Students from the Peele Community College took part in an inter-house pumpkin carving competition.
All three houses – Darwin, Bronte and Newton – put their creative minds against each other to see who could produce the best and scariest pumpkin, using pumpkins and carving kits donated to the school by Morrisons in Pinchbeck.
Headteacher Simon Gilman judged the competition and the winners were: first place – Adam Horspool, second place– Anna Maseko and third place – Carrieanne Davies.

Pictured: Students and their pumpkins.

Reception children at Spalding’s St John the Baptist Primary School had a visit from staff of Molsom Opticians as part of their ‘Happy Healthy Me’ topic, which involves looking at parts of their bodies and learning how to look after themselves and keep themselves healthy.


The opticians visited with their teddy who had a poorly eye and children were shown some of the games and tests that would be done during a visit to the opticians. The children thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon and not only learned about the importance of looking after their eyes but had a much greater understanding of what would happen should they go for an eye test.

Eggs and flour were thrown on top of a soft top convertible vehicle parked outside Rippingale Village Hall on Halloween night, Friday October 31.

Anyone with information should call 101, quoting 507 of October 31.

This was the unusual sight greeting Free Press and Guardian staff when they looked out of the window on Wednesday afternoon – a man outside Spalding court riding a static exercise bike.

When asked by our reporter exactly why he was doing it, the chap – who at one point fell off – said he was “entertaining his friends”!

Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue is warning people not to make hoax calls after a reported blaze at a house in Crowland turned out to be false.

Fire crews were called out to Hulls Drove at about 9.10pm on Tuesday only to arrive and find that the call had been a false alarm.

A Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Malicious calls are a serious matter and can prevent the crew from attending a real emergency situation.”

One hundred years ago funds were being raised across South Holland for many war related causes.

The Vicar of Whaplode Drove, Rev Old, chaired a well attended meeting held in the church room to consider the best means of raising cash for the Belgian Refugees Fund at Spalding and the Red Cross.

The vicar was elected secretary of the relief funds at the meeting and subscriptions amounting to £24 were promised for the Belgian refugees and £5 and 6 shillings for the Red Cross Society.

In addition, it was decided to canvas the parish, with proceeds collected to be divided between the two causes.

A social was held in Long Sutton to raise money for the Belgian refugees at the Exchange Hall by Fletcher and Sons.

Around 200 employees were at the event, as were the refugees who would benefit from the social, and they were able to enjoy a night where they could forget trying times, as well as helping a worthwhile cause.

The programme of the event was said to be a “happy combination of delights”, with around 40 engaging in a “whist war” (card game) in the council chamber, with the winners being given a bon-bon dish, a scent bottle, a tobacco pouch and a penknife.

Around 150 others passed the hours dancing and enjoying entertainment from Mr T. Pinder, who was at the piano with his “accustomed ability” and was accompanied for the musical programme by many others, and refreshments.

The committee made all arrangements, decorating the hall and also succeeded in the difficult task of “begging all refreshments” – and were very grateful to those who donated them. A great deal of honorary labour was put into the project in order that the refugees might profit as much as possible.

In Crowland a concert was held at the Foresters’ Hall to raise money for Queen Mary’s Needlework Guild, who made “comforts” for the soldiers and sailors fighting in the war and £28 was raised.

A vehicle has been sprayed with black paint by vandals while parked in Grosvenor Rd, Billingborough, overnight on Monday.

Earlier in the same road, a glass bottle filled with fluid and covered with a cloth was set alight and left in the middle of Grosvenor Road, near White Leather Square Industrial Estate.

It happened at about 8pm on Monday and anyone with information should call 101.

Think Green: By South Holland District Council’s waste and recycling officer Laura Simpkins

Our street cleansing crew is kept busy seven days a week helping keep South Holland clean and tidy.

The street cleansing crew of ten can be regularly seen out and about in the district with their daily duties covering the cleaning of toilets, litter picking and sweeping. On top of this the team responds to at least 70 street cleansing remedial requests a month.

A normal day starts at around 6am when daily tasks and requests are allocated. From here our crews disperse across the district to deal with their requests.

On Thursday, October 23 three additional helpers were employed to tidy up Fulney Skate Park and the surrounding Royce Road estate. These volunteers were all part of a restorative justice campaign that the waste and recycling team got involved with through local PC Craig Lockton from the Spalding Estates team. Joining the three young men were PCSO Kimberly Marlowe and Dave Rodwell from the waste and recycling team at South Holland.

The day was a success with twelve bags of litter cleared from the skate park and surrounding area. Dave Rodwell, engagement and monitoring officer, praised the work, saying: “It’s schemes like this that really give something back to the community and help our busy street team out.”

Another welcome addition to the team is the new fleet of vehicles pictured above. So please remember it is your South Holland so please take care of it!

Deepings Foodbank is based at The Deepings School, Park Road, Deeping St James, and is open on Mondays and Fridays between 4pm and 6pm.

Foodbank coordinator Graham Thompson said: “The school has a very strong commitment to the Deepings community.”

You can also take donations for the appeal to The Lighthouse Church, Haverfield Road, Spalding; The Market House, Market Street, Long Sutton; All Saints Church, Church Street, Holbeach and St Mary’s Church, Station Road, Sutterton.

Shoppers can leave donations in containers at Sainsbury’s, Holland Market, Spalding, as well as at Morrisons, Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck.

Foodbank collection points are also at All Saints Church, High Street, Moulton, St Mary’s Church, Market Place, Long Sutton and St Guthlac’s Church, Church Street, Market Deeping.

Finally, donations can be left at our reception in The Crescent, Spalding, between 10am and 2pm.

CABINET CALL: A weekly column written by members of South Holland District Council’s cabinet. This week with Councillor Christine Lawton, portfolio holder for housing landlord

‘Think of what our nation stands for,

Books from Boots and country lanes,

Free speech, free passes,class distinction,

Democracy and proper drains.’

For me, John Betjeman’s words still resonate today.

Books from Boots (who remembers Boots Lending Library?) are a thing of the past, though class distinction lingers.

The rest is still part of the fabric of our society. Proper drainage is the very reason we in South Holland kept our feet dry when recent floods devastated the region.

Good drainage, like good local government, does not appear out of the ether –

democracy takes hard work and active participation.

Next May there will be elections where candidates of all persuasions will seek your vote.

The voter turnout in local elections is very low, but the high turnout in the recent Scottish referendum shows that voters can be engaged if they feel they can make a difference.

In local democracy, I would argue that your vote can make a difference. Your ward member can act as a campaigner, community volunteer and watchdog and represent the interests of all electors, regardless of whether or not they voted for you.

Councillors soon discover that democracy is not an easy option. To paraphrase Churchill – it is the least worst!

As portfolio holder for housing, I have to make decisions which are not always popular, whether that be traveller sites, affordable housing or prioritising funding to maintain and increase our housing stock.

Like many members I sit on essential committees, outside bodies and partnerships and this work can cut across political boundaries.

At South Holland I am pleased that Independents and Conservatives work together in interests of the district, although we occasionally have conflicting views on how to achieve this.

When councillor Newton and I go weeding together in Spalding our conversation is generally about our respective grandsons rather than politics!

Our Councillor Development Board has invited local Year 9 children to sessions called ‘Local Democracy and You’.

We hope to share some of our experience, explain a little about our roles and hopefully let them see that we are almost real people, who happen to do ‘stuff’ which impacts on our daily lives.

I know we will enjoy it, here’s hoping that they do.

Retired people looking to take one more step on the property ladder are invited to a special information day in Bourne this weekend.

Larkfleet Homes is hosting the event at The Croft, a development of bungalows and homes suitable for the over 55s in North Road.

The information day runs from 10am until 5pm on Saturday when visitors can look round The Croft and get advice on both part- exchange and assisted move options to help people struggling to sell their existing homes make the move to The Croft.

Also open to visitors on Saturday is a preview of a one-bedroom apartment for those looking for a smaller home to live in. There are also two and three-bedroom apartments, as well as two and three-bedroom chalet bungalows to consider.

Margaret Pearce, who lives at The Croft after part-exchanging her old bungalow, said: “I was so pleased when I was able to buy the property, thanks to the schemes available.

“Everything just seemed to fall into place as though it was meant to be.

“I didn’t want to continue living where I was but I might have had to if I hadn’t found this development and been able to utilise the offers available.”

Larkfleet’s assisted move scheme can be made to suit individual buyers and involves the developer organising valuations for a buyer’s existing home from two estate agents located in the Bourne area.

When a current market value is agreed, Larkfleet can then manage the selling process right through to the exchange of contracts.

Larkfleet will also speak to the agents, advertise the home and negotiate with potential buyers, with estate agents’ fess also covered on completion of sale and purchase of a new home at The Croft.

For more details about the information day, call Larkfleet Homes on 01778 426995.

The sessions are with an expert Digital Champion who will show students how they can use the internet to keep in touch with family and friends, find information, do their shopping, take advantage of services in the community or save money.

Appointments can be made for sessions at the library in Victoria Street on Mondays from 12 noon until 3pm, Wednesdays from 10am until 12noon and Thursdays from 2pm until 4pm.

There are also places available for a drop-in session between 10am and 12 noon on Thursdays.

To book, call Louise Moore on 01529 301973 or the Library Service on 01522 782010.

Eight ex-servicemen employed at Bakkavor Spalding and representing all three services, have planted poppies at The Tower of London in memory of those who lost their lives in The First World War.

The ex-servicemen volunteered to participate in a morning’s working party, planting ceramic poppies.

From July 18, Tower Moat has gradually been turned entirely red by 888,246 ceramic poppies.

Each signifies a life lost by a member of the British or Commonwealth Forces in the First World War.

The names of those who attended are Terry Moore, Andy Green, Kevin Prior, Allen Hyam, Alan Middleton, Paul Dixon, Ben Moore and Clive Metcalfe.

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

October 8

Andrew Crump (47), of Toller Court, Horbling. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £35 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £35 costs, 3pts.

Edward Davis (62), of Station Street, Donington. No MOT (Boston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Andrew Leeder (45), of Windmill Road, Gimmingham. Speeding (Holbeach). £135 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Russell Smith (31), of Pocklington Way, Heckington. Speeding (Baston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Shaun Vaile (33), of Bridge Road, Horbury, Wakefield. Failing to give driver ID (Swineshead). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Hazel Morgan (33), of Churchfields Road, Folkingham. No insurance (Folkingham). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Girts Vilcans (30), of Cowbit Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

October 9

Tony Wickstead (39), of West Road, Pointon. Assault (Pointon). £75 fine, £50 compensation, £20 v/s, £150 costs.

Tony Wickstead (39), of West Road, Pointon. In breach of having a dog at home after being disqualified. £50 fine.

October 13

Stephen Warner (58), of Chapel Street, Crowland. Defective tyre (Sleaford). £525 fine, £52 v/s, £211 costs, 3pts.

Skegness Magistrates’ Court

October 7

Rashid Beston, of 14 London Road, Spalding. Failing to notify transfer of vehicle (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Kurijus Budkovas (52), of Queens Road, Spalding. Unlicensed vehicle (Spalding). £600 fine, £150.84 back duty, £90 costs.

Jay Cockerill (25), of Churchfields Road, Folkingham. Unlicensed vehicle (Grantham). £200 fine, £90 costs.

Jayanne Coupland (43), of The Crescent, Morton. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Bourne). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Christian Davies , of Bonvilston Terrace, Trallwn, Pontypridd. Unlicensed vehicle (Spalding). £600 fine, £257.92 back duty, £90 costs.

Ernest Davis (62), of Station Street, Donington. Unlicensed vehicle (Boston). £600 fine, £93.75 back duty, £90 costs.

Philip Dilley, of Pit Lane, Gedney Drove End. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Darren Fox (47), of Towndam Lane, Donington. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Skegness). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Valerie Gillick, of Mill Lane, Gosberton. Unlicensed vehicle (Gosberton). £200 fine, £90 costs.

Joseph Hammond (24), of Station Road, Long Sutton. Failing to notify transfer of vehicle (Spalding). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Robert Holden (27), of Edinburgh Crescent, Kirton. Unlicensed vehicle (Boston). £200 fine, £19.17 back duty, £90 costs.

Michael Mackman (20), of Nidds Lane, Kirton. Unlicensed vehicle (Algarkirk). £130 fine, £12.75 back duty, £90 costs.

Vladimir Makarov (47), of Seagate Terrace, Long Sutton. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Skegness). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Jolanta Nizio (50), of Bear Lane, Pinchbeck. Unlicensed vehicle (Spalding). £200 fine, £19.17 back duty, £90 costs.

Andrew Richardson, of Piccadilly Way, Morton. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Bourne). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Julie Stevens (51), of Chancery Court, Spalding. Failing to notify transfer of vehicle (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Martha Stewart (23), of Potters Close, Bourne. Unlicensed vehicle (Bourne). £200 fine, £56.67 back duty, £90 costs.

Daniel Storey (18), of Meadow Close, Bourne. Failing to notify transfer of vehicle (Bourne). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £90 costs.

Stephen Towell (37), of Aintree Way, Bourne. Motor vehicle insurance offence (Skegness). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £110 costs.

Glen Wells (26), of Farrow Avenue, Holbeach. Unlicensed vehicle (Holbeach). £600 fine, £176.25 back duty, £90 costs.

October 14

Svajunas Bagdanavicus (43), of Holyrood Walk, Spalding. Failed without reasonable excuse to provide a specimen of breath (Boston). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 3 years.

Grantham Magistrates’ Court

October 8

Phillip Malone (38), of Churchfield Close, Deeping St James. Breach of an exclusion order by entering licensed premises (Market Deeping). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £50 costs. Using threatening or abusive words or behaviour. £55 fine. Breach of a suspended sentence order, no action taken.

Harry Wright (20), of Malten Lane, Whaplode. Handling stolen goods (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge, £175 compensation, £15 v/s, £50 costs.

October 13

Ryan Hardy (23), of Aveland Way, Aslackby. No insurance (Bourne). £75 fine, £20 v/s, disqualified from driving for 6 months. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and for driving a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Darren Forbes 42), of George Street, Bourne. Assault and criminal damage (Bourne). 6 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Robert Springthorpe (33), of Shortfen, Orton Malborne. Criminal damage (Bourne). 6 months conditional discharge, £165 compensation, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

October 15

Giedrius Butkus (23), of Daniels Gate, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Magdalena Sakowicz (31), of River Street, Wisbech. Obstructing a police officer (Holbeach St Johns). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

October 16

Jurius Paramonovs (42), of Hillside Road, March. Two counts of assaulting a police officer (Holbeach and Boston). Community order with 120 hours unpaid work, £25 compensation, £100 costs.

A project aimed at turning empty homes into new ones is under way in South Holland.

Houses left empty for long periods of time are being brought back into use by South Holland District Council’s housing team.

So far, about 90 empty homes have become new housing but many others are still unoccupied.

Coun Malcolm Chandler, the council’s portfolio holder for regulatory services, said: “There are many benefits from transforming empty homes, including a reduction in vandalism and anti-social behaviour.

“We are keen to bring empty homes back into occupation so if you have a property that has been empty for a long time or you know of one, then we want to hear from you.”

“This is a key strategy for the council as we want to maximise the amount of housing available here.”

To report an empty house, call the housing team on 01775 761161 or email privatehousing@sholland.gov.uk

I often hear that ‘things ain’t what they used to be’. Many people feel that the police provided a better service in days gone by.

That’s not necessarily true. For example, when I joined the police we weren’t very good at supporting victims of domestic abuse.

Let me explain. There are different levels of assault, the most serious being murder.

After that comes wounding, then Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH), then Actual Bodily Harm (ABH). At the lower end of the scale is what is known as ‘common assault’ or ‘battery’. This can be a push or a shove or a slap: anything that doesn’t cause lasting injury.

The thing is, when I joined, there was no power of arrest attached to common assault. If we were called to ‘a domestic’ and there were no visible injuries, we simply told the victim that it wasn’t a police matter and they should seek out a private prosecution.

This was probably at a time in the victim’s life when they had limited access to funds and often little or no family support. Domestic abuse was something that went on behind closed doors and wasn’t talked about.

Attitudes have changed. It is now acknowledged that nationally, one in four women will experience domestic abuse at some point in their lives as will one in six men. Two women are murdered every week in England and Wales at the hands of their partners or ex-partners.

To put a local perspective on this: since April 1 we have had 403 incidents of domestic abuse in South Holland. In 27 of these incidents the victim was considered to be at high risk of further harm. Remember: we have had domestic violence murders in South Holland.

In recent months there have been some important new initiatives to tackle domestic abuse.

In March the Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme (DVDS), also known as ‘Clare’s Law,’ was introduced. The aim of this scheme is to give victims a formal mechanism to make inquiries about a partner if they are worried that they may have been abusive in the past.

If police checks show that the partner has a record of violent behaviour, or there is other information to indicate that a person may be at risk from their partner, the police will consider sharing this information with the victim.

Under the DVDS, any concerned third party, such as a parent, neighbour or friend can also make an application if they are concerned about a victim.

However this isn’t a Nosey Parker’s Charter: a third party person making an application would not necessarily receive information themselves. It may be more appropriate for someone else to receive the information, such as the victim themselves, or a person that is in a position to protect them from the abuse.

The information will only be given to someone who is in a position to use the information to protect the victim from the abuse.

In June, Domestic Violence Protection Notices (DVPNs) were introduced.

This is a significant piece of legislation designed to help victims of domestic abuse when they may be at their most vulnerable. Before this scheme, only those arrested and charged with an offence could be barred from their home, either through bail conditions or by the victim seeking an order in the civil courts.

Here’s the important change: the notices are used to intervene in cases where police believe a victim may be at risk from violence but do not have enough evidence to bring a criminal charge. A DVPN allows the duty superintendent to act instantly to safeguard families they consider to be under threat from perpetrators of domestic abuse.

Within 48 hours of a DVPN being issued, there is a further hearing in the magistrates’ court where the length of the Domestic Violence Protection Order (DVPO) is determined.

So, this gives police the power to ban violent abusers from their homes for a length of time decided through the magistrates’ court (between 14 and 28 days), allowing the victims to stay in their own homes rather than flee to a friend’s home, or a refuge, to escape their abuser.

These powers give victims of domestic abuse muchneeded time, space and support to plan a safer future, by keeping the perpetrator away.

As part of the scheme, victims will also be offered help and advice by support services on the options open to them – including securing a longer-term injunction.

Locally there is a great deal of support for victims of domestic abuse. The ‘Sanctuary’ scheme has been developed for people who are affected by domestic abuse in the South Holland area.

The scheme provides victims with additional security measures for their property, thereby making it difficult for unwanted visitors to gain access.

We work with South Holland District Council, Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue, Women’s Aid and Victim Support to provide additional security measures and support.

Our sanctuary scheme is available to you if you are suffering from domestic abuse and wish to remain in your home.

The scheme is available to all council, housing association and private tenants and owner-occupiers.

Further information is available from South Holland District Council or from Spalding Police.

Just thought I’d like your readers know, I doubt if they’ll be interested anyway, about my last few weeks locally. I’ve been run over by a shopping trolley, woman on her mobile.

While shopping, man on mobile asking if he should get single or double cream. There was me trying to buy one of today’s main essentials, wine.Being barged into by a women, no apologies, while on her mobile. While out for a meal, three girls, on their mobiles, all the time we were there.

Car nearly ran into me, the driver was on his mobile while driving off, in a car park.

At the cinema, same person’s mobile kept going off during the film. While attending a funeral , mobile going off three times, same person.

Do you mobile phone users have something against me?

Please, to all mobile phone users out there, do have a little respect for those around you, not everyone wants to hear your conversation, plus I want to arrive home intact.

DJ Barfoot

via email

This weekend the country will be remembering and honouring the brave men who gave their lives in war.

In South Holland, services and parades will be held to mark the sacrifices made by our brave services men and women.

In Donington, a Remembrance service will be held at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church at 10.30am on Sunday.

There will be a short service at the war memorial in Fleet at 2pm, where wreaths will be laid, followed by a service at the Baptist Church at 2.30pm.

A Remembrance service will take place at Christ Church, Dawsmere on Sunday at 10am. The Royal British Legion will muster at the junction of Dawsmere Bank and Church Street at 9.30am and will parade to the church.

On Sunday, there will be a service at the Gosberton Risegate war memorial at 2pm, followed by a service at Gosberton memorial at 2.30pm and then a service at Gosberton’s St Peter and St Paul’s Church at 3pm.

On Armistice Day, Tuesday, November 11, a service will be held at the Gosberton memorial.

The Holbeach Remembrance parade will form up at the South Holland Boxing Academy, Fleet Street, on Sunday to move off at 2.05pm to arrive at the war memorial in All Saints’ Churchyard on High Street for the Act of Remembrance and wreath laying before proceeding into church for the Remembrance Service.

Also on Sunday, in Long Sutton, there will be a parade starting at 2.15pm from the Royal British Legion premises in West Street to the war memorial, also in West Street, and on to St Mary’s Church for a service at 2.30pm.

There will also be a short service from 10.45am to 11.15am at the war memorial in West Street on Tuesday.

In Moulton Seas End there will be an act of Remembrance on Sunday at the village cenotaph, meeting at the memorial at 10.45am.

There will be a Remembrance service on Sunday at St Margaret’s Church in Quadring at 3pm.

Remembrance parade on Sunday, in Spalding, starts with the parade of veterans and all youth organisations from the town centre, assembling at 10am ready to march off at 10.15am to the war memorial in Ayscoughfee gardens, where a service and wreath laying will take place followed by a return parade back to the town centre for the march pass and dismiss.

A service will be held at Holy Trinity Church in Gedney Hill at 10.55am on Sunday and laying of wreaths at St John the Baptist Church Memorial will take place at 12.15pm.

A number of temporary road closures and traffic restrictions will be in place across our area on Sunday for this year’s parades.


In Bourne, North Street, West Street, South Street and Abbey Road will be closed from 10am to 11.30am.


In Holbeach, Fleet Street, High Street and Church Street will be closed from 2pm to 4.30pm.


Bear Lane, Knight Street and Church Street will be closed in Pinchbeck from 10am to 2pm.


In Spalding, Hall Place, Market Place, Broad Street, Bridge Street, Double Street, Church Street and Church Gate will be closed from 10am to 12.30pm.


THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: By Rev Anthony C Walker, Minister of Spalding Baptist Church

Remembrance Sunday will take on a special poignancy with this being the centenary year of the First World War.

The terrible loss of life has been brought before us over recent months – just one statistic: July 1, 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme, was one of the worst in modern military history with over 19,000 fatalities and 57,000 casualties.

There were moving moments too such as the singing of the carol ‘Silent night’ by both British and German troops on Christmas Eve 1914. And our world is still at war, our prayers being for those who, behind the scenes, are working for reconciliation.

How do wars begin? In Spalding market-place there is a blue plaque put there by the Spalding and District Civic Society: ‘The White Hart Inn site since 14th century. The French philosopher and writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau stayed here during May 1767.’

Jean-Jacques Rousseau wrote: ‘Mankind is naturally good’. The Bible would disagree, viewing mankind as biased towards the wrong!

As such conflict begins in the human heart, Jesus declaring ‘from within come evil thoughts, murder, greed, and folly’. But He can change our hearts – for the better!

Through Christ peace can become a reality rather than simply a dream.