LETTERS – Thanks for appeal support

May we wish all our clients a very merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.We would also like to say a very big heartfelt thank you to all our clients and friends that very generously donated to ‘Give a Gift’ this year for all local children who would not otherwise receive a gift this Christmas.We were gifted so ...

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LETTERS – Ben was voice for refugees

One element was lacking in your tributes after the sad death of Benjamin Zephaniah (The Voice, December 14 2023); recognition of Mr Zephaniah’s activism on behalf of refugees.This is evident in his novel Refugee boy (2001) as well as an appearance on BBC radio in 2002.Faced then with an anti-immigration activist, Mr Zephaniah made the dignified and powerful point that ...

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LETTERS – Navy beans were grown in 1980s

I have to correct your article in this week’s Voice entitled Beans Means Long Sutton.Your opening statement: “The first UK grown baked beans have been tinned (should read canned) in Long Sutton” is incorrect.UK grown Navy Beans (the bean which is used in beans in tomato sauce) were first grown in the UK and canned at Long Sutton in the ...

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LETTERS – Shame events are cancelled

What a tremendous turnout on Sunday, December 10 at the Gedney Dyke Village Hall where people came from miles around to watch a trio of entertainment for the Smile It’s Christmas event.I hope the mean spirited new committee who have cancelled all events like this at the hall read the following: £1,000 raised would have automatically gone to Gedney Dyke ...

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LETTERS – Message from Sir John Hayes

Anticipating Christmas should be an unrivalled joy.Yet in our time, all the fuss of preparations – selecting the right foodstuffs, choosing appropriate gifts and expecting rarely-encountered little known relatives – can blur the essence of Christmas.It is sometimes said that Christmas is, above all, a time for children and, when freed from the necessary preoccupations of adulthood, there remains a ...

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LETTERS – Fined £150 for dropping cig butt

I wondered if your readers were aware that fines being handed out for littering are less for only a few days after the incident.I was fined after I dropped a cigarette butt on the floor.I shouldn’t have done what I did and was fined.I was fined £150, but £100 if I paid within ten days. I believe I did this, ...

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LETTERS – Best kept secret is closing

I have always considered the Unique Cottage cafe at Low Fulney to be one of Spalding’s best kept secrets.Sadly it has been announced it will cease trading on Thursday, December 21.Let’s hope someone will come forward to keep it open so the town does not lose another gem. P SpencerBelgrave RoadSpalding

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LETTERS – Celebrating special and brave acts

As we head towards Christmas, I believe it is appropriate to concentrate on the good and some extraordinary acts by people who describe themselves as ‘normal’, ‘just doing my job’ or ‘it was nothing’!Let me start with the extraordinary acts of three young men – Charlie, Ben and Callum. I was privileged to accompany them to the National Police Public Bravery ...

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LETTERS – Thanks for bringing the magic

Over the past few weeks we have had some terrible weather, wet and cold but almost every night, stalwart volunteers from several charities are once again walking their way around almost the whole of South Holland to bring some Christmas magic to thousands of children and adults along the routes.The Santa sleighs are working their way around our towns and ...

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LETTERS – Why is Halifax closing?

I find it difficult to understand why Spalding’s branch of Halifax bank is closing down in April 2024.I know the branch is well used.I am in my 40s and IT literate and competent, but I still go to the branch every month for a print out of a payment because I can’t do that at home or anywhere else.I hope ...

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LETTERS – Looking for witnesses to accident

On Friday, December 8 at 11.45am we were involved in a road collision with another car at the roadworks on the Weston bypass.The other car sped through a red light to try and get through and collided with our car as we went through a green light to merge onto the main road, A151.Our car is a red Kia Rio, ...

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LETTERS – A special person who brought joy

Much has been written over the last week regarding the sad loss of Benjamin Zephaniah.I would like to pay tribute to this special human being on a local and personal level.I first met Benjamin around 11 years ago a year after he had moved to this area.I’d parked my car in Holbeach, on returning to my car he was getting ...

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LETTERS – Well done for festive market

I would like to personally congratulate all who were involved in bringing together the Christmas Market over the past weekend.It took my memory back 60 years ago when Holbeach was like that every Thursday, Friday and Saturday.Sadly now Holbeach is on life support. A huge change is needed to help revive our town, and not have money wasted on roundabouts.I ...

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LETTERS – Thanks for kind hamper

I would like to say a big thank you to someone called Ellie, who left a Christmas hamper in my porchIt was kind, thoughtful and generous.Once again thank you and merry Christmas. KathLinden CourtSpalding

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LETTERS – Railway report is flawed

The Network Rail report suggesting there cannot be a train service to London because of the Spalding Level Crossing is deeply flawed.A London service would likely be provided by an “open access” operator using four or five carriage trains cascaded from East Midlands Railway or West Coast. There would likely be only five trains per day in each direction.Just recently ...

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LETTER: Thanks for kind gesture

This afternoon whilst shopping – luckily not for petrol – at Morrison’s, I was embarrassed to find that I did not have my credit card at the point of payment.I had to return some of the goods and paid with the cash I had in my purse.On the way out, and to my surprise the lady behind me in the ...

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LETTER: We oppose Lincolnshire mayor

South Lincolnshire Green Party has opposed the imposition of a mayor on Lincolnshire, as announced by the Government on the day of the Autumn Statement.Martin Blake, joint co-ordinator for the South Holland area, said: “This is a scheme cooked up by a small number of senior Conservatives in the county, not one for which there is any evidence of public ...

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LETTER: Statement offers little for elderly

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s Autumn Statement contained little or nothing for millions of older people still struggling to cope with the ongoing cost of living crisis.His mini budget with more than 100 measures appears to give with one hand, while stealthily taking away with the other, heaping more pressure on our oldest and most vulnerable.His statement also introduces a potentially punitive ...

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LETTER: Horse manure dumped

As well as the usual rubbish being dumped around the Welland access points, Cradge Bank and South Drove, individuals are now dumping fresh horse manure during daylight hours outside our properties.Obviously I have now removed it, but what is Spalding coming to! Jim ThackrayThe BungalowSouth DroveSpalding

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LETTER: Complaint is not front line staff

I recently wrote to you criticising East Midlands Railways for their practice of closing the waiting room/ticket office at Spalding Station during official opening hours without any warning or explanation.This prompted a letter from a Ms Valerie Dodimead extolling the virtues of the station staff. I’m not sure why.My complaint is with EMR, not the front line workers who I ...

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