A 22-year-old father pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis which was discovered in his pocket when he was arrested for a separate incident.

While the other matter was taken no further, Stuart Scrivens of Kinoulton Court, Grantham, appeared in court for possession of cannabis.

Shelley Wilson, prosecuting, said that on June 7 at around 8pm Scrivens was arrested and after being searched a foil wrap containing one gram of cannabis was found in his pocket.

Scrivens told police that the cannabis was for his own use, and Mrs Wilson added that he had three previous convictions for posession of the drug dating back to 2012.

Giles Tyas, defending, told the court that Scrivens had used cannabis from a young age, and had moved up from Suffolk about a year ago looking for labouring or building work.

Mr Tyas added that Scrivens, who is the father of a four-year-old and a two-year-old, apologised for his actions.

Scrivens was given a conditional discharge of 6 months and ordered to pay a £15 victim surcharge.

A man injured in a collision with a lorry in Gonerby Hill Foot yesterday (Monday) was a cyclist, police have confirmed.

Initially thought to have been a pedestrian, the 64-year-old cyclist, of Great Gonerby, was injured and taken by ambulance to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham. His injuries were not serious and he is described as being “comfortable”.

The driver of the lorry was not injured and no arrests were made.

Hundreds of schoolchildren descended on the South Kesteven Sports Stadium on Thursday to take part in the annual Inspire+ Mini Olympics.

Schools across the district travelled into Grantham to be part of the award-winning event, which gives youngsters the chance to try a variety of sports and meet professional sporting stars.

The event is organised by Young Ambassadors.

** Catch this week’s Journal for pictures and coverage of the Mini Olympics.

A voluntary role within the Grantham Canal Society has opened up.

The group, which is restoring a 33-mile stretch of Grantham Canal, is looking for a volunteer co-ordinator.

The successful applicant will assist with recruitment and organise various work groups. They will have good interpersonal and communication skills.

Anyone interested in applying or finding out more is asked to email chairman@granthamcanal.org

We all remember school sports days, but for over 1000 youngsters from academies within the David Ross Education Trust, today’s Summer Cup at Grantham’s Meres Stadium meant not only sprinting round a track or leaping into the long jump, but brushing shoulders with sports stars like Dame Kelly Holmes, Andy Turner and Jenny Jones.

The Olympic and Commonwealth medallists were there to inspire the pupils who had travelled to the Meres in order to compete in a variety of sports, ranging from track and field to tennis, rugby, hockey and swimming.

Dame Kelly Holmes said: “It is absolutely brilliant to see young people getting excited about sports. When I was up on the stage for this event’s opening ceremony there were 1500 people and it’s very inspiring and a great opportunity.”

The double Olympic gold medallist was also on hand to advise many of the young athletes, including those competing in her key disciplines, the 800m and 1500m.

“One boy came to speak to me after he lost his race, but I told him what to work on for his next race so he can build on that for the next stage.

“Events like this and being exposed to sports at a young age is so important, so that young people know what they are good at. What’s nice about the David Ross Trust is that by bringing these 25 academies together they have the opportunity to experience a high level of competition.”

The middle distance champion was not the only sporting star giving tips to students, with track and field Commonwealth gold medallist Andy Turner speaking to lots of the young athletes, and added: “If you can inspire at least one kid then you’re doing your job.”

Jenny Jones who at this year’s winter games in Sochi became the first Briton to win an Olympic medal on snow said: “Today is fantastic. I’ve been watching a lot of the primary schools that are also here doing obstacle courses.

“It’s nice too that by going up against other academies, they are getting to compete as a team not just individually.”

Amongst the schools taking part were Charles Read Academy, who came over from Corby Glen with over 60 pupils, including 13-year-old Benjamin Rigby who recently showed Princess Beatrice how to serve at table tennis and has ambitions to play at Olympic level.

Charles Read’s Acting Principal Robert Sloan said: “There are lots of opportunities today for our students to compete, and this is on top of our own upcoming sports day.

“They have met sports stars here and we also had athletes come to the academy to give lessons in the run up, including Commonwealth athletes Christian Malcolm and Kelly Sotherton.

“They are really enjoying today and getting to compete against the best of the best.”

Bottesford Parish Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) has issued a warning to motorists following two incidents in the area.

A number plate was stolen from a car parked in Walnut Road, Bottesford, some time over the weekend of June 21-22.

Meanwhile, thieves attempted to steal a Land Rover Defender from outside a home in Hilltop, Orston. The crooks managed to get into the vehicle but were unable to drive it away.

Residents living in the area are advised to properly secure their vehicle as a high proportion of car crime takes place outside the owner’s home.

Anyone with information on either incident is asked to call police on the non-emergency 101 number.

** A mini scooter has been dumped in High Street, Bottesford. Anyone who thinks it may belong to them, or knows of anyone who has lost one, is asked to call the NHW group on 07725 636626.

Grantham Swimming Club’s Leah Roughan won gold at the British Gas International meet at Manchester Aquatics Centre last week.

Leah recorded a personal best 2min 33.79sec to triumph with ease in the 16-and-under 200m breaststroke.

As a result of her victory, she was put into the Women’s Open 200m breaststroke final in which she performed admirably to finish finish overall in another PB of 2:33.27, not far behind experienced internationals such as Sophie Allen, Danielle Lowe and Katie Armitage.

Four radiators were stolen from the back of a house on the High Street in Great Gonerby overnight on Monday.

Police are asking for anybody with information about the theft to contact them. If you have any information call the force control on 101 quoting incident number 75 of July 1.

Grantham Town will have a new youth structure for the 2014-15 after changes to the set-up were announced by the club this week.

In moves to bring the youth and first team structures closer together, club chairman Pete Railton will oversee both sides of club activity.

As part of on-going development of youth football at the town’s senior club, Mr Railton is taking the role of chairman of a new youth management team, with junior coach Russell Cousins as his vice-chairman.

Lynne Anderson will act as secretary/treasurer, Paul Teare as welfare officer and former Gingerbread Nick Anderson as development officer make up the new committee. Grantham Town directors Matt Smith and Alan Stokes are the Grantham Town board representatives on the management team.

The Gingerbreads’ chief executive officer Barrie Pierpoint said it signalled exciting times ahead for the future of the club: “The youth organisation has been taken fully under the wing of the club. It is a move that is part of our wider vision and strategy to develop youth football at the club. There are a lot of plans to work together within the club.”

An open evening will be held to officially launch the new structure at which all existing players and their parents as well as any new players will be welcome. The club are also looking for a new independent chairman to take the reins from Mr Railton in the future as the structure develops. Anyone who is interested in the position should contact Barrie Pierpoint for further details at bp_mms@btinternet.com or ring him on 07720 406806.

l Next season, the Gingerbreads will be running sides at four levels from under-11 upwards, In addition to the popular Saturday soccer school and a soccer academy for under-9s, there will be sides at under-12, under-14, under-15 and under-17.

The restructure coincides with last season’s under-18s leaving the club. Last season, six of the team’s out-of-town-based players featured in first team matches and senior first team joint manager Wayne Hallcro said he would not rule out some of them returning at some point in the future.

Hallcro said: “You could see that those lads have talent and confidence. That was evident for everybody to see. They are all welcome to join us for pre-season training and we hope to see some of them back at the club at some point in the future.”

The club’s board of directors also expressed their thanks to the lads and Ash Nason and Eddie and Jack Humphreys for all their effort and involvement in the under-18 set-up.

Lincolnshire County Council have responded to claims by Unison that budget cuts will result in 500 job losses.

The union’s Branch Secretary for the county Helen Stokes said: “I think we will be looking at a cut of 500 roles across the county mainly on the administration side.

“This is a cut beyond a cut - we do not have resources to cover the essential duties we have to do as a local authority - such as child protection and adult care.”

In response Tony McArdle, Chief Executive of LCC, said in a statement: “The council needs to save a further £90 million annually over the next few years.

“The first step is putting the management team in place of the size and with the range of skills that will meet that challenge. So we’re proposing to reduce our senior management team from 105 posts to 84 – a 21% reduction.”

While this reduction in senior management roles had already been confirmed by LCC earlier this year, they have not yet given exact numbers of how many other posts will go as a result of budget cuts.

Mr McArdle added: “This will be followed by a wider restructure of the council, geared to meeting our priorities in the most efficient way possible.

“Some job losses are expected, but it is too early to give an exact figure.”

Celebrities in the world of sport travelled to Grantham yesterday (Tuesday) for the David Ross Education Trust Summer Cup.

The trust, which runs the Charles Read Academuy in Corby Glen, holds the big sporting event each year, giving pupils from Charles Read the chance to compete against those in other schools under the trust.

The big celebrity name this year was Dame Kelly Holmes, following last year’s visit by Lord Sebastian Coe. She led the opening ceremony and helped to inspire the youngsters to try sports.

* See Friday’s Journal for full coverage of the Summer Cup.

The Lincolnshire Youth Wind Orchestra plays a summer concert at St Wulfram’s Church on Saturday, July 5, at 7.30pm.

The popular young orchestra’s programme will feature Rimsky-Korsakov’s Trombone Concerto with soloist Nic Jones on trombone and Tiger Rag jazz standard with soloist John Bowskill on tuba. Tickets will be available on the door priced £7 (£5 concessions) with accompanied schoolchildren being admitted free.

The orchestra will soon embark on a tour to Poland.

Dozy Parker alert! Tina Rickett sent in this photo showing inconsiderate parking at the top of Edward Street, off Bridge End Road in Grantham.

She said: “Parking across the top of Edward Street is getting a joke. We need a warden up here, a few tickets might put people off. There is no chance the emergency services could pass this parked car.”

If you spot the work of a ‘Dozy Parker’ please take a picture and send it in to us – help us in our campaign to rid the streets of thoughtless parkers! Email: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

Guildhall staff, the Mayor and town businesses came to the rescue of 90 children dressed in wartime clothes when their school trip to Duxford Imperial War Museum was halted.

The National School’s year 6 pupils were initially left with no where to go after there was no sign of their coach to Duxford, but soon everyone was rallying round to ensure they still had an exciting day out.

Teaching assistant Julie Dowsett contacted the Guildhall, which despite being closed for painting and redecorating opened its doors for the pupils.

Guildhall Museum manager Tracey Smith said: “I felt sorry for them, so we arranged for them to come here.”

Moreover Grantham’s Mayor Ian Selby heard about the school’s predicament and went to fetch his regalia so that the pupils could also learn about his role’s history, with groups taking it in turns to visit the museum, Mayor’s parlour and the Guildhall theatre and prison.

Mayor Selby said: “It was a pleasure to help out and host the children in the Mayor’s Parlour, and to give the children a talk about the wonderful historic role of the Mayor of Grantham.”

However this wasn’t the end of the children’s revised trip, as a call to nearby businesses was all it took for the school to be provided with materials with which to build wartime shelters.

Head of year 6 Jayne Watson said: “Scott from Macfarlanes and Alison from Wickes both also helped make our day special with supplies to build Anderson shelters.”

If all this last-minute kindness wasn’t enough, the day concluded with a discounted visit to the cinema, and Jayne added: “It was lovely to see so many locals willing to step in and support the children.”

The Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham will benefit from a slice of a £600,000 award by Arts Council England.

South Kesteven District Council Cultural Services, which runs the Guildhall Arts Centre and the Stamford Arts Centre announced the award. Collectively, the award of £207,194 per year between April 2015 and March 2018, will be used to support the development of high quality arts programmes in each venue.

The application to the National Portfolio Organisation Programme (NPO) was made by the core Lincolnshire One Venue (LOV) consortium on behalf of the centres and three other key performing arts centres in the county - the South Holland Centre in Spalding, Louth Playgoers Riverhead Theatre and Lincoln Drill Hall.

The funding will help develop new work and enhance the delivery of a Lincolnshire wide Young People’s Programme.

Some of the funding will also be used with other partners who were successful in their applications, The Collection/Usher Gallery in Lincoln, and North Kesteven District Council who run two venues.

Over the past three years of NPO funding the group has successfully brought new funding into the county’s venues to support young people as artists, audiences and arts programmers, and created 13 new paid internships and apprenticeships.

SKDC’s portfolio holder for Leisure, Arts and Culture Coun Bob Adams said: “The confirmation of support from Arts Council England is fantastic news. Securing this key funding will ensure that we continue to develop our high quality and varied programme of arts performances here in South Kesteven as well as in Lincoln, Louth, and Spalding, working with our consortium partner venues across Lincolnshire.

“It is a real show of confidence in the unique role that multi-purpose arts centres play in communities across the country and the quality of the arts programme we produce and present.”

As a reward for pupils’ outstanding achievements in maths, they were whisked away to London for a fun – but educational – day out.

A group of 24 students across Years 1-9 achieved the gold award in the passport maths programme at West Grantham Academy St Hugh’s, and were treated to a trip to the National History Museum in the capital.

Julie Swatton, from the school, said: “Students received a surprise welcome as they entered the museum with a massive dinosaur staring at them. They were reassured when we discovered it was a vegetarian!”

The day ended with a visit to the Charles Darwin Centre.
Ms Swatton added: “Our students were a credit to themselves and the academy and returned home armed with a vast array of photographs to remind them of their adventure.”

Reports are coming in that a collision on the junction of Belton Lane and B1174 at Great Gonerby is causing traffic problems.

Lincolnshire’s Road Policing Unit say every junction off the A1 around Grantham is backing up with traffic because of this collision.

Lincolnshire County Council has announced today (Wednesday) that it will add to the £5.5 million pothole fund granted by the Government last month.

The local authority’s cabinet has pledged to spend an additional £5.8 million on road maintenance and improvements, made possible by underspending its budget last year. This is being put down to a mild winter, savings generated from the energy waste facility, and a reduction in the amount of money the authority had to borrow to fund major capital projects.

The news follows a story uploaded on to the Journal’s website this morning which quoted LCC chief executive Tony McArdle as saying the council “needs to save a further £90 million annually over the next few years” and proposes to cut 105 management posts. However, this is being challenged by Unison which claims 500 jobs could be lost.

An extra spend of £5.8 million on the roads will allow LCC to fill thousands more potholes over the coming year.

Leader of the council Councillor Martin Hill said: “We were able to spend less than we expected over the last financial year and we’ve agreed to use a significant proportion of this surplus to bolster the highways maintenance budget. This means we can effectively match the extra government funding that was recently announced.

“With the extra money we’ve already received this year, the total additional investment in our roads is more than £14 million, and this is on top of the £50 million we spend annually on maintaining the county’s roads.”

According to the local authority, more than 50,000 potholes were filled in 2013 and over 2.2 million square metres of road were resurfaced. This year, the council plans to double the amount of resurfacing to over four million square metres, and permanently repair even more potholes.

SATURDAY (July 5)

Cricket

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Welby v Grantham, Woodhall Spa v Belton Park.

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

Division Two – Belton Park 2nd v Lindum 3rd, Boston 3rd v Welby 2nd, Grantham 3rd v Claypole.

South Notts League

Division B – Collingham v Belvoir.

Division E – Whatton & Aslockton v Sutton Bonington.

Division G – West Bridgford Legion v Bingham, Bottesford 2nd v Newark R&M 2nd.

Division M – Ruddington 2nd v Whatton & Aslockton 2nd.

Division N – Bingham 2nd v Beeston Toton Sycamore 3rd.

SUNDAY

Cricket

Grantham & Melton Association

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

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

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

TUESDAY

Cricket

Burrough & District League

Division One – Belvoir v Tilton & Lowesby.

Grantham martial arts Instructor, Jill Pearce has been promoted to the title of master grade by Tae Kwon-Do International and the TAGB.

Sixth degree black-belt Jill was given the news at the association’s Welsh Championships in Cardiff.

Jill, who has been training in the Korean military martial art of Tae Kwon-Do for 29 years, said: “This is a great honour for me and I hope I can prove that women can achieve equal opportunities now in the martial arts world. There are definitely a lot more ladies enjoying training and competing now than in past decades, and I think this has a lot to do with our modern teaching methods.”

The promotion came in conjunction with her Sleaford club successfully achieving Clubmark status. This prestigious award from Sport England recognises sporting excellence and certifies the club as a high quality sports club.

Jill added: “Our goal is to help all our members achieve their full potential and to do this it’s essential to have excellent instructors and a clear development programme. We are currently working on a clubmark portfolio for our Grantham club and in the future we hope to have all our clubs accredited.”

Sleaford Tae Kwon-Do club was the first school in the assocation of more than 500 clubs throughout the UK to be awarded this high honour and David Oliver, chairman of the national governing body, the British Tae Kwon-Do Council, who was himself recently promoted to grand master ninth degree status, awarded the certificate to Jill during a recent event.

Anyone who would like further details on any of the classes can contact Jill on 01476 570616 or e-mail info@tkdclubs.com