A DOG owner who was found with 10 potentially-dangerous dogs of a notorious breed at his Grimsby home has blamed people for "making them fight".

Barry Gould, 56, of Chelmsford Avenue, told Grimsby Magistrates' Court it was not the dogs' fault that some ferocious breeds have a reputation for fighting – and said authorities should "punish the deed, not the breed".

He admitted he knew that his dogs – banned Dogo Argentinos – were not allowed in this country but insisted that they were "not nasty"and had never attacked anyone.

Although there was no evidence he had bred them for fighting, Gould deliberately kept them in defiance of a national ban and had been breeding from them, the court heard.

He admitted breeding from fighting dogs between August 1 and 31 and possessing four adult Dogo Argentinos and six puppies on November 2.

Eight of the dogs, including all the puppies, have already been destroyed. The magistrates ordered that the two remaining dogs be destroyed – but Gould intends to appeal to Grimsby Crown Court to keep them.

John Owston, prosecuting, told magistrates that the breed – a large hunting dog – was banned in Britain under the Dangerous Dogs Act unless an exemption was granted.

The dogs were very rare in this country but police found the 10 owned by Gould after executing a warrant at his home, as reported.

In a kennel complex were two adult males, two adult females and six puppies. The ears of two of the dogs had been cropped, making the ears stand up more and look more aggressive.

"There is no evidence whatsoever that the defendant has been using the dogs for any fighting purposes," said Mr Owston.

"The dogs were not aggressive when taken away by the police and there had been no reports of problems with them later."

Abdul Shakoor, mitigating, said Gould was a dog lover and they were his passion and hobby.

He had owned dogs of different breeds for about 40 years and became interested in Dogo Argentinos after reading about them and being given a leaflet by a friend about how to get them.

He collected them from Kent and looked after them well, keeping them safely behind locked doors and a 6ft wall surrounding the kennels.

Gould admitted he knew the dogs were banned and said that he had taken them out in public, including taking one for a walk in a quiet area in Swallow.

"He has been looking after these dogs effectively as family pets," said Mr Shakoor. "He has cared for them as a loving and caring owner would do."

None of the dogs had shown any aggression and there had been no need for any of them to be subdued before the police took them away.

Unemployed Gould, a widower who has three daughters and six grandchildren, was given 120 hours' unpaid work, was banned from keeping dogs for two years and was ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and £600 towards police kennelling costs.

Presiding magistrate James O'Nions said Gould seemed to have been "doing a decent job" in providing a safe and healthy environment for his dogs but they were "the wrong dog".

Gould had "full knowledge" of the ban on this breed of dog but "embarked on a structured breeding programme" which he should not have done, said Mr O'Nions.

Outside court, Gould said he believed the key factor should be the behaviour of the dog that counted, not the breed itself.

"It should be deed, not breed," he said. "Basically, I have got the wrong shape of dogs.

"They have been absolutely fantastic. They are not nasty or aggressive. It's people who make dogs fight – not the dogs."

After the hearing, police spokesman Sergeant Martin Hopper said: "This is a unique case. This is the first seizure of this breed in the Humberside Police area and, nationally, very few dogs of this breed are registered.

"Mr Gould has assisted the police throughout the investigation from the day of his arrest to attending court.

"The dogs were all healthy and fine examples of the breed. Mr Gould is clearly a dog lover and has taken good care of his dogs.

"But, ultimately, they are a banned breed and he kept them knowing that.

"The court's decision to have the two remaining dogs destroyed reflects its concerns about the breed.

"While Mr Gould appears to be an appropriate, responsible owner, the breed is banned for a reason."

FACTFILE on the Dogo Argentino:

A large, white, muscular and strong dog, bred for hunting boar in its native Argentina and also known as the Argentine Mastiff.

It is said to look like the American Pit Bull terrier.

It is one of four banned breeds of dog in Britain. It is an offence to possess them, breed from them or sell them.

The other three types of banned dog are: Japanese Tosa, Fila Brasileiro and the Pit Bull.

To own a Dogo Argentino in this country, strict conditions have to be met when applying for an exemption.

These include having it tattooed, neutered, micro chipped, being muzzled and on a lead, and the owner having third-party liability insurance.

• Dangerous dog law dispute comes to Grimsby

SINGING sensation and local X Factor star Ella Henderson will be back on the stage this Saturday for the finale of the competition that shot her to stardom.

In an exclusive interview with the Grimsby Telegraph, the 16-year-old starlet spoke of her excitement at being reunited with the finalists – and her friends – on the night millions are expected to tune in to watch the king of X Factor 2012 crowned.

As reported, our star's shocking exit from the show on November 18, gobsmacked the nation, who had her down as a sure winner of the show, which would have landed her a £1-million record contract.

But during a snatch interview – minutes before the youngster prepared to sing a duet live on radio with singer Myleene Klass – Ella told the Grimsby Telegraph that her future is looking "brighter than ever before".

She said: "It has been great rehearsing for the performance at the final and so much fun being back with all the contestants again and going out into the big city and all the events. I have built very strong friendships there."

The final will see Ella's favourites to win, Jahmene Douglas and James Arthur, and wild card, Christopher Maloney, take to the stage to win the public votes.

Ella will perform a Christmas song with them and the other contestants.

She continued: "I like Jahmene and James Arthur. James has got a really strong following, so I think he might win."

It comes as the national press reports a record label bidding war over Ella which has broken out between Simon Cowell's Syco, Sony, and other Sony subsidaries, Columbia, Epic and RCA.

But Ella, an accomplished pianist and songwriter, is modest about all the attention.

Laughing off the term "bidding war" she told the Telegraph: "At the moment everything is up in the air. I have signed a contract that means I have to wait until the show is finished and then there is the X Factor tour, so who knows what will happen.

"At the moment, though, everything is looking really bright and very exciting for the next year."

Throughout the experience, Ella – who popped home for two days earlier this week – has been "overwhelmed" by the support shown by her fans back home and personally thanked the Grimsby Telegraph for our Vote Ella campaign.

"When I auditioned, I never thought for second I would get to the live shows," she said.

"I have got exactly what I needed from the show. Without X Factor, eight weeks ago no one knew I existed. A world of good has come from being on the show.

"I have been blown away by everyone's support. They have been great. I just hope everyone who was behind me continues to support me. I have always wanted a career in music and this is my chance to do that."

Tune in to ITV1 at 8pm on Saturday for the live final from Manchester. At the end of the show, the act with the least public votes will be sent home, with the remaining two going through to Sunday night's results show at 7.40pm.

THE end of a passionate and caring ministry.

That is how parishioners have described the 25-year ministry of the Reverend Michael Cartwright as Vicar of St Thomas' Church, in Market Rasen.

This Sunday, he holds his final service at the church.

The church was also full for a service of celebration and thanksgiving for his ministry, led by Rural Dean of West Wold, the Reverend Canon Ian Robinson, who praised Mr Cartwright for his ministry.

He said: "Michael feels passionate about the people he came to serve.

"We are the poorer as Michael leaves us, but all the richer for having the privilege of sharing our lives with him."

Mr Cartwright was born in Wolverhampton and worked as a civil servant in the Department of Employment based in the West Midlands.

"I initially became a lay reader and through that decided to test my vocation. I was 12 months at a pre-theological college in Durham and then trained for the ministry for three years at Queen's College in Birmingham," he explained.

Mr Cartwright was ordained in Worcester Cathedral in 1970 and took up a curacy at Reditch New Town. After five years he became priest in charge of Dines Green.

"It was a rough housing estate in Worcester and I was there for five years. Then it was to Durham where I was vicar of St Paul's, in Stockton on Tees.

"On a cold late autumn day 25 years ago, I arrived in Market Rasen. I did not imagine my ministry here would last so long that I would reach the compulsory retirement age of 70."

During his years in the town, Mr Cartwright also served as West Wold Rural Dean, as well as being vicar of Legsby, Linwood and Lissington.

Beyond the church he has been a familiar face in the town, serving in a variety of roles, including being on the governing body at Market Rasen CofE Primary School and at De Aston School.

Keen for the promotion of music in worship he has also sung in the church choir – even singing solos himself at the annual carol service. One enormous challenge was to raise money for the restoration of the organ, bells and tower and to oversee the work being carried out.

But at the heart of his ministry he has built a thriving congregation where people shared talents and cared for each other.

"For me these past 25 years or more have been full of wonderful happenings and wonderful people. We have achieved so much together and such is the nature of priestly ministry I have had the privilege of sharing in the joys and sorrows of so many of your lives," he said.

At the thanksgiving service, a presentation was made to him and his wife Lynn in the form of a specially-commissioned painting and a cheque.

"When Michael and Lynn go, they will leave a massive void," said Market Rasen Churchwarden Tony Parkinson.

"We wish them a long happy healthy and well-deserved retirement."

The couple will be moving to the village of Welbourn, in Lincoln.

IT'S panto time! Oh, yes it is!

Apologies for that annual cliche – but then it wouldn't be a panto without hearing it, and it wouldn't be Christmas without pantos!

And while the word may derive from the Greek pantomimos, we do claim the annual theatrical show as a very British tradition.

Well, we have been staging them since the early 1700s!

The question is whether they still have a role to play in the 21st century.

And we would say they definitely do.

Great family entertainment, it wouldn't be the Christmas season for some families without a trip to the panto.

They are a great way to introduce young children to stage entertainment, too – after all, booing and hissing the nasty characters and cheering on the goodies is part and parcel of this interactive entertainment.

Yes, in these times of austerity, affording a family trip can be costly, but some would rather go without an extra present or two to continue this festive tradition.

And don't forget the smaller, local theatrical groups that also stage pantos – there is a wealth of amateur dramatical talent in our area, with many staging their own fun-filled productions.

As well as the message of Christmas, it is a time when we look to spend time with our families – so why not do that. Oh, yes, you should!

SCORES of people attended a memorial service in freezing temperatures.

The bitter cold did not stop more than 200 people filling St Peter's Church in Cleethorpes.

The annual memorial service held by Mashfords Funeral Service is organised to remember those who have died over the year.

The Reverend Paul Hunter led the service and believes that it is important for the community to come together.

He said: "Services like this are very special because people can draw comfort from them.

"This is the fifth year this particular service has been held and it is important that members of the community come together to remember lost loved ones.

"Over the years, this service has grown in popularity.

"Christmas is a time to remember both happy and sad memories."

The service included the hymns Love Divine All Loves Excelling and Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer as well as two performances from the Orpheus Male Voice Choir and an opening from bagpipe player John Best. As well as bible readings, partner Joyce Schofield from Mashfords Funeral Service gave a speech.

She said: "Invitations have been sent to all the families who we have served during the past year and we are overwhelmed by the attendance.

"We hope you will find some degree of comfort, help and consolation from the service.

"It is important for family to remember their loved ones.

"I want to thank everyone for their attendance."

Inside St Peter's Church is a remembrance tree that people are invited to put labels on to remember their lost loved ones.

Attending the service were representatives from the Church Of England, Methodist Church and the Roman Catholic Church, as well as representatives from non religious services.

Resident Bob Wynne, of Miller Avenue, Cleethorpes, added: "I am here to remember my mother-in-law, Joan Margaret Pogson, who died in January.

"It is important to remember people when they are gone.

"Our family has had a tough year, but you have to carry on.

"I think services like this can help you carry on with life and that is shown by how many people have turned up."

DO you know someone who deserves an extra special Christmas this year?

Then don't miss your chance to nominate them to receive a special festive gift, courtesy of the Artie White Foundation.

As reported, the Grimsby Telegraph has teamed up with the charity for the 12 Days of Christmas Campaign to donate a food hamper or toy voucher to deserving recipients across the area. Now the deadline for nominations has been extended.

It could be someone who always goes that extra mile for others, a young family struggling to buy presents, or an elderly person facing the prospect of spending Christmas alone. Whoever they are, you can put a smile on their face by filling in the nomination form on this page and sending it in.

The recipients will be chosen by committee members of the Artie White Foundation, and each presentation will be reported in the Grimsby Telegraph. Committee member Debbie Boylen said: "As a charity we raise money locally and want to ensure that we spend our money locally. We would love to hear about any deserving cause, be it people who selflessly put others before themselves and deserve a special treat or maybe a person or family who are going through difficult times.

"We would love to help make Christmas special this year. So please send your nominations in."

A DRUNKEN nightclubber who smashed a man in the face, fracturing his jaw, was later "overjoyed" at what he had done, a court heard.

He was "gleeful" about the attack and was "smiling and cheering" just seconds later, the court was told.

Nigel Howes, 20, of Elliston Street, Cleethorpes, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm on Jarred Grimble – who was attacked three times in the space of 15 minutes – on April 17 last year.

The case prompted a warning from Judge Jeremy Richardson QC, who, after hearing details of the horrific street attack, said: "These incidents are all too common in the town centres and city centres of our country.

"Ordinary, decent people are frightened and alarmed to go into town centres late at night because of this sort of violence.

"Even to witnesses and members of the public, it must be very unpleasant."

Craig Lowe, prosecuting, told Grimsby Crown Court that Mr Grimble, 20, had been out in Cleethorpes celebrating a birthday.

He and others left the Pier nightclub at about 4.15am but he was assaulted on three separate occasions within 15 minutes.

The final attack came from Howes, who punched him in the face, knocking him unconscious.

Mr Grimble was taken to hospital and later transferred to Hull Royal Infirmary, where he needed an operation to insert a metal plate in his jaw. A wisdom tooth was also removed.

Michael Culshaw, mitigating, said Howes had not been involved in the earlier violence, although he knew Mr Grimble was vulnerable from earlier assaults.

Howes punched Mr Grimble because he had been told that the victim may have been the person who was "bumping and barging into him" on the dance floor of the nightclub earlier.

Judge Richardson said Howes seemed to be "overjoyed" about hitting Mr Grimble and was "smiling and cheering" about it.

"He charged off in a rather gleeful way," said Judge Richardson.

"It was a completely unprovoked attack on a young man who had been attacked earlier. He's broken a man's face."

Howes was locked up for a year.

View more Crime news

"I ONLY wish my dad was here to see it – he would have told everyone he knew."

Those were the words of successful Cleethorpes barrister Taryn Lee, 44, who has been named on the Who's Who list of influential people, published by the Oxford University Press in the same year her father passed away.

As reported, Tommy Lee brought headline acts to the resort, such as Ken Dodd and Bernard Manning, when he owned the Sands Bar, but he lost his battle with cancer on February 5.

Weeks later, on what would have been Tommy's 76th birthday – October 28 – Taryn was called to join the Queen's Council, one of the highest honours in the legal profession, as reported.

Taryn said at the time that it felt like her dad was "pulling strings in heaven".

Now, Taryn and Cleethorpes-born Nick Lumley, who joined the Queen's Counsel at the same time, are two of 1,000 people added to the Who's Who list in the 2013 edition, which was printed on Wednesday.

Other first-timers include Olympic gold medallist Jessica Ennis, musical comedian Tim Minchin and Arianna Huffington, editor of the online Huffington Post news website.

Taryn added: "It is a bit weird to think that my name is on that list but I was glad to be able to put my parents' names in there as well.

"I think my dad was watching when I joined the Queen's Counsel and he will be watching now."

Mum-of-two Taryn, whose husband works on Grimsby Docks, went to a state school and a polytechnic university but now runs a chambers in Leeds and, in 2011, she chaired the annual barrister conference.

She has now been appointed the chair of a social mobility committee, tasked with making the profession more accessible for people from less privileged backgrounds.

Taryn's proud mum Joan Lee, 76, of Dolphin Street, Cleethorpes, said the whole family are "extremely proud" of everything she has achieved.

She added: "I think Tommy is watching from heaven and I bet he is boasting and telling everyone who will listen about it.

"He wasn't shy and was the type of person who would have told all and sundry – the whole town would have known about it.

"Tommy has definitely been looking down on us and I know he will be watching now.

"She joined the Queen's Counsel on his birthday and her colleagues took us to dinner in a place next to Nelson's Column afterwards.

"Tommy loved Nelson – he was the password on his computer and he even had his face printed on address cards."

MOVE over X-Factor finalists, you may have competition for next year's Christmas number one.

Older people in Cleethorpes are calling on the help of musicians and songwriters over the age of 60 to help them write a tune about what it means to be old.

Run by residents of Church Court Sheltered Housing in Blundell Avenue, they are asking people to pen a lyric or two about getting older which will be used to write a song and then recorded and sold to raise money for charity.

Care co-ordinator at Church Court, Fiona Evans, hopes people over the age of 60 will pop into Church Court and fill out a form describing the highlights of their lives.

She said: "Music is a powerful medium which brings people together and the record will give older people a voice. I would like to hear about older people's achievements, aspirations and the challenges they have overcome in life as well as hearing about the benefits of old age. Anyone with any musical experience can apply.

"Releasing a song about getting older will be a way for people, not just the elderly, to come together and have fun. It should not only be entertaining but raise awareness about the issues older people face, like isolation and loneliness."

The project was dreamed up by England's largest sheltered housing not-for-profit organisation and developer of Church Court, Anchor Trust, who will donate the money to Contact The Elderly.

It follows the highly successful Grey Pride campaign, launched to push older people's issues up the political agenda. The lyrics can be light-hearted or serious as long as they are a true account of people's experiences of getting older and will be sung by the Anchor Community Band made up from people living in Anchor homes across the country. Resident Ann England, 76, said: "I love all types of music, especially classical. It's a part of the activities provided here – we even have it playing at our poker night when we order a takeaway.

"It will bring people together, being lonely is something we are lucky enough not to experience as we have our own community, but if you were on your own, it must be very hard."

Vic Blake, 72, said: "I used to deliver library books to the library and was always saddened by seeing people sitting on their own. Living here really helps."

Fiona also hopes it will show older people who have dreamed of a music career or who just love singing that it is never too late – while Church Court residents hope their modest lack of experience won't stand in their way.

For information on how to get involved, contact Fiona Evans on 01472 696208.

View more Music news

MODERN day Grimsby provides the setting for the timeless fairytale of Cinderella in this year's Christmas Pantomime.

Cinderella goes shopping in Freshney Place, Prince Charming is chided for the amount of time he's been spending in Scunthorpe, and the Ugly Sisters dream of getting their faces in the pages of Hello Magazine, or even the Grimsby Telegraph.

The big event everyone wants to be at is the Royal Hunt, which can easily be imagined taking place on the Brocklesby Estate.

Fittingly for a year which has seen two performers from our area shine on the country's top TV talent show, there is also a nod to the X Factor – with the two Ugly Sisters being named Nicole and Tulisa.

And believe me, ugly is something of an understatement. Paul Deakin and James McLean are positively grotesque and outrageously entertaining as the repulsive siblings who make poor Cinderella's life a misery.

TV's Queen Of Clean Kim Woodburn also excels as the delightfully evil Wicked Stepmother, and Mark Pearce does his best impression of a hyperactive TV presenter as the hapless Buttons, proving a big hit with the audience.

The singing of Tara Wells, as Cinderella, is a particular highlight, as are the performances of the troupe of young dancers.

All in all, there is plenty for the family to enjoy – and with a mix of loathsome and loveable characters on stage, there should be no shortage of laughter and boos ringing around the Auditorium.

Cinderella is being performed at the Grimsby Auditorium from today until Wednesday, December 26. Tickets cost £16 for adults and £12.50 for children and concessions. Family tickets, for two adults and two children, are available for £52.

Tickets are also available for £12 per person for a group of ten and £10 per person for a group of £9.50. The rate for school groups is £9.50 per person with one teacher free with every ten children.

Tickets can be booked by calling 0844 871 3016 or by visiting www.atgtickets.com/grimsbyauditorium.co.uk

See more about Christmas events in Grimsby and northern Lincolnshire

It's that time of year where we go to parties and snap-happy photographers capture joyful images that last forever – so we want to look our best. Unfortunately, that's not possible for everyone and some are forced to take desperate measures. Reporter James Dunn enjoyed a makeover from Tulisa and Nicole. No, not the glamorous X Factor judges, the Ugly Sisters from Cinderella, the pantomime at Grimsby Auditorium ...

WHEN my editor told me that I was about to become a woman, I gave the obvious response – "I'm so sorry, never again will there be a factual inaccuracy in any of my stories".

Luckily, nothing was wrong with my stories (for once) and I was – amazingly – relieved to find out I was to made up as a pantomime dame.

Arriving at the Auditorium, I met Tulisa and Nicole, the Ugly Sisters, which they assured me was an ironic name they had given themselves to make the women of Grimsby feel better about themselves. I wasn't convinced – but you can make your own mind up.

I was to become a character called Bunty, a "female" taxi driver from Cleethorpes, and was handed the very fetching polka-dot bloomers, bright green tights and a stuffed bra. I had hoped for bigger breasts, but was sorely disappointed. "That's padded bras for you," Nicole said.

Ladies, I'm sure you would be as concerned as I was when they pulled out their first make-over tool – a Pritt stick. They lathered my eyebrows with it and I wondered if this was a practical joke, but those sneaky "sisters" silenced me with flattery.

"You'll be set up for life with those cheek bones," said Tulisa. "You have lovely green eyes," Nicole said. "Like snot," she added. And voilà – I had a forehead-full of Pritt stick, which I was assured would help the make-up come off later.

Now, I'm no expert, but I was always told that less is more when it comes to make-up. The ugly sisters disagreed. They covered my face in an inch-thick layer of foundation then drew a pair of eyebrows halfway up my forehead which made me look like a surprised Egyptian cat.

They used what looked like a paint brush to apply blusher on my face, giving me a clown-like appearance, then came the final touches – a pair of broom-ends to put on each eye which, I'm told, were eyelashes.

"Stop fluttering your eyelashes at me," said Tulisa, as I struggled to see through the gauze over my eyes. The price we pay for beauty, eh girls?

So, after an hour of being made to dress up like the world's most unconvincing transvestite and being subjected to abuse from the ugly sisters, then came the humiliating part. I was marched down to meet the rest of the cast, as Bunty.

Everyone sniggered as I daintily trotted onto the stage in high heels – and why shouldn't they. I got some snaps with the sisters and Kim Woodburn, of How Clean Is Your House, who is playing the Fairy Godmother.

Still, I felt pretty and was still wearing considerably less make-up than a few girls I've seen out in Cleethorpes at the weekend.

Unfortunately, the hardest part was to come – getting the make-up off. Luckily, Tulisa was on hand to offer some advice. "My sister has some wipes in the dressing room. But watch out – there's a few surprises in my sister's drawers."

See more about Christmas events in Grimsby and northern Lincolnshire

AN EARLY visit from Santa will help raise money in memory of Grace Taylor.

The tot's parents have organised a Christmas fair for Sunday, at St Christopher's Methodist Church, Convamore Road, Grimsby.

Money raised will go towards St Andrew's Children's Hospice, as a way for Laura Taylor and her partner Paul Taylor to say thanks for the help received.

After the death of their daughter, who was diagnosed with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), the hospice on Peaks Lane, Grimsby, were on hand to help them cope.

Laura was adamant that her daughter was not to be put in a morgue until her funeral – and the hospice was able to provide a specially designed room for Grace to rest in instead.

Laura said: "The hospice's help started while Grace was alive as Kelly Oldham, a senior children's nurse from there, would occasionally visit the house.

"She would just come to chat and help play with my son Luke, 2, while I dealt with Grace.

"It was a much-needed lifeline, especially while Paul was at work.

"However, the hospice really touched me when they offered this chilled bedroom for Grace's body to rest in.

"It looked just like a normal bedroom and to have her in there while we sorted out the funeral was fantastic – she looked so peaceful.

"Before I never really knew what the hospice did for people but, after the help we have received, I want to raise money so that their services are available for other children in the future."

Laura describes her daughter as a clever and beautiful girl who was always so happy.

She says losing Grace is the hardest thing she will ever face but throwing herself into this fundraising event is keeping her going.

She said: "It is just heartbreaking to think Grace was born and then died less than a year into her life.

"I hope this fair will bring a lot of people out in support of the hospice.

"We are also appealing for donations of auction and raffle prizes for the day."

The event will start at 2pm until 5pm and so far includes craft stalls, cakes, face painting, an auction, raffle and more.

Lynne Lemon, a community fundraiser for St Andrew's Hospice, said: "Every donation the hospice receives is important but it means so much more to those who have raised it when there is a personal reason attached.

"We need to make more people aware that the hospice is not a frightening place to come to and actually gives children a lot of joy.

"We are very grateful to Laura and Paul for thinking about us during their difficult time."

A MEDAL presented to Grimsby trawlerman who helped protect Britain's coast during the First World War has made the highest price for such an award at auction.

The George V medal for distinguished service was presented to G M Barnes for his work in the Dover Patrols on February 14 and 15, 1916.

With fierce competition from collectors in the room and on the telephone, the medal sold for a hammer price of £380, well above its pre-sale estimate of between £150 and £200, at the sale at auctioneers Golding Young And Mawer.

Auctioneer John Leatt said: "It was unusual for a medal such as this to come onto the open market because very few were awarded for service during the First World War to civilians.

"With its strong Lincolnshire connection, we expected a lot of interest before the sale, but the level of competition was unprecedented.

"It finally sold for £380 which is the highest price such a medal has ever made at auction and almost double the price of a similar medal which was sold locally some time ago."

The Dover Patrol was one of the most important Royal Navy Commands of the First World War.

Its primary task was to prevent enemy German ships and submarines from entering the English Channel en route to the Atlantic Ocean.

Its duties in the North Sea and the Dover Strait included carrying out anti-submarine patrols, escorting merchantmen, hospital and troop ships, laying sea mines and sweeping up German mines.

All number of vessels were involved, including armed trawlers, cruisers, destroyers, paddle minesweepers, armed yachts, motor launches, coastal motor boats, submarines, seaplanes, aeroplanes and airships.

After the war, in July 1921, a memorial was unveiled at Leathercote Point near St Margaret's Bay, Dover.

Meanwhile, among a number of paintings up for auction on the same day, was a signed oil on canvas, dated 1830, of an Italianate coastal scene with sailing boats and a rocky outcrop in the manner of the artist James William Giles.

It sold for £1,500, well over its £800 to £1,200 estimate, on behalf of the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance.

A violin made by Herbert W Tyson of Louth (b. 1878) in 1928 sold for £380 against an estimate of £200 to £300.

Among ten longcase clocks in the sale, which were expected to sell for between £200 and £1,000 each, an Edwardian mahogany clock retailed by AC Pailthorpe Jewellers of Grimsby was expected to sell for between £500 and £800 and made a hammer price of £2,000.

The clock was unusual as it had a musical chime striking on nine gongs.

For more antiques news, see todays Property Telegraph.

THIS smiling little girl was taken from her family after just six months, as a rare disease that affects only one in 6,000 babies had taken over her body before she had even been born.

Now her grieving parents, Laura and Paul Taylor, of Grimsby's St Nicholas Drive, have turned to supporting St Andrew's Children's Hospice as a way of remembering their daughter's short life – and launch it with a fundraiser this Sunday.

The Grimsby Telegraph first met the family of Grace Isabel Taylor, when covering the arrival of leap year babies at Grimsby's Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital (DPoW) on February 29.

As reported, Grace was the second child for Laura, 26, and the fourth for Paul, 36.

However, the couple's joy at their new arrival quickly turned to worry after they noticed that she barely ever moved.

At first the maternity staff put it down to the fact it had been a quick labour but, as the weeks passed, it became obvious that something was wrong. On Tuesday, July 17 – following numerous consultations – staff at Sheffield Children's Hospital revealed that Grace had Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a rare neuromuscular condition that affects nerve cells in the spinal cord.

The cells affected by the disease are those that enable walking, crawling, arm and hand movement, head and neck movement and swallowing.

Laura, pictured, said: "Grace was diagnosed with type one SMA, the worst form.

"In one way we were glad to finally have a name for her condition but the worry just intensified.

"We were sent back to DPoW after her diagnosis in Sheffield and told that our daughter would not survive to see her first birthday.

"To hear that just cut us up."

A meeting was held at the hospital in July between Laura, Paul and a team of medical staff and St Andrew's Children's Hospice were also informed of Grace's life-limiting condition.

Despite being given daily medication, she began to deteriorate and, on Sunday, August 19, she was admitted to hospital for the last time.

Experts realised that Grace's body was not responding to treatment anymore and eventually all medication was stopped.

But the little fighter was not ready to give up and survived for another 11 hours on oxygen.

Laura was put into a private room on the children's ward in DPoW, where she was able to cradle her daughter before saying goodbye.

She said: "I have a lot to thank staff up at the hospital for. They made me feel at home on the children's ward.

"Grace took her last breath in my arms and died on August 21.

"Now I am putting all my focus into raising money for the hospice, for the help they gave me before and after Grace's death."

Festive fair in memory of Grace Taylor will help bolster St Andrew's Children's Hospice funds

PLANS to create a 17-acre country park on the site of the former Macaulay Lane tip in Grimsby went on show to the public yesterday.

Representatives from landowner Millennium Park and planning consultant Frost Planning were at the Grimsby Auditorium to answer questions from local residents.

Millennium Park is proposing to decontaminate the 23.7-hectare former landfill site and create within that a 17-hectare country park.

Andy Frost, of Frost Planning, said the developer was aiming to submit a planning application for land remediation and a country park before the end of the month.

An outline planning application to build 250 homes on land to the east of tip was submitted in September, as reported.

The new country park will be located at the eastern edge of the former tip site, and will include a footpath and cycleway linking New Haven Terrace to Macaulay Street, trees, a wetland area and a pond.

Subject to planning approval, it is hoped that work will start by the second quarter of next year and be completed by the end of 2014.

Mr Frost said: "The country park will improve the experience for people walking in the area. Native trees and shrubs will be planted and the scheme has been designed to attract wildlife."

He said the developer had consulted extensively with both the Environment Agency and North East Lincolnshire Council, and added: "This is a chance for members of the public to see the different plans and ask any questions.

"Any comments that we receive which we feel are valid we will act on."

Graham Corser, of Millennium Park, said the developer would create the country park before handing it to the council to manage. He said there were no immediate plans to develop the remainder of the site, but added there could be in the future.

Proposals for development of the former landfill site began in 1997 when outline planning permission was granted.

That was renewed in 2001 and was due to last until 2006. Outline planning permission for the residential part of the site was renewed in 2007 and again in January 2010.

As reported, tests on the former rubbish tip had revealed traces of deadly chemicals such as ammonia and cyanide, which council environmental advisers said need further monitoring before they can be deemed safe for development.

MYSTERIES lurking in the waters of a legendary "bottomless" pond in Cleethorpes could soon surface as developers reveal ambitions to build houses there.

Local firm Carr and Carr Builders, which owns the 100-year-old Chapman's Pond, between Pelham Road and Suggitts Lane, has revealed it is in early discussions with BGL Logistics about transforming the land into a residential development.

Although bosses claim plans are "changing every day" a potential development could include filling in a large portion of the pond and demolishing the industrial estate, which is owned by BGL.

David Carr said: "The land here is begging to be developed and the council has been looking for us to do something with it for a long time but in the current climate, developing brownfield sites is expensive."

If Carr and Carr's plans come off, it would be the final chapter for the mysterious pool of water, which is thought by some to be bottomless and haunted.

It has already been marked as potential for development in North East Lincolnshire Council's Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment for 2012 and has the capacity for 200 homes – although it would have "significant and abnormal" costs.

With the recent application made by Ross Davy Associates and landowner David Atkin, for 23 homes on the neighbouring brownfield land, Carr and Carr believes "a precedent has been set" for future development in the area.

News of filling in the pond will be considered controversial among conservationists and historians, who have always been fascinated by the mysterious pool of water.

Some believe it is haunted by the ghost of a young girl who fell in and drowned.

Others believe a runaway horse and cart fell into the "bottomless pit" and there have also been sightings of a figure plunging into it from the neighbouring Water Tower.

Before strict health and safety laws, children would play by the pond to catch sticklebacks and scare each other with ghost stories.

Local conservationist Ernie Brown was among them and in the 1980s fronted a campaign against a group of companies, which planned to tip waste into it. There were also plans to turn it into a marina for watersports.

Mr Brown, who would once again oppose any plans, said: "I don't see how this can be done. I suppose they could find a way of filling the pond but this would have to be at high costs. And who would want to buy a house built on a pond?

"That pond is part of many people's childhoods. I used to go there as a boy and I would never want to see the pond go."

The pond was eventually fenced off to the public and has remained that way ever since.