FORMER MARCH BEAUTY QUEEN BEVERLY OWEN DIES MARCH: BEVERLY Owen, wife of the former Mayor of March Councillor Kit Owen, died in hospital yesterday (Thursday). It is believed Mrs Owen had been on a life support machine in Peterborough Hospital after

FORMER MARCH BEAUTY QUEEN BEVERLY OWEN DIES

MARCH: BEVERLY Owen, wife of the former Mayor of March Councillor Kit Owen, died in hospital yesterday (Thursday).

It is believed Mrs Owen had been on a life support machine in Peterborough Hospital after collapsing on Wednesday while shopping in Tesco.

The couple who live in High Street, March, have a daughter Lisa, a son Jonathan, and a grandson Oliver.

Mrs Owen was well known in the area for her success as a former beauty queen. She later worked for 12 years in the Conservative Party office in March where staff have been left reeling from the news of her death.

Fenland District Council leader Geoff Harper said today: "We are all very shocked by the news. Our thoughts are with Kit and his family at this very sad time.

"I would like to offer the condolences of the whole council and council officers to Kit and the family."

In the 1960s Mrs Owen enjoyed considerable success in beauty competitions and reached the finals of the Miss Anglia contest several times. Locally she competed with Kath Hubbard, Penny Hicks and Miriam Saunders in numerous competitions.

In 1967 she qualified for the final of Miss Anglia for the fifth time after winning a place in the Miss UK final and being chosen as Miss Hunstanton.

# Tributes for Beverly can be left in our virtual book of remembrance by following the link at the bottom of this page.

GIRL REPORTED MISSING TURNS UP SAFE AND WELL

FENLAND: A FIFTEEN-year-old girl who went missing from her home in Spalding and could have been in the Wisbech area, has turned up safe and well at Spalding Police Station.

Ellen Harper went missing from her home in Spalding on May 10 but turned up at the police station yesterday.

Police received a number of calls about sightings, and thanked the public for their support.

THREE NEW POLICING PRIORITIES SET FOR MARCH

FENLAND: NEW neighbourhood priorities have been set for police across Fenland after a number of panel meetings.

The new priorities for March include contravention of the seven-and-a-half ton weight restriction on the town bridge, inconsiderate parking, and youth and night time economy-related anti-social behaviour in the town centre.

Sergeant Alan Boughen said: "Police and other agencies, including the local authority, Trading Standards and the Highways Agency will work together to have a positive impact upon the priorities as raised by the community. This will include education as well as enforcement.

At the Chatteris and Manea meeting, residents decided on the following new priorities:

&bull Anti-social behaviour in the Furrowfields Road car park area and grass area,

• Underage drinking at the Wenny rec and Huntingdon Road, and

• Alleged drug dealing in Furrowfields Road and St Stephen's drive.

And, at the Whittlesey meeting, residents decided on the following new priorities:

• Inconsiderate parking in the Riverside and Neneside area of Benwick, as well as Church street, Ramsey Road and Teal Road in Whittlesey, and

• Speeding in Benwick and New Road, Whittlesey.

Inspector Andy Sullivan, sector inspector for the March area, said: "Police and partners will now be looking at the priorities highlighted so they can be tackled successfully."

STUDENTS CCELEBRATE SUCCESS ON ATHLETICS TRACK

MARCH: STUDENTS from March's Neale-Wade Community College became district champions in 15 different athletics events on Tuesday.

The college took more than 60 students to the district athletics championships at the St Ivo athletics track, St Ives.

Francis Peeling became Year 7 1500m and high jump champion, Jacob Brown became Year 7 100m and 400m champion, Jacob Brown in the Year 7 100m and 400m champion, Aidan Payne is the Year 8 1500m and triple jump champion, Hannah Lynch became Year 10 200m and 300m champion and Nicholas Stone continued his excellent season by winning the Year 9 1500m title.

Other champions included, Elliot Watson, for the Year7 javelin, Alison Neugabauer, for the Year 8 high jump, George Hall, for the Year 7 1500m, Nathan Bancroft, for the Year 7 high jump, Martin Chapman, for the Year10 discus and Lorna Henderson, for the Year10 discus.

Many of these students will now have the opportunity to progress to the county championships, held in Cambridge on June 14.

BLOCK FEN'S X-RAY ROOM TO OPEN NEXT THURSDAY

WIMBLINGTON: THE RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre is to officially open its long awaited x-ray room next Thursday.

The centre needed to raise at least £14,000 to pay for the x-ray machine alone, but donations reached a total of £16,300, meaning that a dedicated room could be kitted out.

Block Fen has its own vet and veterinary nurse who will, for the first time, be able to x-ray animals before they are operated on. In the past, sick and injured animals had to be transported to a veterinary surgery for the x-ray, brought back to the animal centre for treatment and then taken back to the surgery for a check-up. Animals can now be x-rayed and operated on, if necessary, under one anaesthetic.

The appeal was kicked off by Wisbech couple Jenny and Clarence Lakey who volunteer at the animal centre and adopted their dogs, Bonnie and Trinny from Block Fen.

Paula Baker, Block Fen's manager, said: "This facility will mean that we are quickly able to diagnose and treat many more animals on site. This will save animals, which may already be in pain or discomfort, the added distress of two anaesthetics and journeys to and from a surgery."

MAN ADMITS TO ASSAULTING SECURITY GUARD

WISBECH: A SECURITY guard was punched, kicked and bitten when he intervened in a row between Andrew Bennett and his ex-girlfriend.

And when Bennett was arrested he pretended to pass out, Fenland magistrates were told on Tuesday.

Bennett, 21, of Weston Miller Drive, Wisbech, admitted assaulting Roger Vanhinsbergh in Wisbech on May 3, and being in possession of 0.46 grams of cannabis resin on the same date.

He had punched the security guard and then head-butted him, bit his hand, and kicked his shin during the incident.

"He had been going through a bad time with his ex-girlfriend," said solicitor Roger Glazebrook. "The security guard pushed him away, so he retaliated.

"He is sorry, and knows the guard was only doing his job. He is now back with his girlfriend."

Sentencing was adjourned until June 10.