Act II Theatre Company’s Music Theatre group return to the South Holland Centre stage with Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida, a modern take on the famous opera by Giuseppe Verdi.

This classic tale of love and loss gets a fresh treatment in the talented hands of Elton John (The Lion King, Billy Elliot) and Tim Rice (Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess).

Aida, princess of the Nubians has been kidnapped by the Egyptians. Radames, the Egyptian captain betrothed to the Pharaoh’s daughter, takes a liking to her.

Both must decide whether their loyalties run with their hearts or their nations. A truly captivating and moving theatrical spectacle.

Expect romance, humour, conflict and war, all set to some of Elton John’s best music for the theatre.

The show takes place from September 23 to 26 from 7:30pm at the South Holland Centre, Spalding (plus a 2:30pm showing on the 26th). Tickets are £9.50/£8 concessions (groups of 10+ – £7 each) and are available from the South Holland Centre Box Office on 01775 764777 or online at www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

PAPER TOWNS (12A, SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE SPALDING, OUT NOW)

British ex-Victoria’s Secret model-turned-actress Cara Delevingne (aka the ‘girl with those eyebrows’) headlines this coming-of-age drama adapted from The Fault in Our Stars’ author John Green’s best-selling novel.

The story actually centres around nerdy Quentin (Nat Wolff), who embarks on a road trip with pals, to find the missing girl (and childhood crush) from next door (Delevingne), who has left cryptic clues to her whereabouts.

A WALK IN THE WOODS (15, SHOWCASE CINEMAS PETERBOROUGH, FROM FRIDAY)

Robert Redford stars in this comedy adventure as celebrated American travel writer Bill Bryson. After spending two decades in England, he returns to the US to reconnect with his homeland by hiking the Georgia to Maine Appalachian Trail with his grouchy old friend (Nick Nolte) – with ensuing comedic mishaps – in preference to quietly retiring with his wife Catherine (Emma Thompson). Back to the Future III’s Mary Steenburgen co-stars.

THE GOLF CLUB: COLLECTOR’S EDITION (X1/PS4)

OUT FRIDAY

Teeing off is a new contender to EA’s cast-iron PGA grip on golfing games – especially after Rory McIlroy’s inaugural effort underwhelmed a couple of months back.

HB Studios’ simulator has got a bit of a cult following since its release last year and this collector’s edition – which basically adds five new tour levels in season modes, a new tropical locale and a bit of tinkering – offers an experience that will probably appeal to purists of the sport.

More realistic stroke play, an in-depth course designer, and rewarding long-term play, may be tempered by a slightly unfinished feel, lack of licensed players, and underwhelming presentation – but this club has a likeability factor that gives it a worthy par first time round.

By Gavin Miller – Rating: 3/5

LEGEND (18)

SHOWCASE CINEMAS PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW

CAST: TOM HARDY, EMILY BROWNING, DAVID THEWLIS, CHRISTOPHER ECCLESTON, CHAZZ PALMINTERI, TARON EGERTON, PAUL BETTANY, SAM SPRUELL, COLIN MORGAN, DUFFY & TARA FITZGERALD

RUNNING TIME: 2 HRS 11 MINS

DIRECTOR: BRIAN HELGELAND

Tom Hardy gives 200 per cent portraying both Ronnie and Reggie Kray.

Actors have played multiple characters in the same film on numerous occasions throughout cinema history – but usually it’s either too gimmicky or too distracting to the story.

With Tom Hardy giving an outstanding performance while playing both Kray brothers – this is anything but the case.

He portrays each twin distinctively, with Ronnie as a paranoid schizophrenic and Reggie as a tough and smooth talking gangster – as we see the rise and fall of London’s most notorious gangster duo in Sixties London.

They intimidate their way into owning a club – where criminals rub shoulders with the rich and famous – and soon the Krays become celebrities themselves.

The club goes from strength to strength, which catches the eye of American gangsters keen to invest with the brothers. But with Ronnie being a bit of a loose cannon, Reggie struggles to keep his sibling under control.

Throughout the years, a lot has been said about the twins through various media forms. With Legend, the writer and director, Brian Helgeland – who wrote the Oscar-winning screenplay for LA Confidential (and was nominated for Mystic River) – has found a new voice and perspective for this tale.

It’s told through the eyes of Frances Shea (Sucker Punch’s Emily Browning), who became Reggie’s wife at the tender age of 16 after a whirlwind romance – and it’s fair to say their relationship was anything but plain sailing.

I was surprised to see that this movie was just as much (if not more) about the relationship between Frances and Reggie than it is about the brothers. The fact that a love story has been thrown in will make this a better film for some, while leaving others underwhelmed. I guess it depends on your personal taste.

Ultimately, this is an enjoyable watch but it’s nowhere near as stylish as the trailer would have you believe – or as violent as the ‘18’ certificate implies.

This Legend sadly won’t become legendary due to this uneven feel – but it’s well worth a look for Hardy’s enigmatic performance(s) alone.

Rating: 3/5 – Mikey Clarke

FILM REVIEW: MAZE RUNNER – THE SCORCH TRIALS (12A)

SHOWCASE CINEMAS PETERBOROUGH, OUT NOW

CAST: DYLAN O’BRIEN, KI HONG LEE, THOMAS BRODIE-SANGSTER, AIDAN GILLEN, KAYA SCODELARIO, BARRY PEPPER, GIANCARLO ESPOSITO, JACOB LOFLAND, ROSA SALAZAR, ALAN TUDYK, LILI TAYLOR, PATRICIA CLARKSON & NATHALIE EMMANUEL

RUNNING TIME: 2 HRS 11 MINS

DIRECTOR: WES BALL

The Scorch Trials never really ignites, but this James Dashner-adapted dystopian sci-fi actioner still provides a competent middle-of-the-road sequel to last year’s slightly superior first film.

It does have a few trail-blazing stand-out moments littered into a sometimes plodding storyline as this young adult thriller – which sits somewhere in between Hunger Games and Divergent – offers enough to whet your appetite for the final instalment.

This time Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow ‘Gladers’ – including Minho (Ki Hong Lee), Teresa (Kaya Scodelario) and Newt (Love Actually’s Thomas Brodie-Sangster) – are looking for clues that will lead them to the mysterious organisation known as WCKD, after escaping the maze.

That’s because their rescuers (led by Aidan Gillen’s Janson) – who are looking for a cure to the plague that has swept through the world known as the ‘Flare’ – seem to be using them for experimentation purposes instead of providing them with a promised new life.

So the gang – who pick up mysterious kid Aris (Jacob Lofland) at the facility – make a daring escape that takes them outside into a desolate and unforgiving landscape known as the ‘Scorch’.

As they look for a group of rebels that may have a safe haven in the mountains, out-manoeuvring the harsh, booby-trap-filled, terrain is the least of their worries, especially when they come across ‘Cranks’ – infected people that have turned into aggressive zombies.

And with WCKD on their tail – aiming to reacquire their prized possessions due to their potential to be ‘immune’ from infection – they must try to stay alive as they look for answers to their existence.

Along the way they come across two factions, one led by Breaking Bad’s Giancarlo Esposito – whose adopted ‘daughter’ Brenda (Rosa Salazar) provides Thomas with a distracting love interest – and the other by Saving Private Ryan’s Barry Pepper, who just may be able to put the pieces of their puzzle back together, and help them offer resistance against their hi-tech enemies.

O’Brien again proves to be a competently amiable lead – despite his ability to pull off a bewildering pensive look with immense regularity – as this just about provides enough thrills and spills to be a tidy filler in the Maze Runner trilogy sandwich.

The undead ‘Cranks’ are a quite impressively scary inclusion (parents who want to their younger children to this 12A flick beware), but are just about the only thing that sets this apart from its competition – and it still lacks the polish of Hunger Games.

But despite falling foul of genre tropes, the trials and tribulations of these youngsters do just about enough to keep the fire burning and leave you hankering for the final part.

That’s if that doesn’t get split into two like the rest of them.

Rating: 3/5 – Gavin Miller

A special presentation was made to a Year 1 pupil at Spalding’s St Paul’s Primary School.

Jodie Mister was in reception class when she released a balloon which reached the German island of Nordeney.

The balloon release was part of the school’s 60th anniversary celebrations back in July when around 300 pupils and staff released a silver balloon with a special tag and unique number.

The school then received a letter from a couple in Germany who had been on holiday in Norderney. They had been sitting on the beach when Jodie’s balloon drifted down, only four hours after its release. It was the only one returned.

During Friday’s assembly, Jodie received a picture of the original postcard and balloon, as well as a bundle of creative resources.

The school has contacted the couple – Julia and Ralf – and sent them a special thank you gift and card for their kindness in returning their find.

Christian ‘Bomber’ Slater from Donington returned to the Isle of Man for a second year to contest the Manx Senior GP race.

Last year he completed the newcomers race but was unlucky to be forced out of the four-lap race with a bike problem.

He was hoping for a finish this time and he was not disappointed as, although the race was red flagged on the final lap, he made it back to the finish in 58th place in a time of 1hr 6m 30.378s – 102.117s.

The weather was against Slater during qualifying as the rain caused it to be cancelled on more than one occasion but once the race got under way he set off from 86th.

The Manx, run the same as the TT, is a time trial with riders setting off at 10-second intervals.

He completed the first 37.73-mile lap in 72nd and improved to 68th on lap two.

He made more progress on lap three to 65th and crossed the finish line at the end of lap four in 58th.

He would perhaps have been further up the field but on the final lap the red flag halted his progress as there were three or four crashes at various points on the course.

Although Slater was too far down the field to be awarded a replica trophy, he was presented with a medal in a presentation case.

Slater commented: “Well what a two weeks I’ve had!

“I came to the Manx GP to race the TT circuit again and managed a 104.4mph average lap during the race.

“I wanted to finish the full four-lap race at speed but it got red flagged on my last lap. But I was feeling good and settled and the Kawasaki was awesome!

“I would just like to take the opportunity to say thank you to dad and Suzi Ridley for pulling together while we were over here, Martyn Nice as our main sponsor for this year, Martin Smith for his 
input in our engine work, MSG Racing for the last minute dyno time, Danny Osborne for the quick pit stop, Mark Lister for the loan of his 600 (just in case), Chris Gill and Zoe Bolland for also coming over and helping during practice week.”

Your guide to all the games - click here for build-up and scores via our Twitter feed @FreePressSport

FRIDAY

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Reserve Division: Thrapston v Rushden & Higham.


SATURDAY

EVO-STIK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

First Division South: Basford v Coalville, Belper v Chasetown, Daventry v Sheffield, Gresley v Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Lincoln v Tividale, Loughborough Dynamo v Kidsgrove, Market Drayton v Spalding, Newcastle v Carlton, Stafford v Goole, Stocksbridge Park Steels v Rugby.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: Boston v Wellingborough, Cogenhoe v Wisbech, Deeping v Rothwell Corinthians, Eynesbury v Sileby, Harborough v Holbeach, Harrowby v AFC Kempston, Huntingdon v Desborough, Northampton Spencer v Peterborough Northern Star, Oadby v Yaxley.

Division One: Bourne v Olney, Burton Park Wanderers v Thrapston, Irchester v Raunds, Lutterworth v Oakham, Peterborough Sports v Long Buckby, Potton v Blackstones, St Neots Town Saints v Buckingham, Woodford v Whitworth.

Knockout Cup preliminary round: Kirby Muxloe v Sleaford (winners at home to Woodford), Leicester Nirvana v Newport Pagnell (winners at home to Raunds or Yaxley).

Reserve Division: ON Chenecks v Peterborough Northern Star, Olney v Huntingdon, Raunds v Bourne, Whitworth v Irchester.

Reserve Knockout Cup first round: Rothwell Corinthians v Harborough (winners away to Peterborough Northern Star or Whitworth).

FA INTER-LEAGUE CUP

First round: Lincolnshire League v Staffordshire County League (at Sleaford Town), Peterborough & District League v Dorset Premier League (at Peterborough Northern Star).

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Division (2pm): Langtoft v Crowland, Leverington Sports v Pinchbeck, Sawtry v Holbeach Res, Thorney v Ketton, Uppingham v Riverside.

Division One (2pm): Moulton Harrox Res v Stamford Belvedere, Netherton Res v Long Sutton, Peterborough ICA Sports Res v Sutton Bridge, Spalding Res v Kings Cliffe, Warboys v Baston, Wisbech Res v Stamford Lions, Wittering v Langtoft Res.

Division Three (2pm): Tydd St Mary v Baston Res.

Division Four (2pm): Long Sutton Res v Tydd St Mary Res, Netherton B v Warboys Res, Parkway Eagles Res v Huntingdon Rovers.

Division Five (2pm): Parkside Res v Harrowby Res, Parkway Eagles A v Whittlesey C, Stamford Lions A v Wittering Res.

Intermediate Shield first round (1.30pm): Eye v Parkway Eagles, Glinton & Northborough v Ramsey, Ketton Res v Bretton North End, Oundle Res v Farcet, Riverside Res v Sawtry Res, Spalding Town v Netherton A, Stamford Lions Res v Uppingham Res, Stilton Res v Crowland Res, Thorney Res v Hampton Sport, Thorpe Wood Rangers v Leverington Sports Res, Whittlesey A v Oakham Res.

League Shield first round (1.30pm): AFC Stanground Res v KRC Deeping, Feeder v Stamford Belvedere Res, Holbeach Bank v FC Peterborough, Limetree UTR v Brotherhood Sports, Rutland DR v Parkside, Stanground Sports Res v Holbeach A, Sutton Bridge Res v Whaplode Drove.

TAYLORS SERVICE GARAGES BOSTON LEAGUE

SHS Allium Ltd Fishtoft Cup first round (2pm): Fosdyke v Friskney, Kirton Town v Spilsby, Old Doningtonians v Coningsby, Old Leake v Mareham, Skegness Town Res v Fishtoft, Swineshead v Billinghay, Woodhall Spa v Benington, Wyberton Res v Freiston.

Taylors Garages Premier Division (2.30pm): Heckington Millers v Pointon.

Taylors Peugeot Division One (2.30pm): FC Wrangle v Boston College, Sutterton v FC Magnet.

Taylors Ford Division Two (2.30pm): Coningsby Res v Sibsey, Eastern European v Holbeach Bank, FC Kirton v Billinghay Res, Park United v Swineshead A, Railway Athetic v AFC Tetford.

Taylors Vauxhall Division Three (2.30pm): AFC Tetford Res v Wyberton A, Benington Res v Old Doningtonians Res, FC Boston v Northgate Olympic, Friskney Res v FC Hammers, Leverton Sheepgate Res v Boston Athletic, Pointon A v Boston Titans.

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT JUNIOR ALLIANCE

Under-7 Zone (10.30am): Bourne Red v Feeder Red, One Touch v ICA, Park Farm Red v Parkside, Pinchbeck v Phoenix, Spalding v Crowland, Stamford v Peterborough, Stamford Yellow v G&N, Bourne Claret v Werrington (11.30am).

Under-8 Zone (10.30am): Boston v Phoenix, Hampton v Parkside Yellow, Holbeach Black v Werrington, IPTA v Whittlesey, Netherton v Park Farm Red, Northern Star v Peterborough, Oundle Blue v Stanground Black, Park Farm Black v Stamford Yellow, Riverside v TWR, Thurlby v One Touch.

Under-8 Zone (11.30am): Bourne Claret v Stamford, Deeping Claret v Crowland, G&N Amber v Thorney, Holbeach Yellow v Bourne Red, Oundle White v Feeder Red, Parkside Green v G&N Blue, Stanground Purple v Wittering.

Under-9 Zone (10.30am): Bourne Red v Thurlby, FC Peterborough v Bretton, G&N v Spalding Blue, IPTA v Stamford Red, Leverington v Crowland, One Touch v Werrington Red, Oundle v Feeder, Park Farm Red v Hampton, Peterborough v Deeping Blue, Riverside Purple v Stamford Yellow, Thorney v Holbeach Black.

Under-9 Zone (11.30am): Gunthorpe v Deeping Claret, Holbeach Yellow v Spalding Orange, Netherton v Riverside Blue, Park Farm Blue v Park Farm Black, Parkside Red v Werrington Blue, Stanground v TWR, Wittering v Bourne Claret.

Under-10 Zone (10.30am): Bourne Red v Stamford Yellow, Deeping Claret v Bourne Claret, G&N Amber v Stanground, Hampton Blue v March SS, Hampton Royal v Oundle Red, Netherton Wagtails v Feeder, Parkside v G&N Black, Phoenix v Riverside Purple, Spalding Blue v Boston.

Under-10 Zone (11.30am): FC Peterborough v Riverside Blue, Holbeach Black v Werrington, IPTA v Whittlesey, Netherton Ravens v Gunthorpe, One Touch v Spalding Orange, Oundle Green v Blackstones, Park Farm Red v Yaxley, Pinchbeck Pumas v Stamford Red, Thurlby v Crowland, WSM v Pinchbeck Predators.


SUNDAY

EVO-STIK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

First Division South (2pm): Romulus v Leek.

SPALDING LEAGUE (10.30AM)

Punchbowl Panthers v Leisure League, Punchbowl Tigers v Jubilee, SAS Wanderers v Swineshead, Sutton Bridge v Mulberry.

WEST NORFOLK SCAFFOLDING KING’S LYNN & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Division One (10.30am): Old White Bell v Sutton St James.

Division Two (10.30am): CSKA Young Boys v March Saracens, Elm v CSKA Res, Necton v CR Eastern Province, Shouldham v Heacham, Three Holes Tigers v Tydd St Mary.

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT JUNIOR ALLIANCE

Under-11 Zone (10.30am): G&N Amber v Thurlby, G&N Black v Stanground, IPTA v Feeder, Leverington v Whittlesey Red, March v WSM, Netherton v Riverside, One Touch v Deeping Blue, Oundle v Yaxley, Tydd St Mary v Holbeach, Wittering v FC Peterborough.

Under-11 Zone (noon): Hampton Royal v Park Farm Red.

Under-11 Zone (2pm): Bourne Red v Boston, Deeping Claret v Bourne Claret, G&N Blue v Hampton Navy, Hampton Blue v Stamford, March SS v Spalding Orange, Parkside v Northern Star, Whittlesey Blue v Gunthorpe Sky.

Under-12 Division One: Deeping Blue v Gunthorpe (10.30am), Holbeach v Stamford (10.30am), Netherton v Feeder (noon).

Under-12 Division Two: Malborne v Werrington (10.30am), Leverington v Whittlesey Blue (noon), Northern Star v Oundle (noon).

Under-12 Division Three: March SS White v Bourne (10.30am), G&N Black v WSM (2pm), Whittlesey Red v Hungate (2pm).

Under-12 Division Four: FC Peterborough v Tydd St Mary (10.30am), R&F v Spalding Blue (10.30am), Boston v Spalding Orange (2pm).

Under-13 Division One: Holbeach Yellow v Hampton Blue (10.30am), Alconbury v Feeder (2pm).

Under-13 Division Two: Colsterworth v Pinchbeck (10.30am), Leverington v Oundle (10.30am), Blackstones v Spalding (2pm), Bourne v Deeping Blue (2pm).

Under-13 Division Three: Werrington Red v Crowland (10.30am), Northern Star Black v March Rangers (noon), Park Farm Red v Whittlesey (noon), Stanground v Thurlby (noon).

Under-13 Division Four: Netherton Hawks v Tydd St Mary (10.30am), Parkside v Park Farm Black (10.30am), Holbeach Black v Wittering (noon).

Under-13 PFA Knockout Cup first round (2pm): Deeping Claret v G&N Amber.

Under-13 League Cup first round: Northern Star White v WSM (10.30am), Netherton Phoenix v Hampton Royal (noon), Werrington Blue v Yaxley (2pm).

Under-14 Division One: Blackstones v Wasps (10.30am), March Rangers v Gunthorpe Navy (10.30am), WSM v Northern Star (10.30am), Leverington v Deeping Blue (noon), King’s Lynn v Netherton (2pm).

Under-14 Division Two: Deeping Amber v Whittlesey (10.30am), Hungate Green v Phoenix (10.30am), Bourne Claret v Thurlby (noon), Langtoft v G&N Black (noon), Spalding v Werrington (noon).

Under-14 Division Three: Bourne Red v Stanground (10.30am), Oundle v Crowland (10.30am), Wittering v Feeder (10.30am), Stamford v Pinchbeck (10.30am), R&F v Gunthorpe Sky (2pm), Riverside v Thorney (2pm).

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT YOUTH LEAGUE

Under-15 Division One (2pm): G&N Amber v Bourne, Gunthorpe Harriers v Holbeach, Stamford v Northern Star Blue.

Under-15 Division Two: Kings Cliffe v Pinchbeck (10.30am), Malborne v Ketton (10.30am), Northern Star Red v Feeder Soccer (10.30am), Oundle v Werrington (2pm), WSM v Thorpe Wood Rangers Blue (2pm).

Under-15 Division Three: Hampton Royal v Thurlby Tigers (10.30am), Netherton v Boston Green (10.30am), Thorpe Wood Rangers Red v Parkside (10.30am), March v G&N Black (2pm), Riverside v Leverington (2pm).

Under-16 Division One (2pm): Peterborough Sports v Eye, Stamford Red v Hampton.

Under-16 Division Two: Netherton Blue Jays v Stanground (10.30am), March SS v Yaxley Blue (2pm), Thorney Colts v WSM Purple (2pm).

Under-16 Division Three: Long Sutton v G&N (10.30am), Wittering v Spalding Orange (10.30am), Thurlby Tigers v Parkway Eagles (2pm).

Under-18 Division One: Deeping v Bourne Black (10.30am), Sawtry v Riverside (10.30am), Stanground v G&N Amber (2pm), Werrington v Northern Star (2pm).

Under-18 Division Two: Blackstones v Pinchbeck (10.30am), Outwell Swifts v March Saracens (10.30am), Wisbech Acorns v Crowland (10.30am), G&N Black v British School of Sport (2pm).

LINCOLNSHIRE FA UNDER-16 CUP

First round (1pm): Deeping Blue v Appleby Frodingham Saints, Deeping Claret v Pinchbeck, Holbeach v R&F, Park Tigers v Gonerby, Spalding Blue v HBW United, Bourne v Messingham (1.30pm).

LINCOLNSHIRE FA UNDER-18 CUP

First round (10.30am): Bourne Blue v Spalding, Bourne Red v Sleaford.


TUESDAY

EVO-STIK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

First Division South: Basford v Spalding, Belper v Goole, Gresley v Chasetown, Lincoln v Carlton, Loughborough Dynamo v Leek, Market Drayton v Rugby, Newcastle v Shaw Lane Aquaforce, Stocksbridge Park Steels v Coalville.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Knockout Cup preliminary round: Oadby v Irchester (winners away to Lutterworth), Raunds v Yaxley (winners at home to Leicester Nirvana or Newport Pagnell). First round: Harborough v Olney, Peterborough Sports v Burton Park Wanderers.

Division One: Bourne v Stewarts & Lloyds Corby, Lutterworth v Woodford.

LINCOLNSHIRE FA SENIOR TROPHY

First round: Boston v Holbeach (winners away to Deeping).


WEDNESDAY

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Division One: Blackstones v St Neots Town Saints.

Knockout Cup: Rushden & Higham v Buckingham.

Head coach Ben Williams admits that Spalding’s squad need to rediscover their belief to win games.

The first home game of the Midlands Two East (North) season is against Dronfield on Saturday.

Spalding kicked off with a 36-14 defeat at Coalville last weekend for a familiar feeling after relegation.

Williams said: “It took us 40 minutes to start playing and you can’t afford to do that.

“A slow start cost us but we also have that mental problem from hammerings last season.

“Some of the players are still finding it hard. They need to believe in themselves again. I believe they are good enough otherwise I wouldn’t coach them.

“I’m quite confident over Saturday’s home game and we’ve got a lot of exciting young players in the side.

“We need to start the game properly. Maybe being at home will help as the adrenaline is running a bit faster than normally.

“We certainly know we need to start playing before half-time.”

Saturday

Midlands Two East (North): Ashbourne v Bakewell Mannerians, Nottingham Casuals v Market Bosworth, Southwell v Mansfield, Spalding v Dronfield, Stamford v Coalville, West Bridgford v Melbourne.

Midlands Four East (South): Birstall v Bedford Swifts, Sileby Town v Northampton Men’s Own, Stamford College Old Boys v Deepings, Thorney v Brackley, Wellingborough Old Grammarians v Bourne.

Linchfield Primary in Deeping St James has become the first in the country to receive Digitally Inclusive School status from the 
e-learning foundation.

Members of the foundation came to see pupils during a special ICT day.

The foundation was set up to help schools develop the most appropriate strategy to achieve personal internet access for all at school and at home.

They also campaign to keep the role of ICT in education at the forefront of public consciousness and encourage the use of learning technologies to help children achieve their full potential.

To that end they have set up the national Mind The Gap programme, aimed at getting every school-age child online at home.

Schools who can prove this is the case are invited to be recognised as aDigitally Inclusive School.

To earn the reward the school had to find out how many families were connected to the internet at home and support those who cannot. At the end of the process 100 per cent of the families had internet access.

After being presented with the Digitally Inclusive School certificate, headteacher Andy Fawkes told the Free Press: “It is a great accolade for this school.

“It’s part of our work in the community to work with families to make sure we meet their needs.

“Being on the internet 
improves life choices so much.

“We are putting this school back on the map. It’s had some difficult years so it’s nice to have some success.”

Our picture shows David Evans and Jim Cooper of the e-learning foundation with assistant head Lizzy Kennedy and Linchfield pupils.

Photo: SG110915-118TW

Bourne Grammar School has reasons to celebrate early in the academic year.

The school’s Geography department has been recognised by the Geographical Association as a centre of excellence on a national scale. 
The Secondary Geography Quality Mark recognises student attainment, progress and achievement. Bourne Grammar is one of 46 schools across the country to have been awarded the Quality Mark this year, and is one of just eight to be granted additional Centre of Excellence status.

Head of Geography Gemma Pollard is pictured (far right) celebrating with colleagues and students.

The school’s Systems and Control and Computing department is also celebrating the success of Harry Kirk, Robert Ward and Sam Lane (pictured, left to right) in passing the Arkwright Scholarship examinations and panel interview to qualify as Arkwright scholars.

The renowned Arkwright Engineering Scholarships aims to identify, inspire and nurture future leaders in Engineering and technical design and receives hundreds of applications from the best and brightest secondary school students.

The Scholarship provides those who are successful with a financial award to enhance their A-level studies and a range of activities to enhance their understanding and experience of engineering.

This is the second year that Bourne Grammar School students have gained scholarships with the programme.

Previously...

Bourne Grammar School A-level results

Bourne Grammar School GCSE results

Hard work pays off at Bourne Grammar School with some stunning results

Nine Bourne Grammar students gain Oxbridge places

A shock report reveals the national bill for crime in rural areas like South Holland could top £800million.

The figure revealed by The National Rural Crime Network (TNRCN) is 21 times higher than previous estimates and works out at £200 for every single countryside home in England and Wales.

Published on Tuesday, the TNRCN report – based on a survey of more than 17,000 people – also reveals:

• Fear of crime is increasing among people living in the countryside – 39 per cent of rural people are “very or fairly worried” about becoming a victim of crime compared to 19 per cent nationally

• People in the countryside are far less satisfied with police performance compared to those who live in towns and cities – only 39 per cent of countryside dwellers rate police performance as good or excellent while nationally it’s 63 per cent

• Crime is under-reported in rural areas – more than one in four (27 per cent) did not report the last crime of which they were a victim

Under-reporting of crimes, according to the TNCRN, could mean Home Office figures of 294,000 rural crimes between April 2014 and May 2015 are wrong with the actual number as high as 403,000.

TNCRN is a coalition of police and crime commissioners, including Lincolnshire’s Alan Hardwick, rural stakeholders and national crime prevention charities.

Mr Hardwick and chief constable Neil Rhodes are at the forefront of a campaign to win a fairer funding deal for Lincolnshire Police and the top recommendation from the TNRCN is “fair funding for rural policing”, music to their ears.

The two men have already had talks with the Government and Mr Hardwick said this week he is cautiously optimistic that Lincolnshire Police will get an improved settlement in a pre-Christmas announcement – partly because he believes there is a genuine wish from the Government to be fairer to Lincolnshire and partly because the county’s MPs and district and county councils are supporting the step.

Elsewhere, he says, other forces are predicting cutbacks and potential losses of officers.#

Speaking of the upcoming Government funding deal for Lincolnshire, Mr Hardwick said: “I am cautiously optimistic and I am not shroud waving and I am not predicting dire consequences unlike some other forces. I do believe the Government want a fairer deal (for Lincolnshire).”

TNRCN speaks of a “vicious circle of low expectations” that leads to “chronic under-reporting” of crime in rural areas along with “anger, frustration and worry”.

It says rural communities – residents and business bosses alike – are more fearful of becoming victims of crimes than they were five years ago.

TNRCN chairman Julia Mulligan, also Police and Crime Commissioner for North Yorkshire, said low satisfaction rates regarding police performance need to be a “wake-up call for police forces in rural areas”.

Mr Hardwick says the satisfaction measure is a national indicator and he believes the Lincolnshire Police relationship with rural communities and particularly farmers is a good one.

He is surprised at the scale of crime that goes unreported – and says everyone, whether they live in the countryside or urban areas, should call the police if they are a victim of crime.

“I have heard this before, ‘oh well, we didn’t bother to report it because all we get is an insurance number’, but that’s not helping the policing of the county,” he said. “Crime must be reported. If people are not bothering to report crime then they have no right to say the police did nothing about it. If the police don’t know about it, how can they do something about it?”

• Senior figures from TNRCN presented their findings to the All Parliamentary Group on Rural Services in Westminster on Tuesday.

Previously ...

Frontline jobs are safe – if police get fairer funding deal

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; C/C/C means criminal courts charge.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

August 19

Peter Daniel (47), of Craven Avenue, Kirton. Assault (Kirton). £380 fine, £38 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Darren Manningcoe (26), of Cornfield Close, Deeping St Nicholas. Failed to notify change of address within three days as required by the sex offenders register. 8 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs, £180 c/c/c.

Jenna Peel (32), of The Brambles, Holbeach. Drink driving (Holbeach). 12 weeks prison sentenced suspended for 12 months with alcohol treatment requirement and requirement to participate in Drink Impaired Drivers Programme, £80 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, disqualified from driving for 36 months.

Kestutis Lukosevicius (39), of Piccard Drive, Spalding. Stole goods worth £82.10 belonging to Wilko (Spalding). £80 fine, £41.15 compensation, £20 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

Terry Burton (45), of Dennis Estate, Kirton. Drink driving (Kirton). Community order with alcohol treatment requirement and 40 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs, £150 c/c/c, disqualified from driving for 48 months.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

August 13

Alexandra Addison (33), of Kenzie Drive, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Kylie Anglum (27), of Earlsfield, Moulton Seas End. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Kelly Barnett (25), of Station Street, Donington. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Barbara Bearman (21), of Sandringham Close, Whaplode. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Jamie Cooke (30), of Hall Hill Road, Holbeach. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Michelle Creasey (53), of Fen Road, Dowsby. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Jackie Dale (49), of Birthorpe Road, Billingborough. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Aaron Darley (32), of Tavistock Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £55 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Martin Gedney (50), of Delgate Bank, Weston. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Lucy Hession (31), of Acacia Avenue, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Katie Lavery (36), of Ancaster Road, Bourne. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Claire Moore (32), of Buttercup Drive, Bourne. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Graham Mumby (63), Church Walk, Bourne. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Avril Munton (37), of Redthorne Close, Spalding. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Ian Quincey (37), of Meadow Close, Bourne. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Jayann Raywood (25), of Withington Street, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Tony Riches (28), of Princes Street, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Amy Rubin (27), of Haconby Lane, Morton. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Tracey Severn (38), of Dean Close, Weston. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Christian Shepherd (27), of The Crescent, Morton. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs, £150 c/c/c.

Alan Smith (45), of Grosvenor Road, Billingborough. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Michael Walls (33), of Snaith Avenue, Fosdyke. No TV licence. £55 fine, £20 v/s, £160 costs.

David Warren (31), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. No TV licence. £55 fine, £20 v/s, £160 costs.

Stewart Whitworth (23), of Moons Green, Moulton. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Jodie Green (21), of Joan Wake Close, Market Deeping. Stole £4,800 belonging to Boots (Stamford). 6 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 month with 80 hours unpaid work, £4,800 compensation.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

August 12

Krzysztop Pawliczuk (34), of High Street, Boston. No insurance (Swineshead). £210 fine, £21 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Karl Kirkley (51), of Kinross Walk, Blackburn. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jake Boyton (25), of Cranesgate North, Whaplode St Catherine. Three counts of breach of non-molestation order. 12 weeks prison sentence suspended for 18 months, requirement to participate in Building Better Relationships Programme, restraining order, £80 v/s, £100 costs.

Jake Boyton (25), of Cranesgate North, Whaplode St Catherine. Making threatening phone calls. 13 weeks prison sentence consecutive, suspended for 18 months, requirement to participate in Building Better Relationships Programme, restraining order, £150 c/c/c.

August 14

Craig Walling (32), of NFA. Carrying a bladed knife with blade length of 7.5cm and possession of diamorphine (Spalding). 9 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months with rehabilitation activity requirement, £80 v/s, knife and drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Steven Millington (54), of Welney Road, Wisbech. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Alan Scot (20), of Starlode Drove, West Pinchbeck. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Richard Skayman (47), of Woolram Wygate, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Big plans are in full swing to reopen the restaurant at Spalding’s Lincolnshire Poacher Inn now chef Toni Measures and partner Kieran Dokuyucu have taken the helm.

The Holbeach couple moved in this week and plan to open the bar area this evening (Thursday) while the restaurant has a major makeover and redecoration in readiness for its launch with mouth watering, home-made food on Saturday, October 3.

A wide range of entertainment – including live music and quiz nights – is also on the menu for the Double Street pub.

Meanwhile David Higgins and Caroline Melville, who were at the Poacher for the last 14 months, have moved to Spalding’s Hole in the Wall pub where they will continue to focus on live music and sprinkle in the chance to dance on their Northern Soul nights.

Mum of two Toni (30) has been working for the last few months as a chef at Tydd St Giles Golf and Country Club but left because running the Poacher’s restaurant “was too good an opportunity to miss”.

She’s already worked out fabulous menus for lunchtime and evening diners and will add in some game dishes, most likely rabbit and venison, to fit in with the pub’s name.

A pizza oven is also on its way so the pub can serve real, Italian-style pizzas

Toni said: “I am so excited I can barely sleep.”

Kieran (30) said: “I am jumping for joy. I can’t wait to get this place lively, get it moving and get it nice and vibrant and see people coming in, having a good time and meeting other people.”

Their front of house manager is Steph Casaluci (43).

Steph said the entertainment will include live bands, quiz nights, meat raffles and DJs.

For more information on developments visit www.lincolnshirepoacher.co.uk

The Hole in the Wall pub, in Hole in the Wall Passage, is due to open tomorrow and will open seven days a week from midday.

Live music was the big thing for David and Caroline when they were at the Poacher and they will continue this by booking a range of bands and solo artists while keeping admission free for their customers.

October 2 is their first Northern Soul night and David is creating space for a dance floor. There are also plans for a Facebook page under the pub name to list the entertainment line-up.

Work is set to start planning the route of two long distance sections of the England Coast Path in Lincolnshire.

The new national trail will give right of access around all of England’s open coast for the first time.

Natural England is working with Lincolnshire County Council on the proposals, and will be holding detailed meetings with relevant parties regarding the route between Sutton Bridge and Skegness Pier and Skegness Pier and Mablethorpe, to make sure it is the most appropriate for residents, landowners and visitors.

Once these sections of the path are completed, which is expected to happen in 2018, the county council will be responsible for the route, which will be granted National Trail status.

The remaining section within Lincolnshire, from Mablethorpe to the Humber Bridge, will be worked on subsequently, with a provisional opening date of 2019.

Executive member for economic development Coun Colin Davie said: “The coastal path will make it easier for people to enjoy recreation like walking, picnicking and bird-watching on our seafronts.

“This will undoubtedly bring new visitors to the area, which is good news our coastal towns, their local businesses and communities.”

For more information on the England Coast Path, visit https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/england-coast-path-improving-public-access-to-the-coast

Human rights defender Andy Hall has walked free after an appeal on one of the cases filed against him by pineapple company Natural Fruit was dismissed.

Mr Hall, whose family live in Spalding, appeared before the appeal court today following the Attorney General and Natural Fruit’s appeal. The case concerned an interview Andy Hall gave to Aljazeera in Myanmar.

The Appeal Court decision was read at the Prakanong Court - the same court that dismissed the alleged criminal defamation case in the first place on October 29 last year due to a flawed interrogation process.

The Attorney General and Natural Fruit cannot appeal further to the Supreme Court.

Sonja Vartiala, Finnwatch’s executive director, said: “We are relieved and glad about today’s court decision and that the legality of the previous dismissal has been upheld.

“Case is now closed.”

Big plans are in full swing to reopen the restaurant at Spalding’s Lincolnshire Poacher Inn now chef Toni Measures and partner Kieran Dokuyucu have taken the helm.

The Holbeach couple moved in this week and plan to open the bar area this evening (Thursday) while the restaurant has a major makeover and redecoration in readiness for its launch with mouth watering, home-made food on Saturday, October 3.

A wide range of entertainment – including live music and quiz nights – is also on the menu for the Double Street pub.

Meanwhile David Higgins and Caroline Melville, who were at the Poacher for the last 14 months, have moved to Spalding’s Hole in the Wall pub where they will continue to focus on live music and sprinkle in the chance to dance on their Northern Soul nights.

Mum of two Toni (30) has been working for the last few months as a chef at Tydd St Giles Golf and Country Club but left because running the Poacher’s restaurant “was too good an opportunity to miss”.

She’s already worked out fabulous menus for lunchtime and evening diners and will add in some game dishes, most likely rabbit and venison, to fit in with the pub’s name.

A pizza oven is also on its way so the pub can serve real, Italian-style pizzas

Toni said: “I am so excited I can barely sleep.”

Kieran (30) said: “I am jumping for joy. I can’t wait to get this place lively, get it moving and get it nice and vibrant and see people coming in, having a good time and meeting other people.”

Their front of house manager is Steph Casaluci (43).

Steph said the entertainment will include live bands, quiz nights, meat raffles and DJs.

For more information on developments visit www.lincolnshirepoacher.co.uk

The Hole in the Wall pub, in Hole in the Wall Passage, is due to open tomorrow and will open seven days a week from midday.

Live music was the big thing for David and Caroline when they were at the Poacher and they will continue this by booking a range of bands and solo artists while keeping admission free for their customers.

October 2 is their first Northern Soul night and David is creating space for a dance floor. There are also plans for a Facebook page under the pub name to list the entertainment line-up.

The Bishop of Lincoln has called on church communities across the county to do more to help the ‘fantastic’ work done by LIVES.

The Rt Revd Christopher Lowson visitedthe Horncastle based charity last week and praised staff for their ‘fantastic and inspirational e’ work in the county.

The Bishop said he doubted whether frontline emergency services would be able to functions as well as they do, without the back-up provided by LIVES.

And he believes the church

can play a major role in boosting the profile of LIVES - and helping raise vital funds.

Bishop Lowson said: “For me, this is a completely new experience of volunteering that I knew nothing about really.

“The fact LIVES is doing such excellent work and has saved 200 lives in the last year is an amazing thing,.

“The people involved here are an inspiration. It must be fantastic to be able to see you have actually saved a life, especially when you can do so in a an understated and self effacing way.

“However, LIVES is rather tucked away and people don’t know about it.

“.I would imagine the statutory emergency services - like ambulances - would not be able to functions as well a as they do without this excellent network of people who want to be able to help.

“I would urge people support LIV ES.

“Indeed,it has made me think what can I do to help - after from learning how to do CPR.

“The church is a network where we have lots and lots of people who are voluntary minded and might be able to help.

“We need to look at that and this visit has certainly inspired me to do more to help.”

LIVES recently revealed it needs to raise more than £1.1m every year to cover operating costs.

The vast majority of the money comes from donations.

LIVES chairman Doctor Alan Sagar said: “We are very grateful to the Bishop for taking the time out of his very busy schedule to visit us.

“His message of support and his kind words for our charity - which is all about helping the people of Lincolnshire - is absolutely fantastic.”

Homes in the eastern regions of England are seeing an increase in large spiders after a mild end to the summer, as males go on the hunt for a mate, experts say.

Fine weather throughout the summer is expected to result in a “good year” for residents to encounter large house spiders.

Spiders remain in their webs - commonly in sheds, gardens and wood piles - until the autumn, when males become nomadic to search for a mate.

This leads to an influx of male spiders indoors between mid-September to mid-October, while females remain in their webs.

Adam Hart , professor of science communication at the University of Gloucestershire, said: “We’ve been running a survey of house spiders for a couple of years and mid-September through to mid-October is the height of ‘spider season’.

“We’ve had another good summer which means we might be in for another good year for large spiders (or a bad year if you aren’t a fan).”

Here are eight ways to keep them at bay:

1. If you have a garden, position as close as possible to the house plants that will attract ladybirds. They will help keep spiders away from the perimeter of your home.

2. Make your own natural spider spray and apply it to favourite haunts for eight-legged invaders, such as the bathroom, as well as spraying outside along windows and doors so spiders do not want to enter. To make the spray, mix a cup of apple cider vinegar, a teaspoon of oil, a handful of ground pepper and a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Use a spray bottle to apply, and always respray outside after rain.

3. Spiders hate peppermint oil, so dilute some in water and spray it as above. Make sure you keep it away from pets and people.

4. Keep your home as free from clutter as possible. Spiders love a heap in which to form a home out of sight. So dust regular and put all boxes and packages away quickly to prevent spiders from spinning a web. You should also immediately sweep away any cobwebs you find.

5. Get a pet. Most pets - and cats in particular - will chase anything that moves. But beware if you have particularly venomous spiders in your home - they can harm animals too.

6. Clean around the exterior of your home. Spiders love things like piles of wood, old flower ports, and debris. If they form a home there, they are one step away from ‘upgrading’ to a new pad in your home itself. Make sure any necessary pile of material in the garden is as far away from the home as possible.

7. Perfume your home with cedar - it’s a great natural smell but spiders hate it.

8. Eat oranges and lemons. Spiders don’t like citrus smells, so having these in the home can be a deterrent, as are essential oils in citrus scents.