Recently we experienced another horrendous accident on the ill -fated A151 Whaplode High Road.

For years, local residents have been calling out for action and bringing attention to the dangers of this residential village street being used as a cross-county arterial route. Many campaigns have been raised for a bypass which has always been resisted by Lincolnshire County Council Highways Department.

Following strong representation from local residents the speed limit was reduced to the central government recommended 30mph for residential streets with the addition of crossing points for pedestrians.

Clearly this is not enough. We do not yet know the contributing factors to this latest accident, but we do know that serious accidents such as this can cause misery to all involved.

Whaplode High Road as well as business premises, has many residential homes along it and we must ensure that such an incident as this can never be allowed to be repeated... whatever the reasons . Surely it is time for action by prohibiting heavy traffic from this residential village street and ensuring that such vehicles use the purpose-built roads of the A17/A16 route. It is time to reconsider the bypass discussions and until such times as an alternative safe route for cross-country traffic is decided then we must call for a weight limit to be applied for through traffic through our village of Whaplode.

Coun Malcolm Chandler

Whaplode and 
Holbeach St Johns

Firstly I would like thank Inspector Tyner for taking the time to write such an extensive response to my letter.

I am fully aware that he does not allocate the number of staff to any given area.

My question about uniformed officers covering 24 hours on shifts was to establish exactly how many there are and was not a criticism of him personally or the people under his supervision.

If he or they thought so I do apologise. I do not believe that the public’s expectations of the police have changed that much over the last 40 years. They want to see a uniformed presence in their area, they want some action taken on even minor offences that they see regularly.

Litter and dog mess on our streets, graffiti on walls and buildings and drunks being anti-social affect a lot of people and are what most of us who venture out see on a daily basis.

Inspector Tyner stated there are eight sergeants and 35 constables covering South Holland on shifts. I imagine there will be one sergeant at Holbeach and one in Spalding. Say 15 constables at Holbeach and 20 at Spalding. That is five a shift for the Spalding area covering Crowland to Tongue End and West Pinchbeck to Moulton Chapel. Each of these will have annual leave, courses and court to attend throughout the year. No wonder they are rushed off their feet and we do not see (m)any of them in town.

Perhaps we should start a large public campaign to change policing priorities regarding 24 hour uniform cover and get government to allocate more resources to Lincolnshire which is a very large area to police.

Nigel Wickenden

Spalding

I am sad but also angry at the apparent lack of interest from our MP Mr Hayes and his absence at last week’s parliamentary debate on the cruel, abhorrent practice of puppy farming.

Vet Marc Abraham spearheaded the PupAid#wheresmum petition, raising well over the 100,000 signatures needed to call for a debate. It has become one of the biggest pet welfare campaigns of all time, supported by many high profile celebrities as well as thousands of us ordinary “guys”

It seems it was not important enough to convince Mr Hayes to represent his constituents. His office stated “he was out of London at the time and unable to attend”. I can’t say I’m surprised of his decision not to attend considering his choice also to “very strongly oppose the hunting ban”. Animal welfare is obviously not high on his agenda. If it’s high on yours, vote for someone else next time.

Loraine Walker

via email

I’m writing this letter on behalf of my fellow bus users.

I’m appalled to find that Brylaine no longer run a service to Johnson Hospital on Spalding Road. So I’d like to ask local councillors if they do not feel a sense of duty to speak up on our behalf by forcefully challenging Brylaine on this issue?

I hope they will; but my experience is that, when it comes to real issues affecting local needs, they prefer not to engage with ‘listening ears’.

May I pose this question? Surely,it should be a matter of public duty for all local councillors to challenge a company that makes profits but blatantly disregards real community needs.

David Turp

Pinchbeck

A new food bank to serve Sutton Bridge could be up and running by the end of the year.

The proposal first muted by the Rev David Oxtoby earlier this year, has been well-supported after a report revealed more than one in five children in the village are living in poverty.

Mr Oxtoby, who helped establish a food bank in his previous Stamford parish, is pleased his latest scheme is progressing well and hopes more people will now volunteer to help.

“We have secured St Matthew’s Church as our initial base,” he said.

“We have a core committee working together to make our plans a reality, and are now securing all the necessary funds to help pay for the equipment, storage and room hire.

“We have a local carpenter lined up to make some storage cupboards once permission from the Diocese has been granted and we’ve secured some money through the Elloe East Misson Fund, but we still need to explore other avenues to make sure we start from a sound financial base,” he added.

The need for a food bank in Sutton Bridge was identified back in spring when Mr Oxtoby heard as many as 40 people from the village travelled to Spalding last year to use food bank vouchers.

He anticipates that figure will be double this year.

Food banks are designed to help individuals and families in crisis through the provision of emergency food supplies – in the form of ration packs to cover basic needs for up to 72 hours.

Local professional care-workers give cases of hardship a food bank voucher and refer them to their local centre, where are given food and help in finding other professionals who can assist them out of their crisis. Such facilities already exist in Spalding, Holbeach and Long Sutton.

A draft business plan for the Sutton Bridge project anticipates the scheme will start small, creating an effective food bank within the village first before expanding to cover the rural outskirts.

THINK GREEN: By South Holland District Council’s waste and recycling officer Laura Simpkins

With the children heading back to school, maybe it’s time to set an eco goal for the year ahead?

Why not challenge yourself or your children to make a waste-free lunch? This means making as little rubbish as possible from a lunch box.

The reason behind waste-free lunches is not only to reduce the amount of packaging waste, it is also to reduce food waste.

Across the UK it is estimated that 24 million slices of bread are thrown out each day along with 1.9 million slices of ham! What a lot of sandwiches that could’ve made. Please remember not to overfill lunch boxes – the worst thing to do is to create more rubbish!

Things that work well in waste-free lunches are food or drink items that can be packed into reusable containers. You can buy various shaped containers fairly cheaply, which will reduce your spend on wrapping materials.

For example, instead of wrapping pieces of cake in foil, use a reusable container. Foil and cling film are not good things for a waste-free lunch even though they can be recycled as not producing it in the first place is even better.

It is also a good idea to refill a drinks bottle each day. This can save money too as buying bigger bottles of squash saves a lot of money compared to smaller, individual cartons.

Buying in bulk is great as it avoids excess packaging. Choose items that are not individually wrapped and pack them into a reusable container.

Another great tip is to stop using disposable cutlery. Instead, invest in some that can be used again and again.

This will reduce the amount of waste you throw away and will also save you money.

If you are a fan of fruit and vegetables remember that you can compost the peelings.

If you have a compost heap at home remember to take your fruit peelings home with you.

You could get your friends, work colleagues or children’s classmates involved in the challenge too to see who can come up with the best waste-free lunch.

As always, if you try any of our tips out at home please send us a picture to recycling@shol land.gov.uk

It’s a small change to your daily routine that has the potential to save you money, so please take part in the waste-free lunch challenge.

Another handy food waste tip comes from Tony Crofts, a driver/loader in the waste and recycling team. If you buy too much fruit, why not freeze some? It can then be blitzed up in a food processor with a little milk or water to make a tasty smoothie.

A 67-year-old man, formerly of Spalding, is due in court tomorrow to face charges of indecent assault and attempted buggery.

John Edward Bates (67), who once lived in Pinchbeck Road, has been charged with eight counts of indecent assault and one of attempted buggery.

The charges are alleged to date from between 1979 and 1983, with all offences having taken place in the Spalding area.

Bates, who now lives in London, is due before Grantham magistrates on Monday at 10am.

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

South Lincolnshire CCG is urging those most at risk from flu to protect themselves and their families with a free jab.

Full protection from the vaccine takes up to two weeks to develop and can help prevent vulnerable patients from further health complications associated with influenza such as pneumonia.

Those most at risk include pregnant women, people living with a health condition such as severe asthma, chest or heart complaints, and those aged 65 and over.

Throughout autumn and winter, critical care units across the region become busy with people who should have been vaccinated against flu, most of these patients would have been eligible for a free flu jab on the NHS.

Dr Miles Langdon, chair of NHS South Lincolnshire CCG, said: “Influenza can be a very serious illness, even for those who are fit and for the elderly and ill could even be fatal.

“There are still people who have not had the flu jab. It is widely available from your doctors’ surgery and that this is a preventable illness.

“I would strongly advise you to contact your surgery to arrange for your flu jab.”

Contact your GP surgery now to arrange a convenient appointment and get your jab. It’s quick, safe and free for those most at risk from the virus.

Flu vaccinations are 
currently offered free of charge to the following ‘at risk’ groups:

• People aged 65 years or over (including those becoming age 65 years by 31 March 2014).

• All pregnant women (including those women who become pregnant during the flu season).

• Children aged 2-3, who are eligible for a free nasal flu vaccination

• People with a serious medical condition such as severe asthma or bronchitis, heart disease, chronic kidney disease at stage 3, 4 or 5, liver disease, Parkinson’s disease or motor neurone disease, diabetes, a weakened immune system due to a disease such as HIV/AIDS or cancer treatment, people living in long stay residential care facilities, people who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an older or disabled person.

Much has been written about the local GP surgeries and the Pilgrim Hospital.

On Sunday morning I had a mini stroke (TIA) – on the Monday morning I rang my GP surgery at Littlebury Medical Centre, Holbeach and was seen by a GP at 11.40am. By 1.45pm I had had a call from Heather at the Pilgrim Hospital with an appointment for Tuesday.

That has resulted in a Doppler scan and a very thorough examination by an East European doctor who spoke perfect English.

I am now waiting for a date for a CT Scan which I am told will arrive in the next two days.

As an 84-year-old widow it was a frightening experience but I have been treated with professional courtesy and reassurance both at the surgery and the hospital. Well done Littlebury and the Pilgrim and a very big thank you.

Sheila M Lomas

Holbeach

South Holland’s last Flower Queen, Inca Honor, gave some words of wisdom for those who are planning on auditioning to become the first ever Tulip Queen.

The search is now on to find the latest ambassador for the area, with Tulip Radio’s Tulip Queen.

Inca Honor was happy to give some words of encouragement to the ladies who plan on taking the time to audition for the role.

Inca said: “I did the Christmas light switch-on last year and it was so special.

“Events like that and the Pumpkin Parade will stay with me for life because they meant so much.

“My biggest bit of advice is to never take the role for granted because you really should appreciate what you’ve got as you will be representing the area and will be the image of what the area is and what it’s all about.”

Inca said that during her time as Flower Queen, she was able to meet many interesting people, but particularly enjoyed meeting children.

She said: “When I was a child I used to look at the Flower Queen as this princess figure and I think it’s good for children to look up to a positive role model.

“The fact that it’s not a beauty pageant is also really important.

“There’s so much pressure out there for people to look a certain way or be a certain size, when I think that your personality and your determination is going to be much more important than your looks.

“I hope the Tulip Queen takes in every moment because not just anyone gets to do it and that she always remembers to smile.”

The role of Flower Queen has also helped Inca’s career.

She said: “I managed to really get my name out there, so now that I’ve started teaching dance in the area people know who I am and want to come and learn with me which is really great and I’m really thankful for that.”

The following planning applications have been submitted to South Holland District Council:

Mr R Harrison, site of former Moulton Chapel, Church Hall, Moulton Chapel. Details of existing and proposed site levels and disposal of surface water.

Tuwale Power Ltd, former Long Sutton Butterfly and Wildlife Park. Amendments to plan for construction of solar park comprising photovoltaic arrays, car park, inverter building, landscaping and vehicular access.

Gnowee Power Ltd, Former Long Sutton Butterfly and Wildlife Park. Amendments to proposed solar park including photovoltaic arrays, inverter housing national grid connection, landscaping/security fencing and vehicular access.

Mr and Mrs D Pearson, 20 Shearers Drive, Spalding. Proposed annexe extension.

Ashley King (Developments) Ltd, land off Westmoreland Road and Broad Lane, Moulton. Residential development of 39 dwellings.

Mr A Schweikhardt, 1 Park Close, Gosberton. Works to Gosberton TPO No. 13 1988.

Mr B Edwards, 6 Park Close, Gosberton. Works to Gosberton TPO No. 13 1988

Miss E Slater, between 51 and 53 Thorney Road, Crowland. Residential dwelling.

Mr A Owen, Vine Cottage, Priestfield Drove, Gedney. Details of method of storage and disposal of waste from the stable buildings/paddocks (Condition 2 of H06-0769-13).

Mr and Mrs Greenacre, 13 Netherfield, Holbeach. First floor extension and alterations.

Mr and Mrs Keith Mooney, Railway House, Town Drove, Quadring. Two-storey extension and detached garage.

Mr and Mrs L Hudson, 88A Spalding Common, Spalding. Residential development - erection of detached house approved under H16-1095-13. Modification of condition 2 to vary approved plans and removal of condition 10.

Network Rail, Littleworth Signal Box, Littleworth Drove, Deeping St Nicholas. Demolition of signal box.

Network Rail, Spalding Signal Box, Winsover Road, Spalding. Demolition of signal box.

Mr Declan Murphy, Gate House 111, Town Drove, Quadring. Erection of conservatory.

A Woods Agricultural Engineers, Crowhill Farm, Pipwell Gate, Saracens Head. Front extension to workshop and stores.

T W Mews and Son, Crowtree Farm, Marsh Road, Spalding. Change of use of land for holiday accommodation.

Co-operative Group, Co-operative Retail Services Ltd, Market Place, Donington. Re-paint existing shop front framework and entrance doors. Re-paint stall riser and new timber batten to be applied to the rendered wall located to the LHS of the shop front.Instalment of new external air conditioning units.Instalment of new attenuated louvres to existing plant room.

A A Clifton Ltd Pension Scheme, Yard and Buildings, Church Lane, Lutton. Change of use of agricultural buildings into single residential unit.

Mr M Carnell, 11A Station Street, Donington. Details of Construction Management Procedure (Condition 3 of H04-0475-14).

Mr and Mrs I Dulkiene, 46 Clay lake, Spalding. Extension and alterations.

Admiral Display Ltd, 18 Seas End Road, Surfleet. Details of upgrading of principal vehicular access (Condition 6 of H17-0579-14)

Members of a non-traditional church group in Spalding took plenty of sea air into their lungs during a Sunday service and picnic recently.

The Connect group, based at St Mary and St Nicolas Church, held its annual Bash at the Beach in Hunstanton to mark the end of summer and a mission to take the church to the people.

Miles Green of Connect said: “The group is for people who aren’t comfortable in a traditional church environment.” (Photo supplied).

We have completed rape, oats and wheat harvest, but are waiting for some sunshine to allow us to get on with the beans and linseed still to cut, writes Eddy Gent.

Crops have been generally very pleasing to harvest, although there have been exceptions where they were established in not so ideal conditions.

After five or six years of direct drilling, we are getting more confident in what we are doing, soil conditions are certainly improving and crop yields are good. Costs are dramatically less, which allows us to plan spring crops into the system, giving us a more diverse cropping rotation, helping us deal with blackgrass and the new rules on greening and three crops.

Planning for next year, we have to keep up to date with the rules that will come into force on January 1 concerning cropping and environmental targets. Unfortunately I was hoping for a simpler system, but it seems to get more complicated though the NFU is doing a good job of keeping us informed.

On the poultry side of the business, egg production has been good and feed costs are coming down, which will be a help. We have started on another building to increase bird numbers and increase efficiency by reducing our cost of production.

Hopefully this should put us in a good position to provide income and work for the future.

The search to find the perfect ambassador for South Holland is still ongoing.

The first ever Tulip Radio Tulip Queen will be chosen by a panel of judges on the afternoon of the Christmas Light Switch On in Spalding on November 28.

Prizes for the new Tulip Queen include a VIP experience worth over £250 at Loaded Nightclub.

Loaded manager Dave Charlesworth said: “The ambassadorial role has in essence been present in Spalding for decades and it would be a great shame to lose the ‘Queen’ as well as the Flower Parade.

“I applaud the staff at Tulip Radio for wanting to keep a tradition alive; and, along with the team at Loaded, am only too happy to assist in any way possible.”

Other prizes include a dress of the Queen’s choice from Fancy Frox and a makeover at Hills Department Store, along with a day dress.

All entrants must be aged 18 or over.

Entry forms available at Tulip Radio, Spalding Guardian or Loaded Nightclub.

Memorials, artefacts and photographs from the First World War took centre-stage at heritage open days over the weekend.

Among those opening their doors to shed light on chapters of South Holland’s history were St Mary and St Nicolas Church in Spalding, Spalding Gentlemen’s Society Museum and Holbeach Cemetery Chapels.

Tom Grimes, honorary curator with the Gentleman’s Society, said around 150 people toured the museum and First World War exhibits were put on display.

Holbeach Cemetery Chapels Committee had more than 100 visitors and they were able to see a recreated WW1 trench thanks to pupils at University Academy Holbeach. Pupils also performed songs from the era.

Committee member Trish Bryant said visitors also enjoyed looking at WW1 memorabilia and photographs

Also opening were the Pinchbeck Engine Museum and Pode Hole Pumping Station. Around 140 people visited the museum and more than 80 went to the pumping station. Both are owned by The Welland and Deeping Internal Drainage Board.

Karen Daft, from the board, said many visit because of their interest in local history while others are keen to know more about land drainage in this district.

The following decisions have been made by magistrates at court hearings. In all drink-drive cases the legal limit is 35 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath, 80 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood or 107 milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of urine. Addresses of defendants published here are taken from the legal records held by the magistrates’ courts.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

September 1

Colin Johns (30), of Tennyson Avenue, Grantham. Theft of two DVDs, worth a total of £15, from Springfields, Spalding, and theft of boxer shorts from Sports Direct (Spalding). Community order with 12-week curfew, where he must remain at home between 2pm-7pm Monday-Friday, £60 victim surcharge.

September 6

Lokesh Arora (46), of Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James. Driving with excess alcohol at Deeping St James (54 microgrammes). £200 fine, £85 costs, £20 v/s, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

September 9

Sam Curry (26), of Dam Gate Road, Holbeach. Driving with excess alcohol in North Road, Bourne (58 microgrammes). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified 16 months. No separate penalties for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and no insurance.

September 10

Jamie Bunn (36), of Woad Lane, Long Sutton. Speeding (A17 at Swineshead Bridge). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, three penalty points.

Miguel Da Costa (40), of Holbeach Road, Long Sutton. Driving without insurance (Spalding). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Sylvia Jurkowska (31), of Sandholme Lane, Kirton. Speeding (Boston). £100 fine, £20 v/s, five points.

Miroslaw Klusek (54), of Sheila Crescent, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, three points.

Silvia Tamosauskiene (41), of Apeldoorn Gardens, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, three points.

Marta Da Silva Alves (21), of Saddler’s Mead, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £125 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, three points.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

September 1

Grzegorz Wojcik (33), of Haven Meadows, Boston. Driving without due care (A16 at Kirton). £210 fine. £21 v/s, £85 costs, nine points.

Richard Duffield (35), of Spalding Road, Deeping St James. Criminally damaging a police cell wall. Conditionally discharged for eight months, £15 v/s, £40 costs.

September 2

David Riley (36), of Kirkby Road, Sutton-in-Ashfield. Speeding (A17 at Swineshead Bridge). £245 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, three points.

Sammy-Jo Cook (29), of Bourne Road, Spalding. Driving without due care (Spalding). £214 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, seven points.

September 3

David Fuller (20), of Park Avenue, Spalding. Defective tyre. £110 fine, £20 v/s, £125 costs, three points. Second defective tyre offence. No separate penalty.

September 4

Amber Bruce-Hoar (28), of Railway Lane, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £35 fine, £20 v/s, £60 costs.

Leanne Buckberry (26), of Station Road, Swineshead. No TV licence. £300 fine, £30 v/s, £120 costs.

Louise Bull (39), of Pennygate, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Dariusz Klusek (50), of Hawthorn Bank, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Laura Vebraite (29), of Beaufort Drive, Spalding. No TV licence. £65 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Emma White (30), of Godfrey Avenue, Gosberton. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Lorna Frankish (43), of Chaucer’s Way, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Tomas Milasius (20), of Spring Street, Spalding. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Julie Savage (44), of Clarkson Avenue, Cowbit. No TV licence. £400 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Megan Wignell (41), of Severn Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £300 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Firefighters from Holbeach rescued fish threatened with death as oxygen levels in a pond fell below the critical level.

The fire service used a portable pump and two hoses to aerate the water after district councillor Francis Biggadike called them in.

“They simply circulated the water for a few hours and I believe that’s helped the fish to survive,” said a spokesman for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

Three whoppers – including a pike weighing 14lbs – and a few smaller fish were found dead.

Coun Biggadike said it’s impossible to tell how many fish died before the rescue because some will have gone to the bottom.

Anglian Water and the Environment Agency have since checked out the pond and added a chemical to boost the oxygen level.

Coun Biggadike is now asking owners to check out their own ponds because they too could lose fish if oxygen levels dip due to the prolonged dry spell.

It was a resident who raised the alarm.

Coun Biggadike said: “On Saturday afternoon I received a phone call from a resident in Fishpond Lane to say there were dead fish in the pond there and could I help.

“Realising we had several weeks of no rain, my thoughts were it must be lack of oxygen so I rang the fire service who were very good and sent men and a portable pump with two hoses and aerated the water for two hours.

“Sadly we found two dead pike, one weighed 14lbs, and one carp, weighing 8lbs, and a few smaller fish.”

Coun Biggadike says the pond is owned by Holbeach Parish Council, but he agreed to pay the fire service bill – £500 for the first hour and £127 for the second – and he hopes that can be met from his ward budget.

Ivor Gurney’s mental health problems became apparent during his teenage years.

Richard Pike, who has included Gurney’s character in his new novel, says he suffered from what people think now was bipolar disorder.

Richard says: “That was scarcely known and certainly untreatable.”

Gurney’s poetry was known, in particular because he sent poems written while he was at the front to his editor and business manager, while his music remained largely unknown.

That is now being remedied, in the stained glass window in his home town dedicated to this “lost son of Gloucester” and in Richard’s book, Do Not Forget Me Quite.

Richard says: “It’s easy reading, but not a comfortable read because I don’t flinch from talking about some of the injuries that some of the men suffered out there and I tried to portray Gurney’s mental illness. I suppose in a way it’s a human interest story, a modern tragedy.”

Timing is everything with Rippingale author Richard Pike’s first seriously published novel.

His book is set in World War 1, which of course is the subject of much interest during this centenary year.

Richard has also used as one of his main characters someone from real life who is coincidentally only just receiving proper recognition for his musical work, the English poet-composer Ivor Gurney.

Gurney died in 1937 and spent the last 15 years of his life in a mental asylum, his talents becoming “lost”.

“I am probably the first person to have tried to portray this poet-composer and this kind of mental illness,” says Richard, whose book title, Do not Forget Me Quite, is taken from one of Gurney’s poems.

Although it is set in World War 1, Richard emphasises it is more of a human interest story, the fighting more of a backdrop to the reminiscences of one of the daughters left behind when her father goes away to war.

It is her father, a sensitive man who has joined the medical corps because he is not cut out for fighting, who meets Gurney when he is injured.

In real life, Gurney served in World War 1, as Richard discovered when he started researching his life.

The author says: “Ivor Gurney has been neglected for years and by chance I latched on to him and read a couple of biographies about him.

“His music is only just being known. He was a Radio 3 composer of the week in the summer and one of his pieces of music was played in a Prom concert.

“I collect pieces of music he wrote, one of which was only recorded last year, so somehow I am ahead of the game.”

It has taken the retired English teacher three or four attempts at writing a novel – and a self-published book about his school days that was popular with former colleagues – to finally be ahead of the game.

He says: “I reckon you need an apprenticeship of about half a million words before you know what you are doing.”

In Richard’s case, he also benefited from the “fairly ruthless” criticism of members of the various writers’ groups he belongs to.

The book’s timing is so perfect that Waterstones has agreed to stock it, as has Spalding bookshop Bookmark, and it’s been mentioned on Radio 3.

Do Not Forget Me Quite, by Richard Pike, is author published with Matador Press, £8.99, ISBN: 978-1-78306-452-6. richardpikeauthor.co.uk

Everything has come together really well for the cherry harvest, says Jon Clark, director of the Pinchbeck company that markets around a third of what’s grown in the UK.

With farms and businesses growing cherries under the Total Cherry name – part of Total Produce UK – Jon has a clear insight into what has produced such a bumper harvest.

He says: “It’s down to a chain of events. One is increased plantings, with more and more people planting new varieties of cherries, combined with perfect weather, so when the flowers were out the bees were very active and the cherries formed quite nicely and through July we had very good weather conditions as well as for the harvest, so everything has come together very well really.

“It’s exactly what we wanted, the ideal scenario.”

Total Cherry markets 1,000 tonnes or so of cherries.