Monday Edition - Good news for The Army and British Steel, Sex Offender and Serial Shoplifter sentenced, Talented Young People & More

Image courtesy of the Ministry of Defence (MOD)

Happy Monday to you all and I hope you had a great weekend. Here is today's newsletter covering all things Bassetlaw and of course - your daily puzzle fix.

Todays thought for the day ... "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." — Winston Churchill

Enjoy the read, please email us if you have a story for us and have a great day 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.

A serial shoplifter who also defrauded a woman out of hundreds of pounds has been jailed.

Robert Anderson repeatedly targeted shops in Retford and helped himself to items from the shelves.

His thieving wasn’t limited to those offences, however, with Anderson also stealing money from a woman he knew.

The 40-year-old managed to gain access to the bank account of the elderly woman before sending himself more than £700.

Anderson’s fraudulent activities were conducted between 13 May and 6 June last year, at which point they were spotted and the police were notified.

Following a lengthy investigation, he would go on to be charged with fraud by false representation at the end of March this year.

By that stage, Anderson, of no fixed address, had embarked on a shoplifting spree in Retford that began on 28 February and ended on 19 April.

He shoplifted on six separate occasions, with meat products his top pick during most of his shopping trips, with chocolates and clothes stolen too.

Five of these thefts were from the same Co-op store in Retford, with the town’s Home Bargains shop targeted by the thief as well.

Having analysed available CCTV from the thefts, neighbourhood policing officers managed to identify Anderson as the culprit in each.

He eventually pleaded guilty to six counts of shop theft, while admitting to the separate charge of fraud by false representation too.

Appearing before Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday (13 May), Anderson was sentenced to 18 months behind bars.

PC Corey Trench, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Robert Anderson abused a position of trust by transferring money to himself from the bank account of a woman he knew.

“His decision to do that – sending himself more than £700 – amounted to fraud, so it’s pleasing to see him now sentenced for that offence.

“Not only that, however, Anderson was also responsible for multiple other thefts too, with his chosen victims on those occasions being shops in the Retford area.

“Thanks to some great work by our officers, we were able to highlight Anderson as the person responsible for the fraud he’d committed, along with the shop thefts too.

“We hope he uses the time he’ll now spend behind bars to reflect on what he’s done and change his ways.”

New County Council Chairman takes up role

Councillor Christopher Adegoke has been appointed Chairman of Nottinghamshire County Council.

Councillor Adegoke was officially appointed following today’s Full Council meeting and takes over from Councillor Jan Goold.

Councillor Adegoke said: “I’m privileged and honoured to hold this prestigious position, and I’m very much looking forward to travelling the length and breadth of Nottinghamshire meeting residents, staff, organisations, charities, and businesses, who all have a great love and affection for this wonderful county.”

Councillor Adegoke is the county council’s first black chairman, a fact he and his family are extremely proud of.

“My wife Imah and two children are very proud that I’ve been appointed the first minority chairman at the county council. I got into politics because I want to help people in my community and be a voice for all residents,” Councillor Adegoke said.

“I hope to bring fresh ideas to the role, and I’m excited what the next 12 months will bring both as Chairman and in my divisional work in Hucknall.”

Councillor Adegoke brings more than 25 years of experience across international education, public administration and community leadership.

He has overseen the welfare and supervision of more than 400 Government sponsored international students, ensuring high standards in accommodation, safeguarding, transport, and pastoral care.

“Those who know me well would describe me as approachable, principled, and fair and I hope those qualities are strongly reflected to the people from across Nottinghamshire during my year as Chairman,” Councillor Adegoke added.

The Chairman’s chosen charity for 2026/27 is When You Make a Wish Upon a Star, a Nottingham-based charity.

The charity is devoted to granting wishes for children living with life-threatening illnesses.

Founded in 1990 by Barbara White CIOF OBE, it has granted more than 18,000 wishes across the UK.

Amy Buxton, Head of Income Generation, at When You Wish Upon a Star, said:

"We are absolutely thrilled and honoured to have been chosen as the Chairman’s Charity by Councillor Adegoke and Nottinghamshire County Council.

"We’re really looking forward to building a strong partnership together over the coming year and working alongside the Council and local community to make a difference.

“This partnership will make a truly life-changing difference to the children and families we support through When You Wish Upon a Star.

"Every donation and fundraising effort will help grant magical wishes for children living with life-threatening and terminal illnesses, creating precious memories and moments of joy when they are needed most.

"The support from Nottinghamshire County Council will have a lasting impact on the families we support, and we are deeply grateful for their kindness and commitment.”

Big Changes Coming for Adult Learners in 2026

Adults who’ve felt “locked out” of education will soon have a brand‑new way to access university and college.

From September 2026, student finance will be available for shorter, flexible courses — not just full‑time degrees — thanks to major once‑in‑a‑generation reforms.

For the first time, people will be able to get funding for bite‑sized modules, making it easier to retrain, upskill or study around work, childcare and everyday life. Over 130 universities and colleges have already been approved to offer these new courses, with applications opening this September.

The new system — part of the Lifelong Learning Entitlement — means learners can build qualifications over time, using funding worth up to £39,160, and even access maintenance support.

Subjects will focus on key skills areas like computing, engineering, health, social care and more.

Government, student leaders and universities say the changes will open doors for thousands of people who want to study later in life or switch careers.

Applications for the new finance open September 2026, for courses starting January 2027.

Retford FC to play Retford United FC in 2026/27 NCEL Premier Division

The Football Association have announced the allocations for the 2026/27 season and the proposed constitutions released have both Retford clubs moving back over to the Northern Counties East League (NCEL).

Posting on Social Media Chris Woodhead (Retford F.C. First Team Manager / Chairman) said, “To be honest, we were preparing for life in the UCL next season. There had been rumours of being moved but this happens most seasons so you have to wait until the official announcement.”

“A move over to the NCEL changes the way we prepare as we have another pool of players we can look at as travel and other commitments make it difficult for some to travel to games in the UCL (and vice versa in the NCEL) but also we have our pre season schedule organised and teams in the NCEL Premier were going to be our opposition so some late changes to that will have to be made.”

Full confirmation will be made at the League AGM in June 2026.

Our three interesting facts for today ....

One third of the fish caught around the world never get eaten

Homeless Victorians could pay fourpence to sleep in an unused coffin for the night

Saudi Arabia was the first country to grant citizenship to a robot

Next-generation remote controlled artillery systems to transform British Army

Image: An RCH155 demonstrator on trials courtesy of the MOD

British soldiers will be equipped with modern guns capable of firing eight rounds per minute at targets up to 70km away – delivering the long-term close support artillery solution for the British Army, a landmark moment in UK defence modernisation.

Procurement of 72 Remote Controlled Howitzers (RCH 155) for the British Army will deliver a step change in artillery capability.
The UK’s £1 billion investment delivers on the UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement, and supports at least 500 British jobs, including at Rheinmetall’s Telford facility and KNDS Stockport.
Rheinmetall set to use British steel through Sheffield Forgemasters, strengthening the UK’s defence industrial base and supporting the UK Steel Strategy.

72 Remote Controlled Howitzers (RCH 155) will be procured under a nearly £1 billion contract, which includes initial training and in-service support, awarded by the Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) on behalf of the British Army to ARTEC GmbH, a joint venture between KNDS and Rheinmetall.

The weapon systems – the barrel, breech, recoil system and trunnions – will be manufactured at Rheinmetall’s large-calibre production Telford facility. Rheinmetall is set to use British steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters, supporting the UK Steel Strategy which recognises steel is fundamental to the UK’s industry and national resilience.

The BOXER drive module – chassis, engine, drive train – that the weapon system sits on will be manufactured by KNDS UK in Stockport, sustaining critical armoured steel welding in Britain as well as supporting 100 skilled jobs in Stockport. Together, the programme is expected to support the creation of 100 new skilled jobs at Rheinmetall’s Telford facility, support 100 jobs at KNDS Stockport and back 300 jobs in the wider UK supply chain.

The programme delivers on the Trinity House Agreement by strengthening UK-German collaboration and deepening interoperability between Allied forces.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:

This major investment is defence delivering for the battlefield and for Britain’s economy. By securing next-generation artillery with Germany, not only are we rearming to strengthen NATO against growing Russian aggression but also creating highly skilled jobs here in Britain.

This is what we mean when we say defence is an engine for growth – investment in our security that powers new jobs across the country.

German Federal Minister of Defence, Boris Pistorius, said:

The RCH 155 will significantly enhance the artillery’s firepower, safety and flexibility. It is a vital element of modern artillery support. Together with the United Kingdom, we are demonstrating that we take interoperability within NATO seriously and are putting it into practice.

At the same time, we are underlining the close defence cooperation between Germany and the UK. My British counterpart John Healey and I are keeping our word and are implementing the Trinity House Arrangement step by step. Joint exercises and training will bring our armed forces even closer together. This will deepen military cooperation in the long term and improve our operational readiness – for greater security in Europe.

RCH 155 is mounted on a BOXER chassis and can redeploy at speeds of up to 100km/h, making it harder for adversaries to target. Advanced automation of the turret allows the platform to be operated at the push of a button from the crew compartment by just two soldiers.

First deliveries of the RCH 155 vehicles are expected in 2028 to achieve a minimum deployable capability within this decade. This contract follows the £52 million Early Capability Demonstrator contract signed in December 2025 and a £53 million Long Lead Item procurement contract earlier this year, facilitating Rheinmetall’s large calibre gun manufacturing facility in Telford.

Rheinmetall aims to use British steel supplied by Sheffield Forgemasters, which manufactures specialist steel parts used in critical defence programmes and employs 720 skilled staff. The government invested over £420 million of additional funding in Sheffield Forgemasters last year, bolstering sovereign steelmaking capability for defence, including gun barrels and nuclear submarines.

The RCH 155 replaces the AS90 artillery systems granted in kind to Ukraine in 2023. The Archer artillery system currently serves as an interim capability and will continue to do so until the RCH 155 enters service.

The RCH 155 procurement between the UK and Germany builds on the Trinity House Agreement signed in October 2024. This commitment to improve and enhance bilateral defence cooperation between both nations will exploit the combined capabilities of each nation’s test and evaluation centres, to enable faster delivery at less cost. It will deepen interoperability between Allied forces and directly strengthen NATO’s collective defence on the eastern flank. It also anchors significant industrial benefit in Britain, supporting the skilled workers who will build and maintain them.

The investment also supports the Strategic Defence Review’s ambition to make defence an engine for growth and the Army’s goal to deliver tenfold greater lethality within the next decade.

Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Lt Gen Simon Hamilton CBE said:

Britain answered the call for aid by providing artillery systems to Ukraine at the outbreak of the war. We knew the risk – the gap in our warfighting capability – that this would present. The success of bringing the RCH 155 onto contract to develop our 155mm Close Support Artillery requirement, in collaboration with Germany, marks the first significant milestone in replenishing this capability. We are grateful to the National Armaments Director, our industry partners and our own programme teams for the fantastic work which they have done to bring this to fruition and look forward to our continued work with our German allies.

Planning a day trip by train to Skegness during the holidays?

Image: Skegness Promenade and Clocktower

East Midlands Railway (EMR), which is operated by Transport UK, is encouraging customers to plan ahead and book to guarantee their space for trips to Skegness this summer, as the operator prepares for another busy seaside season.

Customers are advised to book in advance to guarantee their space to the seaside as customers who do not book may not be able to board their preferred service.

There will be queuing systems in place at Skegness, however customers with pre-booked tickets will be able to join the fast track queue.

Customers are reminded to pack as light as possible - with the recommendation being one bag per person.

If you're planning to board the Nottingham to Skegness train at any station there will be an increase of more than 13,000 extra seats per week on the route with four out of five services operating with four-car trains, with the remaining services running as three-car trains on key days.

Despite the additional capacity, customers are strongly advised to book in advance - particularly for travel on Fridays, Saturdays and Mondays - to guarantee their space to the seaside. Reservations will be mandatory on the busiest days to ensure customers have a confirmed place before travelling.

Philippa Cresswell, Customer Experience Director at East Midlands Railway, said: "We know how popular Skegness is during the summer months, and we’re pleased to be able to offer more seats for customers this year."

Young people shine at Nottinghamshire’s fostering’s got talent show

A group of talented young people took centre stage recently to showcase their performing arts skills at a special fostering talent show in Nottinghamshire.

Fostering’s Got Talent is Nottinghamshire County Council’s cornerstone event celebrating young people from our fostering community.

This year’s show featured an impressive range of performances including singing, dancing, a band and a go-karting themed question session. The winner was selected through a combination of audience votes and a judging panel including a young person from the children in care council.

First place went to a 12-year-old for their spectacular guitar performance of Fade to Black by Metallica. The winner received two tickets to the semi-final of hit TV show, Britain’s Got Talent, a certificate, and a £100 Amazon voucher, a new addition to the top prize this year. Second place went to a 10-year-old dancer and third place was a group performance singing Man I Need by Olivia Dean. The runners up received Amazon vouchers respectively, alongside their certificates and trophies.

To recognise everyone’s efforts and enthusiasm, all participants who did not place received a Amazon voucher, a participation certificate and a small trophy.

Foster carers praised the event and their comments included: “Just wanted to say what a truly wonderful night it was…it is so lovely to see so many looked after children full of confidence and talent.”

“I think it has been the best so far…each year gets better and better.”

Councillor Rory Green, Cabinet Member for Children and Families, said: “It is fantastic so many of our young people have the confidence to take to the stage to show their talents in front of an audience. These events show how much our children and young people can thrive with care and support to follow their passions.

“I’d like to say a huge well done to the winner and runners-up, and congratulations to everyone who took part and helped make the evening such a success.”

The event took place just before the start of Foster Care Fortnight, the national campaign to recognise and celebrate the dedication of foster carers across the country.

Anyone interested in learning more about fostering should get in touch with Foster for East Midlands Councils Call 03033 132 950 or visit fosterforeastmidlands.org.uk to learn more.

15-year jail sentence for sex offender caught by undercover police officer

A sex offender was exposed by an undercover police officer after sending explicit messages to a young girl.

Neil Wilson sent the officer sexually explicit messages after they met on an online chatroom.

Despite being told that she was 13, he went on to request explicit photos of her too.

Nottinghamshire Police were alerted to the 46-year-old’s behaviour and arrested him at his home address on 14 December 2023.

His devices were then examined, and explicit messages sent to an actual young girl were exposed.

Indecent images of children were also uncovered.

This included 25 ‘Category A’ images - the most severe classification of indecent images of children.

Six images classed as ‘Category B’ and 80 labelled as ‘Category C’ were also found.

Wilson, formally of Osmaston Walk, Mansfield, went on to plead guilty to inciting a female child under 13 to engage in sexual activity, attempting to engage in sexual communication with a child, and possession of extreme pornographic images.

He also pleaded guilty to three counts of making indecent photos of a child.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (8 May), he was jailed for a total of 15 years – an eight-year jail sentence with an added seven-year extended license.

Wilson was also made the subject of an indefinite sexual harm prevention order and was placed on the sex offenders’ register.

Detective Constable Oliver Pemberton, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Wilson’s actions were completely disgraceful, and it was thanks to the fantastic work of officers that he was exposed.

“Keeping children safe from harm means keeping them safe from people like Wilson who attempt to prey on them online where they think nobody can see what they are doing.

“I’d like to take this time to praise the strength of the victim throughout the investigation and lengthy court process.

"I hope this result helps give the victim and their family some closure and also serves as a warning to others about the consequences of such depraved behaviour.”

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 C.

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

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Have a great day and I look forward to seeing you read our next newsletter.

Justin Doddy, Editor