Holbeach United suffered their fourth successive defeat on Tuesday night.

The Tigers went down 2-1 at Wisbech Town in the ChromaSport & Trophies United Counties League Premier Division derby.

Stacy Cartwright was sent off in the final minute against his former club who had gone 2-0 up before the break through Stuart Cobb and Danny Beaumont.

Holbeach pulled one back and assistant-manager Andrew Tidswell came close to an equaliser when his free-kick hit the crossbar.

TUESDAY

EVO-STIK NORTHERN PREMIER LEAGUE

First Division South: Chasetown 0 Stocksbridge Park Steels 1, Daventry 0 Belper 6, Goole 0 Leek 0, Lincoln 3 Rugby 1, Market Drayton 1 Sheffield 0, Shaw Lane Aquaforce 3 Tividale 2.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE

Premier Division: AFC Kempston 2 Newport Pagnell 0, Kirby Muxloe 0 Leicester Nirvana 3, Northampton Spencer 0 Sileby 1, Wisbech 2 Holbeach 1.

Division One: Buckingham 1 Olney 2, Woodford 2 Stewarts & Lloyds Corby 3.

Reserve Knockout Cup final: Rothwell Corinthians 1 Cogenhoe 2 (at Thrapston Town).

LINCOLNSHIRE FA JUNIOR CUP

Final: Hykeham 3 Limestone Rangers 1 (at Lincoln City).

ANCASTER CUP

Semi-final: Bourne Res 4 Cottesmore Amateurs 3.

CHROMASPORT & TROPHIES PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT LEAGUE

Premier Division: AFC Stanground 4 Stilton 8, Leverington Sports 1 Netherton 2, Pinchbeck 2 Moulton Harrox 1, Sawtry 0 Peterborough Sports Res 4.

Division Two: Whittlesey A 2 Ketton Res 1.

Division Four: Tydd St Mary Res 2 Holbeach Bank 1.

PETERBOROUGH & DISTRICT JUNIOR ALLIANCE

Under-14 Division One: G&N Amber 2 Northern Star 6.

Under-14 Division Three: Feeder 0 Thorney 0.

The championship party is on hold for Moulton Harrox.

Only a mathematical miracle could deny them from taking the Premier Division title.

One more point would be enough but the unbeaten record is all over.

They looked on course to celebrate on Tuesday night as top scorer Ollie Maltby put them ahead.

However, a second-half fightback from Pinchbeck United boosted their bid for runners-up spot and leaves Moulton waiting for that magical moment when they are crowned champions.

When Maltby poked home from close range after 14 minutes, it appeared Moulton would get the job done.

Maltby’s penalty appeal was turned down and Joe Townsend should have done better with a far-post header.

Tony Edwards missed the target at the other end but the champions-elect looked in control.

After the break, though, Tyler Wright sent a warning when he fired wide and then Pinchbeck levelled thanks to Edwards’ cross-shot into the top corner.

Maltby and Tom Panton could not test goalkeeper Joe Ashton but Moulton number one Lee Kenealy was called into action when he pushed out Liam Ogden’s effort.

The winner came on 81 minutes as Edwards slotted home from the penalty spot after Bobby Patterson’s trip on Tom Sergeant.

There was still time for more yellow cards and a few anxious moments around the penalty box.

But Pinchbeck held on to inflict Moulton’s first league defeat of the season.

There is no real doubt that they will claim the title and what an achievement to stay unbeaten until now.

As well as trying to finish in second place behind them, Pinchbeck will be aiming to cause another upset when they meet Moulton in the President Premier Shield 
final at Stamford on Friday, May 13.

PINCHBECK UNITED

4-5-1: Ashton; B Murrell, A Murrell, Withers, Gardner; Edwards, Francis (sub Dunn h-t), Bishop, Ogden, Wright; Sergeant. Subs not used: Saebe, Eyes, Lawrence, Brown.

MOULTON HARROX

4-4-2: Kenealy; Groves (sub Clay 56 mins), Coddington, Patterson, Johnson; Townsend (sub Lambe-Hyner 61 mins), King, Panton (sub Watkin 66 mins), Allen; Bradbury, Maltby.

REFEREE

Michael Dunkley.

GOALS

Maltby (14 mins, 0-1); Edwards (50 mins, 1-1); Edwards pen (81 mins, 2-1).

BOOKINGS

Sergeant (unsporting behaviour); Bishop, Coddington, Maltby, B Murrell, Kenealy (dissent); Bradbury, Edwards, Clay (foul).

ATTENDANCE

150

ENTERTAINMENT

★★★

WHO’S NEXT

AFC Stanground v Pinchbeck & Stilton United v Moulton Harrox – Saturday (2pm).

UKIP’s MEP Margot Parker and PCC candidate Victoria Ayling will be at a public meeting in Spalding next week.

They will be at The Punchbowl pub in New Road on Friday, April 29, at 7pm to answer questions and listen to concerns. Members of the public are welcome to attend.

The Grassroots Out (GO) campaign to leave the EU will also be running stalls in the following locations during the run-up to the referendum. These are cross party events.

This Saturday: Crowland, near George and Angel, 10am.

Saturday, May 7: Spalding, Market Place, 9am.

Thursday, May 19: Holbeach Market, rear of Boyes, 9am.

Saturday, June 4: Market Deeping, near Barclay’s Bank, 9am.

Saturday, June 11: Spalding Market, 9am.

Saturday, June 18: Spalding Market, 9am.

Separate UKIP Brexit stalls will be held outside The Punchbowl on other Saturdays.

A convicted drug dealer who carried out a brutal attack on a Spalding man during a game of paintball has been jailed for nine years.

Nathan Joseph (22) turned his gun on the opponent and swung it like a “baseball bat” after he was shot himself during a game at the Ancaster Karting and Paintball Centre.

The attack left his victim, who was visiting the centre with ten friends, with multiple skull fractures and in a coma for five days, Lincoln Crown Court heard.

Jon Dee, prosecuting the case, told the court it was seven weeks before the victim was able to give an impact statement on his injuries.

Mr Dee said: “He (the victim) says he is suffering from a number of ill effects. Most serious is that he is deaf in one ear, there is a loss of balance, and dizziness, there is a sensitivity to light and he is unable to continue his hobbies – he enjoys martial arts. He is extremely concerned about the effects it will have on the rest of his life.”

The court heard Joseph knocked his opponent to the floor with a first blow to his forehead.

Joseph, who had earlier boasted: “Wwe do things for real in London, we’ll slice you,” then continued the attack while the 30-year-old man lay unconcious on the floor - repeatedly striking him to the head with the butt of his paintball gun.

There were at least four blows, the court was told.

Joseph was only prevented from continuing the attack by staff and other players and fled before police arrived at the karting and paintball centre in Ancaster, near Sleaford.

The court heard Joseph had signed in under a false name after attending the centre with a friend and two youths. Two other groups including a stag party were also at the centre.

Mr Dee said all the groups went go-karting in the morning and everybody appeared in good humour but by the afternoon paintball sessions it was noticed Joseph was taking things too seriously.

“He was heard starting to issue threats shouting: “We do things for real in London, we’ll slice you up,” Mr Dee told the court.

During the final paintball game of the day at 4pm Joseph refused to leave the session despite being shot and then turned on one of his opponents.

Joseph ran away before police arrived but was arrested after being identified from CCTV after he left the paintball centre.

His victim was taken to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham by ambulance where he required repeated CT scans for multiple skull fractures and spent five days in a coma.

Mr Dee added: “There was a skull fracture to the base of the skull, to an eye socket and in the forehead. There was a leak of air and blood in to the brain cavity and he was in a coma for five days, and was kept under observation after that.

“Within 12 days he was able to give a video recorded interview but the hospital are unable to give a full prognosis due to the nature of the injury.”

The court heard Joseph carried out the attack while under a suspended sentence for dealing cocaine in Grantham and was also serving a 12 month community order for a burglary.

Michael Cranmer-Brown, mitigating, told the court it would be Joseph’s first time behind bars.

Mr Cranmer-Brown said: “He came to the UK as a toddler from St Lucia. He has indefinite leave to stay here but does not have citizenship. He was living in East London and was the victim of a serious stabbing when he was 16.

“He gave evidence against those responsible and was advised to leave London. He came to Lincolnshire to avoid any repercussions.”

Joseph, of no fixed address, admitted a charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent on February 6, this year.

Passing sentence, Judge Simon Hirst told Joseph there could be no alternative other than a long custodial sentence.

Speaking after the case, DI Simon Bromiley, from Lincolnshire Police,said: “This was a serious and malicious assault that could potentially have had a fatal outcome and the lack of remorse from Joseph was noticeable. The victim has shown a great deal of resilience throughout his ordeal and remains affected by the injuries inflicted by Joseph. We wish him and his family well for the future.”

Rotarians and health professionals in Spalding may have saved a life with free blood pressure checks for the public.

The Rotary Club of South Holland staged its Stroke Awareness Day on Saturday at the South Holland Centre.

Rotarian Pat Luckett said: “One gentleman thanked the Rotary Club of South Holland for raising awareness of his wife’s high blood pressure last year. He felt the check may have saved her life. They were both first in the queue this year.”

Some 155 people had their blood pressure checked on Saturday – two were advised to seek an urgent follow up with their GP and 17 to get a further routine check. Members of Munro Medical Centre in Spalding were joined by other health professionals giving their time as high blood pressure is linked to stroke.

Pat said: “In the UK there is one stroke victim every 3 minutes 13 seconds with one death every 13 minutes. It is the biggest single cause of death in the UK today. It kills twice as many women as breast cancer and more men than prostate and testicular cancer combined.”

She says diabetes can double the risk of stroke, as well as smoking , alcohol and drug use, and suggests people should get their blood pressure checked by their GP.

Previously ...

Free Spalding health checks could save your life

Many common household brands are shrinking in price, while costing the same - or in some cases, increasing in price, a new consumer study has reported

Research by Which? has shown that McVities chocolate biscuits, Andrex toilet roll and Sensodyne toothpaste have shrunk in recent months, joining Cadbury’s Fingers and Creme Eggs, whose sizes decreased last year causing outrage among consumers.

The report found that McVitie’s dark chocolate digestives shrank from 332g to 300g. However, in Tesco the biscuits retailed at £1.59 before the pack reduction, but increased to £1.69 after the decrease in size.

Meanwhile, a standard Andrex four pack toilet roll has shrunk from 240 to 221 sheets - eight per cent less – yet the price has remained the same, around £2.

And a 100ml tube of Sensodyne Total Care Extra Fresh Toothpaste has come down by a quarter to 75ml, yet despite retailing in Tesco for‘£2.40 was £3.60’, the post-reduction price was £3.49 - an increase per 100ml.

Also named in the report was Tropicana, whose 1 litre Creations Pure Premium Orange and Raspberry juice was repackaged in an 850ml carton. However, the price in Asda remained the same after the reduction in volume.

Other products to reduce in size but remain at the same price included Percol Fairtrade Guatemala Coffee and Dettol Power and Pure Bathroom Wipes,.

More than three-quarters those surveyed by Which? Said they thought it was wrong if consumers were not told that a product had decreased in size but continued to be sold at the same price.

Richard Headland, editor of Which?, said: “Shrinking products can be a sneaky way of increasing prices. We want manufacturers and supermarkets to be upfront so consumers aren’t misled,” he said.

A British Retail Consortium spokesperson said: “Prices and sizes of all products are clearly labelled so that customers can make informed decisions about their purchases.”

The number of people out of work and claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance fell by 22 to 596 between February and March, bucking the national trend which saw a slight rise in the jobless figures.

There was no change in Spalding with a total of 569 claimants in both months.

Jobcentre spokesman Mark Barker says people looking for work can visit Tuesday’s Jobs Fair at the South Holland Centre, in Market Place, Spalding, when more than 30 employers and training providers who are recruiting will be present. The free event runs from 10am-2pm.

More on the Jobs Fair ...

Free jobs hunt fair for South Holland

The chairman of the Friends of Sézanne is hoping a hospitable South Holland family may be able to come to their assistance.

The organisers of the twinning arrangement need accommodation for a French couple and their daughter for four nights, from Thursday, May 5.

Contact the chairman Keith Savage on 01406 364472 for more details.

Bookmark in Spalding has chosen No Better Friend by Robert Weintraub as its book of the week.

An extraordinary tale of the remarkable bond between one man and his dog during the Second World War.

The two friends huddled close together, each of them the other’s saving grace in a world gone to hell . . .

There was nothing terribly unusual about POWs suffering horribly at the hands of their Japanese captors. All across the Pacific theatre, Allied captives were experiencing similar punishment. But there was one thing unusual about this particular duo of prisoners.

One of them was a dog.

Flight technician Frank Williams and Judy, a purebred pointer, met in the most unlikely of places: a World War II internment camp. Judy was a fiercely loyal dog, with a keen sense for who was friend and who was foe, and the pair’s relationship deepened throughout their captivity.

When the prisoners suffered beatings, Judy would repeatedly risk her life to intervene. She survived bombings and other near-death experiences and became a beacon not only for Frank but for all the men, who saw in her survival a flicker of hope for their own.

Using a wealth of new material including interviews with those who knew Frank and Judy, letters and firsthand accounts, Robert Weintraub expertly weaves a narrative of an unbreakable bond forged in the worst circumstances.

The book retails for £7.99 but there is a 20 per cent discount voucher in the Spalding Guardian of April 21.

Scott May – who grew up in the era of Evel Knievel and Eddie Kidd and was totally fascinated by the skill and daring of their motorcycle jumps and stunts – is bringing a daredevil stunt show to Spalding.

Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show is being held at Springfields Events Centre on Wednesday, April 27 (7pm).

With a mix of motorbikes, car and fire stunts, monster trucks, FMX, two-wheel driving, clowning and pyrotechnics, this should be unmissable. Entry on the gate is £12, £6 children, under 3s free.

A Northern Soul/Motown and 60s Vinyl Soul Night is being held at Holbeach Community Centre on Saturday (7.30pm).

The event is raising funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital. Entry is £5 on the night or in advance from Lets Get You Moving estate agents and Escape Hair Salon, both in Holbeach; J K Sheds in Crowland, or by calling 01406 422625.

Join the Friends of Bourne Wood for an evening spring bird walk on Wednesday, April 27 (7pm).

Local enthusiast Vaughan Roberts will lead the walk listening and looking for resident birds and spring migrants. Meet at the main car park – £1 donation welcomed.

Events in Spalding and district from Thursday, April 21 to Wednesday, April 27.

Thursday

Queen’s birthday celebration: Holbeach Town Band, national beacon lighting ceremony, 6.30pm, Wignals Gate/Spalding Road junction, Holbeach.

Queen’s birthday celebration: beacon lighting 8pm, Glen Park, Station Road, Surfleet, 01775 680404.

Parkinson’s Awareness Week: information stand until Friday, Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding.

Parkinson’s UK: branch meeting, 10.30am, Pinchbeck Village Hall, Knight Street.

Drawing, collage, mixed media and sculpture workshop: 2-4pm, Spalding Library, book 07887 574138.

Meditation class: 7.30pm, South Holland Centre, Spalding, 01733 755444.

Spalding Folk Club: singaround, 8pm, Welland Yacht Club, Cradge Bank, Spalding.

Friday

Unveiling: Joseph Hillier’s bronze sculpture trail, 10.30am front of Red Lion Hotel, Market Place, Spalding.

History and archaeology group: RAF Camp Stenigot (a pioneering World War II radar station), 7.30pm, St John’s Church Lounge, Hawthorn Bank, Spalding.

Fashionably Late: Lincs Rural and Community Touring live performance, 7.30pm, Market House, Long Sutton, 01406 366767.

Coffee morning: 10am-noon, Crowland Library, 01733 211797.

Saturday

Afternoon tea party: celebrating the Queen’s birthday, 3pm, Holbeach St Marks Village Hall, 07866 415688.

Flower festival: until May 1, Coningsby Military Wives Choir today, St Mary and the Holy Rood, Donington, 01775 821515.

Queen’s birthday celebration: live music Jessie’s Ghost, supper, Gedney Hill Golf Club, 01406 330558.

Flower festivals: until May 2, St Peter and St Paul’s Church, Gosberton (01775 841585): St Mary’s Church, Sutterton, 10.30am-5.30pm daily (01205 460590); St Laurence Church, Surfleet, 10am-5pm (01775 680746); All Saints’ Church, Moulton (01406 370805); St James’ Church, Moulton Chapel (01406 380357); St Mary’s Church, Long Sutton, 10am-5pm.

Swing night: live entertainment, 7pm, Woodlands Hotel, Spalding, 01775 766729.

Model engineering and hobby show: 9.30am-5.30pm, Springfields Events Centre, Spalding, www.spaldingshow.com

Craft, pamper and holistic fair: 11am-4pm, The Crown, Crowland, PE6 0EE, 01406 259167.

World Book Night: 6pm, Bookmark, The Crescent, Spalding, 01775 769231.

Pure Vinyl: retro disco, 8.30pm, The Anchor Inn, Sutton Bridge.

Spalding Cycling Club: Go Ride non-competitive cycling activity, 10am-noon, Castle Sports Complex playing field, Spalding, 07831 737715.

Celebration of English music: 7.30pm, Bourne Abbey Church, PE10 9UQ.

Northern soul: Motown and 60s vinyl soul night, 7.30pm, Holbeach Community Centre, 01406 422625.

NGS open garden: 2-4.30pm, Greatford Mill, PE9 4QA, www.ngs.org.uk

Boston Sinfonia: concert of Nicolai, Schubert, Glazunov, 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Frampton, www.bostonsinfonia,org.uk

Sunday

Bingo: 7.30pm, Long Sutton RBL, 01406 362076.

See bluebells: in Dole Wood nature reserve, 10.30am-4pm, off Obthorpe Lane, Thurlby.

Junior sailing session: for under 16s, 9.30-11am, Welland Yacht Club, Cradge Bank, Spalding.

Model engineering and hobby show: 9.30am-4.30pm, Springfields Events Centre, Spalding.

Monday

Dance Factor: street dance sessions for 11-18s, during term time, 5pm, South Holland Centre, Spalding.

Spalding and District Stamp Club: A A Berisford - Poland, 7.30pm, The Fraiser Room, Gosberton Road, Surfleet, 01775 762661.

Aerial dance class: ages 12 to adult, 6.30pm, South Holland Centre, Spalding, book 01775 764777.

Tuesday

Flower festival: until May 2, St Mary’s Church, Pinchbeck

Wednesday

Flower festival: until May 3, St Mary and St Nicolas Church, Spalding, 01775 723198.

Spring bird walk: 7pm main car park, Bourne Wood, 07760 468052.

Flowering arranging workshop: 10am, Flowers ‘n’ Things, Red Lion Street, Spalding, 01775 769306.

Scott May’s Daredevil Stunt Show: gates 6pm, show 7pm, Springfields Events Centre, Spalding.

Movies

SOUTH HOLLAND CENTRE

Hail, Caesar!, Thursday 2pm; Divergent Series: Allegiant, Saturday 2pm, 3D 7.30pm; Trumbo (Movie Club) Monday 7.30pm; Grimsby, Tuesday 2pm, 7.30pm.

For more information visit www.southhollandcentre.co.uk

PETERBOROUGH SHOWCASE

For times visit www.showcasecinemas.co.uk

Music

Saturday

Ken Durrans, 8pm, Donington RBL, 01775 821112.

Sunday

Tommy Curtis and Steve Baxter, 8pm, Donington RBL, 01775 821112; Tom Green Septet (Peterborough Jazz), 7pm, Great Northern Hotel, Peterborough, 01733 552331.

Wednesday

The Queen’s Six (a capella group), 7.30pm, St Mary’s Church, Pinchbeck, 01775 764777.

Theatre

South Holland Centre, Spalding

The Blues Band, 8pm Thursday; Chris Ramsey - All Growed Up, 8pm Friday, Cell, 7.30pm Wednesday.

Key Theatre, Peterborough

Counterfeit Stones, Big O and The Wilburys Tribute Show, Stones in His Pockets.

The Cresset, Peterborough

That’ll Be The Day 30th anniversary, Arrival (hits of Abba).

A regular column from Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn.

Has Pinchbeck got talent? It certainly has, and in early April Pinchbeck held its annual talent show. 

It was a very entertaining evening and featured top performances from local residents and groups.  Pinchbeck Brownies, Guides, Pinchbeck School Choir, Pinchbeck Tappers, poets and musicians all took part and created a great evening. The hall was packed and the committee worked very hard to make the event memorable including a great raffle, hotdogs and Lincolnshire sausages cooked by the committee.

The carnival ‘royalty’ were chosen from a wonderful group of hopefuls – it was one of the hardest to judge this year. The judges, Tulip Queen Ella Holbrook, local musician Peter Graper, and Tulip Radio’s Jan Whitbourn and Chris Carter all deliberated longer than ever before due to the talent who arrived to become crowned Queen and Princess for Pinchbeck.

The new Queen is Annie Kinsella, the older Princess is Teigan Burrill and their younger Princess is Katelyn Brocklehurst. You can see all three girls at Pinchbeck Carnival on June 11.

Many thanks to Coun Sally Slade and Pinchbeck Carnival Committee for organising the event, Jeff Woods for compering it, the different acts, the judges, the girls who entered the competition and of course the audience for supporting the event.

The countdown to Pinchbeck Carnival has now officially started and preparations are under way for another great event. The carnival theme is ‘90 glorious years’ and it looks like it will be the best one yet, and certainly one not to miss.

Tulip Radio and Pinchbeck Carnival Committee would like to wish a very Happy Birthday to Queen Elizabeth 11. Pictures from the event will be on the website www.tulip-radio.co.uk

A concert of popular English music through the ages is being held at Bourne Abbey Church on Saturday, St George’s Day, (7.30pm).

Music will include Elgar, Gilbert and Sullivan and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Musical director is Jenny Bean, accompanist David Scoffield, soprano soloist Jenny Thompson and organist Stephen Barner.

Tickets are £8 for adults, and free to children.

Visit Dole Wood nature reserve at Thurlby on Sunday to see a carpet of bluebells.

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust members will be on hand (10.30am-4pm) to show open day visitors the reserve. Refreshments, home made cakes and plants will be on sale.

The reserve is off Obthorpe Lane in Thurlby.

Based at Windsor Castle, The Queen’s Six sings regularly for the Royal family at both private and state occasions.

The musicians have agreed to perform during Pinchbeck Flower Festival, which runs from this Sunday to Monday, May 2.

Individually, members of The Queen’s Six have appeared in many of the most prestigious vocal ensembles on the circuit, but their repertoire extends far beyond the reach of the choir stalls. Their range covers austere early chant, florid Renaissance polyphony, lewd madrigals and haunting folk songs as well as upbeat jazz and pop arrangements.

Tickets for An Evening with The Queen’s Six are £15 from South Holland Centre, or contact the box office on 01775 764777.

A regular column from Spalding Folk Club’s Martin Browne.

We are very lucky to have such a well-appointed arts centre here in Spalding. Two weeks ago I went to see progressive bluegrass band the Railsplitters open their UK tour at the South Holland Centre and it was a treat to see its auditorium almost bursting at the seams with a very enthusiastic and appreciative audience.

So, bluegrass music mentioned in a folk column; why not I would add. The respective genres are not that far removed from one another and the former is really only a migration and subsequent evolution of the latter. Emigrants from the old world took their traditional music and instruments with them as they crossed the Atlantic and the tunes and songs were often adapted for the purpose of community dancing and entertainment.

The Railsplitters showed us that this transition has indeed worked well and their musicianship and youthful energy soon had the near capacity audience enthralled. The instrumental line-up of guitar, mandolin, banjo, fiddle and double bass is the traditional bluegrass format and each one of the band had ample opportunity to display their considerable skills. This was enhanced in good measure by clear vocals and sweet harmonies. I am looking forward to similar concerts in future.

Looking ahead, tonight at the Welland Yacht Club, Cradge Bank, Spalding Folk Club holds its monthly, third Thursday, singaround (8pm).

Bourne Borderers Morris side are busy performing at the St George’s Day Fayre in March on Sunday (starting 10.30am) and at the historic Running Auction in Eastgate, Bourne, on Monday (6.30pm). Also on Monday there is a tune and song session at the Pig and Whistle, Market Place, Swineshead (8pm).

Especially for performers in the 14 to 25 years group there is another Acoustic Café session at South Holland Centre on Tuesday (6-7.30pm).

Anna Massie and Mairearad Green are the guests at the Baston Barn concert next Thursday, April 28 (8pm). Often a sell-out it is advisable to contact 01778 560497 to check for ticket availability.

Lincolnshire duo Winter Wilson launch their new album, Ashes and Dust, at a concert at the Sleaford Playhouse, Westgate, Sleaford on Saturday, April 30 (7.30pm).

John Dipper and Dave Malkin host an afternoon of traditional music workshops (2.30pm) and an evening concert (7pm) at Woodlands Organic Farm at Kirton on bank holiday Monday, May 2. Tickets are available only from www.wegottickets.com/dippermalkin.

Finally Spalding Folk Club’s next guest at South Holland Centre on Wednesday, May 4 is Canadian singer songwriter Dan McKinnon. Dan has a rich, smooth baritone voice and an accomplished guitar style. He is a great interpreter of Stan Rogers songs and has written some lovely songs too.

Explore some alternative therapies at a Craft, Pamper & Holistic Fair on Saturday.

Organised by Rainbow Festivals, it is being held in the hall behind The Crown in West Street, Crowland, on Saturday (11am-4pm).

Among the many therapies, treatment tasters, readings and astrology on offer are reiki, sound healing, rune readings, tarot, crystals, tuning fork therapies, spiritual guidance, body balance, homeopathy, hopi ear candling and meditation.

There will be Fair Trade clothes for sale, along with gemstones, silver and pagan jewellery, handmade soaps and candles, wood and wooden crafts, arts and crafts, plus cakes and a bar.

Entry is free.

Food was being given away in Spalding Market on Tuesday.

Community artist Carol Parker was handing out what is termed ‘junk food’ and trying to raise awareness of the enormous amount of food that goes to waste.

Carol encouraged shoppers to take flour, potatoes, tinned goods and crisps, all of which was perfectly edible but was past its sell-by date.

The food came from Second Helpings, a Real Junk Food Project at Barn Hill Methodist Church in Stamford.

At the church, food is cooked and served up on a ‘pay as you are able’ basis on Saturdays between noon and 3pm. There is also a table where people can buy ‘junk’ food, again giving what they can afford.

Second Helpings board member George Hetherington said 16.7 tonnes of food goes to waste in this country every year – and a third of the world’s food production goes to landfill.

The Junk Food Cafe only opened in September, but has already saved 3 tonnes of food going to waste – and served up 800 meals.

Carol, who was accompanied on the stall by psychologist Glenys Bower-Macer, said the stall was about “empowering communities and bringing back a sense of community”.

She said: “We are raising awareness of the amount of food that is wasted. It is fine to eat, but it is thrown away because of over ordering or because it’s easier to put it in the bin than pass it on.

“It would be brilliant to do something like Second Helpings in Spalding so we are trying to gather people’s opinions as to whether they would like something like that. It’s very positive at the minute.”

Carol and Glenys were also picking up tips for avoiding food waste, particularly from older shoppers, such as, ‘Don’t use the sell by dates – use your nose’.

In addition, Carol was giving people the opportunity to sign up for a community allotment. The allotment is Carol’s, and was worked on by Glenys in the 1980s. Carol feels it is too large for one person and is inviting people to take up manageable-sized plots.

Contact Carol on 07771 917882 to find out more about the community allotment.