Police fear farmers in South Holland could be targeted in a scam involving the illegal storage of waste bales on their land for cash.

It follows reports that two farmers ended up with hazardous waste on their land and now face a bill of up to £3,000 and £300,000 respectively to have it cleared.

No official papers change hands in respect of contracts and police have told farmers to ensure any such contact is reported to both the Environment Agency and Lincolnshire Police.

They should also make sure paperwork is in order, including Waste Carriers’ Registration, have the name of the carrier and registration details of the transporting vehicle.

An Environment Agency spokesman said: “The costs of legally removing these bales far outweighs the cost of having them stored and you may be at risk of cross contamination as well.”

Speeding drivers continue to menace Gosberton High Street with more than 100 drivers recorded at double the 30mph limit or more in a four-week spell.

Parish councillors and residents have been calling for action to put the brakes on pedal to the metal drivers and now they have the first hard evidence from a speed recording device that shows thousands of drivers flout the law.

Some 81,737 vehicles drove through the narrow High Street during the four weeks in March and a staggering 33,918 of those were travelling at 35mph or faster – three were recorded at 80mph, but parish councillors believe they may have been blue light, emergency services vehicles.

The built-up road has a primary school, a children’s nursery, a park, busy shops and homes with many front doors opening straight onto the pavement.

Parish council chairman Tim Smith told the annual parish meeting on Monday that he hopes the evidence will prompt action by Lincolnshire County Council.

The council has placed 30mph “passive speed road signs” on lampposts along High Street and bought an interactive speed awareness sign, which can be sited at a number of spots, and that sign records the speed of passing traffic.

Coun Smith revealed PCSO Colin Abbotts had conducted speed traps with hand-held radar but only around two per cent of drivers were found exceeding the 30mph limit.

Coun Smith said: “It was acknowledged that generally vehicles slow down when radar traps are used.”

Parish councillors and residents, backed by MP John Hayes, managed to get a school crossing patrol appointed for Gosberton Primary Academy last September but were told by the county council there was no money for a pedestrian crossing and there was no action on two T-junctions considered to be dangerous.

A Whaplode St Catherine teenager is showing strength of character in thinking of others after two shattering losses in consecutive weeks.

Delphi McWilliam was in shock after her grandfather, lead singer with 1960s’ chart-topping British band The Foundations died on Monday, March 27, aged 76.

But the loss of Mr Curtis, who sang on The Foundations’ 1967 number one hit Baby, Now That I’ve Found You, was worsened for Delphi exactly a week later when she lost her pet labradoodle Penny to cancer.

Delphi said: “My grandfather had prostate cancer and lung cancer but he hadn’t undergone any chemotherapy because he’d been fighting so many infections. It was still a shock when he died, even though I knew he was poorly.

“Grandad was quite special because he was the only grandparent who played an active role in my life and I used to go and stay with him quite a lot.

“But he had a huge family and hundreds of friends, whereas Penny had me and I had her.

“We shared everything together, went everywhere together and she was my go-to girl when my grandad passed away.”

Penny was diagnosed with lymphoma, or blood cancer, in November 2015 and Delphi’s efforts to raise money for her pet’s quality of life treatment were reported by the Spalding Guardian in February.

Delphi said: “We raised about £700 that will hopefully be going to Dick White Referrals of Cambridgeshire, a specialist veterinary centre where Penny was treated for 16 months.

“Not everybody understands the bond between an owner and a dog but so many people got in touch through social media, post and email.

“It was really special that they went out of their way to support me and even though it doesn’t take away the pain of losing Penny, it’s nice to know that other people care.”

Delphi has turned her attention to finding ways of raising money in her grandfather and pet’s honour.

That effort has been boosted by an upturn in fortunes on Monday when Delphi passed her driving test.

She said: “I was a bit worried because it was on the Monday exactly a week after my dog passed away and two weeks after my grandfather died. But I thought they’d both be looking down on me and it was nice to have a good Monday, rather than a bad one.”

Delphi’s fundraising plea for cancer-stricken Labradoodle

Spalding United are one win away from claiming home advantage in the promotion play-off semi-final.

The Tulips need one point to guarantee a top-five finish – although it would still take a mathematical miracle to deny them anyway.

Victory over Bedworth United on Saturday would secure third spot and a home tie against the fourth-placed team.

Spalding fought a goalless draw with Basford United on Tuesday night, playing with 10 men for 37 minutes after Matt Varley’s dismissal.

Bradley Wells’ first-half double put the Tulips 2-0 up at Bedworth on the opening day of the season in August.

But the Greenbacks got a point, despite playing for 76 minutes with 10 men.

Jonny Lockie, Sam Downey and Jason Field are all set to return to the Tulips’ squad on Saturday.

Spalding will face a trip to boss Chris Rawlinson’s former club Lincoln United on Monday afternoon when Kern Miller is available following a ban.

Police would like to speak to this man pictured in a CCTV image after a teenage girl was assaulted at a bus station.

The girl, who is in her mid-teens, was waiting in Bay 4 of Queensgate Bus Station, Peterborough, when she was approached by a man who began talking to her in an inappropriate manner before assaulting her.

The assault took place on Saturday, April 1, between 8pm and 8.15pm.

The man then boarded the Delaine bus to Bourne and it is believed he got off in Thurlby.

Detective Constable Leeza Phillips said: “This was a particularly distressing incident for the teenage girl so we are keen to catch the person responsible.”

Anyone with information should call Cambridgeshire Police on 101, quoting incident CF0178840417 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555111, or through their anonymous online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.

Spalding Police have reassured residents after reports of cold callers in the Moulton Seas End area.

They have been dropping off advice leaflets about rogue traders to residents and paying visits.

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By MP John Hayes

The celebration of Holy Week, culminating on Easter Day, is the most liturgically dramatic period in the Church’s year.

From the poignant depiction of the foot washing on Maundy Thursday, through the agony of Good Friday to the incomparable joy of the Resurrection, the annual 
retelling of the Easter story is an emotional and spiritual journey as resonant today as when it was first told millennia ago.

The foundations of service, of sacrifice, of redemption and salvation underpin the Christian faith just as in our country they have formed the basis of our common law and shared sense of the common good.

The season of Eastertide which began on Sunday and ends on Ascension Day, marks the end of Christ’s earthly life, but anyone who has ever lost a relative or good friend will know that death is far from the end of a person’s story of their influence.

Indeed, we often tend to reflect more clearly on our loved ones, following their example more sure-footedly once they are no longer mortally present.

This is precisely what TS Eliot emphasised when he wrote that “the communication / Of the dead is tongued with fire beyond the language of the living.” In less sophisticated terms, I said much the same last week in memory of my friend Rosemary Biggadike.

In the earliest editions of St Mark’s Gospel, the story of Jesus ends not with His Ascension, but with Mary Magdalene and the other women who discovered the empty tomb. This is telling and instructive. The story is unfinished; rather, Jesus’ story becomes the story of His followers, in whose footsteps Christians have been seeking to live ever since.

As a Conservative, I have a deep reverence for tradition. Those that misinterpret such an outlook as mere sentiment fail to see that seeking to honour the good work of our predecessors is the surest motive and means to deliver our own good works fit for our successors.

If we do not remain alive to what we can learn from our ancestors, we shall find it harder to set an example to our children.

As Edmund Burke wisely observed, a society takes many generations to form and in so doing “becomes a partnership not only between those who are living, but between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.” In acknowledging that partnership, tradition nourishes the age-old spiritual desire to be part of something bigger than our ephemeral needs and desires.

Spring is a time for new beginnings, but also a time to reaffirm our commitment to our rich inheritance, whether from family, a good friend, from the continuity of our great institutions, or from Christ Himself.

I wish all my constituents a very peaceful, joy-filled, holy Easter.

Volunteers worked the catwalk to raise an incredible £250 for research into Alzheimer’s.

It was East Elloe Lions second charity fashion show to raise money for Alzheimer’s research and for the club’s future charitable projects.

Overall, the event at Sutton St James village hall raised an amazing £325, with £75 going to the Lions for more local charitable projects.

As well as the fashion show, where the volunteer models had fun “strutting their stuff”, there was a raffle that offered a wide variety of prizes. The raffle raised £113 and that money will help the club stage future events.

Club secretary David Gordon said: “Everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. We plan to hold a similar event in October.”

At the end of the show there was a surprise visit made by the Senior Scouts from Holbeach who escorted the models off the catwalk. 
At the end of the show, clothes worn by the models were sold and there was a queue of buyers at the exit.

The clothes worn by the models for the event were from SOS Fashion, who are a family run company who sell high brand fashion clothes for up to 50 per cent off of the recommended retail price and have been running since 1921.

As well as selling the clothes, SOS Fashion have a service where they help people run fashion shows and all you have to do is book a venue and find eight-ten volunteer models and they do the rest.

• For more pictures see Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

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.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

March 22

Liam Parker (21), of Park Close, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85, disqualified from driving for 14 months. Criminal damage. £80 fine.

Ashley Stafford (28), of Severn Road, Spalding. Assault (Spalding). £80 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

David Whiting (27), Nelson Road, Uxbridge, Middlesex. Possession of cannabis (Bourne). £173 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, drugs to be destroyed.

Harry Johnston (19), of High Street, Moulton. Entered as a trespasser and stole food and soft drinks of value unknown belonging Tandoori Master Fry (Spalding). Two counts of dishonestly undertaking or assisting in the retention, removal, disposal or realisation of stolen goods, namely alcoholic and soft drinks of a value unknown belonging to Spalding FC by or for the benefit of another person or dishonestly arranged so to do, knowing or believing the same to be stolen goods. Community order with 120 hours unpaid work, £85 v/s, £85 costs.

Lisa Simpson (25), of The Reservoir, Surfleet. Drug driving (Moulton). £140 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Pawel Publis (20), of Clay Lake, Spalding. Entered as a trespasser and stole laptop computer, tablet, sound system and speakers worth approximately £900 belonging to The Computer Shop (Spalding). 10 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, 200 hours unpaid work, £1000 compensation, £115 v/s, £85 costs.

Adam Rose (44), of St Andrews Street, Heckington. Assault (Spalding). Community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £250 compensation, £85 v/s, £85 costs.

Pauline Trentham (47), of St Nicholas Way, Spalding. Failed to notify DWP of change of circumstances which would affect entitlement to income support. Community order with 80 hours unpaid work, £85 v/s, £85 costs.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

March 20

John Pullen (56), of Porthouse Drive, Pinchbeck. Failed to stop after an accident (Spalding). £80 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts. No separate penalty for failing to report an accident.

March 21

Marcin Krol (34), of Albion Street, Spalding. Possession of methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (Spalding). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for possession of amphetamine.

Linda Neal (70), of Foreman Way, Crowland. Driving without due care and attention (Deeping St James). £120 fine, £30 v/s, 385 costs, disqualified from driving for 9 months.

Heather Smith (51, of St Mary’s Way, Old Leake. Speeding (Sutterton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Stephen Reeve (60), of Edward Road, Spalding. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £100 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Andy Mycroft (51), of Barton Fields, Ecton. Speeding (Cowbit). £613 fine, £61 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Lee Schonfelder (35), of Church Road, Tilney All Saints. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Fiona Chestnutt (36), of The Pollards, Bourne. No insurance (Thurlby). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Christopher Jones (53), of Oakham Close, Bury. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Artur Majewski (34), Clarke Court, Wyberton. Speeding (Wyberton). £215 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Richard Mister (55), of Fulney Lane North, Spalding. Speeding (Lincoln). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Algimantas Sepka (43), of Davidson Drive, Boston. Speeding (Wyberton). £192 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Lukasz Wierzbinski (35), of Parklands, Fleet. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Benjamin Allen (29), of Saxon Close, Spalding. Speeding (Cowbit). £507 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

David Harker (33), of Woodthorpe Avenue, Boston. Speeding (Wyberton). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

March 22

Stephen Jackson (54), of Huntingdon Close, Holbeach. Speeding (Spalding). £100 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

March 23

Michael Clark (33), of Longland Lane, Farnsfield, Notts. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £70 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Mihails Dovidaits (29), of Lowgate Avenue, Bicker. No insurance (Boston). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Nathan Hurrell (28), of Trafalgar Industrial Estate, Downham Market.

Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

March 24

Luke Holmes (22), of Edinburgh Close, Kirton. Speeding (Boston). £80 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 28 days.

Nigel Smith (54), of Harlaxton Road, Grantham. Speeding (Cowbit). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

March 27

Allah Abeel (23), of Clarence Road, Millfield, Peterborough. No insurance (Spalding). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Jonathon Hutton (28), of Medlock Crescent, Spalding. No insurance (Pinchbeck). £323 fine, £32 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months. No separate penalty for driving without due care and attention.

Sammy Caulfield (37), of Valley Road, Flixton, Trafford. Driving without due care and attention (Sutton Bridge). £293 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Lee Rutherford (47), Stockton Road, Hartlepool. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £500 fine, £50 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Spalding Classic Car Club donated £500 to Holbeach Hospital in memory of friend and fellow club member Ivan Cunnington from Gedney Dyke.

Ivan lost his battle with pancreatic cancer, spending his final days in the care of the hospital.

He was also one of the founding members of the King’s Lynn and District 
Motor Club, chairman for many years, plus president from 1980 to 2004.

Spalding Classic Car Club, launched as an offshoot of the East Elloe Motor Club in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength with 150 plus members and a myriad of classic cars.

The club organises a fantastic calendar of events and more information can be found at www.seeccc.co.uk or by contacting secretary Joy Mann on 01775 723856.

• Pictured at the cheque presentation are, from left: (back) Trevor Overson, David Shepherd, Brian Gilham, Ivan Cunnington’s son Adrian Cunninton, Nigel Mann, Chris Shallice, (front) Holbeach Hospital manager Maxine Winch, Sue Inns, Joy Mann, Julia Bobey and Helen Stanbury.

Photo (TIM WILSON): SG060417-100TW

The Deepings School has held its first, week-long, Exhibition of Learning, to give an audience to its students’ work .

The exhibition was an ideal opportunity to showcase the progress students are making at the Deeping St James school in their learning in all subjects and the week was certainly a busy one.

Students had an open 
invitation to look around the exhibition at break and lunchtimes and were particularly impressed with the computer games designed and programmed by sixth form computer science students.

Others enjoyed watching the film made by the PE Department showing how students are learning in this subject and a film of a science lesson practical dissection.

Media studies generated lots of praise for the quality of work and students also spent time listening to music GCSE composition pieces or reading the display from history showing how a piece of historical writing is researched, drafted, marked, improved and completed.

The exhibition remained open after school to enable all staff and many visitors 
including governors, parents of Year 5 and 6 students from local primary schools, community representatives and primary head teachers to view the displays. On one evening Deepings School parents were warmly welcomed too.

Head teacher Richard Lord said: “The exhibition was an opportunity for us to provide a genuine showcase for our students’ work.

“I think that a really effective way to engage our students in learning is to create an authentic audience, giving them a sense that someone else, besides teachers, parents and carers, is truly interested in their work. 

“The vast majority of work that students undertake in a secondary school is produced with the class teacher or perhaps an examiner as the 
intended audience. 

“I am a firm believer that when students work in the context of producing a genuine product for an authentic audience, the result is enhanced achievement in content-area knowledge, literacy and personal learning skills. 

“The highlight of the week for me so far has been one student saying ‘I want my work to be part of next year’s exhibition.’  Our job within school is to provide that student with the skills, confidence and 
opportunities to achieve that goal.’

Liz Quinn, regional director of CfBT School Trust, said: “The Exhibition of Learning at The Deepings was impressive.

“Staff and students are rightfully proud of the work exhibited and it’s enabled colleagues and peers to see what each other does.

“I was lucky enough to view the exhibition with a consultant on his first visit to Deepings. His reaction was very positive – so much so he is taking the idea back to the schools he works in. Congratulations to all involved.”

A video of the exhibition is on the school website and the departments will use the photos taken of the exhibition to create new displays around the school.

• See Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press for a full page of pictures.

After a revamp from volunteers, Spalding Railway Station is getting closer to its former Victorian glory.

Since September, Spalding people, including volunteers from Bakkavor and Tulip Radio, have been giving their free time to help environmental group Spotless Spalding clean up the front of the station, by removing litter such as cigarette packets, planting flower beds and painting shelters on one of the platforms.

To show off the progress made, Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum – who spearheaded the project – invited members from the Market Rasen station adoption group to see the station in its revamped state.

Also present was South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes, who is the transport forum’s patron.

Forum chairman George Scott said the visitors were also shown around the town of Spalding, including a visit to Ayscoughfee Gardens, which left them “very impressed”.

Photo: SG080417-107TW

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

Rehearsals are well under way for the SADOS production of The Wizard of Oz. As you can see, yours truly has had a trial run of the green paint which was expertly applied by our resident make-up artist, the very talented Milan Reddy-Devlin.

I scared myself silly, as well as half the children who were rehearsing that night, when I looked in the mirror. Thankfully it was easy to remove, though it did leave my face with a definite green tinge, as if I’d just come off a cross channel ferry in a Force 10 gale.

Promotional images were taken by Andrew Rudd Photography, better known to me as the Tin Man. It was quite a feat for him to take a series of photos of the cast, including himself, whilst clanking about in full costume. He was keen to recreate an iconic image of the witch from the movie and I think the result is fantastic.

I love to discover as much as possible about the production and the role I’m playing so I’ve been doing some 
research. It seems the original film was beset with problems.

Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West, suffered second degree burns on her hands and face when she was exposed to flames in the Munchkinland scene.

After six weeks convalescing, she returned to the set on the proviso that she would have a stand-in for any other dangerous scenes. Betty Danko, the stunt witch, was then seriously burned when the mechanism for producing smoke during a broomstick flight malfunctioned.

I’ve not asked our team yet how we are going to tackle these special effects in our show at the South Holland Centre. I imagine some technical wizardry, or should that be witchery, will be involved but I might be asking for some fireproof underwear just in case.

The original Tin Man in the movie was Buddy Ebsen. Sources say that ten days into filming, he was also hospitalised when his lungs were damaged by breathing in the aluminium powder make-up. He was quietly replaced by actor Jack Haley and the true story didn’t emerge until decades later. Haley’s face was painted with aluminium paste instead plus protective greasepaint underneath.

Our Tin Man has also suffered for his art. His suit, made from turned and welded steel, has given him some cuts and bruises, even cutting through his jeans at one stage. This is being 
addressed but he tells me it’s going to be tough during the performance, as he won’t be able to sit down properly and it’s extremely hot. Our cowardly lion, Charlie Russell, will also be feeling the heat in his furry outfit.

I asked Andrew what he had done in the editing suite to make me look like such an ugly old hag.

“Nothing! I photoshopped in some colour on your hands and your shadow, but otherwise left it as it is.”

“So, bar the make-up, that’s the real me?”

“Yup!”

• Tickets are now available for The Wizard of Oz from the South Holland Centre box office 01775 764777

GROWERS COLUMN: By Tony Gent

It’s a good start to the spring crops when sowing goes so smoothly as it has this year. On most fields, we are now approaching our ninth crop of No-till and we are now seeing a vast difference in our soil structure. It’s become like a honeycomb of wormholes with masses of biological activity.

We find the moisture consistency of the soil is much more stable, which is a big benefit to heavy soil and it has developed soil strength to carry weight which reduces damage to the soil. Mostly needing just one pass, which costs a lot less, with much less weather risk.

Since we started No-till, it has been a steep learning curve and one of the main problems has been having a suitable seed drill to suit the demanding conditions of our UK soils. This has now been solved by the development of the angled disc system.

Also, a lot of work has been done with various techniques of growing cover crops to help condition the soil. There is still a lot to learn with this, but it is showing very promising 
results so far.

To help farmers to get information and get in touch with those who already have experience with No-till – part of a wide concept of Conservation Agriculture – an 
organisation has recently been put in place called CA-UK. Details can be found at www.conservation-agriculture.co.uk, which is a member of European organisation ECAF (European Conservation Agriculture Federation).

A couple of weeks ago, I attended the annual general assembly of ECAF, which took place in Albacete. southern Spain.

It was very interesting to meet like-minded people from European counties as far apart as Portugal, Denmark, Turkey and Moldova.

A lot of interest, both in Europe and worldwide, is being shown in reduce or No-till techniques, resulting in big improvements to soil structure around the world.

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By John Hayes MP

Last week, I visited China. Representing the Government at “The Golden Era: Sino-UK Maritime Trade and Investment Forum”, my aim was to showcase the excellence of the UK’s maritime industry, which in this country directly supports 500,000 jobs and contributes £22.2billion to our economy.

Most people know of Britain’s seafaring past, but perhaps fewer appreciate that the UK remains the world’s maritime centre.

In the light of China’s ambitious plans for its own industry, I highlighted that UK businesses, with special skills and expertise, are well placed to help them realise their aims as well as ours.

More broadly, the delegation, which, as Maritime Minister, I led, typified the fresh thinking about trading arrangements across the world that our exit from the European Union allows.

Indeed, the ‘Golden Era’ conference was aptly named, for Brexit presents an opportunity – indeed, the obligation – to enhance Britain’s place as an enterprising, globally-trading nation.

Even now that the Prime Minister has triggered Article 50, those who remain doggedly in denial still cling nervously to the familiar comforts of Europe.

Continuing trade with the continent is, of course, important, but we should not be blinkered by that priority.

Other opportunities around the world abound and equating continued trade with continued membership of the EU’s Single Market and its Customs Union is myopically pessimistic.

It is only outside this protectionist fortress that we will be free to embrace old friends and forge new alliances.

These will include new relationships with China and developing economies in Asia and South America, as well as the rejuvenation of age-old ties with historic partners from across the Commonwealth and the Anglosphere.

A key advantage of our new approach will be secured by retaking the UK’s own seat at the world bodies, including the World Trade Organisation, that determine global regulation.

Such status not only gives a right to vote in these bodies, but crucially also confers an entitlement to initiate new standards and propose amendments to existing ones.

Instead of being represented by the EU, we will, once again, be free to co-operate with allies – old and new – to ensure that world regulation does not prejudice our particular needs.

Such a strategy, in the finest British traditions, is bold, outward-looking and ambitious.

To borrow Milton’s lines: “Methinks I see in my mind a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a strong man after sleep and shaking her invincible locks…as an eagle mewing her mighty youth and kindling her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam.”

A worried dog owner is searching for her poorly German Shepherd’s siblings in order to discover if they are suffering the same condition.

Gloria Howarth bought three-year-old Ellie from a dog owner in Pinchbeck and knew there were other puppies in the litter which went to local homes.

The kennel names of Ellie’s parents are Hansvale Darktroy (father) and Sweet Willow (mother).

Ellie suffers from anal furunculosis, which is very common in German Shepherds, but she is not responding to her current reatment, despite being under specialists at the Queen’s Veterinary School in Cambridge – the city university’s training school.

“Ellie was born with the condition,” said Gloria. “And it is highly likely that her siblings also have it.

“Fewer than five per cent of dogs fail to respond to the treatment, so I would like to get in touch with the other siblings’ owners to see if they have tried other forms of treatment to Ellie, as we have only one more option before she would have to undergo surgery – and obviously, we all want to avoid that.”

Anal furunculosis is an auto-immune disease, and results in lesions around the dog’s anus and sometimes down the legs, which are highly irritating and can lead a dog to self-harm.

The only option if treatment fails is surgery, which is likely to lead to incontinence for Ellie in the future.

Mrs Howarth knows she bought Ellie from a Mrs Turner in Pinchbeck, but has no other details.

“I just would like to find out if Ellie’s siblings have the same condition and if they have tried any different treatments. It’s a long shot – but we’re running out of options.”

• Do you own one of Ellie’s siblings, or think you may be able to help? Contact Gloria on 01487 710843.

A well-known former trader and respected standard bearer for The Royal Naval Association (RNA), Brian Payne, has died at the age of 73.

He ran Brian’s Trading Post in Gosberton Clough – where he also had a military museum – for 34 years until he retired in April 2015.

Brian made a living by selling a vast array of items, mainly collected from house, shop and factory clearances, and filled old buildings and a yard with tools, toys, china, paving slabs, furniture and more.

Previously, he had travelled extensively abroad to countries including Afghanistan as a lorry driver and had worked on oil rigs.

He married his long time partner, Jane Kingsnorth, in October last year.

Brian was No9 Area standard bearer for the RNA, representing Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and South Yorkshire since 2000, and was standard bearer for Spalding branch of the RNA.

Spalding branch RNA president Terry Carter said Brian carried the branch standard at the town’s Remembrance Sunday Parade last November.

Terry said: “He was determined to do it because that was his tenth one.

“If he did something, he did it wholeheartedly or not at all. He was very dedicated. He went all over the place for the RNA and he was very proud to be known as our standard bearer.”

Brian’s long standing, loyal service to the RNA recently earned him a national award as a non-seagoing member.

Jane said Brian was born in Rushton, Northamptonshire, and had wanted to join The Royal Navy but having rickets – a bone development illness – as a boy meant he was unable to join up.

Brian and Jane had travelled all over the UK with Brian carrying the RNA No9 area standard.

One of their proudest moments came when Brian carried the No9 area standard in Paris at a 2011 parade along The Champs-Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe, where Brian formed part of the colour guard to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

As well as Jane, Brian leaves family including sons Colin and Phil, grandchildren Rhys, Lloyd, Ryan and Poppy, a sister, Joy, and brother-in-law Brian.

• Brian’s former RNA comrades were among family and friends honouring Brian at his funeral service at St Peter and St Paul’s Church, in Gosberton, yesterday (Wednesday). Donations at the funeral service were given for the RNA, Spalding, and Macmillan Cancer Support.

A hospital volunteer from Gedney Hill has been recognised for making a difference to people with mental health problems.

Ron Rouse (59) was named Volunteer of the Year by Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust at its annual Staff Excellence Awards in Lincoln.

A volunteer for two years at the Manthorpe Centre in Grantham, Ron has been instrumental in helping patients by bringing rabbits onto the ward in gratitude for the care he received when he was cared for at the centre.

Ron said: “I am very proud of this award as I know the high level of commitment given by all the volunteers.

“Being a former patient myself, I know first-hand how they feel when they arrive on the ward and I can tell them my own story.

“This gives them the hope and knowledge that there are still many more things they can achieve.

“Also, to have my work recognised in this way will give all the volunteers a big boost as well.”

Chris Button, the centre’s activities coordinator, said: “Ron always brings some brightness into what can be very traumatic times for people, offering them encouragement and showing through his own experience as a patient at the centre that there is light at the end of the tunnel.”

It was her desire to capture the likeness of her children that inspired Sandra Peck to pick up a paintbrush.

After taking art lessons in Spalding, where she was encouraged to explore all mediums, Sandra has gone on to become a tutor herself and has been helping others develop their own painting skills for more than 25 years.

In more recent times she has swapped the village halls and studios where she initially taught for more inspirational venues including Burghley House, in Stamford, and Barnsdale Gardens, in Rutland, where she is privileged to be artist in residence.

“I’m so lucky to be painting and teaching in two of the loveliest possible locations, which means I can regularly paint all of my favourite subjects – flowers, gardens and old stone buildings,” says Sandra, of Spalding.

“And watercolour has a special appeal for me; when you paint with other mediums the paint or pastel stays exactly where you put it on the paper, but the thing that I really love about watercolour is the way that it moves on wet paper and how the pigments run into each other and make new colours and marks.”

Sandra, who has developed her own wet-into-wet watercolour technique, has always been interested in painting but was dissuaded from pursuing it for a career. It was only when she became a mother that she took it up as a hobby, thinking it would be nice to capture the images of her daughters in pastels.

To help develop as an artist she signed up for lessons at Riverbank Studios, in Spalding, and under the tutelage of John Gray, was encouraged to try her hand at all mediums.

“John’s classes are informal, each person takes along what they want to have a go at and he gives them advice; I was lucky as he is a really talented artist and it was just the start I needed to give me some confidence,” recalls Sandra.

“I soon got into watercolour and then I found I quite enjoyed painting flowers.”

Soon after Sandra was invited to show her work at the gallery and was then asked to give some demonstrations of her work, which led to her being asked to teach at other venues around the area.

“As a very keen watercolour artist, I’m sure that I’m not alone in viewing everything that I see as a possible painting. It doesn’t matter where I am; whatever I am looking at is immediately transformed into watercolour,” she adds.

“I have been teaching for more than 25 years now but I still really enjoy it and have met lots of lovely people and made many friends, some of them still paint with me occasionally after all this time and a number have gone onto teach and to become members of prestigious societies and to earn recognition for their own paintings.”

Mum and daughter both teach classes

Painting is a family affair for Sandra, whose daughter Lucy Ellis also teaches art classes alongside her at Burghley House and Barnsdale Gardens – home to a series of gardens created by BBC Gardener’s World presenter Geoff Hamilton.

Between them they offer tutoring in a range of medium and subjects with Sandra focussing on a range of flowers in her 2017 programme.

Her classes, which are suitable for all abilities, are relaxed and friendly, and this year will cover painting oriental poppies, sunflowers, gladioli, parrot tulips, lilac, wisteria and cherry blossom.

“I will be painting roses at both Barnsdale and Burghley in June. I do love painting the old-fashioned roses and, of course, the David Austin roses which have been bred more recently in the same style.”

• For more information on Sandra, her work and the classes she teaches visit www.sandrapeckwatercolours.co.uk

Sandra will also be exhibiting a collection of her own watercolour works of old-fashioned roses at Gunby Hall, near Spilsby, throughout June.

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: By Jerry Green South Lincolnshire Dog Rescue

We have had an exciting week at Jerry Green Dog Rescue as we had a surprise arrival of a litter of six puppies.

The puppies were brought to us by a kind supporter who wanted to ensure they found good homes safely.

The puppies were German Shepherd crossed with a Labrador and were absolutely adorable.

We managed to place the puppies, who were named after the six Direwolves from Game of Thrones, in foster homes while we found homes for them.

After an overwhelming response all six puppies were found brilliant homes in a matter of days.

It is not very often we get puppies that young at the rescue so it is really exciting when we do because they bring with them lots of fun energy and we know that we can find them amazing forever homes very quickly.

DOG OF THE WEEK – FIDGET

Say hello to Fidget, a beautiful three-year-old Lurcher with a lot of love to give.

Fidget came to us from the stray kennels, so we unfortunately do not have any history of his time before us.

After spending a lot of time assessing and understanding his needs, this is what we have learnt so far: Fidget is extremely affectionate, he loves to be around people, cuddle up to them and play with them. We think because of this he would like a home where he is not left for long periods of time.

He is currently working with the team on meeting other dogs, as he can sometimes be over excitable when he sees one.

We think he could potentially live with a calmer dog to help him with this, pending a successful dog introduction at the centre.

Fidget is incredibly bouncy and playful so we think he would be fine to live with children but would recommend that they are older and used to bouncy dogs.

Fidget has a lot of love to give to someone – could you be the one to take him home? Call the South Lincolnshire team today 01205 260546.

TRAINING TIP

Tired of wearing earplugs around the house?

Barking is a natural reaction for your dog but we understand sometimes excessive barking can become difficult to live with.

The first step to a quieter home can be achieved with the power of distraction.

When your dog is barking, use treats to distract them away from what is causing them anxiety.

Throw the treats away from the area. Your dog will be distracted munching up the yummy treats with little concern for what was causing them to bark.

This may only be a temporary fix and the training may need developing.