A man grabbed his partner by the throat in the street after they had argued in a social club.

Lee Russell Gray, 31, of Wallwork Mews, Grantham, admitted assaulting his partner in Great Gonerby on October 24.

Prosecuting Shelly Wilson said Gray and his victim had been in a relationship for a couple of years and they had a baby. The victim had an older children from another relationship. On the day of the she picked Gray up from work and noticed he had been drinking. They argued at home and he left to go to the pub.

Mrs Wilson said the victim then left her home with her baby and older child and 12-year-old niece. They walked past the pub and saw Gray at the bar. They went on to the social club where a number of friends were present.

Later on Gray entered the club and asked his partner for the door keys. There was an argument and he threw the keys on the floor before leaving.

The court heard Gray’s partner left the club with the children and friends at the end of the evening. In the street Gray was seen to run up to her and grab her by the throat She described it as “painful”. He was pulled away and ran off. The victim headed home and rounding the corner of her street Gray appeared again and there was an exchange of words. The victim called the police and said she could see red marks on her throat where she had been grabbed.

Mrs Wilson said Gray accepted he grabbed her by the throat after comments were made about his mother. He accepted his behaviour was unacceptable but did not realise how much force he had used on her neck.

The court was told the couple had split up several times and had only been back together a week before this incident happened. The victim had said she did not want a restraining order made against Gray and he had not been in touch since he was given police bail.

Bill Fraser, defending, asked the magistrates to give Gray full credit for an early guilty plea and for giving himself up to police.

Mr Fraser said Gray had suffered scratches to his face but that had not been mentioned by police in the statement. He also said that the red mark on the victim’s neck measured the size of a thmb print and not a hand. His cliehnt also claimed he had not held the victim for 30 seconds as had been suggested but only a couple of seconds.

Mr Fraser said: “He is very embarrassed and accepts he had too much to drink. He says she (the victim) had more to drink than usual. He has apologised for this incident and it’s notable that (the victim) does not ask for a restraining order.”

Magistrates ordered a report and adjourned the case until December 1. Gray was given bail on condition he did not contact the victim or go to her address and lived at his Grantham address.

Lincolnshire Ladies’ Super League

Lincoln Civil Defence 5

Grantham 2

Grantham’s ladies came up against an experienced Lincoln Civil Defence side.

After losing the doubles 2-0, Angie Emms won her singles 3-0. Rose Turner’s singles went to five sets and she emerged the 3-2 victor. Rose Turner and Marie Jones lost their respective singles matches.

The Grantham team registered the highest averages.

A pensioner accused of sex offences against a young girl has been cleared by a jury at Lincoln Crown Court.

David James McBride, 83, of School Lane, Ropsley, denied charges of sexual assault and engaging in sexual activity in the presence of a child under 13.

The jury took less than an hour to clear him of both charges.

A company which has been illegally supplying meals to schools across the county, including some in Grantham, has been ordered to cease trading immediately.

In joint action taken yesterday (Monday), North Kesteven District Council and Boston Borough Council served a Remedial Action Notice on the company Food 4 Thought GB Ltd.

The notice requires them to stop trading out of their premises on industrial estates in Boston and Sleaford, from where they send out in excess of 1,000 school meals daily.

After going into liquidation on November 4, Food 4 Thought continued to supply meals to schools, but without the necessary approvals and licences being updated and in place, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has advised councils that the company cannot continue to operate.

According to Councillor Richard Wight, NKDC’s executive board member with responsibility for environmental services and public protection, Food 4 Thought bosses have not told the local authority which schools it supplies, prompting a warning to parents to ensure they find out which company supplies their child’s meal and make alternative arrangements if necessary.”

Coun Wight added: “We are not saying that the meals themselves are unfit, but because it is operating without the necessary approvals, the company is breaking the law by supplying them.

“They are trading illegally and supplying meals to some of the most vulnerable people in society. In these circumstances the Food Standards Agency’s guidance is clear that we have to take action to stop them and indeed they have today advised us to do this as a matter of urgency.

“As the company has not told us which schools they supply from these two units, our advice to parents across south Lincolnshire is that if they know their child receives meals through Food 4 Thought, they need to make alternative arrangements for the timebeing. If they don’t know who the supplier is, the school should be able to advise them.”

Among the schools affected in North Kesteven is Cranwell Primary School.

Urgent arrangements are being made to ensure children at schools affected by the closure of Food 4 Thought are fed from Wednesday, according to Lincolnshire County Council’s director of public health Tony Hill.

Mr Hill said: “We have every sympathy for the children and parents who will be affected by the closure of this school food provider.

“Although school meal provision is no longer our responsibility, the most important factor here is the health and education of the children. We are working to have urgent arrangements in place from Wednesday to provide all of the pupils affected with a cold lunch until such time as the current provider is allowed to resume their production.”

Mr Hill has questioned the sense in North Kesteven District Council and Boston Borough Council issuing the Remdial Action Notice yesterday (Monday), in particular the timing of taking such action.

He said: “It is a matter of regret that we were notified too late of the decision to enforce these orders. This meant we couldn’t get a message out to schools before the end of the school day on Monday.

“We have sent out an urgent emails to schools but if they can’t provide free school meals they may make the decision to partially close. We will keep everyone updated.

“The only issue of relevance is whether there is an imminent risk to the children. If so, then the notice to close makes sense. If not, then the timing and urgency of this action needs to be questioned.”

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Do you know who this puppy, found wandering in Hough-on-the Hill, belongs to?

The young female dog was discovered by a member of the public around 7.30am this morning and was handed in to Grantham Police Station. It is not known at the moment what breed she is or how old she is. She is not microchipped and is not wearing a collar.

She is being looked after by officers in Grantham at the moment and will be picked up by South Kesteven District Council officers later in the day.

If she is your dog or you know who she belongs to, call the council on 01476 406080, and select the option for the environmental health department.

Bottesford’s Callum Jones is bidding to row for Great Britain under-23s at next year’s World Championshps.

Now based in Oxford, the 19-year-old former Belvoir High School student represented GB at under-19 level for three years.

Since winning a gold medal at Henley Royal Regatta in the summer, Callum’s autumn successes have included being in the winning university eight with Oxford Brookes University in the British Championship Regatta at Nottingham, and finishing second in the under-23 coxless fours at the same event. His Oxford Brookes coxless four finished fourth in the Elite class in the Fours Head over the reverse boat race course on the Thames in London.

The road to international selection for the GB under-23s started at the weekend in Boston where, on Saturday, more than 100 contenders were required to row indoor rowing machine for two kilometres.

Callum set a new personal best of 6min 16sec to qualify for the river rowing the following day.

Despite single oar sweep rowing being Callum’s rowing discipline these days, all those wishing to qualify for the GB teams were required to single scull the 5km course on the River Witham.

Rowing against the best senior and under-23 rowers, he finished a creditable 34th.

There will be further tests in trials at Boston in December and February, before regatta racing trials in April finally decide the make-up of the under-23 squad for World Championships.

An excellent result and fine win for Grantham and District Indoor Bowls in the second round of the national men’s Denny Cup competition will see them play Spalding in the next round.

The success of the away rinks, in particular, was most impressive, building up, as it did, the aggregate score during the game and relieving the pressure.

Results:

Grantham 94

Stamford 49

Home rinks – S Harrison, F Evans, M Pulling, M Orrey won 24-10; T Berridge, J Kime, N Orrey, D Auckland lost 15-19. Away rinks – I Cole, B Allen, Joe Lewis, W Brunton won 22-10; T Sumner, A Berridge, R Hibbert, A Brunton won 33-10.

Lincolnshire Mixed League

Louth 105

Grantham 73

W Stevenson, A Leitch, J Hall, G Hall lost 14-25; R Sumner, D Rainsford, S Beardsley, Jay Lewis won 24-12; I Ludwig, B Marston, R Murphy, R Turnbull lost 13-18; B Patten, S Payling, B Sowerby, L Payling lost 7-30; S Richards, Da Lester, A Ludwig, H Whatley lost 15-20

Inter Club Competition

Grantham 80

Melton Mowbray 55

G Hall, D Rainsford, M Appleyard lost 11-14; A J Hughes, R Harris, W Shores won 16-7; A Briggs, Da Lester, D Woods won 11-7; K Germany, S Payling, L Payling won 16-12; R Moore, A Ludwig, I Lord won 15-7; J Asher, A Duers, T Asher won 11-8.

Sencit League

Grantham 41

Dysart Park 67

Grantham names first – June Baker, J Baker, M Appleyard, H Whatley lost to G Kemp, B Waterall, L Bainbridge, F Evans 14-23; Do Lester, G Solesbury, B Hollingsworth, K Solesbury lost to J Waterall, L Thompson, M LeHair, A Briggs 10-24; J Beardsley, Da Lester, B Patten, S Beardsley lost to J Woodward, B Cox, R Dingley, B Roberts 17-20.

Barnstone 42

Long Bennington 58

Barnstone names first – J Hogg, A Murray, P Aylward, J McCandless lost to E Eggleston, J Hall, M Dring, D Woods 15-16; R Spencer, S Payling, B Hogg, L Payling beat R Miller, Jo Morris, B Garton, G Hall 18-11; P Greer, E Plowright, R Morley, R Smith lost to J Hoole, Ju Morris, T Hoole, N Smith 9-31.

Club friendly

Grantham 87

Lincolnshire Vice Presidents’ Association 111

J Asher, G Hasnip, K Germany, T Asher lost 15-23; Do Lester, A Duers, R Murphy, R Turnbull won 14-13; A J Hughes, P Greer, B Goodchild, D Woods lost 12-21; M Brett, D Lester, D Rainsford, Jay Lewis lost 17-19; L Bainbridge, B Patten, A Leitch, W Shores lost 13-21; W Stevenson, J Waterall, D Abernethy, A Briggs won 16-14.

This incredile photograph was sent in by Roy Clark.

He said: “A bird flew into my window and left an impression on the glass. I looked around for the bird but it must have been OK and flown off as I found nothing.”

Have you taken any photographs recently that you are really proud of? Well, don’t keep them to yourself - share them with us and Journal readers in print and online!

Email: comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

A special concert to mark the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War took place in Grantham on Saturday night.

The Grantham Remembers concert took place at St John’s Church, Station Road East, and featured St John’s Choir and the Belvoir Wassailers as well as numerous individuals who sang songs which would have been familiar during the Great War including Oh! I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside, Daisy, Daisy, Any Old Iron and My Old Man Said Follow the Van.

The concert was compered by the Rev David Shelton and introduced by him and Charmaine Morgan. Jenny Walker accompanied singers on the piano.

Multi-million pound plans for a new relief road to ease Grantham’s traffic congestion have survived a legal challenge at London’s High Court. And the company that mounted the challenge has been hit with a legal costs bill – on top of its own legal costs – for £10,000.

One of the country’s leading judges, Mrs Justice Lang, today (Tuesday) rejected the challenge, refusing to quash the planning permission for the road.

Developer Larkfleet Ltd had claimed that the full environmental impact of the relief road had not properly been considered along with plans for up to 4,000 new homes that it will serve.

But, dismissing the claim, the judge said: “I do not consider that the claimant has established any error of law in the defendant’s decision making process.”

She said that the South Kesteven District Council had been entitled to conclude that the Grantham Southern Quadrant Link Road was not an “integral part” of the proposed “Southern Quadrant Sustainable Urban Extension” (SQSUE) of 4,000 homes to the south of Grantham, and that the two developments did not need to be considered jointly.

She said that the SQSUE was a different category of infrastructure development, put forward by a private developer rather than the council itself.

In addition, she said that plans for the link road predated the SQSUE proposal, and had been a key part of the Grantham Transport Strategy which recommended a bypass linking the A1 and the A52 so that “through traffic, particularly HGV lorries, would not need to pass through Grantham town centre”.

She said: “The Grantham Transport Strategy recommending the bypass predated the SQSUE. The bypass diverting traffic away from the town centre was needed whether or not there was an SQSUE.”

In addition, she rejected a claim that the environmental scrutiny to which the link road was subjected was inadequate. She said that Larkfleet had failed to establish that council members had not been sufficiently informed about the likely environmental effects, and failed to establish that it had acted unlawfully in granting permission.

She added that Larkfleet had a commercial interest in challenging the planning permission, as it has an interest in land at Manthorpe, to the north of Grantham, which it considers would be a more appropriate location for urban expansion of the town. It, however, has been refused planning permission to develop the site.

Larkfleet was ordered to pay £8,000 towards South Kesteven District Council’s legal costs of defending the decision, plus a further £2,000 to Lincolnshire County Council, the highways authority and applicant for permission for the link road. The judge also refused Larkfleet permission to appeal her decision.

A strong Grantham Tennis Club men’s first team played their second Nottinghamshire League match against Mapperley Park and continued their unbeaten run – having won two from two – in an excellent start to the winter campaign.

First pairing Richard Cragg and Andrew Isaac played some big balls to demolish the opposition’s openers, only to struggle against their third couple.

Grantham’s second pair was the reformed partnership of Jonathan Cummins and Simon Cormer who had a productive afternoon, with some strong serving and hitting, winning two matches comfortably and halving the third.

Finally, the home grown youngsters of Paul White and James Drennan found the going tough against the opposition first pair, but dispatched the other two pairs with ease.

The match ended in a comfortable 78 to 30 games win for Grantham

Men’s captain Paul White said: “I am delighted we have started the winter campaign so well and hope the good form continues through the winter. A lot of hard work is going in with club performance coach Richard Surtees to improve the standard of the team, and I hope it is starting to pay off.”

l Grantham’s mini red team travelled to Boston to take on a strong Sleaford side last weekend.

The team, consisting of Imogen Clough, Toby Cullen, Oliver Anderson and Leon De Raco, all coached by Richard Surtees, comfortably won the overall match without dropping a game.

l The ladies’ third team played at home to a strong Burton Joyce side and won 63-45.

The winning team comprised Jo Carstairs, Katy Dines, Liz Stokes, Claire Marris, Laura Dixon and Roz Elphick.

l The men’s fourth played in the winter Nottinghamshire League against a strong Upper Saxondale side.

The Grantham team were Johnny Ng and John Legard, Matt Street and Chris Roughan, and Harry Larkin and David Hall.

A very close match all the way through the rounds saw Johnny and John finishing on 24-14, Matt and Chris on 15-21, Harry and David on 15-21 also, so that the overall scores were tied at 54-54 and so the two teams took a share of the spoils.

Grantham Tennis Club men’s first team are from left, back – Simon Cormor and Jonathan Cummins; front – James Drennan, Richard Cragg, Paul White and Andrew Isaac.

A festive Food and Drink Fair will support local producers and retailers in Grantham on Small Business Saturday.

The George Centre will play host to the fair from 10am on December 6 as organiser South Kesteven District Council urges local people to shop locally.

SKDC is expecting around 15 local exhibitors selling speciality and seasonal fare from cakes, cordials and fudge to sausages, burgers and locally-brewed beers.

Coffee shop Cappuccinos will be serving free mince pies as centre food and drink retailers contribute to the day.

Tea tasting sessions with specialist Teaspoon Tea Company will help identify the perfect cuppa with over 30 loose leaf teas - including a ‘Grantham Tea’.

Oblio’s will host a ‘what’s in our store’ tasting display outside their shop and retailers throughout the town are being encouraged to run special offers for the day.

SKDC is also planning a business networking and drop in area with Grantham Business Club, with the council’s specialist retail and business advisers Aimee Holland and Paul Parkinson in attendance and available for advice.

David Mather, SKDC’s economic development service manager, said; “It’s the second year Small Business Saturday has run in the UK and the first time the town has supported it. We are delighted to be adding to the day.

“This is a great opportunity for Christmas shoppers and visitors across the district to show their support for local retailers. Spending locally not only supports local jobs, it also helps boost economic growth.”

Stuart Pigram, Chairman of Grantham Business Club, said; “I really welcome the council’s support of Small Business Saturday. We’re fortunate to have some great independent local businesses and I encourage residents and visitors to show their support.”

Visit www.southkesteven.gov.uk/smallbizsatuk for more information or contact Charlotte Watson on charlotte.watson@southkesteven.gov.uk or 01476 406232.

A young girl has suffered a minor back injury in a car crash in Grantham town centre this afternoon (Tuesday).

A Nissan estate and Vauxhall Vectra collided just before 3.40pm.

A police spokesman said there were no major injuries, although a girl who was travelling in one of the cars was complaining of back pain.

Police are still at the scene, so avoid if possible.

Macmillan’s lung cancer team in Grantham is urging the public to be aware of signs and symptoms, and play their part in fighting the UK’s most lethal cancer for Lung Cancer Awareness month.

Over 35,000 people in the UK die from lung cancer every year, but the charity says it doesn’t have to be a death sentence.

Kate Taft, Macmillan lung nurse based at Grantham and District Hospital, said: “119 people receive a diagnosis of lung cancer every day in the UK, and whilst the survival rates are poor, the important thing to remember is that if caught early enough it is treatable.”

Kate added: “Seventy seven per cent of lung cancer patients have said they are unaware of the signs and symptoms, and that means many are being diagnosed too late for curative treatment. It’s really vital that more people are educated – getting people to their GPs when symptoms occur could mean earlier diagnosis and a better prognosis.”

There are some common symptoms often displayed by patients with lung cancer. These symptoms can all be caused by other illnesses too, but if they occur for three weeks or more it’s always advisable to speak to your GP about them.

· a continuing cough, or change in a long-standing cough

· becoming breathless and wheezy

· coughing up bloodstained phlegm (sputum)

· chest or shoulder pain

· weight loss

· a chest infection that doesn’t get better

· a hoarse voice

· a dull ache or sharp pain when you cough or take a deep breath

· difficulty swallowing

· feeling extremely tired (fatigue) and lethargic

· the ends of fingers becoming larger or looking more rounded (clubbing)

· swelling of lymph nodes (glands) in the neck area

Kate said: “There is also a misconception that lung cancer only affects smokers but this isn’t the case – in fact more than one in ten cases are not linked to smoking at all. It’s important for everyone to know the facts.”

Macmillan Cancer Support is only able to fund posts like Kate’s thanks to the generosity of those who fundraise and give their time to help.

To support Macmillan in Lincolnshire, contact the Fundraising Support Centre on 0300 1000 200 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, or email fundraising@macmillan.org.uk

If you have any worries or questions about lung cancer, visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call Macmillan free on 0808 808 00 00.

Grantham Tennis Club now has four sports wheelchairs thanks to a grant from the Tennis Foundation.

And two players have had chairs built to their own specification. Despite having only started playing four months ago, Paul Singleton and Darren Whitlock are in the “Ticket to Tokyo” programme which is aimed at finding players to compete at the Paralympics in Tokyo in 2020. 

They train twice a week at Grantham Tennis Club and once at Loughborough with Great Britain coach Martyn Waite.

It was Martyn, of Inside Out Tennis, who organised the chairs which were supplied by Loughborough company Bromakin.

Grantham Tennis Club is planning its first wheelchair tournament for next year.

If you are interested in having a go at wheelchair tennis, contact Grantham Tennis Club on 01476 591391.

Grantham Badminton Club men’s first team won a 7-2 way at Lincoln St Andrews in Division One of the Newark League.

Jan Bailey with Tim Hought, and Nick Gill with Chung Chan, took all three of their rubbers. Martin Peat with Andrew Watson won one, and narrowly lost another rubber in three ends

The men’s second string took on Westside 2nd at home in Division Two.

Andrew Watson with Martin Peat won two rubbers, Martin Chambers with reserve Daniel Watson creditably added one further rubber, but John Ashley with Carl Jennings narrowly missed out on two by losing in their third end deciders, to leave the final score 6-3 to Westside.

Mixed under-15s

South Kesteven 4

Southwell 6

South Kesteven fought back from four rubbers to two down to level the match at 4-4, but they were unable to maintain their momentum.

South Kesteven comprised Ryan Curtis, William Sadler, Holly Sparks and Helen Turley.

A scout troop is in danger of folding if it cannot find a leader soon.

The 1st Bingham Scout Group has been growing steadily for several years and is the largest scout group in the Rushcliffe district and one of the 10 largest in Nottinghamshire.

In the last 10 years the number of young people involved in its various sections (Beavers, Cubs,

Scouts and Explorers) has increased from 82 to 166 while the number of adult volunteers running the group has only increased from 16 to 21.

Group Scout Leader John Green said: “We now find ourselves heading towards a major problem. The scout leader in one of our troops will be leaving at Christmas and we are struggling to find anyone to take on the role. We have a solid support team in the troop; we just need someone to take charge. We started looking in August, but after three months have had no success. Time is running out. 
“If we fail to find someone to take on the role the troop will have to close in January. This would immediately impact on the 24 Scouts in the troop who would no longer be able to attend. It would also begin to effect the cubs as half of those looking to move up to scouts would have nowhere to go. Our next step is a parents meeting on

November 20 to try and find a way forward.”

The meeting will be held for all interested parties tomorrow (Thursday) at 7.30pm at Wykeham House to answer questions and to try and find a solution.

Harby Primary School has had a special visit from author and illustrator Steve Antony.

The treat was part of a prize won by Year 1 pupils who, when in reception class, entered a picture book competition. Their story, How The Zebra Got Its Stripes, was judged to be the winner of the young creator category and also the overall winner.

The class won 10 picture books for the school library, 50 printed copies of their story and a visit from an author.

Steve, author and illustrator of The Queen’s Hat and Betty Goes Bananas, spent the day in school, leading an assembly, holding question and answer sessions and running workshops. Pupils received signed copies of his books and they, in turn, presented him with a copy of their book, signed.

Headteacher Bridget Bye said: “It was a most enjoyable day and we all learned a lot from his visit – it was very inspirational.”

Pros and cons of introducing a town council in Grantham will be discussed at a meeting open to the public later this month.

Organised by the town’s Charter Trustees, the discussion will be led by chief executive officer of the Lincolnshire Association of Local Councils Tricia Carter.

Ms Carter will draw on her experience and knowledge to answer some of the questions people have on town councils, such as costs associated and how they operate.

The meeting will be held in the Witham Room of the SKDC offices, at 7pm.

All are welcome.