APPLAUD our troops and remember the fallen on Armed Forces Day, Saturday, June 29.

"I would see our soldiers thanked more, and with gestures of special discounts from food and retail chains, as done in the States. We British folk need to show our support and be proud."

fenny

"I'm a little confused. Isn't this what Remembrance Day is all about. Are we doing this twice a year now?"

kilowatt2

"Armed Forces Day remembers and celebrates those who serve as well as remembers the maimed and fallen. Remembrance Day remembers the fallen and is a day for solemnity and reflection. Two very different days."

BLawrenson

Road deaths are down overall but the number of children killed is going up according to a council report, Saturday, June 29.

"Maybe the council would like to visit Budgens in Keyworth and look at all the dangerous illegal parking which is near a school where selfish people park on the corner where children cross the road.

"It is only a matter of time before a child gets knocked down because they can't see to cross the road."

kent14

"Maybe we should also teach children not to just run across the road without looking, or use crossings instead of being too idle to walk 20 yards to the crossing and just crossing where they feel like it, maybe we should stop them playing chicken."

smshogun

Council staff are set to be paid a 'living wage' so they can live a 'decent life', Saturday, June 29.

" In this week's spending review George Osborne has pledged to freeze council tax for two more years – not that there's any chance that Jon Collins and Graham Chapman will take him up on the offer.

"Band D council tax in Nottingham is currently £200 above the nationwide average – it's clear Chapman doesn't really care one jot about helping local people and local businesses.

"All he's bothered about is bleeding them dry to fund his profligate spending."

harrystotle1

"This is fair enough, by putting the onus on the employer to pay decent wages it should reduce the tax credit bill which subsides poor paying employers"

by Bloggsy

CROWDS turned out in force on Saturday for some fun in the sun at a community gala day.

The annual event, at Netherfield Primary School on Chandos Road, featured stalls, a bouncy castle and slide, face painting, zumba sessions, den building, raffles and tombolas.

Head teacher Sharon Jackson said that this year's event was the "best yet".

She said: "It is absolutely fantastic.

"The atmosphere has been great, with laughter everywhere.

"A couple of children have done the most incredible solo performances of a range of pop songs. They were very moving."

This year's gala day was organised by Jenny Eurge, Gedling Borough Council's Netherfield-based locality co-ordinator, Netherfield Primary School and Friends of Netherfield.

Eleven-year-old Rebekah Stokes, who is a pupil at the school, took to the outdoor stage to perform Kings of Leon's Use Somebody.

She said: "I have been practicing for about a week.

"About 50 people gathered around. They were clapping and cheering.

"I want to be a singer when I am older."

Ms Eurge said the event was not just about raising money for the school.

She said: "The point of today was to make sure we are raising aspirations.

"Watching your peers perform inspires you and makes you feel it is achievable."

Netherfield and Colwick Councillor, Meredith Lawrence said he was pleased there was so much "home-grown talent" at the school.

The councillor even gave a £100 donation to the school, which will go towards make projects on its "wish list" happen.

The school is hoping to build a permanent outdoor stage for the children to perform on, as well as creating a more decorative outside work area.

Former pupil Peter Esswood, 67, is now chairman of Friends of Netherfield Primary School.

He said: "All the money will go back into the school and that helps to school get some extra things.

"To say it was Armed Forces Day as well we were a bit apprehensive but it has not hit us at all."

Councillor Jenny Hollingsworth, Deputy Mayor of Gedling, also went along to see what the gala day had to offer.

She said: "It is so important for the community to get together to celebrate.

"It's such a wonderful school."

THE sixth annual Sherwood Festival was enjoyed by hundreds of people on Saturday.

The event took place at Woodthorpe Grange Park and offered music from local bands and performances from dance groups as well as a range of food stalls, craft stalls and an art marquee.

Leigh White, neighbourhood development officer for Sherwood, was one of the organisers. She said: "We are really lucky today with the weather being sunny. It is a community festival so there is something for everyone.

"It is all about bringing people together and we are expecting between 500 and 1,000 people to attend. There's lots going on from live music to a craft tent put on by the Sherwood Art Week group. The Scouts even camped out at the park last night and they've been having lots of fun."

Mum Deana Robinson, 32, of Daybrook, went along to the event to see her 11-year-old daughter Makyla, who attends Seely Junior School, perform a solo act on stage.

She said: "My daughter is really talented and is going to perform a rap. She is really looking forward to it. Her stage name is K Love and this is her second live performance. Events like this are really nice and it would be great if there were more of them."

Other acts performing included local bands and artists such as The Grazing, Paul N Chris, Cadence Noir and Fighting Evil is Cool.

Beryl Hales, 62, is one of the organisers of Sherwood Art Week and was showing people how to make crochet flowers. She said: "Sherwood Art Week has been great this year. There's been examples of art all throughout Sherwood, from yarn bombing – which is where knitted items have been attached to street lamps – to art exhibitions in several venues.

"Today's festival really shows how many arty people there are in Sherwood and it really brings the whole community together. There's a lovely atmosphere and everyone is having a good time."

AN EIGHT-HOUR open mic event was staged yesterday in an attempt to set a world record.

St Ann's based project Embrace in Community organised the Lyrics of Life event at the Nottingham Contemporary from noon to 8pm.

It was initially set up to oppose gun, gang and knife crime, and to break negative youth stereotypes.

Young rappers and MCs were asked to do this by taking to the stage and performing lyrics with positive meanings.

Nisha Kaunda, 33, of Sherwood, works for the Embrace in Community project.

She said: "Music has a massive impact on people's lives. This event is also about showcasing the talent of people who live here. We hope it will reinforce that all young people aren't bad."

The event, which attracted more than 50 performers from all over the East Midlands, also included a Pass The Mic World Record attempt.

To set the record performers had to deliver 16 bars of music each and consecutively pass the mic as many times as possible in one hour.

Under the Guinness World Record rules, if any mistakes were made the count had to be restarted but the clock would not stop.

Nisha added: "We would feel amazing if we find out we have done it."

The event was hosted by 25- year-old recording artist David Boafo, also known as 2Tone, from St Ann's.

He said: "I started making music when I was around 15. It was a release for me and let me express my life experiences.

"We need to listen to what people have to say and not just judge people." One 34-year-old band member, known as MC Glockz, said he used to be involved in gangs as a teenager.

But during a five year stint in jail he learned to become more positive. He said: "Since I came out of jail my life has changed. You can get out of it [gangs] and there is something more to life and more to music. I distance myself from negative people now."

Participants in the Lyrics of Life event are hoping to find out whether their new world record has been officially registered later this week.

THE Hucknall International Byron Festival in under way and pulling in the crowds.

The annual festival, in celebration of the famous poet, who lived at Newstead Abbey, started on Thursday with a performance by Ripley Morris Men in Hucknall's Market Place.

It ends on Friday with a poetry competition at St Mary Magdalene's Church – where Byron is buried.

Ken Purslow, chairman of the Byron festival committee, said: "The whole thing has been a success so far. The turn out has been great. I think all the events have been popular.

"I am looking forward to the rest of the week, a lot of exciting events are still to come."

Yesterday the Blue Boar Scooter Club and VW Camper Van Club drove through the streets of Hucknall to Newstead Abbey, where the vehicles were put on display to the public.

David Arnold, 49, chairman of the Hucknall Blue Boar Scooter Club, said more than 100 scooters and vans turned up to join the convoy.

A raffle was held to raise money for ward E39 at the Queen's Medical Centre where his friend's six-year-old grandson has just had a bone marrow transplant for aplastic anemia. The bone marrow six-year-old Isaac Evans received was flown in from America.

He said: "We are trying to highlight the shortage of bone marrow donors.We are going down to ward E39 on our scooters as a whole club. That's the plan. I think this money will make a big difference."

Mr Arnold added that he was touched by Nottingham Forest's donation to the raffle – a Forest shirt signed by 17 players and Billy Davies.

Trophies were also given to the best Scooter on display.

Derek Howarth, 53, a telephone engineer from Hucknall, helped to organise the event.

He said: "It was brilliant. The weather made it and we had a really good turnout. It was a great convoy.

"There was a lot of interest in the scooters and the vans. It was a nice, friendly atmosphere."

Mr Howarth added that the club will shortly be handing over almost £1,400 to ward E39.

He said: "I just hope it gets the children a few things, whatever they need to keep them occupied."

There are still plenty of activities to take part in at the 15th annual International Byron Festival, including a pilgrimage walk, heritage day and golf tournament.

For a full list of events visit www.internationalbyronsociety.org.

SEVERAL schools have decided not to follow the city council's new holiday pattern.

From September, city maintained schools will have a two-week October break, a fixed Easter break and a five-week summer holiday.

But at least ten academies will have different patterns.

City schools chief David Mellen urged academies to follow the council's lead.

He said: "It would make sense for them to be the same as the city council and we have urged them to do so.

"It is a worry if there are academies with different holiday patterns to schools.

"I'm concerned that their decisions are being made based on the opinion of staff who are opposed to changes.

"But we are thinking here about what we feel is best for the education of our children.

"I'm happy that many other academies have followed the new terms plan."

Academies are free from council control and they can set their own holiday patterns.

Those which haven't followed the council are: Southwark Primary, in Basford; Nottingham Academy, in Sneinton; Top Valley Academy; Trinity School, in Aspley; Nottingham Girls' Academy, in Aspley; Bluecoat Academy, in Aspley; and Djanogly Northgate Academy.

Djanogly City Academy already operated a different model.

Many others, including Nottingham Emmanuel School, which is set to become an academy, are yet to announce their 2013-14 term dates.

The main discrepancies are in October.

Peter Brown, head teacher at Top Valley Academy, said they had thought carefully about their holiday patterns.

He said: "We took the view we needed to be persuaded there were compelling reasons to change our holiday patterns and we didn't feel they existed.

"We consulted with parents and staff. There was a lack of responses, which we felt meant there was no significant feeling. Of those who did respond the majority supported the idea of keeping the same pattern."

Mr Brown added they would review the holiday pattern every year.

"If we look at it again next year and find there is evidence that changing works, we may reconsider it," he added.

Mike McKeever, head teacher at Trinity School, said most parents didn't want to change term times.

He added: "There were also religious reasons. We wanted to keep our holiday around Easter."

Rob Sutton, who has a seven-year-old boy and four-year-old boy at Hogarth Primary in St Ann's, is concerned about the changes.

Hogarth is moving to academy status and he is worried about his children having different holidays when the oldest moves to secondary school.

He said: "I hope common sense prevails and all schools have the same holiday patterns. I believe the city council is making the right move. Its holidays will be the right length."

A COMMUNITY is in shock after a robbery on a quiet suburban street.

It happened on Friday at 11.15pm at a flat in Horsendale Avenue, Nuthall.

Local people said the two victims, a man and a woman, were in their mid to late 20s and had been approached by three men who forced their way into their home.

Shop assistant Neil Mitchell, 40, of Jeffries Newsagents, Horsendale Avenue, said: "The lady that was involved came into the shop on Saturday afternoon and was still really shaken-up.

"It had obviously upset her a lot. It is shocking.

"We do not have this sort of thing happen here usually and it is frightening."

Local people also said they believed one of the robbers had a knife and that the flat was ransacked. Police forensic teams were seen at the flat the following day.

Peter Jordan, of Horsendale Avenue, said: "I do not like to think that this has happened on our doorstep.

"We have lived here for nearly 40 years and recently we have noticed there has been an increase in trouble.

"We have had things like petty vandalism but nothing like this and it is worrying.

"Our community police officer does a good job but he is only one man and has a large area to cover and cannot be everywhere at once.

"A lot of people on this road are elderly and it is worrying that this has happened."

A police spokeswoman confirmed a robbery in the street is being investigated. No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

A GAMBLING addict stole from a friend and his employer to pay off his debts, a court was told.

Thomas Masters had fallen into debt because of his gambling, despite winning £70,000 in an online game.

He was staying with a friend in Portland Square, Radford, but twice claimed the flat had been broken into, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

He took an iPhone 3GS, iPod Classic music player and £90 and deliberately left a window open at the flat, then sold his friend's gadgets at Cash Generator.

And he said nothing when his devastated friend called the police and spoke to officers at the flat.

The burglaries left his friend so upset and paranoid he handed his notice in on the flat, Nottingham Crown Court heard. Masters then staged his third crime at Yates's Wine Lodge, in Nottingham city centre, after getting a job there as a deputy manager on February 25. He stole £2,215, removed CCTV units worth £1,261 and caused damage that required £4,000 of repairs, the court was told.

He gambled the money from the pub that night, before returning and making it look like a burglary in the early hours, using a hammer and screwdriver to cause damage.

He damaged the push bar on a rear fire door and kicked in the office door and broke into the safe and ripped off its digital lock.

Then he went to the bar, had a stiff drink and a cigarette and left wearing slightly different clothes.

He dumped the CCTV in a bin in Upper Parliament Street, Nottingham, on March 6.

Masters admitted what he had done to police and a manager the next day, after it became clear his alarm code was used to get in.

At court, he admitted two burglaries at his friend's flat and theft and criminal damage at the pub.

The 26-year-old, of St Stephen's Road, Sneinton, was sentenced to two years in prison.

The judge, Recorder Tina Landale, told him: "You set about two very separate mean offences, knowing the devastation caused by the first burglary, you callously committed a second."

She said the offences at Yates's were a "breach of trust" and showed callous disregard for the business.

Defence barrister Harry Bowyer said Masters was voluntarily attending Gamblers Anonymous and was "acutely aware" of the misery he had caused to his friend.

"In 2010 he won £70,000 on an online game but it was lost paying friends and buying gifts," he said.

"He got into debt again. In 2011 he came out to his family about his debt.

"They consolidated his debts for him and took out £18,000 loans which he tried to pay back.

"It should have been a wake-up call for him."

ONE of the toughest long-distance runners in the world has welcomed the return of the full Robin Hood Marathon.

Steve Edwards, 50, is known as the "godfather of marathon runners" and has been all over the world pursuing his sport.

Last year he became the first person in the world to run 500 marathons, all inside three hours 30 minutes, earning him the world record for running 500 marathons in the fastest average time.

Steve has run the Robin Hood Marathon 17 times since the 1980s, and said: "It's one of those longstanding marathons that everybody on the running circuit is aware of, and you expect it to be on the calendar forever.

"When we heard it was cancelled last year, with just the half-marathon being run, it was a bit shocking.

"But the organisers have put the full event back on again this year and I've got it on my calendar straight away."

Steve was full of praise for the race, saying: "It's got loads of participants, there's a great atmosphere, and you just want to be a part of it really.

"It's quite central, a great course, and you've got the opportunity to see the history of Nottingham and the landmarks, and it's always well supported by the public."

Now, Steve wants to make it to the record for 600 marathons in the fastest average time, and with just a few races to go, he wants to complete that goal this year.

He said: "I just made the decision that I was never going to break any records for running the fastest marathon, so I would see if I could be the fastest extreme marathon runner in the world."

Steve's first marathon was the first Coventry Marathon in 1988.

He said: "I was 18 years old in the running boom of the early 80s.

"I trained for about five weeks, knew nothing about marathon running or what was involved, and I got to 15 miles and thought 'I don't know what all the fuss is about, this is a piece of cake', and about a mile later I realised what a marathon was all about and what the wall was.

"I felt like I had conquered the world after finishing it, but the next day when I couldn't move I thought 'I'm never going to run a marathon again'."

Steve, from Gloucestershire, balances his work life, his home life and his running, and even got his wife Teresa into the sport.

He has run over 600 marathons in countries all over the world.

His records include the fastest ten marathons in ten consecutive days, and he has run a marathon every 15 days for the last 24 years.

"Don't ever think you can't achieve something," he said. "Keep persevering, keep chipping away and you will get there.

"Marathons are a great way to see places, and you carry those experiences with you for the rest of your life."

THE Red Arrows left a trail of red, white and blue over the Council House to mark the start of Armed Forces Day.

Thousands of people were in Nottingham on Saturday to thank the military and recognise the sacrifices they make.

Veterans wore their medals with pride, youngsters enthusiastically waved Union Jack flags and military personnel paraded through the streets.

The Old Market Square was alive with spectators as the parade stepped off from Nottingham Castle.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were there to represent the Queen and the Duke praised the forces and the city of Nottingham. He said: "Congratulations for the turn out and your ability to show the nation what you are. The support and sacrifice is alive and well in this city."

They met with members of the public including 74-year-old Mary Buttle, of Rise Park, who spoke to the Duchess.

She said: "It was really lovely to meet her. The atmosphere today is fantastic and it shows good support for the Armed Forces in Nottingham."

Warrant officer 1 Dickie Henderson, of the Royal Navy state ceremonial team, said: "It's all about the public showing their support for the Armed Forces, but likewise the forces showing their support to the public and saying thank you."

People were hanging out of windows and standing up on high ledges to see the spectacle as the parade arrived in the Old Market Square.

Second World War veteran Michael Murry, 91, of Bestwood Park, was moved by the parade.

He said: "It's very touching, it's lovely. To see everybody here supporting the troops. It's been excellent."

Fellow veteran Aubrey Sales, 89, who was in the Royal Navy, thought the whole day reflected well on the city.

He said: "It was marvellous. Today I feel proud to be a member of the forces and to be representing Nottingham."

Down at the Victoria Embankment there was a party atmosphere with live music, people enjoying picnics on the grass, and the chance for children, and their families, to get into military vehicles.

Nottingham City Council was represented at Armed Forces Day by the Lord Mayor Councillor Merlita Bryan. Councillor David Trimble, the city's portfolio holder for leisure and culture, also attended. He said: "Nottingham is indeed proud and delighted to be leading the national celebration for this year's Armed Forces Day.

"It provides a fantastic opportunity for the people of Nottingham and the rest of the country to thank the military personnel for all of the sacrifices they make for each and every one of us."

The leader of the city council, Councillor Jon Collins, did not attend. The council said Mr Collins had been at other events in the days running up to Armed Forces Day and he was supportive of the event. However, the chairman of the Wollaton branch of the Royal British Legion, John Gordon, said Mr Collins should have been present. "It was a superb national event and a very proud moment for all of our armed forces past and present," he said.

The council estimated more than 100,000 people attended what was a memorable day.

Visitors were treated to marching bands, historic and modern military displays.

A vast array of equipment, including helicopters, tanks, a Typhoon jet, jeeps, boats, and weapons systems were on show.

Thousands of service personnel staffed stands, stalls and equipment to help children on and off their vehicles, as well as explain their roles in the armed forces. And then there were the fly-pasts.

Friends Melanie Croft, 50 and Jackie Douglass, 36, both from Burton Joyce, were enjoying a fly-past by a Spitfire.

Jackie said: "They need to do more events like this so the young ones can be reminded of all they do for us."

Melanie added: "It's been a fabulous day."

NOTTS police officers are facing misconduct charges over the treatment of a heavily pregnant woman who was held in custody.

Lynnette Wallace, 42, was seven-and-a-half-months pregnant when she was arrested and taken to the Bridewell custody suite in Nottingham, where she says she was mistreated.

Miss Wallace claims she was subjected to unnecessary force.

The mother-of-seven went into premature labour three days after she was in custody and her daughter, Charna, was born 10 weeks early, weighing 3lb 3oz.

Miss Wallace's case was taken up by a London firm of solicitors and referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission, as previously reported in the Post.

The IPCC has now concluded its investigation and recommended that a number of officers should face charges of gross misconduct and misconduct.

Miss Wallace, of Allendale Avenue, Aspley, told the Post: "It has been a nightmare for me for the past two years. I'm anxious, I'm seeing my doctor more often. It has been so stressful."

The incidents took place after Miss Wallace was arrested on July 7, 2011. She was subsequently charged with witness intimidation and then remanded to Peterborough Prison by magistrates.

The charge against her was dropped in August 2011 after she spent five weeks in prison.

A Notts Police spokesman said: "A complaint was made to Nottinghamshire Police on October 4, 2011 via a firm of solicitors by a Nottingham woman regarding her treatment whilst she was detained in police custody in Nottingham in July 2011.

"Nottinghamshire Police referred the complaint to the IPCC on October 10, 2011, and it deemed that an independent investigation was necessary.

"In March 2013 the force received the report and findings of the IPCC and is currently acting upon its recommendations, which include that a number of officers should face charges of gross misconduct and misconduct.

"Until disciplinary proceedings, due to take place in July, are completed, and until the IPCC makes public its report, it would not be appropriate to make further comment."

ALL this talk about Forest signing a highly-rated young winger has reminded me of a player that looks to have fallen off the face off the earth, well, the City Ground anyway.

Whatever happened to Stephen McLaughlin?

The Reds spent a good few quid to get him from Derry City at the start of this year and we haven't seen him pull on a red shirt once. Not once!

I know he was a Sean O'Driscoll signing so Billy Davies might not fancy him, but surely he deserves a chance to prove he can cut it in the Championship.

The latest winger to be linked with the Reds is Walsall's Jamie Paterson, who, at 21, is two years younger than McLaughlin.

If he does come to the City Ground, with some people saying a fee has been agreed, I hope he is given the chance that McLaughlin has so far not been given.

It would be a waste of money to get another good kid in and not play them.

Paterson is slightly different to McLaughlin because he would arrive with experience of English football, having played almost 100 league games over three seasons at Walsall.

He is considered to be one of the best players in League One and I'm glad Forest are looking at players like him because there are always good players in lower leagues.

Look at the likes of Anthony Pilkington.

He was playing against Notts County for Huddersfield Town in League One one minute and then scoring against Man United for Norwich City in the Premiership the next.

There are lots of examples of clubs plucking good young players from League One or League Two and hopefully Paterson is the next one.

One thing is certain. Forest certainly need more new players.

They return to pre-season training today and they've only made three signings – and two of those are players that were at the City Ground last season, in Gonzalo Jara and Darius Henderson.

The only new face is defender Eric Lichaj so the Reds are still clearly a few players short of a squad that is capable of challenging for the Premier League, which is what everyone is expecting them to do after they went so close in the end last season.

One player who I don't think will be coming, or rather coming back, is Wes Morgan.

I just can't see it happening.

He was a great servant to the club for many years – and a key player in two play-off pushes – so I can see why a lot of fans want to see him return to the City Ground.

But for a start, I don't think Forest could afford him.

He will be on a fortune at Leicester and I don't think the Reds could match it.

I also don't think the Foxes will be willing to sell one of their best players.

Morgan is their captain, he was their Player of the Year last season and got into the Championship team of the year just for good measure, so they're not going to let him go.

It looks like they're trying to cut their wage bill to get into line with the Financial Fair Play rules, but they are doing that by getting rid of players they don't want, like Jermaine Beckford, not their prized assets.

They've already rejected a few bids from Hull City for their No.1 goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel and I'm sure they'll do the same with Forest for Morgan.

And anyway, it's at the other end of the pitch that Forest really need to strengthen.

They certainly need more firepower, with only Dexter Blackstock and Simon Cox looking to be in Billy Davies' plans, and more width, which Paterson would add, and I also think they need more in midfield.

It's been a quiet summer for signings, but they're going to have to pull their finger out now they're back in training because it's not long until the big kick off against Huddersfield at the City Ground on August 3.

I hope by then they will have a squad in place to challenge for the top.

RAIL workers could go on strike over disruption to services at Nottingham Station caused by major re-signalling works.

The majority of services into and out of the station will cease on July 20 for six weeks while a £100m upgrade of its signalling and track takes place.

The RMT union has now announced it is balloting members over possible industrial action.

It says there has been a "comprehensive breakdown in industrial relations" between the union and East Midlands Trains.

The union claims a number of issues are unresolved, including a "total failure to consult with the union" over the re-signalling works.

RMT General Secretary Bob Crow said: "The union remains available for talks aimed at securing agreement but the company should be in no doubt as to the level of anger that their actions have generated amongst members."

The union has balloted members – which include train managers, senior conductors, and station staff – who have until July 11 to respond over possible strike action.

An East Midlands Trains spokesman said the company was "astounded" at the ballot, over "a hotchpotch of issues that don't even exist".

The spokesman said: "Planning for the Nottingham improvement work has been taking place for over two years and our employees have been fully involved in this planning for many months."

THE research carried out by Grant Thornton and the CBI is a powerful snapshot of what is happening to the East Midlands economy and its companies.

Phil Sayers said the research was carried out in the SME market, an area in which Grant Thornton specialises.

"We wanted to understand what was happening to companies in the East Midlands and find out where the good news stories were and to celebrate them," he said.

"These are the fastest-growing companies in the East Midlands, growing the number of employees at 3% a year, faster than we anticipated. They have also grown salaries by about 3% a year at a time when the general economy has been relatively flat."

Although manufacturing in the region is slightly bigger than services, in Notts it is the other way round.

Mr Sayers said: "The export side of manufacturing is a really strong story. About 59% of manufacturers are getting some turnover from exports."

Grant Thornton and the CBI interviewed some of the companies on the list to get a flavour of how they became fast-growth businesses.

"There are some themes coming out, such as the agility of some companies, reactive but being proactive towards the issues the market has thrown at them," said Mr Sayers. "They have very clear strategies in terms of what they are doing and understand their sector of the market.

"The strategy has not necessarily been static over the three-year period we have studied. Firms changed their strategies to reflect the market and the key issues they needed to address.

"Virtually all companies have done some form of rationalisation.

"The table is about sustained growth over a three-year period and while cost-cutting may get you there in the short term, it is unlikely to give you that sustained growth over the longer period.

"Virtually all companies have done some cost-cutting but when you look at the underlying measures such as profitability per employee, and average margin, all they were doing was removing some flab and getting into a sensible position."

Mr Sayers said he hoped some of the companies would create the future wealth of the East Midlands.

Lucy Haynes, regional director of the CBI, noted that some companies had stepped up their export efforts to make up for falls in domestic sales.

"For some businesses, if they hadn't had their export strategy, they would not be in the position they are in now," she said. "Their figures may have looked considerably less favourable.

"The list confirms two things. First, it is the medium-sized businesses that are growing through a difficult time. They are the forgotten army of the UK business sector.

"We would like to emulate what we see in Germany, the German Mittelstand, highly-focused businesses.

"Secondly, it confirms to us in the current climate where there are emerging markets overseas, it is those businesses that are seeking out those customers that are thriving."

One of the themes to emerge is the debt-cash position of the Top 200 East Midlands firms.

Mr Sayers said: "If we look overall, the total debt position of the 200 companies has gone up but by about £9m, not a huge increase. But the net debt position, the debt less the cash on their balance sheets, has gone down dramatically. It supports the feeling that a lot of companies are collecting and hoarding cash on their balance sheets.

"But the story underneath is a real mixed bag. There are those businesses which have clearly invested and they have grown their profits, turnover and so on, through investment, people, new machinery and new plant. There are those who have battened down the hatches and, with better management, have gone after higher margin business. Turnover might have fallen slightly but they are selling a different product with a higher margin."

Two themes emerged, said Ms Haynes. First was a service- driven sales strategy when a manufacturer would tailor a bespoke solution for a customer. Second was around skills and people management. Companies, during a difficult time, valued communication with their staff.

"Lots of managing directors held small sessions with their employees, first to brief them on the realities of the climate they were operating in but secondly, to get their views on how things could be done differently," said Ms Haynes.

She said companies were keen to take on apprentices and shape them into the firm's thinking, taking on their values and ethos.

Directors' pay fell by 18% over the three-year period while employee pay rose by an average of 3% a year.

"The fall in directors' pay may be explained by them taking dividends rather than a salary, reducing their bonus while their underlying pay remains the same," said Mr Sayer. "There is a fall in pension payments for directors.

"During a period where a lot of SMEs have been talking about a lack of funding, the owner-managers are actually investing in the business in a period when they need liquidity to enable them to grow the business. It could be a combination of any of those factors."

Strata Products

Growth per annum over three years: 78%

Position: 22

STRATA Products is a privately-owned business set up in Pinxton nearly 25 years ago by the Ilsen family. Its products can be found in many high street and edge-of-town stores as well as online. Asda, Homebase, Tesco and Babiesrus sell Strata products.

A specialist in injection moulding, it makes a wide range of products for home and office, garden and recycling, and baby and pet for both the UK and overseas markets.

These range from plastic water butts, watering cans and storage boxes through to "storemaster" storage boxes and babies' potties.

Employing about 100, Strata boasts state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities including robotics and the associated equipment needed to mass produce in mature and highly competitive markets.

It uses real-time computer-assisted stock control linked to its sales order processing system

All product development is carried out in-house to retain control over both aesthetics and fitness for purpose.

As well as making products for the general market, Strata makes for private-label customers.

The Ilsen family have a strong heritage in the sector. Henry Ilsen and his son, Michael, took an earlier business to Aim, the Alternative Investment Market, before selling it to Brunzl.

They subsequently returned to the sector with Strata making an initial success with its range of storage boxes with snap-on lids.

While supplying a range of toy storage boxes to toy and baby retailers in 1994, Strata saw an opportunity to launch its baby bath-time products.

Five years ago, it launched its "Smart Storemaster" boxes, which have proved hugely successful.

The following year, it launched new products for the recycling market and today Strata continues to research and produce new markets.

Henry Ilsen retired from the business in 1994 and today it has been joined by Michael's son, Jay.

Jay, who is sales director, said Strata had invested in improving the designs of its products.

"We have spent a lot of time on improving our technical ability and investment to drive efficiencies."

He said the company had invested in new machinery which helped reduce waste while increasing productivity.

Romax Technology

Growth per annum over three years: 102.6%

Position: 10

ROMAX Technology is a world leader in the design of gearings and transmissions.

They are used in wind turbines, cars, locomotives and ships

Sited near the University of Nottingham, it is one of the city's fastest-growing companies in terms of staff numbers.

Founded by Dr Peter Poon, its advanced designs and simulation technologies are used for gearbox and driveline systems, wherever mechanical power is transmitted through rotating shafts, gears and bearing systems.

It designs innovative technology and solutions to optimise their products for performance, robustness, durability and through-life costs.

Innovation is at the very core of Romax and next year it will move into a purpose-designed building on Triumph Road which has a capacity for 300 staff.

Romax employs 120 in Nottingham and about 100 overseas. For every job created overseas, it creates one in the UK, says Dr Poon.

He founded Romax 20 years ago and it now has offices throughout Europe, North America and Asia.

Turnover is approaching £20m. The Romax brand has become synonymous with quality and technical innovation. In the automotive sector, customers include the transmission and driveline engineering teams from 14 of the world's top 15 global auto- makers.

Dr Poon said profit growth could not be attributed to any one factor. But the right people and attention to detail were key factors.

"There is nothing magic, just working hard at what we do," he said.

"We have a good reputation in our sector and we cover customer needs well."

Matrix Tooling

Growth per annum over three years: 83.5%

Position: 17

MATRIX Tooling was founded more than 25 years ago by Rob Donnelly and Mark Mills.

The idea was to supply tooling to companies in the Midlands, employing experienced, time-served skilled engineers who had an enthusiasm for "best in class" technology. The philosophy remains the same today.

Matrix specialises in sourcing and supplying the most effective cutting-tool solutions. It supplies a long list of manufacturers in sectors such as aerospace, power generation, medical, defence and oil and gas.

Mr Mills said: "Everybody talks about a downturn in the market and there is a lot of doom and gloom about, but the high-tech manufacturing sector we are in has grown significantly over the last three or four years.

"We distribute cutting tools, basically marketing metal cutting tools. Along with the products, we work with our customers to help them maximise the productivity, thereby reducing their manufacturing costs which, in turn, improve their profitability.

"The manufacturing industry has lost many skilled workers over the last 20 years, which means we have to fill gaps by providing technical support on a day-to-day basis. Our growth is down to forming good technical partnerships with all our customers."

Today, Matrix employs 48 and while it does some exporting, the amount is small. Most of the business is supplying companies within a 60-mile radius of its base in Lenton Street, Sandiacre.

Mr Mills attributes its remarkable profit growth to "good customer service". Last year, Matrix turned over £12.5m.

He said: "We have been careful to maintain our staff and their skills. We came out of 2008-9 a lot stronger and fitter. We reduced our overheads as much as we could and made sure everything was as tight as it possibly could be."

Matrix is one of the companies identified by Grant Thornton that has built up cash on its balance sheet.

Mr Mills added: "We have worked on our profitability since that period to make sure we are focussed on what is in it for the business. It was a cushion in case things were really tough."

SMS Electronics

Growth per annum over three years: 122.1%

Position: 4

SMS is a jewel among Nottingham's manufacturers. Formerly part of Siemens, it was the subject of a management buy-out just over ten years ago.

It is one of Europe's leading electronic services companies, making high-quality products such as video conferencing equipment and innovative medical products.

SMS, led by managing director Mark Goldby, heads the league table in Notts of the five fastest-growing businesses. It has grown its profits by an average of 122.1% a year over the past three years.

Today, the company employs just short of 200 staff, turning over £50m a year. Pre-tax profits come in at £1.9m. Customers include blue-chip global electronics businesses.

It leads the way with its high-definition video conferencing equipment.

Mr Goldby explained the remarkable growth in profits: "It is driven primarily by two products.

"Video conferencing technology has been around for at least a couple of decades but it has really come of age because of the availability of widespread, high-speed broadband.

"The inter-connectivity between video conferencing systems has improved significantly to the point where the imagery and the audio is now in high definition, which makes the experience so much more genuine, believable and engaging.

"It has also come of age in terms of economic and political pressures around travel. Twenty years ago, company car users were incentivised to get their tax break by using the car.

"Now, it is the other way – reducing air travel and employees travelling between sites. It is a green product with green credentials. That is why it has come of age."

Today, depending on the size of an office, it can cost from around £40,000 to £50,000 to several million pounds to equip a large international, multi-based company. There is a size for everyone, says Mr Goldby.

SMS manufactures the processor while cameras and lenses are made in the Far East. SMS assembles the system.

It continues a long line of leading-edge manufacturers from its Beeston site, originally a manufacturing facility for Ericsson Telecommunications, making switch gears for telephone exchanges.

Siemens acquired the site and ten years ago it was bought by a group of five senior managers. Today, it is engaged in broad sectors such as communications, medical, industrial, military, sciences and security.

A POLITICAL row has broken out over the use of a photograph.

Councillor David Watts, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Broxtowe Borough Council, is threatening to take the Stapleford Community Group to court over a breach of copyright.

Mr Watts has also asked the group's founder, Richard MacRae, for financial compensation for using a photograph he took of Liberal Democrat councillor Brian Wombwell without permission.

The image was used on a petition aimed at removing Mr Wombwell from the town council because he is now living in Somerset and the community group believes he can no longer carry out his responsibilities.

Mr Watts said: "The petition that Richard set up has been a complete failure, attracting only 25 signatures, and some of them were from people who don't live in the ward.

"There is nothing to stop a councillor representing a ward where he doesn't live – it happens all the time.

"However, breaking copyright is stealing the intellectual property of another person.

"I am not asking for blood but I want a sensible offer of compensation, which I will give to charity.

"For someone who has been trying to get elected to public office for the last couple of years to be so cavalier about breaking copyright is extremely disappointing and sets totally the wrong example to others.

"Richard has absolutely no right to use a photo that I have taken without my permission, and he knows full well that I wouldn't give him permission for a stunt like he was trying."

Mr MacRae stood in the county election in May for Bramcote and Stapleford but failed to get elected and received 955 votes, 7.8 per cent of the overall vote.

He now has a week to provide some compensation or Councillor Watts will start legal action.

Stapleford Community Group has said it will no longer be posting comments, updates or any information regarding the Liberal Democrat Party on its website.

Mr MacRae added: "I have apologised for using the photo without asking, but I did not know that I had to. I just got the image from Google and there was no warning about copyright on the website.

"I think that it is making a mountain out of a molehill."

Councillor Brian Wombwell said: "This campaign against me has been going on too long and it has not worked.

"I stand by the action that is being taken because we cannot let Mr MacRae get away with this.

"Ignorance is no excuse to break the law and I do not think it was an accident in this case."

THE East Midlands is home to many major UK companies – among them Boots, Experian and Rolls-Royce. Now, major research has uncovered the top 200 fastest-growing companies in the East Midlands.

The work, carried out by accountants Grant Thornton and the CBI, has studied the levels of profits made by companies over the previous three years of their accounts.

While the period was one during which business lived with a great deal of uncertainty, dark clouds hovering from the Eurozone and a lack of business confidence, the findings tell a different story.

The results show there are significant numbers of businesses based in the East Midlands that are delivering exceptional sustained growth across a broad range of sectors but with a strong emphasis on manufacturing and services.

According to Grant Thornton partner Phil Sayers and CBI regional director Lucy Haynes, companies have had to work hard for this growth and have not achieved it by standing still, "whether this has been a relentless focus on cost control or, for the majority, a combination of this coupled with some soul-searching and a sales driven strategy".

Mr Sayers continued: "Many companies have focussed on their existing strengths, reducing non-core activities, while others have proactively sought new markets, whether at home or abroad, where they can apply their specialist skills to earn good margins and generate profitable growth.

"What is common among all of those companies is a sense of resilience, adaptability and innovation.

"All of this positions the East Midlands in a positive way for contributing to the national economy and playing our part in driving business growth and national prosperity."

The survey is a detailed analysis of the financial performance of the top 200 fastest-growing companies, providing a snapshot of the health of the East Midlands economy.

Two Nottingham businesses, manufacturer of electrical products SMS Electronics, of Beeston, and gearings and transmissions specialists Romax Technology, in University Boulevard, feature in the top ten with profit growth of 122% a year and 103% a year respectively

The research focuses on those companies managed from the East Midlands which have also delivered sustained profits before tax and exceptional items, ranking them based on their profit growth over a three-year period.

Mr Sayers said: "It is impressive enough that there are 200 companies in the East Midlands which have delivered sustained profit growth over the past three years of challenging economic conditions but when you consider that the top ten companies in our survey all achieved a compound annual rate of growth of over 100%, this is remarkable and demonstrates the strength of our regional economy."

In the three-year period looked at by Grant Thornton, the typical East Midlands top 200 companies increased profits at a rate of 43.8% a year to nearly £2.25m.

Ten companies increased their profits by more than 100% a year, including the top company, 99p Stores, which had annual growth of more than 250%.

Grant Thornton and the CBI report that many companies have made changes as a result of the economic cycle in order to maintain margin and grow profits. Many achieved growth through a combination of increased sales and an improvement in margins. The increase in margins is a combination of careful cost management, better asset management and a focus on greater value-added activities.

"Some companies have held their nerve and invested in a greater sales capability in a bid to gain market share," said Mr Sayers. "Others have improved efficiencies in their business through identifying areas where assets were being under-utilised and/or withdrawing from less profitable markets."

There are more than 160 small and medium-sized business in the list, which supports the CBI's view that SMEs will be the key to a sustainable economic recovery. These businesses have employed an extra 1,400 people and accounted for an increase in profits over £120m to £200m.

"These companies have provided both jobs and wealth in their local communities," said Ms Haynes.

The other businesses range from listed plcs to large owner-managed groups and the seven largest employ more than 24,000 between them.

The top 200 employ 48,700 between them and have created 3,800 net new jobs over the past three years, increasing their workforce at about 3% a year.

The average salary for employees has risen by nearly 10 per cent from £17,960 to £19,690. But the research also discovered that the average director's pay, excluding pension contribution, actually fell by 17.7% from £128,000 to £105,000.

Two sectors dominate the league table – manufacturing, with 67 companies, and services, with 50. Nevertheless, research points to a good spread of sectors in the league table.

The regional diversity is reflected in the industries, ranging from cake-makers to engineering consultants.

The research shows that a quarter of the companies have paid off at least half their debt over the three-year period, while a further 17% have more than doubled their debt level.

It also shows that all the companies achieved a rate of growth of at least 13% for the past three years. A typical margin for a top 200 East Midlands company rose from 5.7% to 10.1%.

Ms Haynes said: "It is clear the list is not simply about start-up businesses. On the contrary, it is comprised mostly of established small and medium-sized businesses that are considered by the CBI and others to be the real drivers of economic growth and the means by which the country will lift itself and return to more buoyant economic times."

Not all companies grew their turnover. For 16%, it actually fell. And a number of other delivered broadly flat results.

An analysis of the top 200 shows that nearly two out of five companies disclose export turnover and this has, on average, grown at about the same rate as overall turnover.

The biggest export sector is manufacturing and about three out five of the manufacturing companies in the league table declared some level of export turnover.

Of those manufacturing companies that did disclose exports, on average, they are generating 74% of their overall sales from the export market, up from 54% in the opening period.