The Lincolnshire grower who delivered emergency supplies to farmers affected by last year’s Somerset floods wants to form a fully fledged farm charity.
Forage Aid founder Andrew Ward has launched a major fundraising drive ahead of an application for full charity status in early 2015.
Andrew said the charity would not be about providing free feed on an ad hoc basis, but would be available to provide immediate help to farmers in any emergency.
Farmers are being warned to adhere more closely to health and safety initiatives after it emerged that 31 people were killed in farming accidents this year.
The NFU and CLA both issued appeals after the figures were released.
More than 4,000kg of potatoes processed at Sutton Bridge was used to help feed thousands of homeless people over the festive period.
A total of 4,263kg of potatoes was donated to Crisis at Christmas by Produce World.
The company supplied a massive veg box which included 1,059kg of carrots, 1,500kg of red cabbage as well as large quantities of broccoli, savoy cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, onions, parsnips and Brussels sprouts.
In addition, the Produce World Group has donated five tonnes of carrots to FareShare, a charity that helps to provide food to UK households living in ‘deep poverty’.
Members of staff at the Sutton Bridge site have also organised raffle draws to raise money for Cancer Research UK and Diabetes UK.
A company spokesman said: “Working at Produce World isn’t just about the impact on the bottom line. It’s also about having a positive impact on the local community.”
The NFU has issued an urgent appeal to people not to release sky lanterns during tomorrow night’s celebrations.
As part of the NFU’s Love Your Countryside campaign, the public is being reminded of the huge risks they pose.
Evidence has shown that the frames of lanterns can harm or even kill farm animals if they are ingested. That fields of standing crops and buildings are at significant risk of being set alight. Finally, the littering they create is a big problem.
NFU deputy president Minette Batters said: “We realise these lanterns can be quite spectacular but our members know how dangerous they can be. They can harm and even kill farm animals, cause fires to crops and bales of hay and stray.”
A Moulton Eaugate rare breed pig keeper has welcomed the arrival of a litter of Gloucester Old Spot-Tamworth crosses.
The piglets were 11 days old when our photographer Tim Wilson took this image.
Julie Watkins, of Cranberry Farm, said ten piglets were in the litter, though one was stillborn and the runt of the brood died the next day.
Julie’s 19-year-old daughter Emily arrived home from nurse training for the Christmas holiday to find the farm’s eight new additions to the farm.
Julie has been keeping pigs since she moved into the farm last year, as well as turkeys and sheep.
She experimented with Large Whites and Berkshires, and says the latter were very nice, but a little bit fatty.
Julie says: “I did a little bit of research because I wanted an all rounder and the Gloucester Old Spot is renowned for quality meat and the Tamworth for its bacon so I decided to get a combination of both, which is what I managed to source.”
The pigs were brought on to the farm earlier this year, the boar from a different litter to the sows so they could mate.
Some of the piglets will be sold at eight weeks old, and whatever isn’t sold will be kept to fatten up.
One sow will also go into the breeding stock to keep producing more piglets.
Julie says: “Gloucester Old Spots and Tamworths are rare breeds and I do like the rare breeds rather than the Large Whites. We like that Gloucester Old Spot-Tamworth combination. We like the meat and it makes nice bacon and pork joints.”
In the meantime, the piglets have got eight weeks of being fed by their mother, as well as being offered a feed of small pellets.
Community Policing Inspector for South Holland Jim Tyner has been awarded the award for Best Individual Tweeting Officer at the Police End of the Year Twitter Awards.
Jim was nominated for the award by his Twitter followers, most of whom are South Holland residents.
He said: “I’m incredibly surprised to have won. Many nominations have come from people in South Holland which I am really pleased about. I use Twitter to reach the people of this area and this proves that I am doing just that.”
Jim began using the social networking website last year and says that it has certainly been more beneficial to his work than detrimental.
He said: “Twitter is great for getting information out quickly. For example, when there is a road collision we can let people know. I use humour when it’s appropriate, but I also use facts every day when I post about the crimes that have happened over the past 24 hours.
“People didn’t really know what to think of the idea at first, but I’ve had people come up to me who have seen that officers have been on patrol where they live, while they have been at work, via Twitter and they have been really pleased.”
Following his win, Jim was congratulated by many people, even someone from the Netherlands, but he is most pleased to hear from people in our area. “It’s lovely to hear from people all across the globe – that is the beauty of Twitter as anyone can follow you from anywhere in the world – but the messages that mean the most come from people in South Holland.
“This just shows that for a rural county, we can still use modern ways to reach the people we look after.”
Other winners from Lincolnshire were the Lincolnshire Police Dog Unit, the Lincolnshire Police Special Unit and PCSO Dave Bunker from Skegness.
Guests enjoying the party at the Ivo Day Centre in Spalding, with volunteers in the background. SG251214-113TW
However, they were very wrong. Guest Jean Sanderson said: “I don’t miss anything, but it was a wonderful meal. The volunteers did an amazing job.”
Within minutes of the Free Press offices opening yesterday, another guest, Robert Wade (94), popped in to say “thank you”. Mr Wade said: “It was so kind of all of the volunteers to give up their time so we could have a nice party on Christmas Day. They deserve a big thank you.”
The meal was provided for free thanks to donations from Simpsons butchers, who donated turkeys and pigs in blankets, NFU members who gave fresh vegetables, West Lode Fisheries who donated prawns, Sharon Rogers who gave melons and tangerines for an alternative starter, Sainsbury’s who donated Christmas puddings, sparkling fruit juice and accessories for the meal, the Lincolnshire Poacher who donated sherry, Beverley Mackey who made two fresh trifles, Valerie Waller who baked a two-tier Christmas cake and our reporter Kat Wakefield also baked some mince pies for the guests.
Decorations were donated by Baytree Garden Centre of Weston, a real Christmas tree for the party room, decorations and mince pies were given by Spalding Lifestyle and Garden Centre and Butters donated poinsettia plants. The daughter of guest Valerie Macgregor donated festive tablecloths, serviettes and crackers. A donation was also made by Coun Gary Taylor.
Volunteer Chris White, who organised the transport with husband Ben, said: “We were overwhelmed by the generosity of the town and the volunteers who came along on the day.
“The Christmas meal was amazing in spite of the challenges the volunteers in the kitchen had to overcome.
“It was a lovely social occasion and everyone should be feeling very proud.”
Robert West, of the Ivo Day Centre, was delighted the event went well.
He said: “We feel terrible the cooker broke down but are so pleased the venue was successful. We’d love you to come back again next year.”
The Free Press and Spalding Guardian would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who supported the event and pulled together to make it a success.
You are all amazing!
A road on one of the major commuter and school bus routes into Spalding will close on Tuesday – the day children return to school.
Lincolnshire County Council is closing Church Street, Pinchbeck, the road where St Mary’s stands, for “essential” roadworks unless there’s bad weather.
A council spokesman said the authority tried to get the work done on an earlier date, but had to wait for contractors to be available.
The work involves patching the carriageway.
The council says bus companies have been told and they are making minor changes to their routes.
Diversion routes are via the B1356, A152 link road, A16 and B1180 Wardentree Lane.
The council has apologised for any disruption caused.
UPDATE TUESDAY 4.45PM: A 16-year-old boy has been remanded into local authority care after appearing in court today on a charge of murdering Warren Free of Spalding.
The boy, who can’t be named for legal reasons, is the sixth teenager to be charged with the murder of Mr Free (42) who died following an attack at his home on August 28.
In a case heard at Lincoln Crown Court this afternoon, the boy was also accused of perverting the course of justice by disposing of an iron bar alleged to have been used during the attack on Mr Free.
Judge Michael Heath ordered that the boy should be banned from going into South Holland, unless under local authority supervision, and imposed a nine-hour curfew on him between 9pm and 6am.
The boy is due to appear again at Lincoln Crown Court in February, along with five other teenagers who were previously charged with Mr Free’s murder.
They include two 15-year-old girls, along with three boys aged 14,15 and 17.
Detectives launched a murder inquiry afer Mr Free was attacked at in Coronation Close, Spalding, four months ago.
He was airlifted to Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, with a serious head injury which is alleged to have been caused by being kicked and struck with an iron bar, but Mr Free died in the early hours of August 29.
TUESDAY 10.45AM: Detectives have this morning charged a sixth youth in connection with the death of 42-year-old Warren Free after an attack at his Spalding home four months ago.
The boy is due to appear before Lincoln magistrates this morning and then at appear at Lincoln Crown Court later today.
So far, two 15-year-old girls and four boys aged between 14 and 17 have been charged with murder after Mr Free’s death in hospital on August 29.
Five youths, three of whom appeared in court last month and the other two who were in court two weeks ago, are currently in the care of the local authority until they appear again at Lincoln Crown Court in February.
A seventh youth, another boy, arrested in connection with the case is to have no further police action taken against him.
Stars of the kitchen revealed their cake-making prowess in Thomas Cowley High School’s Christmas Bake Off.
Celebrity judges Rob Hammond and Sally Elkington, both from Lincs FM, had a really tough time choosing the best because the standards of baking were so high.
Overall winners were Jess Algar, who made a cupcake wreath, and Amber Morgan, who designed, baked and decorated a stunning three tiered cake.
Both pupils were presented with certificates and a Great British Bake Off cook book to inspire them further.
Winners of the Christmas treats categories were Elizabeth Vines, who made a mince pie nativity scene, Jess Algar and teaching assistant Miss Bannister.
In the pupils’ traditional cakes competition, the Year 7 heat was won by Rachel Gibbs, who made an igloo cake complete with fondant penguins playing with snowballs.
The adult traditional cakes competition was won by parent Mrs Trinder, who also designed an igloo featuring penguins.
Novelty cake section winners were Zuzanna Magieria and Amber Morgan. The winning entry from a parent was by Mrs Inglis.
The standard of competition was excellent in the gingerbread section. A special award went to Emily Palmer, for her gingerbread house while the winners were Joe Prince, who made an Eiffel Tower, and Megan Bean with her sleigh, reindeer and toys.
Children at Shepeau Stow Primary School put on an exhibition of their autumn term activities.
There were all kinds of projects on display, including family trees, Norman castles and Asian foods on display.
Headteacher Alison Buddle said: “The projects were all part of our work linked to the term’s various topics, across the two schools in our federation, including Asia, Knights and Castles, All About Me and The Stone Age.
“It is the first time we have given the children a project to complete over the course of a term.
“Parents were asked to work with their children on the projects and given a date for them to be back in school ready for judging and we then awarded winners during an assembly for parents.”
Youngsters from a community music club put on a performance to mark the end of the year.
Scarlet Community Music Club, which is made up of children from all over South Holland, performed Glint of Gold to the audience at Quadring Village Hall.
The play is based on Howard Carter’s famous discovery of Tutankahmun’s tomb, and teaches the audience all about hieroglyphs, Queen Hatshepsut, Egyptian society, the gods and pyramids.
The club, which is a non- profit organisation, was set up in 2004 and delivers music workshops to children in the area. Under the direction of Liz Lenton, who produced and directed the show, the children put on a performance with over 25 each playing a specific role, such as Howard Carter himself and several hieroglyphs who help to tell the story by coming to life in order to teach the audience about Ancient Egypt.
Before the show, entertainment was delivered by special guests Choir Vibe, the South Holland Contemporary Community Youth Club, who are also led by professional musician, agent and performer Liz.
Talented students and staff outshone the tinsel when Thomas Cowley High School at Donington leapt into the world of showbiz on the last day of term.
It was a chance for everyone to let their hair down after a very busy and hardworking term – although the judges were left with some very difficult decisions to make after watching a parade of gifted people on stage.
Winners at the annual talent show were –
Best solo: Aleisha Hancock (trumpet)
Best group: Liam Kelly and Adam Spenceley
Most Promise: Carla Atkinson and Phoebe Goddard
Ellie Livesey, from the school, said: “Over 40 students and staff took part in a fantastic show, which clearly shows that Thomas Cowley certainly does have talent.
“We had musical acts including Jingle Bells played by the duo Gypsey and Chloe – if Madonna doesn’t need a surname neither do these two – on their trumpets.
“Aleisha Hancock treated us to a rendition of The Pink Panther theme on her trumpet too. Jay Hughes in Year 9 serenaded us with his take on ‘Ain’t No Sunshine’ by Bill Withers and Hope Reed, a Year 8 student, treated us to ‘Beautiful’ by James Blunt.”
Among other performances was Year 7 student Lily Phoenix singing the Meghan Trainor hit “Dear Future Husband” and duo Abbie Schweikhardt and Ariane Fleuriot with “Radioactive” by Imagine Dragons.
The show was kicked off in style by a quartet of teaching assistants, Mrs White, Miss Bannister, Mrs Nunn and Mrs Andrews, with their take on the Band Aid anthem, “Do They Know It’s Christmas?”
The show was compered by some members of the senior student team, head boy Misha Murdoch, head girl Sally Austin and deputy head students Zoe Elderfield, Ewan Dixon and Lucas Inglis.
A growing number of frontline ambulance personnel are going off sick with stress in the East Midlands Ambulance (EMAS) Trust, which covers South Holland.
EMAS has accepted that the “traumatic incidents” its staff attend can cause increased levels of stress and has put measures in place to help its crews cope.
Figures released following a freedom of information (FOI) request show that 61 crew members were off work with stress in the 2013/14 financial year.
Numbers of staff off with stress in the past few years were: 37 in 2012/13, 31 in 2011/12 and 36 in 2010/11.
A trust spokesman said: “The health and wellbeing of our staff is an absolute priority and we recognise that the role of our frontline clinicians can be physically demanding and the traumatic incidents they respond to can cause increased levels of stress.
“We offer a wide range of help facilities for colleagues including a staff support network, PAM Assist (a 24/7 phone line for staff support), chaplaincy support and a new informal support service amongst colleagues called Peer 2 Peer.”
EMAS paramedic Kev Charles, the service’s chaplain, is leading on Peer 2 Peer.
He said: “Over 80 staff have now signed up to join the programme.
“They will receive training on coping methods, having a good listening ear and how to signpost colleagues to specialist services.
“Staff often provide support to each other and this programme will help those with an interest to develop the skills needed to help colleagues who are experiencing personal or work-related stress.”
UPDATE WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 31 5.30PM: A 28-year-old man is set to appear in court next month on a charge of drink-driving after being stopped by police on the A16 in Crowland yesterday.
Lukasz Cierpka of Peterborough is due before Boston magistrates on January 28 charged with driving while having excess alcohol in his breath.
In a separate case, a 54-year-old man charged with drink driving after he was arrested on the A16 in Kirton is to be sentenced on February 11.
Stasys Krisciunas was given an interim driving ban by Lincoln magistrates on Monday after admitting to driving while being more than three times over the legal alcohol limit.
A roadside breath test showed Krisciunas to have had 113 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath when the legal alcohol limt is 35 microgrammes.
The case was adjourned for a probation report and Krisciunas was given conditional bail until the next hearing to be held at Boston Magistrates Court.
MONDAY DECEMBER 29 12.40PM: A 25-year-old man has been charged with drink driving after being arrested in Alexandra Road, Spalding, two days before Christmas.
Michael Hornick is due to appear before Boston magistrates on January 21 2015 accused of driving with excess alcohol in his breath.
It is alleged that at the time of the offence, Hornick’s alcohol level was 70 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.
The legal alcohol limit is 35 microgrammes per 100 millilitres of breath.
So far, 37 people have been charged with drink driving by Lincolnshire Police since the launch of its Christmas campaign on December 1.
County councillors have offered support to Pilgrim Hospital – but warn there must be changes for the better.
At Lincolnshire County Council’s full meeting on Friday, Coun Alison Austin asked members, in particular leader Martin Hill, to offer a statement to United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust following motions by two district councils on the subject.
She said although she realised the authority did not have direct responsibility for the hospital, she thought it could ‘wield considerable influence’. Coun Hill told Coun Austin that the authority had supported Boston ‘in many ways’ and would continue to do so.
He said the councillor was right to stress that the council did not have direct control over health services but added: “It will support the continuation of Boston hospital and the continuation of A&E services there. We are aware there’s a great need and the hospital is currently overcrowded.”
However, he said: “We do not support that ‘nothing can change’ and the way to support hospital services that are safe and sustainable is to make sure things can change such that that can happen.”
Coun Chris Brewis, county councillor for Sutton Elloe, said: “I am vigilant in defending hospital services for the benefit of local people and I am against the removal of acute services from Boston Pilgrim Hospital.
“That doesn’t mean to say that things don’t have to change for the better. I know that GPs and social workers are already working more closely together to relieve pressure on acute services.
“The most important thing is that people have access to safe and sustainable services, near where they live.”
Coun Chris Pain also put a question to Coun Sue Woolley, about the ‘scurrilous rumours being spread about Pilgrim Hospital’, asking her to give reassurances.
Coun Woolley agreed with his use of the word ‘scurrilous’ - saying people could be frightened by reports.
She said the county council had been working with health organisations over the last year and that it would continue to do so to reassure councillors’ commitment to ‘have first class and safe services and for those services to be provided for those living in Boston borough... provided by Boston hospital’.
The news comes after the hospital trust revealed 964 people visited the Pilgrim’s A&E in the first week of December alone. Across the whole trust the figure was 3,041.
Of those, 77 people were at the hospital for more than four hours, with 560 emergency admissions.
Plans for decorative gates to be commissioned for the new burial ground at Sutton Bridge have gone back to the drawing board.
Parish councillors were asked to support Transported in the commissioning of the gates, but councillors were worried about the potential cost.
Coun Phil Scarlett said: “If they are going to cost £21,000, wherever they are coming from, I am not sure it’s value for money.”
Coun Vicky Hills, who has led the parish council project to provide the burial ground, said: “If we are going to have a new garden of rest, the gates will be there for perpetuity.
“They are going to be huge gates – the gateway is about 5.1m wide.
“It will be a work of art and Transported are putting up 50 per cent of their own money.”
Councillors heard the plan was to have a shortlist of five to create designs for the gates, but members decided to look at alternative options to see if they could come up with something cheaper.
Coun Hills said the gates should be attractive and “stand out”.
Coun Scarlett said: “I do agree. It wants to be something we are proud of.”
Another councillor, Simon Booth, told the meeting: “If we end up getting someone local to do it, I am sure they will do it cheaper than £20,000.”
Members deferred the issue for a re-think at the January parish council meeting.
The council was also asked to consider applying for grants from Grange Wind Farm and Sutton Bridge Power Station Fund to help meet the cost of the work, but that too was deferred.
The burial ground will go on three acres of land at Fields Farm North, off Bridge Road, and is being brought forward by the parish council because St Matthew’s Church is running out of grave spaces.
The plans have already made headlines because 30 double-sized plots will go close to the road so undertakers don’t have too far to carry overweight people who have died.
Coun Hills said the plots were requested by undertakers.
In an interview with this newspaper, she said: “I think in today’s climate obesity is becoming more of a problem. They will cost more money because we are going to have double plots. It’s the result of people not being responsible for their weight, basically.”
The burial ground is designed to last 100 years and it will include general graves, children’s graves and an area for interment of ashes.
The site is about a mile from the church and has a bus stop outside as well as car access.
A £60,000 investment is to be made towards developing up to eight new business units in Crowland to bring new firms into the town.
Work on designing the units on just under an acre of land in Crease Drove has been given the go-ahead by South Holland District Council so that planning permission can be sought as soon as possible.
Interest in the units from several firms was revealed at a meeting this month when it was agreed that £60,000, or 16 per cent, of a £365,000 fund for the Crease Drove industrial estate could be used on the project.
A report prepared for the meeting by the council’s senior economic development officer Nigel Birch said: “In 2009, South Holland District Council successfully applied for funding to purchase three acres of allocated employment land at Crease Drove, Crowland.
“Further funding was successfully applied for to allow the development of one acre and six units were built, allowing two businesses to move in and the other four units to be taken up.
“Two half-acre plots of land and two of the completed units were then sold, with the capital receipts being ring-fenced for further economic development at Crease Drove.
“The council still owns just under one acre of land and it is proposed to progress a project up to the stage of obtaining planning permission for up to eight units, to include completing the detailed design and finalising the project budget.”
During the meeting, councillors questioned the amount of investment needed and the demand for the planned units.
Crowland district councillor Brian Alcock said: “I’d be delighted if we were able to develop the remaining part of it (Crease Drove industrial estate).
“But my concern is that £60,000 is a bit much to spend in getting to the planning stage and what likelihood is there that businesses will come forward for the units?”
The report said: “The council’s existing business units at Horseshoe Yard, Crowland, are fully let and two businesses are utilising two units each due to there being no larger units in the town for them to expand into.
“The construction of new units (in Crease Drove) would facilitate the expansion of these two businesses and, at the same time, free up the existing business units they currently occupy for new start-up businesses.
A pre-Christmas purge of crime in Spalding town centre has ended with 14 arrests and four people being fined.
Operation Washer, which ran for 24 days from December 1 to Christmas Eve, saw police clock up just over 320 hours of patrols on foot and bicycle.
Eight people were arrested on suspicion of shoplifting and another for breaching a dispersal notice.
South Holland community policing inspector Jim Tyner said: “Throughout the operation, we received really positive feedback from businesses, traders and shoppers.”
A man denies four breaches of a restraining order by sending text messages to his estranged wife, Mandy, within days of the court order being imposed.
Darren Goodwin (46), of The Chase, Pinchbeck, appeared at Boston Magistrates’ Court today when he was remanded in custody to appear before Lincoln magistrates on Thursday, January 8.
Magistrates heard the restraining order was imposed on December 17 to stop him from contacting Mrs Goodwin.
Goodwin has pleaded not guilty to sending her a text on each one of four days – December 21, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and December 27.