CHILDREN who attend Cowbit Primary School always leave behind a memory when they move on to big school, and this year’s is going to be eye-catching.

The 11 Year 6 children, helped by one or two pupils from Year 5, decorated a large model of a cow with 3D decopatch on Friday and wrote messages on the animal’s legs as a lasting memorial to their time at the school, as did two teachers who are also leaving.

Meanwhile, children at the after-school club have decorated two large giraffes with the paper patchwork pieces, so the school will have three animals to varnish and put on display for future schoolchildren to enjoy, such as the ten pupils joining the school in September.

Artist Angela Nicholls worked on the project with the children.

A VILLAGE pre-school has accused councillors of putting the future of a building above the education of children after they voiced concerns about plans for its new purpose-built centre.

Moulton Harrox Pre-School is hoping permission will be given for an extension at the village school so it can move from its existing home at the village hall.

As well as catering for pre-school children, it hopes the new building would allow it to offer a breakfast, after-school and holiday club for primary school age children.

But at a meeting of Moulton Parish Council last week, members agreed to object to the proposals for fear of the Victorian-era village hall falling into disrepair and being lost if the pre-school moved out, saying the pre-school already has a suitable building.

Karen Seekins and Yvonne Fones, joint owners of the pre-school, claim the 12-year-old village hall is not suitable as it does not have “free-flow” outdoor space and children have to cross a busy car park to access its outside play area.

They also say the new building on the John Harrox Primary School site would improve safety for youngsters as they would not need to leave the school premises to access the after-school club.

They said: “We would question Moulton Parish Council’s knowledge and understanding of the childcare regulatory frameworks, in suggesting what is deemed to be a suitable building for an educational environment and whether a building should be given priority over our children’s education and welfare.”

A COWBIT man had his speeding fine cut after he enlisted the help of MP John Hayes in getting a court case reopened.

Michael Bremner (45), of Clarkson Avenue, was away working and unable to attend a course offered by police after he was caught doing 35mph in a 30mph limit.

He also never received a conditional offer – a chance to settle out of court.

The case went to court on July 7 last year when magistrates imposed a £175 fine, £60 costs, £15 victim surcharge and endorsed his licence with three points.

Spalding magistrates were told by their legal adviser on Thursday that Mr Hayes had written in support.

The case was reopened and the fine was cut to £60. There was no order for costs but the victim surcharge and points remain the same as before.

The court heard Bremner had always intended to plead guilty.

A SCHOOL still classed as ‘failing’ six years ago has completely turned the tables and been labelled ‘outstanding’ by the education inspectorate, Ofsted.

Pinchbeck East Primary School improved to ‘satisfactory’ in 2009.

Instead of making steady progress to the next rung on the ladder, which is ‘good’, the school made a meteoric rise to the top and was given an ‘outstanding’ rating across the board.

Headteacher Tom Verity said: “The school has climbed rapidly due to high quality teaching, leadership and excellent attitudes to learning by the pupils.

“The report highlighted that pupils are exceptionally polite and courteous, both to adults and each other. They are dedicated to their learning and support each other.”

Mr Verity said the ‘outstanding’ rating was down to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved, staff, governors, parents and children.

In a letter to pupils, Ofsted lead inspector Susan Hughes praised them for excellent behaviour in and around the school.

She continued: “Teaching is outstanding. Your teachers make sure that lessons are exciting and challenge you so that you make consistently good progress. Because of this, standards in your school are getting better every year.”

Ms Hughes praised the school’s excellent leadership and told pupils: “You can be proud of your school.”

Areas measured by Ofsted were: overall effectiveness, achievement of pupils, quality of teaching, behaviour and safety of pupils and leadership and management.

NETWORK Rail and British Transport Police have joined forces to tackle graffiti and rubbish at Spalding’s Steppingstone railway footbridge.

Despite a recent clean-up at the bridge following a campaign by South Holland district councillor Roger Gambba-Jones, which included repainting and the removal of a skip full of waste, Network Rail is worried the problem will recur unless action is taken.

Vicki Beadle, community safety manager for Network Rail, said: “People are using the railway as a dumping ground, which not only causes serious safety issues but also costs thousands of pounds to tackle – money better spent on improving the railway.”

Now the company is working with the British Transport Police (BTP) to look at ways of tackling the problem, while also calling for more bins on the area.

A BTP spokesman added: “Writing graffiti on the railway or fly-tipping on railway property is not a harmless pastime – it is nothing more than criminal damage, costing thousands of pounds to clean up and is something we take extremely seriously, actively seeking to catch and prosecute those who commit such crimes.”

Coun Gambba-Jones said he welcomed the news action is to be taken and said new bins were being installed and Community Payback teams were being used to clear up neighbouring areas.

STUDENTS from Long Sutton took a three-day voyage of discovery when they visited the scene of Nazi Germany’s most notorious crimes in Poland.

The Peele Community College humanities department took 23 GCSE history students on the trip which involved an extensive study of Krakow’s Jewish Quarter and Ghetto, the setting of Spielberg’s Schindler’s List, and guided tours of the concentration and death camps of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

History teacher Mark Twigge said: “It was a highly emotional experience that the students felt would stay with them for life.”

“For many the privilege of meeting 84-year-old Holocaust survivor, Pan Joseph, was the highlight.”

At 16 Joseph was involved in the Warsaw Uprising and was sent to Mauthausen concentration camp as punishment.

Starved, tortured, severely beaten and with his family all murdered, Joseph was only days away from death when American soldiers liberated the camp on May 5, 1945.

Student Miles Parsons said it had changed his views on his life, making him grateful for what he has while Emma Ketteringham said seeing what he went through made her life seem so much better.

Mr Twigge added: “Auschwitz-Birkenau evoked even more personal thoughts.

“Here were the rooms full of shoes and luggage left by those executed in cold blood, the cells where people starved to death, and the roll call yard with its gallows.

“Here were the tracks that saw the arrival of millions and the gas chambers where people were chillingly put to death.

“The students were deep in thought – there is little to say when faced with the unthinkable and all felt the weight of history on their shoulders.”

Year 11 student Chloe Chadwick said: “It feels like we are trespassing, but I also feel that it is everyone’s duty to come here and see what happened.”

Mr Twigge, himself a witness of genocide when he served as a soldier in Bosnia, said he thought this was the most difficult day of his life putting the scenes of 1995 into perspective.

Returning from the trip the students have made full use of their Facebook accounts.

For many of them the act of uploading their photos and being able to share their feelings with their friends has helped in coming to terms with the unspeakable horror of history.

They make a strong case that everyone should visit Auschwitz and understand what man is capable of.

Mr Twigge added: “The Peele Community College is immensely proud of the students that took part in this trip – both for their mature understanding and for their desire to face this type of learning.”

A MAN was punched outside a takeaway and then badly beaten in a group attack a short time later.

Franky McCarthy (18) admitted punching Adam Tidswell outside Hot And Spicy in Spalding’s New Road in the early hours of March 11.

He also admitted using threatening behaviour towards Mr Tidswell.

Magistrates heard the injury inflicted by McCarthy’s blow could not be assessed because Mr Tidswell received “numerous injuries” when attacked a short time later by unknown assailants in Pinchbeck Road.

McCarthy, of Cowbit Road, Spalding, was given a 16-week custodial sentence at a previous hearing for his involvement in a group attack on a different man – Jozef Medzansky – some time later on the morning of March 11.

For the attack on Mr Medzansky, McCarthy was also given a 12-month supervision order, a four-month 7pm-6pm curfew and 100 hours’ unpaid work.

Magistrates at Spalding on Thursday sentenced him to a second community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work.

Presiding magistrate Hildegard Carter said: “You will have gathered by the time we have taken in the retiring room that we taken this case very seriously.

“It may have been only one blow but any blow is a serious offence.”

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said CCTV images showed “friendly banter” between two groups of males in the takeway, but then McCarthy became aggressive.

Solicitor Mark Hudson, mitigating, said you could see on CCTV how the atmosphere changed.

He said McCarthy invited Mr Tidswell outside and “he was more than happy to go”.

Mr Hudson said: “He has stopped drinking since that night – it was March 11 – because it was drink that caused the problem in the first place.

“From this Monday he has got a job for the first time ever in his life.”

POLICE arrested a drunken man in Spalding’s Sheep Market after being called by toilet attendants, magistrates heard.

Officers found Krzysztof Marchlewski drinking from a bottle of lager in the entrance to the public loos on May 25.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said officers took his drink to dispose of it and warned him about swearing.

He then used the F-word four times, including once to describe Britain and once to describe the British people.

Marchlewski (42), of Severn Road, Spalding, was unrepresented in court and told magistrates he stopped drinking some time before the offence.

He was on tablets on the day but a friend gave him “a little bit to drink”.

Marchlewski apologised and told the court: “I have good relationships with English people.”

He was conditionally discharged for 12 months after pleading guilty to being drunk and disorderly. He must also pay £85 costs.

The court heard Marchlewski is currently on a supervision order for a previous offence.

Presiding magistrate Hildegard Carter said: “Don’t drink and take the tablets. The help is there for you. You can always get in touch with Addaction and they will help you as well.”

Marchlewski told the court he works at Adams meat factory on 5.30am-2pm shifts.

ALLEY Catz mascots Skittles and Pins were bowled over when they visited a Long Sutton school to see a science project.

Students at Peele Community College used bowling bowls to build a giant Newton’s Cradle in the school grounds.

The project was started after last year’s Year 11 science department visited the bowling alley in Spalding.

Bowling balls were donated by Alley Catz and students made the structure using recycled table legs and metal chain, with fixtures and fittings from BRT Bearings.

Work was finished by this year’s Year 11 and the structure – which is 2m high, 1.5m long and 1.2m wide, and includes seven 4kg bowling balls – involved students learning new metalworking skills and how to weld.

Teacher Mark Washbrook said: “Students had great fun doing it. It could be the largest in Britain – and we’ve also got some bits to extend it even further.”

THERE will be an election in Sutton Bridge to fill a vacancy on the parish council following the resignation of chairman Christopher Brandon-King.

Nomination papers should be submitted to the returning officer at South Holland District Council between June 22 and 29.

If more than one candidate is nominated the election will take place on Thursday, July 26.

A TOWN centre drinker grabbed a woman PCSO’s hand as she confiscated his can of lager because he didn’t have cash to buy more booze.

Anthony Holmes (31) was in Spalding’s Gore Lane car park when PCSO Bev Robinson and another officer approached at 1.50pm on May 24, Spalding magistrates heard.

Marie Stace, prosecuting, said Holmes grabbed PCSO Robinson’s hand as she took his drink.

The officer’s finger was trapped against the can, causing pain, but she had no lasting injury.

Holmes then threw abuse and used four letter words.

Miss Stace said there were other drinkers in the car park at the time and most threw their alcohol away.

She said Holmes later told police he didn’t throw his drink away because he thought it would be his last can of beer for a while.

Holmes, of Gosberton Road, Spalding, pleaded guilty to common assault and was sentenced to a year-long supervision order with an alcohol treatment order for six months.

He also admitted a public order matter arising from the incident and was given no separate penalty.

Solicitor Mike Alexander, mitigating, said: “The officer took the can out of Mr Holmes’s hand and he reacted in the way you have heard about, trying to grab the can back. He had no intention to harm her.

“It was the last can he had and he had no money to buy any more.”

A MAN has denied breaching a non-molestation order at Rippingale by making four phone calls to Karen Parker-Cooper.

Glen Cooper (45), of Lambehurst Road, Tunbridge Wells, had his case adjourned by Spalding magistrates on Thursday for a trial on August 30.

A NEW brick structure went up in Spalding’s Market Place on Thursday – and came down again later the same day.

The half a metre high brick wall was built in two to three hours by Level 2 bricklaying students at Boston College’s satellite centre, the Red Lion Quarter in Spalding, to highlight the vocational courses available to students in the town.

At the same time, Level 1 motor vehicle students were stripping and re-building engines, again to show the variety of practical options available to students.

The Level 1 motor vehicle students will progress to Level 2 programme while the Level 2 bricklayers can either go into industry or continue on the Level 3 course.

“We had quite a bit of interest,” said motor vehicle lecturer and centre co-ordinator Mandla Ndhlovu. “The demonstration raised awareness of the vocational courses in Spalding.”

WEDNESDAY: SPECIALIST teams rescued a horse from a water course this morning.

Crews from Spalding, Grantham and Lincoln North fire stations were called to a water course at Fleet Coy, Gedney Hill, at 10.55am.

A spokesman said following the rescue “the incident was left with the owner”.

AN INQUEST into the death of Quadring stock car driver Steve Newman was opened and adjourned at the coroner’s office in Bury St Edmunds on Tuesday.

Steve (37), of Town Drove, died in a race at Mildenhall on Saturday.

His trademark pink car hit the crash barrier and resulted in a pile-up during the Saloon Stock Car British Championship final.

The Health and Safety Executive has also launched an investigation.

As reported in Tuesday’s Lincolnshire Free Press, the crash was witnessed by Steve’s stock car driver cousin, Andi, who was competing in the same race.

Andi tried to rescue Steve from the car.

Steve’s eight-year-old son Billy was at the trackside and witnessed the crash, but was ushered from the scene as rescue attempts got under way.

A WINDOW was smashed at a business in Kellet Gate, Low Fulney, overnight and a laptop was stolen.

Police say the break-in happened on Tuesday night or the early hours of Wednesday..

Truck owners discovered a sat nav had been stolen from a yellow Iveco on Middle Marsh Road, Moulton Marsh, on Tuesday evening.

Witnesses are asked to call Spalding police on 101.

TWO Crowland men who admitted producing cannabis with a potential street value of more than £88,000 were yesterday spared jail.

Danny White (25) and Benjamin Ansell ( 23) were caught after Cambridgeshire Police asked Lincolnshire officers to raid their neighbouring flats in Horseshoe Court.

Lincoln Crown Court heard officers found 198 cannabis plants during a search of White’s home – with 48 “medium sized plants” in a back bedroom and a further 150 “small plants” located inside an airing cupboard.

There was also associated equipment for lighting, heating and watering.

Laura Pitman, prosecuting, said: “The set up was very professional. There was a watering system on timers, two separate grows and an air extractor to hide the cannabis smell.”

Forensics expert estimated the plants had a potential yield of 8.85kgs.

Miss Pitman said a police expert estimated the potential value of the cannabis at £88,500.

When police searched Ansell’s flat next door they found cannabis growing equipment hidden under his bed.

During interview White told police he was given the plants to grow by people he would not name after running up a £2,000 debt. White insisted he knew little about cannabis and did not even use the drug.

Ansell admitted he had supplied some of the equipment to White and had helped to set up the lighting system.

Chris Lowe, mitigating for White, said: “Mr White had little knowledge about cannabis and was not to benefit directly from its sale.”

Liz Hart, mitigating for Ansell, said he had now moved out of Crowland and was helping to care for his mother.

White, of Horseshoe Court, admitted producing cannabis following the raid on 18 January.

He was sentenced to 12 months’ imprisonment suspended for two years, ordered to carry out 150 hours’ of unpaid work and made the subject of a two-month nightly curfew.

Ansell, now of Battlefields Lane South, Holbeach, admitted the same charge and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to carry out 100 hours’ of unpaid work.

Both men were also ordered to pay £200 costs.

Passing sentence Recorder Chrsitopher Goodchild said he accepted White had played a “lesser role.”

Recorder Goodchild told him: “Those who you owed money to had control over you. You allowed them to set up a substantial cannabis operation that could have produced cannabis worth over £88,000.”

NHS Blood and Transplant is holding two blood donor sessions in Spalding.

Both sessions take place on Tuesday, June 26 at Springfields Events Centre.

The first is from 1.30pm to 4pm and the second from 5pm to 8pm.

To book an appointment call 0300 1232323

A MAN accused of growing cannabis in a Spalding flat was remanded in custody by town magistrates to appear at Lincoln Crown Court on July 10.

Charles Binns (48), of Dene Court, Westwood, Peterborough, is accused with two others of growing the drug at the Pinchbeck Road address on April 25.

He appeared at Spalding Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.

A CANDIDATE for the role of Police and Crime Commissioner in Lincolnshire has called the elections “ a daft idea” but vowed to do his best to protect frontline policing.

Phil Dilks, a Deeping St James councillor and former member of Lincolnshire Police Authority, was named as Labour’s candidate on Monday.

He welcomed the chance to stand, but slammed the Government for spending £100million on electing the commissioners at a time when it is looking at cutting 16,000 police officers from England’s streets.

Mr Dilks said he put his name forward because he was not prepared to stand aside and leave it to a Tory commissioner “who would simply be a cheer leader for Government cuts”.

He said: “I don’t think it’s a good time for these elections to happen. It seems to me that the £100million could be better spent on frontline policing.

“In Lincolnshire the cuts equate to 140 officers, which is well over 10 per cent of our numbers and in Lincolnshire we are a small force covering a huge area and the impact of such cuts will be huge.

“I don’t believe they can cut police numbers in the way they are doing – you don’t cut crime by cutting frontline police.

“I want to make sure Lincolnshire stays one of the safest counties in the country in policing terms.”

Mr Dilks is now waiting to discover who will stand against him in the Police and Crime Commissioner election, which will be held on November 15.

He will also start planning his campaign encouraging residents to vote for him.

He said: “What I will stand for and what I would like to see in a commissioner is that it would be a listening role – listening to the concerns of the people of Lincolnshire about policing and trying to respond to their wants and needs.

“I have lived in south Lincolnshire for most of my life and I often think it is the forgotten corner of the county.

“Often when these roles come up they are filled by someone from Lincoln, so I want to fly the flag for south Lincolnshire.”