Author Archives: Richard Rush

LETTERS – Election candidate clarifies

I have just read your candidates article on the Spalding St Paul’s by-election and I would like to note that ‘No Party Specified’ (Ed – as stated by South Holland District Council) is open to individual interpretation with people possibly thinking I may harbour socialist or far right inclinations.I am listed as an unaffiliated Independent candidate and thus have no ...

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LETTERS – Society is a hidden gem

What a little advertised Spalding gem The Gentlemen’s Society museum is.Having just visited, I have to say I found the history and artefacts of Spalding and surrounding villages fascinating.The very knowledgeable steward Pat Wensor and staff were very friendly and helpful.My husband and I thoroughly recommend this and enjoyed our visit.It’s to the detriment of our town that this is ...

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LETTERS – Won’t be cheering an award

Why has Lord Gary Porter even earned consideration for a national award?He served as leader of South Holland District Council for two decades, and I have lived in South Holland for almost two decades.When I moved here, Spalding was a lovely little town.My town of Holbeach had two butchers. Now there is none.Everywhere there are empty shops. I really don’t ...

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LETTERS – More funds for bus service

It is a year since I launched a local campaign to maintain the Stagecoach no 37 service between Spalding and Peterborough.I have joined forces with the National Better Buses Campaign, which is built on local group activity, but linking up areas from Lincolnshire, West Midlands, Yorkshire and Scotland has made the campaign much stronger.I was a delegate for my Unite ...

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LETTERS – I’ve seen town decline

Over the last 20 more years I have spent many hours in Spalding and seen the decline in the town centre.They include empty shops, shop window covered, a lack of market stalls, no police awareness, drinking and drugs, I could go on forever.I have always called South Holland district the Forgotten County.Even The Government have recognised this now. Go back ...

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Plea for Mandy to be recognised

A local charity has been nominated for a Pride of Britain award. After putting Boxes of Hope, organised by Mandy Baxter, forward for the prestigious gongs, Sharon Rudd is urging others in the area to suggest it should be up for the prestigious accolade.The Holbeach-based charity was set up by Mandy not long after the Russian invasion of Ukraine to ...

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Brigades celebrate 90-years

The Girls and Boys Brigades in Spalding have celebrated the organisation’s 90th birthday. The 1st Spalding Girls Brigade and 3rd Spalding Boys Brigade held a joint celebration on Sunday October 15 where past members were invited to join a special service at the Spalding United Reformed Church.It was followed by a buffet lunch.Leaders and members took part in the service, ...

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Serving up a boost for project

Two district councillors have donated to a group providing meals for those that need them most. St John’s ward representatives Manzur Hasan and James Le Sage were happy to hand over £1,450 which was donated from their ward funds to Hub in Hub out, of St Thomas Road, Spalding.The volunteers offer a meal to those in need every Sunday between ...

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Going the extra smile in schools

A Spalding dentist is heading into local schools to teach children about the importance of healthy teeth. In 2021-2022, five-year-olds in the most deprived 20 per cent of areas of the country (35.1 per cent) were 2.5 times as likely to have experienced dental decay as those in the least deprived 20 per cent of areas (13.5 per cent).The team ...

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Kids roll up at fair thanks to Lions

There was a day to remember for a host of young people last week as they were treated to a special afternoon at Tuby’s Fun Fair. The fair returned last week and an annual tradition is for it to open with the Spalding Lions arranging for pupils with special educational needs to have first go on the rides.Pupils from Gosberton ...

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County council’s light delight but schools carbon problem

Lincolnshire County Council faces significant challenges as it seeks to further reduce its carbon footprint, particularly in schools, a new report reveals. The authority’s Carbon Report for 2022-23, presented to the council’s Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee on Tuesday, shows that schools are the leading gas consumers, greenhouse gas emitters, and oil consumers in the county compared to any other ...

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Recognition calls for Flinders’ return

Donington explorer Captain Matthew Flinders should be posthumously recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Society, the area’s MP has said. Matthew Flinders, an explorer, skilful chart-maker and marine surveyor, was the first man to circumnavigate Australia and is credited with popularising the country’s name.His work also involved proving wind direction could be predicted from barometric pressure and latitude.The remains ...

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Charity bingo

A special bingo session is taking place to raise money for the chair of South Holland District Council’s chosen charities. Coun Andrew Woolf is hosting the fundraiser for Blood Cancer UK and Mencap at Nene Court Community Centre on Saturday (October 28) from 3pm.It’s being supported by Coun Rob Gibson who has provided some of his ward budget alongside Coun ...

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Get involved with Rotary talent show

You’ve got talent, and the Spalding and Welland Rotary Club want to put you on stage. For 30 years now the group has put on a talent show raising money for a good cause.An incredible array of acts have taken part over the years.This year’s show included dancers, singers, including an ABBA tribute, magicians and Spalding Folk Club.The next event ...

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All U3A eyes on Sandra

A local entrepreneur and inventor was the guest speaker at the Sutton Bridge U3A, which includes members from Long Sutton. Sandra McDonough suffered with Parkinson’s but she found tying a knitting needle to her glasses provided some control over her body.At the age of 60, 20-years after her diagnosis, she decided to create the Eye Guide and founded a company ...

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Tigers lose at home

A three-week absence from Thurlow Nunn League action cost Holbeach United their unbeaten home record on Saturday. Gaps in the Division One North fixture list meant the Tigers had not played competitively since September 30 and their rustiness showed as they failed to make their chances count in a 2-1 defeat against Wivenhoe Town.George Frost swept the hosts into an ...

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Denny and Yetton cup double for Lightning

Spalding Lightning progressed in both the Denny Cup and Yetton Trophy on Saturday. Spalding won the Denny Cup in 2022 and faced Stamford in this year’s first round opposition. Stamford won the early exchanges, taking a narrow two-shot lead at five ends. The match was still in the balance at the halfway stage as the scores were level at 10 ...

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Derby date is drowned by deluge

The eagerly awaited south Lincolnshire derby between Moulton Harrox and Crowland Town in the GCE Hire Fleet Peterborough League was postponed. It leaves them fifth and seventh respectively in the table with games in hands on most of the teams above them.Elsewhere in the Premier Division, Holbeach United Reserves might have been left wishing more rain had fallen at Deeping Rangers ...

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Manager fills the gap but to no avail

Ipswich 2s 5 Spalding Men 1s 4A nine-goal thriller went against Spalding Men’s first team as they missed the chance to go second in the East Men’s Division One North table.Illness crippled the squad for the long journey to Woodbridge to take on Ipswich 2s, meaning manager Jason Naylor had to fill in to help the team again. Even so, ...

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Batten at double to put 2s top

St Neots 1s 1 Long Sutton 1s 2Sutton closed in on the East Men’s League Division Two North West leaders with a win at high-flying St Neots.The opening exchanges were cagey with the visitors’ defence of Michael Donaghy, Joshua Fyson, Dan Oldfield and Luke Proctor absorbing the pressure well.At the other end, Nick Ellis, man of the match McKenzie East, ...

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