the first time in 50 years on the weekend of September 7 and 8 as part of the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the record-breaking run. The steam engine is to be on display, on tracks, in the area of Grantham railway station.

An historic building, built in 1497, has been given a new lease of life at King’s School in Grantham and was officially re-opened on Tuesday night.

The Old School building, where Sir Isaac Newton was taught, has been fully refurbished and its Collyweston-tiled roof re-laid at a cost of £270,000.

Funding of £238,000 came from the Education Funding Agency and its chief executive, Peter Lauener, was there to unveil a special plaque.

King’s head master Frank Hedley told a gathering of invited guests: “It remains a key building in the life of the school. Although initially used as a school room, in 1906 it was dedicated as the school chapel. In recent times it has been used as a school library, and from September will be used as a flexible teaching space, lecture hall, social space and function room.

“This building is steeped in history. Look around - evidence of boys having left their marks is everywhere – initials, signatures and diagrams are engraved into the stone window sills and surrounds (inside and out).

“As a boy at King’s, Isaac Newton quickly rose to be ‘first’ in the school and allegedly carved his name on every bench that he sat at, and also in the window sill behind me.

“This building is important not only to the history of the school, and for its continued use for educational purposes; it is also a key part of Grantham’s heritage. One only has to look at the collection of surrounding buildings – Grantham House and St. Wulframs - to recognise their innate beauty and historical significance to Grantham, the county, and dare I say to the country as a whole.”

Among the guests at the re-opening evening were the Mayor of Grantham, Coun Frank Turner, Coun Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire Coiunty Council and Tony Worth, the Lord Lt of Lincolnshire.

Before unveiling the plaque to commemorate the re-opening of the building Mr Lauener said: “I am very, very pleased we have been able to support this project, not just for King’s but for Grantham itself. It is an inspiring thought to be talking to you in the same building that Isaac Newton was taught.”

Danny and Craig Moore won two awards apiece at Buckminster United FC’s annual presentation evening at the White Lion in Colsterworth.

Danny scooped Top Goal Scorer and Players’ Player and Craig was awarded Manager’s Player and Referees’ Player.

Most Improved was Colin Howe and Clubman of the Year was Craig Fyfe. Dennis Allen was adjudged to have made the most Outstanding Contribution to the club.

SATURDAY (June 22)

Cricket

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Belton Park v Moulton Harrox, Grantham v Stamford Town, Lindum v Welby, Woodhall Spa v Billingborough.

Division One – Billingborough 2nd v Friskney.

Division Two – Burgh & District v Grantham 2nd, Long Sutton 2nd v Claypole, Welby 2nd v Freiston L&L.

South Notts League

Division A – Belvoir v Balderton.

Division C – Newstead Abbey Village v Bottesford.

Division E – Whatton & Aslockton v Lenton Willoughby.

Division F – Long Eaton 2nd v Belvoir 2nd.

Division G – Bottesford 2nd v Lambley.

Division H – Bingham v Kimberley Institute 3rd.

Division L – Hoveringham 2nd v Belvoir 3rd.

Division N – Newstead Abbey Village 3rd v Whatton & Aslockton 2nd.

Division P – Belvoir 4th v Burton Joyce 2nd.

Division R – Fiskerton 2nd v Bingham 2nd.

SUNDAY

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One – Barkby United v Woolsthorpe by Belvoir, Belton Park v Empingham, Bottesford v Barrowby, Kinoulton v Buckminster.

Division Two – Bingham v Ashby Carington 2nd, Grantham v Sproxton, Welby v Syston Town, Whissendine v Queniborough.

Division Three – Barkston & Syston v Melton Mowbray, Belvoir Colts v Colsterworth, Sholay v Skillington.

Newark Alliance

Division Four – Plumtree v Belvoir.

TUESDAY

Burrough League

Division One – Ashby Carington v Belvoir.

Former Grantham triathlete Steve Young has jumped from 4th Category licence status to 2nd in the matter of months since he made the switch to road racing.

The 29-year-old won his first race in a Pedalpushers Circuit League event at Barkston Heath back in April.

Riding for WyndyMilla, Steve proved he was still in the pink with his second race victory in the Nottinghamshire round of the EGEG Road Race League at Willoughby on the Wolds last Sunday.

With four miles remaining, he broke away from the bunch with Jack Green (VC St Raphael) and Jason Gurney (www.twenty3c.co.uk) and the trio opened up a 25-second gap on the chasers.

The pace was too much for Gurney and Steve jumped Green to take the win by two bike lengths.

Steve said: “It came down to Jack and me and I had another gear above him and managed to get clear.”

Performing at Party in the Park during this year’s Grantham Carnival was Soul Patrol.

The covers duo hit the stage at the Friday night concert, one of a number of acts on the bill.

Further videos will be uploaded this afternoon.

Performing at Party in the Park during this year’s Grantham Carnival was Soul Patrol.

The pair of talented singers hit the stage at the Friday night concert, one of a number of acts on the bill.

Further videos willbe uploaded this afternoon.

Performing at Party in the Park during this year’s Grantham Carnival was JJ Youngstar.

The blues rock band hit the stage at the Friday night concert, one of a number of acts on the bill.

Further videos will be uploaded this afternoon.

A Grantham man has been charged with attempted rape, robbery and threats to kill.

James David Taylor, 26, of Kenilworth Road, was charged in relation to an incident involving a 20-year-old female in Lincoln Road, Holdingham, near Sleaford, on May 4.

Taylor was remanded in custody to appear at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court today (Friday).

Police have closed the A1 southbound following a serious accident near Colsterworth.

Diversions are in place along the A607 and A606 back to the A1. Police have reported traffic moving slowly northbound and are asking drivers to keep moving or avoid the A1 if possible.

They say the A1 at Colsterworth will remain closed until about 10pm tonight.

A magnificent view of Grantham from its tallest church tower, the grand pier at Skegness, delicious pork pies taken from the oven in Melton Mowbray...all captured in this video. You won’t want to miss it.

The Grantham Journal and its sister papers across Lincolnshire have commemorated today, the longest day of the year, by recording aspects of life in each town.

The project is part of a nationwide Johnston Press initiative called Longest Local Day, part of the company’s Summer of Love campaign.

Summer Solstice is a special day in the calendar, and a great opportunity to identify what makes Grantham great and bring it together with a collection of moments captured across the county.

We hope you not only enjoy this video, but are also spurred on to contribute some of your own material. We’d like you to send in any pictures or footage you shot today - it might be a precious family moment, a special anniversary or something more run of the mill. Whatever it is, if it represents something meaningful to you today - Friday, June 21, 2013 - then we’d love to see it.

What we would like you to do is send us either pictures or a short - no more than 15 seconds, please - video clip of something you’ve seen, done or been involved in. We will compile some of the best and most interesting clips and pictures into a Grantham-specific video.

You can send your pictures (please let us know who is on them or what is happening and the time it was taken today) and video - MP4 format ideally, if not MWV - to comment@granthamjournal.co.uk anytime over the weekend. Or via Twitter to @granthamjournal calling it #Longestlocalday.

The longest day in Grantham 2013 has been preserved for prosperity by the Journal today and next week and it will be great for that historic effort to be enhanced with a little help from you. We look forward to hearing from you.

Three members of Grantham Shotokan Karate Club were promoted to black belt last weekend.

The grading examination was held by the British Karate Association in Manchester under the watchful eye of BKA chairman Brian Seabright (7th Dan).

The trio undertook a physically and mentally demanding exam in which they had to demonstrate basic and combinations of technique (kihon), set patterns (kata), sparring drills, reaction traing and “free” sparring against an opponent (kumite).

Former judo exponent John Winter only took up karate aged 69 and has trained three times a week for six years to attain black belt status.

Seventy-five-year-old John, of Long Bennington, said he took up the martial art to keep his mind and body active: “Age is irrelevant if you have a positive and young outlook.”

At the opposite end of the age spectrum, 11-year-old Edward Dixon was the fourth member of his family to be awarded the coveted black belt. His father is club chief instructor Geoff (5th Dan) and mother Elizabeth and sister Jennifer became black belts three years ago.

Elizabeth said that karate was something the whole family enjoyed: “I suppose it is quite rare to have an entire family of black belts.

“We are very proud of Edward, he has been working really hard to prepare for this grading.”

The third black belt of the weekend was achieved by Carole Hobster, achieving her ambition 30 years later than planned.

Carole originally trained with husband Glen in Nottingham during the 1970s and achieved the grade of 1st Kyu – one step from black belt.

Family commitments curtailed her martial arts activities for three decades until she resumed training with her daughter, Rachael, as a white belt in 2008.

l Grantham Shotokan Karate Club training is at Bottesford VC Hall and Allington village hall on Tuesday and Sunday evenings respectively, as well as The Meres leisure centre on Saturday mornings. For more details e-mail grantham.karate@btinternet.com or visit www.grantham-shotokan.moonfruit.co.uk/

Ten runners from Grantham took part in the 42nd annual Notts 10-mile race around Holme Pierrepont boating lakes.

On an ideal evening for racing, many made significant improvements on their personal bests for the distance.

Dave Kay was first home for Grantham Running Club whose first five men all finished in under 70 minutes.

Results: Dave Kay 1hr 4min 55sec, Paul Rushworth 1.05.22, Iain Brown 1.09.11, Ben Mason 1.09.29, Andrew Pask 1.09.52, Scott Jones 1.12.00, Sophie Stanley 1.17.27, Keith Measures 1.18.37, Sarah High 1.22.25, Anna Littlecott 1.31.07, Yvonne Taylor 1.48.54.

Monday evening saw the second week of a new scheme from England Netball being piloted in Grantham – Netball Now.

Netball Now is a simple, straight forward way to play netball.

It’s not a coached session or led by rules, regulations or scores recorded, it is simply a session that you turn up at, pay a small fee and play a game of netball.

If you are currently playing and want to play a bit more, or if you are looking for a flexible, non-committed way to play netball then Netball Now could be for you.

There will be time to warm up before hitting the court and during the session there will be chance to try various positions on court, and in some cases even have a go at umpiring.

Netball Now is running at The Meres leisure centre on Monday evenings, from 8pm till 9pm, cost £3.

For more information about netball in Grantham contact Louise Key 07545 924994 or e-mail louise.key@englandnetball.co.uk

A teenaged member of Grantham Athletic Club is desperately close to achieving his dream of a sports scholarship at the reputable Millfield School.

Sixteen-year-old Priory Ruskin Academy student Joshua Brown has been offered a place at the Somerset school but is still £4,000 short of the £35,000 needed to fund the scholarship.

Family, friends and an application for a bursary have raised the bulk of the sum needed, but Joshua now needs the help of generous businesses or sponsors.

If successful, he will be trained by international coaches six days a week with the aim of him competing for Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Olympics – which is his goal.

Joshua joined Grantham AC aged nine and by the time he reached 14 had progressed through county and regional level to national.

He has competed four times at the English Schools Athletics Championships in the last three years and last season ran a remarkable 53.4sec for the 400 metres hurdles – ranking him number one for his age in the UK. A true all-rounder, he was also ranked seventh in the UK in the English School Combined Championships (Octathlon).

This year has seen him set new club records and he is currently top of the UK rankings in the octathlon. He will contest the national championships in Birmingham at the end of the summer.

This week sees him representing England at the World School Games in the Czech Republic where he will contest the 300m hurdles and high jump.

Joshua said the chance of attending Millfield would give him the chance of fulfilling his Olympic dream: “Being coached by international coaches would not only increase my abilities but give me the support needed.

“I thought this was just a dream to attend a school of this stature but now it’s becoming more of a reality. The help of some funding could make it happen.”

If you think you can help Adrian make it to Millfield, contact his father Adrian on 07912 855147 for more information.

I have complained recently to Lincolnshire County Council about the number of deep and dangerous potholes on the road from Hawthorpe to Irnham; by my reckoning they number at least 55, of which some 50 could be classed as dangerous.

All that has been done is the placing of warning cones in two places. This road has been in such a condition for at least five to eight weeks.

Last week I used the Kirkby Underwood road to the A15, where it was apparent that someone had been along there and marked some slight surface discrepancies with white spray paint. The road was in a perfectly useable state and presented no danger to anyone. On Monday, I discover that this road has been resurfaced. Now why would this be? Would it have to do with the fact that the leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Martin Hill, lives in Kirkby Underwood? Surely not!

And lest anyone from either South Kesteven District Council or LCC tell me that times are hard and there’s no money to deal with such trivial matters as road maintenance and that we’re all in it together, I have yet to see a report telling me that councillors are cutting their expenses.

Keith Barnes

Keisby