ROADWORKS are set to be carried out in Daventry next week.
The works will mean that South Way, the road which bypasses the town centre, will be closed from 7pm to 6am on Tuesday night.
It will be carried out by Northamptonshire County Council who will be repairing the road.
THE second series of the sitcom Threesome written by Weedon writer Tom MacRae will be screened next month.
The first series of the sitcom saw three flatmates who end up in bed after a night out. The resulting pregnancy sees the three agree to bring up the baby together.
The second series will focus on the trio’s attempt to raise their newborn child.
Threesome will be broadcast on Comedy Central from Monday, October 1.
A time has yet to be announced.
IT WAS during her time as a pupil at The Grange School that wide-eyed Kiara Madden decided she wanted to be a teacher.
Fast forward to 2012 and her ambition pays off. But little did she expect her first job in teaching was to see a return to the same classroom.
Now aged 22 and with a new married surname of Oliver, Kiara has found a lot hasn’t changed.
She said: “It is very nice to be back, there are people who I recognise from when I was a pupil and the dinnerladies were my dinnerladies when I was here too!
She added: “The thing that struck me about the school back then was how friendly all of the teachers and staff were here. Everyone was very welcoming and on hand to help you out. You were always encouraged to ask questions.
“I remember signing up to lots of different clubs just to get as much out of my school life as I possibly could.”
It was the desire to be back at a first school which inspired her to work hard.
She then went on to do her GCSEs at William Parker School followed by A-levels at Rugby High School. She did a degree in English followed by a PGCE training course before landing her first teaching job at The Grange School.
Mrs Oliver added: “I did some work experience placements here and when I spoke to the headteacher I made it clear that if there was a job going, then I would like to be considered for it.”
She is full of praise for her Year Three pupils who are inquisitive about her previous time at the school.
She added: “The children I teach are fascinated about me being a former pupil.
“They ask questions like what was the classroom like? and what sort of things did I do? They like the fact that I was once in their shoes.
“They are particularly fascinated that I now teach in the same classroom I was in when I was a Year Four pupil.”
She is now hoping that her journey will, in turn, inspire the children she now teaches.
Mrs Oliver said: “My parents didn’t have an educational background, so I was from a council estate and having to work hard at school to make sure my dreams came true.
“I hope I can show to the children the value of working hard.
“I was a lot like the children who come to our school. My parents didn’t have lots of money, but I worked hard, I was determined to make my life better and I now reaping the reward. I’ll encourage my pupils to do the same.”
YOUNG film-makers from Daventry are the focus of their own success after scooping a county-wide award.
Dale Harrington-Carter and Graham Gardiner-Jones won an award for their film comedy Accidentally which depicts the story of aliens landing in Daventry and wanting to learn about human life.
The pair won in the Rotary Club of Northampton Under 16s category at Monday evening’s Film Northants short film festival held at Cineworld in Northampton.
A full house of more than 200 film-makers, supporters and local dignitaries attended. Four other films made in the county also picked up awards including a supernatural drama filmed in Daventry police station.
Dale said: “I didn’t think I was going to win. I love making films – and winning the award was great.”
Dale, who has his sights set on film-making as a career, said a team of eight people spent a month working solidly on the project.
AN INTREPID group of cyclists set out from St Lawrence School, Napton, for a 106-mile fundraising ride.
The team set off at 8.30am on Saturday, September 15 along the towpaths to Birmingham and back to raise funds for the school.
With an overnight stay in Castle Bromwich they returned triumphantly, if a little painfully, at 3.45pm the following day to a welcoming committee of children, some of whom had made their own banner, and cakes.
Sponsorship to date has raised in excess of £2,500 but the school’s association is hoping to top £3,000 which will fund a number of interactive whiteboards and 60 computers to be used across the school.
A NEW cancer support group has held its inaugural meeting in Daventry.
The first meeting took the form of a coffee morning on Friday last week at the Reach for Health gym.
The group was set up by Jo Davis, whose own battle with breast cancer inspired her to want to help others.
Mrs Davis, who works at the gym, said she was pleased with how it went.
She said: It went really well, we had eight people turn up for the coffee morning overall which was designed to be an introduction to the support group.
“I think this will be one of those things that grows over time but I was very pleased with the first meeting.
“I wanted to set it up to be able to provide support for people who were in that position.
“People included those who have come through their treatment through to those who have just been diagnosed and there were also people there who were able to help them out.”
Further meetings of the group are also planned but no dates have yet been set.
More information is available from Mrs Davis on 01327 871118.
A TEENAGER narrowly avoided life-threatening injury after being stabbed in a gang attack in Daventry.
Janusz Rokicki, 17 and from Weedon, was walking on the Southbrook with his girlfriend at around 9pm on Friday, September 28, when the attack happened.
He said: “We had been at a birthday party and went out to get some snacks from the shop in Nelson Close.
“We were walking back along Fraser Close when this group approached us.
“About half of them walked past us, and the other half were in front and someone said ‘let us have a go on your misses’ so I turned and said ‘what?’ and they started to come towards us.
“One of them punched me in the face and then walked off. One of them held back, asked if I was okay and shook my hand.
“Then I felt something warm and wet on my back. I put my hand there and I was bleeding.
“I was wearing a t-shirt, a shirt and a jacket, and the knife had gone through all that and into my back. I didn’t feel the blade at all.”
He had received two stab wounds to his back, each narrowly missing a kidney and a lung.
Janusz, who is studying a public service course at Northampton College in Daventry ahead of applying to join the Marines, and his girlfriend, rushed back to the party where he was given first aid and an ambulance was called.
He said: “I had to go to the hospital where they said both cuts were about an inch wide and an inch deep.
“They were clean cuts though, so I think it must have been a blade.
“I want to know why they did it. I see it as an unprovoked attack. There’s no need for people to be carrying knives in Daventry.
“I guess I’m still in shock about it all really. It still doesn’t seem like something that actually happened.”
After receiving stitches in hospital Janusz was released the following day.
His band, Boot Brigade, had been due to play at the PhoenixFest but had to cancel after the incident.
His mother, Maggie Rokicki, said: “It has left me very anxious and worried, not only for my son, but the fact that this cowardly gang could attack again and the next time the injuries might be fatal.
“Janusz is still in shock. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet how serious this could have been.
“I appeal to the parents of any members of this gang to come forward.
“I am fortunate that my son is still here. The wounds luckily missed vital organs.
“How would they feel if it happened to their child?
“To the teenagers themselves, if you have any self respect, moral standards, you would realise that hanging around in gangs, carrying knives, will result in serious consequences.
“People who stab others without provocation are just feral delinquents.”
Police say there were 10 men and youths in the gang involved and all wore dark clothing.
ORIGINAL artwork has gone up in a village pub as part of an exhibition.
The Maltsters Country Inn in Badby is hosting the works in its bar and its Knightley restaurant until October 26.
Artists involved are David Ridley from Daventry, Michael Oakes from Spratton, and Nikki McKay from Leicestershire.
The artworks were only unveiled on September 28 but already some have sold. New works will be brought in to replace them.
For more information call the exhibition organiser on 07910 408883.
ONE of Daventry’s biggest companies this week announced it is to lay off 98 of its workers.
Engineering firm Cummins, based on the Royal Oak Way South, has revealed the jobs will be shed by as early as the start of November.
A company statement said that a reduction in demand had led to this action being taken.
A spokesman said: “Due to reductions in demand across all key business sectors including mining and power generation Cummins is reducing its Daventry workforce.
“The company currently employs 1200 people on site, and 98 production related positions will be made redundant.
“In reaction to initial short term reductions in demand, Cummins has already moved to flexible working with agreed lay-off periods between October 2012 and April 2013.
“However the longer term business forecast shows no sign of improvement, so further action is now needed through a change in shift patterns along with a reduction in the workforce.
“The company expects a number of these to be on a voluntary redundancy basis, and those affected would leave the business early in November.”
Cummins had tried to offset the short term reduction in demands and protect jobs by allowing staff to take up to a maximum of five days off in a pay period between October and April 2013.
The news follows a long period of growth for the firm, which opened in the town in 1973 and today employs a workforce of 1,200.
But it is not the first set of departures. Three years ago a total 330 jobs were lost following two rounds of redundancies.
However, Cummins, which manufactures industrial-sized diesel engines, had seemed to be bucking the trend in the current recession when announcing in April this year they were creating 70 new jobs.
All your local news, including...
– Jobs set to go at Cummins plus reduced hours for others. We speak to an employee.
– Family launch fundraising tribute after sudden death.
– Northamptonshire County Council proposes cuts to pay or working conditions of staff, but also creates new £20k cabinet post.
– Calls for action after child injured in hit and run on main Daventry road.
– See the new fire engine being trialed in Woodford Halse
– Read newest reporter’s experiences when she took home a ‘virtual baby’.
– WIN: A family annual pass to Warwick Castle.
– SPORT: Towcester dog track agrees TV deal.
Plus all the rest of the local news, sport, entertainments, jobs, property and motors.
A 47-YEAR-OLD man has been arrested in connection with two indecent exposures near schools in Daventry.
As reported on the front page of last week’s Daventry Express, a man exposed himself to three girls on the way to the Parker E-ACT Academy on Thursday September 27.
This was followed by a further incident when a man exposed himself to four 15-year-old girls at the Swann Dale underpass at 8.30am on Wednesday last week when they were on the way to the Danetre and Southbrook Learning Village.
Police announced today (Wednesday, October 10) that the 47-year-old was arrested in the evening after the second incident and has since been released on bail pending further enquiries.
Anyone with any information about either incident can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
POLICE have launched an appeal for information after a woman was verbally abused in Daventry town centre.
Despite the incident taking place on September 26, Northamptonshire Police only released the details today (Thursday, October 11).
Between 9.20pm and 10pm a 37-year-old woman was walking along Brook Street near the Gas Works Car Park, towards the underpass and noticed two men sitting on a gate. They then followed her, shouting abuse, until walking off as the woman walked past the Weatherspoons pub.
The offenders are described as two white males between 15 and 20 years old, wearing dark clothing and with hoods up.
Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
A WIDE-RANGING public consultation will be launched into the future development of the town.
Daventry District Council’s (DDC) strategy group met on Thursday, October 11, to discuss the plans for the Daventry Settlements and Countryside Local Plan.
The meeting agreed the settlement document will go out to consultation for people to have their say on where new homes should be built in the town and the village.
DDC’s strategic planning and strategic health portfolio holder, Cllr Kay Driver, said: “The purpose of this paper is to provide an early opportunity for the local community and other stakeholders to comment on the issues to be considered in the Local Plan and influence how these might be addressed.
“Of particular interest will be the need to place villages within a rural settlement hierarchy to support the retention and provision of local services and facilities. What factors need to be considered?”
She added: “In addition the Local Plan must distribute the agreed rural housing provision identified in the Joint Core Strategy across the District - which is likely to be in the order of 1,355 dwellings.
“Aside from the rural areas the Local Plan must also seek to regenerate Daventry town and deliver the planned residential growth.”
The Local Plan will supplement the policies and proposals in the West Northamptonshire Joint Core Strategy and covers a period up until 2026.
However, when a final document is approved by the council, it may not be implemented until February 2015.
The proposals include building an extra 4,000 homes in the north east of the town, a housing development on the Middlemore and Monksmoor estates in the town, community regeneration of the Southbrook estate, more shops in the town centre and improvements to public transport connections to Long Buckby rail station and improved facilities at the station.
A CONMAN targeting churches across the county, including Long Buckby, could have been stopped earlier if police had issued better warnings, according to an assistant vicar.
The Rev Dr Trevor Jordan said fraudster Mark Proctor struck at St Lawrence’s Church in Long Buckby in August when a person connected to the church handed over £80 after being tricked.
Police issued details of 47-year-old Proctor on Friday. He is believed to be targeting churches or those connected with churches purporting to have lost a family member in a distant part of the country. He often requests financial aid in order to travel to identify the body of the family member, and varies his story.
Dr Jordan, assistant vicar at St Lawrence’s, said: “If there had been a warning made by other police forces, then it could have been nipped in the bud.
“It is very hard to tell apart from those people who are in genuine distress and those who are not. But any incidents of this kind are unfortunate.”
There have been 50 incidents since April with four in Northamptonshire and others in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, West Midlands and Hampshire.
He is described as a white male in his 40s, about 5ft 9ins, of slim build, with short fair hair.
PC Stuart Roberts, who is leading the case, said: “We are extremely keen to speak with this man and would urge him to make contact with us so that we can establish the full facts.
“I’m sure there are others that have taken place and people have simply not reported it to us.”
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
A WAREHOUSE worker has appeared in court charged with attempted murder.
Police were called to reports of an assault at a Tesco distribution warehouse at DIRFT in Crick on Friday, October 5, at about 6.10pm, during which an 18-year-old man was stabbed.
A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said the man who was stabbed was taken to hospital but has since been discharged.
Rafal Lupowski-Nguyen Hai, aged 20, of Murray Road, Rugby was arrested and charged with attempted murder and making threats to kill.
He appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on Monday, October 8, where he was remanded into custody.
AN INTREPID team of fundraisers gearing up for a 26-mile walking challenge have won the backing of a local firm.
NOVA, based on the A45, has helped to provide a van for the team of 10 from Daventry who will be doing the Three Peaks Challenge.
Ian Thompson, 56, from Kingsley Avenue in Daventry, is organising the challenge at the end of October in aid of Help For Heroes.
The challenge involves climbing the tallest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in that order, within 24 hours.
The total distance walked will be 26 miles, and the total ascent 9,800ft.
For anyone wanting to sponsor the team visit www.bmycharity.com/ianthompson1, or sign sponsor forms at the Daventry Express offices in High Street, Daventry, or at the Braunston Village Store.
A NEW scheme to cut reoffending by people coming out of prison has been launched.
The new approach means people posing a threat of re-offending or who were sentenced to less than 12 months in prison, will work with special diversion officers.
The aim is for offenders whose crimes cause the most harm to be managed in a coordinated manner.
They will get support to break the habits which can lead to their crimes.
Chief Inspector Mark Evans, from Northamptonshire Police, spearheaded the approach. He said: “Offenders who are sentenced to more than 12 months in prison are often released with conditions to engage with probation and police officers in order to assist their rehabilitation.
“However, what we find is that those who receive less than 12 months are not obliged to engage with the authorities.
“Yet this category of offenders often causes the most harm locally and are also more likely to reoffend once released.
“What’s new with this approach is that those who are released from prison after less than 12 months will now be assessed against a number of pathways involving drugs and alcohol support, accommodation support, education, training and employment support, health support, finance and debt assistance, guidance with children and families as well as attitude and behaviour management.
“Anyone of concern who fails to participate in the programme or does reoffend will then be subject to the enforcement arm of policing who will work side by side with this new team.
“We want to make sure that people are given the appropriate chances to integrate back into the community while reducing the risks of reoffending and improving community safety.
“As well as the anguish of victimisation, offending costs society a huge amount of money with everything from insurance or personal loss to court and prison costs.
“It is hoped that the investment in diverting people away from criminality with this joint partnership programme will prove to be a much more cost effective use of public funds.”
A TEENAGER was left with minor injuries after a hit and run in Crick on Friday (October 22) morning.
A 14-year-old boy was knocked from his bike at around 6.45am along the A428 West Haddon Road, by a car that failed to stop at the scene.
The car is described as dark in colour and medium sized, possibly an Audi.
The victim, who was on his paper round and wearing a high visibility jacket, with lights on his bike, suffered slight bruising and swelling.
Witnesses to this incident, or anyone with information, should call Northamptonshire Police on 101 - alternatively, information can be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
THE family of a young Daventry man who died suddenly have launched a charity appeal in his memory.
Benjamin Foulds, 20, died in his sleep at his home on Daventry’s Headlands estate on Tuesday last week.
Now his family are asking for donations to Spinal Research in his memory.
His father Andrew Foulds said: “Ben had a serious cycling accident when he was 18 which left him with some bad injuries. He lost control of his bicycle on a hill riding back from college. He hit some railings, which then gave way, and he fell over the end of the road and down.
“He was in hospital for about six months but he recovered from most of his injuries, including a brain injury, but was left completely paraplegic with no sensation in his legs.
“Ben moved to Daventry a year ago and had his own flat which had just been adapted to his needs.
“He was going to college in Banbury, studying art and graphic design, to finish off his education. He was getting his life back together.
“Ben was very independent and didn’t let what had happened to him hold him back or get him down.
“He hadn’t been ill and seemed okay before he died.
“But on Tuesday last week I went over to his flat in the afternoon to feed his cat, and found him dead in his bed. His alarm hadn’t woken him and his taxi to college had rung his doorbell and not got a response.
“It looks like Ben had never woken up.”
The cause of Ben’s death remains unknown after inconclusive post mortem results.
Mr Foulds said: “Ben was a member of the Spinal Injuries Association which is like a support and social group. He was also really interested in research into spinal injuries as well – Ben was always hoping that one day there would be a some kind of cure.
“He had been looking to do some sort of fundraising for those with spinal injuries, so as a family we decided Ben would have approved of this.
“After Ben’s accident a get well soon group created on Facebook ended up with 800 people on, so we put a link on there too.
“Now Ben’s sister Emma has set up a Just Giving page in his memory where people can donate.”
The tribute page to Ben can be found at www.justgiving.com/Emma-Foulds1.
ARCHAEOLOGISTS believe they have discovered a site where soldiers were buried after the Battle of Naseby was fought.
Experts from Cranfield University studied the battlefield at the end of last month.
They believe they have found the spot where dozens of soldiers were buried immediately after the battle in 1645.
Naseby expert, Martin Marix Evans, said: “We hope this will be the start of a series of archaeological studies of parts of the battlefield.”