Midlands League 2

East (North)

Kesteven 37

Loughborough 38

Kesteven were cruelly denied after putting in their best performance of the season in a thrilling encounter at Woodnook.

Kesteven went in front early on when Matt Harland nailed his penalty kick. But it was not long before the visitors had touched down for their first try of the match.

Ks mounted their counter attack with Martin Carew making a strong run from the back of a scrum. Loughborough were penalised for entering the resulting ruck from the side and Harland secured the three points to edge the home side back in front.

The visitors then scored their second try of the match with the conversion once again falling short. Kesteven replied immediately with a strong assault into Loughborough’s half of the pitch. Scrum half Adam Draper found a gap from the back of a scrum and was able to scramble through. Harland successfully converted to restore the Black Army’s lead at 13-10.

Kesteven secured possession from the restart with Dan Turner using a hole in the Loughborough defence to release Will Bradley into space. Bradley pressed forward before passing to Aaron Whitaker who covered the remaining 50m for Ks’ second. Harland again slotted the extra two points to give the home side a 10 point advantage.

Loughborough closed the gap on the brink of half time. Finding quite a few of the Kesteven defence still returning to their feet from several phases of play, they sneaked a converted try before the break to keep the scores close at 20-17.

Ks extended their lead in the opening minute of the second half when an Turner noticed that the opposition’s full back was not at home and kicked the ball deep into the Loughborough half. Whitaker chased and was on hand to skilfully gather the bouncing ball and fall over the line for the try.

Loughborough found themselves a man down from the 57th minute after a sin-binning and Kesteven capitalised when Turner broke the visitors’ line from Adam Draper’s pass from a ruck and touched down under the sticks, securing the all important bonus point. Harland’s kick was good to put the home side 32-17 up.

Back to 15 men, Loughborough threw everything they had at Ks and finally got their reward when a missed tackle in the middle of the field allowed the visitors to secure their bonus point-winning fourth converted try.

Kesteven added to their points tally with five minutes remaining when Carew lured the Loughborough defence and made the offload to Alex Ingram. The young home-grown winger’s dazzling 50m run saw him untouched to the last metre.

Unwilling to surrender, the visitors stretched the tired Kesteven defence and found themselves with a five-man overlap to easily touch down under the posts with four minutes to go.

ithin seconds of the restart, centre James Goodrich received a yellow card, taking the home side down to 14 men for the last few minutes of the game.

A fumbled Kesteven pass saw the ball roll lose in the middle of the field. Adam Draper, barely in reach of the grounded ball, managed to get a toe to kick it towards the touch line but unfortunately the Loughborough wing was able to gather the ball just before the touchline. The winger made good ground before eventually being hauled down by Draper. Kesteven almost regained possession from a ruck in their own 22 but the ball was deemed to have been knocked on.

The visitors then registered a try from another overlap to bring themselves within one point of Ks’ eroded lead.

The whole match now rested on a difficult conversion from the far side of the field and the ball sailed through the posts to leave the Black Army bitterly disappointed.

Man of the match was awarded to Tony Woolerton.

Kesteven: Odams, Hayward, Cowley, Sheardown, Turner, Peabody, Woolerton (c), Carew, Draper, Harland (Cann, 69), Ingram, Goodrich, Bradley, Taylor, Whitaker. Replacements not used: Purvis, Jordan.

Friendly

Sleaford 2nd 31

Kesteven 2nd 35

Kesteven were looking for a strong start, and they got this with some strong forward play putting pressure on the Sleaford line. The score, however, came from some individual running by Andy Price who used his pace and size to swat Sleaford tacklers aside and score.

The next try was a great team effort and after further pressure, the ball was moved through the soft hands of Nick Clarke and Ian Charles who released Mark Dent. Dent popped the ball back inside to the supporting Jamie Flear who went over.

Third on the scoresheet was Charles who walked in the third try.

Sleaford then came back into the game and scored a good try following some possession in the Kesteven 22.

This fired Ks up and they responded almost immediately when Dent came blind off a ruck and squeezed in at the corner.

Right on half time, Sleaford came back into the game again and scored a second try after some slack Kesteven defending. The conversion was good to make it 20-12 going into the break.

Sleaford were first on the scoresheet after half time with a good try at the sticks which brought them right into the game.

Ks looked a little rattled but managed to work another try through Jordan Hughes following great work from Flear once again. Crucially, the conversion sailed over with Tom Price now on the field.

Shortly after, Sleaford scored another try to close the gap.

Kesteven were awarded a penalty which was slotted by Andy Price but this only reinvigorated a buoyant Sleaford side who scored another try, and then slotted a touchline conversion to take the lead for the first time in the match at 31-30.

The visitors were determined not to let the victory escape following the great play in the first half. Tom Price kicked forward which he followed up and then fed to young wing Chris Roughan.

When he was tackled, the ball was recycled and Kesteven had forged an overlap. Simple hands from Price and Windsor released winger Charles who found some pace from somewhere to beat the covering Sleaford defence and score at the corner and seal a great victory.

Under-15

Market Deeping 14

Kesteven 17

Kesteven drew first blood after a high clearing kick by Deeping was fielded in the centre of the field by Kai Winfield, who showed his pace by darting over in the corner from 40 metres out.

Deeping finished the first half the stronger with a try underneath the posts to lead 7-5 at the break.

Into the second half, Ks skipper Jay Radford was judged to have knocked on when it looked certain he had scored. However, Alex Wheeler made sure that the visitors regained the lead with good footwork to evade tacklers and register Kesteven’s second try. Jack Rogerson kicked the conversion.

Deeping then piled on the pressure and eventually forced their way over for a converted try with five minutes left, making the score 14-12 in their favour.

Kesteven’s response was fast and, after Rogerson turned the ball over, Wheeler darted over in the corner to score his second and Kesteven’s third try.

Despite conceding a couple of penalties, Ks defended for their lives to close the game out and record their second win of the season.

Kesteven: McGoughlin, Haggo, Radford, Priest, Jefferies, Warden, Wheeler, Rogerson, Cann, Udom, Winfield, Jakes, Smith, Campion.

SATURDAY (December 14)

Football

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Worksop Town v Grantham Town (3pm).

United Counties League

Division One – Rushden & Higham United v Harrowby United (3pm).

Lincs FA Junior Cup

Tetney Rovers v Barrowby FC (1.30pm), Wyberton FC v Ancaster Rams.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – AFC Three Gables v Croxton AFC, White Horse Sleaford v Greyhounders.

Grantham Hospital Charity Cup, first round – Bottesford v Ancaster Rovers, Caythorpe v Cranmer Arms, CK Dons Reserves v Bottesford Reserves, Newark Flowserve FC v Barrowby Reserves.

Rugby

Midlands League 2

East (North) – Melbourne v Kesteven (2.15pm).

Notts Pennant League

Kesteven 2nd v Notts Moderns 2nd (2.15pm).

SUNDAY

Football

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – AFC Harrowby v AFC Red Lion Ruskington, Ruskington FC v Lions FC, Springfield AFC v FC Osbournby Rangers.

Division One – Caythorpe Sports & Social FC v Totemic FC, Colsterworth United v Long Bennington FC, Nobody Inn Athletic v Ancaster Athletic, Ropsley FC v Witham Wanderers.

Lincs Intermediate League

Steve Asher Memorial Cup, quarter-final – St Helens JFC v Grantham Town (1.30pm).

South League – Pointon v Young Dons (2pm).

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town 0 Ashton United 1.

United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United 0 St Neots Town Saints 0.

Central Midlands League

South – Barrowby FC 3 South Normanton Athletic 0.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – CK Dons Reserves 1 AFC Three Gables 3.

Culverthorpe Cup, first round – Ancaster Rovers 1 Greyhounders 4, Barrowby Reserves 4 Croxton AFC 0, Bottesford 6 Ancaster Rams 5, Newark Flowserve 5 Bottesford Reserves 1, White Horse Sleaford 5 Cranmer Arms 1.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – AFC Red Lion Ruskington 5 AFC Harrowby 4.

Division One – Colsterworth 1 Ropsley 9, Totemic FC 2 Long Bennington 2.

Charity Shield, second round – Caythorpe Sports & Social Club 11 Ancaster Athletic 3, FC Osbournby Rangers 11 Springfield AFC 4, Lions 5 Nobody Inn Athletic 3, Ruskington 0 Helpringham Rovers 1.

An A-level photography student at Grantham College might was shortlisted in a national competition and although she found out this week that she did not win she can still be proud.

Alice Caithness’s work was recognised by judges in the EEF ‘Made in Britain’ Photography Awards, which were announced at the House of Commons in London on Monday.

Her pictures were up for awards in the category for best photograph by a 14- to 19-year-old in the awards, which celebrate British design and manufacturing.

Anne-Marie Kerr, curriculum leader for art and design at Grantham College, said her student was very talented in using both composition and photographic skills to tell a story.

“We are all absolutely thrilled that Alice has been shortlisted in a national competition and has been given the opportunity to showcase her work in such a prestigious venue,” said Ms Kerr.

“She works incredibly hard and is very committed student. I am over the moon that her skills have been recognised.”

The subjects for Alice’s photographs were equipment at Grantham firm Vacu-lug Tyres, where her father, Craig, works as maintenance manager.

He said: “I am delighted about her achievement. Our company is one of Grantham’s oldest manufacturers and I am proud we are able to support the local college and Alice.”

Grantham Hospital is among hospitals across Lincolnshire taking further steps to fight infection by raising awareness of hand hygiene.

The infection prevention and control teams at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust (ULHT) have educated people about why hand hygiene is important in the fight against healthcare acquired infections.

Displays have been set up in the main entrance areas of Pilgrim Hospital, Boston and Lincoln County Hospital, Fotherby ward, out-patients and the education centre at County Hospital Louth as well as in the dogleg on Corridor F at Grantham and District Hospital.

Staff, patients and visitors were also given the chance to find out how good they are at cleaning their hands at a series of events using special glow boxes to show areas that are regularly missed when washing.

Infection prevention and control staff were also on hand to provide advice on keeping hands in good condition over winter as well as give out leaflets, lip balms and hand rub.

Margaret Fairless-Clarkson, Nurse Manager for Infection Prevention and Control at ULHT said: “Good hand hygiene stops the spread of infections and helps to save lives. Our organisation continues to take healthcare acquired infection seriously and has been successful in making an impact on rates of infections.

“One of the most effective methods of preventing cross infection is the practice of good hand hygiene not only in the hospital environment but also in the community.

“It is hoped that this initiative together with other projects such as staff training, careful use of antibiotics and environmental cleanliness will assist in fighting infection across the Trust.

“The Trust works closely with our colleagues in Public Health and the community to ensure patients admitted with infections do not pass these onto others whilst they receive the best quality care from ULHT staff.”

No trains will run on the East Coast main line on Friday, December 27, while workmen carry out upgrading work at Peterborough train station.

Network Rail has taken the decision to close the line and put on replacement coaches between Grantham, Peterborough and Huntingdon, including for all onward train services to and from the north and London King’s Cross.

It said it is putting on additional staff and that passengers will be able to wait for their bus in a heated temporary structure adjacent to Grantham’s station.

The work at Peterborough is part of a £43 million redevelopment.

Grantham Badminton Club enjoyed a busy and largely successful pre-Christmas week with five matches in the Newark League.

Star player was 16-year-old Andrew Watson who played a blinder and together with Rob Scarborough claimed three rubbers from three in the men’s fourth team Division Three match at Lincoln Albion. Andrew’s 14-year-old brother Daniel Watson with Dean Patel were impressive in claiming two more rubbers, as was Chris Graves with Brian Coyle.

Jaz Gilbert’s second mixed team played away to Cross Rackets at Minster School, Lincoln. Jaz with Chung Chan had a clean sweep, collecting all three rubbers, as did Bex Davison with Martin Peat. Susie Steeples with Adrian Ackroyd won two more rubbers to inflict a heavy 8-1 defeat on the home side.

At home in Div One, Grantham ladies’ first team swept away the challenge from Devon ladies, winning 9-0. Kerry Durham played with Sophie Turley, Bex Davison with Laura Graves, and Jaz Gilbert with Susie Steeples, to achieve the whitewash.

Grantham men’s second team had a tight match in Div One1, narrowly losing 5-4 to Cross O’Cliff. Adrian Ackroyd with Dave Shipman won two rubbers, Pete Mathews with Martin Peat won one,a nd Martin Chambers playing with reserve Rob Scarborough also claimed a rubber.

The mixed first team travelled to powerful Westside in Division One but could not match the home side’s strength, going down 8-1. Susie Steeples played with Martin Chambers, and Sophie Turley with Nick Gill. Kerry Durham with Chung Chan picked up a rubber to prevent the whitewash.

Grantham Town joint manager Ian Robinson says nothing less than 100 per cent is what is needed – from the supporters as well as the players on the pitch

Robinson said that players do not necessarily tend to absorb what is being shouted from the stands, but he said what is noticeable is when there is no noise at all: “On the bench we notice it more than we did in the middle.

“There is an impact when it is quiet as you notice that. We would love to have more vocal support from the stands as that really can encourage the team.

“We need to have 100 per cent behind us – board, fans and players.”

Robin said he accepted that Town needed to pick up some points quickly as they and a good few other teams are steadily sinking perilously close to the nether regions of the league: “Only being four points above the bottom four where we are shows how tight the league is. There are three teams struggling, and it looks as though the fourth place could be any one of 11 or 12 teams.”

Following the Gingerbreads’ disappointing single-goal home defeat to Ashton United on Saturday, Robinson looked to tomorrow’s visit to Worksop Town, against whom he said Grantham may pull off a surprise.

He said: “Worksop are still showing that they can be vulnerable at the back. They are absolutely flying, so it is a bit of a freebie for us as we are under no pressure at all. Their confidence will be high, but it is a chance to knock that down a peg or two.

“If they are not on their game, pressure builds on them. We will be doing everything to get a result.”

BELTON PARK

Belton Park held its Christmas charity competition last Saturday, named in memory of Colin Elstone who was the originator of the event.

A field of 32 teams, each consisting of four players played on a very well presented course which had been tidied up after the storms two days previously. The format was a stableford competition with two scores counting on each hole. The high scoring reflected the standard of the course and also the players themselves.

Nearest the pin on the fourth hole was Michael (Spike) Carr, and on the 17th it was Dick Neal. Winner of the raffle was Michael Sims who received a golf bag.

Results: 1 Mark Franklin, Tim Shaw, Tony Davies and Nigel Strutt 85pt, 2 Mark Sutton, Paul Thompson, Dean Griffiths and Roger Davis 84, 3 Nigel Harris, Chris Holmes, Peter Corcoran and Tony Nickson 84 points

The equivalent ladies’ competition attracted a field of 56 on Sunday.

Club captain Rob Bartlett awarded a special prize to the team with the best score on the par threes which was was won by Janni Pask. Irene Cogger, Margaret Henson and Cynthia Mills with 30 points.

Results: 1 Shelley McClelland, Sue Mitchell, Kathleen Bell and Jean Sutcliffe 79, 2 Joy Stepney, Carol Taylor, Diane Dixon and Paula Marshall 78 ocb, 3 Carol Steele, Nicola Routledge, Pat Evans and Becky Lloyd.

At the presentation of prizes, the two new captains, Rob Bartlett and Marjorie Thompson, presented a cheque for £2,047 to Kate Hughes of the Breast Care Trust Fund.

Rob Bartlett presented a vintage bottle of port to Trevor Ireland and Alec King, the organisers of this competition, in recognition of their work over the past 25 years. During those 25 years, more than £30,000 has been raised for local charities. Trevor and Alec are standing down and handing over the reins to John Kirkup.

Seniors

Belton Park seniors’ final stableford of the year was won by John Clarke with 41 points.

Peter Hawkins was one point adrift and Trevor Collis was third with 38. The front nine was won by Peter Brooks with 21 and Michael Robinson had the best back nine with 20.

BELTON WOODS

Seniors

A farewell dinner was held by Belton Woods seniors in the hotel’s Hawthorn Suite to mark the end of Alan Lowen’s tenure as captain.

During the course of the evening, Alan presented a cheque for £1,925 to LIVES (Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Services) representative Steve Hyde.

Star performers of the evening were the Belton Belles Choir conducted by John Williams and consisting of the wives and partners of Belton Woods seniors together with lady golfers.

Prior to handing over the seniors captaincy to George Forbes, Alan presented trophies to the successful golfers of the year.

Mike Whitington took home four trophies in all – The Memorial Trophy, George Franklin Cup, Secretary’s Salver and the Scratch Plate for 19+ Handicap.

Pat Stanford won the Matchplay, Tom Lambert Trophy and the Peter Driver Memorial Trophy .

Colin Musson claimed the Summer Eclectic and the 19+ Handicap Cup, while Peter Bishop won the Singles Plate, Colin Thornton the Peter Driver Trophy, and Bob Clarke the Hamilton Smith Trophy.

The Captain’s Cup Bob Blake and the Peter Prior pairs competition was won by Ian Nisbett and David Toule. The Jeff Benton Cup was won by P. K. Pang and the 18 and under Handicap Trophy was claimed by Tin Win.

Terry Seddon triumphed in The Dedication Trophy while the Winter Frostbite John Williams and Scratch Plate for 18 and under Handicap was won by Tony Turner.

STOKE ROCHFORD

Seniors

The latest round of Stoke Rochford seniors’ Winter Warmers was a Texas Scramble.

Winners were Mike Dickinson, Phil White and John Helstrip with 64 (net 58.3), including six birdies and no bogeys.

Runners-up were Mike Nixon, Eddie Plant and Malcolm Edwards with 66 (60.2) and third were the two-ball Mike Palmer and Brian Ayto with 67 (61.8).

With seven rounds completed, 79 seniors have participated in total and Greg Ewart retains the overall lead with 26 points, from Brian Ayto and Phil White, both of whom are on 23.

SUDBROOK MOOR

The annual Christmas Trophy stableford, played with two clubs and a putter, was won by senior Bryan Greenslade.

Playing off 17 handicap, Bryan carded 37 points with a 20 point front nine and 17 for the back. Runner-up Barry Kay carded 36 and won Category 4 with his 28 handicap.

Best of the rest with 33 was Dennis Green. John Johnson and Pete Farmer finished on 32 points in Categories 1-3, with Martin Whistler and David Porter on 31 in Category 4.

There were birdie twos for Dave Guy, John Johnson, Steve Squiries, Graham Mackinder, Tony Rose, Colin Henfrey and John Ronan.

A convicted rapist on day release from prison went on to carry out a terrifying knifepoint sex attack after disappearing from his work placement during his lunch hour, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Nicky Suddons was carrying out painting and decorating work on a church property in the centre of Grantham while serving a life sentence at North Sea Camp open jail, in Boston.

David Outterside, prosecuting, told a jury that Suddons left the project during a lunch break and made his way through Grantham to the town’s Queen Elizabeth Park.

He then lay in wait in a wooded area before confronting a middle-aged dog walker as she made her way along a footpath.

Suddons, who was wearing a black mask and armed with a craft knife, stood just three feet from the woman who fell to the ground after becoming tangled in her dog’s lead.

She screamed, ignoring Suddons’ demand not to do so, and then her dog barked and lunged at Suddons who fled the scene. Two passersby went to the aid of the woman including a cyclist who set off after Suddons and stopped him near to the park exit.

The man accompanied Suddons back to the scene and despite his denials Suddons was arrested after police carried out a check and discovered he was a convicted sex offender.

Mr Outterside said that Suddons carefully planned the attack taking a balaclava, rubber gloves, a knife and condoms with him to the park.

He told the jury: “What was on his mind was rape. This time he was prepared and was absolutely determined not to be caught. He thought he could get clean away with it but he was caught red-handed.”

Suddons, 26, formerly of Abbey Hey, Manchester, denied attempt rape on June 28 but was convicted by the jury after less than an hour’s deliberations.

He admitted to the jury that he attacked the woman but denied having any sexual intent. He claimed he wanted to “control” her.

The jury was told he was jailed for life at Manchester Crown Court in September 2005 after admitting one rape and six sexual assaults involving attacks on seven women and girls in East Manchester during 2004.

He said he had changed since the earlier offences and was now a different man.

Judge Sean Morris remanded him custody for the preparation of a psychiatric report and an assessment of the danger he poses to women. He will be sentenced at a later date.

Christmas dinner can often be a stressful event for everyone involved but when Bob Adams helps prepare turkey and all the trimmings for the homeless and people living alone it is nothing but a joyous occasion.

Bob, who is also a district and county councillor, is one of the leading lights in the annual Churches Together effort which ensures needy individuals in Grantham enjoy a roast dinner and some company every December 25.

An army of volunteers cooks and serves the meal in the church hall at St Mary’s in the town.

The initiative also makes sure cold platters are delivered to those people who are unable to leave the house but who might otherwise be on their own at Christmas.

What do you enjoy about the Christmas day effort?

We get a lot of happy and willing helpers and there is a lot of great team work on the day. It is very rewarding for those involved, without being patronising to those people we are helping. It’s a family day and most of these people have no family nearby so they really enjoy it.

What goes into the day to make it such a success every year?

We try to have one volunteer helper for every guest at the dinner. We’re lucky that so many people want to help and not all of them are church-going people. We’re fortunate to have a qualified chef or cook to prepare the meals and then we all muck-in to wash-up afterwards.

Numbers vary but we usually cater for a minimum of 20, although the hall holds 30.

How do you help people who are unable to get to the dinner but who are alone on Christmas Day?

We do run transport to help some people get to the dinner. For the others we deliver a cold platter. This will be made up of three meats, salad, potatoes and an individual Christmas pudding. There will also be a bottle of wine and chocolates with their meal. We are unable to deliver hot food to them because of health and safety regulations.

How do you go about assessing people who benefit from having a Christmas dinner prepared for them?

We have a list of names and addresses for those who have been to the dinner or had their meal delivered in the past. We also let people know about it through the church newsletters and the Grantham Journal and a lot of it is through word of mouth. Age ranges vary. We had a person in their 20s at the dinner one year and we must had people in their 80s and 90s although we never ask their ages.

Do you have time to enjoy your own family celebrations on the day?

We have two children in their 20s and we enjoy our Christmas meal later in the day, which is when I prefer to eat it. We go to midnight mass as well. It’s a happy family day and people shouldn’t be alone at Christmas.

* If you know of someone who would welcome a Christmas dinner on December 25, call Bob on 01476 530329 or e-mail bobadams@talktalk.net

“Amazing generosity” from Grantham people has seen even more cash go over to Filipino families left devastated by Typhoon Haiyan.

The Rotary Club of Grantham has raised around £4,000 for the disaster appeal through bucket collections and Gift Aid.

Over £3,000 was collected from passers-by at Sainsburys, Asda, Costa, Downtown and town centre streets, together with donations from members of the Rotary club.

Delighted president Kevin Lawry said: “If you donated, thank you so much. Well done Grantham!”

Members sent £1,180 to Rotary Shelterboxes, a scheme which sends out large boxes filled with a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, groundsheets, water storage and filtration equipment, cooking utensils, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items. The Grantham donation will pay for two boxes to be sent out.

In addition, £2,000 will be sent directly to Rotary clubs in Cebu where members are helping smaller communities who have lost everything by buying supplies such as rice, sardines, beef, water and torches.

Further donations for the Rotary collection can be handed in at HSBC bank, Westgate, Grantham.

Pictured are, from left - Roger Graves and David Holmes.

Children’s TV presenters Sam and Mark led a sing-along for families on the trip to Lapland this week.

The visit on Wednesday was a magical one enjoyed by 69 very poorly children and their mums and dads.

The trip was put on by When You Wish Upon A Star, with five places paid for by the Journal Children’s Fund after a successful appeal earlier this year raised over £10,000.

In this video, Sam and Mark sing to lead Santa to where the children were eagerly waiting to see him.

A visit to Lapland on Wednesday was a magical one enjoyed by 69 very poorly children and their mums and dads.

The trip was put on by When You Wish Upon A Star, with five places paid for by the Journal Children’s Fund after a successful appeal earlier this year raised over £10,000.

In this video, families watch as a firework finale brings a trip to the Magical Forest to a close.

A visit to Lapland on Wednesday was a magical one enjoyed by 69 very poorly children and their mums and dads.

The trip was put on by When You Wish Upon A Star, with five places paid for by the Journal Children’s Fund after a successful appeal earlier this year raised over £10,000.

In this video, paramedic Cherylene Camps gives her colleague David Seaton a bit of a fright!

A visit to Lapland on Wednesday was a magical one enjoyed by 69 very poorly children and their mums and dads.

The trip was put on by When You Wish Upon A Star, with five places paid for by the Journal Children’s Fund after a successful appeal earlier this year raised over £10,000.

In this video, Maggie Falconer, of When You Wish Upon A Star, talks about the charity and its work.

Vale of Belvoir League

Knockout Cup, quarter-final – Castle 8 Bull Inn A 9, WSC B 3 BCC 13, Kings Arms 9 WSC A 8, Bull Inn B 5 Rose & Crown 11.

180s: K. Watson (Rose & Crown), P. Spridgens (WSC B).

Knockout Cup, semi-final draw (matches to be played on Friday, April 18) – Rose & Crown v Kings Arms, Bull Inn A v BCC.

As a Conservative voter (maybe) I am finding it hard to understand the naivete in the thought processes of our MP Nick Boles and the Grantham Business Club and Grantham Retailers Association with regard to two hours free parking in town to help revitalise the town centre.

Free parking is already available to the supermarkets in town, which apparently has had no effect on attracting more shoppers to the town. The financial impact in lost revenue to the cash strapped SKDC and possibly an increase in maintenance to the car parks, means that revenue must be sourced from elsewhere. Elsewhere being local rates which we all end up paying, regardless of whether we drive our cars into town or not, or even if we own one.

Also, we must not forget that many car parks are privately owned, and those owners are also trying to scratch a living in a recession; something the Business Club and GRA seemed to have forgotten. These car parks have already kept their parking fees down in response to SKDC reducing theirs two years ago; as a consequence parking in Grantham is very competitive compared to many towns and cities in our area. Let us not forget that the privately-owned car parks would be eligible to sue for compensation as they would be powerless to respond to the Big Brother tactics of SKDC.

The answer, surely, is to think wider and for the Business Club and GRA to lobby Nick Boles into talking to his cabinet colleagues and reduce the exceptionally high business rates for small businesses and pass these costs on to big businesses, especially the supermarkets that are drowning out small businesses. Secondly, treat corporation tax for small businesses in the same way as income tax for individuals, where they would not pay tax until turnover has reached an agreed level. Finally, raise the level at which small businesses have to pay VAT or reduce VAT from its current very high level. This in my mind is the only way to create the level playing field between the supermarkets with their powerful purchasing powers and the smaller shops and what Nick Boles is after, and not by penalising an under-funded SKDC and putting private car parks out of business, which, ultimately, would make parking in Grantham worse than it already is.

Mike Grimwood

By email

Regarding Nick Boles’ suggestion regarding free parking, I fully endorse his comments.

The council appear to be oblivious to the problems of retailers and small businesses, the need for shoppers. So, instead of driving people out of town get them to drive in.

It appears to me the council is motivated by greed . . . revenue from parking charges! Constant traffic wardens patrolling seeking their next victim. In my view it’s legalised robbery.

Try free parking for a period. Shoppers will flock back and revitalise the high street. Let the town thrive, not die.

John Kirk

Skillington

SKDC leader Linda Neal claims that the Free Parking Campaign proposed by MP Nick Boles would be “totally at odds” with the council’s policy. This ‘policy’ means that Grantham and Stamford motorists currently have to pay for parking while Bourne motorists enjoy free parking. Is this equitable, fair or reasonable?

The comparative charges she quotes have blatantly been selectively chosen to support her argument, eg the only £3 all-day charge in Grantham is in Conduit Lane, while Welham Street and Wharf Road both charge £8 for over four hours. Furthermore, the £7.50 all-day charge she cites for Lincoln relates to those car parks near the station, while Broadgate and Chaplin Street (convenient for shopping) charge £4 for an all-day ticket.

But returning to the basic principle of free parking: of course people who don’t use car parks would be subsidising those who do, but this principle already applies to many services. Would she propose that our schools be funded only by tax-payers who have school-age children? Or should our police, fire and ambulance services only be paid for by those who use them?

We are told that free parking (which already exists in Bourne) would cost £370,000 – a mere 0.5 per cent of SKDC budget. In the Council Tax explanatory booklet we read that the ‘Well run council priority theme’ (whatever that means) costs 14 per cent of council spending. No prizes for guessing which priority local tax-paying motorists would choose.

Brian Bruce

Bourne Road, Colsterworth

Planning Minister Nick Boles MP expects to lose his Parliamentary seat in 2015. So he seeks to bribe us with our own money with “free” car parking. Ed Miliband MP is trying the same con trick with “freezing” our electricity bills.

Mr Boles wants to shift car parking charges from car park users to the Council Tax. This shifts the cost from your daily cash pocket to your monthly Council Tax pocket. You are still paying.

But wait a minute, why should many Council Tax paying residents not using car parks, pay for those who do use them? Those who use a car should pay for its costs, not push those costs on to folks who use the train, bus, taxi or cycle, walk or stay at home.

Look at the Miliband electricity “price freeze”. From 2008 he was Secretary of State for Energy until promoted in 2010. He knows that the margin of reserve generating capacity used to be 15 per cent, but is now down to five per cent and falling. The risk of our lights going out increases as this small safety margin shrinks. It now just takes a cold spell and a couple of large power stations having a bad day.

Egerton Gilman

Stamford