Home   Stamford   News   Article

Subscribe Now

The Mercury is proud to be Britain's oldest continuously published newspaper and has an amazing archive managed by volunteers from the Stamford Mercury Archive Trust




25 years ago

A Save Our Shops appeal by many Stamford traders – calling for action to relieve the town’s traffic problems – suffered a setback from both the town council and the county transport department this week.

Traders say they are facing a crippling loss of business because traffic problems caused by the current one-way system in Broad Street have now been made worse by the building work in St Mary’s Hill.

This means a temporary one-way system will be in place for the next few months and means access to the town centre from the south and the east involves traffic being squeezed along the already congested North Street.

The result has been that many car shoppers are now avoiding the centre of Stamford and traders are being hit.

A move by the Chamber of Trade to have the St Mary’s one-way system reversed so that traffic can get directly into the town centre over the town bridge from the south, was given a cool reception by county council officers.

25 years ago: May 26, 1995 – Staff line up outside Stamford and Rutland Hospital. See story in 25 years ago section.
25 years ago: May 26, 1995 – Staff line up outside Stamford and Rutland Hospital. See story in 25 years ago section.

Plans to stop scholarships at Stamford Endowed Schools have been branded “malicious” by local MP Quentin Davies who said the moves are “the most vicious threat to Stamford in many years”.

Lincolnshire County Council is being forced to make millions of pounds in cuts to realise a budget deficit set by the Government and the scholarship scheme axe looks part of these plans. A decision could be made within a month.

Currently, the council funds 50 places at Stamford School and High School each year but the contract is due to finish in September 1996 and a decision would stop an intake in 1997.

Mr Davies said: “The policy is driven by ideology and malice. Uniformity, denial of choice and compulsory comprehensivisation are the simple object of the
operation.

“This is the worst – and most vicious – threat to Stamford since I have been an MP.”

Stamford School headmaster Geoffrey Timm has already warned if the endowed school are to become smaller then it could have a knock-on effect through the town.

He said: “Undoubtedly, if the county scholarship system were to cease, the endowed schools would continue but they would become smaller and obviously, therefore, they would employ fewer people in the town. Next to Newage and the hospital, the endowed schools must be among the biggest employers in the town.”

County Director of Education Norman Riches said: “We are currently analysing the response and I will present a report to the education committee on June 20.”

Residents in Stamford, Bourne and the surrounding areas are to be given the opportunity to look “behind the scenes” at Stamford and Rutland Hospital.

On June 9 the hospital is holding an open evening where most of the new departments and equipment will be on view to the public, including casualty, out-patients, X-ray, physiotherapy, pathology, the operating theatre and the day hospital.

Hospital staff will be available to show people around the departments and explain and demonstrate the purpose of equipment.

The short-stay surgical ward will also be open to allow in-patient accommodation and facilities to be viewed, as well as a display of equipment currently used to monitor patients who have undergone surgical procedures.

In the boardroom there will be a special exhibition of old surgical instruments and equipment from years gone by.

After touring the hospital visitors will be able to join staff for refreshments.

Stamford and Rutland Hospital, part of the North West Anglia Healthcare Trust, was begun in 1827.

50 years ago: May 29, 1970 – Stamford’s Mayoress, Mrs Lilian Frisby is invested with her chain of office by her predecessor Mrs Margaret Seamer at the Town Hall on Thursday. This ceremony took place after the Mayor-making when Coun Jack Frisby was unanimously elected Mayor by the Council. Pictured (from left) Coun Frisby, Mr Arthur Bench (Mayor’s Officer), Mrs Seamer, Mrs Frisby and Coun R. J. R. Seamer (the previous Mayor).
50 years ago: May 29, 1970 – Stamford’s Mayoress, Mrs Lilian Frisby is invested with her chain of office by her predecessor Mrs Margaret Seamer at the Town Hall on Thursday. This ceremony took place after the Mayor-making when Coun Jack Frisby was unanimously elected Mayor by the Council. Pictured (from left) Coun Frisby, Mr Arthur Bench (Mayor’s Officer), Mrs Seamer, Mrs Frisby and Coun R. J. R. Seamer (the previous Mayor).

50 years ago

A receiver has been appointed for the Stamford firm of Martin-Markham Ltd on the instructions of the firm’s bankers.

But in an interview on Wednesday a representative of the receiver, Mr Philip Monjack stressed that there would be no sackings and the firm would continue trading.

The receiver is Mr Leonard C. Curtis, of Leonard Curtis and Co. of London, and Mr Monjack is deputising for him while he is out of the country.

Day to day running of the firm is in the hands of director and general manager, Mr D. E. Lewin.

The situation at Martin-Markham was caused by troubles at the firm’s Bedfordshire based parent company, Spiratlite Ltd. A receiver-manager for Spiratlite was appointed last week.

“Because of the situation in the parent company the bankers felt they had to safeguard themselves and so they appointed a receiver.

Mr Monjack said that his company would be extracting figures from the Stamford firm’s books and hoped to have a complete picture of the company’s finances by the end of next week.

The big Bank Holiday attraction at Oakham was the carnival fête in aid of the Rutland Memorial Hospital Extension Appeal Fund and it was estimated that more than 6,000 people attended the event on the Agricultural Society’s show ground.

The organisers aimed at raising £1,000 and when all expenses have been met it is almost certain that this target will have been exceeded.

Gross takings were over £1,300 and in addition there was an anonymous donation of £50.

With nearly 1,000 cars packed into the car park receipts from this source alone came to just under £500.

Oakham Rotary Club gave up their own traditional Spring Bank Holiday fête to join forces with Rutland Round Table in taking on a major share of the running of this event on behalf of the Hospital Appeal Committee.

A number of other local organisations also joined in with the result that there was a great variety of stalls, sideshows and other attractions.

The highlight of the day, however, was the “It’s a Knockout” competition staged by Area 14 of the Round Table.

Barnack Rural Council have protested to the Ministry of Power about the proposed electricity cable running from Bainton to Stamford.

Plans for the 4½ mile line for the Central Electricity Generating Board were approved at a recent meeting of the Huntingdon and Peterborough County Council’s Planning Committee.

Members also decided to protest to the newly formed County Councils’ Countryside Committee and to the Planning Committee about the decision.

Vice-chairman Coun J. C. S. Spry-Leverton said he had been at the Planning Committee meeting when the matter was approved.

He said the other members of the committee had been swayed in favour of the proposal by the County Planning Officer, Mr A. Norman.

Coun P. N. Agnew said: “It seems incredible to me that the opinions of 12 people with local knowledge have been discarded in favour of the opinion of one man.

“I think it is terrible that our opinions have been absolutely ignored in this way.”

Writing on Oakham School’s decision to go independent, the Headmaster, Mr John Buchanan, says in the latest issue of “The Old Oakhamian” that by and large it would have suited Rutland Education Committee to continue to do nothing and to maintain the uneasy impasse.

But, he adds, the School could not go on serving Rutland to the detriment of its other commitments and risk falling foul of the Government by remaining part of a discredited system (selection at 11-plus).

“Moreover,” he writes, “Too heavy an element of day boys tends to discourage some parents from sending their sons to such a school.”

The School had not received the support of the local education authority in any of its capital developments and the trustees felt that little attempt was made by the County so understand Oakham’s delicate equilibrium of triple responsibility to the Department of Education and Science, to the boarding parents and to the LEA itself.

Things had virtually reached the stage when the boarding parents were subsidising the day boys.

100 years ago

Stamford and Rutland Infirmary – Week ending May 25th, 1920. Admission and discharges of patients: In – admitted 17, discharged 15, in house 35; out-patients made in-patients, admitted 3, discharged 4, on books 39. Medical attendant, Dr Hutton Attenborough; weekly board, Commander Crichton Maitland, Mr. R. W. Dodman, Mr. T. P. Greenwood, Mrs. Hutton Attenborough. Acknowledged with thanks – Messrs. Cutting Bros. (donation), £25; Mr. G. Blackstone (from carnival), tea and cake; Mr. Robinson (from carnival), vegetables; Mrs. Hatchell, vegetables and flowers; Mrs. Pugh, illustrated papers; Mrs. Gregory (donation), 2s. 6d.; Mrs Kime (donation), 10s.

Claim Against Stamford Town F.C. - At last week’s meeting of the Northants. League, a claim against Stamford Town by Rushden for £8 12s. 1d. loss of gate, players’ and referee’s expenses, and printing, for the non-fulfilment of fixture, was brought forward from the previous meeting. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to reduce the claim to £3 13s. 9d., and to allow this amount. Rushden intimated that an appeal against the decision would be made.

Sudden Death – An old Army pensioner, Mr. John Fisher, was discovered partly dressed, lying dead on the bed at his residence, 18, St Leonard’s-street, Stamford, on Tuesday morning. The doctor pronounced death to be due to heart failure and an inquest was not deemed necessary. Mr. Fisher was 77 years of age.

Cadets’ Camp – Whitsuntide was spent by the Stamford School Cadet Corps in camp at Holywell. Thecadets, under the command of Capt. The Rev. J. D. Day (headmaster) and Lieut. Cross, marched there on Friday evening, spent Saturday in drills, etc., and a cricket match against the village team, and attended church on Sunday. Quarters were found for them in a barn kindly lent by Mr. Jno. Turner.

Bourne War Memorial Fête. On Whit Monday a fête was arranged by the Permanent Peace Memorial Committee with a view to augmenting the Memorial fund for the extension of Butterfield Hospital. The committee consisted of 23 gentlemen and 4 ladies. So far as the ladies are concerned, too much praise cannot be given to them for the energetic manner in which they entered into the whole proceedings. Mrs. Dingley and Miss Bell taking the initiative in the tea arrangements and Mrs. H. Bloodworth and Mrs. T. Hall with jumble and refreshment stalls. These ladies, with Mrs. F. J. Clarke, Mrs. J. Brown, Mrs. J. C. Ash, Mrs. Castledine, Mrs. Berry, Mrs. F. H. Sones, and Miss Lunn formed the tea committee, and a large number of helpers considerably lightened their task. Mrs. Chambers, Miss Close, and Miss Nona Agnew assisted with the Jumble Stall. Messrs T. W. Coleman, W. Palmer, G. Todd, F. E. Wherry and W. W. Pryke assisted with the sports, the skittles were managed by Mr. Mancrief, games of skill by Mr. Woollmer, Mr. J. J. W. Nichols had charge of the spinning wheel, Mr. J. H. Roberts the bowling for a pig, the hoop-la was undertaken by Messrs. H. Darnes and L. E. Harvey, whilst Mr. T. Rickard had charge of the band. The skittle prize was secured by Mr. J. Cooper, of Morton Fen; the games of skill prizes by Mr. J. Brown (Eastgate), Mr. Cox (Hanthorpe), and Mrs. J. Brown. The pig was secured by Mr. Walter Hinson. Mrs. J. Agnew undertook a guessing competition for a picture given by Mr. R. A. Gardner.

In the afternoon and evening dances were given by Miss Weddle’s pupils and the Girl Guides (who had recently been learning Old English dances and had been coached by Mrs. Paton), and a doll’s dance was carried through by eight little girls trained by Miss Hinson. All these items were thoroughly enjoyed.

150 years ago

Col. Cobb, one of the Inspectors of Constabulary, met the Watch Committee at Stamford on Tuesday last, and inspected the police force, with which he declared himself satisfied. He suggested the issue of badges to highly meritorious officers, or such as signalised themselves in courageous or clever captures of offenders – the badges to carry with them twopence a day of extra pay. He mentioned that vagrancy continued rife in most parts of the district, and said it could be suppressed only by dealing severely with habitual beggars.

Messrs. Windley re-opened Stamford theatre on Monday last for the race season. The company is spoken of as very efficient, and a Shakespearian tragedy (Richard III), fairly represented, has been followed by interludes and farces in which the comic powers of the actors and actresses have been well drawn out. The weather, having been very favourable for out-door recreation, has had the effect of limiting the audiences.

Stamford Union – the attendance of Guardians at the weekly meeting on Wednesday last was rather small. On the motion of the Rev. C. T. Hoskins, seconded by Mr. Bromhead, Mr. Wm. Rowe was unanimously elected medical officer of the Clipsham district. Payments were ordered to be made for asylum patients at the following rate: Lincolnshire, 8s. 11d. per week for each; Northamptonshire, 9s.; and Three Counties (at Arlsey) 9s. 6d. A call was made for a county rate for Huntingdonshire at three farthings and for a police-rate at a halfpenny in the pound; and for the Liberty of Peterborough a liberty rate at one penny in the pound and a police rate of three farthings in the pound. It was explained that the liberty rate was rather larger than usual in consequence of the additional expenses caused by the Contagious Disease Act. The relief return showed the inmates to be 189, or 28 more than the corresponding week of last year: receipients of out-relief 850, at a cost of £93 5s. 0½d.; corresponding week of last year 839, at a cost of £95 7s. 4d.: vagrants relieved during the week 64.

Bourn – The contract for the erection of the Bourn public-hall and Corn-exchange has been taken by Mr. Robt. Young, of Lincoln, at £1150. Clearing the ground for the work has already commenced.

Bourn Temperance Society – The seventh annual festival of this society was held on Tuesday and Wednesday last, in a large marquee kindly let by Potto Brown, Esq., of Houghton, erected in Mr. Porter’s paddock, which he generously let for the occasion. On Tuesday afternoon the members and the Band of Hope assembled at the marquee, and thence proceeded through the principal streets, headed by Mr. Wigglesworth’s brass band, the Band of Hope being furnished with flags, banners, &c. The procession numbered altogether about 300. On their return to the marquee tea was in readiness, to which about 400 sat down. At ½ past 7 o’clock the Rev. H. Harris, Vicar of Horbling (who occupied the chair), opened the meeting with a very interesting address, which was listened to with marked attention. Mr. Rd. Horne (one of the agents of the British Temperance League) then gave one of his popular addresses. The meeting was also addressed by Messrs. Groome, Brown, and Grummitt. The report was read by Mr. Morrison, of Grimsthorpe, from which it appeared there was a balance of about £3 in hand. The number of pledges taken during the past year amounted to 120.

The Odd Fellows of the Griffin lodge, Nottingham Order, held their anniversary at Irnham on the 17th inst. During the day an elegant clock, supplied by Mr. Pearce, of Grantham, was presented to Mr. John Searson, who has for many years acted as their treasurer and been a most able supporter of the society.

200 years ago

To Millwrights and Others.

All persons desirous of Contracting with the Assignees of Samuel Ward, a Bankrupt, for the Completion of the Contract between him and Mr. William Grummitt, for building a Wind Corn Mill at Morton, near Bourn, in the county of Lincoln – which has been nearly erected by the said Bankrupt, are requested to send Proposals (in writing), sealed up, by the 7th day of June next, to Mr. William Worth, solicitor, Bourn; of whom further particulars may be known.

17th May, 1820.

N.B. The Materials lying near the Morton Mill will be delivered up to the
Contractor.

This day two troops of the 10th Hussars will march into Stamford from the North. The larger part of this fine regiment has passed Southward by the Lincoln and Peterborough road.

Market Deeping wood fair on Wednesday was not well attended: there was a large supply, half of which at least remained unsold, the rest went off at bad prices. The show of beasts was small, and they sold middling. The pleasure fair in the afternoon was large.

Stamford, May 18th, 1820.

Mrs. Baker most respectfully informs the ladies of Stamford and her friends in general, that her Daughter is in Town selecting an elegant and superior assortment of Fashions in Millinery, Dresses, Pelisses, Spencers, Straw, Chip, and Leghorn Bonnets, &c, &c., which she will have the honor of submitting to their inspection on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the 1st, 2d, and 3d of June, when the honor of a call will be esteemed an additional favour.

N.B. An extensive assortment of Thread lace, remarkably cheap.

An Apprentice wanted.

A child of the name of Wakefield, 7 years old, was run over by a waggon in Littleworth Drove a few days ago, and crushed to death, being mangled in a shocking way.

Stamford United Lodge of Odd fellows.

The Stamford Loyal United Society of Odd Fellows will this year hold their Twentieth Anniversary on Monday the 29th of May, at the house of Brother Maydwell, the New Salutation Inn, where every Subscriber is requested to meet, at Ten o’clock, to settle the accounts, and to attend in procession to Divine service; and all Non-subscribers are hereby invited.

Dinner at Two; Ordinary and Extraordinary 6s. each.

By order, James Tomlinson, Secretary.

N.B. The fine for not attending divine service will be put in force.

Stamford, 17th May, 1820.

We the undersigned, being three of the Trustees or Officers for the Preservation and Support of the banks of the River Glen, from Kate’s Bridge to the sluice at the outfall of the said river, do hereby give Notice, that the First Meeting of the said Trustees will be held, at the White Hart Inn in Spalding, in the county of Lincoln, on Tuesday the 30th day of May instant, at 11 o’clock in the forenoon. Dated this 9th day of May, 1820.

Maurice Johnson, G. M. Edmonds, Robert Parr.

Oak Timber,

Of very large Dimensions, great Length, and superior Quality.

To be Sold by Private Contract,

In Lots for the convenience of purchasers,

Upwards of 130 Trees, containing from 40 to 170 feet each, now taking down in the Woods at Gretton and Weldon, Northamptonshire.

For prices and particulars apply to Mr. Parkinson, at the King’s Arms, Weldon; or of Mr. J. B. Panther, Warkton.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More