A St Bernard dog who captured the hearts of all who knew about his Second World War exploits is set to make some brand new conquests.

Bamse became famous more than 70 years ago as a crew member of the Norwegian Navy’s KNM Thorodd, part of the flotilla that carried King Haakon to Great Britain during the invasion of Norway.

In Montrose and Dundee, regular home ports of KNM Thorodd, by this time a minesweeper, Bamse became known for his brave deeds and loved for his companionship.

He was eventually adopted as the mascot for all the Norwegian forces – a dignitary is sent by the Navy to his grave in Scotland each year on the anniversary of his death.

Recently HRH Prince Andrew unveiled a statue of Bamse in Montrose.

Now a brand new generation of youngsters – and adults – are to be introduced to the enchanting dog thanks to a new book written by a woman from Moulton Chapel.

As soon as Anna Mandell heard Bamse’s story it caught her imagination to such an extent that her husband Peter commissioned an artist to do a cartoon for her.

The picture got lots of compliments from friends, who suggested Bamse’s story would be the perfect subject for a book they knew Anna wanted to write.

Anna said: “What enchanted me was when the sailors used to go to the pub Bamse would know when they should be back on board. He would get on the bus and go and get them out of the pub and take them back to ship.

“In the end, because he made a nuisance of himself on these buses, he got his own bus pass.

“The idea was he was more of a comfort, but he saved a sailor from the water and another from being attacked, so he was very brave.

“When he died at Montrose the feeling for him was so great he got his own grave.”

An adult book has already been written, but Anna has written a children’s book filled with wonderful illustrations by the artist who created her cartoon.

That artist, Richard Maby, was already known to the family through a shared love of classic motorbikes. Anna commissioned him years ago to draw a picture of a motorbike for Peter, a collector of classic bikes.

Anna invented some new adventures for Bamse for her book and Richard came up with the fabulously detailed pictures. Every image shows Bamse wearing a hat, because he had a particular love of head wear, and the artist has also managed to include motorbikes in a lot of the illustrations, including one of Peter on his bike.

Anna’s book, Bamse Came Too, it to be launched at a book-signing at Bookmark in Spalding on Saturday (11am to 1pm) with a Bamse character helping the promotion.

Firefighters had to rescue a man after getting stuck on a 15-foot high platform in Long Sutton on Monday.

The drama unfolded in Bridge Road where a fire crew from Long Sutton were called to an industrial premises at about 9.25am.
Paramedics treated the man after he was brought down from the platform.

Meanwhile, a woman had to be given oxygen for smoke inhalation after a fire at a house in Holbeach on Sunday afternoon.
It happened when cooking was left unattended at the house in Drakes Close just before 1.50pm.

BREAKING NEWS WEDNESDAY 5PM: Eleven people have been arrested on suspicion of entering the UK illegally after an operation in Pinchbeck today.

Police were called after noises were heard coming from the back of a lorry parked in Enterprise Way and it later emerged they had been travelling for several days.
The group were treated for the effects of hypothermia before they were taken into custody.

Sometimes in life we find ourselves in a quandary, do we get another car or not? Do we go there for lunch or here?

Christmas seems to be the traditional time of choice for new puppies, but these are decisions to be made that can be changed.

The decision to get a puppy in a household that already has other dogs can not be so easily changed once the puppy arrives.

The first thing to remember is that when you have a stable pack, they don’t really “hate” anything, they just resent the change in their space, so to speak.

In an already established household there is always room for growth and change.

The nature of dogs is that they don’t raise puppies when they are advanced in age.

Like us, as parents, they want to raise their children when they still have the energy to keep up with them.

It’s not that the puppies are “obnoxious” to an older dog, they just have another state of mind – think puppy hood versus senior hood.

However, in order to be around the older dogs, the puppy should already have his social skills in place.

So the day has come when you bring the puppy home.

The first advice is to have tired him out.

An older dog will always accept the introduction of the puppy if it isn’t tearing around and hanging off his ears.

Think about children visiting their grandparents.

Tired kids are the ones who are able to sit down and stay quiet while grandparents read them a book – sadly a dying act these days.

In order for them not to have a bad experience together, make sure you begin with the older dog in mind to guide and take this puppy under his wing because he can also prepare it.

Eventually the parenting instincts can kick in to make this dog feel that this is his puppy.

Constant supervision is an absolute must.

Please don’t get a puppy on Saturday and leave it with the older dog on Monday when you go to work.

There will be teething problems initially with aspects of jealousy and possible aggression and these scenarios can be diffused calmly by you, but only if you are there.

Make sure that the fuss is evenly distributed to both dogs.

If you remember, there is nothing worse than being the new kid at school when everyone sticks together leaving you feeling left out.

Make sure that the older dog can retreat to a quiet place when they need to.

Make sure that you don’t punish the older dog when or if he snaps at the puppy.

He will do this if the puppy is left to investigate, antagonise and generally annoy him for too long initially.

Also, make sure that feeding time is done in order initially.

The older dog will have his routine and he will not want this disrupted by a little one trying to steal his food.

Given time they will eat together, but for the first week or so it is best to feed the puppy in another room and let the older dog eat in peace.

Make sure that you don’t expect your older dog to suddenly take on long walks to accompany the puppy.

Again, think of the grandparents rule – they won’t want to go to the local fair and experience all of the rides but they might enjoy a couple.

Adjustment takes time so please don’t rush the interacting.

Give the dogs time to get to know each other and they should get along fine.

Finally, please give a lot of thought to the breeds.

A great dane could easily mistake a chihuahua as a small toy.

Equally a bouncy spaniel just might be a little too much for a geriatric labrador to accept.

The latest from our girl about town

Seen in a local gym: a sign reading something along the lines of ‘Friends free in December’. Do you think if Angel orders one now she’ll have him/her in time for Christmas?

* Angel assumed it was far too late to attempt to post a Christmas card until her colleague told her she posted one on Tuesday and the recipient rang to say they had received it the very next day. Now that’s true service. Well done Britain’s postal service!

* While we are talking about our postal service, Angel couldn’t help but notice a postman delivering cards and letters in – shorts! Now we know they are usually the first to bare legs in the Spring, but they must be made of strong stuff wearing them in the depths of December. Or could it be the good old way of sending greetings to our friends and loved ones is keeping them as run off their feet as ever?

* One of Angel’s reporter colleagues says the Christmas spirit is very much alive in Sutton Bridge, where the parish council voted on Tuesday night to spend £100 on sweets for the village’s Santa sleigh run. Two members of the parish council wore festive hats for the meeting: Shirley Giles in a fetching but tiny bright red conical number – and Vicky Hills in a black Santa hat bearing the message “Bah humbug”. If only politicians in Westminster would follow suit ... it would give us all a smile at Prime Minister’s question time.

* Angel is still on a high from the marvellous hospitality shown to her at Deepings Rugby Club on Saturday. A bitterly cold day was considerably warmed up by helpings of cheese, containing cranberries, soft drinks and coffee. The game itself wasn’t too bad either. ngel has confessed to being as far away from a rugby union fan as you can get. But there’s still time to fall in love with rucks, mauls and scrums yet.

Four councillors will represent the North Ward and five will serve the South Ward after a unanimous vote by South Holland District Council on Wednesday.

Councillors in Gedney floated the idea of a smaller size in April due to a lack of candidates willing to join the council.

One seat has been removed from each ward after no objections to the move came from voters in the village.

You are all amazing! That is the verdict of everyone here at the Spalding Guardian after the overwhelming support for the free Christmas Day party we are organising for anyone who would otherwise be alone on the big day.

The Ivo Day Centre in Albion Street is looking festive and welcoming, thanks to a donation of decorations from Baytree Garden Centre, sherry for the reception is being provided by Dave and Caroline Higgins of the Lincolnshire Poacher, turkey and all the trimmings are being donated by Simpsons butchers in Spalding, Sainsbury’s is providing puddings and drinks and we have had some cash donations to buy anything else that’s needed for the four-course meal and a few surprises, including from councillors and staff at Social Services.

We’ve also had lots of help with the meal from readers. Valerie Waller, of Long Sutton, has baked a two-tier Christmas cake, Beverley Mackey of Spalding is providing trifles for anyone who doesn’t like Christmas pudding and NFU members are providing the vegetables.

Sharon Rogers is donating melons and tangerines as an alternative starter.

And reporter Kat Wakefield will also be busy baking mince pies to round off the meal.

An army of volunteers is ready to go to the Ivo Day Centre on Christmas eve to prepare the vegetables and set the tables.

Ben and Chris White are co-ordinating transport – and the entertainment.

Chris said: “We are planning to have a good festive singalong, but would be interested to hear from anyone willing to give up a few minutes of Christmas day to entertain the guests.”

There are still a few places left for anyone who would like to join us at the party.

If you would like to book for the meal or could offer entertainment, call 01775 765415.

Members of the public and representatives from organisations can now speak for, as well as against planning applications at meetings, it has been confirmed.

Revised guidelines which allow up to two speakers each to argue for and against planning applications for a period of three minutes each were unanimously agreed by South Holland District Council on Wednesday.

The change has been made after concerns that two of the speaking slots were being taken by applicants and their planning agents, rather than one or the other taking up one of the slots.

It is hoped the change will allow the public, parish councils and other groups to defend planning applications if they want to.

District councillors also agreed that the changes, along with all arrangements for public speaking at planning meetings, should be reviewed every two years in case of changes made by the Government.

Spalding Business Club is welcoming South Holland District Council deputy leader Nick Worth to its first meeting of 2015.

It takes place at Bookmark Spalding, The Crescent, on January 8 at 7am and entry is £8 which includes breakfast.

For more details, call Ken Maggs on 01775 711333.

A receptionist at a Spalding law firm has clocked up a quarter of a century of “loyal and friendly” service.

Donna Armstrong Taylor joined Chattertons Solicitors in Broad Street as a 16-year-old in August 1989 and has experienced a training scheme, promotion, maternity leave and several changes of name during her time at the law firm.

Colleagues claimed tha Donna has worked in “almost every office in the building” and the mum-of-three was recognised for her 25 years with Chattertons when she was presented with tickets for a family break by senior partner Peter Lawson.

“Donna’s enthusiasm for her job has made her a success in every department that has had the pleasure of working with her and we are very pleased to have such a loyal and friendly member of staff at the firm,” Mr Lawson said.

“We wish her all the luck in what we hope will be her next 25 years with us.”

Three television sets are among items stolen after a break-in out a bungalow in Gedney Drove End.

They were amongst Christmas presents wrapped at the bungalow in Marsh Road which was burgled between noon and 5.30pm on Wednesday.

Police are looking for a 22-inch Samsung, 22-inch LG and a 39-inch JVC that were stolen during the burglary.

South Holland community policing inspector Jim Tyner said: “A burglary at this time of year is particularly heart-breaking for any family.”

Anyone with information should call Spalding CID on 101, quoting incident 418 of December 17.

You can also call Crimestoppers, in confidence, on 0800 555 111.

Primo Levi, the author and Auschwitz survivor wrote “monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous.

“More dangerous are the common men, the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.” 

The idea, that wickedness made routine will be unthinkingly accepted by ordinary people, was memorably summed up by Hannah Arendt, who after observing the trial of the Nazi Adolf Eichmann, coined the phrase “the banality of evil”.

The banal can deceive. The Nazi’s were, at first, discounted as merely clowns, frauds and thugs. Now, as then, those that clown –feigning bonhomie – whilst feeding despair and fuelling hate are the enemies of goodness.

Ultimately the idea that evil can be banal is a dangerous cliché that has enabled many to overlook the true meaning of the Holocaust.

Historians have now systematically deconstructed the comforting notion that monsters like Eichmann were merely simple men, incapable of comprehending their actions.

The distinguished historian, Michael Burleigh, has documented gratuitous acts of cruelty by Eichmann and others involved in the Holocaust.

As the great author Saul Bellow wrote in his masterpiece ‘Mr Sammler’s Planet’: “Do you think the Nazi’s didn’t know what murder was? Everybody knows what murder is... The best and purest human beings, from the beginning of time, have understood that life is sacred.”

Only by embracing our own humanity can we really grasp the horror of the Holocaust, and so comprehend the evil of which men are capable.

The Holocaust Education Trust works to raise awareness and understanding of these terrible events so that they will never be repeated, its Outreach Programme supports visits to schools and colleges by Holocaust survivors, such as the visit of Harry Bibring to Gleed School last week.

Harry was lucky enough to escape Vienna as part of the Kindertransport, the great evacuation of Jewish Children following the devastation of Kristallnacht.

That immigration rules were waved and emergency measures put in place by the British Government to help thousands of children to escape should remind us that we always have the chance to do the right thing; to make the choice between good and evil.

Two well loved Spalding vets are bidding farewell to the town this week.

Suzhy and V from Vetsavers in the town are moving on to pastures new following three years at the veterinary practice.

During their time in Spalding, they have seen new clients join them, much loved pets who have said goodbye and new lives with endless puppies and kittens registering.

But now it is time for them to say goodbye, and they will be heading off to Worksop.

Suzhy said: “Sadly I lost my father suddenly in September this year.

“My dad was my idol and everything I did at Spalding I did to make him proud.

“The owner of the veterinary group really is the most amazing person, and when he heard of my loss he offered me the opportunity to open a new branch of Vetsavers.

“The new branch is located in Worksop and means that I can commute daily and will still be around for my mum.”

The pair built up the practice together, and it was officially opened in February 2012, so it made sense for the two of them to do the same in their new practice.

Suzhy said: “The deal was that both V and I had to re-
locate together as a proven.

“After lengthy discussions the transfer was agreed.

“In my time at Spalding we have had staff come and go, but none as committed as Nikki who joined us in June this year.

“Nikki has become my right hand lady in so many aspects in running the branch and, although I will miss working with her very much, our clients are delighted that she will remain and run the branch”

Clients were able to go along to the practice last week to meet new vet Matthew, who has carefully been selected to take over from V.

Suzhy, who along with V, completes her last day at the practice tomorrow, said: “I have really enjoyed my time at Spalding and I know V has too.

“As many of you know, I have written a weekly column for this newspaper offering advice on your pets for the last year and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing so. We will both miss the practice and everything and everyone associated with it.”

A man and woman have received hospital treatment after a crash between a motorbike and car in Weston on Thursday.

It happened at the junction of the A151 and High Road where a man riding a Honda motorcycle collided with a Volkswagen Polo at about 5.20pm.

The motorcyclist, a 47-year-old man from Thurlby, was taken to Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, with facial injuries.

An 83-year-old woman from Norfolk who was driving the Polo was treated in hospital for shock.

Spalding United footballer Lewis Webb (25) has been jailed for eight weeks after being sentenced for drink driving while disqualified.

Webb appeared at Peterborough Magistrates Court on December 1, just two days after scoring for the Tulips in their 2-0 win at Sheffield-based Stocksbridge Park Steels.

The Spalding United player-coach was jailed for driving a motor vehicle when the amount of alcohol in his breath was above the legal limit, driving whilst disqualified and without insurance.

Webb, who committed the offences on the same day as the win over Stocksbridge (November 29), was also banned from driving for three years.

ON THE BEAT: By Inspector Jim Tyner

‘Twas the night before Christmas.

In the distance I could hear church bells tolling midnight, but I wasn’t feeling very festive. I was lying on my back on the pavement in Holbeach High Street. On top of me was the man I had just arrested. On top of him were three or four burly cops in a tangle of arms and legs. How did I always end up on the bottom of the pile? My story starts much earlier in the evening.

Like most cops, I’ve worked for more Christmas Eves than I care to remember. Mostly I’ve been on a late shift or night shift. Looking back, this must have been difficult for my children when they were growing up, but we usually managed to keep the traditions of Christmas, working around my shifts.

I was on a late shift, due to finish at three on Christmas morning. This was OK: it would give me the chance to have a few hours sleep before the children got up to open their Christmas presents. As part of our family tradition I read one of our favourite books to my daughter: ‘Cops and Robbers’ by Janet and Alan Ahlberg. This lovely story of brave Pc Pugh saving the kids’ toys on Christmas Eve contains the memorable refrain ‘Ho Ho for the robbers, the cops and the robbers, Ho Ho’ and was always a family favourite before I went to work on Christmas Eve.

So, after the story has been read and Christmas wishes given, off I went to work. The Christmas Eve shift always starts well: people are generally good natured and cheery good wishes are offered as you pass people in the street. I spent the first half of the shift on foot patrol in Spalding town centre and there were no incidents of note. By 11:30 the streets had emptied and people had either made their way home or to the pub of their choice.

It’s funny how one simple decision can have unforeseen consequences. I had a lot of paperwork to do. This would be a sensible time to get the paperwork done: that would’ve been the sensible choice. Instead I decided to go to Holbeach to see the cops on duty there.

Just as I was arriving in Holbeach, the police radio crackled with the report of a fight that had occurred at a nearby pup. The culprit had run off and a description was passed over the radio. As I was travelling along the High Street I glanced to my left. There was a man running along the pavement. He matched the description so I drove a little ahead and got out of the police car to head him off. I was expecting a struggle, but to my surprise the man stopped at my request. He was very drunk and although he had stopped he wasn’t exactly cooperative. While keeping the man talking, I was at the same time using my police radio to try and get more information from officers who had arrived at the pub. Had there been an assault? Was the victim making a formal complaint? Were there any further details about the culprit? At this time I still couldn’t be certain that I had got the right man.

The man told me his name, but denied that he had been at the pub. As the seconds ticked by while I waited for an update, he was getting increasingly pugnacious. Then I got confirmation: the landlord had been assaulted and was making a formal complaint. The landlord had named the culprit, but that wasn’t the name of the person I had stopped. One of the cops at the pub knew the person who had been named, so he came from the pub to where I was. As the cop and his team-mates pulled up alongside us the man glanced at the police van. There was a look of dawning recognition on the man’s face. He had given me a false name and realised that he was about to be rumbled.

The man started to push past me, making his escape. I grabbed hold of his left arm but his impetus was too strong. I didn’t let go, but this meant that as he barrelled past, I fell backwards. As I was still clinging to his arm the momentum of me falling to the ground pulled the man backwards, so that he landed backwards on top of me in a most undignified heap. As I hit the ground I felt a sharp pain as I banged my elbow.

My colleagues were out of their van in seconds and dived on top of the man to prevent him getting away. And that’s how I ended up on my back on the pavement in Holbeach High Street. Lying there, as the midnight bells were tolling, I couldn’t get the refrain out of my head: ‘Ho Ho for the robbers, the cops and the robbers, Ho Ho’.

The man was arrested and taken away. I returned to Spalding Police Station to write my statement and arrest report. By the time I had finished my statement and then completed some necessary reviews of people that were in custody across three police stations, it was 5:30am. So much for getting off at 3am! By this time the pain in my elbow was getting worse.

I finished work and got home to a hushed house. Santa had visited and there were Christmas presents under the tree. Santa must have been too busy for the glass of brandy and mince pie that had been left out for him, so I helped myself and climbed jadedly in to bed.

A few short hours later I was woken by excited squeals as the kids discovered Santa had visited. I couldn’t bend my elbow and the pain was excruciating. There was only one thing for it and Christmas was put on hold while I visited the Casualty Department. I was seen really quickly and an X-Ray showed I had chipped my elbow and had a splinter of floating bone causing the painful movement. I didn’t need a cast, but did need a sling to restrict movement.

I returned home to enjoy some family time and a lovely Christmas lunch prepared by the ever-patient Mrs T. Unfortunately, I was due on duty on late shift on Christmas Day. I didn’t want to phone in sick, as this would mean that one of my inspector colleagues would have to work instead and there was no point ruining someone else’s Christmas. So I spent the shift in the office, in charge but out of harms way.

It wasn’t the greatest Christmas but, like all police families, we made the most of it and still found some festive family time.

Like many of my colleagues, I will be working again this Christmas Eve. Police families across South Holland will be having Christmas celebrations while their loved ones are working. I would like to wish all those working a safe Christmas and would like to send special Christmas wishes to all our police families.

Ho Ho for the robbers, the cops and the robbers, Ho Ho

Detectives have paid tribute to the victims of a sexual predator from Bourne now serving a 14-year jail term.

Phillip Belcher (49) of Stephenson Way was sentenced at Lincoln Crown Court last Monday at the end of a “harrowing case for everyone involved”, according to Detective Sergeant Claire Hammond of Lincolnshire Police’s Public Protection Unit.

Belcher, who was arrested in July, charged and kept in custody, admitted separate rape and sexual assault charges on girls aged under 13, taking indecent images of a child and inciting a girl aged under 13 to take part in sexual activity.

As well as the 14-year jail term, Belcher was also placed on extended licence for another eight years meaning that he is at risk of being sent back to prison until 2036.

Det Sgt Hammond said: “This was a harrowing case for everyone involved but the victims have shown great strength and bravery in standing up to ensure Belcher is brought to justice for these offences.

“Experienced detectives have been moved by the strength of the victims and their families, along with the traumatic nature of Belcher’s offending.

“This case was not straightforward due to the vast areas of the country that the offending had occurred over a sustained period.

“Lincolnshire Police will support all victims by listening and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to speak out against this type of offending, immaterial of when or where this has happened.

“We hope this conviction demonstrates that anyone offending against children will be brought to justice.”

Elderly people living alone in the Long Sutton area can have a free Christmas dinner on Tuesday.

If you are going to be on your own this Christmas – or know someone who is – please call Long Sutton Conservative Club on 01406 362322, which is opening its doors to a community group laying on the dinner.

Transport can be arranged for those who need a lift.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “It’s for people on their own this Christmas who might want to get together with a few others for a meal and to enjoy some company.”

There are 30 places at the dinner, which starts at midday.”

A drug addict who admitted possessing over a kilo of cannabis was given a suspended jail sentence.

Ricky Moore (24), of Pinchbeck, was caught with the drugs after police executed a search warrant at his girlfriend’s home in Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping.

Lincoln Crown Court heard officers found 373 grams of cannabis in the living room. It was contained in various carrier bags and a box within a shoebox.

A further 653 grams of cannabis was discovered in the roof of an outhouse, the court was told. The court heard over £640 in cash was also seized from various locations in the premises along with a set of digital kitchen scales.

Moore later admitted the cannabis found in the living room was his but insisted he was being paid £100 to look after the larger quantity of cannabis found in the outhouse.

Andrew Scott, prosecuting, said: “He had two separate roles. He was operating with his own cannabis in a modest way. The other drugs would not be sold directly to the street, he was looking after it for someone else.”

Chris Jeyes, mitigating, told the court Moore had been addicted to cannabis for a decade and had been subjected to an element of intimidation.

“The majority of the cannabis seized was that he was looking after for a third party,” Mr Jeyes said. “He is not somebody making a living out of drug dealing.

“He accepts a proportion of the cannabis in the living room would have been sold to subsidise his own use, although he would have used some himself.”

Mr Jeyes added that Moore had suffered the recent death of his mother and his girlfriend was expecting their child in January.

Moore, of Port House, Pinchbeck, admitted possessing 1,026 grams of cannabis following the raid on May 9 this year.

He was sentenced to 20 months’ imprisonment suspended for 18 months. He was also placed under the supervision of a probation officer for 12 months and must carry out 200 hours of unpaid work in the community.

Passing sentence Recorder John Butterfield QC told him: “The value of the drugs was somewhere in the region of £7,290.”

Lincolnshire County Council has promised to replace a faulty valve in a street drain a year after river water from the Nene gushed into Lime Street at Sutton Bridge.

The village escaped serious flooding in the tidal surge on December 5 last year as the river banks held firm.

But water cascaded out through the drain on West Bank and into Lime Street.

Environment Agency workers put sandbags on top of the drain to stem the flow and the parish council has been trying ever since to have the drain repaired.

The drain was designed to allow excess water from the street to go into the river – but “flaps” were found to be jammed on the night of the surge and river water flowed into the street.

Sutton Bridge Parish Council heard on Tuesday that the county council has gone to a specialist contractor who will install a new valve by the end of February.

Parish council chairman Coun John Grimwood said: “I think the problem with the existing valve is a lack of maintenance.”