The family of a popular Spalding hairdresser who died after a heavy weekend drinking session have been comforted by the “amazing” reaction and support. Messages of sympathy flooded into the Donington family home of Clayton Gilchrist (formerly Gilks) following his death on May 27. And there have been few busier funeral services at Surfleet crematorium, with some mourners not inside. Nathalie ...

Round Tablers and their families from Spalding’s twin town in Germany had an “awesome” time in Lincolnshire last weekend. Visitors from Speyer were hosted by members of Spalding Round Table and 41 Club. The 18 guests flew into Stansted last Friday and, after drinks at The Bridge Inn at Crowland, the party was taken by water taxi to Welland Yacht ...

The proposed number of flats which a Spalding pub could be converted into has been reduced. A resubmitted planning application for The Vine in Commercial Road requests permission for a change of use to four flats, not five. Spalding and District Civic Society, which commented on the original application that five was too many for the size of building, has ...

A politician hoping to become the youngest-ever South Holland district councillor insists that he wants his prospective ward residents to have much more say in how members’ budgets are spent. Tory Jack McLean’s vision is at odds with that of Conservative council leader Gary Porter, who wants to see fewer hurdles to enable the funds to be spent. Every financial ...

Outdated and loss-making St Nicolas Church Hall in Spalding could be replaced in the not too distant future. Members of the Parochial Church Council for St Mary and St Nicolas voted unanimously on Monday to investigate the costs and process of a new-build. The vicar of St Mary and St Nicolas was pleased with the outcome as it was part ...

Two friends are about to set out on a charity walk from London to Birmingham. Saracen’s Head residents Andy Stafford and Clive Woods expect to take a week to walk the 147 miles from Canary Wharf to England’s second city along the route of the Grand Union Canal. Their efforts will fundraise for Cancer Research. Andy said: “Nine years ago ...

A 24-hour racket marathon gets under way in Spalding on Friday (Oct 3), raising money for the charity Group B Strep Support. Fourteen members of Spalding Squash and Racketball Club will be taking part at the Holyrood Walk base. Member and marathon organiser Charlie Farrow said: “We’re hoping that our fundraising challenge will raise £3,000 together with invaluable awareness of Group ...

Detectives are investigating a break-in at a convenience store in Holbeach in the early hours of Tuesday. A haul of cigarettes was taken during a raid on One-Stop Shop in West End at 2.50am. The area was cordoned off while a forensic examination was carried out. Lincolnshire Police are appealing for witnesses to get in touch by calling 101, quoting incident 29 ...

The requirement to display a road tax disc in vehicles ends on Tuesday. From October 1, roadside cameras will “capture” the details of untaxed vehicles. And a buyer of a used car will have to tax it straight away as the seller must reclaim any unused portion as well as immediately notify DVLA of a change of ownership. The move, ...

Welland Yacht Club had a huge turnout of members and old friends as it took part in a joint Guinness World Record attempt. Bart’s Bash was the inaugural race run by sailing clubs all around the world on behalf of the charity, the Andrew Simpson Sailing Foundation. Andrew ‘“Bart” Simpson died in a training accident while preparing for last year’s ...

Holbeach has won its category in the CPRE Best Kept Village and Small Town competition 2014. After three rounds of voting, Holbeach just pipped Crowland to the title of best market town with fewer than 7,000 residents. It’s Holbeach’s first win for 17 years and has sparked celebrations among the hard-working Holbeach In Bloom committee, which comprises parish councillors, parish council ...

The South Holland Centre in Spalding is among the venues holding a Macmillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event on Friday (Sep 26). Pop along between 9.30am and 12.30pm, and enjoy a treat from the cake stall and try your luck in a raffle. There will also be an event at Sezanne Walk Community Centre, off Park Road, Spalding (from 10am), a Cake, ...

Donations made following the death of a former Spalding woman during a charity cycle ride have topped more than £21,000. Sally Preece, whose parents Terry and Judy Wing still live in Spalding, was killed on the seventh day of the Ride Across Britain event – a nine-day charity ride from Land’s End to John O Groats. She was cycling as ...

A pilot from Spalding died when two single-seater light aircraft collided in mid-air on Tuesday, causing one to crash to the ground. Stephen Spavins, a funeral director in Sandy, Bedfordshire, was commuting to work in his microlight. The crash between the microlight and a Cessna happened at Tempsford near the Black Cat roundabout on the A1 at about 8.30am. It’s ...

A waste recycling rewards scheme in South Holland is being seen as a key factor in soaring tonnage rates. The Green Bag Lottery, which has been running since February, is a district council initiative. It promotes good recycling and aims to raise awareness of its importance. During its first six month, waste recycled in South Holland rose by 16 per cent from 585 tonnes to ...

A successful charity shop in Holbeach has made three more large donations from its proceeds. Chosen Charity made presentations last Saturday for a total of £4,000. Pictured at the event in front of the Fleet Street shop: right – shop manager Mary Cooper presents £2,000 to a representative of Leonard Cheshire Disability/Hovenden House at Fleet left – treasurer Iris Boland ...

The next phase of the £280million project to upgrade the rail route running through Spalding is under way. Road users have been warned to expect disruption as roads close to enable improvements to signalling and level crossings between Spalding and Werrington. Two of the busiest routes in Spalding – Winsover Road and Hawthorn Bank – will be subject to closures. ...

The dedicated work of South Holland District Council staff who rescue stray dogs has been recognised with a prestigious award. The council has won a Bronze Footprint award in the RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Footprints scheme. The accolade is for the council’s stray dog service as a whole and reflects levels of policy and procedure, kennelling arrangements, relief cover, re-homing, ...

Every secondary school pupil in South Holland and some of primary age are to be offered a free flu immunisation by nasal spray this autumn. Lincolnshire is one of 12 areas to run the pilot programme nationally. Across England 700,000 schoolchildren will be offered the vaccine. Nurses from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust will visit every secondary school in ...

If you have a love for singing, a group in Spalding will be only too pleased to welcome you. Any age, ability and genre of music is catered for at Sing South Holland Community Choir. The group has around 50 people enrolled but attendees have dwindled in recent years to under 20 and musical director Liz Lenten is keen to ...