A man who was found with a flick knife in a Spalding pub has been given a 12-week suspended sentence. Lewis Markham told magistrates in Boston on Wednesday that his mental health had been suffering and the knife was to self-harm. “I was only intending to harm myself with that knife. I had no intention of hurting anyone else,” he ...

A 71-year-old Tydd Gote man has made a first appearance in court over alleged sexual assaults on a woman. Rodney Stevenson is charged with three counts of the offence – the first between November 1 and December 1, 2022, and on January 23 and 24 this year. Stevenson appeared before Boston Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday and entered not guilty pleas ...

A teenager living with a brain tumour has thanked those who have helped him get back on his bike. Jack Schweikhardt’s bike was stolen from Hall Place last month after he decided he felt well enough to head into town.The 18-year-old, who has a benign brain tumour, was given the bike by dad Steve’s best friend Gordan Hyam, who died ...

A Whaplode man has been jailed for a host of sexual offences against young girls, including rape. Anthony Portor (62), of Hagbeach Gate, has been jailed for a total of 12 years.The sentence was given for a number of incidents against three different victims who cannot be identified for legal reasons.He was guilty of raping one victim under the age ...

A Spalding family welcomed the county’s Lord Lieutenant to their home for the special presentation of an MBE. Steve Machin (50) was awarded the honour for his services to HMP Prison and Probation Service, and Toby Dennis performed the investiture.“We had an amazing day,” said his wife, Pip, after the event.The couple’s children Ollie and Keira were also at the ...

A man has been arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol after a reported head on collision at Weston on Monday night. The incident occurred at 7.13pm on the A151 Weston bypass.The road was blocked for a period of time due to the amount of debris.Lincolnshire Police said the injuries “were not life threatening”.“One man, aged 42, ...

A role created to oversee improvements in Spalding and Holbeach town centre has been discontinued. In 2020, South Holland District Council appointed a Town Centre Improvement Co-ordinator as part of its three-year plan for £500,000 worth of works.However the role will not be continued.When it was advertised as a three-year fixed term contract the job description stated it was “to ...

A special Race For Life was held in Holbeach last week raising hundreds of pounds for charity. Those associated with County Care Holbeach did 365 laps of Carter’s Park between them to raise over £600 for Cancer Research UK.The group aims to build the confidence of those with a disability or autism so they can live as independently as possible ...

Sessions encouraging people to get active are back this summer. The first Activate was held at Weston Playing Field last Wednesday and it proved a success.Alongside the gymnastics, wall climbing and numerous sports and games, there was also the chance to get creative and take a peek at nature.Alison White, of the South Holland District Council Communities Team, said: “It ...

The father of a family that’s been plagued by rats says he’s prepared to have his family sleep rough as nothing has been done for them or the problem property. They’re just one of several residents The Voice has spoken to living near a house in London Road, Spalding, where, in May, 55 animals were seized by the RSPCA.The family, ...

I’d like to thank everyone who attended and helped to make a big success at my recent birthday party which was held at The Elizabethan Social Club, Whaplode Drove.£1,050 was raised with raffles, auction and donations, the proceeds being donated to Dementia UK.Thank to you all once again.Tony BarnesHolbeach

I refer to the article, BMX track to go (August 3), where a spokesman for Spalding Cycling club states “it is well used”. Yes, this is very true. However, not for the purpose intended – drug and alcohol-fuelled ASB nearly every day and night by up to 20 youths, covering the whole BMX track area and behind the mound.This area ...

1st Spalding Girls’ Brigade and 3rd Spalding Boys’ Brigade are celebrating their 90th anniversary on October 15.A celebration service will be held at Spalding United Reformed Church at 10.30am, followed by a buffet lunch.Lots of memorabilia will be around and we hope that folk will bring their own photos too.It’s a chance to catch up with old friends and reminisce ...

I admire the fact that South Holland encourages and produces competitive swimmers, and any plans need to accommodate this.Also, it needs to provide facilities for anyone else who wants to swim – we are not all competitive!Can they provide a facility which everyone can enjoy? At a recent stay at a holiday hotel they had no problems getting a hoist ...

We have been running a gentlemen’s coffee morning since last October in The Old Copper Kettle in Crowland, thanks to an initiative taken forward by Graham Cleaver who ran TOCK.Due to the closure of TOCK, Tracey and Graham Cleaver have set up a new business, Becket’s Traditional Tea Rooms in the Minster Precinct of Peterborough Cathedral, we have now moved ...

As councillors in Spalding, we write to support the strong defence of local rail users made by our excellent MP, Sir John Hayes.Along with him, we are campaigning to persuade East Midlands Railway (EMR) to abandon plans to close the ticket office at Spalding Railway Station.As Sir John argues, this will have a disproportionate impact on vulnerable rail users who ...

I would like to say a very, very big thank you to the Chameli Indian restaurant in Holbeach, who have restored our faith in people.On the night of July 2, our car broke down. We had a phone on us so rang the breakdown company.My wife needed to go to the toilet, so she went to the restaurant to ask ...

We’d like to thank everyone who was involved in Inky’s Memorial Golf Day recently in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.Special mention to Charlie for hosting it for the sixth year at Gedney Hill Golf Course.The eventual winner was Eddie Rhodes, he was presented with the shield back at the Lincoln Arms where other prizes for the golfers were presented.There was ...

A series of public events are being held this month to learn more about the redevelopment of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, King’s Lynn. Ten weeks after the government announced the hospital was added to the New Hospital Programme, leaders are updating members of the public on progress.A series of events are being held later this month and they will be ...

An outdoor cinema and tug-of-war are being organised to raise money for charity. Both events are raising money for Blood Cancer UK and Mencap, charities chosen by South Holland District Council leader Andrew Woolf.The tug of war is part of the Give It A Go day to be held at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in Spalding on Sunday.“It’s ...