Friday Wrap Up - Your Weekly Roundup from Bassetlaw Today

This week's wrap up with short highlights from this week's Bassetlaw Today newsletters covering all things Bassetlaw (full articles can be accessed in our daily newsletters) and of course - your daily puzzle fix.

Todays thought for the day ... “Always work hard and have fun in what you do because I think that's when you're more successful. You have to choose to do it.” - Simone Biles

Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great weekend wherever you are in Bassetlaw.

Justin Doddy, Editor

P.S. Don't forget to subscribe to our newsletter here if you haven't already and remember to send us your pictures from around Bassetlaw, we may feature it on our newsletter.

The Old Red Lion care home in Treswell, Nottinghamshire, has been rated Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following a March inspection.

The home, run by Creative Care (East Midlands) Limited and owned by Consensus, supports autistic adults and people with learning disabilities, and was caring for seven residents at the time.

CQC praised the home’s leadership and staff for going “above and beyond” to ensure people felt safe, respected, and supported. Staff were commended for their deep understanding of each person’s needs, strong communication skills, and warm, patient interactions. Relatives reported significant improvements in residents’ confidence, independence, and emotional wellbeing.

The CQC described the home as an example of outstanding practice, with the full report due to be published on its website soon.

Nottinghamshire County Council has received two new JCB Pothole Pro machines, which will start repairing roads next week as part of a major push to improve the county’s highways.

The arrival of the new machines follows approval of a record £181.25 million investment in road maintenance.

The machines, leased for 12 months from Dawsongroup and operated by Via East Midlands, will deliver first‑time permanent pothole repairs and support the eight new repair teams already working across the county. The Pothole Pro’s three‑in‑one design—cutting, cropping and cleaning—allows faster, higher‑quality, and more cost‑effective repairs.

Via East Midlands and Dawsongroup highlighted that the machines support safer, more efficient, and more sustainable long‑term repair methods. The council will evaluate their performance over the year to guide future investment decisions.

Retford Market has received a fresh new look with the introduction of refurbished stalls featuring bright white and green canopies.

The upgrade, funded by the UK Government’s Town Centre Streetscaping Fund and allocated by the Retford Town Centre Partnership Board, aims to improve the market’s appearance and create a better trading environment.

Traders say the new coverings offer improved shelter, especially in bad weather, making the market more comfortable for shoppers and helping protect stock. They hope the cleaner, brighter look will attract more visitors and encourage new traders to join.

More than 130 jobs have been safeguarded, including roles in Retford.

Formula One Autocentres acquired 35 ATS Euromaster sites. expanding the company’s network to 170 locations across the UK.

The sites are being integrated over the Bank Holiday period, with IT systems transferring first, followed by refurbishment and rebranding over the next three months. All affected ATS staff will transfer to Formula One Autocentres, with the company highlighting new career progression opportunities.

The newly acquired sites span multiple regions, including Retford and Hinckley in the East Midlands, several locations across the North East and North West, sites in the South and South West, and numerous centres across Wales and the West Midlands.

Sports Direct is set to return to the Priory Centre in Worksop as Bassetlaw District Council progresses with its major town centre redevelopment plans.

The retailer will reopen in its former 6,000 sq ft unit within the next few weeks, creating over 10 new jobs and bringing a wide range of leading sports and lifestyle brands back to the centre.

The announcement comes as demolition work continues on site to prepare for the next phase of regeneration, which will introduce new leisure and entertainment facilities including a climbing wall, indoor adventure play, a bowling alley and dining options.

Students from Ordsall Primary School visited All Hallows Churchyard to install 22 photographs of military veterans on poppy markers placed on graves and family memorials, as part of an ongoing remembrance project.

They were supported by members of the Retford & District Royal British Legion, Cllr Harriet Digby, and local parishioners.

The project has been highly successful, with the community donating photographs of veterans since last September. Recent contributions include images of Private Jesse Taylor, who died at 18, and Lance Corporal Robert Albert Robson, whose son Tony—now 86—visited the church to share his father’s photograph.

The initiative continues to seek more veteran photographs for locations in Worksop and Retford. The final stage will see 40 additional photographs installed at Retford Cemetery by 8 May (VE Day), completing a total of 128 veteran images placed across local cemeteries by primary school students.

Volunteers are also helping restore the churchyard, including the recent discovery of a memorial plaque for Warrant Electrician William Widdowson of the Royal Navy—found on the eve of the 85th anniversary of his ship’s sinking.

A re‑dedication ceremony will take place at Retford’s War Memorial on Sunday 10 May at 2:30pm to honour Thomas Henry Ellis.

Thomas Henry Ellis was a serviceman with links to the town who was killed in action during the Second World War. His name will be formally added to the memorial.

The event will be attended by members of the Royal British Legion, the Deputy Lieutenant, representatives of The Prince of Wales’s Own Regiment Association, Cllr Tony Eaton (Chair of Bassetlaw District Council), and Ellis’s descendants. The service, led by Reverend Dick Lewis, will include a tribute from Ellis’s nephew, a two‑minute silence, and wreath‑laying.

Ellis enlisted in the Duke of Wellington Regiment before serving with the Yorkshire Regiment. Born in 1914, he died during the North African campaign on 21 March 1941, where he is buried.

Nottinghamshire County Council has launched a full review of its discretionary faith school transport scheme.

The review is part of wider efforts to address major financial pressures, as the scheme currently costs the council around £1 million per year after parental contributions.

Around 520 pupils across 15 faith schools benefit from the scheme, though only 10 of those schools are within Nottinghamshire. The county is now one of the few in the region still offering discretionary faith transport, as neighbouring authorities ended similar schemes over 15 years ago.

A public consultation is running from 30 April to 12 June 2026.

A new public artwork called ‘The Peace Tree’ has been unveiled in Kings’ Park, Retford.

Created by sculptor Ian Gill, the galvanised‑metal sculpture features a flowing tree form with water gently trickling over its leaves, designed to encourage calm, reflection and a deeper appreciation of the park.

The sculpture was unveiled by Cllr Tony Eaton, members of Retford Civic Society, district councillors, council staff and members of the public. Both the Civic Society and Bassetlaw District Council praised the artwork for enriching the park, offering a peaceful space for visitors, and demonstrating the value of creativity in community spaces.

Nottinghamshire Police has announced the date for its annual Rural Show.

The free community event will take place at Rufford Abbey Country Park on Saturday 27 June, from 10am to 4pm and will showcase the work being done to tackle rural and wildlife crime. .

Visitors will be able to see demonstrations from the drone unit, off‑road bike team, and meet one of the force’s police dogs. Partner organisations attending include Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, Bransby Horses, Leash and Release, Via East Midlands, and staff from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Two local restaurants — Brewers Fayre King William IV in Oldcotes and Beefeater The Dukes in Worksop — have been listed for closure as part of a major restructuring by owner Whitbread.

The company plans to shut all remaining Beefeater and Brewers Fayre sites as it reshapes its five‑year business strategy, aiming to cut costs and release value from its property portfolio.

The closures are expected to affect around 10% of Whitbread’s 30,000‑strong workforce, though the company says many staff may be redeployed following a consultation process.

A man who arrived at Worksop Police Station with a knife hidden in his underwear has been jailed.

Shaun Kennelly, 28, was arrested on 29 April after attending the station for an unrelated matter. During a later search at Mansfield Custody Suite, officers found a locking‑style Stanley knife that he said had slipped from his underpants down his trouser leg.

Kennelly, previously jailed in 2023 for robbery and driving offences, told police he was living in a tent and claimed he carried the knife for protection. He pleaded guilty at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court to possessing a knife in a public place and received a 146‑day prison sentence.

West Bassetlaw Police will hold their first free bicycle‑marking event of the year on Sunday 10 May, from 10am to 2pm, at Lime Tree Nursery in Carlton in Lindrick.

Officers will offer free security marking and registration on the national BikeRegister database. This helps increase the chances of recovering and returning a bike if it is ever lost or stolen.

Ofsted inspect Rampton Primary School

An Ofsted inspection of Rampton Primary School (3 February 2026) found that while safeguarding, attendance, behaviour, personal development and wellbeing all meet expected standards, five key areas “need attention”:
Achievement, Curriculum and Teaching, Early Years, Inclusion, and Leadership and Governance.

Inspectors described the school as warm, nurturing and close‑knit, with staff who know pupils well and support their needs. Pupils behave kindly, enjoy school, attend regularly and benefit from strong personal development opportunities.

However, too many pupils are not achieving well enough, particularly in mathematics and early years, where essential knowledge is not being secured and learning gaps are not closing quickly. Staff do not consistently adapt teaching for disadvantaged pupils or those with SEND. Leaders have only recently begun focusing on the right priorities, and although improvements are emerging, more work is required.

Bassetlaw District Council Leaders Update

Bassetlaw District Council is set to review grant funding for voluntary and community organisations, with proposals to support key local services for the next three years.

Residents are also being asked to take part in a consultation on a new Housing Repairs Policy, aimed at delivering faster, more reliable repairs, improving service quality, and clarifying responsibilities between tenants and the council.

With warmer weather arriving, the council is encouraging people to join Move More in May, promoting everyday physical activity such as walking or cycling.

Together, these initiatives reflect the council’s commitment to strengthening communities, improving services, and supporting healthier, more active lifestyles.

Two Worksop councillors, Deborah and Fraser Merryweather, have been blocked from joining the political party Restore Britain.

The national party’s vetting process rejected their applications due to their previous membership of the Labour Party.

The couple, who have served on Bassetlaw District Council since 2015, left Labour in 2024 to sit as independents, later joining the Bassetlaw Independents group. Two weeks ago, they informed the council they were defecting to Restore Britain, and their affiliation was briefly updated online before being reverted.

Restore Britain informed them on 27 April that they could not represent the party. As a result, they must now sit as independent councillors, separate from the Bassetlaw Independents group.

Gainsborough Library will host three events as part of the Lincolnshire Libraries Local History Festival, running 1 – 31 May 2026.

The month‑long festival features more than 50 talks and activities delivered by local historians across the county.

Events at Gainsborough Library include:

• From Bank to Bank: The River Trent in Archive Images
A photographic display showing the changing landscape of the River Trent.
1–31 May, during opening hours. No booking required.

• Lincolnshire’s ‘Gilbert Country’ – The Writings of Bernard Samuel Gilbert
A talk by Professor Andrew Jackson, with readings in Lincolnshire dialect.
Thursday 7 May, 2:30–4pm. Booking required.

• Finding the Mill on the Floss
A guided riverside walk with writer Helen Hagon exploring locations linked to George Eliot’s novel. Saturday 16 May, 10:30am–12 noon. Booking required.

The festival celebrates Lincolnshire’s rural history, landscapes and literary heritage, bringing local stories to life through exhibitions, talks and guided walks.

Nottinghamshire County Council has published its Domestic Abuse Strategy 2026–2029, developed with partners and shaped by survivors’ experiences.

The strategy outlines how domestic abuse affects individuals, children and communities, and sets out a county‑wide vision focused on prevention, support, response, and strengthening the system.

Using data from the Police and Crime Commissioner, safe‑accommodation assessments and children’s services, partners have identified key needs and actions. The strategy commits to a coordinated community response, bringing agencies together to support survivors, protect children and hold perpetrators to account.

Yorkshire County Cricket Club has released its long‑term strategic vision, “Chasing Glory 2026–2036”.

The vision outlines how it plans to modernise, strengthen performance and secure long‑term sustainability while honouring its historic cricketing legacy.

Key points include Heritage & Challenges, Overall Ambition, Cricketing Priorities, Rapidly grow the women’s game, Invest in modern, high‑quality training facilities and Deepen community links through schools and grassroots clubs.

Two brothers have been convicted after fitting cash‑trapping devices to ATMs across the UK, stealing thousands of pounds between May and August 2023.

Felix and Christian Urcaciu installed metal wedges inside cash machines so money would be diverted into hidden traps. Customers believed the machines had simply malfunctioned and later contacted their banks for refunds.

A police investigation linked the pair to multiple offences across Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, Derbyshire, the Midlands and Scotland. Detectives used CCTV, financial checks and vehicle tracking — with a major breakthrough coming when Felix used his own bank card during the scam.

Step Back in Time at Sherwood Forest – May 23–25

Gather your fellow warriors — an epic medieval adventure is coming to Sherwood Forest this May bank holiday

The Gathering of the North returns from 23–25 May, bringing the Middle Ages to life in the legendary home of Robin Hood. Expect a full weekend of action, including jousting, archery, hand to hand combat, axe throwing competition, medieval performances and interactive workshops.

Witness Appeal – Teen Seriously Injured in Worksop Collision

Police are appealing for witnesses after a teenage motorcyclist was seriously injured in a collision on Kilton Hill, Worksop, at 12.38pm on Wednesday 22 April. The incident involved two motorcycles and a van.

A 54‑year‑old man was arrested the same day on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. A search of an address in Carlton in Lindrick led to the discovery of a noxious substance, and he was further arrested on suspicion of possessing a weapon. He has since been released on bail with conditions.

Officers are now urging anyone who saw the incident — or who has CCTV or dashcam footage from Kilton Hill, Kingsway or Kilton Road around the time — to come forward.

HEINEKEN UK has unveiled a £44.5m investment to upgrade 647 pubs in its Star Pubs estate during 2026 — a major boost for local pubs at a time when many are struggling.

Key points:

• 647 pubs will be refurbished, creating around 850 jobs
• 536 of these are independently run locals
• Investment is 10% higher than last year
• Big focus on sports facilities ahead of the World Cup
• New contemporary pub model being trialled to attract younger adults

Upgrades will include improved dining and social spaces, enhanced sports areas with bigger screens, better darts setups, and more outdoor screens for major events. Some boarded‑up pubs will also be brought back to life.

Walk Notts Festival Returns This May

Nottinghamshire is celebrating the second Walk Notts Festival this May — a month‑long campaign encouraging everyone to enjoy the benefits of walking and wheeling as part of National Walking Month.

Running 1–31 May, the festival highlights how moving more can boost physical health, reduce stress, improve wellbeing, help the environment, and bring communities together. Whether you walk, wheel, use a mobility scooter or other aids, the festival is all about getting active right from your doorstep.

There’s also a big push for Walk to School Week (18–22 May) to help families build more active travel into their daily routine.

A vibrant new mural has been unveiled in the Tuxford A1 underpass.

Created in partnership with Tuxford Town Council and funded through the UK Government’s Town Centre Streetscaping Fund the artwork was designed with input from Tuxford Academy students, local charity Forget‑Me‑Notts, the Museum of the Horse, and the Walks of Life Museum — bringing together stories and symbols from Tuxford’s proud past.

One side of the underpass is now complete, with a second mural planned for August.

Our three interesting facts for today ....

When Winston Churchill visited the US during prohibition, he got a doctor's prescription for an unlimited supply of alcohol

Karl Marx spent more than half his life in England

The Bible has no mention of purgatory

Up to 150 former WH Smith high street stores risk closure as owners race to rescue struggling business

High street chain TG Jones could shut up to 100 shops as its owner races to rescue the struggling business.

Modella Capital, which bought WHSmith’s high street arm last year and rebranded it as TG Jones, is reportedly drawing up a major restructuring plan in a bid to avoid the chain collapsing.

Around 100 of the 480 stores are understood to be at risk, with the remaining 400 branches likely to stay open if landlords agree to rent cuts.

Council supports Voluntary and Community Sector to the tune of £109,000

Grant funding of over £109k to support the Voluntary and Community Sector for the next two years has been approved by cabinet members at Bassetlaw District Council.

It means the council’s Voluntary and Community Sector partners will be able to continue supporting residents, volunteers and voluntary organisations providing opportunities, advice, assistance and crisis support.

The community groups and charities to receive funding include BCVS (Bassetlaw Community and Voluntary Service) £20k, Bassetlaw Action Centre £15k, Citizens Advice North Notts (Formerly Bassetlaw CAB) £40k and Bassetlaw Foodbank £27,500

The Amazing Team at Bassetlaw Hospice invite you to Lunch

Bassetlaw Hospice's next event is their Ladies Lunch on Thursday 21^st May at Ye Olde Bell at Barnby Moor.

Tickets are £30 and include a 2-course lunch (a choice of menu is available) , and the after-lunch speaker is Carolyn Radford who is CEO of Mansfield Town Football Club.

The event starts @ 11.30 with lunch @ 1.pm. For more information and tickets please email debbie@bassetlawhospice.org

Fostering banners appear across the county

Fostering banners are appearing across the county as we head into Foster Care Fortnight, celebrating the amazing difference foster carers make — and encouraging others to consider opening their homes to local children.

Nottinghamshire County Council, working with Foster for East Midlands Councils, is calling for more people to come forward so children can stay close to their schools, friends and communities.

Call 03033 132950 or contact Foster for East Midlands Councils.

Memorial Garden in Worksop is home to a special new bench

The Memorial Gardens in Worksop is home to a new bench that is helping to combat mental health issues and prevent suicides.

The ‘Legend on the Bench’ campaign produce seats that feature a QR code that links directly to crisis support services and features an integrated light that acts as a ‘beacon of hope’ in the darkest hours.

It’s been installed by local charity, Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) and one of its campaigners, Vicky Waring, spoke about how important the bench is for people in Bassetlaw. She said: “Having the first Legend on the Bench installed here in the Memorial Gardens is something I’m incredibly proud of."

Thousands of Evri drivers to be balloted over pay

GMB Union have issued a statement recommending that thousands of Evri drivers reject the deal in a ballot over pay.

More than 6,000 couriers will vote on the offer– which dates back to 2025 – which could represent a pay cut for many workers. GMB Union, which has had a recognition deal with Evri since 2019, is recommending drivers reject the deal for the first time.

The ballot opened on May 6 and closes on June 9.

If the offer is rejected, GMB will meet with couriers to discuss next steps.

Suspects charged after police uncover multi-million pound cannabis grow

Six men have been charged after police uncovered and dismantled a massive multi-million pound cannabis-growing operation.

Just over 4,800 plants, all at varying stages of maturity, were found inside a disused industrial unit in Botany Avenue, Mansfield.

A thorough search was carried out after officers gained entry to the unit, leading to the arrests of six suspects that have all since been charged with possession with intent to supply a Class B drug, being concerned in the production of a Class B drug, and acquire/use/possess criminal property.

Can you figure out today's puzzle?

First figure out the nine letter solution and then find as many words as you can in today's panagram that contain the letter T.

Our last panagram was FACETIOUS. Read our next newsletter for the solution to today's puzzle.

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