WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

Another day and another insight into the minds of those who should know better or at least make the effort.

Queuing up in a retail outlet waiting to be served, it seems that somebody before me was having a bit of grief in that the credit/debit card they had presented for payment of an item, large, bulky and needing the aid of serfs to move it to possible transportation outside, had been refused by the all-knowing machine it had been slotted into.

The lady person, as in customer, was going on about that this was ‘deplorable’ and not only that, it was unacceptable as well. However the manager was called into the fray and he explained assorted remedies as the card was being rejected and the final and obvious method was that if she could pay the amount in cash, it wouldn’t be a problem.

This was parried with (wait furrit, wait furrit..) “DON’T you KNOW who I am?!” in some super duper voice that to the untrained ear and eye may give the impression this was possibly some branch of Royalty, foreign or home grown, not mentioned in the Observers Book of Royal Beings or any of the similar named I-Spy books as being so, but a voice behind me mumbled “Bit of a chancer I’d say, missus..” and got a few nods of approval from mere peasants in the lower ranks in the Customer’s Waiting to be Served section.

The outcome was that she went with the manager towards, we assume, his office to get it sorted as he was going to telephone her bank or whatever to get a result as we could be served as some of us had been on Customer Training programmes – bit like staff training but more involved – and were possibly armed with the said coin of the realm or the means to pay for our purchases unlike Her Ladyship

The attitude in which this lady had adopted of the ‘know who I am’ malarkey reminded me of some years ago when I had a similar encounter or rather one with the same mentality – a mixture of arrogance, bluster with a dash of ignorance – that I can still sadly recall.

I was then working in a tyre depot in that we supplied and fitted tyres (obviously), batteries and other similar bits and bobs for both the public and the local motor trade in the immediate area plus advise potential, regular and deranged customers (mostly killing time while their other half was shopping) about said tyres, batteries etc and other kindred products or in basic terms today we could be classed as possible skilled social workers if kitted out with the right shoulder bag and laptop.

A ‘lady’ customer drove onto our forecourt one lunchtime and I suppose now I should have been a bit quicker as my two fellow operatives saw her first and each vanished quickly, muttering things like “Forgot to take my library book back..” and “Is it that time already?..”

So I ended up coping with our very own equivalent of the Margot Leadbetter character played by Penelope Keith as seen in BBC televisions ‘The Good Life’ but in our case, for real sadly.

As she bludgeoned her way out of her car, she slammed the door and strode in my direction as my working associates had now drifted away at great speed.

Note: appropriate translations in brackets.

“Hey, you! – worker person! – I want a wad (word) with you now!” and there I am thinking where had I left the company dictionary as there are lots and lots of different words in it to choose from and as she seems rather keen, I could let her choose some of her very own.

This short lived thought of mine, unshared at this point, was slightly shattered as she said her thing.

“Now, I have a boon (bone) to pick with yhoo (you) – my hosebun (husband) came in har (here) only last wheek (week) and bought some tyre things and dhoo (do) yhoo (you) know whout (what) has harpooned (happened)? – No, yhoo don’t do yhoo worker person, so I shull (shall) tell yhoo whout (what) has harpooned”.

To get to the point, it seems her hosebun came in and had a set of four tyres fitted, one at each corner, but can you believe it? – only yesterday while she was driving (droving no doubt) it, she suffered a float (flat) tyre thang (thing) and her hosebun has changed it and it’s in the char (car) bhoat (boot) and what are we (?) going to dhoo aboat (about) it?!

On getting the tyre or rather the wheel out the ‘bhoat’, I was told to be careful about scratching the paintwake (paint work), I found that it had suffered the fate of many a tyre as in the dreaded ‘Nailus-Intruptus-Tripus’ disease as in getting a puncture.

Her eyes rolled and sort of nearly popped out her head as she gushed forth with (wait furrit, wait furrit..) “A punkcha?! – a punkcha! – impossible! – that happens to ‘poor people’ and NOT peepel (people) of our standing! – why, why (Delilah?) my hosebun (husband don’t forget) is a member of the gulf (golf) club I will have you know!”

I made a mental note to remember that when they have a blow-out as in a ’punkcha’ at Silverstone on Grand Prix weekend driving their Formula One cars, they must be ‘poor people’ taking part, based on that analysis – wonder if they know that?..

True to form she wanted, nay DEMANDED a second opinion – bhoat of curse (course) – and so I called my boss out from his ham and pickle sandwich as in his lunch, and she did her bit as outlined above to him and to be fair he did put his best sympathetic face on as he inspected it and after doing a bit of caressing the wheel and tyre, which all this malarkey had all the appearance of a faith healer at work, he put it down and he responded thus:

“To be honest gal, you’re got a common puncture, that’s all..”

She replied thus: “COMMON!? – common!? – I will have you know my hosebun (hubbikins) is a member of the gulf club and we dhoo NOT have ‘common’ ANYTHING!”

The outcome, if you want to call it that, was to repair the punkcha (hole in tyre) and get her away as quick as possible. While this is going on, Lady Margot Bluffandbluster has now calmed down slightly and tried a bit of patronising as we are doing this f.o.c as in free of charge.

She then said her friend (there’s a novelty I thought – she has a friend) had a ‘flat battery’ once and could we help if she had one too and how would she know (!?) and I replied that perhaps the lights might be dim (something she perhaps knows a bit about, dim that is) plus unlike a tyre, the battery does not lose its shape. As she left us, we knew the British Empire (umpire) was in safe hands assuming the umpire was a gulf club member of course.

Previously...

Just in passing...

A man who has spent most of his life adult life living in care services and hospitals across the country is now leading an independent life on the outskirts of Holbeach.

Martin, who has a number of physical and mental health needs, is now being supported to live in his own self-contained one-bedroom bungalow.

The 36-year-old enjoys helping staff at Willoughby Lodge – run by care provider Regard – around the house and garden, baking and meeting up with friends.

Regard locality manager Katrina Greff said: “Martin is quite a character. When he first came here he said he was so happy that every day was like Christmas Day.

“He loves to go out and about seeing the sights, and visiting the seaside at Skegness and Great Yarmouth. He is a real ‘people person’ and is the life and soul wherever he goes.

“For someone who has spent most of his life in care units, to see him settled in his own home, living his own life, and making his own decisions is inspiring.

“Since moving into Willoughby Lodge, Martin has been on holiday, had barbecues and parties at his flat, and is planning a holiday with one of his friends.

“It may all seem like simple things to most people, but they are so important to Martin, and are things he was unable to do before.”

Martin has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, a mild learning disability, complex needs and is fed directly into his stomach through a special ‘peg’ device.

Over the past year, the service has focused on developing Martin’s independent living skills, which include managing his own medication, washing his clothes and keeping his home clean and tidy.

Kat added: “Although he is unable to eat food himself, he adores baking for other people or having a barbecue. He absolutely delights in preparing things for people to enjoy.”

Since he moved to the service, Martin has made a close friend, who lives at Regard’s Roman House service four miles away, and the pair regularly meet up.

Willoughby Lodge is a service for people with learning disabilities or mental health needs. It can also support individuals with physical disabilities.

Martin’s bungalow is one of three supported living units on the site and is staffed round the clock. It is aimed at people moving from residential care or their family home.

Regard, the organisation behind Willoughby Lodge, provides supported living and residential services for people with learning disabilities, mental health needs and acquired brain injury, and cares for more than 1,100 people, with a dedicated staff of over 2,200 across 149 locations throughout the UK.

The service currently has a vacancy. For further information email helen.petit
demange@regard.co.uk, call 07944 105428 or see www.
regard.co.uk

A talk on E-safety was delivered by singer/songwriter Lexie to Year 7 and 8 students at Spalding Academy.

Lexie, who is also an actress and dancer entertained the children by singing her own songs and ones of stars such as Ed Sheeran.

She also helped deliver an important message about online safety, cyber bullying and discrimination before holding an open discussion with students.

They enjoyed the music and entered in to the spirit by providing Lexie with an original and spur of the moment dance troupe.

This program has toured more than 3,600 schools around the UK and Ireland, with a mix of different artists.

• More pictures in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.

Hundreds of people enjoyed a day of sporting activities as part of a special event in Spalding.

A ‘Give it a Go’ taster event took place at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field in Spalding last Sunday.

The event was organised by South Holland District Council’s Community Development Team and featured demonstrations and displays from sports clubs across the district.

The aim was to get as many people as possible interested in their local clubs and to have a go at some of the activities that they offer.

Activities included: fitness classes, indoor bowls, rowing, rugby, football, golf, tae kwon- do, water polo, bowls, yoga, dancing and cooking classes.

Clubs at the event were: 1 Life, Helen Lea’s Fitness, Hereward Rowing, Spalding RFC, Spalding United Under 9s, Sutton Bridge Golf, TAGB Spalding Tae Kwon-Do, Spalding Water Polo, Spalding Indoor Bowls, Viv Scupham Yoga, Tonic Health, U3A and Cook Connect.

Representatives from the Community Development team were on hand to offer advice and support.

A spokesperson for South Holland District Council said: “This was an enjoyable event which was really well-attended and we’ve already had a lot of positive feedback.

“We would like to thank all of the sports clubs which came along and held demonstrations, we understand that several have already had enquiries from potential new members.

“And thanks to everyone who came along and joined in. We will continue to work to promote sporting activities across the district.”

• More pictures in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.

The Bull’s Neck pub in Washway Road, Penny Hill, near Holbeach, reopened today (Friday) with former hoteliers Neil and Lyn Spiers at the helm.

The couple are running the pub with their daughter Claire (20).

Claire said the pub will be run as a free house, offering a variety of ales on tap, such as Old Speckled Hen, and serving food, including sandwiches, jacket potatoes and basket meals with a promise of even more good dining to come.

She said: “We are hoping to bring out a menu in the future.

“Right now we want time to get comfortable with our customers, to get to know them and for them to get to know us.”

The family moved to the pub in September and have given it an extensive makeover.

Claire said: “It’s very different from what it was. The colours are toned down and it’s got a much more homely feel to it. It’s more like a country pub than it was before.”

Claire’s parents ran a hotel in the North West for 11 years before moving to Lincolnshire and have extensive experience of the catering industry.

The whole family is looking forward to the pub venture.

Claire said: “We’re really excited about it.”

As well as helping in the pub, Claire’s role will include the social media and marketing side.

The family understand the former coaching inn was closed for about 18 months.

• The pub previously reopened with new owners in October 2013.

Language Club taster days to help those with limited English speak and write are to be held in Spalding.

The fun and informal free taster sessions are at the Vista Hall next to St Mary and St Nicolas Church on Saturdays, April 22 and May 6, 4pm-6pm.

These church-sponsored sessions are run by qualified and experienced teachers and are aimed at men and women aged 18 plus, with a full course planned soon after.

The ‘language club’ tasters and the paid-for (£12) sessions which follow aim to help people in many day to day situations, building knowledge of the English language through various different approaches such as role play, learning games, interviews and using real life situations.

If people are looking to improve their job prospects, take the British citizenship test or want to feel more confident talking to healthcare workers, organizations, schools, employers or the emergency services, this course should help.

If you are interested or want to book your place, contact the Rev John Bennett on 01775 722772 or teacher Martin Whitfield on 07535503780/01778 561707.

Resurfacing work on the circulatory lane of Sutterton roundabout will be taking place next week to improve the condition of the roads. Some patching work on the A17 towards Sleaford will also be carried out.

A series of overnight road closures (between 9pm and 6am) through the week will be needed. The current programme of closures is:

• A17 west to Sleaford closed Tuesday night and Wednesday night;

• A17 east to King’s Lynn closed Thursday night;

• A16 north to Boston closed Friday night (7pm to 6am).

The remaining approaches to the roundabout will be managed with four-way temporary traffic signals. Temporary traffic signals will be in operation between 10pm and 5am every night except Tuesday.

The diversion routes will be fully signed while the closures are in place, and the closure will be advertised in advance with on-site signage. Access will be maintained to businesses and properties as far as reasonably practicable.

The county council apologises for any inconvenience caused.

The additional improvements have been made possible thanks to a £1m grant from the Single Local Growth Fund.

A review of South Holland District Council has found that it is ‘doing a good job for residents’, ‘has strong and effective leadership’, and demonstrates ‘sound financial management’.

The findings come from a Corporate Peer Challenge report, which was presented to Council members on Wednesday evening.

The report has been written by a team of Local Government Association (LGA) peer reviewers, comprising senior officers and councillors from other parts of the country, who spent five days in December scrutinising various council plans and interviewing council staff and members, as well as representatives from a number of businesses and partner organisations which work with the councils.

The review covered South Holland District Council and its partner authority, Breckland Council, in Norfolk, with which South Holland shares a senior management team.

Leader of South Holland District Council Gary Porter explained why both councils invited the peer review: “We are committed to protecting and improving our services which our residents rely on.

“Getting input from experienced peers from external organisations will prove invaluable in helping us maintain our progress and work on areas which need improvement.”

Review key findings:

• Both councils are doing a good job for their residents, with a range of good quality services and involvement in a number of major projects central to economic growth.

• Both councils have good quality elected members and there are positive relationships between councillors and officers at all levels.

• It is clear that significant progress has been made in relation to many of the areas that the councils have sought to improve over recent years and elected members and staff of both councils should be applauded for this.

• The two councils demonstrate sound financial management. Whilst they face an on-going financial challenge... they have adopted a positive approach...

• It is really positive that, even beyond those service areas and functions that operate under shared management, there is good networking, sharing and cross-fertilisation of ideas between the two councils.

The report also highlighted some areas for future development. These included clarifying ‘how the growth agenda is going to be shaped and a need to ensure the ambitions are clear.

It also cited that while new management of Compass Point had made a positive influence, work is still on-going to achieve further improvements.

At its meeting, South Holland members agreed a recommendation for the chief executive to work with the leader to develop an action plan based on the findings of the Peer Challenge report.

Commenting on the report findings, Coun Porter added: “The review recognised that improvements have been made in developing our staff and adapting to meet the changing needs of residents and businesses, all of which have been delivered against financial challenges.

“The peer reviewers also highlighted the benefits of our shared management structure but stressed that this has potential for even greater success in future.

“The review has given us plenty of food for thought, which is exactly what we wanted, so now myself and the chief executive will work on an action plan to help us shape our on-going development. We will then seek Cabinet and Council approval for the plan so that the whole organisation owns and works with the plan.”

Spalding LIVES First Responders have been given a £300 boost by Spalding West Townswomen’s Guild.

First Responders are often the first medics on the scene of an emergency and treat patients before ambulances arrive.

Spalding West Townswomen’s Guild secretary Margaret Dempster says: “They are such a worthy cause.”

Our picture shows guild chairman pat Bissmire presenting a cheque to Gordon Kirk, of LIVES, watched by guild members at St John’s Church Lounge.

Photo: SG130417-151TW

Firefighters from Market Deeping, Bourne and Spalding attended a building fire on in Market Deeping market place today (Friday).

The small blaze was out on arrival after staff had used an extinguisher and there was fire damage to one light fitting.

Crews used thermal imaging cameras to investigate.

Firefighters from Long Sutton and Spalding attended a building fire on Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, today (Friday).

The fire was out on arrival and there was light fire damage to an extractor fan and smoke damage to the remainder of the property. There were no injuries.

I read with interest your report in the Free Press (March 28) about South Holland District Council hoisting the white flag for the proposed expansion for Springfields Shopping Outlet.

Firstly, the ongoing housing development plan for South Holland will bring thousands of homes which are planned to be built over the next three decades, bringing more people, more cars and the greater need for added infrastructure and amenities.

With more retail provision allocated in the emerging South East Lincolnshire Local Plan, it will be good for our local economy and jobs for local people and surrounding areas.

But secondly, what about Spalding I ask? What has happened to the development plan for Holland Market, what happened to the proposal 
regarding a new sports facility for all. What happened to the big idea for the town centre and the plan for developing the Market Place. Also the plan for a new bus station to be nearer the town centre. Why take so long? Or has it all been binned?

Traders in Spalding town centre are bound to be concerned for their future and business when the footfall is being pulled away. There does not appear to be a fair balance set for the town as people who visit Springfields may not even consider what the town centre has to offer.

I say to the council: “Don’t just sit back and let Spalding town centre rot, there is potential within our town, it just requires some forward thinking with the right initiative and actions.”

We see many run-down areas in our town that only add to the demise of what was once a lovely market town in the heart of Lincolnshire.

That was my quote and I don’t see it in that context anymore.

It saddens me to see it, the old sorting office down The Crescent, the Bull and Monkie pub on Cowbit Road, the old Johnson Hospital opposite the council offices. All been run down for years, surely it does not have to be like this?

If the South East Lincolnshire joint planning committee are looking forward to being active participants in the 
future prosperity of Springfields Outlet, just what are they looking forward to for Spalding town centre?

I do appreciate there is a lot of uncertainty at present with Brexit and with the lack of government funding for local councils, but what happened to all that EU funding which was allocated for infrastructure development for greater Lincolnshire? Surely it does not just disappear because of the referendum result?

I received a telephone call on Tuesday morning claiming to be from the Telephone Preference Service, with whom I registered many years ago.

A woman with an Indian accent said my subscription had expired and to re-register me she needed to check my name and address (which was correct).

She then wanted to check if my debit card on the bank which paid my BT bills by direct debit expired in April 2017, which it didn’t.

She then wanted the correct date which I refused to give her. I said I couldn’t see that this was anything to do with the TPS.

She then asked her manager, who also had an Indian accent, to speak to me. He got quite agitated when I said I wouldn’t give any financial details over the phone.

I then put the phone down and at once checked with BT, who said this was almost certainly a fraud, and that they had checked my landline which showed I had had no incoming BT calls that morning, despite the fact that my phone registered what looked like a UK telephone number.

They recommended I added Call Protect to my BT account, which I did immediately.

The call was very plausible and it would have been easy to have given the card (and therefore the bank) details but the whole story seemed suspicious.

I thought it might be a good idea to bring this scam to the notice of Spalding Guardian readers, particularly those who are registered with TPS.

Friends of a Sutton Bridge family are rallying round to raise cash after a boy of nine had surgery to remove a brain tumour.

Riley Watts, a pupil at Westmere Primary School, remains in Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge, and his parents Emma Kelly and Shane Watts are taking it in turns to stay at his bedside while making life as normal as possible for their other three children.

The family has had a double blow with the discovery that football loving Ryan’s tumour was cancerous.

Shane told us: “There’s no words I can use to describe what it’s like.

“You don’t think it is going to happen to your own children – when it does, it’s gut wrenching.”

One friend, Jayann Raywood, has already raised more than £1,000 towards her £5,000 target on JustGiving.

Jayann said: “This news has had a massive impact on the community as we all know the family – although money won’t solve their problems or cure Riley’s illness, it will help with other necessities.”

She said help has come from villagers, including Stacey Downham and sisters Elouise and Chantelle Burton-Rayner, who are holding a fundraising disco at The Curlew Centre, and Susie Piccaver, who had a donations box at her boot camp on Memorial Park.

“This is every parent’s worst nightmare and we just trying to help,” said Jayann. “This couldn’t have happened to a more close-knit and genuinely loving family. Emma dotes on her children and everything Shane does is for his kids.”

Riley’s family hadn’t asked their community to raise funds and are both amazed and grateful to get such support.

Forklift driver Shane (40) said: “We can’t thank people enough for everything they’re doing for Riley.”

Riley had his operation two weeks ago and there’s no news yet on when he will be allowed home.

Money raised by the community is helping with the family’s expenses incurred in hospital trips but most will be devoted to special treats for Riley.

Shane said: “Hopefully, when he comes home, the money’s there for him to have the puppy that he wants. He’s wanted a puppy for a few years now and I think it’s time we said ‘yes’. We would also like to take him on a family holiday.”

• To donate via Jayann’s crowdfunding site for Riley, known as Rybear, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rybearspage

A councillor who boosted fundraising for Tydd St Mary Pre-School has blasted its former treasurer for “stooping so low” to steal more than £4,800 from the organisation.

Coun Jack Tyrrell donated £500 from his ward budget to the current £4,500 fundraising drive spearheaded by the community, as did fellow Long Sutton district councillor Laura Eldridge.

As reported in last week’s Free Press, the pre-school’s former treasurer Andrew Rivett (45), of Station Road, Tydd Gote, was jailed for eight months at Lincoln Crown Court for theft described by the judge as “almost fatal to the pre-school group”.

Coun Tyrrell said: “I can’t believe anybody would stoop that low in a position of trust.

“It’s lower than low to take off kids – they are not stealing from the person who is running the place, they are stealing from the kids who are having the pre-school experience.”

The councillors announced their donations at a family disco night organised by Kelly Walker, Amanda Browne, Beth Hunt, Michelle Smart, Tricia Browne and Naomi Andrews.

Kelly said they were so shocked by the theft from the pre-school that they felt they had to do something.

She said local businesses donated raffle prizes, DJ Mark Upson offered his services free, Mark’s wife Debbie offered glitter tattoos, and the event included an auction and a raffle. More than £500 was raised.

Naomi said a Tydd St Mary men v women football match was held on Sunday, which the women won 10-4, and £289 was raised.

The women had a little bit of masculine help thanks to team-mate Brett Newman, who donned a wig and a pink frock.

The grand total so far raised has risen to £2,500 but it is hoped this will go higher still with donations to come in via JustGiving.

Commenting on the theft by Rivett, Tydd St Mary Pre-School chairman Brenda Fursse said: “We were saddened that a member of our close community could put the pre-school in such a difficult position.

“However the staff and committee acted swiftly, professionally and competently over the last 18 months to ensure this has not affected the children in any way and have continued to provide the high level of care and learning.”

Ms Fursse said the committee reviewed its procedures to prevent a similar breach of trust in the future and had stepped up its own fundraising to keep the pre-school running.

She also acknowledged the support of friends, families and the community.

To donate please visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/TSMpreschool

Deepings Swimming Club can host some of the biggest meets in the region after members raised more than £12,000 for a new electronic scoreboard.

More than 100 swimmers aged between eight and 60, took part in a sponsored cross-channel swimming challenge at Deepings Swimming Centre on April 2.

The swimmers stroked their way along the 25-metre pool for 2,832 lengths, the equivalent distance to crossing the English Channel and back, in just over two hours to fundraise for a new electronic timing board.

Club member and two-time Paralympic gold medallist Rob Welbourn (29) started things off, with the last length swam by life member and Loughborough University academic Alex Thurston.

Lynn Chapman, head coach, said: “We had a wonderful evening and the swimmers did a magnificent job raising the money, so they should be very proud.”

Apart from the challenge, the fundraising evening also included a raffle, cake sale and a special appearance by club mascot Sydney the Seahorse.

Club chairman Martyn Reynolds added: “My thanks go to everyone who helped us put on the cross-channel challenge, including the swimmers themselves and their parents, whose support helps us to achieve great things at the club.”

About 38,000 runners in the final stages of preparing for this year’s London Marathon can take heart from an important man on the inside track.

Iain Hook (64), who moved to South Holland from Derbyshire just four months ago, is a director of London Marathon Events Limited which organises the 36-year-old race and seven other annual mass participation events.

But this year, Mr Hook will be putting in the same effort as all the runners, including 11 people from south-east Lincolnshire featured in the Lincolnshire Free Press and Spalding Guardian since January.

Mr Hook said: “On Sunday, April 23, you will see a city with 38,000 runners telling their own story on the day.

“It’s about people coming from different parts of the world for what they say is the greatest marathon in the world.

“For me, it’s also about recognising the valuable contribution that the London Marathon makes as the biggest one-day fundraising event in the world.

“When people run the London Marathon, it’s the only event in the sporting calendar where you can run next to a MP, an Olympic hero, or a TV or film celebrity.

“It’s a very unique, humbling privilege to be on the start line, waiting for the gun to go off as you come across characters you may never see again.”

Mr Hook’s involvement with the London Marathon came about through his career in local government and leisure management.

He said: “I did running at school, but I was more of a mountaineer until I had a climbing accident some years ago.

“The doctors said I’d never be able to walk again without a stick, but then your career takes off and you do various things.

“For 17 years, I worked in the London Borough of Hackney, representing the chief executives of the London authorities because of my background in sport.

“Then I moved out of London and was a director of a leisure management body where my role was to work with the leisure facility managers in and out of London.

“When a representative from the London authorities was needed to work on the London Marathon to offer support and advice about the event, I was asked to come on board.”

As well as London, Mr Hook is also an ambassador for the Berlin, Boston, Chicago, New York and Tokyo marathons which, together with London, make up the ‘World Marathon Majors.’

A year ago, Mr Hook joined the ‘Six Star Finishers’ club after completing all six big city marathons in just 17 months.

But, he said: “It’s not about Iain Hook, but the runners in this area and many more like them who it will be great to see running on April 23.”

Long Sutton Indoor Bowls Club is to close – after 30 years in the town.

Opened in 1987, local businessman Roy Smith was the driving force behind the club, in The Chase.

But after running the facility 12 hours a day, seven days a week for such a long time, Mr Smith, 78, has decided it is finally time to retire.

Having been unable to find a buyer or someone to take on the lease of the club, the doors are closing this month, at the end of the indoor season.

“I don’t feel I can take bookings for next season,” said Mr Smith. “Now is the time.”

“My two sons aren’t interested in taking over – they have their own jobs.”

The bowls club, which is adjacent to the Co-op, was put up for sale four years ago, but no buyer has been found.

Mr Smith also offered the leasehold on the building for sale and has also tried to let the club building for just shy of £40,000 a year, but again, there have been no takers.

In addition to the six bowling rinks, there is a bar area, offices and changing rooms in the building.

Mr Smith is well known in the town, having run the Bridge Hotel for 25 years. He also owned a hotel in Great Yarmouth, but sold both in around 1990 to concentrate on the indoor bowls club.

Married to Mavis, Mr Smith said she “will be in for a shock” when he is at home all day, but says he will find something “to keep himself busy”.

Lincs county competition secretary Simon Reeson said: “It is a great sadness that the club will be closing at the end of the season. This will have implications on the make-up of next season’s leagues.

“It attracted players from Long Sutton, Holbeach and further afield and has always proved difficult for visiting players.”

Let’s hope Spalding United won’t need a penalty shoot-out to keep alive those dreams of promotion.

If the play-off prospects go down to the lottery of spot-kicks, the Tulips can probably forget about playing at a higher level next season.

For three successive years, they have been knocked out of the League Cup on penalties.

Having secured a top-five finish and a semi-final place thanks to other results on Saturday, there should have been a real celebration over that achievement.

But the home defeat to mid-table Bedworth United raised a few concerns.

Spalding’s poor display certainly can’t be repeated when it comes to knockout action.

Just in case they are given another penalty – or face a shoot-out again – the Tulips need somebody to convert from 12 yards following four misses in the past six games.

Leon Mettam has twice seen the keeper make a save, firstly when he had a golden opportunity to make it 1-1 at Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Two weeks later, the loan signing had a chance to book third place and a home tie in the play-offs.

Skipper Nathan Stainfield was tripped in the box with 17 minutes left and Mettam stepped up to the spot.

His kick was pushed out by Joshua Barnes diving to his right and, as the rebound fell kindly for a tap-in, Mettam trod on the ball.

Lee Beeson’s penalty was saved when the Tulips were 4-0 ahead at Leek Town last month so that didn’t really matter too much.

But when he hit the bar last Tuesday night at home to Basford United, you had to wonder whether one of his team-mates might be able to actually score from the spot.

Mettam’s second miss has probably ruled him out – so who will be next to step up?

Spalding didn’t deserve to beat Bedworth anyway and poor defending at a free-kick gave away a late winner.

Kamil Ciolek was allowed to head past Michael Duggan – although, as it turned out, the Tulips didn’t even need a 
point to guarantee a top-five finish.

After half an hour, boss Chris Rawlinson switched to the same system which had seen Bedworth make a bright start.

Spalding should have gone in front before the break as referee Martyn Fryer played an advantage after a foul on Bradley Wells then Jordan Lemon floated the ball into Mettam, only for Barnes to deny him.

Lemon’s long-range drive was held just before the spot-kick while Duggan made a block from the Greenbacks’ substitute Iyseden Christie two minutes after Ciolek had broken the deadlock.

Getting into the play-offs is step one in the promotion push with more to achieve.

SPALDING UNITED

4-4-2: Duggan 6; Walker 6, Spafford 6, Stainfield 7, Jackson 6; Beeson 5 (sub Downey 68 mins, 5), Varley 5, Whitehead 5, Lemon 5; Mettam 5 (sub Lockie 79 mins), Wells 5 (sub Acar 64 mins, 5). Subs not used: Field, Higginson.

BEDWORTH UNITED

3-5-2: Barnes; Albrighton, McAteer, Perkins; Kavanagh, Parrott, Blythe, Walters (sub Brehon 66 mins), Rowe; Ciolek, Jeys (sub Christie 74 mins). Subs not used: Moore, Cross, Martin.

REFEREE

Martyn Fryer.

GOAL

Ciolek (85 mins, 0-1).

BOOKINGS

Perkins (foul); Albrighton (unsporting behaviour).

ATTENDANCE

195

STAR MAN

Nathan Stainfield – one of those days when so many players under-performed but you can always rely on the skipper to put in effort.

ENTERTAINMENT

★

WHO’S NEXT

Lincoln United (A) - Monday.

A Deeping St Nicholas family’s hopes of meeting costs associated with life-changing medical treatment for their youngest son are now nearly a reality.

Kieran Taylor (seven) and his family are at the heart of an appeal launched by the Spalding Guardian three weeks ago to help them meet living and travelling expenses related to the youngster’s brain tumour therapy.

Guardian readers and the South Holland community have together raised nearly £8,000, including £750 from St John the Baptist Church in Spalding.

Lawrence Calkin, part of the church’s ministry team, said: “We’ve been rallying along beside Kieran and his family since the brain tumour was first diagnosed.

“But when people heard about the appeal, they came to me and said ‘what are we going to do for Kieran?’

“His family knew we were doing it but they were a little amazed when it was announced by the church how much had come in for them.

“This has been an act of spontaneous giving, initiated by the church family and part of a much bigger effort.”

The Guardian started the effort with a £500 pledge from our Children’s Fund to help towards travel insurance, visas, food and flights for sister Caitlin (nine).

Kieran’s proton beam therapy at a Florida hospital, accommodation for him and parents Steve and Karen are all being funded by the NHS.

But the family will have to fund any other costs themselves and, as a result, Spalding and District Round Table has pledged £2,500 to the appeal.

Chairman Jason Parnell said: “We are proud to be able to support Kieran and his family through his treatment.

“Many Round Table members have young families and so Kieran’s plight has touched all our hearts.

“We wish him a speedy recovery and hope our donation alleviates some of the pressures on his family during his treatment in the USA.”

• You can make donations by cash or cheque to the Lincs Free Press Children’s Fund by sending them to ‘Kieran Appeal’, Spalding Guardian, Priory House, The Crescent, Spalding PE11 1AB.