Community

Spalding United Reformed Church is kicking off the celebrations to mark its 200th anniversary this weekend. The origins of the Pinchbeck Road church date back to 1819 when members began meeting together in a Red Lion Street hall for what became the Independent Chapel. Events are being held throughout the year to mark the double centenary. The first of these ...

There will be no new NHS dental surgeries opening this month in Spalding. The news has come as a blow to South Holland residents with no access to regular health service dentists. Those already operating in the town don’t want to take on more patients, despite the possibility of funding. JDSP Dental Ltd was poised to move into Winsover Road ...

A kind-hearted schoolboy spent some of his holiday raising money for other children. Oliver Stanley (8) bought toys for the children’s ward at the Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, for the third year running. He raised a total of £150 with a raffle and a donation from Moulton Harrox Sports and Social Club which gave £50. The tractor-mad youngster started his fundraising ...

A group that helps the blind and partially sighted in Spalding is gearing up for a 2019 full of activities. The South Lincolnshire Blind Society aims to connect people with sensory loss through regular sessions. These include the Monday Social ‘eyes’ at 12pm to 2pm on the first Monday of every month and the All Day Social ‘eyes’ from 10am ...

Springfields Motorbike Show will be back for its 33rd year on January 26 and 27. Held at Springfields Events and Conference Centre, Spalding, this year’s show will welcome Dean Harrison and Brad Ray on both days. Dean (29) is one of the finest current road racers and Brad (21) already has 14 years’ racing experience. TT legend Steve Plater will ...

It’s been an incredibly busy Christmas for a local charity who helped out with the rescue of 30 dogs many of whom were being bred illegally. Central German Shepherd Rescue (CGSR) was already full to capacity last week when they were asked to help home some of the dogs that had been illegally bred and possibly used for dog fighting. ...

Groups are coming together in a bid to improve the lives of people in Crowland affected by dementia. Setting up a regular cafe for those with the condition and their carers is one idea being looked at by charity Tonic Health, Crowland Cares and Abbeyview Surgery. The organisations are looking at the possibility of setting up a dementia day service ...

Spalding-based health and wellbeing charity Tonic Health has been formally recognised for its support for unpaid carers. The Award ensures that organisations place high value on the identification, views and needs of carers and is awarded to those organisations who demonstrate that they meet the criteria for ensuring a high quality standard of service for carers. The award is run ...

The Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal is thousands of pounds better off thanks to the generosity of the people of Holbeach. Treasurer of the British Legion’s branch in the town, Alan Sheppard, told a meeting last week that at least £15,435 had been raised during 2018. This represented the sum donated in collection boxes at shops and other locations around ...

Tydd St Giles Golf Club has been clubbing together for charities. The club’s members of staff and leisure centre donated a host of toys to The Salvation Army’s toy appeal. And the club’s senior section, for those over 60, donated at least £3,613 to the Make Them Smile charity while raising money over the season. This was backed up by ...

A public meeting planned in Long Sutton will discuss a recent public notice which suggested parking charges are heading to the town. A public notice issued by South Holland District Council in early December will be at the centre of discussions. Originally the meeting was announced amid fears over the potential introduction of parking charges in Long Sutton. But the ...

It was such a tough decision to pick the winner of our Festive Pets competition this year – but someone had to take first prize and Ozzy is the 2018 Festive Pet champ. Almost everyone who took part was rocking the Santa look with hats, bandanas and suits galore. But there was only one soul brave enough to take on ...

Patients at the Beech Lodge respite home, part of Holbeach Hospital, were treated to a special festive trip to Baytree Garden Centre just before Christmas. They were able to meet Father Christmas himself, feed the reindeer and have afternoon tea. Activities coordinator, Jackie White said: “It was a really lovely afternoon, the residents got to reminisce about meeting Father Christmas ...

Spalding toddler Mia Clucas has helped national disability charity Sense raise more than £80,000 after being chosen as the face of its 2018 Christmas appeal. Two-year-old Mia was born with two extremely rare genetic conditions – Coffin-Siris Syndrome and PCDH12 – which left her with a malformed brain and have rendered her severely disabled. Her conditions cause epilepsy and severe ...

A seven-year-old South Holland boy was so moved by the plight of the homeless that he decided to help raise money. Seth Terrington saw a TV advert for the Salvation Army’s appeal to pay for a room to help a homeless person. He asked his parents, Ollie and Helen, to rewind the ad so he could watch it again and ...

Santa will return to the streets of Holbeach in 2019 after being unable to do his normal rounds there this year. For a number of years, his little helpers at the Rotary Club of Holbeach have taken Father Christmas around the town and surrounding villages. However the club closed its doors earlier this year. Through the Rotary Club of Spalding ...

It will be a warmer Christmas for hundreds of children thanks to the selfless efforts of one Cowbit woman. Jenny Clay, who lives with her husband Peter, said she can’t just sit and watch television and needs to keep busy, so she knits children’s clothes to give to the less fortunate. “I’m always knitting and clothes I’ve made in the ...

The generosity of the public will make Christmas a much nicer time for those in need as the Give a Gift campaign celebrates its most successful year to date. Spearheaded by Coun Harry Drury, Give a Gift has got donated toys to less fortunate for the last seven years.     Harry said: “Even after seven years of doing this, ...

A Royal Marine veteran whose ship was torpedoed during World War Two has passed away. Robert Wade of Georgian Court on Haverfield Road, Spalding turned 98 on November 11 when he attended Spalding’s Remembrance Day commemorations. The former Royal Marine and latterly keen puppeteer and master of ceremonies passed away peacefully at Pilgrim Hospital on Monday, November 26. He leaves ...

A local choir has donated money to help an organisation that provides sanitary products to schools. A Handful of Harmonies has given £100 to The Red Box Project. It provides schools with the boxes if a young woman needs a sanitary product urgently. A spokesman for The Red Box Project, said: “The ladies at A Handful of Harmonies in Spalding ...