Money, supporters and potential clients are steadily lining up for a mother-of-two from Pinchbeck passionate about the struggles people have with gaining weight.

Kimberly Amess (22) is hoping to have her own Weight Gain Support Group ready to offer help and advice to people in the same position she was two years ago when she weighed just 5st 4lbs.

But an inner drive to help others after regaining her own appetite for healthy eating saw Kimberly team up with fiancee Nathan Ward (22) student nurse Lucy Stebbings (21) and others to raise nearly £500 towards the costs of starting the group.

Kimberly, whose story was featured in the Lincolnshire Free Press three weeks ago, said: “Since the article was published, between 40 and 50 people have found us on social media or contacted us by email about their weight gain problems.

“We genuinely want to help people who are struggling, but it’s a big thing to get people to come forward and say ‘I’ve got a problem’”.

To boost the group’s chances of success, a fundraising quiz night took place at Holbeach United Community Sports Academy two weeks ago which raised just over £300.

Along with donations pledged on social media, Kimberley has easily smashed her £400 fundraising target ahead of a grand waxing event at Love is in the Hair, Boston Road South, Holbeach, on Saturday, August 13.

Kimberly said: “We’re waiting for the leaflets and posters to be done but we’re hoping to launch the Weight Gain Support Group in September.”

From baby meals to a 12 oz steak for Pinchbeck mother Kimberly

New appetite to tackle issue of underweight wilderness

Five NHS staff based in Spalding were among 63 from all over Lincolnshire honoured for long service.

The five ladies have chalked up 130 years’ service between them out of an impressive 1,600 years worked by all 63 Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) staff.

Receiving awards for 30 years’ service were:

• Jill Anderson, a Head of Safeguarding based in Spalding;

• Annette Andrews, a Health Visitor based in Spalding;

• Linda Smith, an Assistant Practitioner based in Spalding.

And being rewarded for 20 years’ service were:

• Sarah Goode, a Respiratory Nurse Specialist based in Spalding;

• Lisa Harding, a Speech and Language Therapist based in Spalding.

LCHS chair Elaine Baylis said: “I would like to thank each of these individuals for the dedication they have shown to their professions.

“It’s always very heart-warming to hear about their experiences of working in the NHS, and particularly those who have spent their years with patients and families in Lincolnshire. It’s a pleasure to be able to help them celebrate their loyal service.”

Staff received their long service award at an afternoon tea ceremony. Unfortunately, Annette Andrews and Jill Anderson were unable to attend and were not pictured.

Long Sutton’s annual Music in the Park event is ready to go ahead again this year after it secured the crucial backing of parish councillors.

Issues over health and safety matters were agreed between organisers of the event in Winfrey Park on Sunday, August 28, and members of Long Sutton Parish Council keen to ensure that all the “necessary paperwork was in place”.

The fate of this year’s event looked uncertain after claims that parish councillors had withheld permission for the 12-hour family music event to go ahead.

But at a meeting last Thursday, parish council members voted in favour of allowing Music in the Park to take place, with acts including the Peele Community College Band and singing sensation Lauren Quenby Cambridge who amazed organisers and visitors with her performance at last year’s event.

Jack Tyrrell, chairman of Events and Entertainment in Long Sutton (EELS) whose members organise Music in the Park, said: “I’m very pleased that the parish council has done what we were all hoping for in supporting it.

“The whole idea of Music in the Park is to bring people together for one day, especially after hearing from a lady who said that she hadn’t seen her school friend for 20 years, even though they live in the same town.

Music in the Park is in its fourth year and Jack said: “We’re not doing it for ourselves but for the community.”

New Long Sutton Parish Council chairman Coun Charles Moore confirmed his happiness for Music in the Park to go ahead after meeting the necessary health and safety requirements.

Coun Moore said: “We’re always in support of people who want to do things in the town, but we just have to make sure that things are in place to make such events safe.

“That was the process we went through this time and with everything now in place, we’re happy to support Jack Tyrrell and EELS with the event at Winfrey Park as we’ve done before and my chairmanship will continue in that way.

“As long as everything is in place then the council will support it.”

Party in town park appeals to all parts

Long Sutton events chairman apologises over fireworks and beacon disappointment

Council row threat to park music day in Long Sutton

Support for music event at stormy Long Sutton Parish Council meeting

Police have issued a witness plea after a stolen car was found burnt out in South Fen Road at Bourne at around 2am on Saturday.

Police say evidence suggests it was a black Citroen C4, registration KL56 WXG, which was stolen without keys from Stainfield Road, Hanthorpe, a few hours earlier.

Anyone with information, or anyone who recalls seeing the car between 10.30pm on Friday and 2am on Saturday, is asked to call police on 101 and quote incident number 262 of July 30.

A mass brawl brought two red cards in last night’s pre-season game between Holbeach United and Spalding United.

The ‘friendly’ at Carter’s Park turned violent in the first half when Tulips midfielder Nathan Whitehead was dismissed and Tigers defender Stacy Cartwright followed for retaliation.

Spalding boss Dave Frecklington said: “It was a late tackle but nothing really.

“It wasn’t a bad challenge and it didn’t deserve a red card.

“You can’t take aggression out of players in non-League football where we want to see blood and thunder.

“I thought the referee spoiled the game and there were worse tackles after that incident.

“Until the officials are up to standard then we are going to get games which finish 10v10 or 9v9 all the time.

“We’ve got two competitive central midfielders and that’s how I’d like all the team to play.

“Referees need to look at themselves. Are they turning up just to get paid or are they going to let games flow?”

Holbeach manager Tom Roberts added: “The assistant referee was 10 yards away and he gave nothing.

“The tackle was late and very high so by the letter of the law then he’s got to be punished.

“But you should also take into consideration that it was a pre-season friendly and now both teams are going into the season with suspensions.

“Tyler Wright was on the receiving end of the challenge and Stacy was trying to get him away when he was grabbed from behind.”

The only goal came when on-loan Lincoln City winger Andy Wright converted a penalty awarded for Jonny Allen’s push on Jenk Acar.

Spalding’s first pre-season match was also marred by a mass brawl when Matt Varley was sent off at King’s Lynn Town three weeks ago.

Varley was suspended for last night’s game and Frecklington is hopeful Whitehead will not be forced to serve a ban in the opening weeks of the league campaign.

The Tulips are away to league rivals Stamford on Saturday in the Lincolnshire FA Senior Cup semi-final.

The Tigers take on Swaffham Town in the Emirates FA Cup extra preliminary round this weekend.

Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill and Greg Rutherford grabbing gold in a 44-minute blitz at London 2012’s ‘Super Saturday’ has been hailed the nation’s favourite Olympic memory of all time.

The stunning evening of sport took ‘gold’ in the survey of 2,000 Brits, ahead of Usain Bolt’s golds in the 100m and 200m at the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

Danny Boyle’s epic opening ceremony, featuring David Beckham in a speedboat and James Bond and the ‘Queen’ parachuting into the stadium took bronze

Jessica Bridge, of Ladbrokes, said: “Super Saturday might have only lasted for 44 minutes but it’s an iconic memory that will be talked about for generations to come.

“Patriotic punters all over the country are hopeful Team GB will hit the ground running in Rio and pick up where they left off in London four years ago.”

Jessica Ennis-Hill came top of the charts in terms of popularity, with 20 per cent of Brits picking her as their favourite Team GB athlete - ahead of Mo Farah on 15 per cent and Andy Murray on seven per cent.

The men’s 100 metre final is the most eagerly-anticipated event in Rio, with the USA’s Justin Gatlin and Bolt’s Jamaican compatriot Yohan Blake all set to battle Bolt for gold.

And almost a third of people believe Team GB will equal 2012’s haul of 29 golds, according to the poll.

Jessica Bridge added: “Everyone has their own special memory of London 2012 and it’s provided a generation of young athletes with inspiration to follow their own dreams.

“It’s also hugely encouraging to see that 87 per cent of Brits think that Olympic athletes set a good example for kids, and stars like Usain Bolt, Mo Farah and Tom Daley will surely be front and foremost in Rio, as they were in London.”

THE TOP 10 OLYMPIC MEMORIES

1. ‘Super Saturday’ at London 2012

2. Usain Bolt’s double gold at Beijing 2008

3. The London 2012 opening ceremony

4. Jesse Owens’ four gold medals in Berlin, 2936

5. The Jamaican Bobsleigh team’s appearance at the Calgary Winter Olympics

6. Steve Redgrage wins his fifth gold medal in Sydney in 2000

7. Michael Phelps takes eight golds in Beijing, 2008

8. Female athletes are allowed to compete for the first time in Paris, 1900

9. Athletes in wheelchairs allowed to compete in London in 1948

10. Dame Kelly Holmes wins double gold in Athens, 2004

For their final home match of the season in the Unicorns Eastern Division, Lincolnshire hosted the reigning champions Cumberland, at Grantham.

The home side needed to win to retain hopes of securing the Eastern Division title and obtain maximum points if they could.

David Lucas returned to captain the side after injury and Luke Robinson also returned.

They replaced Anish Patel and Ross Carnelley.

Lincolnshire won the toss and elected to bat.

They made a disastrous start, losing two wickets for seven runs and when Conrad Louth was dismissed for 36 the total was 66 for 3.

It was at this point that the match swung back into Lincolnshire’s favour as Jonny Tattersall and Adam Tillcock added 125 for the fourth wicket before Tattersall was dismissed for 87.

Carl Wilson and Tillcock added a further 106 before Wilson retired hurt for a valuable 31.

Luke Robinson and Martin Weightman pushed the score along but it was Tillcock who again stole the show with a brilliant 165 off 205 balls (15 fours and 7 sixes), his second score of 150 in successive matches.

Lincolnshire’s innings closed after their allotted 90 overs on 381 for 7, securing the maximum four batting points.

Cumberland made a fine start to their innings adding 78 before their first wicket fell.

At 150 for 2 they were well in the game but then they lost four wickets for the addition of only seven runs, including opener Josh Tolley for 85.

The match was now firmly in Lincolnshire’s control and Cumberland were finally dismissed for 226.

Jonny Tattersall with 4 for 28 was the pick of Lincolnshire’s bowlers.

With a lead of 155, Lincolnshire’s object was now to force the pace, but again they made a poor start losing their first two wickets for one run.

Conrad Louth (42) and Louis Kimber (51) put them back in control and by the close of play on day two they were 133 for 4, a lead of 288.

On the final morning Lincolnshire pressed ahead finally declaring on 189 for 5 with Adam Tillcock again top scoring with 69 and Luke Robinson 20 not out.

This left Cumberland requiring 345 for victory off 88 overs.

Lincolnshire struck early with David Lucas dismissing opener Will Hale for nought.

Josh Tolley again batted well for the visitors with 60, but received little support and when Alex Willerton bowled the dangerous Gary Pratt for 38 the only threat to a Lincolnshire victory was the drizzle and poor light.

A short stoppage for rain did not halt Lincolnshire’s victory charge and the final wicket was secured with around 50 minutes playing time remaining, the visitors being all out for 194 giving Lincolnshire victory by 150 runs and a maximum 24 points.

Lincolnshire are now second in the division, two points behind Northumberland.

They face Staffordshire away at Knypersley, near Stoke commencing on Sunday, August 14 in their final game.

Latest figures from Ofsted into school performance show that 90.3% of Lincolnshire schools are now rated good or outstanding.

This puts the county 52nd out of 152 authorities and fourth from the top compared to similar local authorities around the country.

Lincolnshire is well ahead of neighbouring local authorities in the East Midlands, the next best of which is Leicestershire with 88% of good or outstanding schools.

The average performance for England as a whole is below Lincolnshire at only 87.4%, while the county also comfortably beats the East Midlands average of 84.5%.

Councillor Mrs Patricia Bradwell, Executive Councillor for Children’s Services, said: “This vindicates all the good work we have put into this area over recent years. Together with our partner, CfBT Education Trust, school improvement has continued to be a priority to ensure schools provide the best start in life for children and young people.

“It also contradicts Sir Michael Wilshaw’s recent claims about the East Midlands being the worst performing region in the country on a range of key education indicators. Clearly this isn’t the case and in Lincolnshire we have some of the best performing schools in the country.

“We have an excellent range of maintained, foundation, faith and grammar schools across the county, plus a large number of academies particularly in the secondary sector. This gives parents a wide choice of quality education which caters for all of our children and young people. Schools have embraced the challenge to be the best they can and we will continue to strive to improve Lincolnshire’s standing still further.”

Bill Ramsey will be talking in Spalding on Saturday about his career flying a Lancaster, a Dakota, working alongside the Red Arrows and, more recently, flying the Vulcan XH558.

The talk is at Ayscoughfee Hall Museum (6.30pm) and tickets (places are limited) are £5 from 01775 764555.

Get ready to rock with the family-friendly festival that is Music in the Market Place in Spalding.

The fifth annual event begins at noon on Friday and it’s a chance to lounge in deckchairs while listening to live music from young local artists or enjoy some of the fun activities that have been arranged.

Initiated, created and organised by young people who attend Youth Takeover at South Holland Centre, the mini festival is entirely free and celebrates the county’s young musicians.

Owners of old tractors – and possibly some modern ones too – will be enjoying a working day at Moulton Seas End on Sunday.

Paul Beecham, who regularly organises tractor rallies and working days to raise money for a variety of local charities, is behind the event.

It is being held on land behind the Golden Lion in the village, courtesy of Buck’s Farm.

Paul says drivers and enthusiasts will assemble at around 9am for a barbecue, bacon butties “and chat”, before a day of ploughing or cultivation.

He said: “Ninety-nine per cent will be old tractorors, but modern tractors are welcome as well and spectators are also welcome.

“I like working days and every time I get hold of a field I like to organise a working day because other people like them too.”

The charge for taking part in the day, which Paul estimates will end at around 4pm, is £5 per tractor.

All the money raised will go to Moulton Harrox Cricket Club on this occasion.

However, in the past Paul has raised money for Moulton Mill, and various health charities. He has more events planned in the autumn.

Bookmark in Spalding has selected The Staircase Girls by Catherine Seymour as its book of the week.

Glancing up at the enormous wooden, carved gate, she hesitated. This was a secret world she was about to enter...

For 16-year-old Joyce, who lived in one of the poorest streets in Cambridge, the college building where she was about to enter represented privilege, wealth, a life she’d never live.

As a bedder, Joyce would be working up and down one of the stone staircases, making the beds of the male students, sweeping floors, dusting desks.

She never expected to also find herself mothering, chastising and sometimes even covering up for ‘her boys’.

The Staircase Girls takes us into the lives of Joyce and other bedders, like Nance, Maud, Rose and Audrey.

They endured the Second World War and then had to contend with poverty, ill health and bereavement.

They loved, lost and loved again.

Revealing their untold stories for the first time, this is a vivid, poignant account of these remarkable women’s lives.

The book retails for £7.99 but there is a 20 per cent discount voucher in the Spalding Guardian of August 4.

Summer entertainment continues at Springfields in Spalding with CBBC’s Sid Sloane Thursday and Friday (noon and 2pm) and Pip Ahoy from Channel 5’s Milkshake next week (noon, 1pm, 2pm).

They are part of the calendar of free events at Springfields.

Baston is returning to the Blitz with a weekend of 1940s events that will entertain everyone.

All-day entertainment includes Paul Casper (as George Formby), demonstration dancing and Forties Favourites by The Blitz Dancers, flypasts on both days, and the chance to sit in the cockpit of a Spitfire.

There will be military and home front living history displays and re-enactments, vintage and military vehicles as well as ‘vintage’ amusements, such as Punch and Judy, airsoft shooting range and a play area.

The event is on Brudenell Playing Fields (10am to 5pm both days). Tickets are £5/£3 per day or £7/£5 for the weekend. Accompanied children under 16 go free.

The whole family is invited to the Rainbow Food and Music Fiesta taking place at The Five Bells, Tydd St Mary, on Saturday (11am to 6pm).

Apart from live music, there will be stalls and children’s fun events.

Events in Spalding and district from Thursday, August 4 to Wednesday, August 10.

Learn to play: with Kirton Brass Band, and tomorrow, 10am-noon, Kirton Methodist Church Hall, 01775 712420.

Summer Fun:

Children’s activity day, 9am-4pm, Peele Leisure Centre, Long Sutton, PE12 9LF, book 01406 366900.

Badminton, and tomorrow and Monday, 2.30-4pm, Spalding Badminton Club (next Castle Sports Complex), book 07429 512228.

Trampolining, and tomorrow, 4-6pm, 5.30-7.30pm, Sir John Gleed School, Spalding, book 01775 422452.

Summer hockey, 9.30-11am, Glen Park, Station Road, Surfleet, book 01775 724832.

Pottery lessons, 9.30am-noon, 1-3.30pm; paracord rope work 1-3pm, Long Sutton Barns, book 01406 362500.

Improve your horse jumping, 11am-noon, Four Winds Equestrian Centre, Leaveslake Drove, West Pinchbeck, book 01775 640533.

Arts and crafts: 11am-3pm, Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding, 01775 764555.

Family fun beach days, 1-4pm, Gosberton (details on booking) 01205 311794.

Girls football training, U14, 6.30-8pm, Knight Street Playing Field, Pinchbeck, book 07803 076490.

friday

Holbeach Music and Beer Festival: 6-11pm, Holbeach United Community Sports Academy.

Mill open weekend: and tomorrow, 11am-3pm, Sneath’s Mill, Lutton Gowts, PE12 9LQ.

South Lincs Strollers: Culversthorpe, 10.20am, park at car park at the lakes, 01529 497791.

Summer Fun:

Gymnastics, Spalding Gymnastics Academy, Cradge Bank, Spalding, book 01775 713599.

Blacksmithing, 10.30am-3pm, Chain Bridge Forge, book 07960 587724.

Taekwondo, 7.30-8.45pm, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding, book 01775 760190.

Saturday

Baston in the Blitz: and tomorrow, live entertainment, BBMF flypast requested, 10am-5pm, Blitz dance today only 7.30pm, Brudenell Playing Fields, Main Street, Baston, PE6 9PA, 01778 561148.

Bill Ramsey: talk by last pilot to captain the Vulcan aircraft, 6.30pm, Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding, 01775 764555.

Farm tour: and sunflower walk, 10am, Vine House Farm, Deeping St Nicholas, PE11 3DG, 01775 630208.

Holbeach Music and Beer Festival: Rick Parfitt Jnr, noon-11pm, Holbeach United Community Sports Academy.

Spalding Cycle Club: Go-Ride coaching session, 10am-noon, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding, 07831 737715.

Horticultural show: noon, Ruby Hunt Centre, Donington.

British sign language taster day: 10am, South Holland Centre, Spalding, book deafinitely.co.uk

Sunday

Spalding Ramblers: 10.30am from car park Kinema in the Woods, Woodhall Spa, 01775 680404.

Holbeach Music and Beer Festival: noon-10.30pm, Holbeach United Community Sports Academy.

Deepings Raft Race: 11am from Waterton Arms pub, Deeping St James, 07703 016492.

Working tractor day: 9am-4pm, behind Golden Lion, Moulton Seas End, 07825 609575.

Quiz: 7.30pm, Long Sutton RBL, 01406 362076.

Folk music dance and song: 11am, George Hotel, Leadenham, LN5 0PN.

Summer Fun:

Blacksmithing, 11am-3pm, Chain Bridge Forge, book 07960 587724.

Taekwondo, 10.30am-noon, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding, book 01775 760190.

Monday

Theatre workshop: Act II, Voyage of the Dawn Treader, 10am-4pm daily, performance Friday, South Holland Centre, Spalding, 01776 764777.

Pip Ahoy: Channel 5 Milkshake, until Friday, 20 minute walkabout, noon, 1pm, 2pm, Springfields Outlet Shopping, Spalding.

Fibromyalgia support group: 1-4pm, Ship Albion, Albion Street, Spalding, 0844 887 2604.

Summer Fun:

Urban art paint spraying, 10am-12.30pm, 1.30-4pm, Long Sutton Barns, book 01406 362500.

Roller disco, 2-4pm, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding.

Teen circuits, 4-5pm; children’s activity day, until Thursday, 9am-4pm, Peele Leisure Centre, Long Sutton, PE12 9LF, book 01406 366900.

Gymnastics, recreational 9am-noon, advanced 1-4pm, tomorrow and Friday, Spalding Gymnastics Academy, Cradge Bank, Spalding, book 01775 713599.

Trampolining, Thursday and Friday, 4-6pm, 5.30-7.30pm, Sir John Gleed School, Spalding, book 01775 422452.

Holiday club, to Friday, 8.30am-12.30pm, 1.30-5.30pm, Spalding Primary School, Woolram Wygate, book 07590 034490.

Fit for sport activity camp, to Friday, standard day 9.30am-4.30pm, extended day 8.30am-5.30pm, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding, book www.fitforsport.co.uk/activity-camps

Inflatable session, until Friday, 1.30-2.30pm, Spalding Swimming Pool, 01775 725978.

Tuesday

Summer Fun:

Family fun beach days: 1-4pm, Cowbit (details on booking) 01205 311794.

Introduction to horse riding, 10.30am-noon, Four Winds Equestrian Centre, West Pinchbeck, book 01775 640533.

Diamondz DG Summer School, 9am-12.30pm, Moose Hall, Love Lane, Spalding, book 07928 870118.

Mini monsters bug hunt, 11am-noon, 2-3pm, RSPB Frampton Marsh Nature Reserve, PE20 1AY, book 01205 724678.

Basic crochet, 1-3pm, Long Sutton Barns, Vicarage Lane, Long Sutton, book 01406 362500.

Pottery painting, until Saturday, 10am-4pm, Doodles, Unique Cottage Studios, Fulney Lane South, Spalding, 07940 449424.

Wednesday

Crafty Coffee and Cake Club: 10am-noon, village hall, Algarkirk.

LCVS Local Outreach: support group, 10am-noon, Ruby Hunt Centre, Donington, make appointment 01205 510888.

Summer Fun:

Gymnastics, advanced 1-4pm, Spalding Gymnastics Academy, Cradge Bank, book 01775 713599.

Trampolining, 4-6pm, Sir John Gleed School, Spalding, book 01775 422452.

Summer hockey with Spalding Hockey Club, 9.30-11am, Glen Park, Station Road, Surfleet, book 01775 724832.

Recycled glass mosaics, 9.30am-noon; basic cross stitch and basic sewing, 1-4pm, Long Sutton Barns, book 01406 362500.

Own a pony day, 10.30am-4pm, Four Winds Equestrian Centre, West Pinchbeck, book 01775 640533.

Indoor bowls, 1-2pm, Castle Sports Complex, Spalding, book 01775 762178.

Activate, bring a picnic, 8-19 years, 11am-3pm, Pinchbeck Community Hub and Library, 01775 761161.

Teen badminton, 4-5pm, Peele Leisure Centre, Long Sutton, book 01406 366900.

Table tennis, 7.30-9pm, Castle Sports Complex, book 07801 655292.

Pond dipping, and Friday, 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, RSPB Frampton Marsh, PE20 1AY, 01205 724678.

Movies

SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE

The Secret Life of Pets, Thursday 11am, 3D Thursday 2pm; Independence Day: Resurgence, Thursday 6.30pm; Absolutely Fabulous The Movie, Friday, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday 7.30pm, Tuesday 2pm, 7.30pm; Ice Age Collision Course, Saturday, Monday and Wednesday 2pm, Tuesday 11am

For more information visit www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

PETERBOROUGH SHOWCASE

For times visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

Music

Friday

Music in the Market Place, Youth Takeover live music mini festival, noon-5pm, Market Place, Spalding.

Saturday

Food and music fiesta, Jessie’s Ghost, Chest of Pogs, Latino Sound Band, Fusion, stalls, children’s activities, 11am-6pm, Five Bells, Tydd St Mary, PE13 5QH, 07943 636202; Kenny Rich, 8.30pm, Long Sutton RBL, 01406 362076

Sunday

Ryan, 8pm, Donington RBL, 01775 821112.

Theatre

The Cresset, Peterborough The Proclaimers.

Tolethorpe, Stamford

Macbeth, The Tempest.

Key Theatre, Peterborough

Bryan Adams (open air embankment).

A regular column by the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust’s Rachel Shaw.

Summer is definitely a time for enjoying the outdoors.

For wildlife watchers this is when insect life is most abundant and the best time to get to know moths, dragonflies, crickets, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs and, of course, butterflies.

Arguably the prettiest of our insects, a range of different butterfly species could be visiting your garden.

These include small tortoiseshells, red admirals, peacocks, painted ladies, commas, speckled woods, large whites, green-veined whites, and small whites.

If you venture further afield into the countryside or to a nature reserve you could spot even more species such as gatekeepers, ringlets, meadow browns and perhaps common blues and small coppers.

Some butterflies really do live up to their names. Small coppers have small coppery orange wings spanning about 3cm; specked woods are brown with cream speckles that look like the dappled sun in a woodland; commas have ragged-looking orange and brown wings and if you get a chance to look closely at the underside of the hindwing, there is a small white comma-shaped marking.

I’ve never seen one but apparently the caterpillars of comma butterflies have brown and white flecks which make them look like bird-droppings and help to camouflage them!

One of our largest butterflies is the painted lady. They are mainly a pinky-orange above, with black tips to the forewings adorned with white and black spots and a wingspan of about 7cm.

Painted lady butterflies are migrants to the UK from North Africa, the Middle East and southern Europe during the summer. Sometimes, as happened in 2009, they can be seen migrating here in enormous numbers. It’s wonderful to see them feasting on the nectar of thistles and buddleia.

Alongside them you may spot day-flying moths such as the silver-y, which has a characteristic silver y-shaped mark on the forewings, or if you’re really lucky, the hummingbird hawkmoth. These moths are greyish-brown with bright orange hindwings. It is their flight that is their distinguishing feature: they hover over flowers and feed with their long proboscis. They flutter their wings so quickly that the flashes of the hindwings make them appear orange and there is an audible hum.

Enjoy the summer, and the abundance of wildlife that can be seen in nature.

Deepings Raft Race is going to the movies as its theme for this year’s event on Sunday.

Teams traditionally get dressed up in wild and wacky costume for the race on the River Welland, and this year’s theme gives participants plenty of scope for brilliant ideas for both themselves and their rafts.

Rafts will set off for the start line on the river behind the Waterton Arms pub in Deeping St James from 11am.

The race runs from Deeping St James to Market Deeping.

Teams are taking part from local youth groups, sports club, charities and other organisations, and more than 30 have entered so far.

Last year, the event raised more than £6,000 for Dementia Support South Lincolnshire, which received £4,000, and the Exotic Pet Refuge in Deeping St James, which was given £2,000.

There were also smaller donations to Market Deeping Air Cadets and Deepings Rugby Club, both of which helped out at last year’s race.

The day also features displays of classic cars and bikes, a funfair, music and dance demonstrations, two bus bars and fancy dress contests.

This year’s charities are the Deepings Community Centre and the charity MECP2 Duplication UK, which helps those born with a rare disorder.

A regular column by Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn.

Tulip Radio is appealing to all Armed Forces veterans and anyone who has served in the Forces and who has not yet received their Veterans’ Badge to email or contact Tulip Radio.

Everyone who has been in the armed services, for any length of time, is eligible to receive the badge. A date will be set and the medal will be presented by John Hayes MP and South Holland District councillors. Please call Tulip Radio 01775 712400 or email jan@tulip-radio.co.uk 

I know many of you have already received a medal for your service and bravery during the war but this is something different; we are so excited as this will be a great opportunity for you all to receive a medal for your service and commitment to your country.

We need you to fill out a form and get it back to us as soon as possible. Please help those who are not on computers to complete their forms, and we would be more than happy to help with the forms. Please do not worry if you cannot fill the whole form out as we will help you.

Please can you send this information out to anyone you know who has served in the forces to help us get as many people as we can enrolled.

We look forward to hearing from you as soon as you can as we need time to get the medals ordered. Once we get the medals we will organise an event for you all to come and enjoy and celebrate with your comrades. Have a look at the last event on www.tulip-radio.co.uk – Picture Gallery – Armed Forces Day Celebration Day. Thank you to all concerned for your help with these events.

An inquest has heard how the family of an 84-year-old tried desperately to deal with the flames that engulfed her during a house fire last year.

Vera Bunn, of Weydyke Bank between Fleet and Holbeach St John’s was pronounced dead on the scene during the blaze in the ‘granny’ annex of a property she occupied on January 8, 2015.

Boston Coroners Court was told yesterday (Wednesday) that the family lived on a plot of land which included three buildings – one was a garage, another detached property was occupied by Vera’s step-granddaughter and her partner and daughter.

The third was occupied by son Michael Bunn, his partner Dorothy Moira Bunn and their son Gary Edwards – with Vera living in a self-contained annex attached to the side of the property.

The inquest heard how on the night in question Vera and Dorothy had originally planned to play bingo but had had to return home after Vera was unable to get out of the car.

On returning home, Vera was ‘settled’ into a chair in her lounge and wrapped up with her halogen heater close to her – around 440mm away according to the fire investigation.

In statements from the family, the inquest heard how a short time later the electrics went and Dorothy went to get a torch where she noticed the smell and sight of smoke and called to her husband.

In his statement Michael said: “I went through and opened the door to my mother’s lounge. I saw my mother was fully alight and rushed into the kitchen to get the washing up bowl full of water and threw it over my mother but it had no effect.

“I went outside to the lounge window which was broken so we could put the garden hose through the window to spray it into the room – this had no effect either as the room was fully ablaze.”

Fire extinguishers were also fetched from a nearby business but also had no effect – leaving the family waiting for the fire service to deal with the blaze.

An investigation by the fire service confirmed that the main area of the fire had been around Vera’s chair and branched out through the rest of the property from there.

A report said that fire officers had been able to see that Vera was dead when they arrived on scene and because of that had left her in situ while they dealt with the fire.

It said however, that it was ‘very difficult to determine’ whether the blaze had been caused by either a smouldering source such as a cigarette or a flaming source such as a lighter or the halogen heater.

A post mortem revealed the body was severely burnt in the blaze with the legs and arms showing severe fire damage.

However, it said internal organs were well-preserved.

It said there was no evidence of traumatic injury prior to the death and concluded the death was due to fire-related suffocation and burns.

Assistant coroner Maurice Spittle concluded the circumstances of the inquest that at 7.30pm, Vera was found ‘engulfed in flames’ and perished.

He acknowledged that the fire service had identified the cause as either the hallogen heater or carelessly discarded smoking materials – including either a smouldering cigarette or a lighter.

He said Vera was known to be a heavy smoker and also read from her GP report that she suffered from mixed dementia – including Alzheimers. He recorded the medical cause of death as one: fire related suffucation and burns, and two: mixed dementia.

He gave a verdict of accidental death.