News in Rutland, Stamford, Bourne and the Deepings in years gone by

The trust wants to revamp the hospital and expand services there but its plans depend on it being able to sell about 60 per cent of the site, at the east, for health and social care use.

The trust so hoping to attract a “not-for-profit partner” to develop the hospital as a “health campus”.

It is expected to invite tenders from potential partners through the European Journal, the offical magazine of the EU at the end of this month. The tender process will take between six and nine months and if all goes to plan and there are no legal delays, the trust would expect to sign a contract by the end of June 2013.

A worried family were forced to buy a £170 tracker to keep tabs on their cat after neighbours started over-feeding him.

Paul and Jayne Webb, of West Street Gardens, Stamford, were distraught when their beloved pet Tabby went missing last year.

Months later he returned home, but he was much fatter than when he disappeared.

The Webbs have had to restrict Tabby’s diet since his pelvis was broken when he was hit by a car in 2009.

Th family were so concerned by his weight gain that they wrote to neighbours asking them not to feed their cat if he came into their gardens.

But Tabby kept going missing and gaining weight. In deperation, Paul and Jayne spent £170 on a Snooper tracking device to find out where there cat was going.

Paul said: “We found out he was going to a house down the street.

“He would go out for days at a time. We attached a laminated notice on his collar asking people not to feed him.

“I wouldn’t feed anyone else’s cat. If it was a stray it is different but he has a collar on him. And you can see he is not going without.”

Residents will get the chance to have their say on street parking.

South Kesteven District Council has started a consultation on a draft policy for on-street residents’ parking schemes in the district.

The council will be talking to residents’ groups, the police, and town and parish councils in the district before sending a questionnaire to people living in Stamford.

Many people living in Stamford have called for the district council to introduce a residents’ parking permit scheme when Lincolnshire County Council takes over parking enforcement powers from police on November 30.

District council leader Coun Linda Neal (Con) said the council had been working with specialists to look at residents’ parking in Stamford and a report is due back by the end of September.

She said: “They have been looking at defined scheme areas and the opportunities for on-street parking schemes and hopefully their report will provide us with sufficient information and justification to be able to investigate resident parking schemes with the co-operation of Lincolnshire County Council for each of the areas.”

25 years ago

September 5, 1997

Personnel at RAF Wittering were shocked to hear news of the death of Princess Diana.

Station commander Group Captain Chris Moran said: “It was with great regret that all personnel at RAF Wittering woke on Sunday morning to hear the terrible and tragic news of the death of the former honorary Air Commodore, Diana, Princess of Wales.

“She brought great happiness to us all in her many visits. She was a very warm and caring person.

“The nation has suffered a great loss, and our thought and prayers are with Prince William and Prince Harry.”

Diana became Air Commodore of Wittering on June 3, 1985, and visited the base every two years. She ended all her military obligations last year and resigned as Air Commodore on June 11, 1996.

In May1991 she visited Wittering accompanied by Prince Harry, and last visited the base in September 1995.

RAF Wittering community relations officer Sqn Ldr Dave Buchan said: “Her role as Air Commodore was to provide a link between RAF Wittering and the Royal Household.

“She was interested in all the personnel who worked here. Wittering was the only RAF unit to be honoured by Diana, Princess of Wales.”

An £11 million project to improve electricity lines in the Deepings will reduce power cuts to thousands of homes in the area.

East Midlands Electricity has earmarked the money as part of a five-year programme to replace worn out lines, which have been the cause of power cuts during recent storms.

Last week more than 25,000 customers were without electricity after a problem with a 132,000 volt overhead line occurred.

The project is part of a £100 million drive by East Midlands Electricity to improve power lines across Lincolnshire by the year 2000.

Deryck Dillon, EME network general manager for the Lincolnshire area, said: “The Deepings’ power lines are getting older and they need to be upgraded. The new lines will be stronger as they will have more protection against stormy weather.

“It would be wrong of me to say the new power lines will solve problems people have experienced. People living in Lincolnshire will have different experiences than those living in a place like Nottingham. The more rural the area, the greater the risk of having power cuts, but the work is being done will minimise problems.”

Judith Lawson Pharmacy, one of Stamford’s oldest businesses, will close at the end of the month.

The decision to close the Red Lion Square business, which has been the site of a pharmacy since 1720, comes after the Sheep Market Surgery revealed plans to move to a purpose-built building at Stamford Hospital.

A pharmacy is included in the plans which would shift pharmacy trade away from the town centre.

Judith Lawson put in a bid for the contract at the new site when it was offered by the health authority but it was awarded to the Co-op, which plans to evenually relocate to the new site from its St Mary’s Street pharmacy.

Mrs Lawson said; “With the move we would have lost most of the dispensary work which is the backbone of the business and without it we could not have survived. I am very sad. I had no intention of giving up the business before this.”

Mrs Lawson has owned the business for 11 years but worked there for 25 years.

50 years ago

September 8, 1972

Parents protested this week that teenage bullies are making life a misery for children at Stamford Recreation Ground.

They accused 13 to 14-year-old gangs of using foul language and threatening younger children.

And the angry parents claim that the teenagers are not letting others use the new playground equipment at the Rec.

Now they want to see a warden brought in to control the trouble and an age-limit put on the youngsters using the play-ground equipment.

Mr P. D. Burton, of Tolethorpe Square, Stamford, said: “It’s ridiculous. They need far more swings – especially for the younger children.

“You get gangs of teenagers, about 13 years old, who just sit on the swing all day. And when you ask them to move all you get is foul language.”

Mr Burton said a warden was needed - “but not a pensioner... he could get beaten up the way some of them behave.”

Another headache for the parents is that there is tarmac – and not grass – under the playground equipment.

Mrs C. Bryan, of Cambridge Road, Stamford, said her three-year-old daughter Bernadette had fallen off a slide and been badly bruised to the head.

A Ryhall youth saved a furniture warehouse in the village from what could have been a serious blaze on Thursday evening.

Tim Walmsley of Mill House Farm, Ryhall, dashed to the rescue with a garden hose after discovering fire in a section of the timber framework of the building.

It belonged to Steele’s Removals of Stamford, and was situated at Turnpike Road, Ryhall.

A fire brigade spokesman at Stamford said latter: “This could have been far more serious than it was.

“It was extinguished as soon as it was discovered, and all the fire briagde had to do when they arrived was to find the cause of the blaze.”

Two fire engines from Stamford attended.

The fire was due to an electrical fault which rendered the building live and caused the timber framework to catch fire, the spokesman added.

No serious damage was caused.

Police mingled with Sunday morning churchgoers at Rippingale after vandals had been at work in the village church.

The hooligans smashed a window to get in and then thrw choir boys garments to the floor, scattered papers around, and turned out drawers.

Two brass candlesticks thought to be worth about £5 were stolen.

The raid was discovered only a couple of hours before services were due to begin and clearing up operations were put into action.

Police were on the premises checking for fingerprints as the first of the churchgoers arrived.

l Park Air Electronics announce that the Stamford company has been selected by the Civil Aviation Authority to supply ground to air receivers.

The receivers which were specially designed by Park Air Electronics are to be used to re-equip all the United Kingdom airports operated by the Civil Aviation Authority.

100 years ago

September 8, 1922

Funeral of Road Tragedy Victim – Much sympathetic interest was shown at the funeral on Saturday of Ernest Arbon, of North-street, Stamford, a victim of the tragic road fatality at Cottingham, recorded in our last issue. The streets from the house to the cemetery were lined with people, and a crowd of sympathisers gathered round the grave. The committal service was conducted by the Rev. W. H. N. Secker, Vicar of St. John’s. There were numerous floral tributes from neighbours and friends. Deceased was a member of the D Company 4th Territorial Regt., and it was the desire of the corps to accord deceased military honours, but at the request of the relatives this was not done. A beautiful wreath, however, was sent from the company.

A disastrous fire, completely gutting Greatford Hall, and doing damage to the extent of many thousands of pounds, broke out before daybreak on Tuesday, and in the darkness some exciting scenes were enacted.

The outbreak was discovered soon after 4.30 a.m. by Mr. D’Arcy Bradall, a London architect, who was staying at the Hall, having in hand a scheme of improvement of the mansion at a cost of £10,000 for Major C. C. L. Fitzwilliam, M.C., late of the Welsh Guards. The latter gentlemen recently purchased the property, and was temporarily residing there while Mrs. Hugh Peacock, the tenant, was away in Yorkshire. She was telegraphed for during the morning, as the major portion of the furniture belonged to her.

Major Fitzwilliam, whose London address is 8, Thorney Court, W.8., had come down with his wife and three little children for the shooting season.

The alarm was raised by a kitchen-maid running into the village screaming fire and messages were despatched for the Stamford and Bourne Fire Brigades, who turned out promptly.

The flames spread with startling rapidity and when the brigade arrived from Stamford almost the whole building was a raging furnace. They had no sooner got to work than two large water tanks collapsed, and the ammunition in the gun-room exploded. The fire started in the east wing, and soon enveloped the central portion of the structure and west wing, the flares throwing a glare into the sky which could be seen for many miles around.

Bourne

Voters’ Lists Brought Up To date – The revision of the list of voters for the Rutland and Stamford Division was concluded at Bourne on Tuesday, when Mr. B. A. Adam, of Oakham, deputy registration officer for the division, was in attendance. Mr. W. Kelby represented the Agricultural and Independent Party, Mr. A. E. G. Dixon the Unionist Party, and Mr Swain the Labour Party.

Charity meeting – The monthly meeting of the Bourne Charity Trustees was held on Wednesday afternoon, when Mr. F. H Sones presided. The Clerk presented the final account of the repairs at Leytonstone whereby four dilapidated houses last October partially collapsed, had been transformed into modern looking and substantial buildings. The repairs cost £1560.

150 years ago

September 6, 1872

The second monthly meeting of the Co-operative society was held at the store, Red Lion-street, Stamford, on Tuesday evening last. There was a good attendance of members The principal business of the evening was to select a storeman from the seven applications in answer to an advertisement. After considerable discussion it was resolved to leave the selection in the hands of the committee of management, who stated that, should they succeed in obtaining a salesman, they hoped to commence business about the first week in October.

On Thursday evening the 29th ult. Griffin Farrow, higgler, met with a rather serious accident whilst driving to the Midland Railway station. He overbalanced himself and fell out of the cart, and one of his legs was run over. He was lifted up and taken to the Infirmary. Owing, however, to the leg having very much swollen at the part where the wheel went over it the precise nature of the injury could not at first be ascertained, but afterwards it was found that the bone was fractured.

The Weather for August – Notes taken at Tickencote, Rutland, daily, at 9 a.m.; Rain fell on 15 days. The greatest fall in one day was on the 4th, when 1.48 inch was registered. There was thunder on 7days. The hottest day was the 18th, when the thermometer rose to 82 in the shade and 118 in the sun. The total fall of rain for the month was 3.48 inches. W. Hayes.

A valuable beast, the property of Mr. William Holmes, of Langtoft Fen, was killed in the field by lightning during the storm which passed across the fen district on Saturday last.

A tramp, who gave the name of John Harding, of Nottingham, was taken before the Mayor on Wednesday charged with vagrancy, and was remanded until Saturday. It appears that on Tuesday he went into the shop of Mrs. Tebbutt, grocer, and finding no one there began looking about the shop in a very suspicious manner. Mr. Tebbutt happened to observe him, and went and asked him what he wanted. The impudent fellow coolly replied that he had come to rob the shop if he had the chance, and walked out. Mr. Tebbutt communicated the circumstances to the police, and gave a description of the man, and p.c. Grey apprehended him in the evening at the Golden Fleece.

Stamford Union – The board resumed its weekly meetings on Wednesday last, and there was rather more than an average attendance, a special notice having been issued that the Public Health Act, 1872, would be taken into consideration. The Union business was mostly of a routine character. The statistics of pauperism showed the number in the house to be 118, being 7 less than in the corresponding week of last year: recipients of out-relief 764, at a cost of £87 10s. 4d.; corresponding week of last year 80, at a cost of £92 4s. 3½d. As many as 21 wayfarers were relieved in the house during the week. The parish of West Deeping has been very unfortunate this year. No sooner had the small-pox cases been got rid of than typhoid fever presented itself, four persons of one family being now down with the malady.

200 years ago

September 6, 1822

We are happy to state that the collection on the 29th of August, after the impressive sermon delivered by the Rev. Dr. Strong, for the benefit of the Peterboro’ Dispensary, amount to more than £50. The usefulness of this excellent charity becomes every day more manifest, and we trust that it will continue to receive the support to which it has so just a claim. There are 133 patients in the Dispensary, and 10 in the Infirmary.

On Sunday night last a most wicked and malignant destruction of property was committed upon the premises of the Rev. J. G. Dimock, Rector of Uppingham, it is suspected by three young men of dissolute habits, who have before been detected in window-breaking and other nightly depredations.

The depredators commenced the work of destruction by plucking the apples from several young trees, and pulling them up by the roots; they also broke and pulled up several other shrubs and trees, broke several hand-glasses used for gardening purposes, and a number of flower-pots containing exotic plants; cut of fthe ears and tail of a pig, stabbed it in the side, and left it to a lingering death; broke open two out-houses, and stole 7 tame rabbits. From thence they proceeded to the church yard, and there threw off the two of two tombstones. The depredation upon Mr. Dimock had been preceded by several anonymous letters, containing threats of mischief in the most abusive and indecent language. We regret to add, that such evidence as would sustain a prosecution against the supposed dastardly perpetrators of this wanton outrage has not yet been obtained.

Such is the diabolical spirit that attends the concerns of Messrs. Samuel and Thomas Arnsby, bankrupts, that on Monday morning last, the day fixed for the sale of their stock at Fishtoft, nearly twenty rams were found to have had their tails cut off, with a view, no doubt, of depreciating the value of them. We hope that the perpetrator of this brutal act will shortly be discovered, and meet with the punishment due to such malignant conduct.

Wansford and Bourn Turnpike Roads.

Notice is hereby given, that Application is intended to be made to Parliament, in the next Session, for leave to bring a Bill for amending and rendering more effectual an Act passed in the first year of the reign of his present Majesty, intitled, “An Act for more effectually repairing the road from Wansford Bridge, in the county of Northampton, to Stamford, and from Stamford to Bourn, in the county of Lincoln,” which said road passes from, through, to or into the several parishes and townships of Wansford, Thornhaugh, Wittering, and Saint Martin’s Stamford Baron, in the said county of Northampton, and Saint Mary, Saint John, All Saints, Saint Michael, and Saint George, in Stamford, in the said county of Lincoln, Ryhall and Essendine, in the county of Rutland, and Carlby, Witham on the Hill, and Bourn, in the county of Lincoln aforesaid; in which Bill provision is intended to be proposed for increasing and altering the existing tolls or duties granted by the said Act. Dated this fourth day of September,1822.

W. Reed, clerk to the Trustees of the said Road.