Community

A year to give thanks for our freedoms

This year is truly a year for commemoration and one in which it’s hoped many people might pause to remember the immense sacrifices made on our behalf by our forebears to enable us to live in peace and security. With the recent ceremonies surrounding the 70th anniversary of D-Day fresh in our memories, many people felt very humble seeing the ...

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Get your hands dirty and dig to learn about worms

Emily Walker (4, pictured), from Spalding, was among those who took part in the Riverford Big Worm Dig at Sacrewell Farm, near Peterborough. The Big Worm Dig is helping in a national survey of worms to improve understanding of the wriggly creatures, which have been described as the “new bumble bee” in terms of conservation. Worms are like mini-tractors, tilling ...

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Music in the park draws a crowd

Holbeach Town Band was the latest act to entertain the crowds in Ayscoughfee Gardens, Spalding, as part of its summer music programme. Scores of people came prepared with picnic blankets and deck chairs to enjoy the popular band run through its popular repertoire. The concerts are all held on the South Lawn (to the side of the museum) on Sundays ...

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Music deal for Crowland lad

A Crowland student is celebrating after signing his first publishing deal with Zelos Deep Records, and taking his music on tour through the UK and Germany. Mark Crawford initially enrolled on New College Stamford’s level two diploma in music, but after completing his level three music tech qualification, he successfully achieved a place on the college’s sought-after Foundation Degree for ...

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Flinders Founders offer fun for all

Donington’s Flinders Founders had some fun in the sun at their annual fun day. The event took place at the village’s Flinders Park and saw a good attendance. There was a whole host of activities on offer including games and face painting. Musical entertainment was provided by the ever-popular Holbeach Town Band. Flinders Founders’ next event is the Party in ...

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Cheers! Fenland branch of real ale club is 40

The Fenland branch of CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) has been supping pints for 40 years – and is planning to brew a beer called Fenland 40 to celebrate. Back in 1974 the first informal meeting was held, at The Bull in Pinchbeck. On June 21 that year Fenland branch was formed at The Bull Inn at Market Deeping, with ...

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National charity gives financial support to Save Lincolnshire Libraries campaign

A legal fund set up by the Save Lincolnshire Libraries campaign group has received a donation of £1,000 from The Library Campaign, the national charity dedicated to supporting public funded libraries. The fund has been set up by campaigners to help Simon Draper in his challenge of Lincolnshire County Council’s proposals to cut the library service by £2million. The challenge ...

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Join Spalding cycle action group PEDALS on leisure ride to Crowland

Spalding’s cycle action group has a leisure ride to Crowland as part of the forthcoming national Bike Week. PEDALS is inviting anyone to join members for the 20-mile ride on Sunday, June 15. Meet at The Vista (in front of Spalding parish church) at 2.30pm. Adults are asked to accompany riders under 13 and all bikes should be roadworthy.

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Spalding School of Dance draws up plans for move to bigger premises in Low Fulney

The popular Spalding School of Dance wants to move to new, purpose-built premises at Low Fulney. Hundreds of youngsters aged two and over attend classes in styles including ballet, tap and hip-hop. The business is going so well that it has now outgrown its base in Horseshoe Road and has drawn up plans to relocate. The new facility on agricultural ...

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D-Day remembrance parade and service for Spalding

A parade and service of remembrance for the D-Day Landings is being held in Spalding on Sunday. Organised by the Spalding Royal Naval Association, fall-in for the parade is 10.30am at Ayscoughfee Gardens cafe. The service will take place at the garden’s war memorial at 10.45am. Ex-service organisations are invited to attend with their standards. A Spalding RNA spokesman said: ...

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Sarah up to Rat Race challenge

A very determined but muddy Sarah Le Sage fought her way around the toughest assault course in the UK at Burghley House, Stamford. Sarah was taking part in the 20-mile, 200-obstacle Dirty Weekend Rat Race in aid of her favourite charity. After completing the challenge, Sarah said: “It was an amazing experience and, although hard work, I really enjoyed myself.” ...

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Football fun raises cash

An annual football tournament has boosted a charity’s coffers to the tune of £900. The Bakkavor charity football tournament, organised by Bourne Prepared Produce and held at Spalding’s Castle Sports Complex, raised cash for EACH (East Anglian Children’s Hospices). Trevor Hewson, operations manager at Bourne Prepared Produce, said: “Teams from as far as Somerset and Scotland made up 24-team competition ...

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Jacky supports cancer-suffering best friend by joining her with a headshave

As gestures by best friends go, Jacky Mitchell was ready to show her utmost support for breast cancer sufferer Caroline Bunning. Caroline (38) started four months of radiotherapy and chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday. So the night before, Caroline pre-empted losing her hair by shaving it off – and Jacky followed suit. Jacky (28) said: “Caroline was told that she would ...

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RAF band concert went with a swing

More than £4,000 was raised for Help for Heroes at a spectacular concert held in Spalding. The RAF Swing Wing concert, organised by Graham Dark and held at the South Holland Centre, raised an amazing £4,249, which takes the total raised from RAF band concerts, to more than £30,000. Mr Dark said: “The concert was again a great success and ...

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Tulip Talk: Tulip Prince and Princess get on their bikes

The Tulipmania Prince and Princess are riding round in style thanks to Spalding’s Gibbons Cycles. Prince Joseph Porter, a pupil at Swineshead St Mary’s Primary School, and Princess Georgie Van Dyke, who goes to Sutton St James Primary School, went along to the Winsover Road store to choose their bikes which are part of their winner’s package. Joseph and Georgie ...

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Dun Cow site: Developer appeals decision to refuse homes

The decision to refuse homes to be built on Ye Olde Dun Cow site in Cowbit has been appealed. Market Homes believes there are grounds for South Holland District Council’s decision to be quashed and the Planning Inspectorate will hold a hearing on July 8. Meanwhile, Cowbit group The Campaign to Save Ye Olde Dun Cow has vowed to maintain ...

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Andrea’s 184-mile hike from Bristol to Spalding in 7 days is a fitness fundraiser

Spalding worker Andrea Cameron has completed a mammoth fundraising hike – the equivalent of seven marathons in seven days. Andrea strolled back into the town on Friday – her 34th birthday – to complete the final leg of a 184-mile hike from Bristol. She hopes to have raised more than £3,000 from the Severn in 7 challenge to share between ...

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Diggers to move onto Pinchbeck site in search for lost manor

Pinchbeck History and Archaeology Group begins a new attempt to find the village’s lost manor next week. The diggers will move onto Abbey Field in Northgate on Monday and will remove earth to create deep trenches six feet wide in six designated areas highlighted in a survey carried out in a geophysical scan. Visitors will be able to watch the ...

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Theatre group take to Pinchbeck stage

Theatre-lovers are in for a treat on Friday night when Cutwater Productions take to the stage with their adaptation of Ill Met By Moonlight. The show takes place at Pinchbeck Village Hall from 7.30pm. The play is set on the English/Welsh border at a time not so long ago when rural superstition was rife. A descendant of Puck still roams the ...

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Online auctions for charity

A Spalding mum is holding an online auction through Facebook to raise funds for the Teenage Cancer Trust. Since January Liz Batterham has dedicated her spare time to raising money for cancer charities by holding a series of auctions and events. Liz’s two previous auctions raised £515 for Cancer Research and £1,600 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Items on offer in ...

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