Grantham and Stamford MP Nick Boles may not stand in the forthcoming general election, as he battles a cancerous tumour in his head.

The Conservative MP told this newspaper this afternoon that he will discuss his options with family and colleagues before making a decision on whether to stand.

It comes after Prime Minister Theresa May made a shock announcement this morning in a press conference outside 10 Downing Street of her intention to hold a general election on June 8. Parliament has yet to agree the move – a vote will be held in the House of Commons tomorrow (Wednesday).

Mr Boles said: “I fully support Theresa May’s decision to hold an election, and I think that it is right to secure that mandate from the country as we head in to the Brexit negotiations.

“On a personal level, I will be talking over the coming days to family and colleagues to make a decision, which I will announce in due course.”

Mr Boles was elected into the Grantham and Stamford seat in 2010 and went on to become Planning Minister in 2012, then Minister of State for Skills and Equalities until June 2016.

He announced in October last year that doctors had found a cancerous tumour in his head and he has since undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. He successfully battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007.

Grantham Town triumphed 1-0 at fellow play-off hopefuls Buxton on Saturday.

A single second half Lee Shaw goal lifted them into fifth place in the Northern Premier League Premier Division.

However, they suffered an upset on Easter Monday when they were defeated 3-0 at lowly Corby Town, dropping them to seventh.

The Gingerbreads could still mathematically make the play-offs, but they would need to win their final league game at champions Blyth Spartans, and rely on Workington losing both their two remaining games heavily, when the matter of goal difference would come into play – not to mention relying on the likes of Buxton and Whitby Town – who are also still in with a sniff – also slipping up in the final run-in.

For now, Grantham turn their attention to the Integro League Cup Final against Bamber Bridge at Leek on Wednesday night.

Good luck boys!

The winter season has been the most successful for Belvoir Vale Tennis Club for some time.

Their men’s team ultimately won the Leicestershire Winter League, triumphing 14 points clear of Wigston in second place.

They got off to a flying start against County Hall, winning 8-2, going on to win four matches 9-1 and one 8-2. Their only loss of 7-3 was in a very hard fought match against Wigston.

Four of the BVTC players are in the top 10 of the averages with Alex Keay currently at number one, the others being Mark Blackburn, Alex Boucher and captain Nigel Daniels.

Other players who played for the team were Steve Wainwright, Jeff White and Andy Ballard.

Fundraising for the charity Diabetes UK, Grantham Running Club member Liam Vincent made his marathon debut amongst 12,000 runners who took to the streets of Brighton for the its eighth annual race last Sunday.

The undulating course comprised loops in, out and around the town centre, taking in local landmarks and a beach front finish, with unseasonably hot weather presenting an added challenge for participants.

Liam was diagnosed with Type One diabetes three years ago but continues to run as part of his management of the condition and has, through training with the local club, increased his capacity to achieve this personal milestone.

Liam said: “Because exercise and hot weather can have an adverse effect on maintaining good blood sugar control whilst running, I initially opted to concentrate on being able to finish the 26 miles in four-and-a-half to five hours. But as I felt good during the run, I managed to make my way through the field and was delighted with a finish time of 4hr 8min.

“Knowing that I was raising money and awareness for the charity, plus the fantastic support of the spectators with their endless encouragement, meant that I really enjoyed the challenge.

“I’m continuing to train as, of course, I now want to finish in under hours.”

Grantham MP Nick Boles has decided to stand again for Parliament in June after being told his cancer has gone.

Mr Boles says his cancer has been ‘eradicated’ and made his announcement to stand this morning after talking to family and friends.

Prime Minister Theresa May announced this week that a General Election will be held on June 8.

Mr Boles said in October last year that doctors had found a cancerous tumour in his head and he has since undergone several rounds of chemotherapy. He successfully battled Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2007.

Mr Boles said today: “I strongly support the Prime Minister’s decision to hold a general election on June 8. I believe it is in the national interest for the government to have a renewed mandate as it begins the Brexit negotiations.

“Since yesterday morning I have been talking to family and friends, as well as local Conservative supporters, about whether to offer myself as the Conservative candidate in the election. I have now decided to put myself forward and will be writing to my local Conservative association to ask them to re-adopt me as their candidate.

“Last week I completed my final treatment for non Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Recent scans have shown that the cancer has been eradicated and doctors tell me I can expect to make a full recovery by the end of the summer. “Although my current state of health will prevent me from playing an energetic part in the election campaign, I am confident that if I am re-elected I will be able to resume my duties as Member of Parliament with renewed vigour within a very few months.

“Ultimately, if I am adopted as the Conservative candidate, it will be for local people to decide whether they want me to continue in the job. But I hope very much that they will give me the chance to turn the page on a testing year and re-dedicate myself to their service as their representative in Parliament.”

Mr Boles was elected into the Grantham and Stamford seat in 2010 and went on to become Planning Minister in 2012, then Minister of State for Skills and Equalities until June 2016.

Free cancer advice and support is coming to Grantham on Thursday, April 27.

Macmillan Cancer Support’s mobile service will be visiting the town, with cancer information specialists on hand to answer questions and provide information. The team encourages anyone with worries relating to cancer to stop by, whether you’re living with cancer, or care for someone who is.

April is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month and Macmillan Cancer Support is encouraging people to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease. Bowel cancer is the UK’s fourth most common cancer, and mostly affects people over the age of 50.

Visitors to the unit will be given advice on what to look out for.

Caroline Lewis, a Macmillan information and support specialist on the unit, said: “Knowing what changes to look for and when to see your doctor could make a real difference. Don’t be scared if you have symptoms. Get them checked.”

The Macmillan unit will be in Market Place between 10am and 4pm.

For further information visit www.macmillan.org.uk or call free on 0808 808 00 00.

Word wizard Carl Gregory will appear on Channel 4 on Friday afternoon in a Countdown battle.

Grantham man Carl, 35, travelled to studios in Manchester in February to compete in the popular game show, hosted by Nick Hewer.

He is unable to reveal how well it went before the show airs, but said: “It was close the whole time between myself and the current champion with only a few points each round.

“Rachel [Riley] and Nick were so polite and friendly off camera and took the time to chat to us all.

“The day was fantastic from start to finish, although the Countdown clock in every round is so loud in the studio it puts you off.”

Carl first appeared on the show in 2007 and was allowed to apply again 10 years on.

Find out how Carl gets on by tuning into Channel 4 at 2.10pm on Friday.

A supportive parent from Grantham is helping Barrowby Primary School towards the cost of developing its pond and creating a wildlife garden.

Michelle Jasinski, parent of Maddison and Leo and an active member of the Friends of Barrowby School, applied for an employee volunteer grant from Grantham’s Yorkshire Bank branch earlier this year to help towards the cost of the project.

It received £500.

Michelle said: “I have been supporting Friends of Barrowby School for several years and I am delighted to be able to make this additional donation from Yorkshire Bank, which will benefit the children and help them to learn new skills and educate them about wildlife.

“I’m so proud of everything that the Friends of Barrowby School has achieved and I know that the school is going places thanks to the support network of friends and colleagues at the Friends of Barrowby School committee.”

The grant programme funds charitable initiatives that its employees are passionate about. Employees can apply for a grant of up to £500 if they are involved with local community groups in their own time. This includes local charities or not-for- profit organisations such as schools, brownies, scouts or sports groups, and the money helps the groups continue their work in the local community.

Community support manager Jacqui Atkinson said: “We actively encourage our employees to become involved in voluntary work within their own community and our grants programme is just one way we can support the valuable contribution they make in helping others.”

Police are appealing for help to find a Grantham man who has been missing since April 6.

Ian Moore, who is aged 40, is described as 6ft tall, of a slim build, with dark brown hair and a fresh complexion.

If anybody has seen Ian or knows where he is they are asked to call the police on 101.

Kesteven RFC under-11s’ tour to Doncaster Rugby Festival began with two matches against Irish side Boyne U12 teams last weekend.

Ks lost the first game 2-0 but drew the second 1-1 after a crossfield move from Terry, Jack and Monty saw the ball passed to Sam G to get his side’s first points of the game and the festival to draw level with Boyne, and so it remained but only after a try saving tackle from Leo.

The third game saw Kesteven take on hosts, Doncaster RFC. Ks scored the first try and Rory doubled the lead.

Doncaster were not amused and responded from the kick back with their own display of jinkyness, weaving through the black shirts to narrow the deficit to 2-1. They then further attacked and, even with an initial great try saving tackle from Leo, eventually breached the line to draw back level.

Ks’ never-say-die attitude saw them mount a final onslaught and, from 30 yards out, Stel had the ball and powered all the way to get yards from the line, before passing to Rory who gave Ks their well-earned victory.

In their fourth match, Kesteven came up against another Boyne team who, like Ks, were now tiring from back-to-back hard, fast rugby on what was becoming a warm day.

But it was the Irishmen who prevailed, scoring three unanswered tries.

Ks’ final game saw them go in front with a Leo try against Bury St Edmunds, only for the opposition to replay with a try of their own.

Kesteven restored their lead when Leo registered his second try, but the Bury boys responded a second time to draw level at 2-2, which proved to be the final score.

Following the festival, all the touring boys enjoyed a much-needed lunch and were invited to do a lap of honour before the game between Doncaster Knights and Jersey Reds.

Kesteven’s squad comprised Dom, Leo, Jamal, Rowan, Josh, Sam G, Sam B, Cameron, Terry, Henry, Charlie, Monty, Stel, Jack and Rory.

Barrowby Primary School pupil Jake Crane will be among more than 350 players representing 50 counties at the Butterfly Schools’ National Individual Table Tennis Championships at Wolverhampton next Saturday.

Representing his school, Jake qualified for the prestigious competition – the largest one-day event in the English table tennis calendar – after he triumphed in the Lincolnshire Championships under-11 category, defeating all 11 players put in front of him.

Following the national championships, the English Schools’ Table Tennis Association will be selecting representative teams to play in the Invitation International in June when, if selected, Jake will find himself up against players from the whole of the British Isles.

Motocross race promoters, the Northampton Classic Club, are staging a colourful all-action event for solos and sidecars at Sproxton on Sunday (April 23).

The sound of thunder starts at 9.30am when practice gets under way. The first race is at 11am. Spectator admission is £5 including programme, under-16s free. Refreshments will be available on site.

The meeting includes round three of the Greeves Championship, led by Sam Heitman and Ricky Widdowson. Star riders include former grand prix sidecar motocross race winner Shaun Mallows who is blindingly fast.

Other top riders on classic machines from the golden era of the sport include Luke FitzJohn, Dave Goidley, and Steve and Terry Curtis, son and grandson of ex-works Matchless factory rider Dave Curtis.

“We had a great meeting at Sproxton last year, and we are expecting no holds barred action again on Sunday,” said event organiser Colin Hill whose mighty Classic Bike magazine-featured 620cc Mabsa single is being ridden by Dan Richardson.

A Grantham man who drove with two-and-a-half times the legal limit of alcohol in his body when he was already banned from driving, has been given a suspended prison sentence and banned from driving for three-and-a-half years.

Rafal Holyst, 27, of London Road, admitted driving while disqualified and with excess alcohol and no insurance in Holbeach, when he appeared before magistrates at Boston.

Prosecuting, Marie Stace said that at 4.38pm on March 25, a member of the public blocked in Holyst’s car in Spalding Road, Holbeach, and confronted him as he smelled of alcohol, and police were called.

When officers arrived they discovered he was a disqualified driver and he gave a positive breath test.

He was arrested after giving a reading of 91 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35mcg.

Ms Stace said Holyst had been banned from driving for 20 months, also for an excess alcohol offence, in November 2015.

Mitigating, Roger Lowther said Holyst had been 16 months into the 20-month ban at the time he was arrested.

“What possessed him to drive I don’t know,” he said, “other than his judgement being impaired by the alcohol.”

He said Holyst knew he was at risk of a custodial sentence but suggested he would pay his debt to society better by being given unpaid work to do.

Barbara Newman, for the Probation Service, said Holyst clearly “wasn’t thinking clearly” at the time of the offence but he did appreciate the harm he could have caused the public.

She said he would lose his job if he went into custody and suggested a suspended prison sentence with unpaid work.

Magistrates told Holyst he would have been warned at the time he was disqualified in 2015 that he could go to prison if he drove and yet “you did, and two-and-a-half times over the legal limit”.

Holyst was given a 20-week prison sentence suspended for 18 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours of unpaid work for the community.

He was also banned from driving for three-and-a-half years and ordered to pay £200 in costs and charges.

Bollards alongside a busy Grantham road which are frequently struck by HGVs have been painted – but not by the local authority.

The photo of two men painting the bollards on the junction of Sankt Augustin Way and Barrowby Road on Wednesday was sent in by Matt Jarvis, who wrote: “Certainly not an official re-paint judging by the quality of their workmanship!”

And he was right. Lincolnshire County Council has confirmed that it did not carry out the work, which has seen the bollards painted white and topped with red tape.

A highways spokesman said: “This wasn’t done by the council, and we wouldn’t recommend people do such things themselves. Not only could it be construed as criminal damage, but it is extremely dangerous to carry out this sort of work without the proper safety precautions.”

Campaigners gathered at St Wulfram’s Church last night (Wednesday) to sing in support of the NHS.

Fighting 4 Life Lincolnshire (F4LL) has joined others around the country in forming an ‘NHStival’ choir in protest against the “demise” of the health service.

The campaign group was joined by two choirs, Syncapella and Raised in Song, with Abi Moore as choir master.

The idea to set up a local NHStival came from F4LL’s Melissa Darcey and Sarah Stock.

Melissa told the Journal: “This was an idea that myself and Sarah discussed one evening a couple of months ago and to now see the idea form into a reality is amazing. Campaigning to save local healthcare services and the NHS can be challenging at times and there is really no better way to lift spirits than to join together in song.

“The song ‘Fix You’ by Coldplay is lyrically relevant to what is going on with our NHS at present and will highlight just how much our NHS actually means to us locally and nationally.”

Around 50 people turned out to the first practice, which will be followed by further rehearsals. When they are ready, they will join in a Band Aid-style video with fellow campaign groups across the country.

Meliisa added: “The NHStival is important to me because singing naturally makes you feel happy. We want to celebrate our NHS by dedicating the song to the world-envied service and all our doctors, nurses and healthcare workers who we value and appreciate for all their hard work.

“Releasing the video when it is complete will highlight just how much the NHS means to us across the country whilst highlighting that the issues we face currently in our NHS are not unique or isolated.”

A new leader of South Kesteven District Council has been voted in this afternoon (Thursday), beating a challenge from a Grantham Independent unaligned councillor.

Stamford councillor Matthew Lee is now the new leader of the council, following on from his successful ousting of former leader Bob Adams from the area’s Conservative group last month.

However, it was not plain sailing during the tense full council meeting in the council chamber in Grantham, as a challenge for the top spot came in the form of Coun Ian Selby, of Grantham Harrowby ward. Coun Ashley Baxter, whose ward is Market and West Deeping, proposed Coun Selby, who gained 13 votes.

But it was not enough as Coun Lee gained 31 votes. There were six abstentions.

The controversy continued as three Conservative councillors, who all represent wards in Grantham, Mike Cook, Nick Craft and Frank Turner, went on to resign from the Conservative Group.

Coun Lee told the meeting that he wanted to lead a council that did not just talk about change but would introduce change to improve the district.

Coun Lee told the meeting: “I am delighted to be addressing you as the leader of South Kesteven District Council.

“Leading this council is a privilege and an honour and I am grateful to the council for the trust you have placed in me.

“We have an exciting period ahead and I look forward to working with everyone across the council, for the good of all residents in every ward we serve.”

Sweeping changes were made to the council executive, with Coun Lee taking the portfolio for Human Resources and Cultural Services. Coun Kelham Cooke was appointed as deputy leader and handed the portfolio for Business Transformation and Commissioning; Coun Mike King was made cabinet member for Economy and Development; Coun Jacky Smith for Major Development Projects; Coun Nick Robins for Retail and Visitor Economy; Coun Helen Goral for Communications and Engagement; Coun Adam Stokes for Finance; Coun Rosemary Woolley for Communities and Wellbeing; and Coun Peter Moseley for the Environment.

Coun Lee went on to outline some of his priorities. They were:

• We want to make sure that all areas are vibrant, clean and attractive and that they are places we can all be proud of. That means getting the basics right, we must invest wisely in the upkeep of the street scene, public spaces, verge cutting, and litter. Some areas are, quite frankly, not up to scratch. This council will have a large-scale Clean Up operation to remove the grime and rubbish from every corner of our district.

• We will focus on the development of Grantham which, if handled well, could provide sustainability for the many critical social resources, such as the hospital.

• We have a wonderful opportunity with the building of the Designer Outlet Village outside of Grantham, but this Council must rise to that challenge. We must ensure that Grantham becomes an attractive and desirable place that people want to visit.

• We have the potential to do so much more in the cultural field. We need to build on the firm foundations of the festivals and other arts and heritage activities we currently provide.

• We will build the cinema in Grantham, ensuring that the council is taking an active part in the regeneration of Grantham’s cultural economy.

• We will put a plan in place for the future of our leisure centres in Stamford, Bourne, and The Deepings.

• We will support a new heritage festival in Bourne.

• We will work in partnership with major tourist attractions to develop a new tourism strategy that brings visitors and money into our district.

King’s School fly-half Matt Law has returned from international duty having represented England Counties U18 in a two Test series against Ireland Clubs and Counties U18 in Dublin.

Having played for the Newark club since the age of 11, previously being at the Nottingham Forest Football Academy, he has represented Lincs, Notts, Lincs and Derbys, as well as being part of the Leicester Tigers Developing Player Programme, from the age of 13 to 16.

This season he has has been a pivotal part of the club’s first team. Having performed well for the NLD in a losing season, he was selected for trials for the Midlands squad to play against the North, and on the back of a strong performance for the Midlands, he was selected for England Counties.

They had two training camps, playing against Leicester Grammar school and Leicester Tigers U18, before heading to Dublin for a week-long tour.

He started the first of the Tests, played at Ashbourne RUFC, but the Irish proved too strong and won 29-17. In the second Test, Matt came off the bench but was not able to avert another defeat as England went down 24-13 to their Gaelic adversaries.

King’s School headteacher Frank Hedley commented: “Matt is an outstanding all-round sportsman and we are proud of his achievement in representing his country.”

Lincolnshire Police is sending a message to gangs of hare coursers terrorising farming families in South Holland with a £100,000 investment in new transport.

A fleet of nine 4x4 Ford Kugas, due to arrive later this year, is the first step in a new Rural Policing Strategy for Lincolnshire to be unveiled by Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Marc Jones this summer.

The plan will see more Special Constables and volunteers working in rural communities, crime prevention advice for farmers and their families and better protection for victims of hare coursing and other rural crime.

Mr Jones said: “This is a natural progression from me having stated during my election campaign to be PCC, and on being elected, a promise to look at rural issues.

“The work that Deputy Commissioner Stuart Tweedale has done with me as part of the National Rural Crime Network, along with other discussions we’ve had, has led me to believe that I need to have a clear strategy and plan in order to hold the police in Lincolnshire to account.

“It’s important to have a strategy and it would be weird for a very rural county like Lincolnshire not to have one so that I can measure how the police are achieving it.”

Mr Jones, who confirmed that both he and Mr Tweedale are standing down as Lincolnshire County Council members at the May 4 elections, said he hoped the new strategy would be “a lot more ambitious” than the specialist Operation Galileo team disbanded in September 2015.

Mr Jones said: “We’re investing in a fleet of Ford Kugas that are designed specifically for police use and, in financial terms, in excess of £100,000 will be spent on them.

“Once we have the strategy, it will be up to the Chief Constable to decide how best to deploy police resources and part of that will be to have people dealing with hare coursing if that is what he decides.

“But I think we can do something that’s a little more ambitious that the old Operation Galileo team, including heritage crime, fuel thefts and everything else.”

Mr Jones hopes the strategy will be ready in time for a meeting of senior police officers, farmers and NFU members planned for Boston in June.

It is a repeat of a meeting at Boston West Golf Club in February when Bill Skelly, Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police, met county farmers for the first time.

After the meeting, Mr Skelly said: “I sympathise with members of the farming community, understand their frustration and accept this is damaging their livelihood.

“It isn’t acceptable and I am taking this matter very seriously.

“We have already committed more officers to tackling this, we will look at the way we gather information and use it, also considering how we collaborate with other forces and also explore new technologies.

“We may not stop the problem completely but I am confident farmers will see a change for the better in the near future.”

The new Rural Policing Strategy was welcomed by John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, who said: “I had a very positive meeting with the PCC recently, discussing a range of issues around rural crime.

“In particular, this relates to hare coursing and I made it very clear that we needed to do something decisive about the circumstances surrounding it as it has reached unprecedented proportions in the last five years.

“The Commissioner is quite keen to tackle this and take steps in the form of a Rural Policing Strategy.”

You could be forgiven for thinking these photographs were taken by a professional with years of experience – but you would be wrong.

Each and every shot was taken by talented Poppy Jones, 10.

Poppy lives with her family in Great Gonerby.

Proud mum Emma shared the pictures and said: “She just sees a picture opportunity and takes it.”

* Send in your fabulous photos. Email them to comment@granthamjournal.co.uk

The funeral service of a clergyman who wrote a column in the Journal every week for 26 years has taken place in Grantham.

Father Norton Harvey Collard died at the age of 94 on March 17. His funeral service took place on Tuesday at St Anne’s Church, where he was vicar of the parish from 1970 to 1987.

On Wednesday he was taken to Gravesend, where his wish to be buried with his parents was fulfilled.

Fr Collard wrote a column called Thoughtful Moment for the Journal from 1985. He never missed a week of writing the column, until he fell ill in 2011 when he suffered a stroke. He still managed to write a few more columns from his hospital bed.

At Tuesday’s service, Fr Collard’s son, Harvey, gave the eulogy in which he told the congregation of 140 people about his father’s illustrious past in London.

Before becoming a priest, Fr Collard worked in the advertising industry and was a pioneer of television advertising. He wrote only the third ever advert for TV, for Country Life butter, and also penned some memorable advertising slogans including ‘Don’t say bread, say Hovis’ and ‘Esso – put a tiger in your tank’.

Fr Collard appeared in some TV advertisements himself and was a keen amateur actor, playwright, and 
director with the Erith Theatre Guild. He had an Equity card and always had a love of film and the theatre.

Harvey told the Journal: “He was a writer, producer, director and almost everything in those days. I still have all the newspaper clippings with the reviews of his plays and the photos. It was this that brought him to the attention of the executives at ITV and he became involved in investigating the possibility of advertising in TV.

“It was nice in a way to see that many people at the service had no idea he had led that kind of life before he gave it up to join the clergy.”

Harvey described his father as a ‘tidy hoarder’. Fr Collard kept all his old scripts, plays, photos, billboard posters and newspaper reviews in a filing cabinet which would later be joined by his sermons and Journal columns.

Harvey, who is a former King’s School boy, said his father was ‘old school’ and would always dress properly and never missed a deadline for his Journal column. “I think that goes back to his advertising days when he had deadlines,” he said. “But he was early for everything. He was that kind of character.”

Fr Collard served in the RAF in Egypt during the war when he got involved in shows.

He married Rosemary at the age of 42 and they had three children, Harvey, Suzanne and Louise.

In his sermon Harvey said: “A huge change in his life came about in 1963 when he gave up his successful career in London and his amateur dramatics to enter the priesthood. There was no particular one thing that made him do this, just a series of events – he always said that he knew it was just something he needed to do.

“Theological College in Rochester was followed by curacies in Swanley and Dartford, before being offered the parish of St Anne’s here in Grantham which was to be his one and only living.

“He loved this church, this parish and this town, and served them all so wonderfully until his retirement in 1987.”

In retirement, Fr Collard still served the church, looking after the Harlaxton group of parishes and also St Wulfram’s whenever he was needed. He also helped at St Mary’s in Stamford and was chaplain to the Royal Corps of Transport at the Prince William of Gloucester Barracks in Grantham.

Fr Collard suffered a stroke in 2011, but after a spell in hospital he was able to return to his home in Kenwick Drive.

But he missed many things he was able to do before his stroke, such as play the piano, drive his car, write and socialise.

But his pastoral care 
continued and he would regularly phone parishioners, often from his kitchen table, when it was a birthday or a wedding or bereavement anniversary.

Harvey added in his eulogy: “He touched the hearts of so many, and was of course a loving dad to the three of us and grandad to his five grandsons and one granddaughter.”