Thousands of tulip heads are being hand pinned onto static floats and campsites, hotels and guest houses are reporting bookings.

You could almost believe nothing had changed for Spalding Flower Parade weekend, especially as visitors will be welcomed by last year’s flower queen Inca Honnor.

But on Saturday is the launch of a new procession to help carry on the legacy of the parade, seen for the final time last year.

This year’s Tulipmania Festival at Springfields in Spalding has been organised in response to indicators that people are still planning to visit the town on the traditional May Bank Holiday weekend in the hope something would be organised.

With the church flower festivals across South Holland in full swing and a promising weather forecast, excitement is already building.

David Norton, chief executive of Springfields Horticultural Society, and a past parade organiser said: “All our plans are going well and the weather looks as if it will be kind to us.

“The idea of this Tulipmania event is to try to maintain some links to the history and heritage of the parade.

“The trustees of the society, past and present, have all had a long association with the parade, and whilst they recognise that funding an event like the parade is no longer possible, they would like to think that the Springfields Horticultural Society charity organisation can still play its part in ensuring that the float building skills, and our tulip growing heritage, are not forgotten.

“In addition, we want to try to encourage children’s groups and all the South Holland community organisations to use the traditional parade weekend in the future to celebrate the great things that we still produce in the area, even though we don’t grow tulips anymore.

“Perhaps the May Bank Holiday weekend will become an opportunity for them to use music, art, theatre and dance to create a new festival of flowers and food”.

Bookings at local caravan sites, temporary school camping sites, hotels and B&Bs, show there is still a lot of interest from people wanting to visit Spalding this weekend to see what is happening.

Although coach bookings remain low in comparison to the 150 booked last year, there is still a chance that many will turn up on the day and a provision has been made to ensure there is plenty of coach and car parking at Springfields.

Tulip Radio will be compering the festival weekend, which includes the popular Springfields Classic Car Show on the Sunday with more than 250 vehicles.

Gan Seta, general manager at the Woodlands Hotel in Pinchbeck Road, is also hoping for a last-minute upsurge in bookings.

He said: “In past years we have been full by now. We are getting booked up for Saturday, but still have spaces on Friday and Sunday but we are hopeful word will spread.”

l For more festival details and the programme, see pages 19 and 22.

In response to M Mother’s letter (Spalding Guardian, April 17), I’d like to provide some answers and reassurance regarding the Wellbeing Service.

Let me start by saying that the service, which started on April 1, will actually provide a better service to more residents than the previous arrangements. It helps people stay safe in their own homes through installation of equipment such as safety aids, monitoring of alarms, rapid response and additional short-term support.

This service is now available to any Lincolnshire residents over the age of 18 following a single assessment – not just to those in sheltered housing. Assistive technology – such as Telecare or ‘life line’ alarms – will continue to be monitored 24-hours-a-day for a cost of only 36 pence per week. The 24-hour rapid response service will respond to alarm calls triggered, for example, if someone falls, with a maximum 45-minute response time. Subscription to the service costs £1.50 per week.

To answer the specific points in the letter, the rapid response service responds to urgent, non-emergency situations from three key locations around the county – Grantham, Boston, and Lincoln.

Each of these centres is staffed 24/7 by trained responders who use their own vehicles after providing copies of a valid MOT and insurance covering business use. The responders will be coordinated from a central point, meaning they’ll be deployed quickly and efficiently.

They’ll also work waking night shifts, meaning they will not sleep when they’re on duty.

Additionally, the provider is required, via their contract with the county council, to have business continuity plans in place to cover risks, including extreme weather conditions.

The letter also posed a scenario where an elderly man had fallen in the bathroom of a locked property and was unable to move, asking how rapid responders would access the home and provide assistance.

Upon signing up for the rapid response service, each customer will have a key safe installed so that responders can access the property in case the resident is unable to let them in. Rapid responders do not hold keys to the properties – these would be safely stored in key safes.

But if, as in this example, the monitoring service was unable to raise a response from the customer, they would consider alerting the ambulance straight away to avoid unnecessary delays in getting the right medical assistance – remember, the rapid response service is for support, not emergencies.

Your reader also questioned whether the person who made the call would have to wait too long for a response, or whether responders would be putting themselves in danger in their haste to respond. Rest assured that whenever a rapid response request comes in, the monitoring centre triages the situation to ensure the right resource is dispatched. In life or death situations, an ambulance will be hailed straight away, ensuring that no lives are unnecessarily put at risk.

I hope these explanations reassure your readers that the Wellbeing Service, including the rapid response service, will provide them as much support as they have now, even if it’s offered in a slightly different way.

Customers are being assessed in priority order. If you’d like to make an enquiry, we’d welcome you to do so by calling 01522 782140.

Ruth Cumbers

Joint head of prevention and early services intervention at Lincolnshire County Council

I have just picked up the Holbeach Library opening times from May 6 of this year.

We now have just four half day openings, and the library closed the rest of the time. It is not even open on Thursdays, which is the busiest day of the week in Holbeach. Prior to this we had one day closure, three full days, two half days. Thursday was of course, open all day.

County Councillor Worth (because he certainly does not represent the district) assured me in writing that the Holbeach Library would be open for a longer period of time as a result of his proposals.

So much for his assurances.

As a councillor who is supposed to represent Holbeach, all I hope is that when it comes to the ballot box, the local residents vote for somebody who will actually look after Holbeach, first and foremost.

Let’s get him off the county council at the next election. He may then have some interest in local issues for a couple of years, before voting him off the district council at the next election, two years after.

Stephen Whatley

Fakenham Chase

Holbeach

Further to the piece in Spalding Guardian, April 24, may I please correct the possible impression that my concerns about hospital infections focussed on Johnson Community Hospital.

Having recently also visited Pilgrim Hospital it is clear that many visitors ignore the hand-rubs and also fail to wash their hands after using the loo. In view of the current national concerns about infection, it would seem rational for all hospitals to insist on strict hygiene for all visitors.

Joan Woolard

Fleet Hargate

Hundreds of people turned out in the sunshine for day one of the Tulipmania Festival at Springfrields in Spalding.

They were treated to a glimpse of the past with stunning static displays pinned with thousands of tulip heads and non-stop entertainment throughout the day.

The highlight was the judging of the prince and princess competition. Georgie Van Dyke (10) and Joseph Porter (6) were the winners and were joined in the procession through Springfields gardens by all of the other entrants and last year’s Spalding Flower Queen Inca Honnor, who was thrilled to wear her fabulous peppermint dress one more time.

The weekend continues tomorrow with a classic car show. Don’t miss next week’s Free Press and Spalding Guardian for full coverage of the weekend’s events, plus more from the church flower festivals and the Moulton Chapel Tuliptime Festival.

“That sight and smell will haunt me forever.” The daughter of a 71-year-old Spalding woman has spoken for the first time since the tragic death of her mother was linked to smoking illegal cigarettes, in the hope she can help stop similar incidents.

Disabled June Buffham died in April 2012 when the chair in which she was sitting caught fire after she had been smoking Jin Ling cigarettes.

At the inquest four months later, the family made a heartfelt plea for lessons to be learned from the tragedy. But two years on, the cigarettes continue to be sold and recently there have been another two smoke-related deaths.

June’s daughter, Julie Grant of Swineshead, is joining forces with Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and Lincolnshire Trading Standards to highlight issues with Jin Ling cigarettes and the dangers of not putting them out correctly.

She said: “The date will haunt and stay with me forvever.

“I’ll never forget hearing those words: ‘There has been a fire at home and your mum is dead.’

“The worst thing was being asked for a DNA sample to help identify mum. I just couldn’t understand why until the day after her death when I walked into the room with the coroner.

“That sight and smell will not leave me – the room had been completely destroyed by the fire.”

Because of the lack of remains, the inquest recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Julie said: “They assured me that within seconds mum would have been overcome by toxic fumes before the fire engulfed her – this doesn’t help the image I have in my mind.”

Her graffic story is being told to coincide with the launch of a Smokefree Lincolnshire funded video, which shows how quickly this type of fire can detroy a home.

Dave Ranscar, chief fire officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and chairman of Smokefree Lincolnshire, said: “This is such a sad case and one which we see time and time again - some where people have sadly died, like in June’s case.

We would ask if you have elderly relatives, try to understand their smoking habits and, if necessary, encourage change, such as not smoking in bed or when tired.”

Further advice and free home fire safety checks are available by calling 01522 580397.

A weekly column by Dr Miles Langdon of South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, addressing topical health issues

Do you want to know the worst best kept secret to having a healthy heart. Yes, it may sound ridiculously obvious but physical activity could be the key to kick start a new and healthy lifestyle.

May is National Walking Month, there will be an abundance of podcasts, expert tips and inspiring stories all available to encourage people to get out and about this Spring. Whether you decide to walk the kids to school, walk to work or simply head a bit further whilst taking the dog out, it all counts towards a healthy heart and healthier lifestyle (and could save on fuel costs!).

Walking is underrated as a form of exercise but is ideal for people of all ages and fitness levels who want to be more active.

A pair of comfortable trainers or walking boots is all you really need, as long as they provide support and don’t cause blisters, along with loose clothing that you can move freely in. Why not take a bottle of water for a brief, refreshing stop along way, which importantly, will also allow you to keep hydrated.

Walking should not be confused with putting one foot in front of another. Those who can walk should do it briskly so they feel out of breath. It is the simplest, cheapest and possibly one of the most rewarding forms of exercise that can have such huge benefits for the heart.

It can help to reduce blood pressure, tones muscles, strengthens your bones and can help to control your weight. You could really reduce your risk of developing heart disease – the UKs biggest killer which causes around 82,000 deaths in UK each year.

Older people who are vulnerable to a fall in the home often fall because they aren’t active for most of the time, working people spend a lot of time in the office - sitting down; so we are generally guilty of being more sedentary.

A hundred and 50 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week, such as a brisk walk will reduce stress and increase your general wellbeing. Discover the benefits of walking at www.walk4life.info/

Two Spalding lawyers are about to walk a night-time marathon in fancy bras on the streets of London.

Anita Toal, managing partner at Maples Solicitors, and her commercial solicitor colleague Gemma Turton are London MoonWalk veterans who are raising money to fight breast cancer.

Anita did three MoonWalks from 2005-2007 and then another last year, but decided not to take part in this year’s walk.

She would normally have registered by the October deadline, but let the date go by.

Anita said: “When I went to the funeral of an old friend, Kate Withyman, in January – who died of cancer at the age of 46 just before Christmas – I regretted not registering.”

A few days later Anita received an email from London MoonWalk organisers saying there were a few places left and signed up with Gemma.

The pair are in serious training, walked 20 miles on Saturday alone, and will complete a few more short walks before the big night on Saturday, May 10.

Anita said: “The first year I did quite a lot of training but then, in the following years, did less and less and foolishly decided last year I could do it on four miles training to walk my new trainers in.

“Needless to say I did regret it somewhat.”

Gemma was inspired to raise cash because members of her family and friends have been affected by cancer.

She said: “I really wanted to help make a difference and give something back for the people I knew that the charity had helped.”

The fancy bras are a hallmark of the London MoonWalk, which takes in the big city sights, including the London Eye, St Paul’s Cathedral, Downing Street and Buckingham Palace

Anita and Gemma aim to complete the walk in a little under seven hours.

“You are not allowed to run, which is a good job really because I can’t,” said Anita. “We are aiming for four miles per hour – six-and-a-half hours although we will be lucky to do it in seven in view of all the hold-ups, the crush at the start, crossing the road and avoiding drunks on the pavement coming out of clubs at three in the morning.”

n You can sponsor Anita on https://moonwalklondon2014.everydayhero.com/uk/anita-8 and Gemma on http://wtwalk.org/moonwalklondon2014/gemma-19

With the anniversary approaching of Jimi Hendrix playing here in Spalding, I think its about time that the council put a blue plaque up to mark where he played.

They managed to put a blue plaque on the wall of the Halifax Building Society to the person who helped design the iconic London Underground logo... Im sure that many people are STILL not aware that Jimi really did play here in Spalding on what was really the first true Pop festival.

Colin Ward

Double Street

Spalding

The latest cases

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

April 3

Leanne Prentice (32), Recreation Road, Bourne. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £120 costs.

Lisa Remmers (31), of Old Brewery Lane, Long Sutton. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Alma Stulgin (31), of Westside, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

April 4

Richard Tilley (43), of Princess Grove, Market Deeping. Driving otherwise than accordance with a licence (Baston). £85 find, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 7

Elliot Gaunt (24), of Beech Avenue, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 17 months.

William Lesage (30), of Deer Park Road, Langtoft. Drink driving (Bourne). £280 fine, £28 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 22 months.

Jake Owenson (21), of High Street, Walcott. Drink driving (Bourne). £280 fine, £28 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

April 8

Emre Seyitoglus (27), of The Mill. Kirton. No insurance (Kirton). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Karl Frost (48), of Dain Close, Dukinfield, Cheshire. Speeding (Whaplode). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Lee Mason (42), of St Michaels Avenue, Wisbech. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Valerij Paramonov (38), of Fishpond Lane, Holbeach. Driving without due care and attention. £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Ronald Sloan (79), of Church Road, Emneth. Speeding (Whaplode). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 9

Arron Matthews (25), of Church Street, Thurlby. Intentionally opened three postal packets in the course of transmission by post (Bourne). £420 fine, £42 v/s, £1100 costs,

Jurij Kravcuk (31), of Willington road, Kirton. Possession of Methylone (Boston). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Valentas Visockis (27), of Priory Road, Spalding. Three counts of criminal damage (Spalding). £600 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

March 31

Vilmatas Baltraitis (48), of Double Street, Spalding. Drunk and disorderly (Boston). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Jakob Szymak (20), of Washway Road, Saracen’s Head. No insurance (Whaplode). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No MOT, £200 fine. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Gheorghe Godhi (28), of Barrier Bank, Cowbit. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Gheorghe Godhi (28), of Barrier Bank, Cowbit. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Sherri Tovey (30), of Essendyke, Bretton. Speeding (Tydd Gote). £220 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Shane Kelk (19), of Princes Street, Sutton Bridge. No insurance (Holbeach 5.11.13). £110 fine, £22 v/s, £8 costs, disqualified from driving for 9 months. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Shane Kelk (19), of Princes Street, Sutton Bridge. No insurance (Sutton Bridge 24.10.13). £110 fine, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Kelly Edwards (34), of Mill Green Road, Pinchbeck. Failing to give driver ID (Boston). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £100 costs, 6pts.

April 2

Neil Clements (60), of Clay Lake, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £380 fine, £38 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Christopher Kelly (40), of Summerson Close, Donington. Stole Star Wars toys worth £29.86 belonging to Asda (Boston). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Dariusz Janiak (39), of South Parade, Spalding. Failing to notify change of circumstances to South Holland District Council. £70 fine, £20 v/s, £500 costs.

Paul Fletcher (33), of Parthian Avenue, Wyberton. Fishing otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Boston). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £127 costs.

April 3

Nerijus Vaikasas (38), of Holland Road, Spalding. Assault (Spalding). £100 compensation. No separate penalty for theft of chocolate worth £8.44 from Aldi Stores.

Deepak Samra (27), of One Way Street, Sutterton. Drink driving (Boston). Community order with drug rehabilitation requirement, £200 fine, £60 v/s, disqualified from driving for 46 months. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Skegness Magistrates’ Court

April 1

Scott Williams (24), of High Green, Swineshead. Fraud, four cash withdrawals using a stolen bank card (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

April 2

Jake Bourne (20), of The Old School Yard, Swineshead. Speeding (Boston). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

James Sedge (34), of Patriot Close, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Adam Caley (30), of Peacock Court, Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. No MOT (Lincoln). £35 find, £20 v/s, £85 costs. Failing to comply with no entry sign. £35 fine, 3pts.

George Mackenzie (55), of Westbourne Park, Bourne. Speeding (Barrowby). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

The following planning applications have been submitted to local councils:-

South Holland District Council

Mr and Mrs B Johnson, Hurdletree Lodge, Hurdletree Bank, Holbeach. Post and rail fenced menage for private use.

Mrs L Padoan, 20 Maple Grove, Spalding. Extension.

Broadgate Homes, site to south west Spalding with access from Broadway. Modification of conditions.

Mr J Massie, rear 30 and 31 Double Street, Spalding. Conversion of garage block into self contained residential dwelling.

Mr D Dye, Baulkin’s Drove, Sutton St James. Agricultural store, attached open lean-to pig shelter.

Dr J Ratynski, W R Refrigeration, 2 Woolram Wygate, Spalding. Change of use of warehouse and office to dental practice.

Mr and Mrs Smith, Rainham, Hundred Fen, Gosberton Clough. Replace outbuildings to form annexe and detached garage.

Mr T Tott, Fulney Hall, 69 Holbeach Road, Spalding. Details of planning conditions.

S Dempster and D Harrison, Sandawn, 2 Fishergate, Sutton St James. Extension, renovation and re-roof.

Mr and Mrs J Burman, 21 Reservoir Road, Surfleet, Extension.

Mr and Mrs K Clayton, 58 Garnsgate Road, Long Sutton. Loft conversion.

Robert Goddard Ltd, 1 Vine Street, Spalding. Part demolition, conversion and extension of shop to provide additional retail floor space and five residential units. Removal of condition relating to affordable housing under previous approval.

Mr E McGowan, Lazy Acre, Little Dog Drove, Holbeach. Use of site for camping an caravanning.

South Lincs Patterns Foundry Division, Spalding Common. Extension.

Mr and Mrs D Moore, 2 Chapel Gate, Sutton St James. Extension.

Mr R Bosma, Mallard House, 8 Low Road, Crowland. Wooden playhouse in tree (retrospective).

AMS London Ltd, 9 Abbey Path, Spalding. Details of external illumination and materials, site levels, floor levels, archaeological investigation, covered cycle racks.

Mr and Mrs M Gilbert, Rose Cottage, Birds Drove, Surfleet. Extensions, renovation and alterations.

Mr and Mrs P Thompson, Arbour House, Churchgate, Whaplode. Extension and alterations.

Long Sutton Parish Council, Cinder Ash Park. Works to trees in conservation area.

Anglo Plant Ltd, Tilsons Farm Yard, Gedney Marsh, Gedney Drove End. Extension and re-cladding of workshop/store.

Jolly Farmer Public House, 28 Roman Road, Moulton Chapel. Residential annexe (retrospective).

Mr G and Mr K Holland, Rose Villa, Main Road, Holbeach Drove. Replacement dwelling and garage.

Mr and Mrs T Lewis, 42 Wrights Lane, Sutton Bridge. Kitchen extension.

South Kesteven District Council

Oldfield, 36B Church Street, Market Deeping. Internal alterations and signage.

Wren, The Barn, 69 Main Road, Dyke. Garage and porch.

Ford, The Old Forge, 6 Bridge Street, Deeping St James. Approval of reserved details.

Alexander Milne Estates, Renu, 2 West Street, Bourne. Change of use of first and second floor from D1/D2 to B1 offices.

Callow, 40 Halfleet, Market Deeping. Extension.

Simmonds, 8 South Fen Road, Bourne. Removal of conditions.

Leyland, 24 Kingsway, Bourne. Demolition of garage and erect extensions.

Wozencroft, 92 Eastgate, Deeping St James. Detached hobbies room.

J J Homes, Cardyke Farmhouse (north), Fen Road, Rippingale. Conversion of barns to form two dwellings (amendment).

Boston Borough Council

Tulip Ltd, 3 New Hammond Beck Road, Wyberton. Three bay production extension, including temperature controlled production areas and intake despatch.

L Hallett, 1 Council House, Gauntlet Road, Bicker. Extensions.

Co-operative Retail Services, 18 Station road, Kirton. Installation of new plant machinery in rear yard and alterations to shop front.

On The Beat with Inspector Jim Tyner

During the small hours of last Wednesday morning an incident developed in Sutton Bridge while most of us were still in bed. The incident demonstrated to me of a lot of the things about Lincolnshire Police that I am proud of.

For operational and legal reasons there are many aspects of that incident that I can’t discuss. You will already know from media announcements that following the incident a 35-year-old local man was interviewed.

After examining all the evidence, the investigating team used their professional judgment and no further action will be taken. While this may frustrate some readers, I cannot discuss this decision in detail.

I would hope that in recent months my weekly articles have demonstrated sound judgment and a wide breadth of policing experience. I ask you to trust my judgment when I say that I absolutely agree with this decision. And just to put another tiresome myth to bed: although no further action will be taken, we still record a crime, so there’s no “fiddling” of crime figures!

Officers were initially called to a domestic incident involving threats of serious violence. No one was injured. As I have alluded to in previous articles about domestic abuse, we don’t always know all the facts when we arrive at an incident and have to make decisions in fast-moving circumstances.

Our main aim at any incident is to ensure the safety and well-being of all those involved (including the police officers) and the wider public. This is the same for every incident: the only thing that differs is how many resources are needed to achieve that aim.

With the facts as we knew them at the time, it was appropriate that we treated this incident seriously.

Of course, the decision to cordon off a street and to deploy specialist officers is not one that is taken lightly. There are lots of checks and balances in our procedures to ensure that what we are doing is proportionate.

One of the things that I am proud of is how we scale up to an incident. Apart from two police officers, three PCSOs and me, the rest of the officers involved came from other parts of the county. This is something we do really well, and it means that we are still able to provide a service elsewhere.

Something else I’m really proud of is the professionalism of everyone involved. The specialist officers are highly trained and were calm and professional. The PCSOs went door to door in Withington Street, providing calming reassurance. As I watched them, it was obvious that they knew their community and their community knew them. This is community policing at its best.

As I write this column, I am reading an article headlined: “Granny praises police in armed incident.” The anonymous pensioner describes officers calmly leading people to safety and checking on people’s welfare.

It is to everyone’s credit – the officers at the scene and the decision-makers in the Major Incident Room – that the incident ended peacefully and Sutton Bridge was able to return to normal.

But this was just one of many incidents dealt with that day. Whilst all eyes were on this incident, other officers were carrying out an anti-ASB operation in Spalding (which has also been the subject of public praise).

At the same time, the mobile police station was involved in crime prevention work in Whaplode, a man was arrested in a stolen car on the A17, an uninsured Volvo was seized in Haverfield Road, Spalding, and officers dealt with a tragic fatality at a farm premises in Spalding.

Last Wednesday we had 51 incidents reported in South Holland, including three other domestic abuse cases, four concerns for welfare, three missing persons and two road collisions.

Each of these incidents could be an article in itself. In previous weeks I have described the skills needed for different occasions.

All of these incidents needed different skills but all involved the same level of professionalism and dedication that makes me so proud of South Holland’s PCs and PCSOs.

I think, however, I shall leave the last word to the anonymous Sutton Bridge grandma, who said: “I am very proud of them and I think they handled it all very well.”

The mother of a six-week-old baby whose only option was to breast-feed in Sainsbury’s disabled toilet has spoken of her shock and disgust.

Elaine Reith has raised issues with baby changing and feeding facilities in Spalding after noticing little change in the number of stores accommodating new mothers over the last decade.

Elaine said: “I was disgusted to find that there is no where for us mums to go to feed our children in town.

“In fact, I had my eldest son 12 years ago and there were only a couple of places to feed and change babies then. It has actually got worse.”

Elaine, who doesn’t feel comfortable feeding in public, once turned to Boots who offered a private room for mothers to feed and change their infants. But when Elaine arrived at the store with her new born last week she found the designated area has been turned into a pharmacist’s consultation room.

Reluctantly Elaine went to Sainsbury where she knew there was a baby changing toilet but said “there is nowhere to actually sit” and she was left standing uncomfortably with her hungry infant in the cubicle.

She said: “It was quite disgusting to be honest.”

Elaine’s call for change comes as one young mum in Kent has received a pay-out after being ordered to stop breast-feeding in public because others found it “offensive”.

Sophie Howes (27), a midwife, fed her hungry eight-month-old daughter Connie when she started getting restless during a day out swimming.

Sitting on the steps of the learner pool she was told to move because the lifeguard said she was “offended”.

Miss Howes offered to go to the side of the pool instead but the leisure centre manager ordered the mum to return to the changing rooms.

The equality act 2010 provides protection for mums wanting to breastfeed their children against those feelings expressed like this. Yet Elaine, who actually wants to feed in private, is struggling to find such facilities.

Elaine said: “What I’d like to see is somewhere that, if you are not comfortable feeding in public, you can go to feed your baby in comfort and with a chair.”

Elaine’s friends have found Costa Coffee is the only please to offer appropriate facilities.

Elaine said: “But what about all the other family friendly places in town? Wetherspoons for example has nothing.

“It’s shocking.”

Another of Elaine’s friends raised concerns about the lack of parent and child parking spaces at Sainsbury.

“With us currently experiencing a baby boom, and everywhere you look you can see mums with prams, isn’t it time Spalding improved and made it easier for nursing mothers to be out and about in 
town?

“I’m quite disappointed things haven’t changed in 12 years. They’ve just got worse.

“Something needs to be done.”

This part of Lincolnshire is currently part of the GNGE £300m railway upgrade project which
includes new track, signals, level crossings and other infrastructure engineering.

When commissioned there will be more trains all capable of running at faster speeds of up to 70mph. 
With all of this, if the railway is not treated with respect the risk of injury increases.

With this in mind, Stephen Wareing MBE, school liaison officer for Network Rail, visited Thomas Cowley High School in Donington recently to talk about keeping safe with the rail network system.

Mr Wareing’s presentation was over two assemblies to ensure all the students were able to hear the important message of rail safety.

Film clips were shown to the students of very near misses on level crossings caused by the thoughtless actions of both pedestrians and motorists, which could have easily led to loss of life.

A bid to lose weight and raise money for charity led to a Spalding woman planning a long walk home – 184 miles in fact.

The ‘The Severn in 7’ will drop Andrea Cameron (33) at Severn View Services, on the edge of the Severn Bridge, Bristol, to trek across the country home.

Last year Andrea, who works at Finlay Flowers UK Ltd, signed up for two walking events – the Thames Path 50k Challenge and the Steppingly Step, with only the aim of losing weight.

She said: “I literally signed up for any event that I was able to.”

But it turned out she enjoyed the challenges so much she’s pledged to conquer the equivalent of seven marathons over seven days for seven different charities.

She said: “The idea I had came when I was looking at long distance walks. I just wanted to walk across the country.”

After reading about Hobblers Way, which runs coast to coast from the Wash to the River Severn, Andrea has amended her own route, though Cobbler’s way is completed in ten legs while Andrea’s will be triumphed in an ambitious seven.

Setting off on Saturday, May 17, she’ll walk between 25 and 28 miles a day, taking approximately eight to ten hours, and averaging a speed of five miles per hour.

It’s slower than she’s used to, Andrea says, but she needs to pace herself, having never walked for more than three days in row.

Also adding to the challenge is the varied terrain Andrea will face compared to the flat ground she’s used to here at home.

Each day she will represent another charity, from Shelter to Independent Age, Turning Point, the Samaritans, Rainbow Trust, the International Rescue Committee and Habitat For Humanity.

Andrea tried to pick charities where her fundraising would instantly support someone.

She said: “I’d like to raise £7,000, a thousand pounds for each charity.”

Each day she will be accompanied by guest walkers to support her when the going gets tough.

Friends and family have volunteered their legs to join a day of the hike, the youngest being Andrea’s 14-year-old daughter Isabella.

Andrea’s brother is behind her challenge too, literally, in a support vehicle following her on every leg of the trek with first aid and supplies.

Cheers of encouragement will welcome Andrea’s final steps home arriving at Bentleys Bar in Spalding on May 24.

To sponsor Andrea look out for yellow donation boxes in Spalding businesses: Bentleys Bar, Revills Shoes, Daisies Flower Shop and Geoff Neal and Son dry cleaners, or visit: 
www.severnin7.net

Police community support officers have won the backing of Sutton Bridge Parish Council as they plan to patrol the village on bikes.

Three PCSOs who cover the area currently have a car, but they would like new bikes costing £400 and a special, car-mounted bike carrier for a little under £1,000.

PCSO Toni Musico-Cardillo said bikes will enable officers “to get in and around a lot more places”, including farm tracks.

She said: “We have also found children engage with us when we are on the bikes because they have bikes.”

The parish council agreed to write to Lincolnshire’s Chief Constable and the Police and Crime Commissioner to see if they can source funding for the plan.

A village poorly served by a “glitch” ridden CCTV system is now taking a fresh look at joining South Holland’s new scheme.

Sutton Bridge had two cameras – one of which was out of action – and could never get any facts or figures on whether any criminals were caught in the act.

One councillor had her fence demolished when a car careered through her garden, which wasn’t caught on camera, and the council chairman, John Grimwood, said there were ‘glitches’ on three occasions when he wanted footage.

Because of those flaws – and fears police would be too slow to respond – the council recently decided to opt out altogether unless a free trial could be arranged.

A free trial was refused, but police sergeant Gareth Boxall persuaded the parish council to take another look.

He told the parish council that cameras mean police arrive on the scene armed with much more information and can begin looking for culprits straight away.

The new cameras are monitored round-the-clock from Boston, instead of part-time by volunteers at Spalding, and Sgt Boxall said he would try to get facts and figures on how outlying villages were served when the parish council has a special meeting to re-examine its decision to opt out.

Blogger Trish Burgess writes for the Free Press

When I first moved to the area in 1988, I rarely had the chance to see Spalding Flower Parade. Working in John Lewis, Peterborough, meant that Saturdays were usually work days.

After my son was born in 1996, we were able to watch the parade as a family but it was only in 2006 that I had any real involvement in the spectacle. By then I had joined Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society and that year, when the theme was ‘A Date to Celebrate’, SADOS was celebrating its 140th birthday.

A number of musical floats were available to local organisations and thanks to the sponsorship of Nursery Fresh Plants, SADOS was able to decorate one to publicise its forthcoming musical, Oklahoma!

The parade that year was a real family affair. Dougie joined me in the run up to the parade to sit in a cold, draughty shed, pinning tulip heads onto polystyrene boards. This was enjoyable but back­breaking work, sitting on upturned crates, sticking long u­shaped pins into the tiny bit of stalk left on the flower.

The heads had to be positioned very tightly so the polystyrene was completely hidden.

On the day itself, Dougie was one of our marshalls, feeling very important in his hi­vis vest. Rory, although not part of the cast, was allowed to be on the float with me, waving to all the visitors.

It was a long route that year, starting and ending at Springfields. The cast, in full costume, sang and waved for many hours, conscious of the effort we had to maintain as each new group of supporters wanted to hear us in full voice. I can’t tell you how many times we must have sung ‘The Farmer and the Cowman should be Friends’ on our long haul round the town, but we were heartily sick of it by the time we returned to Springfields.

On a positive note, we were word perfect when we took the show to the South Holland Centre a few weeks later.

In 2007 SADOS was part of the parade again, this time publicising The Witches of Eastwick. Dougie joined me, though was forced to wear red devil horns and carry a plastic pitchfork. I think he wore sunglasses in case anyone recognised him. Rory abandoned the family that year to be on his own float with the kids from Polka Dot Academy.

2008 proved to be the last year the society was involved. A fabulous float for Calamity Jane, with two large panels recreating the Deadwood Stage itself: it even had windows from which we could wave to the crowds.

The songs that year were great for audience participation: so many people joined in with our renditions of ‘Windy City’ and ‘The Black Hills of Dakota’.

Returning to the Sir Halley Stewart playing field, cold, croaky and desperate for the loo, I was looking forward to going home. Then I remembered the car was parked at Springfields...

Follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and her blog at www.mumsgoneto.blogspot.com

Motorists heading into Spalding on Saturday morning were delayed for 90 minutes by an accident at the roundabout near McDonald’s on the A151.

A spokesman for the police said: “Police were called just before 11am on Saturday to a report of a road traffic collision between a Ford Focus car and a Honda moped at the roundabout near to McDonalds on Holbeach Road, Spalding.

“The male moped rider, a 32-year-old local man, received minor injuries in the incident and was taken to Boston Pilgrim Hospital for treatment.

“The A151 road was closed for around 90 minutes while emergency services were on the scene carrying out recovery and investigations.”

A spokesman for McDonald’s said: “Our thoughts are with the motorcyclist for a full and speedy recovery.

“Holbeach Road was closed temporarily whilst emergency services attended the scene. However, normal trade resumed at the restaurant from 12:15pm onwards.”

Life changing injuries didn’t stop one Spalding lady from building the strength to reach the top as she’s been named the first competitive female body builder in the UK.

Sam Watson became disabled after a nasty car accident seven years ago but has devoted her entire lifestyle to fitness since.

She said: “I severely broke both legs, fractured my pelvis and found strength and power I never knew I had to teach myself to walk again.

“The surgeon said it would take me twelve weeks to be back on my feet. It took me five weeks to be up and around on crutches.”

Sam also suffered a shattered knee cap, fractured left shin bone and shattered heel bone.

Today she has titanium rods holding her legs together and has been left with arthritis in her heel. The surgeon told Sam that by the time she was 60 she would need both hips replacing.

Sam said: “Before the accident I had no interest in fitness at all. It was only after the accident once I had regained the ability to again without too much aid that I decided to start the gym and build my strength up.”

Inspired back to health she put herself through college to become a personal trainer while spending her spare time training at Definitions Health and Fitness Gym, Spalding, daily.

She said: “They are the only gym in the area with the right equipment and room.”

The hard work paid off three weeks ago at the Hercules Olympia 2014 stage.

Sam’s first time on the competitive stage crowned her the country’s first female disabled body builder.

Since the show she’s has been to another event and entered the mixed couples classes at both with her training partner, Rob Harriss.

She said: “I’ve learned a lot from him, and I think I’ve taught him too. Even though being the first disabled female on stage in the UK was a dream for me, being on stage next to him meant a lot more.

“Our music was ‘anything you can do, I can do better’ which, with me being disabled and the first disabled female, we thought it quite apt.

“It had the audience standing.”

Sam said: “I hope my story might inspire people.

“I want to help others who have been through similar experiences, or born with disabilities. I want to be the one who does understand what it’s like.”