Community

Crowds have been flocking to Springfields from across the region to take in this year’s festive lights. The shopping outlet says 2022 has been its best year ever for the light show with people coming from far and wide to view the transformation of the gardens. A spokesman said: “The word has been spreading fast in the press, on the ...

A professional mermaid is looking to make a splash as the Ambassador for the Spalding Flower Parade. Laura Hudson, of Quadring, says she remembers going to the parade as a young child. “It was only half an hour’s drive away, but felt like we were going on an adventure for the day and I was always mesmerised, especially with the ...

This year’s Give A Gift appeal has been given a boost thanks to the Rotary Club of South Holland. The Rotary Club made a £150 donation to the appeal, allowing us to buy a trolley full of toys. Although the appeal has now officially closed, the gifts at Sainsbury’s collection point won’t be picked up until Monday, so there are ...

Residents at a care home have a newly bench built by members of a local group funded by a supermarket. The Long Sutton Men’s Shed was awarded a generous donation from Tesco Holbeach, with the funds to be used for the benefit of the community. Members of the shed agreed to make a wooden bench and donate it to the ...

A school’s Christmas Fair has raised a fantastic £2,000 to boost its pupils. Sutton St James Primary School put on a host of games, stalls and goodies on Friday, December 2 which saw a great turn out from those associated with the school and visitors. The school’s Rachael Gadden said: “This money will be used to enrich the education of ...

Members of the Springfields Probus Club and the Ladies Probus met for their Christmas meal. Around 30 people went to The Woodlands Hotel for a meal followed by an amusing poetry recital by John Chester, vice president. Springfields Probus is a club for semi-retired and retired professional businessmen and meets once a month. A guest speaker usually attends. The meetings ...

A charity that has helped people with sight impairment in Spalding for nearly 50 years has closed its doors, but is going to continue helping by funding the training of a new guide dog. The Spalding Blind Social Club has been arranging social events for people with sight difficulties and their families for the last 47 years. But due to ...

Santa hitched a ride with a tractor and trailer when the Young Farmers came to town. A parade of 75 tractors took part in a tour of the area so Santa could say hello to his young friends. Phillip Rouston, Santa’s driver, said it was the second year the parade had been held and the reception had been very positive ...

The annual Christmas Fayre at Spalding United Reformed Church has been hailed a success. This year it tied in with the town’s Christmas celebrations recently, and members of church were heartened so many regulars and visitors came through the doors to grab a bargain or see the Christmas Trees. During the event, the Marching Ambassadors took time out from their ...

Festive Pets is back and now is your chance to send in a photo of your pet in Christmas finery. This year’s competition is kindly sponsored by Birchgrove Garden Centre, who are offering a first prize of £50, second prize of £30 and third prize of £20. To be in with a chance of winning send in a picture of ...

A relative of Spalding’s first published Flower Queen is among those vowing for the title of Ambassador for the returning Spalding Flower Parade. Hotel worker and semi-professional model Megan Vellam has applied for the role for the event taking place on May 13 next year. Megan says she “would like to follow in family footsteps” by applying for the role. ...

Local wildlife watchers got front seats for a flypast by some spectacular feathered friends last week. Leading health and wellbeing charity, Royal Voluntary Service, and long-term supporter, Yakult, hosted a free event for older people to meet Baytree Owl and Wildlife Centre, Spalding’s resident birds of prey, as part of their Safe, Warm and Well winter wellbeing campaign. Light refreshments ...

People have been incredibly generous in supporting our Give A Gift appeal this year. We have already received many gifts but we still need more presents and there are only a few days left to donate. Launched by Coun Harry Drury, the appeal makes a huge difference to struggling families across South Holland and Boston, ensuring less fortunate children aged ...

A popular orchestra which was forced to stop playing when the pandemic hit is back in business. The Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding is playing local gigs after a long, enforced break. The first performance will be for the Gateway Club, organised by Spalding Mencap Society. “It has always been one of our favourite gigs, and it seemed only right to ...

A junior football team has continued to net thousands of pounds for charity. Spalding United Under-13s Blues have raised £3,500 since forming through a host of events including running the Stamford Santa Fun Run every year they’ve been able to in the last four years. This year 36 players, coaches and supporters took on the 5km course at Burghley House ...

A village church is behind a project to see the creation of a wildlife-friendly community garden. Pinchbeck Community Garden will create an inclusive garden area which will be a safe haven for wildlife and can be used by schools or other groups. Log piles and feeding stations will form part of the scheme designed to encourage a variety of wildlife ...

All Saints’ Church, Holbeach, hosted members of the town’s university academy for a special service. Year 7 students spent the first hour of the day learning about The Children’s Society and the history of Christingle which it adopted to raise funds. The year group walked to the church where young musicians joined forces. It was the first time the school ...

Festive Pets is back and now is your chance to send in a photo of your pet in Christmas finery. This year’s competition is kindly sponsored by Birchgrove Garden Centre, who are offering a first prize of £50, second prize of £30 and third prize of £20. Bengie (3), the Bengal, born in Gedney Drove and living in Grimston, King’s ...

A South Holland charity has been given a boost, just as it opens up its hubs for Warm Places session. The Safe Places project, part of health and wellbeing charity Tonic Health has been presented with a cheque for £500 by Freemasons John Bennett, Worshipful Master and John Maltby, Charity Steward from the Fenland Daylight Lodge in Long Sutton. Safe ...

A charity has got on board to help launch a school’s new chess club. The Long Sutton Men’s Shed is assisting the University Academey Long Sutton school to set up and equip the club. The charity’s Ian Cannon has made a new chess board for the club and Frank Heinrich-Tiller presented the chess board to Jacqui Gilman at a recent ...