Taking a look in the Rutland & Stamford Mercury archive
With the help of the Rutland & Stamford Mercury Archive Trust, we look back through the newspaper's archive to find interesting stories from years gone by.
10 years ago
April 19, 2013
Police are hunting for arsonists who started six fires in Stamford town centre in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
They believe two men went around the town centre, setting light to bags of rubbish awaiting collection outside shops.
Fortunately no-one was hurt but the arsonists struck without any though for people living in flats above.
Jenny Fitzpatrick, who owns the Fine Food Store, one of the shops targeted by the arsonists, said: “These attacks should be treated exactly as that, arson.
“It should not be passed off as ‘kids messing around’. Yes, we were inconvenienced by it but what really frightens me is that fact that we, like some of the other businesses targeted, have residents living in flats above.
“If one of these fires had caught we could be looking at a catastrophe. I’m pretty sure the arsonists did not think about the consequences of their mindless actions.,”
The fires started at about 1am outside Timpson in High Street, Blockbuster and Hambleton Bakery in Ironmonger Street, The Fine Food Store and You and Beyond in St Mary’s Street and AJ’s Card Craft in North Street.
The team behind Stamford’s Riverside Festival are on the hunt for event organisers to help with a national music project.
The Riverside Association of Music and Arts, led by Jenny Collins, has taken on the role of East Midlands regional manger for a new event called Our Big Gig, run by not-for-profit organisation Superact.
The national event will run from July 11 to 14 and builds on last year’s Bandstand Marathon which was held to mark the closing of the Paralympics.
Mrs Collins said: “Any organisation can apply to organise and host an Our Big Gig event. It could be friends of the local park group, a school, a voluntary group, youth organisation, a church or faith group and so on.”
Successful applicants will receive a grant of £400 to put towards their event, a package of marketing materials and training and support.
A group of parents behind plans to set up a free school in Stamford have been overwhelmed by the response to their idea.
The scheme was revealed in last week’s Mercury and just two days after the article appeared more than 1,000 people visited the Stamford Free School website.
Daniel Evans, who is one of four parents of Stamford primary school children behind the free school idea, said the group had been overwhelmed by the response.
He added: “Although we don’t have a benchmark to judge that against, it feels like a lot in such a short space of time, given the population of Stamford.
“So far, we have received messages of support or offers of help from parents with children at St George’s, St Augustine’s, St Gilbert’s, Malcolm Sargent, Bluecoat, Ketton, Uffington, Ryhall, Copthill, Witham Hall and King’s Cliffe.”
The group wants to set up the school to combat what they perceive as a lack of secondary options in Stamford for brighter pupils.
25 years ago
April 17, 1998
More rain has fallen in the first two weeks of April than is normal for the whole month.
Derek Wightman, a weather expert who lives in Main Street, Ufford, has been recording the amount of water every day this year for the Met office in Lincoln.
Mr Wightman said: “From last Thursday to Saturday we had 3.25 inches of rain, and up to Tuesday this week we’ve had more than 4 inches of rain in April so far. This is more water then we would expect for the whole month, and exceeds records for the same period in 1969.
People in Bath Row and water Street, Stamford, had their homes wrecked as the River Welland burst its banks on Friday.
The Meadows, normally a big attraction during the Easter break was turned into a lake as the tides took hold.
Businesses in the town also suffered as pubs and clubs were hit by the ferocious weather conditions.
The vicar of Essendine had to conduct his Easter service in the dining room of a parishioner after water flooded the village church.
The River Glen burst in the village on Friday night and nearly three feet of water poured into the low-lying Norman church. The Rev Paddy McKee was forced to hold the service across the road in Jo Saunder’s house, where 46 determined parishioners crowded in.
The future of Stamford Brass could now be secure – thanks to an unexpected source.
Following an appeal in the Mercury for financial help and more musicians, band chairman David Johnson has received an offer from the Four Counties Metal Detectors’ Club.
Club founder Charlie Press contacted Mr Johnson, offering donations over the next seven months.
Mr Johnson said: “His call was most unexpected, but very welcome. He told me the club generates income every year, and he was looking for somewhere worthwhile to put the money. He saw the story and decided that was where the money should go.
Mr Press said: “The group hasn’t been going very long, but we thought it would be nice if we could help someone. I’ve had an idea for a while that I wanted to help the town in some way – and this seemed the ideal opportunity.
Other offers of help have been flooding into Stamford Brass, otherwise known as the Town band, including the offer of a practice room from Casterton Community College, and the chance to play at Stamford AFC matches.
Rutland schools have received a massive cash injection of £1.2million from the Government under the New Deal for Schools.
The money will be used for capital projects such as replacing dangerous playground surfaces, hall floors, erecting fencing and replacing ineffective boilers.
But the cash cannot be used to prevent staff redundancies or reduce bulging class sizes.
News of the successful bid was announced by Rutland County Council yesterday afternoon (Thursday).
The cash will be distributed between 11 of the county’s primary school and the Parks Nursery in Oakham.
The lion’s share of the money will go to Ketton CE Primary School which will get £244,000 and Ferrers Country Primary School which will get £183,500.
Ketton will use the money to replace its old heating system with gas central heating and to replace its windows with double glazing.
Ferrers County Primary School will spend its cash on replacing the dangerously worn and splintered timber hall floor, installing gas central heating, removing asbestos in its boiler-houses and putting in double glazing.
50 years ago
April 20, 1973
Police say children playing with matches sparked off a spectacular blaze which wrecked Stamford Rugby Club’s headquarters on Monday night.
Thousands of pounds worth of damage were caused as 20ft high flames ripped through the clubhouse sending huge columns of smoke into the sky.
Firemen had to dogde falling timbers to tackle the inferno in Lonsdale Road, near the Empingham Road playing fields.
They were still on the scene three hours later mopping up amid the debris.
And as they did so Rugby Club secretary Mr Glyn James looked at the scene of destruction and said: “What a way to finish the season, I’m really sick about this.”
Changing rooms, the players’ after match bath, kit, store rooms and a television set were destroyed in the fire.
And the bar and lounge area were players relax after matches was left completely blackened and unusable – although the club think there could be some chance of repairing it.
On Tuesday a spokesman for Kesteven Fire Brigade said: “We are convinced that children playing with matches caused this fire.”
Newage Engineers have announced the start of a £1.5 million expansion programme which will double its production capacity for alternators within three years.
The company, a subsidiary of Chaterhouse Industries, is already Europe’s largest producer of alternators in the range 1-750kVA.
Initially, Newage is to spend £850,00 on the first stage of the programme to be completed in 12 months time.
This involved extending its electrical division factory at Stamford, by 30 per cent and installing new equipment which will include several sequence controlled machines, test rigs and the latest handling and container facilities.
The first phase will put up capacity by 50 per cent with the second part, due to be finished early in 1976, adding a similar increase.
Over the last five years sales have gone up by an average of more than 25 per cent annually and the company’s order book indicates that this growth is likely to continue.
A big fight to save plans for a sportsman’s paradise at Deeping from ending up on the scrapheap slipped into top gear this week.
The projected £654,000 sports complex would include two swimming pools, badminton and squash courts, a 400-metre athletics track, floodlit football pitch, table tennis, and plush bars.
But ever since South Kesteven Rural Council’s finance committee refused to pay a £32,000 share of the cost, the bold plans have been in jeopardy.
Now a special seven-member fighting committee has been launched and petition circulated in the Deepings to save the complex, which would serve 50,000 people.
More than 100 people crowded into the Deepings Secondary School on Thursday at a special meeting to work out battle plans.
One speaker said the campaigners should “put two fingers up” at the local council for refusing to help with the cost and do the money-raising themselves.
100 years ago
April 20, 1923
Railway Absorption – The London and North Eastern Railway Company and the Stamford and Essendine Railway Company have agreed upon the terms governing the absorption of the latter, which now only needs confirmation by the proper Government authority.
In Fancy Attire – A fancy dress dance, arranged by the Fire Brigade, was held in the Assembly-rooms on Thursday, when 120 were present. The M.C.’s were Messrs H. Dalton, R. Hall, and C. Middlton. Mrs.Pinder, Mrs Seccombe and Miss Mortimer awarded prizes for the best costumes to Mrs. H. Dick, Mr. C. Parker, Miss. G. Marchant, and Mr. W. Stanger. Many novelty dances were introduced and greatly appreciated.
Rural Properties At Auction – In the presence of a large company, at the Crown Hotel, Stamford, on Friday, Messrs. Richardson submitted some rural properties to auction. Two freehold cottages on the Lyndon-road, North Luffenham, let at £22 per annum, sold for £420 to Mr. E. Guy Fenwick, Luffenham Hall, and a stone and slated residence in the same village, let at £12 a year to Mr. F. Price, was bought by Mr. Robt. Rose for £22-. Mr. Charles Atter, of Stamford, was the vendor’s solicitor.
Supporters’ Help – About 130 were present at a dance in the Drill-hall, Stamford, on Saturday night, held under the auspices of the Town F.C. Supporters’ Club, and a very enjoyable evening ensued. The M.C.’s were Messrs, B. Knighten and F. Banks. Delightful music was supplied by Mr. G. A. Harper’s orchestra. A waltzing competition was won by Miss Money and Mr. E. Lacy. Miss Rene Swanson was the judge. The Supporters’ Club during the season have contributed about £23 to the finances of the Town Club.
Bourne
Accident – Whist Mr. George Thistleton, a platelayer on the M. and G.N. Railway, at Bourne, was engaged in loading rails into a waggon, one slipped, and fell on his foot, necessitating an operation at the Butterfield Hospital.
Urban Council Defended _ At the fortnightly meeting of the Board of Guardians on Thursday, the Rev. J. Carvath stated that a letter from the clerk had been before the Urban Council at their meeting on Tuesday, and in reply to the statement made at the Board meeting, he (the speaker) denied that the Urban Council had broken any agreement as to providing work for unemployed. On the contrary, some £620 had been spent in that direction: 5 or 6 additional men had been employed every week with a preference to married men and those with families. No application had been received which had not been considered. One of the persons named in the letter had been offered work by a member of the Council, which he refused.
150 years ago
April 18, 1873
The Marquis of Exeter has taken for a short term the late Lord Ossington’s residence in Grosvenor-sq.
Easter Vestry. At All Saints’ Church, Stamford, this morning important business was brought forward. After a committee had been appointed to examine the accounts and report to the next meeting, and after Dr. Newman and Mr. Evans had been re-elected churchwardens, Mr. Jackson’s report on the state of the church was read. It recommended the filling up of all vaults within the nave and north aisle, the careful shoring of all the nave arches, and the under pinning of all the columns. In the south arcade the easternmost column requires to be re-built from the bed of the capital downwards. In the north arcade the whole of the columns incline seriously towards the north, and should be re-built below their capitals in a vertical position. The underpinning of the east end of the chancel aisle and part of the east end of the chancel, and of the northern jamb of the chancel arch, which has been weakened by the insertion of a flue, is advised. After discussion a Restoration Committee was appointed.
Meetings of the Stamford Inclosure Committee and the Local Board Committee were held on Tuesday evening. The Surveyor reported that the fencing of the land acquired by the Corporation under the Inclosure Act had cost £370; and it was agreed to recommend the Council to memoralise the Lords of the Treasury to allow that sum to be drawn from the proceeds of the sale of the Welland navigation, at present invested in Consols. Attention was called to a nuisance caused near Hudd’s Mills by persons shooting rubbish on some garden ground and on the greensward adjoining the head of the old canal instead of into the bed of the canal itself. It was determined to set a watch for the offenders, and take proceedings against anyone found acting in defiance of the orders of the Board. A proposal to form three sub-committees out of the Sanitary Committee was deferred to the quarterly meeting in May.
We hear that the concert given on Wednesday evening at the Assembly-rooms, Stamford, in aid of the funds of St. John’s choir, was well attended. The performers were for the most part amateurs, but they had the assistance of some of the Peterborough choristers. The entertainment is said to have given satisfaction.
A numerously attended “Mother’s Meeting,” promoted by the Rector and principal parishioners of St. Michael’s church, Stamford, was held in the Assembly-room on Tuesday evening. The whole of the poor people in the parish were invited, and fathers as well as mothers and children sat down to a liberally-provided meat tea, an abundance of ham and beef being added to the ordinary provision at that meal. Ladies presided at the several tables, and gentlemen acted as carvers and waiters, and the whole of the humble guests seemed to enjoy the treat afforded them. After the repast there were music and appropriate addresses.
The nightingale has been for some days heard in this neighbourhood: its location was Burghley Park. A week ago swallows were seen at Uffington. This is unusually early, the 20th April being about the time when the swallow species reach this country; though White in his History of Selborne states the period to range between the 10th and the 24th April.
200 years ago
April 18, 1823
The family of the Rev. J. Mossop, of Deeping St, James, was thrown into the greatest confusion early in the morning of Sunday last. On an alarm being given by the servant, who had just arisen, that the parlour was full of smoke. The fire was found to have originated in the chimney, but had then communicated itself to the paper of the room. The servant with others immediately tore down the chimney-piece, and succeeded at last, by much demolishing the room, in smothering the fire. In a few minutes more, had not the servant observed the smoke, there is no doubt the whole house would have been in flames.
On Tuesday the 8th instant, about two o’clock in the morning, Mr. and Mrs. Norris, of Bicker, were awakened by a strong smell of burning, and on endeavouring to ascertain the cause, they found the servant girl’s bed on fire. The family had retired about nine o’clock, and it appeared that the girl had fallen asleep, leaving the candle burning, and standing upon the bed with her. Several of the neighbours were alarmed and went to render assistance, but one pail of water, judiciously applied extinguished the fire, although the bed, bedding, and hangings, were much burnt.
On Monday evening last a little boy, 4 or 5 years of age, son of John Boyall, coal-porter, of this place, was providentially saved from a watery grave, by Samuel Judd, Esq. of St. Martin’s. Mr Judd was walking to a paddock which he has below Water-street, when his attention was suddenly excited by a splash in the river Welland, and he perceived the boy in the water. The river is very deep at the place, and great caution was necessary, as no other person was at hand. By descending into the river till the water nearly touched his breast, Mr. Judd was happily able to reach the boy with a stick and draw him out, though with agitation and the necessary exertion he was himself nearly overcome. The boy had strayed from home, and was endeavouring to get some corks which were floating on the river, when he met with the accident.
We understand a match will be run in Exton park on Thursday the 24th inst., between a mare belonging to Mr. Powell, of Melton Mowbray, and Mr. Spriggs’ grey horse, for 100gs.
Edw. Brown, Esq. of Stamford, has lately transmitted £5 to Dr. Skrimshire, physician to the Peterborough Public Dispensary, for the general uses of that charitable institution.
On Thursday the 10th inst. a coroner’s inquest was held at West Carlton, Northamptonshire, on the body of Mr. T. Linwaite, who was found dead, hanging in a stable in his occupation, on the preceding day. Verdict, lunacy. The deceased was formerly a respectable drover and beast-salesman at Smithfield.
On Tuesday se’nnight a man of the name of Clarridge was committed to Leicester gaol, for stealing some worsted, the property of his employers. During the time he was locked up, previously to putting on the irons, he hung himself by his neck handkerchief. A coroner’s inquest was held, and on Wednesday he was interred on the highway at Belgrave turn.
