Lincoln receives gift from antipodean namesake

She was in England to attend the reburial ceremony of Captain Matthew Flinders in his birthplace of Donington, Lincolnshire.

The reburial of Captain Matthew Flinders took place at the church of St. Mary and the Holy Rood in Donington after originally being buried in St. James’ Burial Ground in Camden, Australia. The ceremony was attended by many officials, including Mayor Mislov and Deputy Mayor Jack Ritchie from Port Lincoln, alongside Councillor Briggs and the Civic Party from Lincoln.

Captain Matthew Flinders, a renowned British navigator and cartographer, is celebrated for leading the first inshore circumnavigation of mainland Australia. In 1802, on his ship ‘The Investigator’, Flinders entered a harbour in South Australia and named it ‘Port Lincoln’ in honour of his Lincolnshire heritage. This historical connection led to the twinning of Lincoln and Port Lincoln in 1991.

On 14 July 2024 a special Evensong service at the Cathedral took place in honour of Captain Flinders. During their stay, Mayor Mislov and Deputy Mayor Ritchie explored Lincoln visiting several significant venues.

The highlight of the visit was at the historic Guildhall, where Mayor Mislov presented Mayor Briggs with a stunning painting by Jenna Richards. It tells the story of the Seven Sisters detailing the journey of the sisters, embracing femininity and women working together for each other, family and community. This artwork symbolises the strong and lasting relationship between Lincoln and Port Lincoln, forged through shared history.

Coin Briggs said: “It was an honour to meet such wonderful people on such an historic occasion. The beautiful gift was well received and a reminder of our twinning relationship with Port Lincoln.

“It will be displayed in City Hall for all to see. I look forward to continuing a long and happy relationship with the good people of Port Lincoln!”