A Spalding takeaway is to make Christmas Day fish and chips for the lonely and vulnerable a treat again this year after a successful trial.

Westlode Fisheries, in Westlode Street, opened for two hours on December 25, when people alone and families struggling over Christmas were served with hot meals, mince pies and soft drinks.

Between 35 and 40 people accepted the invitation from owner Fardous Ali and her family, rather than be faced with a “lonely and cold” Christmas, in the words of Mud’s 1974 festive favourite.

Asad Masaud, Fardous’s brother, said: “It was absolutely great, the turnout was great and there was a good atmosphere on Christmas Day.

“People were smiling and having a great time while having fish and chips, mince pies and drinks.

Fardous announced her idea to open on Christmas Day two weeks before the big day, along with a six-hour opening on Christmas Eve, with a pledge that ten per cent of the chip shop’s takings will go to a Spalding charity.

Asad said: “Christmas Eve was excellent and we were so busy as people gave money to charity.

“It was very beautiful to watch as customers put their change into a money box, even though we weren’t expecting it to be so busy and so some people had to wait for a long time to be served, for which we apologise.”

Fardous decided to open specially on Christmas Eve and Christmas to mark her first year at Westlode Fisheries which opened under new management in December 2016.

She said: “The staff enjoyed Christmas Eve and it was really nice to have customers coming in who were were really grateful for our generosity.

“I don’t know whether it was the fact that ten per cent of the takings were going to charity but we were really busy on December 24.

“Then, on Christmas Day, the staff went round to customers who are elderly, living on their own or disabled and can’t cook for themselves.

“We also went round to the emergency services, handing out food to firefighters and police who were on duty and might be missing out on a Christmas Day meal with their families.”

Fardous was unable to say how much was raised for charity on Christmas Eve, nor which deserving cause the takeaway would be supporting.

She added: “We were thinking of charities in Spalding that work with the vulnerable and homeless because we would like to give something back to the community of Spalding.

“If we’re still here at the end of this year, we’ll open on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day again and then make it a yearly thing to make sure that no one misses out.”

• Do you know of a deserving charity locally that Westlode Fisheries could help? Email jeremy.ransome
@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Pressure is growing for major repairs to be carried out on a country lane between Tongue End and Bourne branded as “the worst road in Britain”.

South Fen Road, nicknamed ‘The Gauntlet’ by national newspaper The Sun because of its potholes, cracks and muddy verges, has been a regular site for repairs by county highways engineers for years.

But with any further 
improvements unlikely until April at the earliest, drivers who use South Fen Road and community representatives for both Tongue End and Bourne have shared their concerns with the Free Press.

Coun William Rodwell, chairman of Deeping St Nicholas Parish Council (which serves Tongue End), said: “South Fen Road isn’t actually in the parish, but it has an impact on Tongue End because lorries are causing problems for residents through noise and speed.

“They are also damaging the road that links Pode Hole to Baston, through Tongue End, which also carries many gravel lorries who use it as a ‘rat run’ from the A15 and Peterborough to the west of Spalding.

“In addition, South Fen Road is used by drivers coming from Spalding with speeding cars.”

new Western Relief Road to reduce this ever-increasing problem.

“South Fen Road itself is built on a peat subsoil which has always been a problem because the sides of the road fall away and it is nearly impossible to remedy this natural decay.”

Coun Elizabeth Sneath, whose Spalding Elloe county council ward includes Tongue End, said: “Over the past few months, many residents have contacted me about the state of the road.

“I have even been driven along South Fen Road by some residents to demonstrate its problems and the particular physical features of this area of the Fens does lead to many problems with road surfaces and edges when a narrow road is well used by both cars and heavy lorries.

“I have always reported these issues to the highways department and been assured that when resources are available, it will carry out further repairs and, hopefully, improvements to this well-used stretch.”

A number of businesses are located in South Fen Road, including Bourne’s Household Waste Recycling Centre and B.W. Riddle metal recycling plant.

Coun Colin Pattison, former Mayor of Bourne between 2016 and 2017, said: “The state of South Fen Road was brought to my attention at a recent meeting of Bourne Town Council, although I’ve known all my life that it’s not a great road.

“Because it’s built on black peat, the road expands in wet weather and contracts when it’s dry and hot.

“It’s also an agricultural road that’s used by a lot of heavy lorries and all these things together have a bearing on the road.”

Pressure on county highways officers to repair South Fen Road has been led by Bourne South and Thurlby county councillor Robert Reid who said: “It’s the worst road in Britain but Lincolnshire County Council won’t do anything more than minor, temporary repairs to it.

“The highways department has identified that the road is in such a mess that it’s been included in the county council’s major capital expenditure programme for the next financial year.

“But it doesn’t start until April and, in my opinion, I feel that South Fen Road is dangerous and the council has a duty to ensure that highways are safe.”

A county highways spokesman said: “We are aware of the comments that have been made about South Fen Road and have repaired several potholes and damaged edges along the road over the last few years.

“The most recent work there was carried out in August but it is likely that further improvements will be carried out in future, depending on the resources available.”

• Is South Fen Road the worst in Britain? Email your letters to jeremy.ransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk

Police say they are making positive progress in their fight against illegal hare coursing, with incidents down year on year.

In December there were 324 incidents of hare coursing in Lincolnshire, compared to 413 in December 2016. In the last four months of 2017 there were 1,014 cases, compared to 1,216 in 2016.

Deputy Chief Constable Craig Naylor said: “This is positive progress. We will continue to work with our partners including the Crown Prosecution Service and RSPCA to ensure that we explore all opportunities for enforcement.

“We work with the NFU and CLA to seek feedback on our activity and develop our tactics. We can only succeed with the continued help and information from our rural communities.”

Chief Superintendent Mark Housley added: “I believe that our policy of seizing dogs is the most effective deterrent for hare coursers. So far this season we have seized 49 dogs. We have heard from other forces that hare coursers they encounter tell them they will not visit Lincolnshire because we seize dogs. This policy will continue.”

Seized dogs are cared for in approved kennels and we apply to the court for forfeiture on conviction.

If you have information on hare coursing, this can be reported on 101 or through our online reporting service. Always use 999 to report hare coursing in progress.

• A dispersal order is in place in South Holland this morning (Wednesday) after reports that hare coursers are travelling to the area.

Laddies Famous Ices has won Holbeach’s Best Dressed Christmas Window competiton, organised by the town’s action group and sponsored by Holbeach Parish Council.

Gift shop Crafty Dottie was second and two third place prizes were awarded to Swepstones Butchers and Caffe Aurora. Photo supplied by Holbeach Parish Council.

One man has been arrested and another is being targeted by police after a burglary at the post office in Pinchbeck during the early hours of this morning (Wednesday).

Police were called to the Mace post office in Knight Street shortly before 5am after two men had broken into the shop.

The alarm sounded which alerted a man living in a flat above who went to check on the shop and found a man standing by the cigarettes. A window had been smashed and another man was also present.

The offenders fled the scene in a small hatchback car, taking with them a quantity of cigarettes. Within two hours, police had identified and arrested a 24-year-old man in connection with this burglary.

They have also located the vehicle believed to have been used, which contained the stolen cigarettes that will be returned to the shop. The second suspect is outstanding but has been identified and is currently sought by officers.

Anyone who may have seen or heard the offenders at Knight Street this morning is asked to call police on 101.

An end could be in sight to a Spalding grandma’s months of agony with the promise of an operation to remove a controversial surgical mesh implant.

Steph Williams (61), from the Punchbowl pub, will have an exploratory operation at London’s University College Hospital on January 24 before a date is fixed for a final op in February that could give back her life.

Steph and husband Pete (63) are continuing their campaign to have mesh implant ops axed and will host a public information meeting fronted by journalist Kath Sansom, who founded the group Sling the Mesh, starting at noon at the pub on Saturday, January 20.

Steph expected to have a hysterectomy in June but an hour before surgery she learned the procedure was being switched to a Laparoscopic Sacrohysteropexy, which sees the uterus supported by an artificial mesh implant.

But the op left the once active Steph in constant agony, unable even to carry two cups of tea at a time, and feeling “like I have got barbed wire in my stomach”.

Only after the operation did the Williams learn that other mesh implant patients had been left in terrible pain, with some in wheelchairs or walking with sticks.

The Williams are overjoyed a mesh removal and hysterectomy operation is in sight because Steph’s pain increases with every day.

Steph said: “I am really excited, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. I have had a horrible year. My life’s been on hold for a year and getting worse, and worse and worse.”

Pete said: “I want my wife back, I want the person that Steph was back.”

He says people struggle to understand how much pain Steph is in and some customers still grab her hand to jive, because that’s the person she was, but she can’t dance now or even climb the stairs.

Pete said: “Let’s hope there is life after (this living) death.”

• The public meeting is for anyone who wants to know more about surgical mesh implants, which are used to support the uterus or other organs, like the bladder, that are prolapsed (fall out of place).

Previously ...

‘This operation left me in agony’ says Spalding woman Steph

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Is this ‘the worst road in Britain?’

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Train passengers were this week hit by a fare rise of more than three per cent, the biggest in five years.

The financial blow comes as Spalding and Peterborough Transport Forum chairman George Scott claims fare rises over the last few years have led to no “significant” service improvements.

And the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called for re-nationalisation of the railways while revealing Midlands commuters pay up to 11 per cent of average salaries on fares while similar commutes on the continent range from two per cent in France to five per cent in Spain and Belgium.

Mr Scott said: “Yes, fares have increased once again, as we are a rural service we were trying to encourage new rail users onto the trains to relieve our road congestion.

“We have a few problems with our services at present, mainly we are a seven day a week working community with no train service on a Sunday and a limited service on a Saturday.

“There has been no significant service improvements over the last few years despite fare increases.

“As far as re-nationalisation goes, it would be great if the services were going to improve but no one can tell and we are always promised improvements in the future.

“There certainly needs to be a shake-up to realise what the travelling public want and expect for their money and, yes, being a low wage area it hits us more than most. People are having to travel further to get a living wage but high rail fares do not help.

“There also needs to be a determined effort to connect us via other branch lines as to go to Birmingham it takes the same time as by car as do other places.”

The Government set the fare rise in line with July’s Retail Price Index at 3.6 per cent, but East Midlands Trains set a lower average increase of 3.3 per cent.

East Midlands Trains describe themselves as “the UK’s most punctual long-distance train operator for over eight years” and says the company continues to invest in improvements for customers.

The company’s managing director, Jane Kelly, said: “As well as helping to fund the biggest national investment in the railways since Victorian times through increased payments to Government, the money from fares is also helping to drive many real improvements for customers across the East Midlands Trains network.”

Rail companies claim 97p in every £ is ploughed back into the industry but TUC Midlands regional secretary Lee Barron says the Government needs to take the railways back into private hands to “stop hundreds of millions being siphoned off by private rail firms” and to put passengers first.

From our website ...

Spalding Punchbowl couple hope op will end Steph’s agony

Man arrested after Pinchbeck post office burglary

Is this ‘the worst road in Britain?’

A support group for people with breathing difficulties in Spalding has been awarded one of eight community grants from NHS England.

The Happy Breathers’ group, which meets at the Ivo Day Centre in Albion Street on Thursdays from 1.30pm until 4.30pm, was given the award through Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service.

Since it started in August 2016, the group has put on weekly sessions for people diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) which included bronchitis and emphysema.

An NHS England spokesman said: “The Happy Breathers project helps participants learn about COPD in a relaxed setting and improves patient outcomes by enabling better self-care.

“Patients have been involved from the start and their feedback has helped to steer the project, with participants reporting that they are less socially isolated and more confident about managing their condition through peer support.”

Happy Breathers group thrives

Support group catches its breath at anniversary day

Look after you by helping others

Ashwood Nursing and Care Home in Spalding celebrated its 20th birthday with a special party for staff, residents and their families.

Health care professionals, friends and local MP John Hayes also joined the Spalding Common home for the celebration.

“Ashwood has always had a fantastic reputation in Spalding and has won several awards for care over the years” said Suria Webb, who was Ashwood’s first manager and now operations manager at Country Court Care, who run the home.

“Our success has been down to our dedicated and loyal staff.”

Current manager Manu Magar added: “We took this opportunity to thank some of our staff who have been with us at Ashwood since the start.

“Our dedicated and long serving staff team are what has made Ashwood such a lovely care home and we would like to take this opportunity to recognise their dedication”.

Long servers include housekeepers Karen Blackham and Mark Cook. Mark joined the home through the Shaw Trust Scheme in a voluntary capacity and has been a very loyal, honest and reliable employee over the years.

Ashwood was awarded a Top 20 Recommended Care Homes Award for the East Midlands for 2017 by carehome.co.uk

It is home to 47 residents and offers nursing, residential and specialist dementia care.

A Spalding health surgery has been put into special measures after it was rated inadequate by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Pennygate Health Centre was given the rating in an official report published on December 28, following the inspection on October 19, 2017.

It shows a fall in standards at the surgery, which has 3,460 patients, since its last inspection in February 2015. Then, it received an overall rating of ‘good.’

In the latest report, key findings by inspectors showed:

○ A leadership structure was in place but there was insufficient leadership capacity and limited governance arrangements in place

○ Patients were at risk of harm because some systems and processes in place were not effective to keep them safe. (Such as patient safety alerts, safeguarding, medicine reviews and monitoring of patients on high risk medicines.)

○ Risks to patients were assessed but the systems and processes to address these risks were not implemented well enough to ensure patients were kept safe.

○ The practice did not have a robust system in place to monitor the training of the GPs and staff within the practice.

The report did find that feedback from people who use the service and stakeholders was positive with 34 patients expressing high levels of satisfaction about all aspects of the care and treatment they received.

It also found the feedback from comments cards it reviewed said patients felt they were treated with care, compassion, dignity and respect.

A spokesperson for NHS South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are disappointed that Pennygate Health Centre, Spalding, has been rated ‘inadequate’ and subsequently placed into ‘special measures’ by the Care Quality Commission, following its inspection on 19 October 2017.

“We are working with the practice to ensure that the areas of concern have either been resolved or are being addressed.

“We will continue to offer support to the practice and we will regularly review and monitor its progress. We would like to assure patients of our commitment to commissioning the highest quality, safe care for everyone.”

A full copy of the CQC’s report can be found via its website www.cqc.org.uk

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It was family fun for everyone as South Holland welcomed in 2018 in fine style on Sunday night.

Spalding hosted two big parties amongst all the celebrations – at the South Holland Centre and the Springfields events and Conference Centre.

South Holland Centre manager Sally Harrison was delighted with how the evening went – with just over 200 people enjoying the event.

“Well, it sold out! It was the third year we have had a family party and it seems people really enjoy it.

“Everybody dresses up – and it’s great for families who have got children and don’t want to leave them or would be faced with having to get a babysitter at a difficult time.

“We had a disco and children’s games and food, of course.”

At the Springfields Events and Conference Centre, more than 400 party-goers went back to the Eighties with the band Now80s to enjoy some retro sounds before dancing into the New Year with the E&N Disco.

A three-course festive meal was enjoyed and the party went on until an hour into 2018.

The midnight hour was celebrated with a balloon drop and a confetti cannon being blasted over the dancefloor .

Delighted chief executive David Norton said: “We are already planning ahead for next New Year’s Eve!”

Members and guests saw in the New Year in country fashion at Sutton St James Indoor Bowls Club.

The regular country music venue on Fishergate played host to Tennessee Stud – a five-piece band playing traditional country music with covers of songs by Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard, Garth Brooks and others.

Party-goers enjoyed a supper of sausages and jacket potatoes, plus a tasty dessert.

Meanwhile, things were getting very equestrian at Holbeach Community Centre.

Jockeys, marshalls, bookies and glamorous race-goers packed the venue in Fishpond Lane to bring in the New Year on a theme of A Day at the Races.

Following on from last year’s theme of Stars in Their Eyes, which saw the Blues Brothers and Spice Girls appear in Holbeach, 2017’s ‘home straight’ to midnight was raced down by race meeting ‘hot favourites’.

Best dressed winners were Andy Crunkhorn, who came dressed as a jockey, and three horsemen – Simon Bell, Mark Pearson and Duncan Cook.

Organiser Lizzy Coward said next year’s ‘Marvel heroes’ party may be their last - but made no promises!

A next generation methane-powered tractor will showcased at the UK’s largest agricultural and machinery show.

New Holland will showcase its game-changing concept tractor on its stand at LAMMA 18.

It has been proven to have the same operational capacities of any conventional tractor, whilst demonstrating the performance and durability of its diesel equivalent.

Operating costs are reduced by 30 per cent and it produces only 20 per cent of the pollution emissions compared a conventional diesel-powered tractor.

New Holland stockists in South Holland are G & J Peck, of Wardentree Lane, Pinchbeck, and The Burdens Group, based in Sutterton.

LAMMA will also be the first opportunity to see the new suspended front axle on the T7 LWB’s, which enables better steering control and precision when operating at higher speeds whilst ensuring even greater operator comfort.

Also in the line up is the all-rounder, the multipurpose T6 Dynamic CommandTM tractor which appears for the first time.

A slimmer who transformed her life by losing nearly three stones is using her success to shape a new career helping other people achieve their weight loss dreams, too.

Now, Pam Cole has trained as a consultant for Slimming World at its national training academy in Derbyshire.

Members at the Donington group are getting ready to welcome Pam as their new consultant when she takes over where she attended to start her journey.

Former social worker Pam joined the group six months ago and said: “I was an extremely unhealthy weight for my five foot frame, registering within the obese range.

“The catalyst to join was being diagnosed with high blood pressure and prescribed medication at just 42-years-old.

“Alongside my battle with depression and anxiety and some difficult family circumstances, I found myself in a very dark place.”

“My lifeline was a little blonde whirlwind of energy, my own consultant at Donington Slimming World, Emma Scarborough. Emma helped me believe that I could do it and became my inspiration.

“I stayed with the group every week and got recipe ideas and support that helped me make good food choices. By mid-July I had lost almost one stone.”

Pam then downloaded the ‘Couch to 5k’ app and by the end of August was running five kilometres (3.1miles). By November she was up to seven miles and is now training for a half-marathon in March.

She added: “Becoming the new slimming world consultant for the Donington evening groups is just amazing, I feel privileged and I can’t wait to start.”

Pam’s groups are held at the Ruby Hunt Centre, Church Lane, Donington, PE11 4DU, every Tuesday at 5.30pm and 7.30pm from today.

For more information or to join pop along today or call 07880 557845.

Emma’s groups are every Thursday at 9.30am and 11.30am from this week. For more information or to join Emma’s group either pop along on Thursday or call 07581 551730 .

Tydd St Giles ladies section made a charity presentation to support the Cancer Care and Treatment Centre at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King’s Lynn.

A total of £1,428.73 was presented to the charity’s fundraising executive Laurence Morlaâs.

Ladies captain Jackie Maton thanked all for their generosity and their support of good causes throughout her year in the hot seat.

A Donington Slimming World consultant was congratulated on helping slimmers to lose weight and change their lives by singer and TV presenter Peter Andre.

Emma Scarborough, who runs a Slimming World group at the Royal British Legion, Donington (see story above), was delighted to get a chance to cuddle up to Peter when he presented the annual Slimming World Awards.

The Mysterious Girl singer co-hosted the event with the organisation’s founder and chair Margaret Miles-Bramwell OBE.

Emma said Peter’s presence was extra special because earlier in 2017 he supported Slimming World’s most successful fundraising event ever – The Big Slimming World Clothes Throw, which raised a record-breaking £3.3million in just two weeks.

The annual clothes throw encourages Slimming World’s 900,000 members to donate the clothes, shoes, bags and accessories that are too big for them to Cancer Research UK, by filling up specially-branded bags and taking them along to their weekly sessions.

Emma said: “I couldn’t be prouder of the members of the Donington group. Throughout 2017 they have lost fantastic amounts of weight, with many of them hitting their target weights, improving their health and boosting their confidence.

“It’s so rewarding to see people being able to do things that they didn’t think were possible before losing weight, whether that’s having more energy, feeling happier, wearing smaller clothes, taking up new hobbies, reducing medication or doing more with their family and friends. “I feel extremely lucky to play even a small part in people’s achievements.”

and I felt very honoured to represent the Donington group at the Slimming World Awards.

“Cuddling up to Peter was a real treat. He was bowled over by the difference Slimming World makes to people’s lives and it reminded me what an important and privileged role I have as a consultant.”

Year 6 pupils from Spalding Parish Church of England Day School attended the Into Film Festival which is the world’s largest free film and education event for young people.

They saw ‘The Eagle Huntress’ at the Light Cinema in Wisbech to enhance, support and develop their learning.

The film linked well with the book they are studying in guided reading, ‘The Unforgotten Coat’ by Frank Cottrell Boyce, and then their non-fiction focus on endangered species such as the golden eagle.

The children are also going to use the experience for real-life writing by penning Trip Advisor reviews for the Light Cinema in Wisbech and a film review for the Into Film competition. Teachers Emma Weatherhill, Amelia Siddall and Kim Bird are excited to enhance this fantastic experience back in the classroom.

One person suffered smoke inhalation following a house fire in Donington this afternoon (Wednesday January 3).

Just before 3pm, firefighters from Donington, Billingborough, Spalding and Kirton attended the blaze at a house in Summerson Close, where they used a single hose reel to extinguish the fire.

Bus company Brylaine has appealed to Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) to better support rural bus services after ‘substantially reducing’ the K59 Boston to Spalding service.

Its appeal was made after the company approached the county council for extra financial support for the ‘unviable’ K59 and Spalding Town services in October, but was told both would have to be put out to tender for this to be considered.

According to Brylaine, the tender issued was prepared to support a K59 with reduced midday service and just one bus a week on the town route.

Previously, the county council fincially supported the daily 8am and Saturday Spalding Town services and the K59 Saturday service and travel along one Boston road daily.

Brylaine operations director Malcolm Wheatley approached the Bus Industry Regulator in November, asking for the routes to be reinstated, still with some K59 midday cuts, but not as severe as those outlined in the tender.

Permission for this was granted just before Christmas and the service was duly adjusted from December 23, with little notice for passengers.

A Brylaine spokeswoman said: “The service times proposed by LCC for the K59 would have meant some passengers had no options of a reasonably-timed return journey and with just one bus on Spalding Town, the service would prove less than useful to any residents.

“Our current expectation in 2018 is that we will receive less than one per cent of our total turnover from LCC to fund rural services in South Holland.

“Sadly, trying to make a better bus service is impossible on our own. It’s a Catch 22 - the costs needed to run rural bus services are exceptionally high.

“Simple maths shows the less services we can offer means less customer reliance; the lesspassenger loyalty, the less there is to offer and with little financial support, there is more to lose.”

A Lincolnshire County Council spokesperson said: “In October, Brylaine informed us they were withdrawing the K59 and Spalding Into Town services on Saturdays and during school holidays.

“We looked in to how it would be possible to fill the gaps left, but we simply did not have the money to reinstate them on a like-for-like basis.

“Obviously, we cannot simply hand over taxpayers’ cash to private companies, so a contract was put out to tender.

“Halfway through that process, Brylaine announced they were reinstating the Spalding Into Town and G61 services, along with a revised K59 service on Monday to Friday.

“This left only the Saturday route on the K59 without a service, and the contract for this was awarded to Brylaine.

“Although there has been a reduction in the level of service it should meet the needs of most passengers.

“In addition, CallConnect is being used to fill in the gaps left by the commercial operation, and can provide some of the journeys previously offered by Brylaine.”

A lifeline is being thrown to people who loved entertainment nights at Donington and Quadring Royal British Legion Social Club, which closed after a final New Year’s Eve bash on Sunday.

John Lea (72) and wife Sandra (68), who live in Boston, have been attending the club at weekends over the last four years – and want the entertainment to live on so they can keep the 30-40 strong “family” of club-goers together.

John has forged a partnership with Wyberton Sports and Social Club, which is prepared to host entertainers popular with Donington club-goers, and hopes the many friends he and Sandra have made at Donington will be prepared to switch venues.

“It’s been like a little family meeting up on Saturdays to have a good night,” says Sandra.

John says people travel from places including Long Sutton, Bourne, Walcot, Billinghay, Sleaford and Boston to enjoy a night out in Donington and he hopes they – and the Donington club-goers – will be happy to travel to Wyberton.

He said: “If we can get the Donington and Wyberton members together, we could have a good night.”

It’s understood the club in Donington’s Maltings Lane has closed due to the running costs of the building and health and safety issues.

Although the building is owned by a national organisation, The Royal British Legion (RBL), expenses for its upkeep have to be met locally.

News of John and Sandra Lea’s bid to salvage the entertainment and dance nights has been welcomed by local councillors, although there’s sadness over the closure of a building that’s been in use since the early 70s.

District and parish councillor Jane King said: “I hope they do keep the social element going but it’s such a shame there’s a purpose-built building that’s not going to be used.

“It’s such a shame that these things are falling by the wayside.”

Donington Parish Council chairman Coun Arthur Baldwin would have liked to have seen the national RBL offer some financial help for the upkeep of the building to ease the burden on the social club.

Coun Baldwin said: “The British Legion (nationally) are very wealthy and I think it’s time they started dipping their hand in their pocket.”

The Leas say the Donington club-goers can keep in touch with them – and get an update on the Wyberton plans – by calling Sandra on 07845 911144.

Entertainers who have appeared at the Donington club can also leave their contact details with Sandra.

• What do you think? Email our editor: jeremyransome@iliffepublishing.co.uk

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