Community

Celebrating his daughter’s 21st birthday prompted a Spalding man to sign-up for the London Marathon and raise cash for a cause close to their hearts. Ashleigh Darnes had only a 20 per cent chance of surviving a life-threatening childhood cancer when she was two years old. Her case of neuroblastoma was very severe and it spread from her kidney to ...

A group that helps people with dementia were ‘absolutely stunned’ after two sisters donated over £1,000 they had raised. Marilyn Inglis and Anna Hodgson held a fantastically attended New Year’s Eve Party in Donington in aid of Tonic Health’s Movement 4 Memory Dementia Cafewhere their mum Brenda Hodgson attends. When Anna turned 70 last year, they also asked for donations ...

The benefits of joining the Men’s Shed organisation has been highlighted by a South Holland man who was supported by members during cancer treatment. His wife died two years ago and the man, who wishes to remain anonymous, joined the Long Sutton branch of the charity which was established in 2017 and meets three times a week. During last year ...

Over 1,000 people had an egg-cellent time in the sun at Ayscoughfee Hall on Good Friday, raising more than a grand for charity. In total 420 young people and their families hunted the historic gardens to earn a chocolate in the Macmillan Easter Egg Hunt. Together with a host of games a total of £1,127 was raised for the charity ...

An Irish Ball organised as a charity birthday bash has smashed its target for a cancer charity by raising more than £5,500. “We did it, smashed my target,” said organiser and birthday girl, Elaine Allen from Spalding. Elaine, who is celebrating her ninth year in remission from cancer, marked her 50th birthday with the ball. “Thanks to all of you ...

A group that encourages the elderly and retired of Whaplode to get together for a cuppa, were making waves recently. Those that attend the regular Coffee Pot group which meets on Wednesday mornings in the village were among the first this season to enjoy Spalding’s Water Taxi. The regular attraction between the town and Springfields is back running for 2019. ...

Supporters of a Spalding school are getting quizzical in a bid to help it beat the vandals. St Paul’s Primary School has suffered damage to its outdoor equipment on several occasions in recent months. It’s led to The Friends of St Paul’s Community Primary and Nursery School to try to raise enough money to fund £3,000 security fencing. The group ...

The head office of a company that provides home care in Lincolnshire went mad for a day last Friday, all in aid of charity. Staff at Libertas Reablement, which is based at Apex Court in Pinchbeck, held a day-long Mad Hatter’s Tea Party in aid of Parkinson’s UK. They dressed as their favourite characters from Alice in Wonderland as well ...

Spalding Cycling Club has had a £600 cash boost for the Go Ride scheme which aims to get children interested in cycling. Ten South Holland District Council members donated money from their budgets for the scheme and a total of £600 was handed over to the club’s John Wallis, who is hoping to become a Go Ride coach. A spokesman ...

Crowland Cancer Fund has held its annual presentation evening and gave £30,000 raised during the previous year to various cancer related charities. A spokesman said: “Despite the fact that our furniture warehouse closed in August, which reduced our earning ability, the total sum given away was £30,000 which was given in equal amounts to the following: Sue Ryder Thorpe Hall ...

The Parliamentarians are set to invade Sutton St James, all for the parish church. On the May Bank Holiday of 4, 5 and 6 May, members of the Sealed Knot re-enactment group will be occupying the village to re-create the role its men played in the English Civil War. In 1643, a number from Sutton St James stood standing alongside ...

Two new peer support groups for people living with diabetes and their friends and family are opening their doors. The Diabetes UK groups will be run in Spalding and Long Sutton by Hayley Gedney, who was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in 2017. The groups will meet monthly offering support, information and advice to anyone affected by diabetes or interested ...

A strength and endurance competition will be held in Holbeach this summer – and slots are now open for sign-ups. South Lincolnshire’s Strongest 2019 takes place at Carter’s Park on July 7 from 10am. The event, organised by the town’s Royals Gym, will be held during the popular Holbeach Food Fair and will be refereed by former World’s Strongest Man ...

A £500,000 funding boost for the arts in South Holland and Boston has been announced. The long-running Transported programme will continue with funding from Arts Council England, which has announced the extension of six Creative People and Places schemes. Now in its seventh year, the Transported programme is a community-focused project creating more opportunities for people in the Lincolnshire area ...

South Holland residents are being invited for a free health check that could help prevent a stroke. On Saturday, April 13, Spalding’s South Holland Centre will host Spalding Rotary Club and Stroke Association’s day of free blood pressure checks. A Rotary spokesman said of the day: “Blood pressures will be taken by health professionals who can give advice if there ...

Peele Community College in Long Sutton has been rated ‘inadequate’ in six out of six categories in a recent Ofsted inspection – but has set out a statement of intent to improve. The school released a statement saying it is “disappointed” by its recent ‘inadequate’ Ofsted rating but is “confident the school can build on its strengths” to move out ...

Five members of staff from a Holbeach St Johns nursing home are set to climb Snowdon to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society. Carers Belinda Rivett, Danielle Cooper, Kayleigh Elleray, Jodie Clayton and Sarah Mason who work at Beechlodge in Frog’s Abbey Gate, are looking to raise £1,000 by climbing 1,085m to the summit of Wales’ highest mountain in June. ...

A Spalding special school has retained its ‘outstanding’ status following a short Ofsted inspection last month. The Garth School on Pinchbeck Road was judged outstanding in June 2015 and after the February’s visit, retains its status. The Ofsted report praised many areas of the school, including the high level of care pupils receive and the school’s governance as a whole. ...

It’s been a busy month for Years Two and Three and St John the Baptist C of E Primary School in Spalding with The Great Fire of London and the Egyptians on their agendas. Year Two have been studying the 1666 fire and shared everything they had learned in a presentation to parents. They were also treated to a visit ...

An inspirational mum of two who had a brain tumour removed last week says she feels like “the luckiest person in the world” after launching a bid to compete for her country at the 2020 Paralympics in Tokyo. Just last Friday, Ginny Gray (41), of Sutton St James, was in hospital for the successful life-saving operation to remove the 4cm ...