Against the odds

Ben Griffiths’ long battle to recover from horrific brain injuries is a story of triumph over seemingly impossible odds. The doctors treating him doubted that, if he survived, Mr Griffiths would ever be able to walk, talk or feed himself again.

Two years later Mr Griffiths, who lives in Balderton, is not only speaking freely, he is walking with the aid of a frame and performing many everyday tasks unaided.

The brain injury charity, Headway, has helped him and his family deal in the aftermath of his accident and through the recovery process.

Mr Griffiths showed his appreciation by helping to organise an event that raised more than £1,000 for the organisation.

He hopes his story will serve as an inspiration to others. It is sure to do just that.

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Lead and other metals, have become popular targets for thieves in recent years and churches throughout the area have suffered at their hands.

Last week the Advertiser reported that 20 churches in the Newark deanery had been hit, and this week it has emerged that Newark Parish Church has fallen victim.

The bill for replacement and repairs runs into many thousands of pounds, with sometimes small congregations left to pick up the bill, while the scrap value of what is stolen is a tiny fraction of that.

Churches were once regarded as sacrosanct and the fact that thieves are regularly stealing from them is a sad indication of just how low some people will stoop.