PINCHBECK UTD 7 CROWLAND TOWN 0: IAN Dunn hailed seven-up Pinchbeck’s best showing of the season as they tightened their grip on the Peterborough Premier Division’s top spot.

The player/boss was joined on the scoresheet by Andy Law (2), Dan Woods (2), Danny Maddison and Jonny Clay on Tuesday night, as United ran riot against Crowland at Knight Street.

With rivals Moulton Harrox beating title rivals Eye Sports 3-2 at Broad Lane, it now looks to be a straight fight between Pinchbeck and King’s Cliffe United for the crown.

Dunn’s side are six points clear at the summit – but now turn their attention to Monday night’s PFA Senior Cup final with Netherton United at London Road (7.30pm).

Although they lost the Lincs Junior Cup final last week, ambitious Dunn still has designs on a double.

He said: “From start to finish, I couldn’t have asked for a better display. Since losing the final we’ve scored ten and conceded none, which is the ideal response.

“It was definitely one of, if not the best, performances of the season.

“Having lost a final already, we don’t want to suffer that again on Monday. We go there very confident, but with a lot of respect for Netherton.

“But if we play with the same energy as Tuesday, we should win.”

Pinchbeck: Drury, Wilson, Marshall, Hocking, Maddison, Clay (Law 60), McDonnell (Gosling 50), Bishop, Woods, Dunn (Lawrence 65), Gray. Not used: Roberts, Butler.

YOUNG gun Kieran Rudd stormed to first place overall as Team TRM impressed at Chatteris over the weekend.

The seven-year-old starlet was joined by Holbeach-based brothers Ryan Rudd and Ashley Rudd at the Peterborough Motocross Club event – and they both placed well too.

Competing in the Autos category, Kieran made a cracking start in his opener, before a minor crash forced him to settle for second place.

There was no stopping him in races two and three though, as he roared to a pair of wins to clinch top spot overall.

In the Big Wheel group, Ashley also made a super start. He streaked ahead to take a cracking win in his first race, before surviving a frightening ‘tank-slapper’ incident en route to second spot in the next battle.

Another runner-up finish in the finale then secured an impressive second overall.

Up another class into the 250 section, Ryan was in an equally impressive mood.

The teen ace got the hole shot in all three of his outings, but was pushed back to third place finishes in the first two.

He finished in style though, leading from the off to take a super victory in his final outing to wrap up a fine third overall.

Team TRM have the rarity of a free schedule this weekend, but are in Supermoto action at Rednal on Saturday week.

HARRY Sharman has admitted that it took the best try he’s ever seen to secure Spalding RFC’s Midlands One East status on Saturday.

The Town skipper looked on in amazement as Kevin Childs produced a moment of individual brilliance in the dying seconds of the dramatic 13-12 success over Ilkeston at the Memorial Field.

It was the final attacking play of Spalding’s campaign – and one that ensured they will continue to punch way above their weight in a very tough league for another year.

Sharman, whose side stayed up by virtue of winning more games than rivals Leighton Buzzard, also paid tribute to his team-mates.

“We made things hard for ourselves on Saturday as usual,” said the talismanic captain. “At 12-0 down I have to admit I feared the worst.

“But we got back in a position to win the game and Kev scored an incredible try to save us.

“I don’t think the report did justice to how good it was. I’ve played in a lot of rugby games and that is the best try I’ve ever seen, for sure.

“We all went a bit mental after that – and when I got a call from Leighton Buzzard to confirm we were safe, it was a massive relief.

“This is the league we want to play in. If you look at teams with the catchment area the size of Peterborough, Derby and Kettering, we’re mixing it with the big boys.

“It’s testament to the quality of the league that we had to win nine games to stay up too. The boys have been superb and if we get the rub of the green a bit more I’m sure we can improve again next season.”

Town now have their end of season awards bash on Friday night, before a lengthy break over the summer.

There will be no Lincs Cup final for them though, with their scheduled semi-final clash with Scunthorpe having to be forfeited after no date could be agreed before the deadline.

Sharman isn’t too downbeat on their county cup exit, though.

“I know I could do with a break for a bit,” added the skipper. “It’s unfortunate that we couldn’t play the semi, but none of the dates offered to us were acceptable.

“It’s a shame for the fans, who once again have been nothing short of amazing. Myself and the lads really appreciate it, there must have been 400 there on Saturday.”

SEVERAL vehicles were involved in a “shunt” accident before 9am today (Friday) on the A16 near Sutterton roundabout.

Emergency services were called out but police say there are no reports at this stage of any serious injuries.

Traffic travelling from Boston to Spalding was held up with drivers queuing to get past the accident scene.

CHILDREN of some of South Holland’s poorest families could go days without hot food if changes to free school meal entitlement goes ahead.

Headteachers, young people’s charities and support agencies fear some low income families could lose out under proposed Government changes to the benefits system.

One Spalding headteacher believes the plans could “spell disaster” for some low income families who are already struggling to put food on the table.

Janet Daniels, headteacher of the Sir John Gleed School, said: “It’s a huge concern.

“Although the Government has not been specific about the details, if they are talking about giving parents a lump sum for meals and uniform, many would find it hard to save that money when there are more pressing priorities such as paying the gas bill.

“Often free school meals are the only proper food these young people get because parents can’t always afford it and it is a huge relief to them to know their children are getting a good square meal.

“Losing these meals would put a huge stress on parents and would put children at a greater disadvantage because you cannot learn withour proper food.”

Mrs Daniels said she believed school meals provide excellent value for money and added: “It’s absolutely wrong to target these families who are desperately trying to do their best for their children.

“We have parents of children at our school who honestly rely on the fact their children get a free school meal.”

Under the proposed changes it is believed the Government would limit free school meals to families with income under a certain level, thought to be about £145 a week.

But the Children’s Society charity fears it would create a benefit “cliff-edge” that would see 120,000 families nationally worse off if they worked longer or earned more.

The charity’s concerns are echoed by Lisa Barwell, of South Holland’s Citizen’s Advice Bureau, who said: “Free school meals are an important financial benefit for families on low incomes as well as improving children’s health and educational outcomes.

“In order to achieve a fair deal for families, significant additional investment needs to be made into free school meals to ensure that the poorest children receive the assistance they need.”

TWO teenage boys believe they saw a man with a gun in Spalding’s Winsover Road this morning (Friday) and police have just issued a witness appeal.

The boys were walking along shortly after 8am when a dirty white van slowed near them and the driver spoke.

A police spokesman said: “The boys thought they saw something that they believed to be a firearm in the vehicle and we are currently investigating the report.

“Nobody was injured during the incident and we would appeal for anyone who saw anything suspicious in that area this morning to contact Lincolshire Police.”

SPALDING’S foodback is in urgent need of donations.

A trolley will be left at the front of Sainsbury’s in Holland Market on Saturday so customers can help replenish stocks at Agape Care Food Bank.

The foodbank has relocated from the Red Lion Quarter to Lighthouse Church in Haverfield Road and is now open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from noon to 2pm.

Foods needed include UHT milk, instant custard, coffee, cereals, instant mash, tinned potatoes, sponge pudding, instant noodles and instant whip.

See full story in Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press.

MORE than 15 people stepped forward to move forward ideas for new affordable homes in Pinchbeck.

At a public meeting last week, volunteers were sought to set up a steering group to investigate the possible creation of a Pinchbeck Community Land Trust.

The project would see Pinchbeck Parish Council sell off the leasehold to some of its agricultural land to make way for homes, as well as other possible community-run facilities such as shops, pubs, workspaces and allotments.

The initiative, which would be the first of its kind in Lincolnshire, could provide access to Government funding to make the scheme a reality.

More than 70 people attended the meeting and listened to a short presentation by Lincolnshire Community Land Trust, which explained how the community can be in the “driving seat” by owning land and property.

Residents were informed of the need for more affordable homes in the village.

Latest figures from South Holland show that there are 139 households on the district’s council’s waiting list who have selected Pinchbeck as the place they would like to live.

Of these, 21 already live in the village.

A vote after the presentation saw the majority in support of setting up a steering group, with just two people voting against.

It is now hoped a meeting can be arranged for the 17 volunteers who offered to help set up the group.

JOBSEEKERS came face-to-face with real opportunities at a jobs fair in Spalding.

The event at South Holland Centre on Tuesday was held to help people get “job ready” and assist them with applications, CVs and issues such as getting to work.

Employers promoted job opportunities and there was also advice on starting a business, as well as help on claiming benefits, training and development.

HR officer at food manufacturer Bakkavor, Gemma Ingham, said: “It was a really successful day. We were there to promote our sites in Spalding and Holbeach and tell people to stay in touch. There are no vacancies at the moment, but this can change very quickly.”

I CAN’T remember many better sporting weeks since starting this job more than four years ago.

It started with Spalding RFC securing their Midlands One East status on Saturday (see story, right), before Holbeach United lifted their first piece of silverware at Sincil Bank on Tuesday night (see back page).

Although both achievements are at differing ends of the sporting spectrum, they were special for the same reason.

Having worked closely with Town captain Harry Sharman (and indeed former skipper Andrew Branton) since day one at this newspaper, I know how much effort went in to achieving promotion two years ago.

Relegation would have seen the club sent crashing back to step one, so just staying in Midlands One East was like a trophy win for the team.

Likewise, Holbeach’s Lincs FA Senior Trophy success is just reward for two years of hard work from boss John Chand and his self-proclaimed ‘crazy gang’.

As a local club, the Tigers are a perfect example of how things should be done and the likes of Ian Abrams and Barry Barnes are a massive help to me on match day.

The trophy, a first for the club in nine years, is as much for them as it is for Chand and his players.

The travelling fans were something else at Lincoln, too. Other than King’s Lynn, few other UCL teams would have been able to generate such a super atmosphere.

OF course, the only downside to watching the Tigers on Tuesday was missing Chelsea’s remarkable semi-final success over Barcelona. I was delighted to see Fernando Torres net the winner, the way he has been belittled in this country is nothing short of a disgrace.

I’VE seen plenty of debate on the PFA (professional footballers) and FWA (football writers) player of the year awards this week.

Robin van Persie was a shoe-in for both awards and, for once, justice was served.

Bizarrely, the ageing Paul Scholes ranked third with the writers, despite playing for less than half a season. But other than that, nobody can have any major complaints.

Here’s my team of the year (4-3-3): Hart, Walker, Baines, Kompany, Vermaelen, Cabaye, Yaya Toure, Silva, Aguero, Rooney, van Persie.

ANDREW Dennis and his shepherd at Woodlands Farm Bruce Easterbrook are coming up with poets’ names beginning with the letter ‘r’.

It’s not a game they play to pass the time, but the way they name the bulls that are kept on the organic farm at Kirton, each one named after a writer Andrew and Bruce consider “great”. In previous years these have included Lorca, Meshach, Novalis and MacNeice.

Last year, they didn’t keep any, but if they had it would have been named (in a ‘p’ year) after the Russian writer Pushkin.

Similarly, the rams are named, this time after classical composers, and Bruce cites Woodland Glass as one name that has been used this year after one of his favourite composers.

Classical music and poetry don’t necessarily sit naturally with the dirty, heavy work involved in farming and livestock, but they are loves shared by Andrew and his shepherd of nine years, Bruce.

“We have the same interests in art and music,” agreed Bruce, whose tastes range from the classics to heavy rock and roll. “I don’t play, but I can read music. We both love poetry. I have always liked John Clare.”

Bruce’s wife Stella, who looks after the poultry, explains: “Being a stockman, most of the time he’s very solitary so he has a lot of time for reading and listening to music. We like the isolation of being here. We are not town folk and we were both brought up in the countryside and have never known any other.”

She describes the peace that can descend during lambing, recalling: “I came over one Sunday morning and the head was out and it was lovely and peaceful and so quiet and the rest of the sheep were just watching us and she was content because we were keeping her calm.”

It is surprising that the pair can find time for this kind of reflection with 180 sheep to look after, including a flock of 70 Lleyns, some from Prince Charles’s farm, as well as the rare breed, Lincoln Longwools, and over 100 lambs at the time of our visit.

Bruce also looks after just over 100 Lincoln Reds, 35 of them calved when we were on the farm – four delivered in the night before we visited.

Andrew says: “What singles them out are their values. They are people for whom the farm is their way of life. They have an implicit understanding of and empathy with it. Bruce also happens to be very well read, has a great knowledge of classical music and is a cognoscenti of wine.”

When the animals are giving birth, Bruce does the night shift until 3am and Stella takes over at 5am and in this way Bruce has been able to catch a little sleep. He’s so experienced though he says he can tell what’s happening in the animals’ sheds “just from the noise they are making” and is familiar with the their different characters and traits.

While Stella helps with lambing, her main role is looking after the poultry and she has about 50 breeding turkeys who are starting to lay eggs. Stella, who also looks after the rare breeds of chicken, says next month she will start incubating and the farm will have about 500 turkeys for Christmas. She also feeds the curly coated pigs at weekends – a boar, three sows and ten piglets – as well as helping to pack the organic vegetable boxes ready for delivery to customers.

She, too, understands her stock and says the turkeys are very inquisitive, although Bruce’s view is that they are not very clever and will hide from a fox “behind a blade of grass”.

The couple, both 60 and originally from Cornwall, also share Andrew’s commitment to conservation and say they have noticed an increase in wildlife since Andrew planted a lot of hedges and trees on the farm.

“I like Andrew’s vision,” says Bruce. “He’s a great innovator and I think you have to keep innovating to keep ahead, and it’s been good. Andrew and I seem to gel very well.”

SPALDING’S threatened Oxfam shop is to receive a welcome shot in the arm thanks to plans for a fundraising event.

Michael Moran, who is heading up plans for redevelopment of the town’s Holland Market, is organising a race night which it is hoped will bring in at least £2,000 for the charity shop.

Staff were told earlier this year that their shop could close if there is not a significant increase in the amount of money it brings in.

Mr Moran decided to get involved after hearing of its plight as Oxfam is a cause close to his heart.

He said: “I was born in Oxford and my parents worked for Oxfam for a number of years, so it has always been one of my chosen causes to support.

“It’s a very important cause and a fundraising event is a particular thing we can do to support it.

“I can only see that it can help by demonstrating to Oxfam’s head office that there is a wealth of support for the Spalding shop.”

The 220-ticket race night will be at the South Holland Centre, Spalding, on Saturday, June 16, and Mr Moran is hoping it will be a sell-out.

Tickets will cost £10 to include a sausage and mash supper and will be on sale soon.

During the evening there will be a chance for people to name horses and sponsor individual races to boost the total.

Mr Moran said: “It should be a great night and a lot of fun.”

Westleigh New Homes is bringing spacious, modern living to rural Lincolnshire with a number of four-bedroom properties at a new development in Long Sutton.

Marston Park, located on Lime Walk on the edge of the attractive market town, now has just three detached homes from the house builder available to buy off-plan. As the first house builder to bring new properties to the area in a number of years, Westleigh New Homes is creating a mix of generous homes designed specifically with families in mind.

Robert Orr, of Westleigh New Homes, said: “We recognise that this family-friendly location needs properties to match, which is why we’re building our four bedroom homes here. Each provides generous accommodation and high specification finishes, with a range of attractive features, such as large lounges, french doors leading from the dining room or the lounge to the garden and an en-suite bathroom to the master bedroom.

“The Oakford-style house also has a study, which is ideal for those working from home, while all have either an integral or separate garage.

He added: “Our Oakford, Merrivale and Northleigh homes have some of our most generous layouts to date and we’ve also selected classic styles for these properties, which is in keeping with the local area, so buyers get to enjoy a modern home and all the added benefits, within a traditional market town setting.

“Families who have been searching and struggling to find the right home to fit their needs will have to act fast, as we have only three four-bedroom homes here and interest is already high.”

Marston Park sits within easy reach of Spalding, King’s Lynn and Boston and features four-bedroom homes priced from £209,950.

Westleigh New Homes builds contemporary new homes across the Midlands and designs homes and specifications with modern lifestyles in mind. It ensures its new homes embrace existing buildings, styles and materials, whilst also ensuring the build has a minimal environmental impact.

To find out more about the homes available, contact William H Brown on 01406 363224 or go to www.westleighnewhomes.co.uk

Award-winning estate agency William H Brown in Spalding is delighted to report higher levels of activity from home buyers in the first three months of this year.

According to its figures, the first quarter of 2012 has seen increases in buyers, offers made on properties and the total number of sales compared to the same period last year.

Since the start of the year, William H Brown’s figures show that the number of buyers registering an interest in purchasing a property has risen, viewings on properties have gone up by 6.2 per cent and the number of buyers putting an offer on a property has increased by 11 per cent.

This heightened activity has resulted in a five per cent increase in home sales in March compared to last March, a figure which rises to a ten per cent increase in sales when you look at the entire first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period last year.

“We’re seeing a lot more confidence in the housing market which is great news for anyone looking to sell this year,” says branch manager Jamie Hiller.

“The fact that viewings and offers on properties have risen by up to 10 per cent shows us that buyers are fed up with speculating on the market and are now taking action.”

The flurry of activity created by the end of the first-time buyer Stamp Duty holiday in March has contributed to William H Brown’s quarter one figures. The branch team has also seen improvements in the choice and availability of mortgage products over the last year, increasing the opportunity for home buyers to purchase a home.

“It’s been a buoyant start to the year for the local housing market and we are urging home owners who are thinking of moving to take advantage of this,” added Jamie.

“Buyers who have been putting off their move, perhaps due to lack of confidence, have returned to the market and are looking to make a purchase.”

If you are interested in moving and would like a free market appraisal, contact the branch on 01775 711711 or email spalding@sequencehome.co.uk

THREE bands with local members are a gig closer to touring top festivals across the UK this summer.

Amplified, Bullet Tooth and The Red are through to the next round of Live and Unsigned after playing their hearts out at the regional final.

They will now battle it out at the area final in the Corn Exchange, St Paul’s Square, Bedford, on Sunday, May 13.

Amplified are hoping writing their own song will clinch the deal – worth £10,000 in cash and publicity and a Live and Unsigned tour. Three of the boys – Liam Stone (lead guitar), Joe Scholar (guitarist) and Bradley Caston (drummer) – attend The Deepings School in Deeping St James.

Bullet Tooth are also excited about taking part in the area final. Local band member is Tom Waite, of Spalding.

Judges from Radio One, Kerrang and Choice FM will also see The Red, whose lead singer is Joshua Johnson, of Swineshead.

More than 10,000 acts entered nationally and the winners of Live and Unsigned 2012 will appear on tour in 15 top festivals across the UK. There could even be an additional international festival in Sweden, playing alongside alongside Rihanna, Bloc Party and Enter Shikari.

In addition to the winners’ tour, there are more than 100 festival slots being given away as the competition makes the journey towards the grand final at The O2 on Saturday, July 14.

Event director Chris Grayston says getting this far is a real achievement. He said: “When you consider the amount of entries we had it’s a big deal to have got to this stage and be just one performance away from fulfilling the dream of performing at the O2 – one of the best music venues in the world”.

This year’s competition also offers acts an extra chance of exposure as it is being filmed for Sky TV in an exclusive fly-on-the-wall documentary, Live and Unsigned: Uncut.

For more information and tickets, visit www.Liveand Unsigned.UK.com

A CHURCH could be left seriously out of pocket after signs promoting its main fundraising event were removed from the roadside.

A number of signs posted along the A17 pointing passers-by to Fleet St Mary Magdalene Church’s flower festival were removed by Lincolnshire County Council highways workers.

But churchwarden Mick Seymour says the flower festival, which runs from May 3 to 8, is the largest financial contributor to church coffers and relies on the signs to alert passing cars.

Mr Seymour, who is also a South Holland district councillor, rang the highways department for an explanation after the signs were removed.

He said: “We’ve have had signs out for 30 or 40 years in roughly the same spot and have never had a problem with them.

“We rely on fundraising for the church all through the year and the flower festival is the main fundraising event.

“Fleet church costs £20,000 to £30,000 a year to run and if we cannot raise the money we will lose the church.

“We’ve now got to negotiate where we can get the signs off the highway where county will not touch them.

“Until then we’ve got no advertising at all.”

Head of highways Steve Willis said it had dealt with a large number of signs on the A17 in the past week, some bigger that the road signs they were attached to.

He said: “they can distract people from driving and were removed by our contractors.

“We have met the churchwarden and advised him of locations he can put smaller signs off the highway.”

But Mr Willis said highways was not responsible for the removal of signs promoting St George’s Day celebrations in Long Sutton.

Organisers of the event say they have lost signs worth about £250 which had been tied to road signs in the town ahead of the events last weekend.

It had been hoped the signs could be used again in future years but organisers do not know who now has them.

Jack Tyrell, chairman of Events and Entertainment in Long Sutton, said: “We had people coming from as far as Cornwall for the re-enactment groups. “The signs were all in the town. There were parade signs showing the route of the parade and showing where to come in Cinder Ash Park.

“We know it was only ours that were targeted. There were others left up.”

He added: “It was annoying.”

CAMPAIGNERS can claim victory in their battle to get a bus service for two villages.

Four district councillors had joined forces to try to persuade bus companies to reroute through Moulton Seas End and Saracen’s Head.

Couns Anthony Casson, Andrew Woolf, Rodney Grocock and Malcolm Chandler took their fight to Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum last weekend, where they hoped to persuade Norfolk Green to reroute two buses at day through the villages.

But the firm had indicated that due to “economic and commercial reasons” it was not possible, and it was bus company Brylaine who threw down a lifeline – offering to meet to discuss a way forward.

Yesterday, Coun Casson and Coun Chandler met Malcolm Wheatley, of Brylaine, who announced the firm intends to reintroduce the general bus service from Long Sutton to Boston next month.

From May 7, the service will run from Long Sutton through Holbeach, to Saracen’s Head, where it will stop outside the village hall, before heading to Moulton Seas End via Pipwell Gate and stop close to the Golden Lion.

It will then rejoin the A17 to Fosdyke and travel into Boston.

Coun Chandler said: “This is excellent news for the residents of the two villages.

“I would like to thank Brylaine on behalf of the residents. It is an excellent first step to providing a regular routine service.”

But Coun Casson warned villagers it was a case of “use it or lose it” as the new set-up would be monitored.

He said: “We are very pleased that Brylaine have taken this step forward which will be very helpful to our villagers.

“I am pleased also that further ongoing discussions will be taking place to see how effective the service will be and whether there is an opportunity to extend to a more regular service which might include Spalding.”

Brylaine’s offer involves its current G55 service which operates as the college bus.

Its new route will run from Monday to Friday during school term time.

Details of the timetable are available on the Brylaine website www.brylaine.co.uk, or by calling 01205 364087.

THE battle for fourth place in the United Counties League premier division goes on after today’s clash between Deeping Rangers and Holbeach United fell victim to the rain.

Weather permitting, the game will now be played on Thursday, May 3, kick-off 7.45pm.

Long Buckby won the league with a 2-1 home victory against Blackstones. King’s Lynn finish second, Spalding 13th.

NEIGHBOURS are relieved that “seven years of hell” have been brought to an end after the eviction of a nuisance neighbour.

Several residents of Spalding’s Green Lane took to the stand at an eviction hearing in front of a district judge to describe how their lives had been made a misery by Kelly Groves, who carried out a catalogue of assaults, intimidation, racial abuse and drunken and rowdy behaviour in the quiet cul-de-sac where she lived.

As a result of her behaviour, Groves has been convicted of common assault against one of her neighbours and a racially aggravated public order offence.

An injunction was also issued against a frequent visitor to the property, Tafar Washoma – believed to be Miss Grove’s boyfriend.

But one neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said the case is still casting a shadow over her life as she tries to avoid areas where she fears she may bump into Miss Groves and dreads a brick being thrown the window of her home in revenge for giving evidence.

She said: “We have had seven years of hell because of this woman. We are glad she has been evicted.

“Getting the injunction and eviction was like a weight lifted, I felt that there was a light at the end of the tunnel and that I could finally get my life back.

“But I am still worried about what might happen.”

The action against Miss Groves was launched by housing association Accent Nene after repeated reports of serious anti-social behaviour and damage to property.

Annette Smith, Accent Nene anti-social behaviour co-ordinator, said: “Eviction is always a last resort and we will always look at prevention, which includes working with residents to change their behaviour and to stop visitors from causing problems.

“Many local residents were significantly affected and unfortunately despite several offers of support we had no alternative but to pursue legal action in this case.”

After the hearing, the neighbour added: “My advice to any person suffering from anti-social behaviour is to inform your landlord and the police. If you don’t things only get much worse.”

KIRTON Middlecott School pupils were thrilled to host author Gemma Malley last week and to hear about her latest book, The Killables.

School literacy coordinator Adrian Isted said the visit was organised as part of the school’s ongoing commitment to raise literacy levels.

As well as talking about her new release, Gemma talked about the writing process in general.

Mr Isted said: “Many of the students involved had their copies of novels signed by the author and are looking forward to reading them.”

Gemma’s previous novels include The Declaration and The Returners.