The first Small Business Saturday will take place next weekend encouraging people to make better use of the shops and services available on their local high street.

The event has been timed to coincide with what is traditionally the busiest shopping day of the year as Christmas shopping gets underway in earnest.

Small businesses of all kinds across the country have been encouraged to sign up for the event – everything from small local shops. online businesses, wholesalers of small manufacturers.

It is a great way for small businesses to promote themselves and generate new business, with many of those taking part offering special deals for customers, showcase events, joint marketing with local media and much more.

Other events to mark Small Business Saturday include Christmas markets and community events, as well as special schemes such as free parking to encourage people into town centres to support the businesses taking part.

Customers are urged to support the day, not only by using local businesses on the day and beyond, but also tweeting about it using the hashtag #SmallBizSatUK and following the national campaign on Twitter @SmallBizSatUK.

Businesses taking part are also urged to post their plans for their days on Facebook.

The Prime Minister, the government and all the major political parties are endorsing the day, with government departments working with the campaign to support small businesses on the day.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills Minister Matthew Hancock said: “Small Business Saturday matters because small businesses matter and we want to celebrate them.

“It’s just one day, but we all rely on small businesses every day. There are 4.8million small businesses in the UK and more than 14million people work in them.

“If Small Business Saturday raises the profile of small businesses it will have done its job.”

A 49-year-old woman pedestrian suffered serious head injuries in a collision with an articulated lorry at Gosberton.

The pedestrian from Quadring suffered skull fractures and facial injuries around 11.45pm last night on the A152.

She was taken to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital, where her condition remains serious but stable.

A 52-year-old man, who was also a pedestrian, suffered a leg injury and was also treated in hospital.

The lorry driver was unhurt and the road was closed for a number of hours.

Anyone who witnessed the accident should call the Collision Witness Hotline on 01522 558855, quoting incident 503 of November 28

A Whaplode company has listened to the needs of its customers and is expanding its training portfolio to offer an exciting one-stop-shop.

Despite the recession, NTP Services Ltd of High Road, Whaplode – trainer for the haulage and logistics industry – has added a host of new training courses after identifying a gap in the market earlier this year.

Kimbly Mackman, of NTP Services, said: “We currently have a large customer base that needs training in these new fields and that has asked us if we can deliver training for them.

“After extensive research we decided to expand our training portfolio and teamed up with another training company specialising in these areas who are willing to offer their services under the NTP Services brand and will help us provide the very best all round training service.

“As a result, our customers will gain access to the very latest courses available in a large variety of areas, enabling them to undertake their training quickly and easily.”

The new courses will cover areas such as warehousing, construction, haulage and logistics.

A man of 36 denies sexually assaulting a woman in Spalding and will stand trial next year.

Victor Ford (36), of St Thomas Road, Spalding, pleaded not guilty to intentionally sexually touching a woman aged 16 or over on September 9 when she did not consent and when he did not reasonably believe she was consenting.

Ford entered his plea at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

The hearing was adjourned to March 27 for a trial at Boston Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrates granted Ford an extension of his bail to the trial date.

Police are warning about the deadly ticking time bomb of legal highs available on the Internet and in “head shops” – so called because the drugs get you off your head.

Legal highs contain a cocktail of psychoactive (mind altering) substances and have left scores in hospital, including a boy of 17 who had a heart attack and nearly died, and prompted users to commit extreme acts of violence.

Acting chief inspector Pat Coates said some users have suffered kidney damage or bleeding of the lungs and it’s tough for hospital doctors to treat them because it’s impossible to know precisely what they’ve taken.

He said: “The message is you really don’t know what you are taking with these products. People are making these drugs in cement mixers – two packets of the same-name product will have completely different strengths.”

New Psychoactive Substances (NPS) have names like Exodus Damnation, Clockwork Orange and Annihilation and are available for as little as £6.

Annihilation, described as a herbal incense, left nine people in hospital in three months.

Chief Insp Coates said: “People have become violent and very aggressive on these products – one young lad bit his father’s bottom lip off in Leicestershire.”

He said it doesn’t mean the drugs are safe because they are legal.

Lincolnshire Police, Trading Standards and Public Health officials have mounted Operation Burdock to warn of the danger posed by legal highs and say school pupils in the county are getting hold of the drugs.

Every school in Lincoln bar one has reported incidents of legal high use and Operation Burdock bosses say: “It’s only a matter of time before we see deaths.”

Lincolnshire Police are finding legal high users unconscious in the streets and users taken into custody need round-the-clock observation due to their unstable physical and psychological health.

l For more on legal highs visit www.talktofrank.com

An air ambulance is at the scene of a serious road accident in Holbeach in which a man was in a collision with a van.

He is believed to be a local man but age has not yet been confirmed.

The driver of the Mercedes Sprinter, a 45 year-old man from Northampton, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention and he will be interviewed in due course.

An air ambulance was called to Hallgate shortly before 11am and the road was closed.

Police were also called to the scene of another accident on the A1175 (the old A16) between Spalding and Deeping St Nicholas. No delays reported.

The pedestrian involved in this morning’s collision in Holbeach has sadly been pronounced deceased. He is believed to be a local man but age has not yet been confirmed.

The driver of the Mercedes Sprinter, a 45 year-old man from Northampton, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by driving without due care and attention and he will be interviewed in due course.

Parents are being warned to be vigilant after a series of incidents in which men tried to lure children into cars in the Deepings.

At around 4.30pm on Wednesday a man in a van approached an 11-year-old girl in Thackers Way, Market Deeping. The man, described as being of muscular build with a white baseball cap on, tried to entice her into his vehicle.

Yesterday (Thursday) at around 3.10pm in Millfield Road, Market Deeping, two men in a white van approached a 12-year-old boy and tried to entice him into the vehicle.

On the same day a 15-year-old girl felt that she was being followed by a man in the Burchall Close area of Deeping St James.

Police say thankfully all of the children involved acted sensibly; left the area, returned home and told their parents.

Officers are urging parents not to panic, but to be vigilant and to give their children the usual common sense stranger danger advice.

Investigations are ongoing and extra resources have been deployed to the area to at key times to step up patrols.

Anyone with any information can call Insp Mike Burnett via the 101 number.

Over 80 employers from Lincolnshire, including Bakkavor, Cancer Research UK, Guttridge Ltd, Roythornes and Spalding Energy, have been recognised for their commitment to promoting career opportunities for students.

The Lincolnshire and Rutland Education Business Partnership (EBP) acknowledged and awarded these companies during its annual Investors in Education Awards Ceremony in November.

Claire Flavell, operations manager for EBP, said: “Hundreds of businesses throughout the region go above and beyond each year to provide high quality work placements and meaningful experiences for students throughout the county.

“Our awards provide schools and colleges the opportunity to nominate and acknowledge those whose dedication and commitment to the future’s workforce has shined most during 2013.

“At EBP, we are devoted to creating the link between the worlds of business and education, and the support this year’s award recipients offered Lincolnshire and Rutland teenagers has been absolutely priceless in terms of helping us build that bridge.

“We, along with Lincolnshire and Rutland’s schools and teenagers, couldn’t be more grateful for the work and life experiences these businesses have provided to hundreds of young people across the region.”

For more information about The EBP and the Investors in Educations Awards, visit www.lrebp.org.uk or call 01522 574100.

‘You know I love you. You know I don’t mean it. It won’t happen again I promise.’

These words are often uttered by victims seeking help from the support workers at the Boston and South Holland Domestic Abuse Service.

The service is a partnership between Boston Mayflower and the charity Boston Women’s Aid and helps men and women in South Holland who are experiencing domestic abuse.

Last month they dealt with 45 outreach cases and 16 others were brought to their attention at drop-in sessions.

Christmas is an especially busy time.

Lynn Mitchell, Boston Aid manager, said: “It’s a very emotive time of year with family and financial pressures.

“We are very busy already but there is quite often a rise in referrals in the New Year and it can be quite traumatic if children are brought to one of our two safe houses and have to leave their toys.”

Isolation is a huge problem for victims in South Holland.

Lynn said: “In rural areas if your partner takes your car keys, laptop and mobile you are stuck.

“No victim should feel alone and it is never too late. Two women aged 80 and 82 came to us because they wanted to spend their last years in peace. They were truly inspirational women.

“We want to raise awareness of the options available. Not everyone wants to go to a refuge.”

As well as refuge accommodation, there is an outreach service and morning drop-in sessions are held at two venues in the area – on Tuesdays at the South Holland District Council offices in Spalding and on Thursdays at Coubro Chambers in West End, Holbeach.

A Freedom Programme is being launched in the New Year to prevent repeat victims and help warning signals being spotted in future relationships. Anti-bullying work is also being done with young children in schools.

Telephone support is available on Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm by calling 01205 318600.

A young woman, held prisoner by her husband for four years, will be exploring a whole new world in South Holland this Christmas.

You may have passed her in the street smiling and laughing with family and friends because – after ten years of enduring mental, physical and sexual abuse – for the first time she feels completely free.

The woman, whose identity is being withheld for her own protection, met the Spalding Guardian at a safe location – along with PCSO Bev Robinson who is raising awareness this week of the support available to victims of domestic abuse.

But there were no second thoughts about reliving the years that robbed her of her childhood.

She said: “I am so happy I’ve been given this opportunity to speak because I might be able to stop someone else going through what I did.”

Her harrowing tale begins when she was 15 and fell in love with a boy aged 19.

She said: “He pressured me to get engaged and within nine months we were married.

“I was so young I was swept off my feet, but he was always controlling.

“On occasions I was allowed to walk up and down the street, but I had to stay on the phone to him.

“Things started to get really bad when my husband became agoraphobic.

“I wasn’t allowed out 
and barely saw my family and friends because they were made to feel so uncomfortable.

“I wasn’t allowed to go to the shops – my clothes just stretched with me – and if I was ill I just had to get over it.

“When someone is constantly saying you are no good, ugly, fat and couldn’t get a job you believe it.

“He left me an empty shell with zero confidence and said if I tried to leave him he would kill himself and it would be my fault.”

It was secret messaging to her mother on Facebook that led to her rescue.

She said: “I told Mum I couldn’t go on and she said to help me she would have to call the police.

“The day I knew they were coming I started to get emotional and covered it up by saying I was upset about the shouting the night before.

“When they arrived I remember wondering when police officers had grown so tall.

“There was this enormous man with a booming voice pretending to ask about the cars on the front while my husband’s mother was called in case he tried to do anything.

“Then I told him I was leaving and got in the police car. From that moment I started looking forward – I could be young again.

“The next day I went shopping with my mum and remember being fascinated that you could buy Marmite in a squeezy bottle.

“There were shops and roads I’d never seen.

“The world had changed and I had no clue.

“I can’t thank the police and the Public Protection Unit officers enough for their help. They have an immense support network and have been fantastic.

“The experience has left me scarred.

“I still get voices in my head telling me ‘you’re ugly, fat and useless’ but now I know it’s not true.

“I’m a uni student, I have a part-time job and a boyfriend and for the first time since I can remember I’m looking forward to opening my presents at Christmas.”

Our appeal to buy toys for children who otherwise could be facing a miserable Christmas has got off to a great start.

The Lincolnshire Free Press has launched the Give a Gift appeal in conjunction with Spalding letting agency We’ll Let Your House and department store Beales.

And to kickstart our campaign to bring a smile to scores of children’s faces on Christmas morning the Lincolnshire Free Press and We’ll Let Your House have each donated £50 to buy some toys.

Even better – our £100 has generously been matched by Beales to give a total of £200 to spend on a variety of toys for boys and girls from toddlers to aged 12.

Staff at the shop will pick out the toys to add to the ones we are asking you to donate.

Already there have been a number of generous donations brought into the We’ll Let Your House’s office at the Broad Street Business Centre and the Lincolnshire Free Press reception in The Crescent.

And shoppers have been super generous – already filling a large box at Beales with a selection of new and used toys.

But we need you to keep them coming to make sure we have an abundance of gifts to give out nearer the big day.

We’ll Let Your House company director Harry Drury and his staff, with help from Beales staff will be taking on the role of Santa’s little helpers to distribute the toys after the collection deadline of Wednesday, December 18.

We are asking you to consider adding an extra little gift – whatever you can afford – to your basket as you do your Christmas shopping.

You do not have to spend too much – a small gift costing just a few pounds could put a big smile on a child’s face on December 25.

We are also inviting parents who might be struggling to afford presents for their children to get in touch.

If you would benefit from some help from the Give a Gift appeal, send a letter outlining why, with your name, name of your child and contact details, including email address, home address and daytime telephone number.

All requests will be considered and a decision made depending on gift availability.

Send your letters to Tracey Sweetland, Lincolnshire Free Press, Priory House, The Crescent, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 1AB.

Two colleagues at a Spalding print firm are celebrating raising more than £1,000 with the end of Movember just a whisker away.

Pete Boekestyn, general manager of Welland Print Ltd, and his managing director Mike Trebbick started growing moustaches at the beginning of the month to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.

Normally clean-shaven and confessing he has been bald since he was 25, Pete said: “I am overwhelmed with the sponsorship so far.

“If you had told me I would raise £100 I would have been happy, so £646 so far is fantastic, and over a £1,000 between us is brilliant.

“For me, I know the Friday wig wearing has been a key factor, as people comment all week that they can’t wait to see what wig I’ll be wearing.

“I have been told it suits me, the moustache not the wig. However, it is coming off, eventually!

“I have a business meeting in Cambridge on December 3 with two clients who both generously donated, so I promised they could see it in all its glory.”

The national campaign has already raised £7 million towards research and treatment for prostate and testicular cancer.

Pete said: “I also know there are other Mo bros in Spalding, so well done to them, too, we’ve just been lucky enough to get the publicity.

Mike said: “Both Pete and I are delighted with the response to our Movember sponsorship to date. My total is at £385 at present and even though the Welland Print figure is already £1,000 we are still hoping there is a little more to come.

“The biggest problem that both Pete and I have is that the mo growth is totally grey and makes us look and probably feel years older than we really are.

“I can’t wait for December 1 to get the razor working at full speed.

“We’d both like to say a very big thank you to all family, friends and business contacts who have donated to this important men’s health charity.”

To make a donation, visit www.movember.com For help and where to get advice about prostrate cancer, visit http://prostatecanceruk.org

Employers are being urged to allow workers an hour’s guilt-free “Santa Time” at work to do Christmas shopping online.

The call comes from the boss of a discount vouchers company, Gareth Robinson, who says bosses should let workers know “that it’s OK to spend a modest amount of the working day on festive surfing so long as they get their work done and don’t abuse the trust”.

Most people we spoke to in Spalding say people are employed to work and not shop.

Polly Fox (67), from Frampton, said: “I have raised a family and gone to work and I have always found time to go and get my shopping. How do they expect businesses to survive by giving people time to do ridiculous things like that?”

Her friend, Jayne Young (65), from Spalding, said: “I don’t think you should go shopping in work time.”

Lisa Tuxford (35), from Spalding, was OK with employees doing a spot of “al desko” shopping if their bosses agreed, but said it should be kept to dinner breaks rather than the working day.

She said: “You are at work to do your job.”

Harry Reynolds (61), from Spalding, said: “Employers have got to earn a living, they pay your wages. As far as I am concerned, you have got to do your Christmas shopping when you can in your own time.”

Trainee hairdresser Sophie Greere, who works at Strands of Spalding, isn’t against employees shopping during the working day if their boss agrees and they are working long hours.

She said: “It depends what hours people work – I suppose it’s OK if they don’t get any other time.

“I do my shopping on a weekend.”

Laura Ward (29), from Donington, agreed.

She said: “It depends on the hours people work – if they work nine to five, they are not going to get that much time to shop.”

A Spalding man has died after being hit by a train.

The victim, believed to be in his 20s, was struck by a train near Huntingdon, at about 4.30pm on Thursday.

A British Transport Police (BTP) spokesman said: “BTP were called to the line close to Great Stukeley Lodge overbridge, in Huntingdon, on Thursday, after a report of a man hit by a train.

“Officers from Cambridge police also attended the incident which is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

“Medics from the East of England Ambulance Service also attended, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.

“The man’s family have been informed and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”

A Whaplode teenager and her mum are planning to have their heads as smooth as a Christmas bauble because this festive season they want to help make children’s dreams come true.

Sammie (15) and Diane Flood are having their heads shaved next month in aid of When You Wish Upon A Star.

They chose the charity because it is supported by Sammie’s school, the Peele Community College in Long Sutton and the Lincolnshire Co-operative, where Diane works.

The hair will all be donated to the Little Princess Trust to be made into a wig for a child with cancer.

Diane, whose hair is shoulder-length, said: “I’m really happy to be doing it because I’ve had cancer.

“I know how it feels to lose your hair when you are having treatment so if doing this helps someone it will be worth it.”

Sammie enjoys raising money for charity and has previously helped Leukemia Research, Cancer UK, Breast Cancer UK and Children in Need.

She said: “I decided to do this because many children and adults get told the news that they are terminally ill everyday and will lose their hair.

“I am able to make the choice to shave my hair off.

“My hair is 20 inches long and will be donated to the Little Princess Trust so it is made into a wig for a child with cancer.

“It won’t be hard for me to have it chopped off because I’m not really a hair and makeup sort of girl.”

The head shave will take plac at Abi’z hairdressers in Long Sutton on Saturday, December 7.

Readers can support Sammie and Diane by popping along on the day or giving a donation at the Deli counter in the Co-op.

A full scale exploration to hopefully find the remains of a “lost manor” in Pinchbeck is to start next spring.

It is more than three years since Pinchbeck History and Archaeology Group’s last dig at Healey’s Field was closed down, mainly to lack of funding.

But the project, which unearthed a wealth of information and artefacts to add new chapters to early village life, was never meant to be confined to the history books.

Group press officer Ray Tucker says that new funding means that the entire project can be brought back to life.

He said: “But the new dig will take place at a different site quite close to Healey’s Field.

“In mid-August this year a full geophysical survey over an area of approximately five hectares, was carried out at Abbey Field adjacent to Herring Lane, and compelling evidence that a medieval manor really did exist in the village have been revealed.

The survey, carried out by Lincoln-based Allen Archaeology, clearly shows building outlines and a number of areas where stone structures lay beneath the surface of Abbey Field.

Mark Allen, of Allen Archaeology, says the results of the survey are some of the most detailed he has ever seen.

Now plans are in place to excavate a number of trenches up to six feet wide and to whatever depth is needed to discover what is actually hidden.

The project to find Pinchbeck’s lost manor was initiated by local businessman and village resident John Lyon, an ultra enthusiastic metal detectorist, who over the years has unearthed an impressive quantity of metal objects, coins, musket balls, and segments of pottery, particularly from Abbey Field.

He said: “I have always been convinced that this field in particular is the most logical location for a settlement.

“Old maps of the area show an area of ‘ruins’ and the recent survey clearly shows positive signs of possible structural remains, drainage and boundary features.

“The area of land in question is owned by Lincolnshire Field Produce and with the help of the company’s managing director Robin Hancox and his field manager Paul Langford, who have given their full support to the project, we are able to proceed.

“This is a wonderful gesture and now we plan to begin work on April 1.”

Mr Lyon also says that it may be possible in the future to re-open Healey’s Field as archaeologists from Allen Archaeology of Lincoln, feel certain the site has more treasures to reveal.

People in The Deepings and Bourne are among those hardest hit by the Government’s controversial bedroom tax.

Research from the National Housing Federation (NHF) reveals 1,043 South Kesteven residents are losing almost £703 in benefits a year – while 543 in South Holland are losing an average of almost £681.

The NHF and Deeping St James councillor Phil Dilks say disabled people are being hardest hit because often they live in two-bedroom, adapted accommodation on doctors’ orders and can’t downsize because there’s nowhere for them to go.

People on benefits lose money for every “spare” bedroom they have – often disabled people cannot share a room with their partners but they get penalised all the same.

Coun Dilks said: “The bedroom tax is hitting the disabled and most vulnerable hardest here in The Deepings and across the country. I warned at South Kesteven District Council that it was a car crash, both unfair and unworkable as there are no one-bedroom alternatives for people to move to and not enough short term help for those forced to leave their homes.”

The NHF wants bedroom tax scrapped.

Spokesman Kate Warburton said: “The bedroom tax is trapping many people in homes they can no longer afford and where they are struggling to pay their rents. It is unfair, badly designed, and must be repealed.”
She said the Government say discretionary housing payments will help those who cannot downsize, but there isn’t enough to go around.

• MP John Hayes, who backed bedroom tax, was not available to comment.

A Spalding family are making a “CRY” for help after the coroner at their mother’s inquest advised them to be checked for a hereditary disease.

Tracey Darley, of Tavistock Road, died on July 23 aged just 48.

Professor Robert Forrest, South Lincolnshire coroner, advised close family members to see their GPs and seek support from the charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) after recording a verdict of “natural causes” at Mrs Darley’s inquest on Friday.

He said: “In situations like this when a young woman dies suddenly through no obvious reason my job is not only to record a verdict on how she died but to also help preserve life by advising family members to be screened.”

According to CRY, every week in the UK, around 12 young people die suddenly from a previously undiagnosed heart condition.

Eighty per cent of these deaths will occur with no prior symptoms.

The inquest heard that Mrs Darley had been taken ill ten days before she died while visiting a patient at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston.

A known asthmatic, she was admitted suffering shortage of breath and abdominal pains.

When she was discharged she was advised to visit her GP because both her mother and father had heart defects.

Her son, Aaron, confirmed she did this.

He said: “She was still struggling with breathing and could only walk a short distance before her knees gave way.

“I suffer asthma but this was horrible to watch.”

Pathologist Mike Harris said the examination revealed multiple blood clots in her legs and lungs.

He said: “The clot that lead to her death would not have been the first.

“Mrs Darley’s heart was also enlarged, which is not uncommon with a sudden death, and so it is advised close family members are screened.”

Dr Steve Cox, director of screening at CRY, said: “CRY believes screening is so vitally important.

“Although screening will not identify all young people at risk, in Italy they have reduced the incidence of young sudden cardiac death by 90 per cent.”

For more information, visit CRY at www.c-r-y.org.uk

Spalding Rugby Club expects to be in a league of its own after being awarded a share of £5.5million National Lottery funding for its new ground.

The club is one of just 97 sports projects across England to receive £50,000 from Sport England’s Protected Playing Fields fund as part of the legacy from the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

South Holland planners recently gave the green light to the club for a project on Drain Bank that will use the latest pitch technologies to provide the best rugby facility and pitches in South Lincolnshire.

The grant will be used to prepare and drain the new ground but the project as a whole will see improved facilities for the junior section, which has had restricted use of pitches at it current location in St Thomas’s Road.

Jeremy Chew, of Spalding Rugby Club, said: “We are delighted that Sport England has approved funding to allow us to deliver the schemes planned as part of this project.

“The award of this grant is key part to delivering of our new ground project. We are a community club whose heart beat is the players, parents, supporters and sponsors.

“Establishing the new playing fields in time for the Rugby World Cup in 2015 will be a huge step for the future development, initially ensuring our junior section can continue to grow whilst providing the leading rugby facility in South Lincolnshire and also delivering the lasting legacy of the Olympics as intended by Sport England and LOCOG.”

Sport England chairman Nick Bitel said: “We know how valuable playing fields are to communities throughout the country. This fund allows us to maintain and protect these spaces so that high quality sports pitches are available in the heart of communities.”

Of the 97 projects receiving funding, Spalding’s is one of 33 to become Queen Elizabeth II Fields after agreeing to dedicate their playing field in “perpetuity”.

This is thanks to a partnership with Fields in Trust (FIT) which is running the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge as part of the programme to mark the Diamond Jubilee and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Helen Griffiths, chief executive of Fields in Trust, said: “We are delighted that the Protecting Playing Fields fund has raised the awareness of the Queen Elizabeth II Fields Challenge to so many sites and led to numerous expressions of interest. 

“Investment to improve spaces and increase participation on them is always much needed and so it is fantastic to see the funding provided by Sport England.”

A 26-year-old Marine from Holbeach is “going commando” on the front cover of a calendar that raises money for charity.

Sam Fowler, who is currently based at 43 Commando FPGRM (Fleet Protection Group Royal Marines) on the west coast of Scotland, said he and two other Marines put their names name forward for the Go Commando 2014 calendar “as a joke”.

He said: “The calendar was open for entry to the whole of the Royal Marines this year to mark the 350th anniversary.

“We only entered as a bit of a joke really, but were thrilled when we made the front cover.

“Then we were asked to travel down to Taunton, which is the home of the Go-Commando charity and runs the calendar to raise money to support Royal Marine families when their boys are away.

“We spent the day at Taunton Christmas market signing calendars and then turned on the Christmas lights in front of the whole town.”

Sam joined the Royal Marines in 2004 and this year has been away conducting training in the Falklands. He has just returned from a four-week package in the Californian desert, with more exercises around the world planned for next year.

He said: “Royal Marines training was the hardest thing I have ever done and probably ever will do, but earning my green beret was the proudest moment of my life.

“I have three brothers keen to follow my path. To anyone who is looking to get more out of a career I would thoroughly recommend life as a Royal Marines Commando.”

To help support the Go-Commando charity the calendar can be purchased at http://www.gocommando.org.uk