First aid trainer Joan Lincoln has retired from the Red Cross after 16 years.

Although based at Grantham, Joan has also covered Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire companies and Red Cross venues.

Joan said: “I have enjoyed every minute of my career with the Red Cross and will miss meeting some really interesting candidates, but I will not miss the early morning starts, the rush hour traffic and the thousands of miles of driving every year.”

Joan is looking forward to spending more time with her family, hobbies and holidays.

A heavy drinker involved in a scuffle which left a man with injuries escaped a jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court today (Wednesday).

Anthony Albert Holmes got involved in the drunken fight following an incident at a house in Sharpe Road, Grantham, earlier this year.

Lisa Hardy, prosecuting, said that a number of people were at the property when the victim arrived. The victim, who had been drinking Guinness and cider, later became involved in an argument and squared up to a woman at the house before the pair began fighting.

The woman picked up a knife and waved it at him and later Holmes also became involved.

During the incident that followed, the victim received a deep cut to his arm although the seriousness of the injury was not initially apparent to the people inside the house.

It was only after Holmes left the house that an ambulance was called and the injured man was taken to hospital where he received treatment for his injury before being discharged the following day.

Miss Hardy said: “Holmes was arrested at his then home address. He was asleep on the sofa when the police arrived and he was still drunk. He was interviewed but made no comment.”

Holmes, 33, of Lansdowne Court, Spalding, admitted unlawful wounding as a result of the incident on January 27. He was given a community order with 12 months’ supervision and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Tony Stanford, defending, said Holmes was determined to rid himself of his alcohol problem and has cut back to four cans a day.

He added: “He has applied for work and hopes within the next week to learn whether he has obtained a job.”

Judge Michael Heath said it was clear that the victim was drunk when he arrived at the house and was angry that the party had started without him.

The Judge told Holmes: “The laceration has caused no lasting damage and you have clearly made considerable steps in an attempt to overcome your addiction to alcohol.”

A shortage of paediatric staff, missing patient waiting time targets, lengthy handovers from ambulance crews and a failure to meet the needs of the town’s Eastern European population are some of the issues facing Grantham’s A&E department according to a report published by England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals.

The findings are published in a report made by Professor Sir Mike Richards on the quality of care provided by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust – which he has recommended stays in special measures for a further six months.

The trust was placed into special measures by Sir Bruce Keogh last year, after concerns were raised about mortality rates and standards of care.

Under its new inspection model, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated each core service, including A&E, medical care, surgery, critical care, maternity and family planning, services for children and young people, end of life care, and outpatients.

Both the A&E and medical care categories at Grantham Hospital ‘require improvement’, while surgery, critical care, end of life care and outpatients were rated as ‘good’.

However, maternity and family planning was a category described as offering ‘not sufficient evidence to rate’ as maternity care is no longer offered in Grantham. The report did state: “The majority of staff told us they felt isolated from the trust and felt decisions were made without consultation.”

Concerns raised following inspections at Grantham in April, and published this week, include:

* a shortage of consultants and paediatric staff in A&E

* poor completion of patient records in surgery

* poor dissemination of learning from incidents within maternity outpatients

* a lack of dedicated rescitiation emergency call number, paediatric team or paediatric bleep system

* handovers between ambulance crews and A&E staff was in excess of targets set

* the needs of the large Eastern European population in Grantham were not met

* insufficient equipment available in some areas, including A&E, critical care and the emergency assessment unit

Praise was also given in the report, mainly directed at the care, kindness and compassion provided by staff, something which is also evident by the many letters received and published in the Journal from grateful patients. Findings include:

* food and drink were made available to patients in most areas of the hospital

* the hospital was clean, and hand-washing and alcohol gel was available in all areas. Staff used gloves and aprons when providing care

* a robust system for reporting incidents in A&E was in place

In addition to Grantham Hospital, Lincoln County, Boston Pilgrim and Louth were also rated as requiring improvement overall.

Professor Sir Mike Richards said: “I recognise the leadership team at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been working hard over the last year to make improvements. While we saw definite evidence of improvement, the trust still has some way to go before it reaches the required standard.

“In particular, medical staff need to be better engaged in improving service quality and better integration of clinical services between the hospital sites is needed. That is why I have recommended to the Trust Development Authority that the trust remains in special measures for a further six months.

“I hope that, in six month’s time, the trust will be able to demonstrate enough improvement to review this again.

“People deserve to be treated in services which are safe, caring, effective, well-led, and responsive to their needs. We will continue to monitor the trust closely and this will include further inspections.”

** More on the findings of Professor Sir Mike Richards will follow, with coverage also in tomorrow’s Journal.

SATURDAY

Cricket

South Lincs & Border League

Premier Division – Belton Park v Lindum 2nd, Grantham v Long Sutton, Skegness 2nd v Welby.

Division One – Baston v Grantham 2nd, Cavaliers v Billingborough 2nd.

Division Two – Claypole v Boston 3rd, Timberlands v Grantham 3rd, Welby 2nd v Spalding 3rd.

South Notts League

Division B – Bottesford v Eastwood Town, Belvoir v West Bridgfordians.

Division E – Basford Mill v Whatton & Aslockton, Calverton 2nd v Belvoir 2nd.

Division G – Burton Joyce v Bottesford 2nd, Bingham v Ravenshead.

Division L – Wymeswold 2nd v Belvoir 3rd.

Division M – Whatton & Aslockton 2nd v Poplars.

Football

Friendly – Harrowby United v Skegness United (3pm).

SUNDAY

Cricket

Grantham & Melton Association

Divsion One – Belton Park v Grantham, Belvoir v Empingham, Houghton on the Hill v Buckminster, Woolsthorpe by Belvoir v Bottesford.

Division Two – Croxton Kerrial v Egerton Park, Sholay v Sproxton, Welby v Bingham.

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

TUESDAY

Football

Friendly – Harrowby United v Pinchbeck United (7.45pm).

Bassingham single-seater racing driver Jack Harvey secured his fifth podium of the season on Saturday – this time at Pocono, Pennsylvania.

As a result of his stretch of strong results, Racing Steps Foundation-backed Jack currently lies third in the Indy Car Series support race championship standings.

Unusually, the race weekend for this round of the championship fell on the Friday and Saturday. But, heavy rain meant that Friday’s practice sessions were cancelled so Jack’s first experience of the tri-oval track was on Saturday morning when a 40-minute practice session was immediately followed by the qualifying session.

Despite the limited running, the Schmidt Peterson Motorsports driver had a strong qualifying and posted the second fastest time.

On Saturday afternoon, he lined up on the first row of the grid for start of the 40-lap race.

Jack had a challenging start to the race and dropped back to fourth. However he was up to P3 by lap seven.

A full course caution was brought out when Razia spun off. At the restart, race leader Chaves, and Veach in P2, began to pull away from Jack. However, he was able to close the gap again and by lap 25 the top three were only separated by two seconds.

The three cars then ran nose to tail for the final three laps of the race, with the trio of drivers matching each other lap for lap. After 40 laps of racing and with no way past the two drivers ahead, Jack was forced to settle for third place and a further 35 championship points.

He said: “It’s a good feeling to be coming away from the weekend third in the championship and with another podium finish. With just four rounds left, it’s all to play for and our aim remains the same: to secure race wins and to ultimately score more points than the two guys currently at the top of the standings at each of the four remaining races.

“Although we’re pleased with another podium finish, it’s still disappointing not to have come away with a win. It’s proof of how close the championship fight is, that we are actually disappointed with a podium finish. The races are challenging as the new tyres for this year mean that you can’t run as close to the cars in the dirty air as in previous years, so it’s tough to make up positions during the race.”

The next round of the Indy Lights series will take place in Toronto next Sunday.

Competition in dance, table tennis, wheelchair basketball and football got the competitve juices flowing for children across the district taking part in the Summer Street Games on Saturday.

Hundreds of children joined in the event at The Meres Leisure Centre, organised by Positive Futures, a project which aims to turn the attention of children from deprived areas to sport and other activities.

Targeted through community groups in the district, teams and competitors aimed to win their respective competitions to qualify for the larger Lincolnshire and regional East Midlands finals later this month.

Neighbourhood police teams and other agencies also nominated participants and there was support from delivery of FairPlay football leagues in Grantham, Stamford and the Deepings. T-shirts and medals were handed out to all participants.

South Kesteven District Council’s portfolio holder for leisure, arts and culture Councillor Bob Adams attended to oversee the sport in action. He said: “It was a healthy turnout from local community groups to the event, the third of four major events for youngsters the Meres has hosted in just 10 days. Community and youth clubs are as ever among the lifeblood of sporting activities in the district and I’m glad this was another successful event that encourages active and healthy lifestyles to children in the district.”

Street Games is a national charity that was launched in 2007 to change lives and change communities for the better. It was inspired by the success of joint work by The FA, The Football Foundation and agencies working in deprived areas. Since then, projects across England, Wales and Scotland have benefitted from the Street Games doorstep sport method.

Grantham United’s race from Aycliffe was won by G. Wilson.

Eight members sent 121 birds.

Results: 1 G. Wilson 1610, 2 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1609, 3 D. Parker and son 1609, 4 D. Parker and son 1598, 5 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1596, 6 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1591, 7 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1590, 8 G. Wilson 1586, 9 Mr and Mrs L. Gilbert 1578, 10 E. Crawford 1576, 11 G. Wilson 1573, 12 B. Charles 1573, 13 D. Parker and son 1566, 14 E. Crawford 1565, 15 D. Parker and son 1560, 16 J. Ramm 1550, 17 K. Meadows 1523, 18 C. Creighton 1513.

l Grantham and District North Road Club’s race from Aycliffe was won by Gordon Smart.

Seven members sent 65 birds and race sponsors were Dave and Marian Wells.

Results: 1 G. Smart 1548.0, 2 K. Bradley 1520.6, 3 T. Ballaam 1517.1, 4 G. Smart 1516.2, 5 K. Bradley 1508.3, 6 G. Smart 1507.9, 7 K. Bradley 1503.5, 8 K. Bradley 1503.3, 9 K. Bradley 1500.5, 10 K. Bradley 1500.2.

Police are appealing for information after a burglary took place in Bingham on Monday.

The burglary occured between 11.30am and 3.30pm on July 7 at an address on Chapelfield Grove in Bingham.

Nottinghamshire police said there was no sign of forced entry, and are asking for any witnesses or for anyone with information to contact them on 101 quoting incident number 604 of July 7.

Two temporary double traffic lights have been taken from an Allington road.

Police say the lights were stolen along with 12 batteries from a location on Sedgebrook Road in the village sometime overnight on July 4 and 5.

If you have any information on this incident contact the force control room on 101 quoting incident number 320 of July 7.

Police are warning householders to be vigilant following a burglary and an attempted burglary in the Seventh Avenue and Belton Lane areas of Grantham.

PCSO Jackie Fulker said: “Please be vigilant and make sure you securely lock your property at night when you leave your premises. If you are in the back garden make sure the front of your property is secure to avoid sneak-in burglaries. If you have any concerns or you see or hear anything suspicious please ring 101 or your local NPT.”

The daughter of a cancer patient is doing a charity head shave to ensure that her mum does not have to go through hair loss alone.

Daisy Storey is having her hair shaved off in aid of Macmillan cancer support at the same time as her mum Tanya Richmond is going through chemotherapy.

On her decision Daisy said: “The reason I wanted to do this was mainly to support my mum with losing her hair, but also to try and inspire further fundraising and help Macmillan in the work that they do to support the patients and families of cancer sufferers.”

Daisy’s hairdresser Keileigh from Scots Hair in Grantham will be performing the shave at Totemic House, just off Springfield Road on Friday, August 8. To donate go to www.justgiving.com/daisy-storey

Grantham firefighters attended a commerical premises in Ancaster last night where a carpet shredder was on fire.

At 10pm they reached the scene on High Dyke in Ancaster, and although the flames were out on arrival the crew used a thermal imaging camera to inspect the shredder.

This revealed that the fire had been caused by an aerosol which was crushed in the shredder and released solvents against the hot surface.

Husband and wife Steve and Jo Solbé of Bingham-based business Learning Through Music, have released a CD helping children with their times tables through contemporary music.

Dubstep, drum ‘n’ bass, hip-hop and electro house all feature on the album called Tables Tunes.

During his 20 years as a primary school teacher Steve has often used raps and songs to engage pupils in the classroom, and wanted to produce a CD that wouldn’t sound out of place on the radio or in a club.

Learning Through Music are also delivering workshops to schools, and teacher and numeracy co-ordinator at Bottesford primary Alison said: “A girl in my class said the other day - I know that 8x8 is 64 because I can still hear the music in my head.”

Steve said: “The feedback from parents and their children has been great. As a teacher it’s fantastic to hear about children who are getting top marks in their tables tests. As a musician it’s rewarding to know that your tracks are being well received by their audience.”

For more information on where you can purchase Tables Tunes, go to www.learning-through-music.co.uk

Newark Rowing Club senior men’s squad last week took part in the prestigious 175th Henley Royal Regatta which is raced annually on the River Thames.

The crew, which included Chris Graves and George Mitchell from Grantham, was competing in the Thames Challenge Cup – knockout event for eights with crews from as far afield as Germany, USA and Melbourne Australia taking part. The crew, coached by Paul Fenoulhet, raced at regattas across the country in preparation for the event.

Chris and George’s crew was drawn against Royal Chester B in the first round of the event and an incredibly close race over the 2,112-metre long course led to Newark losing by a matter of millimetres in a photo finish.

The race between the two crews was umpired by four times Olympic champion Sir Matthew Pinsent who said it was the closest race he had ever umpired at the regatta.

l The club is looking to further strengthen its squad and is going to be running a learn-to-row course for interested athletes later in the summer.

If you are aged between 18 and 30 years of age, have a sporting background and would like a new challenge, contact vice-captain Andrew Hare at newarklearntorow@gmail.com

Grantham and District Bowls Association

Fellowship of Freedom and Reform

Semi-final

Colsterworth lost to Dysart Park 56-103.

Lee Trophy

Second round

Bottesford lost to Dysart Park 31-41, Great Gonerby lost to Colsterworth 16-36, Great Gonerby 2nd ??? Grantham, Vacu-Lug beat Swayfield 49-26.

Grantham Three-wood

Vacu-Lug B 31

Grantham 60

Vacu-Lug names first – S. Balfe, S. Davies and I. Robotham lost to J. Duke, A. Curtis and P. Harby 14-18; J. Williamson, P. Armstrong and P. Balfe lost to T. Sumner, T. Asher and N. Smith 12-18; I. Kettle, D. Dickenson and M. Allen lost to K. Whatmore, Jay Lewis and Joe Lewis 5-24.

Grantham Two-wood

Gonerby 69

Grantham 65

Gonerby names first – D. Holton, I. Lord and R. Childs beat J. Patten, R. Barnes and D. Pimm 28-12; B. Papworth, L. Turner and B. Robinson beat B. Patten, A. Gostick and J. Duke 22-16; F. Watson and K. Wilson lost to J. Asher and T. Asher 10-20; P. Jones and M. Massingham beat A. Curtis and B. Sowerby 15-12.

Lincs ASC

Bassingham 42

Grantham 48

Bassingham names first – D. Blanchard, M. Wright and L. Baker lost to D. Pimm, R. Smith and Joe Lewis 7-24; S. Gray, B. Footitt and R. Thatcher beat R. Barnes, J. Duke and Jay Lewis 14-13; C. Treadwell, C. Newton and D. Parnell beat J. Asher, B. Sowerby and T. Asher 21-11.

Martyn Wand is one half of estate agents Buckley and Wand, which he set up with his business partner Andrea Buckley over four years ago.

He lives in Bridge End Grove with his wife Annie and two children Jacob and Emelia.

Martyn started off as an accountant, but then decided to go into the estate agency business.

However his number skills are still put to good use through his expertise in providing property valuations.

Having lived in the area all his life, Martyn also uses his local knowledge to help clients find that perfect home in Grantham and the surrounding villages.

Buckley and Wand sell all sizes and prices of property, and can be found on Westgate.

Outside of work, Martyn likes to keep active by cycling and running .

The caricature is a surprise made possible by all his colleagues at Buckley Wand, and of course the artistry of Terry Shelbourne, so we hope Martyn is happy with it!

This week, the Grantham Relief Road came a long way closer to becoming a reality. £16 million closer to be precise.

After intensive lobbying by the county council, the district council and yours truly, the Government agreed to provide £16 million towards the estimated £40-50 million cost of a new road linking the A52 and the A1. The district council has already granted planning permission. And the county council has already agreed to finance the construction of the road (in the expectation of repayment from the proceeds of housing, office and warehouse development on the land between Spittlegate Level and Somerby Hill).

So George Osborne’s cheque for £16 million should make it a lot more likely that we will be able to surmount the few remaining obstacles and start work in the next few months. But it’s not in the bag yet.

Last weekend someone told me that the idea of a road bypassing Grantham to the south was first mooted in 1895! I don’t know whether that’s true but it certainly seems to have been promised a dozen times since then.

I know the Journal’s readers don’t want to hear any more politicians making promises. But if a day does come when you hear the sound of diggers moving earth for a new junction on the A1, when you see the foundations of a new bridge rise up either side of the River Witham, when you walk down Wharf Road and can breathe easily because the traffic is flowing freely and there aren’t queues of lorries belching out noxious fumes, then I hope that you will remember that a Conservative Chancellor worked with a Conservative county council, a Conservative district council and a Conservative MP to deliver something that made Grantham a much better place.

An exhibition and two concerts will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the First World War at St John’s Church, Spitalgate.

The commemoration will be called Grantham Remembers. The concerts will take place on Saturday, November 15, at the end of a two week exhibition starting on November 1.

The concerts, one in the afternoon and another in the evening, will feature St John’s choir directed by Geoff Winter. The concerts will also feature traditional music and songs from the Great War. Belvoir Wassailers will take part together with local folk groups and soloists. Poetry and prose will be read during the concerts.

Entry will be free, but special commemorative booklets will be on sale and proceeds will go to the Royal British Legion and Friends of St John’s Church. The Legion will also be selling poppies.

The exhibition will be set up in the church for people to visit. It will be a combination of the history of the war in general and a focus on local history.

Local historian Malcolm Knapp will be giving two talks in the church. On November 1 he will talk about “Bygone Grantham, World War 1” and on November 8 there will be a talk about his visits to the Somme and Ypres.

Charmaine Morgan, who is helping to organise the event, said: “This will commemorate not only the Machine Gun Corps at Belton, but also the Royal Flying Corps, now the RAF, which played such a vital role in the war and whose 
pilots were trained in Grantham and Harlaxton. Representatives from the Armed Forces will be invited with the community and dignitaries.”

Grantham library has been a vital source of material for the exhibition.

Schools will also be invited to the exhibition and classes will be able to visit as part of their curriculum and it is envisaged pupils will be able to do a number of activities.

There will also be a focus on local people who played an important role during the war including first policewoman Edith Smith and Alfred Ball, who attended King’s School and won a Victoria Cross.

Mrs Morgan would also like to hear from any organisations who would like tickets for larger groups or any businesses who would like to sponsor the exhbition. If you can help with the exhibition or would like group tickets email charmaine725@btinternet.com or call 01476 574748.

For more details on the education programme associated with the exhibition call Jayne Robb on 07828 039628.

If you can help with period items for the exhibition call Patsy Ellis on 07758 388526.

Tickets will be available from the Guildhall Arts Centre box office and the library on a first come, first served basis.

Tim and Margaret Fisk have raised £1,195.38 from their fifth blooming great tea party in aid of Marie Curie cancer care.

The couple hosted seventy people at their garden in Grantham Road, Great Gonerby, and served various refreshments.
They received a number of donations from businesses including Gonerby Post Office, Farmfoods, Morrisons, Boots and Watkin’s as well as numerous helpers.
Margaret said: “Without them we would not have raised so much money and we would also like to thank all those who supported us with donations of money and everyone who supported the tea party. It was marvellous.”
The couple’s daughter-in-law Joanne is a Marie Curie nurse who works night shifts caring for people in their homes, and they are also part of the charity’s fund-raising group in Grantham.

A group of amateur artists will hold an exhibition of their work at the Willoughby Gallery in Corby Glen for a month.

The Swayfield Art group is made up of 18 members who will display their art from Wednesday, July 16, to August 13. The paintings are mainly watercolour and traditional representations of subjects including landscapes, seascapes, botanical studies and still life.

Admission to the gallery is free and many of the paintings will be on sale.

The art group has been meeting for several years in Swayfield Village Hall every Tuesday morning. There is no formal instruction or tuition, only the opportunity to paint for a few hours while helping each other with technique and critique.

Richard Morgan, of the group, said: “We hope visitors will be pleasantly surprised at the variety and quality of 
work. The primary aim of the exhibition is to invite visitors to see what the group has achieved. You will not be disappointed.”

For more details go to www.swayfield-village-groups.webeden.co.uk and www.willoughbygallery.com