Author Archives: Tom Cassidy

Five hours for school to reassure parents

Parents have criticised a South Lincolnshire school for taking five hours to tell them about a gun incident while pupils were on site. But staff commended for dealing with situation. Worried students at the site were kept in their classrooms at around 9am when the alarm was sounded, but many parents were not told anything officially until just after 2pm ...

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Remember those who didn’t return

This weekend sees a raft of Remembrance Sunday events taking place right across South Holland. Pinchbeck: On Sunday there will be a service at the Baptist Church from 10.30am. The service at St Mary’s Church, Pinchbeck, beings at 10.45am. The parade will leave the village hall at 10:30 and then proceed to church. After the service, wreaths will be laid ...

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Fake forces charity collector sentenced to 15 months in jail

A bogus “Help for Heroes” collector who pocketed thousands of pounds by posing in military uniform and pretending to be a serving soldier was today (Monday, November 6) jailed for 15 months.   David Santini (55) from Quadring, was caught collecting cash from the unsuspecting people at Newark antiques fair after police became suspicious about the style of his uniform. ...

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Duncan runs the New York Marathon this weekend

A Spalding man is “feeling fantastic” in the run-up to facing the New York Marathon this weekend in aid of Cancer Research UK. Duncan Wright (51) said: “I simply can’t wait. Training has gone well, although the long runs have been tough. I’ve ticked all the boxes on my training plan so hopefully I’ll be able to get round in ...

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“Deluded” Whaplode St Catherine paedophile who claimed to be web vigliante is jailed for three years

A man who downloaded hundreds of photographs and videos of young girls being sexually abused claimed he was working as a vigilante to expose paedophiles, Lincoln Crown Court was told.   Matthew Pointon (43) has been jailed for three years for downloaded images of girls as young as five years old being abused and sharing photographs with other men using ...

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Cocaine courier caught in Spalding sentenced to six years in jail

A drugs courier caught with more than £80,000 worth of cocaine was today (Wednesday, November 1) jailed for six years at Lincoln Crown Court.   Bush Hykaj was arrested after police who were called out to an unconnected domestic incident at an address in Spalding found him sitting outside the property in a BMW car.   Hykaj said the car was ...

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Cold Feet star brings some sparkle to Springfields outlet

Cold Feet star John Thomson added a bit of sparkle to Springfields when he switched on this year’s Christmas lights. The event was hosted by Heart FM’s breakfast show favourites Kev and Ros with live performances from Classical Reflections, as seen on BBC1’s TV programme The Voice and Spalding’s St Paul’s Community Primary School Choir. John Thomson switched on the ...

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November brings host of radio stars to Spalding

This month, three stars of BBC Radio 2 come to Spalding, including an award-winning band and two popular presenters. Today (Thursday, November 2), BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winners The Young-Uns play the South Holland Centre as part of the BBC Children In Need: Song For Lincolnshire awards. Entry is free, the night starts at 7pm and will feature performances ...

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Top award for Holbeach St Marks poppy champions

A Whaplode woman has receieved an award for her group’s poppy collection efforts. Margaret Gregory, poppy organiser for the Holbeach St Marks branch of the Royal British Legion, travelled to the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby last week for the launch of the Lincolnshire poppies ceremony. It was there she was given the Jill Rymer award by HM ...

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Ten new rural police vehicles join fleet

Ten Ford Kugas have joined Lincolnshire Police’s ranks to help officers tackle crime in tough conditions in Lincolnshire. The vehicles, which will be used in South Holland when needed, are designed to cover fields and farm tracks, as well as difficult winter weather conditions such as icy or flooded roads. The vehicles will cost £195,000, which includes the cost of ...

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Cancer wait times cause for concern

More than 1,700 patients waited up to an hour to be transferred from an ambulance to the Pilgrim Hospital. The figures were revealed in a report to the South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group. Members were also told that, aside from the 1,731 people who waited up to an hour, there were 714 who waited more than an hour to be ...

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Street lights out forever, says council boss

Street lights turned off at night to save cash will not be switched back on, according to the county council’s top man. Lincolnshire County Council Leader Martin Hill said there is no chance that all of the 38,000 street lights which are currently off in Lincolnshire will come back on as the £1.7m saved annually can’t be spared. Coun Hill’s ...

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Reading Challenge fun for Spalding pupils

Children from Spalding Parish Day School took part in the Summer Reading Challenge organised by The Reading Agency and run through libraries across the county. Spalding Library promoted the challenge during visits to the library and through leaflets in schools. All children from the age of four were set the challenge to read six library books and visit the library ...

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Roadworks to cause A17 Holbeach junction delay

Drivers are being warned that a busy junction on the A17 will be closed overnight for three weeks. A major project is currently under way at The Peppermint Junction at Holbeach. The series of night closures are due to start tomorrow (Thursday, November 2) to allow contractors to lay tarmac. The road will be closed from 7pm to 6am from ...

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Holbeach’s Chosen Charity offers a helping handout

Holbeach’s Chosen Charity presented a total of £7,000 to good causes. A cheque for £5,000 has been sent to the air ambulance for Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. The charity also gave £2,000 to the Men’Shed in Long Sutton for retired, bereaved or unemployed men.

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Spalding care home company admits breach following deaths

A Spalding care home company has admitted breaching health and safety regulations following an investigation into the deaths of three residents. Apex Care Ltd pleaded guilty at Lincoln Crown Court on Wednesday to failing to carry out the provision of residential care in a way that residents were not exposed to risk to their health and safety. The charges, brought ...

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Light Up a Life at hospice services in Spalding

Spalding residents are being invited to remember loved ones with a Light Up a Life event later this month. St Barnabas Hospice will have a Tree of Life at each of its buildings and the community is being invited to dedicate a light. There will be nine events in November and December and each will feature readings, music and a ...

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Holbeach Marine combats mental illness with record attempt

A Royal Marines Commando from Holbeach will attempt to break a weighty world record this weekend to raise money for a mental health charity. On Saturday, November 4, Sam Dalrymple (29) and his 11 team mates will between them attempt to deadlift 800,000kg – four times the weight of The Angel of the North – in 12 hours. The current ...

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Inspector condemns Spalding 999 takeaway complaint call

Police emergency call handlers were stunned when a Spalding resident called 999 to complain about a Chinese takeaway. Police Sector Inspector Gareth Boxall condemned the irresponsible act on Monday night. He said he was: “Sorry to read that someone in our community thought it appropriate to call 999 to complain about their Chinese takeaway.” The caller has not been identified ...

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Teenagers arrested after Holbeach robbery

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of robbery following a knife-point raid in Holbeach. On Wednesday, October 25, three men with knives robbed McColl’s Newsagents (formerly Martin’s), High Street, Holbeach, police said. A police spokesman said two local teenagers, aged 16 and 17, have been arrested on suspicion of robbery and released on bail until November 26. The spokesman ...

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