Short Stories - The Old Bostonian (6/2004)

Boston Stump will continue to radiate light for another two years, thanks to two generous businesses. When Oldrids who have generously supported the light-show for a number of years stopped sponsoring the church's tower floodlights to concentrate on other charities, the "off" switch had to be flicked until a new sponsor could be found.Garth Isaac, director of the Georgians nursing home in Boston, answered the Stump's cry for help and agreed to pledge £2,500 to enable the tower to be lit again for another year. Mr Isaac said: "It's a beautiful church, and we were desperate the Stump should continue to be lit. "There is no better sight across the Fens than a fully lit Stump, and I think it is a lovely way of saying thank you to the public for the support they give the business." The money was handed over to the Stump's new vicar, the Revd. Robin Whitehead. The Georgians' oldest resident Rose Lefley, 105, was there to present the money, as well as Peter Kitwood, 98 (BGS 1914-17), who was Stump churchwarden for 25 years. Parish administrator Graham Stewart-Smith said: "We have been given a wonderful gift of light." The Georgians' sponsorship of the lighting ends on March 1, 2005, when another business is ready to step into the breach. Guy O'Brien, director of Wyberton Developments Ltd, has promised to sponsor the floodlighting until March 2006.

Four people were killed in a car crash on the A52 at Friskney on 28th April. The accident happened near the Barley Mow just before 7pm when a Ford Fiesta and a Ford Escort estate collided. Louise Nuttell who worked at Comet in Grantham Road, Boston, died a short time after the accident in Pilgrim Hospital. The 35-year-old was wife of Mick Nuttell (BGS 1980-1985), who played for Boston United in the 1990s – a minute's silence was observed at York Street on Saturday 1st May, and players wore back armbands as a mark of respect. Louise’s manager at Comet, Kathleen Stephenson, 50, was declared dead at the scene, as was Sarah-Louise Wilkinson, 37. The remaining passenger, Louise's sister, Amanda Crozier, was also injured. The four were travelling to see a show at the Embassy Theatre, Skegness. The driver of the Fiesta, Darren Smith, 20, who worked as a chef at the Barley Mow pub, was declared dead at the scene.

A schoolboy has spoken of his terror as a stranger in a car pulled out a gun and shot him as he sat by the side of the road. Boston Grammar School pupil Joshua Leafe, 11, was talking with a friend at the side of Princess Anne Road, Boston on Sunday 8th February when the incident happened. The car drove past the two boys at speed, then returned and pulled up next to them. The passenger then pulled out a ball bearing gun and shot at the youngster, hitting him in the face. Joshua said: "I wondered why the car had stopped, and when one of the teenagers inside wound down the window and pulled out a gun I just froze. "The shot hit me at close range on the side of my nose and really stung. "If it had gone a few centimetres higher it could have hit my eye and blinded me." After they had shot at him, the two teenagers sped away in the car laughing at the injury and fear they had inflicted on the youngster. Joshua's mother Angela, 39, said: "He came in bleeding from the wound and at first I thought he had fallen off his bike. "He was very shaken up, but luckily not seriously injured." Joshua said: "At the time the gun looked like a more powerful one. "I don't normally go out when it's dark, but this has put me off going out at night now." Police were looking for two youths in connection with the incident. One is described as having short hair, and the other possibly wore a hat.

Fishtoft man, Robert Larder, has completed his training at Sandhurst Military Academy. The 24-year-old underwent further training at Aborfield before joining up with the second RHA and serving with the 7th Armoured Brigade in Hohne, Germany. At the Sovereign Parade on his final day at Sandhurst, Robert took part in various contests to achieve the Honour of the banner and came joint first in the pistol shooting, being awarded the medal for his achievement. Robert is a former pupil of Fishtoft Primary School and BGS, and achieved an electronics degree at Salford University before entering Sandhurst in January 2003.

Former BGS pupil Robert Geoffrey Parker has gained a BSc honours degree in agriculture with crop management from Harper Adams University College. Robert, 22, whose family home is in Wash Road, Kirton, is working as broccoli harvest manager with JB Shropshires in Great Yarmouth.

Neil Balderston has graduated from Kingston University, Surrey. Neil, a former BGS pupil, graduated with a First Class BEng (Hons) Degree in Automotive Systems Engineering Technology. Neil was also awarded the school prize for outstanding performance in automotive engineering technology. He is now working for Nissan Technical Centre (Europe) as a graduate engineer in the safety department of the research and development section.

A health and safety survey has forced the felling of trees – one nearly two centuries old – along Boston's Rowley Road.
The hornbeam and lime trees lined the front of Boston Grammar School's grounds until they were deemed unsafe because of their size and the fact they overhung the pavement. Headteacher John Neal said: "The report said they were dangerous and had to come down, so sadly we did it. "We all regret having to do it because they were grand old trees." Some of the branches were found to be at risk of falling in high winds, leaving the trees condemned as unsafe, Mr Neal explained. The school had hoped to get away with a simple pruning job, but the report showed greater action was necessary. Mr Neal said tree surgeons had calculated a lime on the site, which had an average life expectancy of 200 years, as being about 180 years old. The felling had allowed more light to flood into the school, but Mr Neal suggested pupils and staff would happily sacrifice this if it meant having the trees back. He said: "It wasn't a cosmetic exercise or something that we did gladly. Given the choice to have them there or not, I think we'd all prefer to have them there.

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Updated 20 February, 2006