Pupils at The Deepings School were celebrating making their grades to pursue further learning next year.

The school had another consistent set of GCSE results with, gaining a 67 per cent overall pass rate

The overall A* to C pass rate exceeded 77 per cent and more than 86 per cent of the year group achieved five A* to C passes.

Headteacher Chris Beckett said: “In yet another year of uncertainty and apparent tweaks to GCSE grade boundaries we are very pleased with this set of results; they are reflective of a hard working year group.”

Mr Beckett said the results should enable the vast majority of pupils access to their first choice of post-16 study with an anticipated record number moving in to the sixth form at the school.

Among those finding out their fate on Thursday were Charlotte Lincoln (16), from Deeping St James, who was one of school’s high flyers. She racked up four A*s, five As and two Bs. She said: “I am very happy, I have got into all the A-levels I wanted. I was quite surprised but I am glad all the hard work has paid off.”

Abi Fletcher (16), from Deeping St James, gained three As, five Bs and two Cs.

She said “I am very pleased. I can get into sixth form so that is great.

“I am proudest of my As in music and art.”

Danielle Aston-Wilmot (16), from Market Deeping, picked up an A, four Cs and four Ds, She said: “I’ve got into college with a breeze and surprised myself in some of my subjects. I achieved my best grades in English language with a C and I got a distinction in IT. I’m so relieved, I’ve been worrying since I finished my exams. I’ll be going to New College Stamford to study beauty therapy.”

Issie Aris (16), from Market Deeping, gained two A*s, six Bs, and two Cs.

She said: “I got two A*s in my business, I’m really shocked as I thought I’d only get a B. I’m so relieved and still shaking a bit. I’ve got into sixth form here to study history, drama and theatre studies and psychology.”

A woman more than three times the drink-drive limit was caught out by police investigating fuel thefts because she was driving a van.

Tracy Jones had a drink-drive conviction five years ago and was handed a 52-month ban by Spalding magistrates on Thursday.

She can cut the ban by 13 months if she completes a rehabilitation course.

Jones (36), of Welby Drive, Gosberton, must also serve nine months probation with attendance at alcohol awareness sessions and supervision, pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

She admitted driving with 118 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – the legal limit is 35 – at a previous hearing when the case was adjourned for sentence. An interim ban was imposed on August 1.

Jim Clare, prosecuting, said Jones was stopped in the early hours of July 12 on Risegate Road, Gosberton Risegate, by police who described her as unsteady on her feet and smelling of intoxicants.

But solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said police made no criticism of her driving and told her they were investigating fuel thefts and stopped her vehicle because it was a van.

Miss Stevens said Jones is beset with family problems, looking after her father who has Parkinson’s disease and early-stage dementia, caring for her mother, who lives elsewhere in the country and has heart problems, and has herself been diagnosed with a pre-cancerous condition.

“She doesn’t know which way is up at the moment,” said Miss Stevens. “She is under a great deal of strain.”

Miss Stevens said Jones had a night out with friends, had no plans to drink, but one thing led to another and she clearly drank far too much.

She said the alcohol blighted her judgement, she drove and bitterly regrets that decision.

Changes are afoot at the top tiers of South Holland District Council’s management after the announcement the deputy chief executive is to leave.

Mark Stokes is to leave to take up a new role as chief excutive for the office of Police and Crime Commissioner in Norfolk.

His departure comes during a period when the council is being run by an interim chief executive.

Trevor Holden stepped into the breach left by former chief executive Terry Huggins when he left the authority in January.

Mr Holden is the chief executive of Luton Borough Council and his intial “interim” appointment was supposed to be for an initial three month period, or for as long as the council deemed necessary.

Seven months later he is still in the role at South Holland and Breckland District Council, under the councils’ acclaimed shared management system.

A statement from the council said: “A report is now due to go before full council at both authorities in September with options as to how to proceed towards a permanent chief executive.”

No further information has been released about what options the council is considering.

But a report will go to the same meeting proposing to recruit to the deputy chief executive role to be vacated by Mark Stokes.

Speaking about his departure, Mr Stokes said: “This has not been by any means an easy decision to make, having enjoyed more than 25 years working within local government.

“Not only has local government provided me with many opportunities, itafforded me the privilege of working with some wonderful people both in South Holland and Breckland.

“What has made by job so rewarding has been rising to the challenges that local government has faced over the years, and the sense of achievement it has given me, and more recently working as part of a high performing shared management team, recognised at a national level as best practice.”

A retired farmer’s sister says she was outraged when a Crowland resident claimed cats living in one of her brother’s barns would die if they were not rescued.

The Free Press joined Phil Newhouse of PJ Cat Rescue to investigate earlier this month.

Lucy Milbank had appealed to us to find help because she said some of the older cats were prowling the estate where her mother lives, frightening the local cats.

She said: “They are all hungry and look so ill. It’s a sad sight to see. The winter is coming and if something doesn’t get done, they will die.”

The barn at Cloot Drove Farm is owned by retired farmer John Smith. Thirteen cats and kittens were found there and Mr Newhouse estimated the “nest” probably housed a colony of 60 cats.

Mr Smith’s sister, Myrtle, of Kemp Street, said: “Three generations have farmed that land.

“We’ve never harmed an animal in our lives.

“There have always been cats down there - when we farmed the land there were about five.

“We never had any trouble before the estate came. Some of the cats at the barn came from there.

“It may not look much but to them its five-star accommodation. Would you leave if you had somewhere where you were fed every day?

“The RSPCA has visited and offered to take some cats if there got too many. We were planning to call at the end of the summer. But PJ Cat Rescue are welcome to take the lot.

“Saying they are not fed is a slap in the teeth for the people who go down there every day and feed them.

”It would really have hurt them to read the cats would die.”

Dumping a mosaic meant to be a lasting legacy of the Olympic Torch Relay through South Holland on a toilet block wall in Spalding “is an insult”.

That is the view of torch bearer Amanda Scase, who said she was horrified to read of the decision by the Town Forum.

Designed by local artist Fiona Gurney, students from University Academy Holbeach were involved in making it.

It went on show in All Saints’ Church, Holbeach, during the Olympic Torch Relay through South Holland.

A planning application to place it on the front wall of the toilets in the Sheepmarket has been submitted to South Holland District Council.

Ms Scase said: “I’d just like to ask the Town Forum how they came to their decision.

“It’s an insult to the volunteers who made it and to torch bearers involved in the relay.

“Putting on the back of the South Holland Centre, so it could be enjoyed by the public along the river bank, would have been better.”

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, a member of the Town Forum, said: “Spalding Town Forum gave serious and lengthy consideration to the issue of location and were keen to see it placed where it would be enjoyed by as many people as possible.

“I’m sorry that Ms Scase is unhappy about the location chosen for this impressive piece of art.

“I’m not clear as to the reason for her objection at this point. If it is the relationship to a building that just happens to be public toilets, then I would ask her to consider how the mosaic will look to the public as they walk between Hall Place and Sheep Market.

“The footfall in this location is far greater than along the riverbank and, as such, the mosaic will be viewed by many more people throughout the year.”

Police are appealing for two women who witnessed a fight in Spalding to come forward.

The incident happened at 10pm on Sunday, August 4 on Westlode Street.

Two women, one with long blonde hair in a ponytail and the other carrying a pink handbag, are caught on CCTV walking past the incident and are believed to have shouted at the offenders.

Police are appealing for the women to come forward to assist with enquiries. They can speak in confidence to DS445 Lance Morgan on 01755 722233, ext 2612.

A man attacked his ex partner and then hurt a policeman who arrived to investigate after slamming a door in his face.

PC Matthew Breathwick put his foot in the door and used an electroshock weapon, a Taser, through a gap to subdue David Nixon (27).

Prosecutor Jim Clare said the incident started as domestic violence on Nixon’s ex partner, Sian May.

They had a son in September 2011, but split up 11 months ago.

Mr Clare said Ms May told police Nixon had been “quite good” recently, but had a tendency to drink quite a lot.

Nixon, of Granville Terrace, Sutton Bridge, visited her home on August 8 and Ms May could tell he had been drinking.

He was argumentative and after about 45 minutes Nixon grabbed her by the throat, forced her to the floor in the kitchen and was screaming at her.

Mr Clare said she was shouting at Nixon to stop because her son was scared.

Ms May was left with a small bruise on her shoulder, but no red marks to her neck.

Nixon was sitting on steps at the side of the house, smoking and smelling of intoxicants, when PC Breathwick arrived.

Mr Clare said Nixon told the officer: “She’s not coming in here and neither are you.”

Nixon began dialling 999, saying he wanted to complain about Ms May assaulting him, but did not complete the call.

He again called 999 – this time alleging that his “girlfriend had come towards him with a knife”.

Inside the house Nixon went towards the officer with fists raised and the officer sprayed him, with no effect.

Nixon pushed PC Breathwick outside, slammed the door in his face, but the officer put his foot in the door to stop it closing.

The officer’s foot was bruised and had red marks.

Nixon admitted both assaults and magistrates on Thursday adjourned sentence to September 12 for a probation report.

The Vauxhall Cascada looks good, is well engineered and undercuts several key rivals.

Whether it has the badge to succeed in a notoriously badge-conscious sector of the market is of course another thing, but if rear seat practicality is part of your decision-making process for a car of this kind, then here’s one that’s difficult to ignore, especially in entry-level 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol form.

As any chassis engineer knows, lopping the top off a car is the preferred way to make it handle like an unroadworthy charabanc. That’s why the best convertibles are those which have been designed from the outset to have no roof, and have all of the requisite stiffening in place.

That’s certainly the case with the Cascada, which is 43 per cent stiffer torsionally and ten per cent more resistant to bending forces than the Astra TwinTop, Vauxhall’s last open-topped car.

Vauxhall’s HiPerStrut front suspension, first used in the 325PS Insignia VXR, is standard across the Cascada range. The system separates damping and steering functions, reducing torque steer, while also improving steering feel and cornering control. In addition to this, the Cascada’s electric power steering module is mounted direct to the rack for greater feel and precision.

The Cascada scores straight off the bat by looking the part. A large convertible lends itself to a low sleek look, but not all four-seat cabrios ultimately escape the dumpster look. The Vauxhall thankfully does. At 4,697mm long and 1,840mm wide, the Cascada is surprisingly big.

With the top down, it has a very clean profile, with no roof-top cover or visible roll-over protection disturbing the car’s silhouette aft of the steeplyraked A-pillar. It’s also elegantly proportioned when the hood’s up, thanks to a nicely contoured hood shape and a sharply raked rear screen.

The Vauxhall Cascada looks to have virtually all the ingredients to guarantee success at the affordable end of the executive convertible segment.

It looks good, the finish seems very polished and it’s got some solid engineering underneath the pretty lines.

Whether it can steal sales from posher brands in this notoriously badge-conscious sector is another thing of course.

The Lincolnshire Free Press is throwing its support behind a new event to honour the great work of South Holland businesses.

Spalding and District Area Chamber in conjunction with Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce will, for the first time this year, host a whole day to promote local success stories – and start to write some more.

The South Holland Enterprise and Business Awards will showcase opportunities for businesses within the district as well as honour those for outstanding achievement.

The day will take the form of an integrated networking event which will appeal to businesses both large and small.

To be held at Springfields Events and Conference Centre on Wednesday, November 20, it will feature key business speakers and give businesses a chance to showcase their work.

The awards will be presented in six categories and will be handed out at a special ceremony mid-way through the Enterprise and Awards day (see below).

Lincolnshire Free Press editor Jeremy Ransome said: “The Lincolnshire Free Press has hosted a very successful business awards for many years which highlighted some of the amazing work local companies and their employees do every day.

“I am delighted Spalding Chamber have taken up the baton and have run with it to create a whole day of events that will benefit local companies.

“We at the Lincolnshire Free Press are delighted to support it and hope many businesses in South Holland get behind it and make it a huge success.”

Phil Scarlett, president of Spalding and District Chamber, said the chamber was delighted to be involved in the new event, which also has the backing of South Holland District Council’s economic development services.

He said: “It will provide business leaders the opportunity to meet each other and give possible service providers the chance to demonstrate their services.

“We are delighed to bring back the Business Awards after an absence of a couple of years to encourage and recognise excellence in our area.”

IT COULDN’T BE EASIER TO ENTER

The South Holland Business Awards gives you the opportunity to be recognised for your business successes.
The awards are open to Chamber members and non-members. 
All you have to do is choose the categories you want to enter and register your interest by September 23 by email at natasha.clegg@lincs-chamber.co.uk or by phone on 01522 523333.

The awards criteria pack will then be sent out to you. 
You can enter a maximum of three categories and your business must be based within the district of in South Holland.
The available categories are:


* Business of the Year
* Apprentice of the Year
* Customer Care Award
* Business Innovation Award
* Supporting the Community Award
* Best use of IT and Communication Award

SPONSORS WANTED TO MAKE EVENT A MASSIVE SUCCESS

Spalding and District Area Chamber is looking for businesses interested in sponsoring the new South Holland Business Awards.
President Phil Scarlett said: “It is an excellent way to engage with local businesses by supporting their achievements and hard work.”
The benefits of sponsorship include four free tickets for the awards ceremony, profile on the “how to enter” leaflet and awards ceremony programme, a mention at the ceremony before your award is announced and speaker and photo opportunities with the category winner.
The package costs £250 plus VAT.
To find out more email Paul Turnell of Spalding Chamber of Commerce at pturnell@googlemail.com

Just as the house in Gosberton Risegate that was destroyed by tenants from hell and their 14 mastiffs is being lovingly restored to its former glory, the nightmare is beginning again 23 miles away.

Sheryl Roweth called the Free Press from her home in Lincoln Avenue, Gedney Hill.

She said: “The woman who destroyed the house in Gosberton Risegate with her dogs, I know where she is – she’s moved next door and she’s making our life hell, too.”

Ms Roweth said the woman, Louisa Roylance, five children and seven dogs, moved into the three-bed property about two months ago.

She said: “At first they seemed OK. When they made the headlines in the Free Press she was upset and said the rooms she decorated hadn’t been shown.

“But then the dogs broke through the fence. There are two Rottweilers, four Dogue de Bordeaux mastiffs and a rough collie.

“I have a five-year-old and an 11-year-old living here, it’s the holidays, but they have to go to their grandparents because I’m afraid it’s not safe for them to play outside here.

“The dogs have already killed our pet rabbit. A friend was staying here while I was away and he heard the squealing from inside the house.

“They’ve also jumped in our swimming pool to drink the water, ripped the bottom with their claws and we’ve had to pack it away, and they’ve made a hole in the trampoline, so it’s not safe to use.

“We reported them to the police and the RSPCA and have been in touch with the owners.

“We’re keeping a log now and have got pictures of the dogs in the pool drinking the water and trying to get in the house. One dog even had its paw on the door handle trying to get in.

“It’s terrifying to see. I have two dogs of my own, a Westie and Yorkshire terrier, and I daren’t let them out on their own.

“And then there’s the kittens. They are being kept in the shed outside and they are in the window crying all the time. They look so sad.

“Really, we don’t want to make things worse by coming to the paper, but we just don’t know what else to do.”

We visited Mrs Roylance and invited her to comment on the complaints by Ms Roweth and explain how the house she rented in Gosberton Risegate came to be ripped apart, filled with rubbish and caked in dog faeces and grime.

She said: “Are you publishing a story about me living here now? I don’t know what to do. I’ll have to contact my social worker and see what to do.”

Midge Clayton, who owns the property in Gosberton Risegate with her partner Richard Douville, said she had been made aware of where Ms Roylance was now living.

She said: “We drove by and saw the curtains closed, which is how it always was with our property, and saw rubbish starting to pile up in the front.

“Our nightmare is nearly over, although we are still owed £7,000 in rent.

“Please tell her neighbour how sorry we are they are going through this.”

South Holland parents are finding it tougher to make ends meet now they must pay a whopping £148,105 to raise a child from birth to 18.

The cost of bringing up a baby with a “decent” standard of living, revealed by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), has shot up by £5,924 since last year – a rise of four per cent.

Child care costs are included in the £148,000 bill.

Without child care, the cost of raising a child drops to £81,772, but that figure is up two per cent on last year, which means parents must fork out an extra £1,635.

Rising prices, stagnant wages, and ever diminishing Government support “paints a stark picture of parents being squeezed”, the CPAG says.

The report, Cost of a Child 2013, was co-funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation.

Most parents we spoke to in Spalding duck child care costs because they simply cannot afford them.

Single mum Laura Appleby, from West Pinchbeck, says she couldn’t afford to have another child and looks after daughter Lilly-Mae, aged 16 months, because child care costs so much.

She said: “I struggle in a week to pay all the bills. I wouldn’t be able to cope with two children on my own.”

Mum-of-three Theresa Arnold, from Pinchbeck, said: “I take care of my own children because I think it’s disgusting how much they want you to pay for child care. One wanted £100 a week for one child – it’s ridiculous, especially if you are not working.”

Dad Charles De St Croix, from Donington, says he and wife Jeanette don’t pay anything like the figure in the CPAG report for sons Harry (8) and Oliver (3), but it’s a struggle to raise youngsters.

He said: “Everything has gone up in price, it’s just the cost of living. Wages are not going up. How people manage without wages I don’t know.”

Karina Kozlowska and her partner, who live in Spalding, have a son Filip, aged two-and-a-half months.

Karina is surprised by the cost of raising a child, but says: “It’s expensive in Poland too.”

Moulton mum Samantha Stupple says benefits aren’t enough for parents and she buys clothes for son Harry (3) from charity shops or is given them by friends.

Samantha, who also has a daughter Elizabeth, aged eight months, said: “I am lucky after paying my bills to have about £2 in my pocket.”

Pinchbeck mum Kerry Rogers agrees the cost of living is rising but chooses to work to pay for child care for Owen (5) and Evie-Grace (3).

She said: “I like working and I like being a mum.

“You adapt your lifestyle to suit what you want out of life.”

Marian Bovill laughingly calls herself one of the ancient monuments of Crowland Abbey.

She was christened there in 1933 and is a regular worshipper today.

Ask her what the abbey means to her – as artist Steven Hatton did when he was working on a project about the beautiful building – and she will say: “When I open the door the first and foremost thing for me is the peace and the quiet of Crowland Abbey.

“My week and my life isn’t complete unless I can get to Crowland Abbey.”

Marian has lived all over the world, but always wanted to return to the town she calls home, something she finally did in 1988 when her husband Alan died.

The abbey is an important part of life for Edna Holland too, especially since her husband died ten years ago.

Edna says: “I go most Sundays when I am able. It gives me peace and uplift for the rest of the week.”

The very stones of the abbey make up the story of her life, because she was married within them, as were her mother and grandmother.

Her late husband Ivan was in the choir at the abbey as a young lad, as was his father, and his parents also married at the abbey.

The usually unspoken words about the significance of a place of worship were revealed to Steve Hatton, who works under the name Electric Egg.

He listened as the people of Crowland revealed their thoughts about the abbey for his project, carried out as part of Transported, a community focused programme aimed at getting more local people involved in arts activities.

Steven has made a digital stained glass window and has used the recorded voices of the people of Crowland as the audio soundtrack to the work.

He says he was originally inspired to creativity by his first sighting about seven years ago of the window aperture in the ruined part of the abbey, in what was the nave .

Originally, the stained glass window would have explained a part of the religious story.

However, Steven wanted to create a “window” for the 21st century, and to tell the story of Crowland and the way people interact with the abbey.

People spoke to him about the abbey being a focal point to their lives, in terms of a quiet space as well as being the location for special family times.

What Steven found more surprising though, was people’s understanding of the changing role of the abbey. Steven said: “I think it surprised me how progressive people were in terms of understanding that the role of the church changes and continues to change over the centuries.

“As the vicar, the Rev Charles Brown, says, it’s somewhere for the community, you don’t have to be religious.”

People chuckled good humouredly as they watched the preview of the film made by artist Steven Hatton at Crowland Abbey.

They recognised the voices of some of their fellow Crowland residents, their voices used as an audio soundtrack to the film.

The work itself consists of different images being overlaid on to something resembling a picture frame – the empty space where a window once filled the west front of the now ruined nave of Crowland Abbey.

Steven said: “If you go back in history, glassmakers would have been working within the constraints of a shape and telling religious stories.

“I thought, what if we take that shape and tell the story of the abbey and what it means to the people of Crowland?”

The soundtrack included religious phrases and prayers, the voice of the Rev Charles Brown, and those of the people of Crowland who contributed to the arts project.

The film finished with images of the contributors, one of the best parts of the film for me.

The film is just seven or eight minutes long and will hopefully be a permanent part of the abbey in future.

Spalding Rugby Club could be on the move if planners give the thumbs up to an exciting new project.

The club, which currently plays matches and trains on Spalding Grammar School’s west field, has applied to South Holland District Council planners for a change of use of agricultural land at Drain Bank South, Cowbit.

Council officers have recommended the application be approved when it goes before the planning committee tomorrow night.

If given the go-ahead, the club will change the 13.47ha site into rugby pitches, a car park and temporary changing rooms, kitchen and clubhouse.

Included with the application is a letter from the agent Jeremy Chew saying Spalding Grammar School is restricting the club’s use of the field, leaving them no choice but to find alternative facilities.

He said: “The club has been looking for a suitable relocation site since 2006 to meet current and foreseeable needs.

“There is no opportunity to relocate to existing playing field facilities and extensive searches of other sites have been made.

“This is the only suitable and available site close to the town.

“If we fail to secure planning permission, Spalding and district will lose its mini/junior rugby section from the end of the 2013-14 season.”

Sport England is supporting the application saying it will create additional sports facilities in the area, providing enhanced opportunities to participate in sport.

The Rugby Football Union says Spalding Rugby Club has been identified as a priority for support and potentially investment, due to the restriction of access to pitches at the Grammar School.

Lincolnshire County Council’s highways department initially raised concerns about vehicular access to the site.

However officers are now happy following discussions with the rugby club about implementing a scheme of road improvements including structural repairs and passing places.

Members Meeting

Our next members meeting takes place on Tuesday, September 3, at 5.45pm in the Broad Street Business Centre.

We will have a police update from Insp Jim Tyner, details of the South Holland Business Enterprise and Awards event plus reports on other chamber activities.

Meetings normally conclude by approximately 7pm, so it doesn’t take up the whole evening.

Prospective members are most welcome to attend.

Christmas Festival

Schools are still on summer holiday but plans are well in hand for this years Christmas Festival and Light switch-on.

It will take place earlier this year on Sunday, November 17, with the light switch-on at 4pm.

This year, additional lights have been purchased for New Road and Red Lion Street – the town centre will sparkle at Christmas!

South Holland Business Enterprise and Awards

This event will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at Springfields Event Centre organised by the Chamber of Commerce.

This integrated networking event will appeal to all businesses both large and small within South Holland by providing attendees with key business speakers and showcasing opportunities for businesses.

The aim of the awards is for Spalding Chamber to support local businesses by recognising outstanding achievements in the area and the awards process will provide a platform for South Holland businesses to apply to be recognised as the best in category.

We are currently seeking sponsors for the six awards: Business of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Customer Care, Business Innovation, Supporting the Community and Best use of IT & Communication.

Companies that would like to sponsor an award should contact Paul Turnell: pturnell@googlemail.com.

If your business is in the service sector and you would like to have an exhibition stand and the opportunity to network with business leaders in South Holland, please contact Natasha Clegg: natasha.clegg@lincs-chamber.co.uk

Chamber of Commerce is delighted to help organise the event to showcase the very best of South Holland’s businesses.

It will provide business leaders the opportunity to meet and give possible service providers the chance to demonstrate their services.

The cost to attend the event which includes a buffet lunch is £15 plus VAT for Chamber members and £20 plus VAT for a non-members. Details of the event and booking forms are on the website.

Landowners’ Forum

South Holland District Council is urging owners of land and property in Spalding town centre to get in touch.

The council is looking at future development of the town centre and wants all parties with a vested interest to be involved.

The first forum at the South Holland Centre on Monday, October 7 will be for land and property owners.

Further forums planned for the near future will be aimed at developers, leaseholders, other vested interest groups and the public.

To register as a landowner or freeholder and be kept up to date with the scheme contact economicdevelopment@sholland.gov.uk

To learn more about Chamber?

Visit our website www.spaldingareachamber.co.uk to find out more about our activities and details of how to join us.

On the farm we are well through the wheat harvest, and hopefully fairly close to finishing.

I am writing this on my iPad while driving the combine, as it steers itself along the field, keeping straighter than any man could, for 20 hours a day.

All of the main cultivation tractors are now GPS guided, enabling the operator to spend more time controlling the implement on the back, which is the important part, and the operators end a long day not feeling as tired. We are using a number of iPads on the farm now, to send work plans and receive information without the need for paper, which is saving a lot of time previously spent manually inputting duplicated information.

We need to change the public perception of farmers: we now have access to all the modern, computer guided machines that can drive themselves and variably apply seed fertilisers and chemicals. We have to get the message across if we are to entice today’s school leavers into the industry, and we need to do that if we are to feed an ever expanding population. The list of skills required now must match or exceed any other industry: agronomy, accounts, computing, leadership, people management, to name a few. There are some great agricultural colleges in the area and the local Holbeach Marsh Training Group would be an excellent first call for young people wanting to find out more. www.hmtg.co.uk

South Holland Growers’ Club visit to Bell Brothers of Boston has been arranged for November 30, and not the date mentioned in Mike Farmer’s Word on the Ground in last week’s Growers page.

The club meets at Whaplode Manor Hotel on Monday evenings from October to March.

Everyone is welcome and can either pay a small charge or become a member for £15 per annum.

Visit www.growersclub.org.uk for more details.

South Lincolnshire peas, along with other fruit and vegetables grown locally, will continue to fill cans of Princes’ products.

The food and drink business, which employs 1,073 people across its Long Sutton and Wisbech production sites, has reconfirmed its support for UK farmers by committing to buy more than 40,000 tonnes of British-grown fruit and vegetables during the coming year.

That includes a few thousand tonnes of peas supplied by Fen Peas, the largest supplier of green peas to Princes.

Fen Peas managing director Stephen Francis, who finished the local pea campaign a couple of weeks ago, met Princes agronomist Keith Costello to look at the pea crop.

Stephen said: “It wasn’t a bad harvest, but with the heat they matured too rapidly and we couldn’t get them all green. We are now combining what we left behind and we’ll sell them for animal feed.”

Princes has signed new deals with growers of potatoes, peas, carrots, rhubarb and beetroot.

A group of retired residents who meet in the Deepings to share skills and learn new things have celebrated their 10th anniversary.

A group of retired residents who meet in the Deepings to share skills and learn new things have celebrated their 10th anniversary. 
Deepings U3A met at Deeping Leisure Centre for entertainment and a number of displays by members.
The U3A has more than 40 groups, sharing such skills as languages, history and photography. 
Pictured cutting the cake are Rod Sloane, Derek Osborne and Liz Noble. (SG190813-112TW)

St John’s Care Home, Spalding has recently rolled out a new initiative in order to deliver high levels of nutrition to its residents.

The Foodbox has been developed by Country Court Care, in conjunction with their catering partner Elior UK, following the results of a recent Alzeimer’s Society project called ‘Food for Thought’.

The study found that using finger foods in place of traditional meals can prolong a person’s independence and stimulate them to eat more frequently.

Home Manager, Sharon Neve said: “Achieving a balanced diet for people with dementia is often challenging, especially as their condition progresses.

“Finger foods help to maintain independence and self-esteem at mealtimes as the person does not have to rely on assistance from another person to eat.

“This is important as it helps to preserve dignity and confidence. “

The Foodbox carries two simple golden rules: Two bites and its gone and no resident goes to bed hungry.

Finger food will be available at any time, so the resident is not tied to conventional meal times and eating habits and levels of consumption can be closely measured against what they are eating.