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.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

March 2

Ellio Bench (21), of Burringham Road, Scunthorpe. Speeding (Whaplode). £80 fine, £20 victim surcharge, £85 costs, 3pts.

Roy Taylor (49), of Bourne Road, West Pinchbeck. Failing to stop at a red traffic light (Edenham). £35 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Fabio Carvalho (32), of Princes Street, Sutton Bridge. No insurance (Sutton Bridge). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. Carrying a child in car with no seat belt. £115 fine. No separate penalty for driving without due care and attention and for not wearing a seat belt.

Benjamin Hibbins (38), of Station Street, Rippingale. Speeding (Welby). £185 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 5pts.

Christopher Smith (62), of Killearn, Glasgow. Speeding (Deeping Common). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Slawomir Tomaszewski (39), of St Johns Road, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Darius Stachyra (37), of Royce Road, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Lukasz Gawrys (36), of Sunflower Way, Boston. Speeding (Kirton). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 56 days.

March 4

Darren Fovargue (34), of Hereward Road, Spalding. Possession of cocaine (Spalding). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs. Possession of diamorphine. £60 fine. Drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Shane Boyton (35), of College Close, Spalding. Harassment (Spalding). Restraining order, £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for failing to surrender to custody.

Karen Gilmour (39), of Bridge Road, Sutton Bridge. Theft of food items worth £77.75 belonging to Iceland (Spalding) and theft of biscuits worth £4.36, milk powder worth £2.35 and trifles worth £5, belonging to Co-op (Sutton Bridge). One year conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £11.71 compensation, £85 costs.

March 5

Robert Carter-Surridge (28), of St Mary’s Drive, Sutterton. Possession of cannabis (Sutterton). Six months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Michael Coyle (36), Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck. Driving while disqualified (Spalding). £350 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. Possession of diamorphine. £50 fine. Drug to be forfeited and destroyed. No separate penalty for no insurance and no MOT.

Zbigniew Nowak (41), of Oakley Place, Holbeach Hurn. Drink driving (Algarkirk). 3150 fine, £20 v/s, 385 costs, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Tomas Svirplys (37), of Low Road, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £110 fine, £20 v/s, 385 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Maurice Crunkhorn (64), of Deeping St James Road, Deeping Gate. Speeding (Deeping Common). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Nathan Moore (35), of Lincoln Road, Stamford. Drink driving (Spalding). £130 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months. No separate penalty for no insurance and for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Grantham 
Magistrates’ Court

March 5

Karla Burrows (28), of Cranmore Lane, Holbeach. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Rebecca Coke (29), of Rycroft Avenue, Deeping St James. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 /s, £120 costs.

Rebekah Dolby (32), of Royce Road, Spalding. No TV licence. £35 fine, £20 v/s.

Julie Eldred (29), of Burghley Street, Bourne. No TV licence. £200 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

March 4

Thomas Adams (23), of Harvey Close, Bourne. No MOT (Bourne). £35 fine, £20 v/s.

Martyn Miles (21), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Driving whilst not wearing a seat belt (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

John Pearce (79), of Tacon Close, Eye, Suffolk. Driving without due care and attention (Fleet). £110 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 7pts. No insurance. £110 fine. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Daniel Twaite (25), of Cheltenham Court, Bourne. No insurance (Corby Glen). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Gerda Butkeviciene (28), of West Marsh Road, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Sara Albuquerque (41), of Kyme Road, Boston. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence (Spalding). £35 fine, £20 v/s, £40 costs, 3pts.

Mark Holmes (27), of Pennygate, Spalding. No insurance (Pinchbeck). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for no MOT.

Jennifer Pitts (25), of Knight Street, Pinchbeck. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Deano Smith (27), of Hawthorns Caravan Park, Clay Lake, Spalding. Driving while using a hand-held mobile phone (Spalding). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Mark Gunn (39), of St Pauls Road, Spalding. Failing to give driver ID (Nettleham). £600 fine, £60 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

March 6

Ilyas Mujadeddi (30), of Walsingham Close, Hatfield. Failing to use a driver card (Spalding). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £500 costs.

Andrew Millican (46), of The Reservoir, Spalding. Drink driving (Surfleet). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, 10pts.

March 9

Jeffrey Penver (42), of George Avenue, Gedney Drove End. Causing unnecessary suffering to a German Shepherd. £720 fine, £72 v/s, £4,412.11 costs, disqualified from keeping an animal for five years.

Each of the 106 pupils at Tydd St mary Primary School were delighted on Thursday when they were given Easter eggs by Sainsbury’s Spalding store.

This is the second year Sainsbury’s has made this fantastic donation.

The school thanks Martin Pearson for 
arranging the donation and Chris Wise (store manager) for their generosity and for even delivering the eggs to our school.

The children from Monkshouse Primary School were getting fully involved in Easter celebrations last Wednesday.

Nursery and reception class decorated the plastic eggs themselves. The children, age three to five, then hunted the eggs as well as chicks and rabits (not real of course), which were hidden in the school’s nursery garden and playground.

Parents were invited to help with the search for the hidden items.

Once enough eggs and things had been collected, the children could swap them for prizes like bubbles and chocolate.

The nursery and reception class have been learning about Easter in school, the meaning of it and why it’s not all about eating chocolate!

The Easter festival, an old and important festival in the Christian calender, is the celebration that is Easter Sunday. a time when most people get together with their families and share a meal.

Easter also signals the end of Lent, the traditional time for fasting. Eggs have always been associated with the rebirth of spring.

Nursery teacher at the school Nicky Clarke said: “After the hunt there were stalls selling picture frames hand made by the children. There were also cakes and drinks available.”

HEALTH MATTERS: By Jenny Hinchliffe, Head of Clinical Services for the South at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust

In the UK it is estimated there are 5,153 nursing homes and 12,525 residential homes caring for some 426,000 elderly and disabled people.

The main difference between the two is nursing homes offer 24 hour medical care from a qualified nurse. Residential homes usually receive visits from local community nursing teams.

In the South Holland area there are about 30 homes including those for adults with learning disabilities.

Much has recently been said about health and social care services working better together to enable patient and service users to experience ‘seamless’ care delivery.

Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS) has been promoting this idea for a number of years, by offering free training and education sessions for home staff through an NHS Care Home Education Project.

The project is about sharing knowledge and skills between nurses and home staff in key areas, including: prevention of pressure ulcers; falls prevention; continence promotion; palliative and end of life care.

Each subject aims to develop awareness and understanding of the relevant risk factors, steps and actions to be taken to reduce risk and harm, with the ultimate goal of keeping patients closer to home and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

It is very much about delivering the very best care with respect and dignity by working together, to improve not only the quality, but to make prevention a focus for all staff.

At the end of last year Julie Smith was welcomed as the newly appointed Care Home Education Nurse. Julie has worked for LCHS for seven years and has experience of working in both health and social care settings. Although the project covers four key areas, staff have also found the sessions a prime opportunity to ask any burning questions about supporting patient care.

The project has been successfully introduced in South Holland, initially in the Long Sutton area. The project will continue to be rolled out across South Holland, encouraging as many homes as possible to become part of this invaluable service, with Spalding being the next area where training will be offered.

I have just read the front page of the Lincolnshire Free Press and just cannot believe there is even an issue with the Rose and Crown in Fleet Hargate.

Mr Quinn and the brewery have made the pub warmer, more comfortable for the customers, decreased the heat loss and its impact on the environment, helping his business with decreased heating bills.

They have done all this without changing the appearance of the pub.

I would like the South Holland District councillors to take a walk! First cross the road from your offices and look back to see how well your building matches its surroundings. Now walk around the town starting at Station Street and around the Sheepmarket.

Please tell how this mixture of lime green, orange and yellow shops have improved the appearance of the town.

Did you notice how many pubs have closed down?Are the councillors who permitted this the same as those who want white windows replacing white windows at The Rose and Crown?

CABINET CALL: By South Holland District Council Leader Gary Porter

This is my final column before this year’s elections and I would like to start it by thanking the Spalding Guardian for giving us the chance to highlight some of the work that members of the council Cabinet have been doing on our community’s behalf.  

I hope you have all found these articles useful, informative and occasionally entertaining.

Being a member of the Cabinet is a great privilege and very rewarding, but it is a privilege only open to those people who are lucky enough to be elected and this brings me to the subject of this week’s column.

I would urge everyone who cares about our community to consider standing for election, whatever your politics.

Whilst it is true that being a councillor is hard work and time-consuming, it is also very rewarding and fulfilling.  

If you care about the place you live in, it is one of the best ways to make sure that you can play an active part in its future.  

You can get nomination papers from the council’s offices in Priory Road, Spalding, or online at www.electoralcommission.org.uk

The deadline to hand them in is April 9.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to stand can I at least implore you to use your vote for the candidate you feel will best look after the community in the way that you would want.

This is the first time since 1979 that elections for our council will be held on the same day as the General Election, so it is vitally important that all eligible would-be voters are registered to vote.

The good news is that registering will only take five minutes of your time and can be done online at www.gov.uk/registertovote before the deadline of April 20.

If you do not think that any of those people standing offer a choice that you like the look of, can I ask you to still go to the polling station, and just put your ballot paper in the box, without any mark on it or write a witty comment on it –to show that you are not happy with the offer in front of you.

Our local district and county councillor Chris Brewis failed to support his residents by voting for the gasifier at the planning meetings in April and May 2013, and tried to jeopardise our campaign.

He also persuaded Sutton Bridge Parish Council not to continue with the legal fight, stating “that it would bankrupt the council”.

This would not have been possible because the “costs” had already been set and limited, whether the case was won – or – lost. The council had been informed of the total “actual” cost.

His actions I will never forgive.

Don’t get caught out this weekend – it’s time to change the clocks again for the arrival of British Summer Time (BST).

The clocks go one hour forward on Sunday at 1am, heralding in BST, lighter nights and (hopefully) better weather as spring gets well under way.

The clocks go back again in autumn in the early hours of Sunday, October 25.

The hour changes in spring and autumn in an attempt to make the most of the light.

If you struggle with which is which, this, albeit of North American origin, might help you remember: “Spring forward, fall back.”

Fall being the American term for autumn. We hope you forgive us if you take this as a slight on our native language.

Interesting facts about British Summer Time

British-born New Zealander George Vernon Hudson first proposed the modern idea of a two-hour daylight saving in 1895.

British Summer Time was suggested in 1907 by William Willett, a keen horse rider and frustrated by the ‘waste’ of daylight in the early mornings during the summer.

Willett’s pamphlet ‘The Waste of Daylight’ campaigned for the clocks to be changed, but he died in 1915 before he could see it come into being as the idea was opposed by many, especially farmers.

Austria and Germany were the first countries to enact ‘Daylight Savings Time’ in 1916, quickly followed the same year by the UK and much of Europe.

It was enforced during the First World War, in a bid to save money during wartime.

The current system has been in place since 1972. Proposals to keep the clocks at least one hour ahead of GMT all-year round have been debated frequently in parliament but never implemented.

The lighter evenings are also said to reduce road traffic accidents and crime.

It is argued BST is good for physical and psychological health, particularly in terms of relieving the symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

I actually support the Tories but I cannot understand why the chancellor does not tackle the tax evaders in high places.

The estimated tax evasion would bring back to the government some £700million and that would settle many outstanding debts as well as reduce taxes to the working populace.

Am I wrong?

A Holbeach shop which prides itself on traditional values and customer service is celebrating 60 years in business.

Staff at the furniture store Cross Bros would like to thank customers old and new for their continued support as the business marks its milestone anniversary this month.

The Cross Bros story began back on March 15, 1955, when Cross Bros (Long Sutton) Limited bought the existing furniture business belonging to Chas E May & Sons, located at 30 West End.

Company secretary Graham Mace said it has always been Cross Bros’ aim to supply quality furniture from leading manufacturers at realistic prices, with a friendly personal service, which in turn has seen it build up a good reputation for reliability and top quality.

As well as a variety of traditional and contemporary soft furnishings and furniture by well-known names for the living room, dining room and bedroom, the shop and its team of 12 employees also supply and fit carpets, vinyl floor coverings, made to measure curtains and blinds.

In 1995 the existing showroom was extended to 
accommodate the firm’s ever expanding business – its current premises now have 7,000 square feet of showroom space over two floors as well as 2,000 square feet of storage space.

The shop, open every day except Sundays, is managed by Tim Beresford and Kevin Newell, who between them have more than 70 years’ experience in the furnishing trade.

“We are very pleased to be celebrating 60 years in business, and although we’re not having a particular celebration, we wanted to take the 
opportunity to thank everyone who’s supported us over the years,” said Mr Mace.

“We are a very traditional business and pride ourselves on going the extra mile for our customers, and we have a great team of very experienced staff to offer advice.

“We do have a website, but if people come in to see us and we haven’t got exactly what they are looking for, we can order it for them.

“When people are buying large ticket items like furniture, they don’t replace them every year, but we do get people coming back to us.

“Word of mouth brings a lot of people in too, as well as the next generation coming to shop with us.

“Business is going very well at the moment and we’re very proud to have been trading for 60 years.”

n To find out more drop into the shop at 30 West End, Holbeach, call 01406 423385 or visit www. cross-bros.co.uk

413 words

Throughout my life, just like many other readers of this paper, I became disillusioned with politics, and although I had skirted with the major parties in the past, I finally decided to do something about it, and joined the only party which seemed to be sympathetic to the voices of Mr and Mrs average, namely UKIP.

I always thought the abuse of open government and democracy was restricted to those MPs surrounding our parliament, but since I became more involved in politics I can see this abuse has spread down through all levels of government.

A good example of this occurred in our own back yard recently, when our district council decided to block the comments, online, of residents from Sutton Bridge who are annoyed about a local development.

I see it as a two fingered gesture to the public: “Pee-off, we’re the council, you’re just the people.”

And which parties do these councillors represent? 24 Conservative and 12 Independent. “Ahaa!” I hear you say, “independents are not members of a political party, they don’t vote according to the party line.”

Well that might be true if those same independent councillors (who are constantly ducking below the radar by not commenting in the letters columns of the local press) didn’t meet together prior to a full council meeting to discuss the agenda and matters for debate (that could be collusion), as quoted by their leader Coun Angela Newton in the Lincolnshire Free Press of March 3.

On another occasion, it has been whispered to me, councillors could have met to discuss and vote on a local development without the knowedge of their residents – mind you I couldn’t say if this is true because the meeting could have been so secret nobody, even the councillors, would be able to discuss it.

IF you want open government and democracy at a local level, vote UKIP. If we don’t deliver, give us the sack. In fact if I don’t deliver, I’ll resign, But please, give us a chance first.

Before the local councils

South Holland 
District Council

S Smith, 11 Holyrood Close, Donington. Concrete sectional shed.

E Penney, 1 Lime Grove, Holbeach. Works to TPO.

V Dunn, 46 Wygate Road, Spalding. Annexe extension.

K Crick, adj Millgate House, Ravens Bank, Whaplode St Catherine. Details of conditions.

P C Thorold Ltd, Bank House Farm, 10 Cooks Road, Gosberton. Agricultural storage building.

Mr and Mrs R Kent, 45 Low Lane, Holbeach. Extension and alterations.

D E Brand and Son, Birds Drove, Surfleet. Sunken loading dock.

D Brown Building Contractors, land fronting Kirkgate, Whaplode. Three detached bungalows with detached frontage garaging.

Crowland Parish Council, land north of James Road, Crowland. Residential development, replacement allotments and new cemetery, including woodland burial plots.

L Seal, Teremok, Station Road, Gedney Hill. Agricultural storage building.

St Johns Church, Joys Bank, Holbeach. Works to TPO.

Mr and Mrs J Kiveris, rear 63 Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Pair semi-detached three bed houses.

E Possnett, 49 Bourne Road, Spalding. Extension.

Mr and Mrs D Ling, 91 Broadgate, Whaplode Drove. Dwelling.

E Sanders, 45 High Street, Gosberton. Painting of exterior render.

J Dennis, 7 Holland Way, Holbeach. Garage conversion and extension.

Mr and Mrs S Wright, 50 Daniels Gate, Long Sutton. Extension.

Mr and Mrs P McKimm, 101 Carrington Road, Moulton Seas End. Extension and alterations.

Greencell, Holly Lodge, West Marsh Road, Spalding. Signage.

B Rudgley, Westward, 30 Lutton Gate, Gedney Hill. Demolish utility and build extension, conversion of garage to living accommodation and replace flat roof to pitched roof on garage.

South Kesteven 
District Council

Gilbert, The Walnuts, 17 Greatford Road, Baston. Extension.

Feetham, 2 Aquila Way, Langtoft. Extensions.

Dunmore, 10 Curlew Walk, Deeping St James. Extensions.

Fowler, 51 St Gilberts Road, Bourne. Demolish conservatory and build extension.

Boston Borough Council

Landau, land south side Horseshoe Lane, Kirton. Nine detached and semi-detached dwellings and accesses.

Allen, Hope Villa, Station Road, Sutterton. Demolish and replacement dwelling.

I was pleased to read David Turp’s letter in the Spalding Guardian saying that the Church of England is having its cake and eating it, for he says all I have believed for a very long time.

As he states, it’s one of the richest businesses in the land, charging for all it supplies, and promising some fabled good fortune in return for gifts of money.

And what about its recent excursion into telling our politicians how they should spend our money?

If it wants to have influence in that area, its members should stand for election like any other independent or party member.

In fact, the population should be aware that in some areas it does dictate how we should spend our money, because it has unelected members who sit on many of our councils.

This came about because, for many centuries, the Church of England governed our towns and villages through what were known as parish councils.

Later several government acts removed this power, but their influence is still allowed because many old-fashioned, bumbling councillors still don’t understand that the money they have to spend is wrenched from the electorate’s hands, with the threat of prison if it’s not handed over.

They still don’t understand, this is 2015, and only elected councillors should be the people who decide how the electorate’s money should be spent.

Whilst it has been hugely encouraging to see considerable public interest in the Spalding Guardian’s hustings event on April 23, it will not be enough for candidates to be ready to debate local issues.

Whether or not they live in the constituency, they must also be able to demonstrate how they’ve contributed to the benefit of local causes.

As yet, several candidates seem to think that all they have to do is write letters to the local press or go on a “walkabout”.

Matthew and David, jumping on a bandwagon from the comfort of your home or making bizarre conflations of national issues, is simply not good enough. You really do need to tell us about something you’ve actually done to help improve our local area.

For example (as readers will already know), John Hayes organises the annual Butcher’s Pride Competition – promoting Lincolnshire sausages, butchers and chefs alike.

Our MP is assisting the Spalding branch of the British 
Legion with plans to use part of the empty magistrates’ court building as a base. Over the years, he’s helped residents with many local planning issues – Harvester Way being but one recent example.

Our continued support for John is warranted as he’s a local champion for us all.

Politicians sometimes get a rough ride and sometimes they deserve it.

She took on the big guns... and won.

I would like to say congratulations and a huge thank you to Shirley Giles for keeping up her fight against siting an incinerator/gasifier in Sutton Bridge.

She and her team of dedicated helpers worked hard to achieve this victory and I for one, as well as many of the residents of our village I’m sure, owe her a great debt of gratitude.

So, many thanks Shirley and your team for your dedication to continue fighting on. I must also thank those councillors on the planning committee for finally supporting our residents.

I was at the planning committee meeting last week. To hear the chairman announce that the request to site said gasifier was REFUSED was music to the ears of those of us in the public gallery.

Shirley, you’re a star.

DOCTOR CALLING: By Dr Kevin Hill

A worldwide campaign to raise awareness about childhood cancer has recently been supported by the NHS South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

In the UK an average of around 1,600 children are diagnosed with cancer each year, that’s 30 children every week. Around one-in-500 children in the UK will develop some form of cancer by 14 years of age.

Leukaemia is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in children. Leukaemia, brain, other central nervous system and intracranial tumours and lymphomas account for more than two-thirds of all cancers diagnosed in children.

Five-year survival for children’s cancer has more than doubled since the late 1960s.

It is estimated that there are at least 33,000 people in the UK alive having been diagnosed with a childhood cancer and survived more than five years. Three-quarters of children with cancer are now cured, compared with around a quarter in the late 1960s.

We are joining with groups across the world to raise awareness of the issues surrounding childhood cancer. These include the importance of early diagnosis and the difficulties – physical and emotional – that children face throughout their treatment.

Our thoughts will be with the children who bravely and courageously fight cancer and their families who support them. We also remember the volunteers, staff and medical practitioners who passionately serve and dedicate their time to battling childhood cancer.

Dramatic improvements in the treatment and management of childhood cancer over the last four decades mean that many children diagnosed with cancer today have an excellent chance of being cured of their disease.

However, it’s important to remember that despite the best efforts of everyone there are some families who have to bear the painful loss of a precious child.

For more information on childhood cancer and for a factsheet visit: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-info/cancerstats/childhoodcancer/

Well there’s a surprise. Yet again Coun Brewis jumps on someone else’s bandwagon.

At South Holland District Council’s planning meeting last week he jumped in to propose acceptance of the officers’ recommendation to refuse the incinerator/gasifier planned for Sutton Bridge.

This was the culmination of a five-year campaign in which many residents were involved. Shirley Giles won her own legal battle to overturn SHDC’s original decision to dump the incinerator on Sutton Bridge and then officers at last began to ask the right questions of the developers – questions the protest groups had been asking for many years.

Their silence suggests that they had found it impossible to provide intelligent and convincing answers.

Last time the incinerator/gasifier came before planning Coun Brewis voted FOR it subject to an assurance that imported feedstock would not contain foreign bugs and that traffic movements were monitored properly.

It’s worth recalling his activities in relation to the ‘gasifier’ since 2009. In that year it is recorded in the newspaper that he said it was a good idea.

At a parish meeting a couple of years later he was thanked by the woman who was the public face of the developer for delivering leaflets in the village on their behalf; he has since sabotaged the campaign against the incinerator and was scathing about the protest demonstration through the village.

A key member of the parish council resigned over its refusal in private session to provide financial support for pursuing a judicial review. Coun Brewis has taken no part in any protest nor did he ever represent the residents’ views in the planning committee.

The residents of Sutton Bridge and surrounding area, including adjoining councils, many groups, including the Wash and Sutton Bridge Protection Group, South Lincs Environmental Group and many others are the ones responsible for seeing off the proposed incinerator, which would have been horrendous for our small town.

Perhaps now is the time to ask Cllr Brewis exactly what HE has done for Sutton Bridge.

A milestone for a Crowland cancer charity has been celebrated with the presentation of more than £50,000 raised during the past year.

The Crowland Cancer Fund celebrated its 25th anniversary at an annual presentation evening last Friday.

Chairman Frank Barrett announced a total of £53,000 worth of donations which were handed over to charitable organisations.

This included £33,500 to Sue Ryder, which is going towards its new hospice, and £8,000 to Marie Curie Cancer Care which will enable it to continue with home nursing.

The evening was held at the Royal British Legion Hall in Broadway, Crowland.

It was attended by friends and supporters of the charity and the presentations were followed by a cheese and wine reception and the cutting of a cake to celebrate the 25-year mark.

Mr Barrett said: “Reaching 25 years is a great achievement. We exceeded what we raised last year in spite of having to pay shop rent and tax and insurance for the van.

“The public is very generous, but we help a lot of families in many ways.”

Since it began, Crowland Cancer Fund has raised more than half a million pounds for all kinds of causes helping cancer sufferers.

An army of volunteers have willingly given their hard work over the years. But it is the generosity of the people of Crowland and surrounding villages that has ensured Crowland Cancer Fund has hard cash to help the causes.

It was Mr Barrett, of Peterborough Road, who started the charity to repay the hospitals that helped him after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer 25 years ago when he was in his 40s. He recovered and he and his wife, Sandra, wanted to do something in return.

Mr Barrett said: “It’s amazing when you think in the first year we struggled to make £1,000.”

As a subscriber and, often a contributor, may I ask you this? Is it fair that the Lincolnshire Free Press and the Spalding Guardian should, increasingly, face competition for advertising revenue, from ‘tax-payer funded’ publications like the Tory-controlled ‘Spalding Now’ and the ‘Pinchbeck Chimes’.

These are publictions that are funded by the rest of us paying for a ‘councillor’s budget’ ( currently £5,000pa). What chance does someone, like myself (an Independent candidate for the next elections) have of competing for votes against this backdrop?

Also, in my view, it is totally unfair the way the local Tories, exercising, their flawed view of self-entitlement, go about their arrogant business,plundering our council taxes and harming local newspapers in this way. Why should it be allowed to continue?

EDITOR: thanks for your words David, but from a newspaper’s point of view, we are fine with these publications.