SIX Spalding High School students are celebrating special achievements.

Head girl Alice Braybrook will be studying in America for a year after winning the Ridgeway scholarship, awarded by the University of Evansville in Indiana, while Alisha Hussain has been awarded a bursary from the Moulton Harrox Educational Foundation to help fund her through university.

Tom Chamberlain has won a place on the KPMG sponsored degree in accountancy at Durham University. KPMG will pay Tom a salary, all his tuition fees and accommodation costs.

Emily Rowe has been awarded an unconditional place and a £1,000 bursary for Aberystwyth University.

Caroline Dormor and Charlotte Taylor will both be heading to Cambridge. Caroline to Churchill College, to read English literature and Charlotte will read mathematics at St John’s College.

School spokesman Joan Vessey said: We are immensely proud of all our students’ achievements.

“ About 90 per cent of the sixth form go on to university and many have worked hard to gain places on very competitive courses.”

DEVELOPERS who want to build a wind farm in West Pinchbeck will meet with parish councillors to outline their plans.

Wind Ventures had contacted the council to request a meeting after members of the public opposed to the turbines had their own meeting.

Residents living near the proposed site in Slipe Drove fear a wind farm would have a detrimental affect on the landscape, particularly as it would be on the doorstep of one of Lincolnshire’s few remaining wild wetland fens.

At their meeting on Monday, Pinchbeck Parish Council debated whether to invite representatives to make a presentation to them.

Chairman Coun Andrew Bowser said: “We have already sent our comments to the district council, the majority of which were objecting to it, but we could meet with them to find out more about what they want to do and on what timescale.”

Lincolnshire county councillor Steve Williams told parish councillors that there is a plan for another wind farm in Bourne.

He said: “We will soon be in a situation where you will be able to see wind turbines all the way from Peterborough to Lincoln. We are over-burdened with these machines.”

And he said Deeping St Nicholas was the first choice for developers looking to provide a rail hub in the area because it has already been “industrialised” by the existing wind farm.

Members agreed to invited Wind Ventures to their July meeting.

COUNTY and district councillor Chris Brewis urged Long Sutton parish councillors to fight the proposed move of the town’s library to Market House.

Speaking at the council’s open forum on Thursday, Coun Brewis said he had supplied five names to the parish council – and asked councillors to write to them.

Coun Brewis told the meeting: “The loss of what is the flagship library – certainly at this end of the county – I think would be a criminal act.”

Parish council chairman John Clarey said: “I think where the library is at the moment is a fantastic place.”

l The Spalding Guardian revealed the county council’s plans to move the library in a story on May 10.

Coun Eddy Poll, county council executive member for cultural services, said then there were no firm proposals about how things could work in the future and the council was exploring “opportunities” over the coming months.

TWO men died in two days in road crashes at Baston on Friday and Toft on Saturday.

An 82-year-old man lost his life on Friday lunchtime when his Rover collided with a lorry on the A15 Deeping Road at Baston.

The elderly man died at the scene of the crash, which happened at about 1.15pm.

Police say the lorry driver escaped injury, but his male passenger sustained serious injuries and was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.

The crash on the A6121 Lound Road at Toft happened at about 10pm on Saturday and involved three cars.

The driver of an Audi A5, a 40-year-old local man, was taken to Peterborough City Hospital where he died a short time later.

A passenger in the A5, a 46-year-old local man, and the driver of a Kia Sedona, a 32-year-old local man, were taken to Peterborough City Hospital for treatment to injuries that police described as “non life-threatening”.

The third car involved was an Audi A4.

Police have appealed for witnesses to the Baston and Toft crashes to contact them on 101.

l There was a third death on Lincolnshire’s roads at the weekend.

A motorcylist, a 48-year-old Nottinghamshire man, lost his life following a crash at Saltfleetby, near Louth, on Saturday morning. He was taken to hospital by air ambulance and died a short time later.

STUDENTS in Spalding can stop worrying their favourite lunchtime snack is going to bust the budget after this week’s announcement about the pasty tax.

Pasties and other bakery items will no longer attract VAT if they are “cooling down” after being removed from the oven.

Chancellor George Osborne controversially proposed in the Budget that any food served above ambient temperature would be taxed at 20 per cent to address an “anomaly” in the system.

Spalding High School student Jacob Chapman (17) said the tax would hit teenager’s pockets hard.

He said: “When you are on a lunchtime budget of £2, if VAT is added it won’t leave much for anything else. This would hit a lot of students.”

Chairman of the National Association of Master Bakers Mike Holling went on the march to Downing Street with a petition with 500,000 signatures from bakery staff and the public.

He told the Spalding Guardian: “This is fantastic news – and a surprise when we heard it late on Monday night, especially since we were not expecting an announcement until July.

“It is good news for all craft bakers in Spalding and the high street – a victory for common sense, brought about by pressure from our members and the general public who did not want to be paying 20 per cent more.”

Staff from Greggs in Lincolnshire, which has a shop in Spalding high street, were among the pasty makers and fellow bakers who also protested. Shares in the company rose nine per cent yesterday, following a fall of 15 per cent after the Budget through fears of job losses. A spokesman for the company said they welcomed the news, although they were unable to say whether any of the job losses would have been in Spalding.

Karl Sergison, owner of Sergi’s Deli in Francis Street, serves five different types of pasty and had pledged to stand the extra charge for his customers.

He said: “This is fantastic news – especially as the Government has listened to the masses. Now I won’t have to take the hit – it all adds up.”

MANY small charitable groups would not have recovered from the devastating blow of having its entire funds stolen by a trusted member, but Bourne Wellbeing Group has gone from strength to strength since suffering this set back last year.

The group, with the support of Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Services and the Len Pick Trust, has worked hard to keep its service going and now operates five days a week from its home in Wake House, Bourne, offering activities and support for people with mental health difficulties.

Chairman Val Nicholas said: “We are very grateful for all the support we have received particularly from the Len Pick Trust which generously funded us again, to Wake House for its understanding, and to Lincolnshire CVS which helped us get all our policies and procedures in place so nothing like that can ever happen again.

“The CVS also put us in touch with Lincolnshire Contact Club which now acts as an umbrella organisation for us, giving us registered charity status and an extra layer of support.”

The group, which celebrated its first anniversary on Friday, also runs regular fundraising events, including a coffee morning at Wake House every Tuesday, and is keen for anyone with mental ill-health to pop in to one of the sessions.

Member Sue Protheroe said: “This place is a real life-line.

“When you’re feeling low it makes all the difference to know you’re not alone.

“Just having people to talk to and share your experiences can help you get back on your feet.”

A TEXT pest who sent messages threatening to kill and rape his former fiancee was given a restraining order banning him from contacting her for the next year.

Mark Williamson (32), formerly of Westwood Drive, Bourne, appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Thursday for sentence on an harassment charge.

He must also serve a year-long supervision order and pay £85 costs.

Williamson, who now lives in Grantham, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to pursuing a course of conduct at Bourne on April 20 that amounted to the harassment of Joanna Hirst.

Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said Williamson sent three threatening texts to Ms Hirst on the same night and Ms Hirst believed he would come to her house and kill her.

Solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said: “He fully accepts his culpability in this matter and expresses his regret for what happened.”

Miss Stevens said Williamson and Ms Hirst had been engaged in the past and he was upset because she “blew hot and cold” so far as their relationship was concerned.

He had been due to see her shortly before the offence and became upset when she put him off at the last minute.

Miss Stevens said Williamson has mental health issues and other health problems.

TWO community nurses from south Lincolnshire have been recognised for dedication to their work.

The nurses from Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) were nominated for trust Jubilee Awards after demonstrating exceptional care in the community through their compassion, positive attitude and for being role models to their colleagues.

Candice Pellett, of Bourne Galletly Practice and Angela Wilson, of Johnson Community Hospital, Spalding, picked up the accolade.

Nominations were put forward by their general managers as part of Nurses’ Day and the awards were presented as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Candice and Angela were handed their awards by Ellen Armistead, LCHS chief executive, who said: “I am delighted to have presented these awards and shine a light on our very own community diamonds as we celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

“Our nurses share Lincolnshire Community Health Services values and show putting patients first is at the heart of everything we do.”

Candice, who is Case Manager District Nurse at Bourne Galletly Practice, was nominated for her passion for patient dignity, particularly when caring for people at the end of their lives.

Angela, who is a Clinical Nurse Specialist Tissue Viability at the Johnson Community Hospital, was nominated because of her valuable contribution to the prevention of pressure ulcers in the community by supporting and teaching staff.

A MUM-of-four has been left fuming after she and her children were turned away from an eagerly-anticipated ride on Spalding’s water taxi.

Julie Holmes had promised Ben (9), Max (7), Amy (4) and Zak (3) a trip into the town centre from Springfields – but their hopes were dashed when the pilot said she was unable to take four children on board.

He said the limit per adult was two to ensure their safety.

Ian Canham, of the Water Taxi, said that was not a strict company policy but water taxi pilots have the discretion to turn people away if they have concerns.

He said: “I have spoken to the pilot involved and I am confident he made the right decision.

“He assessed the situation and felt that he was unable to ensure the safety of the children.

“We have sent Miss Holmes some free tickets which we hope will go some way to compensate for the upset.”

Julie (29), of Royce Road, said her children were left devastated after the incident last week.

She said: “I never promise my kids anything I can’t deliver. I had said we could go into town on the water taxi and have a burger and drink before Boys’ Brigade.

“My little girl also had a soft toy dog from nursery which they are supposed to do things with and write about in a book for the other children to see.

“Going on the water taxi was a big thing to my kids and it ruined our whole day.”

“I appreciate that rules are rules but they should advertise them.”

Would jubilee-ve it... ‘The Queen’ gives a right royal wave from Surfleet’s very own flotilla on Sunday.

Craft sporting red, white and blue navigated their way from the reservoir along the River Glen to The Mermaid.

Our picture shows Callum Lewis, Ffion Lewis as The Queen and Giovanni Fragale getting ready for the mini epic, which featured a stop-off at The Riverside for a barbecue.

We’ve got four pages of pictures from Diamond Jubilee events from across our region inside this week’s Lincolnshire Free Press – and there’s loads more to come in Thursday’s Spalding Guardian.

See if you’re in our comprehensive round-up.

A SPALDING grot spot is finally looking “spick and span” after a prolonged campaign to get it cleaned up.

South Holland district councillor Roger Gambba-Jones has been waging an ongoing battle to persuade Network Rail to remove piles of rubbish which had been dumped around Steppingstone Bridge.

After numerous promises to carry out the work, Network Rail was on its last chance as Coun Gambba-Jones prepared to take the case to court to pursue a litter abatement notice.

But workmen finally turned up on Thursday and Coun Gambba-Jones is pleased with the result.

But he is still determined to pursue Network Rail to return to remove graffiti blighting the bridge.

He said: “It’s looking much more spick and span but as I understood it one of the previous delays had been because they were waiting for the paint so they could cover the graffiti.

“Perhaps it was the rain on Thursday that prevented them doing it, but I will continue to chase them to make sure it gets done.

“Now I just hope that the public notice that the area has been cleaned up and don’t allow it to get into such a bad state again.

“I don’t hold out much hope, and if it does get bad again I’ll be back on to Netwrok Rail to get them out to clear it up again.”

In April Coun Gambba-Jones received the backing of fellow district councillors to apply pressure to Network Rail to spruce up the bridge area, which crosses the railway line and links Park Road with King’s Road.

He had hoped the work could be carried out before the town’s flower parade at the beginning of May as he believed the grot spot gave a bad impression of Spalding to the thousands of visitors who make the journey for the huge event.

Outlining his battle to fellow councillors Coun Gambba-Jones likened the bridge to “something you would expect to see in the less pleasant areas of large inner cities that have been neglected for decades”

As well as the rubbish and graffiti, problems highlighted with the bridge also include its enclosed sides and a lack of lighting, which have lead to safety concerns, and an unattractive fence.

POLICE have warned action could be taken against drivers if they cause a road hazard while queuing to get into Spalding tip.

In the past couple of weeks queues stretching back to the A16 from the West Marsh Road site have been reported several times.

The queues have been put down to a cut in the household waste recycling centre’s opening hours and a brief spell of improved weather, meaning more residents having garden waste to dispose of.

Several readers have contacted the Lincolnshire Free Press to complain about the situation, particularly regarding the danger the queues pose to other road users.

On Wednesday, Spalding police also received a couple of calls to say those waiting to use the recycling centre were blocking the road.

Sgt Stuart Hurst said: “We have been trying to deal with the traffic problem and keep the road clear while still allowing the public to use the recycling centre.

“The queues have been very long and the tailbacks have been causing a hazard to other road users.

“We sent officers down there a couple of times.

“Obviously, all these people want to do is dump their grass cuttings but it is encumbent on all drivers to behave sensibly and if they are causing a danger we will issue tickets if necessary.”

One tip user, James McGurk, of Holbeach, said he queued for more than an hour on Wednesday to get rid of his garden waste.

He said: “I usually use the Saturday morning skip service but I have been out doing the garden and the rubbish was building up, so I decided to bring it over to the recycling centre.

“Every time I’ve been to the tip before I have driven straight in.

“I couldn’t believe the queue as it stretched all the way back from West Marsh Road to the Morrisons roundabout.

“I saw the police drive by but they didn’t stop.

“They say drivers should be considerate to other road users but it is difficult to be considerate to an articulated lorry if it’s trying to get through.

“I will not be coming again in a hurry – I’ll let the rubbish build up and use the skip service.”

Lincolnshire County Council, which took the decision to cut opening hours to save money, has said it is monitoring the situation closely.

Flowers grown in Holbeach were used to decorate the royal barge carrying the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh in Sunday’s Diamond Jubilee River Pageant.

Gardener and barge decoration designer Rachel de Thame used one of the Queen’s favourite flowers in her design, the daffodil.

Johnnie Walkers, of Walkers Bulbs, the mail order division of Taylors Bulbs, said he hadn’t been given a sneak preview of the design but believed Rachel planned to use them in four pots.

He said: “They only wanted about 100 bulbs but we have grown about 400 because we have done 100 in four different varieties.

“For such a prestigious job it was belt and braces twice over to make sure we didn’t mess up because there is no second chance.

“It’s a great honour for somebody to ring me up and say we know you are the only person who can do it. It was a bit late when they rang but I pulled back some of the Chelsea flowers and produced these two weeks later.”

The varieties sent to London were Best Seller, Golden Aura, Golden Joy and Malvern City.

POLICE stopped a Volkswagen Polo on Cowbit Road, Spalding, just before 3am on May 13 and found driver Arturs Eversons was more than twice the drink-drive limit.

Eversons (26), of Commercial Road, Spalding, was banned from driving for 20 months, fined £220 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge when he appeared before town magistrates on Thursday.

Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said Eversons was stopped at 2.48am because he was driving “erratically”.

Solicitor Rachel Stevens, mitigating, said Eversons went out drinking that night and had no intention of driving.

But when he got home two friends, who had been visiting, asked for a lift to their address and he gave no thought to the drink he’d had earlier.

SPALDING man Nicholas Kidd (47) denies driving on the town’s Love Lane with 112 microgrammes of alcohol in breath – more than three times the legal limit – on February 5.

Magistrates on Thursday adjourned the hearing for a trial at the Spalding court on July 31.

Kidd, of Horse Fayre Fields, had his unconditional bail extended.

IF you had to pluck an animal out of the air to be a surrogate mum to a clutch of eggs, a stray cat probably wouldn’t be your first choice.

But the pretty tabby which has adopted Weston St Mary’s School as its home is proving she is the cat’s whiskers at stepping into Mother Hen’s shoes.

When the school’s hen hops off the eggs, the cat moves in to take over and keep the clutch warm.

And the chicken doesn’t ruffle a feather when mummy cat hops out of the coop where she chose to raise her kittens – she shows she’s just as clucky by looking after the four grey tabby kittens.

Teaching assistant Angie Bradshaw, who is responsible for the school’s menagerie which also includes a cockerel, rabbits and guinea pigs, said: “The cat is a stray and has been around the school for a while and I came in one morning and she had kittens in one of the chicken pens.

“Then I came in the other day and she’d moved them in with the cockerel and hen.

“It is fascinating to see the two of them together.

“We couldn’t believe it when we saw the cat lying on the chicken’s eggs to keep them warm.”

But now Angie is looking for new homes for the four grey tabby kittens, as it won’t be long before they outgrow their adopted home.

There are two girls and two boys and one of them has four little white socks.

Angie said: “We want them to go to good homes but we would ask anyone who wants one to make a small donation so we can get the cat neutered so we don’t end up with more kittens.

“The children love them to bits and all want one but their parents won’t let them.

l Anyone interested can contact Angie on 07548 989331.

Our photographers Tim Wilson, Mike Davison and Nikki Griffin were all over South Holland and South Kesteven covering Queen’s Diamond Jubilee events.

Our chief snapper Tim captured and put together this footage.

Spalding and Holbeach events on Monday night marked the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

Bell-ringers entertained at St Mary and St Nicholas Parish Church in Spalding and over in Holbeach, Frank Sauntson (86) and Jack Cunnington (9) had the honour of lighting the town’s beacon spot on 10.15pm.

A MILLIONAIRE businessman is to face a jury trial accused of offering money to a witness who was due to give evidence against in an earlier wounding trial.

Michael Chinn (37), of Old Fendike Road, Weston Hills, denied a charge of perverting the course of justice between October 1, 2010 and November 8, 2011 when he appeared before Lincoln Crown Court on Friday.

Chinn is accused of offering money to a witness in return for the witness not giving evidence against him.

Judge Sean Morris adjourned the hearing and Chinn will stand trial on the perverting the course of justice charge later this year.

Chinn was remanded in custody.

The prosecution arises out of an earlier case which resulted in Chinn being jailed for 15 months for unlawfully wounding Meghan Davis (22) after he was convicted of throwing a bottle at her in the Loaded nightclub in Spalding.

RIGHT: Michael Chinn will stand trial later this year.

THE date of an information and advice session for people with cancer and their carers in Spalding has been changed.

The outreach session at the Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding, which usually takes place from 10am to 1pm on the first Tuesday of each month, will now be held on Tuesday, June 12, because of today’s Bank Holiday.

Macmillan cancer information nurses will be on hand with display boards and leaflets on a range of topics related to cancer for anyone who would like to take them away or discuss further. A private room will be available to anyone wanting to talk confidentially.