Always smiling and the “life and soul of the party” is how friends have described a young man killed in a car crash on Christmas Day.

Tributes have been paid to 23-year-old Chris Jones, who died in a collision in Sleaford Road, Metheringham.

Chris, of Water Lane in North Witham, was driving a blue Peugeot 307 when the crash occurred with a white Fiat Marea. Emergency services were called to the scene at around 5.30pm. The driver and passenger in the Fiat were cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. Their injuries were not serious.

Once the Journal reported the tragic incident on its website, tributes to the “lovely guy” with a “big heart” flooded in through Facebook.

Yesterday (Thursday), the president of Kesteven Rugby Club, Mike Money, paid tribute to the young “gentle giant”.

Mr Money said: “He was a really genuine, decent, honest player. It’s difficult to put into words; he was somebody everybody loved and respected at the club.

“We’ll feel the loss of a member of the family.”

Chris joined the rugby club as a youngster aged 10 years old.

He “gave everything on the pitch” and made his presence felt during every game. Mr Money said: “It’s a set of boots that will be impossible to replace.”

He added that the loss of a life at just 23 years of age is “shattering”.

Dozens of tributes were paid to Chris on the Journal’s Facebook page. Here is a selection of them:

Sam Tuohy-Steele - RIP. thoughts are with all your family & friends at this sad time x

Will Davidson - Tragic news, RIP Chris, From Class of 2007 x

Tim Ballaam - RIP Chris. Right out of the blue, and its clear this has affected so many people. Always capable af raising a smile.

Emily Wilkinson - RIP Chris. Great guy with a great smile!! Thoughts with his family x x x x x

Elizabeth Palmer - Rip Chris, a truly lovely guy, you’ll be missed xx

Christine Emily Davies - RIP big man! X.

Rebecca McBride - RIP Chris. Thoughts go out to friends and family! So young x

Charlene Timmins - R.i.p Chris such sad news prayers with friends and family will be missed xxx

Alison Willesden - Sadly missed. I’m still in shock. Love you always Chris xx

Jennifer N Dale Bottoms - So sad such a lovely adorable lad has been taken so early, thoughts are with ur family chris xx

Emma Mowat - Gutted, taken way too early so sad, u will be so missed, R.I.P CJ

Kate Russell - Stolen from us far too early,a star in the making,life and sole of the party,larger than life will be missed by so many people- thinking of you Barry Rachel and wills.

Xxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxX

David Anthony Shipman - RIP Chris. Always the life of the office and I am proud to say that I had the pleasure of working with you. Your singing never failed to cheer us up when we were all down. Thoughts are with your family x

James Cowley - Sleep tight chris. You’ll be missed by all xx

Justin Welham - Keep smiling big man!

Sam Clegg - So sad, you’ll be missed old friend. Thoughts with your family at this time.

Em Russell - RIP Chris. Another angel in heaven. Thoughts and prayers to all ur friends and family. Gone but not forgotten

Allan Haynes - Great golfer the golfing community is in morning R.I.P Chris Jones God bless his family

Emma Victoria Robertson - R.i.p chris. Gone but not forgotten xxxx

Gillian Shipman - We loved your big smile and your big heart full of love and kindness. A truly wonderful young man who will be missed forever.

Latest results in the Melton Badminton League saw Bottesford ladies lose 5-4 at Welland Valley. Welland Valley were also defeated Belvoir 7-2.

In Mens Division One, Grantham got their first win of the season with a 5-4 victory at home to Belvoir, with Declan Hill and Josh King winning all their games. They also travelled to Meltonshire where they lost 7-2 to a strong side. Finally they travelled to Bottesford and won another close game 5-4.

Grantham A were defeated 8-1 at home to Mars A in Mixed Division One, and Belvoir won by the same score at Staveley Amateurs.

Top-of-the-table Grantham B were thrashed 9-0 at home by Radmoor in Mixed Division Two. Mars B also picked up two excellent 6-3 wins, away to Belvoir B and at home to Melton OGs.

Ladies’ Division One

Mars 5

Welland Valley 4

Jane Scatchard and Marie Jones lost to Ondine Addison and L Blisset 21-19, 10-21, 20-22; lost to Gill Anderson and Meg Anderson 13-21, 12-21; beat Pam Jones and Rose Griffiths 19-21, 21-13, 21-16; Sharon Chapman and Steph Pick won 11-21, 21-16, 21-15; lost 17-21, 21-19, 16-21; lost 13-21, 18-21; Sandra Watson and Tracey White won 18-21, 21-16, 21-11; won 21-23, 21-16, 21-19; won 21-13, 21-19.

Welland Valley 5

Bottesford 4

Gill Anderson and Sue Wilding beat Sally Brown and Sandra Collom-Gee 18-21, 21-15, 21-18; beat Linda Hallam and Yvonne Orchard 21-18, 21-9; beat Nicky Newman and Heidi Scott-Smith 21-16, 21-13; L Blisset and Ondine Addison lost 14-21, 23-21, 5-21; lost 8-21, 13-21; won 21-12, 21-13; Rose Griffiths and Pam Jones lost 21-23, 12-21; lost 14-21, 13-21; won 21-5, 21-14.

Belvoir 2

Welland Valley 7

Katie Mogg and Jane Roberts lost to Gill Anderson and Meg Anderson 17-21, 21-19, 17-21; beat Pam Jones and Rose Griffiths 21-13, 21-11; beat Joyce Slater and Ondine Addison 21-15, 21-12; Karen Mabbott and Margaret Roskell lost 15-21, 12-21; lost 21-19, 20-22, 16-21; lost 10-21, 21-16, 20-22; Ally Haynes and Gill Parkinson lost 11-21, 13-21; lost 7-21, 8-21; lost 10-21, 5-21.

Men’s Division One

Meltonshire 7

Grantham A 2

Dave Hemens and Tom Easom beat Ian Witham and Toby Mills 21-16, 21-18; beat Dave Chambers and Toby King 21-13, 14-21, 21-19; beat Paul Izod and Rob Howbrook 21-15, 21-16; Neville Adams and Ryan Wade lost 21-17, 19-21, 17-21; won 21-11, 21-14; (Away concede) Adam Lewis and Nigel Lewis lost 17-21, 15-21; won 21-17, 21-18; won 21-8, 21-16.

Grantham A 5

Belvoir 4

Declan Hill and Josh King beat Paul Haynes and Jon Watchorn 18-21, 21-19, 21-18; beat Dan Christmas and Oliver Sharpe 19-21, 21-15, 21-12; lost to Andy Burdett and Phill Pugh 19-21, 20-22; Rob Howbrook and Chris Graves lost 5-21, 19-21; won 21-6, 21-8; won 21-9, 21-18; Dave Chambers and Toby King lost 14-21, 18-21; won 21-17, 6-21, 21-13; lost 21-14, 9-21, 18-21.

Bottesford 4

Grantham A 5

Bruce Baxter and Ian Jobe beat Josh King and Declan Hill 21-17, 20-22, 21-19; beat Dave Chambers and Toby King 21-10, 21-15; lost to Chris Graves and Ian Witham 21-13, 15-21, 18-21; Stephen Moyses and David Borat lost 18-21, 19-21; won 21-14, 12-21, 21-15; lost 19-21, 14-21; Simon Gant and Steve Roe lost 15-21, 13-21; won 21-18, 21-14; lost 15-21, 21-15, 10-21.

Mixed Division One

Grantham A 1

Mars A 8

Sandra Jennings and Rob Howbrook beat Steph Pick and Lee Cuthbert 22-20, 15-21, 21-10; lost to Tracey White and Barry Pick 15-21, 20-22; lost to Marie Jones and Gavin Watkin 16-21, 16-21; Sarah Bransby and Matt Whittle lost 16-21, 12-21; lost 14-21, 15-21; lost 9-21, 17-21; (Home concede) (Home concede) (Home concede).

Staveley Amateurs A 1

Belvoir A 8

Carolyn Sayers and Casey Miller lost to Jane Roberts and Phill Pugh 9-21, 12-21; lost to Ally Haynes and Paul Haynes 15-21, 14-21; lost to Tracie Yeoman and Christian Smith 21-12, 20-22, 14-21; Jackie Ellis and Sly Cheung lost 9-21, 5-21; lost 21-16, 15-21, 15-21; won 25-23, 21-18; (Home concede) (Home concede) (Home concede).

Mixed Division Two

Belvoir B 3

Mars B 6

Karen Mabbott and Andy Burdett lost to Jane Scatchard and James Eccles 21-16, 12-21, 14-21; lost to Sandra Watson and Conrad Watson 15-21, 22-24; lost to Clare Gough and Steve Cuthburt 19-21, 16-21; Gill Parkinson and Dan Christmas lost 17-21, 25-23, 12-21; lost 21-19, 14-21, 19-21; won 21-15, 21-15; Jessie Harries and Oliver Sharpe won 21-17, 21-9; won 21-14, 21-16; lost 16-21, 15-21.

Radmoor 9 - Grantham B 0

Jules Vermaak and Gordon Mould beat Sophie Lamb and Josh Gould 21-15, 21-8; beat Pat O’Keefe and Mike Woodhouse 21-8, 21-7; beat Rose Bitowt and Ian Witham 21-14, 15-21, 21-14; Joanna Gibson and Ian Symonds won 21-16, 21-14; won 21-8, 21-9; won 12-21, 21-16, 21-14; Shelley McCardle and Martin Ashby won 21-11, 21-15; won 21-17, 24-22; won 21-17, 24-22.

Mars B 6

Melton OGs 3

Jane Scatchard and Graham Spencer lost to Christine Stanley and Simon Lenton 21-19, 13-21, 16-21; beat Eileen Merrison and George English 21-10, 21-10; beat Brenda Langridge and Martyn Algy 15-21, 21-16, 24-22; Clare Gough and James Eccles lost 13-21, 14-21; won 21-11, 21-13; won 22-20, 21-12; Steph Pick and Conrad Watson lost 8-21, 12-21; won 21-7, 17-21, 22-20; won 21-12, 21-10.

Les Hall Cup

Staveley Amateurs A 0

Belvoir A 9

(Staveley Amateurs A concede)

May I express our most sincere thanks to all the people of Grantham who supported this year’s Christmas post campaign.

We had a record-breaking year, delivering over 20,000 cards. All of the money raised will go to the benefit of local boys and girls in scout groups in the district.

The campaign brought together a great many peoplein the organising, sorting and delivering of the cards and also brought us into contact with many lasting friends of scouting. Special thanks must go to the businesses that acted as our Post Offices, to the Journal which supported the campaign, to the parents of the boys and girls who delivered the cards and to the scouts active support team and their families who sorted the cards and helped in so many ways.

Finally, yet another plea to present and future customers that we can ONLY easily deliver within the advertised areas. Yet again we have had a large number of cards for addresses outside this area - from nearby villages to places as far as Gloucester and Beeston. While these cards will be delivered either by hand or Royal Mail (obviously we have to buy stamps), it presents problems. Each year we have a number of wrongly addressed cards, the delivery of which tests our ingenuity and this year has been no exception. I have a card with no address for Mr and Mrs Orrey and a card with the wrong address for Mrs K Summers - if they are expecting a card which has not arrived, I’ve got it!

Malcolm Hall

Grantham and District Scout Association

When I met up with Grantham Street Pastors co-ordinator the Rev Andy Scholes it was just after midnight and he was leaving the scene of a fight outside Barcode in Westgate - although you wouldn’t have thought it from the relaxed demeanour of the Rev Scholes or his fellow volunteers pastors John Ferguson, Deborah and Sally Napier-Reynolds.

But after spending more than two years regularly walking the streets of the town centre on a Saturday night, I guess they’ve seen far worse.

“There was an incident at Barcode a few minutes ago,” Andy said.

“There was one guy in particular with a cut nose. We went along and offered some anti-septic wet wipes.

“It has been quite a jovial atmosphere apart from that one incident. It was some people fighting and I think it spilled out onto the street.”

The Street Pastors hit the streets just after 10pm on a wet and cold night and had already given out a bottle of water to someone who had been throwing up in the street and a pair of flip flops to a young woman walking barefoot carrying her heels.

“They take them off and then forget that there’s always broken glass on the floor,” said Debbie.

As well as water and flip flops, the Pastors also have a secret weapon - lollipops.

Sally Napier-Reynolds: “We hand out lollipops - they usually go down well and help diffuse a situation.

“We once had a gang of girls fighting so we said ‘do you want a lollipop?’

“They were so shocked that they stopped fighting. I think they thought we were crazy but if it works...”

If there’s a serious incident such as a fight the Street Pastors - a group of Grantham volunteer Christians from various different churches across the town - will stand back and help with the aftermath.

But they also help ensure the general safety of the night, cleaning up broken bottles and helping ensure people a little worse for wear make it home safely.

But the Street Pastors are not alone in their work. They have support, as I discover on returning to their HQ - Grantham Baptist Church in Wharf Road.

There, as the Street Pastors grab a half-time cup of tea, they are greeted by their Prayer Team. This back-up group offer support over the phone and on the walkie-talkie, as well as via prayer.

Clive Smith of the Prayer Team said: “Our goal is for there to be peace on the streets and people being respectful and sensible to each other and to use God’s power to help bring that about. A successful night is a night with little or no incidents.

“We have been praying for a long time and I really understand the power of prayer by being on this Prayer Team. It really does have an impact on the streets.”

Fellow member of the Prayer Team Steve de Visme agrees. He said: “We know this because we know what it was like when we started. When we started we had something happening every ten minutes but now we often find the Pastors are saying ‘it’s busy but nothing’s happening’. A total change.

“Now we are into this there’s no way we can stop because if we stopped it would go backwards.”

It may seem that the Prayer Team have got the better end of the deal, safely ensconced within the church, but the pastors are unequivocal in the importance of the Prayer Team’s contribution.

Andy said: “I don’t think I would go out at all if there was not people here praying for us.”

The pastors clearly feel safer with the support of the Prayer Team but what about their families? Do they worry about being out on the street late at night surrounded by the inebriated?

Mr Ferguson said: “My wife would be a bit uneasy. She was at the start but we’ve now had a couple of years of it.

“I think she got the impression we would be getting in the middle of something to try and sort it out but that’s not our role.

“My nature is to get in there but I have to fight that because it could inflame a situation.”

As we return to the streets the bars, pubs and clubs are even busier than before with people spilling out of Late Lounge and Ra Ra.

Unnoticed the pastors sweep the ground, clearing away glass nobody knew was there.

“People ask us ‘how much are you getting paid?’ said Sally.

“When we tell them we’re not being paid anything they ask why we do it and I say ‘it’s because we care about people’.”

The Street Pastors say they are “not here to bash people over the head with the bible” but if people raise religion they will talk to them about it.

Debbie said: “It’s amazing how many people have had problems in their lives and say ‘can you pray for us?’

“We had a young man who wanted us to pray with him in the street and asked that all his mates gather round and pray too.

“Really nice young men.”

I said goodnight and left the Street Pastors to finish their shift and was heartened by the positive reaction they received from passers-by many of whom, I’m sure, could tell a tale about how they or a friend had once been helped after a drink too many.

As I head home the Pastors head on another lap of the town, checking to make sure everyone is safe as they celebrate Christmas early.

December began with Sue Harris being crowned Grantham’s Local Hero at the Journal’s 2012 Grantham is Great Awards.

Sue is aiming to use the Meres Leisure Centre to offer a form of preventative care for vulnerable adults.

Campaigners at SOS Grantham Hospital were fighting plans to close Grantham’s maternity unit and move the service elsewhere.

NHS Lincolnshire’s public consultation on their plans began November 21 and will run until February 20.

Dozens of fund-raisers donned their Santa outfits to raise money for the British Heart Foundation the Rotary Charity Foundation and St Wulfram’s Church.

More than £2,000 was raised and the race was won by British Army Ranger and Grantham Sunday League player Neil McClory.

Burglars who shut Grantham town centre down for hours by climbing on roofs in Westgate faced justice in December.

The gang were jailed for a total of 16 years for their failed raid which cost businesses in the area a combined £25,000-£30,000 in lost business. The judge told them: “You were caught red handed.”

A Bingham family were the subject of disgusting racist abuse. Insulting anti-Islamic slogans were daubed outside the family’s home. The father of the family described those responsible as “cowards”.

Shoppers popping in to The George Centre had a rare chance to be part of the Nativity scene. Grantham Churches Together put up a picture depicting the Natvity scene in the centre where people could poke their face through and have a photograph taken as if they were there with the Wise Men and the shepherds.

A shop assistant was threatened with a knife during a robbery.

The thief put a knife against the woman and told her to hand over the cash before fleeing the store.

The Marston Thorold School in Marston was named as one of the top primary schools in the country after children there achieved the best SATs results in Lincolnshire. One parent described the school as “amazing”.

We told the heart-warming story of Chloe Hollingsworth who, after battling cancer, was given the trip of a lifetime to go and visit Santa in Lapland.

Chloe’s dream trip came just months after being given the all-clear.

In sport, Ian Robinson and Gary Sucharewycz were named as Grantham Town’s new managers.

The month began tragically with the news that 12-year-old King’s School pupil Pierre Barnes had died while on holiday with his family on an island off the coast of France.

Pierre went missing not long after the family arrived on the island of Porquerolles and it is believed he was caught out by a fierce storm.

He was described by his family as a proud King’s School pupil who had a “wicked sense of humour” that brought joy to the whole family.

The area also lost one of its most famous and well-liked individuals with the death of Ancaster resident Nora Hardwick just shy of her 107th birthday.

Nora received international attention when she appeared as a “calendar girl” for a fund-raising venture and ended up appearing on the Jay Leno chat show in the USA.

However, she was already a hugely popular figure in her home village where she was at the heart of village life for decades.

News that the ambulance station in Grantham was earmarked for closure was met with dismay in some quarters.

An action group was set up to fight the plans called Last GASP which would receive the backing of thousands of people in the area.

South Kesteven District Council’s ambitious plans to build 5,529 new homes between now and 2026 were thrown into turmoil with the release of damning findings by planning inspector Roland Punshon.

More bad news for health services arrived in November with NHS Lincolnshire revealing proposals to close Grantham’s Maternity Unit.

The authority’s consultation on the plans does not end until January but no other options are being considered for the unit.

Christmas in Grantham got off to a bad start when vandals targetted Gertie Garner’s decorations in Belton Lane.

CCTV captured footage of a vandal stealing a Santa Claus from Gertie’s garden before heaving it into the road.

Maybe the county’s new Police and Crime Commissioner could restore law and order.

Former television journalist Alan Hardwick - an independent candidate - was voted in as Lincolnshire’s new commissioner and promised to secure more funding for our county’s police force.

Grantham’s MP and Planning Minister Nick Boles announced controversial plans increase the amount of developed land in the country from nine per cent to 12 per cent.

Mr Boles said: “If people want to have housing for their kids they’ve got to accept that we’ve got to build on some open land.”

In sport, Grantham Town were finding life difficult in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League after a very encouraging start.

November was to prove a tumultuous month for the club as first chairman Steve Boam stepped down followed at the end of the month by co-managers Jimmy Albans and Wayne Hallcro.

Firefighters rescued a man from a burning house in Second Avenue, Grantham. The blaze had been started deliberately.

Councillors rejected plans for wind turbines at Carlton Scroop. Although officers recommended the plan be approved, district councillors refused the plan for two 40m-high turbines.

The former owner of China 88 announces plans to open a restaurant in The George Centre. Arri Bharwani said he was opening a buffet-style restaurant in the former Internacionale store.

The Journal launched its ‘We Want to Work’ campaign. With unemployment levels rising in the area, the Journal told the stories of 10 unemployed people in the town in a bid to help them find work.

A former Grantham man, now living in America, was one of 100 wingsuiters who jumped from 13,000ft over California to break a new world record.

John Kidd opened a new florist shop in The George Centre after he was forced to close his flower stall outisde his home in Harrowby Road. Mr Kidd opened Buster’s Blooms after a complaint led the district council to take enforcement action against him.

Four men were jailed after planning to steal £350,000 from cash machines. The gang admitted theft from the National Westminster Bank in Bingham and an attempted theft in Long Bennington where they were disturbed by police.

Readers were invited to come and meet the Journal team on St Peter’s Hill following the relaunch of the newspaper.

Corby Glen Sheep Fair was declared a success. Committee chairman Steve Honeywood said it had been the busiest fair in some years.

An appeal was launched to save the war memorial at the former Aveling Barford site. The memorial was dedicated to the 17 workers at the company who were killed in the Second World War.

A new £4.1m “Business incubation centre” was given the go ahead. The new building is part of the Grantham Growth Point Project and will be built in Wharf Road on the site occupied by Tanvic and Jewson to form a new-look Station Approach.

Grantham College bought Stonebridge House and nine houses with plans to refurbish the buildings. They were the former home of Grantham Police Station.

A Grantham mum feared drivers were putting lives at risk because they were ignoring a ‘no left turn’ sign at the bottom of Station Road and turning into Harlaxton Road when pedestrians were crossing.

Eight fire crews fought a major blaze at Mid UK Recycling in Caythorpe. The fire was centred in a room 100m x 30m.

South Kesteven District Council set out its stall for the future when it predicted big things for Grantham. The Station Approach development, approval of a A1 distribution hub, and the Gravity Fields Festival were all cited as examples of why the future is bright for the town.

Councillors demanded that a committee should decide whether a Tesco Express would be allowed to open on the site of the former Cherry Tree pub in Harrowby Lane.

Armed robbers torched their getaway car after an attempted raid on Colsterworth Post Office.

An eyewitness described how two masked men entered the post office, believed to be carrying a pistol. They got away with nothing after a shop worker pressed the alarm.

Value goods chain Boyes announced it would be coming to Grantham and moving into the former Marks and Spencer premises on High Street, creating 30 jobs. The premises had stood empty since early 2011.

MP Nick Boles was promoted to Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department of Communities and Local Government with planning and development as his brief.

A £330,000 brand new kitchen remained unused at Gonerby Hill Foot Primary School due to a dispute over tax between the food supplier, the county council and the tax department. Then the food supplier pulled out of providing school meals.

A campaign aimed at saving the spire of St Wulfram’s Church was launched. The church said it needed £600,000 to save the spire.

A sex attacker was jailed indefinitely after the woman he assaulted caught him and made a citizens’ arrest. She and her boyfriend arrested Jason Hallam only hours after the attack.

ASDA Andy retired as store greeter. Andy Widdowson, 64, had worked at the store for nine years.

He is a big Nottingham Forest fan and was at the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.

Disabled Doreen Jackson, 76, shared her story with the Journal after her mobility scooter was stolen by a conman.

A state-of-the-art doctors’ surgery was officially opened in Corby Glen. The £1.1m Market Cross Surgery in Bourne Road was opened by Doctors Ann and Sandy Surtees.

Mother Tanya Thomas demanded an apology from the B&Q store after a tin of paint fell on her while she was holding her baby.The paint covered her trousers and trainers and only just missed her baby.

Action group reVOLT said plans for giant wind turbines would ruin the countryside.

The group, set up to fight plans for turbines near Brandon and north of Hougham, said they had identified plans for 17 more turbines in the area.

Work on improvements to Westgate were completed.

Businesses in the street said they were pleased with the work which included raised crossing points, a new zebra crossing and a lowering of the speed limit to 20mph.

The Cherry Tree pub in Harrowby Lane shut down and it was revealed by the landlady Pat King that Tesco had bought the site for an Express store.

TV presenter Dallas Campbell opened the Gravity Fields Festival with a grand launch in the George Centre.

Teenage tearaway Casey Page, 14, became the youngest person in the district to get an ASBO.

He terrorised the Earlesfield Estate for years, leaving many people afraid to leave their homes.

MP Nick Boles said ‘Grantham is a fantastic place to die’ at a ceremony to open the new Grantham Hospice building.

Thousands of people were expected to pack the town centre for the closing ceremony of the Gravity Fields Festival.

As students celebrated impressive A-level and GCSE results there was some less positive news for one Grantham school in August when it was announced that its promised rebuild was going to be delayed by an academic year.

The £13.5m Priory Ruskin Academy is set to provide state-of-the-art facilities for children attending the Rushcliffe Road school but planning issues between the school and residents meant the project suffered huge delays.

The original completion date for the academy was September 2013 but in August this was moved until June 2014. And even at the end of 2012 the first building work is yet to begin.

Cuts again hit the news with the East Midlands Ambulance Service announcement of proposals to close Grantham Ambulance Station. Under the plans, which will be finalised next year, 13 hubs are set to replace the county’s stations with the nearest to Grantham being in Sleaford.

Police patrols were also reduced in the town centre on Saturday nights with the aim of encouraging club and bar owners to take responsibility for customers and allow the police to focus on other crimes out of town.

Staying with the subject of licenses premises, Rob Leys, of Barrowby Gate, got in touch with the Journal after being charged over £640 for one transaction at High Street bar Infernos. He claimed he only bought two pints of lager, which was disputed by the owners at the time. The bar is now under new management.

Harrowby Road allotment holders also got a shock when they received an ultimatum from South Kesteven District Council to clear up their land or face a fine of £20,000 and possible imprisonment. Allotment holders, concerned over the threat of action, within 30 days, tried to clear up the mess caused by years of fly-tipping.

In lighter news Journal photographer Toby Roberts took on the Naan-lympic Challenge at restaurant Bindi.

It involved eating a 20 inch naan stuffed with chicken, lamb, Shish kebabs, salad and sauce, in ten minutes.

We are yet to hear of anyone completing the mammoth challenge.

Grantham mayor Ian Stokes married his bride Sarah Wilks in August and there were more celebrations when it became official that the Rotary Global Swimarathon, which was dreamt up by Granthamian Roger Graves, broke the world record for the biggest simultaneous swim in history. 4, 546 people from 64 locations worldwide took part in the epic fund-raising attempt.

In sport the football season started with Grantham Town facing Manchester’s FC United.

A massive crowd of 1,200 went to the Meres to see the match, which ended in a 4-2 defeat but the crowd became the news when fighting broke out after the 13th minute opening goal for the Gingerbreads.

Police officers quickly restored order and the club said it would learn lessons from the trouble.

Heavy rainfall caused flooding in Grantham and the surrounding villages, bringing a wet start to the month of May.

Roads were closed, including the A1 and A52, while in Bottesford a family-of-three had to be rescued form their vehicle as it became submerged. Firefighters paddled out to the car, which had been caught out when the River Devon burst its banks.

The family were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution.

Anti-social behaviour became a hot topic following reports of yobs acting out in various areas of the town. One family living in Sharpe Road, a part of the Harrowby ward, reported heavily in the Journal in previous weeks due to ASB issues, said they were desperate to move.

Meanwhile, neighbours in Park Road said vandalism and criminal damage was becoming intolerable, blaming pupils of King’s School and the Priory Ruskin Academy.

One family were living in constant fear of verbal abuse, which escalated one evening into a physical attack which left a man with a gash on his head.

An inquest into the death of multi-millionaire Nottingham Forest owner Nigel Doughty, of Skillington, was held. The father-of-four, 54, was found dead in the gym at his home.

The cause was found to be sudden adult death syndrome. The coroner recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

One district councilor came under fire after sending a “disrespectful” Tweet about a fellow councillor.

Councillor Mark Ashberry wrote: “Council AGM agenda has a ‘vote of thanks to the retiring Chairman’, might propose an amendment for a ‘vote of no thanks & good riddance’ lol.”

When challenged at a full council meeting, Coun Ashberry said he was joking and is entitled to freedom of speech. Coun Mike Cook was said chairman.

Two long-standing Grantham businesses were given their marching orders to make way for the new Station Approach development.

Builders merchant Jewson and tyre and service centre Tanvic were issued with a compulsory purchase order (CPO) which allows Lincolnshire County Council to legally obtain the land on which they sit in Wharf Road.

This CPO was issued as part of the Grantham Growth Point Project led by the county council and South Kesteven District Council.

Malcolm Williamson, property manager for Jewson’s parent company Saint-Gobain Building Distribution, said a complaint would be lodged, adding: “We’re not rolling over.”

TV’s Time Team did a bit of digging around in Belton parkland, going on to find an intact First World War training camp.

In fact, Time Team favourite Francis Pryor told the Journal the camp was the only First World War site uncovered by the team of archaeologists in the last 20 years. The experts dug seven trenches across the parkland off Five Gates Lane, and also came across a fully conserved shooting range.

Casey Cant was crowned Carnival Princess 2012. The pupil of West Grantham Academy St Hugh’s wowed the judges, beating all 19 Princess contenders to take the crown.

A community from the Sharpe Road area of Grantham banded together to form an action group intended to tackle anti-social behaviour.

The residents believed that Lincolnshire Police and South Kesteven District Council’s efforts to curb the behaviour were insufficient.

The action group installed its own CCTV and were hoping to work with both the police and SKDC to tackle the problem.

A green light was given to plans for a multi-million pound tennis complex in Grantham.

South Kesteven District Council approved the proposal for a 13-court complex on the site of Grantham Tennis Club’s current facilities at Arnoldfield, off Gonerby Road.

The development was expected to cost £3.5m with funding from a private investor and the Lawn Tennis Association.

Former KGGS pupil Shona McCallin was selected to represent England’s under-21 hockey team in four matches against the USA at Lilleshall at Easter.

Nineteen-year-old Shona, of Dry Doddington, was selected for the team as part of its preparation for the European Hockey Championships later in the year. Shona was considered too young by selectors for the summer’s Olympic Games in London.

Grantham Town secured their first league title in 14 years in front of their own fans at The Meres. Watched by more than 400 fans, the Gingerbreads triumphed 1-0 over Quorn.

Grantham sealed the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League Division One South championship title with three games to spare to take them up into the Premier Division.

Pollution caused by a spillage from an overturned lorry carrying fertiliser killed hundreds of fish in the River Witham, just south of Grantham.

The tanker spilled 3,000 litres of diluted ammonia into the water system when it overturned in Church Street, North Witham.

The chemical made its way into the Witham where it killed various species of fish in a 12-mile stretch between Colsterworth and Little Ponton.

One man died and five others were badly injured in three road crashes in a single week.

Two accidents happened within minutes of each other. The first was on the A1 near Great Gonerby where a lorry overturned, leaving its driver with serious injuries. A female cyclist was also seriously injured when she was in collision with a van in Bridge End Road.

Both incidents happened two days after a man was killed in a crash with a lorry on the A15 at Osbournby. Three passengers in the car were hospitalised with serious injuries.

A gang of four men were jailed for a total of 37 years for kidnapping a cash and carry manager and robbing the Booker Wholesale premises in Grantham where he worked.

The four men from Northampton stole cash and cigarettes but were traced by Nottinghamshire Police who headed the investigation due to the initial kidnapping occurring at the manager’s home in Keyworth, near Nottingham.

Pub side Beehive United made history by becoming the first Grantham team in 51 years to win the Lincs Junior Cup.

Grantham Saturday League side Beehive beat Peterborough Premier Division leaders Pinchbeck United 2-1 in the competition’s cup final at York Street, Boston.

March began with Rotary Club Grantham’s annual Swimarathon going global – and winning a world record.

More than 5,000 swimmers from 100 clubs in 23 countries took part in the inaugural “Rotary Global Swimarathon”, which raised more than £65,000.

The Grantham swim took place at The Meres with a live Skype link to the other swimmers around the world.

The event also established a new Guinness World Record for the most people around the world swimming at the same time.

Grantham taxi drivers claimed they were missing out on trade due to new rules enforced by the local authority.

A new points system brought in by South Kesteven District Council in January – in which taxi drivers lose their licence if they accrue 12 points – forces taxis to pull to the front of the rank outside the Guildhall, where drivers say there are less fares to be taken.

The council said there had been complaints about double parking in the area and they had therefore asked taxi drivers to use the full extent of the rank.

A murderer on the run from HMP Sudbury was arrested by Grantham police in Dysart Road.

Forty-two-year-old Mark Lee absconded from the Derbyshire prison the previous month. He was convicted in 1994 of the murder of Grantham man Neil McMillan outside the what was the Rose Castle public house in Trent Road.

Financial services company Totemic was ranked ninth in the annual Sunday Times Top 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

Based at Totemic House in Springfield Road, Totemic is one of the largest employers in Grantham and has featured in the Sunday Times’ top 30 for the past six years.

The Government accused South Kesteven District Council of providing a “second-rate” service with its fortnightly refuse collections.

A spokesman for the Government’s Department for Communities and Local Government said that any council that does not collect waste weekly is “offering a second-rate service”.

SKDC told the Journal it had no intention of returning to collections every week.

Cabinet members at South Kesteven District Council approved a plan for 7,000 homes to be built in Grantham’s Northern and Southern Quadrants.

The plan was expected to create 2,500 jobs and lever in tens of millions of pounds across the district.

Nineteen-year-old Fulbeck swimmer Sophie Allen qualified to represent Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics.

The former William Robertson School student finished second and won a silver medal in the 200m individual medley at the British Gas Championships in London. She recorded a new English record of 2min 11.71sec, one second quicker than the Olympic qualification standard.

Grantham Carnival’s annual parade through the town centre came under threat after Lincolnshire County Council’s highways department rejected every proposed parade route.

Carnival committee chairman Roy Wright had been working on the application for nine months. The final application, replete with the changes demanded by highways, was met with a flat “no” by the county council, with no explanation as to why.

The year began with Grantham MP Nick Boles – more of him later in this review – predicting: “2012 promises to be a very special year.”

Firefighters were kept busy with two fires in three weeks at chicken processing factory Moy Park, in Gonerby Road, though bosses said there was no link between them.

Meanwhile, ducks made money in Bottesford when the annual charity event, involving rubber versions floating down the River Devon, raised £1,100.

Christine Horrocks took over as principal at Walton High School, saying she had been “blown away” by the high standards in terms of learning, achievement, behaviour and positive attitude. She said she wanted to build on the success of a school that was “already outstanding.”

Defensive stalwart Chris Galvery returned to Grantham Town Football Club, who were top of the Evo-Stik Northern Premier Division One South.

Still on sport, Grantham Tennis Club was behind plans to build a new £3.5m indoor centre at Arnoldsfield Sports Ground.

Meanwhile, after newly declassified files from the National Archives were released, the feature firm ‘The Iron Lady’ about Grantham’s “first lady” Margaret Thatcher was released. The files revealed Mrs Thatcher’s frugal side, her views on the IRA and the Toxteth Riots. The film was an outstanding success, though did not feature her hometown extensively.

The Journal’s Local Business Accelerators scheme, which offered business support and advertising to new businesses, announced that Allington Manor was the inaugural winner, owner Leo Vincent calling it a: “once in a lifetime opportunity.”

Pheonix School PE teacher Darren Taxis was named the best in the country by Sky Sports at an event at Wembley Stadium. He said: “If a kid wants to try a sport, we try to make it happen for them.”

Meanwhile, at the King’s School, plans were announced to fix unsightly steel grills to the windows of the 1497 Church Street library, because the glass had been smashed so many times by vandals.

South Kesteven District Council’s plans to charge householders £25 a year from April to collect green waste…

…and The Great Bin Backlash began as the Journal was swamped with people claiming this “stealth tax” was aimed at “good citizens” and “victimisation of people with gardens” by angry readers, who filled two pages of the newspaper with their letters on the controversial subject.

There was an uncertain future over two town clothing outlets. Peacock and Bonmarche were under threat after their parent company went into administration.

A plan to organise an arts and science festival based on Sir Isaac Newton was revealed. SKDC leader Linda Neal told the Journal: “This will not be just any old festival” and promised when it took place in September it would attract national and international interest in, and to, Grantham and district.

Scaffolding appeared on St Wulfram’s spire after it was revealed cracks had appeared in the ancient stonework. A platform was installed at the bottom of the damaged area.

People facing the new year without a job are being offered a boost by bus operators.

Lincolnshire County Council has got on board with a national initiative organised by the Greener Journeys campaign to offer people looking for work free journeys on any CallConnect bus service in the county during January.

The service offers on-demand journeys and there are partnerships in place with Rutland County Council, Northamptonshire County Council and Peterborough City Council to allow journeys across the borders.

People who have been unemployed for between three months and a year will qualify and just need to present their Jobcentre Plus travel card.

Find out more by calling 0845 234 3344 or visit www.lincsinterconnect.com

The new year brought a renewed optimism to The Meres with the Gingerbreads recording a 4-0 win over bottom placed Eastwood Town.

Although a fast paced-game throughout, the opening 10 minutes were pretty uneventful. The closest the visitors went to scoring was wasted with an over-struck corner kick in the ninth minute. Jamie McGhee’s 13th minute shot was deflected on to the outside of the Eastwood stantion. Deon Meikle got a header to the resulting corner kick but it lacked direction.

Both sides had a couple of free kicks apiece, but neither made any real use of them. Grantham’s Rhys Lewis had a tasty backwards header but it went straight to former Gingerbreads keeper Richard Stainsby. Lewis went close again on the half hour mark but dragged his effort wide.

But Grantham went in front three minutes later. Sam Saunders set up McGhee who unleashed a shot to the left of a static Stainsby.

Alistair Asher had a shot a minute later and the Gingerbreads doubled their lead in the 35th minute. Skipper Ben Saunders was the scorer after he latched on to his brother Sam’s initial shot that rebounded off the post.

Grantham went 3-0 up five minutes before half time with Ben Saunders bagging his second goal with a deft lob over a now quite irate Stainsby.

The game continued apace after the break and Grantham keeper James Martin was brought into action in the second minute of the half, expertly getting a hand to Lavell White’s cross-cum-shot. The visitors had another chance to reply in the 52nd minute but there was no Eastwood player near enough to get a touch to Josh Raven’s squared ball across the face of goal.

The Gingerbreads were not far off themselves five minutes later. Lewis’s shot just trickled past the far post, still in play, but McGhee was not quite close enough to knock it into an empty net.

Another opportunity for the home side came in the 68th minute. Alex Troke put a good ball through to debutant Sam MacVicar, but he placed his shot just wide of the far post with just the keeper to beat.

Troke and MacVicar combined again four minutes later, with Stainsby this time racing out of his box to clear the ball from substitute MacVicar’s feet.

Grantham keeper Martin impressed again in the 77th minute when he rose confidently in a crowded six-yard box to pluck Paolo Piliero’s corner kick from the air.

The Gingerbreads extended their lead a minute later. MacVicar squared across the face of the Eastwood goal to give Sam Saunders a simple tap-in.

Seventy-fifth minute substitute Jermaine Hollis went close in the first minute of added time. After tussling with Eastwood defenders, he just put his shot wide of the far post.

Grantham Town: Martin, Asher, Magee, Meikle, Watt, Troke, Lewis, S. Saunders, Demidh, B. Saunders, McGhee. Subs: MacVicar, Brindley, Purcicoe, Hollis, Nwadike. Att: 262.

It has been a pleasure working with local community members during the past year fighting for our local heritage and the vital acute services at Grantham Hospital.

As we move into 2013 the year will start with the end of the public Consultation on Grantham Hospital services in February.

Members of SOS Grantham Hospital, a cross party organisation, will be calling for the restoration of acute services rather than the continued degradation of acute services, including loss of our maternity unit, currently proposed.

As a district councillor and opposition Labour Group leader, I will be working with my fellow councillors Rob Shorrock and Alan Davidson (Earlesfield ward), Ian Selby and Mark Ashberry (Harrowby ward) and Phil Dilks (Market Deepings) to do whatever we can to minimise the impact of the changes planned by the Government on our most vulnerable residents and communities.

The people of Grantham have shown true determination and passion in the past to fight for what they believe in. If ever there is a time for us all to work together it is now.

Wishing all Grantham residents and business people the very best new year possible.

Councillor Charmaine Morgan

District councillor and Labour Group leader

Chairman of SOS Grantham Hospital

Founder member of Conserving Grantham

I can hardly believe we are almost at the end of 2012 but what a year it’s been. There have been so many highlights and I am sure each of you will have your own very special memories.

This year has given us the Olympics, Diamond Jubilee and our fantastic first Gravity Fields Festival which has put Grantham on the map for investors and has given the town positive national media attention.

Despite a tough economic climate both in the UK and abroad the council have continued to provide top quality services to the district’s residents.

We have a clear vision and are certain that we can make South Kesteven an even better place to live, work and invest in 2013. Lots of progress has been made this year, and next year we will see progress in some key projects for Grantham Growth including the relief road, Southern Quadrant, North West Quadrant and Station Approach.

Happy new year to you and your families from everyone at SKDC.

Councillor Linda Neal

Conservative leader of South Kesteven District Council

Puppies valued at £9,000 were stolen from kennels at Brant Broughton on Thursday night.

Thirteen puppies and two bitches were taken from animal housing units adjacent to the main property in The Clays, sometime between 10pm on Thursday night and 4am the following morning.

Stolen were four Poodle puppies, two Mal-shi puppies, two Cockapoo puppies, one Bichon Frise puppy, one Chihuahua bitch and four puppies, and one chocolate Pomeranian bitch.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area, or anyone with any information on the possible future sale of these animals, is asked to get in touch via the non-emergency 101 number, quoting incident number 54 of December 28.

A retired Grantham music teacher and organist at St John’s church for almost 53 years has been named in the New Year Honours list.

Geoffrey Winter of Hill Avenue in Grantham is to receive the British Empire Medal in recognition of his services to music in the Grantham area.

Mr Winter said: “It really is an honour.

“I never suspected anything like that at all. It really came as a surprise.”

Mr Winter taught music for more than 30 years at St Wulfram’s and St Hugh’s. He was also musical director of Grantham Singers, co-founder of Grantham Operatic Society and co-founder of Grantham Music Festival.

He has performed as the organist at St John’s church in Grantham for almost 53 years and has lost none of his passion for music over the last half a century.

Mr Winter said: “I enjoy every minute of it. I get pleasure out of giving pleasure to other people.

“That’s a good reward - although it’s the only reward there is in being a church organist...apart from this one from the Queen, bless her!”

Mr Winter will receive his award from the Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire Tony Worth. He will also be invited to a garden party at Buckingham Palace in the summer.

Mr Winter said: “I’m not a person who likes the limelight very much but it will be great to meet other people who have had the same kind of honour.

“Most of the work I am being recognised for has really been with other people so none of this glory is mine, it’s the people I work with.”

Mr Winter took up the piano from a very early age.

He said: “I was born just round the corner at Gorse Rise into a house with a piano. My mum was able to pick out a tune by ear and I think she passed that on to me.

“She used to tell me I could play pretty much anything I heard by ear by the age of two-and-a-half.

“I remember playing the hymns in the school assembly from a young age - I think they must have thought I was better than the teacher - and I played the assembly all the time I was at King’s.”

For the past 23 years since retiring from teaching, Mr Winter taught music privately until stopping last year.

Petrolhead Chris Ireland will see his journey to the “Fastest Place on Earth” feature in a BBC documentary this weekend.

Grantham-born Chris was one of a small group of UK motorcyclists who headed out to Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah, USA for “Speed Week” in August of last year.

Bonneville is famous for its vast, dried lake bed which has seen remarkable records achieved over the years including Sir Malcolm Campbell achieving 300mph in his “Bluebird” and Craig Breedlove driving “Spirit of America” at more than 600mph in 1965.

Chris, a former pupil at Belton Lane School, National School and King’s School, had to use all of his engineering nous gained from his days at Aveling Barford to get his own bike ready for the trip to Bonneville.

Chris, formerly the front-man for Grantham punk group “The Brick Wall Band”, said: “My mate had raced there in 2010 and was going back in 2012 so asked me if I wanted to go and watch, but I don’t do watching so decided to build my own bike.

“I had an engine from a 1942 American “Indian”, left here at the end of the Second World War, so the next 18 months were spent rebuilding it and building the bike - frame and all - in the small workshop at the side of my house.

“Every part was hand made and not one bit of the engine escaped modification. I’ve always owned an “Indian” motorcycle and bought my first one when I was working at Whipples Garage in Westgate in the early 1970s.”

Chris soon learned that four other bikes were being built by fellow petrolheads around the country so they organized a meeting and decided to go out together.

It was Chris’ first trip to the United States.

He said: “I’d never been to America before. I’ve been all round the world but I never wanted to go to America because I don’t like Americans. They get on my nerves.

“But I got there and it was great...although the food was terrible - all grits and under-cooked eggs.

“But the people out there were great.”

The legendary racing venue more than lived up to Chris’ expectations.

He said: “What a vast place! It’s almost beyond imagination and you can actually see the curvature of the earth. The salt is dead flat, as hard as concrete and surrounded by huge mountains.

“The pits were two miles long with four lanes, so effectively there were eight miles of vehicles with their crews working under canvas shelters.”

Thanks to his modifications Chris was able to almost triple the top speed of his bike from a pedestrian 45mph to over 120mph but the conditions is Utah meant he could not reach the same speeds.

He said: “There were four courses, all dead straight and level. The temperature was around 120 degrees and Bonneville is over 4,000 feet above sea level.

“With adjustments for humidity we were racing at 7,600ft. This saps engine power by 30 per cent due to the lack of oxygen, so my bike - which was tested at 120mph over here - could only manage 81mph there.

“But that is still super-fast for a 70-year-old engine that could just about manage 45mph when first built and ridden by an old grandad.

“The bike proved to be 100 per cent reliable - a testament to the engineering skills I learned in Grantham - not missing a beat while some of the more modern bikes blew up.”

An 11-man film crew from the BBC shadowed Chris and his fellow racers, even spending five days at his home filming prior to flying out.

Chris said: “The first part will be all about getting to Bonneville and the second part will be all the racing.

“At one point I was racing and they had three HD cameras strapped to the bike, I was wearing a pair of glasses with a HD camera between the eyes, cameras at the start, at halfway and at the end and a drone with four propellers flying overhead.

“The budget for the BBC was £400,000 so it’s a major documentary.”

A first in a two-part BBC documentary on the trip called “Speed Dreams - The Fastest Place on Earth” will be shown on Sunday night on BBC2 at 10pm with the second part being shown the following week.

Chris suspects the post-watershed time-slot is because “there’s lots of swearing in it”

Meanwhile, Chris hopes to return to Bonneville in 2014 and is currently building a new supercharged bike in his garden shed in Great Yarmouth.