Community

Spalding’s Armed Forces Day parade returned for the first time since 2019 on Tuesday. Led by standard bearers and bikers and including veterans and dignitaries, the parade marched through Hall Place into Market Place in a show of support for those serving the country. Among those involved also were the Police Mini Cadets from Spalding Primary School and members of ...

A host of children in Long Sutton have been given a special memento of the Queen’s Jubilee. To mark the 70 years on the throne by Queen Elizabeth II, the town’s parish council bought lots of medals. They were then presented to every child at Long Sutton Primary, Cinder Ash and Rainbow Pre-School. Chairman John Clarey, said: “The parish council ...

Two work colleagues have raised more than £600 for charity after climbing to the summit of Ben Nevis. Ashwood Homes contracts manager Pete Whalley and construction manager Mark Forbes decided to tackle the highest mountain in the British Isles as a personal challenge and for fun, but friends and colleagues got behind their efforts and donated cash for Macmillan Cancer ...

This year’s Pinchbeck Carnival was bittersweet as committee stalwart Chris Schofield stepped down after 40 years. Chris and wife Christine, who have been instrumental in the organisation of the carnival for four decades, have decided it’s time for a change. The theme for the carnival was the 1940s and entertainment on the day included The Blighty Belles and the Diamondz ...

A group for pre-school children is hoping that it can help families in South Holland by opening up its excellent facilities for them. Mini Magpies is a specialist play and communication group for children aged up to five years old who have multi -sensory (vision and/or hearing) impairments. A range of play and communication activities are offered based on the ...

Hundreds of people enjoyed Surfleet’s Jubilee celebrations last weekend. Pictures by Ben Chapman.

Spalding Lions celebrated their 51st Charter event at The Woodlands Hotel, Spalding. The evening, hosted by President Lion Eileen Robson, was attended by Lions, partners and friends. Invited guests included District Governor Lion David Pope and his wife Claire, past District Governor Michael Phillips and his wife Patricia, Zone Chair Lynne Roberts and Rotary Club President for Spalding and Welland ...

A local charity is set to open its new hub in Holbeach. Tonic Health has been providing much needed services for a number of years through its Spalding and Long Sutton bases and Tonic 44 cafe in Surfleet. This week it’s set to open its latest centre in Boston Road South. It will host extensions of many of the groups ...

1st Spalding Boys’ Brigade and 2nd Spalding Girls’ Brigade recently held their celebration evening and presentation of awards at Spalding Baptist Church with a jubilee theme. Relatives and church members joined in some royal-themed quizzes and games before all the members were presented with badges and awards gained during the year. These included the Queen’s Badge, the highest award in ...

Pupils at Spalding’s St John’s Primary School have been fundraising for the Lily Foundation again. A non-uniform day which saw children go to school dressed in anything you would see in the sky raised £1,054. There was music related to flying at the gates and the children were able to make a donation if they wished. The following day staff ...

Children at Gosberton Academy have raised money for the school’s PTFA by walking 1,600km. All of the children took part on Friday, May 27, taking it in turns as classes to walk an average of just over 10k per pupil around the village. Every child at Gosberton Academy has taken a sponsor form home and it has been agreed that ...

Saracen’s Head Village Hall had a sweet afternoon last weekend as they held a ‘Pudding Party’ for local residents. Around 30 people took part in the event which amid many servings of tasty puddings brought in by attendees involved quizzes, competitions and singing. The evening raised £165 and was co-hosted by Christine and Richard Austen along with Sue and Nick ...

A charity has named a Spalding 16-year-old as its Youth Ambassador of the Year. Jake Winkett was presented with the trophy by KidsOut’s CEO Stewart Moulds last Saturday at a charity mediumship evening at the Women’s Institute Hall in Holbeach. He’s collected gifts in the run up to the festive period every year since he was eight. In January 2021 ...

South Holland District Council has reaffirmed it’s commitment to support Armed Forces personnel and their families alongside its council partners. The authority’s leader Coun Gary Porter recently signed the Armed Forces Covenant alongside counterparts from Boston Borough and East Lindsey District Council which make up the South and East Lincolnshire Local Councils Partnership. Observers of the ceremony included the Veterans ...

Spalding St Paul’s Primary School crowned their own queen to mark the jubilee, one who was 32 when The Queen was crowned. That honour went to 102-year-old Bridget Bloomfield who was crowned by Year Four teacher Gary Ward, a former Staff Sargent in the Royal Corps of Signals in the British Army. Bridget Bloomfield (102) was crowned at by teacher ...

A stunning host of golden daffodils has brought more Chelsea Flower Show success for a South Holland company. Hours and hours of hard work paid off when Taylors Bulbs took its 27th consecutive Chelsea Gold Medal. The company grows 18,000 daffodils to find the perfect 1,200 for its show-stopping display at the world famous flower show. Flowers are cropped fully ...

A Holbeach 90-year-old is looking to toast the Queen’s Jubilee in the same mug she drank from during her coronation. Jean Sauntson was an enthusiastic 20-year-old trainee assistant cook at Holbeach Bank school in 1952 and decorated the hall for all the residents from Holbeach Bank and Holbeach Clough. She cycled to the school at 7am to meet the baker ...

Holbeach is looking blooming marvellous thanks to a community effort. With the town’s In Bloom organisation having stepped aside, others have stepped up to the plate. County and district councillor Tracey Carter, deputy leader of SHDC Nick Worth, along with parish councillor Rachel Flood took on the role of sourcing hanging baskets thanks to money given to South Holland District ...

Peacocks have returned to Spalding, partly thanks to a 90-year-old resident. The birds were once a regular sight in Ayscoughfee Gardens. Now a Spalding family have picked up two from a rescue centre and are re-introducing them. Anthony Grunwell and his mum Anne have been looking after the pair named after her parents Billy and Peggy letting them out after ...

Holbeach is set to welcome back its community minibus as a new committee has taken up the reins. The bus was available to hire at reasonable rates for community use, but a combination of the pandemic and lack of committee members saw the service come to an end. Supporter Martin Howard was keen to see the service reinstated and approached ...