We look back at the Lincs Free Press this week in 1999.

Two-year-old ginger cat Prince has proved he is a ‘cat’ above the rest by finding his way back home almost three months after he went missing.

His owner, Amanda Valderas (22), of Hocklesgate, Fleet Hargate, had given up hope of seeing him again.

Ginger’s advanture began when Amanda and her mother Jacqueline moved from the Golden Bull pub in Holbeach Drove, where Jacqueline was landlady, to Fleet Hargate.

Drama Wonderland for 1999’s GCSE pupils

Pupils from Thomas Cowley High School in Donington brought down the curtain on Thursday with a hat-trick of shows.

Head of drama Mrs Lynn Burton said all the pupils involved in the production of Alice in Wonderland had worked very hard.

The production counted for 60 per cent of the final mark for the pupils’ drama GCSE.

She said:”I am very impressed with what the pupils have achieved. They have been outstanding and the moderator has passed them all.”

GAVIN MILLER reviews the final instalment in the Fifty Shades series.

We’ve now been freed from the shackles of one of the most poorly-written and terribly-acted trilogies of all-time.

It’s fair to say the trio of Fifty Shades films haven’t lived up to the hype of EL James’ novels – and each film has got so continually worse that they’ve (for the most part) ended up unintentionally laughable.

But despite its many failings, there’s still a bright and breezy air of likeability to this final chapter that knows ‘what it is’ – as it provides a clumsily-scripted erotic love tale that may still appease its mainly female demographic.

Believing they have left the shadowy figures from the world behind, newlyweds Christian (Jamie Dornan) and Ana (Dakota Johnson) fully embrace their life of luxury – complete with regular intervals of (some BDSM-inspired) sexual exploits.

But just as she steps into her new role as Mrs Grey, and her new husband tries to relax into unfamiliar territory – with his overly defensive and possessive nature still rearing its head – Ana’s ex-boss Jack Hyde (Eric Johnson) is seemingly hell bent on destroying the couple’s ‘happy ever after’.

Through one of the most clichéd and monotonous scripts ever devised, Christian and Ana whip-up multiple sexual interludes between predictable set pieces – car chase, intruder in house, baby talk, Ana’s defiance of her new husband etc – that ends up with a truly embarrassing kidnapping scenario involving Christian’s sister (the horrendously-wooden Rita Ora), that looks like a really poor episode of CSI.

A rushed sub-plot sex triangle between Kate (Eloise Mumford), Elliot (Luke Grimes) and Gia (Arielle Kebbel) sums up the Fifty Shades experience (outside of the sex of course), as director James Foley’s final chapter isn’t fleshed out anywhere near enough – even feeling a little unnecessarily rushed – and the bad guy of the piece (Johnson’s villain Hyde) is just comically bad.

This leaves you unable to care about any of the characters, bar maybe the main two, who do have some chemistry despite what some naysayers may imply – and some may end up caring for them. If only a little bit. And they’re both better actors than the script they have in front of them suggests.

But as it stands, Ana going in Christian’s ‘Red Room’ definitely doesn’t have the same sexual anticipation as it had when the first part came out three years ago – in fact the sex is the tamest it has ever been despite more regularity – as the third part harmlessly meanders to a close with an extremely stereotypical paint-by-numbers finale that would have been more akin to an ‘after the watershed’ TV movie.

If it wasn’t for the ‘implied’ sexual preferences, this could easily be a ‘15’ or even, at a push, a ‘12A’.

Fans may have got the climax that they craved, but for the rest of us it all ends up well, a bit . . . meh.

Rating: 2.5/5 Gavin Miller

GAVIN MILLER writes an exclusive review of the new groundbreaking Marvel movie BLACK PANTHER.

Black Panther could just prove to be the most iconic superhero movie ever made – on multiple groundbreaking levels.

It’s not only the first major blockbuster to headline with a black superhero, but (which makes it different from Blade) also has a predominantly black cast, which has already given Ryan Coogler’s (Creed) acclaimed film a revolutionary status.

About time, and rightly so.

Building on the success of Wonder Woman, it also adds another rung to a more female prominence in Hollywood by showcasing the talents of the Black Panther’s (Chadwick Boseman) love interest, kick-ass spy Nakia (12 Years a Slave’s Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o), his head of security Okoye (Danai Gurira), technologically-gifted sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), strong-willed mother Ramonda (Oscar nominee Angela Bassett), who all provide a refreshingly forward-thinking presence in a comic-book adventure.

About time, and rightly so.

And for fanboys, after years of tepid villains in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, it finally has one to compete with Loki – Coogler’s Creed star Michael B Jordan. He’s the first multi-faceted bad guy to light up the screen in a superhero movie in quite some time – with the vengeful Erik Killmonger – and his enigmatic on-screen dominance is just one of a number of things this movie does so well.

And about time, too.

After the death of his father T’Chaka (John Kani) during the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa/Black Panther (Boseman) returns home to the reclusive, technologically-advanced African nation of Wakanda to serve as his country’s new leader.

But he’s soon challenged to the throne by multiple factors, including a battle for the crown from Winston Duke’s tribal leader M’Baku, and then from ex-military man Killmonger – the unknown cousin to the Panther – who feels he deserves to rule Wakanda after being denied a potential life of luxury.

He is in cahoots with T’Chaka’s old arch-nemesis Ulysses Klaue (Andy Serkis’ character last seen in Avengers: Age of Ultron), who has stolen the valuable Vibranium metal source from the state – which powers the technology behind the country’s independence and the Panther’s suit. Klaue is also being pursued by Martin Freeman’s returning CIA agent Everett K Ross (Brit actor Martin Freeman complete with ever-improving American accent) from Civil War, which adds to the MCU continuity with Avengers: Infinity War feverishly around the corner.

And what unfolds is a movie that stands on its own two feet as an action-thriller alone – with a strong storyline and heartfelt narrative – that should satisfy cinema-goers who aren’t comic-book aficionados, and truly engage those who are.

It might not quite be as pivotal an inaugural solo outing as it was for Iron Man (in terms of igniting the MCU), or maybe doesn’t quite have the zany excitement of a Thor: Ragnarok or Avengers Assemble, but it’s so resoundingly solid in all areas that it’s definitely one of the most ‘complete’ films Marvel has ever made.

Jordan’s Killmonger may even dominate the piece over Boseman’s Panther himself, but they both combine with the rest of the cast to make this a stellar movie in more ways than one – and deserves to claw its way to the upper echelons of the Marvel ladder immediately. No question.

That leaves Black Panther as one of the most ambitious superhero movies that has been made – as Marvel tries to vary its tried-and-tested formula – which has plenty game-changing bite.

Rating: 4/5 Gavin Miller

MAN’S BEST FRIEND: A weekly column from the South Lincs Centre of Jerry Green Dog Rescue

Jerry Green Dog Rescue is calling on fellow animal lovers to put pressure on the Government to ban the sale of puppies by pet shops and other third-party dealers.

Last week Defra set out plans to improve animal welfare standards, which include a blanket ban on the sale of puppies from pet shops and puppy farms.

Gill Skinner of Jerry Green said: “As a charity dedicated to the care, welfare and responsible rehoming of dogs, we welcome any review of the law which makes selling dogs illegal for anyone other than licensed breeders and charities that rehouse abandoned dogs.”

“Having previously campaigned for an end to puppy farming, we are keen to support Defra’s recommendations to ban the sale of puppies in this way.

“More regulation is essential if we are to tackle the unscrupulous dealers in this dreadful trade.”

Jacqui Bell, CEO at Jerry Green, said: “Alarmingly, the standard dog breeding licence doesn’t put anywhere near enough emphasis on the long-term welfare of the breeding bitches and their pups.”

“Unsuspecting owners can end up with pets with serious health issues including arthritis and breathing problems, and when they struggle to cope they often turn to us for advice and in some cases for rehoming.

“I would urge anyone thinking about getting a dog to get in touch with the team here at Jerry Green to find out what sort of dog would be the best match for your lifestyle before making the commitment. People would probably be surprised at who turns out to be their best match.”

DOG OF THE WEEK

Hello, I’m Annabelle! I used to be a racer but now I prefer a slower pace of life and my favourite thing to do these days is to lounge around on my bed.

I still enjoy going out for regular walks and am very gentle on the lead. I have spent time with other dogs but can find them a little too much if they are playful. I will take myself away and watch from the side-lines. I could 
potentially live with another calm dog of a similar size to me.

Due to my racing background I won’t be suitable to live with cats or small furries! I am ideally looking for a quiet home with older children or just adults.

I am currently in a foster home, so if you would like to meet me please call my human friends on 01205 260546 or email slincs@jerrygreendogs.org.uk

Therena’s Tip – Muzzle training, part two

Last week we looked at why we may need to muzzle our dogs and the types of muzzles available. This week we will look at how to train your dog to wear a muzzle.

Taking it Step by Step

To habituate your dog to the muzzle put some tasty food your dog loves in the bottom of it and show it to your dog. The smell should interest them and they will investigate.

A common issue with muzzle training is that the dog will take the food, then pull their head out straight away, meaning they are not happy keeping their face in it. By removing the muzzle before they are finished your dog is more likely to come towards the muzzle, rather than pull away.

After a few sessions, your dog will begin to eat with their nose inside the muzzle. Don’t try to fasten the muzzle at this stage; we need to make the muzzle much more pleasant before we do that.

Once your dog will happily put their nose in the muzzle, you can make it a game! Prepare the muzzle with treats, then call your dog over and wave the muzzle a little. When your dog puts their nose in keep it still and remove it before you dog is finished. You can try stepping backwards while your dog is eating from the muzzle, or by hiding with it and having your dog come and find you.

Anything you do with the muzzle should be fun and rewarding for your dog to put their nose in it.

When your dog is excited to do activities that involve putting their face in the muzzle you can begin by holding the straps around your dogs’ face as they eat. Take the muzzle away before they are finished eating and repeat.

Once your dog is comfortable with the feeling of the straps around their face you can fasten it up. Build up the length of time your dog wears the muzzle for, start out in short sessions of one minute and build up to longer lengths of time.

Once your dog has their muzzle on, the trick is to keep them so engaged and occupied on other things that they don’t try to get the muzzle off. You can feed them treats, ask them to do well-known tricks or go for a walk. Keep the pace jolly and praise them a lot for wearing the muzzle.

When you are finished with the muzzle, don’t forget to wash it so it’s clean for next time.

Top Tips

Squeezy cheese or liver paste is great for muzzle training because it can be squeezed into the muzzle and also through the muzzle as your dog is wearing it

If your dog if very food motivated you can 
incorporate muzzle training into their daily routine and use some of their normal breakfast or dinner portion as training treats!

Previously...

Can you foster gorgeous dogs like Bridget?

DR KEVIN HILL advises residents to look out for their elderly neighbours.

GPs in South Lincolnshire are urging people to look out for their elderly and vulnerable relatives and neighbours this winter – and make sure they don’t ‘soldier on’ in silence.

Older people and those with long-term health conditions are particularly susceptible to illness and isolation at this time of year, yet it can sometimes be difficult for those at risk to admit they need help.

Dr Kevin Hill, chair of South Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), says winter is a time when communities should come together to support people in need – and encourage them to seek medical assistance before illness becomes so serious they need to be admitted to hospital.

“All too often we see elderly and vulnerable people having to be treated in hospital for lengthy periods with symptoms that might not have become so serious and could have been managed effectively at home if they’d only sought help sooner.

“This is often the result of people trying to ‘soldier on’ through adversity because they don’t want to cause inconvenience to their families or bother their GP or pharmacist with something they feel is insignificant.

“If you are aged over 75 or you are living with a long-term medical condition such as a respiratory illness, don’t wait when you’re feeling ill – get help straightaway. Speak to your local pharmacist first and they’ll either recommend an over-the-counter medicine to alleviate your symptoms, or tell you if you need to see your GP.

“If you have a friend, neighbour or relative who is vulnerable then you can do your bit to help by checking in on them regularly and making sure they have everything they need to stay well this winter.”

South Lincolnshire CCG has the following top tips for how to help elderly and vulnerable people you may know:

Drop in to see them and check if they are well at least once a week – and more often if the weather turns very cold.

Check if they are feeling well and don’t let them brush off your questions if you’re concerned they’re trying to hide an illness, particularly if they don’t seem their usual self or they look unwell.

If they are feeling ill, encourage them to visit their local pharmacist without delay – and give them a lift if you can.

Ask if you can collect any prescriptions they need or take them to their GP for any appointments.

Tell them to call 111 if they feel unwell when pharmacies are closed – a trained NHS health care adviser will be able to help them

Make sure their home is heated to at least 18°C to 21°C throughout the winter.

Ensure they are eating well and have a good supply of essential and store-cupboard food to keep them going – and offer to help them with shopping if they struggle with mobility.

Encourage them to get heating and cooking appliances safety checked – and recommend a trustworthy gas and heating engineer or electrician if you know one.

TIM MACHIN writes our monthly column, RURAL MATTERS...

The world is constantly changing. Things we take for granted are under threat.

We make our decisions about where to live and work and play on our past and present experiences, but what happens when all the assumptions that led us to those decisions are challenged?

Those of us who live in rural communities do so because we enjoy the place that we live in, the services that are available to us, the people - our neighbours and friends, the environment, outlook, tranquility and so on.

We may have to pass up on some of the comforts of a larger town. It may be a trek to a supermarket or senior school, the wi-fi may not be as fast as other areas and you might struggle to get a mobile phone signal, but the advantages must outweigh the disadvantages, or you would ‘up-sticks’ and move.

After a couple of centuries of rural populations moving towards our major cities for work, there is now a reversing trend, with larger numbers choosing to relocate from cities into the countryside.

Between 2011 and 2016, the overall population in rural areas in England grew by 300,000. City dwellers are evidently prepared to put up with some of the disadvantages to reap the rewards of living in the countryside.

But change is inevitable and one of the latest threats to our rural way of life is access to banking. The era of a bank on every market town High Street is waning. All our major banks have a programme of closures as the world moves increasingly to online operation.

Despite informal agreements between banks to ensure towns are not left without banking facilities, it’s getting harder for businesses and individuals who rely on physical banking presence - for example, to pay in large sums of coins or cheques.

And ATMs, the ‘money box in the wall’ that most of us use to get our day-to-day spending money, are now an endangered species as well. A change to transaction charges (although free for us to use usually, there is an internal charge between banks) means that banks don’t think that all those ATMs will be economic and expect to close down a large number.

Although there is a suggestion that no one should have to travel more than a kilometre to find an ATM, it is likely availability and choice will be restricted, particularly in small communities.

The small market town where I live has five ATMs. In future, there may be only one or two, and these could very likely be commercially provided - that is, not by the banks - and could thus charge a fee for use.

And then there are the buses. Nearly one-fifth of all households in the county have no car; that’s about 150,000 people dependent on public transport.

The county council pumps millions of pounds a year into subsidising bus routes, but with ongoing cuts in public spending this may not last. Not all routes are subsidised and last week Stagecoach announced a review of its 505 service between Kings Lynn and Spalding. This route benefits many small communities in both Lincolnshire and Norfolk along its meandering route and the viability of those places could be seriously affected if it is cut.

Speaking up for the countryside is not just about the fields and woodlands, it is also about us, the people who live there and who are an indivisible part of it. The countryside needs people to populate it, own it, manage it, farm it, enjoy it.

We need to stand up against changes that will make living and working here less sustainable.

WARD’S WORLD: By John Ward

Driving into town recently I noticed five people, possibly six as it could have been a choccy bar being devoured in one instance, driving while on the mobile phone device with two being HGV drivers but either way any of these halfwits could change somebody’s life, possibly permanently, by not having both hands on the controls although I did notice one who was not on a phone but then I realised it was me as I was looking in my rear view mirror.

Then the car behind me with the lady (debatable) driving with phone clamped on her head with, I would offer a guess, three small children as I could just about see their heads bobbling about in the front passenger seat which I would assume the makers – wrongly – thought only one person would sit in with a seat belt on.

Then she overtook me without using them things that go on and off, on and off called indicators as she ‘cut me up’ as it’s popularly known as but I could not help but notice a few more heads in the back seat area, also bobbling about but one thing that did catch my eye in the back window was the yellow sign with ‘Children on Board’ and begs the question it’s a shame the driver was not showing any consideration to the said children and if not all hers, did their parents etc. know of her ‘driving’ antics?

I may well get me a sign to hang in my back window with ‘Observant Old Fogey’ stamped on it and if I get enough interest, I may print a few off for those like-minded or at least for those who have got the strength to hang it up.

Once parked I wandered around the metropolis that is the town centre and noted that the Easter egg/choccy season has swiftly moved in to fill the vacant slot left by the recent Christmas bonanza in some shops and stores with an interesting thing being for the cost of a chocolate egg about the same size as a real one, you can buy half a dozen or near enough, of the egg thing as evolved by a chicken but minus the shiny foil wrapper.

Popped into a DIY outlet to see assorted signs up stating ‘When it’s gone, it’s gone’ but on inquiring it seems it’s not any of the staff but there are other inanimate bits that are going through this process finally going as ‘when it’s gone, it’s gone’, like.

Next was a look at the magical list of ‘things to get’ as I drifted off to the shop where I last brought one item but after looking around in the place or the shelf where I last brought one from, its now full of light bulbs – no sign of any heavy bulbs though.

I then asked a passing assistant for help as here we went through something akin to applying for permission to store radioactive isotopes in the garden shed as my – I thought – question as to where would I find these items or rather one of, was greeted with “I will ask for you as I don’t work here all the time..” at which I asked if she could point out the staff who do work there all the time while being there and the look I got was pleasant but not forthcoming with any verbal response.

She told me to wait where I stood as she would ‘go and find out’.

After a little while she returned on her own as she obviously did not find this person called ‘out’ as possibly ‘out’ works part time as in yet another person/assistant that ‘don’t work there all the time’ just to add to the confusion.

But there was both good news and bad.

The bad news is they no longer stock them but there is good news of sorts – oddly they get a lot of people asking if they still sell them but as my new-found friend Moonstruck pointed out: ‘If we restocked them, we might sell out of them and be back where we are now..’ and to be fair there is a sort of logic going spare there but for the life of me, I can’t bring it to mind but she shows promise – or threat – of being of that calibre that is executive management material or as it used to be known as, ornamental with less emphasis on the orna but the mental bit a dead cert.

I would point out at this moment that if anybody whom may have seen me at the time, seemingly talking to myself outside a certain well known store; I wish to set the record straight at this point.

I was merely talking and asking a question as I stared skywards as in: “Why me Lord all the time? – I ate all my greens up as a mere childlet – so why me all the while?”

Next port of call was another store that did have what I required but to be honest, it’s not so much the actual shopping process that I find a chore but they now operate a cattle grid queuing system where you queue up and eventually you hear a message ‘Till number three’ or wotever then off you trot to it.

I dread hearing its ‘Till number nine’ as its my turn as you wear even more shoe leather out as it’s not so much the shopping that gets me down but the travel involved in trying to get out.

Once this endurance test is over, it’s out into the fresh air although a passing electric cigarette person came along with his own personal smoke screen or mobile fog as I thought if your car was belting out similar clouds of smoke, you would take it to a garage to be looked at but then again, wadda I know?

As I stand looking at assorted traffic coming from either way while trying to cross the road, and before you can whistle the first few bars of any ‘ABBA’ song, yet another three vehicles/drivers pass with a phone clamped on the sides of their heads – is there no escape from them or have they opened up more branches in the area?

By now I am basically losing the will to live as somebody stops their car as they are ‘lost’ and I being the kind soul that I am, offer help if I can.

The lady was looking for a ‘Evangelistical Reunion’ (nope, me neither) that she thought was in the area as she had seen the signs – E R – in big white letters on red background and wondered where it was being held.

I pointed out that these signs were bunged up a few years ago based on the idea in the event of severe flooding, as experienced by some in the area, thus E R stood for Evacuation Route and to follow it based on the notion nobody drives towards a flood.

Then I was asked ‘was I drunk?!’ to which I said this should have been asked at the time of those responsible when they were bunged up with no defining publicity to explain them to the public – or visitors – at large that it might affect them such as her asking now as she was a stranger in the area with her band of two disciples in the car but what did I know because as far as I aware I have never seen any official media warning, although if anybody can point to any I would be thrilled, so good luck to those passing through who might look and wonder at our delightful signage but not while on their mobile device please.

Previously...

Boris, bridges and me

SCOTT WOODS with his weekly financial advice column, MONEY MATTERS...

Did you know that you can inherit your partner’s ISA savings? New rules came into being that mean ISA assets can now be passed on to spouses or civil partners, and although it may not be nice to think about, it could make a huge amount of difference should the time come.

Under the previous system, when someone died, any savings held in an ISA automatically lost their tax-free status. This meant that the surviving partner would have to start paying tax on any returns or income earned from it, which could add up to a significant sum if the ISA holder had been saving for many years.

The system was widely thought to be unfair, particularly given the fact that couples tend to save from joint incomes, they’d have to pay tax on money they thought was protected, and thousands of people were caught by these unexpected tax charges every year.

The rules now mean that if an ISA holder dies, the surviving spouse or civil partner will be able to inherit the ISA and retain its tax benefits. This is in the form of an additional allowance, the surviving partner is given an ‘additional permitted subscription’ (APS), a one-off ISA allowance that’s equal to the value of the ISA at the date of the holder’s death, which won’t be counted against the normal ISA subscription limit but will instead be added on to the survivor’s own ISA limit.

In other words, you’ll be entitled to an additional allowance that would cover the value of your partner’s savings as well as your own. For example, if your partner had £50,000 in ISA savings, your ISA allowance for this tax year would be £70,000, made up of the value of your partner’s savings and your own ISA allowance for the 2017/18 tax year, which is £20,000.

The value of investments and the income they produce can fall as well as rise. You may get back less than you invested.

Your views on education, politics... and love!

The Navy will teach him all they need him to know

Regarding the articles about the student who Spalding Grammar School will not let attend a Sea Cadets course during term time , I regret I can see no reason why a boy of 14 needs ‘weapons training’.

It is ludicrous and I can 
assure him that should he 
actually join the Royal Navy in a few years they will teach him all they need him to know.

It will have no bearing on his application whatsoever.

Barbara Briggs

via email

Trump reading from same page as UKIP

I read with interest reports that President Trump’s proposed budget was recommending cutting funds for renewable energy by up to a third.

It is almost as if he has read UKIP’s policies on the topic!

I sit on the European Parliament’s energy committee, (ITRE), so have a particular interest on this matter.

I recently spoke in Parliament on how we must achieve a balanced energy policy.

The EU Commission wants further help from Member States in meeting energy and climate targets. But what damage is being done trying to meet these artificial targets?

The continued imposition by the Commission of never-ending objectives for emissions reductions is forcing the investment of vast amounts of money for activity that will have little or no effect on the climate.

Global CO2 emissions will probably keep rising unaffected by these measures.

These policies are leading to a massive exit of industry and investment from EU countries to jurisdictions with lower environmental standards and could, ultimately, increase emissions of CO2.

President Trump is reading from the same page it seems as he seeks to protect US interests.

Heavy industry including the cement, steel, aluminium and chemical sectors are moving factories and jobs out of the EU, leading to a ‘leakage’ of CO2 emissions without environmental benefits.

For our part, we need to stop this right now and have a balanced energy approach using methods which are competitive and work with industry, not against it.

Jonathan Bullock

MEP for the East Midlands

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Love is in the air, sang John Paul Young in 1977. I’m sure it has been again this week.

But love is often a misunderstood concept. Weak knees, butterflies in the tummy, the sound of violins, an increased heartrate are all associated with it. And so they should be, they do have a part to play. But it is more than that as I discovered long ago when I broke up with my then-girlfriend. Some time later I wrote a little poem:

“There’s more to love than the thump of a heart,

There’s more than just feeling – that’s only a part,

Of the picture I find, Conjured up in my mind,

There’s more to love than just that!”

Many years earlier a man called Paul wrote: “Love is patient and kind. It does not envy, does not boast, is not proud, does not dishonour others, is not self-seeking, is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.” (The Bible). If we can learn to live like this, acting in ways like these, then we will truly love one another.

And the girlfriend? She is now my wife of 43 years! And, yes, she did receive a Valentine’s card yesterday!

Keith Rowbottom

Supernumerary Minister, South Holland Methodist Circuit

We look back at the Spalding Guardian this week in 2000...

Cakes were putting a smile on the face of Pinchbeck East Primary School’s pupils - and putting money into their millennium fund at the same time. Each Thursday morning, a class took its turn to hold a cake sale with delicious home-baked cakes supplied by parents. The money raised wernt towards building a sports pavilion.

Marathon man Andy Pack was hoping he could beat his London Marathon personal best to raise money for Pinchbeck East Primary’s millennium project.

The 34-year-old, whose son Josh (6) went to the school, was hoping to break the three-hour barrier in his fifth marathon.

Mr Pack, of Medlock Crescent, Spalding, was doing around 60 miles a week in marathon training.

MUM’S GONE TO columnist Trish Burgess and husband Dougie take to the snow tracks in Lapland...

It’s only taken a couple of days and already I’m hooked on the Winter Olympics. I watched the Opening Ceremony on Friday, transfixed by the all-female drummers and equally beguiled by the bare-chested Tongan flag-bearer.

I can forgive the organisers a very dodgy version of John Lennon’s Imagine because of the sheer elegance of South Korean champion, Yuna Kim, who lit the Olympic flame whilst ice skating on a rink perched high at the top of the stadium.

Now the sporting events have begun, I’m finding my way through the intricacies of slopestyle, luge and moguls. I’m with them every step of the way, wincing as elbows clatter against ice walls and worrying about how their knees are coping with the heavy duty hammering they’re enduring.

One of my favourites is the gold medal winner of the men’s slopestyle, American youngster Red Gerard.

The 17-year-old turned in a superb final performance, executing incredible aerial gymnastics. I gather he’s become a firm favourite in Liverpool now.

Of all the events I’ve watched so far, I’m particularly drawn to the skiathlon. Having spent a week in Finland learning how to cross-country ski, I now know the rudiments of the sport, at least for classic skiing, which is performed in parallel tracks.

It’s the strength and speed of these athletes which blows my mind. I picked up the technique reasonably well but I really lacked stamina, needing to stop every few minutes to admire the scenery.

The winner of the women’s skiathlon, Charlotte Kalla, completed the 15km course in just under 41 minutes. On our best day, Dougie and I skied 13 km in about four hours, stopping for coffee and doughnuts halfway along. We were exhausted at the finish, requiring a lie down to ease wobbly legs.

It was great to hear on Sunday that Brit, Andrew Musgrave, came seventh in the men’s 30km skiathlon, having been in second place for much of the race. This is a huge achievement for a British competitor, when the highest result in a cross-country skiing event in previous games had been 29th.

Andrew grew up in Scotland and, although he is now part of a local skiing club in Oslo, learned his sport in Aberdeenshire. I’m keen to see him ski again on Friday: the 15k freestyle is his preferred event, so there’s a real chance of a medal.

I watched a video of Andrew training for this gruelling event. Apparently he gets so hot when practising, he often skis in just his pants. No wonder I was always stripping off layers when we were slogging across the Lapland wilderness. I thought I was just having hot flushes.

Thankfully, at the speed I was going, my undressing only went as far as taking my jacket off and unzipping my fleece. I’m sure the local residents of Ylläs were very relieved.

You can read Trish’s blog at www.mumsgoneto.co.uk

Coun Malcolm Chandler writes this week’s CABINET CALL.

As we leave the winter behind and move into spring, there is a much to look forward to at SHDC. I’d like to reflect on that in this week’s Cabinet Call.

A major project which most readers I’m sure will be aware of, is the relocation of the JobCentre Plus operations into our Priory Road council offices in Spalding.

While the physical move has been well publicised together with the benefits to our residents of providing more public services under one roof, there is another very important part to this project.

The work is being carried out by the Peterborough- based contractor Lindum, which employs a large percentage of local tradesmen and women.

This chimes with our intent as an authority to support and develop business locally and avoid red tape where we can.

This leads me on to the support SHDC can give business. If you are a local company and are considering growing, then I encourage you to look into applying to the Grants 4Growth scheme.

Grants4Growth offers Lincolnshire businesses the opportunity to apply for their share of £1.3M in European Regional Development funding.

Money can be used towards the purchase and implementation of processes that help create and safeguard jobs, improve efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

For more information check out: www.facebook.com/Grants4GrowthLincs

http://grants4growth.sholland.gov.uk

Or email the team direct at: grants4growth@sholland.gov.uk

Finally, I’d like to finish on a subject which is crucial to all of us. That is, transport.

Whether it is for business or pleasure we all rely heavily on good roads and good public transport.

We have been fortunate with good bus services in the district, but recent news that a major service provider is reviewing its operations which may effect one of the lifeline services across the district is a serious concern.

As a council, we realise how important a good bus service is, with rising fuel costs, workers travelling across the district and for the elderly, often whose only way of getting around the district is by bus.

Whilst we look forward to these concerns being resolved We will keep watching developments with interest and do everything we can to keep the district moving.

We look back at the Lincs Free Press of 100 years ago this week...

The annual South Holland Licensing Sessions were held at Spalding and a drop in street drunkeness was reported.

Supt Burton presented his annual report to the Bench.

“I have the honour to report for your information that there are in this division 147 alehouses and 75 beerhouses, six beerhouses for the sale off the premises and 12 houses for the sale of wine and spirirts in bottles, making a total of 270 licensed houses.

The licences of 15 alrehouses and beerhouses have been transferred during 1917. One licensed holder was proceded against and convicted for the following offence - ‘Permitting drunkeness’.

During the year, there have been 23 proceedings and 22 convictions for drunkeness: 16 males and four females have been convicted once each; one male has been convicted twice. eleven of the persons convicted were residents in the Division and 10 were non-residents.

The convictions were as follows: Drunk simple: six males and one female; drunk and disorderly: six males and two females; drunk on licensed premises: three males and one female; drunk in charge of horses: three males.

The number of convictions for drunkeness and offences against licensed persons for the past six years: drunkeness in 1912 - 336; 1913 - 422; 1914 - 304; 1915 - 196; 1916 - 94; 1917 - 22.

Licensed persons convicted in 1912 - 3; 1913 - 2; 1914 - 11; 1915 - 3; 1916 - 4 and 1917 - 1.

The chairman said the Bench should congratulate the Superintendent on the report.

Supt Burton said there certainly was an improvement on previous years.

The chairman added there might be some explanation in the police being fully occupied - Supt Burton said a number of former ‘clients’ were away in the Army.

PHIL INGLEBY writes our weekly agriculture column, WORD ON THE GROUND

We all know that farming can be a dangerous occupation, however, I was staggered by some of the numbers involved whilst in a discussion with one of my good friends who works for one of the electricity networks.

He explained that data from the Health & Safety Executive revealed that in the last five years there were five deaths as a result of contact with an overhead power line.

In addition, there were also 1,140 near-miss incidents involving machinery and equipment contacting overhead electric power lines where serious injury or death was a possibility.

Worryingly, there were 39 incidents of contact with power lines in just four weeks of the 2017 harvest period, clearly creating the potential for more than one fatality per day.

The risk to farm workers of course is not only during harvest but all year round.

Annually, approximately 225 incidents occur where farm vehicles and machinery make contact with overhead lines.

As a result, the UK’s electricity network operators have joined forces to ensure those working in the agricultural industry understand the dangers of working near power lines, in a bid to reduce the number of incidents that take place each year.

Their call for safer working on farms comes in the form of a new campaign – Look Out Look Up! which encourages people to plan ahead to avoid contact with overhead power lines and to know what to do if contact is made. Search for the campaign online for lots of further information and video.

Your views on Brexit, illegal shop sales and Surfleet’s sports pitches

Democracy demands a vote on exit terms

I’m indebted to Craig Jackson (Free Press, February 13), our local Vote Leave constituency coordinator, for revealing that the Leave campaign’s economic arguments for Brexit are based on the work of Professor Patrick Minford and his tiny group of ‘Economists for Free Trade (EFT)’.

Clearly, if I can convince readers that EFT’s economic assumptions, modelling and conclusions are fundamentally flawed, then the whole economic argument for Brexit collapses.

Before I get started on debunking Leave’s economic argument for Brexit, I need to remind readers that, prior to the EU Referendum, the Leave campaign deliberately set out to demonise experts, claiming they’re always wrong, can never be trusted, and serve as some sort of “fifth column” for the rich, capitalist class.

But, isn’t it interesting that, when the Leave campaign discovers just one economist, like Minford, who actually supports their belief in Brexit, they feel entitled to put him on a pedestal and claim, as Craig Jackson does, that “Our economy will be boosted by £650billion” .

Let’s start by examining Craig Jackson’s claim that “Minford has been correct in his forecasts of the major economic changes in Britain over the past 35 years.” Readers may have forgotten or be too young to know that it was Minford, then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s economic adviser, who convinced her introducing the Poll Tax would be a fabulously successful economic policy – a view I gather he still passionately supports . . . and we all know what a stellar success that turned out to be. Also, Minford was in the vanguard of arguing against the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in 1999, claiming it would cause huge job losses, which never materialised.

Now let’s take a look at Minford’s latest report, “From Project Fear to Project Prosperity”, which Craig relies upon and advises us to read. This document is riddled with flawed methodology and data, so much so it’s been described by the wider community of economists as “crazy” and worse. Let me focus on just four key flaws:

1 – Minford rejects what other economists call “the gravity model”. This model is based on the reality that, since the dawn of humankind, most trade has been done between neighbouring tribes and territories. Obviously, this doesn’t preclude us trading with faraway places, like China, but Minford offers no explanation for why Germany currently does over five times as much trade with China than the UK. Hopefully, Craig will be able to explain to us how ‘freeing ourselves from the shackles of EU regulation’ will miraculously increase our trade with China by fivefold, just to catch up with Germany

2 – Minford bases his entire economic analysis on the assumption that, post-Brexit, the UK will immediately adopt “Unilateral Free Trade (UFT)”. Readers may be unaware of what UFT means; so let me explain. It means the UK will unilaterally eliminate all our current tariff and non-tariff barriers to imports of goods and services from every other country in the world, regardless of what tariff and non-tariff barriers these countries choose to impose on our exports. Minford has, in the past, admitted this policy will crucify many sectors of our economy, notably manufacturing and farming, and create huge wage inequality in the UK. However, he now claims this pain will somehow force us to retrain ourselves to work in different sectors and instantaneously transform ourselves into a far more innovative, entrepreneurial country. It also means there will be no barriers to us importing cheap US GMO crops, chlorine-washed chicken and antibiotic-and-growth-hormone-rich meat, accepting US healthcare providers outsourcing our NHS services, giving our young children unsafe Chinese toys with lead paint, etc.

3 – Minford also assumes: all goods and services are totally ‘homogenous’; all markets are perfect; and there are absolutely no geographically-related factors influencing international trade. This is like assuming the sun rotates around the earth, when science tells us it’s the other way round.

4 – Minford uses his own, simplistic, outdated 1970s ‘Liverpool Model’ and data 14 years out of date to make his flawed predictions. Personally, I wouldn’t believe any of Minford’s forecasts without scrutinising them in detail. However, you won’t hear this advice coming from Craig Jackson, Jacob Rees-Mogg or other leading Brexiteers.

I could go on – but won’t. Personally, I trust voters locally to reject Minford’s economic forecasts and start demanding a vote on the terms of Brexit actually negotiated by our government by October this year. If Craig Jackson, John Hayes MP and others say you can’t have a vote on the actual exit terms, I suggest you ask them why not. Democracy demands it.

Meanwhile, what Jackson, Hayes, and other Brexiteers totally ignore are the very real social and economic benefits of remaining in a progressive, continually improving EU.

Clearly, my task now is to explain to readers what a new and brighter future within the EU will look like, and how we get there.

Alan Meekings

Holbeach

Shop should be closed down for good

Regarding your story concerning illegal cigarettes being sold by the manager at Nasza 
Biendronka in Spalding’s Sheep Market.

Is it not time this shop was shut down?

The law has consistently been broken at this shop over the years.

There have been too many warnings and it is high time the shop was closed down for good - the people of this town demand it.

The powers-that-be should act now to clean up ourr town and get rid of law breakers for good.

Bert Collins

Spalding

Glen Park pitch does not belong to hockey club

To avoid any confusion that might have been caused by the article ‘Time for change at hockey club’s pitch’ in last week’s Free Press, I should make it clear that the Glen Park pitch belongs to Surfleet Play and Recreation Charity (SPARC), not Spalding Hockey Club.

The Hockey Club has no special status other than as an occasional user, hiring it on the same terms as the many football teams who also play there.

Nick Davis

SPARC chairman

Bingo lover and TV football fan Lois Burton celebrated her 100th birthday on Saturday with a party for 40 relatives and friends.

Lois is following in the footsteps of an elder sister, Ivy Carter, by becoming a centenarian.

Sadly, Ivy passed away a couple of years ago but not until she was nudging close to her 104th birthday.

Two of Lois’s brothers lived into their nineties.

Lois was born in Gosberton, the sixth of Samuel and Clara Gosling’s eight children, and attended the village school until she was 14, spending her early working life in agriculture on her father’s smallholding.

She married Les Short and had a son Malcolm but divorced during the war and moved to Boston, working in a canning factory.

Lois later married Frank Burton, and the couple settled in Gosberton, and had three children, Bridget, Robert and Gary – sadly Frank passed away in 1982 and Gary passed away in 1987.

Following her second marriage, Lois continued working on the land.

Until four years ago, Lois was looking after herself and living in a house in Salem Street but lost her independence after a fall, when she broke her hip.

Son Malcolm says: “She cooked every day, it was very important to have her veg.”

Lois became a Liverpool supporter because her son Gary followed the team and she had Sky TV installed so she could watch live matches.

Asked to sum up his mum, Malcolm said: “She’s always been a very hard worker and very much a house proud type person but also could be a little fiery.”

It’s an amazing 86 years since Lois left school.

She said: “We did sums, I liked all of the things, reading and things like that.”

Lois lived through one of the harshest winters on record, that of 1947, with snow drifts blocking roads and railways.

She held her hand 3ft from the floor and said: “The snow was up to here. You couldn’t move far. I can remember about things like that.”

Lois spoke to us the day before her party at Gosberton House Care Home.

She said with a smile: “How old am I ... 100? Oh dear!”

As well as her children, Lois has six grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.

From our website ...

Bronze ‘handshake’ statue to celebrate Spalding’s 19th century hiring fairs

Hero of Gleed blaze recalls Spalding school fire drama

Dowsdale villager: ‘My road looks like the Somme’

We’re still trying to raise £4,000 to help Jerry Green’s appeal to build new kennels for its pooches.

The charity is in need of funds to refurbish its kennels at its rescue centre at Algarkirk.

While the refurbishment project will cost £200,000 overall, we hope to be able to build the first new kennel for the block with the help of our readers.

The centre has seen 4,174 dogs go to new homes over its 20 years.

Nellie, a three-year-old Bichon Frise, came into the centre through the pound.

This usually means they are found as a stray but Nellie was actually signed over to the pound from a home.

She came to the centre in quite a state; she was very matted and had quite stained eyes.

But it didn’t take Nellie long to find a home after receiving the treatment she needed.

She was adopted by her new mum Rachel Houghton and partner Tom Luto from Swineshead.

Rachel said: “Nellie is the absolute perfect pooch!

“She has settled in like the furniture, in fact that’s where she spends a lot of her time, snuggled on the sofa.

“She also enjoys crawling under the quilt in bed despite having her own snuggly bed on the floor. She is a good foot warmer!

“She is so much happier and much healthier than when she came into Jerry Green.

“Nellie has completed our family, she definitely chose us!”

How you can help donate to the appeal:

○ ONLINE: Via JustGiving at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/do-it-for-the-dogs

○ By TEXT: Simply text DOGX88£5 to 70070 to donate £5. (Or DOGX88£2 for £2; DOGX88£10 to give £10 etc).

○ By CASH or CHEQUE: At the Spalding Guardian, Priory House, The Crescent, Spalding, Lincolnshire, PE11 1AB. Please make cheques payable to ‘Jerry Green Dog Rescue.’

PREVIOUSLY:

FREE PRESS AND GUARDIAN/JERRY GREEN APPEAL: Come on, let’s do it for the dogs!

Fundraising appeal is nearly half-way there!

Police are appealing for witnesses after a cyclist was killed in a collision with a car in Spalding on Saturday evening.

The collision with the Volkswagen Golf happened in Kellet Gate at 7.40pm.

The cyclist, a man in his forties, was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham but sadly died of his injuries.

Police arrested the teenage car driver for dangerous driving.

Anyone who saw what happened should call 101.

Overnight roadworks on the A17 through Fleet Hargate and Long Sutton start today (Monday).

Drivers are asked to remain conscientious of the traffic management and restrictions in place for the safety of both the workforce and road users.

The works will be carried out in two separate phases. Work will begin today and is expected to be completed by Saturday, March 24, subject to reasonable weather.

The first phase of works will take place between Hurn Road and Lowgate in Fleet Hargate from today to Friday, March 9. The second phase will take place north of Lutton Garnsgate junction to south of Delph Road from Monday, March 12 to Saturday, March 24.

For both sets of work, temporary traffic lights will be in use from 7pm to 6am, Monday to Friday, except for the final five evenings of work in Fleet Hargate, which will be carried under a road closure.

The road will be opened to traffic outside of working hours and access to properties will be maintained throughout the works; however, access may be limited depending on where work is taking place.

The signed diversion route for the Fleet Hargate closure will be via A17/A151/A16/A47/A1101/A17 and vice versa.

A temporary 10mph speed limit will also be enforced during work hours for both phases of work, along with a temporary 40mph speed limit during the day.

Finally, as part of the Long Sutton works, Delph Road and Lutton Garnsgate will be closed during work hours.

The signed diversion route for this closure will be either via Garnsgate Road/B1359 or Burlier Gate/St James Road/B1390, depending on where work is taking place each evening.

Coun Richard Davies, Lincolnshire County Council executive member for highways, said: “The improvements we’ll be carrying out on Washway Road from February to March are essential to keeping the A17 through Fleet Hargate and Long Sutton up-and-running. Taking care of essential maintenance now, as part of one package, will mean less disruption for residents and commuters in the future.

“We’ve planned these works to take place overnight to keep disruption to a minimum, and ask for your continued patience through the project. We also ask drivers to remain conscientious of the traffic management and restrictions in place for the safety of both the workforce and other road users.”

Figures just published show that 5,414 new companies were formed in Lincolnshire during 2017 – demonstrating that the county provides a supportive environment for new business ventures.

This brings the total number of registered companies in Lincolnshire to 41,976, up from 40,701 at the end of 2016, which equates to 3.1 per cent growth.

The statistics come from the Inform Direct Review of UK Company Formations, using data from Companies House and the Office for National Statistics.

North East Lincolnshire formed the most new businesses (848), followed by South Kesteven (832) and North Lincolnshire (807).

John Korchak, director of operations at Inform Direct said: “These figures for new company formations during 2017 show that Lincolnshire continues to be a fertile ground for entrepreneurs and new business ventures.

“Although a successful year, there was a fall in the number of new businesses established in 2017, compared to the previous year – 5,414 versus 5,698 in 2016 – which mirrors the national trend. This slowdown could be attributed, at least in part, to ongoing political uncertainty and concern in the business community over the impact of Brexit.”

Across the UK as a whole, there was a reduction in the number of new company formations – 634,116 compared with 664,720 at the end of 2016.

However, the number of registered companies in the UK continued to grow, passing the 4,000,00w0 milestone during 2017 and finishing the year with a total of 4,120,349.

To see a more detailed picture of company formations in Lincolnshire – including a full local breakdown, visit: www.informdirect.co.uk/company-formations-2017/lincolnshire/

Of the 569,585 formations in England, 205,527 were in London. 34,002 companies were formed in Scotland, 17,408 in Wales and 7,398 in Northern Ireland.