The headteacher of a Grantham primary school has retired and his deputy has left for pastures new.

Robert Young has retired after 28 years at Cliffedale Primary School. He was deputy at the school for six years from 1986 and was appointed head in September 1992.

His deputy, Martin Dean, is leaving after 20 years’ service.

Mr Young was presented with a gift to mark his retirement by Mr Derek Booles, chair of governors, who said: “Mr Young will be remembered for his inspirational leadership and his caring manner with staff and pupils.”

Mr Young said: “I have had the tremendous good fortune to be involved with the development of Cliffedale School over many years. Cliffedale has always been a happy school and it has been a pleasure to work here. I would like to thank all the staff and governors, past and present, for the excellent support I have received from them. It has been extremely rewarding to know that over the years many, many pupils have benefited from their time at Cliffedale and gone on to be successful at their secondary schools and later life.”

Originally from Scarborough, Mr Dean’s first teaching appointment was at Morton, Bourne, followed by his appointment to Belmont Primary School. Promoted to Deputy Head, Mr Dean taught briefly at Donington Primary School before returning to Cliffedale.

Having been a teacher for 36 years, Mr Dean will join the North Yorkshire Steam Railway after Easter. Mr Dean said, “I have always had an interest in vehicles of all types and the opportunity to join the North Yorkshire Moors Railway came along at the right time. It has been a privilege to work with the children, parents, staff and governors at Cliffedale.”

A regular sporting occasion on the streets of Grantham was Witham Wheelers’ criterium cycling races.

Snapped by Grantham Journal photographer Pete Dean at the time, this shot of riders awaiting the mass start in Westgate, was taken at the beginning of October 1983. The main race was won by Mark Walsham, of Chesterfield Coureurs.

He broke away from the leading group of riders when the race was little more than half way, and soon built up a lead of half a minute over the rest of the field to win the £50 first prize with ease. Walsham later went on to become a successful professional rider.

Witham Wheeler Stuart Wilkinson and Julian Tasker (Tridentum CRC) contested the junior event and were amongst a leading group of six throughout, although Wilkinson was unfortunate to crash with just one lap remaining.

On the day youngsters also marvelled at an expert BMX exponent in a ramp display prior to the racing outside the old Cameo Cameras shop in Narrow Westgate.

During the race, Witham Wheeler Anthony Conneely receives treatment from St John’s Ambulance medics after he suffered a tumble. Witham Wheeler Stuart Wilkinson’s brave bid for victory came to an end, but he brushed himself down and went on to finish seventh on a borrowed bike.

A Grantham family have won a competition to see films for free for a whole year at the Reel cinema.

Sarah Patton, her husband Martin, and their children Joe, 13, and Martha, nine, were delighted to be presented with their prize this week by duty manager Alex Marshall at the cinema.

The family took part in a questionnaire run by the cinema through the Journal to find out what film-goers thought of the Reel and how things could be improved.

After filling in the questionnaire, the Pattons are now looking forward to seeing loads of movies for free.

Martin said: “I am going to go every week now. I am a film buff so this is great.”

Martin is such a film buff he remembers going to see Jaws in 1975 every day for a week and his enthusiasm for cinema hasn’t waned.

Sarah said: “I love my films but not as much as the rest of the family! They will go and watch anything and everything.”

Martha and Joe said they would go and see lots of films in the school holidays. 
Martha said she was looking, in particular, to seeing Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

A good turnout of 59 athletes represented Grantham AC in the first Lincolnshire League match of the season at The Meres last Sunday.

Fifty-eight first places were achieved, with Michael Burr setting a new club record of 1.86m in the senior men’s high jump.

Personal best performances were recorded by Frances Sheard, Helen Braybrook, Angela Halton, Peter Braybrook, George Halton, Max Butler, Will Lumsden and Kieran Bumby.

On his return to GAC, Duncan McGrory set a new club record of 5min 16.1sec in the 1500m steeplechase (Men’s 55).

A number of new club members made very encouraging beginnings in their first competitive outing.

Results: Female under-11, 80m - 1 M. Justice 13.4s, 2 R. Justice 14.0s; long jump - 3 M. Justice 2.64m, 7 R. Justice 2.02m.

Under-13, 100m - 2 H. Braybrook 15.3s, 4 A. Halton 15.6s, 9 G. Lucas 16.5; 200m - 1 A. Hunt 29.0s, 2 F. Sheard 31.7s; 800m - 1 A. Hunt 2m 47.1s, 4 A. Halton 3m 11.5s; 1500m - 1 H. Braybrook 5m 30.2s, 4 G. Sullivan 6m 9.4s; high jump - 3 F. Sheard 1.20m; long jump - 1 F. Sheard 4.09m pb, 3 A. Halton 8.70m pb, 7 G. Lucas 3.48m, 8 H. Braybrook 3.28m pb; 4x200m relay - 1 Grantham AC 2min 9.5s.

Under-15, 100m - 1 K. Davis-Bavin 14.1s, 2 F. Ireland 14.1s, 3 A. Byron 14.2s, 4 J. Nambo 14.5s; 200m - 1 A. Byron 30.4s, 2 E. Burtt 32.9s; 3,000m - 1 E. Jacobs 1.25m; long jump - 1 F. Ireland 3.88m, 6 E. Burtt 3.31m 8 E. Jacobs 3.01s; shot - 1 A. Byron 6.88m, 2 M. Holmes 5.76m, 4 G. Lord 5.49m; discus - 1 G. Lord 14.65m, 3 F. Ireland 14.22m, 5 M. Holmes 13.10m, 6 S. Hunt 11.46m; javelin - 2 S. Hunt 8.15m, 3 G. Lord 8.05m, 4 M. Holmes 6.05m; 4x200m relay - 1 Grantham AC 2m 5.0s.

Under-17, 300m hurdles - 2 H. Payne 58.7s; long jump - 4 H. Payne 4.37m; shot - 3 H. Payne 6.81m; discus - 4 R. Payne 14.63m; javelin - 2 R. Payne 20.88m.

Under-20, 100m - 1 Z. Lucas 13.3s, 3 A. Kettle 14.0s; 200m - 2 A. Kettle 28.7s; 400m - 2 P. Atherton 81.3s; 1500m - 1 P. Atherton 6m 19.8s; high jump - 1 P. Atherton 1.15m; long jump - 1 Z. Lucas 4.88m, 2 A. Kettle 4.60m.

Senior, 100m - 2 J. Thomas 13.4s; 200m - 1 N. Collier 29.7s, 2 J. Thomas 30.8s; 400m - 1 N. Collier 63.2s; long jump - 2 J. Thomas 3.81m; shot - 1 H. Gilbert 9.47m, 3 S. Arosa-Rivers 7.59m, 4 S. Garner 6.92m; discus - 1 S. Arosa-Rivers 23.4m, 2 H. Gilbert 23.17m, 3 S. Garner 18.80m; javelin - 1 H. Gilbert 32.76m, 3 S. Arosa-Rivers 8.26m.

Veteran, shot - 1 J. Jagger 8.45m, 4 L. Evans 7.05m; discus - 1 L. Evans 30.45m, 3 J. Jagger 24.48m; javelin - 1 L. Evans 23.57m, 2 J. Jagger 21.19m.

Male under-11, 80m - 3 E. Rodell 13.3s; 600m - 1 P. Braybrook 2m 10.4s; long jump - 3 P. Braybrook 3.27m pb.

Under-13, 100m - 1 Seetul-Drew 15.2s; 200m - 1 J. Seetul-Drew 33.3s; 1500m - R. Rodell 5m 43.7s; high jump - 1 O. Wordsworth 1.12m; long jump - 1 O. Wordsworth 3.50m; shot - 2 J. Seetul-Drew 4.21m; discus - 2 O. Wordsworth 12.40m.

Under-15, 100m - 1 S. Cartwright 12.3s; 800m - 2 O. Jakes 2m 19.9s, 5 G. Halton 2m 33.3s pb; 1500m - 1 W. Tucker 5m 0.5s; 3,000m - 1 A. Hunt 10m 55.1s; long jump - 1 S. Cartwright 4.96m, 4 G. Halton 3.63m pb, 5 A. Hunt 2.72m; javelin - 3 W. Tucker 15.93m; 4x200m relay - 1 Grantham AC 2m 4.3s.

Under-17, 100m - 1 J. Stokes 12.1s; 200m - 1 J. Stokes 25.2s, 2 M. Butler 25.8s; 400m - 1 M. Butler 54.1s pb; discus - 1 M. Butler 13.47m; javelin - 1 W. Lumsden 41.29m pb.

Under-20, 200m - 1 K. Bumby 25.5s pb; 400m - 1 K. Bumby 54.2s pb; 800m - 2 K. Bumby 2m 11.7s; 1500m - 3 J. Lord 4m 30.6s; high jump - 1 J. Lord 1.30m; shot - 1 C. Bainbridge 8.75m; discus - 1 C. Bainbridge 22.71m; javelin - 1 C. Bainbridge 29.71m.

Senior, 100m - 1 D. Elba-Porter 11.7s, 2 S. Bainbridge 13.5s; 200m - 1 D. Elba-Porter 24.4s, 2 S. Bainbridge 26.6s; 400m - 1 S. Bainbridge 58.4s, 3 M. Burr 63.1s; 800m - 4 S. Bainbridge 2m 43.0s; 1500m - 2 S. Bainbridge 5m 48.5s; 3,000m - 1 A. Madge 10m 17.9s, 2 S. Bainbridge 12m 30.4s; high jump - 1 M. Burr 1.86m cr, 2 S. Bainbridge 1.42m; long jump - 1 M. Burr 5.27m, 2 S. Bainbridge 3.60m; shot - 2 S. Bainbridge 9.07m, 3 M. Atkin 8.82m; discus - 1 M. Atkin 29.84m, 2 S. Bainbridge 28.49m, 3 M. Burr 25.39m; javelin - 1 H. Richards 50.04m, 2 M. Atkin 38.67m, 4 S. Bainbridge 16.49m; 4x400m relay - 1 Grantham AC 4m 0.0s.

Senior, 3,000m - 3 M. Tucker 12m 50.1s; 1500m steeplechase - 1 D. McGrory 5m 16.1s cr; shot - 1 P. Garner 9.01m, 2 J. Bainbridge 8.08; javelin - 2 P. Garner 32.48m, 6 J. Bainbridge 19.48m; discus - 1 P. Garner 30.60m, 3 B. Lord 22.76m.

An unemployed man stole a jar of coffee from B&M Bargains.

Ruben Da Silva, 35, of Norton Street, Grantham, admitted the theft from the store on March 25.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka said Da Silva took the jar out of the store without paying. It was later recovered. CCTV showed him putting the jar in a bag. He made no comment to police.

Defending, Chris Pye-Smith told the court that a single item worth about £5 was taken. He said Da Silva last worked around Christmas and he had had problems getting benefits.

Mr Pye-Smith said: “He took the coffee for his own use because he wanted some coffee and nothing more complicated than that.”

The court was told that Da Silva had breached a conditional discharge for an attempted theft in June last year.

Magistrates fined Da Silva £75 and ordered him to pay a victim surcharge of £20. No costs were ordered.

A motorist came close to going to prison after he breached a suspended sentence by drink driving.

Mark Devereux, 31, of Huntingtower Road, Grantham, admitted drink driving on March 27 as well as driving without a licence and without insurance.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court that Devereux was stopped by police on Harrowby Road at 3am when they saw the car being driven in a “poor manner”. Devereux failed a roadside breath test and a further test at the police station gave a reading of 57 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Defending, Chris Pye-Smith said Devereux had been in employment until last year when he lost his job and then became homeless, having problems claiming benefits and was without money. He then took to shoplifiting and in 2013 was given a community order. Mr Pye-Smith said in a short period of time Devereux had gone from having no offences recorded against him to a series of six shoplifting offences. In December he was handed a 28-day jail sentence suspended for nine months.

Devereux has since found a job with a local stonemason. Mr Pye-Smith said: “He says he is very happy doing something useful and something he enjoys. He would be devastated if he was sent into custody. He would lose his employment and his accommodation and could end up back where he started when he was unemployed and homeless.”

Magistrates told Devereux they would not activate the suspecnded sentence and give him a chance to get back to normality.They disqualified him from driving for 16 months and fined him £200 for drink driving. They fined him another £200 for driving without insurance and ordeed him to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20. There was no separate penalty for driving without a licence. His nine-month community order was extended by three months.

Devereux could reduce his ban by four months if he successfully completes a drink driving rehabilitation course.

Devereux thanked the bench for giving him a “lifeline” and apologised to probation officers for wasting their time.

A woman on a night out attacked a policeman at a hotel and later bit a nurse while in hospital.

Leanne Dyer, 26, of Paston Lane, Peterborough, admitted assaulting a constable in the execution of her duty at the Ramada Hotel in Grantham on October 11 last year and assaulting a nurse by beating her at Grantham Hospital some hours later.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court that police were called to the Ramada at 10.20pm where a woman was acting aggressively after drinking all afternoon in the bar with a man. Officers went to a room with paramedics where they were confronted by a naked female shouting abuse at them.

Mr Pietryka said Dyer had to be restrained for her own protection. She bit a special constable in the right forearm and tried to bite a paramedic in the groin. She was taken to Grantham A&E where she was aggressive towards hospital staff.

She tried to bite and hit staff. She was kicking out and hit a nurse in the face. Staff tried to sedate her and while one nurse was attending to her, Dyer leant forward and bit her finger and forearm. The police were called again.

Dyer told police she had been out with friend and had met a man and had gone back to the hotel with him where they had drinks. Mr Pietryka said she thought her drinks must have been spiked.

Defending, Mike Pryor said his client broke into tears whenever he spoke to her about the incident. Her mother and brother had visited her in hospital and she was “most upset and remorseful”. Mr Pryor said Dyer had even sought out the nurse to apologise to her.

Mr Pryor said Dyer had not been out for a year. She had gone out with friends at 6.30pm and met the man at 8.30pm. She denied being at the hotel all afternoon and had actually been looking after her children, aged five and two.

She remembered drinking two Jack Daniels with coke at the hotel and then feeling “very woozy and faint”. The man who had been with Dyer refused to give any details to police.

Mr Pryor said every indication showed that this was a lady out of control. She had involuntarily been sick and had urinated, he said. The nurse had said that staff had tried to get an ecg on Dyer, but she had suddenly “sparked back up” and became more violent, lashing out at staff.

Magistrates fined Dyer £75 for the assault on the special constable and £110 for the assault on the nurse. She was ordered to pay compensation of £75 to each victim and a victim surcharge of £20.

A bag containing an illegal drug was found on the floor of a police van.

The drug was found by officers after arresting Josh Garner, 18, of Tanners Lane, Corby Glen, who admitted possessing 0.52 grams of MCAT on January 18.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court that Garner had been arrested on a separate matter and put in the van. Officers than found the class B drug on the floor of the van in a small bag. Garner admitted it was his. The court was told he had a drug habit at the time.

Rob Arthur, defending, said Garner was arrested on a Saturday night. He had been brought to the attention of officers who told him to go home, but he refused and wanted to wait for his girlfriend. He was arrested and when he got out of the van at Grantham Police Station, the MCAT was found. Mr Arthur said Garner was already getting help from Addaction at the time.

Magistrates fined Garner £160 and ordered him to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.

The case against two men accused of stealing food from the Co-op on Princess Drive, Grantham, has been put back to May 12.

Paul Andrew Kavanagh, 32, of Kinoulton Court, Grantham, and Andrew David Robinson, 26, of Water Lane, Ancaster, both pleaded guilty to five counts of theft from the store in February at an earlier hearing.

They are accused of stealing 10 packs of Cathedral City cheese worth £25 on February 17, stealing a quantity of cheese also on February 17, stealing food worth £33.24 on February 19, stealing four packets of cheese worth £22.50 on February 23 and stealing two joints of meat worth £25 on February 26.

Both men are on bail on condition they do not enter either of the Co-op stores on Princess Drive and Dysart Road, and attend probation appointments.

A motorist who was almost four times over the drink-drive limit had to be stopped by a taxi driver who stood in front of his car on a zebra crossing.

Waldemar Marcin Obrycki, 33, of Goodliff Road, Grantham, admitted drink driving on March 29 and also driving without a licence and without insurance.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka said somebody had witnessed “appalling” driving by the defendant at 8pm in Trent Road, Grantham. He was driving very slowly, going up on to the kerb and crossing the white lines. The taxi driver stopped the car and took hold of the keys to prevent Obrycki from driving away.

The police were called and Obrycki failed a roadside breath test. A later reading at the police station showed 130 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Me Pietryka said Obrycki had been drinking in a bar before going home where he had some beers and whisky. He said the defendant was a provisional licence holder and a man of previous good character.

Defending, Stuart Wild told the court that Obrycki had been out with others before they returned to his shared accommodation. He said: “It was there he consumed a large amount of beer and whisky as he explained to the police.

“He was then persuaded to take the vehicle from Goodliff Road to the Costcutter store off Trent Road just a few hundred yards away.”

Mr Wild said Obrycki’s bad driving drew the attention of other road users and the taxi driver stepped on to the zebra crossing to stop his car.

He said there was no suggestion of speeding or dangerous driving.

The court was told Obrycki had been in the UK for four years and was working full-time at Moy Park in Grantham. He did not accept he drank on a daily basis, but when he did drink it was to excess and he was being assessed by Addaction.

Magistrates sentenced Obrycki to 18 weeks in prison suspended for 12 months. He was disqualified from driving for 34 months. He was also given a 12 month supervision order with a six month alcohol treatment requirement. He was fined £200 for driving without insurance and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £80. There was no separate penalty for driving without a licence.

A motorist who drives for a living will lose his job after being arrested for drink driving.

Raymond Albert James Thomas, 63, of Fifth Avenue, Grantham, pleaded guilty to the offence which took place on March 29 in the town.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court that Thomas was seen driving a wide arc around the roundabout at the junction between New Beacon Road and Harrowby Lane and weaving across the middle of the road. He failed a roadside breath test and at the police station gave a reading of 67 microgrammes in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 microgrammes.

Defending, Chris Pye-Smith said Thomas had no previous convictions. He said: “It’s going to be a disastrous day for him.” He said Thomas would lose his employment as a driver. Difficult personal circumstances had led him to make a serious, but isolated, misjudgment, the court was told.

Mr Pye-Smith added: “He is extremely disappointed because he does not expect he will be able to keep his employment after this. His weekly income will be very seriously hit.”

Magistrates disqualified Thomas from driving for 18 months. He was fined £570 and ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £57. His ban will be cut by four months if he successfully completes a drink driver’s rehabilitation course.

Police are appealing for information from the public after the following incidents all took place in Grantham last week.

Two stone statues were stolen from a garden in Manchester Way at some point between April 15 and April 17.

During the night of April 16 there was a burglary at a garage in Robertson Road, and an attempted burglary at a garage in Birmingham Close.

Sometime overnight on April 17 there were two attempted thefts from vehicles in Derwent Road, and a theft of diesel in Spittlegate Level.

There was also a burglary at a property in Sturrock Court, as well as a burglary and a theft of a vehicle in East Avenue, all during the night of April 17.

Sometime overnight on April 18 damage was caused to a property in Redmile Walk.

If you have any information please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.

A man who stole a box of hair straighteners must pay compensation because they have not been recovered.

Jan Vlcek, 29, who gave a care of address of Norton Street, Grantham, admitted stealing the straighteners from Sally Hair and Beauty on March 21.

Prosecuting, Daniel Pietryka told the court that Vlcek entered the store with another male who also stole a box of hair straighteners. Staff noticed the boxes missing after the men had left. They were arrested on March 26 and admitted going to the store to steal. Vlcek told police he did not know where the straighteners were and these had not been recovered.

Defending, Rory Macmillan said Vleck, who was single with no children, had had a long-stranding problem with heroin and had received help from DART. Drug tests had been negative for the last two months.

Mr Macmillan said Vlcek had lost his job three months ago when he was made redundant by PAS. After his arrest he told police all about his accomplice. He had been living with the other person who was unhappy about Vlcek having no money. Vlcek then “foolishly” went with the other man to steal the items.

The court heard that Vlcek had breached a nine-month community order.

Magistrates gave Vlcek another six-month community order to run alongside the current order and ordered him to do 60 hours of unpaid work. He was told to pay compensation of £64.99 for the stolen item and pay a victim surcharge of £60.

Northern Premier League

Premier Division

Grantham Town 0

Barwell 1

Grantham Town lost by a single goal in a battling tussle that boiled over in the second half, with both sides struggling in a gusting wind at The Meres.

The Gingerbreads had a chance in the opening minute when Jordan Hempenstall dashed down the left, but Michael Towey’s touch to his squared ball went over the bar.

The home skipper, Paul Lister, did well six minutes later to deflect away a dangerous ball into the penalty area with his header.

Town had another opportunity to go in front in the 11th minute when Paul Grimes cut the ball back across to Jack McGovern, but the Grantham number seven directed his header over the target.

Barwell’s Kevin Charley tried a speculative effort from distance five minutes later, but he was also off the mark.

At the other, Town’s Rhys Lewis was not quick enough to react to a good ball in by Michael Jacklin, and his shot was more a deflection, and easy for visiting keeper Liam Castle.

As the game continued apace, the Gingerbreads had another touch go astray by Grimes after McGovern whipped in a cross on 23 minutes.

Barwell number nine Luke Barlone’s speculative effort from 20-plus yards in the 26th minute had the home fans’ and goalkeeper Dan Haystead’s hearts in their mouths, but to their relief the ball drifted just wide of the far post.

Lee Potts had an opportunity for Grantham a minute later but his shot was too timid and Barwell cleared the danger.

The Gingerbreads tried their luck from distance in the 40th minute but Hempenstall’s ambitious plan saw the ball rise over the crossbar.

Grimes played a good ball into the Barwell box a minute later, but neither McGovern or Lewis could connect.

Barwell went in front in the 43rd minute, with Ben Love catching Haystead off his line. The Grantham keeper got a hand to the ball but it carried on into the top right-hand corner.

Town were fortunate not to concede again on the stroke of half time, with Lister clearing a thumping shot off the line.

Haystead was soon called into action early in the second half, pulling off a diving save to tip the ball around the post.

Grimes looked to be on his way to equalising for the Gingerbreads in the 58th minute, but the Barwell defence stopped him in his tracks.

And Hempenstall got his head to a Jacklin cross on the hour mark, but his effort went wide.

The introduction of Grantham substitute in the 65th minute made an immediate impact, but for all the wrong reasons.

Barwell were immediately unhappy with his sometimes over-physical presence in their penalty area and it came as no surprise when the already aggrieved Jamie Hood lashed out at the Grantham number 17 – and received a red card for his misdemeanour.

In an ensuing melee, Grimes found himself floored and referee Mr Smedley gave Guy Hadland a yellow card.

With relative calmness restored, Barwell defended to the hilt as the Gingerbreads desperately sought to level in a ding-dong battle.

Castle tipped Jacklin’s 80th minute strike round the near post and the Barwell keeper made a safe catch to deny Lister on 84 minutes in probably Grantham’s best and last real chance of the second period.

Grantham Town: Haystead, Purcicoe (Smith, 65), Jacklin, Hawes, Lister, Lewis, McGovern, Towey (King, 43), Grimes, Hempenstall (Walker, 90), Potts. Subs not used: Meikle, Ridley. Att: 218.

A talk about royal ceremonies and coronations will take place at the Guildhall Arts Centre to raise money for the St Wulfram’s Spire Appeal.

The illustrated lecture, “Pomp & Circumstance”, takes place on Tuesday, April 29. The speaker is Chloe Cockerill who will talk about ceremonies including coronations, orders of chivalry and the colourful and historic basis for these. The lecture starts at 11am and tickets will be sold on the door until 10.45am.

United Counties League

Division One

Lutterworth Athletic 1

Harrowby United 4

Harrowby United travelled to Leicestershire side Lutterworth Athletic looking to avenge a defeat at the Environcom Stadium last month – and ran out winners thanks to an impressive second half performance.

The home started brightly and after only five minutes should have taken the lead. George Lee sprang the Arrows offside trap, with only goalkeeper Jack Drury to beat. The Harrowby stopper did well to stand his ground and save Lee’s shot with an outstretched leg.

Four minutes later, a Lutterworth free kick slid into the Arrows penalty area was met by a Charlie Butler shot which cannoned away to safety off a post.

Although the home side were on top, Harrowby had their moments in the first half. Scott Webb cut in from the left and shot just wide and Simon Bolland scuffed a shot wide after being set up by a header down from Arrows man-of-the-match Jack Whyley.

A few harsh half time words and a change in formation by Harrowby management duo Mark Fardell and Jay Harrison did the trick as the Arrows improved their performance. Almost immediately a cross from the right from John Currall was pulled back by Webb to Lee Shaw who shot just over.

The opening goal arrived just before the hour mark. Sam Kirton headed into the path of Shaw who cut in and fired home a shot across Lutterworth keeper Ryan Tilley and into the corner of the net.

The home side equalised on 65 minutes when quick thinking skipper Dom Iven’s free kick from 25 yards out crept inside the post while Drury was still positioning his defensive wall.

But Bobby Lee restored Harrowby’s lead 10 minutes later with a cheeky left foot toe-poke finish, deceiving keeper Tilley by stabbing the ball inside the left-hand post from just inside the penalty area.

Five minutes later, Whyley was unlucky when his header from a free kick into the box was blocked along with his follow-up shot.

Harrowby’s third goal came with four minutes remaining when a ball knocked forward by Currall caused hesitation in the Lutterworth defence, allowing Shaw to nip in and cleverly lob the ball into the net over a stranded Tilley.

On 89 minutes, Kirton’s shot from distance narrowly cleared the cross bar. From the resulting goal kick, the ball was collected by Sam Weatherstone in midfield and the Arrows substitute threaded the ball through to Lee who finished with aplomb to complete a hard fought victory.

The three points kept pressure on Eynesbury Rovers who have moved above Harrowby into the second promotion position.

Harrowby United: Drury, Currall, Preston, Hill, Whyley, Jaques (Weatherstone, 74), Kirton, Bolland (c), Webb, Shaw, Lee. Subs not used: Gibson, Hotchin.

An Easter egg hunt in Wyndham park on Saturday raised £150 to go towards park improvements.

A total of 114 children took part in the successful event.

Elizabeth Bowskill, secretary of Wyndham Park Forum, said: “On behalf of the Wyndham Park Forum I would like to thank all the children who came and joined in the Easter Egg Hunt in Wyndham Park on Saturday. Despite the cold, the park was busy and we had 114 children taking part. Thanks also to all the parents and grandparents who endured the cold for the entertainment of the children. We took a total of £150 which will be put towards the varied improvement projects planned for the park.”

The next event in the park will be on Sunday, July 27, when the 90th anniversary of the opening of Wyndham Park will be celebrated with themed activities. More information will be put on the Forum website soon. Anybody wishing to take part or find out more can email elizabeth_ab@btopenworld.com or speak to Jenny Sutherland in the Old Pavilion Tea Rooms.

A duck race on the River Witham on Saturday raised £800 for local charities.

About 200 people were in Wyndham Park to see the race which the club says was a huge success.

John Asher, of the club, said: “We are very pleased with the turnout and the amount we have raised.”

The proceeds will go to charities supported by Rotary. The Scouts, who helped to sell tickets will receive £100. Among the local causes Rotary is aiming to help is the stroke unit at Grantham Hospital. The unit was using a machine on loan for its patients, but Rotary hopes to buy a machine for the unit to keep permanently.

The winners of the duck race were Charlie Thompson, K. Mason and Lisa Cullington who win £50, £25 and £15 respectively.

Grantham and District North Road Club’s opening race of the season was from Harrogate.

The race was won by the bird of Terry Ballaam, who also had the second-placed pigeon, and race sponsor was Kesteven Skips of Grantham.

Results: 1 T. Ballaam 1226.9, 2 T. Ballaam 1225.3, 3 M. Tudor 1219.5, 4 M. Tudor 1219.5, 5 M. Tudor 1211.3, 6 G. Smart. 1154.2, 7 J. Norris 1147.9, 8 T. Ballaam 1131.5, 9 A. Tudor 1110.4, 10 D. Fowler and son 1078.0.

l Grantham United’s first race was from Wetherby from where 12 members sent 219 birds, with one of the the Parkers’ birds returning home first.

Results: 1 D. Parker and son 1411, 2 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1384, 3 D. Parker and son 1355, 4 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1336, 5 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1333, 6 C. Creighton 1329, 7 C. Creighton 1326, 8 C. Creighton 1324, 9 D. Parker and son 1322, 10 G. Wilson 1308, 11 Mr and Mrs D. Dixon 1276, 12 D. Parker and son 1273, 13 J. Ramm 1254, 14 E. Crawford 1254, 15 D. Parker and son 1254, 16 E. Crawford 1224, 17 K. Meadows 1219, 18 Mr and Mrs Dixon.

The next Funhouse Comedy Club night is headlined by Cockney comic Jeff Innocent at the Atrium on Thursday night (April 24).

True cockney Jeff is a comic, actor and star of both radio and TV, his last role being in ‘Call the Midwife’. Looking like a bouncer, but with the intellect of a university professor, his sharp wit and confident charm draws the audience into his lair, then he entertains them with his diverse mix of somewhat surreal subjects.

Supporting is the spookily skillful spirit comedian, Ian D. Montford. He is a deadpan pseudo-psychic who contacts dead celebrities. Having made a number of appearances on radio in February this year, he had his own series, ‘Ian D Montford is Unbelievable’ on BBC Radio 2. With his jokes and quick banter he engages the crowd before starting to communicate with the ‘other side’. His incredible results leave his audiences gasping with incredulity.

Also appearing will be the lively El Purnell, as a comic from Ecuador he performs his act in Spanish while interacting with the crowd to their delight. As well as Pete Teckman, with his mix of self deprecating and observational humour.

Compere for the night is the engaging and energetic Spiky Mike. Tickets are £8 in advance. Doors open at 8pm for an 8.30pm start. For more details and bookings go to www.funhousecomedy.co.uk