News from the Rutland and Stamford Mercury archives
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25 years ago
Hundreds of people gave the Princess Royal a warm welcome to Stamford yesterday as she made an historic visit to a local school and also the officers of the Mercury.
The Princess had a hectic day, starting at Boston in the morning for the 450th anniversary of the incorporation of the borough of the town, before flying by helicopter to Stamford in the afternoon.
The Princess arrived at the Queen Eleanor School, Stamford, at 2.30 to be welcomed by head teacher David Learmonth and greeted by groups of excited schoolchildren waving Union Jacks.
The Princess was wearing a navy blouse and skirt, a gold and navy check jacket and a gold pill box style hat.
She toured classrooms and met teachers who explained some of the activities being carried out by the pupils.
After the tour the Princess moved into the main hall where staff and pupils were assembled. She unveiled a plaque to commemorate her visit and the school also presented her with a cheque for £500 for the Save the Children Fund of which she is president.
At 3.20pm she visited the offices of the Mercury in the Sheep Market where she was welcomed by John Broom, Managing Director of Welland Valley Newspapers, and Ken Thomas, Mercury Managing Editor.
The Princess saw a display of rare volumes of the Mercury dating from 1714 before watching Hilary Scott, deputy editor, produce the front page of today’s edition.
After unveiling a plaque to commemorate the visit the Princess was presented with an engraved front page of the Mercury dated 1717.
The Princess returned to Queen Eleanor School by car before flying out by helicopter.
Thieves who stole £760 from a partially-sighted Stamford pensioner by posing as water board officials have been branded “despicable” by police.
Two men, both in their early-to-mid twenties, conned their way into the woman’s Edward Road home at around 12.30pm on Friday by telling her they were from the local water authority and managed to escape with the cash.
They told her to try some taps in the house while they made some checks, but disappeared with the cash.
Detective Constable Steve Pickett, of Stamford police, said: “This is a despicable crime carried out by people who prey on easy victims.
“I would advise people to always check identities and never allow anyone into their homes until they are totally happy about it.
“If you are unsure, arrange for them to come back at another time when it is convenient for you. If in doubt, keep them out or contact the police.”
Police have urged neighbours to pass on the “if in doubt, keep them out” message and asked people to keep an eye out for the men, stressing the value of fitting door chains.
Two Deepings men have returned from a mercy mission in war-torn former Yugoslavia after delivering an ambulance to Bosnian refugees.
But the trip for Tim Armstrong and John Greatrex almost never happened when shelling broke out in the Croatian capital of Zagreb just before they were due to depart from England.
John, of Wade Park Avenue, Market Deeping, said: “A few days before we went we had a call from the Red Cross in Zagreb to say shelling had broken out and the convey should not go.
“Then we had a call from refugees in Bosnia to say they desperately needed the ambulance we were due to take over, so we had to go.
“This caused a real last-minute panic as we had intended to take the ambulance in the lorry. Instead we had to rush around getting tax and insurance to drive it there.”
Vital spare parts for the ambulance were kindly donated by Car Parts of Market Deeping.
Tim, of Waterton Close, Deeping St James, and John left Dover with three lorries from other parts of the country on May 5.
50 years ago
Coun Jack Frisby was formally elected Stamford’s 340th Mayor at the Borough Council’s annual meeting at the Town Hall yesterday.
After accepting office Coun Frisby spoke of the work he hoped to see completed in the town during his year of office.
“Looking to the year ahead, one of our priority commitments will be the improvement and widening of Water Street,” he said.
“We should also see in operation very soon the new traffic regulations for parking and perhaps a start made on the up-trunking of Wharf Road.
“I hope to see some improvements to and tidying of the Scotgate crossroads, where the Council is selling two corner plots for redevelopment. At present this is a sorry sight when coming into Stamford from the north.”
On a topical note Coun Frisby linked the Mexico World Cup series with the start of work on the Empingham Road playing field pavilion.
“With England now in Mexico to defend the World Cup it seems only appropriate that we are doing our bit for sport by starting work on the new pavilion on the Empingham Road playing field
“On housing, I shall be delighted to see, before I finish my term as Mayor, another 45 new council houses on the Edinburgh Road estate and the start of the next phase.”
A scheme to use computers to help diagnose illness in the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board area, which includes Stamford, was given the go-ahead by the Board on Wednesday.
A small £11,000 all-British computer will be installed to begin with, but this can be enlarged.
The first installation, at Ipswich, is regarded as a pilot scheme and the Board hopes to expand the service throughout the region.
Te computer will store statistical information from chemical and biological tests.
By matching these records with the results of tests on patients, doctors will be able to tell quickly whether and where a patient gives an abnormal reading and the possible causes.
In the past this work has been time consuming. The computer should also give more exact information.
The scheme is to go into operation when money is available. Funds for the scheme were not included in this year’s estimates.
Also at the meeting the Board was told that large savings can be made in hospital drug bills.
A more expensive drug was sometimes used when a cheaper drug would do the same job.
But the Board was told that some impact had been made on this problem in recent months.
Savings are also being made by negotiating contracts for hospital supplies on a regional basis and by discount buying, the Board was told.
Mr D. S. Akroyd, Clerk to the Welland and Nene River Authority, has sent out a letter to all occupiers of land who will be affected by the new Empingham Reservoir, giving details of the likely progress of the work. A small area north of New Cottages, Normanton, will be required immediately for site accommodation, and negotiations will be put in hand straight away.
Land north of this (which includes the line of the new road from Edithweston to join the Empingham-Stamford road) will be required by December 1 this year.
The purchase of this land will be put in hand in the very near future. Occupiers may have been told that now work was to begin before mid-summer 1971, but it will now be necessary to start on an underground tunnel to divert the Gwash by the beginning of 1971 so as not to delay work on building the dam which will start about September 1971.
It will not, however, be essential to take possession of the house owned by J. H. Griffin & Son for a further seven or eight months, although work will be proceeding in the vicinity.
Land further west will be required immediately after the 1971 cereal harvest. It is possible that some land on the edge of this area to the west of the Edithweston-Whitwell road will not be required until after the cereal harvest of 1972.
The remainder of the land will not be required before 1973, but the Board cannot be more precise at the moment.
100 years ago
Acknowledgement of Nursing Services – Among those whose names have been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for war by the Chairman of the Joint War Committee of the British Red Cross Society, and Order of St. John of Jerusalem in England, for valuable general Red Cross services during the war are the Misses Mary M. Carthcart, Mildred M. Carthcart, and M. Musgrave, who were on the staff of the Marchioness of Exeter’s war hospital at Burghley House.
In addition the name of Miss A. Bell has been brought to the notice of the Secretary of State for war for her valuable services in hospital work during the war at the VAD Hospital in Bourne.
Trade Unionists and Child Employment – At a meeting of the local branch of the Society of Amalgamated Toolmakers, Engineers, and Machinists, a resolution was passed strongly deprecating the employment of school children out of school hours, and viewing with disfavour any attempt to curtail or modify the provisions of the Employment of Children’s Act, 1920.
Stamford Property Market – Messrs. Richardson submitted to auction, at the Crown Hotel, on Friday evening, the following lots: Nos. 18 and 19, St. Leonard’s-street (rent £31 4s. per annum), sold to Mr. Wm. Rowe, of Stamford for £225; Nos. 1 to 4, Priory-court, (rent £33 16s. per annum) Mrs. A. G. Harvey, Scotgate, £200; “The Firs,” Ryhall, withdrawn at £800; Nos 3, 4 and 5, Newboult’s-cottages (rent £29 5s.) withdrawn at £275; 10, St. Peter’s-street, with workshops adjoining, withdrawn at £550; 1 to 6 Trafalgar-terrace, no bid; 47, 48 and 49, St. Leonard’s-street (rent £38 10s.), no bid; 3, 4 and 5, Wellington-lane (rent £38 5s. 8d.), no bid. Messrs. Phillips, Evans and Dalton, Mr. Chas. Atter, Messrs. English and Son, and Messrs. Stapleton and Son were the solicitors concerned. At the Crown Hotel, on Tuesday afternoon, Messrs. Reedman, Son and Mason offered two dwellings in St. George’s-street, No. 18, the gross rental of which is £22 2s. per annum, was bought by Mrs. Wren for £400, and No. 3 (rent £16 18s. per annum) was sold to the Peterborough Co-operative Society for £210. Messrs. English and Son were the solicitors concerned as to the first lot, and Mr. Dudley Page, of King’s Lynn, as to the other.
Stamford Board of Guardians – A circular received at Monday’s meeting from the Ministry of Health concerning payment of gratuities, on certain conditions, to registrars of births and deaths, was referred to the Finance Committee. A query by Mr. Tomms as to whether a cheque had yet been received from the military in settlement of the Board’s claim for damage to the Board Room at the workhouse created some amusement. Mr. Tomms said when he looked round that room (the Council Chamber) and saw the patchy ceiling and walls, he thought they would be as well off in their old quarters.
Proposed Hut at Bourne – A hitch in the arrangements for the above has occurred, with the results that a lengthy meeting of the committee was held on Saturday morning when two representatives from the Y.M.C.A. attended. The hut was offered to the town by the Y.M.C.A., the town to be be responsible for the carriage, erection and future upkeep, and that should it for any reason become a failure or the town unable to support it as a recreation hut, the ownership revert to the Y.M.C.A. It was at first thought the Discharged and Demobilised Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Federation would contribute towards the initial cost and the annual upkeep in consideration of a room being set aside for the use of the Federation. It now transpires that the fund for which the Federation hope to secure financial assistance cannot obtain it unless the hut becomes the property either of the town or the Federation. The estimated cost of the erection and carriage of the hut, was £200, of which sum the railway carriage totals £80. After fully discussing the matter, the committee decided to call a town’s meeting and place before them the proposal, that the £80 incurred by the carriage be paid, and the Y.M.C.A. informed that the hut is available for some other town. If on the other hand the town accept the hut, the Y.M.C.A. will send one of the financial experts to raise the necessary funds for erection, by a series of efforts during one week.
150 years ago
The vacancy in the Stamford Town Council caused by the death of Mr. Clapton and Mr. Bromhead’s election as an Alderman will be filled up on Saturday next by the unopposed return of Mr. Eddowes, surgeon, who has been nominated for St. Mary’s ward. Wednesday was the last day for nominations, and as only one name has been sent in, the election on Saturday will be merely formal.
The letting of the ground for erection of booths, &c. thereon at the Stamford race-course, for the races which take place on Thursday and Friday next, was held at the George Hotel on Friday night, Mr. Jas. Richardson being the auctioneer. No. 1 was let to Messrs. Bainton and Green for £8; No. 6, Mr Hewson, £4 5s.; Nos. 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 were knocked down to Mr. Taylor, at £2 15s., for stalls only; 13, Mr. Dexter, £10; 14, Mr. Wells, £7; 15, Mr. Wingrove, £6 5s.; Nos. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 were not let. The refreshment bar, with booth, in the enclosure was let by private contract to Messrs. Keen and Brown.
There were so many eager purchasers of bedding plants at a sale at the Corn exchange, Stamford, on Tuesday last, that a new era in flower gardening may be expected, and perhaps also a revival of the Stamford Horticultural shows. The competition was so close that even numerous scraggy plants found purchasers at prices in advance of those charged at Wothorpe and other local nurseries.
Stamford Union – At the meeting of the Guardians on Wednesday last a large number of wives of militiamen applied for relief, their husbands being at Grantham for training. Allowances were made to all the applicants except one, who had been living at Peterboro’, and who, as soon as her husband left his employment to join the regiment, came to Stamford for relief, her excuse being that she could not get any at Peterboro’. Being offered an order for the house she exclaimed “Take your order; I have a house of my own,” and withdrew from the room grumbling. The master’s report showed 11 inmates less than in the preceding week, but the number remains 23 more than in the corresponding week of last year. The receipents of outrelief were precisely the same in point of number as at this time last year, viz, 823, though the present cost is £2 11s. 2d. less. Dr. Ashford, the medical offcier for Clipsham parish, sent in his resignation, he having disposed of his practice (at Market Overton) to Mr. Rowe, who is a candidate for the vacant office.
Bourn – the annual statute held here on the 14th inst. was attended by a large number of servants of both sexes, and a good deal of hiring was effected. The rate of wages in the morning was considered somewhat high, but in the afternoon gave way a little. A report that a servant girl had lost or had had her pocket picked of £7 does not appear to have any foundation, as nothing of the kind, either of pocket-picking or loss, was reported to the police authorities. The only thing reported to the police in connexion with the statute was the finding, over the Cemetery wall, by the lodge keeper, a bundle containing some articles of female apparel fastened up in an apron, some of the things bearing the initials E P.
Market Deeping – A labourer named Wm. Fielding, in the employ of Mr. J. H. Johnson, of Deeping St. James, met with a serious accident on the 11th inst. He was taking a horse from between the shafts of a cart, when, the animal jerking on one side, his arm caught between the shafts and a wall, and severely fractured. Medical assistance was obtained as quickly as possible, and the fracture reduced.
200 years ago
A providential escape from destruction by fire was experienced by the family of Mr. Clarke, farmer, of Pickworth, Rutland, on Saturday night last, the noticing of which will, it is hoped, operate as a caution to all servants. Just before the family went to bed, Mrs. Clarke directed a female servant to cut a candle from several pounds which hung up in a closet: the girl, instead of cutting off the candle, burnt it off at the wick, and supposed that she then nipped out the flame so as to prevent its spreading to the wicks of the other candles in the pound. The door of the closet was immediately closed, and the family retired for rest. Next morning, it was discovered that three or four dozen candles were burnt in the closet, and that the flames had in several places made holes through shelves and drawers, and occasioned the destruction of a number of articles, but providentially had died away before the fire extended beyond the closet door, owing probably to the want of a current of air. The door was, however, just burnt through; and the degree of heat within the closet had been so great as to occasion several bottles of elder wine to burst, and a large jar which contained starch to moulder to pieces when removed. Had the flames extended beyond the closet, it is probably that the whole family would have been burnt in their beds.
On Thursday the 11th inst., five youths, from 12 to 16 years of age, were apprehended for stealing, from Mr. Manton, of Spittlegate, near Grantham, a quantity of bones which were collected for manure, and afterwards selling them to Mr. M., an offence which there is much reason to suspect they have repeated many times. Two of them were passed to their settlements, and the other three committed to Falkingham house of correction. And on Saturday last three men were taken to Grantham and lodged in the gaol, on suspicion of being concerned in the above offence, and of aiding and abetting the boys in their nefarious transactions. They are all from Nottingham; and it is believed that they have carried on their system of depredation a long time, being supplied with small carts and ponies, and several asses, for the conveyance of bones from one place to another.
On Wednesday se’nnight the cart of Mr. Hutchinson, itinerant cutler, of Spalding, being loaded over night for travelling early in the morning, was robbed, whilst standing opposite his home in the town, of the whole of the poor man’s stock.
The Northamptonshire Militia are to assemble on the 25th inst.; and the Huntingdonshire on the 14th of June – at their respective county towns.
Ufford Association for the Prosecution of Felons.
Notice is hereby given,
That the Annual Meeting of this association will be held, at the house of Henry Knowles, the sign of the Three Horse Shoes, in Ufford, on Thursday in Whitsun Week, at Twelve o’clock in the forenoon; at which time and place the Subscribers are requested to attend, to settle the Treasurer’s accounts, and to pay their subscriptions.
Dinner on the table at Two o’clock.
N.B. Any person desirous of becoming a Member of this Association, is to pay 10s. 6d. entrance, and 5s. annually. William Burbidge, Barnack, Treasurer.