Journal photographer Toby Roberts captured this footage of lightning streaking across the Grantham sky last night.

Toby took most of the footage in the Gorse Lane area.

Have you got any lightning pics/video?

Have you seen any flooding in and around Grantham?

E-mail: neil.graham’granthamjournal.co.uk

Grantham Town Supporters’ Club lotto (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners for July 20 draw:

£200 – 597 J. Barnes; £10 – 504 M. Bird; £5 – 758 M. Gilbert, 176 S. Branson, 326 C. Bunting, 141 N. Podam, 420 D. Wright, 970 R. Lee.

Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch) – Forest are at home to Huddersfield Town on Saturday, August 3, kick-off 3pm.

Bookings are being taken for away games at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday, August 20, 3pm, and Watford on Sunday, August 25, 1.15pm.

The home bus will leave Corby Glen at 12.45pm in August due to roadworks, picking up at Harrowby Road and Asda only.

For details contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

Fire crews from Grantham, Corby Glen, Sleaford and Bourne were called to a grass fire measuring 200m by 200m off Cold Harbour Lane in Grantham yesterday at about 12.45pm.

A fire spokesman said there was severe damage to the stubble field. The fire was extinguished using hosereels and beaters.

The consultation on plans to redraft the district boundaries and reduce the number of district councillors on South Kesteven District Council is about to close.

The Local Government Boundary Commission for England is carrying out an electoral review of South Kesteven which means re-drawing ward boundaries across the district.

The commission is asking local people for their views on new warding arrangements before it draws up its recommendations.

The commission will consider all views put to it during the consultation and aims to publish draft recommendations for new ward boundaries for South Kesteven District Council in October.

In May, the commission agreed that the council should have 55 councillors in the future, three fewer than the current arrangements.

It now aims to draw up ward boundaries that mean each of those councillors represents a similar number of voters and that the new wards reflect the interest and identities of local communities.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “We will consider every submission we receive from local people before we draw up draft recommendations. We will then open another phase of consultation on those proposals in a few months.

“Don’t miss this chance to have your say on how your council is run.”

This phase of public consultation closes on 5 August 2013.

Consultation responses should be sent to:

The Review Officer (South Kesteven)

Layden House

76-86 Turnmill Street

London EC1M 5LG

Email: reviews@lgbce.org.uk

International flautist Carla Rees, from Allington, who faced an uncertain future when her flat was destroyed by rioters, makes a professional return to Grantham next week.

Carla has chosen Harlaxton Manor as the venue for her first summer school for composers and flute players since the violent disturbances in Croydon in 2011, in which she lost everything, including priceless instruments.

The summer school for flautists and composers of electro-acoustic music will end with an hour long concert in the Great Hall at Harlaxton Manor on Wednesday.

The course and concert are by members of Rarescale - a contemporary chamber music ensemble of which Carla is musical director and which she founded in 2003.

The group performs, runs courses and is a registered charity.

The concert, on Wednesday, will demonstrate the alto and bass flutes, both as solo instruments and with electronics.

Joining her in the performance will be tutors Michael Oliva, leader in electro-acoustic music at the Royal College of Music, and flautist Ann Hodgson.

To celebrate the presentation of her new quarter tone alto flute by Dutch flute maker Eva Kingma, Carla will be performing the world premiere of Les Heures Bleues, by Oliva, the first work to be written for the new instrument.

The programme will also include music by Bach. Admission to the concert, at 8pm, is free.

Carla lost ten flutes when her possessions were destroyed and also lost her music library, including a unique collection of 600 pieces of unpublished music written for her and Rarescale.

She said at the time she did know what the future held for her, but the music world rallied round with money and offers of help and a website was set up for people wanting to donate.

Under-17 boys

Worksop Falcons 8

South Kesteven 2

Under-17 mixed

Worksop Falcons 8

South Kesteven 4

Playing together in their first practice matches prior to the beginning of the next league season, South Kesteven travelled to Worksop and gave a highly creditable performance against one of the strongest teams in Nottinghamshire.

South Kesteven boys comprised captain Carl Jennings, Andrew Watson, Jack Railton and Harry Simpson. The mixed team were captain Carl Jennings, Andrew Watson, Jack Railton, Harry Simpson, Emma Turley and Helen Turley.

Recently upgraded to blue belt 4th Kup in Tae Kwon-do, Trevor Bean is pictured with his daughters, 11-year-old Jordan, promoted to green stripe 7th Kup, and 10-year-old Jamie, who gained yellow belt 8th Kup at the same grading at the King’s School Tae Kwon-do Club.

Trevor has been training with the club for a year and a half and his two daughters started shortly after.

Trevor said: “We all enjoy the mixture of fitness, self-defence, sparring and socialising and meeting other families during training. It gives me comfort knowing my girls are learning self-defence and they will have these skills when they’re older.”

The club grading was held under the guidance of seventh degree black belt grandmaster David Oliver and supervised by club instructor Malcolm Scholes.

Awards: 9th Kup white belt – James Cusack, Charlie Donnor, Samuel Oakly, Luca Ogden, Joshua Short, Harry Smith and Jacob Williams; 8th Kup yellow belt – Harry Allen, Jamie Bean, Malik Cardoso, Lewis Cook, Jack Croft, Zak Dean, Libby Kirton, Jordan Hankins, Daniel Kelly, Charlotte Lee, Philip Lee, Bruno Pires, Jacob Poddington, Jacob Roberts, Jehanne Royales, Jubil Tejome, Judi Tejome, Mohammed Sehil and Timothy Wright; 7th Kup yellow belt – Jordan Bean, Amanda Homfray and Jamie Puddu; 6th Kup green belt – Lewis Kempster, Michael Kempster, Karen Simpson and Jason Zhuo; 5th Kup green belt – Frances Arnold, Umin Choi, Bryanny Parkhouse, Sue Patrick, Lucy Reeve, Samuel Reeve, Uisun Shin, Uijin Shin and Jiaxin Zhuo; 4th Kup blue belt – Rory Barker, Trevor Bean, Samuel Humphrey and Oscar Simmons; 3rd Kup blue belt – Hollie Gilbert; 2nd Kup red belt – Mikahil Azad, Joaquim Cardoso and David Stockdale; 1st Kup red belt – Joshua Crook, Andy McKinlay, Stewart Perry, Cieran Roberts and Disha Singhania.

The 10th round of the Witham Wheelers 10-mile time trial league took place in hot, dry conditions, enabling 12 of the 48 riders to record personal best times on the Gorse Lane course.

Leading the way on time was schoolboy Karl Baillie with a rapid 22min 43sec, almost a minute in front of triathlete Patrick Cutmore (23.31). Gary Symons broke the 25mph barrier for third in 23.50. Fastest lady was triathlete Lara Thornhill, continuing her steady improvement this season with 26.29.

After the event, the annual club barbecue was enjoyed by almost 100 members, family and friends, raising funds for the club’s charity, Kidney Research UK, with excellent food prepared by Dave Beckett and Christine Edwards.

l Witham Wheelers promoted their annual open 10-mile time trial with a good prize list sponsored by Pedal Pushers racing bike shop, attracting a field of 65 to ride the Quarrington to Osbournby roundabout and back course.

Breezy conditions meant that the course record of 20.30 was not threatened but winner Julian Ramsbottom (Scunthorpe Poly) still produced a rapid 20.44, just four seconds in front of Adam Gascoigne (Pedal power Loughborough).

Fastest club rider was Peter Cocker in 21.55 with five others breaking the 25mph barrier, led by John Pilgrim in 23.26.

For full results and more information visit www.withamwheelers.co.uk

Firefighters have been called to Boots this morning.

Two fire crews are currently at the High Street store dealing with a report of a suspected gas leak.

Staff have been evacuated to the rear of the store.

More to follow

Cadets and staff from 47F Grantham Squadron Air Training Corps visited the Royal International Air Tattoo last weekend and saw the 10 hours of flying.

Regarded as the largest air show in the country, RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire attracts aircraft from around the world to display during the 10 hour constant flying program.

During the air show the cadets were allowed to board many of the static aircraft and talk to the air crews.

They were also able to meet up with 500 other air cadets helping out at the show.

The plan for next year is for the squadron to take part in the week long camp for air cadets at RAF Fairford who are there to help with the setting up, taking down and for the general running of the air show.

Gary Allen of 47F Grantham Squadron said: “This is the third year the squadron has made the trip to the air show and for some of the Grantham cadets this was their first experience of an air show.

“Seeing the Red Arrows and the Vulcan was amongst the highlights of this year’s show.

“The Duke of Rutland, 47F deputy Chairman of 47F civilian committee also came along with the squadron as it was many years since he had been to an air show.

“The Duke entered into the spirit and spent time getting to know the cadets.

The squadron are off to nearby RAF Brize Norton next week, home of the military transport aircraft where they will be formally adopting a C130 Hercules transport aircraft.

Grantham Museum opened its doors to primary school pupils eager to learn about the Dam Busters raid and its links to the town.

The children from St Mary’s in Grantham visited as part of the museum’s educational season. Staff at the museum gave talks to the children on the historic raid.

Museum chairman Helen Goral said: “It’s important that the Museum actively encourages young people to visit and engage with our history and our main role is to provide an educational resource for the local community.

“The children were fantastic and embraced the learning experience with a huge amount of enthusiasm and it was a pleasure to have them visit, they are a real credit to the school.”

The museum would encourage any school interested in making a similar visit to get in touch in the new school year.

Firefighters dealing with a suspected gas leak have isolated a faulty chiller cabinet in the Boots store in Grantham.

The store was evacuated late this morning and two fire crews attended.

Watch manager Eugene Winter said the fire service was called after gas was smelled at the front of the store. He said: “We ventilated the store to dispel any potential pockets of gas. We concentrated on the food chiller area and found one of the cabinets to be faulty.”

Mr Winter thanked nearby businesses Lloyds and Carphone Warehouse for their cooperation during the evacuation.

The store has since reopened.

Firefighters had to cut two people from a vehicle after it crashed at Fulbeck Heath.

Crews from Sleaford and Brant Broughton were called to the scene at about 1.30pm yesterday and used cutting equipment to release the two females from the vehicle.

A conservationist and a good neighbour have been honoured for their community work.

Soldier Gary Shuck, who has spearheded a project to plant thousands of trees, and Sue Shiel, who keeps an eye on an elderly neighbour, received certificates at an awards ceremony.

Gary and Sue are the latest winners of the Tom Childs Memorial awards, presented annually by Londonthorpe and Harrowby Without Parish Council to two members of the parish who give their time to help the community.

The presentations were made at a lunch in the the officers’ mess at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks.

Gary, who is the station safety adviser, was recognised for his work over the last two years supporting the Woodland Trust’s planting of a Jubilee wood on a training area at the barracks. He made applications for funding and for permission to plant the 84,000 trees and he also spent time supervising helpers.

Sue Shiel, of Kenilworth Road, Grantham, served for several years in the army and is now a civilian MOD worker. She regularly helps people in the parish, including her elderly neighbour, for whom she has done shopping, cut grass and made checks.

Station Chief of Staff Lieut Col James Galloway, who made the presentations, said if there were more people like Sue and Gary willing to lend a hand this would be a better world.

The two also received a £200 donation to a charity of their choice. A donation of £200 was made to the St Barnabas Hospice in Grantham and £50 each to PDSA, the British heart Foundation, Dogs for the Blind and the Alzheimer’s Society.

The awards are made as a memorial to Tom Childs, who was the parish clerk for 29 years.

SATURDAY

Cricket

South Notts League

Division A – Wollaton v Belvoir.

Division C – Bottesford v Wollaton 2nd.

Division E – Underwood v Whatton & Aslockton.

Division F – Belvoir 2nd v Kirkby Portland 2nd.

Division G – Lowdham v Bottesford 2nd.

Division H – Bingham v Flintham.

Division L – Belvoir 3rd v Ellerslie 3rd.

Division N – Whatton & Aslockton 2nd v Gedling Colliery 4th.

Division P – Radcliffe on Trent 4th v Belvoir 4th.

Division R – East Bridgford 2nd v Bingham 2nd.

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Billingborough v Moulton Harrox, Grantham v Bourne, Stamford Town v Belton Park, Welby v Boston.

Division One – Market Deeping 2nd v Billingborough 2nd.

Division Two – Burgh & District v Welby 2nd, Claypole v Pinchbeck, Timberland v Grantham 2nd.

Football

Friendlies

Harrowby United U17 v Blaby & Whetstone U17 (noon).

Rainworth Miners Welfare v Grantham Town (3pm).

Harrowby United v Blaby & Whetstone (3pm).

Charity

Images v Spotted Cow (6pm at Dickens Road)

SUNDAY

Cricket

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One – Barkby United v Bottesford, Buckminster v Frisby Hoby & Rotherby, Sileby Town v Barrowby, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir v Belton Park.

Division Two – Bingham v Whissendine, Grantham v Harlaxton, Sproxton v Queniborough.

Division Three – Colsterworth v Barkston & Syston, Queniborough v Skillington.

Newark Alliance

Division Four – Belvoir v Plumtree 2nd.

TUESDAY

Cricket

Burrough League

Division One – Belvoir v Stamford.

A county councillor is furious that improvements to the junction in Bridge End Road will not include a pedestrian crossing.

Coun Charmaine Morgan believes now would be the ideal time to add the crossing on what is a dangerous place to cross the road.

She said: “Having raised concerns with Lincolnshire County Council Highways officers I find it staggering that money is being spent to upgrade this junction without regard for pedestrian access or safety.”

Coun Morgan disputes the explanation put forward by highways, that there are not enough pedestrians crossing to make it worthwhile.

She said: “Mark Heaton’s response was that there are insufficient pedestrians to warrant investment now.

“Surely though the number of pedestrians using the junction is lower than it should be because of the lack of safe crossing places.

“Through Springfield Road housing development and expansion of businesses on Spittlegate the need for safe pedestrian access is ever increasing.

“HGV use is likely to increase, making the junction less safe for pedestrians, as local recycling firms including Environcom expand.”

Despite the knock-back Coun Morgan says she will continue to push for a pedestrian crossing.

She said: “Those less mobile find this junction a barrier to accessing town, local schools and parks.

“This is not acceptable given the money being spent.

“I will continue pushing for improvements at this junction.”

Jacky Smith is in her first term as a district councillor, representing St Wulfram’s ward as a Conservative.

A the age of seven she was taken to a political meeting by her mother, who was a family friend of the eminent Conservative minister RA Butler.

Jacky, who is 70, was born in Farnborough and moved to Grantham in 1946.

Her successful career as an engineering consultant in oil and gas exploration involved working all over the world, especially in the former USSR and other countries behind the Iron Curtain.

She is a trustee of St Barnabas Hospice, a governor of the King’s School, and is also involved with Manthorpe church, Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Legion Poppy Appeal, WI and Grantham Flower Arrangement Club.

Jacky’s husband Ian died in October last year after a lifetime working in the water industry.

She says: “I have been fortunate in life and always wanted to try to put something back. I think you get back out of life what you put in.”

Cartoon by Terry Shelbourne.

Children growing up in Grantham today face an exhilarating but frightening world of possibility.

Thanks to the internet, they can read every book that has ever been written, listen to every piece of music that has ever been produced.

They can look at images of the most distant places on the globe and make friends with people in every country.

Every generation before this one grew up in a world that was much more tightly constrained. Our knowledge of the world was taken from atlases, adventure stories and David Attenborough.

The internet has expanded the horizons of young people to an almost unimaginable degree. But it has also exposed this generation to appalling risks and horrors.

Both intentionally and by mistake, children can be exposed to pornographic images at an age when they are much too young to understand what sex can involve.

They can stumble upon situations in which the vile degradation of women – because it usually is women – is made to seem normal. Worst of all, through the false intimacy of the internet, they can sometimes be persuaded to exchange images of themselves by child pornographers and paedophiles.

As a Conservative, my starting point is that people should be free to live their lives as they choose. And I am not going to start lecturing consenting adults about their private enjoyment of legal pornography.

But I do not believe government should leave parents on their own in the unequal battle to limit their children’s exposure to the worst things to be found online.

The Prime Minister is right to challenge the big search engines to find ways to make it harder for paedophiles to find child pornography.

And he is right to insist that Internet Service Providers have adult content filters activated at source unless the account holder makes a positive decision to ask for them to be turned off.

Childhood is fleeting. The world’s dangers have to be confronted soon enough. Parents need government to make it easier for them to protect their children until they are ready to venture forth into the world.

Shortly after the news that Grantham would lose its maternity unit we have received news that the body in charge of running Lincolnshire’s hospitals is in a sad state of affairs.

Part of the blame has fallen on communication problems. More has been attributed to a lack of resources. How much did this lack of competence on behalf of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust affect the decision to cut into Grantham Hospital? If Grantham was not meeting targets necessary to keep the maternity unit, it is surely due in part to the Trust’s board members who have now come under fire.

We have been told that staffing levels are behind a lot of the trouble in the county’s hospitals and the NHS Trust are now acting in hiring 80 new nurses “immediately” according to chief executive of the Trust Jane Lewington.

It is good to see that it takes a situation such as this to act on inadequate nursing levels rather than listening to those who work 12 hour shifts with little assistance and have complained that the public may not be getting the care they should.

In the report, it is shown that Grantham Hospital does not get quite the share of the blame that Lincoln and Boston does. While this is certainly positive news for locals, it may also signal money, and therefore services, being drawn away to hit targets elsewhere.

After all, it is quantifiable targets that count now, not so much the intangible care to vulnerable patients.