Jasmine Allen was in scorching form as Nene Valley Harriers finished second at last Sunday’s Eastern Young Athletes League match.

In red hot conditions, Allen scorched to victory in the under-13 girls’ 200m ‘A’ race in 28.0 seconds – which was a new club record time.

Allen’s super sprint was one of several outstanding performances by the team of young guns, who won the under-13 boys and under-17 boys’ age groups.

And it was another sprinter in the shape of William Hughes who made a significant contribution to the winning under-13 tally.

He stormed to a B string double, taking the 100m in 13.1secs and the 200m in 27.4secs.

His twin brother Charles also did his bit with a double, taking the ‘B’ discus and javelin honours and was also runner-up in the ‘A’ shot.

Elsewhere in this age group there were A string successes for Keilin Spurdens (1,500m) and Kai Harrison (discus).

There was no doubt about the main man behind the under-17s’ team victory as English Schools hammer thrower Isaac Huskisson powered his way to a treble.

He won the ‘B’ shot and discus and also the ‘A’ hammer – and received good support in the throwing events from Matt Rodrigues.

He was first in the ‘A’ discus and ‘B’ javelin, while Nathan Jasper took top spot in the ‘A’ javelin.

Nene Valley also did well in the jumps in this age group with Matt Hudson and Jonathan Woodcock securing maximum points in the long jump and triple jump.

On the track there were wins for Kane Wright (100m A), Cameron Marshall (400m B and 800m A), Sam Smith (800m B) and Alex Hampson (1500m A).

Chloe Prentice (shot A and discus B) and Bethany Denial (long jump A and high jump B) were double winners for the under-15 girls, and Leigh Ann Rose hit a winning note twice (800m B and shot B) for the under-17 girls.

• Result: 1st Bedford & County 812pts; 2nd Nene Valley Harriers 683pts; 3rd Chelmsford 638pts.

Julian Joachim was in the Holbeach United side as they crashed 6-0 at Stamford on Saturday.

Jordan Smith (4), John Challinor and an own goal gave the Daniels a convincing pre-season success, but Tigers chief Glen Maddison wasn’t too downbeat.

He’s planning talks with ex-Aston Villa hitman Joachim this week and has also snapped up ex-Boston United centre back Lewis Sturman.

Maddison said: “We almost couldn’t field a side – I think we had nine players out. Stamford were at full strength and it showed if I’m honest.

“The lads did OK, although they were pretty shattered by the end of the game.

“I don’t think we’d have got a result with a full-strength side either, they are a very good side.

“It’s been a bit up and down so far in pre-season, but you expect that when you have to build a new team from scratch.

“Julian knew we were very short of players and still wanted to play. Hopefully we’ll talk about the future this week.

“He’s only 38 and still has bags of ability.”

Independent financial advisors Lynas Vokes Investments Ltd have moved to new, all-purpose offices in Holbeach.

The business, which has been helping clients for over 40 years, has left Church Street to set up at Trinity House in Welbourne Lane East.

All the staff have moved from two office locations to the new building, which will cater for all of the staff and client needs.

And to celebrate, South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes will officially open the new offices on Monday.

Lynas Vokes can help you with wealth management, wills and estate planning and mortgage planning.

A spokesman said: “Whether your inquiry is on a personal or corporate basis, the major financial decisions that you make will have significant and life-changing consequences.

“It is therefore essential that you seek professional independent financial advice from people you can trust.”

The business has evolved primarily through client recommendations and they offer a wide range of financial planning services to clients and cater for all of their financial requirements.

The company uses state of the art technology to meet all of their client’s financial needs and to achieve their objectives in the most cost effective way.

They also work in partnership with other professional advisors such as solicitors and accountants to meet all of the client financial aspirations.

Lynas Vokes offer advice on a whole range of financial services, including:

* Retirement planning

* Investing for capital growth or income

* Protection against critical illness

* Income protection

* Inheritance tax planning

* Long-term care

* Private medical insurance

* Family protection life insurance

* Tax-efficient planning and mitigation

* School fees planning

* Mortgages

They are authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

Contact them on the telephone by calling 01406 424950, by fax on 01406 490549, by email at info@lynasvokes.co.uk or visit the website www.lynasvokes.co.uk

Newly revised guidance on keeping children safe on farms has been released by the HSE.

The guidance replaces a withdrawn Approved Code of Practice, but the NFU says there is no change to policy or the law.

The guidance provides advice on reducing the risk of injury to youngsters under 13 and older children below minimum school leaving age.

It also identifies tasks and operations that are too hazardous for children and young people to do and includes examples of real life incidents.

The updated information is timely, with many farms gearing up for harvest when children who are old enough frequently help out.

Staff at a troubled Spalding school have begun the summer break confident they are “beginning to drive change”.

Ofsted inspectors paid a monitoring visit to check progress on improvements since the Sir John Gleed School was put into special measures earlier this year.

In a letter to the school, inspectors said: “The acting headteacher has quickly taken on the leadership of the academy with support from the associate headteacher and the senior team. Together they have set out a clear vision and are beginning to drive change.

“Behaviour has improved as a result of the review of the behaviour policy, shared and clearly understood expectations and more consistent approach to the use of sanctions and rewards.

“A new parents’ forum is providing regular opportunities to discuss the impact of the school’s actions and explore ways that parents can support the school.”

Inspectors believe that both the school’s improvement plan and CfBT Schools Trust – the academy chain responsible for the school – statement of action will address improvements needed.

Acting headteacher Will Scott said: “We are very encouraged by the feedback from Ofsted following this monitoring visit and will be working hard with the whole school community to continue to drive improvements in the next academic year.”

Anna Crispin, schools director for CfBT Schools Trust, said: “The acting headteacher, chairman of governors and senior leaders at Sir John Gleed School have pulled together with parents and the school community to make some rapid improvements.

“We cannot, however, be complacent and our focus continues to be on supporting the school to make sustainable, long-term improvement.”

Parent Naomi Evans says she has already noticed signs of change.

She said: “A lot of the children respect Mr Scott and are working with him on these changes”

Rebecca Thirkell, the parent who called in Ofsted, said: “I believe Mr Scott has the passion, drive and determination to turn things around.

“I think we are more likely to see changes starting in September with the new Year 7 intake. We have to be positive and give the school a chance as well as giving them all our support.”

A sick and frail 87-year-old says her health has improved and a “weight has been lifted off her shoulders” afterrepairs were made to her mouldy bathroom.

At the beginning of July, the Lincolnshire Free Press featured the story of Joyce Pitts, of Farrow Drive, Holbeach, whose bathroom was covered in mould, had a rusty grab rail and a shower that spouted either freezing cold or boiling hot water.

Friend Christine Crane, who lives close to Joyce’s sheltered bungalow, said she had been fighting for more than nine months to get repairs done by South Holland District Council and because the delays had been making Joyce’s health worse.

But, on the day the Lincolnshire Free Press came out Joyce’s shower was fixed and Christine said since then the mould has also been covered over.

She said: “We had a phone call the day after the council was contacted by the Lincolnshire Free Press to say they were coming to fix it and that happened on the day the paper came out.

“Joyce now has a new shower, hand rail, the ceiling’s all been done and she has a new hand basin.

“It’s all down to the Lincolnshire Free Press getting involved and Joyce is over the moon.

“Her health is a lot better because it’s a great weight off her shoulders and because she’s not living in all that mould.

“Now she can have a shower and feels a lot safer, and we had a visit from a councillor to say we can go to her if we have any more problems.

“I’m just hoping they have solved the problem rather than just covering it up.”

A spokesman for South Holland District Council said Mrs Pitt’s bathroom problems had been brought to the attention of Coun Christine Lawton, portfolio holder for Housing Landlord.

She said: “We were addressing some of these issues before the council was contacted by the Lincolnshire Free Press and the work had already been scheduled.

“We regret that there was delay in getting the job done due to some leave and that it caused some difficulties for Mrs Pitts, but we’re pleased that everything is now resolved.”

Police are hunting vandals who smashed the window of a vehicle outside a Spalding house over the weekend.

The vehicle was parked outside a home in Laburnum Grove where the window was smashed some time between 6pm on Friday and 11.30am on Saturday.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting crime number 32130029491.

Ruby Vertuccio was crowned overall champion as Spalding Gymnastic Academy played host to a county Level Five event.

It was another truly fantastic day for the Cradge Bank club, who won medals across the four age groups.

Vertuccio led the way in the nine years group, taking gold with a score of 46.117. Also in this group was Lucia Kato, Alice Bailey and Madeleine Freeman.

At age ten years, Alice Baxter won the bronze, with Miah Farrell, Katie-Marie Parker and Abbie Stubbs in mid-table.

Ellie Keeble won the gold in the 11 years section with 46.067, which made her second overall behind Vertuccio. Leoni Benedetti, Millie Parsons and Elly Simpson also performing well in this section.

Competing in the 12 years group, Erin Halgarth missed out on a medal with Ramita Dulkyte finishing mid table.

At 13 years and over, Chelsi-Lee Parker won the silver and Emma Gregory took bronze, with Maddie Redhead ninth.

The 11 teams contesting the new Spalding Sunday Football League season have been confirmed.

Fixtures will get under way on September 1, with the League KO Cup, John Chappell Shield and Mont Pell Trophy again to be contested.

This year’s teams are: Fenway, Gosberton Sunday, Hole In The Wall, Jubilee, Lutton, Murrow Bell, Pinchbeck Utd Sunday, Punchbowl Panthers, Spalding Wanderers, Sutton St James and Sutton Bridge Sunday.

Pat Rayment isn’t at all worried by Spalding United’s first pre-season loss of the summer.

The Tulips were tonked 4-0 at higher-graded St Neots Town on Saturday – and saw star striker Andrew Tidswell ruled out for up to six weeks with a broken hand.

Lewis Hilliard (16), Adrian Sear (57), Dion Sembre-Ferris (78) and Andy Palmer (88) all notched for the Saints – but it was their keeper Liam Conroy who walked away with the man-of-the-match award after a string of fine saves.

Rayment said: “I’m not reading too much into the scoreline. We had a lot of tired players and made a number of substitutions, which didn’t help.

“In the first half we had so many chances and really should have been comfortably ahead.

“It was encouraging, to dominate a half against such a good side shows we’re coming along nicely.

“It’s a blow to lose Tidswell, but these things happen. I may have to look at bringing a striker in on loan.

“We are well stocked for players everywhere really, except at left back.

“But Adam Jackson has really stepped up to the player there and I can’t praise him enough. He’s probably been our best player so far in pre-season.”

Spalding handed a substitute appearance to former Corby Town and Peterborough Northern Star full back Nathan Horne on Saturday, while winger Matty O’Neill was also given a run out.

But it was a final appearance in blue for striker Gary King, who has been released by the Tulips. He’s been handed a trial with Step Two side Boston United.

Next up for the Tulips is a home friendly with Kettering Town on Saturday (3pm).

Tulips: Drury, Canoville, Jackson, Allen, Stainfield, Webb, Beeson, Hall, Battersby, Tidswell, Cotton. Subs (all used): Mullarkey, O’Neill, Steadman, Doherty, King, Horne, Ebdon.

Police are looking for information about a burglary at a home near Deeping St James on Monday.

Suspects got into a home in Frognall through a patio door some time between 7pm and 8pm.

Anyone with information should call police on 101, quoting incident number 463 of July 29.

Film previews by Gavin Miller

The Heat (15)

After Identity Thief and The Hangover: Part III, Bridesmaids’ breakout star Melissa McCarthy seems to be in every comedy going.

And there’s already talk of a sequel after this was a massive hit Stateside, as McCarthy stars as a loose-cannon Boston cop who teams up with Sandra Bullock’s by-the-book FBI agent to track down a drug lord.

The Conjuring (15)

Talking of films that have been massive hits in the States, this critically-lauded horror from the director of Saw took in over $40m in its opening weekend last month.

Patrick Wilson (Watchmen) and Vera Farmiga (TV series Bates Motel) star as paranormal investigators trying to help a family terrorised by a dark presence in their farmhouse.

Pat sent me a problem last week about her Magnolia grandiflora ‘Exmouth’, which she bought from Birch Grove Garden Centre two years ago and planted in a tub against a south wall.


Last year it did splendidly, and put on a good amount of growth, but this summer the leaves are starting to discolour in the middle and drop off, although new growth is beginning to appear.

From the picture, I think this unhappy shrub needs a bigger container – a large half-barrel or similar, as most of the damage seems to be stress related, through the magnolia, which, planted in open ground, makes a good-sized tree in time, not having a big enough root run.

The damage on the leaves looks like scorch from our exceptional recent hot sunshine, or maybe even frost damage during the winter which is only just beginning to show because of prolonged high temperatures.

It certainly isn’t dead. I would find a suitable container and re-pot it immediately in a lime-free, soil-based compost.

Even better would be to lift a slab in the path and replant it in the ground, replacing the soil in the area with ericaceous John Innes compost or similar to get it off to a good start.

It will need watering regularly for the rest of the summer, adding a weak liquid feed about once a fortnight. It should then start to show an improvement within weeks.

Magnolia grandiflora does not need the same sort of conditions as rhododendrons and other acid-lovers, although it won’t thrive in chalky soils, or soil around house walls, which often contains a lot of lime from the cement used in constructing the property, hence my recommendation to replace it under the slab. Given the right treatment, it will make a stunning wall shrub, although it may take a few years to start flowering.

Take Me Home by Tessa Cunningham

Told with warmth, wit and honesty, ‘Take Me Home’ is a masterclass in life’s simple pleasures.

Tessa Cunningham had just recovered from breast cancer, was in the throes of a painful divorce and would soon be parted from her daughters when they left for university.

Already struggling with three of a woman’s worst fears, she couldn’t cope with any extra stress.

Yet she found herself offering a home to her 95-year-old-father, along with his Zimmer frame, collection of hearing-aid batteries, monogrammed hankies and tins of Black Bullet mints.

Jim, her father, can’t abide moaners, is given to tactless remarks and, as he’s deaf, is definitely not the best listener in the world. But, in the months that followed, his unexpected wisdom and irrepressible ebullience helped heal Tessa’s pain.

This week we spoke to Gordon Boswell, founder of the Boswell Romany Museum in Clay Lake, Spalding. Gordon told us what exhibits he has in his museum and told us a little of the heritage of his Romany family.

Gordon Boswell moved to Lincolnshire in the late 1950s, where he worked alongside father Sylvester and brother Don as a scrap metal dealer. Sylvester is in fact the author of ‘The Book of Boswell: Autobiography of a Gypsy’ which contains a family tree and photographs of their nomadic lifestyle.

The site of the Boswell Museum was originally a caravan site which Gordon bought in 1977 and in February 2005 it was first opened to the public.

The Boswell Museum is the life work of Gordon, who has amassed a collection of artefacts, photographs, and several examples of the characteristic wagon or Vardo. Amongst the displays include a large collection of Romany photographs and sketches covering the last 150 years, a fortune-telling tent and a late 1800s wagon.

The museum also operates a number of non-Romany vehicles, including horse-drawn carriages and wedding vehicles; Gordon also offers a seven-mile drive in the Romany Vardo and includes a steak meal cooked in the traditional Romany way.

The museum is open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays between roughly Easter and the end of October each year.

Macbeth –Encore screening from Manchester International Festival

South Holland Centre, Spalding

This very high profile production – written by William Shakespeare and directed by Kenneth Branagh and Rob Ashford – was performed in a deconsecrated church in Manchester.

The audience were on facing banks of seating along the nave, at times extremely close to the action. The floor was strewn with black peat and in the aspe at the east end was a sea of church candles.

The opening scenes found the audience in the midst of drums beating, rain soaked enactments of battle scenes, mud splattered actors and the trinity weird sisters which invaded the senses immediately and throughout the whole two hours it was a roller coaster capturing the battle hardened world of Macbeth, who became more and more unhinged and volatile.

Needless to say that Kenneth Branagh (Macbeth) and Alex Kingston’s (Lady Macbeth) performances were mesmerising and potent, but for me the best performance of the night goes to Ray Fearon (Macduff).

nThe South Holland Centre is screening Othello with Adrian Lester and Rory Kinnear on Saturday, September 28 at 7pm.

Soul, blues and jazz singer Freddie Hall is performing at the Hole in the Wall pub in Spalding tomorrow (Friday) night.

Freddie, who has performed with legends such as The Temptations and Aretha Franklin, is due to perform at 8.30pm.

Hailing from New York, Freddie is a professional musician who writes his own original compositions.

He has performed on the Las Vegas Strip and with many well known musicians. such as James Montgomery and Gladys Knight. He has also starred in Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, France and England, where he lives.

He continues to travel and perform on a regular basis either as a solo artist or with his five-piece soul band The Freddie Hall Band, but this weekend will be performing with The Freddie Hall Duo.

The time to get the children kitted out for the new school year if you haven’t done it already is now.

And the least stressful place to do the mega-shop required for youngsters who will be starting at a new school in September is here.

Anyone who has struggled though a major uniform search in the city in the last week of the holidays with children in tow will need no telling why that is.

Shop locally as soon as you can at your nearest school outfitters and shoe shops and you will have no trouble.

South Holland’s official school outfitters like Mann and Son and Hills in Spalding want to stop you heading for the chain stores in the city, so they keep their prices reasonable and provide a flexible service.

Trutex stockist Mann and Son allows parents to make an evening appointment and have the Hall Place shop to themselves to completely kit out a boy starting at either Spalding Grammar School or the Sir John Gleed School.

And Hills of Spalding, which supplies both boys and girls, also swears by Trutex for producing hardwearing clothes at very sensible prices – good value for money in other words.

Juniors’ trousers are coated with Teflon and come with knee patches for children who wear through the knees.

For shoes, try Gibbs or Revills in town, who can fit your children’s feet with the best shoes for taking those first steps into the classroom come September..

Ford’s latest Fiesta looks very different to that which has gone before but it’s probably not as radical under the skin as you might expect.

Still, the introduction of the excellent 1.0-litre three-cylinder Ecoboost engine is extremely welcome.

Certain realities exist in the supermini market. The additional cost of diesel engines rarely makes them big sellers, so this is where the state of the art in petrol engines is often played out.

Right now, Ford’s 1.0-litre Ecoboost three-cylinder unit is looking like it might just be in the box seat. It’s available in both 100 and 125PS guises and it’s already been a big hit in the Focus, winning the 2012 International Engine of the Year award along the way. With less lard to lug around in this installation, it’s pretty vivid, especially in 125PS form, getting the Fiesta to 62mph in just 9.4 seconds.

The Fiesta has long been one of the very best superminis to drive. Expect that still to be the case, even though here, the underbody changes are relatively few. Ford has developed new chassis and suspension components to improve the ride quality and refinement of the car and further refined the Ford Electronic Power Assisted Steering system.

That massive trapezoidal front grille might have a few people looking twice and wondering whether an Aston Martin Cygnet is attempting an overtake. So yes, it’s certainly distinctive – but not an unattractive feature and something that works well with the Fiesta’s shape.

Inside, Ford has relocated electric window switches, heated seat switches and interior door handles in the new Fiesta. A full leather-rim steering wheel is offered for the first time and a smart five inch central colour display supports the model’s first integrated navigation system.

The Ford Fiesta has always been a vehicle that the British public has warmed to.

There’s an unpretentious quality to it and a focus on providing the things that really matter to small car buyers – fun handling, an affordable asking price, low running costs and decent accommodation and space.

Now you can add strong safety provision and low emissions to that list as well.

The latest car has a polish and self belief that we’ve never seen from the Fiesta before.

In short, this blue collar car has made good. Especially with this 1.0 EcoBoost petrol engine fitted.

The owner of a Gedney Drove End pub is hopeful of bringing in new regulars after giving it a £60,000 facelift.

Sean Portass called The Rising Sun a “proper country pub” after workmen spent about a year renovating it to be a venue fit to welcome customers of all ages.

The pub has new mahogany furniture, solid oak bar, kitchen, patio and children’s play areas, as well as restored oak beams which are thought to date back to the 17th century.

Sean said: “I bought the pub midway through 2012 when it was closed down, boarded up and really rough.

“Workmen gutted it, then restored its original fittings and added some new features which are now completely finished.

“There was an official opening earlier this month and everybody was absolutely amazed by the transformation from what it was to what it is now. “People are really surprised how it’s turned out because it looks absolutely stunning and I think The Rising Sun is now a proper country pub.”

A programme of live entertainment has been lined up at the pub which closed in 2011, starting with a charity fundraiser on August 4 and a karoake night on August 10.

Guests can also look forward to a range of home-made meals which Sean, who owns several other pubs in Long Sutton and Sutton Bridge, said he was keen to increase.

He added: “I’m very pleased with the work that’s been done at the pub because it now has a good country feel, a good atmosphere and once people have come in, they’ll want to come back again.”