Northampton General Hospital has confirmed its chief executive has resigned, just hours after news emerged of talks between NGH and KGH over a possible merger.

Dr Gerry McSorley informed staff yesterday that he will leave in March and a resignation letter is circulating on the internet.

It reads:

Dear Colleague

Personal note

The announcement today of the establishment of partnership talks with Kettering General Hospital is both desirable and essential for the future of Northamptonshire’s hospitals. I am hugely supportive of these talks and have contributed with colleagues to bringing them about over these past months. I have been struck by the enhanced potential for our hospitals to face the challenges ahead if we work in partnership to consider all options both up to and including a full merger of the Trusts.

For me though I have had to make a difficult personal decision on the future. As a Chief Executive I feel that almost my entire senior career has been engaged in similar processes of significant partnership working leading to pre-merger and then to full merger with other hospitals. In my last post before joining NGH I was also involved in the transfer of Hinchingbrooke Hospital to the private sector. When I came to NGH it was with the hope that I would be able to concentrate my efforts on one place without the prospect of doing this all over again. But as I have said, I think that it is both desirable and essential for the hospitals to undertake this work. However, as a result, I have made the decision to leave my post as CEO at NGH at the beginning of March. I am doing so in clear knowledge of the process involved and not the outcome. I do so with sadness as this was not my plan when I came to NGH but believe this to be the right decision for me, and that the partnership talks are the right decision for both hospitals.

I am very grateful for the support of my colleagues in understanding this difficult decision and for their generosity in supporting me in my time here.

Yours,

Gerry

Mikey Ellis did a splendid job oiling the wheels of the Royal train and getting Charles to Northampton’s Crockett & Jones this week.

But even with all his Royalist credentials, should he a) Have been appearing to have his arm round HRH and, worse still, b) been wearing such a garish tie?

Ben Foden and Lee Dickson are available for Saints’ trip to Exeter this weekend after being released by England.

The duo, who helped Northampton beat Gloucester 26-7 in the LV= Cup last weekend, will play no part in the Red Rose’s Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.

But Dylan Hartley, Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes could be in line for selection at Twickenham as they have been retained.

Foden’s omission owes much to the form of Harlequins full-back Mike Brown and Saracens No.15 Alex Goode.

While Dickson is behind Quins’ Danny Care and Leicester’s Ben Youngs in the England pecking order.

But the international pair’s presence will provide a welcome boost for Saints as they aim to secure a place in the LV= Cup semi-finals with a win at Sandy Park on Saturday evening.

Two goals from long balls consigned the Cobblers to a 2-0 defeat at a windswept Gillingham as they slipped out of the npower League Two top three.

Cody McDonald scored after three minutes after a Lee Nicholls error, and Myles Weston put the seal on the win with a classy finish eight minutes from time.

The defeat, combined with the point Burton Albion took from a 1-1 draw at Oxford United, means the Brewers replace Northampton in the automatic promotion places.

In what was an awful game played in restricting conditions - horizontal wind with constant drizzle thrown in for good measure - neither side looked to play any real football, instead opting for a direct approach built on players only ever taking one or two touches.

The wind made a swirling impact on the game after only three minutes when Matt Fish’s long ball from right-back sailed over Nicholls, whose positioning was bad, leaving McDonald a free run at goal.

He made no mistake, tapping into the unguarded net from no more than a yard with the visiting defence appealing in vain for an offside.

A similarly swirling kick from Nicholls’ hands creating problems at the other end with the defence misreading it but Ben Harding failing to put enough on a header that Stuart Nelson comfortably collected.

Harding then saw a shot smothered by two covering defenders after a Luke Guttridge shot from the edge of the box had been pushed away by Nelson.

It was as good as it got for the Cobblers, who offered very little as an attacking force in the second half and watched on as it came to a conclusion with Myles Weston scoring the home side’s second goal.

A long goal kick found its way all the way to Weston 25 yards from goal, the forward taking a touch and advancing past Clarke Carlisle before placing a shot perfectly inside Nicholls’ left-hand post.

It was enough to bring a conclusion to a desperately scrappy game in which neither side looked like promotion material and which will also reopen the debate about Northampton’s ability to deal with long balls behind their central defenders.

It remains their Achilles heel.

Along, of course, with their performances away from home.

Gillingham: Nelson, Fish, Barrett, Legge, Martin, Lee, Gregory, Frampton, Weston, Burton, McDonald

Subs: Whelpdale (for McDonald 83), Kedwell (for Weston 87), Allen (for Lee 90)

Not used: Forecast, Davies, Strevens, Birchall

Cobblers: Nicholls, Tozer, Langmead, Carlisle, Widdowson, Hackett, Guttridge, Hornby, Harding, Robinson, Platt

Subs: Akinfenwa (for Guttridge 63), Demontagnac (for Robinson 80)

Not used: Snedker, Johnson, Oyeleke, Wilson, Moult

Attendance: 5,600

Cobblers fans: 183

Aidy Boothroyd refused to criticise goalkeeper Lee Nicholls for the error he made in the 2-0 defeat to Gillingham at Priestfield.

The Cobblers registered only their second defeat in seven games with the defeat, in which Cody McDonald scored after only three minutes when a long ball from the back bounced over Nicholls, who misread it in the wind to leave the striker with the simplest of finishes.

Myles Weston scored a second in the game’s final stages - also from a long ball - to seal a victory that sees Northampton slip out of the npower League Two automatic promotion places because Burton Albion picked up a point at Oxford United to overtake them.

The error by on-loan Wigan Athletic goalkeeper Nicholls was a costly one in a game of few chances, and he wrote an immediate one-word response on Twitter after the match that simply said: “Wounded!”

But he had strong backing from his manager, who said: “The wind didn’t go in one direction or the other, it was swirling and we paid the price for not getting to grips with the conditions.

“Lee has been very reliable all season and I think, along with Matt Duke at Bradford City, that he is the best goalkeeper in the division.

“I can’t criticise him because he has been excellent for us all season and after that he bounced back and made some really good saves.

“He is annoyed with the goal and I am always honest with players and I always say if I think they’ve had a bad game.

“I don’t think Lee had a bad game and I’m struggling to pick out any of our players that did.”

A cyclist has been taken to hospital after colliding with a lorry on a Northamptonshire road.

The incident happened on the A508 near Stoke Bruerne at about 6.40am today.

A spokesman for Northamptonshire Police said: “A lorry travelling in the direction of Milton Keynes was in collision with a pedal cycle while overtaking.

“The cyclist came off the bike and has been taken to Northampton General Hospital with a suspected broken collarbone.”

The lorry, which had a large digger to the rear with orange flashing lights, did not stop at the scene.

Anyone with information can call the Drivewatch Hotline on 0800 174615.

Olly Stone led England Under-19s to a comprehensive 107-run victory in the first Youth Test against South Africa in Cape Town.

The Northamptonshire all-rounder, who was captaining the side in the absence of the injured Shiv Thakor, took 2-49 as the home side were bowled out for 163 in pursuit of a target of 271 at Newlands.

Stone also took 4-40 in the first innings for the tourists who will take an unassialable 1-0 series lead into the second and final Test which gets underway in Paarl on Sunday.

His County colleague Ben Duckett had a quiet game, making 13 and 8 in his two innings.

Ben Foden admits he is ‘gutted’ to have been released by England ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland.

But he says the decision has made him even more determined to impress for Saints at Exeter this weekend in a bid to get his international shirt back.

Foden was one of nine men sent back to their clubs, as he remains behind Harlequins’ Mike Brown and Saracens’ Alex Goode in the full-back pecking order.

The 27-year-old is likely to start for Northampton at Sandy Park this weekend and he is eager to show Lancaster what he’s made of ahead of England game against Ireland on February 10.

Foden tweeted: “Gutted to have been released by England but will go back and work hard for the Saints to push my case for the Ireland game! #6nations

Although Tuesday night’s loss at Gillingham was enough to knock the Cobblers out of the automatic promotion places, it is not one that should greatly concern the club or their supporters.

Both of the home side’s goals were freak events, as much to do with meteorology as actual football, with the wind claiming a huge assist for both.

Between them, there was not much to choose between the sides and it will have given those soaking wet away fans some encouragement to see their team compete with - and get the better of - a club top of league two for long spells of the match.

It is perhaps indicative of the quality of the division this season that the Gills, who did not excel at any point of the game, are at its summit.

This year’s league is one where the quality has not so much been diluted as flattened out, with three points separating Burton Albion in third and Rotherham United in ninth.

Burton, who replaced the Cobblers in the the top three, are another example of the lack of any outstanding teams in this year’s league two - at Sixfields they were resilient and well organised defensively, but also played a very limited game that was based almost entirely on spoiling in midfield and wasting time at every dead ball.

The key for Northampton (and any other team hoping to go up this season) is consistency.

The Cobblers have it at home, but Tuesday night’s slip from the automatic promotion places was yet another piece of evidence that home form alone is not enough.

It might get you into the play-offs, but top-three sides win on their travels and they win regularly on their travels.

Gillingham’s status as league leaders and the nature of their barely-deserved victory in midweek should give Aidy Boothroyd and his players nothing to fear about this division.

But, as has already been said dozens of times, they can forget all about the top three until they can find a way to be as good on the pitches of other teams as they are on their own at Sixfields.

Ratings

LEE NICHOLLS

Horrible error for the first goal but played well after that and handling was top notch in the conditions ...5

BEN TOZER

Contained Weston very well and was one of the side’s better performers ...6

KELVIN LANGMEAD

Stuck to the basics and executed well - came close to scoring off pre-planned corner kick move similar to the one at Torquay ...6

CLARKE CARLISLE

Sloppy foul to pick up an early booking and made some errors in the wind but got to grips with is as the game proceeded ...5

JOE WIDDOWSON

A sturdy outing and was not happy to pick up a booking towards the end for what was a nothing incident ...6

CHRIS HACKETT

A very quiet night by his standards, with the home side doubling up on his whenever possible ...6

LUKE GUTTRIDGE

Struggled to get his game going and found little passing rhythm in the difficult conditions ...5

LEWIS HORNBY

Not his best game but tried to keep things going even when Gillingham outnumbered the Cobblers in midfield ...5

BEN HARDING

Probably the team’s most consistent player on the night, unlucky not to score with a blocked shot and ticked all the boxed in general play ...6

JAKE ROBINSON

Enjoyed some very bright moments in the first half but faded out of it in the second and was eventually substituted ...5

CLIVE PLATT

Like Robinson, provided some good link-up play but influence diluted as the game wore on, especially after the break ...5

Substitutes:

ADEBAYO AKINFENWA (for Guttridge, 63mins)

The home defence and a lack of cohesive attacking play meant he was rarely in a position to cause problems ...5

ISHMEL DEMONTAGNAC (for Robinson, 80mins)

Not used: Snedker, Johnson, Oyeleke, Wilson, Moult

A £275,000 house near the proposed site of the HS2 high-speed rail network has been valued at £0, campaigners against the proposals claim.

The former Post Office in Turweston, near Brackley, has no value according to mortgage provider, The Woolwich Building Society.

Stop HS2 campaigners say the property is about 450 metres from the proposed HS2 line, and is well outside the 120 metres within which the Government is proposing homes would receive automatic compensation.

Former postmistress Elfrida Harper-Tarr, aged 97, had the home on the market for £275,000 and had received an offer for the property last year, but the buyer failed to get a mortgage after The Woolwich valued the property at zero pounds and zero pence.

A spokesman for The Woolwich said: “In the future there will be disruption during the construction of the rail link and there will be ongoing impact affecting the quiet enjoyment of the property. The [HS2 proposal has] had a significant prejudicial affect on property in the village and none have been recently sold on the open market. This property is therefore not considered a suitable security for normal lending purposes.”

Ms Harper-Tarr, who is blind, left the property for residential care in August, which is costing £3,500 a month, with her family saying the money is going to run out in three months.

Her son Mike, aged 76, said: “It’s going to be a bit late in the day for a lady who is blind and totally relying on carers to keep her alive. You’re faced with needing someone who is willing to pay cash and does not require a mortgage. This is going to be repeated up and down the country because people aren’t going to rush to buy a house near the HS2 route.”

The Harper-Tarr family will now apply for compensation under the Exceptional Hardship Scheme, which in two and a half years has only paid out to 16% of applicants.

Stop HS2 campaign co-ordinator Joe Rukin said: “Last week Patrick McLoughlin said the ‘upset’ of HS2 was worth it. Well he should get himself down to Turweston, or indeed anywhere near the route and tell them that and we’ll see if he gets out alive. We have heard of many estate agents telling people their houses are worthless and demanding their fees up front before marketing properties, but this is the first time we have seen an official zero valuation from a lender, and the situation is only going to get worse.”

The Northampton North MP Michael Ellis was subjected to an embarrassing put-down by the Speaker of the House of Commons at today’s Prime Minister’s Questions.

You can watch the rollocking on YouTube by clickingPMQs

The Commons session is often renowned for its raucous atmosphere with backbench MPs barracking each other from opposite benches and Mr Ellis - who only a few days earlier had been on his best behaviour escorting the Prince of Wales during a visit to his constituency - was rebuked by John Bercow for barracking the Labour leader Ed Miliband as he questioned the Prime Minister David Cameron.

The Labour leader, who was at the time questioning the PM over the economy, was forced to sit down as the Speaker intervened to call order in the House.

Viewers across the BBC, Sky News and Radio Five Live witnessed Mr Bercow launch one of his most scathing attacks in recent times for MPs being unruly during PMQs.

Turning to the Northampton North MP, who sits a couple of rows directly behind his party leader, he said: “Mr Ellis, You are a distinguished practising barrister. You would behave like that in the courts. Don’t behave like that in this Chamber.

“Calm yourself and be quiet. Learn it man. Mr Miliband...”

A special reception will be held for the teams who gritted Northamptonshire’s roads during the snowy weather.

Northamptonshire County Council has announced plans for the event, which will be held at the county cricket ground in Northampton next month.

The council’s cabinet member for infrastructure, Councillor Andre Gonzalez De Savage (Con, East Hunsbury) will lead the event to thank the 130-strong workforce.

He said: “Over the past few weeks the crew has worked around the clock to keep our county moving during the severe winter weather and done an excellent job of keeping the roads open.

“For two weeks in particular we were faced with significant snowfall with persistent sub-zero temperatures and our workforce met the challenge head-on.

“I think when a team of people does such an excellent job it’s important that they receive the recognition they deserve.”

The team has carried out 77 grit runs so far this winter and faced temperatures as low as -9C.

A total of 16,000 tonnes of gritting salt has been distributed on the county’s roads, including 8,225 tonnes during the two-week cold snap.

An Italian man who once tried to buy Northampton Town, posed as a top lawyer frittered away more than £80,000 of a client’s money that she believed he was keeping safe, a court has heard.

Giovanni di Stefano, who is known as The Devil’s Advocate for taking on “unwinnable” cases, is accused of tricking people into thinking he was a bonafide legal professional, when if fact he was “not a qualified lawyer at all”.

Eleven years ago, he was embroiled in a high profile bid to buy the Cobblers, but the deal collapsed when it later emerged he had only offered a fraction of the £600,000 asking price for a 60 per cent stake.

The 57-year-old, originally from central Italy, is on trial at Southwark Crown Court in London charged with 25 counts including deception, fraud and money laundering.

Prosecutor David Aaronberg QC told the jury that one of his victims - a benefit fraudster called Elizabeth de Villiers - was conned by di Stefano into thinking he could help her get off a string of charges.

She was accused by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) of using false identities to embezzle £155,000.

Mr Aaronberg told the jury of eight women and four men that di Stefano agreed to help de Villiers, who believed she had no defence case and was bang to rights.

Di Stefano told her that although he was too busy to take the case on personally, he would “oversee” it, and asked a London solicitor called Simon Jowett to represent her.

De Villiers, who died in 2010, told Mr Jowett that she had around £80,000 accumulated from her false claims that she wanted to pay back to the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) as soon as possible, believing it might help her case.

The prosecution said di Stefano told his client he had spoken to the DWP, and would personally arrange for the money to be returned.

Mr Aaronberg said: “He (di Stefano) said he would sit on the monies until it was appropriate to hand them over.

“He said: ‘You send me the £80,000 and I will send it on to the DWP’.

“She trusted him and she arranged for the monies, over which she had some control, to be sent to him.

“Did Mr di Stefano forward the money, or any part of it, to the DWP?

“I’m afraid not.”

Mr Aaronberg explained to the jury how de Villiers paid around £83,000 in three instalments to a business account of di Stefano in the name of Studio Legalese Internazionale, which translates as The International Law Firm.

As well as two payments totalling around £37,000 from de Villiers, a friend called Peter Puskas also paid over £46,000 to the account.

The barrister said after the money had been put into the account, the balance jumped from being overdrawn by over £12,000 to being in credit to almost £71,000.

But after being deposited in May 2007, it was “whittled down” by di Stefano in “relatively small sums” until it was £7,000 in the red just two months later, with “not a penny ever paid to the DWP”.

The barrister said that di Stefano then told Ms De Villiers that he could not, in fact, transfer the funds on to the DWP because they were the proceeds of crime.

Eventually de Villiers became “very disillusioned” with di Stefano and Mr Jowett, so she instructed new solicitors to act for her.

A solicitor from that company spoke to di Stefano who told her that he was still holding the money.

De Villiers was finally sentenced in January 2008 and was jailed for 18 months.

The money was never sent to the DWP or returned to de Villiers or Mr Puskas, the prosecution said.

Di Stefano denies nine counts of obtaining a money transfer by deception, eight counts of fraud, three counts of acquiring criminal property, two counts of using a false instrument, one count of attempting to obtain a money transfer by deception, one count of obtaining property by deception and one count of using criminal property.

The court heard di Stefano, of North Stream, Marshside, Canterbury, Kent, is also accused of stealing £10,000 from convicted sex attacker Michael Smith and his sister Christine Smith.

Di Stefano allegedly pocketed £5,000 the Smiths transferred to him to pay barrister Trevor Burke at Smith’s sentencing hearing in December 2005.

The other £5,000 was paid in instalments by Ms Smith to fund an appeal against Smith’s conviction, which never went ahead.

Mr Aaronberg said: “Had she been aware that he was not a qualified lawyer, she would never have engaged his services nor would she have agreed to her family paying any money to him.”

Di Stefano also stole £5,000 from Stafford Freeborn, who was convicted over a gun attack in December 1997, the prosecution said.

The trial continues.

Cromwell banned Eccles cakes. They were considered too rich and sumptuous.

After all the festivities I often end up with a left over pot of brandy butter still lurking at the back of the fridge.

It’s not that I didn’t mean to eat it but inevitably as January comes I feel that it has had its day.

This recipe uses up the left over butter, infusing the brandy, orange and cloves into a frugal Eccles cake. Somehow I still don’t think Cromwell would approve of them - they are still seriously rich and sumptuous!

Preparation: 20 minutes

Oven: 20 minutes

Freeze: Yes

Serves: 9

Ingredients:

1 pack (375g) sweet short crust pastry

75g softened brandy butter

200g currants

1 beaten egg to glaze

3 tbsp sugar to sprinkle

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 180/350/gas 4.

2. Roll out the short crust pastry to about 6 - 7 mm thick. Using a 4 inch pastry cutter, cut 9 circles. You will need to cut 7 and bring the pastry together again and re roll to achieve 9. Use plenty of flour to dust with underneath and don’t over handle the pastry - this makes it tough.

3. Mix the butter and currants well together in a bowl.

4. Place the pastry circle in your left hand (I am assuming you are right handed here) and put a large tablespoon of filling into the centre (aprox 30g of filling). Bring the fingers around the circle together gently and as the pastry touches, simply pinch the pastry together using your right hand to seal the parcel. Place on a very lightly greased baking sheet with the pinched side down. Gently squash, using the palm of your hand to make it a patty shape.

5. Once all the cakes are made, brush all over with the egg yolk for a glaze and liberally dust with sugar. Cut 3 small slits on the top and bake for 18 – 20 minutes, until they are golden brown. Place on a wire rack and allow to cool before transferring to an airtight container.

Note: If you don’t have any brandy butter to hand, you can add the zest of an orange into the currants to infuse more orange into the cakes and a 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves.

Recipe by Vanessa Kimbell who runs the Juniper and Rose Kitchen Garden School in Pitsford. See www.JuniperandRose.co.uk

Applications to the University of Northampton are running at a slightly higher level than last year, latest figures have shown.

Last year the university increased tuition fees to £8,500 per year but this does not seem to have deterred potential students as applications are up 1.5 per cent compared to January 2012.

Nationally, the number of students who applied up to the January 15 deadline, has increased 3.5 per cent in the past year, boosted in particular by a recovery in overseas students.

Paul Tebbutt, admissions assistant registrar at the University of Northampton, said: “The change in the number of applications received by the University of Northampton continues to reflect the national picture with the number of applications received by the University to start undergraduate courses in the autumn being 1.5% up on the same date last year.”

Former Northamptonshire wicketkeeper Toby Bailey has been appointed lead performance analyst and fielding coach by Cricket Scotland.

He replaces Tony Judd, who quit last year to take up a coaching post in his native Australia.

Since finishing his playing career, 36-year-old Bailey has taken charge of the Argentina national side and also held the post of head coach at Carlton Cricket Club in Edinburgh.

Bailey, who had been tipped to land the role after touring with the national side last October, said: “I’m delighted to get this chance at such an exciting time for Scottish cricket.

“There will be many challenges ahead but I know that performance analysis and fielding are areas which make a real difference in the modern game.

“From working with the group in South Africa it is clear there is a wealth of talent around.”

Saltires head coach Pete Steindl said: “Toby has displayed a high level of professionalism and desire to add value to the experience we already have.”

Hull City striker Matty Dixon scored the only goal of the game as the Cobblers’ record-breaking FA Youth Cup run came to an end at Sixfields.

Town went out to the Tigers by a 1-0 scoreline, with Dixon doing enough to put Hull into the fifth round in a game that was postponed twice due to bad weather.

Dixon gave Hull an early lead, from which they never looked back, rolling the ball into an empty net after charging down a clearance from Dean Snedker.

The Cobblers’ first real chance of the night came on 13 minutes, David Moyo seeing a shot blocked after being played in by Jordan Chambers.

As the first half reached the midway point, Hull keeper Joe Cracknell did well to tip away a low drive from Claudio Dias.

Cracknell made a good save to deny George Craddock on 64 minutes with Ivan Toney then going agonisingly close with a volley from the resultant corner kick.

Moyo also saw a shot blocked as Craig Hinton’s side continued to ramp up the pressure on their opponents.

Harry Mattock lobbed the Hull keeper in stoppage time but his audacious chip went just over and despite their efforts the Cobblers couldn’t force the equaliser their performance warranted and it was Hull who progressed through into the fifth round.

Cobblers: Snedker, Reeve, Chambers, Dias, Mattock, Roberts, Harmon (Lamb-Johnson 78), Craddock, Moyo, Toney, Powell

Subs not used: Fitzgerald, Roland Joao, Jackson, Heath

Hull City: Cracknell, Topliss, Davie, Ricketts, Clappison, Clark, Fallowfield (Barlow 87), McCawl, Chambers, Sutton (Cardwell 75), Dixon.

Subs not used: Watson, Dawson, Penny

Attendance: 514

A life-time collection of Rupert Bear memorabilia has been put up for sale by a family from Northamptonshire.

Ron Johnson and his sister, Lin, first received Rupert annuals in the 1950s as Christmas presents.

Together with their brother, Andy, they have collected Rupert merchandise ever since .

But they are now putting their collection up for sale, with the more than 300 items expected to fetch several thousand pounds.

Ron, aged 61, said: “We received the first annuals when we were both very young and it just grew to be one of those things where, if you express an interest in something as a child, people buy you things every Christmas and birthdays.

“It accumulated over the years from that.”

The most rare of all Rupert item is a 1973 annual, in which Rupert is shown on the cover with a brown face, instead of his traditional white appearance. Only 12 copies of the ‘brown Rupert’ book from 1973 were published, compared to 500,000 versions which had a white face.

Copies of the brown Rupert book have previously been sold for up to £23,000.

Unfortunately, Mr Johnson, who lives in Roade, does not have the 1973 annual in his collection. He said: “Sadly we’ve not got that one, but we’ve got everything else you could think of, from egg cups to rolls of Rupert wallpaper and even a 20-year-old packet of Rupert sweets.

“But I don’t think they would taste very good now.”

Rupert first appeared in the Daily Express newspaper in 1920, making him six years older than Winnie the Pooh and 40 years older than Paddington Bear.

The Johnson family are selling their collection to de-clutter their houses. They plan to sell their items through the internet auction site, eBay, but anyone interested in the collection can call Mr Johnson on Northampton 861458.

When their collection was last valued a decade ago, auctioneers estimated it would be worth well over £2,000.

A woman from Northampton has been named Carer Of The Year at an annual awards ceremony.

Alison Fursey, from Northampton, was among the winners at the third Jane Roebuck Carers Awards which were held last night at Rushden Hall in Kettering.

Mark Major, director of Northamptonshire Carers, said: “The awards were a great success and we were absolutely thrilled so many people put forward nominations.

“Carers do a vital job and these awards help raise their profile and awareness of the amazing work these people do, often in extremely challenging circumstances.

“While we have only awarded some of the nominees with awards, it must be known that all carers are winners and the work they do for others is extremely valuable.”

It is estimated carers save health and social services around £120bn a year nationally.

One in 10 people are carers and in Northamptonshire there are about 70,000.

For more information visit www.wholooksafteryou.co.uk.

This year’s winners are as follows:

Carer of the Year: Alison Fursey of Northampton

Young Carer of the Year: Alice, Lottie, and Tilly Mansfield of Northampton

Best GP Practice Supporting Carers: Brook Health Centre, Towcester

Best School Supporting Carers: Northampton School for Boys

Best School Staff Supporting Carers: Elaine Sumpter of Kingswood School, Corby

Highly Commended nominees are as follows:

Carer of the Year:

Usha Raichra of Northampton

Gary Walker of Daventry

Pat Grieve of Kettering

Wendy Moore of Welford

Young Carer of the Year:

Courtney Baker of Rushden

Daisy Helsdown of Kettering

Best GP Practice Supporting Carers:

Dr B Khan, Dr Datta and Parenters of the Matlock Centre, Wellingborough

THE nine week stay at the top of the Dalepak Winter Naps Challenge for Darren Letts’ Bugbrooke Badgers team has come to an end.

Letts went top of the 175-strong table on November 24 but has now been toppled by Manor Mayhem, which comprises Harpole and Duston tipsters Sheila White and Katie Hughes.

They had their sixth winner of the season last week with Cape Tribulation at Cheltenham, a fact which also makes him prominent players in the chase for the Sammy Parker Trophy.

However, Tony Eichman (Growly Bears) has had two more than this and currently stands in fourth place overall.

The January monthly £25 free bet prize courtesy of co-sponsors Semilong Racing has been won in spectacular fashion by Adrian Norman of Abington LTC who dug out 25/1 shot Vino Griego at Cheltenham.

Next Saturday, selections can be made at Sandown, Ffos Las and Wetherby.

Winners in capitals

*Denotes non runner switched to race favourite

Manor Mayhem CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) +31.50

Bugbrooke Badgers Nadiya De La Vega +30.50

King’s Head Utd Bourne +24.00

Growly Bears REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) +23.13

Dave’s Doublers Imperial Commander +20.91

Trinity Old Boys MR WATSON (11/4) +20.25

Got Potential Bless The Wings +19.00

Max CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) +16.88

Warkton Fields REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) +15.76

T&S Racing Bless The Wings +14.75

Loco Saints Grands Crus +13.63

Shonkies Lad AT FISHERS CROSS (13/2) +13.50

Abington LTC VINO GRIEGO (25/1) +13.00

S&D Racing Frontier Spirit +13.00

Miracle Workers Johns Spirit +12.75

Barley Hill Punters Nadiya De La Vega +12.57

Health Matters Imperial Commander +11.00

Simple Minds Bold Sir Brian +10.91

Sons of Black Sam Quartz de Thaix +10.75

TP Racing Johns Spirit +10.05

The Nap Hand Partnership Frontier Spirit +10.00

Midland Band Pool REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) +9.88

K9 Walkers CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) +9.50

Riches’ Floretunes Johns Spirit +9.50

Evertonians MR WATSON (11/4) +9.25

Brinley’s Banker Barbatos +7.53

Queen’s Park Snooker Dildar +7.50

Not Too Sad Tartak +7.00

Phoenix Golf The Pier +7.00

Mr Grumpy Rajdhani Express +6.63

T&J Club Imperial Commander +6.63

Diamond Girl SPRINTER SACRE (1/5)* +6.33

3 Ms Chance Du Roy +6.18

Spinaclean CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) +6.00

Wright Nag Battle Group +6.00

Mayfield Park MR WATSON (11/4) +5.75

Plough Inn Everdon Feb Thirtyfirst +5.68

Admiral Rodney Bless The Wings +5.38

Snowy’s Daughter Oscar Whisky +5.14

NCT Racing CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) +5.07

KAB Midnight Chase +5.00

The Wife Can Do Better Fruity O’Rooney +5.00

Nag Nappers KATENKO (4/1) +4.75

M & B Racing Quaddick Lake +4.25

Crown And Anchor Fruity O’Rooney +3.83

Nu Vu Windows Imperial Commander +3.50

Towcester Racecourse Renard D’Irlande +3.50

Alcon Frontier Spirit +3.25

Long Buckby Skittles Our Mick +2.88

Moulton Mules Irish Saint +2.75

Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid Whisper +2.33

Cassandra Carruthers +1.75

Golfing Gourmets Kauto Stone +1.60

Yeoman Boys SPRINTER SACRE (1/5) +1.59

Sons Of The Desert KATENKO (4/1) +1.50

Tailor’s Dummies Whisper +1.50

B C Magpie Kings Lad +1.00

Manor Inn Brackley Imperial Commander +1.00

The Uppers Walkon +0.88

Duston Con Club MR WATSON (11/4) +0.75

Zulu Warriors Fruity O’Rooney +0.75

Overstone Caravaners Walkon +0.22

NIBS MR WATSON (11/4) -0.36

Racegoers Fruity O’Rooney -0.40

Abfran Racing Oscar Whisky -0.47

Blue Diamond MR WATSON (11/4) -1.00

Culworth Red Lion Imperial Commander -1.00

West Haddon FC The New One -1.17

Happy Dave CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) -1.25

Weekley Saints Bennys Mist -1.32

Roade Walkers CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) -1.50

Cock At Roade Irish Saint -1.69

Cobblers Youth REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) -1.74

White Hart Hackleton MR WATSON (11/4) -1.87

Barnstaple Nomads REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) -1.99

Ashington Flyer Frontier Spirit -2.00

Kingsley Park Airgun Battle Group -2.00

Nick Brown Racing Kauto Stone -2.00

Postman Pat Coneygree -2.17

Transco OB Pacha du Polder -2.25

Marmalaid Racing CAPE TRIBULATION (7/1) -2.37

Maori Racing Johns Spirit -2.50

Margil Social Imperial Commander -2.50

Chelsea Pensioners Bless The Wings -3.00

Exiled Geordies Bless The Wings -3.00

Role On His Excellency -3.00

The 3 Js Whisper -3.25

Juddies Giants Coneygree -3.37

ACKO Bennys Mist -3.50

Brixworth Wanderers Hunt Ball -3.54

Old Hamish -3.63

Cogenhoe Star Bless The Wings -4.00

Trafford Bridge Fan Club KATENKO (4/1) -4.25

Black Symphony -4.43

Sywell Flyers Lord Of House -4.43

Aardvark Racing McMurrough -4.50

Gayton Bill Kauto Stone -4.50

Goody Goody Johns Spirit -4.67

Gusto’s Boys Quartz de Thaix -5.00

Lady G Roc d’Apsis -5.00

Trueform Aurora Johns Spirit -5.00

Aye Boy Oscar Whisky -5.35

Delboy’s Trotters Bless The Wings -5.50

Marron Racers AT FISHERS CROSS (13/2) -5.50

The Boys Weird Al -5.50

The Wolf Whistler Nadiya De La Vega -5.90

Lonesome Dove Crack Away Jack -6.00

Roade FC Wayward Prince -6.00

CJ’s Pickles Quartz de Thaix -7.00

Rosey Poets Tullamore Dew -7.00

White Horse Silverstone Tartak -7.00

Girls On Top Irish Saint -7.47

Cripps Social Club Feb Thirtyfirst -7.50

Rifle Drum Quaddick Lake -7.50

Rosebery Ramblers Grands Crus -7.50

PWB Racing Bennys Mist -7.75

Whistle Blowers Bless The Wings -7.75

We Like Guinness Lovcen -7.92

Bulltree Boys KATENKO (4/1) -8.00

Nurses Know Better Little Josh -8.00

Second Glance Tartak -8.00

Steeleye Ann Lovcen -8.00

The Viking Our Mick -8.00

Blisworth Garden Services Whisper -8.25

Dalepak Social Shoegazer -8.50

Red Van Man Hunt Ball -8.50

West Haddon Bowls Imperial Commander -8.50

The Likely Lads Grands Crus -8.58

Greens Norton Racers MR WATSON (11/4) -9.25

Kingfisher AC Kentford Grey Lady -9.25

Rothwell Cobbler Kings Lad -9.25

St Mary’s FC Sadler’s Risk -9.25

Towcester S&SC MR WATSON (11/4) -9.25

Ajay Club Grands Crus -9.50

Dawn’s Boys Bennys Mist -9.50

Harborough Hamtunes ROLLING STAR (5/2) -9.50

Old Sun Heyford Grands Crus -9.50

Betony Belle -9.75

Cobblers Le Magnifique McMurrough -9.75

Go Getters REVE DE SIVOLA (15/8) -10.12

Magster Mad Moose -10.12

Nene Valley Racing Oscar Whisky -10.25

Northants Anglers Old Tricks -11.09

SPA Kings Lad -11.67

Bajan Racing Tartak -13.00

Baltimore Bullet Double Cee -13.00

Beatnik Beatles Grand Crus -13.00

Brendan’s Bookie Bashers Bold Sir Brian -13.00

Charlie’s Angels Nadiya De La Vega -13.00

Clever Trevor Johns Spirit -13.00

Earls Barton WMC Imperial Commander -13.00

Ex Equestrian Weird Al -13.00

Fat Boy Shoegazer -13.00

Forza Milan Johns Spirit -13.00

Heathens RFC McMurrough -13.00

Holdenby Heroes Little Josh -13.00

Jaycee Club Johns Spirit -13.00

Kingsley FC Johns Spirit -13.00

M & N Racing Our Mick -13.00

Monday Ballroom Shoegazer -13.00

Mug Punters Our Mick -13.00

OK Coral Little Josh -13.00

On The Edge Fiddlers Bid -13.00

Only Foals And Horses Little Josh -13.00

OXO Quantitativeeasing -13.00

Pennies From Brisbane -13.00

Queen’s Park WMC Whisper -13.00

Royal Oak Walgrave Whisper -13.00

Steady Aim Wayward Prince -13.00

Sticky Wicket Midnight Chase -13.00

The Byrne Syndicate Our Mick -13.00

The N Club Double Cee -13.00

The Yarmouth Vagabonds Old Tricks -13.00

Tomnjack Cross Kennon -13.00

Wooldale FC Dildar -13.00