News

A former Lincolnshire Police officer is facing a lengthy jail sentence after being convicted of a series of historic sexual assaults on four young boys. John Edward Bates, who met his victims through his role as a scout leader at Wittering and Spalding during the 1970s and 1980s, was found guilty by the jury at Lincoln Crown Court of 16 charges ...

A 23-year-old South Holland woman has shared her experience of how volunteering is helping her on the path to a new career. Kathryn Crawt, who grew up in Holbeach and is a former Spalding High School pupil, works in a kids’ club on cruise ships. In January, she decided to focus on volunteering in between trips. She said: “When I’m ...

Fake £20 notes have tried to be passed at Springfields Outlet Shopping in Spalding in recent weeks. Police are warning residents and businesses in Spalding about the situation. A spokesman said: “A number of incidents have been reported at the Springfield shopping centre over the last few weeks. “Please be vigilant and check all notes for authenticity. If in doubt, call 101 ...

Angela Harrison is a South Holland district councillor for Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas. A councillor since May 2007, at first she also had two other part-time jobs, but it’s now a full-time occupation. Coun Harrison has served on the licensing committee for eight years and enjoys it “immensely”. She says: “I particularly like the challenge and responsibility of being ...

The introduction of a policy to limit the number of new premises licences granted in Spalding will not be considered again for at least another five months. South Holland district councillors have been briefed on progress towards addressing the “cumulative impact” of a large number of licensed premises within a specific area. Winsover Road is seen as one area of ...

Four family members of a Spalding man who died from motor neurone disease are taking on a tough 1,800-mile motorcycling challenge. Steve (Sid) Sinclair, Ashley Sinclair and Phil Rodgers (all from Pode Hole) and Will Brassington, of Moulton Seas End, leave England on Saturday, May 28, and aim to travel through France, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg and arrive ...

A mum-of-four who has faced disaster and serious health concerns has vowed to “make a difference” to her family and friends by never giving up on her dreams. Donna Moore suffers from auto-immune diseases lupus and multiple sclerosis and is now waiting to see if she gets the all-clear after cancer, but refuses to let her health stop her – ...

A Spalding surfer plans to body board nine kilometres along the River Welland to raise awareness of the problems caused by dumping rubbish in waterways. Darryn Allen will take to the water on July 30 to paddle on a body board from Spalding Yacht Club in Cradge Bank to the Twin Sisters before swapping to a surf board for the ...

Five schools in South Holland have pledged to get composting for a new contest. They are among the entrants in the Anglian Water Keep It Clear Fat of the Land Composting Challenge, in association with Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service. Free specialist composting bins, worth around £180 each, have been presented to each of them as well as giant pumpkin seeds. All ...

A charity which supports families that have children with disabilities, life-limiting conditions or any additional needs now has a group in Spalding. Little Miracles – based in Peterborough – had a good turnout at its first meeting at The Castle Sports Complex. Now it is hoped that local businesses might be willing to help the support network with a contribution ...

Three South Holland premises are deemed as requiring “major improvement” under the Food Hygiene Rating Scheme. Baltic in Spalding, Whaplode Service Station and Wimberley Hall Farm Shop and Café in Weston have all been given a rating of 1 – the second-worst possible in the government-led scheme. Seven other businesses have a rating of 2 (improvement necessary). However, the total of ...

A question and answer session in Spalding on Monday is aimed at helping people make an informed choice in the EU referendum on June 23. The panel for the “What Does The EU Mean For You?” debate will comprise: Dr Angus Armstrong (National Institute of Economic and Social Research) Prof Catherine Barnard (University of Cambridge) Prof Simon Hix (London School ...

A row between two women in Gedney Hill on Tuesday (May 17) included an alleged assault. It happened outside the McColl’s shop in Hillgate between 9am and 9.30am. Police are appealing for witnesses. Contact PC Lewis Putman at Spalding Police Station by dialling 101 and quoting incident number 74 of May 17.

A former Lincolnshire police officer has today (Tuesday) denied carrying out a string sexual offences against boys. John Edward Bates denies offences against four youngsters in the 1970s and 1980s when he was a scout leader in South Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire. Bates (68), who faces a total of 22 charges, denies the matters and says the incidents never happened. The ...

Lincolnshire Police are hoping to convince South Holland district councillors to turn down an application for a premises licence in Spalding. Ernesta Tamutyte wants permission to sell alcohol at Global Foods in Winsover Road. But police say they believe Miss Tamutyte, of Hallgate, Moulton, is involved in the distribution of smuggled goods. And they also claim she is living with, ...

A drug dealer who left the country instead of turning up for a court hearing has escaped an immediate jail sentence after a court heard he is terminally ill. Campbell Weir was found to have the drug M Cat when he was stopped by police in Spalding. He had been due to appear before Lincoln Crown Court for sentence in February ...

Spalding menswear shop Mann and Son has announced its closure date next month. The Hall Place shop is closed until Thursday (May 19) when it re-opens for a final retirement sale ahead of its last day of trading on Saturday, June 25. The business has been trading from the same premises for 105 years, under the guidance of three generations ...

A former scout has told a jury that he was repeatedly sexually assaulted by an ex-Lincolnshire police officer. The complainant, now in his 40s, told the jury at Lincoln Crown Court that John Edward Bates abused him over a six-year period. Bates, who at the time was a scout leader in Spalding, is currently on trial facing 22 charges involving four ...

Small, not-for-profit community groups operating within ten miles of The Grange Wind Farm site, near Tydd St Mary, should apply now for a grant of up to £5,000. The Community Benefit Fund, which is generated by The Grange Wind Farm located between Sutton Bridge and Tydd St Mary, is in its fourth year of awarding around £30,000 annually to fund ...

Year Ten students at The Priory School in Spalding took part in a Dragons’ Den-style experience before a panel of judges from the Rotary Club of South Holland. Six enterprise teams from the special school each showcased a product of their own design with a presentation using multimedia and visual aids. One pupil with speech impairment was applauded by the ...