An ambitious production of the musical Bugsy Malone was carried off in great syle by these young performers.

The cast of year four, five and six pupils worked tirelessly over many weeks in rehearsals before facing the rigours of two 90-minute performances for large audiences of parents and friends.

The show was produced by drama teacher Nicola Swaby and performed by members of a drama club at West Grantham Primary Academy, Dysart Road.

Members of the weekly after-school group took the main parts, while other classmates provided the chorus.

The stage sets were made by staff.

My energy supplier has announced price rises. I want to find out if I can get a better deal elsewhere, but I don’t know where to start.

If your energy prices are about to shoot up, you can find out if you can get a cheaper deal elsewhere by switching supplier. You can use a price comparison site approved by Ofgem (www.ofgem.gov.uk), or get help from your local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Comparing and switching energy tariff or provider can be a confusing process. But using a price comparison site, particularly one signed up to Ofgem’s Confidence Code, can help you to find a better deal and ensure you’re not paying more for your energy than you need to.

The Confidence Code is a Code of Practice that governs independent energy price comparison sites. It insists that members follow key principles for how they must operate their service. So using a site with the Confidence Code logo means that the process of switching energy supplier should be easier, more reliable and reassuring for you.

Energy suppliers must give you at least 30 days’ notice of any price increases, so act fast to make changes before the increases come into force. If you decide to switch suppliers, you need start the switching process within 20 days of being told about a price increase, that way your existing supplier can’t enforce the price rise.

Under new rules, if you’re on a fixed term contract and it’s coming to an end, your supplier must tell you between 42 and 49 days beforehand so, if you want to, you can switch suppliers during this time without any penalties.

And if you are on a fixed term contract signed on or after July 15, 2013, suppliers can’t increase prices, unless the price increase was agreed in advance - for example with a tracker tariff. If your supplier breaks these rules you can complain, first to the energy supplier, then to the Energy Ombudsman.

If you are having difficulty paying for energy, or worried that your bills might be about to rise, contact South Kesteven CAB to speak to a specialist advisor.

Keith Smy has been confirmed as the new Deputy Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police.

Chief Constable Neil Rhodes confirmed Mr Smy, who was previously acting Deputy Chief Constable, in his new position.

Chief Constable Rhodes, who was only recently himself confirmed as head of the county force, said: “I am delighted that Keith has accepted the position and it means that I can now advertise for a permanent Assistant Chief Constable. I wanted to move as quickly as possible to secure a stable chief officer team.”

Dep Chief Constable Smy has been acting as Lincolnshire’s deputy chief constable since August. He started his police career in Staffordshire Police which he joined in 1984 and rose through the ranks in a variety of roles. He is a graduate of the High Potential Development Scheme and after selection for the Strategic Command Course in 2008 he moved to Lincolnshire as Assistant Chief Constable (Safer Neighbourhoods) in 2009.

Prior to his move to Lincolnshire, he had been Staffordshire’s Head of Protective Services Basic Command Unit (BCU) incorporating Crime and Operational Support Divisions for 18 months, a BCU Commander at Trent Valley BCU for four years and Head of the Forces Human Resource Department for 3 years.

In his teens Deputy Chief Constable Smy lived in Billinghay and attended the Lafford School where he was head boy in his final year. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Science with Mathematics from the Open University, post graduate qualifications in management and a Masters Degree in Business Administration.

He has a particular interest in working with young people, tackling youth crime and victimisation and promoting and fostering the active participation of the community in volunteering in a variety of roles, not least the Special Constabulary. He has Regional ACPO responsibility for Volunteering.

Deputy Chief Constable Smy said: “I am honoured to serve Lincolnshire as the Deputy Chief Constable. This is a great force, full of amazing people. Despite the funding challenges, politics and bureaucracy I’m looking forward to 2014 because I know that every day someone in the force will do something to make me feel proud to be part of this team.”

Allan Davies, of Hazelwood Drive, Grantham, has sent in this photo of the Belvoir Hunt on its annual Boxing Day visit to the town centre.

Do you have any pictures from the Hunt you would like to share with us or any other photos you have taken over the Christmas holidays? Email them to comment@granthamjournal.co.uk with a few details about the picture.

An 11-year-old appearing in the Guildhall Arts Centre’s big Pantomime has called it: “The highlight of my year.”

Singing and dancing are meat and drink to Brandon Spridgens, who sailed through auditions for Jack and the Beanstalk.

Having been dancing since the age of two at several local dance schools, he said: “This year’s pantomime involves alot of rehearsing and hard work, but it is worth it.

“It’s the highlight of my year. I love making people smile and starring in the pantomime is alot of fun. Spiking my hair and wearing funny costumes are definitely the highlights for me.”

In recent years, Brandon has entertained crowds at Disneyland Paris, and danced with Britain’s Got Talent runners-up Twist and Pulse, the London-based street dance duo.

He has also appeared on stage with CBBC’s Dick and Dom, danced on stage with George Sampson, winner of Britain’s Got Talent with his Singin’ in the Rain routine and now appearing in teleision drama Waterloo Road, and taken part in various other stage and public dance performances.

Another highlight was creating a dance routine he showed to comedy duo Stavros Flatley.

“My dreams for the future are to continue doing what I love doing and make everyone in my home town proud. People should realise Grantham is a fun and entertaining place,” he said.

The pantomime, starring Phil Norton and Craig Cowdry, runs until January 4, but there is no performance on New Year’s Day.

* Tickets for the performances of Jack and the Beanstalk cost £12 (£10 concessions) or £40 for a family of four. Call 01476 406158 to book or for information.

St John’s Day Centre, Grantham, would like to thank Peter W and Peter C for the Christmas carol singalong at the centre on December 17.

It was enjoyed by all.

Mandy Cole

Grantham

Reference the story by Nick Rennie (Journal, November 22) ‘Archers link may save village pub’.

I was born in Rippingale in 1922 and my mother was also born there. My grandfather, Joseph Whitney was the village cobbler, he made boots and shoes. He had 14 children, eight girls and six boys.

The youngest child, Stephen Whitney, was landlord of The Bull Inn from the early 1930s until the late 1940s.

The pub was my local for 20 years until 1956. Mr Baseley or Mr Burtt never called when I was there. If they did call, they didn’t order a meal. No meals were served. Food was served at The Windmill Inn in Rippingale. That pub closed in 1956 and the Stubley family moved in and ran it as a cafe.

George Stubley

Osbournby

I would like to congratulate the students and staff at Grantham College’s Catering School.

I and a group of others enjoyed a superb Christmas lunch in the Witham Room restaurant on Friday, December 13. The quality of food was excellent and certainly value for money.

The students coped very well, considering as well as our large party they also had another large party.

Very well done to everyone involved.

Happy Christmas.

Mrs Elizabeth Gill

Great Gonerby

St Barnabas Grantham Hospice would like to thank Hilary and her team at The George shopping centre, Grantham, for their support with this year’s grotto, and to all of our volunteers who have helped us with its smooth running.

Although final figures are not available as yet, we anticipate that the hospice will raise in excess of £2,000.

Special thanks to Yorkshire Bank for helping us over the weekend and who are match funding our income.

Also thanks to Kaberry’s of Lincoln, for once again generously donating the grotto to us free-of-charge.

We wish you all a very happy and prosperous 2014.

Janie McCormick

Community events fundraiser

Grantham St Barnabas hospice

An online candlelit vigil is to be held to celebrate the life of murdered schoolgirl Rosie May Storrie, 10, on the 10th anniversary of her death.

Her family and friends will also be celebrating five years of the opening of the Rosie May Home, today (Saturday), her living legacy which has brought hope to the lives of vulnerable young girls in Sri Lanka by providing them with opportunities for a brighter and better future.

During the last 48 hours of her life, from Saturday, December 28 to Monday, December 30, people from all over the world are being asked to share in the celebration of Rosie May’s life, 10 years on, by lighting a candle in her name, taking a picture of it and then posting it to a specially created page on the Rosie May Memorial Fund 
Facebook site (find it through www.rosie-may.com)

Rosie May was killed by the autistic son of a family friend at a Christmas party in December 2003.

The Rosie May Home, which opened in Sri Lanka five years ago with just five orphaned children, is now home to a ‘family’ of 20 bright and happy girls, aged four to 18, who are benefiting from Rosie May’s living legacy.

The home, which is fully funded by the Rosie May Memorial Fund, nurtures each of the children as individuals, teaches them essential life skills and helps them to progress academically and to develop into independent young women.

The Rosie May girls, as they call themselves, are educated in local schools and taught English through the Rosie May Home’s volunteer programme.

Educational resources have continued to grow and there now there are plans to build a classroom onto the Rosie May Home to provide space for extra tuition the girls receive in English, maths and science.

The Rosie May Memorial Fund - a registered UK charity - was formed in January 2004 in response to overwhelming donations from the public following Rosie May’s murder. Immediate funds went to the Sheffield Paediatric Intensive Care Unit which cared for the Bottesford girl during the last 48 hours of her life.

In December 2004 Rosie May’s parents Mary and Graham decided Christmas at home would be unbearable without their daughter so they decided to escape with their two sons, Luke and Laurence, from the horrific recollections of the year before.

On Christmas Day in South East Asia a tiny palm tree was planted by Rosie May’s family in memory of their beautiful little girl.

The next day their paradise island in the Indian Ocean was engulfed by the 2004 Asian Tsunami.

Mary said: “We were told we were ‘lucky’ to escape unharmed, however we knew Rosie May was watching over us and had kept us safe. Miraculously the little palm tree stood untouched, perfect, as debris swirled around it.

“We were humbled by the bravery of the Sri Lankan people. The enormity of death, devastation and destruction touched everyone’s lives.

“Our personal experience of witnessing this tragedy inspired the Rosie May Home for tsunami orphans and abandoned girls”.

Five years on and so much has been achieved, with the inspirational efforts of volunteers, fundraisers and all those who have generously donated helping to transform the Rosie May girls’ lives.

The Storries last visited the Rosie May Home in July. Mary said: “As always we were amazed to see the remarkable progress of the girls, not only academically but importantly in their own self confidence. Their willingness, enthusiasm and confidence in spoken English is improving rapidly.

“It’s pretty mindblowing looking back over the last 10 years and what has been achieved.

“It has definitely given us a positive focus and has really been the difference between us coming together as a family and maybe not.

“It’s taken 10 years but I do feel I’m only just beginning to be able to remember Rosie May for the beautiful and gifted child she was, rather than the manner of how she died.

“Next year she would have been 21 and on May 4 we’re holding a birthday ball fundraiser in a sparkling marquee on the stunning Belvoir Castle Estate.”

Mary added: “The Rosie May Home is forever. We’re committed to a lifetime of sustaining the home so as many vulnerable young girls as possible will benefit from Rosie May’s living legacy.”

Rosie May’s brothers, Luke, 25, and Laurence, 22, are trustees of the charity which is funded entirely from public donations.

Among this year’s amazing fund-raising efforts was a second annual trek across the Sahara Desert.

Team members, who returned from their trek in late September, have so far raised more than £21,000 to be split between the Rosie May Home and the Sheffield Paediatric Intensive Care Unit.

Mary said: “I can remember when we raised our first £1,000 and we said then wouldn’t it be amazing if we could raise £10,000 - £1,000 for every year of Rosie May’s life.

“Now we’re nearly at the half a million pounds mark and we’re so grateful to everyone for their support.”

To post your candlelight photos in memory of Rosie May, between Saturday and Monday, visit www.rosie-may.com and click on the link to visit the Facebook page.

For more about the fund, the Rosie May Home, other projects and how you can get involved visit www.rosie-may.com

A volunteer and information day will be held at Bottesford Baptist Church, Queen Street, Bottesford, on Saturday, January 11, starting at 9.30am. An afternoon session for potential volunteers will be from 1pm-4pm. Limited places are available. To reserve a place email your CV and letter of application to mary@rosie-may.com

Anyone with queries can e-mail maryjanest@hotmail.com

An 11-year-old appearing in the Guildhall Arts Centre’s big Pantomime has called it: “The highlight of my year.”

Singing and dancing are meat and drink to Brandon Spridgens, who sailed through auditions for Jack and the Beanstalk.

Having been dancing since the age of two at several local dance schools, he said: “This year’s pantomime involves alot of rehearsing and hard work, but it is worth it.

“It’s the highlight of my year. I love making people smile and starring in the pantomime is alot of fun. Spiking my hair and wearing funny costumes are definitely the highlights for me.”

In recent years, Brandon has entertained crowds at Disneyland Paris, and danced with Britain’s Got Talent runners-up Twist and Pulse, the London-based street dance duo.

He has also appeared on stage with CBBC’s Dick and Dom, danced on stage with George Sampson, winner of Britain’s Got Talent with his Singin’ in the Rain routine and now appearing in teleision drama Waterloo Road, and taken part in various other stage and public dance performances.

Another highlight was creating a dance routine he showed to comedy duo Stavros Flatley.

“My dreams for the future are to continue doing what I love doing and make everyone in my home town proud. People should realise Grantham is a fun and entertaining place,” he said.

The pantomime, starring Phil Norton and Craig Cowdry, runs until January 4, but there is no performance on New Year’s Day.

Tickets for the performances of Jack and the Beanstalk cost £12 (£10 concessions) or £40 for a family of four. Call 01476 406158 to book or for information.

Three-piece band Indigo is enjoying a new lease of life with a new face in the band.

And the trio will be showcasing what 2014 will bring with a ticket-only gig at Oscar’s Wine bar in the George Centre on New Year’s Eve.

Comprising guitarist/lead vocal David Hughes, bass player/vocalist Anne Thompson and drummer/vocalist Cameron Sunman, the band plays a mix of music from the 60s to the present day and make frequent appearances at many of Grantham’s music venues.

Anne, from Grantham, said: “We are delighted to have Cameron on board. David and I have seen him perform with other bands where he provided vocals and keyboard skills and we recognised what a talent he is. Then to find he also plays drums made him the ideal candidate when we needed a new drummer.”

David, from Newark, who joined the band last year, commented: “To have the additonal voice makes for richer backing vocals and it’s great we can now create three-part harmonies.”

Newcomer Cameron said he had seen Indigo play a few times before he joined.

“When I had the opportunity, I grabbed it with both hands. I’m still relatively new to drumming, but I’ve had extensive coaching, so taking over the role has been relatively straightforward and it’s great to add the third vocal.”

Tickets for the December 31st gig are available from Oscars and Cappuccinos.

Great Ponton Youth Football Club has recently been awarded FA Charter Standard status.

Only registered with the Lincs FA in June 2006 by current club chairman Ian Cruickshank and treasurer Sara Mathieson, formerly of Grantham Town Youth Academy, Great Ponton is a very modern football club.

Intially, Ian only intended to take his own Grantham Town team to his native Great Ponton but, such was the excitement and interest in starting a new club, several established Grantham Town youth teams decided to follow him up the A1 – so virtually overnight the club swelled to nearly 100 members.

Ian said: “At the time it felt like we had more players than Great Ponton residents.”

With strong support from Paul Teare and Harry Fletcher, of Grantham Town, and Great Ponton parish council chairman Peter Jackson, the club has grown considerably since those early days, gaining an additional field, mains water supply, toilets, portacabins, a floodlit pitch and two car parks.

Ian said: “Our mission then, as it is now, was quite simple – we wanted to create a happy, caring and friendly local club open to all.”

Ian thanked the “drive and commitment” of club secretary Sally Bradley and managers Dave Rawding, Scott Newcombe, Danny Short and Ian Death, along with coaches Johnathan Hodgkinson, Donna Hodgkinson, Dave Cook and John Barthorpe.

They were all delighted and proud to receive the FA Charter Standard, award by Lincs FA’s Reg Jackson who

fondly recalled playing football as a boy for the old Great Ponton team.

Ian said: “We are pleased to have a good set of players and parents who support the club week in, week out, and also all the coaches and helpers that make playing football at Great Ponton playing field a possibility.”

l Anyone interested in getting involved with the club, either through playing, coaching or sponsorship, should contact 01476 360204 or Ponton Main Services on 01476 530261.

While I am as disappointed as the residents of Thames Road for losing another green patch of Grantham I do welcome the news that we will soon see our first council houses built in the district for almost a decade.

There are not many green areas left in Grantham that are not centrally located and to take away from children their previous play spot is a sad thing to see.

However, we are all aware of the difficulties facing many trying to find a property to call their own in today’s financial climate and council houses have always been a good way to right this wrong for those in need.

This building programme will come in phases beginning with one bedroom flats on Thames Road while elsewhere in Grantham we will see properties built on Sandon Road and East Avenue. Between the three sites in the first phase we will see nine new homes built, including two bedroom flats.

These new builds were originally meant to be already underway by now with this plan which will ultimately see over 30 properties introduced to the town.

Back in February South Kesteven District Council said that the work would begin in the summer and be completed around a year later. With this delay the first flats will not be ready for occupation until late 2014.

It would be disappointing to see another delay for these constructions as having a property to call your own is such a satisfying experience and a big ego boost.

And surely there are many in Grantham who want, need and deserve such a boost.

Youngsters at Barkston and Syston Primary School produced two shows for parents and friends.

Fawns and Roe Dee classes performed A Little Bird Told Me, a nativity play from a baby bird’s perspective.

Fallow Deer and Red Deer classes entertained the audience with an adapted production of A Christmas Carol, and also sang carols.

Scrooge was played by Terry James and the three ghosts by Lucie Broughton, Lily Welch and Lucy Pearce.

It was a busy day for youngsters at Ropsley Primary School when they put on their Nativity productions for parents.

All in all, pupils performed four plays, having been split into groups depending on their class.

Little ones in reception class performed a nativity, while classes 1 and 2, 3 and 4 and 5 and 6 were grouped together.

These youngsters from Huntingtower Primary School in Grantham showed you are never too young to spot a business opportunity.

They made a handsome profit after selling tasty marshamallow snowmen to family, friends and supporters at the school’s winter fair.

Each class was given £30 for materials to make items for sale and together thay made a total of £380 profit.

The most money was made by a Year 1 class that produced gingerbread decorations.

Others made decorative baubles and organised a lucky dip as part of enterprise week, which culminated in the parent-teacher association’s winter fund-raiser.

Deputy head Emma Harkins said the event was a huge success, raising £645 for school funds.

Two sixth formers gave members of Rotary Club Grantham Kesteven a vivid account of their experiences on a trip to Vietnam and Cambodia.

Eleanor Clark and Jessica Ginnelly, from Kesteven Grantham Girls’ School, travelled widely in both countries, meeting local people, sharing their food and helping with community projects.

In Vietnam, they explored the underground tunnels and villages used by the Viet Cong during war with America and spoke movingly of their visit to the Killing Fields of Cambodia where over one million people were executed during the country’s civil war.

The girls told Rotarians their overwhelming impression of both countries was that the people wanted to put the past behind them.

Eleanor and Jessica felt their experiences had broadened their horizons and boosted their self-confidence.

Their adventure was organised by school travel specialists World Challenge, and partly sponsored by Youth Trust Grantham.

Eleanor, left, and Jessica are pictured with Rotarian Tony Griffin.

Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Grantham Kesteven along with other clubs in our region has been busy organising a shoebox scheme.

This allows schools, colleges, companies and individuals to provide gifts to children and adults living in poor countries.

Rotary shoe boxes are sent out all through the year as well as at Christmas.

Local newspapers such as the Journal provide facilities for the storage, collection and distribution of the boxes.

So far over 1,000 boxes have been filled and will soon be on their way to Kiev in Ukraine.

As the new year approaches a key item on the agenda is likely to be energy.

Both the provision of renewable energy and the search for more fossil fuels. A recent application at a development control committee meeting at South Kesteven District Council was debated. The application for the installation of a large solar farm on a site which is of high agricultural value was heavily debated and ultimately rejected due to concerns over loss of agricultural land. It was clear that, as the need for renewable energy increases, some key district council policies guiding committee members are lacking.

Last year, SKDC produced a Wind Energy Policy Document. I suggested that we need a broader renewable energy/energy strategy that makes it clear to all concerned how the council will respond to the growing need and opportunities to deliver renewable energy. This request for a more holistic approach was ignored at the time.

In the meanwhile, the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) is pushing ahead with granting licenses opening up the majority of our country to fracking, enabling energy companies to search for fossil fuels. Lincolnshire is one of the largest oil and gas producing counties in the UK. This government action could have a profound impact on our county with Lincolnshire County Council holding responsibility for planning decisions regarding mining and mineral production.

We are at a critical time. Recent events highlight the increasing vulnerability of our land to flood risks. These have been linked to the use of fossil fuels and global warming.

People object to the production of both renewable and fossil fuels yet are increasingly dependent upon them. Each planning application must be decided on its own merit. But, by their nature, those involving energy supply will often be contentious. It is vital, therefore, that our local authorities have the policies in place to ensure decisions are made which reflect both the needs and concerns of local people.

I believe we also need a government willing to invest far more in seeking alternative technologies and sources of renewable energy and energy use reduction. Such an investment could make us world leaders in green energy production and that, in many ways, would help provide a future for our younger generations.