A 17-year-old girl was killed in an accident at around 8.15am today when a blue Vauxhall Corsa with four passengers on board was in collision with a heavy goods vehicle on the slip road leading from Long Bennington to the southbound carriageway of the A1.

The female passenger in the Corsa was pronounced dead at the scene. The 18-year-old driver was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, with arm and other injuries which are not believed life-threatening. Two other females in the car were not seriously injured.

The Corsa and its passengers are believed to be local to the area. The driver of the Scania HGV, aged 52 from the Grimsby area, is not thought to be injured. Local diversions are in place.

Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact Lincolnshire Police via the Collision Witness Hotline - 01522 558855.

This is the sixth death on the roads of Lincolnshire in 2013 compared to four over the same period in 2012 when the full year total was 39.

A new ministerial team has been appointed to the Seventh Day Adventist Church on Dudley Road, Grantham.

Pastor Solon Kyriacou and his wife Dee along with their two adult sons, Louis and Johann, hope to relocate from Hull to Grantham as soon as possible.

Brought up as an atheist, Pastor Kyriacou became a Christian in his late twenties. In 1999, he left his job as a housing officer in Derby to take BA and MA degrees in Pastoral ministry. He was ordained in 2008.

He has previously worked as a Pastor in Nottingham, Leicester and Humberside. His assistant, Sam Gardner, is a trainee pastor. Mr Gardner has already moved to Grantham from Berkshire where he completed an MA in Theology. His wife, Roxan, will join him soon and their son, Jemaule, began attending Dudley House School in January. Mr Gardner and his family have their roots into the island of Antigua, although he lived in Leicester for some years.

The headteacher of Kesteven and Grantham Girls’ School has paid tribute to a “greatly loved” pupil who tragically died today in a crash on the A1 at Long Bennington.

Emily Challen, a Sixth-Form pupil at the school, was one of four KGGS pupils in the car when the crash occurred at 8.45am this morning.

Headteacher Graham Burks said: “A tragic accident occurred this morning involving four of our students whilst travelling to school.

“We believe one of the girls sustained a broken wrist, two were largely unharmed but, tragically, one did not survive.

“Emily Challen of Year 13 has been taken from us.”

Mr Burks has hailed Emily as an “iconic figure” who the whole school looked up to.

He added: “The school community is devastated. Emily was one of our House Captains, an iconic figure the girls admired and aspired to be like.

“She was very bright, very kind, a true leader amongst our students, and a truly beautiful young person. We were all immensely proud of her. She was greatly loved throughout the school community.

“Our thoughts go out to her family and friends.”

Grantham Town this week announced the arrival of two more additions to its board of directors.

The recruitment of two Bottesford-based retired professionals – Michael Bird and Chris Farmer – was seen as an exciting move at the club when the official announcement was made at The Meres stadium on Tuesday evening.

Mr Bird, a former senior partner of Grantham solicitors Bird & Co, rejoins the club as board director and legal advisor.

Mr Farmer was formerly the chief executive of South Kesteven District Council and joins the board as financial advisor and treasurer.

Club chairman Peter Railton said the pair had volunteered their services and were definitely seen as an asset to the club, and would also be getting involved in the proposed youth academy set-up.

Mr Railton said: “They see what we are trying to do with the club and the community and would like to put their resources into the club.

“Things are moving so fast at the club, we need some expertise.”

Mr Bird was previously involved with the Gingerbreads when he was club president between 1998-9 and 2003-3 – a turbulent time for the club when supporters came to the rescue after debts of £460,000 were revealed.

Mr Bird said: “Those were tough and anxious times, but we learned from them. The club must move forward by broadening its base in the local community, and never again going into debt.

“There are exciting plans afoot to take the club to new levels, and I hope to play an active role.

“I am delighted to join such a dedicated, experienced and enthusiastic team.”

Mr Farmer was involved in the setting up of The Meres stadium complex, and club chairman Mr Railton welcomed him on to the board.

Mr Railton said: “Chris has a vast wealth of knowledge and technical expertise upon which we hope to draw. He has valuable current experience of sport finance through his cricket work.”

Mr Farmer is the current national treasurer of the Minor Counties Cricket Association and chief executive of Lincolnshire County Cricket Club.

He said that his wife Nicola had been instrumental in his decision to step forward to help the Gingerbreads.

Mr Farmer said: “I have been persuaded by my wife who grew up in the town and is a long-standing supporter of the club.

“I greatly look forward to helping with business development.”

Club chairman Peter Railton (second from left) welcomes Michael Bird (left), Nicola Farmer and Chris Farmer to the Grantham Town boardroom.

Grantham Town this week announced the arrival of two more additions to its board of directors.

The recruitment of two Bottesford-based retired professionals – Michael Bird and Chris Farmer – was seen as an exciting move at the club when the official announcement was made at The Meres stadium on Tuesday evening.

Mr Bird, a former senior partner of Grantham solicitors Bird & Co, rejoins the club as board director and legal advisor.

Mr Farmer was formerly the chief executive of South Kesteven District Council and joins the board as financial advisor and treasurer.

Club chairman Peter Railton said the pair had volunteered their services and were definitely seen as an asset to the club, and would also be getting involved in the proposed youth academy set-up.

Mr Railton said: “They see what we are trying to do with the club and the community and would like to put their resources into the club.

“Things are moving so fast at the club, we need some expertise.”

Mr Bird was previously involved with the Gingerbreads when he was club president between 1998-9 and 2003-3 – a turbulent time for the club when supporters came to the rescue after debts of £460,000 were revealed.

Mr Bird said: “Those were tough and anxious times, but we learned from them. The club must move forward by broadening its base in the local community, and never again going into debt.

“There are exciting plans afoot to take the club to new levels, and I hope to play an active role.

“I am delighted to join such a dedicated, experienced and enthusiastic team.”

Mr Farmer was involved in the setting up of The Meres stadium complex, and club chairman Mr Railton welcomed him on to the board.

Mr Railton said: “Chris has a vast wealth of knowledge and technical expertise upon which we hope to draw. He has valuable current experience of sport finance through his cricket work.”

Mr Farmer is the current national treasurer of the Minor Counties Cricket Association and chief executive of Lincolnshire County Cricket Club.

He said that his wife Nicola had been instrumental in his decision to step forward to help the Gingerbreads.

Mr Farmer said: “I have been persuaded by my wife who grew up in the town and is a long-standing supporter of the club.

“I greatly look forward to helping with business development.”

Grantham & District Sunday League

Ropsley 1

Springfield AFC 0

Ropsley continued their excellent start to 2013 with a confidence-inspiring victory at home to promotion chasers Springfield AFC.

Springfield created the first real chance of the game but the shot was turned over by keeper Neil Graham.

Ropsley took the lead mid-way through the half when lone striker Loz Fiorentino took a pass from Chris Greenaway and beat his marker.

Fiorentino carried the ball 20 yards down the right flank before cutting inside and hitting his shot off the foot of the post. The ball rolled across the goal line before it was prodded home by Paul McAllister.

Ropsley’s Tom Parrish almost made it 2-0 in the second-half but a good stop by the Springfield keeper made the final minutes of the game tense for the home side.

The result means Grantham TRE have some breathing room at the top of the league.

Newark Alliance

Division One

Laxton 3

Barkestone le Vale 4

Barkestone fought back from two goals down at half time to record at tremendous victory in the rain at Laxton.

The first half saw the home side fail to make the most of numerous chances, and they paid the price as Laxton hit them on the break time and again and found the net twice to hold the advantage at the break.

In the second half, Barkestone took complete control of the game, with Simon Hollingsworth and Craig Moore dominating midfield and Sam Garner continually causing the Laxton defence problems.

It was Garner who scored Barkestone’s first goal and Hollingsworth soon followed with the equaliser.

Chances continued to be created with ease by Barkestone who were now playing with confidence and it was man-of-the -match Jake Hutchinson who rose highest to plant a firm header home from a corner for the third goal.

Garner latched on to a defence-splitting pass from Hollingsworth to finish neatly for the home side’s fourth.

Laxton scored a late late third but it was Barkestone who left with all three points.

SATURDAY

Football

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Hednesford Town v Grantham Town (3pm).

ChromaSport United Counties League

Division One – Harrowby United v Olney Town (3pm).

Grantham & District Saturday League

Division One – Bottesford Reserves v Caythorpe, Rippingale & Folkingham v Croxton AFC.

Grantham Hospital Charity Cup – AFC Ancaster v AFC Three Gables, CK Dons v White Swan Barrowby, Cranmer Arms v Bottesford, White Horse Sleaford v Greyhounders.

Rugby

Midlands League 3

East (North) – Kesteven v Ashby.

Notts Pennant League

Group 2 – Matlock 3rd v Kesteven 2nd.

Lincs Merit League

Boston 2nd v Kesteven 3rd.

Hockey

St Ives 4th v Grantham, Grantham Ladies v Louth Ladies 2nd.

SUNDAY

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – Witham Wanderers v Lions.

Division One – Rippingale v Totemic.

Charity Shield – Ancaster Rams v FC Osbournby Rangers, Aslockton Cranmers FC v Ropsley, Long Bennington v AFC Sleaford United, Ropsley Fox v Grantham United TRE, Three Gables Sunday v Helpringham Rovers.

FOOTBALL RESULTS

Evo-Stik Northern Premier League

Premier Division – Grantham Town 3 Kendal Town 4.

Grantham & District Saturday League

Premier Division – Greyhounders 4 Cranmer Arms 3.

Division One – Rippingale & Folkingham 2 AFC Three Gables 5.

Memorial Cup – Bottesford 0 Buckminster United 1, Croxton AFC 0 White Horse Sleaford 5, Harrowby Reserves 0 White Swan Barrowby 6.

Grantham & District Sunday League

Premier Division – Ruskington 1 Witham Wanderers 3, Thurlby United 4 Ancaster Rams 1.

Division One – Grantham United TRE 3 Nobody Athletic 1, Long Bennington 4 Aslockton Cranmers 2, Ropsley 1 Springfield AFC 0.

Two sportshall athletics matches for large primary schools were held at The Meres leisure centre last Monday and seven days previous.

Six schools competed in the events organised by Grantham Athletic Club. Young sports ambassadors from Inspire Plus helped to officiate the competition.

Presentations were made by Caroline and Ian Richards who coach at Grantham AC.

Cliffedale Primary School were winners in all four sections. St Mary’s were runners-up in the Year 5 boys’ and Year 6 girls’. West Grantham Academy (Earl of Dysart) took the runners-up spot in the Year 5 girls’, with Isaac Newton finishing second in the Year 6 boys’.

Competitions for small schools will be held on February 25 and March 11.

Overall team results, Year 5 girls - 1 Cliffedale, 2 West Grantham Adademy, 3 National, 4 St Mary’s, 5 Isaac Newton, 6 Gonerby Hill Foot; Year 5 boys - 1 Cliffedale, 2 St Mary’s, 3 Isaac Newton, 4 National, 5 Gonerby Hill Foot, 6 West Grantham Academy; Year 6 girls - 1 Cliffedale, 2 St Mary’s, 3 National, 4 Isaac Newton, 5 Gonerby Hill Foot, 6 West Grantham Academy; Year 6 boys - 1 Cliffedale, 2 Isaac Newton, 3 National, 4 Gonerby Hill Foot, 5 St Mary’s, 6 West Grantham Academy.

Match two results: Year 5 boys, 2 lap A - 1 E.-M. Pundy (SM), 2 D. Banjo (C), 3 J. Corby (N); 2 lap B - 1 J. Crane (GHF), 2 S. Mullery (N), 3 H. Mufti (C); 4 lap A - 1 K. Celic (C), 2 O. Devine (N), 3 R. Wade (SM); 4 lap B - 1 N. Birkby (SM), 2 K. Lee (IN), 3 B. Wilkins (WGA); vertical jump - 1 J. Crane (GHF), 2 N. Birkby (SM), 3 J. Cant (C); long jump - 1 E.-M. Pundy (SM), 2 K. Celic (C), 3 Milosz (IN); speed bounce A - 1 D. Banjo (C), 2 J. McDonald (IN), 3 S. Mullery (N); speed bounce B - 1 H. Mufti (C), 2 K. Lee (IN), 3 R. Wade (SM).

Year 5 girls, 2 lap A - 1 F. Hoe (C), 2 R. Scanlon (SM), 3 V. Woods (N); 2 lap B - 1 L. Sentence (WGA), 2 L. Hobbs (C), 3 E. Drake (N); 4 lap A - 1 H. Smith (WGA), 2 M. Cook (N), 3 I. Lee (C); 4 lap B - K. Tyers (WGA), 2 B. Ferguson (C), 3 O. Taylor (SM); vertical jump - 1 B. Ferguson (C), 2 E. Morgan (IN), 3 C. Whysall (SM); long jump - 1 S. Page (WGA), 2 F. Hoe (C), 3 V. Woods (N); speed bounce A - 1 I. Lee (C), 2 H. Smith (WGA), 3 J. Costello-Smith (N); speed bounce B - 1 L. Hobbs (C), 2 K. Tyers (WGA), 3 E. Drake (N).

Year 6 boys, 2 lap A - 1 C. Sharman (IN), 2 J. Swann (N), 3 J. Down (C); 2 lap B - 1 C. Doig (N), 2 D. Bickmore (C), 3 Gustavo (IN); 4 lap A - 1 O. Hands (C), 2 N. McNally (GHF), 3 S. Edwards (N); 4 lap B - 1 E. Harrison (GHF), 2 K. Lake (IN), 3 M. Hardy (C); vertical jump 1 Gustavo (IN), 2 J. Down (C), 3 J. Swann (N); long jump - 1 D. Bickmore (C), 2 T. Duffett (IN), A. Tonge (GHF); speed bounce A - 1 O. Hands (C), 2 S. Edwards (N), 3 A. Kimpski (SM); speed bounce B - 1 M. Hardy (C), 2 K. Lake (IN), 3 D. Foister (WGA).

Year 6 girls, 2 lap A - 1 M. Durodola (N), 2 S. Taylor (C), 3 A. Whitehead (WGA); 2 lap B - 1 S. Tarver (WGA), 2 J. Morrison (N), 3 A. Bond (C); 4 lap A - 1 P. Richards-Cole (C), S. Brook (GHF), 3 Atene (IN); 4 lap B - 1 J. Kerr (GHF), 2 M. Harby (C), L. Reddish (SM); vertical jump - 1 Atene (IN), 2 A. Bond (C), 3 E. Gilbert (SM); long jump - 1 S. Armstrong (SM), 2 S. Taylor (C), 3 M. Jackson (IN); speed bounce A - 1 P. Richards-Cole (C), 2 A. Smith (WGA), 3 L. Reddish (SM); speed bounce B - 1 M. Harby (C), 2 B. O’Boyle (SM), 3 A. Jordan-Singh (IN).

The Colsterworth Festival of Performing Arts started yesterday with the dance section taking place over five days at Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen.

The festival will continue on March 1 with the schools’ competition, which showcases choral speaking, musical ensembles, drama and dance for children, during school hours at The Meres leisure centre. Music will take pride of place on March 2 at the Colsterworth Methodist Church and School, and drama is also in the spotlight on March 2 in the Isaac Newton Memorial Hall in Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth. Spectators are welcome. An entry fee is applicable. For more details go to www.colsterworthfestival.co.uk

The Grantham Conservative Club hosts the Matt Chandler Trio for the first time on Thursday, February 21.

Matt Chandler is a versatile guitarist with a diverse career spanning punk, jazz, electro, rock and folk. The trio is completed by Jeff Pearson on bass and Ian Beestin on drums.

Matt is a rising star of the UK and European jazz scene. His jazz credentials are 
impressive. In addition to his first CD ‘After Midnight’, he has played Manchester and Newark jazz festivals. He has been popular with audiences for his the accessibility and variety of his playing. Doors open at 7pm with the show on from 8.30pm to 11pm. It costs £10 for members and £12 non-members.

King’s School first XV have been disqualified from the Daily Mail RBS Under-18 Vase competition for fielding an underage player.

King’s qualified for the quarter-finals for the first time in the school’s history after they beat Ashbourne Grammar last week.

Ashbourne’s head of rugby noticed an anomaly in the Grantham school’s player dates of birth and lodged a complaint with the RFU.

They overturned the result and threw King’s out of the competition.

New King’s head of rugby Cathal McHugh said his predecessor Jim Scott had checked the rules at the start of the season and there should not have been a problem. The rules, he said, appeared to have changed since.

Mr McHugh travelled to London this week with the under-16 prop and his father to appeal to the RFU.

Mr McHugh said they did not even see anyone from the RFU and faced a lawyer instead, who ruled that Ashbourne’s complaint was valid. The appeal cost £100.

Mr McHugh said: “The RFU took the stance that we’d broken the rules. It’s disgusting. Twenty-two boys are now heart-broken.

“Their [Ashbourne’s] head of rugby has been shown to be a bad loser.

“We didn’t knowingly break the law. We could have got further. We could have got to the
final at Twickenham.”

The Gingerbreads are likely to travel to Hednesdford Town today (Saturday) with their new striker on board.

Former Alfreton, Eastwood and Hucknall front man T. J. Nightingale was signed from Spalding United this week.

Grantham Town’s joint manager Ian Robinson said Nightingale was a big signing for the club: “He will not only bring us experience up front, but his strength will worry defenders.

“He will give our attacking options a good focus.”

The MMG East Midlands Battle of the Bands returns to Grantham this year for two rounds of the competition.

The Atrium in High Street will host the first round 1 heat on April 18 and also a round 2 battle on May 23.

The 2013 event will take place across Grantham, Stamford, Derby, Newark, Coalville, Nottingham and Lincoln.

The prizes on offer for the event are designed to support new talent and accelerate the development of the artist. These include recording time, merchandise packages, tours, festival dates and a place on the MMG BOTB UK final held at Marshall amplifications HQ in 2014.

MMG has taken bands right through from their first show to London headline slots, festival performances and achieving their first record deal. Bands have gained exposure in a wide range of regions through radio, press and online.

Throughout the round 1 and round 2 heats the crowd are the judges for the night. MMG will also select two bands from all of the bands in round 1 to go through to the second round. The final will be judged by a panel consisting of media groups, radio, MMG and Marshall.

To get an entry form email entry@mmgevents.co.uk with the subject ‘EAST MIDS’

The final of the competition will be held at The Shed in Leicester on July 27.

The East Midlands Schools Gymnastics championships were held at Stamford. Winning teams in each group qualify through to the National Finals in May.

As usual, several Grantham schools were competing but with changes to the age group rules this year and an updated judging system, the competition was less predictable than normal.

King’s School successfully won the under-14 team title, performing consistently on the vault and with improved routines on the floor. Priory Ruskin Academy also vaulted well and placed second.

St Mary’s and Cliffedale competed in the under-11 age group in the mixed and girls’ events respectively. Both had tough competition from Stamford Junior School but performed well, with several new members competing at this level for the first time. They each took well-deserved runners-up spots.

It was a good rehearsal for the Cliffedale girls – Freya Hoe, Cherry Clark, Molly Harby, Eleanor Squires and Phoebe Richards-Cole – who on the following day also went on to win the Lincolnshire Primary Schools Under-11 Championships.

Walton, Priory Ruskin and KGGS all performed in the under-14 and under-19 team events. KGGS were less than two marks behind the winners, Stamford, in the under-14 girls, with Walton coming a close third and Priory Ruskin fifth. In the under-19 girls’, Walton and KGGS reversed positions. Both schools performed very well on the vault, with Walton finishing fourth and KGGS fifth. In the under-19 mixed competition, Priory Ruskin took first place overall, retaining their title from last year.

There were also some highly placed individual performances on the day. In the youngest age group, Freya Hoe (Cliffedale) took three place in the under-11 girls and Kyle Davidson (St Mary’s) was fourth in the boys’.

King’s took the top four places in the under-14 boys’ event with Jacob Armstrong, Daniel Watson, Cameron Chow and Ryan Poole. And KGGS took second place with Megan Stott in the girls’ event. In the senior under-19 age group, Anthony Matthews (Priory Ruskin) won the boys’ event and Imogen Gregory (Walton) was third in the girls’ category.

Babies as young as just a few weeks old are now taking part in multi-award winning swimming lessons at the Ramada Hotel in Grantham.

The Water Babies programme, run by Charlie and Chris Craven, is designed to make the most of babies’ natural affinity with water, teaching confidence and safety using specialist techniques. Charlie and Chris were first introduced to the delights of baby swimming when they attended classes with their son, Luke.

Charlie said: “From the word go, we all absolutely loved the sessions. They were the highlight of our week, and made what was already a very special time absolutely perfect.”

In fact, Charlie loved the lessons so much that she left her career in communications and retrained as a Water Babies teacher. Less than three years later, she and Chris decided to start running lessons across the Leicestershire area. Charlie says: “The lessons provide such a special bonding time and it’s been amazing meeting some wonderful families throughout Leicestershire. We think there must be something in the water as we now have four sets of twins swimming with us! There is a huge sense of achievement seeing what the babies can do from so young and they clearly love the sense of freedom that being in water provides.”

Chris added: “With progressive training, babies can be taught lifesaving skills very early on, such as turning onto their backs or swimming to the nearest solid object following a sudden submersion. It’s fantastic what skills 
children can learn at such a young age, and it’s vital that they do.”

Water Babies classes first class took place in Grantham this month. For more information call Chris or Charlie on 01664 567302, or visit www.waterbabies.co.uk

The National Trust’s Woolsthorpe Manor has opened its doors early to visitors in time for half-term.

Last year the 17th-century birthplace of Sir Isaac Newton had its best year yet, with nearly 34,000 visitors.

Custodian Jannette Warrener said: “We’re opening even earlier this year for half-term, and our first event will be a stargazing evening on Friday, February 22. Bookings for this are going really well, so if you want to come you need to let us know as soon as possible.”

February visitors to Woolsthorpe will be able to see snowdrops in the orchards and also find out about the way Isaac’s mother Hannah Newton might have lived with a ‘diary entry’ created by Woolsthorpe’s Conservation Manager, Margaret Winn, pictured with costumed volunteer Rebecca Mehew.

The Manor House, Science Discovery Centre and grounds are open from 11am to 3pm but closed on Mondays and Tuesdays until March 24. They are open every day from March 25, 11am-5pm, (Manor House closed on Tuesdays).

Find out more about Woolsthorpe Manor, including details of events, at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/woolsthorpe or call Ann Moynihan on 01476 860338 (x100).

The Grantham Singers are celebrating their Diamond Jubilee with a Grand Gala Concert next month.

It will be a celebration of all things Gilbert and Sullivan. The concert will feature a full-length, semi-staged ‘Trial by Jury’ in the first half.

The one-act opera is based on a courtroom where Angelina, a beautiful but spurned bride, is suing her would-be groom, Edwin, for breach of promise. Featuring a host of characters including a large-than-life judge and a troop of bridesmaids, this show contains well-known songs such as ‘When I Good Friends Was Called to the Bar’ and ‘When First My Old, Old Love I Knew’.

The second half of the evening is a gala concert of a wide selection of Gilbert and Sullivan favourites. This will include numbers from the popular operettes HMS Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance and The Mikado.

There will be a host of talented local soloists, under the baton of musical director Elaine Bishop.

The celebration takes place at the Guildhall Arts Centre on Friday and Saturday, March 1 and 2, at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £9 (£8 concessions) and are availble from the box office on 01476 406158 or go to www.guildhall
artscentre.com

For more information visit the group’s website at www.thegranthamsingers.com Pictured are the Singers in rehearsals for their Gala.

Wreck-It Ralph (PG)

This animated feature cannot fail to be a hit with youngsters. It is funny and entertaining but, most of all, every character comes out of an arcade game.

Ralph has been in one of these games for 30 years and is tired of being the bad guy so sets out to be the hero. He sneaks into a shooter game in the arcade to try and win a medal but it all goes wrong and chaos ensues. Then he must redeem himself to become the real hero.

Walt Disney have made a hit by including all the necessary ingredients - there’s plenty of fun, sentimentality, good and evil characters, and, of course, a happy ending.

The characters look old-fashioned but then we are talking arcade games and not the latest in computer graphics. Ralph himself is a nine-foot tall ‘wrecking ball’ who gains our sympathy from the start when he is sat with a group of other arcade characters, as if in an alcoholics anonymous meeting, and confesses: ‘it becomes kinda hard to love your job... when no one else seems to like you for doing it.’

People opposed to the proposal to close Charles Read Academy in Corby Glen showed their anger at a packed public meeting with Grantham and Stamford MP Nick Boles on Friday night.

Much of their anger was directed at the CEO of the West Grantham Academies Trust, Trudy Brothwell, and the Trust management who want to close Charles Read and transfer its 230 pupils to St Hugh’s Academy in Grantham. Consultation on the closure continues until March 28, after which the decision whether or not to close the school will be made in the Department of Education.

Mr Boles addressed the meeting at Corby Glen Methodist Chapel and was joined by Lincolnshire County Council leader Martin Hill, parish council chairman Steve Honeywood and District Councillor Nick Robins.

Mr Boles said there was still hope that the school could be saved and that every effort should be made to put forward a good case before the end of the consultation period. He told the meeting: “I accept this is deeply painful and distressing for most of you. You must have a pretty good argument as to why the school has a future. I can make the case strongly, but ultimately it is not my decision to make.”

Mr Boles said there were a number of options which could see the school stay open. He said another academies trust could take over the school or a free school could be set up by parents or local groups, but there would have to be sufficient numbers attending the school to make it financially viable.

Mrs Brothwell was accused of neglecting Charles Read in favour of St Hugh’s. The Rev Margaret Barton, a former vice-chairman of governors at Charles Read, said the actions of the trust were a form of ‘asset-stripping’. She said: “The CEO is trying to stop this school to keep her favoured school going. It was a vibrant, happy school. The teachers were a marvellous team. Then it went down like a stone when it became part of the federation and an academy.”

The county council quickly came out to oppose the proposal when the Trust announced its plan to close the school. Coun Hill told the meeting there was ‘light at the end of the tunnel’. He said: “It’s obvious the school should not close for various reasons, but we need to do something quickly to make sure this does not happen.”

Elly Spilberg, who has a child at Charles Read and who works for the Pupils Referral Service in Cambridgeshire, said she feared a rise in truancy and petty crime rates if children were moved to St Hugh’s. She said: “My concern is for the students who I think will drop out of the system. I think there is going to be a lot of children voting with their feet when faced with 10 hours on a bus every week.”

Other parents voiced their fears over sending their children over a much greater distance to Grantham and to a much larger school than Charles Read. Coun Hill said parents were faced with a Hobson’s choice because schools in Bourne and surrounding areas were full or almost full, leaving parents with little option but to send their children to St Hugh’s if Charles Read closes.

A Grantham boxer is to have his next fight televised live on a Saturday night.

Ben Croft’s is scheduled to make his semi-professional debut in Ross Minter’s Queensberry Boxing League in a Eurosport televised bout on March 16.

The six-foot 23-year-old will take on 5ft 7in ex-professional super-middleweight Danny Gwilym at Epsom Downs Racecourse.

Ben started boxing as a youngster some 12 years ago with Grantham Amateur Boxing Club. He trains full time at Sheffield and Newark, where he has a one-on-one coach.

His current training regime includes hill sprints, sparring, pad work, bag work, weights and general strength and conditioning.

Ben is officially fighting out of the Juggernaut Gym at Epsom and had his last bout in August. He said: “This is the next step up to becoming a professional.”