Spalding pub landlord Pete Williams made history when he became South Holland’s first UKIP district councillor.

Party workers had to wait for the ninth result to be declared – that of Spalding St Paul’s – before gaining their first toe-hold on the district council.

Coun Williams said his result was “absolutely amazing” but he felt “devastated” by UKIP’s failures across the country and the defeat and resignation of party leader Nigel Farage.

He said: “I was, to be honest, rather hoping I would be part of a much larger movement within South Holland and within this country.”

Speaking about Farage’s defeat in Thanet South, Coun Williams said: “I am the eternal optimist and right to the end, even when it was staring me in the face that he wasn’t going to make it, I still had fingers and toes crossed.”

UKIP’s Paul Foyster took a Holbeach Town Ward seat from the Independents and said: “I am pleased that we do have a voice on the district.”

Independents were ousted from five seats when votes were counted on Friday.

First to fall was Gedney’s Sarah Wilkinson, who lost her seat to Conservative Jo Reynolds.

Next it was Martin Howard, in Holbeach Town Ward, followed by Roger Perkins, in Spalding St John’s.

David Wilkinson lost in Long Sutton seat – and the Independents failed to recapture the Long Sutton seat that was held by Simon Booth until he stood down.

Independents’ group leader Angela Newton topped the poll with 1,398 votes to keep her Spalding Monkhouse Ward seat and Independent Graham Dark was also returned in Spalding St John’s.

Sutton Bridge Independents Michael Booth and Chris Brewis were returned in the two seat ward despite strong opposition from Tories Shirley Giles and Vicky Hills. UKIP’s Phil Scarlett was bottom of the poll there.

Coun Booth said: “I would like to thank my fellow candidates for the way they have conducted themselves over the election.”

Speaking about his own result, Coun Booth said: “I think it’s fantastic.”

Independent Jane King kept her Donington, Quadring and Gosberton seat, Andy Tennant was re-elected in Long Sutton and Bryan Alcock was safely returned in Crowland and Deeping St Nicholas, the last ward to be declared following a recount.

Frenetic activity at Friday’s count came to a standstill for two minutes to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

Without Britain’s wartime servicemen and women, free and fair elections could have been consigned to history.

The Tories took two seats from the Independents in Long Sutton with Jack Tyrrell winning at his third attempt with a poll-topping 2,076 votes and Laura Eldridge claiming second spot with 1,922.

Andy Tennant (Ind) hung on, but fellow Independent David Wilkinson lost his seat.

Coun Tyrrell believes he could have won the seat ages ago had he switched to the Independents.

He said: “I wanted to do it as a Conservative – I am a Conservative person. I think Laura and I will do a good job for Long Sutton.

“I am absolutely gutted that David Wilkinson has gone. I think he has done marvellous work for Long Sutton.”

Another new face on the council is Spalding businessman Harry Drury (Con), who was top in Spalding St Mary’s – getting 94 more votes than council leader Gary Porter.

Coun Drury has attended district council cabinets as a lobbyist for the Chamber of Commerce, but will resign from that role.

He said: “I would like to thank everyone who voted for me and I will do my best to serve the residents of my ward and the district. I am absolutely ecstatic, I can’t really describe how I feel.”

Tory Jo Reynolds ousted Independent Sarah Wilkinson and beat off a UKIP challenge to take Gedney and the mum-of-two aims to “make a difference” in her community.

The Tories keep two seats in Holbeach Town but lose sitting councillor Rita Rudkin.

Veteran Conservative Francis Biggadike was returned with 1,902 votes alongside Tory newbie Tracey Carter (1,304) and UKIP’s Paul Foyster (1,290) claimed third spot, replacing Independent Martin Howard.

South Holland’s Tories boosted their number of council seats by three to a record 28 as the district and general elections coincided for the first time in nearly 40 years.

The Independents lost five seats – dropping their number to seven – and UKIP gained two seats, one each from the Tories and Independents, giving that party its first ever representation here at district level.

Council leader Gary Porter revealed in February that he could lose in the two-seat Spalding St Mary’s Ward seat, but challenges from UKIP county councillor Richard Fairman and Independent Robert West fizzled out when voters went to the polls.

Turnouts were nearly double the usual level for district council elections – with some percentages in the mid-60s – as the Hayes effect towed the Tories home.

Coun Porter, who was the MP’s campaign manager, said: “Every Conservative district councillor will owe some of their victory to John Hayes – this is why we ran the two campaigns as one.

He admitted being “very, very relieved” about his own result.

“I have got lots of things to be getting on with and gardening isn’t one of them,” he said.

Coun Porter said he was sorry to see councillors lose their seats – Tories and Independents – but was pleased to welcome some new, younger Tory councillors as the Conservatives celebrate their best ever result in South Holland.

He said the two UKIP councillors “will add a new dynamic to the council”, but added: “They will learn very quickly that they can’t deliver any of their promises that they made in their leaflets.”

Independent group leader Coun Angela Newton, who topped the poll in Spalding Monkhouse, said: “I am really sad that we have lost some good candidates.

“John Hayes is a good MP and I think a lot of people who voted for him would have also voted for the Conservative district council candidates.

“I think there has been a bit of a ‘Conservative drag’, but I am not taking anything away from their candidates.”

UKIP’s local chairman Paul Foyster, who polled third highest in Holbeach Town Ward to claim an Independent seat, said: “I am disappointed that more of us weren’t elected.”

He blamed “the Scottish factor” – fears over a Labour Party/Scottish National Party pact – for boosting the Tory vote and squeezing UKIP.

South Holland District Council is believed to have its youngest ever member – Jack McLean who topped the poll in Spalding St John’s Ward with 1,017 votes.

His victory came at the expense of a sitting member, Independent Roger Perkins.

Fellow Independent Graham Dark kept his seat, with 821 votes, and Coun McLean is looking forward to working alongside him.

Coun McLean said: “I have got from today exactly what I have been looking for since I started and I am very glad to say that myself and Graham Dark will be able to work together over the next four years.”

Coun McLean is a web developer with Spalding firm Drive By Websites.

MP John Hayes – who attended the count – was delighted to see younger faces joining the experienced Tory group.

He said: “We have secured our hold on South Holland District Council for another term and, really exceptionally, we have a lot of new, younger councillors so the average age of our group is decades younger than the average of other councils in the area.”

A 37-year-old man has died after his motorbike crashed in Corby Glen.

The accident happened on the A151 Station Road, just before the railway bridge, at about 10.50am yesterday (Sunday).

A police spokesman said the man was riding a Yamaha motorbike when he crashed and was fatally injured. No other vehicle was involved in the crash.

The spokesman added: “The motorcyclist was part of a group of three other motorbikes and officers would like to hear from anyone who may have witnessed the collision or saw the group. In particular they are keen to trace a woman in a silver Ford Focus estate with possibly an 08 or 10 number plate, who could be a potential witness.”

Anyone with any information should call the Lincolnshire Police Collision Witness hotline on 01522 558855.

An independent review commissioned by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board into the death of a newborn baby has concluded that there was nothing that agencies could have done to prevent the tragedy.

The serious case review was commissioned in April 2014, following the incident which happened in September 2013. The baby boy was born and died on the same day in a village near Bourne and his 16-year-old mother subsequently pleaded guilty to infanticide.

In September 2014, she was sentenced to a 24-month youth rehabilitation order combined with a supervision order, after she admitted at an earlier hearing that she choked her son.

The Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board commissioned the review to look at any agency involvement in the year prior to the birth to see if anything could have been done to prevent the tragedy after the mother concealed or denied the pregnancy. The review panel included contributions from senior managers or designated professionals from key statutory agencies.

In conclusion, the report author states: “The presenting information and the challenges of identifying concealed/denied pregnancies made the task of preventing this tragedy an impossible one for all agencies involved. This is also a view voiced by the young mother as she did not feel that there was anything that could have been done differently by services.”

Chairman of the board Chris Cook said: “This is a tragic case involving a young girl and our thoughts are very much with her and her family who have contributed to this review. Our thoughts are also with the father and his family. Clearly the conclusion states that the baby’s death couldn’t have been foreseen. The overview report states agencies had little opportunity to intervene or assist as the pregnancy was concealed and the mother did not present with the typical signs and symptoms of pregnancy - in particular there were no visible physical cues of pregnancy.

“Where there was limited professional contact with the mother the professional advice or action would not have altered this sad and tragic outcome according to the author of the review.

“There is always the opportunity to improve practice however, and recommendations have been implemented for GP health care services to increase knowledge of concealed pregnancy and birth, improved access to psychological therapies and better training for GP practices and Registrars. It’s also good practice for schools to ensure they have adequate training and Education Welfare Officers are used effectively.

“However, overall the main and significant learning from this case is that there is little research evidence and guidance for professionals working in this complex and challenging area where mothers conceal their pregnancy.

“Whilst the LSCB will develop its own multi-agency guidance on this area what is really required is for there to be some national research on this topic which could lead to national guidance being produced for the benefit of all professionals. Accordingly, the LSCB will be writing to the Department of Health to recommend that they develop a repository of research on concealed and denied pregnancies. We will also be developing our own multi-agency good practice guidance.”

The full report and recommendations which have been implemented are available by visiting the board’s {http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lscb/professionals-and-volunteers/serious-case-review/124646.article|website}.

Countywide estate agent Pygott and Crone is opening a new office in Holbeach later this month as it expands its award-winning service.

The property firm, which was named The Times Estate Agent of the Year 2014 and already has an office in Bridge Street, Spalding, is soon to expand its presence in South Holland with a new base in Boston Road South.

Well-known Holbeach personality Lewis Brooks is to manage the branch and he has ambitions to build on the connections made in the town during his time as a footballer with Holbeach United.

Lewis, who also played for rivals Spalding United, said: “Pygott and Crone is experiencing a growth surge and it’s exciting to be a part of that journey.

“The Holbeach area is one we have serviced for a long time from the Sleaford office, but having a branch in the town will allow us to work with more clients and offer an even better service to our existing clients as now we will be ‘on the ground’”

Pygott and Crone’s team in Holbeach will be completed by company partners Kevin Scrupps and Andrew Bland who also have connections with the area.

Kevin said: “As a firm, we have considerable growth plans over the coming months and years.

“The opening of further branches is bolstering that growth and we have prioritised Holbeach as we want to further commit to the area where we have vast expertise.”

Customers will be offered a range of services from the new office, including lettings, auctions, conveyancing and financial services.

Insurers plead with Government to reverse annuity buy-back ban

Insurers are calling on the Government to reverse its decision to ban them from bidding to buy back their own annuities.

Senior figures from several insurance companies claim that people who sell their annuities will lose out unless the Government does a u-turn on its plan.

In the Budget two months ago, Chancellor George Osborne launched a consultation on creating a secondary annuity market to allow pensioners to either swap their contracts for cash or move into drawdown.

But the Treasury ruled out allowing purchases by the original annuity provider, citing the risk of insurers exploiting a “captive market” and the potential impact on insurers’ solvency.

But Legal & General’s managing director of individual retirement Bernie Hickman said that by excluding original providers, customers are likely to get a worse deal.

Mr Hickman added: “We will be pushing the Government back on this as I don’t think a decision that the provider of the annuity can’t bid is a good customer outcome.

“All things being equal, we should be able to pay slightly more than everyone else and therefore the right outcome is to ensure you have a competitive marketplace.

“But to do that, you need to allow a person who can bid the most to do so.”

Meanwhile, Scottish Widows’ head of pensions market development Ian Naismith and Standard Life’s head of pension’s strategy Jamie Jenkins both agreed that original providers are well-placed to boost offers, particularly for small pots with fixed overheads.

But Mr Jenkins warned that allowing providers to buy back annuities would result in the Government entering “new territory” by enabling insurers to rip up contracts, rather than reassigning them.

Finally, MGM Advantage’s pensions technical director Andrew Tully claimed that safeguards, such as “blind” bidding, would need to be introduced to ensure that people intent on selling their annuity would shop around for the best prices, rather than defaulting to existing providers.

MP’s son Will Hayes blazed the trail for John when he was one of three Conservative winners in a mock election at Spalding Grammar School.

But, in stark contrast to the rest of the country and the 2010 landslide at the school for the Tories, a coalition was formed between the Conservatives and UKIP.

The Green Party won two houses and UKIP only one.

A spokesman for the school explained: “Green did not wish to work with Conservative, and so UKIP and Conservative agreed to work together.”

Results for each of the houses were:

Bentley: 1 UKIP Harry Johnson 49, 2 Green 47, 3 Con 44

Gamlyn: 1 Conservative Will Hayes 70, 2 Green 57

Hobson: 1 Conservative George Smith 80, 2 Lab 37

Johnson: 1 Green Simon Bell 50, 2 Con 42

Moulton: 1 Green Liam Matson 48, 2 Con 45, Con 45

Wykeham: 1 Conservative Oskar Emmauelle 53, UKIP 39

Former Bourne Mayor Helen Powell came bottom of the 
poll when six candidates contested the Lincoln Parliamentary seat.

Sitting MP Karl McCartney (Con) was returned with 19,976 votes – while Coun Powell, who has retained her South Kesteven District Council seat, received just 286 votes.

A second-place spot in South Holland and The Deepings has led UKIP candidate David Parsons to vow that his party is “here to stay”.

Mr Parsons won almost 22 per cent of the vote in coming second to John Hayes in the race to be the constituency’s next MP.

UKIP finished ahead of Labour’s Matthew Mahabadi, the Green Party’s Dan Wilshire and George Smid for the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Parsons said: “I’m ecstatic because to get nearly 11,000 votes, when we only polled 3,246 in 2010, is a truly remarkable result.

“I owe that to the people of South Holland and The Deepings who have put their faith in us and it’s a huge platform for us to fight future elections on.

“I am a member of a party, the only party, that has increased its share of the vote since the 2010 election.

“In fact, UKIP has tripled its vote in this election and the one thing that people in South Holland and The Deepings have said is that UKIP is here and that UKIP is here to stay.”

Mr Parsons put UKIP’s runners-up spot down to a three-fold platform of reduced EU immigration, stronger public services and “getting our country back”.

“People here have been marvellous and they’ve really welcomed me, taken me to their hearts and I think they’re great,” Mr Parsons said.

“They wanted to talk about bringing immigration from the EU down, defending our public services and getting our country back basically.

“That was the message we took to the people and we had a huge response from it.

“I’d like to give my services again to people here in whatever election they choose to stand me in.”

Ken Rush had the best seat in the house during the decisive Battle of Britain.

He was nine years old and stood on a shed roof in his back garden just outside London watching German planes coming over and Spitfires shooting them down.

He found it fascinating, and that time in 1940 obviously made a big impression on Ken, of Spalding, because it influenced the rest of his life.

Five years ago Ken had the privilege of meeting the three remaining pilots from the battle when he was invited to the 70th anniversary commemorations at the Cabinet War Rooms.

A Spitfire was parked in St James’s Park and Ken took a photograph of the pilots, as well as Vera Lynn, in front of the aircraft.

That photograph has been turned into a painting by Ken, who has just been made an associate member of the Guild of Aviation Artists – he hopes to have some of his work included in the Guild’s summer exhibition.

Among the paintings he submitted was one done at 16, at Dunstable Downs Gliding Club, when Ken was having lessons.

He says: “I think the war years inspired what I went on to do. I followed the war as a kid, reading about new aircraft and I finally got my gliding wings and did powered flying for a while.”

In fact, while at art school Ken spent time assisting Hugh Easton on the Battle of Britain Memorial Window in Westminster Abbey. He completed a rose and a lion’s head before deciding that work was “too slow, too cloistered”.

He went on to spend his working life as a commercial artist, mainly illustrating technical things for books, such as cars, tanks and aircraft. He has always painted aircraft on commission though.

Ken says: “I have had a charmed life really,” because even during his National Service commission in the RAF his artistic talents were recognised. Instead of square bashing and polishing boots Ken was painting the station commander and ended up producing RAF recruitment material, such as posters, and exhibition stands.

His most exciting aircraft experience though was being on Concorde when it broke the sound barrier. “It was fantastic,” says Ken.

The Guild of Aviation Artists’ 2015 exhibition is to be held at The Mall Galleries, near Admiralty Arch in London, from July 20-26.

There will be over 400 original works of art on display, and Spalding artist Ken Rush is hoping that some of his work will be in the exhibition.

He has submitted paintings of a de Havilland Dominie; a picture of the Red Arrows in their new livery and painted from the perspective of a pilot looking out at three planes; a quirky one originally made for a book about Rolls Royce that was never published, showing Mr Rolls’ hot air balloon falling into a pigsty; the painting Ken produced at 16 when he was gliding; and a painting of a Pitts 2 aerobatic aeroplane.

Admission to the exhibition (closed Monday) is free.

It’s the miracle that has touched the hearts of every dog lover in South Holland – Heston the terrier has been rescued after being trapped in a 10ft deep rabbit hole, 48 hours after going missing in Moulton Chapel.

Owner Liz Elcoate, her 16-year-old daughter Jasmine, friends and family were distraught when the mischievous hound with a serious heart condition didn’t come home after a walk along the river bank last Monday.

Liz, who lives in Norfolk, said: “I was staying at my parents’ home at Crown Hall farm while they were in Scotland and took Heston, his brother Henry and two other dogs for a walk while Jasmine stayed at home revising for her GCSEs.

“There are a lot of rabbit holes along the bank and Henry disappeared, as terriers do, and then Heston disappeared.

“I looked around, calling for a long time and then went home to pick Jasmine up.

“She was devasted. Heston is her baby. We have both been through a lot since moving away and Jasmine has been unwell – he’s kept her going. She really didn’t need this just before her GCSEs.

“On the way back Henry appeared and I expected Heston to follow, but there was no sign of him.”

Liz tweeted for help and the Free Press posted a story in the hope readers would spot Hestson, who they’ve owned for five years since a puppy.

She said: “I continued searching and calling throughout the night in the rain but nothing.

“In the morning some guys from the farm started digging gently around the holes in the bank because sometimes dogs go down the tunnels and they collapsed.

“We kept digging all day. Then my step-dad, Howard Clark, came home and he carried on with his big digger. He said he wasn’t going to give up.

“When I woke up on Wednesday I had a horrible feeling someone had picked him up and we’d never see him again. I’d returned to Norfolk because Jasmine needed to go back to school before her exams and it was a deeply stressful time for both of us.

“When my step-dad called to say he’d found him, I couldn’t speak for 30 seconds. He’s got his big digger out and gently removed the top of this huge hole and out Heston popped.

“Dad’s become superman – he really is the hero of the hour. He just wouldn’t give up.”

Heston has been recovering at a vets in Kirton after incurring a bad infection on his chin while trapped underground.

Liz said: “We were’s able to see him until yesterday when we collected him because of his heart condition, but heard he’s been flirting with all the nurses. That’s typically Heston!”

People in Lincolnshire are being asked to help redraw the electoral divisions in the county.

The independent Local Government Boundary Commission for England is drawing up a new pattern of divisions for Lincolnshire County Council and says it is minded to recommend that the council should have 71 county councillors in future, six fewer than now.

The Commission needs information from people and groups across Lincolnshire to help it to produce a new pattern of divisions to accommodate 71 county councillors.

In drawing up new boundaries, the Commission aims to deliver electoral equality for voters in council elections so that each county councillor represents roughly the same number of voters. The review also aims to ensure that the new county divisions reflect, as far as possible, the interests and identities of communities across Lincolnshire.

Max Caller, Chair of the Commission, said: “The starting point of an electoral review is for the Commission to take a view on the number of councillors that should represent the authority in future. On the evidence presented to the Commission, we are minded to recommend that Lincolnshire should continue to have 71 councillors.

“We are now asking local people and organisations to help us draw up new divisions for Lincolnshire. As we develop the recommendations, we will take into account local community identities as well as ensuring electoral equality for voters. Your views will make a difference.

“We will carefully consider all evidence that is provided during this phase of the review whoever it is from and whether it applies to the whole of Lincolnshire or just a small part of the county.

“We will publish all the submissions on our website so that local people can see all the various proposals we receive. Residents will then have a further chance to have their say after we publish our draft recommendations in November.”

People have until July 21, 2015, to submit their views. Further information on the review and interactive maps of the existing divisions can be found at {http://www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk|www.consultation.lgbce.org.uk} and {http://www.lgbce.org.uk|www.lgbce.org.uk}

Twenty-five schools in Lincolnshire will be tuning into the biggest First Aid lesson ever to give their pupils the chance to learn vital skills that could save lives.

The nation’s leading First Aid charity is calling on more schools in the region to join the Big First Aid Lesson, which will be hosted by TV presenter Claudia Winkleman on Friday, June 12.

So far, the lesson will be educating over 85,000 pupils up and down the country, already exceeding St John Ambulance’s original target of 50,000.

The lesson is a free, one hour, online First Aid training session filmed live and streamed directly into classrooms across Lincolnshire.

It combines training and 999 scenarios with real life stories, as well as plenty of opportunities for students to join the conversation via Google Hangouts.

Donna Upsall, a teacher at Weston Hills Primary, said: “We have signed up because we think it is a fantastic chance for the children to learn about First Aid at a young age, in a safe environment, with their peers.

“To have an early interest in First Aid will hopefully inspire them as they grow up to continue this skill. Also, there may always be the chance that this little bit of knowledge will help them in the near future to help somebody who is hurt without panicking.

“It is often in the news about how young children have helped a parent or sibling in their moment of need. To have such an opportunity in school for free cannot be missed in our opinion.”

The Big First Aid Lesson will teach students how to respond to emergencies, such as asthma attacks and head injuries, so they have the skills and confidence to be the difference between life and death.

The only equipment schools need to take part is an internet connection and a screen (such as an interactive whiteboard) for their pupils to watch in the classroom or during assembly.

For more information visit www.sja.org.uk/bigfirstaidlesson

Saying thank you to staff at Spalding’s Johnson Comm-unity Hospital has resulted in one visitor taking to the skies to raise £1,000 for the Welland Ward.

Hayley Matson made the donation to the team in Spalding in memory of her late friend Len Dawson, after completing a tandem skydive from 12,500ft.

The occasion was something she says plane enthusiast Len, who was cared for at the hospital, would have been very proud of.

Hayley, of Moulton, said: “Len was cared for impeccably. When he died the hospital was so good and I just wanted to give something back.

“There was never a time where anything was too much bother. A few years ago I had a DVD done where I had flown a plane in Florida and he watched it over and over again. It seemed appropriate to do something in a plane this time to raise the money.”

Hairdresser Hayley collec-ted £1,000 with the help of her daughter Sian, who made and sold cakes. The money will be presented to the Welland Ward for Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust’s Charitable Funds.

Hayley added: “The day I did the skydive was a lovely day but it was the fact I was doing it in Len’s memory that made it so special.

“I’m just pleased to have been able to raise that amount of money for such a worthwhile cause and hope it makes a difference to the ward and their patients.”

Jennie Gittins, Welland Ward manager, said: “On behalf of everyone on the ward and at Lincolnshire Community Health Services, I would like to thank Hayley for her very kind donation. The quality of care the experiences of our patients, their family and friends is very important to us and we were delighted to hear what a difference our team was able to make to Mr Dawson.”

Children from Years 5 and 6 at Ayscoughfee Hall School in Spalding had an immersive 
experience and fantastic time soaking up the French language and way of life during their visit to Chateau de Chantereine in Upper Normandy.

Whether it was taking in World War One battlefields or walking their way through 
history on guided tours of French towns, learning about the oceans in the Sea Life Centre or sampling authentic French food, the children had a great time and thoroughly 
enjoyed themselves.

A team from Johnson Community Hospital in Spalding has been nominated for The EBP Investors In Education Award in recognition of partnership with local schools and for providing high quality work experience opportunities.

The team has been providing work experience opportunities for several years.

Annette Goulding, administrator at Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust (LCHS), said: “Our team at Johnson Community Hospital are thrilled to be nominated for this award. It was quite a surprise but we are really pleased.

“We work with local schools and colleges to provide a varied work experience timetable to allow students to be engaged and to see whether it would be a career path they would like to take.”

The team will collect their award at a special ceremony in Grantham next Thursday.

She added: “It means a lot to us that we were nominated by a student. We get very positive feedback from those who have undertaken work experience with us. We provide a unique opportunity for students to experience what it is like to work in a hospital.”

Donna Phillips, Clinical Nurse Educator at LCHS and her team at John Coupland Hospital were nominated by Janet Thorpe who co-ordinates the work experience at Queen Elizabeth’s High School, Gainsborough.

Janet Thorpe, Work Related Learning Co-Ordinator at Queen Elizabeth’s High School, said: “Students come back from their work experience at John Coupland ‘buzzing’ about the activities they have been doing.

“The tasks Donna puts in place are as varied as a hospital environment will allow and the students who have carried out their work experience at John Coupland have all gone on to pursue a career in some aspect of medicine.

“Donna herself is brilliant to work with. Her proactive organisation means she has places allocated for Year 10 students by the end of October for work experience the following July.”

Both teams are looking forward to a special ceremony on the evening of Thursday, May 21 at Belton Wood, Grantham where they will collect their awards.

“We’re delighted to be nominated for the award. I thoroughly enjoy arranging the placements and seeing students blossom in confidence during their time with us,” said Donna.

“Seeing the nervous students pre-placement and then seeing the difference when I attend their post placement presentations are the school is so fulfilling. We have to remember that these students are our workforce of the future and deserve this investment that we give them.”

Phil Everett, Sales, Marketing and Communications Manager at The EBP, said: “The IIE Awards are a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the efforts that employers across the county put in to supporting the next generation of employees.

“The Awards are our way of recognising the support that businesses give to young people by helping them prepare for what lies ahead and become employable, work-ready individuals.”