A charity rugby match played in memory of local rugby player, Nick Morgan who lost his battle with cancer, has raised over £4,000 for Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. The event, organised by Nick’s wife, Leanne and son Lewis, who came up with the idea, raised a total of £9,274. This was split evenly between United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity and Macmillan Cancer Support. In January 2022, Nick, from Holton Holgate, near Spilsby was diagnosed with stage four oesophageal cancer and sadly died in October 2024, aged just 44. Leanne and Lewis held the memorial match to say thank you for the wonderful care Nick received on the Bostonian Ward at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston. Leanne said: “Nick was told he had just 6-9 months to live but thanks to the dedicated care and treatment from all the staff on the ward and the Macmillan nurses he lived for three years. We will be forever grateful to everyone who looked after him. “He spent a lot of time on that ward, having stents fitted and replaced to help him swallow. But one thing that annoyed him was that he did not have his own remote control for the light by his bed so had to share with other patients which meant he was often calling nurses to help him turn the light off! He decided to raise enough money to provide every bed in the ward with a remote light control.” Nick was always into rugby both as a player and coach and trained the Market Rasen junior team where his son played. Nick played for Skegness Rugby Club and in January 2022 both father and son played together for the club. It was a very special game for not only was it the only time they played together, but also the last game Nick ever played. When Nick died, Leanne and Lewis were determined to honour his wish and called on all the players Nick had coached to join friends and create their own team, The Vikings, to challenge his beloved club at Skegness to a charity match. The Vikings won! An indication perhaps of his skill and dedication in being an excellent coach. Charity Fundraiser from United Lincolnshire Hospital Charity, Connor Hill, said: “We are grateful to everyone who participated in the event and raised such a fantastic amount. This gift means we can purchase extra remote controls for the lights for all the beds in the Bostonian ward as well as additional equipment including a blood warmer and drip stands to aid clinicians treating patients. “United Lincolnshire Hospital Charity strives to make a real difference everyday by providing the county’s hospitals with around £1 million worth of additional equipment, services and amenities for patients, their families and the hospital staff. But it can only do this with the support of people like Leanne and Lewis.” More information on how you can support work of the charity can be found on their website: ulhcharity.org.uk

Spilsby Sessions House is set to reopen following major restoration plans approved by East Lindsey District Council. The historic theatre will receive £4.9 million from an £8 million government-funded regeneration programme focused on Lincolnshire Wolds heritage sites.

Once used as a jail, the Sessions House will see its old police cells opened to the public as part of its transformation into a cultural and arts venue. Plans include major repairs, adaptations for community use, and a new café to welcome residents and visitors. The aim is to create a vibrant hub that increases footfall in Spilsby year-round, supporting local businesses while preserving the building’s historic character.

Work will now begin to restore and adapt the site, ensuring it remains an accessible and inspiring space for generations to come.

  Image credit: East Lindsey District Council

North Lincolnshire Council has secured £3.5 million to improve energy efficiency across three major public buildings. The funding will go towards new low-carbon heating systems, lighting upgrades, and building fabric improvements at The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe Central Library, and Waters’ Edge Visitor Centre in Barton-upon-Humber.

Heating these council buildings produced over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 last year, accounting for nearly 40% of the council’s direct emissions. Most of the heat came from natural gas, biomass, and oil systems. The upgrades will replace some of the oldest and highest-emitting systems with ground or air source heat pumps to cut carbon emissions and reduce running costs.

The funding comes from the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme under the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Works are expected between late 2025 and early 2028.

This follows earlier environmental efforts by the council, including installing solar panels on several public buildings. The Baths Hall already has 360 solar panels, saving an estimated £15,000 a year on energy bills while reducing emissions by 24 tonnes annually.

The council aims to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/J.M. Image Factory

Construction work is underway on a new £26.5m Endoscopy Unit to meet the growing needs of people in Lincolnshire.

The new unit at Lincoln County Hospital will offer a modern, accessible facility for patients. It will provide state-of-the-art procedure rooms, as well as post-procedure rooms that include en-suite facilities which will improve patient experience. The building will also offer a bright and spacious waiting room, as well as larger working areas for staff.   

Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group chief executive, professor Karen Dunderdale, said: “Our endoscopy diagnostic services can help to detect cancer, so it is vital that we invest in these services to continue to be able to support our patients with fast and comfortable diagnostic services.

“Our new unit will mean that we can increase diagnostic capacity, offer even higher levels of patient privacy and provide a great working environment for our staff.

“The new 1,972 square metre unit will increase the number of procedure rooms we have at Lincoln from three to four, with the potential to add a further two rooms in the future. This will ensure we can meet increasing demand and allow our patients to be seen sooner.”

The new unit is being built on the site of a former staff car park on St Anne’s Road. Additional car parking capacity has already been created to replace the lost spaces.   Picture shows an artist’s impression of the new Endoscopy Unit. Image credit: United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust.

A vape fire in Gainsborough has left three homes uninhabitable and caused damage to a fourth. The fire, tackled by crews from Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and Humberside, was found to have started when a vape overheated and exploded. Preliminary investigations suggest the cause was thermal runaway, a failure often linked to damaged batteries, overcharging, or unregulated products.

No one was injured, but authorities are urging people to use and charge electronics safely. Tips include using only manufacturer-approved chargers, unplugging devices once charged, avoiding overnight charging, and keeping devices off beds or sofas where airflow is restricted. Damaged or swelling batteries should be disposed of immediately.

Trading standards officers also warned against buying cheap, counterfeit vapes or chargers that may lack essential safety features. Buying from reputable retailers helps ensure products meet UK safety regulations.

Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council