Grantham and Stamford (UK Parliament constituency) villages. The only other large settlement in the seat is the rapidly growing town of Bourne, situated at the west of the Lincolnshire Fens. Food processing and agriculture are the major industries. Politically, Grantham is associated with Margaret Thatcher, who was born and raised in the town. However, the town of Grantham itself probably has the biggest Labour Party support of the constituency. The rural part of the seat and the historical town of Stamford outweigh any Labour votes in Grantham, and it is normally a safe Conservative seat. The history of Conservative representation was briefly interrupted between 2007-10 when
Francis Newton Parsons Essex Regiment on 28 February 1896. He was promoted to lieutenant on 1 March 1898. Parsons was 24 years old, and in the 1st Battalion, The Essex Regiment, British Army during the Second Boer War when the following deeds took place for which he was awarded the VC. He was recommended by Lieutenant-General Kelly-Kenny, C.B.. for the award and the citation was published in the London Gazette of 20 November 1900: Parsons also received a posthumous Mention in Despatches on 8 February 1901. His Victoria Cross is displayed at The Essex Regiment Museum, Chelmsford, Essex, England. Francis Newton Parsons Francis