Looking back over the years with Mercury Memories
10 years ago
A restaurant will be closed for at least two weeks for repairs following a blaze sparked by a cigarette.
Flames damaged the first floor of the Fratelli Italian restaurant in St Mary’s Hill, Stamford, on Tuesday evening.
Four fire crews from Stamford, Bourne and Market Deeping were called to the scene just after 5.30pm.
Police cordoned off St Mary’s Hill and there were long queues as traffic was diverted. The restaurant was closed at the time and no-one was on the premises
Owner John Femminile said the restaurant would be closed for two to three weeks while the first floor is repaired.
Mr Femminile, who has run the business for 10 years, believes the fire was caused by someone having a cigarette and throwing it away.
He said: “I am quite upset about it. It does knock you back a bit. You have to keep your chin up and carry on. Luckily the main restaurant suffered no damage and we plan to reopen in two to three weeks once redecoration has been completed. Thankfully none of the ground floor was affected and our beautiful building remains intact.”
More than 800 Lincolnshire County Council workers will lose their jobs because of funding cuts.
Lincolnshire County Council issued consultation documents to 3,200 workers on Wednesday with proposals to restructure the organisation. This is about half its staff.
As part of the proposals, 818 people will lose their job through voluntary or compulsory redundancies – equivalent to about 607 full-time jobs.
The restructure is a cost-cutting exercise as the council looks to save £125m over the next four years because of a 28 per cent reduction in its Government grant.
Executive councillor for finance and human resources Kelly Smith (Con) said: “Difficult times call for difficult decisions and to meet a tough budget we have had to look to deliver services in a different way.
“Unfortunately staffing reductions are inevitable. However, wherever possible we hope that voluntary redundancies will minimise the number of compulsory redundancies that have to be made.”
He added that support would be available to staff to look for alternative employment.
Coun Smith said: “We do not want to have to review services again as this would lead to uncertainty for our staff in the future so we are taking action promptly.”
A woman has tried her luck on a television quiz show.
Mary-Anne Andrews, of High Street, Collyweston, filmed two programmes of new BBC2 show Perfection in September.
The general knowledge quiz show is hosted by Nick Knowles and the only way to win or progress in the competition is to achieve “perfection” in every round by answering every question correctly.
In each game the prize money is £1,000 and if no-one wins by achieving perfection, it rolls over to create a bigger jackpot in the next game.
Mary-Anne said: “I watched quiz shows while I was working at the post office but since then I’ve just got more into watching them because I didn’t have a lot to do and now I watch them all.”
25 years ago
Cases of antibiotic resistant bacteria which have been labelled the most serious threat to modern medicine, have been found at Stamford Hospital.
Two patients transferred from other hospitals to the town hospital were found to be carrying the most common form of bacteria, MRSA or methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus.
But, thanks to a strict policy of screening and isolation, both patients recovered fully and there are at present no cases of the condition at the hospital.
Diseases spread by bacteria, such as TB, once thought to have been controllable, are now proving increasingly resistant to antibiotics. Half the country’s hospitals are now believed to be affected, with elderly and infirm particularly susceptible to MRSA.
A detailed study of Stamford will be carried out to establish if the town is capable of coping with further housing developments.
The survey will be conducted as part of South Kesteven District Council’s discussions with Lincolnshire County Council over the Structure Plan for the development of the region until the year 2001.
In a draft version of the existing Structure Plan, both councils made clear that “in the case of Stamford and the Deepings, only modest additional development is proposed in order to protect the environment of the former and to allow the latter to settle down after years of rapid growth.”
This was reflected in the allocation of 1,000 dwellings to each town from 1988 to 2001. Since the start of the current plan in 1988, 694 new homes have been built in Stamford and a further 514 are possible through unimplemented planning permissions.
A report to members of SKDC’s Structure Plan and Local Plan sub-committee on Thursday says it is likely that the proposed replacement Structure Plan will maintain a housing development restraint for Stamford and give a figure of 1,000 dwellings to be provided from 1991 to 2011.
The Rutland Bus is to make regular stops in Ketton to give village teenagers a vital place to meet.
Since the youth club at the village primary school had to close after a glass window was broken, Ketton’s young have been without any sort of organised after-school activities.
But while attempts to find a permanent location for a club, the Rutland Bus – co-ordinated by Trevor Wise – will be arriving at the village every other Monday between 7 and 9pm for 14-year-olds and over.
The converted single-decker bus was at Manor Green for the first time this week, offering a coffee bar, computer games and a work area.
The Rutland Bus is soon to receive a windfall of £43,575 from the National Lottery, which will enable it to buy further computer equipment.
Meanwhile hopes that the waste depot in Manor Green, Ketton, could become a youth club have been dashed by Rutland District Council.
It has told Mick Wren, youth co-ordinator on Ketton Parish Council, that the building is too close to houses and too large.
Villagers from Witham-on-the-Hill and Manthorpe have formed a committee to begin planning for a new village hall.
Around 40 people from Manthorpe, Toft, Lound and Witham-on-the-Hill met to discuss proposals after farmer Bill Banks donated a piece of land.
Steering committee member Elizabeth Dixon, of Manthorpe, said:”The existing hall is just too small and its facilities limited. For example, there is no store cupboard or meeting room.
“We expect the total cost for a new hall to be around £90,000 and hope more than half of that can be raised through grants. The rest we will have to raise through events and local businessmen’s generosity.”
50 years ago
A Stamford engineering firm has signed a contract worth £40,000 with a Czechoslovakian import-export company.
This is the second time in two years that Newage Lyon Ltd has landed a contract behind the Iron Curtain and the company is hoping this will lead to even bigger orders.
The contract was signed last week by Newage Lyon managing director Mr. A. K. Bose and Mr Ing Bily of Prago Invest, a state-owned import-export firm in Prague.
The order is for different sizes of electrical alternators which the firm will supply from its Stamford range of industrial alternators.
Publicity manager Mr Leslie Cleghorn said: “This is a fairly sizeable order, but we think that the significant fact is that it is from an Iron Curtain county.
“We have had one order from this firm before and the fact that we have another seems quite optimistic.”
Plans are well in hand for the 1971 Stamford Arts Festival.
As decided at the wine and cheese party, attended by members of all societies, this year the town will have a few professional events, made possible by a certain amount of backing from the Lincolnshire Association.
The festival has been very fortunate in securing the promise of a visit from the Poet Laureate, Mr C. Day-Lewis, who will give poetry readings in the Assembly Rooms after the opening service.
There will also be a concert by a young chamber music group, including two well-known Stamfordians – Margaret Hopkins and Robert Aldwinckle – and possibly a dance group.
As well as this, many of the local societies are again putting on events. The festival begins and ends with drama.
At the beginning of June the Stamford Shakespeare Society will present “The Taming of the Shrew” in the George Hotel garden, and from July 1 to 3 the Shoe-String Theatre plan a production of “Under Milk Wood”.
Stamford Joint Burial Committee are planning to increase expenditure by 25 per cent – the equivalent of a halfpenny rate.
The Clerk (Mr Harold Bedford) told members at Tuesday’s meeting, at the Town Hall, that expenditure for the coming financial year had been estimated at £5,000 – an increase of £1,000 on last year’s figure.
He explained that expenditure on wages and the upkeep of the cemetery had risen considerably during the year.
“People will just have to accept that it takes £5,000 each year to keep the cemetery in good order,” said Mr Bedford.
Also included in expenditure for the coming year was the sum of £300 which will go towards the cost of providing heating for the Cemetery Cottage, workmen’s hut and greenhouses.
100 years ago
Property Market – Messrs. Reedman, Son and Mason offered by auction at the Crown Hotel, Stamford, on Tuesday, the freehold residence, 12, Rutland-terrace, but the property was withdrawn at £900. Mr. Chas. Atter was the solicitor acting in the matter.
“What I saw in Ireland” was the title of an interesting lantern lecture given in the Assembly Rooms, Stamford, on Tuesday evening by Mr. J. A. Kensit. Mr. F. B. Grundy presided over a large audience, supported by Rev. F. W. Ainley (Uffington), Coun. H. Dear, and the local Salvation Army officers. The lecturer dealt with incidents which came within his ken on a tour of the Emerald Isle last year, and wove his remarks around the sentiment expressed by Charles Dickens that “Ireland’s religion is Ireland’s trouble,” dealing exhaustively with the power of the Roman catholic church in that country.
Associated Board R.A.M., and R.C.M. - Stamford Grammar school – school exams – elementary, A. G. Bowyer; primary, T. Day, J. E. Dolby and A. Spriggs (pupils of Mrs. Tinkler and Miss Tinkler, L.R.A.M. School exams – higher, A. E. Essex; lower, V. P. Moulet, E. J. Wedge, and K. Allen; elementary, N. Wright, E. Brown, D. Pettifer, L. Lister, W. K. Sharpe, G. W. E. Preston, R. J.Wright; primary, Z. Palmer, M. E. Peasgood, C. S. Bowyer and G. B. Connington (pupils of Mrs. Tinkler and Miss Tinkler, L.R.A.M.) Local Centre exams – immediate, D.Wade and M. Wade (pupils of Miss Tinkler, L.R.A.M.)
Sea Journey For Pedigree Pigs – Mr. E. Wherry has just sent abroad two pigs from his celebrated Large White herd – one, a sister of the Royal Champion sow, Bourne Queen Anne, which Mr. Wherry has given to the British League of Help, was shipped to Boulogne, for the Mayor of Flers, Prefect of the Department of the Somme, and the other, a very fine promising young boar, Bourne Bar None 135th, was shipped to a client in Australia.
Bourne North Fen Drainage Trustees – Mr. C. E. Andrew presided at a meeting of the above, when the clerk reported that the bulk of the rates payable on Dec. 1st had been paid, and the Trustees decided that all whose rates were outstanding should be requested to pay immediately. The Chairman reported that Mr. Richardson and he had examined the accounts of the engineer and had asked the auditor to make a report. This report showed that the balance in hand was £49, which it was stated had accumulated since last June. It was decided to secure a successor to the engineer and to have a more frequent check on the amounts entrusted to the Trustees’ officer.
Bourne Corn Exchange Company – The annual meeting was held on Saturday at the Corn Exchange, when Mr. W. E. Hill presided. The balance sheet showed an income from lettings for the past year of £254. A reserve of £40 has been created for repairs that will require carrying out during the present year. The balance divisible after payment of all expenses and the reserve for repairs was £139, out of which the directors recommended payment of a dividend of three per cent., free of income tax.
150 years ago
The Ball in aid of the funds of the Girls’ National School and the Lying-in Charity of Stamford, given on the 10th of January, under the patronage of the Marchioness of Exeter, was a great success in a financial point of view. The receipts (including donations promised, but not yet paid) amount to £150 5s. 6d., and the expenses to £63 16s. 5d., leaving a balance of £86 9s. 1d. in favour of the charities. The champagne and the greater part of the game for the supper were a present from the Marquis of Exeter, and the cost of the programme, amounting to £3 3s., was defrayed by the Marchioness.
A ball took place on Thursday night the 19th at Uffington House, at which Coote and Tinney’s band was in attendance.
The fund for providing the long wanted new organ for St. John’s church, Stamford, is, we are told, satisfactorily progressing. A donation of £10 from Mrs. Todd Newcomb has just been received.
A rich intellectual treat may be expected at the Stamford Institution this (Friday) evening, Mr. G. Grossmith being announced to give his “souvenirs of Charles Dickens.”
There is some talk among the members of the Stamford Rifle Corps of arranging for a ball on behalf of the funds of the corps, and we believe that Mr. Langley has volunteered the use of the Assembly rooms.
The annual financial statement of the Stamford Albion Lodge of Odd Fellows, just printed, is a gratifying one to the members; it shows an increase on the year of £1834s. 7d., which is greatly in excess of the previous year. The funds of the lodge amount to £2850, and there are 251 members.
A reward of five pounds has been offered for information that will lead to the conviction of the miscreant who lately maimed Mary Monk’s pigs in so shocking a manner.
Soup Kitchen – This institution continues to be more used than at any period during its existence within the last 16 years, about 400 gallons being distributed weekly. Subscriptions of £1 from Mrs. Amcotte, of Walcot Hall, and £1 from Dr. Willis, of Braceboro’ Spa. have been received this week.
Stamford Union – At the Board meeting on Wednesday it was reported that Mr. Pope, one of H. M. Inspectors of Schools, had visited the Union-house, examined the children, and made an entry in the visiting-book to the effect that both the schoolmaster and the schoolmistress were entitled to credit for the educational progress of the children under their charge.
Market Deeping – A fatal accident happened to Joseph Arden, foreman in the employ of Mr. Banks, of Barholm, on Saturday afternoon last. He was returning with a fellow laborer to Barholm from Mr. Banks’s farm on the High Bank, near Spalding, driving a team of horses drawing a loaded waggon. When within about a mile of Deeping St. James station, in the attempt to take hold of one of the horses, his feet slipped in consequence of the frosty state of the road, and he fell. The waggon wheels went over his neck and part of his head, and killed him on the spot. He was conveyed to Mr. Hibbett’s, the Railway inn. An inquest was held on Monday on the body, before W. Edwards, Esq., coroner, when a verdict of accidental death was recorded. Deceased was a very steady and industrious man, bore an excellent character, and had been many years a faithful servant. He leaves a wife and three children.
200 years ago
C. Parnell,
Saddler and Harness-Maker, (from London,)
Begs leave to inform the nobility, gentry, and the public in general, that he has taken the House and Shop in St. Mary’s-street, lately in the occupation of Mrs. Smith (nearly opposite St. Mary’s Church), which he has opened in the above line of business, and trusts that the experience he has had for the last five years in London, with a strict attention to all orders conferred upon him, will insure him a share of public favor, which it will ever be his study to deserve.
Stamford, 18th Jan. 1821.
Thomas Falkner’s Assignment.
The several Creditors of Thomas Falkner, late of Uppingham, in the county of Rutland, grocer, who have not executed the Indenture of Assignment bearing the date the 29th day of September, 1820, or otherwise agreed to do so, are hereby requested to execute the same, or to signify their assent in writing, on or before the 29th day of January instant, or they will be excluded the benefit thereof.
By order of the Assignees,
Bentley Warren, Solicitor.
Uppingham, 17th Jan. 1821.
At the adjourned sessions for the borough of Stamford, held on Tuesday last, Charles Ploughwright and John Walter were found guilty of an assault on Wm. Blades, a watchman, and fined 6s. 8d. each; Richard Colls, for an assault on John Clarke, was fined 20s. The indictments against Wm. Williams and Amos Johnson, for a riot on the 11th of November and breaking the window of Mr. Robert Hunt,- against Wm. Bridges, for an assault on the same night on Mr. Edw. Drury, a constable, in the execution of his office,- and against Thos. Rhodes and Peter Cole, for a riot and nuisance in carrying a burning effigy in the streets on the night of the 11th December, were all removed by certiorari, for trial at the ensuing assizes at Lincoln.
Last week Mr. Mould, of Oakham, received £20 from Sir G. Heathcote, Bart. to be given to the poor of that place.
To be Sold by Private Contract,
All that Freehold Messuage or Tenement, with the Stables, Brewhouse, and other convenient, and extensive Out-buildings and Gardens, situate on Barn-hill, in Stamford, in the county of Lincoln, late the property and residence of John Wyche, Esq., solicitor, deceased.
Also a small Paddock, used as a Garden, situate at the lower end of the Water-street, in Saint Martin’s, Stamford Baron, in the county of Northampton, walled in front next the street and at each end, adjoining the river on the North, in tenure of Mr. Jas. Tomlinson.
For further particulars apply to Mr. Torkington, attorney, in Stamford. 15th January, 1821.
A Good Plain Cook wanted immediately. None need apply who cannot produce a good character from her last situation. Letters (post paid) addressed to A.B., Post-office, Bourn.
