Lincolnshire readers’ write letters on our news for Stamford, Spalding, Grantham and Rutland
Readers have had plenty to say on what’s in the news.
Here we share some of the letters, emails and comments that have come in over the week, including this cartoon from John Elson.
Don’t forget, you can always get in touch by emailing news@lincsonline.co.uk
Farming is part of our rural identity
Inheritance tax on farmland is a spiritual as well as an economic issue. Farms that have passed down through generations form a significant part of rural identity. The surnames that repeat in church registrars and graveyards, and are well known in villages, help bind local identity to place through time. The days of settled village populations may have long gone, people now move in and out of villages according to shifting patterns of work and retirement, but at least family farms anchor some sense of local identity in the land. This commitment to place often generates in farming families a willingness to serve their local communities. In my time in rural parish ministry I have found many PCC members have come from old farming families, and several have served as Church Wardens. As time has gone by this has becomes less so, despite my telling them they should serve as their forebears served. Old farming families perhaps find their long established understanding of village life increasingly out of step with new ways, but at least they are still there as a marker of local identity.
The economics are not complicated, if a cost is added to handing down the family farm, less farms will be handed down. Farmers are economically diverse, I have known moorland farmers who work long hours to hardly make a living, and farmers on good agricultural land who can purchase a combine harvester worth tens of thousands as soon as sneeze. The value of land does not only relate to it's agricultural potential, the prestige of owning farmland, and the investment potential that comes from that, adds a premium, so many farmers are asset rich but income poor. In that regard they are rather like the local parish church.
If the government wants to prevent land ownership being a way of avoiding inheritance tax, then apply the tax only to those who own land but do not farm. If you have mud under your finger nails, and started work in a barn before the sun came up, you should be exempt. Inheritance tax on farmland will increase corporate ownership of land, and decrease local rural identity and participation. It is both economically and spiritually damaging to rural communities. If the farming families that have been present in our villages for generations were buildings we would List them and conserve them, but as it is successive governments have done more damage to farming than inclement weather.
Rev Stephen Gamble
Barrowden
What about our animals?
‘Remember, Remember, the fifth of November’ at last its over, until the next time that is, leaving livestock, wildlife and pets deeply traumatised or worse, our air filled with smoke particulates and polluted with chemicals (barium, strontium, copper, sodium)and our gardens and open spaces littered with debris and shrapnel. Not to mention the extra demands on the emergency services. When are we going to accept the fact that a few ooh ahh moments costs so much. Its about time we adopted the Australian approach and banned the sale of fireworks to the public, restricted their use to licenced professional, organised displays on a nominated day/weekend and limited the decibel level to something less ear splitting.
Who is this Guido Fawkes guy anyway?
David Smith
Bourne
Thanks to all who gave their help
During the First World War, soldiers bravely marched into battle, accompanied by animals such as horses, dogs, and even pigeons, which played crucial roles in the fight for freedom. Freedom is not free, it is earned through the sacrifices of countless soldiers and the loyal animals who stood by their side. They paid the ultimate price for the liberties we enjoy today.
Last week’s Remembrance Day Services we respected their legacy and remembered that our cherished freedoms came at a significant cost. We all wore a brooch to pay tribute to all humans and animals who fought for our future.Our wonderful group of ladies, ‘The Busy Bees’, should be very proud after the weekend, your work in all venues for our parades stood out, the wonderful knitted and crochet poppies, the wooden ones and the Tommys looked amazing.
Well done to you all - you did an excellent job and certainly outstanding in Ayscoughfee. It looked amazing as we marched through the town, poppies made from different materials and the poppy blankets cascading over walls with red knitted bunting adorned with poppies hanging over the railings. So much work, but so worthwhile. Making poppies, sewing, crochet, knitting, week after week, for the community to see all around the area, a massive job, but one we are all proud to have been part of. Thank you to Sharon and Jan for the wonderful Regimental Soldiers, they looked great in the gardens, I felt proud putting everything up, a sea of red everywhere.Armistice Day on Sunday was very moving, Spalding’s Community came together to pay their respects and as always there was a massive turnout for the service which was led by the Rev Darren McFarland.
Many organisations attended and marched into Ayscoughfee Gardens, armed service personnel, cadets, police, fire service and many more joined us for the two minute silence.We joined the rest of the country who were all paying their respects by way of laying wreaths and crosses for their loved ones who had died. The choir sang beautifully as they do each year. The gardens were amazing, thank you to Julia and the wonderful team in Ayscoughfee who worked so hard to make sure the whole area looked amazing. Families and friends joined representative detachments of serving men and women from all over Lincolnshire with all organisations from Spalding joining in. The Royal British Legion have held parades annually in Spalding, with the help of Steve Colby and his team of volunteers from the Rotary Club of South Holland, Andy from Popcorn Media did a good job, holding the service together with his PA system for everyone to hear.Thanks to South Holland District Council for their support and to the team at the South Holland Centre for providing the PA and Stage in the town centre. Massive thanks to the Rev Eileen Workman, the Rev Darren Mcfarland, the Rev Greg Bannister, Police Crime Commissioner Marc Jones and Sir John Hayes for attending our Services. Also to Springfields, the wonderful cadets, service men, women and all the wonderful organisations who took part in all our services and to everyone who has worked so hard to prepare for these events.
My sincere thanks go to you all.I would like to thank Matthew Clark and the wonderful team from the Spalding Round Table, they came forward straight away to be part of our celebrations and wanted to help us make the week end memorable.My sincere thanks must go to the team of people who helped me to put all the poppies up and down after the services and to move them around for each service. It highlighted the area with colour which made a real showpiece for us all.
Thank you to the councillors who kindly contributed to fund these Parades.We will continue to bring more poppies into the town next year and as I speak, I know the ladies have already begun to prepare for that. We are not a big group at the Busy Bees Club, but their dedication to the array of poppies, soldiers and bunting did not go unnoticed, you really did do yourselves proud as well as everyone in our community.
I personally thank you from the bottom of my heart for your devotion throughout the year. I may not have had a great deal of time at each of these craft sessions but my heart is with you and my sincere thanks to you all.
Jan Whitbourn
Vice-chairman Spalding Royal British legion
This is not a one man band effort
I would like to say a big thank you to everybody who contributed and gets involved with the remembrance activities in and around the area. I feel we should remember this is not a one man band effort. There are lots of people in the background who have offered a lot of help and contribute a lot of support to make these parades as wonderful as they are.Without all of these people involved, we would not have our parades therefore a great big thank you and a big thank you to everybody locally who comes and supports. With everyone’s effort, we will not forget. If I might suggest for next year’s parade that we put some more consideration into where the councillors are positioned in particular those who have not served in any way shape or form, for me personally I believe that we should be placed behind the veterans as a mark of respect to those who have served and who the day is supposed to remember and celebrate.I feel this should not only be for district councillors but also for our local MP. This is a day to celebrate and remember those who have served our country. They should be at the front of the parade as a mark of respect for their service, followed by those who have not.
Coun Ingrid Sheard
Spalding Monkshouse Ward councillor
Special time
Last weekend was a special time for South Holland as the community came together to honour those who served during Armistice events across the district. Members of the Royal Naval Association (RNA) Spalding Branch attended a series of commemorative events that were both moving and inspiring: Commonwealth Graves Service – Spalding Cemetery, November 9Armistice Church Service – Spalding Parish Church, November 10. Armistice Commemoration March – mustered in Spalding town centre and marched to Ayscoughfee, November 10 Flag Raising Ceremony – South Holland District Council offices, November 11Tree Armistice Service – Springfields, November 10. The turnout was tremendous. Seeing the streets lined with people paying their respects was humbling, especially as our RNA members led the parade and were clapped all the way back to the town centre. It was a profound reminder of the gratitude and respect the community holds for the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women.Thank you to everyone involved in organising these events and to the general public who showed such heartfelt support. Your presence, your applause, and your shared remembrance mean the world to us.While many military associations in South Holland have closed, the RNA Spalding Branch continues to stand strong. If you’re a veteran, currently serving, or someone who seeks the camaraderie of others who’ve walked the path of service, we warmly invite you to join our branch. To learn more, please contact me.
Rodney Grocock
PR and Recruitment Officer
Mate's Song
What is that tune now stuck in my brain ?My ears can still hear that nostalgic refrain.
The past with its shadows and memories of pain
is triggered by thoughts of that tune once again.
I whistle it now and think of the past,
then out of the blue I remember at last.
We marched down the road with victory in sight,
all singing and knowing we'd won the great fight.
Our uniforms sodden & clinging with blood,
our boots joined together in rhythm and mud.
That song always stirred up that feeling of pride,
it's 'Waltzing Matilda' we sang till we cried.
Rod Hatherill
Lodge Way, Grantham
Don’t forget, you can always get in touch by emailing news@lincsonline.co.uk
