Lincolnshire Police is asking for help from Journal readers in tracing the male pictured in this CCTV image.

Police want to speak to this man in relation to the theft of meat from Tesco Express in Harrowby Lane, Grantham, on April 9. Anyone with information is asked to call Pc Mark Foster on 101.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

Lincolnshire Police is asking for help from Journal readers in tracing the two females pictured in this CCTV image.

Police are looking for the women in relation to the theft of cash from Asda in Grantham on May 19. Call Pc Emma Wright on 101, quoting crime reference 3213**19328, if you can help with her enquiries.

Alternatively, call Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111.

When newlywed Marie Harley ruptured her Achilles tendon five days before her honeymoon with husband Darren, the pair were gutted.

Their dream of a holiday with the Journal in the Saltsburg area of Austria was scuppered...but that did not stop them enjoying the culture. Darren and Marie, of Moortown Close in Grantham, invited 20 friends round, asking them to bring an Austrian dish. Together they tucked into Styrian pot roast, wierner schnitzels, beef goulash, various types of sausages, apple studel and apfelkren, plus a sip or two of peach schnapps.

Darren said: “The plan for the honeymoon was to do some walking and sightseeing around the Saltsburg area, Sound of Music territory, and this very much impacted on the theme of things, explaining the nun fancy dress outfits and also the ‘brown paper package tied up with string’ and the ‘warm woollen mitten’ outfits.

“After listening to/enduring some Austrian folk music whilst preparing and eating the food we then watched the Sound of Music...but not just any version; it was the sing along version so apologies to our neighbours.”

Pictured are, from left - Leia Dykes, Steven Dykes, David Cain, Teresa Dykes, Marie Harley with a leg in red and white cast to mark the colours of the Austrian flag, Darren Harley, Tina Cain, Vicki Bayliss and children.

The results of a survey on independent retailers carried out by a Grantham businessman have been revealed.

As reported in the Journal, David Charles, owner of Grantham Computer Centre in Guildhall Street, and helpers questioned shoppers in the town to find out their opinions on independents and their worth.

The aim of the survey was to find out why there is a decline in shopping with the town’s independent retailers and identify ways to tackle it.

The survey of 108 shoppers showed that 69 per cent were concerned about an increasing dominance of supermarkets and big chains at the expense of local independent retailers.

They also showed:

* 50 per cent prefer to shop at local independent retailers than at supermarkets/major high street chains, 24 per cent prefer to shop at supermarkets/major high street chains and 26 per cent expressed no preference.

* 40 per cent shop more at supermarkets/major high street chains than independents, 39 per cent shop more at independent retailers and 21 per cent shop equally between the two.

* Average number of times people shop from independent retailers is 2.3 times/week.

* Average number of times people shop from supermarkets/major high street chains is 2.4 times/week.

* The three reasons people most value local independent retailers are that they: care more about customers and customer satisfaction - 85.2 per cent; are more important to the local community - 81.5 per cent; offer a greater level of expertise and advice - 81.5 per cent.

* The top three factors that would make people support local independent retailers more than they do are: cheaper/more price competitive - 23 per cent; more convenient/accessible/better parking, longer opening hours 14 per cent; more shops/choice/variety, greater availability - 11 per cent.

David said the survey helped identify key issues.

He added: “The main message was better parking, longer opening hours and more choice. Also we need to dispel the myth that multiples are cheaper; they are not.

“Now is the chance for independent retailers to join forces and help each other. For more information speak to me at Grantham Computer Centre.”

Do you have a coin or antique you think may be worth something?

Well, why not find out how much you can get for it at a specialist valuation day at the Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham?

On Tuesday, auctioneers Lockdales will value coins, stamps, banknotes, clocks, silver, gold, books, militia and more, between 11am and 3pm. Valuations are free with no obligation. Owners can choose to consign goods to be sold at auction.

The redevelopment of an old Grantham watering hole has stirred the curiosity of locals who remember popping in for a pint or two.

Since New Era opened its doors last week, regulars of what was the Malt Shovel have been going in for a drink to see how different it looks.

The interior has been completely transformed into an atmospheric restaurant with an open kitchen area. Exposed beams and brick work give the Italian and continental restaurant a relaxed, charming feel which co-owner Dipendra Khati, 38, believes is akin to a fine dining experience.

Dipendra, who owns the Westgate resturant with sister Geeta Gest, said: “You will feel you have been to a special place but your pockets won’t be empty. And nobody will be disappointed with portion sizes.

“We have considered every care and expectation.”

The menu is 90 per cent Italian and 10 per cent continental offering steaks and grilled meats. Most ingredients are sourced locally, with Dipendra buying from the town’s market each Saturday. Wines have been specially selected - yet you will not pay more than £24 for a bottle.

Dipendra’s passion for the restaurant, “his baby”, is clear. His focus is on unparalleled service, top quality food and a warm ambience.

Readers may recognise him as the manager of Ask in Grantham for many years, where he earned many loyal customers. The closure of the Italian restaurant gave him the chance to make his dream of running his own restaurant a reality.

He hired eight members of staff, designed the premises to his exact specification, held two weeks of food trials to perfect the menu and opened the doors. And so far, business has been “amazing”.

Dipendra said: “Because of my experience, and I myself cook, in the kitchen is the best chef with 30 years’ experience. Another chef has 15 years’ experience.

“We have the same standards of national restaurants that spend millions of pounds in their kitchens. But there’s is no better than mine.”

New Era is open daily from noon. To book a table, call 01476 575708.

Environcom Stadium hosted more than just football on Saturday.

A family fun day was held as a “big thank you” to the electrical waste recycling plant’s employees, and their families, for their hard work. The stadium, home to Harrowby United Football Club, is sponsored by Environcom, making it the perfect venue for the day of fun, with activities including five-a-side football, an assault course, bungee run, bouncy castles, giant board games and sumo games, along with a hog roast and live DJ.

Chief executive of Environcom Sean Feeney said: “Today was all about the hard-working staff of environcom and their families, letting their hair down and having a fantastic day out. We’re proud of our people; they are absolutely key to the success of Environcom and the past year has indeed been a hugely successful one for us on many levels. We just wanted to say a big thank you to all of them. What’s more, we are delighted to have been able to unveil the new environcom stadium signs and we look forward to the start of the new season. We wish all of our players at Harrowby United good luck for the year ahead. We are behind them all the way.”

Mr Feeney, club chairman Ian Weatherstone and several first team players revealed the new signs around the ground and the new first team strip, in preparation for the next season.

The economic development team at South Kesteven District Council is working hard to develop Grantham as a centre for business and growth.

Over the past few years significant improvements have been made to the look of Grantham as a town.

Work including a £2.1m re-development of the historic Market Place and Westgate and a £78,545 shop front scheme to enhance the look of local businesses has been completed.

And the town’s first Gravity Fields Festival - a celebration of Isaac Newton’s life and work which attracted thousands of visitors from across the UK, has given the town a new lease of life and put it on the national map.

But these projects are just the beginning. As well as planning for another action packed Gravity Fields Festival in 2014 the team are gearing up for a steam speed festival in September to celebrate the record set by the Mallard locomotive 75 years ago which is still intact today.

The strategic lead for economic development and regeneration Corrine Garbett said: “As a team, our aim is to support and drive the economic growth of the district, working in partnership with both businesses and residents to help the area thrive and prosper in any way we can.

“We have been pleased with the progress that we have made and have already seen Grantham voted the 12th best commuter town in the UK by the Sunday Times. I think that we have made real strides in the town and given residents confidence in us. We need to move forward with local businesses and stakeholders to encourage even more partnership working.

“Now is the time to really push Grantham forward as a centre for business which is just an hour and five minutes from London by rail and on the A1 trunk road.”

Over the next month a new shop scheme will be launched which targets empty retail units. Vinyl graphics are placed in the windows of the un-used space to smarten up the area and attract new tenants.

Corrine said: “The shop scheme is something that residents will see happening right now. A lot of our work goes on behind the scenes with large projects for Grantham like the Southern Quadrant development on Spitalgate Level which is crucial for the future of the town, but is a long-term goal not something that people will see right away.”

For more on economic development projects, visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk or www.granthamforgrowth.co.uk

Thrill-seeking fund-raisers who can raise significant sums to help repair St Wulfram’s spire are being sought.

The St Wulfram’s “Save Our Spire Appeal” has so far raised more than £100,000 from fund-raising efforts but more is needed if the target of £600,000 is to be reached by the time work starts next year.

Including grants from organisations such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, which has donated £272,000, around £400,000 has so far been put aside for the work.

However, it is hoped this year’s abseil down St Wulfram’s on September 7 will raise a hefty sum for the appeal.

Courtney Finn of St Wulfram’s PCC is helping to organise the event.

He said: “Our first abseil raised £20,000 and last year’s raised £10,000.

“If we get another £20,000 this time then that would break the back of the £100,000 we need to raise.”

If you would like to take part in the abseil or find out more information, e-mail Courtney at: cfinn@talktalk.net

Whoever raises the most money will receive a magnum of champagne.

Not sure you can handle the heights? Take a look at our video filmed from St Wulfram’s spire.

My father died last week.

He lived a grand old life. He had six children, 14 grandchildren and one great grandson.

And he died in his own bed at a time when he was ready to go. So there is much to be grateful for.

But, as many readers of the Grantham Journal will already know, nothing can really prepare you for the awful shock of losing a parent – or the aching absence that it leaves behind.

Another Member of Parliament, who also lost his father recently, told me that it is only on the death of your father that a man finally grows up. And I have certainly found myself wanting to call my dad to ask his advice on how to handle a situation, only to realise that I will have to make the decision without his gentle steer.

But, even in the middle of such sadness, there are consolations. The hundreds of cards and letters sent to my stepmother have reminded us of the service that my father, like so many of his generation, gave to their country.

He served in the Rifle Brigade in the closing months of the war. He gave 16 years of his life to the Colonial Service, where he helped North Borneo make the transition to independence. He ran the National Trust for eight years – and was responsible for negotiating the gift of one of Lincolnshire’s greatest treasures, Belton House, to the nation.

And he spent the last three decades on our family farm in East Devon, nurturing trees in our hedgerows and supporting the huge range of charities and appeals that help rural communities flourish.

In 40 years’ time, God willing, I will be my father’s age. By standing for Parliament, I have chosen a noisier, less humble kind of public service. But I hope that I will be able to look back and say that I followed his example. That I resisted the lure of power and glory, whose excitements are soon forgotten.

And that I recognised that what lasts – and what counts – at the end of a long life is the quiet satisfaction of knowing that you have given the best of yourself to the country that has given you so much.

The new term for council members seems have to started strongly.

The ‘war’ on potholes gained traction with the injection of a £2 million boost on top of the £6.5m already handed down from Government. It is obviously much needed and long overdue but its nice to finally see serious work being put into repairing our roads.

We have also seen Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council decide to splash some cash on improving the appearance of the town centre. They are spending £320,000 on shop fronts throughout Grantham and the rest of the district.

The aim is something that has been important to the area for a while now. Clearly its objective is to improve the looks of Grantham in an effort to attract customers.

While some have complained about public money being spent on private businesses it is important to note that this scheme is an incentive with the council paying between 50-75 per cent of the bill. While landlords are getting a nice deal we need to note that some were previously happy to let their shop front decay, affecting the looks of our town, and are now going to make use of this cash available to them.

This kind of scheme is important to Grantham. Some shop fronts on the high street and surrounding areas were in dire need of improvement and were detracting from other local businesses.

With the self improvement of the bigger businesses such as Morrison’s recent skills academy addition and incentivised initiatives like this, Grantham appears to be heading back in the right direction with its businesses.

** Do you agree with Jacob? Will improving Grantham’s appearance attract customers? E-mail: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

Andy Murray’s great, great-grandmother used to live in Grantham, in what is now Indian restaurant Bindi.

Restaurant owner, Muhammed Karim, received a phonecall this morning (Wednesday) from a Paul Topliff to say that he had been researching the Murray family tree and he had come across this great Grantham link.

Mr Topliff told Mr Karim that the Wimbledon champion’s great, great-grandmother, Gertrude Anne Golding, had lived at 22 London Road, Grantham, from 1901 to 1941.

Gertrude was born in Sheffield in August 1881, and died in Skegness in February 1958. However both of her sisters, Eleanor and Edith Golding, were born in Grantham, Eleanor in October 1885 and Edith in October 1883.

Mr Topliff had searched the address on the internet and saw that Mr Karim was the current occupier so rang to tell him the astounding news.

Mr Karim said: “The Bindi restaurant is proud to be associated with the Murray clan. I think the link between Britain’s newest hero and Lincolnshire is a really positive thing.

“We’ve had Margaret Thatcher and we’ve had Isaac Newton and now we have Andy Murray. I am going to get a plaque to show how proud we are here at Bindi.”

When the Golding family lived at the address, the ground floor was a butchers shop and they lived upstairs where the flats are now. And according to Mr Topliff, Andy Murray’s links in this area are not just with Lincolnshire; it would appear that he is linked with Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Skegness, too.

Andy Murray is always very proud of his pure Scottishness but Mr Topliff is not convinced and says that Mr Murray’s roots are firmly here in the Midlands, and in Grantham.

Mr Topliff said: “I’ve been researching my own family history for about six-and-a-half years now, and then with all the excitement of Wimbledon I thought I’d start to look at Andy Murray’s lineage.

“When I saw the restaurant was there, I had to contact them because it’s really exciting. I think it’s a great bit of scandal.”

The Murray family tree, as researched by Mr Topliff, can be found on the website www.ancestry.co.uk

Twenty years after first putting pen to paper, a retired police officer from Grantham has written a book on the life of Francis Lovel, a lifelong friend of King Richard III.

Richard Hogg, 49, has completed and published ‘Loyalty in me Lieth: King Richard III and Francis Viscount Lovel’.

It was a fascination with the mystery surrounding the death of Lovel, who Richard calls “one of history’s forgotten heroes”, that sparked his desire to write. Lovel was a principal instigator in the Lambert Simnel Rebellion of the 1400s, the first major challenge to Henry VII’s rule.

Richard, of Belton Lane, said: “He was probably the foremost magnate/councillor of Richard III’s reign but, to date, no other books have been written about his life, other than a pamphlet by the Richard III Society. Indeed Francis gets merely one line in Shakespeare’s Richard III.”

Keen to avoid creating a “stuffy” book, Richard decided to write the book in the style of a novel to “bring the true history of what is a complicated and ruthless age, yet is also quite fascinating, to a larger readership”.

Equal importance was placed on giving readers in-depth descriptions to allow them to use their imaginations. He hopes that by stirring their imaginations, some readers may go on to use the book to plan day trips, to visit the sites he describes.

Richard said: “Indeed, if one visits Ravensworth, where Francis’s wife comes from, you drive into the village and there in the middle of a field, not mentioned on any standard maps, is her father’s castle.

“So hopefully readers can use the book to plan days out and even a week-long walking holiday, as I did, which traces the progress of Francis’s invasion in 1487 from Foulney Island on Morecombe Bay down through Wensleydale, to where the army mustered at Middleham Castle in North Yorkshire. From there they came south to East Stoke where they lost the battle.”

The book is available to buy via Amazon at www.amazon.co.uk

Bus company Kimes of Folkingham is to be closed after consultation with employees.

Owner Centrebus says most of the services provided by Kimes will be moved to other depots in August and the “vast majority” of driving staff have chosen to continue working at other sites. But a small number of staff will be made redundant.

The first phase of the transfers will happen from August 11 with services 4, 26, and 27 transferring to the Grantham depot. A week later Service 9 will transfer to the Saxby depot and service 12 to the Corby depot.

Centrebus Commercial director Dave Shelley said: “We are pleased we have been able to work constructively to maintain services (with no timetable changes) and employment for the vast majority of our staff in the Kimes business. For a small number of staff who will be redundant, we are working very closely with them on an individual basis at what is obviously a difficult time.”

Mr Shelley added: “An agreement has been reached for transfer of services 58 and 59 to Brylaine Travel, together with five buses and some staff operating those services.

“We have been advised by Peterborough City Council that they intend to stop funding any of our services from the start of October, and we will therefore be using that date as an opportunity to review what timetable changes to former Kimes services will be needed, if any. However, at this stage, customers can be reassured that services will continue unchanged during the closure process.”

The Kimes site in Folkingham is due to formally close at the end of August.

Kimes was a family-owned business and a cooperative until July 2011 when it was bought by Centrebus in Grantham.

A trio of dancers have gained the attention of a top London-based dance school and secured places on a prestigious training programme.

Jess Gilbert, 10, Megan Smith, 14, and Lauren Coyle, 14, hope to flousih under the direction of expert teachers at Chantry Dance Company. Once a month for a year, they will head to the famous dance theatre Sadler’s Wells where they will learn new techniques and performance styles.

The girls already train at Grantham school Dance Pointe, run by Rosie Toulmin-Rothe. Rosie said: “It’s brilliant that three girls from my school, and from Grantham, are going to do this.”

Jess, Megan and Lauren had to audition for five hours to gain their places, which “shows their stamina”, said Rosie.

She added: “I was thrilled to bits. I’m so proud of them because they put in a lot of extra work. Their success really is down to hard work and dedication, and hours of training.”

Megan said she was “really excited” to go to Sadler’s Wells. She added: “It’s a dream to be able to perform in big theatres, so to go to a really famous theatre to perform was a really good experience and I was really excited to do it.”

A young girl was knocked down by a car on her way to school this morning.

The 13-year-old was struck by a Renault Megane in Dysart Road, Grantham, as she crossed the road.

Emergency services were called at 8.10am. The girl was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham.

A police spokesman said she has sustained a serious foot injury. No arrests have been made.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should call police on the non-emergency 101 number.

County and district councillor Charmaine Morgan is no longer the Labour group leader for South Kesteven District Council.

Coun Morgan has been replaced by Coun Alan Davidson.

Coun Morgan said fellow Labour councillors suggested she step down because of the extra workload which comes with being a county councillor as well as a district councillor.

She said: “I agreed and I voted for Alan myself because I have got so much on my plate with campaigning work which others are not doing in any big way.”

Coun Morgan is now the Labour group’s deputy leader.

Moy Park in Gonerby Hill Foot is one of the biggest employers in Grantham so this week we feature its general manager Nigel Laing.

The factory produces coated chicken products such as chicken kievs and chicken steaks, and business is going so well Moy Park is currently recruiting more staff.

Mr Laing said: “Once we’ve finished this recruitment process we will employee between 800 and 900 full-time staff, as well as between 250 and 300 temps - so that’s close to 1,100 or 1,200 staff employed on the site.”

Moy Park regularly supports charitable causes, often specifically linked to the Grantham community, such as the Journal Children’s Fund: Christmas Cracker Appeal.

Mr Laing has worked for Moy Park in Grantham for two-and-a-half years.

He said: “It’s important to the culture of this site in particular but also important to our parent companies Moy Park and Marfrig, which is based in Brazil. We like to make sure everything we are doing is involved in the community.”

The July medal competition at Greetham Valley was played on the Lakes course in very hot conditions.

Winner in Division One and overall was Nick Cunnington, playing off a handicap of four. He produced an excellent gross two over par score of 74 for a net 70, despite suffering a penalty early in his round.

Three players were tied on 73 points in Division One, with nine handicapper Dave Pusch taking second on count-back from John Simpson, also off nine, in third, and plus one golfer Jordan Burdall in fourth.

Jordan at least had the consolation of winning the lowest gross with an impressive 72.

Peter Ryan, off 13, won Division Two with a splendid net 72, ahead of three players on net 73.

Club president Martin Boughton was placed second on count-back and he also won the joint lowest gross in this division with Peter. Steve Burgon was third and Robert Bailey fourth.

Keith Ross won division three and the lowest gross in his division with a 90 (net 71). Graham Stark finished second, with Keith Heppenstall third, both recorded net 75s.

** Greetham Valley ladies’ scratch team recorded a good victory at Stoke Rochford.

The in form Emma Tipping beat Pam Watson 6 & 5; Sophie Beardsall beat June Miller 3 & 2; captain Gilly Grant beat Chris Rowley.

** Greetham Valley first team lost at home to Blankney 4-2 on possibly the hottest day of the year so far.

Father and son combination of Paul and Adam Clegg achieved a narrow one up victory; Chris Steele and Fraser Denholm lost 3 & 1; Andrew Frisby and Ben Gasson won two up; Neil Harris and Ben Easson lost 4 & 3; four captain Trevor Smith and Bob Green lost one down; George Grant and Ally McNaughton lost 8 & 6.

** The Greetham Valley second team travelled to top of the table Blankney and avenged an early season home defeat to the same opposition, winning this encounter 5-1.

Richard Wilson and Carl Causbrook won 2 & 1; Neil Crees and Peter De Kremer won one up; Simon Bateman and Paul Jenkinson lost 3 & 2; captain Alan Bennett and Steff Dutton won 2 & 1; Steve Anderson and Elliot Clarke won 2 & 1; Dave Copley and Tony Mould won two up.

** John Taylor won the first division in the seniors’ July qualifier on count-back from Neil Bradbury, they both scored 41 points.

Ken Moore and Tim Howlett, in third and fourth place, were also separated on count-back after they each scored 38 points.

Taylor also won the overall competition.

Ken Upton won division two on 38 points, four clear of Dave Lucas, Ian Kellam and Frank Maguire who took the next three places, all scoring 34 points.

A personal best gross score secured the Sudbrook Moor Golf Club ladies’ championship for rookie Jo Pearson.

She finished four shots ahead of runner-up Amanda Roberts and also lifted the Rookies’ Trophy, the Leglines Cup.

Although handicaps did not feature in the championship scores, Jo played nine shots under her handicap, which was reduced by 3.6 shots.

Her round featured two birdie twos on her way to the championship’s Mary Hall Trophy.

** Steve Squires recorded a hole in one on the third hole in the seniors’ weekly Thursday roll-up stableford.

It was not his first hole in one but it was his first in a qualifying competition. He won the seniors’ twos pot.

The overall seniors’ prize went to Dave Guy, who recorded 42 points and his handicap was cut by 0.6, bringing it down to 16.9. The CSS was 40 points.

Ken Wingad, Steve Squires, Graham Buxton and Mike McHugh all carded 40 points, with prizes going to Wingad and Buxton.