Grantham driver Olly Allen completed a thrilling motorsport comeback season by clinching a championship win at one of the world’s most famous circuits.

Garage owner Olly’s victory in the Blue Oval series for classic Fords was the perfect confirmation of his decision to return to the sport after a break of several years while his children were small.

And the victory affirms the faith shown in the talented 34-year-old racer by his supporters and sponsors, Peter Lackey, Xtralis and EMS.

Victory in the final race in the final round of competition on the celebrated Spa track in Belgium at the weekend secured the title win, which Olly proudly adds to three Ford saloon championship crowns he won in his earlier spell on the track.

He said this week: “I was nervous because Spa is a fast and taxing track, especially for the smaller cars like mine.

“But everything turned out well in the end for us.

“I couldn’t have hoped for a better season. It makes me a quadruple champion and I am chuffed to bits to be honest.

Olly and his team - dad Phil and mechanics Liam Berry and Chris Nettleton - went into the decisive final rounds in second place in the championship after two wins the previous weekend at Brands Hatch.

The circuit called for a tactical approach from Olly, who knew he had to preserve the 2.0 litre engine and running gear of his mk3 Fiesta on a track with long, punishing uphill straights better suited to more powerful cars sharing the track in races and practice sessions each lasting half-an-hour.

Despite this, he did enough in practice to start the first race in pole position and built an eight second lead.

But he paid a high price for easing off the gas in the final stages and was overhauled by the experienced Pantelis Christoforou at the last lap.

The slip meant the champagne stayed on ice, and Olly then feared he might not get to taste it at all.

He said: “I was still a bit anxious about the engine. I thought, Oh no, the poor old car is just going to have to go again.

“But then, next morning it was raining and I thought, great.

“I love driving in the wet because it separates the men from the boys. The bigger cars can’t use their power advantage and it suits my car and driving style.”

Olly took his opportunity in decisive fashion, lapping six seconds faster than his main race rival ... and finally getting onto the podium for that champagne moment.

Now Olly, who runs ORI Motor Services in Inner Street, Grantham, is planning modifications to the car for next season, hoping to take on a bigger racing challenge.

A host of retailers took part in Grantham’s Treasure Trail competition, all part of the their contribution for the Gravity Fields Festival last month.

A total of 60 entries were received and three winners were chosen at random – with the top prize of £200 going to Cameron Johnson. Maia Joint scooped second prize of £100 and Alannah Vyse won the third prize of £50.

Coun Frances Cartwright, portfolio holder for grow the economy, said: “This was such a great idea for Grantham businesses; it promoted the idea of shopping local and added to the excitement and buzz of the festival.” 
David Charles, of Grantham Retailers Association and owner of Grantham Computer Centre said: “I want to thank the retailers who got involved with the treasure trail, it was a real hit with families during the festival week.”
The vouchers awarded can be spent in any of 17 participating shops, which contributed £20 each towards the prize money.

The participating shops are:

• Grantham Computer Centre

• The Boutique

• Castlegate Clocks

• John Cussells

• Honest Krust

• Liberty Rose’s Tea Room

• Diva

• Glen Esk

• Marcus Wilkinsons

• Simmonds Music

• Tee One Golf

• The Trickling Tap

• Westgate Crafts

• Community Books

• Empire Designerwear

• Tailored Systems

• Helen’s Flowers

• Grantham Computer Centre

• The Boutique

• Castlegate Clocks

• John Cussells

• Honest Krust

• Liberty Rose’s Tea Room

• Diva

• Glen Esk

• Marcus Wilkinsons

• Simmonds Music

• Tee One Golf

• The Trickling Tap

• Westgate Crafts

• Community Books

• Empire Designerwear

• Tailored Systems

• Helen’s Flowers

Patching and resurfacing will be carried out on a number of Grantham roads starting this week.

As part of a rolling schedule, a series of roads will be closed for one or two days each for the repairs, which, weather permitting, will be completed by October 27.

They’re part of an ongoing county-wide resurfacing programme lasting 15 weeks, funded by the Department of Transport.

Area Highways Manager Mark Heaton said: “These works will improve the surface of the road, extending its life for many years. It’s possible there may be some disruption to traffic, but this will only be for a short period of time and residents and pedestrians will still have access wherever possible.

“We’d thank you for your patience while this resurfacing is completed.”

The schedule for the repairs is as follows:

October 11: Old Wharf Rd will be closed, with access for pedestrians and emergency vehicles only.

October 14: St Helens Close will be closed and access to properties may be temporarily disrupted.

October 15 Welham Street, north and south will be closed and two-way traffic lights will be in place on Avenue Road.

October 16: Larch Close will be closed and access to properties may be temporarily disrupted.

October 17-21: High Street Ropsley will be closed and access to properties may be temporarily disrupted.

October 27: The Avenue will be closed for one day.

For more information about these road works visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks or follow @LincsCC_roads on Twitter.

Grantham Foodbank started operating from its new larger premises on Greyfriars last week.

Since its launch in July 2011 the foodbank has been based at St Catherine’s Road, but with the help of Grantham Estates they have secured a more suitable site in the old home of Brewers Electrical, allowing ground-level storage of their food donations which can sometimes amount to up to four tonnes.

The larger space is also enabling the foodbank to expand its services, by providing warm clothing, essential household items and professional advice to poverty-stricken families.

Grantham foodbank project co-ordinator, Brian Hanbury, said: “This move will allow us to extend our work, beyond providing food help, to establish money management support and training, giving another safety net and tools for self help for those in crisis.“

The move commenced last week when a team of volunteers from the Mars Company at Melton Mowbray brought trucks and manpower to re-establish the warehouse at Greyfriars.

The distribution centre will remain at St Catherine’s Road until later this month.

Chair of the trustees Reverend Ian Worrall added: “The work of Grantham foodbank really does depend on the generosity of the people of the Grantham area in giving food, time and money to support those in need in our community. On behalf of those we help ‘a big thank you and God bless’ to everyone who has helped in any way. ”

Stoke Rochford Hall is unveiling a memorial in honour of a former resident who died 100 years ago fighting in the First World War.

Lieutenant Christopher Randolph Turnor was born at the hall on August 16, 1886, the second son of Algernon and Lady Henerietta Turnor.

He joined the 10th Royal Hussars and was killed in action near Ypres on October 26, 1914, after engaging in a fierce struggle which stemmed the advance of German troops to the coast.

Being an early casualty of Ypres, Lieutenant Turnor is buried with three comrades in a small churchyard in Zandvoorde, and until now there has been no lasting memorial at his family home.

For this reason on the hundredth anniversary of his death a memorial stone sourced from the Stoke Rochford estate is being unveiled by Rosemary McCorquodale, nee Turnor, the last surviving member of the Turnor family.

It will take place in the grounds of the Hall at 1pm on October 26, with family members joined by representatives from the Royal Hussars, The Royal British Legion, the Army Benevolent Fund and military veterans.

Mayor Ian Selby and a group of army cadets who have created a small garden in front of the memorial will also be attendance.

Anyone else who would like to be at the unveiling is welcome to attend.

Specsavers in the Isaac Newton Centre are hoping a special guest tomorrow (October 10) will help the store raise money for the Guide Dogs charity.

William the guide dog will be visiting the Grantham opticians from 1.30pm to 4pm tomorrow as part of Guide Dogs Week (October 4-12).

Staff will be supporting the campaign by collecting donations dressed in bright neon colours, featuring the neon yellow of the iconic Guide Dogs harness, and are inviting members of the public to come and see William.

Bijal Ladva, store director of Specsavers Grantham, said: “It’s always a real pleasure to invite guide dogs and their owners and trainers into the store.

“We hope that William’s visit will help raise awareness of how important it is to make it easier for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy the same freedom of movement that most of us may take for granted.”

All of the money raised will go to the Guide Dogs charity, with more information at www.guidedogs.org.uk

A Grantham care home resident who turned 101 at the end of September has spoken about the numerous awards he won over the years for ploughing, having started his career working on the land 87 years ago.

Jack Hartley was only 14 when he joined his father in what was to become a life-long occupation, and as his many trophies show, one for which he has something of a talent.

“I remember I finished school at the age of 14 on a Friday. On the Saturday I started to help my father horse-ploughing. That’s what I did ever since,” said Jack.

However ploughing was not just a job to Jack but a hobby, and he began to take part in competitions held all over the country.

From the age of 26 onwards Jack regularly took home the first prize trophies and plates after showcasing his ploughing skills.

These awards now adorn Jack’s room at St Edmund’s nursing home on Worcester Road, where he is extremely popular with staff and residents alike.

Care assistants Katarzyna Cunnington and Ewa Chlopek said: “All the staff at St Edmund’s love Jack for his kindness and what he does for the home.

“Jack helps organise lots of activities like playing bingo, dominoes and scrabble, and with his outstanding voice he reads books to other residents.”

Moreover two weeks before celebrating his 101st birthday on September 25, Jack was also delighted to find out that an award named after him was being presented at the 123rd annual ploughing match held at Wortley in South Yorkshire.

Firefighters from Grantham attended a van on fire on the A1 southbound at Stubbock Hill, Grantham in the early hours of this morning.

At 4.57am crews attended the fire which was caused by a turbo fault within the engine.

Protesters demonstrated against plans to create a quarry and landfill site to the south of Denton at a public meeting in the village last Thursday.

Members of Gorse Lane Action Group (GOLAG) displayed placards outside and inside the village hall as they vented their opposition to the plans to quarry limestone on 100 hectares of agricultural land between the A607 and Gorse Lane.

Residents from Denton and Croxton Kerrial packed the meeting and were unanimously opposed to the proposals.

On behalf of landowner Charles Welby, construction industry supplier Mick George Limited is putting together an application to the county council which they say will activate planning permission for mineral extraction which dates back to 1955.

In a statement, GOLAG said: “Mick George’s representatives are busy telling people that because their application is based on historic planning permission this quarry is going to go ahead so it’s best to work with them. That’s not the case. It’s a new application and we believe there are excellent grounds to fight it.

“Members of the GOLAG committee and its supporters are concerned over the proposed destruction of high grade farmland in order to have an inert landfill site when we should be concentrating on more greener issues and recycling rather than dumping.

“The fields involved are currently in successful agricultural production, and supported by environmentally approved management schemes to support wildlife and have been for many decades.

“The proposed quarry site is on an exposed, elevated plateau with beautiful views towards Grantham and the Vale of Belvoir and far beyond.

“It will also be destroying an area of natural beauty, tranquillity and public amenity.”

At the public meeting John Gough, planning manager for Mick George, took questions on numerous concerns including increased traffic, dust and noise levels, and the impact on the nearby site of special scientific interest, Viking Way.

In response to traffic and road safety fears due to an estimated 80 trucks a day travelling to and from the site, Mr Gough said: “The trucks won’t be allowed to use Gorse Lane easterly towards Grantham, but will leave in a westerly direction.”

He added that parts of Gorse Lane would be widened as a condition of the application, and that noise and dust levels would be low due to the site being below ground level.

Mr Gough was also asked whether the landfill element of the plan, which would see inert materials leftover from construction sites taken to the area, was the main financial incentive for the application rather than the quarry.

Chair of GOLAG, Gaile McMillan said: “We believe that the quarrying of limestone is a pretext to open up a huge hole in the ground for dumping of inert waste.

“Geology suggests that the limestone is generally of poor quality and useful only for infill.

“Inert waste landfill, on the other hand, currently attracts ever increasing charges and we believe this is what Charles Welby and Mick George see as their main earner.”

While Charles Welby was not present at the meeting, his brother Dominic Welby gave a statement affirming that the rest of the family oppose the plans.

However Mr Gough expressed his belief that due to the dormant planning permission, the application which is due to be submitted either before Christmas or early in the New Year had a 96 per cent chance of succeeeding.

GOLAG say they are continuing to gather support and have created a website at www.gorselanequarry.co.uk

A Grantham group which caters for the blind and partially sighted is looking for more members.

The group, part of South Lincolnshire Blind Society, meets every two weeks on a Monday at Sandon Close Community Centre in Grantham, but its membership has been dwindling for some years and is now down to just eight.

Shirley Blomeley, who has been an organiser at the club for 18 years, is appealing for more people to go along.

Shirley said that some members had become too old to go to meetings or could not afford transport as funding was cut a few years ago.

Shirley said: “I have got a lot of friends here and my volunteers are fantastic and so are the members. We are like a happy family here rather than a social club.”

The members play games such as bingo and dominoes and often hold a raffle. They pay £2 per meeting.

The members occasionally go out, their latest trip being to Woody’s at Ancaster for lunch.

Shirley said: “I have been doing this a long time and I will keep it open until that last member left me. I would keep it open just for them.

“The group is for anybody who is partially sighted or blind and we have no men here. We would welcome some men!”

May Wright, 73, of Canterbury Close said some members could no longer afford the transport to get to the community centre “so they stay at home and look at four walls”. May said she enjoyed the companionship in the group and went to two other clubs run by the society.

Dorothy Vickers, 78, said she enjoyed meeting people and finding out what’s going on in the world and eldest member at Sandon Close, 97-year-old Jean Finnigan, said she had lots of friends there and the atmosphere was “very friendly”.

Anybody interested in joining the group at Sandon Close or any other groups run for blind and partially sighted people in the area can call the South Lincolnshire Society for the Blind on 01476 592775.

Luis Gaspar, aged 42, runs the Cecil Street Fish Bar with his wife Maria.

The couple are originally from Madeira in Portugal, but 25 years ago decided to move to the UK after getting married.

Before settling in Grantham they used to run a fish and chip shop in Oxford , and so have plenty of experience in serving the popular British dish.

They have a 16-year-old son, also called Luis, whose father and namesake still thinks of as his ‘little boy’.

Cartoonist Terry Shelbourne is one of the Fish Bar’s regular customers, and so thought it was about time Luis had his own caricature.

When he is not providing Granthamians with the classic cod and chips or other fishy favourites, Luis enjoys a spot of gardening at their East Avenue home.

They also return to Portugal for two weeks every summer to see family.

The Fish Bar is open from 11.30am-2pm and from 4.30pm-9pm every day except on Sundays and Monday mornings.

A Grantham schoolgirl will get to dance in front of her home crowd this month when she stars in a dance production of Oscar Wilde’s The Happy Prince.

KGGS girl Megan Smith, 15, will play the role of Wilde’s niece who helps to tell the story. The ballet will be staged at the Guildhall on Wednesday, October 22, by the Grantham-based Chantry Dance Company. She will also star in the production at Lincoln’s Terry O’Toole theatre on November 6.

The Happy Prince tells the story of a prince who gives away all his wealth to the poor people of his kingdom with the help of a swallow. It has been adapted and choreographed by Paul Chantry and Rae Piper who run the company.

Megan was chosen for the part after an audition. She said: “I found it quite tough at first because I have never done anything like this before, but I am really enjoying the challenge.”

Megan, of Maplewood Close, is on stage for the whole 40 minutes of the show except for a 15 second break!

The production also includes dance pieces called ‘All I Can Do Is Be Me’, set to Bob Dylan’s best-loved songs, and Gershwin’s famous jazz concerto ‘Rhapsody in Blue’, presented as a dynamic duet.

Tickets for the Grantham show cost £12/£10/£8.50 students at www.guildhallartscentre.com or call 01476 406158. Tickets for Lincoln can be ordered at www.terryotooletheatre.org.uk or by telephone on 01522 883311.

Fifty years ago musician and founder of the Monster Raving Loony Party, ‘Screaming Lord Sutch’, came to Grantham’s Face Club with the BBC to film a documentary on his life.

The Journal reported that his appearance sent ‘hordes of teenage fans wild with delight’ and the picture printed in the Journal on October 9, 1964 shows some of them ‘admiring his 18 inch long hair’.

Although Sutch didn’t have a direct connection to Grantham, the documentary makers thought Face was a good location to show his musical and political popularity at the time.

Living up to his name, he screamed his way through policies like the right to vote at 18, no victimisation because of long hair, legalised radio stations, knighthoods for the Beatles and licences for cats.

In June Babette Hay from Manthorpe Road gave the Journal this photograph dating back to 1955 or 56.

It is of herself and other members of Grantham Tennis Club’s ladies team who during that season were unbeaten and won the southern section of Lincolnshire LTA‘s Division Two.

Alongside Babette (pictured third from left), is Ethel Hewes (fifth from left), who is currently a resident at St Edmund’s care home on Worcester Road.

On seeing the picture included in Memory Lane, one of Ethel’s carers, Katarzyna Cunnington, contacted the tennis club where Babette Hay still plays regularly at the age of 94.

Consequently Katarzyna was able to arrange for Babette to be at Ethel’s 101st birthday party.

The pair had not seen each other for over 40 years, and Babette said: “It was wonderful to see Ethel again. I think she was a bit overwhelmed with all the people there, so I’m going to go back and see her at the home so we can talk some more .”

At Lincolnshire County’s Full Council Meeting on September 26 the agenda included a Quarterly Review of the new Wellbeing Service.

Whilst providing much needed help for those in crisis after a period of illness there are still some key issues that need resolving.

For example, one local resident discovered they were unable to get help when they came out of hospital at the end of the week.

Having no food at home they were unable to get help with either shopping or cooking because the partner organisation working with LCC was unable to assess their home and their needs until the following week.

However the larger concern is that it is not clear how the quality of care being paid for by LCC is being monitored. Without checking with service users it is not possible to identify or resolve issues.

There was also considerable debate over the future of our library services. The Conservative Group refused to accept Labour proposals to continue funding these important services and is pushing ahead with a Public Consultation based on imposed cuts.

During Gravity Fields in Grantham, in the forum ‘Science Futures’ a panel of scientists considered the impact of scientific breakthroughs. We were told that mankind has been able to ‘augment intelligence’ through the use of books and computers.

Despite the important recent breakthroughs being made by scientists this appears to be in spite of, rather than with, Government assistance. The work of the guest panelists who had found inspiration in their public libraries, included important environmental projects such as the identification, and subsequent reduction of the hole in the ozone layer, and, important progress in the management of the prescription of Warfarin taken by heart patients.

More investment is needed in science and we need more scientists. The inspiration for children and adults alike can be found on the shelves of a library, or by providing ready access for all to the internet. These cuts are a false economy. They are cuts we cannot afford to make.

All day parking at Grantham Station for early morning commuters costs £11, but for later morning users it is reduced to £7, and I knew from previous experience that the relevant time to qualify for the cheaper rate was 9.30am.

On Friday morning (September 5) I drove to the car park after 9.30am and without feeling I had any need to read the instructions, I activated the machine for the cheaper rate and was instructed to insert my £7 and it dispensed my ticket at 9.36am. The ticket permitted me to use the car park until the early hours of the following day.

Only then did my friend and I read the board and realise that the qualifying time for using the car park at the cheaper rate had changed from 9.30am to 10am. As we had plenty of time before our train to Hull was due at 10.48am we decided it would be unwise to use the car park ahead of the 10am time in case a warden should attend. We immediately left the car park and we completed some business elsewhere, before returning to the car park after 10am and I displayed my apparently valid ticket.

On our return from Hull I found that my car had been issued with a Parking Ticket during the afternoon (£50 fine), not for violating the parking times on the car park, but for ‘displaying a ticket which was invalid because it was purchased before 10am’.

So why did the machine instruct me to insert my £7 at 9.36am and issue me with my ticket validating use of the car park from 10am?

May I suggest that whoever designed and installed the machine is guilty of aiding and abetting my offence.

Malcolm Wild

By email

A sandwich bar which prides itself on serving ‘good honest food’ opened this summer on Welby Street, and has proved a hit with customers.

Honest Krust is run by Daniel Charles and partner Helen Kirton, serving sandwiches, wraps and baguettes as well as specials including jacket potatoes and homemade soups.

The key idea behind Honest Krust is using locally sourced produce and making everything in front of the customer, even cutting the bread to the size of their choice.

“All our business has come from repeat custom and word of mouth. There is no greater compliment than people liking your food and coming back,” said Daniel.

Supported by the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Chambers of Commerce as well as the Grantham Retailer’s Association, the business is a new venture for Daniel who previously worked as assistant head of house at Priory Ruskin Academy, and indeed his former pupils often pop in.

Helen who has always worked in customer service said: “I always dreamt of being self-employed, and I like interacting with people here.”

Daniel’s sister Lindsey is also part of the Honest Krust team, and the family business has plans to expand into a small chain with branches in Newark and Lincoln.

Grantham firefighters attended a car fire in South Parade, Grantham, yesterday.

The crew used one hose reel and two breathing apparatus to tackle the fire which was caused by an electrical fault. The call was received at 2.45pm.

Once again the issue of solar farms is raising its head.

These should only be allowed on sites which cannot be used for anything else, such as landfill sites, not good agricultural land.

There are many roofs doing nothing which could have solar panels fitted on them.

A. Leeton

Harrowby Lane Grantham

A novelist has been inspired by the real life experiences of her father-in-law during his time in a POW camp in the Second World War.

Estella McQueen’s latest novel ‘The Man at the Back’ is something of a breakaway from her previous work, and the story came to her when she was going through old letters and postcards belonging to her late father-in-law Vincent McQueen.

Estella explained: “I’ve previously written what you might call ‘chic lit’, but this is the first time I’ve written about the war. I found it really interesting and I might do something similar for my next novel.”

What particularly struck Estella during her research was not just the hardships of the POW camps but also the range of activities the prisoners did in order to keep themselves entertained, including theatrical and musical performances.

She said: “Many people don’t realise all this really happened in the camps. Before the war my father-in-law was an amateur actor and his hero was Laurence Olivier, who appears in the book.”

The story follows protagonist Tom Waterhouse, also an actor, who joins Bomber Command, becomes a prisoner of war and puts on Henry V in the camp.

Not forgetting her romantic roots, the wartime tale also has an underlying love story, and has been described by The Romantic Novelists’ Association as ‘an exceptional piece of work’ and ‘thumping good read’.

Having grown up in Bottesford and Grantham, Estella was always aware of the area’s rich history in aviation, but the novel led her to delve deeper.

She spent two years researching into Bomber Command at RAF East Kirkby and RAF Bottesford, which became the fictionalised RAF Waddesford in the book.

Now living in Osterley, West London having moved there as a BBC Researcher, 45-year-old Estella has enjoyed going back to the places of her childhood and hopes those familiar with Bottesford will recognise other real locations within the fictional setting of Waddesford.

‘The Man at the Back’ is currently available in eBook form via Amazon.