Community

A big-hearted Holbeach woman has raised more than £1,000 by shaving her hair off ahead of chemotherapy treatment for a second cancer diagnosis. Vivienne Marler battled endometrial cancer in May 2019 when her six rounds of chemotherapy following major surgery saw her lose her hair. It grew back within a few weeks but the former hairdresser and her family were ...

Spalding Academy is the latest organisation to offer its support to our annual Give A Gift appeal. Staff at the Spalding secondary have been buying for those children who otherwise would receive no or very few presents at Christmas. Assistant headteacher Daisy Bland said: “We really wanted to support the appeal this year and decided a gifting tree would be ...

Santa and his friends at Holbeach Fire Station joined forces to raise money for charity at the weekend. Arriving in a fire engine instead of a sleigh, Santa and the crew held a tombola and a ‘name the bear’ competition to help raise funds. They also sold copies of the new Horsey Tales children’s book which has been launched to ...

Children in Year Six at Ayscoughfee Hall School were transported back to the year 1899 to celebrate a Victorian Christmas. During the day the children experienced life in a Victorian schoolroom, being taught by an incredibly strict teacher and learning that children should be seen and not heard. Other activities that the children took part in included making Victorian style ...

A kind-hearted business has ensured a South Holland primary school has a Christmas tree for the pupils to enjoy. Nicola and John Chappell, of Glenside Nurseries, have donated the tree because there would normally be one in the school hall – but the children can’t be in there together all at the same time due to the COVID-19 restrictions. “This ...

Year 1 pupils at Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Hall School enjoyed a brilliant pirate day.They started the day with pirate PE in the hall with Zoe Lawniczak, there was shark infested water and lots of planks to walk.The fun continued with some face painting, cake decorating and games.In the afternoon the children entertained their parents via Zoom with pirate songs and poems ...

Spalding Lions will be out and about with Santa and his sleigh again this year. The Lions will not be knocking on doors this month, but donations will be accepted on the night by any of Santa’s helpers with social distancing in place.Sadly the sleigh will not be stopping for Santa to chat with the children or to hand out ...

Generous South Holland residents have been buying toys for our Give A Gift campaign to help make a child smile this Christmas.With more families than ever struggling this year, your gift is more important than ever.The Spalding Voice office will be open from 9am to 5pm weekdays to accept donations. Toys can also be taken to Courtyard Footcare Health and ...

A special book created in Holbeach to raise money for a firefighters charity is on sale.Horsey Tales has three illustrated stories about the adventures of a horse called Tarquin and his animal friends.It has been illustrated by Holbeach firefighter Mike Clarey and created by the author known as Johnny Mackindo.“We are trying to raise funds for the national firefighters charity ...

A group of South Holland care homes is launching a Christmas Message Exchange for residents and the local community.Country Court homes is encouraging people to send messages by card or video as residents face a COVID Christmas.The video recordings can be songs, music or a festive message – and residents are planning on returning the good wishes.At this time of ...

A group supporting people with Parkinson’s Disease is offering a specially created fitness DVD to help during the pandemic. Usually the Spalding and District branch of Parkinson’s UK meet with those with the condition and their carers on the third Thursday of every month at Pinchbeck Village Hall. But they’ve not been able to do that since March.Instead, it’s a ...

A seven-year-old is getting on his saddle to raise money for new library books for his school.Charlie Edgeley is planning to ride his pony Olaf for 10 miles along the Moulton Marsh sea barrier in January.He’s doing so to raise funds for the Friends of John Harrox Primary School group.Charlie himself is in Ahlberg class at the school while mum ...

After several years, Santa is to return to parading through Holbeach in the run up to Christmas, thanks to a town pub.John Budworth and Martin Forward, who run The Crown in Holbeach, have organised the Holbeach Santa Swarm.They’ve had a word with Father Christmas himself who has agreed to sit on the sled they’ve built around town, around Whaplode and ...

Ella’s Project is asking you to Donate a Cuddle this Christmas.The charity has teamed up with Simon Lord, of Lord’s Collectables, for this year’s bid to raise smiles at Christmas.As previously, Ella’s Project founder Mark Le Sage is asking for your donations of brand new soft toys.They’ll be provided as presents to children who might otherwise not receive them.Due to ...

Surfleet is the latest area to launch its own Good Neighbours scheme while Spalding residents are being urged to let their views known on the proposed one for that town. The idea behind it is to organise a group of volunteers who will look to carry out tasks such as picking up prescriptions or shopping for those that need it ...

Voting is now open for the Heart of Holbeach Awards after the finalists in each category were announced.Coun Tracey Carter has set up the awards to recognise those making a difference to the town and asked for nominations.They’ve now been whittled down to a fantastic list of finalists by the judging panel of Coun Carter, Coun Nick Worth and Helen ...

The YMCA in Lincolnshire has appointed a new Director of Community Development.Chris Kirkwood joins the 150-year-old charity from the Lincoln Drill Hall where he spent more than seven years as the chief executive officer.He will spearhead the charity’s childcare and youth work while driving its programmes which support vulnerable people across the county.“In the current climate, the range of services ...

Santa Claus is all set for his proposed annual tour of Spalding. His friends at the Spalding with South Holland Rotary Club have once again organised him to tour the streets of Spalding from Thursday, December 3. He’ll be driven round as many streets as possible through December and also visiting Hall Place, Morrisons in Pinchbeck and the Holbeach Road ...

A Whaplode St Catherine mother and daughter have raised nearly £500 for the Poppy Appeal by making and selling bunting flags. Sam Heanes, alongside mum Wendy Heanes, wanted to say thank you and provide support to the Royal British Legion that runs the appeal after collections and parades were affected and cancelled due to the current pandemic. The pair designed ...

Disney songs are helping a Spalding hairdresser raise money for charity by running for 50 miles during the second lockdown. Hairdresser Amy Harris spent the first lockdown taking part in the couch to 5K challenge. Now she’s literally taking the running a whole lot further and is looking to amass a combined 50 miles during the current lockdown. “I am ...