Preparations for Queen's Diamond Jubilee underway and drought was combatted with new boreholes in the Rutland & Stamford Mercury's dive into the archives

March 23, 2012

It’s going to be a real summer to remember this year.

Our area is gearing up for a series of events designed to bring a smile to everyone’s faces.

The fun will begin with the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee bank holiday celebrations, marked by street parties and events in our towns and villages.

The celebrations will reach a climax in June when Her Majesty comes to Burghley House.

The Mercury has an exclusive competition as we are giving away 150 pairs of tickets to the event, the only ones available to the public.

The following month the Olympic Torch will arrive proudly carried by local people who’ve been selected for this once-in-a-lifetime honour.

And then at the end of the month, Stamford will for the first time host an English Masters cricket match.

International stars will take to the field for a Twenty20 game organised by Stamford School’s head of cricket Dean Headley, a former England test bowler.

A new women’s accessory store has opened its doors in Stamford but the news is not so good for a bookshop which has been forced to close.

Adorn Accessories has moved into a vacant unit in High Street and opened on Saturday.

But the CLC Christian Bookshop in St George’s Street is holding a closing down sale and will shut within the next few weeks.

Located at the end of the High Street, Adorn Accessories is an accessory store selling a range of silver jewellery with semi-precious stones and costume jewellery as well as scarves, bags and cosmetics.

The CLC Christian Bookshop , which is part of a chain that raises funds for Christian organisations, opened in the 1970s and sells a range of books, magazines and CDs.

Drought conditions in the region are being combated by new boreholes being brought into service, which could supply three million litres of drinking water a day to Stamford.

Two boreholes at Pilsgate Water Treatment Works near Barnack will significantly boost supplies of water reducing the demand on drought-hit Rutland Water which remains about 23 per cent below its normal leve for this time of year.

Earlier this month Anglian Water, who supply Stamford and Bourne, announced it will impose a hosepipe ban on domestic customers in the area for the first time for more than 20 years, starting from April 5.

John Clare from Anglian Water said: “It is absolutely vital we get these boreholes into service and start supplying the water they can provide to people in and around Stamford and Wittering.

“These boreholes were sunk many years ago but were not needed at the time and have never been used. Now, with the area in drought, the water they can provide will be a big help in maintaining supplies.”

The downside of the project is that local farmer Harry Brasse, of Manor farm, Barnack, has had his drains clogged and dykes flooded since November by the excess water being pumped out while the water company test the supply.

25 years ago

March 21, 1997

As Market Deeping celebrated the start of its by-pass yesterday, Stamford’s traffic problems were facing another upheaval with angry traders planning to fight new proposals to turn Broad Street back into a one-way system.

They fear trade will plummet and Stamford become ‘a ghost town’.

Today the Stamford Traffic Forum unveils its controversial new traffic plan for the town centre with an exhibition at Stamford Arts Centre which opens at 10.30am.

And on Monday a public meeting will be held at the town hall starting at 7pm, when the proposals will be discussed.

Stamford traders plan to flood the meeting with protests.

Said Don Lambert, president of the Chamber of Trade, “We must stop this plan from going ahead. It is a more important issue for the town than Tesco’s.”

The most controversial part of the plan put forward by the traffic forum involves:

• One-way traffic for Broad Street with traffic lights at Newgates.
• Blackfriars Street will become one-way.
• No access to Broad Street through Crown Street.

Mr Lambert added: “Improving the environment is all very well, but we don’t want Stamford to become a ghost town.”

The start of a “revolution” took place in Market Deeping yesterday when work on the bypass officially got under way.

A number of guests turned out to see Transport Minister John watts lead the “sod turning” ceremony at the Northfield Road crossroads.

Speeches were made by Lincolnshire County Council acting chairman Rex Chapman, Coun Jim Dodsworth and the Transport Minister.

Guests included Stamford MP Quentin Davies, Market Deeping Mayor Reg Howard, Deeping St James Parish Council chairman Doreen Monk and chairman of the Deepings Bypass Action Group Terry Lawford.

Mr Lawford said: “We always knew it would happen, but there were times we were a bit worried when funds seemed to be disappearing.

“Seeing the work actually going on is fantastic as it is a scheme that will revolutionise the Deepings.

“It is a very exciting time for everyone.”

Bourne Hospital campaigners believe the failure of Tesco to win planning permission on South Road has damaged the hospital’s chances of survival.

They believe South Kesteven District Council’s refusal has effectively scuppered a plan by the supermarket to make a donation to support the hospital.

A figure of over £1m has been suggested locally.

Nurse Julie Brutnell said: “It doesn’t look very optimistic. Tesco’s failure to get planning permission has hit us hard. The trust were looking for financial input from the private sector and Tesco’s would have been the answer.”

Group chairman Ted Kelby attacked the SKDC decision. “They have taken a very short term view of things. They say the South Road site is out-of -town, but will it be in five years’ time?

“There could possibly be thousands of people living in the south-west of the town in the near future and they will need facilities.”

50 years ago

March 24, 1972

Vandals went on a spree of destruction twice last week, costing a Stamford farm machinery firm over £15,000 in damage.

The trial of havoc began on Sunday night (March 12) at PM Motors, Barnack Road, Stamford, when intruders broke in and drove a Ford 4,000 tractor around the firm’s yard.

“They damaged the radiator cowling, smashed the hedgecutter on the back and bent the exhaust pipe back,” said the firm’s service manager (Mr E. Heath).

But that turned out to be just the beginning of the story.

For on Thursday night the vandals came back – and this time, wrecked the same tractor again, and another five vehicles.

“The Ford tractor was just about ready to be repaired again,” said Mr Heath. “But the vandals drove over the bonnet and air cleaner spares on the ground next to it and smashed them up again.”

They also damaged another Ford tractor, a Ferguson farm vehicle, a Grimme potato harvester and a TS 83 brand new plough.

A Massey 165 vehicle had a punctured front tyre, smashed front grille and headlights, broken exhaust pipe and smashed cab.

“It just seems senseless damage,” said Mr Heath. “They could have done far more serious damage if they had wanted.”

Ryhall may enter the Rutland Tidy Village competition this year, even though the village was described as “an absolute rubbish tip” at the annual parish meeting on Tuesday.

The suggestion to enter the competition came from the headmaster, Mr M. Whetstone, who suggested that it might act as “a spur to control the litter problem”.

“He said: “I feel we must be more positive about the problem and I think this is probably the best way to get something done. We was to get people interested in tidying up the village.”

Earlier, Dr G. G. Crabbe had described the middle of the village as “an absolute rubbish tip” and added that he thought the amount of litter in Church Lane was “disgraceful”.

Mr Brian Stainsby said litter dropping was not just confined to children. “I have seen adults throwing down a lot of litter especially from cars.

“I have been round the village on a Sunday morning picking up litter and managed to fill the basket on my cycle in no time. It is a shocking state of affairs,” he said.

Chairman Mr A. E. Naylor said that the County Council mechanical road sweeper was in Ryhall, at least once a week, but that it could not get into all the streets.

Mr Arthur Boor thought it would be a good idea to write to the County Council inquiring whether the parish could hire a road sweeper for about £10 to £12 a week.

Stamford Borough Council is concerned that construction work near Tinwell Road will upset residents and cause a number of complaints.

The council heard last week that the land was to be used for building an outlet shaft for the Empingham reservoir tunnel and would also be used for casting tunnel segments.

The site would be in use for about three and a half years and there would be about ten caravans on it.

The Council had been asked for comments by Rutland County Council because the site adjoined the borough’s boundary.

100 years ago

March 24 1922

Allotment Holders Flourishing – The annual meeting of the Oakham Allotment Holders’ Association was held in the Institute on Thursday evening last week, Capt. Fowler presiding. Up to December, 1921. there was a reported to be a balance in hand of £28. Capt. Fowler was again elected president, with Mr. C. Villiers vice-president; and Mr. Hill consented to act as secretary in the place of Mr. Lee, who resigned. It was decided to canvas all applicants for land to ascertain the exact amount required at present. Rent night was fixed for the first Wednesday in April.

For the Cricket Club – On Wednesday evening, the “Catmos Coons” gave a concert in the Victoria-hall, Oakham, in aid of the funds of the cricket club, the “Coons” consisted of Messrs. I. H. Atton, J. F. Bettinson, G. Gibson, C. T. McClelland, A. F. H. Neale, A. W. Sharpe, S. F. Smith, F. W. Wakefield,and J. H. Watchorn. The director, Mr. A. F. N. Neale, wrote, selected, arranged, and composed the words and music, and Mr. S. F. Smith acted as secretary. Three sketches, “The Morning After,” “Hamaneggs, the Prince of Tenmarks,” and “Touching it up,” were greatly appreciated.

Dance – In aid of the Uppingham Boys Scouts’ Fund, a dance was held in the Y.M.C.A. Hut on Monday, about 60 being present. The pianist was Mrs. E. M. Bowley. The function was under the management of Mrs. P. Buswell.

Uppingham Women’s Institute – A most successful and well-attended meeting of members was held in the Y.M.C.A. Hut on Thursday. Miss Whittingham (Glaston), who is an expert, gave a most clever demonstration on cake and scone making, turning out in three-quarters of an hour three kinds of cakes and some scones, which were sampled at tea with much appreciation. The hostesses were Mrs. Waugh and Mrs. Chas. Barnett (Newtown).

The Dark Continent – On behalf of the Universities’ Mission to Central Africa, an interesting lantern lecture was given in the Church-room, Uppingham, on Friday by the Rev. Brook. Rev. S. C. Parmiter occupied the chair, and the slides were shown by Mr. W. J. W. Stocks. A collection for the mission realised £1 2s. 4d.

To the Editor of the Mercury.

Dear Sir, in view of the numerous accidents within recent months at the cross-roads entering Uppingham from the Oakham-road which is run through by North-street, (1), a motor and a motor-cycle and side-car colliding; (2) a motor and a heavy cart; and (3) the accident on Saturday last, it does seem to me to be ridiculous that boards should be placed at the Stamford-road end of the town and the Leicester-road end diverting the traffic down North-street.

By far the safest way is by the High-street through the centre of the town.

It will, doubtless, be argued that there is some danger at the roads near the Market-place, but there are no direct cross-roads there, and a motorist is likely to drive with more care through the town than he would be a side street, however much it may be considered the “main road.”

Trusting the powers that be will speedily remedy this apparent fault. I an, sir, yours truly,

“Observer.”

150 years ago

March 22, 1872

We are requested to state, in order to prevent disappointment, that Burghley House will be closed to the public until after the 30th of this month, to admit of its annual cleaning.

The Marquis of Exeter met with an accident in the hunting field on Saturday last, which confined him to his bed for a few days, he having sustained some severe bruises.

Stamford Races have been attended with so much loss during the last three years that in all probability the meeting will be discontinued. This is to be regretted, particularly as great expense has been lately incurred in the improvement of the ground and alteration of the stand, and as the course itself is allowed to be one of the most beautiful and picturesque in the kingdom, with the run in of straight mile, which few possess. We believe if the inhabitants and sporting community of the town and neighbourhood desire to continue the races and will bestir themselves, some way may be found to preserve them. The races are of very ancient date. They were formerly run on Wittering Heath, and a most singular rule was established, viz, “That if anye of the matched horses or theire riders chance to fall in anye of the foure heats, the rest of the riders shall staye in theire places where they were at the tyme of the fall until the rider so fallen have his foote in the stirroppe againe.”

On Wednesday last a fatal accident occurred at Little Bytham. The eldest son of Mr. John Harris, farmer, a lad fourteen years of age, whilst assisting with the thrashing machine, got his leg entangled in the machinery, whereby it was completely smashed. Mr. Rowe, of Market Overton, and Mr. Morgan, of Stamford, were summoned at once, and arrived as quickly as they could, but the poor boy had fallen into a state of collapse from which he never rallied, and he expired at seven o’clock the same evening.

Yesterday morning the fearful discovery was made that three men had lost their lives by suffocation in a van at Shacklewell Hollow, on the road between Stamford and Empingham. They had been sent the day before with one of Mr. Jas. Hatfield’s steam cultivators to plough some land in the occupation of Mr. Spriggs, and had arranged to pass the night in a van which accompanies the engine, and which was new and just painted. The night being cold, they took a stove into the van, contrary to the injunctions of Mr. Hatfield, and it is supposed that, having omitted to leave sufficient opening for the escape of the smoke, and the fumes emanating from the fresh paint, they were suffocated in their sleep. When the van was visited in the morning the door was found closed and there was quiet within, and on the door being opened the three men were discovered quite dead. One of the deceased was Thos. Bell, son of Mr. Bell, Inland Revenue officer, who leaves a widow and three children; another, who was called Philip, was a stranger – a young man of superior information; and the third was a young ploughman from near Apethorp. The bodies were removed to the White Horse inn at Empingham, where it is expected an inquest will be held to-day.

200 years ago

March 22, 1822

Our usual gay Mid-lent fair has been well-attended this week: the shows and lures for parting with money were never more numerous, nor less successful.

As if by the way of rivalling the interloping prodigies attending the fair, some very extraordinary cattle have been slaughtered by the butchers of Stamford within these few days. A bullock weighing 119st. neat weight has been killed by Mr. Isaac Lumby and Mr. James Fardell: it was under 5 years old, and fed by Mr. Smith, of Postland: and an ox 3 years and 9 months old, has been slaughtered by Messrs. John Pollard and James Boyfield, which weighed 102st. 9lb. gross weight; fat, 14st. 9lb. This latter was bred by Mr. Codd, near Skegness, and fed by Mr. John Maxwell, of Thorney Fen. Mr John Lumby has killed a sheep weighing 49lb. per quarter;fed by Mr. T. Plowright, of Pinchbeck, on grass, coleseed, and turnips only. These things have excited much notice as they hung up for sale; but a doe rabbit, that had been fed by Adjutant Smith and killed by Mr. John Lumby, has been still more a subject of wonder: it weighed 7lb. 14oz., and was only a year and a half old. The inside was as large as that of a fat lamb. Adjutant Smith has reared other rabbits of still larger weights.

There was the smallest show of beasts at Stamford fair on Monday last that has been known for forty years. Stores sold at better prices than of late; but the meated beasts were not to be disposed of at any reasonable proportion of value. The like may be observed of the sheep fair, which was moderately large.

On Wednesday night, about quarter past 12 o’clock, Wm. Olphin, whist taking a horse to meet and assist Palmer’s cart from Boston, was stopped between Market Deeping town and the toll-bar on the road leading to Stamford, by three men and a woman, who without speaking pulled his from off his horse, and then kneeling on him as he lay on the ground, robbed him of 11s., all the money he had about him. They afterwards made off towards Stamford. Two of the men were dressed in light fustian frocks, and one in a brown great coat. The woman was very tall, had on a light great coat, and with shocking imprecations desired her associates to murder Olphin when they had got him down: they, however, let him go after robbing him.

The pedestrian Tenny, whose performance we have noticed in former papers, complete his task at Lincoln on Saturday night last, and won his wager.

It may be useful to graziers in the marches to know that high tides may be expected on the Lincolnshire coast about Monday next.

Caution Against Pickpockets – The four men and a boy who were observed a few weeks ago to beset Mr. Myhill Addy on the Corn-hill in Stamford, were again observed on the hill on Friday last, and the attention of the Mayor’s officers was directed to their movements. Seeing themselves watched, they withdrew: but these people, and others in their fraternity, will doubtless be very active in the great pleasure fair at Stamford this week.