A fundraising event looks to be just the tonic for the Spalding Lions.

Former Gleed Girls School (now Spalding Academy) student, and ex-army combat support Tracie Sharp, is running two gin taster events to help raise funds for the charitable club.

The first is on Thursday, May 18, at 7.30pm at Mulberry’s Bar at The Chequers in Swan Street, with just a handful of tickets left.

With it being so popular, she agreed to do a second one at the same venue on June 2. That one has already sold out and she is thinking about putting on a third.

Tracie (49), who worked in the Royal Corps of Signals in the army, started her company ‘Platinum Events’ a year and a half ago.

Now based in Portsmouth, she was asked by her step-dad John Steel (membership chairman for the Spalding Lions) if she would put on a gin event in the town.

She said: “Gin is the ‘in’ thing at the moment and taster events are one of the arms of my company.

“It’s £20 a ticket and people get seven shots of gin to try on the night, including a gin cocktail.

“There are about 54 different gins on the market at the moment and there is a new one coming out every single day.

“It started with me putting a post out on the Spalding Lions Facebook page and tickets were quickly almost sold out.

“Mulberry’s Bar at Chequers have kindly donated the room free of charge. I’m already thinking about organising a third event.

“People will get to try the gins with different tonics and I’ll be showing them what the perfect serve is.”

Last year, British drinkers are said to have drunk around the equivalent of 1.12 billion gin and tonics - according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.

○ Anybody who would like the last remaining tickets for the evening on May 18 can call John Steel on 07747 625036.

Do you fancy a “trip down memory lane” while giving your children a “history lesson” at the same time?

David and Ann Marie-Carter, of Funked Up Furniture and Vintage Wares in Weston, have issued this exciting invitation to their antiques and collectables shop which opened on December 1, 2016.

The shop marks an expansion of the Carter’s ambitions, having been based previously in a small unit at the entrance to Baytree Garden Centre where they were “up against the elements”, according to David.

He said: “The business started off last summer when we were in a wooden unit just outside the entrance to Baytree Garden Centre.

“But we were a bit limited for space, we couldn’t leave items outside as they wouldn’t be secure and we were weather-dependent in that if it was rainy or windy, we’d have to close.

“So when the previous occupants of the unit where we are now moved out, I approached the manager of Baytree Garden Centre with a view to taking it on.

“However, there was someone else interested as well and he turned out to be Iain Anderson (of 3 Pieces of Eight Antiques and featured in Support Our Shops last week).

“There’s a tiny bit of crossover between us, but we’re more into the vintage goods and outdoor garden type of items, whereas Iain is more for traditional antiques.

“But even though we are two totally independent retailers together in the same unit, it has worked well and if someone approaches us with something one or other of us could sell, we’ll pass the stuff on to each other.”

David and Ann-Marie, originally from London and Peterborough together, have been together for 12 years but bring different backgrounds to their business.

He said: “I was on military service with the Royal Navy for 17 years, then I was a HGV driver and then a warehouse supervisor for Geest in Sutton Bridge.

“Ann-Marie has worked in the charity sector for a number of years, but she’s always had a bit of a passion for artistic flair and she’s also always wanted to have her own business.

“She loves taking furniture that I’ve sourced from various places, stripping them down and working her magic on it with various equipmeny to produce the finished items in the shop.

“She’ll do commissions for people who want to come in and say ‘I’ve got this piece of furniture for you to work on’ and she’ll give it a new lease of life.”

David’s chance to run a business with his wife came after taking early retirement when his previous interest in visiting antiques and collectables fairs took on “a new lease of life”.

He said: “I went to antique fairs many, many years ago but taking early retirement meant that I could concentrate fully on the shop.

“I’m elated, but not suprised, by how well it’s gone so far and the support from everyone at Baytree Garden Centre has been fantastic.

“The staff will help us out all the time if we ever have an issue, while local people and other traders have supported us as well.”

Funked Up Furniture and Vintage Wares has been open less than six months but, with help from social media, David and Ann-Marie have welcomed customers from Lincoln, Skegness and Stamford.

David said: “It’s a lovely-sized shop that we can manage, with the added security that it’s within Baytree Garden Centre and there’s a customer base who come, not just for plants but for us as well.

“While the centre is adding different things to attract more people, they can come here as well and spend anything up to hundreds of pounds.

“We like to think that our shop appeals to everyone and we always get customers who say ‘my nan had that’.

“This is how we want it to be and we’ve found our niche as people can come here and either have a trip down memory lane or a history lesson, depending on what age they are.”

As far as David and Ann-Marie Carter are concerned, customers can visit their shop whether they plan to buy items or not.

David said: “It wouldn’t bother me if people just came in here and talked to me, without buying anything.

“That gives me a buzz and I get a lot of satisfaction of it because I don’t want people to come in and feel like they can’t touch anything.

“I love it and I wished that we’d have done it years ago because it’s the best thing we’ve ever done.”

There are fresh faces at the historic Cley Hall Hotel in High Street as new owners Olga and Gurnake Cheema take the helm.

It is a new venture for the couple, who currently own three hotels in East Sussex.

They have taken an active role in their new business, already converting the former owners’ living quarters into four new guest rooms, taking the total number of rooms up to 19.

Olga (37) said: “My husband (Gurnake) was looking for a new venture for us and found the Cley Hall. We had never been to Lincolnshire before but we loved the building. It’s three hours drive for us and the previous owners (David Stanbridge and Andrew Robb) ran it very well. There is a very good manager (Nikki Deans) at the hotel. We thought, if they can run it from Italy we can do it but we would be more involved.

“First of all, what attracted us was the turnover and the potential of adding extra rooms.”

Olga, who is Polish, and Gurnake (53) who is British-born Indian, also own The George Hotel in Battle and both the Millifont Guest House and Lansdowne Hotel in Hastings.

She added: “This was the cherry on the cake for us. The hotel is run very well we want to increase the revenue.

“There is planning permission for a 100 seater restaurant and that is something that we may add if there is the demand for it.”

At the moment, the hotel is run as a bed and breakfast and is also popular for its afternoon teas.

Manager Nikki Deans said: “We’re doing about 60 afternoon teas a month now.

“We serve them in the traditional way like Bettys Tea Rooms (in York). We put out the silver plated cutlery, lace tablecloths and old fashioned china.

“They are popular for birthdays, hen parties that you’d bring your mum along to, and baby showers, or for anyone that wants to enjoy them. People can sit and relax and take their time.”

The afternoon teas are served seven days a week from 2.30pm and the hotel needs 24 hours notice.

Two separate schemes to build a total of 150 new homes near a major Crowland business have been opposed by parish councillors.

A proposed development of 100 homes on land off Crease Drove, along with a widening of the road itself, by farmers N. Woodroffe and Sons is now in the hands of South Holland District Council.

But Crowland Parish Council’s planning committee is against the plans, as well as a separate scheme to build 50 homes near two existing housing estates, also in Crease Drove.

During the parish council’s annual meeting on Monday, planning committee member Coun David Kempton said: “Our real concern is having residential developments close to sites of industry and the effects that will have on the area.

“It is all about preserving employment opportunities for the town and so housing shouldn’t be allowed to encroach right next to such sites.

Objections from the parish council, district councillors and John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, all claim that the 100-home development would lie just 30 metres away from an area used by Crowland Cranes.

In his letter to the district council, Mr Hayes said: “If permission is granted, residents of the new properties will inevitably complain about noise and traffic movements by their industrial neighbours.

“This could then have a detrimental impact on those businesses, maybe even forcing them to change their working practice.

“Furthermore, there is in fact only 30 metres between this development and the industrial area – an insufficient buffer between residential and industrial.”

Crowland Parish Council also believes the 50-home development, turned down by the district council in October 2016, is too large for Crease Drove and add to existing traffic congestion in James Road and Peterborough Road.

But a statement on behalf of the developer from IBA Planning Ltd, of Nottinghamshire, said: “The proposal would make a meaningful contribution to meeting the need for housing in Crowland.”

Spalding Police are investigating a sneak-in burglary that occurred between 5.30am and 5.45am on Sunday.

The offender attempted to gain access through an open window at the property in the Park Road area of Spalding, but was disturbed by a neighbour and left empty-handed.

Anyone who saw suspicious activity around that time is asked to call DC Keith Spicer at Spalding CID on 101, quoting incident number 93 of May 14.

As the warmer weather approaches, police are reminding residents to review their home security and not leave windows and doors insecure.

Spalding firefighters attended a small waste wood fire in the town on Sunday evening.

The blaze, at 9.51pm, was at St Thomas’ Road and was extinguished using buckets of water

A trials-type motorbike was when a garage was broken into on Swallow Hill, Thurlby, near Bourne, on Thursday.

Someone smashed a small window to get inside the garage during the early hours of May 11.

Anyone with information should call Bourne Police Station on 101, quoting incident 84 of May 11.

TRISH TAKES FIVE: By Trish Burgess

A few weeks ago I wrote about the 21st birthday party of one of my son’s classmates. You may recall I was feeling quite nostalgic, remembering those primary school days and the friendships that developed between the children and, indeed, the parents.

Rory spent eight happy years at Ayscoughfee Hall School in Spalding before moving on to secondary school and university. His mother, however, has never left. Rory began his time at the school in 1999 but since 2003 I have been a member of the Board of Governors which means my association with the school goes back 18 years.

In that time I have seen so many children join as tiny three year olds in Kindergarten and have watched them mature until they fly the Ayscoughfee nest onto the next stage of their education.

I have loved being involved with the school, whether it’s been helping little ones with computer skills or assisting with staff recruitment. I’ve enjoyed giving something back to the establishment which gave my own son such a good start.

Ayscoughfee Hall School will be celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2020. It began as an offshoot of Spalding High School in 1920, located in rooms within Ayscoughfee Hall itself, hence its name. Some of you may also remember its former home in Church Street.

Everything came full circle when the school moved to its current location, Welland Hall, on London Road, in 1993. A return to the building which housed Spalding High School nearly 100 years ago.

In preparation for this historic anniversary, the school is creating a database of past pupils. We would love to know where everyone is living and what they are doing now. A regular online newsletter, starting next month, will be sent to Old Ayscoughfians who get in touch with the school. We hope to share your news and photos with the rest of your Ayscoughfee family.

We’re also keen to hear your memories of the school, particularly if they relate to the last 25 years. In 1995 a book was published for the school’s 75th anniversary. We hope to follow this up with a publication covering the subsequent years. If you have some interesting or funny stories to tell about life at Ayscoughfee from 1995 onwards, now’s the time to confess.

If you are a former pupil or teacher and would like to receive the newsletter and share your news, we would love to hear from you. It will be a great way to maintain links with Ayscoughfee Hall School and keep in touch with your old pals. Please email your details to the deputy head, Sally Chester: SChester@ahs.me.uk

Community groups within ten miles of Tydd St Mary still have time to apply for up to £5,000 worth of generous funding.

The Grange Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund will consider another batch of applications for educational or “diversionary” activities for young people based at village halls, playing fields and leisure centres.

Groups supported by the fund so far have included Tydd St Mary Football Club, Sutton Bridge Carers, Holbeach Community Centre, Long Sutton Primary School and Sutton Bridge Bowls Club.

The fund gives out £28,000 worth of cash per year to not-for-profit community groups that meet the criteria of supporting young people, the elderly, town and village facilities, the tackling of isolation and loneliness.

To request an application form or for more details, call Sue Fortune on 01529 305825 or visit www.lincolnshirecf.co.uk

Candidates battling to be the next MP for South Holland and the Deepings have welcomed the chance to answer questions from Free Press readers.

We are giving you the chance to put questions to all six prospective parliamentary candidates – and their answers will be published in our sister paper the Spalding Guardian on Thursday, June 1, exactly a week before the election.

The candidates are Conservative John Hayes, who has been MP for the area since 1997, Labour’s Voyteck Kowalewski, Julia Cambridge of the Liberal Democrats, Jane Smith of UKIP, Dan Wilshire of the Green Party and Independent candidate Rick Stringer.

Mr Hayes told the Free Press: ““Living locally throughout my time as MP, I have listened to thousands of local people at surgeries, meetings, and events, learning a great deal. I am always happy to learn more, and to answer any question that is put to me.”

Mr Wilshire said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for the public to raise the issues most important to them, this is what democracy is all about.

“I look forward to having the opportunity to showcase how the Green Party would deal with the many pressing issues faced by the local community.”

For UKIP, Jane Smith said: “During such an important time for the the implementation of Brexit, it’s important for the public to understand the issues before they vote in the General election.

“This opportunity to question candidates about how their parties propose to move forward is very useful, there are several different ways the negotiations could go.

“UKIP hope that people will take advantage of this chance and thank the Lincolnshire Free Press for providing the opportunity to widen the debate.”

And Julie Cambridge, of the Liberal Democrats, said: “‘I’ve been getting out and about meeting local people and hearing their concerns. I’m sensing a real desire to 
debate the big issues facing us all in a potential post Brexit Britain.

“Whether it’s about local or national issues I relish the opportunity to hear about what’s important to you. That’s why I hope as many of you as possible submit a question to the Free Press.

“I look forward to giving the Liberal Democrat perspective on what matters to you.”

We have not yet managed to make contact with Mr Kowalewski or Mr Stringer.

Readers have from now until 5pm on Friday, May 19 to submit their questions.

Each question will be submitted to all six candidates so please do not ask questuions of individuals.

Email your questions to jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Players and guests of Bourne Rugby Club raised £1,600 at its end of season fundraiser to be shared between three worthy causes.

The Willow Foundation, a national charity founded by former footballer and broadcaster Bob Wilson and his wife Megs which helps seriously ill young adults aged 16 to 40, The Osborne Trust and plans for a new clubhouse are the three beneficiaries.

Members of Bourne women’s RugbyFIT group organised the event in support of founder-player Heidi Rock (36) who was diagnosed with incurable cancer in January 2016.

Hannah Clark, a member of the rugby club’s committee, said: “Heidi used to take part in the RugbyFIT classes so her husband Jason and one of her daughters attended what was a bit of a fun day.

“We were really pleased to have raised funds for two charities that have helped Heidi, along with some for our new clubhouse.

Heidi, who lives in Bourne, said: “The Willow Foundation gave us the help we needed to have a really positive day with all our friends and family, while the Osborne Trust paid for my kids to have a trip to the cinema and a meal out which lifted everyone’s mood and made you forget your troubles for just a little while.”

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust face a fine after a jury found the organisation guilty of breaching health and safety legislation following the death of a patient at Pilgrim Hospital.

The Trust was prosecuted following an incident in July 2012 when patient John Biggadike died after suffering “catastrophic” internal injuries when he was impaled on a lifting hoist which was being used to assist him.

Mr Biggadike (53), from Spalding, fell onto a protruding metal post while the hoist was being used to assist him.

The prosecution alleged that hospital staff were not adequately trained or supervised in the use of the hoist and had removed a knee support pad which should have remained in place.

But the defence suggested Mr Biggadike’s death was not caused by failings in training but by a failure to act after a “serious incident” involving a hoist at a hospital in Leicester in 2007.

After a two week trial at Lincoln Crown Court a jury took just three hours to find the Trust guilty of failing to discharge a duty of care.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust will be sentenced on a date to be fixed.

The trial judge, Judge Michael Heath will have to assess the level of financial penalty to be paid by the Trust.

Judge Heath told jurors the sentencing hearing would be a “complicated” process.

MONDAY, 2.45PM: Jury out in hospitals trust trial

The jury retired this afternoon (Monday) in the trial of the Lincolnshire hospitals trust which is accused of breach of health and safety legislation following the death of a patient at the Pilgrim Hospital. United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust was prosecuted following an incident in July 2012 when patient John Biggadike died after suffering “catastrophic” internal injuries when he was impaled on a lifting hoist.

Mr Biggadike (53), from Spalding, fell onto a protruding metal post while the hoist was being used to assist him.

The prosecution allege that hospital staff were not adequately trained or supervised in the use of the hoist and had removed a knee support pad which should have remained in place.

But the defence suggest Mr Biggadike’s death was not caused by failings in training. They argued that the manufacturer failed to act after a “serious incident” involving a hoist at a hospital in Leicester in 2007.

During the two week trial at Lincoln Crown Court the Trust’s senior health and safety manager Philippa Fitzmaurice told the jury that the fatal incident involving Mr Biggadike would have been less likely to have happened if the manufacturer had sent out a safety notice following the Leicester incident.

United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust denies breach of health and safety regulations by exposing non-employees to risk by failing to train, supervise and monitor its employees in relation to the safe use of the lifting hoist on dates between July 2001 and April 2012.

A woman has been airlifted to hospital after emergency services were called to a car crash on Boston Road, Gosberton.

The single vehicle accident happened at 12.15pm.

Fire and rescue crews from Spalding and Donington used cutting gear and saws to release the woman from the car.

The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance was called to the scene to fly the woman to hospital.

Details of the woman’s injuries are not known at this time.

A food shop in Spalding has lost its right to sell alcohol today after drugs were found to have been growing on site.

Krautuvele Food Shop in Pinchbeck Road was also found to be displaying foreign-labelled medicines, as well as being in breach of its licence conditions by not having CCTV equipment at the store.

After a hearing this morning (Monday) three-person panel of South Holland District Council’s licensing committee concluded that Krautuvele’s licence, held by Karolina Malakuskaite, should be revoked.

In a statement, the panel said: “There is no dispute that there was a cannabis growth underneath the premises and the only access to the basement was via the premises.

“The role of the panel is not to judge who is responsible for any criminality.

“However, it is plain that the licensing objective of the prevention of crime and disorder was being undermined.

“The panel noted that CCTV required as part of the licence was missing, despite the fact that police had worked with the premises in 2015 to ensure that the licensing condition was being met.

“It was also relevent to note that foreign-labelled medicines had been found on display, notwithstanding previous work done by the police in 2015 to make the premises aware of the regulations which apply.

The panel’s report confirmed that Mrs Malakuskaite, who was absent and had no legal representation at the hearing, had contacted them by email before the hearing to “surrender the premises licence”.

But the hearing went ahead and the panel’s statement said “Any suggestion that those running the premises would not have known or reasonably suspected what was going on is not credible, bearing in mind the location of access to the basement.

“The use of electricity would most likely have raised suspicions and access to the meters was, in fact, in the basement.

“Bearing in mind the serious nature of the production of controlled drugs, the only step which is appropriate to promote the licensing objectives is to revoke the (premises) licence.”

Mrs Malakuskaite has 21 days to appeal against the panel’s decision to magistrates from the day she is notified by South Holland District Council.

An influx of new shops and a “proper medical centre” are two of the priorities for the next chairman of Holbeach Parish Council.

During its annual general meeting last Monday, Coun Martin Howard was elected to carry out the role for the coming year.

Having been vice chairman for the past two years, Coun Howard succeeds Coun Isobel Hutchinson who was elected chairman in May 2015.

Coun Howard said: “It’s always an honour to serve your town so it’s a privilege for me to be in that position.

“Isobel is a hard act to follow but the biggest thing for Holbeach is the alteration to Peppermint Junction.

“I’d also like to see more shops coming to the town and the NHS gets its act together so that Holbeach can have a proper medical centre.”

Working alongside Coun Howard will be new vice chairman Coun Paul Foyster who said: ”I’m looking forward to working with Martin Howard and a good council that has some younger people, relatively fresh faces.

“Hopefully, we should make some progress after the chairmanship of Isobel who has done a good job and who will be a big help as chairman of the properties’ committee.

Tributes have been paid to former district council chairman David Dewsberry who died in hospital the day after his 84th birthday.

The long serving South Holland district and Sutton Bridge parish councillor is remembered as a good friend to the residents he represented.

At St Matthew’s Church, in Sutton Bridge, where David was actively involved from being a boy, members are saying “the church was his life”.

David spent his whole life in Sutton Bridge, apart from two years’ National Service with the Army, and the whole of his working life was spent in accountancy with the same firm, Salway and Wright, in The Crescent, Spalding.

When he retired David splashed out on a world cruise, visiting cousins in Australia, New Zealand and Canada.

Frieda Minns was David’s consort when he was district council chairman from 1983-85 and was chosen because she was the wife of bachelor David’s late cousin.

Frieda told us: “David was the church through and through. He had served as an altar boy and later helped all of the vicars as they came and went.

“He was a good councillor and would cycle all around the village to meet people. He loved the whole village – he was really dedicated to the village.”

David was also a long standing supporter and member of The Royal British Legion.

St Matthew’s will hold a memorial communion for David at 10am on June 9, an 11.30am funeral service followed by a wake, and cremation will take place at Surfleet at 2.30pm.

The Rev David Oxtoby said: “I know historically David has always been involved in a life of the church ever since he was a young boy and I think the church members would use the phrase ‘the church was his life’. He will be greatly missed by all.”

Church treasurer was among David’s many roles with St Matthew’s, because of his background in accountancy, and he chaired the parish council’s finance committee for many years as well as being a past parish council chairman.

Current parish council chairman John Grimwood said: “He will be missed because he had been on the parish and district councils for a long time.

“He had been on the parish council for the best part of 50 years and he could remember events that members today don’t even know about.”

District and parish councillor Michael Booth said: “He was always a dedicated councillor, very honest and willing to listen to people.”

District councillor Angela Newton recalled: “He was a very independent member of the council, a lovely chap and he was always smiling.

“I am sure he did a lot for the people in his ward.”

Vandals who tampered with new outdoor exercise equipment in a Holbeach park just two weeks after it was officially unveiled have been branded as “mindless”.

Coun Paul Foyster, vice chairman of Holbeach Parish Council, said it was “very, very annoying” that protective caps which help keep rainwater out of the equipment were taken off and an information board was destroyed.

The vandalism happened between 6pm and midnight on Friday, May 5, meaning an unwanted extra cost for the council to carry out repairs and install a CCTV system.

Reaction to the vandalism came quickly on social media, including former parish councillor Kathy Rooke who said: “Is nothing sacred anymore? There’s always a few rotten apples who want to spoil things for others.

“If caught, they should be made to pay for and repair the damage, it might teach them some respect.”

The equipment was bought with the help of shoppers and staff at Tesco Superstore in Holbeach who together raised £16,500 towards improving Carter’s Park.

It was officially unveiled during a St George’s Day event at Carter’s Park on April 23 as part of a plan to make the park more family-friendly and popular in the community.

Coun Foyster said: “There are a small number of mindless individuals who just like smashing things and it all has a cost.

“Those responsible removed some plastic caps that went on top of the equipment to keep water from going down the tubes.

“Then they were either taken away or thrown away and, obviously, we’ll have to replace them.

“There was also a plastic information sign that was on a wooden board and wooden posts which was kicked out of the ground, broken into pieces and thrown into shrubbery that surrounds the bowling green.

“The sign was there specifically to explain to people what each piece of equipment was and what it was for, as well as who to ring in an emergency.

“It’s very, very annoying and so we’re thinking of having some sort of self-contained CCTV system fitted to keep an eye on the exercise area.”

Anyone with information should call police on 101.

• What do you think? Email jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Spalding Police are investigating an incident of grievous bodily harm that took place in the early hours of Sunday, April 30.

The victim, a 20 year-old local man, was assaulted whilst in the queue at the taxi rank in Red Lion Street, Spalding. He required hospital treatment for a facial injury.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact DC Steve Nesbitt at Spalding CID by calling 101 and quoting incident number 134 of May 1.

Spalding solicitor Anita Toal has beaten her £500 target for the London Moonwalk by more than £300.

Anita, managing partner at Maples in New Road, was joined by her sister Linda Taylor and friend Joan Beale to walk the streets of the capital, wearing fancy bras decorated on a roaring 20s theme to raise cash for breast cancer charities.

Anita and Linda completed the marathon distance in 7 hours and 30 minutes while Joan Beale managed to keep up a pace of above 4mph to finish in 6 hours and 15 minutes.

Anita (50) said: “I think this was my 6th or 7th time on the Moonwalk.

“It’s a bit like childbirth ... while you are walking you say ‘I am never doing it again’, but you quickly forget the pain.”

Anita started her walk at 10.50pm, finishing at 6.20am.

She says: “My best time was 7 hours 10 minutes, but unfortunately this time blisters burst on both feet at 19 and 20 miles respectively.

“We had agreed to walk separately if we could not keep up with each other.

“My sister was behind me for most of the walk but she managed to catch up with me at 24 miles.”

Luckily, the women found a way of easing the pain after all those miles.

“We treated ourselves to a Champagne breakfast on Sunday morning,” said Anita.

Some 15,000 people – women and men – took part in this year’s Moonwalk, which is now in its 20th year. It is estimated the event had raised £3.7million before the walkers set out.

Anita says there was a fantastic, party atmosphere on the night with walkers dressed as flappers.

• You can still donate by visiting https://moonwalklondon2017.everydayhero.com/uk/anita-1

Spalding-based property negotiator Tilly Milverton (21) is the woman with the golden heart after raising more than £2,000 for a medical charity.

Tilly, of Boston, who completed 16 endurance events in ten months last year presented a cheque for £2,025 to Gill Tansey of East Midlands congenital heart defect (CHD) charity Keep the Beat at Glenfield Hospital, Leicester.

But Tilly, who survived major surgery for an abnormal heart beat in June 2012, had more to give as she also visited another “CHD warrior” like herself, Corwin Meynell (11) and his brother Rowan (seven), of Melton Mowbray.

After presenting the brothers with a framed rugby shirt, Tilly said: “I was very pleased to hand over the final cheque to Keep The Beat and I feel very blessed to be part of such an amazing charity

“I then headed over to Melton Mowbray to meet the Meynell family and to deliver a gift to Rowan and Corwin who is a CHD warrior, like me.

“It was truly inspiring to meet a boy like Corwin who suffered a stroke at just eight months old and has had open heart surgery three times.

“My own heart condition has led me to meet so many lovely people, some of them not always under the greatest of circumstances.

“But I’ve been very blessed to have met some really inspiring young children too and I am truly grateful to everyone who helped me achieve my 16 in 16 fundraising.

“I know that Keep the Beat are too.”

About £1,500 was raised with the help of Supreme Inns who run a pub and two hotels in Bicker and Kirton Holme.

Helen Duffy, events and marketing manager, said: “We first meet Tilly at Supreme Inns while she was casually dining there and we were enthused by her positive and mature attitude towards life.

“Then we found out about her heart condition which was a shock as she is such an active and fun-loving person.

“So we decided to sponsor her mission as she is such an inspiration to young people in the local area.

“We held our annual LionFest at Ye Olde Red Lion in Bicker last August and it was a great day when we saw lots of people from the community coming together to support Tilly and raise money for Keep the Beat as well.

“During the day, Tilly rode a static marathon on a bike all the way through, with a massive smile on her face and chatting freely to people.

“She also achieved a great finishing time for this of one hour 33 minutes.

“Tilly should be recognised as being a young role model in the community for people to aspire to and we wish her all the best, both with her health and the support she has given to such a worthwhile cause.

“If Tilly wants to embark on any futher fundraising for charities, we would be very happy to support her again.”

Annita Tansey, co-founder with husband Adam of Keep the Beat which supports families of children with CHD, said: “Keep the Beat has been overwhelmed by the support of Tilly Milverton and all of the challenges she set herself to raise money for the charity.

“Tilly has first-hand experience of what life is like living with CHD but she never lets it hold her back.

“This gives all of our young CHD warriors and supporters hope to achieve and you can’t beat that.

“Keep the Beat would like to thank all who were part of the £2,025 raised, including Supreme Inns, RAF Coningsby and Boston Rotary Club, along with Tilly’s family and friends.

“Keep the Beat really can’t thank Tilly enough because she really has worked so hard in raising money for the charity that she has supported right from the start of her own journey in the world of CHD.

“We think she is amazing and hope you do too.”