People across Daventry District will fall silent on Sunday, November 9 to honour the service men and women who died for their country.

This year’s Remembrance Day will be an especially solemn one as the United Kingdom marks the 100th anniversary since the start of the First World War.

A Remembrance Day Parade and Service organised by the Royal British Legion will take place on Sunday, November 9 at 10.30am from St James Infant School in St James Street.

Veterans and relatives of soldiers as well as civic dignitaries will march through Tavern Lane and the High Street and down to the memorial on Abbey Street led by the Mayor. There will be a short outdoor service culminating in two minutes silence and the reading of the Roll of Honour. A service will follow in Holy Cross Church from 11.25am.

Daventry Brass will also be present for the occasion.

The traditional Armistice Day Service is to take place on Tuesday, November 11 from 10.45 at the gazebo on Sheaf Street.

There will be a short service followed by two minutes silence at 11am to mark the 144 Daventry men who lost their lives.

Many villages will be holding their own Remembrance Day services and memorials too, including a Remembrance Day Service will be held in St Peter’s Church, Grandborough, at 10.30am on Sunday 9 November.

A small exhibition of the six soldiers from Flecknoe will be displayed in St Peter’s Church in that village.

Norton residents commemorated the 100th anniversary of the deaths of Second Lieutenant John Litchfield and Private John Blencowe, who were among the first Allied soldiers to be killed in World War One on October 22 and 24, 1914.

Villagers and members of both men’s families held a short service on both days at the village war memorial, followed by the tolling of the church bell for two minutes. The great-nephew of 2Lt Litchfield planted a cross (bottom picture), while a large number of Pte Blencowe’s relatives attended along with a bugler and Royal British Legion standard bearer (top). The events were organised by the Norton History Society. They will be marking the 100th anniversary of every named man.

People visiting Drayton Reservoir are being urged by the Canal & River Trust to avoid contact with the water after an outbreak of blue-green algae.

The algae, which can be toxic,occurs naturally in many inland bodies of fresh water. It can cause allergic reactions including itchy eyes, skin irritation and hay fever-like symptoms.

Occasionally, blue-green algae ‘blooms’, colouring the water green, blue-green or greenish brown and sometimes causing paint-like or jelly-like scums.

While the outbreak of blue-green algae in summer is a natural occurrence, it is unusual for a bloom to occur in late October.

Richard Bennett, environment manager at the Canal & River Trust said: “Drayton Reservoir, near Middlemore, is a great place for people to come for a walk or cycle to see the varied wildlife and heritage it offers.

“We want people to continue to enjoy the lovely waterside setting but to be aware that there’s a current outbreak of blue-green algae in the water.”

“Blue-green algae is naturally occurring but it can be harmful to your skin. We’re asking people to be extra careful and if they or their pets come into contact with the affected water, they should wash all exposed skin with clean water as soon as possible, and particularly before eating or drinking. If they are in any doubt about their welfare after contact with algae, they should seek medical advice.”

The outbreaks of blue-green algae may persist whilst the weather remains unseasonably warm. With no end in sight for the current Indian summer Daventry is experiencing, the risk of a ‘bloom’ remains a worry for officials.

While warning signs have been placed around the affected areas, the location and extent of the bloom and any scums may vary with wind, weather and water movements. Visitors are being asked to remain vigilant.

Northamptonshire Police are looking for someone special to be held at events throughout this week.

The force’s recruitment officers will be out and about to find people to become special constables.

Events will be held at Byfield Village Hall tomorrow (Tuesday) from 2pm and the Co-op car park in Woodford Halse from 4pm.

The team will also be at Daventry Leisure Centre from 3.30pm to 8pm on Thursday.

Anyone unable to make any of these dates can find out more at www.northants.police.uk/#!/SpecialConstabulary or email any questions to the team at SpecialsRecruitment@northants.police.uk

Northamptonshire Police say they are stepping up patrols in rural areas after a number of houses were targeted by burglars over the weekend.

Businesses and homes across the county have also fallen victim to thieves, with two quad bikes and a Landrover Defender taken from a farm in Higham Ferrers near Wellingborough, and a number of catalytic converters have been stolen from the Kislingbury area in the past week.

Police are asking residents to take precautions to help prevent crime.

These include: Getting tack, saddles and accessories marked so they are identifiable and less attractive to thieves, and ensuring valuable tack and saddlery is stored in a secure and locked location, and if it is valuable, consider taking it home to store.

Other suggestions include when leaving your yard, double-check it is firmly locked and if possible, installing crime prevention products like CCTV cameras and alarm systems.

Police are also advising residents to never reveal details of where their horse and saddlery if approached by a stranger.

It is also advisable for future reference, take photographs of your horses and expensive equipment. This will make it easier to make a positive identification if they are stolen.

The next tack marking event is on Wednesday, 12 November, when the Daventry Rural Safer Community Team will be at H O E Country Feeds Limited at Swan Farm Buildings, Charwelton Road, Preston Capes.

It will run from 9am to 5pm. Officers will be doing tack marking and giving out catalytic converter marking kits and general crime prevention advice.

Northamptonshire County Council is inviting people to Daventry Library on Wednesday next week to find out more about their history as part of the Explore Your Archive campaign.

The council’s Archives and Heritage Service has thousands of items stored in its archive, including unique documents, rare journals and fascinating paper cuttings about the history of Northamptonshire and the people who lived here.

The Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service holds artefacts documenting over 800 years of the county’s rich heritage and this can be accessed free of charge.

The Northamptonshire Archives and Heritage Service is supporting the national Explore Your Archive campaign, which is launched on Monday (November 10) by hosting a series of events at the following libraries:

The event runs from 10am to 2pm on Wednesday November 12.

Cllr André González de Savage, county council cabinet member for strategic infrastructure, economic growth and public protection, said: “There is a wealth of information available within our archive for anyone interested in finding out more about Northamptonshire’s rich history.

“The Explore Your Archive campaign is a fantastic opportunity for people to discover the thousands of documents we have stored. Whether you’re interested in fashion, sport, food or even UFOs, there is sure to be something to inspire you within our archive.”

Northamptonshire’s archive collections include police records dating back to 1840, diaries from soldiers who served in the First World War and burial registers from 1847.The archives service is open Tuesday to Thursday from 9am to 5pm, Fridays from 10am to 4pm and the first Saturday of each month from 9am to 4pm, and staff are on hand to offer help and advice in using the facility.

To find out more about the Explore Your Archive campaign, visit www.exploreyourarchive.co.uk.

Two men have been accused of causing a full-scale evacuation of a Northamptonshire town centre after allegedly planting a suitcase with a wire hanging out of it outside a shop, a court heard.

Joshua Benson, aged 20, and Lee Venner, aged 34, appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court both on a bomb hoax charge relating to an incident in Daventry town centre on August 24, 2013.

The court heard the men allegedly placed a suitcase with a wire hanging out of it outside the It’s a Gift shop in the High Street shortly after midnight.

Vicki Walker, prosecuting, said a 999 call was then made which led to a large area of the town centre was cordoned off and a number of nearby properties were evacuated.

Ms Walker said a specialist bomb disposal unit from the RAF was also sent to the scene.

Benson, of Ericsson Close, Daventry, pleaded not guilty to the charge. Venner, of Bowen Square, Daventry, offered no plea.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction in the case. The case was sent to Northampton Crown Court. A hearing was listed for November 19.

If you are one of the 1,925 individuals who have lodged a petition in Parliament against the high-speed rail project HS2 then you are welcome to an event organised by South Northamptonshire Council (SNC).

The council has invited their parliamentary agent, Alastair Lewis from Sharp Pritchard, to lead an information session.

He will make a presentation on the HS2 Select Committee which will cover the Select Committee membership, process and procedure and provide an insight into proceedings to date. He will also guide delegates on how best to present to the Committee and the most appropriate evidence to provide.

It is likely that petitions made by those in South Northamptonshire will be heard in early 2015, and this free session is being provided to assist those in preparing for an appearance before the Select Committee.

The high speed rail link between London and Birmingham will go through Chipping Warden, Aston le Walls and Boddington.

Places are strictly limited and priority will be given to those individuals, businesses and parishes in South Northants and Cherwell districts who have lodged a petition in parliament. The event is due to take place on Wednesday November 12. Coffee will be served from 4.45pm, with the event commencing at 5.15pm. The session will end at 7pm.

To reserve your space, please respond by email to david.allen@southnorthants.gov.uk.

A man was left without a phone and internet connection for more than three months after he moved into his new house on Monksmoor Park in Daventry .

Mark Wall, who is 48, is a self employed electrician running his own business from his terraced house on Cartmel Road.

He said: “They said the site was ready to go, but when I moved in the fiberoptic was not even installed.”

But even after a routine installation of a fibre-optic cable and BT Infinity Box, Mr Wall said he was forced to rely on a dongle and mobile phone, and despite repeated calls to BT the issues were not resolved.

“It was a nightmare. Mr Walls said. “It has cost me between £20 and £30 a month ringing up BT about this problem.

“I have five A4 pages of notes after making complaints to them.”

Mr Wall said there were four other houses on the estate also without access to internet or phone lines.

“It is ridiculous. The dongle I use is very slow. I use email to send out quotes, and this morning I had clients ringing me up saying they hadn’t received them.”

Mr Wall said he had been told the issues would be solved by lunchtime yesterday (Wednesday, October 29).

The Gusher has approached BT for comment but at the time of printing they had not responded.

A registered blind ex-soldier from Long Buckby is to take part in the Remembrance Sunday march at the Cenotaph with Blind Veterans UK.

Frank Berry, 76, will be marching in London with more than 100 other representatives of Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision impaired ex-Service men and women.

Mr Berry, pictured, joined the Army Catering Corps in October 1957 and went on to serve for four years.

He has many memories of his service in Cyprus, where he was stationed at the Kyrenia Mountains, the border between the Turkish and Cypriot sides of the island.

He said: “I’ve never been back, there are too many sad memories. But there were good times when we had a break – swimming and playing football.

“We didn’t like the climate though – we lived in tents and found it too hot, so we were always praying for rain.

“In the catering corps we cooked everything for the regiment from cooked breakfast to baking bread from scratch, all following recipes from an army cookbook. Before National Service I was a butcher, but I had never cooked much. But by the time I got married I was a better cook than my wife.”

Mr Berry started to lose his sight in early 2005.

He added: “Despite having regular tests for glaucoma I ended up in hospital as my sight rapidly deteriorated. I had very high pressure in the eye and they told me if they didn’t do anything I would be blind within 24 hours. They finally did get the pressure down, but by 2006 I only had poor pinhole vision due to advanced glaucoma.”

A friend recommended Mr Berry get in touch with Blind Veterans UK and he has received free support to help him live independently with sight loss. He added: “Blind Veterans UK has made a huge difference to me. At the Blind Veterans UK centres I learnt about simple things I could do to make my daily life easier and simpler. I didn’t cook after I lost my sight, but now I’ve got techniques that help me in the kitchen.

“I don’t cook as much as I used to, but I make a particularly good Yorkshire Pudding! I also have a gadget to put on a mug which bleeps if it’s going to overflow with hot water.

“I think it’s important to remember those who have passed away. Remembrance Sunday should never die out. I’ve ordered the sun to shine on the day and if I wink at the Queen I might get a free meal!”

A local author is to release his fourth novel, The Girl I Left Behind Me, in December.

Robert Cubitt, who lives in Byfield, has been writing full time since he retired from his job in logistics with the Ministry of Defence in Bicester.

Set in 2012, the novel follows the intertwining lives of British soldier Sgt ‘Lofty’ Lofthouse and Youssef Haq Ibrahim, a British Muslim who joins the Taliban after being radicalised, as well as the women both men leave behind.

Mr Cubbitt said : “Soldiers have been doing a very difficult job out there. They have been working in very difficult conditions. But I also wanted to draw attention to the fact our motives for being in Afghanistan are very questionable.” The Girl I Left Behind Me will be released online in e-book format.

Thirteen illegal immigrants have been found in a lorry stopped in the Daventry district.

The Iranian nationals were discovered in a vehicle that had come from Dover as it had got to the Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal in Crick this afternoon.

Police said they were called to Danes Way, which is just off junction 18 of the M1, at about 3pm after the driver heard banging coming from the back of the vehicle.

A spokesman said officers discovered 12 adults and one child.

Eleven of the adults were handed over to UK Border Agency officials and a woman, who was pregnant, was taken to hospital with police officers in attendance.

People across the Daventry district will fall silent on Sunday to honour service men and women who died for their country.

This year’s Remembrance Day services will be especially solemn as the United Kingdom marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

A Remembrance Day Parade and Service in Daventry has been organised by the Royal British Legion.

It will start at 10.30am at St James’ Infant School in St James’ Street.

Veterans and relatives of soldiers, as well as civic dignitaries, will march through Tavern Lane and the High Street and down to the memorial on Abbey Street, led by the Mayor. There will be a short outdoor service culminating in a two-minute silence and the reading of the Roll of Honour. A service will follow in Holy Cross Church from 11.25am.

Daventry Brass will also be present for the occasion. The traditional Armistice Day Service is to take place on Tuesday, November 11 from 10.45am at the gazebo on Sheaf Street.

There will be a short service followed by two minutes silence at 11am to mark the 144 Daventry men who lost their lives in thte First World War.

Many villages will be holding their own Remembrance Day services and memorials. For a full round up, see Neighbourhood News, pages 57-58.

Logistics company Eddie Stobart has agreed a deal to take on a 420,000 sq ft distribution centre at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT).

According to the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership, the move could create up to 500 jobs.

The new purpose-built rail-connected distribution centre will have a dedicated canopied rail platform along one side of the building.

William Stobart, CEO, Eddie Stobart, said: “We already occupy a number of buildings at DIRFT and we know it is an excellent location for many of our customers,”

“This new building will further our rail capability and is a significant investment in the continuing success of our business.”

The new building, which will be cross-docked, has been designed with green credentials in mind and aims to achieve BREEAM ‘excellent’ accreditation and an EPC A rating.

Construction will begin this month, with completion scheduled for the summer.

JLL and Burbage Realty acted for Prologis and Roebuck Asset Management represented Eddie Stobart.

Andrew Griffiths, managing director at Prologis UK, said: “This is the first building we have let to Eddie Stobart, and we are delighted that we can meet the company’s requirements. DIRFT II is now complete, but with our ongoing investment in DIRFT III, we can continue to offer our customers the best opportunities in the market for 
rail-served distribution facilities.”

Prologis owns and manages approximately 23 million square feet of logistics and distribution space in the UK as of September 30, 2014.

The principal of the Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village has resigned with immediate effect.

David Howell has left his role at the E-ACT Academy.

A statement from the academy sponsor said: “E-ACT can confirm that there has been a change of leadership at DSLV. David Howell has resigned from his role as principal. Angie Lakey, vice principal, is now leading the academy as acting principal.

“Staff, parents and pupils have been informed of the change. We thank David for his seven years of leadership at the academy and wish him the best.”

A special Remembrance Day parade will take place in Woodford Halse on Sunday.

The village’s traditional parade will be joined by several horses to mark the contribution made during the First World War by horses and other animals.

By 1917 Britain had more than a million horses and mules in service; 1,850,000 horses and mules were treated in veterinary hospitals, while 484,143 British horses, mules, camels and bullocks died from 1914-1918.

Walking football – a slower version of the beautiful game aimed at the over 50s – is coming to Daventry Leisure Centre following the success of similar schemes across the country.

The sessions have been organised by Everyone Active, which runs the centre, in partnership with Northamptonshire Football Association and Daventry Town FC.

The launch of these weekly sessions will be held at Daventry Leisure Centre on Thursday, November 13 from 2pm to 3pm.

Sessions will continue at the Lodge Road centre each Thursday at the same time.

The game is played indoor on smaller pitches, with plenty of breaks to ensure participants enjoy a safe and enjoyable return to football.

But organisers insist the slower pace of the game does not detract from the competition and it is much more than a stroll in the park.

The walking football session has been supported by Northamptonshire Football Association through The FA’s Mars Just Play scheme.

To get involved, anyone over 16 can search online for Just Play, enter their postcode, and book themselves into a local kick-about.

Stuart Smith, adult football development officer for the Northamptonshire FA, said “Walking football has been popular in other counties, so I was keen to do a session in Daventry.

“The highlight for me so far in sessions across Northamptonshire was witnessing a 70-year-old player scoring with a diving header.”

The weekly sessions have been welcomed by Daventry District Council’s leisure, culture and portfolio holder Cllr Alan Hills, who played football in his younger days and added that he was looking forward to joining the new sessions.

He said: “Walking football is now becoming very popular for those aged 50 and over.

“These sessions provides healthy exercise with a competitive edge and I would urge as many people as possible to take part, as I will be doing myself.”

Men aged over 50 are welcome to join in with the session next Thursday, or subsequent weeks.

People can arrive at Daventry Leisure Centre for 2pm and ensure they wear sports clothing with trainers and bring a drink.

The session lasts for one hour and costs £3.05 per person.

For more information, contact Will Heckford, community sport engagement manager for Everyone Active on 01327 871144 or email 
willheckford@everyoneactive.com

The first baptisms were held at the swimming pool of Daventry Leisure Centre on Wednesday last week.

It was organised by the Assemblies of God Church.

A series of technical difficulties have resulted in residents on the Monksmoor Park estate going without a phone or internet connection for more than four months.

Since our report last week on one resident’s issues with getting connected ,four more residents from across the estate have contacted The Gusher reporting similar problems.

Glenn Cameron moved into his new build on St Olave Close in late September.

He said he was originally supposed to move in August, but was told by the developer Crest Nicholson two weeks before that there would be a delay because a substation on the estate had not been activated.

Mr Cameron said: “My understanding from meeting with the site manager was that when putting services into a site they have to be installed in a certain order, with telephone lines coming last.

“The phone lines were a distinct afterthought. When we moved in there was a little bit of phone cable on a rope tied to a brick.”

Like other Monksmoor residents, Mr Cameron has a standard BT Infinity box that serves as a hub for both his phone and internet connection. However ,there has been a delay in activating the service.

He said: “It has been painful experience for people who have just moved into the estate. There has been a lot of trust placed in this developer, but it has demonstrated an ongoing lack of foresight. I think Crest Nicholson has failed in its planning for having those services available.”

Adam Cook, who lives on Castle Acre, added: “It is a bit of a joke to be honest. I bought my house and moved in on September 1. I have been trying to get a landline ever since.”

Working with the Phoenix Youth Centre, Daventry and District Housing’s (DDH) Youth Board hosted two successful afternoons of half-term Halloween fun for local youngsters last week.

A total of 50 children and teenagers aged between eight and 15-years-old attended the Phoenix Youth Centre in Daventry from 1pm and 5pm on Thursday, October 30 and Friday, October 31.

On Thursday, the Freaky Friday Arts Zone featured Halloween-themed games, mask painting and plate decorating and was attended by 28 young people.

Then on Friday, the Fun Zone hosted 32 young people who took part in various sporting activities, such as skate ramps, parachute games and football.

DDH development officer Katie Jones said: “It was fantastic to see so many young people attending these free events and really enjoying themselves.

“Our Youth board members and the Phoenix Centre staff did an excellent job of keeping everybody entertained and we received some great feedback from children and parents.

“Each of the parents that feedback to us spoke positively about the timing and quality of the activities and how important it is that these sort of events are available during the school holidays.”