Grantham United’s race from Aycliffe was won by D. Parker and son.

Eleven members sent 175 birds.

Results: 1 D. Parker and son 1720, 2 C. Creighton 1714, 3 D. Parker and son 1706, 4 Mr and Mrs D. Dixon 1699, 5 Mr and Mrs D. Dixon 1696, 6 J. Ramm 1685, 7 D. Parker and son 1681, 8 D. Parker and son 1676, 9 E. Crawford 1662, 10 C. Creighton 1655, 11 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1649, 12 J. Ramm 1646, 13 G. Wilson 1629, 14 G. Wilson 1627, 15 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1626, 16 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1624.

l Grantham and District North Road Club’s race from Wetherby was won by Keith Bradley.

Eight members sent 115 birds and race sponsors were Paul and Jane Newbold, of Boston.

Results: 1 K. Bradley 1665.9, 2 D. Gilbert 1571.5, 3 D. Fowler and son 1570.7, 4 M. Tudor 1553.7, 5 D. Fowler and son 1549.5, 6 G. Smart 1544.2, 7 G. Smart 1542.8, 8 K. Bradley 1540.6, 9 D. Gilbert 1539.8, 10 K. Bradley 1535.7.

Kesteven RFC Touch Rugby sessions begin at Woodnook next Tuesday (July 1).

The fun, friendly weekly sessions are open to all and no experience of rugby is necessary.

The sessions are free and will run every Tuesday until August 5, from 6.30pm until 8pm.

To book your place contact Bill Berridge on 01476 590561 or bill.berridge@btinternet.com or just turn up on the night.

Senior training has also begun on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, in preparation for the new season.

Grantham Flames are on the lookout for a coach and some new players.

The team are looking for someone with a Level One coaching certificate or who would like to work towards it.

With new players always joining, additional coaching help is always welcomed by the club.

The Flames would also be interested in new unattached players from school Years 4 and 5.

For more information, contact Lee Gurney on 07920 022682.

A lorry has hit the railway bridge over Harlaxton Road, causing the road to be closed while the police and fire brigade attempt to remove the vehicle.

Police are on the scene and have closed Harlaxton Road from the bridge up to its junction with Trent Road.

They also reported initial disruption to National Rail services but trains do now seem to be using the bridge after the lorry was removed.

The incident happened just after 10.30am with police arriving on the scene at 10.45am.

They have also closed Huntingtower Road.

Reader Mrs P. Holmes has written a letter to the Journal this week following a story in last week’s Journal reporting on complaints about uncut grass.

The report focused on complaints by residents who said grassed areas which South Kesteven District Council is responsible for are not being maintained properly.

This week, Mrs Holmes, of Caerbury Close, Grantham, wrote: “I feel I must complain about the new contractor employed to cut grass verges and the areas around sheltered housing. It’s now five weeks since our grass was cut and then it wasn’t done well, no strimming of edges and all the cuttings left on the pavement.

“The residents of Canterbury Close raise funds to buy plants to enhance the community centre and I work hard to try and keep pots and baskets nice. For several years we were awarded a place in the competition run by the council in conjunction with Veolia, the previous contractors, who were very good.

“For some of our residents this is all they look at every day. At the moment the grass is a disgrace.”

SKDC’s property development manager Neil Cucksey apologised to residents last week and added that Glendale, the new contractor which took over from Veolia earlier this year, has committed to improving standards.

Police have alerted the public to a garage burglary in Fulbeck and a vehicle which suffered damage in Barrowby.

Garden machinery was taken from the Fulbeck garage overnight between June 18 and 19, with police urging residents to be vigilant and lock all outbuildings.

Then overnight on June 19 and 20 a vehicle was scratched along the front passenger side on Reedings Close in Barrowby.

If you saw or heard anything suspicious between these dates please contact Lincolnshire Police on 101.

A masquerade ball has been held to raise money for a sensory garden at a Grantham school.

Grantham Additional Needs Federation (GANF) held its first ever ball in support of the garden for Sandon School and raised £2,083.

The event was a complete sell out and 96 people attended the function at The Masonic Hall in Grantham where all the guests wore outfits and masks.

The evening was the brainchild of GANF parent Julie Pattison, whose son Joe has attended Sandon School since he was eight years old. Joe has Global Developmental Delay and is about to begin his final year at Sandon.

Julie said: “My reason for holding the Masquerade Ball was because Sandon School has helped not only Joe but the whole family over the years. They have helped us to help Joe progress and grow into the smart and gorgeous young man he is now. Senior Principal Claire Buffham has been there through thick, thin and the middle bits in between and this was my way of saying thank you.”

GANF received donations from local businesses for the raffle and has thanked them for their support. Special thanks went to The Print Bureau for its support and Make My Day Venue Dressing.

Pictured are Julie Pattison with her husband Colin and their children Joe and Lucy.

Cannabis plants were discovered by police during a raid on a property in Grantham on Sunday.

Police have not yet confirmed how many plants were found at the address in Kedleston Road, but said it was “a number of cannabis plants”.

Ervin Ethemaj, 26, of Kedleston Road, was arrested and charged with producing a controlled drug of class B and has been remanded in custody to appear before Grantham Magistrates Court on Monday.

Motorists are reminded that council-run car parks in Grantham are set to close at times over the next fortnight while resurfacing and lining works are carried out.

The car park in Wharf Road will close during evenings on Tuesday and on Monday, July 7, while the one in Watergate will close on July 8-9.

South Kesteven District Council’s property development manager Neil Cucksey said: “We apologise for any inconvenience the works may cause to car park users and local businesses.

“Signs informing users of the work will also be displayed at each car park to inform them of the temporary closures.”

A 27-year-old woman who died in Grantham on Friday has been named as Kerry Louise Smith.

She was found at an address in Derwent Road, Grantham, at about 5.30pm. The coroner’s office says it is waiting for the results of a post mortem examination and an inquest will be opened soon.

Police have said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding her death.

To support Lloyds bank’s charity of the year the Alzheimer’s Society, staff from the Grantham branch took part in a sponsored walk from their workplace to the bank’s base in Newark.

It was the final leg of a relay which saw Lloyds bank employees visit around 50 branches from Newmarket to Newark.

The sponsored walkers from Grantham raised £380 which was then doubled by the bank to £760, with early estimates that in total the relay raised over £6000.

Customer service manager Julie Cook said: “Fundraising is something as a bank we have been quite at the forefront of, and the Alzheimer’s Society is a cause close to my heart.”

Amongst the other charity walkers was cashier Helen McGurgan and Zoe Biggs who was involved in organising the fundraising.

Zoe said: “It’s definitely been challenging. We’ve had a range of weathers - lovely sunshine, torrential rain and thunderstorms, but it’s definitely worth it.”

SATURDAY (June 27)

Cricket

Saturday

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Belton Park v Moulton Harrox, Grantham v Skegness 2nd, Welby v Sleaford 2nd.

Division One – Heckington v Grantham 2nd, Long Sutton 2nd v Billingborough 2nd.

Division Two – Burgh & District v Welby, Claypole v Lindum 3rd, Freiston L&L v Grantham 3rd, Moulton Harrox 2nd v Belton Park 2nd.

South Notts League

Division B – Clifton Village 2nd v Bottesford, Eastwood Town v Belvoir.

Division E – Belvoir 2nd v Lenton Willoughby, Whatton & Aslockton v Gedling & Sherwood.

Division G – Newark R&M 2nd v Bingham, Bottesford 2nd v Plumtree 3rd.

Division L – Belvoir 3rd v Stapleford.

Division M – Attenborough 4th v Whatton & Aslockton 2nd.

SUNDAY

Cricket

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One – Belton Park v Ashby Carington, Belvoir v Grantham, Bottesford v Houghton on the Hill, Buckminster v Barkby United.

Division Two – Bingham v Sholay, Frisby Hoby & Rotherby v Croxton Kerrial, Sproxton v Ashby Carington 2nd, Syston Town v Welby.

Division Three – Barkston & Syston v Colsterworth, Grantham 2nd v Whissendine, Harlaxton v Barrowby, Queniborough v Skillington.

TUESDAY

Cricket

Burrough & District League

Division One – Uppingham v Belvoir.

As the new football season approaches, Barrowby Black Cats are on the lookout for new unattached players.

The age group of players required for the 2014-15 season is under-8.

For further information contact Simon Adey: simondoo7@hotmail.co.uk

The 10th Stathern Festival 10km charity run was once again a success, with exactly 100 runners taking part in the annual event.

Winning the men’s event for the second time, Mark Powell completed the distance in 31min 39sec. Ladies’ winner was Kelly Thorneycroft in 39.23.

Recognition also went to first Stathern finisher Mark Trevarthen and veteran Keith Measures. Stathern resident Erica Tranfield completed her 10th Stathern 10.

The race was graced by the presence of Paralympic veteran of the Atlanta and Sydney Games, Richard Collins, who finished 15th in 40.51.

The event raised £900 for a defibrillator at Dove Cottage tea rooms.

Some of Grantham’s most generous and giving people were gathered in one room last night (Wednesday) for Swimarathon’s presentation of cheques and awards.

Fifty-eight charities and good causes were called by the Rotary Club of Grantham to collect their donations, having been chosen by the club to benefit from Grantham’s biggest charity event.

In many ways, it was a record-breaking year for Swimarathon in 2014 – held at The Meres Leisure Centre back in February – with more swimmers, more teams and more lengths swum. And what a way to mark the event’s 25th anniversary, said event chairman Roger Graves.

Speaking after the presentation, he said: “We’ve made sure that everybody has benefited wherever possible in this 25th year. Cheques range from £250 to £5,500, and we had three special awards for an item for the physiotherapy department at the hospital to the Rutland Sailability boat and all the seating and signage around the Wyndham Park paddling pool.

“Tonight is the highlight of the event. We enjoy the weekend’s events but having spent all the time to put it all together and and collect all the money, it’s a huge delight for us to hand it back out. It’s a bit like robbing Peter to pay Paul, if you like, and, yeah, we get a big buzz out of it.”

Awards were also presented to swimmers and teams which excelled at the Swimarathon, during the presentation in the Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School hall.

And at the end of the evening, two further special awards were presented – this time to Roger himself. In recognition of his hard work as chairman of the Swimarathon, he was presented with a Paul Harris Foundation Medal with five sapphires, which is a highly prestigious award in the Rotary movement. This was handed to him by the club’s president Kevin Lawry, followed by a service recognition certiciate presented to him by Rotary district governor Margaret Morley.

The long list of beneficiaries are:

Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance

Grantham Foodbank

Grantham Leisure Support

Inspire+

Manthorpe Playgroup

Grantham and District Talking Newspaper

Church Trees Disabled Club

Little Gonerby Infant School

Kesteven Rideability

U2 Can Craft

Grantham Good Companions

Grantham Stroke Club

Heritage Care

Grantham Passage

St Wulfram’s Church Spire Appeal

Salvation Army

Inner Wheel - Grantham

MS Society - Grantham

Friends of Chernobyl’s Children

Lincolnshire Credit Union

Contact the Elderly

The RSPCA Radcliffe Animal Shelter

Home-Start Grantham

Grantham MENCAP

St Mary’s School - Life Ed Bus

Grantham Journal Children’s Fund

LYNX Swimming Club

Grantham Street Pastors

Samaritans

St Barnabas Hospice - Grantham

Rutland Sailability

Grantham Hospital

Grantham Skatepark

47F Air Cadets

Girlguiding Grantham Rural District

Grantham Disabled Children’s Society

Grantham Additional Needs Federation

Allington & Sedgebrook Primary School

Jubilee Church Life Centre

Grantham Tennis Club

8th Grantham Brownies

7th Grantham St John’s Scout Group

Harlaxton Primary School

Grantham Swimming Club

St John’s Primary School

Breathe Easy Grantham

Grantham Fine Arts Society

British Heart Foundation

Gravity FM

SSAFA Grantham

Dysart Park Fun Day

Be Your Best Foundation

Gregory House Care Home

Wyndham Park Paddling Pool

Grantham Music Festival

KGGS

Sharing The Care Grantham

Awards presented to high-achieving swimmers and teams were:

Steven Burtt Youth Achievement – Grantham Prep Piranhas

HSBC Highest School – Sir William Robertson Academy

Goldings Highest Professional – HSBC Bank for raising £608 which was doubled to £1,320

Swimarathon Woman – Anita Asken, who swam for 25 hours with various teams

Swimarathon Men - Mike Gaffney for taking photos of every participant throughout thethree days and Chris Graves for his dedication

Best Newcomer – European Wines

Basil Blackham Founder’s Trophy for the highest amount raised by one individual team – PAS Sporting Fries

The President’s Award for the organisation which, in the eyes of the Rotary Club, has achieved the most, not just in the Swimarathon but everything else they do in the community - Inspire+

A collection of poems by a former journalist, lay pastor and bank director from Bottesford are being published tomorrow.

Ray Smart has written ‘Some Poems’, which includes memories of his childhood in a Leicestershire council estate.

The 79-year-old poet said: “I was brought up in a very rough council estate in Ashby-de-la-Zouch, with my background explained in the last poem of the book.

“I owe whatever success I have had to a mother who instilled self-confidence and faith into all five of her children.

“I was the first person from this estate to get to the local grammar school and was introduced on the first day by the form master as ‘the first boy to come to the school from Incubator Avenue’.”

As well as his childhood, much of Ray’s poetry centres on his faith, having spent most of his working life as a lay pastor in Baptist and Evangelical churches, and has preached in the US, Hong Kong and Peru.

However his career has been as much about the written word, with him starting his first job aged 16 as a journalist for the Coalville Times, where he mainly covered weddings, funerals and local sport.

This was interrupted by two years of National Service, and then from a temporary job in a bank filling ink wells and changing blotting paper he rose to become TSB’s area director for the East Midlands until his retirement in 1992.

Asked what inspired him to write poetry, Ray said: “I have thought long and hard about that and although I really don’t like to do it the answer is found in Psalm 8, verse 3-6.

“Any real consideration of the universe, its magnitude and magnificance, or of we insignificant beings who yet have been given an appreciation of beauty and the ability to love and care, tells me that somewhere in it all there is meaning, and my poetry is part of my searching.”

‘Some Poems’ by the father-of-two and grandfather-of-four is available to purchase from internet site Amazon for £3.50.

It can also be ordered though Waterstones and W H Smiths.

Police in Grantham have urged bike owners to remember to take steps to ensure their bicycles are safe after a recent spate of thefts.

Making sure your bike is locked up overnight, even if it is in your back garden, means potential thieves cannot simply wheel it away from your property.

If you pop into a house or shop and leave your bike outside, even if it is only for a minute, remember to padlock your cycle to a nearby sturdy construction such as a lamppost or railing so it is not easy to steal.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who saw or thinks they might have witnessed a bike being stolen, or anyone who knows where the bikes are going.

Anyone with any information is asked to call 101 and report what information they have, or alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Mayor of Grantham has spoken out over the ongoing issue with grass cutting following a contract between South Kesteven District Council and Glendale.

Mayor Ian Selby said: “I raised this issue last week with senior council officers and took photos to show them. On Tuesday I raised the issue at the scrutiny committee meeting and all members of the committee agreed with me.

“We are talking about the upkeep of our town and its appearance. What on earth do visitors to our town think. Poor grass maintenance does very little to enhance tourism and in turn our local economy suffers.

“If the council were to purchase a herd of goats then the goats would do a much better job of cutting the grass.”

Since reporting the problem the Journal has heard from more residents unhappy with the state of grassed areas, with Mrs Holmes from Canterbury Close writing: “It’s now five weeks since our grass was cut and then it wasn’t done well, no strimming of edges and all the cuttings left on the pavement.”

However we have also heard from those defending SKDC, including a resident who wished to remain anonymous, who said: “I have lived in a council house since 1984 and the service has been superb.

“When the lawn or hedges have needed cutting it’s only taken a telephone call.”

SKDC’s property development manager Neil Cucksey has apologised and says Glendale has made a commitment to improve standards.

Last Friday was National Care Home Open Day and among those taking part was the Orders of St John Care Trust’s Gregory House in Welby Gardens.

Activities co-ordinator Zenda Dempster arranged for London based theatre company Carousel, who specialise in creating shows for care homes, to perform for residents.

In addition to the national open day the home is celebrating the ‘Best of British’ this year to coincide with the wartime anniversaries, and so, fittingly, British classics formed much of Carousel’s repertoire.

Alongside events honouring Britain, Zenda has organised ‘Around the World’ activities including a wine and cheese tasting that took place after Carousel’s performance.

For 72 hours straight ten volunteers will play computer game Minecraft as part of an annual fund-raiser.

MineThon was founded by Ethan Smith in 2011, and each year has held a Minecraft event for charity.
MineThon4 is in aid of AbleGamers, who use video games to improve disabled people’s quality of life.

Founder Ethan Smith said: “There are over 33 million gamers with disabilities, and gamers, developers and publishers frequently overlook them... This year, MineThon is going to take a good look - this year, MineThon is going to help.”
Starting at 11am on July 25, the entire 72-hour gaming session will be live streamed, and there will be raffles, auctions, Minecraft mini-games,and guest appearances from Minecraft celebrities.

The event is taking place in the George Shopping Centre, with Tailored Systems providing computers, or to watch the live stream and donate to AbleGamers go to www.minethon.com

Anyone who donates the equivalent of $10 (£5-£6) or more, which will go directly to the American-based charity AbleGamers, will be granted access to Minecraft mini-games on MineThon’s 1000-player server, courtesy of CreeperHost LTD.