David Hill has lived in this area for 46 years, and so knows an awful lot of people.

He says it can be embarrassing when he forgets a name – or confusing when children grow up to look like their parents!

However, he can be forgiven for the occasional lapse of memory, having celebrated his 80th birthday in January.

The birthday was a trigger for him to finish a project begun three years earlier: to write his memoirs for the interest of his and Jane’s extended family.

David and Jane, married for 52 years and living in Spalding, have four children and 12 grandchildren aged 19 to six.

What David hadn’t reckoned on was the interest in reading the book from his many friends and acquaintances from his years as vicar of first Lutton with the care of Drove End for 14 years and then Pinchbeck for 17 years.

David says: “It was an interesting project to do at my stage in life, to look back and remember, but what seems to have happened, and it’s surprised me, is that so many people found it readable and are interested and would like a copy.”

As a result David is hesitant rather than brave about what is to happen at Bookmark in The Crescent in Spalding on Tuesday, August 19 (7.15pm) when Over the Hill will be officially launched with a talk and book signing.

The book sells for £5.99 and, poignantly, any profits will go to the Brain Tumour Charity because, as their many friends already know, the couple’s youngest daughter, Candida, died from a brain tumour in 2012, leaving behind a young family.

“She is still alive, but not in this world,” says David, talking about the grieving process. “It hits Jane quite hard from time to time and odd things trigger it off.

“She was head girl at the High School in her day and quite widely known.”

The loss of Candida is covered in the book as are memories from David’s time in Lutton and Pinchbeck and earlier memories still.

For instance, he recollects in 1971, during the first ever national postal workers’ strike, setting up a private postal service between Boston, Spalding and Wisbech.

David writes: “The strike went on for seven weeks and half way through the UK currency changed to decimal coinage. We reissued the blue 2/6d stamps at 12.5p on green. After the strike, we doubled our profit because it was the sale of stamps to collectors that brought in the bulk of money.”

Concern is rising over the welfare of a woman from Bicker who has been missing for more than a day.

Diane Tytheridge (60) hasn’t been seen since she left her home in the village before 6am yesterday to go to work at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston.

However, she later got in touch with hospital staff to say she wouldn’t be coming in and nothing has been heard from Diane since then.

Police are urging Diane to call her family and let them know she is safe.

Diane is 5ft 4ins tall, slim build and with long fair hair.

She was driving a black Ford Fiesta, registration number DT03 GPT.

Anyone who has seen Diane or her vehicle should call 101, stating incident 371 of June 25.

Four people were hurt after a two-car crash on the A17 near the Ship Inn, Fosdyke.

A Skoda Octavia and Volkswagen Golf collided in Washway Road, near Fosdyke Bridge, at about 5.40pm yesterday.

Firefighters from Kirton assisted paramedics in treating those injured and clearing up an oil leak from the cars involved.

Plans for the county’s biggest renewable energy park at Sutton St James are due to go before South Holland District Council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

Villagers have already shown their support for the project that will see 33 hectares of farmland covered in solar panels.

Many people from the village turned out to show their support at a recent meeting held in the village hall.

If approved, the village could receive up to £18,000 in cash from a community benefit fund.

The solar photovoltaic (PV) power farm is planned by B E Renewables on Fendyke Farm, Fen Dyke, on land owned by Deborah Wright.

Deborah told the Lincolnshire Free Press that she wanted to diversify into solar in order to secure the future of the farm for her sons following the death of her husband Robert.

She said: “It is clean, carbon friendly, naturally produced energy, and it (the solar farm) has been designed to provide a low visual impact.”

The solar farm could generate up to 17.5MWp, its capacity restricted by what the grid connection can accommodate and by the area of the site.

It would consist of about 50,000 solar PV panels that would stand up to 2m high above the ground level, angled towards the south, with rows of panels set about 4m apart.

The project also calls for about seven transformers and a substation measuring 8m by 5m and 4-5m high, depending on roof design.

Four CCTV cameras are proposed on poles at the site entrance and throughout the site, which would be enclosed by 1.6m high security fencing.

Plans by a Holbeach farmer to create living accommodation for agricultural students go before South Holland District Council on Wednesday.

The plan is for a former agricultural building to be converted at Somerset Farm, St Marks Road. The students need practical experience as part of their studies.

Two road crashes on the same day in South Holland and the Deepings have left three people hurt.

A 69-year-old man from Whaplode and a 30-year-old woman from Peterborough needed treatment after a Peugeot and Audi crashed at the junction of River Lane and High Road at about 8am yesterday.

Earlier, a man was treated after the grey Ford Focus he was driving crashed into a lamp-post in Lysander Drive, Market Deeping.

The crash happened just before 7.10am yesterday when emergency services were called to the scene where they found the lamp-post damaged.

In both cases, the casualties involved were treated for minor injuries.

A Lincolnshire Police spokesman said a petrol leak was the cause of the Market Deeping crash, while a “small leak” of engine coolant may have caused the Moulton crash.

Sentence in a case of a sexual assault has been adjourned to July 30 at Boston Magistrates’ Court.

Victor Ford (36), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding, denied intentional sexual touching of a woman aged 16 or over but the case was proved at a trial in May.

Two men were each fined £800 for their part in theft of tools and building materials when they raided a building site at a Crowland school.

Ben Atkin (26), of Seagate Terrace, Long Sutton, and Richard Garry (29), of Lime Street, Sutton Bridge, appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday.

Both men pleaded guilty to burglary and theft of industrial tools and building materials, of a value unknown, on the former St Guthlac School site in Postland Road.

The raid happened overnight on May 29 or 30 this year when building works were taking place.

Magistrates also ordered Atkin and Garry to each pay £85 costs and an £80 victim surcharge.

BREAKING NEWS FRIDAY 2PM: A man has been taken hospital after the car he was driving crashed in Market Deeping today.

It happened on the A1175 bypass where a white Vauxhall Omega crashed at about 8.30am today.

The injured man was put on a spinal board by paramedics and firefighters from Market Deeping, Bourne and Spalding who attended the scene.

An ambulance then took the man to Peterborough City Hospital for treatment to what are thought to be minor injuries.

The road was not closed or blocked as a result of the crash.

By Phil Scarlett, president of the Spalding and District Area Chamber of Commerce

Chamber AGM

Our members’ annual meeting takes place at The Broad Street Business Centre on Tuesday evening with a 5.45pm start.

At the meeting I will review our activities during the past year and outline our plans for the coming year.

We are pleased to have a guest speaker: Samantha Dodd (Gainsborough townmanager). We are in the process of appointing a town centre manager and it is ideal timing to hear from Samantha on the challenges she has faced during the first year of her appointment in a similar role in Gainsborough.

All members are encouraged to attend this meeting and support our progress – they can even take the bold step and put themselves forward to be on next year’s Chamber council. Non-members are very welcome to attend and find out first-hand what we do and take the opportunity to network with business colleagues within the area.

Spalding in Bloom

We now know that the East Midland in Bloom judges will visit Spalding on Friday, July 18. July. They will visit Springfields Festival Gardens, Ayscoughfee Hall and Gardens and walk through the town centre.

We will have more hanging baskets this year than ever before and I would like to thank all businesses for supporting us again this year, plus Plantifor who funded baskets at charity shops and FESA and Kerry Foods for their sponsorship.

It would be remiss if I didn’t give a special mention and thanks to Ben Williams. Ben, or as he has become known “the flower fairy” has, along with colleagues from the Punchbowl, put up the hanging brackets and baskets, often late at night, to cause shoppers a minimum of disruption.

Tourism

Following an initial meeting in December 2013, members of the South Holland, Lincolnshire Tourism Forum met again this month to discuss a draft Destination Management Plan (DMP) for South Holland.

The Forum members agreed that the three most important tourism features which should be used to promote the area should be Heritage, the Natural Environment and Food.

The stated objective of the Forum is “to support a flourishing and sustainable visitor economy in South Holland as a centre for visits to the natural

surrounding of the Fens and the Wash, as well as the area’s market towns, villages and other attractions”.

The DMP document includes a long term vision for South Holland’s visitor economy and is expected to be adopted by Forum members as a road map for all stakeholders that represent, or have an interest in, tourism and in promoting South Holland as a visitor destination.

Currently a Forum Working Group is finalising some key “ambitious yet achievable” action plans based on the delivery of the objectives contained inthe DMP.

These includes identifying the tourism assets with the best untapped potential and also making recommendations as to how the Tourism Forum can raise some funds to start promoting the area to prospective visitors. The Forum will meet again in September to present the final DMP draft for members to approve.

Business Awards 2014

I can now give you advance notice that this year’s event (a black-tie awards dinner) will take place on Thursday, November 20 at Springfields Events and Conference Centre. Please put this date in your diary.

Full details will be announced within the next couple of weeks through the Spalding Guardian.

Last year was our first year organising the event which was a great success – this year will be even better.

Join Us

Learn more about Spalding and District Chamber of Commerce by visiting our website at: www.spaldingareachamber.co.uk

A £2.14 million project to preserve and transform a Bourne landmark has been given a seal of approval from civic leaders.

Business and retail units, as well as 14 new apartments, have been built at Wherry’s Mill in a partnership between South Kesteven District Council and South Hykeham-based developers Trent Build Limited.

Recently, district council leader Linda Neal, Cllr Frances Cartwright and representatives of Hodgson Elkington chartered surveyors of Lincoln were given a tour of the development.

Coun Cartwright said: “This is an excellent example of affordable housing in a great town centre location.

“Having looked at the quality of the interiors, I am not surprised that the value of these properties continues to rise and I am sure this can be a template for other projects in the district.

“We always knew this development would be popular and it has proved to be so.”

Neil Cucksey, the council’s property development manager, said: “There is a genuine need for good quality town centre apartments and retail units in Bourne and this project shows that our investment here is worthwhile.”

Two construction workers involved in building a new housing development in Spalding are through to the next round of a national competition for the industry.

Andy Smith and Greg Wimsey of Kier Homes were first round winners in the annual Pride in the Job Awards, run by the National House Building Council, for their work on the Wygate Park development.

The awards are for site managers of building projects and both Andy and Greg came through a year-long judging process to reach the regional finals, which will be judged in the autumn.

Seventy years ago, on June 23 1944, cries of joy at a village fete in Crowland turned to screams of horror when two Lancasters flying overhead clipped wings and spun out of control, crashing into a nearby field.

Only one member of the 14-strong crews miraculously survived, but the tragedy left a void in the lives of all of their families – until now.

On Monday, the anniversary of the crash, relatives from as far away as Australia travelled to Cloot House Farm in Cloot Drove, where just yards away from where the aircrafts plunged to the ground a plaque was unveiled as a permanent memorial to the 13 who died.

Taking place at 3.30pm, about the time the planes crashed, it was an emotional moment for the relatives, but especially so for Christopher Coman, whose father Sgt Joseph Conman was the only survivor.

He told the Spalding Guardian: “I feel very lucky to be here a few hundred yards from where the plane came down and dad saved his life using a parachute. It’s quite a powerful moment.”

His father jumped just 1,000 yards above ground, but it is believed he was forced upwards by the crash explosion and was, therefore, able to open his parachute and come down safely. Six Lancasters from 97 Squadron RAF Bomber Command based at RAF Coningsby were practising flying in formation, but aircraft ND981 accidentally caught the tail of ME625.

Relatives believe they were brought together by chance for the memorial.

Mr Coman said he never knew much about what happened to his father until three years ago, when he went to a dinner in Bournmouth and sat at a table next to a stranger.

He said: “I had never met him before but he started talking about when he was a little boy and saw these aircraft crash – and the man who parachuted out was my father.

“Since then we kept in touch and I tried to go to the Aviation Heritage Centre on the anniversary of his death to visit the memorial.”

Two relatives of the Royal Australia Air Force (RAAF) crew were also brought together by chance.

Stewart VanRaalt, who travelled from Australia for the memorial, said it all started a year ago when a friend attended the Bomber Command memorial in London and visited the grave of his father, F/L Henry Stewart VanRaalt, in Cambridge.

He said: “He signed the visitors’ book and another relative, Maree Pollard, saw it. Maree, being a bit of a sniffer dog, wrote to us in Australia at that man’s address and we’ve been in touch ever since planning the memorial.”

Maree, who now lives in Dorset, never met her father because she lived in Australia and was just 11-months-old, said: “It has always been a black hole in my life.

“I can’t thank the organisation enough for getting this up and running. It’s very humbling.”

Percy Cannings (90) was on board number four plane of the six and witnessed the crash. He said: “We were told to execute a turn and something went wrong and the first plane got into the slipstream of the plane ahead of it, which sent it straight up in the air and back down again, narrowly missing us.

“We had to go out on ops the same night. It’s something you had to be prepared for.”

His daughter, Sharon, helped organise the memorial day, which began with a service at RAF Wyton in Cambridgeshire.

She said: “My father was a mid upper gunner in 97 Squadron and last year we did a documentary to find out what happened to the crew and find out about the crash.

“When we realised there was no lasting memorial I contacted my researchers and they found relatives from all parts of the globe.

“We decided on a plaque and found a site and the farmer agreed for it to be placed on one of the farm buildings as a permanent reminder.

“It means a lot to people 70 years on – the stories of these people need to be recorded.”

David Branton, who owns the farm, said he was delighted to have the plaque on one of his barns. He said: “It is important for the families to have a permanent tribute here.”

Parts of the wreckage are on show at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in East Kirkby.

I wish my eyesight was as good as that of Jean Rowland in Long Sutton.

I watch the planes that fly over the area whenever I can but as yet they have not flown over low enough for me to see too much detail. I can understand the problem but not the complaint.

The planes ‘dog fight’ over land at least 10,000 feet as this would give the pilots space to twist and turn in realistic training, and a chance to land safely on land should, God forbid, anything go wrong. Therefore both the pilot and the plane’s remains can be recovered and an investigation conducted.

As for the remark about flying at 11pm, if Jean can get legally binding signed letters from all our possible enemies that they would only attack during daylight Monday to Friday then we could asked the Air Force to only train during the week.

It was a standing joke during the ‘Cold War’ that if the Soviets were to attack at 6am on a Saturday they could have walked across Germany while the British and American troops were trying to get back from leave, or recovering from the night before.

If Jean wants to be driven crazy by low-flying aircraft she should try living under the flight path to one of London’s airports.

Charles Penney

Fleet Hargate

Police are under fire for failing to pick up CCTV evidence that might have shown who was to blame for vandalising public loos.

Toilets outside The Curlew Centre, in Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge, have closed several times this year because of repeated vandalism.

The loos were targeted again on May 11, when a district council worker and Sutton Bridge Parish Council clerk Suzanne England pinpointed a six to seven hour period when the damage was done.

Police were told footage from The Curlew Centre’s exterior CCTV camera was available for them to collect.

Ms England told the parish council the recording was only available for 28 days, but the police hadn’t collected it – and now it’s lost.

She said: “I think there would have been a maximum of probably ten people. It would just have given the police a short list of people they could have a word with and say ‘do you know anything about this’?”

Coun Vicky Hills said: “I propose we write to the chief constable and to Alan Hardwick (police and crime commissioner). It seems we are being put on the back burner for everything. I thought the police were supposed to investigate and detect crimes. They just seem to want everything done for them.”

A police spokesman said: “In this case, the CCTV was examined but found not to contain anything of evidential value so it was not necessary for a hard copy to be made prior to the scheduled erasure of the footage.”

• Police say anyone with information on the damage should call 101.

May l convey my thanks to Spalding Grammar school for their early morning wake up call at 7.20am on Sunday, June 15 due to their intruder alarm being activated.
At 8.20am l passed the entrance to find no one in attendance and the alarm still sounding.


At .30am l phoned the police, only to be told that they would only respond if a report of suspicious activity was seen. Thinking about this l find it quite ludicrous as if the school was broken into how much could have been stolen. The police also stated that the caretaker and key holder were left messages on their phones about the alarm being activated. But no response.

At 10.30am l could take no more of this noise like many of the residents. I went away for an hour.

At 11.30am I returned. The alarm was still activated. Another call to the police was made. No response.

Eventually we set about trying to make contact with the school caretaker. We found a number on the school for the site manager. Contact was made at approx 12.30pm with the site manager who was informed 30 minutes prior to my call. He was on his way. At 12.50pm the alarm was deactivated.

A key holders’ register would have been helpful. Even so if police were to respond to the alarm they would have been able to get the number of the site manager and been able to check the property with him. Not wait five hours for him to appear.

With all due respect it’s a bad effort by the police. If the school was broken into. What damage could have been done and how much could have been stolen.

I hope that the management team of Spalding Grammar School and the police will extend there apologies to the residents of Chancery Court, Haverfield Road and Georgian Court for ruining their Sunday morning.

John Bishop

via email

Two portable toilets have been stolen this week in Moulton and Holbeach leaving police to warn owners to be vigilant.

One of the items was stolen from East Cobgate, Moulton, between 4pm on Wednesday and 9.45am on Thursday.

The second toilet was stolen from Ryefield Lane, Holbeach, between 4pm last Saturday and 8am on Monday.

Anyone with information should call 101.

Commuters and road users worried about the impact of a £280m rail upgrade can get all the information they need at an event being held in Spalding on Tuesday.

Network Rail are hosting a public meeting in the Red Lion Quarter, where officials will be on hand to answer any questions.

This follows a similar event at Gosberton Church Hall on Saturday.

For the current phase of works, 15 level crossings are being modernised. The next line closure is from July 25 to August 11 and will affect commuters from Spalding to Lincoln. There will be no trains on the line during this period (except for works/engineering trains and test trains), but passenger transport providers (train and bus companies) are organising alternative transport during this period.

In spite of assurances from Network Rail about limiting the impact, there has been concerns about traffic build-up around the town centre.

Chairman of Pinchbeck Parish Council Andrew Bowser is already concerned about what will happen when the number of freight trains using the line are increased.

He said: “We are expecting barriers to be down 20 minutes in every hour. It raises serious concerns about traffic problems because more homes are being built and the town will effectively be cut in two.”

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “The GNGE modernisation project will, upon completion, allow for an additional two trains per hour, in each direction (above the current line capacity).

“However, it is important to stress that Network Rail does not determine whether, or when, the additional capacity will be utilised, or by what type of service.

“This decision is not made by us.”

The public meeting is being held from 10am to 2pm.

South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group is taking action for a healthy heart! By raising awareness of the issue locally, we are helping people understand the risks of developing heart disease and how it can be prevented.Heart disease and stroke are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming 17.3 million lives each year and the numbers are rising. 


It is really important we get the message out there that at least 80 per cent of premature deaths from heart disease and stroke could be avoided if the main risk factors, smoking, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity are controlled. 
Walking is great free way to keep fit and healthy for the whole family. You can also find lots of helpful information online by searching ‘Change4Life’ for top tips on how to stay healthy, by eating well and moving more. By entering your postcode you can find a list of local activities on the Change4Life ‘Find local activities’ webpage.

A low fat, high fibre diet is ideal, with five portions of fresh fruit and veg a day. Try to stay away from too much saturated fat such as butter and cream, and instead introduce unsaturated fats into your diet, such as nuts and seeds or oily fish. Too much sugar can also be dangerous as it may lead to developing diabetes.

Visit NHS Choices for advice and tips on healthy eating, healthy heart shopping list items and recipe ideas. Don’t forget, stopping smoking is the single most important thing you can do for you and your family’s health. Call the Phoenix stop smoking service on 0800 840 1533. 
For British Heart Foundation support, isit www.bhf.org.uk/about-us/find-the-bhf-near-you.aspx

Pupils of Spalding’s Priory and Garth special schools joined hundreds of others from all over the East Midlands at a ‘Kids Out’ day.

Some 53 children aged 12 to 13 travelled with eight members of the Rotary Club of South Holland to Rotary’s special day at Wicksteed Park, Kettering.

Each June the local Rotary District hire the park for a day, and treat kids that they feel are especially worthy to an all-expenses, free rides day at the adventure park.

South Holland Rotary Club’s David Walters said: “The kids had an absolutely fabulous time.

“We took a coach-load of wet and happy kids, home at the end of a perfect day.”