News in Rutland, Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings in years gone by

Two couples have praised firefighters, neighbours and passers-by for helping in two fire dramas in Stamford.

Sandra and Ian I’Anson’s BMW burst into flames in North Street car park on Friday last week.

Council workers rushed to help and the fire service were there in minutes.

And on Saturday newly-weds Rob and Perinne Harding had a fire at the back of their home in Vine Street.

Fortunately no-one was injured in either incident, but both couples were left shocked.

They thanked people and the fire service for their help and quick response.

Operators of a motocross track are applying for planning permission to expand the number of events they can run.

Clyde Thompson, the owner of Enduro UK motocross track between Witham-on-the-Hill and Castle Bytham, is applying for retrospective planning permission for change of use for the site along with the retention of portable buildings and earthworks.

The application also includes expanding the use of the track for 24 events during a 12-month period. It will be considered by South Kesteven District Council in October.

Mr Thompson said: “We only use the track once a month for motocross and it seems a shame that there is a track sitting dormant for the rest of the month.”

Forty new jobs could be created as part of a care home refurbishment.

Country Court Care has applied to demolish part of Tallington Care Home in Main Street, Tallington, construct new accommodation and make significant improvements to the remaining buildings.

The company wants to bring the home up to modern standards and improve the kind of care on offer, while increasing the number of residents it can cater for.

The firm currently employs about 40 staff at the home and estimates that number would double if the revamp were approved.

Country Court Care managing director, Alykhan Kachra, said: “This is a very popular home with a waiting list but we believe that long term we want to improve its quality.

“More and more people are going into care with two needs – dementia and high level nursing care.

“We can only offer dementia care at the moment.

“It’s never nice for a resident to develop further needs and have to move.

“We want people to come to us and know that however their needs develop they can stay in the same home.”

The home currently comprises a three-storey house split into single and double rooms, a two-storey building to the rear and a single-storey wing to the front, both with further bedrooms and other facilities.

The site also includes two large houses which are currently unoccupied.

The firm wants to reorganise the layout of the main house to provide larger rooms, demolish and rebuild the front wing, take down the two unused houses and replace them with a new building with bedrooms and care facilities.

25 years ago

September 12, 1997

The Deepings School has given a life-line to primary schools in the area by continuing free swimming lessons until April.

The school has been forced to find £8,000 to allow free instruction to continue for the rest of the financial year, after the lessons became a victim of Lincolnshire County Council cash savings.

Deepings School headteacher Dr David Bryars said: “In the past, swimming instruction came with the use of the leisure centre – the Deepings School had access during the day, and this access was shared with primary schools.

“The difficulty is that the decision to end free instruction was taken in the middle of the financial year, and as a result the primary schools will not be asked to contribute anything.

“We will be paying something in the region of £8,000 for continuity of service with a review required for next April.

“The cash has come out of the school contingency budget which means money will not be available for something else.”

Protestors fighting to close the Swaddywell Pit motor showground, near Helpston, are celebrating after Peterborough city councillors decided the site could not be used for future motoring events.

Ignoring the advice of planning officers, councillors rejected a temporary events licence application by owners Brian Burrows and Brett Bawksbee, claiming their development was detrimental to the local environment.

Ian Glew, co-ordinator of the Ufford Action Group, which has been fighting the development, said: “We are delighted with the verdict, but it is not over by any means. We may have won the battle, but we certainly have not won the war. It won’t be over until they pack up and go for good.”

Mr Burrows claims he was not planning to hold any more events this year anyway, and believes the council has blundered.

He plans to appeal to the Department of the Environment and said: “The council could have granted me the licence and included stringent conditions, but now it will go to the Secretary of State and I’m confident I will be granted a long term licence.

“I am not going away, and even if I lose the appeal next year I would be allowed to have 28 days of events, providing I take the buildings off the site.”

The top stars of European equestrian sport began to descend on Stamford this week for the 1997 Pedigree Chum Burghley Horse Trials.

Internationally renowned stars such as Mark Todd, William Fox-Pitt and Mary King have been joined by dozens of riders from countries such as Australia, Germany, the USA and even Bermuda.

And this year there is even more at stake than usual, as Burghley hosts the European Open, with both continental team and individual championships up for grabs.

The dressage competition is already underway, having begun yesterday, and will continue today. But tomorrow, when riders and horses tackle a gruelling cross country course, is traditionally the highlight of the four-day event.

Thousands of people are expected to travel to the stately home to watch the speed and endurance test and, of course, to enjoy a leisurely stroll around the many exclusive shopping stands which will be set up at the centre of the course.

Dog owners are encouraged by Pedigree Chum to bring along their pets, as there will be plenty for both dog and owner to do.

The pet food company will be running dog agility classes, with a Fun Agility Challenge for the more ambitious pups.

50 years ago

September 15, 1972

It now seems almost certain that none of the Ugandan Asian refugees will be coming to the Stamford area.

The town’s General Purposes Committee are recommending the Borough Council to take no action over a “can you help” circular from the Uganda Resettle ment Board.

Stamford’s Mayor, Coun Alex Brodie, explained the situation to the Mercury this week.

He said: “As it is we have people in the town waiting two or three years to get a council house.

“If we were to make an offer to the Ugandan Asians, it would mean deliberate queue-jumping and obviously some of the people on the waiting list would not be happy.”

The Town Clerk, Mr Harold Bedford, said the circular to local authorities was not pleading for help. It merely asked if councils were in a position to help.

Work was back to normal at the Tallington concrete works Dow-Mac this week – despite Friday’s row over ending the strike.

And talks aimed at reaching a new settlement over pay are continuing.

The decision to end the nine-day strike was made by a big majority at a factory gates meeting on Friday.

It came after the management had promised to back date any bonus increase to September 1.

But some of the 300 strikers, who had been pressing for a £2 across the board rise in bonuses, were angry at the back to work decision.

Some shouted, “We’ve been sold out” and one union official told the Mercury: “It makes you wonder whether the whole thing was worth it.

“We may as well have stay at work because the way I see it, we’ve earned nothing by striking.”

In a lively encounter during Bourne Urban Council meeting, on Tuesday, Coun Ray Cliffe accused the Council of not giving J. C. Firth (Refrigeration) Limited, of Bourne, a fair chance, after the company had made a dramatic recovery from its difficulties.

“Now that this firm has got its head above water, council is putting its big boot in,” Coun Cliffe said, “It is kicking this firm again.

“The receiver and manager has got out of Firth’s and the firm is being internally re-organised, I do not feel that the committee (public health) had the full facts before it. I move reference back.”

Coun Cliffe was supported by Coun Laurie Warner.

The discussion followed two of three trade effluent sampled taken from Firths being below standard.

Coun Percy Wilson, chairman of the public health committee expressed sorrow that this Firth’s matter was again before council. Council, he said, was keen to help the company, but efficiency of the town’s sewage system had to be protected.

“We are not gunning for Firths,” he continued, “this minute is absolutely essential for the public health committee and the public health department.

“We have a trade effluent agreement with the firm and if its effluent is not up to standard we can refuse it.

“If we permit Firths to overload the filters we shall have a breakdown of the filters.”

100 years ago

September 15, 1922

Football Club’s Dilemma – The Stamford Athletic Football Club have been placed in the unfortunate position of having no ground upon which to play their matches. Up to now they have used a field in Northfields, occupied by Mr. George Wheatley, who has received intimation from the Town Clerk, on behalf of the Corporation, to whom the field belongs, that it is contrary to the terms of the tenancy to sub-let the ground for football.

A Wedding Gift - Mr. A. Healey, for the past eight years a member of the head post-office staff at Stamford, was on Saturday presented by the indoor and outdoor postal staffs with a handsome silver cake-basket, to mark their felicitations on the occasion of his wedding to Miss E. A. Goodley, second daughter of the last Mr. Geo. Goodley and of Mrs Goodley, of 60, Conduit-road, Stamford. Mr. C. Rawbone, the postmaster, handed the gift to Mr. Healey. The marriage took place at All Saints’ church on Monday, the Vicar (Rev. E. Louis C. Clapton) officiating. Miss Alice Goodley, the bride’s sister, was the bridesmaid, and Mr. J. H. Healey, the bridegroom’s brother, acted as best man. The honeymoon is being spent at Brighton.

Racing Pigeons – The last race of the season promoted by the Stamford Homing Club was flown from York on Saturday, birds of any age competing. A fast race resulted as follows: Kemp and Clarke, velocity 1638and 1636 per minute; Hubbard and Jenks, 1635; Kemp and Clarke, 1633; Parker, 1631 and 1627; Hubbard and Jenks, 1627; Parker, 1617; Roberts, 1608.

Behind With The Rates – There was a meagre attendance at the meeting of the Board of Guardians on Monday, when the Marquess of Exeter presided. A satisfactory report by the Commissioner under the Mental Deficiency Acts, who had inspected the house, was received. The following parishes were reported to be in arrears with their calls: Clipsham, Easton, Ryhall, Tallington, Thornhaugh, Uffington, Ufford, and Wittering. In the case of Easton the Clerk stated that he had received complaints to the effect that the demand notes were not served until the middle of August. When the name of Wittering was read the Marquess of Exeter remarked “They are becoming a hardy annual,” and another member observed “It is a very poor parish.”

Bench Decline to Try Litte Girl

A case which had been twice previously adjourned came up at a children’s court on Wednesday. The charge was one of stealing a bicycle from Sarah Jackson, of Newtown. The magistrates present were Mr W. J. Bettle and Mr. R. Tidd, but when the defendant was called, a diminutive little girl, whose head was considerably below the dock rail, stepped forward. Her father said she was eight years of age.

In reply to the Bench, Insp. Sindall explained that after the information had been laid he communicated with headquarters, and in proceeding with the charge he was acting on instructions of his superior officers, who had not seen the little defendant.

The magistrates refused to hear the evidence and dismissed the case.

150 years ago

September 13, 1872

Stamford Union – The business at the Board meeting on Wednesday last was exceedingly light. The reports showed a diminution of paupers in the house to the extent of 13, the present number being only 117. Out-relief was given last week to 779, at a cost of £90 17s. 2d.; corresponding week of last year 813, at a cost of £9313s. 9½d. Vagrants relieved during the week 9. According to the medical officer’s return there was no increase of typhoid fever at West Deeping.

No. 3. Rock-terrace, Stamford, occupied by Mr. Hy. Peake, was this morning broken into, the family being out of town. A boy saw a man get over the garden wall, and shortly afterwards an alarm was raised, when the front door suddenly opened, and the thief ran down Scotgate and disappeared. We understand that Mr. Peake on his return home found that several drawers and boxes had been forced, but in his haste the thief only secured a few articles of comparatively small value.

On Tuesday a valuable horse, the property of Mr. Michelson, of Great Casterton, was stolen from a field. When the animal was missed Mr. Michelson and a Rutland policeman went to Grantham in pursuit of the thief, and there found him in custody, police-constables Bullimore and Pashley, of the county force, having seen the man with the horse at Barrowby, and apprehended him on suspicion of having stolen the animal. The prisoner, who gave the name of Reuben Hollis, and said he was a shoemaker at Nottingham, was handed over to the Rutland police.

A meeting of the Stamford Assessment Committee was held on Tuesday last: present, Lord Kesteven (in the chair), C. O. Eaton, Esq., Dr. Hopkinson, and Messrs, Lowe, Bromhead, Close, Paradise, and Wright. Among the appeals heard was one by the Great Northern Railway Company, for whom Mr. Cumming appeared, against the rating of the Company for the Essendine and Bourn Railway in the parish of Essendine. The Company had been rated by the parish officers at £500 per mile, and the Company contended that the assessment oughtn ot to be more than £75 per mile. Mr. Cumming argued that the gross earnings of the line did not excess £500 per mile, from which they were entitled to deduct 93 per cent. as working expenses, but they were willing to deduct 85 per cent. The parish officers had no data to substantiate their assessment, but Mr, North, the overseer, said the traffic had greatly increased since the line was connected with Spalding eastward and Sleaford northward. The committee reduced the assessment from £500 to £180 gross or £144 net, against which Mr. Cumming said he expected the directors of the Company would appeal to the quarter sessions. The decision in the Essendine case will probably govern the future assessments of the line in the parishes of Wilsthorpe and Braceborough. Mr. Eaton appealed against the amount of a new assessment of Tolethorpe Hall, and the assessment was considerably reduced.

Stamford Rifle Volunteers – The monthly challenge cup was shot for on Wednesday last; the ranges were 300 and 500 yards, five shots at each. The prize was carried off by sergt. Ratcliffe, who scored 30 points.

200 years ago

September 13, 1822

Gas Light.

Notice is hereby given,

That the Subscribers to the Plan for Lighting the towns of Stamford and Saint Martin’s (Stamford Baron) with Gas, are ready to receive Proposals from any person or persons who may be desirous of Contracting for the Erecting of the Buildings and Executing the Machinery and Works necessary for carrying the said intended plan into execution, which proposals must be delivered (in writing) at my office, on or before Tuesday the 1st day of October next.

Stamford, 2d Sept. 1822 J. Torkington.

On Saturday a poor itinerant woman was taken ill and died suddenly at Bridge Casterton, near this place. She was 82 years of age, called herself Betty Langley, and said she came from Corby, in Northamptonshire.

About two o’clock in the afternoon of Thursday the 5th inst. a fire broke out on the premises of Daniel Goodall, Esq. at Burton silk-mills, near Wellingborough, owing to a spark from the chimney of the engine alighting upon some thatched buildings. The flames spread with great rapidity, and consumed a chaise-house, waggon-hovel, and several other buildings, with between 40 and 50 loose looms, two gigs, a cart, a waggon, and a stack of about 20 tons of hay. The arrival of the fire-engines from Kettering, and the prompt and anxious assistance of Mr. Goodall’s neighbours, prevented further mischief; but had the wind blown in a different direction from that in which it fortunately did, the whole of the valuable premises must inevitably have been destroyed. As it was, the loss was limited to about £5000. Mr. Goodall had left home for London only three hours before the accident occurred.

On Monday se’nnight another fire took place, in the parish of Rushden, near Wellingborough, on the premises occupied by Mr. Stockley, farmer, and the property of --- Hill, Esq. A large quantity of grain, and other farming property, was consumed, to the amount of nearly £1,000. Examinations have since taken place before the magistrates at Wellingborough, on suspicion that the above conflagration was wilfully occasioned: the flames broke out about three o’clock in the morning, and were discovered in four or five different places at once. Nothing, however, has at present transpired to fix the felony on any particular individual.

On Friday last an inquest was held, before C. Mastin, Gent. coroner, on the body of Mr. James Bee, farmer and publican, of Algarkirk Fen, who died suddenly. From the evidence adduced, the case appeared but too clear to warrant the following verdict: “Died from excessive drinking, and the consequences resulting therefrom.” Mr. Bee has left a widow and four children.

The alliance between Lord Viscount Mandeville, the son of the Duke of Manchester, and the accomplished daughter of Lady Olivia Sparrow, is settled to take place in November next. The Lady is an heiress; her fortune is £20,000 a year.