In response to Coun Selby’s letter of last week in response to mine, I must say in all honesty that he seems to be the master of obfuscation and inexactitude in his reply.

He states that Coun Ashberry must have known about the proposed amendment to the Harrowby ward boundaries as it was discussed in a full council meeting, but he omits to point out that this meeting was way after his letter to the Boundary Commission asking them to reduce their representation from three to two councillors. He seems to forget that the good people in the Harrowby ward Labour Party supported him and Coun Wells in getting them both elected. Is it any wonder that they feel betrayed by their actions. These people were proud to get three councillors elected and then gutted to see their hard work thrown back in their faces to what seems the self interest of two of them.

Now it turns out that Mr Selby wants to be our next member of parliament and also wishes to stand as an independent candidate in Harrowby ward. Well good luck to him in his quest but the electorate will never forgive a modern day Benedict Arnold.

I know it is rare to quote from the Bible but Galations 6:7 clearly states that “you reap what you sow” and Mr Selby, you will receive the full harvest.

David J. Simpson

Grantham

Grantham Dramatic Society will stage a political farce in time for the General Election.

The society is performing the Ray Cooney play, Out of Order, a Westminster-based comedy following the exploits of 
junior MP Richard Willey. 
His ill-fated liaison with opposition typist Jane Worthington is disrupted by, among others, a dead body and a chambermaid who comes and goes via his hotel room’s sash window.

With growing pressure to return to the Commons, Willey’s assistant George Pidgen has his hands full trying to keep his boss’s career – and marriage – from going out of the window.

GDS is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and has chosen a comedy which has been described as a laugh-out-loud romp by the ‘master of farce’.

Helen Pack, of GDS, said: “We’ve timed this production to coincide with the General Election as it is about the escapades of an MP who is trying to have an affair with an opposition secretary. Our bit of fun at the politicians’ expense! We’ve also made a video to promote the show, in the form of a parody of ‘Addicted to Love’ by Robert Palmer.”

The played will be performed at the Guildhall Arts Theatre from Wednesday, April 29, to Saturday, May 2, at 7.30pm. Tickets for the Wednesday show are £8/£7 and from Thursday they are £9/£8.

Visit www.granthamdramaticsociety.co.uk for more information

A Grantham fire crew were called to Ropsley to tackle a car blaze this morning.

The crew was called out at 1am to Somerby Road where the fire was extinguished using two hosereels and two breathing apparatus.

Young people in South Kesteven have been learning how to pop and lock as part of Dance Factor Lincolnshire.

The project provides free street dance lessons to people aged between 11 and 18 and has created three new dance crews in the area, each benefiting from up to ten weeks of sessions with a professional dance teacher.

Now dance crews Newton’s Law and Unique Freaks, from Grantham, and Illumin8 from Stamford, will compete in a Semi-final event.

The crews will perform at The Guildhall, Grantham, on Saturday, April 25, at 8pm. The winners will go forward to the Lincolnshire Grand Final, in a bid to be crowned Dance Factor Lincolnshire 2015 Champions. The three winning groups from the Grand Final will go on to perform as one of the warm-up acts to Britain’s Got Talent winner’s Diversity at a special Magna Carta event at Lincoln Castle on June 13.

Tickets for the semi-final cost £3. Call 01476 406 158 or go online at www.guildhallartscentre.com to book.

The Dance Factor Lincolnshire 2015 Grand Final will be held at The Engine Shed, Lincoln, on Sunday May 10.

More information about Dance Factor Lincolnshire can be found at {http://dancefactorlincolnshire.weebly.com|dancefactorlincolnshire}

A play for one person will be performed in Grantham next week telling the story of the journey of Christ from baptism to crucifixion.

The Rev David Shenton will present A Fisherman’s Tale, which is told through the eyes of John, the brother of James.

There is a preview evening of the play at ChristChurch in Finkin Street on Thursday (April 23) at 7.30pm. Entry is £3 which will go towards church funds.

There will be a question and answer session afterwards with Rev Shenton after the performance of selected scenes from the work which is in development.

A choir made up entirely of singing clergy will perform at Knipton church later this month.

8ctave is the only fully ordained choir in the country and will be singing in All Saints church on Friday, April 24, at 7.30pm, to raise money for the church.

The clergy in the group, mostly from the Leicester diocese, will perform a concert called Sweet Day which is made up of popular choral music.

It will be conducted by Simon Lumley and organist will be Thomas Keogh.

The programme includes music by Stanford, Lauridsen, Purcell and Billy Joel.

Tickets cost £5 (£2 for under-16s) and are available from Judith Wells on 01949 842804 or Anne Markham on 01476 870053. There will be refreshments after the concert.

Jeff Hopewell, of 8ctave, said: “Our line-up does vary a little according to people’s other commitments and we are currently on the look-out for other priests on the soprano and tenor line, but the fact that we all get on extremely well together is undoubtedly a major factor that should ensure the continuation of our unique vocal ensemble of priests in the Diocese of Leicester.”

For more details on 8ctave go to www.singingpriests.co.uk

A group of classical musicians is trying to make its music more fun for everyone.

There are 16 strings, eight dancing feet and four voices with one aim: to make classical music wickedly funny and fantastically exhilarating for everyone, young and old.

Graffiti Classics bursts the elitist boundaries of the traditional string quartet with its hilarious all-singing, all-dancing musical comedy show.

It’s a classical concert, a gypsy-folk romp, an opera, a stand-up comedy set and a brilliant dance show all rolled into one.

There is a broad spectrum of music from Beethoven to Bluegrass, Bach to Brahms, Strauss to Saturday Night Fever, Offenbach to Elvis as well as many well-loved folk tunes – all played with the Graffiti Classics virtuosity.

There really is something for everyone and Graffiti Classics never fails to get audiences laughing, clapping and singing along.

Graffiti Classics comes to the Guildhall Arts Centre in Grantham on Thursday, April 23, at 7.30pm.

Call 01476 406158 or go to www.guildhallartscentre.com to book tickets. Tickets cost £14/£12, £10 for students and £40 for a family of four.

There will be a special 100th anniversary reading of the First World War poem ‘In Flanders’ Fields’ in Wyndham Park in Grantham on Saturday, May 2.

There will also be a First World War heritage display called ‘Grantham Remembers Flanders Fields’.

The reading will be conducted by a member of the Army Training Regiment in the black and white shelter and Memorial Archway from 1.30pm.

Police are investigating a fire which broke out in a house in Bottesford this afternoon and spread to neighbouring properties.

Grantham Road in the village was closed at about 2pm as a number of fire crews tackled the blaze. A number of homes were evacuated.

Grantham crews joined crews from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire to fight the fire.

A police spokesman said they were treating the area as a “potential crime scene”. She said: “There’s nothing yet to suspect it is arson but it’s still early days.”

Diversions were put in place.

Police have confirmed this evening that one person died in a house fire in Bottesford today.

Emergency services were called to the fire at 1.50pm. The fire, in Grantham Road, spread to neighbouring properties and homes were evacuated. The road remains closed while police and fire services carry out an investigation.

Grantham firefighters joined crews from Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire to fight the fire.

Following the fatal house fire on Grantham Road in Bottesford yesterday, the road remains closed as investigations take place.

At 1.50pm yesterday emergency services were called to the blaze on Grantham Road, which spread to neighbouring properties. Police have confirmed that one person has died, and an investigation to determine the cause is ongoing.

Grantham Road is likely to be closed to vehicles and pedestrians for most of the day between Station Road and the site of the old petrol station near Easthorpe View.

The Station Road/Grantham Road junction is open so cars, smaller vehicles and pedestrians can travel instead via Vaughan Avenue, Fleming Avenue and Station Road.

Ian Woods, deputy divisional commander for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “Yesterday two crews from Grantham demonstrated the highest standards of professionalism, dedication and commitment, at what was a highly dynamic and rapidly developing fire situation.

“This was probably one of the hottest and most intense house fires I have been to for many years, and whilst the incident was tainted by the death of a member of the public, the work carried out by both crews significantly reduced the impact on both of the adjoining properties, and the village as a whole.”

Northern Premier League

Premier Division

Trafford 1

Grantham Town 3

Grantham were well beaten at bottom-of-the-table Trafford’s Shawe View on Saturday, with just a late Liam Hurst goal as consolation.

The home side had only won four league games all season, the last being back in December, but they started confidently and went close in the opening minutes through Chris McDonagh.

Meanwhile for Grantham, Danny Meadows squandered a couple of free kicks and Lee Ndlovu forced a good save from Trafford goalkeeper Tom Read with his close range effort after a good build-up by Ben Saunders and Liam Read.

The Gingerbreads first went behind in the 22nd minute. Liam Blake fed Jon Pritchard on the left flank and he curled in a low cross which McDonagh bundled into the back of the net.

The remainder of the first half saw chances few and far between for either side, with only Meadows going close with a volley that missed by inches.

Trafford substitute striker Mark Derbyshire replaced McDonagh six minutes into the second half and he was quick to take effect, firing wide of the target within minutes of his introduction.

At the other end, Grantham may have had a chance to equalise had anyone been able to get a boot to Ndlovu’s cross into the Trafford penalty area.

Town conceded a second time on 61 minutes when Chris Palmer cut inside from the left and fired into the bottom corner from 20 yards past Town keeper Jake Turner.

It was 3-0 12 minutes later when Derbyshire combined with Pritchard well before volleying in from 15 yards.

The Gingerbreads did not give up and pulled a goal back with nine minutes remaining. Substitute Liam Hurst was given too much space on the left and had time to pick his spot and slide the ball in past Tom Read to the far corner.

Saunders tested Tom Read with a close range effort and Michael Emmott curled a shot just wide as the clock ticked down, but the hosts clung on well to take all three points.

Grantham Town: Turner, Meadows, Kay, Purcicoe, Hellewell (Lewis, 71), Miveld, Read (Hurst, 74), Hollingsworth, Ndlovu, Saunders, Emmott. Subs not used: Bilyk, Johnson, Rhule.

Att: 135.

United Counties League

Premier Division

Sileby Rangers 3

Harrowby United 1

Harrowby travelled to Fernie Fields in Northampton, home of Sileby Rangers and, after the high of a great result and performance the previous week, turned in one of their most indifferent performances of the season.

Kick-off was delayed due to one of the referee’s assistants picking up an injury in his pre-match warm-up. This conveniently aided the home side as they waited for the late arrival of goalkeeper Quincey Shorunmu.

A new assistant was found, a Sileby official, who needed some extra time to prepare, and the game eventually got underway with Rangers fielding 10 players whilst awaiting their keeper.

The Arrows kicked off but carelessly gave possession away and found themselves a goal down after only 20 seconds as the ball was crossed into the penalty area for Gokhan Ulker who finished smartly from 10 yards out.

A couple of minutes later, Shorunmu entered the fray, taking his position between the sticks and allowing his deputy Stuart McMichael to rejoin Michael Byrne in attack.

On 13 minutes, Arrows keeper Jack Drury saved well, palming away a strong shot from the edge of the box from Karbo Motshweni.

But Rangers doubled their lead after 22 minutes when a corner whipped in at pace to the near post by Mark Forbes was met by a neat flick from Byrne which flew past a host of players and into the net.

Harrowby enjoyed their best spell of the game as half time approached, forcing saves from Shorunmu who first pushed away a Luke Peberdy effort from the edge of the penalty area and then smothered an effort from Lee Shaw. Declan Carr shot over the bar after 44 minutes and, two minutes into stoppage time, Jack Whyley headed a Scott Webb corner wide of the goal.

The home side regained the initiative after the break and two minutes in Drury made the save of the game, acrobatically tipping over a fine lob from Byrne which looked to be going in.

The game deteriorated into a scrappy midfield battle as both teams gave the ball away all too frequently.

Harrowby did get a foothold as the game entered its final quarter and the Arrows reduced the deficit in the 70th minute when a deep cross from the right was cleverly headed back across the goal by substitute Scott Floyd to find Shaw who finished from inside the six-yard box.

Two minutes later, with Harrowby pressing for an equaliser, a controversial moment turned the game in Sileby’s favour and knocked the stuffing out of the Arrows. A long ball up field found its way to Byrne who appeared to be offside by some distance. The replacement linesman’s flag was not forthcoming and the Sileby striker finished past Drury with some aplomb, sparking huge protestations from the Harrowby team. After consulting his assistant, referee Mr Whenham gave the goal.

A deflated Harrowby side failed to trouble a resolute Sileby rearguard for the remainder of the game and Rangers saw it out to take all three points.

Harrowby United’s man-of-the-match was Scott Floyd.

Harrowby United: Drury (c), Weatherstone, Clarke, Hill, Whyley, Webb, Currall (Stubbs, 45), Peberdy, Watson (Floyd, 63), Carr, Shaw.

A 21-year-old has pleaded guilty to use threatening behaviour in relation to a fight in a Grantham nightclub.

Junior Gaskin of Trent Road, Grantham, pleaded guilty to the offence dating back to December 21 last year.

At 1.05am police on patrol by the Gravity bar were made aware of a fight inside, and entered to find Gaskin punching another male.

Officers and door staff got involved, and Gaskin continued to throw punches until he was restrained on the floor.

Defending Gaskin, Chris Pye-Smith said that his client ‘could think of himself as unlucky’ as police saw the end of the incident but not the start.

According to Gaskin he was provoked after his ex-girlfiend spat in his face and threw a punch at him, and when he reacted the other man got involved.

Mr Chris Pye-Smith highlighted that this man had not wanted to make a formal complaint, and that he and Gaskin had in fact seen in each other without any problems since to speak about the incident.

Gaskin was fined £75, in addition to a £20 victim surcharge and £85 in prosecution costs.

Grantham Town Supporters’ Club (sponsored by Galaxy Fish Bar), winners of April 18 draw:

£200 – 384 A. C. Brooks; £10 – 354 Islanders; £5 – 438 J. Redshaw, 343 P. Marriott, 223 Galaxy Fish Bar, 458 W. Neville, 107 D. Graham, 519 M. Gibson.

A 34-year-old pleaded guilty to stealing a bottle of whiskey from Grantham’s Sainsbury’s supermarket.

Prosecutor Marie Stace detailed how at 6pm on March 23, Dominic Harris of Harrowby Road, Grantham, went to the alcohol aisle of the store and put the bottle valued at £28 into his jacket.

As he left Harris set off the alarms and was stopped by an off-duty police officer and a security guard.

Harris fully admitted the offence saying he had gone in with the intention to steal something and sell it on to buy food, as he himself doesn’t drink.

Chris Pye-Smith, defending, explained that Harris, who is on jobseeker’s allowance, had found himself short of money.

After admitting Harris had a previous criminal record, he added that this theft was not drugs related with Harris responding to a regular methadone prescription and the offending had reduced.

Harris received a conditional discharge lasting 12 months and must also pay a £15 victim surcharge and £35 towards prosecution costs.

Nottingham Forest Supporters’ Club (Grantham branch):

Forest are away to Ipswich Town on Saturday, kick-off 3pm.

For details contact Bob Taylor on 01476 550242.

Almost 150 people had their blood pressure checked at a Rotary Club event in Grantham at the weekend.

The Grantham Kesteven Rotary Club organised the annual Know Your Blood Pressure Day in association with the Stroke Association for people to be checked and learn how to reduce the risk of having a stroke.

In total, 147 people went along to the George Centre in Grantham to have their blood pressure taken. Of these, one person was referred to their GP or to attend hospital as a matter of urgency, seven were urged to see their GPs as soon as possible and 24 were advised to see their GPs within one month.

The joint organisers of the event, Rotarians Sue Kinder and Mike Charity, said they were grateful to the trained nurses, Pepi Halliday, Celia Hughes, Jess Evans and Kate Shaw for their professional assistance and to members of the Grantham Rotary Club who came along to help.

Rotarian Sue Kinder said: “I am sure that the 32 people referred to their GPs for further intervention will be very grateful that this event has taken place.”

For more information on the Grantham Kesteven Rotary Club, contact secretary Roy Bartlett by email at roy115@talktalk.net

The sentencing of a 23-year-old who pleaded guilty to beating a woman, has been postponed as no interpreter was available for a probation meeting.

Valentinas Jersovas of First Avenue, Grantham, was due to be sentenced for an offence committed on January 16 this year at Cambridge Street, Grantham.

However, since his last appearance in court, Jersovas had missed one meeting with probation to complete a pre-sentence report, and at the second no interpreter was available.

Jersovas is now due to appear on May 21 and remains on conditional bail not to contact the defendant or to enter Cambridge Street.

As part of a multi-million pound road re-surfacing project the A607 Brook Street and Brownlow Street will be closed from 6pm to midnight for five days, starting tonight (April 20).

The work has been funded by part of Lincolnshire County Council’s allocation of £5.4 million from the Department for Transport under the Government’s pothole fund, with £450,000 being used for roads in Grantham.

The project targets sections of roads which are reaching the end of their operational life and replaces the top layer before they deteriorate further requiring full road reconstruction.

Project manager Tim Mawson said: “This proactive approach to managing the road network is proving very successful in the areas where we have already replaced this thin surface. It shows Lincolnshire County Council’s commitment to trying to maintain the condition of our road network.

“Conducting the work in the late evening will minimise disruption to motorists.”

During these closures traffic will be diverted via the A607 Brook Street, Manthorpe Road, High Road, Honnington Road, A153 Sleaford Road, Willoughby Road, B6403 High Dyke, A52 Cold Harbour to Somerby Roundabout, A52 Somerby Hill, Bridge End Road, A52 London Road, Wharf Road, Sankt Augustin Way, Barrowby Road and terminating at North Street and vice versa. The route is suitable for all vehicles.

For further details on road works taking place across the county, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/roadworks or follow on Twitter @LincsCC_roads