Sudbrook Moor

THE July seniors’ mixed Texas scramble medal was won by Dave Leslie, Dave Markham and Erica Sansom with a team handicap of 8.8.

A shot behind in second place were John Costall, Bernard Pratt and Alison Reid. Third and 0.2 of a shot adrift were Ken Jameson, Rod Edwards and Barry Kay.

l The ladies’ matchplay team played their annual friendly at Orton Meadows where they lost 3-0, although all three matches were close. The team comprised Mags McArthur and Di Leslie, Trinette Speck and Elaine Sturton, and Sue Chambers and Thea Law.

l The Seniors’ League squad travelled to Pottergate, Lincoln, where they were defeated 5-1, with only captain Ron Boxell and Maurice Green winning their match.

l The low handicap juniors competed at home in the national Junior Daily Telegraph Championship.

Joshua Smith returned the best gross scorecard, and his name and score will be forwarded to the leaderboard. Harry Glenn won the under-14 section.

This sponsored event sends the top gross qualifiers to the grand final at Close House Golf Club, near Newcastle upon Tyne.

Stoke Rochford

Seniors’ section

DON Werner’s 39 points were enough to claim victory in the Seniors’ Trophy.

In second place was Jim Price with 38 points on countback from Mike Graves.

With one round remaining in this best three from six rounds competition, the overall lead is shared by four players with an aggregates score of 109 points – Ron Kent, Mick Rance, Brian White and Alan Church, with Richard Leverett close behind on 107. The final round is on September 12.

Sleaford 5½

Stoke Rochford 2½

Mike Dickinson and Joe Kime halved, Mick Rance and Dave Hamston halved, Keith Dugmore and Keith Eddy lost 5&4, John Smeeton and Philip Varley lost 3&2, John Wright and Alan Jessop lost 6&5, Ernie Armstrong and Mike Graves won 4&2, Ray Beal and Phil White halved, Greg Ewart and Jim Price lost 5&4.

l Captain Mike Dickinson’s away day was at Wellingborough Golf Club. Playing a best two from three stableford, many found scoring difficult.

Winners with 82 points, 11 points ahead of the rest of the field were Don Werner, David Hamilton and David Goodwillie, who was putting in a guest appearance on his holiday visit from the USA. Second with 71 points were Ray Elsome, Gareth Hughes and John Wright, and Alan Jessop, Ken Taylor and Eric Harby were third with 70. Nearest the pins were Mike Graves and Ken Taylor and nearest the line was Roy Rowe.

Ladies’ section

Stoke Rochford ladies’ club championship was played over 36 holes and won on gross by Pam Watson with a score of 159. Runner-up with 168 was June Miller.

The net competition was won by Sue Hitchman with 143 and second was Chris Rowley (146).

l Played over 18 holes, the Alternative Trophy saw Lynn Ewart triumph with 34 points, from Avis Griffin, also 34.

l Hosted by Jill Watson, the Lady Captain’s Day saw 31 ladies compete in a stableford competition.

Results: Silver Division - 1 June Miller 39pt, 2 Pauline Haggerty 36, 3 Norma Varley 33, 4 Avis Griffin 33; Bronze Division - 1 Sue Bellingall 36, 2 Sue Taylor 31, 3 Jacqui Francis 31, 4 Roseanne McKee 29.

The afternoon was a mixed team competition played over 14 holes, in which one lady and one man had to score on each hole. The winning team were June and Graham Miller and Judy and Rod Rawson with a score of 68 points, on countback from Chris Rowley, Paul Knapp, Alexandra Jefferies and Rory Croft. Third was Jacqui Francis, Roger Smith, Pam and Andy Watson with 67 points.

Belton Park

BELTON Park hosted their Junior Open alongside a Lincolnshire Golf Union event – the Woodroffe Walter Cups.

The two strokeplay competitions were played over two rounds. The club also held a Daily Telegraph qualifying event over the morning round. The competition attracted more than 70 golfers from clubs throughout the county.

The Daily Telegraph boys competition was won by Nicky Frost, of Boston Golf Club, who shot a four under par round of 67. Harriet Wilson, of Lincoln GC, won the girls’ competition, shooting 77. The under-14 age group competition was won by Belton Park’s Jake Craddock with 75.

Nicky Frost continued his good form with 72 in the afternoon round to win the boys’ Woodroffe Walter Cup, with Sam Brackenbury of Boston West in second place, scoring 141 (71.70). Harriet also won the girls’ trophy.

The Belton Park Trophy was won by Jade Baker, of Market Rasen GC, playing off a 20 handicap, who scored 92 (net 72) in the morning round and followed this with an excellent score of 81 (61) in the afternoon.

Ladies’ section

The August Par competition saw Sue Walker Sherriff emerge victorious in Silver Division with a score of +1, leaving Sue Mitchell to take second place on countback. Pam Mackey was third with 0.

Bronze Division was won by Anne Chatterton with an outstanding +5 on the day. Second place went to Ruth Lee with +2 and Sandra Pask was third with +1.

Belton Woods

Senior’s section

NORMAN Tidy emerged the winner of a closely fought monthly stableford.

Results: 1 Norman Tidy 38pt ocb, 2 Tom Lamin 38, 3 John Billot 35, 4 George Forbes 34, 5 Tony Wilcox 33 ocb, 6 Colin Thornton 33, 7 Tony Slipper 32 ocb, 8 Phil Stannard 32 ocb, 9 Peter Bishop 32, 10 John Bratt 31.

Marshall’s Monthly Medal: 1 Alan Lowen net 73, 2 Pat Stanford 75 ocb, 3 Colin Thornton 75, 4 Mike Griffiths 77 ocb, 5 Colin Grant 77 ocb, 6 Denis Manton 77, 7 Bob Clarke 78, 8 Mike Gulliford 81, 9 Ian Nisbet 82, 10 Norman Tidy 83.

Rutland County 4

Belton Woods 4

Ian Nisbet and Mike Gulliford lost 3-1, Alan Lowen and John Williams lost 2-1, John Billot and Phil Stannard won 5-3, Mike Whitington and Bob Clarke won 5-3, Colin Thornton and Les Vine lost 1 down, Bob Blake and Ray Woodcock won 1 up, Ray Pestell and Dave Inglis lost 1 down, John Bratt and Mick Hall won 2-1.

Belton Woods 8

Boton West 0

Ian Nisbet and David Toule won 6-4, Alan Lowen and Bob Blake won 2-1, Peter Bishop and John Sabin won 3-2, John Bratt and Ray Woodcock won 5-4, John Billot and Norman Tidy won 4-3, Colin Thornton and Mike Whitington won 5-4, John Robertson and Mick Hall won 6-4, Les Vine and Phil Turrell won 4-3.

A BLOOMING great garden can be found in Belton Avenue, in Grantham, full of colourful petunias.

The plants are lovingly tended to by Frank Mason, 69, who decided to keep his garden looking lovely after losing his wife, a passionate florist, four years ago.

Mr Mason said: “It’s become more of a hobby since I lost my wife. She worked as a florist in London Road for 30 years and she had a passion for flowers.”

Baskets stand in the front garden, filled largely with petunias, which are also found in the rear garden along with tomatoes and runner beans.

A lot of time and effort goes into keeping the gardens looking blooming great, said Mr Mason, who also offers a few words of gardening wisdom to his neighbours and friends.

* Do you think your garden is event better? Call us on 01476 562291 or e-mail comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

THE Thorold Arms in Marston will hold an indulgence day on Thursday, August 23, to raise money for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance.

Stalls will sell jewellery, handbags and more, plus there will will be garden games.

All are welcome 3pm-8pm.

THERE are delays of approximately 10 minutes on the A1 northbound near Long Bennington due to congestion.

The traffic is heavy between the junctions of the A52 and the A46.

Delays are expected until 4.45pm.

PICK up a copy of Friday’s Journal for your chance to win meet and greets with chart-topping band Scouting for Girls or Britain’s Got Talent favourites Loveable Rogues.

We have teamed up with the organisers of Newark Festival to offer four pairs of tickets, two pairs including a meet greet with Scouting for Girls and two to meet Loveable Rogues.

The festival will take place at Riverside Park in Newark over the Bank Holiday weekend, with the concert taking place on Saturday, August 25. Also starring are Stooshe, singer/songwriters Lilygreen and Maguire and boy band The Promise.

The festival kicks off on Friday, August 24, with an evening of jazz at Anne et Vin. Saturday will see local food stalls and walkabout street entertainers and musicians in the town centre, and on Sunday will be a family fun day ending with a firework display.

Gates on the Saturday evening open at 5pm and the concert starts at 6pm. There will also be a fun fair and refreshment stalls.

Tickets are £20, under-fives go free. To book, visit www.newarkfestival.co.uk

* Don’t miss Friday’s Journal to enter!

MP Nick Boles has come under fire again this week, after claiming expenses for Hebrew language lessons.

It has been revealed that the Grantham Conservative MP claimed £678.80 for the lessons - after entering into a civil partnership with Israeli Shay Meshulam last year.

Language lessons are available to MPs where it helps them to do their jobs. Mr Boles told the Journal he is “entitled” to take them and claim back on his expenses.

He said: “Language instruction is a service available to Members of Parliament. I took some Hebrew lessons.”

The MP is one of nine who received free language classes in the 12 months to April.

This is the second time in recent weeks that Journal readers have been angered by Mr Boles’ actions - last month he called for pensioners to be means-tested for benefits such as winter fuels allowances and free bus passes, prompting a flood of furious lettrs and e-mails to the Journal.

BUSINESSMEN and women across the Grantham area will attend a gala dinner in aid of a cancer charity.

Tickets to the event, to be held by Grantham Business Club at Belton Woods Hotel, are still on sale, with proceeds going to Breakthrough Breast Cancer, chairman Bijal Ladva’s chosen charity.

He said: “We wanted to do something a little different to the many black tie events that have occurred this year, and so have opted for a gala dinner. We have called the evening ‘An Indian Summer’ and with the awful weather we have had this year, let’s hope we do have an Indian summer with great weather in September.”

The event will take place from 6.30pm on Saturday, September 8. Tickets are £50 each, or a table of 10 for £450. Entertainment is by Indian dance troupe Dhol Enforcement Agency, who have performed for the Queen, and stand-up comedian Paddy Lennox.

There will also be a charity auction and raffle, with prizes donated by local businesses.

Bijal said: “I’m still staggered by the generosity of so many businesses in these difficult economic times.”

l To buy tickets, call Bijal on 07966 583592 or e-mail bijal@granthambusinessclub.co.uk

South Lincs & Border League

Division Three

Grantham 247-6

Welby 202 all out

BATTING first on the excellent wicket from the Lincolnshire Minor Counties game earlier in the week, Grantham reached 247-6. Austen Imber hit 157no

and Alex Hackney 24no.

Promising youngsters Ben Kennedy-Short and Alex Hartley dealt well with Welby’s attack. Richard Parrish (3-25) and Paul Frith (2-34) bowled economically, and Ali Sloss regularly beat the bat.

In reply, Welby maintained the run rate through Frith (51), Sloss (31), Richard Dodd (29) and Alan Bond (28). As later wickets fell, Imber (4-32) and Hackney (2-56) left Welby at 202 all out in a game that could have gone either way.

South Notts League

Division A

Belvoir 241-6

Clifton Village 213 all out

BELVOIR captain James Clayfield was confident of success ahead of this fixture and did not hesitate to bat upon winning the toss.

Jack Copley and James Needle made a solid start but the latter fell to a sound catch in the fifth over. Olly Clayfield joined Jack, who departed to make way for the filial partnership. The Clayfields batted together comfortably until Olly was unfortunate to be stumped off a wide ball.

Anthony Dyer and James put on a further 53. Expectations for a half-century from the skipper were high but he was caught, just a boundary short. Dyer fell four overs later.

A unbroken 95 partnership between James Keywood and Sam Cliff steadied the ship.

Despite Bozzy claiming the wicket of Paul Macmillan in the early stages, it was some considerable time before Belvoir managed to further their inroads into the Clifton score.

Olly turned the game with a wicket from his first ball and and then again two overs later, claiming the McDermott brothers, both of whom looked set for big scores.

With Scott and Craig Fairhall amassing a late partnership of 49, it was Dan Gibson (5-41) who found a way through to the stumps of both. With four balls remaining, Dan delivered the ultimate gift of a clean-bowled 10th wicket, marking his maiden first XI five-wicket haul.

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One

Ashby Carington 226-7

Buckminster 127 all out

A STRONG looking Buckminster side arrived at Ashby Carington in a meeting between last year’s champions and this year’s pretenders to the throne.

Ashby skipper Masserrella chose to bat which initially looked to be the wrong decision with Bucky strike bowlers Stafford and Berry proving hard to score off and picking up the early wickets of both openers with few runs on the board.

Ashby fought back although Stafford took the wicket of number three Naik for 27. The late order added valuable runs to leave Ashby a respectable total.

Buckminster were in aggressive mode from the outset with both openers going hard at the ball until the impressive Dyer trapped Gott LBW. Berry continued alongside Morgan and Allen to try and smash the ball to all parts, one memorable shot being a monster six, pulled off a long hop over the longest boundary at the Ashby oval.

Thereafter, Allen apart, Buckminster’s batsmen came and went at regular intervals to leave their run chase in tatters. Allen eventually fell to Dyer for 28 and Ashby proceeded to mop up the Bucky tail.

Division Two

Rothley Park 302-9

Grantham 281-6

ROTHLEY got off to a steady start on a very nice batting track, scoring 50 inside the first 10 overs.

At drinks they had progressed to 120-3. Ward realised at drinks that six an over would not be enough with such a short boundary and proceeded to smash his way 173, including 11 sixes. Wickets were taken by Kumar (3), Imber (3), Wing (2) and Dann.

Grantham then got off to a disastrous start, losing two quick wickets. But they were not out of the chase as Matthew Wing (88) and Stewart Mudie (150) added a massive 243 for the third wicket in 32 overs.

The game went right down to the wire as Wing was dismissed with 46 needed from four overs. Despite some late hitting from Mudie, which enabled him to raise his bat for the third time, Grantham fell short of what would have been a remarkable run chase.

Division Three

Queniborough 228-5

Colsterworth 128 all out

QUENIBOROUGH began well with captain J. Vamplew (43) and Mashru (36) sharing a partnership of 94 before the skipper chipped a ball straight back to Grosse two overs before the drinks break.

W. Vamplew (18no) and W. Hussey (33no) built a partnership of 60 in the last 10 overs, pushing Queniborough to a reasonable total.

Colsterworth’s openers, Gardener (13) and Grosse (15), started brightly with early boundaries before C. Smith dismissed both. Captain R. Edwards proved to be the only sustained resistance, hitting a brilliant 51 before being bowled by J. Kilby. Queniborough’s Patel picked up the wickets of Humphries (0) and C. Atter (10).

Houghton on the Hill 276-5

Foston 260 all out

FOSTON just fell short of their target after a thrilling run chase that saw century makers for both sides.

Put into bat, Houghton lost an early wicket but Griggs soon showed that Foston were going to have an uphill battle, and they were made to pay for several dropped catches against the opener as he went on to make an impressive 142 before being bowled by leading wicket taker Marris.

Belcham made a fine supporting role scoring 74 before being run out after sharp fielding from Gash.

The reply from Foston started well enough and the run rate remained constant in the early overs until Swatton was bowled for 11. In a mirror of the Houghton innings, his partner R. Carpenter was imperious at the crease and thoroughly deserved his 125 which included very few singles.

Warren provided good support for his 28 and for a brief moment, as Cockerton hit a beautifully timed four off pace man Griggs, Coulson and Cockerton looked like they would repeat the heroics of the previous week.

However it was not to be. Coulson was finally bowled for 24 and Foston finished just 16 runs short.

“UNRELIABLE” is the word used by one furious passenger to describe Centrebus services - but bus bosses claim Grantham’s “notorious traffic conditions” are to blame.

Angharad Payne, 40, is fed up of the number 3 service turning up early, late or not at all. The most recent no-show was Tuesday’s 4.45pm service, which the Payne family were relying on to get them into town to pick up their car before the garage closed.

Mrs Payne, of Gloucester Road in Grantham, said: “We’ve had problems with the buses in this area for about three years.

“When I’m at the bus stop I hear people talking about how unreliable the service is. It’s elderly people I’m thinking about, they rely on the buses.

“And it’s not just here that it’s a problem. My mother-in-law lives near the Earlesfield estate and the buses don’t turn up there either.”

Centrebus commercial director Dave Shelley has apologised.

He added: “I sympathise with the aim to run all services on time, and we are working very hard to achieve it.

“Unfortunately, whilst we have to share roads with other traffic throughout Grantham, negotiate roadworks and suffer from road closures, journey times will on occasion vary. We monitor punctuality to keep this disruption to a minimum.”

Mr Shelley said passenger numbers in Grantham are the highest they have been for years. He added: “So whilst we still have work to do, it is very encouraging that more and more people are making use of the local services that run.”

A GROUP of local artists, artisans and crafters will be spending a week in The George Centre in Grantham next month displaying and selling their work.

Some of these talented people will be demonstrating their various skills at different times during the week, from Tuesday, September 4, to Saturday, September 8.

Shoppers can call in and meet some of them and watch them at work, as well as buy their goods.

Grantham & Melton Association

Division One

PICKWELL V BARROWBY

Pickwell won by 184 runs

Pickwell 241-5

Bowling: S. Jepson 10-1-64-1, L. Turner 8-1-49-2, R. McBain 4-0-43-0, S. Sackey 4-0-36-0, L. Oates 2-0-17-0, S. Young 3-0-26-2.

Barrowby 57 all out

L. Oates 9, M. Veasey 9, O. Keeling 7, S. Jepson 0, J. Searle 6, L. Turner 4, S. Sackey 0, R. McBain 5, L. Baker 3, B. Hannigan 1, S. Young 1.

BARKBY V WOOLSTHORPE

Barkby won by 23 runs

Barkby 180-6

Bowling: Whatton 9-0-51-0, Culpin 10-1-40-2, Ward 10-1-35-2, Warburton 10-0-37-0, Dobson 1-0-11-0.

Woolsthorpe 157 all out

Ablewhite 4, Dobson 4, Webster 1, Ward 62no, Warburton 8, Sutton 0, Whatton 16, Culpin 22, Hughes 0, Eurich 13, Henfrey 1.

Division Two

SPROXTON V BELTON PARK

Belton Park won by 15 runs

Belton Park 128 all out

A. Sharp 4, N. Turner 6, D. Turner 18, R. Brewer 8, H. Forbes 17, M. Cocks 0, P. Abeysekera 37, T. Oates 13, T. Ward 0, R. Cocks 0, D. Forbes 13, extras 12.

Bowling: S. Jessop 10-4-16-3, R.Richardson 10-2-42-2, S. Naylor 8-2-37-1, G. Bennett 8.1-2-25-4.

Sproxton 113-9

B. Jessop 5, F. Nichols 1, S. Jessop 24, P. Richardson 5, S. Naylor 0, J. Watchorn 4, P. Craig 35, K. Eden 8, B. March 21, B. Craig 0no, extras 10.

Bowling: A. Sharp 10-2-28-3, H. Forbes 9-1-15-3, T. Oates 10-1-33-0, R. Brewer.

HARLAXTON V ASHBY CARINGTON 2ND

Ashby Carington 2nd won by 6 wkts

Harlaxton 143 all out

C. Davidson 7, S. Grey 24, S. Averill 3, W. Leadenham 6, N. Woodhead 4, M. Sharp 0, N. Stevenson 11, S. Potter 18, A. Parker 49, S. Jessop 1, extras 20.

Ashby Carington 2nd 147-4

Bowling: A. Parker 8.4-1-59-0, N. Woodhead 5-2-21-1, N. Stevenson 6-0-23-0, C. Potter 6-0-26-1, C. Davison 2-1-8-2.

Division Three

HOUGHTON ON THE HILL V FOSTON

Houghton on the Hill won by 4 runs

Houghton on the Hill 280 all out

Bowling: D. Gash 6-1-36-0, C. Cockerton 10-2-53-1, A. Nicholson 3-0-25-0, R. Marris 8-0-49-2, M.Coulson 7-0-56-0, K. Durham 6-1-42-0.

Foston 276-5

M. Swatton 11, R.Carpenter 125, A. Nicholson 4, J. Cartlage 10, M. Warren 28, D. Gash 0, R. Marris 15, M. Coulson 24, J. Carpenter 0, C.Cockerton 12, K. Durham 0no, extras 37.

QUENIBOROUGH V COLSTERWORTH

Queniborough won by 100 runs

Queniborough 228-5

Bowling: C. Atter 10-2-43-1, R. Gardener 6-0-29-0, J. Grosse 9-0-66-1, R. Edwards 10-2-44-3, J. Grosse Jnr 5-0-25-0.

Colsterworth 128 all out

R. Gardener 13, J. Grosse 15, M. Humphries 0, R. Edwards 51, J. Grosse Jnr 0, C. Atter 10, J. McMullen 10, H. Barker 4, B. Corder 1, C. Thorpe 1, extras 23.

Honours

Batting

A. Imber (Grantham).............................................*157

S. Mudie (Grantham)...............................................150

R. Carpenter (Foston).............................................125

D. Richardson (Belton Park).............................*100

M. Wing (Grantham)..................................................88

G. Scott (Billingborough)........................................79

D. Newman (Billingborough)................................64

Ward (Woolsthorpe)...............................................*62

R. Pealing (Claypole)................................................55

R. Edwards (Colsterworth)......................................51

P. Frith (Welby 2nd)....................................................51

*denotes not out

Bowling

D. Gibson (Belvoir)..................................................5-41

G. Scott (Billingborough).....................................5-41

Friendlies

Witham 1

Ropsley Fox 8

REIGNING Grantham Sunday League champions Ropsley Fox started their pre-season with an emphatic victory against a battling Witham side.

The Foxes started brightly and took the lead early on from a great run and drilled finish by Steve Johnson. The second came shortly after with good work down the right from man-of-the-match Shane Munon who crossed for Richard Payne to half-volley in off the post.

The second half was slow to get going but a 30-yard thunderbolt from Gary Measures, that gave keeper Barry Payne no chance, put Witham back in the game.

This only seemed to wake the Foxes up. Billy Stubbs scored two bullet headers and then added a further goal to complete his hat trick.

Munton scored to complete a good move and then the two strikers rounded off the scoring. First a cross from Munton was met by Scott Spearink who spotted the keeper off his line and looped the ball over him with his head. And then the never-ending workrate of Andy Glencross got its rewards when he raced on to a neat through-ball and slotted home.

Ropsley Fox: B. Payne, Smith, Stubbs, Warner, Clarke, Johnson, R. Payne, Bradley, Munton, Spearink, Glencross.

Ropsley Fox 3

Long Bennington 0

FOXES continued their good pre-season with a comfortable win against a physical Bennington side.

There were five more new signings on show and three of them got on the scoresheet. A good move down the left found Ryan Hare in space who crossed for Alex Robinson. He guided the ball into the corner of the net with a fine header.

Man-of-the-match Danny Winters and Liam Warner started to control the midfield and it was Winters who found George Petrou in space, and he cooly slotted past the keeper to make it 2-0. The scoring was completed before half time when debutant James Brown went on a mazy run and finished neatly.

The scoring remained the same despite youngsters Hare, Brown, Robinson and Petrou causing havoc in the Bennington half. A confident display from Lewis Clarke at the back and the impressive engine of Winters, helped by good hands from stand in goalkeeper Richard Payne, kept Bennington out.

Ropsley Fox: Lewis, Currall, Stubbs, L.Clarke, J.Clarke, Hare, Winters, Warner, Robinson, Petrou, Brown. Subs: Payne, Smith, Hardy, Rastall.

Buckminster 1

Harrowby United Reserves 1

HARROWBY started from the first whistle with Peberdy causing Buckminster trouble down their left side.

Within two minutes of the kick-off, Peberdy cut through the defence and had his effort saved by the keeper, but he could only parry it to Petrou who smashed the crossbar from two yards out and it bounced clear.

Five minutes later, Buckminster caught Harrowby asleep with a quick free kick which resulted in the first goal.

Some nice football from both sides saw chances at both ends that kept the keepers on their toes.

Harrowby found themselves on level terms with a neat exchange between Peberdy, Brown, Coleman and Abel. Abel finished the move with a sublime chip from 30 yards, lobbing the Buckminster keeper.

The second half brought much of the same with both terms creating chances, but neither could add to their tally. Harrowby felt unlucky at the end after a stonewall penalty was turned down with five minutes to go after McGregor was brought down in the area.

Harrowby: Scothern, Asher, Spencer, Wilson, Petrou, Turner, McDonald, McGregor, Peberdy, Brown, Coleman, Winters, Abel, Drury, Dixon, Sterry.

Gonerby Yellows U16 2

Retford U16 0

GONERBY Yellows got their new season under way with a pre-season friendly against Retford.

Yellows controlled the game from kick-off, with good, fast-flowing football and were rewarded with a neat goal from Sam Baker.

Retford had a couple of spells that threatened the home side and were unlucky not to score on two occasions, but Keeper Daniel Hibbert pulled off a fine save and left-back Alex McIntosh cleared off the line.

Yellows were rewarded when new signing Harry Hutton doubled the scoreline.

POLICE charged Grantham man Michael Johnson, 35, in relation to a burglary earlier this week in which a £500 TV was stolen.

Johnson, of College Street, appeared at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court yesterday (Thursday) and was kept in custody to appear in crown court on August 23.

UK Border Agency officers caught an illegal immigrant in a Grantham takeaway while they were investigating another man, who was arrested there less than two years ago.

Emperor’s Kitchen, in Westgate, was fined in October 2010 when three illegal immigrants were discovered, one woman and two men.

On August 6 this year one of the men, aged 37, who had been on bail while his case was investigated, was arrested and detained when he reported to Grantham Police Station. Later that day officers paid another visit to the takeaway in order to search for documents to help return him to China.

While at Emperor’s Kitchen, officers caught another Chinese man, aged 33, who was found to be a failed asylum seeker. He was also arrested.

During the search, four passports, which were believed to be counterfeit, were found – three Chinese and a French passport. Officers also found approximately £8,000 in cash at the premises, most of which had been placed on top of a wardrobe. Lincolnshire Police are investigating.

On 7 August, an order was made under the Proceeds of Crime Act at Spalding Magistrates Court authorising the continued detention of the cash.

Both illegal immigrants were detained while action is taken to remove them from the UK.

Rachel Challis, from the UK Border Agency in Lincolnshire, said: “Any foreign national who is in the UK illegally should be in no doubt that they will be found, arrested and removed from the country. Businesses that take on illegal workers face heavy fines and possible prosecution. If you have suspicions about anyone who might be here illegally, please report it.”

Anyone with information can call Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 anonymously or go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/aboutus/contact/report-crime.

A DISABLED woman who wanted to take her grandchildren to Skegness on the train was angry when she was denied help getting from the platform.

Jackie Denningberg, who was registered disabled in 1981, uses a mobility scooter. Every year she takes her five grandchildren on a day trip to the seaside but when her daughter rang to book a ramp from the platform she was told it would not be possible.

Jackie, 66, said: “I’ve been told I can’t get on the train with my mobility scooter because I have to have a card that says I’m disabled, but nobody knows anything about it.”

This is the first year that Jackie has been told she needed a card but she was informed that the rule has been in place for four years.

She was told she could find a form online but would then need to post it, so this year she will not be able to go away as it would not be processed and approved in time.

She said: “I only want to go for a day trip. I’m seriously ill, I had to increase my drugs for the last few weeks to go out for one day. I’m annoyed. I’ve got to give up and not go - I haven’t got a choice.”

A spokesman for East Midlands Trains said they will try and help rearrange Jackie’s trip for next week.

She said the company is committed to meeting the needs of all its passengers, but some mobility aids are not designed for public transport, so checks were required for safety reasons.

THE remarkable double life of Grantham couple Tim and Helen Handley reaches a highpoint next weekend when the pair take a fantastic journey back in time.

Tim, 52, will set aside the overalls and tools of his trade as a car valeter, for a much more dashing get-up.

And his wife will adopt the style of a glamorous film star as she prepares to accompany her husband on a much anticipated weekend.

Because it won’t be Tim and Helen who will be arriving at one of the biggest Bank Holiday events anywhere in the country, but their alter egos, dance hosts Major Swing and his vivacious partner Kitty.

The duo will be appearing along with hundreds of other entertainers at Europe’s largest vintage festival at Twinwood Airfield near Bedford.

The vintage music Djs will be playing hits mainly from the thirties and forties for a huge audience of enthusiasts at an all-day tea dance in the festival’s colonial marquee.

Tim was this week adding the final touches to the musical programme for his show on the final day of the three-day festival, determined to keep the 16,000ft dance floor humming with something for everyone – vintage ballroom, fifties jive, hot American swing and jump jive, and boogie woogie.

Tim said: “This is a big opportunity for us and we are proud to be taking part. It’s a bit like a local band being asked to perform at Glastonbury. It’s a real chance for us to make a name for ourselves.”

The audience will certainly be the biggest Major Swing and Kitty have played to in the four years since they adopted the role of time-travelling Djs.

The journey began when Helen, 51, persuaded Tim to visit a 1940s weekend at the Great Central Railway in Loughborough.

They enjoyed it so much, they went to a similar event the following week and after seeing the joy of enthusiasts dancing to the music of the period, the couple determined to have a go themselves. In every spare moment, they flung themselves into researching the era, collecting the clothes and learning the steps.

The pair, who have two sons aged 22 and 18, spent hours at their home in Peascliffe Drive poring over DVDs and YouTube videos to learn moves that had previously appeared unfathomable to Tim, whose only previous dancing experience had been shuffling around to Northern soul and Tamla Motown tunes.

So successful were they, that the couple were invited back to Loughborough the following year to demonstrate dances to the Forties crowd.

In the meantime, Tim realised that much of the music played at nostalgia dances was geared to line dancing – the lindy hop and jitterbug, for example.

Tim felt audiences were missing out on the authentic sound of the ballrooms of pre-war Britain, when favoured dances included the foxtrot, waltz and Gay Gordons, for example.

He saw an opportunty and began to carve a niche for himself and Kitty as DJ/dance instructors.

One of the results of Tim’s research was the revival of an almost forgotten dance depicted in an old newsreel from more than 70 years ago. Major Swing and Kitty have since taught more than 200 people the Palais Stroll, which had not been danced since 1938.

By coincidence, that is also the vintage of the large, distinctive BBC microphone at the centre of Major Swing’s Art Deco stage props.

For larger shows, Tim uses the latest equipment to play CDs, but he also has more than 500 78rpm recordings which he plays on wind-up gramphones.

Helen meanwhile ensures the Major and Kitty are suitably attired.

Tim said: “The fashions are a big part of the appeal. When we dress up we feel like completely different people. Going back in time makes people talk and behave differently. For some it’s just acting, but others grow into it and act this way all the time.

“I suppose I am somewhere in the middle, but we often wear vintage clothes when we go into Grantham and can attract some strange looks.”

Fancy dancing to the Major’s music?

Major Swing and Kitty are resident djs at several major annual Forties weekends - at Leyburn, Ingleton, and Pickering, the country’s largest, at at war weekends at Rauceby and Rufford Park.

They particulelrly enjoy playing at nursing homes, school and village fetes, and garden parties.

They will be providing the entertainmnet at a vintage tea dance on September 30 at Walton Girls High School to raise funds for St Barrnabus hospice in Grantham (ring 01476 591010 for tickets).

An annual new years tea dance, now in its fifth year, is held at Carlton Scroop village hall, in the first week of January.

It attracts dancers from a wide area, but until now only a few from the local area. Tim says: “We would really love to see a few from grantham.”

The couple say they would love to support more local events, particularly charitable occasions.

More details about any of these events are available by calling 01476 565199 or by visiting the majorswing.com

GRANTHAM Tennis Club’s mixed third team travelled to David Lloyd Burton Waters where Robert Isaac and Yvonne Walker, Andrew Isaac and Liz Hewitt, and John Walker and Jill Pindar managed to win their first match of the season against tricky opposition.

The mixed summer first team faced title challenging Eastgate at home. Jackie Wilson, Simon Cormer, Sarah Isaac, Karel Meuwissen, Mell Bloodworth and Andrew Isaac went close but lost on game count.

Grantham hosted the ladies’ 40 veteran match which was contested by Devon and Lincolnshire. Three Grantham players were included in the Lincs team (Sarah Patton, Mell Bloodworth and Lianne Tapson) with Jane Hunter from St James making the fourth. In a very close match Devon won 3-2.

In the ladies’ short format, the team lost at a strong Magdala and comprised Angie Tapson, Karen Pye-Smith, Jette Smith-Rasmussen, Jackie Edgley, Rachel Wall and Judy Tromans.

In the mini Red Aegon (eight-and-under), Martha Patton, Heidi-Louise Roberts and Thomas Legard travelled to Grimsby and although ultimately losing, played some very good tennis. The 12-and-under team faced Burton Waters in Lincoln and lost against tough opposition. Involved in the match were Joe Patton, Lewis Picker, Adam Tapson and Aaron Jones.

On Sunday, the Aegon men’s first team faced a tricky test against Grimsby, with Richard Cragg, Andrew Isaac, James Drennan and Simon Cormer putting in a good effort in their 12-0 defeat.

Finally, the Aegon Green team (10-and-under) changed Grantham’s fortunes with a win at home over Boston B. The winning team were Ben Harrison, Ben Burdock, Owen Shaw and Archie Adams.

GREAT Gonerby pony rider Abigail Staff has been enjoying good success with her ponies recently.

At last Friday’s Ponies UK Summer Championship Show at Newark Showground, 23-year-old Abigail qualified her pony Kala Flash Jack (aka Jack) for the Horse of the Year Show at the NEC, Birmingham, in October. The pair won the Mountain and Moorland Welsh Section D class.She qualified another pony, Thimbleby Angelique, at the previous week’s National Pony Society Summer Championship Show at Three Counties Showground, Malvern.

At the same show, riding her own four-year-old Highland pony, Lochranza of Langley, they won the Picton Novice Championship Final.

In between the two shows, she rode Jack to the First Reserve Supreme Championship at the Amateur Showing Society Championship Show at Arena UK, Allington.

Based at her parents’ yard in Great Gonerby, Abigail’s next show is the British Show Pony Society Summer Championship at Arena UK.

l South Witham youngster Laura Hilton took home some spoils from the UK Riders national finals held at Arena UK last weekend.

The competition was the culmination of a series run all over the country to find the overall champions in dressage and show jumping at grassroots level, with more than 160 entrants.

Finishing in the placings, Laura also won a trophy and iPod for riding an ex-racehorse to the highest place in the competition.

A NEW children’s drama club is being set up in Grantham and will begin next month.

The Happy Little Drama Club will hold its first session on Saturday, September 8 at West Grantham Community Centre in Trent Road.

From 9am to 10am it is five to seven-year-olds, from 10am until 11am it is eight to 10-year-olds and from 11am until noon it is 11 to 13-year-olds. Sessions are £2. For more information call Emma Boone on 07875257911.

DOUBLE Olympian and past world silver medallist Anthony Clark held a badminton camp at Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School over two days last week. Players from Lincolnshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, including five members of South Kesteven Badminton Academy, received instruction and advanced tips on how to improve their play.

Anthony said: “This is the first time I have had the opportunity to visit Grantham and I am impressed with the structure in place for the sport and the facilities available.”