East Northants Reporter, Rushden and Higham

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RUSHDEN, HIGHAM FERRERS & EAST NORTHANTS

NOVEMBER 2020

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We cannot be any clearer – speeding kills. leaving families devastated by the loss of loved ones.

SPEEDING kills – that is the message from Northamptonshire Police after more than 7,000 speeding offences were detected in the county in just one month.

Officers from the force’s Safer Roads Team are urging all motorists to watch their speed after a total of 7,697 drivers were caught exceeding the limit on the county’s road network in September.

The vast majority of the offences were recorded by the Safer Roads Team’s mobile enforcement cameras.

Of the 5,482 motorists caught exceeding the limit – 100 were deemed so serious that they were referred straight to Magistrates’ Court.

One motorist was caught driving at 122mph on the A43 between Towcester and Silverstone.

The driver was one of nearly 600 drivers caught exceeding the 70mph speed limit on that stretch of road throughout September.

However, the highest number of speeding offences were detected on the A45, with a total of 860 motorists caught exceeding the limit at Stanwick, (502), and Higham Ferrers, (358).

A further 534 offences were detected on the A5 Watling Street in Weedon and 413 on the A6 at

LEST we forget... Remembrance Sunday will be different this year as parades and events are cancelled due to the pandemic but people, such as Sophie Smith, (pictured), will still be able to pay their respects. Like other areas, Rushden Town Council has made the tough decision to scale back this year’s Remembrance Sunday service due to the ongoing pandemic. But people will still be able to support the Poppy Appeal and look at attending online parades – keep an eye on your council’s websites for further details.

Higham Ferrers. Other speeding hotspots were the A605 bypass at Thrapston, (169) and the A4500 Wellingborough Road, (154).

Safer roads operations manager Matt O’Connell said: “It’s always disappointing, despite all the campaigns and warnings about speeding, that so many drivers still choose to drive at excess or inappropriate speeds.

SPEEDING KILLS

“We would urge motorists to think about their actions and drive at a speed suitable for the weather conditions and within the posted limit. We cannot be any clearer – speeding kills.

“It is one of the four biggest causation factors in collisions and driving even just a few miles per hour over the speed limit can have extreme consequences, leaving families devastated by the loss of loved ones.”

The figures form part of the police’s new road safety campaign – Operation Journey – which focuses on improving road safety in the county.

Man sentenced for sex offences

A 50-YEAR-old man has been sentenced to ten years and eight months in prison after a brave woman came forward in 2019 to report non-recent sexual offences that happened to her when she was a young girl.

Aidan Nicholas Platton, 50, of Cromer, Norfolk, pleaded guilty at Northampton Crown Court on Tuesday, August 4, to one count of rape, one count of indecency with a child and five counts of indecent assault.

The offences took place in the years 2000-2002 and started when the girl was six-years-old.

Nineteen years after the first

offence, the woman, now in her 20s, came forward to report the incidents to police in March 2019 and an investigation was launched.

Her main reason for doing so was because, in her own words, she “wanted to prevent this from happening to another child”.

Platton was sentenced to a total of ten years and eight months in prison for the offences.

He will be on the Sex Offenders’ Register for life.

Lead investigator, Det Con Rachael Harris, said: “I am pleased that this case has concluded with a positive result and I hope it demonstrates the seriousness with

which Northamptonshire Police treats reports of non-recent sexual offences.

“The bravery that this young woman has shown in coming forward to report what happened to her as a little girl cannot be put into words.

“She is an exceptionally inspirational person and I hope the conclusion of this case can allow her to now begin to rebuild her life.

“Though no one can ever take away what happened to her as a little girl, her courage has ensured that Aidan Platton, a man who perhaps thought he had escaped justice, is now safely behind bars.”

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2 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

Vandals strike at historic hall

VANDALS have struck at the historic Rushden Hall.

The town council posted: “We are very disappointed to report that anti-social behaviour at Rushden Hall has resulted in four windows being smashed.

“This incident occurred on Monday, October 19, evening at 6pm, it has been recorded by CCTV and we will be working with the police to catch the culprits.

“The damage has amounted to over £1,500 and the crime has now been reported as criminal damage and we will be

pursuing compensation from those responsible.

“At a time when our parks and green spaces are more important than ever, we would request that everybody has respect for all our parks and also other park users.

“The parks are here for all to enjoy and we don’t want them spoiled by a mindless, inconsiderate minority.”

If anyone has any information regarding the incident at Hall Park they can contact 01933 316216 or info@ rushdentowncouncil.gov.uk

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Celebrations at ‘college of the year’ THE Bedford College Group has won the title of FE College of the Year in the prestigious Times Educational Supplement, (TES), Further Education awards.

The group, which comprises Bedford College, Shuttleworth College and The Bedford Sixth Form in Bedfordshire, and National College for Motorsport and Tresham College in Northamptonshire has risen to become one of the top FE establishments in the UK and a leading provider of employer-related education.

Principal and CEO Ian Pryce CBE, (pictured), who has steered the group to this success, said: “The awards night was a wonderful celebration of the work of our extraordinary sector.

“I’m still in shock.

“The shortlist for College of the Year was very strong, so to be judged the winner is one of the best moments of my two decades at The Bedford College Group.

“It has been a very special year for us on so many fronts.

“The congratulations of so many friends and colleagues in the sector is overwhelming.

“I am so proud of our 1,200 staff and 16,000 students and so

privileged to be allowed to be their Principal.

“I never thought an online event could be so emotional.”

Bedford College took on a huge challenge merging with Tresham College in 2017.

Tresham was a large college in a different county, rated inadequate by Ofsted in 2016 and with extensive financial deficits.

However, passion, determination and exceptional hard work from staff at all levels of the college has culminated with Ofsted’s recent announcement that The Bedford College Group, (including Tresham), is rated good in all areas, with adult and young learners developing “excellent” study skills.

The Skills Funding Agency has also formally confirmed the college’s status as outstanding for financial health with a £1m surplus.

The college has invested in its seven campuses, including a £3.65m Zoological Education Centre at Shuttleworth which opened in September 2019, the first of its type developed with the Zoological Society of London and providing a unique learning environment for students.

The college has also been awarded £7.5m from SEMLEP to redevelop the Wellingborough campus, enabling 1,000 additional students to study locally.

The college’s new Buchanan Centre for advanced engineering opened in October 2018 and is specifically designed to meet the needs of businesses in the region.

The building received £2.5m

funding from SEMLEP, £170K from HEFCE’s Catalyst Fund and the Connolly Foundation of Bedfordshire funded a virtual reality suite.

In 2018 the college was also granted membership of the Chartered Institution for Further Education under its Royal Charter in recognition of its exemplary position in the sector.

At the 2020 event, The Bedford College Group also won the Professional Services Team award for these developments.

Mr Pryce said: “Our Estates Team is so unassuming, yet so committed to making the student experience special from the minute they arrive on campus.

“This year they have performed exceptionally in the most difficult circumstances, keeping us safe, yet still managing to complete three major construction projects on time and budget.

“I hope every college estates team will feel the award recognises their work too.”

In 2017 Judith Larsen won TES FE Teacher of the Year, in 2018 Keith Haynes was named TES FE Assessor of the Year and in 2019 Samantha Jones won TES FE Teacher of the Year.

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 3

Four years in prison for gold-toothed dealer who thought he was ‘untouchable’ A 19-YEAR-old drug dealer has been handed four years in prison after pleading guilty to drugs offences at Northampton Crown Court.

Gold-toothed Cameron Owen, 19, of Blackfriars, Rushden, pleaded guilty to five offences in total.

Three of which involved police officers stopping cars he was in and Class A drugs being found inside.

On two of these occasions, Owen attempted to make off, dis-

posing of the drugs as he ran.

However, officers caught up with him on both occasions and he was arrested and subsequently charged.

On a fourth occasion, officers raided a house in Windmill Avenue, Raunds, and a quantity of Class A drugs were found.

Owen was subsequently charged in connection with the find.

On the final occasion, Owen was stopped in a car and found to

be in possession of a machete as well as Class A drugs.

At Northampton Crown Court, Owen, (pictured), was sentenced to three and a half years for being involved in the supply of Class A drugs.

He was also jailed for six months for possession of a bladed article, making his total sentence four years.

Lead investigator, Det Con Drage from Northamptonshire Police’s Serious and Organised Crime Team, said: “I am pleased to see Cameron Owen handed a prison sentence for his crimes..

“I hope he uses his time behind bars to reflect on the choices he has so far made in life in order to make better ones when he comes out.

“Owen thought he was untouchable, as so many drug dealers do, but as this case shows, he wasn’t.

“I hope this case is a lesson to other people involved in the supply of drugs.

“We are watching you, we know more about you than you think and we will be there at the inevitable moment you slip up.

“Northamptonshire Police is relentless in tackling drugs and serious and organised crime. “ I hope this result reassures the

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community that it is an issue we take very seriously and that we have no plans to take our foot off the gas.”

Keep an eye on our website at https://rosettapublishing.com/ reporter for all the latest crime and court stories.

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Warning issued to dog owners

THRAPSTON Town Council has issued a warning to dog owners.

A town resident informed the council they had ‘2 x D’ written on their fence post.

The police has advised them it is likely to have been written by people intending to try and steal the two dogs.

The council warned on Facebook: “Please be vigilant, check your fence and gates and if you find any writing or unusual items, (cable ties, paint marks), report it to police via the 101 non-emergency number, or via the Northamptonshire Police website.

“After taking a photo for the police try and then remove any

marker items or clean off any writing or marks as best you can.

“Keep all doors and windows shut and do not leave your dogs unattended outside at any point.

“Following the other recent report regarding the attempted theft of a dog while on a walk we strongly urge residents to stay alert and take extra care of their pets.”

If you have any information which could help the police, or of any other crimes in the area, you can report them through the police website forms at www.northants.police.uk/ro/rep ort/ocr/af/how-to-report-acrime/ for further information.

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4 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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New medical director takes up post

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust – the community and mental health provider for Northamptonshire – has welcomed a new medical director.

Dr Itai Matumbike is a consultant forensic psychiatrist, and joins the CQC-rated Outstanding Trust from his role as associate medical director and deputy responsible officer at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust.

Dr Matumbike, (pictured), has recently spent a six month period acting into the role of executive medical director at Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, operating as a voting member on the board of one of the country’s largest integrated mental health and community providers.

Dr Matumbike said: “I am deeply humbled and honoured to have been

appointed to this important role.

NHFT has a fantastic reputation for compassionate patient centred care, which chimes with my own values.

“I look forward to continuing to improve the experience of the service users, staff and local community in keeping with the outstanding culture in the organisation.”

Chief executive of NHFT Angela Hillery said: “I am delighted to share with you that, after a comprehensive recruitment process, Dr Itai Matumbike has been appointed as medical director of NHFT. “Dr Matumbike brings a wealth of senior leadership experience at a similar integrated community and mental health trust.

“His experience and dedication are the very attributes and values we look for at NHFT to help us maintain our vision of providing outstanding,

retiring from his post as NHFT’s medical director later this month.

NHFT delivers a comprehensive range of

compassionate care to the people of Northamptonshire.

“Myself and the executive team are very much looking forward to working with Dr Matumbike alongside the rest of teamNHFT.” Dr Itai Matumbike succeeds Professor Alex O’Neill-Kerr, who is

physical and mental health services which are tailored to meet the needs of the people of Northamptonshire and beyond.

Its services are delivered in service users own homes, through GP practices, clinics, schools, prisons and in residential and hospital environments.

More than 4,500 dedicated individuals are part of team NHFT making its one of the county’s largest employers.

The Care Quality Commission have rated NHFT ‘Outstanding’ overall twice – in both 2018 and 2019.

The trust was also awarded the prestigious Health Service Journal’s Trust of the Year award in 2018.

The trust also announced its

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welfare call service, which was first established by its volunteer services to provide vital be-friending services to patients and services in response to COVID-19, will continue to provide support until April, 2021.

Voluntary services manager Mandy Woolf said: “The welfare call service was first set up to provide a listening ear for patients and service users experiencing isolation at the start of the pandemic.

“Our team has now expanded vastly from three to 13 and I am so pleased that we will continue to provide a vital service for a further six months.

“Any of our patients or service users can receive support and speak to someone about any concerns or worries they might have by contacting the team on Nhftcovid-19.volunteersupport@nhs.net.”

Police release update on indecent exposure probe

A 66-YEAR-old man has been released with no further action after an investigation into an indecent exposure concluded that the incidents were not as first reported.

Between 8am on Monday, September 21, and 12.50pm on Tuesday, September 22, a man was reported to have been seen inside a house near a school in Market Road, Thrasptonexposing himself.

The man was swiftly arrested and an investigation into the incidents commenced.

The investigation concluded however that no offences had occurred and that the incidents were not as first reported.

As a result, no further action will be taken against the 66-yearold man.

Det Con Scott Mackenzie said: “This was a thorough investigation

which involved speaking to a number of witnesses as well as the seizure and examination of a quantity of this man’s digital devices.

“As a result, we were able to conclude that this was not a case of indecent exposure and that there was nothing at all on the man’s digital devices that caused us any concern.

“We have informed the parents and teachers at the nearby school as they were rightly concerned about these incidents, and they are satisfied with the conclusion of our investigation.

“Northamptonshire Police takes incidents of this nature very seriously and I hope the diligence that went into this investigation demonstrates that, though thankfully on this occasion it turned out not to be as first reported.”

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THE Competition and Markets Authority has allowed the £780m merger between Carlsberg and Marston’s.

The joint venture between Carlsberg UK, which has a brewery in Northampton, and

Marston’s PLC to form the Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company has now been approved.

Carlsberg CEO Cees’t Hart said: “The creation of the joint venture is an important step forward for our UK business.”

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 5

Vote for your Nene Valley star VOTE for your very own Nene Valley star.

The Destination Nene Valley, (DNV), partnership has unveiled the finalists for the Nene Valley star, an award that has been set up to recognise the dedication and passion of those working in the tourism industry, who have also gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that residents and visitors have a great experience in the Nene Valley.

Having received more than 20 nominations from members of the public and DNV partners over the summer months, representatives from DNV partner organisations have now reduced the list to three finalists: l Hillary Merrick - a volunteer for the Settlers of the Nene project, (funded by the Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme), for her work at the ancestral garden at Stanwick Lakes l Bryan Day and Pat Byrne – from Wellingborough and District Nene

of those working and volunteering across the area.

“The three finalists have all gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that residents and visitors have a great experience in the Nene Valley, regardless of the wider situation.

“We have three very worthy finalists and I cannot wait to see who will be our very first Nene Valley star.”

The Destination Nene Valley project is led Short videos have been created to promote and showcase the work of each of the by East Northamptonshire Council which finalists and these can be viewed alongside works with local tourism partners and the the voting form on the nenevalley.net website. Nenescape Landscape partnership to build The vote is now open and will run until on existing framework to better position and promote the Nene Valley.

Monday, November 2.

The winner of the Nene Valley star will be Deputy chairman of the Destination Nene Valley project and East Northamptonshire awarded with a trophy, small prize and free councillor Sarah Peacock, said: “This year publicity and promotion via nenevalley.net To vote for any of the finalists, visit has been such a tough year for the tourism industry and with the Nene Valley star we nenevalley.net/see-and-do/discover/nene-valwant to recognise the dedication and passion ley-star/ and fill out the short form.

Angling Club for their volunteering work with the Let’s Fish programme, which is a Canal and River Trust Initiative funded through the Nenescape Landscape Partnership Scheme and Building Bridges project. l Buddies of Beckets - a group of volunteers nominated for their hard work and dedication at Beckets Park.

Special recognition for county crimebusters

THERE was special recognition for Northamptonshire Crimestoppers Committee this summer when the team of volunteers collected a national award for their tireless work across the county.

The Northamptonshire team was crowned Crime Awareness Committee of the Year at the Crimestoppers 2020 Volunteer Awards, which celebrates the hard work and commitment of the charity’s unsung heroes.

There was also special recognition for the chairman of the county’s committee, Shaun Johnson, who was highly-commended by the judging panel in the Volunteer of the Year category.

The judges were particularly impressed by the tireless work Shaun and the rest of the committee has undertaken over the last 18 months to reach communities within the county.

This has included promoting the charity’s Fearless message to more than 10,000 students across the county, who are living in communities which are dealing with high levels of drug, violence, weapons and gang crime.

The committee has also worked on a number of new initiatives, delivered theatre productions to more than 1,500 students

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KATHERINE Ryan is the next huge star of comedy to headline the Live At shows on Wednesday February, 17, next year at Wicksteed Park in Kettering.

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and raised awareness of the charity’s Fearless campaign, which is aimed at helping young people.

As part of their activities, the volunteers have held engagement days, which have been attended by more than 700 people, in hard to reach communities such as Wellingborough and Northampton.

These events have helped enable young people to find a way out of a life of crime.

It has also provided them with the right tools and information to have the confidence to report criminal activity in their community.

As with most events this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the award ceremony was held virtually, however that has not stopped the Northamptonshire Committee enjoying its success.

Northamptonshire Committee Chair Shaun Johnson, who has been connected with the committee since 2009, said: “We have a very hardworking group of volunteers who are focussed on reducing crime in our county and we are delighted to have received this prestigious award.

“As a retired police officer I know how important intelligence is in our fight against crime and disorder.

“Unfortunately in today’s climate people are genuinely afraid to talk to the police or other law enforcement agencies.

“Most children and young people will talk to a trusted adult if they are concerned about anything.

“However, there are a few who are too afraid to do this and the Fearless website provides a safe way to provide information anonymously.

“The committee is dedicated to getting the Crimestoppers and Fearless brands into our hard to reach communities, to ensure young people in this county have the right tools and information they need to make informed choices.”

Northamptonshire Police’s Force Intelligence lead, Supt Tony Hopkins said: “This award is well deserved.

“Shaun and his team should be proud of the excellent work they do.

“I know first-hand the importance of Crimestoppers, and Shaun and his team have worked tirelessly to make sure they have embedded themselves in key areas of our community where policing engagement is a challenge.”

More information about the Crimestoppers 2020 Volunteers

Awards can be found on the charity’s website at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

You also can find out more details on the Fearless campaign by visiting its work in the community at its website at www.Fearless.org.

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6 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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The importance of family

WITH the way 2020 has panned out Home Instead East Northants has been reminiscing about ‘the good old days’ when families would enjoy family time long before technology distracted us and a sort of World War 2 spirit in doing things together.

This year has been tough and is still ongoing, but people have come together spending family time playing games in the garden, trips to the local park and board games of an evening. These are all things that would have happened in wartime England. Speaking to clients who said they could remember playing traditional games, such as checkers, scrabble, monopoly and outdoor games such as hopscotch, skipping, quoits, skittles, jacks, marbles and conkers to name but a few.

Family means everything at the moment as the days can be very long when you are on your own.

During these times just being together and making the most of family time is important to a lot people and why this Christmas in particular will mean more this year to families because of Covid 19, lockdowns and visiting restrictions, it will be wonderful for

them to come together and enjoy the true spirit of Christmas, or the opportunity of meeting up in their bubble of six and enjoying the company of friends and to spend precious time together.

The ccoronavirus crisis will eventually pass, and we should all dream of a virus free future.

We have nearly made it through 2020 and hopefully by the end of 2021 life will have returned to a level of normality where we can think about holidays and outings without a mask!

Home Instead is so pleased it has been able to help so many people through this pandemic, keeping them safe and caring for them not just physically but their mental well-being as well, all whilst remaining in their own familiar surroundings.

A daily visit from a friendly, smiling CAREGiver offering companionship and assistance with the day to day struggles due to frailty, convalescence, or dementia is a huge relief for many of our clients.

Let us celebrate this Christmas that we have followed the rules and made it through this year and appreciate our families and how much they all mean to us and now look forward to a positive 2021. If you would like company for your loved one, get in touch with Home Instead East Northants on 01933 678775.

EDITORIAL: nick@rosettapublishing.com

Crucial feedback sought in COVID-19 vaccine hunt

PEOPLE across Northamptonshire are being asked to complete a short online survey to help researchers understand more about attitudes towards COVID-19 vaccine research.

It comes as part of activity by a group of research organisations in the region, which aims to ensure that people from all backgrounds are given the opportunity to take part in COVID-19 vaccine research.

People from all minority ethnic groups, (apart from Chinese and mixed-race groups), are at greater risk of becoming very sick with COVID-19 than the white population in the UK. The survey has been launched following a series of interviews carried out to understand public perceptions of vaccine research across different communities.

Nearly all the people involved in the interviews agreed that research was important, but some voiced wariness about taking part in vaccine research.

The findings were collated in a report published by the Centre for Black and Minority Ethnic Health, part of the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration, (ARC), East

Midlands, in partnership with the Clinical Research Network, (CRN), East Midlands and The University of Leicester.

Participants were a mix of different ethnicities and vulnerable groups, namely mental health, homeless and Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities.

Professor Kamlesh Khunti, senior author and Director of the NIHR ARC East Midlands and Professor of Primary Care Diabetes and Vascular Medicine at the University of Leicester, said: “We need to address these concerns highlighted by each group and use these findings to find a better way to inform members of the public about how crucial medical research is.

“Recruitment and participation is vital in any vaccine trial and if people are untrusting of the work that’s being carried out, then we may not be able to continue.

“We therefore urge people to come forward and give us their views in this short survey and arm us with the crucial information needed as we strive towards a vaccine for coronavirus.”

To take part in the survey, go to the website link at crnem. typeform.com/to/JlUij8fr

Reduce time spent seated to aid your heart

UNLESS you are a wheelchair user, there is evidence to show that prolonged periods of sitting can increase your risk of developing heart disease.

Modern technology has changed how we spend our work and leisure time.

It is not uncommon for people to spend several hours every day sitting behind a desk, watching TV, playing computer games or sitting at the wheel of a car.

Heart Research UK has some tips to reduce the amount of time you spend sitting.

And the NHS provides advice on activities which are suitable for wheelchair users with different

physical abilities at www.nhs.uk/ live-well/exercise/wheelchairusers-fitness-advice/ Remember to take regular breaks from your seat, step away from your desk, make phone calls active, choose hobbies which will get you moving, or look for new hobbies which will get you moving more, such as gardening, walking and DIY. And if you enjoy reading, why not listen to an audio book through headphones while you take a walk or read while you pedal on a stationary bike.

You can find more healthy tips, recipes and advice at heartresearch.org.uk.

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 7

8 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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Schoolchildren are crying out for Reading Helpers READING volunteers are desperately needed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Thousands of children will not have had enough reading practice during lockdown.

In a normal year, one in four children leave primary school unable to read well.

Most children will have missed a term of school, so the reading gap is now wider.

Children who struggle with reading are more likely to live in poverty and be unemployed as adults.

Schoolreaders needs more vol-

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

ForthCoMinG MEEtinGS

All meetings are currently Via Zoom Tuesday 10th November PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, 6.45pm Tuesday 10th November ENVIRONMENT AND RECREATION COMMITTEE, 7.30pm

Rotary visit to Saxby’s cider

DIDN’T they have a luvverly time the day they went to Saxby Cider!

Rotary Club of Rushden visited the Saxby farm at Farndish where owners Phillip and Amanda treated them to a visit to the orchard where the apples are grown for their cider.

That was followed up with Phillip explaining how the apples were processed into cider via some of the latest equipment.

Then the party was treated to a tasting session of the many varieties of cider Saxby’s have on offer.

New defibrillator available in centre of Higham

Tuesday 24th November STATUTORY COUNCIL MEETING, 7.30pm

FARMERS’ MARKET Saturday 28th November, 9am–1pm how to ContaCt your CounCillor Cllr Mrs A. Gardner Email: Redley.ang4@gmail.com Cllr N. Brown Tel: 01933 384875 Cllr R.D. Hamblin Cllr H.L. Jackson* Tel; 01933 314963 Cllr D.C. Lawson MBE Tel: 01933 397760 Cllr Mrs S.A. Mantle Tel: 01933 356838 Cllr C. O’Rourke Deputy Mayor Tel: 01933 411472 Cllr V.K. Paul Tel: 07850 723504 Cllr B.A. Prigmore Tel: 01933 386225

Cllr A.M.T. Reading Tel: 01933 411361 Cllr Mrs C. Reavey Mayor Tel 01933 413173 Cllr Mrs A.M. Sauntson Cllr J. Smithers** Mayor 2018/19 Tel: 07779 137081 Cllr B. Spencer Tel: 07976 570865 Cllr P. Tomas* Tel: 01933 359688 Cllr Mrs P.H. Whiting Tel: 01933 356717

* District Councillor – East Northamptonshire Council ** County Councillor - Northamptonshire County Council

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 Wardens – Chris Spring & Chris Butcher Mayor’s Sergeant – Mr David Wicks

unteers in your local area to support children’s reading and prevent them falling further behind.

If you want to make a difference to a child’s life, apply to become a schoolreader.

No qualifications are needed – just a love of reading and some spare time each week.

The process to become a schoolreader takes a few weeks, so please apply now so you can be ready to start as soon as it can be arranged.

To join, visit www.schoolreaders.org/volunteer-application-form, or contact 01234 924111 for further information.

THREE years ago the Rotary Club of Rushden were deeply affected by the death of one of their stalwarts, George Willmott, to a heart attack at a Committee Meeting.

At that point the Club were determined to purchase a defibrillator for the local community to go some-way to help saving the lives of others.

Last month this ambition was realised when the Mayor of Higham Ferrers, Councillor Tina Reavey, unveiled the plaque next to the brandnew defibrillator fixed on the wall of the Carriage House in Wood Street opposite the Town Hall.

The Club was helped in this task by superb donations from The Swivel Club together with GD Property Services, Home Instead East Northants, Sidey Design, Choice Furnishings, and Premium Warehousing with Higham Ferrers Town Council taking responsibility for the servicing and maintenance of the machine.

A defibrillator is a machine that sends a high energy electric shock through the heart. This high energy electric shock is called defibrillation.

The aim of this shock is to return a heart to its normal working state if it goes into cardiac arrest.

Beware of allergies in schools

TWO leading allergy charities have urged parents and teachers to ‘Check It, Don’t Chance It’ to ensure pupils and young adults with allergies are safe in schools.

Most classrooms can expect at least one child to have a food allergy with 20 per cent of severe food allergic reactions occurring while a child is at school.

Anaphylaxis Campaign joined forces to raise awareness of the need for the treatment of such allergies, AAI, (auto adrenaline injector), pens to be checked to ensure they are safe for administration.

After a six-month break due to the Covid-19 pandemic many

schools are facing a potential risk of AAI medication being void due to expiry dates, storage conditions and more importantly a lack of up to date training of key staff.

Covid-19, while a life-threatening virus for many, data shows that only two, (0.005 per cent) of the 38,156 deaths from coronavirus during March and April in the UK were children aged 14 or under.

By comparison, research of children with allergies by Anaphylaxis Campaign discovered 80 per cent of school aged children had experienced anaphylaxis. www.checkitdontchanceit.co.uk for further help.

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 9

County town is one of the country’s top hook-up hotspots where punters pay for sex NORTHAMPTON has featured in a national league table of the UK’s ‘hook-up hotspots’ which has revealed the towns and cities where bed-hopping Brits are most likely to seek out sex with escorts.

The research has identified the places where punters are most likely to book in for a steamy behind-closed-doors session to escape the turmoil of 2020.

The poll, commissioned by specialist

agency SexScort, ranks destinations by the total number of bookings made with escorts since January this year.

Unsurprisingly, London had the most bookings with 3,337 recorded in the capital alone this year.

Birmingham followed in second place with 367 appointments while Northampton was a shock inclusion in third place, with kinky residents already booking in for 346 illicit encounters.

Chief Executive of SexScort Frank Dethridge said: “Amid the doom and gloom that COVID-19 has brought with it, we’re thrilled that people are choosing to use SexScort to fulfil their sexual needs or just seek a bit of company.

“We were amazed that Northampton, which is the 24th largest town in the UK and has a population of nearly 230,000, came in third place. It just goes to show you can never

predict sexual appetite.

“We’re working hard to break down the taboos commonly associated with the sex industry.

“By having these open and transparent conversations about sex services we can help improve working conditions, ensuring staff and customers are as safe as they can be.”

Northampton is best known for its once-thriving shoe industry and its Premiership rugby team, but horny residents are

now staking a claim to be the busiest between the sheets in Britain – putting the town on the map as the nation’s ‘capital of kink’.

The East Midlands town – the setting for the Kinky Boots film and musical – was ranked above the likes of Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol and Nottingham in the list, while Glasgow was the only Scottish city to feature in the top 10.

Have your say on housing estates

FOLLOWING consultation on the East Northamptonshire Local Plan earlier this year, East Northamptonshire Council is asking residents to have their say on two proposed housing sites in Rushden.

Land to the west of Rushden Lakes has already been discussed by councillors and officers are currently working with Natural England to address concerns about the nearby Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits Special Protection Area.

Meanwhile, the council is also proposing land to the south east of Rushden as a potential alternative site for housing.

This is on the Bedford Road, east of the A6 bypass and west of the John White Golf Club.

The council is looking to develop an additional 450 houses at Rushden to fulfil the district’s housing requirements up to 2031.

HUNDREDS OF HOMES

The public consultation will take place over six weeks, closing on Monday, November 16.

To have your say, go to www.east-northamptonshire.gov.uk/consultation and select ‘Current consultations’ and ‘Local Plan Part 2’.

The council is also proposing to align the draft Rushden East Masterplan with the Local Plan, defining the site boundaries and setting out a policy for its delivery, making it clear and easy for all to understand.

The draft masterplan for Rushden East was initially consulted on in February and March 2020 and sets out a large mixed use extension to the east of Rushden.

This includes about 2,700 homes, employment, schools and a local centre.

Details can be found here: www.eastnorthamptonshire.gov.uk/RushdenSUEDraft Masterplan To have your say on the masterplan and the Local Plan, go to www.east-northampton

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shire.gov.uk/consultation and select ‘Current consultations’ and ‘Local Plan Part 2’.

Council leader Steven North said: “As a council, we value the opinions of our residents on a variety of matters, including development across the district.

Contact: Iain Smith on 01933 311310 or 07583 869741 iain@kitchendoorsolutions.co.uk

INVOLVEMENT

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“We actively support involvement from all communities to make sure they take up every opportunity to express their thoughts and concerns on development in their area.

“As such, we would encourage everyone to have their say on both of these proposals.

“We will then collate all of the responses and a report will go to the planning policy committee for further discussion by councillors.”

Email your questions about the consultations to planningpolicy@east-northamptonshire.gov. uk or contact the council on 01832 742010.

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Your council is here when you need it most YOUR council is here when you need it most.

East Northamptonshire Council is reminding all residents, businesses and communities that just as it has supported them during the height of the health pandemic, it will continue to do so with all services remaining open to those who need them.

Council leader Steven North said: “This has been an incredibly stressful time for many in our

district and our staff and councillors have stepped up to continue providing essential services as well as many extras to help the vulnerable when they need us most.

“We’ve worked with our many partners and the always committed local voluntary sector to ensure that those who live work and spend time in East Northants get support of all kinds from finance to health and well-being.

SPECIALISTS SINCE 1980

“We’ve monitored the impact we’re having on making people’s lives a bit easier during this crisis and I think the numbers here speak for themselves.

“There’s a wealth of information on the council’s website at www.east-northampton shire.gov.uk/COVID19, or our customer service centre remains open on 01832 742000 to one of our customer advisers.”

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10 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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Grant boost for historical society RUSHDEN Historical Transport Society has received a lifeline grant of £32,000 from Government’s £1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

Almost 450 heritage organisations in England, including Rushden Historical Transport Society, (RHTS), have been awarded cash from the first round of the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage.

This is the first major tranche of funding from the Government’s £1.57bn fund.

Organisations will share £103m, including RHTS to help restart vital reconstruction work and maintenance on cherished heritage sites, keeping venues open and supporting those working in the heritage sector.

The closure period left the society without vital income during the busy early summer period from events held in the Goods

Shed and on the Station site.

The site is now open and operating within the Covid-19 guidelines, But the income generated is at a much lower level than budgeted for the current financial year.

The award of £32,000 to RHTS will help the Station site function through the tough winter months ready to bounce back in the spring with a full programme of events.

It will also enable RHTS to prepare for re-opening the railway next spring and enable some vital maintenance work to the Station buildings during the winter months.

This vital funding is from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arm’s length by Historic England

and the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Chairman John Sugars said: “We are very grateful to receive this funding which enables us to continue to function and prepare ourselves for 2021.

“It has been a very difficult year and there has been continual concern of how we could manage.

“I am personally very grateful to our dedicated team of volunteers who have contributed to keep the society functioning during this difficult time.”

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “As a nation it is essential that we preserve our heritage and celebrate and learn from our past.

“This massive support package will protect our shared heritage for future generations, save jobs and help us prepare for a cultural bounceback post-covid.”

Money raised from Mayor’s big year

MORE than £7,000 was raised from a series of events by the Higham Ferrers Mayor during his term of office.

Previous Mayor and Mayoress of Higham Ferrers, councillors Chris O’Rourke and Kathleen Meredith are pictured left, with the VE Bench on the town’s Market Square.

It will complement the British Legion and forces benches.

It was placed to commemorate the 75th Anniversary of VE Day and was presented to the town from money raised from events the Mayor held during his term of office.

Times past

from the Eric Fowell collection

In all £7,500 was raised, and other beneficiaries included local community groups, the Food Bank and the Encephalitis Society.

The Mayor and Mayoress said many thanks to everyone who supported them during their year in office.

The council has also revealed the town will still sparkle with its traditional Christmas lights this year but you should watch out for the twinkle this year with a couple of extra surprises at the start of December.

To assist with the extra surprises the council seeks help - Mayor Tina Reavey is

running a competition for the local children.

The Mayor will choose and award a prize for the winning design.

In addition, a number of other designs selected by the Mayor will be used to help bring the surprise twinkle to the town this year.

The design for the front of the card should be drawn and coloured on A4 paper.

Remember to write your name and a contact phone number on the reverse of your entry. They will be collected at local schools or can be posted through the letter box of the Town Hall.

JOHN SAMUEL CLIPSON

CHURCH STREET EST. 1879

This early picture shows John and his family in about 1903. From the left : Winifred Mary, Harold Arthur, Francis Irene, Helen Mary Ann (his wife, nee Woodcock), John Samuel, Mary Elizabeth.

A prominent Rushden man, he was a local councillor and Chairman of RUDC, 1906-6 and 1914-15, a member of the Water Board, and Choir Master at the Independent Wesleyan Chapel.

He was responsible for the telephone coming to Rushden and had the town’s first telephone number (No. 1).

Entirely a self-made man, John supplied and maintained boot and shoe factory machinery, and sold bicycles and prams.

In later years, when his daughter Irene took charge of the shop , the y became agents for Hornby Trains and Meccano .

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 11

Foundation awards £1.8m so far this year SINCE April, Northamptonshire Community Foundation has awarded almost £1.8 million in grant awards on behalf of its donors to groups, organisations and community projects across the county.

Example projects include those providing food aid, counselling services, medical supplies and health and wellbeing activities to particularly vulnerable individuals and families during the current public health crisis.

The foundation is the leading, independent grant-making charity in the county, working with a network of fund holders and donors to ensure projects make a sustainable impact on local need.

This year has seen the launch of several new funds forged from established relationships both locally and nationwide.

The Coronavirus Response and Recovery Fund was launched in March with support from the National Emergencies Trust and has awarded £675,518 to 221 projects to date.

The foundation worked with Anglian

Water to create the Anglian Water Positive Difference Fund, which provides grants to support projects which have a positive impact on the people and communities they serve.

The SEGRO Centenary Fund was established in April to support members of the community who are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.

In the longer term, this fund will focus on community projects which help young and disadvantaged people break into employment.

Local fundraising efforts have also contributed to the hugely successful year for the foundation so far.

Northamptonshire resident Shevonne Blair, (pictured), set herself the incredible challenge of walking 1,000,000 miles in August to raise funds for the organisation.

Tommy Gardner, another local resident, brought together 27 local musicians and artists to create the 2 disc ‘One Voice Northampton’ album.

Next month, these artists will come together to host a concert in Northampton’s Deco Theatre, with performances happening across the day and into the evening.

Speaking of the project, Tommy Gardner said: “One Voice brings together a large variety of Northamptonshire artists to create a lasting memory through music of our experiences through the COVID-19 lockdown period.

“During this time, I noticed that local music was more alive than ever before with live-streamed performances from home and new song releases from so many amazing artists.

“I wanted to capture a selection of those performances in this album to create a truly amazing musical time piece.”

Northamptonshire Community Foundation has also adopted the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, (UN SDGs), into its charitable activity.

The organisation wants to help promote these UN SDGs locally to show

Death of dog at energy farm sparks police probe A REWARD of up to £1,000 is being offered by independent charity Crimestoppers for information directly leading to the arrest and charge of anyone involved in an incident which led to the death of a beloved family pet.

The incident happened at the Chelveston renewable energy farm, (known locally as the former American air base), between 7pm and 7.30pm on Monday, August 17, when a woman in her 70s and her husband, parked in a layby and put their dogs

on their leads, ready to walk them.

As they did this, they heard someone call out to another dog, and stood next to the car to let them pass.

However, a black dog, described as a Staffi-cross, came out of a nearby field and knocked the woman over.

It then attacked one of her dogs, a Manchester Terrier called Ike, (pictured), and he sadly had to be put down following the incident.

The owner of the Staffi pulled it

ATTACKED

off Ike and put it on a red lead. She gave them her name and mobile number, but they have been unable to contact her.

The dog walker was white and in her late 30s to early 40s, stocky, with short brown hair and tattoos.

She wore black leggings and a tshirt.

She was with two males and a brown and white Spaniel-type dog.

Officers investigating the case have now teamed up with Crimestoppers to offer anyone with

information directly leading to the arrest and charge of anyone involved, a £1000 reward.

To qualify for the reward, pass your information onto Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or via its nontraceable anonymous online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

The reward is only available to people contacting Crimestoppers directly.

The incident number you need to quote if you have any information is on the dog attacks 20000434448.

how local action contributes to local good.

The UN SDGS are 17 goals that the United Nations has set to help improve quality of life and wellbeing for all by 2030 and include tackling poverty, hunger, access to quality education and health and wellbeing.

Grants director and deputy CEO at Northamptonshire Community Foundation Rachel McGrath said: “We pay tribute to the extraordinary generosity of our donors and the tireless work of our local charitable sector.

“Over the last six months, we have ensured that we provide a crucial safety net of community funds to local groups and charities supporting some of the most vulnerable residents of Northamptonshire during this public health crisis.

“We have also committed to delivering ongoing grant programmes to maximise the funds available for local support and services.”

For more information visit the foundation at www.ncf.uk.com

12 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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Train company supports the communities it serves by linking up with local food suppliers EAST Midlands Railway is supporting local businesses by adding locally produced snacks to their new First Class food offering - provided by independent suppliers.

Last month, EMR reintroduced a limited at-seat catering service for First Class customers on weekdays.

This includes a breakfast offering until 11am and then an all-day service through until the last train of the day.

The catering offer is complementary and has been redesigned to strictly limit contact between customers and EMR staff.

EMR’s newly created complimentary bag includes food from local businesses and suppliers; including The Heavenly Bake Company, based in Wellingborough and Yorkshire Crisps who are based in Sheffield.

The contents reflect the character of the regions they serve but also cuts down the carbon footprint of the meal.

Commercial manager at Heavenly Bake Company John Kennedy said: “We at Heavenly Bake Company were hit hard when lockdown arrived and it has been great working with the team at EMR to enable us to bring more of our staff back into the business.

“We hope the passengers are enjoying their local treats. Thank you once again.”

Tim Wheatley of The Yorkshire Crisp Company said: “We think this a really great initiative and we are delighted that Yorkshire Crisps can now be enjoyed by commuters travelling on East Midlands Railway, giving our brand exposure to a wider audience.”

Customer experience development manager

at East Midlands Railway Debbie Atha said: “We are extremely proud to work with local suppliers along our route to bring high quality foods to our passengers as well as minimising our carbon footprint.

“The hospitality and food industry has been hit particularly hard over the last six months and when sourcing new food products, supporting smaller independent companies is always a priority of ours.”

Each complimentary bag contains: AM: 500ml bottle of water, a juice carton, biscuit and breakfast bar – along with antibacterial wipes, a napkin and a wooden stirrer.

PM: 500ml bottle of water, 40g bag of crisps, biscuit and a large muffin – along with antibacterial wipes, a napkin and a wooden stirrer.

Beware of romance fraud tricksters as reports rise 26% in a year POLICE forces across the country joined forces last month to tackle romance fraud.

The multi-agency campaign, running throughout October, aims to raise awareness of romance fraud and provide clear and unambiguous protection advice to the public, following a 26 per cent rise in reports to Action Fraud in the last year.

Between August 2019 and August 2020, Action Fraud received over 400 reports a month from victims of romance fraud in the UK. Losses reported by victims during this time totalled £66,335,239, equating to an average loss per victim of just over £10,000.

A county woman, who was scammed out of her life savings by a man she thought loved her, has bravely spoke out in a bid to warn others.

Jessica, (not her real name), met a man on Zoosk -

an online dating site and dating app, at the beginning of 2019.

He introduced himself as an architect living in Sunderland and called himself James, (not his real name).

Over the course of 18 months, Jessica and James exchanged a number of messages – they would talk on Skype, have long phone calls, he would send her flowers, and from Jessica’s perspective, they were falling in love.

But James was a professional scammer, believed to be a part of an organised crime group in Nigeria, and during their relationship he scammed Jessica out of her life savings, ‘borrowing’ money she one day expected to be repaid.

Even when Jessica got suspicious and reported James’ behaviour to police, he kept the scam up, send-

ing spoof emails that appeared to be from a Northamptonshire Police detective in a bid to keep Jessica from seeing the truth.

Det Sgt Steve Puddifoot, said: “The victim in this case is exceptionally brave in being willing to talk about her experiences and we all hope that it will serve as a warning to other people who use online dating services.

“This was a very professional scam created and carried out by professional criminals.

“Even when a police investigation was in full swing, the scammer created an email address that appeared to be from Northamptonshire Police, in order to evade detection.

“Online dating services are a great way to meet people but those that use them need to be fully aware of the dangers involved.

“In this case, the victim lost more than £100,000 that she thought she would get back.

“She has lost her life savings and has been left homeless and in debt - the emotional and mental impact has been devastating to her and her family.

“She, and we, hope that raising awareness and her speaking out about her experiences could prevent others from falling foul of this despicable crime.”

Romance fraud is a serious crime.

EXCEPTIONALLY BRAVE

If you suspect it, you must report it.

If you, or someone you know is suspected to be a victim of Romance Fraud, please report it to the police.

Officers have issued the following tips: n Don’t rush into an online relationship – get to know the person, not the profile. Ask plenty of questions. n Analyse their profile – confirm the person’s identity. n Check the person is genuine by putting their name, profile pictures or any repeatedly-used phrases and the term ‘dating scam’ into your search engine. n Talk to your friends and family – be wary of anyone who tells you not to tell others about them. n Evade scams _ never send money or share your bank details with someone you’ve only met online, no matter what reason they give or how long you’ve been speaking to them. n Stay on the dating site messenger service - don’t use email, phone, social media or other messaging apps until you are confident the person is who they say they are.

As part of the campaign the Match Group ran romance fraud protection adverts throughout October on its sites to inform their users how to spot the signs of a romance fraud and how to protect themselves.

Tributes paid to Dan TRIBUTES have been paid to Rushden man Daniel Brawn after he sadly passed way in Thailand after battling cancer.

The Reporter told last month how people in Rushden had rallied together, including holding a fundraiser in the town and launching a Just Giving page.

Daniel’s brother Justin said on his Facebook page: “It’s with great sadness that I have to inform everybody that my little bro Daniel ‘Dan’ Brawn grew his wings late last night and passed away during his final sleep.

“Until we meet again little bro’ – I love you and miss you with all my heart.”

Friends from across the area and from Thailand have paid their tributes throughout the month on Facebook and to his family.

You can read more about his fight and how the town rallied together to raise money for hospital funds at https://rosetta publishing.com/reporter

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NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER — 13

Cannabis farm disamantled

A LARGE cannabis grow has been dismantled after being discovered by a member of the public near Castle Ashby.

Police officers received a call that there was a large amount of cannabis plants growing in dense woodland on the outskirts of Castle Ashby, near Grendon Village.

Upon arrival, officers found over 120 plants in a space measuring 50 metres by 50 metres with tools and feed, used to cultivate

the plants, left behind.

The plants have now been seized and destroyed.

PC Russell Barnes, said: “This find was quite different to the usual cannabis grows we see inside properties, but it just goes to show that when the people who grow these plants change their tactics, we are still able to stop them in their tracks.

“A lot of people may think that the production of cannabis and the selling of drugs is a victimless

Five men arrested in relation to child sex abuse POLICE have arrested five men in Northamptonshire and West Yorkshire on suspicion of child sexual abuse offences dating back more than 40 years.

An 83-year-old man and a 59year-old man were arrested by police executing a warrant at an address in Northampton.

As part of the same investigation, a 49-year-old man was arrested by police at a separate address in Northampton while a 66-year-old man was also detained at a property in Kettering.

And in Bradford, police also arrested a 42-year-old man linked to the same inquiry.

Teams of specialist officers searched the addresses where the warrants were executed.

Det Insp Pete Long, of the Major Crime Team, said: “In January this year, we launched an investigation after receiving intelligence about possible incidents of non-recent abuse at an address in Northampton.

“During those inquiries, it came to light that one of the suspects was a former member of staff at St Andrew’s Hospital, Northampton, between 1979 and 1986.

“This inquiry is ongoing and it would be therefore inappropriate for us to comment further.

“However, today’s operation demonstrates our continued determination to investigate all allegations of sexual abuse involving children, no matter how long ago they happened and we would urge anyone with information to contact

crime, but what people don’t realise is that the people at the top of the chain will often exploit vulnerable people and put them to work in these factories, using them to make money with no thought for their welfare.

“We will continue to be relentless in tackling the production of illegal drugs.

“I would thank the community for reporting suspicious activity to us and encourage them to continue to do so.”

Rotary club campaigns to end polio THE Rushden Rotary and Rushden Chichele Clubs will be planting over 8000 purple crocus bulbs in and around the Rushden and Higham Ferrers area over the next two weeks which will be a reminder each spring of the fight for a polio free world.

The Rotarians will be joined by Higham Ferrers Tourist Organisation and Rushden Town Council helping n the planting which will be focused on Rushden’s Hall Park and Chichele College in Higham Ferrers.

In August, Rotary and the world celebrated a significant milestone, as the World Health Organization certified the Africa region, which includes 47 countries, free from wild polio.

This leaves just Pakistan and Afghanistan as the two remaining polio endemic countries in the world.

But despite this momentous progress, more challenging work lies ahead.

None of this would be possible without team work,

Northamptonshire Police on 101.”

In a separate case, a 23-year-old man has been convicted of two rapes, one attempted rape, two sexual assaults by penetration and five sexual assaults.

The offences were committed against four girls – one aged 14, two aged 15 and one aged 16.

Samuel Hamilton, aged 23 from Kingstanding in Birmingham, was convicted of the offences at Nottingham Crown Court.

The offences took place between January 2018 and November 2019 and spanned three counties – Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and West Midlands.

He is due to be sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, November 17.

and Rotary’s success to date in tackling the disease is by uniting together volunteers and other organisations.

Rotary members throughout Great Britain and Ireland will be planting two million purple crocus corms across their communities, adding to the almost 22 million which have been planted over previous years.

Purple has become a symbolic colour in the fight against polio, inspired by the colour of the dye painted on the little finger of a child to signify they have received their vaccine.

President of the Rushden Club, Barbara Jenney and President of the Rushden Chichele Club, Judy Webb, said: “We are proud to be planting these purple symbols of the Polio campaign.

“Only together can we end polio and we can all play our part in the continuing global efforts to eradicate the disease.”

Spook-tacular times at creepiest time of the year FAMILIES were urged to steer clear of busy times at a county pumpkin farm so everyone could enjoy some spook-tacular social distancing fun at Halloween.

For the second year running, staff at Smiths Farm shop opened up its fields again, so visitors can pick their own pumpkins, but proprietor of the farm shop, Adrian Smith warned people to be sensible.

He said: “Providing people adhere to the rule of six people,

pumpkin-picking in the great outdoors is relatively risk free during the pandemic and is guaranteed to be fun.

“But our customers’ safety is our number one priority, so we’re urging people to avoid busy times when they come to pick their pumpkins otherwise we’ll be forced to turn visitors away.

“Social distancing measures will still be in place in our fields and we fully expect everyone to stick to the rule of six in any

group at any one time.”

Despite the pandemic, staff at the Brampton shop worked hard to ensure this year’s pumpkin picking was as fun as it could have been.

Together, the team have built an eight foot spider structure, (below), which was displayed for visitors to pose in front of and post to social media.

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14 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

ADVERTISING: TheReporter@rosettapublishing.com or call 07894 935952

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POINT TO PONDER

WE MUST TAKE HOPE INTO NEXT YEAR

By Canon George Burgon

THIS summer I wrote to a few of my American theological college friends expressing my concern at the scenes of racial violence that were filling our TV screens.

I received these comments “the racial enmity, America’s original sin… has been catching up with us...right now the USA is in more trouble than most of us have seen in our lifetime… I think this is a hopeful era.”

All were grateful for my prayers and empathy.

The current global pandemic should

not detract us on this side of the pond from the sad racisms that affect our own society and indeed many others.

Can we agree with my American priest friend that even with all the doom and gloom that this is a ‘hopeful era?’

I believe that we are in a stage of honest reflection in our society where we are being asked to look again at ourselves and re-examine our values, standards and our humanity.

We have rediscovered the vital importance of our National Health Service and how we need one another to stay alive.

We have woken up to the place education has in the well-being of our children.

We have renewed our admiration and dedication of our police officers and all those in the front-line services.

We have become much more aware of the complexities in mental health issues.

Sadly, we have also been reminded that there are some individuals whose selfishness imperils the importance of caring for one another especially the vulnerable.

We always live in a hopeful era when we pay due heed to ourselves and confront the deep-seated fears and insecurities in all our hearts which lead to self-centredness, racism and turmoil in our streets and in

HOPEFUL ERA

some homes.

We cannot cure the discords in our nation with more law and order but only with good will and open-mindedness.

We cannot enhance our own humanity by denying our fellow humanity a place in the sun.

This ‘hopeful era’ on both side of the pond is not going to go away or be submerged by the forces of evil and a dog eat dog approach to life’s problems.

It will be strengthened by the belief that if we place our trust in our Creator then nothing in creation can overwhelm us.

“Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee: in whose heart are thy ways,”

Police appeal after vehicle thefts WITNESSES are being sought after the theft of a John Deere Gator vehicle and Ifor Williams trailer from Denford Ash Farm in Denford.

The burglary took place between 8pm on Thursday, September 24, and 8am on Friday, September 25, when the offender, or offenders broke into a secure farm complex and stole the vehicles from a building.

The Ifor Williams trailer was later found abandoned near to the village of Hardwick, however the green John Deere Gator vehicle, index number AE12 FSS, has yet to be recovered.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident, who may have seen anyone acting suspi-

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ciously near to the farm or who may have been offered a John Deere Gator vehicle for sale in unusual circumstances.

Anyone who may have any information regarding this incident can contact Northamptonshire Police on 101 quoting reference number 20000504335.

Or alternatively, call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

You can catch up on all the news and breaking crime stories on our website by visiting .https://rosettapublishing.com/ reporter/ You can also sign-up for your daily digest of local East Northamptonshire news at https://rosettapublishing.com/ reporter/sign-up/

(Psalm 84.5).

We really do need to question the things in this life we put our trust in and how shallow and unworthy they are when we have to face ‘crunch times.’

This ‘hopeful era’ has to be inspired by a spiritual dimension, however we would define that, to have any lasting value.

As Bishop Phillips Brooks of Philadelphia, (author of ‘O Little town of Bethlehem’), puts it: “Whatever happens, always remember the mysterious richness of human nature and the nearness of God to each one of us.”

If we have found this in 2020 we have found hope.

Man attempts to steal dog from teenage girl WITNESSES are being sought after a man attempted to steal a dog from a 16-year-old girl in Windsor Drive, Thrapston.

The incident took place between 7.40pm and 8pm on Sunday, October 4.

The teenager was walking her Jackapoo in the play area.

She was approached by a man who started to pet the dog.

He then picked the dog up and tried to run off with it.

The girl still had hold of the dog’s lead and managed to hold on to the dog.

The man eventually put the dog back down and ran off.

The offender was white, aged about 40, 6ft, with dark hair.

He wore a black jacket.

Officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed this incident, or who may have seen anyone running from the play area, between the stated times.

Police also appealed for anyone who may have captured the incident on CCTV or dash-cam footage.

Anyone who may have any information on this attempted theft, should again contact Northamptonshire Police on 101, quoting reference number 20000522276.

Or alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Quincy Motorcycles

We are pleased to announce that you can now buy your fresh fish and vegetables from our garden centre

‘Best Veg’ are open Wednesdays and Saturdays

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Viewing by appointment only Tel: 07724 905406

N 2020 — — 15 NOVEMBER 2020 EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER

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gardening

with Milton Ernest Garden Centre

Berried B

TREASURE

by Maureen Catlin

ERRIED fruits are very productive and really worth growing. They produce some of the healthiest food we can grow and many can be accommodated in quite small gardens.

They are rich in Fibre, Vitamin C and Antioxidant Polyphenols and so are important for a healthy heart, for reducing blood pressure and cholesterol slowing cognitive decline and diabetes.

Some can be grown in tubs but many are better grown in the border or veg patch to achieve maximum crops.

The birds also like the berries that we find tasty so it is vital that you provide some protection. A fruit cage is the ideal solution which allows easy maintenance of the crops and easy picking at harvest. It is also vital to water often during the months when the fruit is forming and ripening so a ground irrigation system like Drip or Seeper Hoses will produce amazing crops of rich berries to eat fresh or freeze for winter use. This initial outlay will pay for itself time and again. For example you should expect at least 0.5 to 1 kg of fruit per raspberry cane per year. I have seen raspberries in the supermarkets costing £1.99 for 20 berries!

So Raspberries are really worth growing. For early and midseason varieties I like Glen Proven and Tulleman and for autumn fruiting Joan J or Autumn Bliss. But wait there’s a new kid on the block, Ruby Beauty is the world’s first compact variety. It is summer fruiting, the canes are short and stout so no need for support wires. It will even grow in a large pot. Useful tip feed with Rose Fertiliser in April. It is high in Potash producing lots of flowers and therefore fruit.

Blueberries are another very prolific fruiting berry a super food which is also expensive to buy. It is recommended that you plant 3 plants together to get good pollination and large yields. Grow in lime free compost and feed with ericaceous feed as they like acidic soil. Put sulphur chips around the base of each plant every couple of years to reduce the soil ph. Blueberries grow very well in containers Chandler and Sunshine Blue are both recommended varieties with masses of large berries that are easy to pick and will freeze very well for winter use.

The flavour of freshly picked ripe Straw-

berries is to be relished. Probably the favourite berry for children to eat they can be grown in tubs and even hanging baskets. Choose a spot that enjoys six to eight hours sunlight per day.

Plant three plants in a 14 hanging basket and five in a similar size deep pot. Feed with tomato food every week in the growing season and water copiously. I grow Strawberry Pegasus, Elsanta and Hapil for sweet juicy berries of excellent flavour.

Blackberries are much valued for Blackberry and Apple Pie, Jam or to eat fresh with Breakfast Cereals. You need space to grow good varieties like Adrienne and Oregon Thornless which grow vigorously and need a framework to be trained for easy harvesting.

Opal however is small enough to grow in a container. All have delicious sweet juicy berries that freeze well.

Tayberries and Loganberries are both hybrids from Blackberries and Raspberries.

They produce a lot of long stems so need space to be trained on a wire frame. Loganberries are used mostly for culinary purposes but Tayberries produce long sweet berries of excellent flavour.

Gooseberries are an undervalued soft fruit that is beginning to resurge in popularity because it is so versatile. A variety like Invicta can be used as dessert or for cooking and preserves so well either by freezing or for making jam or chutney. It will grow in poor soil even in part shade. Invicta trains very well as a fan shape on a wall which makes harvesting easy.

Jostaberry is a natural cross between a Gooseberry and a Blackcurrant. This soft fruit looks like a Blackcurrant and has the same refreshing flavour with a hint of gooseberry. It has prolific crops which ripen in July.

Most of the berry fruits are easy to grow and are a great addition to GROW YOUR OWN.

16 — EAST NORTHANTS REPORTER NOVEMBER 2020

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County’s biggest sports clubs working together for the safe return of fans

sport FOOTBALL, rugby and cricket bosses have joined forces to debate the safe return of fans to sport.

Northampton’s three professional sports clubs – Northampton Saints RFC, Northampton Town FC, and Northamptonshire CCC – met with Northampton South MP, Andrew Lewer.

The clubs explained the challenges facing the sports industry at the moment, with elite sport con-

tinuing to be played behind closed doors without spectators in line with Government policy.

The issue of the safe return of supporters to stadiums was discussed at length, with the clubs explaining the detailed protocols that have been put in place.

The clubs were grateful to Mr Lewer for his time and all parties have agreed to remain in regular communication as the clubs work

towards a return to stadiums for spectators.

Northampton Saints chief executive Mark Darbon said: “At this time of shared challenge, it is really positive for us to be working together with the Cobblers and the Cricket Club.

“All three clubs have a special place in the heart of the town – Saints, the Cobblers and the Steelbacks all benefit from the fer-

vent and unwavering support of our community.”

“In return, the work done within the community by the clubs is wide ranging and impactful, creating strong sporting, social and educational legacies across Northamptonshire and beyond.

“The implications of being able to continue this are unthinkable, so we are doing everything in our power to secure the long-term

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future of the clubs in spite of the current industry landscape.”

Northampton Town Football Club chief executive James Whiting said: “There are so many benefits to allowing spectators back into sports stadiums, and as clubs we are working very hard to make this happen as soon as possible.

“All three sports clubs in Northampton are of the opinion that this can be done safely as there are carefully considered, detailed plans that have been approved by our Safety Advisory Group in place.

“We have seen successful pilot events staged at various stadiums up and down the country and we believe that attending outdoor sports stadiums under these condi-

tions is far safer than some of the activities that are currently allowed.

Chief executive of Northamptonshire County Cricket Club Ray Payne said: “The sporting clubs of Northampton have worked together in the past, in much more settled times, it seems absolutely fitting in these times, we do so more than ever.

“When individuals are stricter in movement and social interaction, sport has a big part to play in the wellbeing and mental health for all, we have a part to play in providing that within the community.

“We will work with government and local authorities to find safe ways that sports fans can enjoy sport and participating in sport in the town.”

New shirts for Diamonds

RUSHDEN & Diamonds new home shirt features the names of the supporters printed within the fabric, along with logos of Mind Rushden.

The away shirts will follow in a few weeks time.

For how to buy, visit www.afcdiamonds.com/new-home-shirts/

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PARENTS in Sport Week 2020, run by the NSPCC Child Protection in Sport Unit, was aimed at hightlighting the the important role parents play in youth sport, from helping to keep children safe, to encouraging them to take part and achieve.

As part of the campaign, the the CPSU asked sports parents to make the Sports Parents Promise a three-point pledge to their children to listen to them about their concerns, check clubs are safe to enjoy, and encourage their chil-

dren to take part in a positive way.

The aim was to help parents to understand how their contribution to their child’s sport makes it a safer place for all children.

You can help the campaign by making the Sports Parents Promise – on its website, where you can also find a wealth of helpful information about being a great sports parent and working with parents in sport.

You can also support and follow the campaign on social media using the hashtag #ParentsinSportWeek2020.

Busy month ahead for teams at Hayden Road IT is a busy time for football in Rushden over the coming month.

Rushden & Diamonds FC have three home matches at Hayden Road over the coming month.

They play Rushall Olympic on Saturday, November 7, Biggleswade Town on Saturday, November 14 and finally, Alvechuch on Tuesday, November 24.

Meanwhile, Rushden and Higham United have a packed calendar, starting with an away game with Burton Park Wanderers, on Saturday, November, before facing Irchester United at home on Tuesday, November 10.

They then travel to Bourne Town on Saturday, November 14, before facing Birstall United

at home on Saturday, November 21.

The Lankies then wind up the month with by hosting Whittlesley Athletic on Saturday, November 28.

The club’s youth teams also have a busy month, with the under-13s playing Desborough, Corby, Hellenic, Irchester Romans Gladiators and Kettering.

The under-14 Ignite team play Irchester Romans, Earls Barton, RH United Orange, Mawsley and Ise Lodge Hawks.

The under-14 Orange team face Mawsley, RH United Ignite, Ise Lodge Hawks and Thrapston Bulls, while the under-13s have fixtures against Ringstead, Ise Lodge Eagles, Corby Kingswood and Higham Town.