Pinchbeck WI, Spalding Stamp Club, South Holland Veterans and Fleet Community Responders feature in district news round-up

Here's our latest round-up of district news from across South Holland.

Pinchbeck Women’s Institute

Mark cordially welcomed the WI to the very festive Burtey Fen Collection for our December meeting.

President Margaret Moyses announced the sad news that long standing member Judy Wilson had sadly passed away recently. Members observed one minute silence in her memory.

Nicholas began the proceedings with festive tunes from the 50s and 60s, all familiar favourites played on the Wurlitzer organ.

At the beginning of the brief business meeting, members stood to sing Jerusalem with Nicholas’ beautiful accompaniment on the Wurlitzer. Margaret presented a new member’s pack to Pam Campbell. Marilyn read out the correspondence, after which the bumper raffle draw took place.

Afterwards, during the interval, Mark provided the refreshments, enjoyed by all.

For the second part of the concert, Nicholas played more modern Yuletide melodies on the Compton organ.

The afternoon concluded with everyone joining in with the singing of Christmas Carols. Dorothy Wood gave a vote of thanks.

The next meeting is on Monday January 9, at Pinchbeck Village Hall beginning at 7.30pm. Neville Wright will be speaking about Lincolnshire Emergency Blood Bike Services. The competition is for ‘something red’.

South Holland Veterans

Last month as an extra outing for the Veterans we all went to the “We’ll Meet Again Static Museum” in Freiston.

Paul and Linda Britchford, who have, over the years, amassed thousands of items relating to the war years. Paul had a real love of the war years and started collecting artefacts from the tender age of eight. In later life Paul worked with blind children which gave him the idea of tactile hands-on learning with children.

For over seven years, the couple had been taking their exhibition into schools, utilising an army truck with two ton of wartime memorabilia inside. Paul and Linda’s education days would often start at 3am and finish at 10pm, this was mostly due to loading and setting up time of the displays.

The couple decided that the only way forward was to build a dedicated educational museum, which opened in 2017.

The museum is split into two sections with one building dedicated to life on the front line while the other explores what it was like for those left behind on the Home-Front.

We would like to thank Paul and Linda for their hospitality, we all had a wonderful day, finishing it off with lunch provided for by the staff, who had catered for our every need.

Spalding Stamp Club

Chairman Dahlia Harrison welcomed members and visitors to the December afternoon meeting of Spalding & District Stamp Club. After quickly dealing with business matters she invited members to put up, and talk about their entries in the ‘Egg Cup’ competition. The competition is so called because the winner is presented with an egg cup.

Terry Harrison opened the afternoon by showing the 1970s definitive stamps from St Vincent depicting birds including some from booklets. Derek Pollard followed with replica postcards relating to Marconi, the radio room and radio operators on the Titanic.

Tony Boyer sent apologies that he was unable to attend but provided a display of material issued to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of WWII. Joyce Boyer showed the stamps, covers and a miniature sheet from the 2000 issue from Switzerland made from St Gallen embroidered lace.

Peter Hunt showed material related to Ephraim Shay and the engine he developed to enable the transport of logs to a saw mill especially in winter. Bruce Townshend showed stamps and other items depicting early Royal Mail ships.

Dahlia Harrison closed the competition with her Symbols of Religious Life especially relating to Mary.

Everyone was then asked to vote for the three entries they most liked. Whilst the votes were counted there was a period of social time.

The result of the competition was a win for Dahlia with Joyce second and Peter third. Dahlia was then presented with an egg cup .

The club is not meeting over the holiday period and the next evening meeting will be on Tuesday, January 24, when Derek Pollard will display part of his collection of WWII material. At the afternoon meeting on Wednesday February 1, members are invited to bring a nine page display on a subject beginning with the letter N, O or P.

Meetings are held in the Fraiser Room, next to the church, Gosberton Road, Surfleet. For more information contact Joyce Boyer on 01775 762661.

Fleet Community Responders

A total of 25 Fleet children enjoyed a Christmas tea party and met Santa at the village’s community centre on Tuesday.

Mums, dads and grandparents looked on as their little ones enjoyed the lovely tea donated by Unicorn Diner (pictured above) at the Fleet Community Responders-organised event.

Everyone received a gift from Santa and sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer.

*We loved to receive reports of clubs, groups and societies from across our area. Email details to andrew.brookes@iliffepublishing.co.uk