Your guide to all the games

SATURDAY

READERS LINCOLNSHIRE ECB PREMIER LEAGUE (noon start)

Alford & District v Spalding, Boston v Woodhall Spa, Bourne v Lindum, Bracebridge Heath v Louth, Grimsby v Market Deeping, Sleaford v Grantham.

SOUTH LINCOLNSHIRE & BORDER LEAGUE (1pm start)

Premier Division: Billingborough v Freiston L&L, Grantham 2nd v Stamford, Skegness v Boston 2nd, Spalding 2nd v Bourne 2nd, Woodhall Spa 2nd v 
Sleaford 2nd.

Division One: Baston v Long Sutton, Moulton Harrox v Billingborough 2nd, Timberlands v Skegness 2nd, Welby Cavaliers v Boston 3rd.

Division Two: Graves Park v Heckington, Long Sutton 2nd v Belton Park 2nd, Pinchbeck v Spalding 3rd.

League Cup Division C: Claypole v Grantham 4th.

SUNDAY

RUTLAND LEAGUE (1pm start)

Division One: Barnack v Stamford, Grantham v Oundle, Ketton v Bourne, Market Deeping v Peterborough, Wisbech v Nassington.

Division Four West: Hampton 2nd v Huntingdon & District, Laxton Park v Barton Seagrave, Peterborough 2nd v Sawtry, Weldon 2nd v Bourne 2nd.

Division Four East: Castor & Ailsworth 2nd v Ufford Park 2nd, Moulton Harrox v Uffington 2nd, Whittlesey 2nd v Newborough 2nd.

MONDAY

WINKWORTH CUP FINALS DAY (at Sleaford)

Grantham v Bourne (10.30am), Alford & District v Woodhall Spa (1.30pm), final (4.30pm).

Danny Durkin spent only 101 minutes on the pitch during three appearances on loan at Spalding United in October – but he’s back and ready to make an impact next term.

The striker rejoined the Tulips this week having played a role in Loughborough Dynamo’s ‘great escape’ from relegation.

Boss Chris Rawlinson plans to start the season by choosing from three strikers – Durkin, teenager Jonny Lockie and a centre-forward whose transfer should be confirmed soon.

After the departure of top scorer Bradley Wells, Spalding will be hoping prolific form by another striker in front of goal can lead them to promotion.

Durkin said: “I know there are big boots to fill – but I will relish the challenge and look forward to the opportunity of playing in a team which will 
create plenty of chances.

“After the second half of last season at Loughborough, I learned that this league has a lot of physicality.

“Players don’t have as much time and you get a few knocks – especially as a striker.

“Hopefully I can play on a regular basis and get more goals next season.

“I got a few goals and assists to play my part, also filling in different positions.

“During those two weeks at Spalding, I was playing on the right wing.

“I’d prefer to play on the shoulder of the last defender to get in behind him.

“I know there will be some competition for places here next season. Ideally I’d like to be one of the main strikers.

“I got on really well with the rest of the lads, even though it was only a short period, so I’m looking forward to seeing them again.

“I had been in Lincoln City’s academy with Jenk Acar and Andy Wright so I knew them before I came to Spalding.

“My first experience of men’s football was at Harrowby United when I scored 28 goals before January, then I ruptured a ligament.

“I started last season with Grantham Town but I never really got a chance to play and prove myself.

“So after the loan deal at Spalding was cut short, I went to Loughborough Dynamo.”

A leading children’s charity has given its reaction after a former Crowland pillar of the community was jailed today (Friday) for downloading indecent images of children.

A spokesman for the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children said: “Each indecent image is a crime scene which depicts innocent children suffering the most horrific abuse.

“By downloading this material, Bird was fuelling the demand for this gutter industry – potentially leading to more victims being harmed.

“To help tackle this vile trade, the NSPCC is calling on internet companies and authorities to help cut off supply and remove this content by sharing their information, expertise and resources effectively.”

• Anyone concerned about a child can call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 8005000, while children and young people can contact Childline for free and in confidence on 0800 1111 or via www.childline.org.uk.

FRIDAY, 11.48AM: Former councillor jailed after admitting viewing indecent images of children

A former Crowland parish councillor who admitted viewing indecent images of children was today (Friday) jailed for eight months. Peter Bird (72) was caught after police executed a search warrant at his Crowland home in October.

Lincoln Crown Court heard officers attended at the property after receiving information that an IP address belonging to Bird had downloaded a category B indecent image of a child.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said when police attended at the address Bird immediately admitted: “I know why you’re here.”

Officers seized various computer equipment and memory sticks belonging to Bird. They were analysed and found to contain 52 indecent images in the most serious category of A, 109 category B images and 432 category C images.

During police interview, Bird admitted being on a site and moving images from a memory stick on to his computer to view.

Bird had been a councillor in Crowland for four years but following his arrest felt the need to resign his post along with other community roles including Crowland in Bloom.

The court heard Bird was also recently assaulted outside his local pub and was now planning to move away from Crowland with his wife.

Bird, of East Street, Crowland, admitted making category A indecent images between January and October 2015, and making category B and C images between 2013 and 2016.

He must also register as a sex offender for ten years and was made the subject of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath told him: “You are an intelligent man. You served as a parish councillor for a number of years and you served as a special constable for 20 years.

“But over a period you became involved in the viewing of indecent photographs of children.”

The judge added: “Real children are abused in the manufacture of this material.”

A wedding goods supplier who defrauded a number of customers after failing to declare she was a bankrupt has today (Friday) been jailed for 18 months.

Amanda Vines (48) was made bankrupt in March 2014 but continued to run an internet business supplying items for weddings, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Mark Knowles, prosecuting, said Vines was a self employed sales person and sold items for weddings such as chair covers using Internet sites including Facebook and eBay.

Mr Knowles told the court: “She was made bankrupt in March 2014 and she should have declared her status, but clearly she did not.”

The court heard one woman who went in to business with Vines was left £4,000 out of pocket after customers did not receive their goods and she was billed by PayPal.

Vines also used the named Scarlet, claiming it was her middle name and defauded other customers, the court heard.

When Vines was questioned about the frauds she denied doing anything wrong and claimed all the complaints were instigated by competitors.

James Gray, mitigating, said Vines did not set out with the intention of defauding anybody.

Mr Gray told the court: “It is clear she did supply some people and was doing what she could, but her business was in chaos and she was in a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“She is willing to pay the money back. She has a job in telesales and has saved £1,000. She says she could pay back £250 a month.”

Vines, of Oak Square, Crowland, admitted three charges under the Insolvency Act and 12 offences of fraud.

Passing sentence, Judge Michael Heath told Vines the total loss from the frauds was just under £12,000.

The judge added: “You were declared bankrupt in March 2014, but you paid no heed to the Insolvency Act.

“When you should not have been trading, you committed frauds.”

There can’t be much better ways to spend a sunny Sunday afternoon than messing about on the river.

That’s what I discovered when I went along to Welland Yacht Club’s recent open day – part of the RYA’s ‘Push the Boat Out’ campaign to get more people out on the water and learning new skills.

I’ve tried my hand at windsurfing, canoeing and kayaking in the past – but dinghy sailing was a completely new kettle of fish (excuse the pun).

Along with my friend Holly, we headed to the yacht club in River Bank, Spalding.

Donning lifejackets, we boarded an RS Vision dinghy (designed for racing) under the expert guidance of helm Tom Bell (24). A qualified RYA instructor, Tom has been sailing for 10 years and says he loves being on the water and the buzz of racing.

There was no need for speed though just yet as Tom taught us how to ‘tack’ across the River Welland. Tacking is used when going into the wind. It’s a technique of zig-
zagging across the river by controlling the sail at the front of the boat in order to catch the wind. This is done by pulling on a line attached to the sail. Holly controlled one line, while I controlled the other and Tom steered the boat with the rudder at the back.

Incredibly, all this can also be done by a crew of just two – or even one person.

We quickly picked up the technique and made good progress on the glistening blue water before it was time to turn around and cruise back to the club, with the wind behind us this time. It was so peaceful being out on the 
river, with the sun glinting off the water and being out in the fresh air. We loved it.

Back on dry land we 
headed into the clubhouse for a coffee. Andy Prior, sailing and powerboat instructor, then asked if I’d like to have a go on the two-man ‘Scorpion’. Andy (56) has 15 years of sailing under his belt and also races so I knew I’d be in good hands. Sailing the Scorpion was another level entirely and, without Holly helping me with the lines this time, it was down to me to quickly move from one side of the boat to the other as I had to pull in and ‘cleat’ one line then grab hold of another line. I then had to pull that in, cleat it, and so on.

We really picked up speed this time as the wind had got up and I even had the chance to hang off the side of the boat, while pulling in the line, with my feet safely wedged under the foot straps. It was sheer 
exhilaration and I could see how sailing can get addictive.

You don’t have to be into racing or already be a sailor to join in at the club.

Sarah Prior (Andy’s wife), who is Club Commodore, said: “We’ve got about 70 members and people can come down and learn from scratch. We have the juniors on a Sunday morning. Our youngest is five years old. You can also be a 
social member so you can come and take out a dinghy or a canoe. We do powerboat courses too. We’re a really friendly club and we’re always happy to help.”

More information can be found at www.wellandyachtclub.co.uk or email: secretary@wellandyachtclub.co.uk

Long Sutton’s Charlotte Lake brought back two bronze medals from the TAGB Welsh Championships.

She was third in the girls yellow belt sparring and team sparring competitions at Cardiff University.

A total of 27 fighting areas ran throughout the day with more than 1,000 competitors and 200 officials.

Lake was one of the 23 students from the Mark Farnham Schools of Tae Kwon-Do taking part in the tournament, winning a total of 19 medals with pattern, sparring, destruction and team sparring events during the day.

Anyone interested in learning a martial art in a fun, friendly atmosphere should contact Mark on 07771 644460 or visit www.mftkd.co.uk

Safety measures have been stepped up at a Holbeach school after a girl was approached by a man who asked for her address.

The nine-year-old girl was walking to William Stukeley Primary School in Spalding Road when a man came up to her on Wednesday morning.

According to a letter for parents from the school and seen by the Lincolnshire Free Press, the man asked for the girl’s address and email details before walking off when the girl met up with a friend.

Head teacher Tom Emery said: “All we know is that she was walking to school and a gentleman came up to her, trying to coach out of the girl her email and home addresses.

“The girl was okay and we checked out how she was on the morning it happened.

“She was in lessons and then had a conversion with a couple of adults and the police before her mum and dad collected her.

“Happily, the girl didn’t appear to be too bad in herself but we sent a letter home to parents, alerting them to the whole situation.”

The man who approached the girl was described by the school as white, with brown hair and wearing sunglasses, a leather jacket and gloves.

Mr Emery said: “We do the ‘stranger danger’ lessons throughout the school and it was a coincidence that we had an online safety awareness reminder covering what we do at the school on the same day as this incident.

“We remind the children in each individual class about the need for awareness and what to do concerning strangers as a matter of course.”

The school took similar steps in November 2015 after an unconfirmed report of an attempted abduction where a car drove up alongside a girl and passengers inside spoke to her.

Mr Emery said: “We’ve got one of the PCSOs in the area coming in next month to tell the children what to do so there’ll be another reminder of the “stranger danger” message in the future.

“In the meantime, our vice chairman of governors came in on Wednesday and Thursday morning when he was out in the vicinity of the school to be a face that the kids knew.”

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “Officers have spoken with the child and the school has issued letters to parents for general awareness.

“There have been no other reports of a similar nature and the man was not seen by any other pupil.”

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting incident 109 of May 24.

A spate of burglaries over three nights in Spalding and Pinchbeck could be linked, according to police.

The most recent burglary took place in Parkside Crescent, Spalding, overnight between Thursday and Friday.

It followed three burglaries and six cases of either criminal damage or prowlers with torches in Finlay Close, Hoekman Way, Lowfields Avenue, Matmore Close, Thornton Road and Stonegate, in Spalding.

They happened between 10pm on Wednesday and 5am on Thursday, along with suspicious activity in Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck.

The crime spree started at a house in Horsepit Lane, Pinchbeck, where a person or gang got in and stole goods overnight between Tuesday and Wednesday.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said: “The key safes are being forced open to give the offenders access to the keys and then the property.

“Some of these burglaries have been carried out while the elderly occupants have been asleep in their beds or victims have woke up to find offenders in their home.

“Given the vulnerability and fragility of some of the victims, we are very concerned that there is the potential for serious consequences from one of these incidents.

“The burglary of someone’s home is a crime which can leave a lasting impact on its victims and for the perpetrators to deliberately target the elderly in this way is despicable.

“I urge anyone who has any information about these crimes to contact us and I encourage our community to be vigilant, look out for your neighbours and report any suspicious activity when it is happening.”

Anyone with information should call Spalding CID on 101.

“How could UKIP possibly defend standing against John Hayes?” asks Paul Redgate (Lincolnshire Free Press, May 9).

Could it be that although they were for Brexit, they are not necessarily for harsh treatment of the disabled, trashing of the NHS or giving bigger, better tax breaks to the rich?

The Conservatives are making much of the ‘strong Brexit’ thing – it’s a very convenient smokescreen to hide the nasties behind, isn’t it? Focus on Brexit and we can forget all about the people at food banks, homeless on the streets, lack of affordable housing, rising cost of university. Not to mention the systematic destruction of the NHS – there’s no money spare for it we keep being told. There are billions to spare for bombs and foreign wars. Plenty to spare for the corporations who don’t like to pay tax. Small businesses are hounded for owing a mere £100 in any tax year, yet the big boys and bankers don’t even get a slap on the wrist for a few millions.

This election is definitely not all about Brexit.

Each Conservative vote is a vote for yet more cuts in welfare for those most in need. Each Conservative vote is a vote for treating the disabled and those with mental health problems with total callousness.

It’s a vote for an NHS sell-off, a vote for low wages, a vote for enriching the rich and greedy.

As for John Hayes, yes, he does good stuff locally. All politicians do – it’s how you keep the votes coming your way.

So have a good think before you vote folks and be careful what you wish for – the next lot of cuts might be aimed at you.

Whaplode’s reputation as “a village with sculptures” is in question after a stone statue was removed from an estate in the village.

People living in Buttercup Paddock are “very concerned and saddened” after the Lodestone, one of 12 sculptures spread around Whaplode and Saracen’s Head, was taken away two weeks ago.

The sculpture, designed by London-trained wood and stone carver Martyn Barrett, is thought to have been one of at least five sculptures commissioned by retired pig farmer and former parish councillor Stan Hoyes.

At May’s parish council meeting in Whaplode Drove last Wednesday, Buttercup Paddock resident Rita Rudkin said: “I was there on the Saturday morning (May 6) when a JCB digger arrived.

“I went out of my house thinking ‘I won’t be able to go out and do my shopping”.

“Mr Hoyes was there so I asked him ‘what are you doing?’ and he said ‘I’m moving this sculpture because I’ve had so many complaints about it.’”

Ms Rudkin went on: “I told him ‘surely no one round here has complained as we all thought it was beautiful and we’re sad to see it go’.

“But Mr Hoyes wasn’t gracious at the time and he didn’t like being questioned as to where he was moving the sculture to.

“We’re very concerned about its removal, we’re very saddened by its disappearance from the village and we all feel very strongly about it because one minute it was there and the next minute it was gone.”

Our sister newspaper, the Spalding Guardian, reported in March on efforts by Whaplode Parish Council to 
establish the ownership of the sculptures.

The most famous of them was a 700lb pot-bellied pig known as the Whapplehog which once stood in Churchgate, a steel and brick sculpture also in Churchgate called Green Galaxy, Lodestone and False Start which still stands in Buttercup Paddock.

Coun Graham Barlow, who has spent the last six years gathering information about the sculptures, said: “Stan Hoyes is a long-time resident of Whaplode and his family has been in the village for a long time.

“I suggest that we write to Mr Hoyes and say that we’re disappointed to hear that he has removed Lodestone.”

The Free Press approached Mr Hoyes for a comment but he declined.

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

April 26

Paul Jefford (32), of School Drive, St Neots. Stole vodka worth £51 belonging to Co-op (Bourne) £100 fine, £34 compensation, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

Rimantas Barbuska (40), of Alexandra Road, Spalding. Drunk and disorderly (Spalding). £70 fine, £30 v/s, £70 costs.

Cieren Brownsword (26), of Pennygate, Spalding. Drug driving (Spalding). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for possession of cannabis.

Ian Powell (48), of Cranmore Lane, Holbeach. Resisting police officers (Holbeach). 12 months conditional discharge. Assault. 12 months conditional discharge, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

April 28

Lukasz Marzec (35), of Green Lane, Spalding. Failed to provide specimen of blood (Spalding). £180 fine, £30 v/s, £200 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

May 3

Matthew Barber (39), of Sleaford Road, Boston. Driving while disqualified (Kirton). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £385 costs, disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for 5 months. No separate penalty for no insurance.

Tomas Zilkinskas (38), of Woad Farm Road, Boston. Obstructed a police officer (Kirton). £100 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

Martin Beale (25), of Kingfisher Court, Spalding. Stole groceries worth between £300 and £500 belonging to Sainsbury’s (Spalding). £200 fine, £200 compensation.

Brandon Campbell (25), of Station Road, Thorney. Drug driving (Langtoft). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No separate penalty for no insurance. No action taken on breach of suspended sentence.

Ionel Costache (48), of Westlode Street, Spalding. Drink driving (Holbeach). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months. No separate penalty for no insurance, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no MOT.

Rachel Foster (39), of The Delph, Pode Hole. No TV licence. £40 fine, £30 v/s, £30 costs.

John Harding (45), of Cobgate, Whaplode. Stole two bottles of suncream worth £29.98 belonging to Savers (Spalding). 18 months conditional discharge. Two counts of assault. £50 compensation on each count. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

April 25

Rachael Murray (40), of Seas End Road, Moulton Seas End. Speeding (Whaplode). £146 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 27

Chase Gowland (23), of Carrington Road, Spalding. Assault (Spalding). Community order with building better relationships programme, rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £75 compensation, £85 v/s, £200 costs.

Shane Boyton (37), of College Close, Holbeach. Harassment (Spalding). 26 weeks prison sentence, restraining order, £115 v/s. Assault. 26 weeks prison sentence concurrent, restraining order. Sent a message via public electronic communications network that was grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character. 26 weeks prison sentence concurrent, restraining order.

Maxine Abrahams (48), of St Johns Vale, London. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Keith Bullock (19), of St Pauls Gardens, Bourne. No insurance (Bourne). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Lewis Cifaldi (27), of New Parks Boulevard, Leicester, Leics. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Simon Cull (53), of South Brink, Wisbech. Speeding (Tydd Gote). £146 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Andrew Douglas (36), of Oakleigh Road, Grantham. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Adam Filipek (59), of Rushy Drove, Quadring. Speeding (Leverton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jamie Garner (41), of Heather Court, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Cezary Niczyporuk (32), of Beaufort Drive, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Steven Oxland (48), of Redstone Park, Redhill. Speeding (Cowbit). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Dawn Palmer (52), of The Rookery, Lutton. No insurance (Gedney Drove End). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Laura Ray (49), of Seas End Road, Surfleet. Speeding (Whaplode). £136 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jonathan Reast (29), of Cherry Tree Grove, Spalding. Driving without due care and attention (Spalding). £96 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

James Robinson (41), of New Road, Upwell. Speeding (Whaplode). £62 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Kyle Smith (19), of Lincoln Road, Deeping Gates. No insurance (Market Deeping). £200 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Donna Steele (37), of Cawood Lane, Gosberton. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Kaspars Trops (24), of Horace Street, Boston. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no MOT.

Andrew Wray (51), of Dale Road, Crayford, Dartford. Speeding (Cowbit). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 28

Keith Townend (60), of Spalding Road, Bourne. Speeding (Stainby). £900 fine, £90 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Firefighters attended reports of a vehicle fire in the town’s Halmer Gate early this morning following a collision.

It turned out to be steam mistaken for smoke and the crew used small tools to make the vehicle safe by disconnecting the battery.

The incident was at 4.57am.

Holbeach firefighters attended a property in the town’s Greenwich Avenue last night (Friday) after reports of a fire.

On arrival, at 10.36pm, the fire was out already. The crew ensured the scene was safe and carried out an inspection.

Letter sent to Post Office chairman:

Your PA sent me an acknowledgement dated April 26 in response to my letter of April 23 to you complaining about the closure of Fleet Hargate Post Office.

The letter, addressing me as ‘Dear Mrs Woolgate’, informed me that ‘someone will get back to you once their enquiries are completed’. So far I have heard nothing.

A friend told me a reply was published in a local paper. Since our post office was removed, I no longer have access to local or any other papers.

I am due for a replacement hip in July and cannot walk easily, let alone catch buses. If a reply was indeed sent to a local paper, I consider this extreme lack of courtesy to be an insult.

In fact this is typical of the way we peasants are treated; our whole village has been insulted by the total lack of thought, consideration or even basic courtesy, let alone any feeling for the sensibilities of rural communities in general. One day you may be old...

There are almost 10,000 Guides in Lincolnshire who will be facing huge changes in their iconic badges.

Girlguiding has decided that the badges available to Guides (aged 10-14), Brownies (aged 7-10) and Rainbows (aged 5-7) need updating to keep with the interests of young girls.

In Lincolnshire alone there are approximately 9,500 Guides, which just shows how many girls there are to keep interested.

Jess Bond, part of Girlguiding Anglia, said: “The reason we have decided to update the selection of badges is to make sure Guides is still relevant and keep it fun, varied and exciting.”

It will also help to attract even more members to the leading charity for girls and young women in the UK.

Girlguiding has always helped empower girls to do whatever or be whoever they want. An Air Mechanic Badge was available in 1910s, an Architect in the 1920s, an Electrician in 1930s, a Radio Communicator in the 1980s and Canoeist in the 1990s. But gender roles have been pushed that little bit further in recent years, as well as the advance in technology and social media, and Girlguides want their badges to keep up.

As young girls are the ones who will be achieving the new badges, Girlguiding has asked Brownies and Guides, as well as the general public, to post their ideas for the new badges on social media with the hashtag #BadgeGoals. So far App Design, Archaeology, Entrepreneurship, Human Rights, Festival Goer, Speaking Out, Upcycling and Vlogging are just a few of the ideas Guides all over the UK have come up with.

Olympian Beth Tweddle is one of the few inspirational women who have been awarded the “I Give Girls A Voice” Badge, along with The Pussycat Dolls singer Kimberly Wyatt.

She said: “My #BadgeGoal is a Resilience Badge, to give girls the chance to build their mental wellbeing and learn how to cope with the stresses of everyday life.”

Some Girlguiding members have also shared the reasons behind their choices.

Grace (9) said: “I would create the Inventor Badge because someone might have a really good invention and then maybe it could be used to help people in the future.” Elena (17) said “A Chemist Badge would be brilliant as girls could find out about acids and alkalis and have a go at conducting experiments. It would be a fantastic way to engage girls in chemistry.” Maia (9) said: “My dream badge would be the Be Yourself Badge because I think that being yourself is very important for Brownies and for life.”

The badges chosen will be categorised into six themes: skills for my future, have adventures, be well, know myself, express myself and take action and will launch Summer 2018.

Student writer Lucy Niblock puts forward her ideas on new Guide badges: “Having been a Brownie then a Guide for eight years, I have earned my fair share of badges. When I was seven, earning the Hostess Badge or the Craft Badge was an amazing achievement but now I struggle to find badges that I think would help and empower me later in life.

“My #BadgeGoal would be a Blogging Badge, it would be a perfect way to encourage girls to read and write more in a way they would find fun and interesting. Blogging is one of the most popular forms of communication nowadays and is an easy way for young people to express themselves and what they believe in. I also love the idea of a Human Rights or a Speaking Out Badge because it would teach girls from a young age about feminism and equal rights and how they should not be treated differently because of their gender, race or sexuality. It would teach girls that it is good to have opinions and that they should make their voices heard because they are just as powerful as everyone else.”

Spalding Lions celebrated their 46th Charter Dinner at the South Holland Centre.

The Centre provided a lovely venue with marvellous food from Caterwell.

A fun evening was had by all with a balloon modelling competition taking place through the night.

St John’s Care Home in Spalding went back in time for a 1960s themed party on Thursday complete with decorations, costume and entertainment.

The lounge of the care home in Hawthorn Bank was filled with in bunting from 50 years ago or more, including photographs of iconic celebrities from film, screen and music.

Residents and staff helped in making decorations for the event organised by Country Court Care, owners of St John’s, with family and friends joining in by wearing outfits from the era of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and The Who.

Ida Brickles, wellbeing and activities coordinator at St John’s, said “We love a party at St John’s and our themed days are a great excuse to get everyone together, singing along and dancing to their favourite songs from the 1960s.

“We’ve done a 1940s’ party before which was also very popular with residents so we decided to hold this one as well.”

There was entertainment from singer Antoine who performed hits by The Beatles and The Monkees, while residents and their families were served food and drink on a sunny afternoon.

Ida said: “Themed days and parties like this are brilliant in care homes because they help the residents reminisce about their past.

“They are also a really good way of triggering memories and stories from a specific era in the lives of our dementia patients.

“Music of any kind is helpful but singing in particular is used to unlock memories and seems to reach parts of the damaged brain that other forms of communication fail to succeed in doing.”

Sharon Hare, dementia champion at St John’s Care Home, said: “We are always looking for new ways to support our residents and it was lovely to hear about what they got up to in their youth.”

Veteran guitarist Ray Fenwick was the special guest at a charity concert in Pinchbeck to celebrate the anniversary of Barbeque ’67.

Uptown Vinyl Records, inside Spalding Lifestyle Centre, hosted the five-hour concert that marked the pioneering music festival held in Spalding 50 years ago which saw a number of legendary musicians and bands play.

Mr Fenwick, a former member of the Spencer Davis Group, Bo Diddley and Ian Gillan Band, as well as the voice of the theme tune to 1960s and 70s children’s TV show Magpie, entertained his audience who were given free entry to the concert.

About 100 people attended the event where more than £200 was raised through donations for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Alan Barnsdale, who opened Uptown Vinyl Records about two years ago, said: “It went very well, everyone appreciated the quality of the music and the professionalism was amazing.”

Along with Mr Fenwick, there was also music from Ben Canton, Dave Horton, Mike Forbes and others.

A new telephone scam where callers pose as internet providers to get their hands on cash has been reported to police.

The scammers call their victims and say that a problem has occurred with their service or router, or that their account has been hacked.

Eventually, the caller asks for remote access to the victim’s computer “to fix the problem” and then, in some instances, find that the customer is due a refund.

But instead of a refund, victims find that as much as £8,000 has disappeared from their bank account.

Members of a Spalding-based band will be making some noise for shoppers on Saturday in an effort to draw new members.

Spalding Brass Band will be entertaining bargain hunters and traders in Market Place where musicians will be at a stall from 11am until 2pm.

The band, which is based at Spalding’s Broad Street Business Centre, currently has 16 members aged from eight upwards.

A spokesman for the band said: “We’ll be taking some of our instruments with us so that people can come along and have a go at our stall.”