Two South Holland youngsters were ready to fight their way to the stars in the finale of Britain’s Got Talent.

Poppy Gill (11) of Spalding and Dolcie Simmons (12) of Tydd St Mary were dressed as gladiators in Alesha’s Golden Buzzer act Entity Allstars, which kicked the finale off.

In spite of the 20-piece dance troupe from Essex coming 11th out of 12 acts, they were given some excellent comments from the judges.

They followed their Harry Potter spectacular from the semi-final showing off their moves to a megamix of tunes, including Alesha Dixon’s hits.

She gave them a standing ovation along with David Williams and Amanda Holden and said: “You absolutely smashed it and did yourselves proud.”

David Williams also congratulated them and said: “We’ve never seen breakdancing gladiators on Britain’s Got Talent before.”

Even Simon Cowell was impressed and said: “That has to be a winning team.”

Jules O’Dwyer and her dog act Matisse were the final winners. The duo were crowned champions with an act which brought the judges to tears telling the story of a dog that stole sausages for its three-legged friend.

They took home a whopping prize sum of £250,000 after narrowly beating magician Jamie Raven.

Welsh choir Cor Glanaethwy surprised many viewers by being placed third.

Pensions is becoming as important as property in divorce settlements

For the first time pensions and property have become equally important assets in divorce settlements, with pensions likely to become increasingly so as more people understand the often significant sums of money they involve. 
This trend has been noted by UK pension administrator Equiniti which has seen a significant increase in valuations as a result of divorces over the past few years. 
Equiniti expects the number of valuations to increase even further due to the greater awareness of the value of pensions following the new freedoms and the potential ability to sell an annuity for cash. 
A recent Supreme Court ruling which could see thousands of ex-wives and husbands pursuing their former spouses for money - and pensions - years after they divorce if no Financial Order was established at the time of their split has also contributed to the trend. 
Paul Sturgess of Equiniti, said: “Although pension reforms in the 1990s were expected to increase its importance as an asset at divorce, this did not initially materialise. 
“However in recent years, awareness of the significant financial value of pensions has risen and, as a result, they are increasingly being assessed as an asset in the case of a divorce. 
“This spike is likely to be further fuelled by the current focus on pensions which has highlighted the value of both defined contribution and final salary schemes. 
“The Supreme Court ruling is likely to also have a further knock-on effect, prompting many divorcees to revisit the fact that no Financial Order was put in place at the time of divorce. 
“Nevertheless, not everyone fully understands the asset value of their pension and it could be a rude surprise for a divorcee if an ex-spouse was the source of this financial education years later.”

Experts from the potato 
industry are to gather for a day tackling matters relating to the spud.

The event is being organised by the Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board for East Midlands Potato Day.

Jenny Bashford, technical executive for the AHDB, said: “The East Midlands Potato Day will provide top industry voices, stimulating discussion sessions, and expert-led, practical field sessions.

“This event is a ‘must-attend’ for the potato industry in the eastern counties.”

The day will offer talks, debate and practical field sessions with industry experts from NFU, AHDB, QV Foods, Elveden Farms, Harper Adams, SRUC, McCain Foods and others addressing a range of current issues.

“Their talks will examine opportunities, new legislation and production techniques to meet the ever-increasing demands for quality and environmental considerations.”

The event will take place on June 30 at QV Foods, Manor Farm, Holbeach Hurn with registration at 9am and the event getting under way at 10am.

The key speaker will be Guy Poskitt and he will be followed by a panel session addressing the opportunities for growth for potato growers.

The panel will include Mr Poskitt and AHDB Potatoes’ head of marketing, Nick White and AHDB market intelligence’s David Swales, alongside QV Foods’ Nick Morton and Andrew Francis of Elveden Farms.

To take part contact Miya Kotecha on 07792 209 919 or miya.kotecha@ahdb.org.uk

A Spalding-based homes builder has appointed a new boss to run the company.

Allison Homes has named its managing director as Adrian Evans.

Mr Evans brings with him 15 years of leadership, experience and knowledge as managing director of Persimmon Homes, East Midlands Division and prior to that he headed the technical side of the Persimmon business.

Now with responsibility for the leadership and development of Allison Homes, Mr Evans will play a key role in driving the company forward and building on its reputation for quality developments and customer service.

Allison Homes is the newest business within the Larkfleet Group run by chief executive Karl Hick.

He said: “Adrian’s track record, experience and contacts within the industry are second to none and we are thrilled to have him on board.

“Attracting someone of Adrian’s calibre into the business is a great endorsement of our strategy and ambition.”

Mr Evans said: “Allison Homes has a past and well-deserved reputation as a leading home builder. We have a tremendous opportunity to enrich this again with the newly launched company.”

Nigel Parson, who was previously managing director at Allison Homes, is now managing director of construction for the Larkfleet Group.

Will Pegram is hoping that he can inspire a new generation.

In fact, his specific wish is that, in a couple of years’ time, a young person will say, ‘I once knew a guy who made a coat hook for me’.

He’s only 23, so quite young to be thinking of the next generation, but Will is passionate about keeping a traditional skill alive – that of the blacksmith.

He is the new smithy at Chain Bridge Forge in Spalding, his first job since leaving university in Hereford with a BA Honours degree in Artist Blacksmithing.

Will says: “It’s one of the only places in England you can do a degree in blacksmithing. Nowhere else does it and there has to be somewhere to keep it alive otherwise it will just fall out of circulation completely, like thatching.

“It was once a family trade or you would go and get an apprenticeship and learn on the job with a working blacksmith. You can still do that now, but there aren’t many jobs because it’s quite a difficult time for blacksmiths.”

Will’s four-year degree course, which followed a two-year college course, encouraged him to develop the design side and artistry of his work, so that he’s not restricted to making railings.

“There’s nothing wrong with railings,” Will adds hurriedly, because as well as making items for the forge’s gift shop he will be making bespoke items on commission – and that might be gates or railings.

Will says: “I prefer using completely traditional skills but with modern design, so keeping the old skill of blacksmith but in a modern context, whether in furniture or sculpture.”

Will, who lives with his parents on their smallholding near Holbeach, particularly enjoys working with the public in his new role, and demonstrating “what’s usually done behind closed doors”.

He gets regular visits from schools and Will might work with children to create a coat hook.

That experience goes full circle back to his own childhood when he saw someone at a country fair take a piece of steel and turn it into a spoon.

“After that, it was all I ever wanted to do,” he says. “I’ve never done anything else and nor do I want to.”

Visit Chain Bridge Forge in Spalding on a Wednesday, Friday or Sunday to see the new blacksmith Will Pegram at work.

His day begins by lighting the fire in the forge, and that has to be stoked hourly.

Once the fire is burning brightly, Will will begin to forge a few pieces for the gift shop, or, if there are visitors, he will demonstrate his skills and work with people to create small items.

He does his drawings and design work at home in the evenings to come up with new ideas for gifts or bespoke items for clients.

During his degree course Will built up a portfolio of work, including items such as a coffee table, free standing light sculptures and fire baskets.

Chain Bridge Forge’s other blacksmith is Steve Harper, of Weston.

An 18-year-old youth has been charged in connection with a crash which left another vehicle damaged in Gosberton at the weekend.

Ashley Singleton, of Revesby Avenue, Boston, is due to appear before town magistrates on July 1, accused of failing to provide a breath test after crashing a Ford Fiesta he was driving.

It happened in Rutland Gardens, Gosberton, at about 2am on Saturday when the car driven by Singleton, as well as another vehicle, were damaged.

Five of South Holland’s new district councillors will get their first taste of public service tomorrow, just four weeks after taking office.

Harry Drury, Laura Eldridge, Jo Reynolds, Jack Tyrrell and Peter Williams are all due to attend their first meeting as members of the council’s planning committee.

All five councillors went to a training session about their new roles, with extra guidance to come from planning officers and more experienced committee members at the meeting.

Coun Roger Gambba-Jones, chairman of the planning committee, said: “I can understand how they will be feeling when they listen to their first report.

“It’s a great big learning curve for them, so my efforts will be towards helping to bring them on and to try to ensure that the committee members understand what they are being told.

“There are lots of stereotypes that appear on the TV where the chairman of a planning committee says ‘this is going to happen and this is the way things will be.’

“But my role is to ensure that we make sound decisions based on the right policy and the right understanding of the planning process.”

One of the plans to be considered tomorrow is for a new dog boarding kennels in Surfleet.

A couple behind the plans want to knock down a number of buildings outside their home and build a new kennels unit for up to ten dogs.

Onjectors living nearby claim their lives would be affected by dogs barking and that the site is too close to both the A152 and south Lincolnshire Crematorium.

But a report prepared for the meeting said: “The property has no near neighbours, with the nearest (homes) some 150 to 200 metres to the north and west (of the site).

“Given the nature of the proposed use and the fact the application site is previously developed land, set apart from the (house itself), it is considered to be an appropriate use for a rural location.”

Coun Gambba-Jones has been planning committee chairman for at least ten years, a period that has included controversial plans to build almost 90 eco-homes at the former Long Sutton Butterfly and Wildlife Park and a 52-acre solar energy plant in Sutton St James.

“You can never be sure about a planning meeting because you can go into an area of discussion or debate where someone asks a question you never thought of before,” Coun Gambba-Jones said.

“Every application is considered on its merits and given sufficient discussion so that the committee can be sure it has made the right decision.”

A woman has been seriously injured in a collision on the A16 at Crowland.

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly before 7pm last night, Monday, June 1, following a collision between a Toyota Avensis and a Renault Laguna.

A 35-year-old female passenger from the Avensis suffered internal injuries and was taken to Peterborough City Hospital, before being later transferred to Addenbrookes in Cambridgeshire. Her condition is serious but stable.

The driver of the Avensis was treated for fractured ribs and an infant escaped with no injuries. The family is from the Long Sutton area.

It is not believed that the driver of the Laguna suffered any injury.

The road was reopened at midnight.

Any witnesses who have not already spoken with police should call 101, quoting the incident number 355 of June 1.

The crash follows a fatal collision in which an elderly woman was killed two weeks ago and led to calls for improvements to the road’s safety.

Police are appealing for information after a car was set alight in Spalding.

The blue Nissan Micra was parked in a layby on Churchgate when the incident happened, shortly before 3am on Monday, June 1.

The car was completely destroyed.

Lincolnshire Police are treating the incident as arson and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Please call 101, quoting incident number 19 of 1st June.

An eco-friendly commercial development in Long Sutton is to be home to a husband and wife-run deli with menus full of locally sourced foods.

Kirsty and Anthony Bowen have created the Three Counties Deli and Coffee Shop, which is the latest business to take up a unit in the Carbon Neutral Business Zone (CaNeBuZo), in Hoddins Way.

They plan to sell products sourced as locally as possible including items from the Marsh Pig Norfolk Charcuterie and the Rutland Charcuterie, alongside speciality cheeses, home-smoked and cured bacon, homemade pies and sausage rolls and cakes.

Mrs Bowen said: “We’re based in Lincolnshire but very close to the border with Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, hence the name.

“We’ll have a selection of items from small producers and artisan foods – things that you can’t get in the supermarkets, and as far as possible, items produced locally.

“We hope the coffee shop will complement the existing businesses.”

The couple have run a food business Man Made Food – selling homemade pastries and pies at markets and catering outside events – for three years.

The official opening will be on Saturday, noon to 3pm.

Canebuzo has seven units designed to retain heat and use new technology to preserve natural resources and generate energy from natural sources. They have a below-zero carbon footprint and are among the UK’s greenest commercial buildings.

Police have appealed for witnesses after a burglary at Langtoft post office.

Thieves broke into the shop in West End at about 1.10am today (Tuesday). They stole cigarettes thought to be worth about £1,500.

A police spokesman said: “It is believed that at least two offenders and a dark coloured vehicle, perhaps a Ford, could have been involved. Investigating officers would like to hear from anyone who may have seen any suspicious activity or vehicles in the area in the early hours of this morning.”

Call 101 quoting incident 10 of June 2.

The healthcare needs of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community are the subject of a new survey.

The Lincolnshire LGBT+ Patient Group is urging lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to complete the online survey.

The survey is completely anonymous.

Research and comments suggest LGBT people may sometimes experience problems with health services, or may be unsure about how doctors and medical staff will react.

The survey can be completed online via the Lincolnshire LGBT+ Patient Group website or paper copies can be provided by contacting Healthwatch on 01205 820892.

A group specialising in flamboyant horse displays is set to be one of the main attractions at next Saturday’s Pinchbeck Carnival.

Galloping Acrobatics will perform shows that include skipping horses, exquisite dances, beautiful routines with vintage-inspired costumes and plenty of ‘razzle dazzle’.

The theme on Saturday, June 13 is ‘Best of British’, and this will certainly be provided with the other dozens of fantastic acts, competitions, craft stalls and charities all attending on the Rotten Row playing field.

MP John Hayes will officially open the carnival and Jan and Chris from Tulip Radio will be comperes for the day.

The Breaston Highlanders, a very traditional marching band, will be parading in full Scottish attire, as well as leading the parade to provide the musical entertainment.

There is also live music from Bad to the Bone, a fancy dress competition, rides, stalls, handicrafts and a cooking competition.

The whole event is part of Pinchbeck Carnival Weekend, which sees a bingo on Friday evening and a church service and lunch on the Sunday.

This event was originally held to give the smaller, more local charities a chance to fundraise themselves by having their own stalls. Any other money raised will be going towards next year’s carnival.

Other acts will include trampolining from Abbey High Flyers from Spalding, the Spalding School of Dance, cheerleading from Polka Dots and singing from Act II.

Of course there will be plenty of things to eat and drink and there will be a licensed bar.

To add to this splendid line up of Britishness, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be doing a flypast.

Carnival committee chairman Chris Schofield said: “We all have our roles in the committee so organisation is not really a problem.

“You know, we’ve been doing this for about 30 odd years. The biggest challenge is finding the money for insurance expense, hiring people but 
also motivating people to actually come as well.”

The carnival relies almost completely on the funds it receives from the year before.

For extra details, visit the Pinchbeck carnival facebook page. Carnival gates open at 11am and the parade is at noon. Admission is £3 for adults and £1.50 for children.

Lincolnshire – I’m proud to call it my home. It’s not always been the case though – there were times when I was younger I thought it was flat, dull and, well if I’m honest, a teeny bit boring.

But more recently I’ve started to appreciate its finer qualities – and there’s lots to sing and shout about.

These are the reasons I love Lincolnshire:

1. The food – if Kent is the garden of England, then Lincolnshire is undoubtedly its bread basket. We grow and produce an enormous amount of wonderfully delicious food. The county is famed for its sausages, haslet and cheese, but let’s not forget all the vegetables grown on our rich fertile soils – in particular the potatoes which supply some of the country’s best fish and chip shops. And then of course there’s an abundance of top notch country pubs and restaurants.

2. Scenery – many would argue that down our southern end of the county the scenery is a little bit flat, and in some parts just one field after another. But I love it. There’s nothing quite like its endless, wide open skies while everything else pales in comparison to the wonder that is a giant Fenland sunset. We’re also lucky enough to have the best of both worlds on our doorstep – with the undulating Wolds to the north, and golden coastal sands on the east coast to enjoy too.

3. People – there’s no denying it, Lincolnshire folk are a friendly bunch. We say ‘hello’ to complete strangers in the street and are always happy to stop and give directions – even if we’ve no idea where we’re sending them.

4. History / heritage – Lincolnshire has a rich and varied history; from the legends of King John’s lost treasure – supposedly residing somewhere at the bottom of The Wash – to the scientific discoveries made by Sir Isaac Newton at his family home near Grantham. Every building, every village and every town has a story to tell about how our forefathers lived and I love finding out about these fascinating little nuggets.

5. The roads – now a lot of people are probably going to disagree with me on this one and say they’re in poor condition, riddled with potholes and need updating – with more dual carriageways desperately needed. And let’s not forget all the slow-moving agricultural traffic and lorries clogging them up. But having lived here all my life, I’ve kind of come to accept – some days even love – the fact our county is connected by these smaller road networks and tiny country lanes – with not a motorway in sight.

6. Language – I never excelled at foreign languages at school, but nevertheless they still fascinate me and in particular how every region has its own words and variations. Sadly lots of our county dialect has fallen by the wayside. It always makes me smile when I unintentionally drop a word such as ‘mizzling’ into the conversation and see my non-Lincolnshire friends looking slightly perplexed.

7. Sense of humour – there’s no denying it, us yellowbellies have a wicked sense of humour. Well, who in their right mind would invent and take to their hearts a sport which involves hurling cabbages via a giant catapult?

8. There’s no place like home – quite simply I think Dorothy got it spot on. I might have strayed from Lincolnshire soil up to Nottingham for three years, but quite honestly I was pleased to leave the city and get back to the countryside. Yes, there’s lots to be said for the bright lights, hustle and bustle and the opportunities – oh, and the shopping – but at the end of the day, there really is no place like home.

* What do you love about Lincolnshire? Why are you proud to call it home? Email spaldingeditor@jpress.co.uk

A busy road in Bourne will be closed temporarily while work is going on to replace gas pipes in the town centre.

National Grid will be starting essential work next Monday (June 8) to replace gas pipes in Abbey Road and South Street in Bourne town centre, to keep the gas flowing to homes and businesses in the area for decades to come.

The project to renew the gas pipes is expected to take about three weeks to complete. The existing metal gas pipes, which have been in use for many years, will be replaced with modern hardwearing plastic pipes that are designed to last for at least 80 years.

To carry out the work safely it will be necessary to temporarily close Abbey Road. This will be only a short section of the road outside number 1 to number 13.

Access to Abbey Road will be maintained for pedestrians and businesses in the town will remain open as usual.

National Grid Authorising Engineer Mark Allsop said: “People in the Bourne area enjoy a safe and reliable gas supply and our job is to make sure it stays that way. We will make every effort to minimise any inconvenience our work may cause. We greatly appreciate the co-operation and patience of the local community and motorists.”

During the third and final week it may be necessary to close a lane in South Street and to introduce temporary two-way traffic lights. National Grid will let residents and businesses know if this is needed.

As part of the project it will be necessary to replace the service pipes that connect individual businesses and residential properties to the gas main. National Grid will contact all those who are affected to explain when this will take place and what is going to happen.

If anyone has any queries about the work and how it will affect them they can contact customer services on 0800 096 5678.

Will the road closure affect you? E-mail our {mailto:smeditor@stamfordmercury.co.uk|newsdesk} or call 01780 758951.

Action Fraud has seen an increase in the number of small to medium sized businesses being contacted by fake bailiffs requesting payments for a phantom debt.

The scam involves the business being cold called from someone purporting they are bailiffs working on behalf of a court, attempting to recover funds for a non-existent debt.

The caller will then request payment by means of bank transfer and if this is refused, will threaten to visit the premises to recover the debt that is owed.

A range of different businesses are being targeted; including nurseries, manufacturers, hotels and taxi services.

Protect Yourself

Confirm what the debt is regarding; bailiffs are only used to recover certain debts such as council tax, child support and compensation orders.

Bailiffs are not used to recover debts relating to private advertisement; these would be collected by debt collectors.

Debt collectors do not have the same legal powers as bailiffs and will not have special court authorisation to act. For more details regarding this, please look at the Citizens Advice website.

Double check with the Court or originating company to confirm whether the suspects are legitimate; if you use a landline make sure you hear the dialling tone prior to dialling as the suspects could still be on the line.

Request details of the debt in writing to access its legitimacy.

Do not feel rushed or intimidated to make a decision based on a phone call.

If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk

HAYES IN THE HOUSE: By South Holland and the Deepings MP John Hayes

The first responsibility of government is to uphold national security, so protecting our people. In the context of this primary endeavour, with the world seeing the rise of religious extremism and violence, homeland security has become as important as guarding our borders from external threats. Knowing this, I was greatly honoured when the Prime Minister asked me to become the new Minister for Security, with responsibility for overseeing counter-terrorism.

The Queen’s speech last week saw the government unveiling important plans to improve schools, increase the number of apprenticeships and extend home ownership. But underpinning the agenda to extend opportunity, provide social justice and build ‘one nation’ is an essential focus on security. That’s why the Queen announced new legislation that will enable government and the security services to do more to keep people safe.

As the Prime Minister has said, the liberal orthodoxy that government takes a neutral stance between different values has held sway for too long, consequently permitting a narrative of extremism and hate. This government will actively promote British values, both by pursuing an inclusive ‘one nation’ agenda and by protecting the public from fanatics who promote views and behaviour that threaten our values. A new Extremism Bill will enable the Home Secretary to ban extremist groups and provide a new power for the police and local authorities to close down premises, including Mosques, used as a base for extremism.

As the use of the internet as a method of spreading extremism and recruiting terrorists grows, it is vitally important that our law enforcement and intelligence agencies refine their ability to target online communications. The Investigatory Powers Bill will enable the security services to monitor communications data, a gap in capability that has previously put lives at risk. As Minister for Security I will have a key role in piloting this legislation through Parliament.

We should all be proud of the work our security services undertake every day to keep us safe, often at great personal risk. Much of this work is, by necessity, conducted in secret, as a consequence so being unknown and unheralded. To serve in the new Conservative Government, in such an important role, means that the great responsibility to do whatever it takes to protect national security falls to me.

Bourne Outdoor Pool is to open for adults-only swimming on a trial basis.

Sessions will run from 8am to 10am on Saturdays for three weeks, starting this week (June 6).

If the trial is well-supported, the sessions could run for the rest of the summer.

Admission to the adults-only sessions will be £3 per swimmer.

In the first three months of this year, the United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust has missed a national target to see 93 per cent of suspected cancer patients within 14 days.

The Trust has instead seen 88 per cent of the 4,489 patients suspected to have cancer referred to them by GPs within a fortnight, five per cent below the target set out in NHS guidelines.

A further 537 people suspected to have cancer were not seen by the Trust within the two week expected time-frame.

The Trust cites an unprecendented increase in referrals, patient choice and shortage of radiologists for missing the targets expected.

The 14 day period exists due to the impact delays in diagnosis can have on the potential effectiveness of cancer treatment in combatting the disease.

Dominic Graham, a specialist medical negligence lawyer at national law firm Blackwater Law, said: “Identifying cancer at the earliest possible moment is vitally important. Early diagnosis and treatment greatly increases the likelihood of a successful outcome.

“The NHS targets reflect the importance of early diagnosis. It is hugely disappointing when these targets are repeatedly missed by NHS Trusts.”

In response a spokesperson for the Trust said: “United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is fully committed to meeting all NHS constitutional standards and where this does not occur we take action to achieve standards. We have seen an unprecedented increase in the number of GP referrals for suspected cancer patients, with a 60% increase from April 2011 to April 2015.

“We are forecasting an increase in our performance against the standard for seeing 93% of suspected cancer patients within two weeks for May, and a further increase for June due to increased capacity, depending on patient choice. More than 50% of the number that didn’t meet the standard last quarter was due to patient choice.

“The increase in demand, together with a number of unfilled vacancies for radiologists has placed increased pressure on services. The shortage of radiologists is a national problem, and we are working hard to recruit radiologists from other countries. We have recently appointed six new consultant radiologists who will have started between February and September this year, helping us meet targets in the future.

“The Trust and Clinical Commissioning Groups are committed to providing the very best possible service for their patients and are working closely together to improve access to patient services. This includes a recent Lincolnshire health community cancer summit and launch of a breast care pathway redesign project which follows the patient from community through to survivorship”.

A spokesperson added that the Trust’s performance for May is expected to be in the region of 89 and 90 per cent, although the exact figures are still to be verified.