TRISH TAKES FIVE: By blogger Trish Burgess

It was while shopping in the supermarket that the CD caught my eye: Now That’s What I Call Music 93.

93? Is that possible? Surely it’s only a few years since the first Now That’s What I call Music hit the shops?

Sadly no. The first album was released in 1983, 33 years ago. This discovery was enough to make me howl at what had happened to the intervening years.

I found a list of the tracks on the original album and they were all instantly recognisable by name, taking me straight back to when I was 19, at university, listening to these songs in college bars and tacky discos.

Immediately I started singing ‘Red, Red Wine’ by UB40, ‘Too Shy’ by Kajagoogoo and ‘Down Under’ by Men At Work. Big hits by Culture Club, Tina Turner and The Cure jostled for position with Simple Minds and Madness. The words were all there, stored neatly away in the ‘they don’t make tunes like that any more’ folder which everyone over the age of 30 has nestled in their memories.

Turning to the new album of 2016 was completely baffling. Glancing at the names and song titles, no melodies or lyrics came to mind, apart from the last one on CD 2 which happened to be ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie - and he was only there because he had unfortunately passed away.

I couldn’t believe I was really so out of touch with modern pop culture so listened to the song clips and was relieved that I knew about a dozen of the 44 that were included (you only got 30 tracks on the original, but oh boy, were they a brilliant 30).

Of course, some of the songs I recognised were by well-known names such as Coldplay, Ellie Goulding and The Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Choir. There was also a cover version of Tracy Chapman’s ‘Fast Car’ which, of course, being old and crotchety, I had to berate as not being anything like as good as the original.

Many of the others were a puzzling collection of names, several listed as ‘featuring’ which I presume means a DJ/producer created the mix, hence we have Snakehips featuring Tinashe and Chance the Rapper or David Guetta featuring Sia and Fetty Wap. Fetty what?

Five of the new songs were listed as ‘clean’ which confused me for a while until it dawned on me that there were obviously some ‘not so clean’ versions kicking around. Naturally I did a search for those.

Interestingly, although the artists’ names are long-winded in the 2016 album, with all this featuring going on, the song titles are very short: ‘Army’, ‘Worry’, ‘Sorry’, ‘Sax’, ‘Sugar’, ‘Dessert’ and ‘Roses’. Don’t they know that the best song titles are wordy and have brackets? Just ask Paul Young - ‘Wherever I Lay My Hat (That’s My Home)’.

You can follow Trish on Twitter @mumsgoneto and read her blog at www.mumsgoneto.co.uk

Spalding firm Elsoms Seeds lost one of its most successful Saturday boys on Friday as Mick Taylor bowed out.

Mick (64) has notched up 50 years’ service with the company since he joined its former shop in Spalding’s Double Street in the building now occupied by Prezzo.

He was just 14 when he started and had to wait until his birthday in August before he could go full-time.

Mick has only once tried to leave Elsoms, back in the 70s, and did that solely because he thought he would never be promoted by the Pinchbeck Road firm.

“I wasn’t successful and I am glad I wasn’t because six months down the line the company I had applied to join went into liquidation,” he said.

Mick was wrong about his promotion prospects as Elsoms made him warehouse manager in 1984.

“I knew the trade inside out,” he says.

On Friday Mick’s colleagues and bosses joined him for a meal and presentations of gifts, including a lawnmower and a Canon DSLR camera as he aims to pursue photography as a hobby.

Managing director Robin Wood had some stats to hand.

He said: “We think that Mick has shipped out of here 800 billion seeds and a quarter-of-a-million consignments – and over 95 per cent of those consignments have reached their target, right place, right time.

“What Mick has done for us has been a great achievement. Our customers recognise great service and Mick has been the guy to make sure that he’s given our customers that great service. He really has helped put Elsoms on the map.”

Mick was born at Holbeach Hospital but lived in Spalding in a house near the sugar factory, now part of the power station site. He attended Pinchbeck Primary, Westlode Street junior school and Gleed before following in the footsteps of his elder sister by joining Elsoms.

He was essentially an errand boy, made deliveries on an old trade bike, and recalls his least favourite job as preparing wreaths by adding moss that was sometimes alive with beetles and ants.

Mick was joined at his retirement party by his wife, Iris.

They intend buying a touring caravan to go on holiday with their two dogs and spending more time with their grandchildren. Iris has five children and Mick has one and, between them, they have seven grandchildren.

Spalding and Holbeach Macmillan Cancer Support fundraising committee members are mourning the loss of their secretary Ann Creasey who died suddenly and unexpectedly at her Spalding home on Saturday.

For 25 years Ann served on the committee, was chairman for two years, and until her death had been secretary for over ten years.

As secretary she wrote countless letters of thanks for donations and was humbled by the generosity of people throughout the area to help those touched by cancer.

It was her contention that people who could give selflessly, often despite their personal grief, deserved a real letter from a real person.

Ann was always involved behind the scenes helping to organise dinners, dances, coffee mornings, golf days, collections, baking... you name it Ann was always there helping.

Chairman of the fundraising committee Sharon Tear said: “We are all devastated at the sudden loss of Ann. She was an inspiration to us all and was always there to keep us all going.

“We all thought the world of her and she will be so sadly missed. Our heartfelt sympathies go to all her family at this terribly sad time.”
 Ann grew up in Crowland and lived local to Spalding and the Deepings all her life.
 As a girl she enjoyed sailing, was commodore of the Welland Yacht Club and served as a committee member there for many years. As she matured, golf became her passion, twice becoming ladies’ captain of Boston West. 
 Ann leaves her husband Bill, daughter Clare and sons Andrew and Simon.
The funeral will be at Spalding Parish Church on a date to be fixed. There will be family flowers, and any donations will, of course, be to Macmillan Cancer Support. For further details on a date contact Mark Forth Funeral Directors.
 Ann will be sadly missed and her family would like to help Ann with just one more thank you letter: “To all the wonderful people who have given and continue to give so generously. Thank you.”

WARD’S WORLD: By madcap inventor John Ward

As I scribble away, one of the initial but usual signs that summer is not far off is the fact the price of the stuff used in vehicles as in petrol and diesel has been steadily creeping up over the past few weeks, based on the fact that the average or other sized motorist likes to go out in warm or tepid weather as opposed to the winter mode when if wise, stays indoors and their motorcycle/car/van/status symbol has to fend for itself.

Yup, summer seems to be the period when things you would never dream of doing at any other time are suddenly unleashed. Summer fadness can range from ‘going out for a drive’ to the humble BBQ in its various modes as requiring charcoal or gas as means to cook/burn/scorch with, but the bad news for those folk trying to save the globe, the solar powered or wind turbine models are still on the, err, ‘back burner’ but in the development stages so far as we can ascertain or for that matter, find out about as well.

The joy of eating alfresco is THE summer thing (for the record, one of my mum’s neighbours thought that Al Fresco was the bloke with the dodgy haircut who worked in the local kebab shop until she was put right that it meant eating outdoors, which does not involve dodgy haircuts, although..) and you can’t beat all that smoke, fumes and people leaning over to say how they want or would like their new line, from the freezer section of their supermarket and currently on offer in a ‘Buy Two for the Price of Three’ mega deal, that is yongi fingers in batter or half a bullock, obtained from the rear end section, cooked or incinerated as desired.

I don’t know if they have picked up in quality and substance these days, but years ago friend Fred and his good lady came to a BBQ we were having and she brought her ‘veggie burgers’ and being told to ‘cook them like normal burglars’, it was after about five minutes I was basically flicking over a mass that was slowly shedding what appeared to be sawdust fragments until in the end I was left with a shrivelled up thing the size of a conker, minus the green outer spiky bits, to place in a bun. But I like to think they may be constructed better nowadays (hopefully..) but I will say the wrapper they came in was quite colourful and perhaps lasted longer.

Next in line for these trendy occasions is somewhere to hold the said spectacle and this can vary from your back garden, patio or the central reservation of the M6 if short term events are your thing and the motorway police remove you but with a strong possibility you will be appearing on ‘Police Motorway Madness’ on the telly any dark winter’s evening and repeated a minimum seventeen times thereafter and till the day you die, thus you will be constantly asked: “Ere? – was that you they moved off in the police van wiv your BBQ? – It is you, innit! – Course you had hair then but it’s you, no getting away from it.. cor, I know a telly star – must tell Brenda when I get home..”

Once your ideal location is sorted out, you will want to be prepared for should things like rain, hail, snow or plagues of locusts descending upon your event and thus you will need a foldaway or ‘easy to erect’ gazebo – gazebo is a foreign word meaning loads of poles with a pile of canvas that go together but with the ‘How to Erect’ instructions written in an oriental language that involves you nipping off to the local take-a-way to get them translated and can end up, if you are unlucky, coming out as “Number 37, with chips, no sauce” – but basically said gazebo is a ‘la-de-da’ form of tent but with more doors or entrances, although if entirely open to the elements, basically a roof on poles or sticks depending on how little you shelled out for it of course.

Once your shelter is taken care of, next comes ‘garden furniture’ and this comes in many different forms and shapes with items made from metal, wrought iron, ‘basket weave’ whatever but comes from sustainable wotever it is, so if ozone friendly seating is your thing and you don’t want to have restless nights losing sleep and fretting over it, opt for the basket weave stuff. Another form of combined seating and partial covering in case of the above elements getting the better of you, then why not go for the Patio Furniture Set which is a table with an hole punched in the middle where you place or shove (usually supplied) a large umbrella or parasol through. These parasols come in assorted colourful patterns or the basic model advertises a brand of lager or wine and is usually sourced after a night out with the lads (allegedly).

These sets cater for many needs as they range from a mere two chairs to enough seating for the fan club of local band “Andy n The Armpits” or if all else fails, buy a few straw bales to seat on but do get the small, traditional oblong ones as opposed to the big ‘roly poly’ or ‘swiss roll’ type otherwise you will need a step ladder to be able to get up and sit on it comfortably.

By now you will be fully kitted out and ready, so is there anything missing? – check the following and tick them off: food, tick – BBQ, tick – gazebo, tick – something to sit on, tick – yup, seems okay.. then it hits you. Whoever it is who will be doing the burning, sorry, cooking will want to wear a silly apron with either a daft picture or design on it or some form of derogatory joke, saying or catch phrase that’s is usually meaningless to those who will see it, or won’t have the slightest clue as to what it is or what it means as it was probably featured (?) on a television programme that was light years ago or on a paid subscription TV channel that nobody else can get as they don’t have the same ‘Gullible as Heck’ package you signed up for.

Silly apron Option Two. Getting one that is mildly offensive, or was, about seven years ago when it was revealed to an unsuspecting world and cost a small fortune then but now available at the local quid shop for, well, a quid or is you haven’t got a quid, a pound will do of course.

Final stage before anyone arrives, get the fire going. After about quarter of an hour, smoke trails up into the atmosphere and can be seen for miles, which is followed by a text message from Chief Sitting Bull of the Apatchy tribe, who lives a few miles away, pointing out that after reading your smoke, if you spread any more malicious gossip about him, he will come over and shove your yongi fingers ‘where the sun don’t shine’ - or for the faint hearted, Manchester as it’s sometimes called.

Right then – must dash as just heard there is a deal on in town selling off cheap some ‘fire damaged stock’ charcoal. Happy burning.

THOUGHTS OF A FRUITCAKE: By Carolyn Aldis

So, last week was a pretty busy time in the Aldis household as we had 3 birthdays within 6 days. April usually comes round fast but I feel like I took a little nap during the Queen’s speech and have woken up on the eve of my daughter’s birthday...the fact it snowed didn’t help.

I used to be able to slow life down a bit by detoxing - when you are hungry, the hours crawl between the celery and the cucumber, but even this hasn’t worked recently, mainly because I keep finding Easter egg stuck between my teeth - it’s a mystery…

The first year that I had the craziness of 3 birthdays in 6 days was by far the hardest. It started with the birth of my 3rd daughter at 4 o ‘clock in the morning. 2 days after her birth, which just so happened to be her Daddy’s birthday, I made a huge pink castle cake (not for him, obviously.)

4 days later, I ran a 5th birthday party for my eldest daughter, making crafts and playing games with 20 children; at the end, when I was doing the Hokey Cokey for the 3rd time, I could see blackness coming down in front of my eyes and realised I might have overdone it.

I wonder how on earth I did it, with little sleep, a feeding baby and the iron levels of a gnat. The pressure I put on myself then was immense; I found that I would either keep going, pushing through the pain barrier and emerging on the other side, albeit a bit woozy…or the pressure would get too much and I would have a bit of a meltdown.

For example, when I had my first child, I was a strong Christian, who had sorted out a lot of issues, one of which was swearing; I didn’t do it anymore. After the birth, things settled down and we got into a routine of her waking a couple of times a night for a feed, which only I could do. Then there was one night when I couldn’t settle her, she was fractious and wouldn’t feed. I was getting frustrated and at a place where I finally understood the term “bone tired”, I literally ached with it. When I finally settled her and put her down, I got back into bed, alongside my peaceful, sleeping husband and as the baby started bawling again, I let out a shriek of obscenities. The swearing habit that I thought was gone was resurrected on a tidal wave of anger and I was a blubbering mess as my husband picked up our baby, who promptly fell asleep.

Getting the right balance of pressure in our lives is a good thing…too little and I find I stagnate, not moving forward, not much use to anyone…too much and I explode, fizzing over and affecting everything around me…no wonder my baby couldn’t sleep.

My “baby” turned 17 a few days ago and I’m glad I have finally got the balance of pressure right…otherwise sitting with her while she drives my car might be problematic…

Firefighters were called to a blaze involving about 20 metres of conifer hedging on land in Shepeau Stow on Wednesday night.

The fire was reported in an area of land off Oxcroft Bank, near the B1166 Hull’s Drove road, just after 8.15pm.

A fire crew from Crowland used two water hose reels, rugs and pitch forks to put out the blaze.

A garden fire in Holbeach Bank today was caused by an incinerator being left too close to a hedge and fence, it has been confirmed.

The fire happened outside a house in Roman Bank, Holbeach Bank, before spreading to a garden next door, just after 1.15pm.

A crew from Holbeach used a water hose to put out the fire which started when an incinerator was left unattended.

However, there are no reports of any injuries.

Sport and fitness in the Deepings are the subject of a public forum organised by South Kesteven District Council later this month.

Members and occasional users are invited to a public forum at Deepings Leisure Centre on Thursday, May 26 at 6.30pm.

The event is held every three months and give people the chance to talk to users, updating them on what is happening around the centres and answering their questions.

A man has been airlifted to hospital after suffering serious injuries in a collision in Donington.

According to Lincolnshire Police, the collision happened in Bicker Road on the A52, B1181 junction, around 4.40pm yesterday (Thursday) and involved an Astra van, a Renault van and a Ford Mondeo.

A police spokesman said the driver of the Astra, a 43 year-old local man, was flown to the Queens Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he remains in a serious but stable condition.

The driver of the Renault, a 21 year-old local man, and the driver of the Mondeo, a 31 year-old man from Billingborough, were treated for less serious injuries.

A fire crew from Donington attended, assisted in the casualties and made the vehicles safe.

The spokesman said: “Anyone who witnessed the collision, who has not already spoken with officers, should call 101, quoting incident number 331 of May 5.”

The latest coverage of the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner election count, live at Lincoln Drill Hall.

1:55 - Marc Jones (Conservative) tells us that he expected the count to go to second preference votes due to there being four candidates, which made it difficult for any single candidate to achieve a majority on first preferences alone.

He added that there were many spoilt ballots, but that the was likely due to people misunderstanding the Supplementary Vote system which is used in Police and Crime Commissioner elections. For example, Mr Jones suggested that many people had put two crosses in the same column, rather than one cross in each column.

He suggested that using the traditional First-Past-The-Post voting system would be an improvement.

1:20 - Lucinda Preston (Labour) tells us that she is “really thrilled” to have polled so well, coming just 3,000 votes behind the UKIP candidate.

She said: “I didn’t expect to be so close, as a Labour candidate in a Tory county.

“I think Marc Jones will probably win overall, but it’s so difficult to tell.

“The real story of the night is the number of spoilt ballots - there were umpteen of them.”

She concluded: “I have really enjoyed the experience - although it’s been a challenge with working full-time - and this shows there’s a real Labour presence in Lincolnshire.”

1:10PM - Second preference counting will begin at 1.15pm and it may be some time before the final winner is announced.

1:05PM - First preference votes have been announced, with no candidate receiving a majority.

Victoria Ayling (UKIP) and Marc Jones (Conservative) are now head-to-head as second preference votes are counted.

Ms Ayling received 28,583 first preference votes, and Mr Jones received 39,441 first preference votes.

Lucinda Preston (Labour) and Daniel Simpson (Lincolnshire Independents) have been eliminated from the contest.

Ms Preston received 25,475 first preference votes and Mr Simpson received 18,497 first preference votes.

Turnout was 21.2 per cent.

12:55PM - Good afternoon from Lincoln Drill Hall.

Keep visiting this web page for updates on the election count as they develop.

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. V/S means victim surcharge.

Boston Magistrates’ Court

March 30

Dean Boyle (26), of St Thomas Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and obstructing a police officer.

Nathan Bunn (21), of Queensway, Long Sutton. Assault (Holbeach). Community order with drug rehabilitation requirement, rehabilitation activity requirement, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Olegs Ivonovs (26), of Victoria Street, Holbeach. Assault (Holbeach). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for criminal damage.

Leszek Nizio (36), of Norfolk Place, Boston. Assault (Holbeach). £575 fine, £58 v/s, £85 costs.

Janette Wilkins (52), of The Hollies, Holbeach. Drink driving (Holbeach). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 17 months.

Vika Snikere (23), of Swineshead Road, Kirton Holme. Grievous bodily harm (Kirton Holme). Eight weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, £200 compensation, £85 costs.

Egidijus Vitkus (29), of Fulney Avenue, Spalding. Attempted theft of two Puma hooded tops worth £45.99 belonging to Sports Direct (Spalding). £135 fine, £45.99 compensation, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Algimantas Rinkevicius (46), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Driving without due care and attention (Swineshead). £450 fine, £45 v/s, £85 costs, 7pts.

Robert Marszalek (41), of Queens Road, Spalding. Assault (Spalding). Eight weeks prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, 200 hours unpaid work, rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £250 compensation, £350 costs. Assault. Eight weeks prison sentence consecutive, suspended for 18 months, £250 compensation. Assault. Four weeks prison sentence consecutive, suspended for 18 months.

April 4

Peter Higgins (68), of Hallgate, Gedney Dyke. Speeding (Spalding). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £150 costs, 3pts.

April 6

Louise Clarkson (30), of Oxford Gardens, Holbeach. Drink driving (Holbeach). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 19 months.

Cieren Brownsword (25), c/o Pennygate, Spalding. Harassment (Spalding). Community order with 150 hours unpaid work, restraining order, £60 v/s, £206 costs.

Robert Crosby (23), of Horseshoe Road, Spalding. Harassment (Spalding). Community order with 60 hours unpaid work, take part in thinking skills programme, rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, £260 costs.

Daniel Mason (40), of Nenelands East Bank, Wingland, Sutton Bridge. Assault (Sutton Bridge). Two years conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £85 costs.

Jasmine Richardson (20), of The Hayfields, Spalding. Harassment (Spalding). Community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, £206 costs.

April 13

Sally Carpenter (40), of Double Street, Spalding. Possession of diamorphine (Spalding). 12 months conditional discharge, £15 v/s, £45 costs, drugs to be forfeited and destroyed.

Justinas Radionovas (22), of Beaufort Drive, Spalding. Drink driving (Spalding). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 24 months.

Mitchell Johns (26), of Tennyson Avenue, Grantham. Assault (Bicker Bar). Community order with 80 hours unpaid work, £60 v/s, £85 costs.

Pavlo Namjaks (21), of Heron Way, Spalding. Failed to provide a specimen of breath (Boston). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

Carl Steele (38), of Hop Pole. Resisting a police officer (Spalding). £335 fine, £34 v/s, £85 costs.

Boriss Mulers (29), of Havelock Street, Spalding. Entered as a trespasser and stole fishing trolley, hedge trimmer and secateurs of unknown value (Spalding). £190 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs.

Kevin O’Brien (49), of Roman Bank, Holbeach Bank. Drink driving (Holbeach). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 20 months.

Sandijs Selagovskis (25), of Havelock Street, Spalding. Entered as a trespasser and stole fishing trolley, hedge trimmer and secateurs of unknown value (Spalding). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for entering as trespasser and stealing strimmer of unknown value.

Andrew Clayton (39), of Cekhira Avenue, Moulton Chapel. Drink driving (Moulton Chapel). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 14 months.

Antonio Amorim (40), of Wyberton West Road, Boston. Drink driving (Kirton). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 12 months.

April 14

Jalena Borhova (44), of Pennygate, Spalding. Assaulted a police officer (Spalding). Community order with 80 hours unpaid work, £50 compensation, £60 v/s, £200 costs.

Dean Kirk (20), of Westbank, Sutton Bridge. Failed to stop for a police officer (Sutton Bridge). £2120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 7pts. No separate penalty for no insurance and driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Juozas Paulauskas (25), of Green View, Kirton. No insurance (Boston). £180 fine, £20 v/s, 6pts. Driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence. £80 fine, £310 costs. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

April 18

Tomasz Michalowicz (35), of Hannam Boulevard, Spalding. Assault (Spalding). Restraining order, £60 v/s, £310 costs.

Arkadiusz Blaszczuk (30), of Station Road, Spalding. Criminal damage (Boston). 12 months conditional discharge, £50 compensation, £15 v/s.

Grantham 
Magistrates’ Court

April 7

Jason Andrews (32), of Hospital Drove, Long Sutton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Vitalij Dmitrijev (26), of Akita Close, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Milda Kucinskiene (34), of St Thomas Road, Spalding. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jonikas Alvydas (42), of Daniels Gate, Spalding. Speeding (Welby/Dembleby). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Stephen Ogbonmwan (59), of Rushway Avenue, Manchester. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £170 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Kestas Prasauskas (31), of St Thomas Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Joseph Cook (64), of Oxcoft Bank, Moulton Chapel. Speeding (Wrangle). £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Gemma Crisp (27), of Ostlers Road, Downham Market. Speeding (Whaplode). £45 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Edmundas Liutkus (53), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £75 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Tracy Matheson (50), of Branston Road, Uppingham. Speeding (Whaplode). £95 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

David Watson (48), of Hutton Road, Kimberworth Park, Rotherham. Speeding (Swinehead Bridge). £150 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Nigel Elderkin (24), of Edinburgh Walk, West Pinchbeck. No insurance (Spalding). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with the licence.

April 11

Timothy Bradley (28), of Scoth Farm Road, Edenham. Drink driving (Bourne). £450 fine, £45 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 2 years.

Ryan Sherriff (23), of Beck Way, Thurlby. Drug driving (Bourne). £400 fine, £40 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

April 13

Christopher Holroyd (76), of Foxcroft Close, Headingley. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £60 fine, £20 v/s, £45 costs, 3pts.

April 18

Maciej Michalski (30), of Wygate Road, Spalding. Speeding (Great Ponton). £65 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jeremy Naylor (43), of Northgate, West Pinchbeck. Speeding (Spalding). £97 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Todor Belev (39), of Albert Street, Spalding. Used a vehicle where the number of passengers, 6 people in a 5 person vehicle, was such that its use involved a danger or injury (Boston). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. No separate penalty for carrying a child on the lap of rear passenger without seat belt.

Samantha Hodnett (42), of Jekils Bank, Holbeach St Johns. Speeding (Hubberts Bridge). £80 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 4pts.

Barbara Houghton (88), of Hall Gate, Holbeach. Speeding (Spalding). £85 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Dariusz Markowski (38), of Sturton Walk, Corby. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Joshua Bull (26), of Horseshoe Lane, Kirton. Failed to give driver ID (Nettleham). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

March 30

Samuel Tooke (25), of North Road, Gedney Hill. Driving while disqualified (Long Sutton). Nine weeks prison sentence, suspended for 12 months, £80 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Gary Cole (41), of Park Road, Peterborough. Three counts of assault (Deeping St James). Community order, participate in building better relationships programme and rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £60 v/s, £700 costs.

April 5

Aivars Klava (57), of Pinchbeck Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Nick Young (55), of Spalding Common, Spalding. Speeding (Osbournby). £300 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Adam Cook (42), of Holton-le-Clay, Grimsby. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £165 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 8

Gary Bourne (54), of Ford Lane, Morton. Speeding (Whaplode). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £43 costs, 6pts.

April 11

Jaroslaw Gawronski (46), of Manwaring Way, Swineshead. Speeding (Boston). £140 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. No separate penalty for not wearing a seat belt.

Jason Fovargue (31), of Hereward Road, Spalding. Stole test bottle of Gucci fragrance worth £78 belonging to Boots (Spalding) and stole tools worth £59.99 belonging to Halfords (Spalding). Community order, drug rehabilitation requirement, rehabilitation activity requirement, £78 compensation, £85 v/s.

April 12

Vaida Paskeviciene (43), of Cradge Bank, Spalding. Speeding (Whaplode). £145 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Janis Sakalauskis (26), of Cowbit Road, Spalding. No insurance (Bourne). £120 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Keith Simpson (62), of Wycombe Road, Princes Risborough, Bucks. Speeding (Moulton Seas End). £200 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Mark Stevens (55), of Whinfell Way, Gravesend. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £22 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Pam Thompson (61), of Broad Drove East, Tydd St Giles. Speeding (Whaplode). £40 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jared Thomson (34), of Tower Street, Boston. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £90 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Stephen Fisher (62), of Broadend Road, Walsoken. Speeding (Whaplode). £145 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Kim Gower (50), of Levington Lane, Bucklesham, Suffolk. Failed to give driver ID (Quadring). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Laura Guthrie (40), of Churchill Drive, Ruddington, Notts. Speeding (Whaplode). £145 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

April 13

Simon Bailey (39), of Broadlands Avenue, Bourne. Harassment (Pinchbeck). Restraining order, £345 fine, £35 v/s, £85 costs.

Janis Sakalauskis (26), of Cowbit Road, Spalding. Possession of lock knife in a public place (Spalding). Four weeks prison sentence concurrent, £80 v/s, knife forfeited and destroyed.

April 14

Kylie Anglum (27), of Earlsfield, Moulton Seas End. No TV licence. £33 fine, £33 v/s, £120 costs.

Maria Bilby (35), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Gintare Choliniene (21), of Hannam Boulevard, Spalding. No TV licence. £220 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Jonathan Coe (35), of Tongue End. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Emma Hare (23), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Zeneta Kepinska (28), of Dean Close, Weston. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Amanda Perrins (48), of Willington Road, Kirton. No TV licence. £220 fine, £22 v/s, £120 costs.

Sadie Reeve (31), of Allenbys Chase, Sutton Bridge. No TV licence. £660 fine, £66 v/s, £120 costs.

Hannah Royall (30), of Wellington Way, Market Deeping. No TV licence. £440 fine, £44 v/s, £120 costs.

Jade Russel (24), of Hardwick Estate, Kirton. No TV licence. £40 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Tracey Severn (41), of Dean Close, Weston. No TV licence. £550 fine, £55 v/s, £120 costs.

Irena Bejrova (33), of Landsdowne Court, Spalding. No TV licence. £80 fine, £20 v/s, £120 costs.

Amanda Gray (52), of Chapel Street, Billingborough. Drink driving (Silk Willoughby). £480 fine, £48 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 16 months.

Thomas Taylor (23), of High Street, Billingborough. Drink driving (Sleaford). £100 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 15 months.

Pupils at St Norbert’s Catholic Primary School in Spalding were visited by the new Bishop of Nottingham, the Right Reverend Patrick McKinney.

The Bishop came to celebrate a Mass as part of the official opening of the new outdoor learning area that has been built. The area has an outdoor classroom, bird hide, various 
benches and seating and animal nesting areas and was 
paid for after fundraising by the dedicated Friends of the School and a grant from the National Lottery Funding.

The outdoor area has been named ‘Window to God’s Wonderful World’.

As part of the Mass, which have the theme ‘All of God’s Creation’, the Bishop blessed the outdoor learning area, before being presented with a birthday card, cake and a chorus of ‘Happy Birthday’ as he was celebrating his birthday over the weekend he was in Spalding.

The Bishop was particularly impressed by the children’s enthusiasm and singing during the Mass.

When Darren Calpin’s partner Sally Prentice fell pregnant in 2012, he decided to write a book about their experiences.

It was supposed to be a straightforward, diary-type account of pregnancy from a man’s point of view – but it didn’t turn out that way.

While attending what they expected to be a routine 20-week scan at Peterborough City Hospital, the couple, who live in Market Deeping, were given some worrrying news.

Darren, 41, said: “We went along expecting to find out the sex – which we did. We were having a girl and that was fantastic.

“But then the sonographer noticed something and looked a bit concerned. She thought there might be some fingers missing.

“She couldn’t be certain, so we were asked to go back in a week for another scan with a consultant.

“We went from thinking we were having an amazing time to, five minutes later, being on the floor. It was the longest week of our lives.”

After returning home in a state of shock, Darren and Sally did some online research and came across a condition called symbrachydactyly - which leaves babies with deformed or absent hands or limbs.

When they returned to the hospital a week later, the couple saw a consultant who thought he could see a thumb and three digits on the baby’s left hand. But it was difficult to get a full, clear picture.

Teacher Sally, 37, was referred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, where she underwent further scans, but it was not until baby Ellie was born, in August 2013, that her parents knew exactly how her hand had developed.

She was born with a thumb, a forefinger and three nubbins of skin on her left hand. Her right hand was normal.

Nearly three years on, the energetic and independent-minded youngster has astonished her parents and medical staff with her progress.

Darren, a freelance commercial writer, said: “She has done far better than we could ever have dreamed - Ellie has adapted to everything life has thrown at her marvellously.

“She can do anything she wants and we are very proud of her. She may have tougher times as she gets older, possibly dealing with name-calling or bullying, but we’ll help her through all of that.

“I wouldn’t wish what we’ve been through on anyone, but there are people worse off than us, some of whom we have met locally in the past couple of years.”

Darren decided to use the experience, which he describes as “one hell of a rollercoaster ride” as the basis of an honest and heart-warming book covering everything from infertility fears and ectopic pregnancy scares to relationship wobbles and anxiety-ridden relatives which conspired to make the couple’s nine-month journey a more difficult one than most.

He added: “There must be thousands of pregnancy books written by women and for women. I wanted to counterbalance that with a male point of view. But I also wanted the book to provide hope to all those who feel worried after a 20-week scan which didn’t work out as they expected it to.

“There’s quite a bit of humour in it, despite the difficult subject.It wasn’t easy to write, but Sal and I really hope people will find it useful. It’s essential reading for fathers-to-be and curious expectant mothers.

“We are also keen to raise awareness of symbrachydactyly and make sure people going through similar experiences as us realise they are not alone.”

‘Expecting the Unexpected: One Man’s Journey Through a Most Eventful Pregnancy’ will soon be available to buy from Amazon and selected bookshops.

Darren has written it under the pseudonym ‘Ferrel E. Calpin’ – a play on words meaning ‘For Ellie Calpin’.

Conservative Marc Jones has been named as Police and Crime Commissioner for Lincolnshire.

He beat UKIP’s Victoria Ayling to the position - but needed a second preference count do so when votes were totalled in Lincoln today (Friday).

Mr Jones received 39,441 first preference votes and Ms Ayling 28,583.

However, the election results dictate that on first preference, the winner needs 50 per cent of the vote, plus one more vote.

Ms Ayling received 8,837 second preference votes (total: 37,420) and Mr Jones received 8,592 second preferences votes (total: 48,033), and Mr Jones was duly elected as Lincolnshire’s new Police and Crime Commissioner.

Mr Jones thanked his team, supporters, and all those who voted across the county.

He said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with our local government colleagues, national government, and other organisations to help provide the best possible police and crime reduction services that we can for Lincolnshire.”

Discussing the final result, runner-up Ms Ayling said: “It’s disappointing, but it’s a very good result because we had no candidate last time at all and to scrape almost to the top, like we did, is extremely good from a standing start.

“It shows that UKIP’s here to stay, under Nigel Farage’s leadership, and I would like to pay tribute to my deputy Jonathan Ferrari who was a great team mate and I don’t think we’d have done as well without him.”

Lucinda Preston (Labour) and Daniel Simpson (Lincolnshire Independents) were eliminated from the contest at the first preference stage.

Ms Preston received 25,475 first preference votes and Mr Simpson received 18,497 first preference votes.

A new pre-school is to open in Deeping St James this September.

Aimed at children aged from three years old until they start school, the pre-school will be provided by Linchfield Community Primary School.

Headteacher Andy Fawkes said: “At Linchfield we are looking to provide all children with a good start to their education.

“Ofsted has rated the school as ‘good’ and our early years provision is good, but we are working hard to become the first outstanding primary school in the Deepings.

“We want to offer more choice to the local community and start welcoming families to Linchfield from birth upwards, offering parents the mix of education and childcare that they need in order to allow them to fit work around their children.”

The school also runs its own before and after school provision, known as Treehouse, which operates from 7.30am until 9am and 3pm until 6pm.

In addition, there is a new parent and child group, called ‘Little Linchfield Parent and Toddler Group’, which operates on a Tuesday morning in the school hall, from 9am until 11am.

The school’s Early Years leader Hailey Markley said: “Little Linchfield Parent and Toddler Group is proving to be hugely popular and the hall is buzzing with little people, learning, playing and making new friends.

“Parents, grandparents and childminders get to chat with each other, whilst having a cuppa or playing with the children.

“There are lots of experienced childcare professionals on hand to help with matters from parenting advice to all things educational.”

It is all part of longer term developments at the school, with the long-awaited new teaching block now in the planning and design stage.

Mr Fawkes added: “In the very near future all mobile classrooms on the site will be removed and all classes, including Little Linchfield, Treehouse and the new pre-school, will be working in classrooms.”

Spalding vegetable producer is the region’s fastest growing business

Chris Eley Produce Ltd, of Kellet Gate, Low Fulney, has taken the number one spot for profit growth this year in the annual East Midlands Top 200 Report.

The firm specialises in growing, preparing and distributing vegetables, fruit and horticultural produce.

The report has been prepared by business and financial advisers Grant Thornton, in partnership with the CBI and details the region’s top 200 best performing companies.

It shows that the East Midlands’ 200 best performing businesses have grown profits by an average of 31.6 per cent per year.

Together they have an operating profit of £736 million, employ 63,045 people, and turnover a total of £12.8 billion - a growth of 58.3% in the last three years.

Grant Thornton partners Phil Sayers said: “The 200 companies who have made it onto our list this year have excelled in beating the competition in one of the highest growth parts of one of the fastest growing developed economies in the world.

“These companies truly showcase the strength of the local economy and are a great snapshot of what the East Midlands has to offer.”

CBI director-general, Carolyn Fairbairn, said: “Scale-up firms are the unsung heroes of the UK economy – creating jobs, increasing investment and driving exports internationally.

“With seven out of ten of these companies located outside London, supporting entrepreneurial and innovative firms to grow can really help drive prosperity across the UK, as shown here in the East Midlands.

“There’s more we can do to back entrepreneurs and support the true potential of scale-ups. This is why the CBI is calling for more support for quality skills training and entrepreneurs’ relief extended to long-term investors.”

The report states that manufacturing and services continue to be the two fastest growing sectors in the region and represent 48 per cent of the companies in the report.

A householder had a lucky escape after a cooker fire at a house in Brownlow Crescent, Pinchbeck, on Friday.

The fire started after the cooker was switched on accidentally and fire crews from Spalding were called out shortly after 1.15pm.

Fortunately, the only damage was to a small amount of paperwork left on the hob and there were no injuries.”

More than 30 people have joined a new running club that was launched with the aim of promoting mental wellbeing through fitness.

The Community Mind Matters running group members are sporting brand new T-shirts as their season gets underway.

Vanessa Hills, who spearheaded the project, believes the summer runs will help take the group to new heights.

There is still an ambition to begin fundraising for an annual run that will take place around Spalding, but group organisers believe they should first focus on raising awareness of mental health problems and helping people through fitness.

Vanessa has high hopes for 2016 and believes the group is off to a great start.

She said: “Local interest is always growing.

“With the other projects organised by Community Mind Matters, it will grow even more.

“We now have plans to work with organisations like Spalding Health and Wellbeing (SHAW), so the future is bright.”

Emma Reilly, who discovered the running club online, said: “I feel part of the community and welcomed by the running group.

“Everyone is lovely and supportive. The group helps motivate me and keeps me going when things get tough.

“The group and running helps me at times when life can feel lonely.”

The T-shirts were funded by Community Mind Matters organiser Coun Jack McLean through his designated ward budget as a district councillor.

Coun McLean said: “For the minimal cost of funding this for the club, we are actually able to help make fitness and mental wellbeing a part of people’s identity.”

He said the group hopes it can continue to grow through the year and fundraise for future projects across the area.

Running club meetings take place at 11am on Fridays and 6pm on Tuesdays at the Castle Sports Complex track.

The club’s first run took place from the South Holland Centre on February 12, when all-comers were invited to take part.

• The running club is an offshoot of Community Mind Matters, which was set up last year to give people suffering from conditions like depression and anxiety the chance to meet, socialise, share solutions to problems and access help.

Vanessa, the driving force behind the group, told us in November: “There’s a lot of help out there.

“People don’t realise that it’s there. You don’t always have to go through the doctor’s to get help.”

In or out? Delivery drivers, colleagues in the industry and people on the street, they all have an opinion on the upcoming EU referendum. It’s the big question, writes William Tyrrell.

Father and I have talked a lot about it. He can remember the last referendum on the same subject and all the debates back then.

Being in the office attempting to complete the 2016 Basic Payment Form, with all the associated red tape and tedious bureaucracy with it, got me thinking: ‘Would coming out cut down on red tape and simplify things?’ But driving into the yard in a German manufactured car, passing a French manufactured tractor, before walking through a crop of sunflowers grown from seed developed in Holland also has an effect on the decision. Can we really manage without it? At the present moment in time I haven’t got a clue which way is best; more concrete information from the ‘Brexit’ group would be good to have, How can you make a big decision which will potentially impact on our business for many years based on assumptions and dreams?

On the farm we are just about planted up and now it’s the task of getting everything through to harvest. The mild winter and cold spring hasn’t been ideal and a -7°C morning on the sugar beet hasn’t helped. Luckily it seems to have survived it. With the weather finally warming up, it seems spring has finally arrived. By the time of my next article we shall all know if it’s ‘in or out’; there’s certainly some interesting times ahead.

A Spalding mariner, his brother and son were all drowned at sea in 1916.

Captain Benjamin Joseph Binks was in charge of the Lembit when it was wrecked off Happisburgh, near Yarmouth.

His brother and son were seamen on board.

The bodies of six crew members were washed ashore, including those of Captain Binks, his son Charles (also referred to as Ben), and the captain’s brother James.

The inquest concluded that the vessel had been wrecked by stormy weather.

Captain Binks was born in Commercial Road, Spalding, and his father was also a captain

It was the third shipwreck for the captain, a member of Spalding Shipwreck Society.

Within the previous 12 months Captain Binks had been master when the schooner Harriet Thompson was wrecked off Davenport, and was also master when the motor-boat Theodore was wrecked in the North Sea. When the motor-boat went down, he and his crew were picked up by a Dutch vessel and taken to Scheveningen, near the Hague.

There was better news about Spalding and Bourne men who were aboard HMS Russell that sank after being struck by two naval mines laid by a German submarine.

News had been received that Arthur Cotton, of Spalding – whose father had worked at Mr A Seymour’s hairdressing salon and whose grandfather was a grocer in Double Street – had been saved.

There had also been fears for Alfred Rawlinson, son of Bourne timber merchant Mr John Rawlinson, who was also serving on the Flagship Russell.

However, his name appeared on the Admiralty’s list of those saved.