Grantham, Stamford, Spalding, Rutland and Bourne letter writers share their views and gratitude with LincsOnline
Readers have been sharing their views on what’s in the news.
Here we share some of the letters, emails and comments that have come in over the week, including this cartoon from John Elson on this story.
Send your letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk
‘Often called but seldom thanked’
Following on from a situation I found myself in recently, although not by choice, I would like to offer my grateful thanks to Lincolnshire Police and ambulance services, staff at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital and Libertas services to whom I am very grateful as hopefully this might reverse the old saying of ‘often called but seldom thanked’ by this effort.
Thank you all.
Name and address supplied
Morris group continue at pace
Rutland Morris are still alive and kicking! They held their 51st AGM at the Old White Hart in Lyddington, and amid beer breaks managed to conduct their business. Their Squire, John Barsby, was confirmed for his second year of office, and a new ‘bagman’, Gordon Blunt, was elected following a long and highly successful time in office by the outgoing bagman Nick Kimberly. Dave Casewell was elected as Foreman to lead a team consisting of Jonathan Unna and Mike McWhinnie. Details of all post holders are to be found in the contacts section of their highly regarded website www.rutlandmorris.org.uk .
The club were pleased that their numbers had grown considerably following their active and enjoyable recruitment days, which had added much to their visits to Rutland towns and villages. Also, their strength in numbers allowed them to be a force to be reckoned with as they represented the county in some notable national dancing events such as Saddleworth Rush Cart Day, Whittlesey Straw Bear Festival, Lincoln’s Big Day of Dance, and The Thaxted gathering of numerous Morris Sides.
A significant part of their activity is to collect money for charity. They always try to choose an organisation that has an impact locally. For 2024-2025 they chose to support ‘Root & Branch’ a community-based group that offers outdoor education, community fridges, communal allotments and much more, and have managed during the year to raise about £1000 in cash and kind to help in their activities. At their AGM this year Rutland Morris have chosen the ‘Opportunity Chalet’, a small local registered Charity that can provide some holiday accommodation to those less able to afford this important part of family life. They thanked the generosity of their audiences for this aspect of their tradition, and also that of their ‘collector extraordinaire’ Keith Wright who has been so diligent in his important work!
Their next major event is their ‘Day of Dance’ Saturday 11 October at which they will complete their 5-year mission to dance all round the perimeter of our County. They will complete their final section this time, starting and finishing as usual in Oakham and visiting Waltham on the Wolds , Sewstern , Colsterworth and Castle Bytham . Full details and timings can be found on their website.
They plan to hold another recruitment day on Sunday November 02 (AM) and applications are welcome. Simply go to the website for details.
Rutland Morris are proud to represent their county and will continue to ‘fly the flag’ whatever the outcome of political manoeuvres! They look forward to their new year with enthusiasm and hope to be able entertain you all.
Dave Casewell
Press Attache, Rutland Morris
My ideas for reviving town
I was interested to read how the consultant was going to revive Oakham town centre.
Here are my ideas.
* Reinstate the access group.
* Resurface all car parks.
* Fix the pothole on the High Street pedestrian crossing.
* Encourage all businesses to be wheelchair and buggy friendly.
* Repaint all road markings especially at the mini roundabouts at South Street, Mill Street, Balmoral Road and Stamford Road junction.
* Repaint all lampposts.
* Repair the footpaths in the Arboretum.
* Improve the dropped kerbs.
* Encourage businesses to remove all out of date fly posters near their premises.
* Encourage businesses to have an information table in their shops
* Encourage a Tourist Information Centre into the centre of the town.
* Fix all pavement trip hazards
The list is endless.
A huge thank you to Oakham in Bloom and Oakham Town Council for making the town so florally attractive.
Joyce Lucas
Oakham
Thanks for help after fall
I would like to take this opportunity to say thanks to the two ladies, Abby and Victoria, who came to my rescue when I fell over whilst I was out walking in Ryhall. I would also like to thank the staff of the Minor Injury Unit at Stamford Hospital who were kind, considerate and friendly when they pulled my dislocated finger back into place.
Nigel Trigg
Reading matters
The government has pledged that every primary school will have a library. Ryhall Primary already benefits from a well equipped reading corner, and uniquely, our village library sits right beside its entrance. Thanks to community determination, it has so far been saved from closure — but it still lacks the capital funding needed for even basic upkeep.
Rather than duplicating provision, we believe investment should be directed to strengthening the village library, which serves both the school and the wider community.
To secure its future, we are launching Friends of Ryhall Library, a new charity dedicated to protecting this vital community asset. We warmly invite residents to join us as members or trustees and help ensure the library continues to thrive for generations of all ages to come.
Andrew Nebel
Ryhall
What money has been lost?
Last week's letters were full of uncomplimentary comments about SKDC staff and councillors.
Ashley Baxter, of course, has form for not fulfilling his word; just look at the six and a half year scandal Stamford's first nature park, otherwise known as the Great St Martin's Development, that he and his brothers-in-arms have presided over. Where are all these houses, the business park and the crippling congestion on Barnack Road? How much tax-payers money had been lost?
Ms Barnes the well-remunerated CEO at Lincolnshire County Council (£200,000 a year!!) also came in for some stick but I see she's decided to retire from the fray and console herself with what must be a substantial pension.
Perhaps her successor will be someone who actually answers emails and, when they get fed with them, won't announce that she's declared the sender persona non grata and instruct all her staff not to engage with beastly folk like that?
Ian Dodd
Sovereign Way, Stamford
Invitation to school reunion
The class of 1969–1974 from St Hugh's Secondary Modern School will be meeting on Saturday, October 25, at the Grantham Railway Club from 7.30pm for a night of reminiscing and fun, with Dave Morris providing a school disco of 1970s music later in the evening.We have met twice before since leaving school: once in 2002 and again in 2006. Now that we are all of pension age, we have a lot of catching up to do.Some of us live abroad, and we plan to contact them via social media on the night. Although Dannie has managed to reach many pupils on Facebook, we still have a few people remaining to find.A small donation of £5 towards the costs will be gratefully received at the door, and all partners are welcome. The evening will finish at 11.45pm, and perhaps we will even get another school photo.
Thank you.
Alison Clegg
Grantham
EDITOR’S NOTE: Since publication this letter has been updated after we were given the wrong date initially. Originally the letter said October 29, but this has now been corrected to October 25.
Thank you for help after fall
A very big thank you to Grantham Iceland store for their kindness and help, especially from Callum to help Linda, a lady who fell outside their shop on Saturday afternoon. Callum their shop assistant provided blankets and a warm drink as it was bitterly cold for her on the ground.
Also another big thank you to the ladies who took charge and called the ambulance, who subsequently took her to hospital. There are some wonderful, kind people who go over and above in our town and we are very grateful for them.
Name and address supplied
Committees are elaborate talking shops
Last week I attended a meeting of the Housing Scrutiny Committee — one of the many new bodies created by our Independent-led administration. These committees, we are told, exist to ensure “accountability”. In truth, they function as elaborate talking shops, consuming thousands of pounds a year in allowances to keep administration partners on the payroll.The session itself resembled a Soviet tractor factory performance review — all charts, averages and upbeat declarations of “progress”. The grim reality beneath those bar graphs is somewhat different. Two of my own residents have spent years waiting for a single draughty window to be repaired. There have been site visits, measurements, promises — but, as I discovered, no record of any of this in the council’s system.
The psychological toll on those living with such bureaucratic farce is immense. Yet when I raised the matter and asked, quite reasonably, for an apology from the housing portfolio holder, Councillor Virginia Moran, it was I who was cast as the villain. No apology has been forthcoming — though, miraculously, since I raised the issue publicly at full council, action now appears to have begun.There is a place for social housing, and for councils that take pride in maintaining it. But there is no place for self-congratulatory committees that preen over “performance indicators” while residents shiver behind broken windows. Reform will do better.
Ben Green
South Kesteven District Council (Reform UK Group Leader)
Send your letters to: news@lincsonline.co.uk