Police are appealing for information after an off road pit bike was stolen during a garage burglary in Swineshead over the weekend.
The Demon DXR CRF50 was stolen from the property on Donington Road at about 10.30pm on Saturday, December 10.
Anyone with information should call PC Danielle Clark on police non-emergency number 101, quoting incident number 177 of December 11.
Tulip Radio, Spalding’s community station, has announced today that it will close at noon tomorrow (Tuesday).
The closure is being blamed on lack of technical staff and presenters as well as financial pressures.
Tulip will continue to organise local events, however, and take its powerful PA system to them.
A statement released this morning read: “It is with great sadness we announce that Tulip Radio is closing at midday on Tuesday, December 13.
“For some time it has become increasingly difficult to find technical staff with musical knowledge to deal with all the issues that affect our radio station; additionally we are finding that the commitment to present regular daily shows during normal working hours has become an impossible task for many of our presenters.
“We have had huge support from local authorities and Armed Forces organisations with whom we have made a number of inspirational programmes.
“We are also indebted to many local councillors for their belief in us and have enjoyed helping them with local events; additionally we are very proud to have been involved with the Spalding in Bloom project.
“Our landlords in the Crescent have been ever helpful and fully understand the reasons for this sad decision and we thank them.
“We would like to especially thank Ian Canham from Broadgate Homes who are the only sponsor to have been with us all the way from day one. Ian’s support and advice has been invaluable and has been a huge comfort at times.
“We have organised many local events from the Flower Queen competitions, Christmas Light Switch-on, Veterans events, more recently the Pride of South Holland Awards and the School Choir Competition as well as appearing at many local events and Galas like Pinchbeck Carnival.
“This part of the operation will continue with Jan continuing this work. Indeed, next year’s Pinchbeck Carnival on June 10, together with our ubiquitous and powerful PA system, is already on the calendar and others are rapidly joining it.
“As a non profit making organisation with no shareholders, we are required to distribute any surplus funds to local good causes and this will be done in due course, once we have disposed of all the broadcast equipment. Look out for an announcement in the New Year.
“Tulip Radio wishes everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New year and would like to thank all our regular local listeners in shops, homes and factories. We want you to know how grateful we have been for your loyal support, we shall miss you.”
Business manager Jan Whitbourn said: “The decision to close the station was an extremely difficult one. Those who know me will be aware that I value greatly the community involvement and hugely enjoy the events we organise and attend.
“People have a massive misconception about Tulip Radio and assume that as it’s a community radio station it’s funded privately or by the council and thus we don’t have to charge for our services.
“The reality is that, whilst our presenters are all volunteers, like any other business we do have to pay all our bills and at times this has also been a real challenge.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed organising and creating events and become completely immersed in each one we are involved with; this I will continue to do under the Tulip Events Management banner. I would ask any organisations or businesses who are planning an event to get in touch to see whether we can help.”
Director Chris Carter added: “We first broadcast from the original Springfields site in 2001 and over the years we are indebted to all the local businesses that have supported us; additionally our wonderful volunteer presenters who have made the station what it is today.”
You can continue to contact the station on 01775.712400 or 07779 895388 or admin@tulip-radio.co.uk until early spring 2017.
The following decisions have been made by magistrates at court hearings. In all drink-drive cases the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. Addresses of defendants published here are taken from the legal records held by the magistrates’ courts. V/S means victim surcharge.
Lincoln Magistrates’ Court
November 14
Neil Capper (47), of High Road, Moulton. No insurance (Whaplode). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Emil Sivak (44), of Drummond Road, Skegness. Speeding (Little Sutton). £55 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.
Jamie Maschinsky (27), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping. Breach of a non-molestation order (Bourne). Restraining order, £120 fine, £30 v/s, 385 costs.
November 15
Michael Finch (29), of Tennyson Drive, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 36 months.
Talib Karim (32), of Sherwood Avenue, Boston. Speeding (Sutterton). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Radek Blazicek (40), of Lewis Court, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £130 fine, £20 v/s, £50 costs, 6pts.
Ruth Catchpulle (46), of Leaveslake Drove, West Pinchbeck. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Grant Holt (35), of Norwich Road, Forncett St Peter, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £500 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Mantis Rashtinis (19), of Cradge Bank, Spalding. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £65 fine, 3pts. No insurance. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £65 fine. No MOT £65 fine.
Ruslan Zachrabov (28), of Commercial Road, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 2 years.
Tadas Mikalajunas (30), of Albert Road, Bognor Regis. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
John Sands (29), of Woolram Wygate, Spalding. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Nicole Woods (31), of Railway Lane South, Sutton Bridge. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Kurtis Wright (24), of Bond Street, Rochdale. Speeding (Little Sutton). £35 fine, £30 v/s, £35 costs, 3pts.
November 16
Jamie Winnard (31), of The Paddock, Kirton. Speeding (Grantham). £100 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.
November 17
Alvidas Barkavskas, of St Johns Road, Spalding. Speeding (Lincoln). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Jonathan Beck (41), of Chappell Road, Deeping St Nicholas. Speeding (Deeping Common). £46 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Kathryn Bull (55), of Ashworth Avenue, Ruddington, Notts. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £66 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Claire Butterworth (48), of c/o Main Road, Brothertoft. Speeding (Whaplode). £150 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Marek Czaplicki (62), of South Square, Boston. Speeding (Pinchbeck). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.
Peter Donatus (36), of Torrisdale Close, Bolton. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
David Grant (63), c/o Homefield Avenue, Grimsby. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Jane Green (46), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping. No insurance (Market Deeping). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.
Janis Kleins (27), of St Thomas’s Road, Spalding. Speeding (Sutterton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Eivaras Lipskas (49), of Raleigh Way, Ravensthorpe, Peterborough. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Shannon Llewellyn (19), of Alexandra Road, Spalding. Driving without due care and attention (Spalding). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Helen Smith (41), of Park Lane, Long Sutton. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Steven Tarft (52), of White Elm Road, Woolpit, Bury St Edmonds. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Sharn Thompson (26), of High Street, Long Sutton. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Karen Welsh (41), of Preston Road, Rainworth, Mansfield. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £133 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Anthony Wilson (41), of Spa Road, Atherton, Wigan. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £66 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Dawid Wojnarowicz (36), of Catherine Howard Close, Thetford. Speeding (Little Sutton). £155 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
November 18
Austin Oakes (40), of South Street, Bourne. Assault (Bourne). 12 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, requirement to participate in building better relationships progamme, rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £150 compensation, £150 costs.
November 21
Ashgur Hussain (29), of Kenilworth Road, Scunthorpe. Speeding (Kirton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.
Hubert Sochacki (34), of King Street, Kirton. Failed to give driver ID (Maidstone). £270 fine, £27 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Adam Neumann (26), of Brayford Wharf East, Lincoln. Failed to stop after an accident (Bourne). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 8pts. No separate penalty for failing to report an accident.
Clive Richley (50), of St Guthlac Avenue, Market Deeping. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.
Levi Twinley (44), of Ropersgate, Gedney. Speeding (Long Sutton). £153 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.
Louise Wallace (32), of Wood View, Bourne. Failed to stop after an accident (Bourne). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving without due care and attention.
Act II’s Annual Revue – Ayscoughfee Hall, Spalding – Saturday, December 10
Anyone who has read our reviews of Act II will know we at the Spalding Guardian are great fans of the work carried out by the Clay Lake theatre company.
But it’s the kids we are used to seeing on stage, not the adults, so this show was a chance to see the brains behind the operation in action, and with no age constraints as to the content!
And what a wonderful evening it was. From Brexit to Brad Pitt and from John Hayes to Paddington, no one was free from scrutiny, but as long as you kept an open mind and a sense of humour you were in for a treat.
Written by Charlotte and Karl Gernert, this show comprised many quick sketches, usually with songs and music, poking fun at the main events of 2016 and those involved in them.
The skits were wonderfully performed by four extremely endearing actors – Kev Arnold, Olivia Black, Dominique Spinks and Karl himself – directed by Charlotte, with lighting and sound by Joe Dickinson.
Mostly set to music (Karl’s keyboard), some of these songs were hilarious but also thought provoking, such as the version of Shaggy’s ‘It Wasn’t Me’, directed at the American justice system after the Stanford University sexual assault case.
‘In the Jungle (the Calais jungle, the migrants creep tonight)’ was also poignant and funny, and the Grim Reaper singing ‘(This is what it sounds like) When Folk Die’ was brilliant, although it did push the boundaries of taste somewhat!
My favourite sketch was The T**t in the Hat, a wonderful Dr Zeuss parody about Donald Trump and his rise to the White House.
Another hilarious sketch saw Karl imitate Paddy McGuiness in a Brexit version of TV show Take Me Out (of the EU). “Let the Article see the 50…”
A sketch imagining John Hayes’ reaction to (call me Gary) Porter becoming a Lord was also funny, as was the one about reactions to changes to lesson times and form groups at the new Spalding Academy.
Paddington Bear’s arrest and deportation by customs officials was both hilarious and thought provoking and the Celebrity Wife Swap between Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt with Norman Cooke and Zoe Ball was fantastic.
I always thought Act II were pushing the boundaries with what they ask of their young performers… I now realise there’s some fantastically evil comic minds behind the whole operation!
But they did remind us at the end that life’s not that bad in good old Britain, and all to the tune of one of my favourite Madness songs.
This was the kind of show you talk to friends about for days afterwards, re-telling the jokes and sketches and spreading the laughter even further. Try to catch it next year if you can.
Spalding High School has earned a place amongst the top 250 state-run secondary schools in the UK, according to a new poll by a national newspaper.
The school in Stonegate, Spalding, came 194th in the list of the best-performing secondary schools published by the Sunday Times just two weeks after this year’s Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian Education Awards.
Spalding High School was named School of the Year (Secondary) at the awards, held in Spalding on Thursday, November 10, while head of art, Elizabeth Kelleher, was named Inspirational Teacher of the Year (Secondary).
The list ranked schools according to the percentage of students who achieved A* to B grades at A-level and A* or A grades at GCSE level.
Headmistress Michele Anderson said: “Spalding High School is incredibly proud to have again been listed as one of the Sunday Times’ top 200 state secondary schools in the UK.
“The results achieved by our students remain a testament to the very high standards set at the High School and to the hard work of both students and staff, in addition to the incredible support given by parents and governors.”
The school was ranked 164th in the same list last year when 62 per cent of students collected A* to B grades at A-level, whilst 47 per cent of GCSE grades were either A* or A.
In 2016, 61 per cent of A-level students earned A* to B grades and 45 per cent of GCSE grades were A* or A.
Chairman of governors Dr Peter Gorton said: “The governing body is delighted to hear the news that Spalding High School is listed among the best two hundred schools nationally.
“It is an achievement which everyone here shares - students, staff and the families they represent.
“All have a share in making this school the happy and successful place it is and we are proud to be part of it.”
In all, just 12 schools from Lincolnshire were included in the list and the only other one from south-east Lincolnshire was Bourne Grammar School which came 159th.
The proportion of A-level students with A* to B grades this summer was 64 per cent, with 51 per cent of GCSE grades being A* and A.
Headmaster Jonathan Maddox said: “It was another good year for us as our standing in the Sunday Times table shows, but a Bourne Grammar education is not all about academic league tables though.
“We find that by supporting the students in all they do and maintaining a pleasant and supportive atmosphere, our students go on to achieve the best results in their studies and all manner of other things as well.
“It is always pleasing to see the students’ achievements recognised in national performance tables but such things do not go to our heads.
“The school will never be complacent and all of us here continue to be absolutely dedicated to ensuring that our students receive the best education and opportunities that we are able to offer them.”
Does your school deserve recognition? Email spaldingeditor@jpress.co.uk or comment at spaldingtoday.co.uk
Sally Grant is making a trip to a centre with a green carpet specially so her dog can practice agility.
It’s not mad: they are the lengths many proud dog owners would go to if their two-year-old working cocker spaniel had got through to Crufts – with its distinctive green carpet.
Sally, known to many dog owners in the district from her dog walking service Cherished Paws and her training classes at Quadring, will be taking Pippa to compete in the Novice Cup Agility Final at Crufts in March.
“She’s a cracking little dog, she’s a superstar,” says Sally, who owns two other dogs who have competed locally in agility but never shown Pippa’s qualities – she beat off competition from 165 dogs in her class to earn a place in the final.
Sally says: “I very quickly realised she was in another level. She has just got that little extra something – extra drive, she’s very fast and accurate and loves learning.”
Pippa has clearly been through the Sally school of dog training, described as ‘life skills for puppies and for older dogs’. They are being held at Quadring Village Hall but will switch to Frampton’s St Michael’s Hall from the New Year.
Developed by behavioural scientists at the University of Lincoln, the training takes a slightly different approach to traditional obedience classes, with the focus on ten key life skills that dogs need to live in harmony with the real world.
Issues such as dealing with surprises (the sudden appearance of a noisy lorry in the road, for instance), being touched and learning self-control are just three of the topics covered.
Other important skills a dog needs to know are the ability to stay calm, to listen and understand the rules – and sometimes this last one is as much about educating the owners, says Sally.
She says: “We spend a lot of time making sure everybody in the house knows the rules and everybody is going to be consistent. For instance, is the dog allowed on the sofa?”
Seven-week sessions will begin at Frampton on Tuesday, January 17 – 6-7pm for puppies and 7.30-8.30pm for older dogs. In time there will also be a Trick Training class.
www.cherished-paws.com
Tel: 07908 176927
Sally Grant gave up a teaching career to launch Cherished Paws, her dog walking service.
It’s paid off for her both in terms of clients – she has picked up new customers since she moved from Swineshead to Frampton earlier in the year and is now fully booked – and in terms of quality of life.
Sally says she now has time to spend with the animals she loves, other people’s dogs as well as her own three.
Since Cherished Paws was launched Sally has also introduced her life skills training classes for puppies and older dogs.
Sally is planning on offering Trick Training classes too – she says her own dogs are learning to skateboard – and adds: “Trick training is fun and it’s about building a bond with your dog.”
A man borrowed £15,000 to buy equipment he then used to set up a cannabis farm in the centre of King’s Lynn, a court has heard.
A nest containing pigeon eggs was found when police raided the property in Tower Street in June.
Yesterday, Daniel Travis, 25, pleaded guilty to a charge of producing the class B drug when he appeared before the town’s magistrates.
He was committed to appear before Norwich Crown Court on a date to be fixed, following the production of a pre-sentence report, after the bench ruled its sentencing powers were insufficient.
Alison Cotterill, prosecuting, told the court police had searched the property on June 24, after the landlord raised concerns about water leakage.
Inside, they found a total of 54 mature cannabis plants spread around three rooms. An electricity meter had also been bypassed.
Travis, who had been living at the property, was not present at the time of the raid, but handed himself in to police three days later.
Miss Cotterill said: “He fully admitted he had been cultivating cannabis. He had come into financial difficulties and had borrowed £15,000 to buy the equipment needed.”
She said he had no prior knowledge of how to grow the drug, or bypass electrical circuits, and had researched both online. He also insisted no-one else was involved in the enterprise.
Miss Cotterill said the scale of the drug haul discovered, and the investment Travis, now of East Elloe Avenue, Holbeach, had made in it, meant the bench’s sentencing powers were insufficient.
Tiffany Meredith, for Travis, agreed, saying: “I think it’s beyond the realm of this court.”
Travis was released on unconditional bail until his next court appearance.
South Holland District Council has given up on a £450 million deal to bring more services to Greater Lincolnshire from the Government.
A deal for ten councils, including South Holland, to come together under an elected mayor and run transport, housing, flood management and employment training, collapsed after county councillors voted against it on October 20.
The devolution plans were formally ended by Communities Secretary Sajid Javid last month and at a meeting of South Holland District Council on Wednesday, Deputy Leader Coun Malcolm Chandler confirmed that the deal was “dead and buried”.
Coun Chandler read out a statement on behalf of district council leader Gary Porter who said: “This council supported the making of an Order by the Secretary of State for the establishment of a Greater Lincolnshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
“Two of the Lincolnshire authorities did not support the proposals but as the final decision rested with the relevant council leaders, we did not know whether this would be the final position of those two authorities.
“But the outcome was unchanged and the Government had previously made it clear that the devolution deal would not be able to progress under these circumstances.
“The Government has now confirmed that there will be no further work on the draft Order and that the devolution deal for Greater Lincolnshire is at an end.”
South Kesteven District Council also voted against the deal on October 24 and afterwards, Mr Javid said: “It is disappointing that Lincolnshire County Council and South Kesteven District Council have decided not to proceed with the proposed devolution deal.
“Local people in Greater Lincolnshire will now no longer benefit from £450 million of new funding and extra powers.”
When asked about funding opportunities in South Holland, Coun Chandler said: “The Council will continue to engage with its partners in order to deliver joined-up and effective services to its residents.
“But the devolution deal, as was available to Lincolnshire, is dead, buried and will not be resurrected.
“The Government has made it clear that it will not look at anything until after May next year and we will be looking at alternative options to see what we can do.
“But any future opportunities will not be on the same scale, or the same financial terms, as the devolution deal was.”
In a column for our sister newspaper, the Spalding Guardian, on Thursday, Coun Porter described the deal’s collapse as “probably the biggest missed opportunity for Lincolnshire that I have seen in any of my 15 years as a councillor”.
Is this a “missed opportunity” for Lincolnshire? Email spaldingeditor@jpress.co.ukor comment at spaldingtoday.co.uk
A Spalding primary school that only began preparing its own meals last year has scooped a Soil Association Food for Life bronze award.
St Paul’s collected its award at a ceremony in Doddington, near Lincoln, on Thursday night and is making plans to bag a silver next year.
Head teacher Kira Nicholls paid tribute to school chef Sharon Kenny and her catering team, alongside passionate teaching assistant Dottie Sharp, for being the “driving force” in improving the food culture across the school.
She said: “They have shown drive and commitment to demonstrate the school’s work and for going above and beyond for our pupils and our school.”
The journey to bronze included engaging pupils in cookery lessons, farm visits, gardening and growing projects, along with workshops from The Covent Garden Soup Company and Roots to Food.
The soup company led activities such as making and eating fruit kebabs, as well as teaching pupils about the food journey from field to fork. Darren Tinkler, from Roots to Food, arranged a cook off where staff revealed their competitive nature while showing parents and children how to make healthy but inexpensive, nutritionally balanced meals.
More home-grown produce will be added next year.
Neil Johnson rounds up the latest action...
Lincs Junior Cup
In the Mason Bros Lincs Junior Cup, Coningsby’s excellent cup run continued with a 3-2 home win against Peterborough League outfit Stamford Lions.
Coningsby opened the scoring through Shaun Boothby’s low drive in the first minute.
But their lead only lasted 10 minutes when they failed to cut out a cross.
The rest of the half was evenly contested with both defences performing solidly.
Coningsby regained the lead 15 minutes into the second half when a penalty was awarded when Sean Boothby turned on the ball only to be brought down by a Stamford defender.
The referee immediately pointed to the spot and Boothby stepped up to score his second goal of the game.
Coningsby couldn’t believe their luck soon afterwards when Jamie Congalton pressurised a Stamford defender to pass the ball back to his goalkeeper, who unfortunately let the ball slip between his legs, allowing the Coningsby striker to continue his run and tap the ball into an empty net.
Stamford now had no option but to throw as many men forward as they dared and they were rewarded when a high cross from the left wing deceived all Coningsby’s defenders and the Stamford right winger controlled the ball and drove it into the far corner of the net.
The last ten minutes saw Stamford continue to push forward but the Coningsby defence stood firm.
Boothby narrowly missed another chance when a shot was deflected by a Stamford defender for a corner kick and, soon afterwards, the final whistle sounded blew to herald a fine 3-2 win for Coningsby and a place in the quarter-finals.
Coningsby have been rewarded with another home tie against Langtoft United.
Two second half goals from Liam Papworth secured Spilsby Town’s passage into the quarter-finals of the Lincs Junior Cup against Premier Division rivals Benington.
The hosts created the better chances during the opening period before finding their finishing touch after the break to end Benington’s brave challenge.
Spilsby have a difficult away tie in the quarter-finals when they travel to Lincs League side Skegness Town.
Leverton conceded two soft goals as they crashed out 2-1 at home against North Somercoates United.
Leverton were off to a bad start against North Somercotes when a speculative long-range shot hit a divot on the ground and diverted past the home keeper to make it 0-1.
Things were very even until the 68th minute when a corner was diverted past the home keeper to make it 0-2.
This finally stirred the Leverton side to pour forward and a barrage of attacks was rewarded when a great cross from Ben Reeson found Nathan Hubbert six yards out, and he nodded home to make it 1-2, and set up a tense finale.
A mixture of great goalkeeping and missed chances could have quite easily have seen a different result but the visitors held on by their fingertips to secure their place in the quarter finals.
The full draw is as follows: Coningsby v Langtoft United, Pinchbeck United v Nettleham, Skegness Town v Spilsby Town, Wyberton v North Somercotes United.
Ties will to be played on January 7 (KO 1.30pm).
Taylors Garages Premier Division
Wyberton Reserves and Old Leake appeared to be taking the good will to all men a bit too far as they served up a crazy festive-filled 6-6 draw at the Causeway in the Taylors Garages Premier Division.
The first half saw goals flying in at regular intervals as Wyberton stormed into an early 2-0 lead, with Richard Barker netting both openers before Old Leake’s Kane Watson replied with a double of his own to level the scores.
And so it continued with the half-time score standing at 5-4 to the visitors.
Old Leake added another after the break to make it 6-4 before Wyberton rescued a point with two second half goals.
Kane Watson went on to complete his hat-trick while Ashley Jackson, Adam Tempest and Adam Abell also got on the lengthy score-sheet.
For Wyberton, Reece Beauchamp also scored twice while Shane Brackenbury and Jake Beauchamp also found the net.
Ruskington Rovers also scored six goals when they made the short journey for their local derby encounter at Billinghay.
Ashley Farmer hit a hat-trick while Mark Nemeiksas, Mitchell Gorman and Ben Broome hit The Ruskington goals in a 6-2 away win.
Bradley Walker and Simon Johnson replied for the home side.
The big top-of-the-table clash at Swineshead saw Skegness Town Reserves fall to a 2-0 defeat.
Taylors Peugeot Division One
In the Taylors Peugeot Division One, Railway made their second trip to Fishtoft inside three weeks looking to avenge the recent cup defeat.
And they did just that with a well controlled 3-0 win, taking the lead through a Jak Stephenson corner headed home by Lee Dakin.
The lead was doubled by Curtis Yeatman after a poor back pass left the Fishtoft keeper stranded.
The win was sealed thanks to a second from an on-fire Yeatman following a superb corner from Jak Stephenson.
Paul Crampton hit four goals for Fulbeck United in their 9-0 trouncing of AFC Tetford.
Martin Wilson and Dylan Grocock both grabbed two goals apiece while Dean Jones completed the scoring.
Three early dismissals changed the complexion of the game between FC Kirton and Freiston.
Two Kirton players and another from Freiston were sent packing during the early stages and the visitors took full advantage of their man-advantage as they recorded an 11-3 away win.
Perrie Dale netted an amazing seven-goal haul while Tom Bates and Ty Fravigar both grabbed double-strikes.
Two second half goals earned Woodhall Spa United a 3-1 home win against Old Doningtonians.
Luke Barnett was on target for the Dons in a first half which finished all-square at 1-1 before Woodhall wrapped up the three points.
Tom Richardson, Conor Parsons and Chris Hall hit the home side’s match-winners.
Swineshead Reserves and Kirton Town shared the points in a 3-3 draw.
Matt Hogkiss, Dan Thompson and an own goal earned Swineshead their point.
Friskney were soon left reeling at Horncastle Town Reserves when they found themselves 3-0 behind after just 20 minutes.
Victor Sibert converted a penalty to give the visitors a faint glimmer of hope at the interval before the lively striker took centre stage in the second half.
Sibert scored twice more to complete his hat-trick, while Mashita Bogdan also netted as Friskney completed a fantastic comeback with a 4-3 victory.
Taylors Ford Division Two
East Coast lost out by the odd goal in five when they entertained Billinghay Reserves in the Taylors Ford Division Two.
Scott Dore and Bradley Bell were on target for East Coast but it was all to no avail as Billinghay took the three points following a 3-2 away win.
Joe Stainsby, who hit two goals and Perrie Vacca were on target for Billinghay.
Park United had a comfortable 7-1 home win against Swineshead A thanks to goals from Jimmy Harris (four), Alex Limb, Chris Wright and Ben Liu.
FC Hammers went down at home when they played hosts to league leaders, Sibsey in a crucial top-of-the-table clash.
Kristian Taylor and Perry Meshulam scored the Hammers’ goals but Sibsey came out on top following a 4-2 away win.
Troy Ayton’s recent surprise transfer from Freiston to Wrangle after 30 years service with his former club raised many eyebrows in local football, but the veteran striker soon got back to his goal-poaching ways, hitting a hat-trick in his new side’s 5-5 draw at Kirton Town Reserves.
Sam Husband hit two goals for Pointon Reserves in their comfortable 3-0 home win against Coningsby Reserves.
Mark Smith grabbed the other Pointon goal.
Taylors Vauxhall Division Three
Taylors Vauxhall Division Three leaders Wyberton A enjoyed a routine 4-0 away win at basement side Fosdyke Reserves with Michael Reeson claiming his second perfect hat-trick in three weeks, while Jack Reeson grabbed the other goal.
There was another hat-trick performance at Old Doningtonians Reserves where Holbeach Bank striker Dave Wilson’s treble helped Holbeach Bank earn a valuable point in a 5-5 draw.
Stefan Belakov and Daniel Goddard grabbed the other goals for the Bank while Ollie Gedney (two), Ryan Mills, Shaun Scott and Josh Nicholl replied for the Dons.
Chris Lawson’s two goals helped Benington Reserves to a hard fought 2-1 home win over an improving Boston Titans side.
Spalding Harriers’ leading scorer Rafal Marczewski added two more goals to his season’s tally in his side’s 4-3 home win against Leverton Reserves.
The first half was an absolute goal-fest with Leverton taking an early lead when Jack Mitchell’s corner was poorly cleared by Spalding and the ball was fired home with a sumptuous volley from the edge of the area by Karl Shaw.
A penalty for Spalding quickly followed and then a second via a defence-splitting pass saw Leverton behind and in an all too familiar scenario this season.
Sam Bird then struck for the visitors to level up proceedings again after a poor clearance from a corner delivered by Jack Mitchell.
Spalding then struck twice more to make the score 4-2 before Leverton reduced the arrears when a ball into the box caused some confusion, resulting in a defender heading the ball over his onrushing keeper and into the net.
As the second half got underway, Leverton put the Spalding goal under pressure with Sam Bird cannoning a shot off the cross bar, but unfortunately they couldn’t get the equalising goal.
The fifth of the population responsible for 80 per cent of social costs, including crime, benefits and healthcare can be identified as young as three years old, a new study shows.
The same 20% of people account for 77% of kids brought up without a dad, consume three quarters of drug prescriptions and take in two thirds of all welfare benefits.
Researchers also found that this section of society smoke more than half of all cigarettes, carry 40 percent of the kilograms of obese weight and file more than a third (36%) of personal-injury insurance claims.
The group also accounted for more than half of all nights spent in hospital.
Scientists sought to test out the so-called “Pareto principle” which suggests 80 percent of wealth is controlled by 20 percent of the population.
A team of scientists conducted detailed analysis of nearly a thousand people from birth to 38-years-old.
They found that just 20 per cent of the population were the most socially “costly” in terms of crime, welfare and health.
The researchers, from King’s College London, Duke University, North Carolina, and the University of Otago, New Zealand, also found they could predict which adults were likely to be part of the group, as early as the age of three.
This suggests early interventions could be made in the future to avoid social costs.
Study author Professor Avshalom Caspi, from Duke University, said: “Most expenses from social problems are concentrated in a small segment of the population.
“So whatever segment of the health, social or judicial system that you look at, we find a concentration.
“And that concentration approximates what Vilfredo Pareto anticipated over 100 years ago.
“We called the group ‘high-needs/high-costs’.”
The participants observed all came from the Dunedin Study, a database of people based in Dunedin, New Zealand.
Study author Professor Terrie Moffitt, from Duke University, said: “The digitisation of people’s lives allows us to quantify precisely how much a person costs society and which people are using multiple different costly health and social services.
“Apparently, the same few clients use the courts, welfare benefits, disability services, children’s services, and the health-care system. These systems could be more joined up.”
At age three, each child in the study had participated in short examinations of neurological signs including intelligence, language and motor skills.
The examiners also rated the children on factors such as restlessness, impulsiveness and how they dealt with frustration.
They then used this information to form an index called “brain health”.
The study revealed kids with low scores on the brain health index at the age of three, often needed more healthcare and were more likely to commit crimes as adults.
Professor Caspi said: “We can predict this quite well, beginning at age three by assessing a child’s history of disadvantage, and particularly their brain health.”
Commenting on the findings, Rena Subotnik, director of the Centre for Psychology in Schools and Education for the American Psychological Association, said: “These are all traits that can be controlled and improved upon with the proper interventions, so identifying them in young children is a gift.”
The researchers stressed that this ability to identify and predict a person’s life course should be used to intervene, not discriminate.
Professor Moffitt said: “Any time you identify a population segment, the next thing people do is stigmatise.
“But being able to predict which children will struggle is an opportunity to intervene in their lives very early to attempt to change their trajectories.
“This study really gives a pretty clear picture of what happens if you don’t intervene.”
Professor Caspi added: “There is a really powerful connection from children’s early beginnings to where they end up.
“The purpose of this was not to use these data to complicate children’s lives any further.
“It’s to say these children need a lot of resources, and helping them could yield a remarkable return on investment when they grow up.”
Young gymnasts from Spalding Academy achieved some excellent results at the Lincolnshire Schools Floor and Vault Competition – and celebrated with a well-earned meal at McDonald’s.
Keiran Courtman won the U16 individual competition, Mia Hallam was victorious in the U19 girls event and Kinzi Stokes won her individual U19 competition and achieved the highest floor score of the day.
Also, the U 13 mixed team of Emer-Leigh Payne, Leah Newcomb, Iris Fragata and Jorge Bradford came second in their first-ever competition, the U16 mixed team of Keiran Courtman, Daisy Silva, Sophie-Louise De Camps and Lara Portela came third in their debut contest.
And the U19 girls (Samantha Stevens, Anete Murniece, Mia Hallam and Kinzi Stokes) came second in their event.
Pictured are (back) Samantha Stevens, Keiran Courtman, Anete Murniece, Mia Hallam; (middle) Sophie-Louise De-Camps, Iris Fragata, Jorge Bradford, Lara Portela, Daisy Silva; (front) Leah Newcomb and Emer-Leigh Payne.
Photo (TIM WILSON): SG121216-103TW
Morrisons Pinchbeck is to give away scores of sprigs of mistletoe this week in an effort to increase festive romance, after a quarter of Brits said all they want for Christmas this year is a kiss from a loved one.
Staff will be handing out free sprigs of mistletoe in store.
The giant mistletoe giveaway was launched by the supermarket after research revealed the tradition of puckering up under the plant was at risk of dying out with 71 per cent of under 35s admitting they had never experienced a kiss under the mistletoe.
Store manager Jason Savage said: “Kissing under the mistletoe is one of the oldest Christmas traditions and we want to do our bit to keep it alive. The mistletoe giveaway was extremely popular last year so we hope to get even more customers kissing this Christmas. And you never know, true love could just be an aisle away!”
The mistletoe giveaway is the latest traditional Christmas initiative from Morrisons after the supermarket put carols back on the in-store playlist after 15 years, last week.
Younger students at the University Academy Holbeach enjoyed a Christingle service at the town’s All Saints’ Church.
They had made their own Christingles during ‘tutor time’ and also had assemblies where they learned about the work of The Children’s Society and rehearsed the two hymns they sang.
During the service, pupils in Year 7 and 8 presented readings and a short drama presentation about the meaning of the Christingle.
All pupils then made a circle around the church and, once the Christingles were lit, they listened to some reflective music performed by the Academy’s Chamber Orchestra and Chamber Choir.
The service went extremely well and the pupils really enjoyed it.
Head of Music Sam Graper said: “It was particularly inspiring to hear them all singing so loudly and confidently.”
She thanked Greencell and Tesco for providing materials for the Christingles and the church for hosting and leading the service.
• A full page of pictures will appear in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.
Spalding patients will soon see an increase in the number of specialist clinics available to them on their doorstep.
Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is increasing the number of gynaecology and paediatric clinics it runs at the Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding.
There are already specialist clinics led by Peterborough clinicians in renal, cardiology, pacemaker review, lymphoedema and oncology.
Working in partnership with Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), staff from the Trust will now run one gynaecology clinic in Spalding every week and a paediatrics clinic will be added soon.
These additional clinics will benefit south Lincolnshire patients by reducing the time and cost associated with travelling to and from appointments in Peterborough or Stamford. These additional clinics will also enable patients to choose where they would prefer to receive their treatment.
Sally Brown, outpatients sister for LCHS at the Johnson Community Hospital, said: “We are very pleased to continue to work in partnership with Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to host and welcome a greater variety of clinics in our outpatients department.
“By working together, patients benefit from improved access and choice closer to home.”
Elderly and lonely people in Spalding and Boston still have time to book to go on a trip to Skegness for a free Christmas meal in a seafront hotel.
They will be part of a party being hosted by the Grosvenor House Hotel over five days for 1,000 pensioners who might otherwise not have the opportunity to get out and about this festive season.
A bus from the Grosvenor House Hotel in Skegness is arriving in Spalding on Thursday to take a group of lucky readers to the seaside for a slap-up three-course dinner, cabaret entertainment and bingo – and, with a few spaces available, the opportunity is being opened to the lonely and elderly in Boston.
The first day of Christmas parties took place yesterday and was featured on television on BBC Look North.
Organised by Glenn Ettridge, a member of the RAOB (the Buffs), with support from the Skegness Lodges and many local companies, the hotel is hosting 200 guests on each day this week, cooking the meal and providing the entertainment.
Mr Ettridge said: “The first party went brilliantly and everyone seemed to have had a fantastic time.
“The trip from Spalding has been made possible through links with the Spalding Guardian, who helped me source food that has been donated by the charity Buckingham Emergency Food after the paper’s own successful Christmas Day meals over the past two years.
“I’m really looking forward to welcoming guests from the Guardian and its sister paper, the Boston Standard. The more the merrier!”
There are still a few places available on the bus. It will leave White Lodge Guest House in Halmergate, Spalding, at 10.30am on Thursday, leaving Skegness around 4pm and taking in the Christmas lights on the return journey. Transport is available from Boston but guests are welcome to drive themselves, although they need to book a place.
Anyone interested in booking to go to the party should call Chrissie Redford of the Spalding Guardian on 07774326173.
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Spalding’s mixed team beat Skegness 98- 92 in the County League, winning on three rinks and losing on two to win 14-4.
The top winning rink was Freda Lyon, Alan Pitts, Gill Needham and Graham Wright.
Spalding’s over-60s team struggled from the start against a strong Sleaford side and only won on one rink, taking two match points to the home team’s 16.
The winning rink was skipped by Chris Stagles ably assisted by Mo Moseley, Roger Perkins and Peter Bendell. Captain for the day was David Lunn assisted by Graham Hicks.
Spalding lost 86-80 at Peterborough in a friendly against the Cambridgeshire Vice Presidents.
Spalding won on three of the five rinks with honours going to Jan Sinclair, Daphne Roddis, Ken Challans and skip Roger Perkins.
Spalding High School turned into Tin Can Alley for the Spalding Guardian’s Christmas Foodbank Appeal on Friday.
The school held its third annual Bring a Tin Day when about 1,150 items of food were donated by students and staff to help people in need across South Holland this Christmas.
Students and staff dressed up in Christmas jumpers for the occasion which is organised every year by the school’s Sixth Form Charities’ Committee.
Year 12 student Hannah Earth (16) of Spalding: “It was really nice that everyone got really festive and loads of people enjoyed themselves.
“There was such a variety of Christmas jumpers as well, although it was all for charity - of course - and we all brought tins in for Agapecare Foodbank.
“It’s important for us to remember that, at Christmas, many people don’t have much food or aren’t as fortunate as us.”
Another Year 12 student, Conner Nickols (17) of Weston Hills, said: “Bring a Tin Day at Spalding High School shows that we really care about our local charities.”
Headmistress Michele Anderson said: “The festive spirit was clearly apparent at the High School on Friday.
“Not only were students and staff adorned with Christmas jumpers, many with flashing lights and musical accompaniments, but we collected a staggering 1,150 items of food to donate to Agapecare Foodbank.
“This is such an important appeal and I would like to thank everyone who donated items.
“I am so very proud that the school community continues to support such a worthy cause every year.”
Since the first Bring a Tin Day in 2014, Spalding High School has donated a total of nearly 1,400 items of food to Agapecare Foodbank.
Irene Davies, the foodbank’s coordinator, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled with the response which, for the third year running, has filled the shelves for the next few months.
“All that we’ve given out over Christmas has come back twofold and we’re just amazed at the generosity of people who have donated to us.”
Reality TV star Josh Patterson will be in Spalding on Monday.
The Made in Chelsea hunk, also known as JP, will be opening Spalding Travel’s new premises at the former Dryden’s jewellers in the Market Place at 1pm.
The independent travel agent is part of the Holiday With Us Group and run by managing director Christina Fitzpatrick and her husband Steven.
There will be an opportunity for visitors to meet JP and give donations to his chosen charity, Sane.
To add to the celebrations, Spalding Travel is giving away £1,000 of Thomas Cook vouchers – simply enter by visiting www.holidaywithus.co.uk/goldenticket, or calling into any Holiday With Us office.
The new office will also house a luxury lounge on the first floor where clients can view video clips and information on their chosen destinations or hotels.
There will also be destination and product evenings with luxury tour operators
For more information visit www.holidaywithus.co.uk or www.facebook.com/holidaywithus1