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PROUD Julie West – Rushden’s very own ‘Poppy Lady’ was honoured in the New Year’s Honours List by The Queen. The 83-year-old has been selling the Poppy for more than six decades in the town – in fact, every year since she was 15, apart from the year of the pandemic. She said: “I am very proud of the award. “I genuinely couldn’t believe I was beining honoured for something I enjoy doing, “It was an amazing feeling when I found out.” She said her official letter arrived on the day her son left to return to his home in the United States. It was his first visit for more than two years because of the effects of the pandemic. She said: “I went from being really sad to getting a real lift.” She originally sold Poppies doorto-door and now hosts a stand in her local supermarket. Continued on page 4
TUESDAY SPECIAL
A TOWN has been urged to come together and help celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. On February 6, Her Majesty The Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people.
Plans are afoot to combine Her Majesty’s unique achievement with the annual Celebrate Rushden event. Rushden Town Council already has several events planned, but is looking for extra ideas from any group or business within the town wishing to put on an event. It hopes as many people as possible will submit their plans for the celebration and join in events and activities to help make the long weekend a right royal success story. Town Mayor, Councillor Melanie Coleman, said: “We are looking forward to celebrating this momentous occasion with Her Majesty and have many fantastic events lined up for the local community to get involved in.” She said: “2022 is set to be a very exciting year for Rushden!” Rushden Celebrates will take place from Saturday, May 28 to Sunday, June 12, finishing with Rushden’s Soap Box Derby at Hall Park. And within that falls the Platinum Jubilee from Thursday, June 2, to Sunday, June 5.
Previous Celebrate Rushden events have included concerts, art exhibitions, speaker evenings, sporting events, teddy bear’s picnics and lots more. And this year the town council wants the public to put its thinking cap on and come up with some more ideas to celebrate the anniversary and the town of Rushden.
A spokesman said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to promote your own services to the local community and so it’s time to put on them thinking caps and help Rushden enjoy a celebration to remember.” Anyone with ideas, can e-mail them to michelle@rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk To celebrate nationally, events and initiatives will take place throughout the year, culminating in the four day UK bank holiday weekend. The four days of celebrations will include public events and community activities, as well as national moments of reflection on The Queen’s 70 years of service. To help with the celebrations, you can also submit your event dates and events to the Queen’s official Platinum Jubilee online calendar planner at https://platinumjubilee.gov.uk/events/
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Police raid recovers more than £150,000 of equipment
THE county’s Police’s Rural Crime Team has recovered £150,000 worth of assets from an area of land in Braybrooke Road, Desborough. On Friday, January 7, 2022, a cross-border operation saw officers from the team join forces with Leicestershire Police’s Rural Crime Team to attend the area as a result of information received that £90,000 worth of plant machinery had been fraudulently hired in Leicestershire and was being used on the site. Upon arrival, both pieces of plant machinery were recovered and while it was being retrieved, PC Hutch Hutchings carried out checks on the site and identified three caravans as being stolen, with a total value of about £60,000. PC Hutchings contacted one of the victims of the stolen caravans and due to the circumstances of
the theft, the insurance company had refused to pay out. The victim was therefore overjoyed as he had saved for years to purchase the caravan and had only had it a few months before its theft. Northamptonshire Police’s Rural Crime Team Sgt Andy Maher said: “This was an extremely successful operation and I am pleased that not only was the plant machinery recovered, but three stolen caravans were also discovered too. “They will now be returned to their rightful owners. “It was great to execute this operation in partnership with our colleagues in Leicestershire and I hope it sends a message to criminals – it doesn’t matter where you commit your crimes because we will work together to thwart you.”
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AN urgent police appeal for information on the whereabouts of this man has been issued after a serious assault was carried out. Northamptonshire Police has asked for information regarding the location of the 34-year-old man – Glen Robert Tomlin, (pictured). Officers said Tomlin is wanted in connection with a serious assault in Rushden. Police said that if you see him, you should not approach him but should contact Northamptonshire Police officers immediately on 999.
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Teenager sentenced to minimum of 15 years for murder A TEENAGER has been handed a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years after he was convicted of the murder of Corby youngster Rayon Pennycook. Rayon, aged 16, died on May 25, 2021, after suffering a single stab wound during a knife fight with Stefan Draca, (pictured, below), in Reynolds Road after both boys intervened in a fight between two girls. On December 2, 2021, following an investigation by Northamptonshire Police’s Major Crime Team, a jury at Northampton Crown Court unanimously convicted Draca of Rayon’s murder, and of the illegal possession of a knife. The sentencing hearing at the same court on Friday, January 14, is the first time Draca can be legally named as he has now turned 18. Presiding judge – His Honour Judge David Herbert sentenced Draca, of Landseer Court, Corby, to a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years for murder, with a concurrent three years for the illegal possession of a knife. Addressing Draca, Judge Herbert said: “You went to Reynolds Road for confrontation and were prepared for violence. You used the knife you
EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER FEBRUARY 2022
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took to the scene and stabbed Rayon Pennycook in the chest. “This case highlights the danger of knives.” Speaking afterwards, senior investigating officer Det Insp Pete Long said: “From the outset, this case has been one of utter tragedy. “ A talented, promising and much-loved young man has lost his life, and another now faces a significant jail term and the loss of his future prospects, as well as having to live with what he has done forever. “While I welcome today’s sentence, nothing can repair the heartbreak suffered by Rayon’s family. “Throughout our investigation they have shown nothing but dignity and strength, all while deeply mourning him. “They will carry their loss and pain for the rest of their lives, and I hope Stefan Draca uses his time in prison to reflect, atone and learn to make better choices. “This case shows just how dangerous it is to carry a knife – all it takes is one injury to end a life and ruin countless others forever. “As ever, our thoughts remain with Rayon’s family and friends.”
Domestic abuse campaign results in hundreds of arrests A HUGE number of people were arrested as part of the Northamptonshire Police Christmas domestic abuse awareness campaign. Officers said 359 individuals were arrested for domestic abuse related offences in December. Two of those detained were featured on the police ‘Top Ten’ most wanted offender list. As part of the campaign, the names and photos of the ten most wanted domestic abuse offenders were shared with the press, and posted across police social media channels. Intelligence suggests that a further three of the ten listed may have left the UK. The Force typically sees a spike in domestic abuse incidents over the festive season, which is why the awareness campaign was launched, and why from mid-December police officers worked proactively to target known abusers and safeguard high risk victims. As part of this work a number of victim welfare checks were undertaken. During one such visit, a domestic abuse perpetrator was found hiding in a wardrobe and arrested. The individual was breaking bail conditions and also had an outstanding warrant for GBH.
Their subsequent arrest not only safeguarded the victim but also a young child present at the address. In addition, police officers also made checks on a number of known perpetrators, including those who were on police bail, to confirm they were adhering to their bail conditions. Also, compliance checks were made to offenders who had been served with Domestic Violence Protection Orders, (DVPO), to ensure they were keeping away from the victim as per the terms of the order. A DVPO is a civil order which provides protection to victims by enabling the police and magistrates’ courts to put in place protective measures in the immediate aftermath of a domestic violence incident. A number of protection notices were issued over the Christmas period to help safeguard victims. Head of Public Protection Det Supt Rich Tompkins said: “It’s pleasing to see such a high number of arrests, but equally, it’s really saddening to see the increase in domestic abuse incidents we commonly experience over the festive season. “Domestic abuse is a matter of priority for
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(such as a pub, hotel, restaurant, bar, village hall or club). Council leader Jason Smithers said: “As a council, we have a duty to support everyone through these difficult times. We know that these grants make a real difference.” Visit https://www.northnorthants.gov.uk/ coronavirus-covid-19/omicron-hospitality-andleisure-grant for details.
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Northamptonshire Police. “There is no excuse for this type of behaviour and we will continue to go after offenders, no matter what time of year it is. “We will seek justice for victims and continue to safeguard individuals and families affected by this vile offence. “We work closely with statutory and voluntary agencies to ensure anyone who suffers domestic abuse gets the help they need, to highlight the issue of domestic abuse and to explore ways in which we can protect our community. “I want to encourage anyone suffering from domestic abuse to call their local police on the non-emergency 101 or, in an emergency, always call 999.” If you are a victim of domestic abuse, or know someone who is and there is an emergency that’s ongoing or life is in danger, call 999 now. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use our textphone service 18000, or text police on 999 if you havee pre-registered with the emergency SMS service External Link. In non-emergency cases and for general advice, contact 101. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, use thetextphone service on 18001 101. Or domestic abuse line on 0808 2000247.
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FEBRUARY 2022 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER
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Retired county honoured with the Queen’s Police Medal Continued from page 1
A RECENTLY-retired police officer who dedicated much of his career to supporting rural communities in East Northants has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal. Former PC Paul. (known as Mitch). Mitchinson, who retired in June, has been awarded the accolade in the New Year’s Honours List.
27 YEARS SERVICE
Mitch had a varied career during his 27 years with Northamptonshire Police, having worked in roads policing as a Family Liaison Officer, as a firearms officer and for the last 12 years as a member of our Neighbourhood Team covering East Northants. During this time, Mitch built close links with the rural community while also helping to tackle wider
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issues in the area, such as drugs gangs and supporting vulnerable people being targeted by them. Mitch said: “I was absolutely gobsmacked to find out about the award, it was a shock, completely out of the blue. “I loved every minute of my career, there was never a morning when I didn’t want to go to work. You go into people’s lives when they’re at their lowest and you can do something to help them. “Working on Neighbourhoods was one of the best jobs I had, it’s so diverse, one day you can work with our rural communities, then the next work as a crime team tackling drug dealers and the next helping vulnerable people.” Chief Constable Nick Adderley said: “I am absolutely delighted that former PC Paul Mitchinson has been recognised for his sterling work as a Neighbourhood Officer.”
What we can learn from history IN MY OPINION
By Canon George Burgon
IT is not always wise to put someone on a pedestal. The Psalmist warns us not to put our trust in princes or in any child of man, (Psalm 146:2). Those who are often in the headlines sometimes end up in Court. Life teaches us that even mighty and well-built statues can have “feet of clay”, (See Daniel 2: 31-45). History cannot be rewritten but it can be revised. The toppling of the Edward Colton statue in Bristol may be a sign of our times which could lead to more empty plinths, re-sited monuments and familiar street names being changed. Our national history is littered with the debris of slavery, injustice, class prejudice and the victimisation of those who were once regarded as beyond the pale. It is not just a question of judging the past by today’s standards. But also recognising that some of those who erected monuments to the famous, like those they commemorated, had ‘questionable’ standards in the first place. It is a sign of a healthy society that we look again at some revered names that have a dubious past as well as safeguarding effigies of those who did make the world a better place. History is an important aspect in our society and should not be side lined or ignored. It is part of our daily lives. If we wish to revise history, we do well to remember the wise words of Thomas Arnold, the great headteacher of Rugby School.
“Two things we learn from history - one, is that we are not in ourselves superior to our fathers; another we are shamefully and monstrously inferior to them, if we do not advance beyond them.” Just as in our personal lives we all have our failures and regrets, society can often reflect such weaknesses in its collective appraisals. No-one is perfect and few of us are beyond reproach. The people that Jesus encountered in his time were just as tainted, prejudiced, and selfish like we are. He did not mix with the perfect. But with those who needed to accept God’s love for themselves and those around them. He could be quite caustic in his dealings with the self-righteous “he who is without sin cast the first stone.” He did not instruct us to behave like those who crucified him. To the self-righteous he commanded. “Judge not that you be not judged.” The good will be revered by what they gave to make the world a better place. A revised look at history and the imposing figures of the past could be seen simply as an exercise in political self-righteousness or a vital process in discovering ourselves and how not to repeat evil in our society today. In the same way repentance within is a healthy way to renew our capacity for doing what is good and true in our daily lives. Let us never forget that we are all making history every day in what we do.
Health award
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and Voluntary Impact Northamptonshire’s collaborative telephone befriending service has been shortlisted in the annual Health Service Journal Partnership Awards. NHFT and VIN work in partnership to deliver the innovative telephone support service, which was first established in March 2020 at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. The befriending service, which is manned by volunteers, offers support for people across the county who have become isolated while staying at home throughout the pandemic.
Tribute paid
HIGHAM Ferrers Town Council has paid tribute to a former mayor. On its website, it said: “It was with great sadness that the Town Council and staff received the news of the death of former Councillor and Mayor of the town, Mick Beesley. “Mick was a dedicated councillor for 12 years until May 2015 and served as Mayor in 2007/08, carrying out his duties with pride and great respect for others. “Mick was elected as a Bedesman to the town in 2008 and later received the honour of being appointed as the Prior to the Bedesmen.”
Mayor award
RUSHDEN Town Council is seeking nominations for the Mayor’s Awards for Services to the Community for the year 2021/2022. The Mayor’s Award is given to an individual for their work and commitment within the community of Rushden over a number of years, (group nominations will not be eligible for an award.) Submit the name and address of nominees, together with details of the reason for their nomination, to the Town Clerk at Rushden Town Council, Rushden Hall, Hall Park, Rushden, Northants, NN10 9NG, or e-mail: info@ rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk All nominations should be received by Monday, March 28.
Grant help
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Community Foundation gave out more than £930,000 from April tto December last year to local voluntary groups and small charities on behalf of its generous donors and partners. It has also sought to ensure that rolling programmes have been made available throughout the financial year to help the ongoing work to support vulnerable residents during the coronavirus public health crisis – this has included a Family Food Aid programme, Made by Sports #ClubsInCrisis to help provide funds for small sports clubs supporting young people and The Constance Travis Endowment Fund focusing on local solutions to tackle the priority needs, including poverty, hunger, good health and wellbeing, quality education and gender equality. You can contact the community foundation for more information about its work on 01604 230033.
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Swipe left for romance fraud – online dating scams OFFICERS from Northamptonshire Police are supporting a national campaign to urge families to protect their relatives from becoming a victim of romance fraud after county residents lost more than £700,000 through dating scams last year. Daters who strike up online relationships between Christmas and Valentine’s Day tend to be the most susceptible to romance fraud, however a total of 117 reports were recorded in the county throughout 2021. Figures released by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau, (NFIB), also showed 56 per cent of victims of this type of fraud in Northamptonshire were female compared to 36 per cent males. While those aged 60 to 69 recorded the highest number of romance frauds with the police receiving 24 reports, followed closely by the 50 to 59 age group with 23, 30 to 39 years, (19), 40 to 49 years, (18), and 20 to 29-year-olds, (17). Fraud Protect Officer PC Neil MacKenzie of the Force’s Economic Crime Unit said: “Loneliness is a key element which fuels the need for an online relationship, which allows fraudsters the opportunity to manipulate their victims. “Typically, a fraudster will spend weeks or even months grooming their victim with empathy and affection and fabricated stories of their lives, creating a believable background and importantly building trust. “Initially there’s no suggestion or desire to ask the victim for money so they may believe the love interest is genuine. “However, once the emotional relationship has been formed, the fraudster will use a variety of emotive reasons to ask victims for money. “Once they have received money, the fraudsters will keep coming back with more reasons to send more or will ask the victim to use their bank account to transfer money for them – this is money laundering. “The financial loss alone is difficult to overcome
with some victims losing their life-savings however it’s the emotional impact on victims which can be devastating as they end up loving the person who scammed them. “We want to do all we can to raise awareness of this heartless crime to prevent others from falling for it, which is why we are calling on family members who think their relatives may be dating online to help spread the message. “We are asking families to speak to their relatives to ensure they are aware of the warning signs to look out for to help them avoid falling victim to fraud. “Especially if their loved one is not particularly
tech savvy.” Criminals often use a range of stories to get victims to transfer them money without it raising suspicion. The stories are often believable, to a certain extent, and something that the victim would find hard to say no to, especially because of their emotional attachment. Examples of stories include funding travel to visit the victim, money to pay for emergency medical expenses, lucrative investment opportunities and pretending to be military personnel or working overseas. How to help protect people you know are online dating:
l Help your friends and family to ensure they have adequate privacy settings on their social media accounts to ensure strangers don’t have access to their personal information l Stay in regular contact with your friends and family who are online dating to help spot any changes in behaviour or things that don’t seem right l Make friends and family aware of the signs of romance fraud so they are conscious of the tactics’ criminals use to carry out these scams and reiterate that you should never transfer money to someone that you have never met in person l Encourage people to report to Action Fraud and the police if they have become a victim of romance fraud and not to be embarrassed about doing so.
Tell-tale signs an online date may be a fraudster:
l They want to communicate through instant messaging and texts, rather than through the dating website or chat room as other platforms are encrypted and difficult to trace l They ask lots of questions about their love interest, but do not reveal much about themselves l They don’t answer basic questions about where they live and work l Their profile picture is too perfect – for example they look like an actor or Miss World titleholder, they cannot send a live image with thumbs up, or waving l They CANNOT talk to the person, video calls are silent, because it’s a loop stolen from a genuine site l They talk about their financial difficulties to sow a seed before asking for money.
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FEBRUARY 2022 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER
If you go down to the woods today...popular activity is back FROM the creators of The Gruffalo, the hugely popular children’s picture book Superworm has returned to Fineshade Wood with a brand-new family activity trail. The new Superworm trails follow the premiere of the animated special from Magic Light Pictures, which aired on BBC One on Christmas Day. In the latest exciting partnership between Forestry England and Magic Light Pictures, the Superworm trail showcases the unsung heroes of the forest. Based on the children’s picture book written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, the trail highlights the small but mighty creatures in the Superworm story, such as toad, beetle and Wizard Lizard, and shows their amazing abilities as they make their home in
the forest. The Superworm activity trail at Fineshade Wood will have lots of fun activities to complete and the new self-led trail will encourage children to become superheroes of the forest themselves. Families will discover brightly illustrated panels, packed with amazing activities designed to get children thinking about these unsung heroes. Questions along the self-led trail will inspire children to think about the everyday heroic feats of the minibeasts of the woods and forests around them. The trail should keep the young ones entertained for around an hour leaving plenty of time to find more fun and explore the forest. Special Superworm trail packs are available to buy on site for £3.50.
Higham Ferrers Town Council
The Town Hall, Market Square Higham Ferrers NN10 8BT Tel/Fax: 01933 312075 info@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk www.highamferrers-tc.gov.uk
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ALL MEETINGS WILL BE HELD AT THE TOWN HALL UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTIFIED
Tuesday 8th February, 6.45pm Planning and Development Committee Meeting Tuesday 8th February, 7.30pm Policy and Resources Committee Tuesday 22nd February, 7.30pm Statutory Town Council meeting Saturday 26th February, 9am–1pm FARMERS’ MARKET how to ContaCt your CounCillor Pam Whiting
pamwhiting@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk
Peter Tomas
Tina Reavey
tinareavey@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk
Paul McCann
Angela Gardner
angelagardner@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk
Vijay Paul
Barry Spencer
Jennie Bone*
Barry Prigmore
Nigel Brown
Chris O’Rourke
Bert Jackson*
Tony Reading
Gerald Kelly
Gary Salmon
Sean Prosser
barryspencer@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk barryprigmore@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk chrisorourke@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk tonyreading@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk garysalmon@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk
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petertomas@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk paulmccann@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk vijaypaul@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk jenniebone@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk nigelbrown@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk bertjackson@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk geraldkelly@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk seanprosser@highamferrers-tc.gov.uk * Higham Ferrers Unitary Councillor
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Town Clerk – Mrs Sandra Mitcham BA (Hons), FILCM Assistant Town Clerk – Alicia Schofield Administration/Communication/Finance Officer – Donna Anderson Administration/Communication Officer – Emily Arrow Parks and Open Spaces Warden – Chris Spring & Stephen Bridge Mayor’s Sergeant – Mr David Wicks
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Saffron has renewed hope thanks to hospital MENTAL health staff working at a Northampton psychiatric hospital have helped give a young woman “hope for the future” as she plans to embark upon a career in the sector in the New Year. Saffron, (pictured), has been an inpatient at St Andrew’s Healthcare for nine months, after she was transferred from another mental health facility, which was deemed unsuitable for her needs. The 19-year-old, who has chosen to waive her right to patient confidentiality, is hoping that 2022 will see her leave hospital and get on with the next stage of her life. She said: “Before I came to St Andrew’s, I wasn’t doing very well at all. I was really struggling with my eating and I was on a ward that didn’t facilitate my diagnoses which are Borderline Personality Disorder and Anorexia Nervosa. “This made things very difficult because I was surrounded by people that didn’t understand and didn’t know how to look after me properly and it was a very unstable environment for me.” Since Saffron was admitted to St Andrew’s, she has gone from strength to strength and now has unescorted leave, which she has never before been well enough to be granted. Much of her improved health she attributes to the staff on her ward and her responsible clinician Dr Jonathan Baggott. Saffron said: “I’ve never got on with any of
my doctors before as I’ve had a lot of people who have overmedicated me. “When I first came here I was absolutely terrified that St Andrew’s was going to be like other hospitals I’ve stayed in, where I’m told what I have to eat, what I have to do, whether I’m wheelchair bound because of my BMI and I’ve experienced nothing of the sort here.”
Since being admitted to St Andrew’s, Saffron has become involved in staff training, has become the advocate for her division, sat in on board meetings and has been offered higher education and work experience. Saffron has said she has learnt so much and has become inspired by the team who have helped her that she now wants to work in the field of mental health. She said: “I’d really like to go into psychiatry, so I’ve been involved in patient feedback services during my stay at St Andrew’s, and gaining as much experience as I can. “Anything I experience here will not just help me to recover, but it will help me get to the place where I want to be so I can help others.” St Andrew’s CEO Jess Lievesley said: “I am constantly inspired by the recovery journeys of our service users and I’m thrilled to hear that Saffron has made such significant progress since being admitted to St Andrew’s. “It’s really important to us that we involve our patients in their recovery journey, as we’ve seen first-hand how co-production can really empower people. “It’s exciting to hear of Saffron’s career plans and we are certainly huge supporters of staff who have ‘lived experience’ of mental health issues. Saffron and all her care team should be very proud of what she has achieved and that she finally has hope for the future. “I really think Saffron could go on to do great things and that 2022 could be her year.”
Appeal after knife incident
WITNESSES are being sought after a man was seen with a knife in Rushden. The incident happened on Wednesday, December 29, at about 9.15pm, in the alleyway between Lloyds Bank and Occasions card shop in High Street, when a man with a large serrated knife waved it aggressively at a man. The suspect was a white man, about 18,, and wore a black hooded top with the hood up, black bottoms and with a bicycle. The man was also in company with a woman who had short, spiky reddish/pink hair. Witnesses or anyone who has any information about the incident should contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Burglars strike two homes
POLICE officers are appealing for witnesses after two burglaries. Sometime between 3pm and 9.15pm on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, a rear patio door window was broken at in Orlingbury Road, Little Harrowden. Entry was gained but nothing stolen. Officers investigating this burglary are appealing to road users travelling in this area between the stated times to check their dash-cam footage for anyone who looked out of place either on foot or in a car. Officers are also appealing for witnesses after a burglary in Station Road, Irthlingborough. The incident happened on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, between 8.10am and 9.15am, when the unknown offender/s entered the property and stole cash, an iPad, a laptop and two men’s watches. Anyone with information should call police on 101.
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Help combat crime in remote rural areas MEMBERS of the rural community are being encouraged to mark their possessions and report any suspicious activity after officers from Northamptonshire Police have seen an increase in thefts across the county. One of the incidents happened in Welton Road, Barby, between 7.30pm and 8.30pm on December 30, 2021, when an out-building was broken into and a Kawasaki quadbike stolen from inside. The suspects were two white males, one wearing a baseball cap and high vis tabard, in a Ford Ranger which would have sustained damage during the course of the incident. The second incident happened on Monday, January 10, between 6.30pm and 7.30pm, when two men in a silver Volvo saloon attempted to steal a caravan from Valley Road, Brackley. The third incident happened in High Street, Silverstone, between 3am and 5am on Friday, January 14, when five males in a black
BMW estate stole a Bailey Unicorn caravan off a private driveway. Officers are now urging members of the rural community to consider crime prevention tools such as trackers, CCTV that alerts them to something happening, and hitch and wheel locks, to make access to vehicles extremely difficult and therefore harder to steal.
WITNESS APPEAL
Officers are also appealing for any witnesses or anyone with CCTV regarding any of the incidents above to get in touch. You can do so by calling Northamptonshire Police on 101 or alternatively, you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111. If anyone has any queries regarding their crime prevention then they can contact the Rural Crime Team. You can also get crime fighting prevention advice by visiting www.northants.police.uk/cp/crime -prevention/
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Police warning after spike in aggravated burglaries POLICE in north Northamptonshire are issuing a warning to the public to be extra vigilant after a spate of aggravated burglaries in the area. In the past month, a number of offences have taken place across the Wellingborough, Kettering and East Northants areas involving offenders entering properties, threatening the occupants inside, and stealing items including cash and jewellery. Neighbourhood Policing Insp Nathan Murray, said: “We understand that these offences will cause a lot of concern among the community. “I would like to reassure local people that an investigation has been launched led by our CID and that we are doing everything
we can to apprehend the offenders. “I want to make it clear that the only cause of crime is criminals and in an ideal world I would not have to give people advice on how to give themselves the best chance of not becoming a victim of burglary.
CRIME PREVENTION TIPS
“However sadly, there are people out there who will look to steal your hard-earned possessions and therefore I would encourage you to check out our crime prevention tips below. “Burglars often look for easy targets and often, by putting some small crime prevention measures in place, this can deter them from burgling your home. “Everyone deserves to feel safe in their
homes and we will do everything we can to apprehend the people that are doing this. “Finally, I also want to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who sees anything suspicious in their local areas to contact us. “We would rather be called in good faith to something that turns out to be nothing, than to not be called at all.” Extra police patrols have been put in place in response to this crime series and to provide reassurance to the public. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to approach a local officer who will be happy to help. If you have any information about burglaries in your area, contact Northamptonshire Police on 101.
Life-saving ‘Bleed Box’ Appeal for witnesses installed in town centre after two accidents
A POTENTIALLY life-saving ‘Bleed Box’ has been installed in Rushden town centre. Rushden Town Council has been working with ‘Off The Streets NN’ – a local anti knife crime group – to help find suitable locations for several emergency bleed control kits which can be used to provide emergency aid to treat patients injured in a serious violent crime. The first Bleed Box in Rushden has been installed in the walkway that leads from High Street to Orchard Place Car Park. The box contains gloves,
bandages and a tourniquet and can only be opened with a code given by emergency services when someone phones 999. A video of how to use the kit is available at youtu.be/tqtaIBpKraI As well as visiting local schools, the group also held a public training session at Rock Street Community Centre in Wellingborough. The boxes were purchased from fundraising efforts made by the ‘Off The Streets NN’ group and they plan to install several more within Rushden and Northamptonshire.
POLICE have appealed for witnesses after two accidents. Officers are appealing for help after a fatal road traffic collision in Oundle. The incident happened at about 9am on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, in Glapthorn Road. Officers said a pedestrian next to a scaffolding lorry was in collision with a black Ford Ranger. The man, aged 33, sadly died at the scene. They have appealed for anyone with information, or who witnessed this incident, to contact the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615. In another incident, collision investigators at Northamptonshire Police are appealing for informa-
tion and witnesses after a motorcyclist was seriously injured in the early hours of New Year’s Day. At about 2.55am on Saturday, January 1 – for reasons unknown – a motorcyclist riding along Naseby Road, close to the junction with Avenue Terrace, was in collision with a car parked on the pavement. The male rider was taken to hospital with serious, potentially life-threatening head, pelvis and leg injuries. Anyone who witnessed the collision, or who has information or dash-cam footage relevant to it, is asked to call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615, regarding ‘incident 162 of January 1’.
Town to go to the polls OUNDLE is set to go to the polls. Notice has been given under Section 87 (2) of the Local Government Act 1972 that a casual vacancy exists in the office of councillor for the Oundle ward of North Northamptonshire Council,
after the resignation of councillor Annabel de Capell Brooke. You can find out more information at www.northnorthants. gov.uk/elections-and-voting/ upcoming-elections/noticevacancy-office-councilloroundle-ward
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Man sentenced to 20 months in prison for hospital burglary
A 35-YEAR-old man has been sentenced to one year and eight months in prison after burgling Northampton General Hospital. At 11pm on November 24, 2021, Matthew Griffiths, previously of Northampton, forced the door of an office inside the hospital and stole phones and laptops from within. He was arrested a short time later and soon charged with burglary. Due to the weight of the evidence presented, he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and at Northampton Crown Court on December 22, 2021, was handed a one year and eightmonth prison sentence.
Lead Investigator, PC Mark Edkins, said: “I am pleased to see the robust sentence handed out to Griffiths who stole equipment belonging to the NHS at a time when they need it the most.
“He should be thoroughly ashamed of his actions given the circumstances and he now has time, and the four walls of a prison cell, to reflect on his choices. “I hope this case shows the seriousness with which we take crimes of this nature and my message to offenders is simple – if you are intent on burgling, then the Burglary Team will be coming after you.”
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Honour for a real prince among team members AFTER more than two decades of working with the Prince’s Trust, Tresham College’s Paul Hamblin received a certificate and silver cufflinks at a special ceremony. During his 22 years of service, Paul has worked with 75th Prince’s Trust Teams and supported more than 1,000 young people aged 16 to 25. Paul said: “It is an honour to work with the Prince’s Trust. “At the start of every course there are some young people that can barely look me in the eye, but by the end of the 12 weeks they are able to stand up before an audience and give a professional presentation.” The 12-week team programmes help young people to develop their communication skills, improve their self confidence and gain work experience. Previous participants, who have gone onto gain employment or run their own business, often come back to encourage the latest recruits. Our picture, right, shows, Cheryl Needham, Paul Hamlin, David Benge, (Princes Trust Delivery Partnerships Volunteering Manager), and Fiona Bradley, (Princes Trust Youth Development Lead). The Bedford College Group also recently held is Achievement Awards Celebration. Ian Pryce CBE, long standing CEO of the Group, which was voted the FE College of the Year in 2020, said: “At The Bedford College Group we have always seen our job as helping people develop into resilient citizens who are able to navigate their way in the world. “That journey is never easy, nothing worthwhile ever is.”
Company raises more than £1,000
A YEAR of fundraising activities undertaken by colleagues at Panther Logistics has raised more than £11,000 for various charities and worthy causes across the UK. Sports matches, half marathons, coffee mornings, Red Nose Day and Children In Need activities have helped swell the coffers of wide-ranging causes, benefiting some of the most deserving adults, children and animals alike. Battersea Dogs and Cats, Humane Society International, Breast Cancer Now, Children In Need, the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and Comic Relief were among the beneficiaries to receive a share of the money which was raised by corporate events and by individual employees. Among the fundraising activities was a match organised by operations manager Mick France it was the largest fundraiser during the course of the year, bringing in £4,000 to help the family of a terminally ill friend. Panther’s managing director Gary McKelvey said: “The charity sector has really suffered since the start of pandemic almost two years ago and in many cases the repercussions are still being felt. “As a result, there were a great many colleagues here at Panther who were keen to do what they could to help. “Monies raised range from £165 to £4,000 – a great team effort by colleagues here at Panther as well as family and friends. “We are proud of their efforts in helping these worthwhile causes and look forward to beating the target in 2022.”
Chair of the Corporation Allan Schofield said: “We are investing heavily and this year sees the Corporation agreeing an ambitious new strategic plan to take us towards 2030.” Winners announced on the evening included, the Outstanding Student of the Year, Katie Moreland, (pictured, right), who also celebrated being as Apprentice of the Year. Katie overcame dyslexia to achieve Distinctions as a Business Administrator Apprentice at Kettering General Hospital. And the first employer awards from the Group was won by Kettering General Hospital as its Workplace Placement Provider of the Year.
You can read more about the awards and by visiting the Bedford College website at: bedfordcollegegroup.ac.uk/about/news/
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Plants for shady places
M
by Maureen Catlin
ANY gardens have a shady spot somewhere according to the aspect they face. Shade can be created by nature, for example where light filters through the branches of a tall tree, while other patches may be from the shadows of a building or wall. Shady areas can be a welcome spot to sit on a hot day but need some consideration when planting by choosing plants that will thrive in these situations. The natural habitat of a plant tells you where it will grow successfully in your garden.
Potato Jane
Serves: 4 This is a great dish for you to use up your potatoes. It is similar to the French dish, boulang√®re potato, but with our own twist on it. A wartime recipe, it proved to be very versatile during the war and is particularly good served with wholemeal bread and butter and maybe some salad leaves. INGREDIENTS - 1½ lbs. potatoes. - ½ - ¾ pint of milk or water. - 3 oz. grated cheese. - 2 oz. breadcrumbs. - 1 sliced carrot. - ½ a chopped leek. - Butter to grease your dish - Salt and pepper.
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diary Higham Ferrers Footpath Group:
Sunday 6th February, Meet 09.15 Saffron Road car park Higham Ferrers for car sharing. Admission Free. Contact 01933 663603. 6.25 mile walk from Upton Country Park. Sunday 20th February, Meet 09.35 Saffron Road car park Higham Ferrers for car sharing. Admission Free. Contact 07952 350540 5 mile walk from Kinewell Lake, Ringstead.
Rushden & District History Society: Friday
February 18, 7.30pm. Jeremy Viewing, Cleopatra’s Needle, Whitefriars Primary School, Boughton Drive, Rushden NN10 9HX. Members £1.50, non-members £2.50. Contact: 01536 238320 for more information
It is pointless battling to grow plants that naturally grow in sunny places in shady areas, they will always struggle. There are so many plants that prefer to grow in shade producing gorgeous flowers and lush growth. There are of course degrees of shade. Partial or semi shade is a spot that enjoys three to six hours of sun at midsummer. Areas like this benefit from some sunlight for some of the day. Some good shrubs for this situation are Pieris Little Heath, a pretty compact little evergreen shrub with pink red new shoots and white pink flowers that smell like Lily of the Valley. It is an excellent plant to grow in a pot on a
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METHOD 1. Put a layer of sliced potatoes in a buttered, ovenproof dish. 2. Sprinkle with some of the leek, carrot, crumbs, cheese and seasoning. 3. Fill the dish with alternate layers, finishing with a layer of mixed cheese and crumbs. 4. Pour over the milk and bake in a moderate oven for 45 minutes until fully cooked.
shady patio. Choisya Aztec Pearl is another taller evergreen with aromatic leaves and white orange scented flowers in spring. It will also grow well in a tub. Spirea Firelight has amazing orange red young shoots in March that mature to yellow green leaves in summer. Before leaf fall in autumn they turn rich golden and red. Solomans Seal, Symphytum and Bleeding Heart are good perennial space fillers that give the lush growth effect. Dappled shade areas are created where sunlight filters through from the branches of trees above. It is the best shade for gardening because the soil remains moist. Japanese Acers with the gorgeous coloured foliage that changes colour throughout the growing season thrive in such places. They associate well with the beautifully perfumed evergreen Daphne bholua. Hostas, Heucheras and Tiarellas give excellent ground cover with the distinctly coloured leaves and purple, pink and beige flowers in summer. Campanula Pyramidalis and Foxgloves are upright perennials flowering in early summer providing height to these areas. Dry shade can be more challenging for plants especially where large trees suck the moisture from the soil. Sarcococca a little evergreen shrub that has white sweetly scented flowers in December, Aucuba japonica
Variegata and Euonymus fortunei Emerald Gaiety with striking bright cream and grey green variegated leaves are fantastic choices. Skimmia reevesiana with amazing bright red
berries in autumn are also naturally found in forests and woods and need dry shady conditions to thrive. Fatsia japonica with its architectural leaves is another shrub that copes with little direct sunlight. Add Hellebores and early flowering bulbs like Snowdrops and Cyclamen for the carpet of colour in spring. Deep shade is the area in permanent shadow from a building or a dense tree canopy above. This is where perennial plants like Pachysndra, Dryopteris Ferns, Symphytum, Liriope muscari and Euphorbia amygdalis with its lime green flowers from March to June really flourish. Holly J C Van Tol with its bright red winter berries loved by the birds and Mahonia japonica are hardy evergreen shrubby plants that will give form and structure. There are some climbing and wall plants that will grow in shade. Sweetly scented Honeysuckle Rhubarb and Custard and Hydrangea paniculata with its gorgeous white summer flowers and Clematis Nellie Moser all grow well if planted with plenty of moisture retaining compost. Garrya elliptica is an evergreen with amazing long silvery catkins from December to March, Chaenomeles Geisha Girl with lovely salmon pink flowers in spring followed by perfumed Quince fruits and Fuchsia Lady Boothby with purple and pink flowers from June to November. Success in the shade, as in any area of the garden, depends on selecting the plants that grow happily in those conditions. Hopefully you can find some plants here to make your shady areas interesting.
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EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER FEBRUARY 2022
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sport NORTHANTS VOLLEYBALL DIVISION ONE MEN NPC 3 – Raiders 2
THE first game of 2022 for the Raiders turned out to be a cracker. Having been head to head on many occasions the opposition was familiar and even more so with two former Raiders in the NPC side. Old habits die hard and NPC got off to a good start with serving from Michal Orlowski. Five points down and the Raiders started to find some form with strong hitting from Stanley and Edgars. Yet opportunities were squandered from the serving line allowing NPC to take the set 25-18. Both sides made a couple of changes at the start of set two and the Raiders benefitted from a more solid block and they took the set 25-18. Set three was a cracker, aces, spike kills stuff blocks and some great recovery shots - 25-22 to the Raiders. That was as good as it got for them with former Raider Wojceich providing a solid pass off service Michal was able to open up the middle attack and with the block-splitting Bartek and Wojceich found the court with powerful hits. When the Raiders did put up attacks they found that the NPC blockers had remembered what they were supposed to be doing and they took the set 25-12, All to play for in the deciding set and yet again the
Raiders in real cracker match against some familiar faces Raiders were on a five-point giveaway against the Orlowski serve. Now back on their heels the Raiders weren’t reaching the tipped balls and more points slipped away. Two aces from Bartek and across court hit sealed the set 15-4 and the game 3-2. All things considered this was a far better performance from the Raiders against one of the 2019 top teams. The game was played in a fine spirit and was a good display for the small crowd. With most of the games scheduled before christmas being postponed the calendar is looking busy for the next few months. Raiders, Rebels, Ladies, and both boys and girls sides due to play. MVP’s were Bartek Kowalczyk and Neil Bates
NORTHANTS VOLLEYBALL LADIES ENVC 4 – Kingsthorpe 3
FOR the first time in many years Kingsthorpe put out a ladies side into the league.
They were to face a very changed ladies side, fielding four players for whom this was their first ever game. As play started it was the Kingsthorpe side that got off to the better start Elena hitting hard serves and the ENVC ladies struggled to cope and swiftly opened the gap to 11-2. A miss hit let the ladies into the set but they were not able to capitalise and with Aleks hitting another seven points, Kingsthorpe took the set 25-11. Both sides made changes at the start of set two and it was ENVC who took the advantage. Communication was on the up and court coverage increased. Robyn and Katie started to turn up the power on the hits and Sophie got a run of serves on the back of it to take the set 25-12. Set three was a lot closer with the sideouts being more frequent. Debutant Keira cemented a good debut putting five serves over two being aces.
ENVC took the set 25-18. Returning to original line ups for set four, it was deja vu for ENVC as they succumbed 25-12 with a 10 point giveaway on Mikaela’s serve. So after 75 minutes it boiled down to a one set shoot out. Kingsthorpe won the toss and were quickly into a 7-3 lead Louise doing the damage this time yet the resulting rotation put Katie on the front for ENVC with the ball finally being picked up backcourt she was given the lions share of the attacks and they creeped into a 10-8 lead. Nervy times point for point 13-12. Long rallies ensued but it was the slightly more experienced ENVC that took the points and the set and match. This was a great introductory game for both sides as they were evenly matched. The quality visibly improved during the game and it was played in good spirit. MVP’s were Elena and Kimberley
Celebrities line up to celebrate Cobblers’ 125th anniversary AS part of tNorthampton Town FC’s 125th birthday celebrations, a host of celebrities and Northampton Town Legends will play in a special charity match at Sixfields on Sunday April 24, with proceeds going towards Sands United and the Northampton Town Community Trust. Sands United are one of the club’s official charity partners and is a team of men united by the loss of a child. According to the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity, (SANDS), every year in the
Premier kicks is back in town
ARE you interested in coming to play football and receiving free coaching? Then the Premier Kicks sessions being delivered for secondary school aged young people of all abilities may be for you. Run by Northampton Town FC Community Trust, the sessions are running 4.30pm to 5.30pm in the sports hall at the Pemberton Centre in Rushden. Parents can register their children at www.ntfccommunity .co.uk/pl-kicks
Active dates
NEW for 2022 are the spring and autumn duathlons to be held at Sywell Country Park. The bike course around quiet country lanes and one lap off-road 5K around the Country Park will take place on Sunday, March 27, and Sunday, October 16, starting at 8am. Bookings will also open soon for the sprint triathlons held at the park. They will include swim 750m, bike 20km and runs of 5km. For further information and details as they become available, visit the Northamptonshire Sport diary dates at the website https://www.northamptonshiresport.org/events-programme
UK more than 5,000 babies are stillborn or die within the first four weeks of life, while one in five pregnancies ends in a miscarriage. Among the names from the world of TV, music and showbiz set to appear in the game are Martyn Ford (Fast and Furious 9), Jake Wood (EastEnders), Calum Best, James Argent and Dan Osborne (TV), Jake Cornish (Love Island 2020), Danny Hatchard (actor), Sam Bailey (X Factor), Bleu Landau(actor King Arthur), Nas Majeed (Love Island), Luke Trotman (Love Island), Man Like Haks
(Comedian), Joe Sealey (Cheshire Housewives), Jamie O’Hara (TalkSport), Matt Lapinskas (actor), Dean Gaffney (EastEnders), Dom Lever (Love Island), Dean Edwards (ITV Lorraine chef) with other names to be confirmed in due course. will be joined by a number of legendary former Cobblers players with full details to be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets for the game are now on sale via ntfcdirect.co.uk and are priced at adults for £10 and under-18s for £5.
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FUNDING POT CASH TO BOOST SPORT FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS
sport
NEW funding has been revealed to boost sports and physical activities for women and girls. Northamptonshire Sport has released the funding stream. With a greater funding priority placed on engaging more 14 to 24 year olds in physical activity,
StreetGames UK and Northamptonshire Sport is seeking to commission local organisations, which have a positive track record of supporting vulnerable women and girls. This new fund aims to develop projects which utilise sport and
physical activity to help improve confidence, self-belief and overall well-being. Applications working with other age groups, (outside 14 to 24 years), will be considered. Currently, 27 per cent of women and girls in the county are
considered inactive. The COVID-19 pandemic has meant women and girls are participating in physical activity less. In comparison, as restrictions are easing, men are returning to activity quicker, whilet women and
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girls are seeing a prolonged drop in participation. To combat the issue, StreetGames and Northamptonshire Sport are collaborating to pool resources, capacity and insight. Together, both StreetGames and Northamptonshire Sport will support local organisations to find innovative ways of encouraging women and girls into regular physical activity. The fund will focus on engaging inactive women and girls through doorstep sports and physical activity and creating the offer that has the *5 ‘rights’ embedded - *The right price, right time, right place, right people and right style. To support organisations and achieve the objectives of the fund, StreetGames and Northamptonshire Sport will provide, up to £2,000 funding to deliver your project, access to a free’ ‘Engaging Women and Girls’ workshop delivered by StreetGames for staff, coaches and volunteers, access to a series of ‘how to’ guides sharing learning and best practice to support
delivery, access to a number of free resources to support you in promoting and designing your project, sustainability and resilience training and support to support future organisational development and the continuation of delivery and support from StreetGames and Northamptonshire Sports expert staff who can share best practice and support local delivery Northamptonshire Sports lead officer Matthew Peleszok said: “Through our desire to increase access to more physically active lifestyles, these funding pots give us the opportunity to reach out to new partners, talk through and develop exciting opportunities for more people to be active. “This allows residents who may not necessarily have direct access to opportunities to try new activities. “The support of trusted partners for the programme is crucial as we co-develop the new Framework for Physical Activity across Northamptonshire.” For more details about the project, you can visit www.northamptonshiresport.org/ satellite-clubs
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Diamonds snap up new striker
AFC Rushden & Diamonds have announced the signing of 22-yearold forward Jack Snelus from St Ives Town. A former Luton Town product, everyone at AFC Rushden & Diamonds would like to extend a warm welcome to Jack. The club has also signed former academy product - the midfielder Tom Binder from Bugbrooke St Michaels. In other player news, Fraser Corden, (pictured, right), has also has signed Southern League forms for the club. Corden has been a regular for the AFC Diamonds Under-21’s team and is a product of the Club’s Player Pathway scheme.