Author Archives: Rachel Mayfield

LETTER: Complaint is not front line staff

I recently wrote to you criticising East Midlands Railways for their practice of closing the waiting room/ticket office at Spalding Station during official opening hours without any warning or explanation.This prompted a letter from a Ms Valerie Dodimead extolling the virtues of the station staff. I’m not sure why.My complaint is with EMR, not the front line workers who I ...

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More brown bins for garden waste

The long wait for garden waste bins in South Holland could soon be over. Some residents have been waiting for more than a year to join the brown bin scheme, but nothing is changing until January next year.The expansion of the collection scheme had been held off until the new general waste calendar changes were made.South Holland District Council made ...

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Festive spirit comes to Spalding

Spalding’s Christmas Light Switch-on event was a festive success as people came to the town centre to enjoy the fun, shop locally and watch Spalding light up. The event filled the town centre with more than 50 market stalls for people to browse alongside live festive entertainment, games, competitions, food, gifts and crafts.Those who attended enjoyed live music and entertainment ...

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Trust’s gold win for armed forces

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has been saluted for its support of the armed forces.The trust which runs hospitals such as Pilgrim Hospital in Boston, was given a gold award at a glitzy ceremony at the Prime William of Gloucester Barracks, near Grantham.For 2023, each recipient was handed their award by Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes CBE, Deputy Commander of UK ...

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Farmland value keeps increasing

Average farmland values in the East Midlands have continued to increase year on year across all land types while supply in the region has surged, according to property agents, Savills. Quarterly analysis, which looks at publicly marketed farmland across the East Midlands shows that 14,276 acres of farmland were marketed during 2023 (to the end of September), compared with 6,240 ...

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Jane’s on song at farm shop

When you’re tucking into your food and drink at Vine House Farm you might get a special surprise thanks to a song-loving employee. Jane Howell has been singing since she was eight-years-old, particularly since her dad John Daniels appeared on TV’s Opportunity Knocks talent show.Wherever she’s been, she likes to sing, hitting all the right notes while working at Wyevale ...

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Family look for more time for themselves as shop closes

A nursery set up by accident 35 years ago has closed its shop front.Glenside will continue to operate its wholesale business which includes supplying Spalding town centre and Ayscoughfee Gardens with plants.But the couple who set it up, Susan (67) and Adrian Chappell (71), are semi-retiring and closing the shop means they can spend more time doing the things they ...

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Kicking up a stink over illicit smells

A policy for Lincolnshire residents to complain about ‘nuisance odours’ by the use of illicit substances has been drawn up. Safer Lincolnshire Partnership say the new measures are the first of their kind in the country to include domestic properties.The procedure sets out how local authorities and partner agencies will deal with complaints about unpleasant and persistent smells perceived to ...

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Spalding Lions’ Santa routes

Spalding Lions Club is visiting villages around Spalding with Santa’s sleigh starting on Friday.The route covers Pinchbeck, Surfleet, Gosberton, Quadring, Donington, West Pinchbeck, Weston and Moulton as well as being static outside Morrisons Supermarket in Pinchbeck.Lion Julie Grant said: “We look forward to seeing the happy smiling faces of everyone as we travel around the villages. We are sorry if ...

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Oh What A Night at SHC

Oh What A Night is in store at the South Holland Centre on Saturday (December 2).That’s the name of the Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute set to take you back 60 years to December 63.A spokesman for the South Holland Centre, said: “Let us take you back in time on a musical journey through the incredible career of ...

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Get festive at Singers’ concert

If you’re not yet in the Christmas spirit then a special concert by the South Holland Singers will surely get you in the mood. The group of local entertainers are performing a concert entitled ‘It Came Upon A Midnight Clear’ at St Mary Magdelene Church in Gedney at 7.30pm on Saturday, December 9.They’ll be singing a host of Christmas and ...

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Pavanotti serenades U3A

Pavonotti aka Jeff Woods entertained Spalding U3A members at their November meeting.He entitled his talk ‘It’s All My Mother’s Fault’ and spoke about her love of singing to the radio that was on all day.Jeff loved to sing and following university had some voice training after seeing an advert for singing lessons in the Manchester Evening News. After starting out as ...

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Could you be a town fire fighter?

Could you help save lives? Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue are recruiting on-call firefighters at Spalding Fire Station.They’re looking to recruit those aged over 18 who live or work within five minutes of Spalding Fire Station, can provide on call weekday and weekend cover and are physically fit.A spokesman said: “The role is not full time, therefore you can make yourself ...

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Bourne take top spot

Bourne SC took over at the top of the Spalding and District Billiards League with a 7-0 romp against third-placed Donington. Oli Player (R40) made a solid start with breaks of 23 and 20 in his 200-176 opening frame win and Elliott Gaunt (R50) and Lester Gaunt (scr) kept up the winning pace.Consti A lost top spot, despite a 5-2 ...

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Captain’s year brings a boost for charity

Spalding Golf Club, Captain’s Charity 2023 raised £5,764.20 for Macmillan Cancer Support.Past captain Ben Blom thanked everyone who supported him in helping to raise the funds for the Holbeach and Spalding branch of his nominated charity.It is a charity Blom was keen to support as Macmillan were there for his father in his time of need, making his last few months more ...

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Wright earns an early series lead

Spalding Fishing Club started their Winter Series on the River Glen on Sunday.With a substantial increase in this year’s membership numbers, there were more anglers on the banks for the popular series.A total of 20 anglers braved the frosty morning and were rewarded with some excellent fishing.Leading the way from peg 17 was Mick Wright with 10lb 6oz of roach, rudd ...

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Referee calls early halt to one-sided encounter

Spalding first team had no game but it was still a busy weekend at Centenary  Park. On Friday evening, the Colts played Lincoln in the NLD Colts League and a brilliant performance resulted in a 76-5 win.They have won their last five league games, scoring 205 points with just 36 points conceded and are becoming the top team in the three ...

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Van Haren first over line but Cox takes honours

Sunday saw the third and fourth races in the Frostbite series at the Welland Yacht Club.After the previous night’s club presentation, eight boats made the start line, including two sailors new to the race scene, Adam Stabler in a Solo and his son William in a club Topper dinghy.Disappointingly, the wind did not show up and the forecast was not for ...

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Gaunt opens with a win but leaders Services C hit back

Elliott Gaunt (O28) hit a 32 break on his way to a 96-70 win to earn Bourne SC B the lead in their Spalding and District Snooker League match at home to Division One leaders Services C. However, the visitors stormed back to win 5-1, thanks to victories from Kev Fitter (O14), Nigel Cherry (O7) twice and Shane Cummins (O14).Club ...

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Baker capitalises on slip to secure win for Sutton

March Town 1st 2Long Sutton Men 1st 3Long Sutton moved within two points of second-placed March in Division Two North West of the East Men’s League with a thrilling win at their rivals.The game was a tough one with strong challenges and good battles. March were the first to get on the scoresheet with a well finished slap.Sutton were not ...

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