This shocking video shows the moment a thief carefully looks to see if anyone is about before stealing a charity box from Baytree Garden Centre in Weston on Monday afternoon.

Unbeknown to the man, who it seems was with two women, his actions were caught on CCTV camera.

The collection box was for the Callum Pite Smile Charity, which gives presents to children with cancer in memory of the brave former Gleed School 14-year-old who lost his two-and-a-half year battle with a rare form of the disease on New Year’s Day 2013.

Nigel West, of Baytree, told the Lincolnshire Free Press this afternoon: “This is a local charity that we try to help every year... a local charity in memory of a youngster who died of cancer.

“It was an absolutely despicable act and shows some of the people we have in our society today.”

Baytree has also posted the video on its own website, where the response has been one of disgust. Jackie Taylor said: “What a piece of scum. I hope they and him are caught and get the right justice.”

Yvonne Gee added: “How low, stealing from a charity. Shame on you. I hope they catch you and you have to repay back what you stole and maybe some community service to keep you’re thieving hands busy.”

Elke Biehler said: “Absolutely shocking. Scum of the earth.” While Natasha Lane simply added: “Disgusting.”

If you know the man in the video please call police on 101, quoting reference number 207 of January 26.

Carter’s Park in Holbeach will be closed all day tomorrow (Friday) for maintenance and building work to take place.

Holbeach Parish Council has confirmed that “heavy construction equipment” will be operating in the park during the day.

The park will be closed for the health and safety of the public and Coun Paul Foyster, chairman of the parish council’s parks committee, said: “We regret the short notice but it will be a busy day.”

Planning councillors are being advised to approve a scheme for 48 new homes in Spalding when they meet next week.

The plans to demolish the EMG Hyundai car showroom and service centre site in St John’s Road and build a mixture of one, two and three-bed affordable homes has been made by the Kaplan Property Group.

The proposed homes would be 100 per cent affordable with a mixture of social, rented and shared ownership.

The development provides four different types/designs of dwelling: six one-bed (two person) flats; 29 two-bed (four person) houses, six three-bed (five person) houses andseven other three-bed (five person) houses.

EMG is planning to move out of Spalding into a purpose-built showroom near Elsoms Way, Pinchbeck, with a service centre to be opened on land near Wardentree Lane.

Since the plans were first published by the Leicestershire-based group, there have been representations from 15 members of the public.

The issues raised are: over-development, highway safety/congestion/parking, concerns over boundary treatment, impact upon residential amenity and impact on wildlife.

The county education authority requested £49,028 towards four primary school places and PEDALS cycle group and Spalding Civic Society objected on the basis of no information regarding cycle storage and poor design, respectively.

In recommending the committee approves the plan at its meeting on Wednesday, the planning officer says in his report: “The principle of residential development in this location is considered acceptable in the context of local and national policy, 
given that the site is brownfield within the built-up area of Spalding.

“Initial concerns regarding the layout and design of the proposal have resulted in amended plans being submitted by the applicant.

“These offer an improvement over the original plans. In the context of national policy and recent appeal decisions, it is not considered that there is a defendable position from which to refuse the application as amended.”

Conditions relating to the approval include the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement, a landscaping and tree planting scheme being in place before building work starts.

Nearly 200 people have signed a petition launched by a new action group demanding a crackdown on “lawless” hare coursers in South Holland and the Deepings.

The petition calls on Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner Marc Jones, along with Chief Constable Neil Rhodes, “to provide extra funding, resources and officers to effectively deal with hare coursing in South Lincolnshire”.

South Lincs Against Hare Coursing, the group behind the petition, has been formed just days after police carried out a day of action against hare coursing in the area last Friday.

But one farmer, who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals, said: “The day of action the police said they were going to have was a disaster as the hare coursers stayed away, knowing there would be a bigger than normal police presence.”

Farmers and their families shared their experiences of having been threatened with violence and arson, along with damage to property and crops, at a meeting of Market Deeping and District Neighbourhood Policing Panel on Monday.

Coun Andrew Bowell, vice- chairman of Deeping St James Parish Council and who was at the meeting, said: “It was obvious that those in attendance were living in fear and their lives were becoming intolerable.

“They explained how they were receiving daily threats and abuse from the hare coursers, with some having been threatened with stabbings and having their homes burned down.

“One lady said that she was frightened to take her small child out for a walk in her buggy, while children are no longer allowed to play outside or ride their bikes for fear of being injured or killed.

“It is total lawlessness in this area and the people have had enough.”

Mr Jones, who joined police on the day of action, said: “It was extremely important for me to see, first-hand, the problems faced by our rural communities and the work that is being done by the force to combat the issues.

“I know how utterly frustrated some of our community are with the criminal behaviour being targeted at rural and remote areas and I am determined that Lincolnshire Police should have what is needed to prevent and detect crime across our county, regardless of the location.”

You can sign the petition by visiting https://www.change.org/p/lincolnshire-pol-stop-hare-coursing-in-south-lincolnshire-before-someone-gets-hurt

Fear and loathing on South Holland farmlands of a hare coursing tide of terror

‘We’ll take action’, South Holland farmers warn police on hare coursing

There’s a rural revolution brewing

Tesco has reached an agreement to merge with food wholesaler Booker in a £3.7 billion deal which includes the Budgens and Londis brands.

The supermarket giant said the agreement will create “the UK’s leading food business” and deliver significant efficiency savings for the combined group.

Tesco said the Booker deal will deliver significant efficiency savings for the combined group.

Tesco chief executive Dave Lewis said: “Tesco has made significant progress in turning around our UK retail business.

“This merger with Booker will further enhance Tesco’s growth prospects by creating the UK’s leading food business with combined expertise in retail, wholesale, supply chain and digital.

“Wherever food is prepared and eaten - ‘in home’ or ‘out of home’ - we will meet this opportunity with the widest choice and best service available.”

The deal values Booker at £3.7 billion, or 205.3p per share. It represents a 12% premium on Booker’s closing price of 183.1p on January 26.

Booker shareholders will hold 16% of the combined entity and will receive 42.6p in cash, Tesco said.

Booker’s chief executive, Charlie Wilson, will join the combined group’s board and executive committee. Outlining the benefits of the merger, the companies said it would “delight consumers with better availability of quality food at attractive prices”, help independent retailers and cut food waste.

Shareholders have been asked to approve the deal in a vote.

Mr Wilson said: “Booker is committed to improving choice, prices and service for the independent retailers, caterers and small businesses that we are proud to serve. We believe that joining forces with Tesco offers the potential to bring major benefits to end-consumers, our customers, suppliers, colleagues and shareholders.”

Bourne Police are are hoping to identify the man in this picture.

They believe he may have information about a theft from the Sainsbury’s store in the town on December 14.

If you have any information please call police on 101, quoting reference number 16000415173.

Bourne Police are hoping to identify the two people pictured here with regards to a theft from Boots in the town on December 13.

If you have any information, please contact police on 101, quoting crime number 16000413374.

Police are warning drivers to avoid the Hawthorn Bank area as the barriers are currently stuck down.

There is heavy traffic and engineers are aware and on the way.

One in ten Brits reckon they NEVER have a good morning - and a quarter seldom enjoying more than two good mornings a week, a study has found.

The poll of 2,000 UK adults also revealed skipping the first meal of the day can come back to bite you throughout the day.

More than half the people who miss breakfast say it makes them more irritable and less able to concentrate.

And for four in ten it means they are more likely to have a bad day, with almost 90 per cent believing their morning sets the tone for their entire day.

People responding to the survey by belVita Breakfast admitted they were twice as likely to help someone out if they have a good start to the day (52%) compared to a bad start (23%).

And four in ten (39%) are more likely to wish someone else a ‘good morning’ if they’ve already been wished one themselves.

Nine in ten Brits also believe a good morning is contagious.

Daniel Kessler, for belVita Breakfast, said: “A good morning can set you up for the entire day and can be shared with those around you, which is why we’ve launched belVita Breakfast’s Good Mornings campaign.

“Our research shows that good mornings really are contagious and the simple act of eating a balanced breakfast can make all the difference to our mornings and the mornings of those around us.”

Women are likelier to pay a compliment if they’ve had a good start compared to men (52% compared to 39%).

Writer and teacher Dr Stuart Farrimond said: “We know that having a good morning sets us up for a positive start to the day but unfortunately they might not happen as frequently as we’d like.

“The research conducted by belVita Breakfast shows that having breakfast in the morning can be a step towards putting this right by setting us up for the day and increasing both our mood and performance.”

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.

Lincoln Magistrates’ Court

December 13

Ryan Walker (24), of Mossfield Road, Kearsley, Bolton. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £40 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Nerijus Zalieckis (33), of Birchtree Avenue, Peterborough. Speeding (Whaplode). £146 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

December 14

Wayne Newton-Haw (37), of Apple Tree Close, Newark. Criminal damage and assault (Swineshead). Community order, participate in building better relationships and rehabilitation activity requirement, restraining order, £110 fine, £250 compensation, £350 costs.

December 15

Michalsak Bernadeta (57), of Ellen Crescent, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Neil Betts (44), of Frenches Road, Walpole St Andrew. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Alexander Bowers (21), of Hare Hill Road, Hyde, Tameside. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Vincent Crunkhorn (60), of Market Place, Donington. Speeding (Grantham). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Normunds Greinis (46), of Station Road, Sleaford. Speeding (Kirton). £125 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Stephen Hoppe (37), of St Marys Gardens, Whaplode. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Wojciech Muniak (18), of Juniper Crescent, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, 6pts.

Daniel Starbuck (23), of Main Street, Burrough on the Hill, Leics. Driving without due care and attention (Swineshead). £480 fine, £48 v/s, £85 costs, 9pts.

Liam Swepstone (18), of St Marks Road, Holbeach St Marks. Driving without due care and attention (Whaplode). £100 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Adrian Wells (51), of Mayes Close, Norwich. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Heather Thomas (35), of Little Hale Road, Great Hale. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Jamie Thomas (29), of Station Road, Kirton. Failed to stop for a red traffic light (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

December 16

Edward Young (37), of Belvedere Terrace, Brighton. Speeding (Whaplode). £100 fine, £20 v/s, 3pts.

December 19

Arkadiusz Jedras (47), of St Johns Road, Spalding. No insurance (Spalding). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Hayley Wicks (34), of Kensington Close, Holbeach. No insurance (Holbeach). £248 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 6 months.

Rachael Roberts (42), of Earlsfield, Moulton Seas End. Speeding (Welby). £147 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Mindaugas Ovsenas (26), of Ashley Place, Plymouth. Speeding (Spalding). £250 fine, £25 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Christopher Harrison (25), of Orchard Close, Pinchbeck. Carried in a public place an article which had a blade or was sharply pointed, namely a large knife (Pinchbeck). 6 weeks prison sentence suspended for 1 year, £115 v/s, £85 costs. No separate penalty for failed to surrender to custody.

December 20

Ovidiu Iordache (28), of London Road, Long Sutton. No MOT (Long Sutton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

Vladimiras Ivanovas (45), of Boundary Road, Newark on Trent. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Andrew Lal (31), of Kempton Close, Spalding. Speeding (Cowbit). £130 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Christopher Chamberlain (32), of Lawyers Close, Holbeach. Speeding (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Debra Ford (50), of Baron Mews, Market Deeping. Speeding (Bracebridge Heath). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ivo Ostrovski (48), of Clay Lake, Spalding. Speeding (Bracebridge Heath). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Alex Potapovs (19), of Cameron Drive, Spalding. Driving without due care and attention (Pinchbeck). £440 fine. No insurance. £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts. No separate penalty for driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence.

Jamie Reilly (24), of Windsor Court, Bourne. Driving without due care and attention (Spalding). £125 fine,£30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Krysztof Rogowski (26), of Kime Mews, Kirton. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Janis Rubenis (29), of West Parade, West Town, Peterborough. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £95 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Derek Sims (59), of Heckingham Park Drive, Heckingham, Norfolk. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Adriana Tomenivc (28), of Juniper Crescent, Spalding. Speeding (Spalding). £85 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Eugenijus Trebnikas (22), of Carlton Road, Boston. Speeding (Sutterton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Michelle Wade (42), of Station Road, Emneth. Speeding (Whaplode). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Lyndsay Wallace (47), of Empingham Road, Ketton. No insurance (Kirton). £120 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Rebecca Wand (51), of Market Way, Pinchbeck. Speeding (Sutterton). £100 fine, £30 v/s, 5pts.

Dean Wortley (48), of South Street, Crowland. No MOT (Deeping St James). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

Grzegorz Wybraniec (41), of Tannery Close, Boston. Speeding (Sutterton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

December 21

Stephen Bogan (51), of Waverley Close, Morton. Speeding (Barrowby 23.3.16). £91 fine, £20 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts. No separate penalty for speeding (Barrowby 21.3.16)

December 23

Darius Liaukus (25), of The Featherworks, Boston. Assault (Spalding). 20 weeks prison sentence, restraining order. Second count of assault. 18 weeks prison sentence concurrent. Restraining order.

December 29

Jennifer Jennings (71), of Main Road, Dowsby. Drink driving (Billingborough). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 18 months.

Emil Wozniak (31), of The Pollards, Bourne. Drink driving (Bourne). £270 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, disqualified from driving for 17 months.

Daniel Andrews (25), of King Street, Sutton Bridge. Criminal damage (Sutton Bridge). Community order with rehabilitation activity requirement. Harassment. Community order with rehabilitation activity requirement, £85 v/s. No action taken on breach of conditional discharge.

January 3

Ionel-Adrian Zgimbau (31), c/o nomad shelter, Monks Road, Lincoln. Assault causing actual bodily harm (Whaplode). 6 weeks prison sentence suspended for 12 months, £100 compensation.

Joy Albans (60), of Roman Bank, Long Sutton. Speeding (Spalding). £53 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Michael Birtwistle (27), of Rushton Road, Bolton. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Roger Clifton (72), of Red Barn, Turves. Speeding (Whaplode). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Daniel Fisher (34), of Cocketts Drive, Wisbech. Speeding (Whaplode). £115 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Mariusz Mazciuk (32), of Fergusson Road, Banbury. Speeding (Cowbit). £183 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Ian McVeigh (57), of Cadogan Grove, Kingston upon Hull. Speeding (Swineshead Bridge). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Trevor Melady (28), of Edinburgh Drive, Kirton. No insurance (Kirton). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Iqbal Mohammed (45), of Kingsbridge Drive, Rutherglen, Glasgow. Speeding (Cowbit). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Scott Reynolds (30), of Telford Court, Spalding. No MOT (Spalding). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs.

Janet Rippengill (43), of Crown Square, King’s Lynn. Driving while using a hand held mobile phone (Bourne). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Christopher Roe (51), of Six House Bank, West Pinchbeck. Speeding (Cowbit). £35 fine, £30 v/s, 3pts.

Stephen Rudd (42), of Roeburn Way, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Viktoriya Scikniene (22), of Willington Road, Kirton. Speeding (Leverton). £40 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Lukasz Sikon (28), of Franklin Drive, Spalding. Defective tyre (Spalding). £440 fine, £44 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Paul Stewart (43), of Double Street, Spalding. Failed to give driver ID (Lincoln). £660 fine, £66 v/s, £85 costs, 6pts.

Debra Trett (55), of Riverside, Spalding. Speeding (Whaplode). £60 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

Georgica Zamfir (28), of Horseshoe Lane, Kirton. Speeding (Leverton). £220 fine, £30 v/s, £85 costs, 3pts.

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

In my early days with Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society, I was fortunate to play some wonderful romantic leading roles such as Laurey in Oklahoma and Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls.

There comes a time, however, when no amount of stage make-up and clever lighting can disguise the fact that I am no longer a young slip of a girl.

The turning point for me was in 2013 when I accepted the part of Mrs Overall in the society’s production of Acorn Antiques, The Musical. The die was cast. Once you’ve performed in a hairnet with varicose veins and a dowager’s hump, there’s no going back.

I thought I might be the right age to play the mother in our 2015 play, Family Planning, but instead was cast as the Welsh granny; a flatulent fortune-teller in a flannelette nightie.

In 2016, I had a year off to recover or, as we thespians say as we retire, emotionally drained, to our trailers: “I’ve been resting, darling”.

But the lure of the greasepaint has proved too much and, keen to return to the loving arms of the South Holland Centre, I recently auditioned for the society’s next show, The Wizard of Oz.

There was one role I really fancied this year: The Wicked Witch of the West. There was stiff competition for the part and it’s always hard when you’re up against your buddies at the audition.

But I was so delighted to hear that I was successful. I’m going to relish being a real baddie in a few months’ time.

I’ve been looking at clips online of Margaret Hamilton, who played the witch in the 1939 movie. Using her as my guide, I am practising my cackle and famous lines such as “I’ll get you, my pretty, and your little dog, too”.

Now that I have the part, I am discovering some similarities with the adorable Mrs Overall as regards posture.

They both walk with a stoop and, although one carries a tea tray and the other a broomstick, it’s only green paint and a pointy hat that separates them.

Of course, Mrs O was from Birmingham. The Wicked Witch has an American accent in the original film but I also play her alter-ego, Miss Gultch, who lives in Kansas. So when I appear onstage, I must remember to tell myself I’m from the Mid-West not the west Mid.

I have a good feeling about this production. We have a fantastic cast with a great mix of regulars and newcomers.

Rehearsals are already under way, continuing on Tuesday and Thursday evenings until our performance dates of May 17 to 20. But there’s still time to be part of the show.

We would love to have more children playing the munchkins/flying monkeys, plus older teens and adults who would like to be in the chorus.

If you want to join me on the yellow brick road, please contact our producer, Jodie, by email at sadosmail@googlemail.com.

Planners will meet on Tuesday evening to consider a scheme to build a 46-home development in Gosberton High Street.

Officers have recommended that the plan, submitted by Mr and Mrs Dennis, be 
approved when South Holland Council’s planning committee meets.

The plan is to build on greenfield land which currently has an equestrian use as a private paddock.

Part of the site is within the defined settlement area for Gosberton, but a large part of it lies adjacent to it.

Gosberton Parish Council has no objection to the plan but nine objections and two letters of concern have been received from nearby residents.

The points raised include:

• The access road to number 25A is also a right of way to number 25. The access was not designed or constructed for modern, heavier, traffic which may also have a seriously detrimental effect on number 25;

• An increase in traffic along the High Street would not be desirable due to current congestion at peak times;

• There is a considerable bend in Boston Road which may restrict views for a new access onto this road, which would be dangerous with current speed limits;

• For such plots as 37-40, houses erected rather than bungalows, may cause overlooking, loss of privacy and loss of views;

• The education authority would require £237,419 towards extra school places.

In recommending 
approval, officers said that the main material consideration in this case is the lack of a five-year supply of deliverable housing sites in South Holland.

In such a situation, the National Planning Policy Framework is quite clear that permission should be granted unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

They recommended permission be granted subject to the applicant entering into a Section 106 agreement for the provision of one-third of the dwellings as on-site 
affordable housing units and a financial contribution towards education provision.

An application to build nine new homes in Donington will be heard for a second time when South Holland District Council’s planning committee meets next week.

The Calderdale Homes application to build seven two-bed and two three-bed dwellings in Park Lane was deferred from the January 4 planning meeting.

Councillors called for further talks with the applicant to improve the design and layout and also to include more details of the landscaping, lighting and fencing.

Calderdale wants to build on land currently occupied by industrial lock-up units and a garage, between Milson’s Close and 2 Gleed Avenue. They plan to demolish the units.

They are proposing 15 off-street parking spaces for residents and visitors at the rear of the development in a courtyard-style car park accessed via a private driveway and controlled by a management company.

Planning officers have recommended the scheme be granted permission when councillors meet on Wednesday.

No changes were offered towards design but conditions include details of car park lighting, landscaping and tree planting being submitted before work starts.

On Tuesday, Spalding Guardian editor Jeremy Ransome asked if readers could help him out as he was short of a submitted photograph for the regular slot on the letters page.

Jeremy suggested scenery, nature and pets... and we were overwhelmed with your lovely photographs. Today we feature some of your pet pictures and we will print some of your other photographs in future editions of the Guardian.

Keep them coming, whatever the subject matter, to: jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk, tweet @lfpeditor or send them to us via facebook.com/lfpandsg

Pupils from Spalding’s St John the Baptist Primary School won seven out of a possible 12 trophies in a chess tournament held at the school on Saturday.

In the under 9 boys’ competition, St John’s pupils Oscar Haunch, Jake Duffill and Liam Holdsworth were checkmate kings as they took the first three places respectively.

St John’s was one of five schools taking part from county towns, including Bourne.

Other results were:

Under 11 boys: 1 Joseph Seaborn (St John’s), 2 Nitesh Anbazhagan (St John’s), 3 Cameron Cook; under 9 girls: 1 Freya Willerton (St John’s), 2 Erin Nicholson, 3 Evie Metcalf; under 11 girls: 1 Harrie Metcalf, 2 Marie Siecker and 3 Rosie Willerton (St John’s).

The tournament was organised by the Lincolnshire Schools Chess Association.

Association member Paul McCarthy, a St John’s volunteer who runs the chess club at the school, said it was the first time the tournament had come to Spalding.

Paul was taught to play chess as a boy of four by his father and says the game is not only fun to play but boosts children’s abilities in the classroom.

He said: “It’s been well documented by academic research and projects that show children’s abilities in numeracy and literacy are improved by playing chess.”

More than 30 children belong to St John’s chess club.

• There’s a tournament for secondary schools in Grimsby on February 5 and anyone who wants more information can call Paul on 01775 719554.

We at Chain Bridge Forge understand the potential for saving money by moving the Registry Office to Ayscoughfee (South Holland District Council’s £2.7m plan – Spalding Guardian, January 19).

However people queuing to register a death at the same time as an excited family are starting a tour of the museum I can see may cause problems. But I guess it will mean the museum will be open all week again.

I hope the second screen at South Holland Centre is what the community wants and not what South Holland District Council wants to provide. Is it a solution to yesterday’s problem?

The accommodation at the council offices is poor and would need a considerable amount of money to make it appropriate. Wouldn’t it be better to move the council to a smaller building with better parking. Maybe compulsory purchase one of the abandoned sites around Spalding for the purpose? Change Priory Road into housing?

My belief is the council should be facilitating the community to deliver projects it needs and wants. To achieve this the council must start asking and involving the community and act accordingly. The council seems to get it wrong so often, e.g. Red Lion, bandstand at Ayscoughfee and I am sure many more.

Chain Bridge Forge is a small independent museum and since its inception it has been in a battle of wills with the council to deliver it. The council needs to start building partnerships and working with its community to the benefit of all and not imposing its will.

From a personal point of view, as a director of Chain Bridge Forge, we struggle to keep the museum open and each request for money to the council has been rebuffed in the last 12 months.

The Forge has a proud record of offering free entry and giving over a 1,000 children an experience of Blacksmithing. Some 100,000 visited the website www.southhollandlife.com and social media in the last year. We have taken our portable forge to events, given talks to people with dementia and our innovation centre excites young people.

All delivered at no cost to the community. Our running costs per year are about £6,000.

The council contributes £390,000 to Ayscoughfee and £50,000 to Halley Stewart Playing Field. (Source www.sholland.gov.uk/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=5932&p=0 page 81)

Why does the council support the football team at Halley Stewart to the tune of £50,000?

Heritage Lottery and S106 money has meant the Forge have been able to develop and prosper in the last five years.

The Forge have gone to the council for a small amount of help in the last 12 months:

1 – To reduce the commercial pressure and ease cash flow.

2 – To update our website which many people have enjoyed across South Holland and which has brought about a renaissance in our heritage.

3 – To upgrade our innovation facilities which inspire our young people.

This totalled approximately £10,000 but this was rejected and not even any S106 money could be spared. The directors have put their own hands in their pockets when money is needed and they work long hours for no personal gain.

If we can’t build these partnerships I think the lack of support really puts in question what we do at the Forge and with the potential of having to start paying business rates in the coming year we could face closure.

We at PEDALS were delighted to read of Greencore’s initiative of supplying employees with bicycle lights, and equally pleased to see the Spalding Guardian deem it worthy of publicising on the front page.

Greencore deserves praise for educating its staff on the importance of visibility; lights on cycles are not only compulsory by law but also a common-sense way of being safer on the road.

By producing this initiative, Greencore is also encouraging people to use their bicycles and not feel obliged to put yet more cars on the road, and we welcome this.

High-vis clothing is another safety feature that Greencore is promoting; having driven around Spalding on dark evenings, I would feel safer if pedestrians would also consider wearing high-vis clothing; it may not be ‘cool’, but dark clothing on a dark night, when car lights draw one’s attention to the exclusion of everything else, is a potential suicide risk.

Congratulations to Greencore – we hope that other organisations and individuals take up this great idea.

A real-life flooding emergency will be acted out in Lutton next month and the community are invited to take part.

Suttons on the Wash (SoTW), a community-led group set up to help respond to disasters and emergencies in Long Sutton and the surrounding villages, is holding an all-day exercise in Lutton on Thursday, February 16.

The village will be the scene of a “high-risk flood” and people are needed to volunteer as evacuees for the day.

Fran Blinco, of SoTW, said: “Disasters or major emergencies can strike suddenly, unexpectedly and anywhere.

“SoTW is a self-help group, mentored by Lincolnshire County Council’s Emergency Planning and Business Continuity Service, designed to help prepare our community for an emergency and therefore reduce its impact.

“We’re looking for volunteers who would like to take part in the exercise, playing the role of an evacuee so that we can test certain area of the SoTW’s Community Plan.”

For more details, call Fran Blinco on 01406 365730.

This year’s Two Lips Charity Ball will take you on a musical journey through the hits of The Drifters and allow you to hear some of the great Motown classics.

Organised by The Rotary Club of Spalding and Welland, the popular event will raise money for the Magpas Air Ambulance, PHAB and Rotary charities..

Top tribute band The Driftars are the stars of the ball, which will be held at Springfields Exhibition Centre, Spalding, on Saturday, March 18.

Over the years The Driftars have performed with some of the best and original line-ups of The Drifters, including Ben E. King, Billy Lewis and Tony Jackson.

They have also toured with stars such as Dionne Warwick, Lulu and The Fortunes.

The ball includes a three-course meal, a charity auction, gift tree, candy cart and portrait photographer.

• Tickets are £45 and available from Sarah Prior on 01775 720607.

A new forum to help autistic people in South Holland share their views with each other is being put in place.

Callum Brazzo (25), a “performance poet” from Long Sutton”, is behind TalkSpace which he called a way for “autistic adults to express themselves through conversation, art or any other forms of communication”.

The National Austic Society defines autism as “a lifelong, developmental disability that affects how a person communicates with, and relates to, other people and how they experience the world around them”.

Callum, who was diagnosed with the autism spectrum disorder known as Asperger’s syndrome about three years ago said: “It’s been on my mind to do something like this for a long time.

“TalkSpace is at a consultation stage at the moment and a Facebook group has been set up on social media where lots of people have said it’s a good idea.

“But I want to make it worthwhile for the community by getting everybody’s thoughts about TalkSpace and then collating them altogether.”

Research by Lincolnshire County Council’s Public Health Intelligence Team in September 2013 showed that 2,739 people aged 18 and over had severe and moderate learning difficulties in the county.

Of those, 333 were living in South Holland and by 2021, that figure was expected to rise to 384.

Callum said: “I’ve always believed that there was a need here for a place where autistic adults like me could express themselves and connect with each other about autism.

“But it needed someone else other than myself to identify it and I’m hoping that people will join the Facebook group, whether they are autistic adults or not.”

TalkSpace has support from South Holland District Council member for Spalding St John’s, Coun Jack McLean who is also involved in the town’s Community Mind Matters mental health scheme.

He said: “Callum Brazzo clearly has a talent for more than just poetry, as demonstrated by his innovative ways to help build and support a local community for autism.

“Communities such as TalkSpace can build up, from a small online presence, to be an active local group with a wide range of participants and so I expect to see TalkSpace achieve the same in no time.”

For more details, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/1078356095608882

Long Sutton performance poet celebrating artistic autistics