A disqualified driver gave a police officer a wrong name after he was stopped in Skegness, a court has been told.

Adrian Charles Fletcher (53),of Willders Garth, Holbeach, admitted driving whilst disqualified and without insurance and also to obstructing the police when he appeared at Skegness Magistrates Court.

Nick Todd, prosecuting, said Fletcher, who was driving a friend’s car, was stopped by police at 4pm on June 15 at Glentworth Crescent and he pretended to be the owner of the car.

However, after the officer made enquiries he realised that the driver had been Fletcher, who had been disqualified from driving in 2013 until August 2014.

Mitigating, Saleem Khan said that nine months of the driving ban had been completed and that Fletcher had received a form saying that his drink drivers’ rehabilitation course had to be completed by June 9 and he had misinterpreted this as meaning the ban came to an end on that date.

He said Fletcher was dyslexic and had learning difficulties and relied on other people to help with his paper work.

After standing the case down for a report from the Probation Service, the magistrates disqualified Fletcher for a further six months and imposed a 12 month community order with supervision and a 15 day education and training programme.

He was also fined £70 for obstructing the police and ordered to pay £45 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

A heavy drinker involved in a scuffle which left a man with injuries escaped a jail sentence at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday.

Anthony Albert Holmes got involved in the drunken fight following an incident at a house in Sharpe Road, Grantham, earlier this year.

Lisa Hardy, prosecuting, said that a number of people were at the property when the victim Tafara Washoma arrived.

Mr Washoma, who had been drinking Guinness and cider, later became involved in an argument and squared up to a woman at the house before the pair began fighting.

The woman picked up a knife and waved it at Mr Washoma and later Holmes also became involved.

During the incident that followed Mr Washoma received a deep cut to his arm although the seriousness of the injury was not initially apparent to the people inside the house.

It was only after Holmes left the house that an ambulance was called and Mr Washoma was taken to hospital where he received treatment for his injury before being discharged the following day.

Miss Hardy said: “Holmes was arrested at his then-home address. He was asleep on the sofa when the police arrived and he was still drunk. He was interviewed but made no comment.”

Holmes (33), of Lansdowne Court, Spalding, admitted unlawful wounding as a result of the incident on January 27. He was given a community order with 12 months supervision and ordered to pay a £60 victim surcharge.

Tony Stanford, defending, said Holmes was determined to rid himself of his alcohol problem and has cut back to four cans a day.

“He has applied for work and hopes within the next week to learn whether he has obtained a job.”

Judge Michael Heath said it was clear that Mr Washoma was drunk when he arrived at the house and was angry that the party had started without him.

The Judge told Holmes: “The laceration has caused no lasting damage and you have clearly made considerable steps in an attempt to overcome your addiction to alcohol.”

If just a quarter of the country’s farmers aged over 65 entered into a share farming agreement it would allow more than 3,000 new entrants to start working the land.

That’s the conclusion of the document, An option for enterprising farmers, launched by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA).

It says the scheme gives young people a first foot on the farming ladder while reducing the workload on older farmers who cannot afford to retire – while maintaining an income for them.

Rachel Shaw of Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust writes about the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards.

I don’t know how many times I have driven into Boston and passed Hubbert’s Bridge, but the existence of Boston West Golf Centre has never registered with me. I wouldn’t really expect it to as I’m not a golfer. But after the finals of the Lincolnshire Environmental Awards I now realise I’ve been missing out. Not on playing golf (though perhaps that too!) but in the knowledge that nestled between the arable fields is an oasis for wildlife that is also a golf course.

Better known for neatly manicured greens of perfectly tendered grass, golf courses aren’t the first places we think of as being great for wildlife. Boston West Golf Centre proves that wildlife and golf can exist side by side.

As well as saving energy with solar panels, recycling as much as possible and re-using water, the centre has made significant efforts to create habitats for wildlife between the golf playing areas. These include 14 water features, a 1-hectare reedbed, 3.5km of hedgerow and 3,000 square metres of wildflower meadow. There are also log piles, insect hotels, over 100 nest boxes and a brick built barn owl tower.

The results are evident in the numbers of animals recorded, with over 100 different species of bird seen on the course, 39 of which breed, including the threatened tree sparrow; 25 species of mammal including water vole; and 18 species of butterfly and 127 species of moth.

A nature trail that winds round the golf course and through all the key habitats is used for guided walks and for monitoring wildlife.

The Lincolnshire Environmental Awards is a remarkable showcase of businesses, communities, farmers and schools that are doing amazing things to help reduce their impact on the planet and make space for wildlife. And there are some amazing things going on. For example, the Branston Potatoes site near Lincoln is generating 40 per cent of its electricity from waste potatoes and produces no waste for landfill; and family farm FG Battle & Sons is providing habitats for wildlife – this year there were 55 pairs of grey partridge and over the last nine years, 76 barn owl chicks have fledged from the farm.

Boston West Golf Course manager Richard Owens said: “It’s fantastic to know that so many people are doing good things for the environment. Our county is in great hands.”

Fatal farm accident statistics have improved, but the industry still has the worst record in the UK, according to the NFU.

It is the second consecutive year the figure has dropped, to 27 against 29 workers killed in 2012/13.

Residents are being warned of road closures in Spalding over the next three Sundays.

St Thomas’ Road will close from 4pm to midnight on Sunday and on July 20 for Lincolnshire County Council to carry out resurfacing and make improvements to traffic light signals.

The timing of these works will mean that the nearby Aldi supermarket will be accessible throughout its usual opening hours.

The final stage of work will involve a road closure on Sunday, August 3, from 10am and 4pm, for traffic signal works. Local diversion routes will be in place via Winsover Road, Hawthorn Bank, London Road and St Thomas’ Road; and Priory Road, Spring Gardens, The Crescent, Station Street and Winsover Road.

Satish Shah, head of highways, said: “We have tried to reduce disruption to the supermarket and shoppers.”

The Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding has decided to move its meeting place from The Vista in Spalding following weeks of disorder from gangs in the area.

The group’s members took a vote last week on whether they should continue to meet at the St Nicholas Church Hall and decided that they should no longer go there.

John Baguley from the orchestra said: “We are genuinely sorry that it has come to this.

“The nuisance and discomfort caused by those who frequently use the Vista and its environs as a football pitch, adventure playground, rubbish tip and race track – irrespective of parked cars or pedestrians – mean that if we were to enjoy a very sociable activity we would have to find an alternative rehearsal venue.

“This has now been done.”

The orchestra is made up of around 50 people, aged between 11 and 83 who enjoy playing to a range of audiences in and around the Spalding area.

John says that the group wish to enjoy their very sociable activity in which they play instruments and sing a variety of songs.

John said: “The orchestra continues to be very busy and the welcomes we have received in the area could not have been more uplifting.”

The Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding are not the first group to move away from The Vista.

The 1st Spalding Guides, Brownies and Rainbows have also been forced to reconsider where they meet following a recent spate of disorderly conduct around the hall.

Nearly 1,000 people have signed a Facebook petition to save afternoons of live music at a Spalding pub.

The Punchbowl on New Road has been putting on outdoor live music events on Sunday afternoons for the past few weeks but this has been threatened by a complaint made to South Holland District Council.

The petition, addressed to the council’s lead environmental officer, asks the council to allow the family-run pub to continue with its live entertainment.

The live band afternoons are open to all ages, which leads to many young families and pensioners often going along to enjoy the bands who perform in the outside area.

Pete Williams, manager at The Punchbowl, said: “In 16 years, this is the first time I’ve retaliated to something like this.

“I was told three or four weeks ago that there were concerns over the noise, so since then we have done everything we can to keep the noise down, such as keeping doors and gates closed, which is a shame because people used to see those open and walk in to enjoy the music.

“The bands only do two 45-minute sets or three 30-minute sets over the three hour period.”

“We have been putting on live entertainment for around ten years, but we’ve started doing these particular events more regularly this year and they have been very popular.

“The reason I do these events is because people want me to do it.”

The regular Sunday afternoon events are held between 4pm and 7pm during the summer months and include a free barbecue.

Council workers and firefighters are striking today as part of an ongoing battle over wages and pensions.

A number of employees at Lincolnshire County Council will be staying away from work as part of an ongoing row over pay and conditions.

Members of Unison are taking part in the planned national strike as they say they have no other choice in their pay argument with the local authority.

And they will also be joined on the picket line by members of the Fire Brigades’ Union as part of their row with the government over a pensions dispute.

The Fire Brigades Union will strike until 7pm today in the dispute over the reform of firefighter pension schemes.

From next week they will strike on eight consecutive days:

l Monday, July 14: 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm

l Tuesday, July 15: 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm

l Wednesday, July 16: 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm

l Thursday, July 17: 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm

l Friday, July 18: 6am-8am and 11pm-1am

l Saturday, July 19: 11am-1pm and 11pm-1am

l Sunday, July 20: 5pm-7pm

l Monday, July 21: 6am-8am and 5pm-7pm

Dave Ramscar, chief fire officer at Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “We are confident our plans will enable us to continue to answer 999 calls and to respond to incidents as quickly as possible.

“We continue to remind people to take care on their daily business and that there is further safety advice on our website and on Twitter @lincsfirerescue.”

Schools affected include Gosberton Primary School, which will be closed, and the Priory School in Spalding, which is partially closed for Years 7, 9 and 10.

Debbie Barnes, Lincolnshire County Council executive director, said: “As a responsible authority we have been making plans for this industrial action for many weeks, and have agreed service exemptions with the trade unions.”

to ensure that vital life and limb services are maintained.

“We have also put plans in place to minimise any disruption to other council services including a restriction on annual leave for the proposed day of strike action, and have asked managers to plan services around possible reduced staffing levels.

“We have advised schools that if they will be without staff they have to consider whether they have adequate cover to ensure the safety of children - this will determine whether they should close or partially close for the day or remain open. Schools that are closing should be informing parents and carers as soon as possible so that they can make arrangements for their children.”

A 15-year-old Romanian girl has gone missing from her foster home in Spalding.

Elena Dimitru left her home around 10.30pm on Monday and has not made contact since.

Although she is described as a streetwise girl, she has only lived in Lincolnshire for a week and is not familiar with the area.

She is 5ft 5ins tall, medium build, with very long dark hair and a tattoo on her left hand saying ‘Ionut’.

When last seen, she was wearing a light pink zip-up hoody, dark leggings and black plimsolls.

Anyone with information regarding her current whereabouts is asked to call PC Ryan Crombie at Spalding Police Station on 101, quoting incident number 549 of July 7.

Firefighters helped free a couple trapped in their car after an accident in Deeping St Nicholas last night.

The driver of a Toyota MR2, a 19-year-old woman from Stamford, and her paseenger, a 20-year-old man from Crowland had been involved in a single vehicle accident in New Road.

They were taken to Peterborough City Hospital and treated for minor cuts and bruises.

Firefighters across the county are striking today as part of an ongoing battle over wages and pensions. Have you been affected? Email spaldingeditor@jpress.co.uk

A staggering £67.5million is pouring into ‘Greater Lincolnshire’ in the next four years for roads, education and business projects – but South Holland will miss out.

Greater Lincolnshire LEP (Local Enterprise Partnership) has secured £40million from the Government’s Growth Deal for 2015-16, but the cash will be splashed in places like Grantham, which gets £16million for its southern relief road.

There’s a further £27.5million for 2016-17, but South Holland again misses out.

South Holland could get some “crumbs” from a project in the first wave called Unlocking Rural Housing, which gets £4.13million.

An LEP spokesman said more could “arguably” come from skills training throughout Lincolnshire.

He said: ”Projects were selected by government on the basis that they can be delivered in 2015-16. Spalding rail freight was not suitably advanced to deliver in 2015-16.”

Questions are being asked of South Holland’s civic leaders on whether they are doing enough to secure cash for this district.

A district council spokesman said: “The council is considering the results of this first tranche of LEP funding, and what our next positive steps should be. There will be further announcements in the near future.”

Spalding Chamber of Commerce president Phil Scarlett says the announcement pays scant regard to South Holland’s food industry, which moves a million tonnes of products on our roads each year.

He said: “Lincolnshire doesn’t stop at Sleaford. It actually goes all the way down to Sutton Bridge and the investment should be spread throughout the county.”

This is the new logo of the Friends of Deepings Library (FoDL), disigned by a primary school pupil to show the world of discovery at the library.

Year 6 pupils from local schools took part in the logo competition run by the Friends. There were 95 entries, from which five were shortlisted.

The winner was Mia Coomes, of Deeping St James Primary School. Her prize was a £15 book voucher. The winner and the runner-up entries are on display at Deepings Library. Liz Waterland, the chairman of FoDL, said: “We were looking for a design that would express the discoveries to be found at a library. Mia’s entry showed all of these qualities and will become the signature for our group.”

Children at Ayscoughfee Hall School were visited by John and Jo Baguley from the Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding as part of the school’s new ukulele club.

Children have been having lots of fun while taking part in the new club, which started this term at the school, with John and Jo teaching them a number of tunes and songs during the lunchtime club.

Claire Odgen, headteacher at the school, said: “The children really look forward to this club. John and Jo make it so much fun!”

Sainsbury’s Spalding are celebrating the success of a year long partnership with local charity S.P.O.T.S.

Thanks to generous donations from their customers, the store has raised £2,325.65 for the Supportive Parents of Tomorrow’s Stars.

Throughout the last 12 months, colleagues at the store held several activities to raise funds and awareness of the charity’s cause, including quiz nights and flash mobs.

Despite the partnership coming to a close, it doesn’t mean that the charity will now be forgotten, as Store Manager Paul Bryan explains: “Our colleagues have really enjoyed working with S.P.O.T.S and it’s certainly touched the hearts of many of them.

“We hope the year-long partnership has helped remind our customers of the valuable service they provide in Spalding.

“We will certainly now be looking into ways we can support them in the future”.

Darren Maddison from the charity is grateful for the admirable efforts of customers and the Sainsbury’s staff.

Darren, said: “Working with Sainsbury’s Spalding over the last 12 months has made such a difference to our cause. We’ve raised a fantastic amount which we’re using towards the running of our Ever Young Group and we’re now looking forward to working with them on future opportunities.”

Who would have thought a society founded to help wounded First World War soldiers would still be on the go?

The new chairman of Spalding Arts & Crafts Society, Mo Teeuw, says it was surgeons at the old Johnson Hospital in the town who came up with the idea.

“And the society continues to thrive,” says Mo, a professional artist with studios in her home at Moulton and in Norfolk, and who exhibits in a number of galleries. This year, that includes the Mall Gallery in London with the Society of Women Artists.

Mo’s artistic career has flourished since she gave up teaching at the Priory School.

For about 15 years she ran adult education watercolour painting classes and then residential art courses.

Mo now runs painting holidays in France, and plans to include Morocco following a visit earlier this year.

In recent years she has painted more and more independently and her work has evolved to using both watercolours and oils. She is also a professional associate for the Society of All Artists, for whom she undertakes demonstrations.

Mo believes artists need to paint regularly and to work collaboratively sometimes to keep improving. In that spirit, she took part in an online international challenge in January to produce a painting a day for a month, putting the results on a blog each day.

Painting communally is something Mo is encouraging among Arts & Crafts Society members, with regular Paint Outs. Two have already taken place – at Surfleet and Moulton. The next one is on Wednesday, August 20, meeting at Moulton Mill at 10am and anyone is welcome to join in – members and non-members.

Mo said: “It’s artists coming together and painting at a set location, enjoying each others’ company. We stop for lunch in the garden and have a lovely chit-chat about art.”

The society – which has grown to a membership of 154 people – also has speaker meetings on the first Tuesday of every month. The next one is on August 5 when David Woolas is giving a demonstration in oil pastels at Pinchbeck Village Hall (7.30-9.30pm). The cost is £2.50 for members and £4.50 for non-members, including a hot drink.

Membership of £12 a year (£18 for couples) regular newsletters. Contact 01775 750256 or visit saacs.org.uk or facebook.com/spaldingartsandcraftsociety

The new chairman of Spalding Arts & Crafts Society would like to encourage more artists to get together to paint.

Mo Teeuw – who is also on the committee of the Institute of East Anglian Artists – is encouraging that with outdoor painting sessions during the summer.

She says it is hoped that in the autumn there could be a weekly get-together at Surfleet, where artist Norman Rossiter has offered studio space.

Mo said: “It’s getting to know each other and the idea would be we all help each other, but it’s about getting to paint more and working with other artists. It’s helpful to paint with other artists. You always learn something.

“The society has all levels, from professional artists to beginners.”

Members of Spalding Arts & Crafts Society exhibit their work locally.

A big exhibition is planned at Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding for the society’s centenary next year.

A Spalding woman received £15,962.77 in benefits she wasn’t entitled to after failing to declare she was living with a partner.

Emma Grimes (31), of Spalding Common, Spalding, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly failing to notify a change of circumstances that would affect her entitlement to benefits – the first involving housing and council tax benefit and the second income support.

Both charges covered the period from April 29, 2011 to August 21, 2013 and involved failure to declare she was living in the same house with William Denmead as husband and wife.

District Judge John Stobart, sitting at Boston Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, sent the case to Lincoln Crown Court for sentence because he had insufficient legal powers to order full compensation.

That hearing will take place on a date to be fixed.

Deborah Cartwright, prosecuting, revealed the amount overpaid and told Mr Stobart: “I imagine on that basis you will be seeking a report.”

Mr Stobart adjourned the hearing for a probation report.

When it resumed, solicitor Liz Harte said Grimes is now working and voluntarily paying back the sum overpaid. But Mr Stobart said there would have to be an order, which only the crown court could make.

A party that claims it is “flying without wings” is calling on supporters in South Holland and The Deepings to help it prepare for the 2015 election campaign.

This follows a reshuffle of UKIP leadership in the constituency due to the unexpected resignation of treasurer Peter Stoner, on health grounds. Mr Stoner will continue to work for the party in a less active role.

Peter Bird has also resigned as chairman of the “people’s movement” to act as treasurer.

But Paul Foyster becomes chairman and Geoff Garner remains as branch secretary.

Other new officers will be joining the committee shortly to help prepare for next year’s elections.

Mr Foyster is urging all UKIP members to take a more active role in the branch. He said: “UKIP does not have local paid staff, we are a people’s movement.

“Nationwide, in the past there have been applications for membership at the last minute, sometimes resulting in unsuitable candidates.

“Our branch is determined to prevent such problems. UKIP is not a ‘politically correct’ party and members are often outspoken. But we are not into ‘wings’, left or right – we can fly without them.”

“Neither do we tolerate extreme views or discrimination. The most important attributes of our party members and representatives are open minds, commonsense, a wish to escape from the undemocratic trap the EU has now become and a desire to change our failed political system.”

It was a perfect ending for a couple who made history by being among the first men in England to take advantage of the Government’s new gay marriage act when they got engaged.

Spalding historian Ed Fordham and Russell Eagling married on Saturday in Rosslyn Hill Unitarian Chapel, Hampstead, London, watched by friends and family who travelled to the city to share their special day.

Among the congregation were Ed’s parents Sally and Adrian Fordham, who live in Pode Hole, one of his closest friends from Quadring Fen, Shane Sandall, as well as Mick Brookes, the former head of Gosberton Clough and Risegate County Primary School, and Matthew Connolly, son of Peter Connolly, who was honoured by Spalding Civic Society recently with a blue plaque on his house in Spring Street.

Sister Alison Fordham, former head girl of Spalding High School, was one of the witnesses on the marriage certificate.

Last year the couple, who have been together for 15 years but have not been in a civil partnership, were outside the House of Lords taking part in a vigil to put pressure on peers to approve the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill.

Ed said: “It was so special to be married in the chapel – we were always clear that we wanted a faith based wedding, we come from that tradition and the Unitarian Church have been so supportive.

“Making a public declaration between us in front of so many friends and family meant a lot to both of.

“And we would both like to thank so many friends from Spalding and Lincolnshire who made the journey down to London – thank you to them all.”

After the wedding, the couple and their guests had the wedding breakfast and evening reception at University College School, Hampstead, where Ed is a school governor. They plan to go on honeymoon at a later date. Ed said: “It was an amazing day, especially so because we had the support of so many friends and family.”