More than 150 gather at Lincoln’s Bomber Command Centre to mark Ukraine’s Independence Day
More than 150 people gathered at the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC) in Lincoln on Friday 23 August to commemorate Ukraine’s 33rd Independence Day.
The ceremony began with an Independence Day speech in English and Ukrainian, followed by tributes from Royal Air Force personnel, who also laid a commemorative wreath as did the Lincoln Sea Cadets on behalf of the Ukrainian community.
Irene Astbury, chairperson at the Ukrainian Culture Centre Lincoln, said: “It was a pleasure to honour this special day at the IBCC, a place which represents not only remembrance, but liberty and freedom too. Concluding the ceremony with the Ukrainian national anthem sang acapella was an incredibly special and a poignant moment.”
As part of the previous year’s event, the national shrub of Ukraine, a guelder rose, was planted for remembrance with red berries symbolising blood and white flowers symbolising peace. The young Ukrainian children who planted the tree returned this year to lay sunflowers at the site.
Following the ceremony, the evening was drawn to a close with traditional Ukrainian songs by the Nottingham Ukrainian Ensemble.
Nicky van der Drift, chief executive of the IBCC, said: “Our centre provided a space for the local Ukranian community to celebrate Ukranian culture and gather together in a welcoming environment. We’re committed to making IBCC the heart of the local community and as part of that ensuring it’s a place for all – as the Bomber Command was served by all.
“We celebrate all nationalities at the IBCC and during such a significant time for the Ukrainian community this is more important than ever. More than 174,000 Ukrainians have moved to the UK under the Ukrainian Family Scheme and Ukrainian Sponsorship Scheme since May 2023 due to the war, and many of them have settled in Lincolnshire and the surrounding areas. We were privileged to host the community in our space.”
Gainsborough Heritage Association celebrates 30th anniversary
Gainsborough’s Heritage Association celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, having been formed off the back of an exhibition organised by Andrew Birkitt and Paul Kemp in 1993.
That drew crowds and queues of more than 2,000 people outside the Richmond House venue, eager to see the collections of photographs and memorabilia on display, showing the need for a museum in the town.
This first exhibition led to the creation of the Gainsborough Heritage Association in 1994, and the establishment of Gainsborough Heritage Centre, which is in the Old Post Office building on North Street.
There are fantastic collections and displays to investigate, including the celebration of the towns industrial heritage to a street scene and research library! The centre is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays 10am to 4pm, with last admission at 3pm. Admission is £3 for non-members of the Association and free for members and children under 16.The Telephone Exchange Tearoom is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10am to 3pm.
Sandringham Game & Country Fair returns September 7th & 8th
It’s Game and Country Fair time at Sandringham on Saturday & Sunday September 7th and 8th as this popular event returns to Sandringham Estate.
The show boasts a dynamic programme of entertainment in the main arena with the addition of one or two new faces and acts this year.
After a three-year absence Jousting returns to the Andy Singleton arena, with an exhilarating display by OG Performance Horse, and after a two-year absence Sandringham Game & Country Fair invites back the Stannage International Stunt Team – always an enjoyable watch.
Newcomers are complemented with all the old favourites: Horse Boarding, Scurry Racing, Falconry and various dog displays. There’s lots of choices to be made when planning your day out.
There are a host of smaller arenas dotted around the showground, the Fun Dog Show where you can enter the family pooch, or the Gundog Clinic and scurries to work out training difficulties. Improve your and your dog’s skills whilst watching Aubrey Ladyman, the newly crowned Kennel Club Spaniel Champion, and Bella, his Springer Spaniel, who will be demonstrating some of the aspects of working gundogs. He is joined by Paul Makepeace and Judy Hempstead from the gundog clinic.
Away from the arenas there’s a more relaxing atmosphere in the food courts with great street food and live music. Or you can enjoy browsing in the Craft & Food Halls; there’s something for everyone at the Sandringham Game & Country Fair.
Book your tickets now for the Sandringham Game & Country Fair on Saturday & Sunday September 7th & 8th, 10am – 6pm, at www.livingheritagecountryshows.com/tickets or ring 01283 820548. Please check the website for the full listing of events and entry details.
New hospital garden provides sanctuary for patients and staff
Patients and staff are able to escape the hustle and bustle of a hospital in a new garden funded through charitable donations.
The garden has been opened at Grantham and District Hospital and is the second of three to be created across United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust. The garden at Lincoln County Hospital was completed in May and is already being enjoyed by patients, visitors and staff. A similar green area at Pilgrim Hospital in Boston will be the next to be transformed.
All of the gardens are being jointly funded by NHS Charities Together and the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, who provide the extras for patients and staff that are not available through NHS budgets.
The designs are bespoke to each area and were voted on by hospital staff.
The Grantham garden cost just over £60,000 to complete and provides a space for everyone to use. It is located at the rear of the new £5.3million theatres on the site.
Ben Petts, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, said: “We understand how stressful it can be coming to hospital and so to have a space where everyone can go and enjoy some fresh air and a break away from the hustle and bustle is so valuable.”
He added: “We all hope we will never need to visit hospital, but if we do – we all appreciate a small area of sanctuary where you can have space alone with your thoughts or precious moments with loved ones.
“A lot of thought and care has been put into these gardens by our contractors at SPA Landscaping and also by members of the working group. These areas really are going to make a massive difference for our patients, colleagues and visitors.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/smolaw11
Alex Anthony from SPA Landscaping Ltd said: “It has been a delight to create another garden for United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust at Grantham and District Hospital. This is the largest of all the courtyards and presented its own challenges due to the existing infrastructure.
“We hope that due to the size of the new garden it will provide a great space that patients and visitors can enjoy and we look forward to seeing this new and beneficial area being used and appreciated by all.”
Landscaping products firm buys 15-acre site from North Lincolnshire Council
Landscaping products supplier Talasey Ltd is acquiring a 15-acre site from North Lincolnshire Council on which to build a new warehouse and storage facility in Scunthorpe, creating 130 new jobs, on top of the 100 people already employed.
Founder and CEO Mark Wall said: “Having celebrated our 20th anniversary earlier this year, we are excited to be taking this next step in our journey creating a new warehouse and distribution centre on Normanby Enterprise Park in Scunthorpe.
“Talasey moved to Scunthorpe in 2022, from where we supply landscaping solutions including paving, composite decking and fencing products, into the UK builders merchant sector. This additional operating space will allow us to move forward with the next phase of our growth strategy, creating new jobs and opportunities for the area.
“We thank North Lincolnshire Council for their support and look forward to working with the team on this acquisition.”
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “It’s fantastic to see companies like Talasey going from strength to strength here in North Lincolnshire, investing millions of pounds in the area and creating even more new job opportunities for residents on their doorstep.
“More businesses are choosing North Lincolnshire, with its can-do attitude and excellent transport links, as the ideal location to expand their operations. We look forward to working with Talasey to support their continued growth plans.”
Talasey’s state-of-the-art head office facility on Normanby Road now accommodates its training academy, which offers a range of interactive courses for everyone from landscape architects to college students and homeowners.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/LuneVA/peopleimages.com
Hemswell Cliff gets £100,000 grant to create community hub at Broadcast Engineering Museum
By the end of this year the village of Hemswell Cliff is expected to have a new community hub thanks to work done by the village’s Broadcast Engineering Conservation Group.
The group plans to turn its Studio 2 at the Broadcast Engineering Museum on Capper Avenue, into a community Bub that could become a focal point for village life.
Paul Marshall, Chair of the BECG, said: “This is not just about creating a meeting space; it is about giving the people of Hemswell Cliff a place to come together, build connections, and grow as a community. It has the potential of Studio 2 to truly enhance the quality of life in the village.”
The project is funded by a £100,000 grant from the FCC Communities Foundation. West Lindsey District Council has played a key role in supporting the project, both in helping secure funding and in providing additional financial backing.
Councillor Paul Howitt-Cowan, Ward Member for Hemswell Cliff, reflected on the village’s progress, stating not every village has a museum. He added: “When I joined West Lindsey District Council in 2010, we started a long journey. Since then, we have achieved so many things, but there is still more to do. I really hope the community can come out here and support this.”
Sally Grindrod-Smith, Director of Planning, Regeneration, and Communities at the council, commented on just how far the building and the project has developed. She added: “Seeing the space up close really brings home the value of this investment. This will be a legacy for Hemswell Cliff, fostering social cohesion and ensuring that future generations have a vibrant place to gather and thrive.”
Graham Prestwood, Chair of the Hemswell Cliff Parish Council, added: “This project is just another piece in the puzzle to make Hemswell Cliff a normal village. “We have the park, the MUGA, and now this community space is being delivered for people to meet. It will be a terrific way to get people out of their homes and come together. It is especially important to be able to bring the community together. It is nice to see the growth in the village, and it is very encouraging.”
The BECG hope Studio 2 will be completed and ready for use by the end of this year, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the village.
Archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor unearths relics from across the centuries
A five day archaeological excavation at Fulbeck Manor has unearthed relics from across the centuries.
South Kesteven District Council helped to organise Digging Market Garden to search for traces of WW2 military heritage at a location rich in airborne forces heritage.
Funded by the University of Oxford and organised in partnership with Lincoln University and military charities, the dig drew military veterans, serving soldiers and their families as volunteers, together with specialist detectorists.
The excavated trenches yielded bullets, uniform buttons, a kit tag, engine parts, and foundations and drains from the time that the British First Airborne Division occupied the Manor and grounds in the 1944 build up to Arnhem. They also revealed unexpected traces from much older occupations of the site, including a substantial medieval building.
All finds will be carefully researched and catalogued, with the dig seen as a possible springboard into more archaeological explorations across airborne forces-related sites.
Cllr Richard Dixon Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “The whole event has been an absolute triumph and one that we were proud to be part of. We had no idea what we would find, but it’s been a fascinating voyage of discovery conducted in the most amazing, focused and positive atmosphere.
“It has proved what an appetite there is for further knowledge about our WW2 and airborne forces heritage.”
Prof Tim Clack, University of Oxford, said: “We have demonstrated not only the archaeological potential of digs such as this but local community interest and the viability of partnerships with the council, other universities and military charities.
“We have found an intricate tapestry of WW2 heritage and one that has enabled us unearth all sorts of other items of interest to museums.
“Memory is fragile and Digging Market Garden has also led to some amazing memory capture before it disappears. Not only did locals visit the site to share their stories and memories but, since the dig, the team has been contacted by others keen to share relevant family histories, photographs and records.”
Digging Market Garden also prompted a packed Friday night talk ‘By Air to Battle: South Kesteven’s Airborne Heritage’ by Brian Riley. The talk was introduced by Judy Urquhart, daughter of Major General Roy Urquhart, commander British First Airborne Division in 1944.
Saturday’s Public Open Day invited people onto the dig site with huge interest in the Village Hall exhibition of military memorabilia displays and military re-enactors.
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Mariana Rusanovschi
Council leader to visit British steel bosses in China
North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham is set to lead a small delegation to China to meet British Steel’s owners in an attempt to protect the future of steelmaking in Scunthorpe.
British Steel’s owners, Jingye, have previously announced a £1.25bn development plan to create new green steel making facilities in Scunthorpe.
And, North Lincolnshire Council has pledged to develop 300 acres at the site to create new, green engineering and energy jobs, creating more opportunities for residents to access sustainable, high-paid jobs.
Cllr Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We have been working with British Steel and the previous Government across a number of years to protect steelmaking and livelihoods here in North Lincolnshire.
“We continue to work the new Government too and we are asking them to back our plan for the site and protect steelmaking and jobs locally.
“Whatever the plans are going forward, we have to protect the sovereign capability for blast furnace steel and create a new future for steelmaking at the same time, using taxpayers’ money to lose jobs is not acceptable.
“We are determined to protect and enhance this vital industry, which is the backbone of our local economy and essential to our national security.”
A small team of three people are to travel in September to the Shijiazhuang province and will hold meetings with senior officers, civic leaders and directors of the company.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/riachsion
Ports of Grimsby and Immingham form a vital link in UK’s food chain
The Ports of Grimsby and Immingham together are the leading UK ports for fish imports, and a vital link in the supply chain, according to ABP.
Business wins food waste recycling tender with Lincolnshire County Council
BioteCH4 has secured a new contract with Lincolnshire County Council to recycle food waste from all districts within Lincolnshire.
BioteCH4, the Anaerobic Digestion (AD) operator, handled over 600,000 tonnes of food waste in 2023, producing power equivalent to the electricity used by over 30,000 homes for an entire year.
When food waste is disposed via Energy from Waste, the energy and nutrient benefits are not fully harnessed. By separately collecting food waste and recycling it through AD, these greenhouse gases are captured and converted into biogas and renewable energy, which is then injected into the national grid and the digestate by-product is recycled to land to help grow more food.
Following confirmation that all Councils must provide a weekly food waste collection from March 2026, Lincolnshire County Council has moved quickly, securing an in-county solution with BioteCH4 which will see up to 50,000 tonnes of food waste captured annually from homes and businesses across the county.
Starting in Autumn 2025, BioteCH4 will collect the food waste daily from a network of six transfer stations throughout the county for up to 9 years. BioteCH4 will use its experience to collaborate closely with the councils as they implement these food waste collections for the first time, ensuring a smooth rollout of services and maximising the amount of food waste recycled across the county.
Pamela Woolcock, Group Public Sector Lead for BioteCH4, said: “Although the Simpler Recycling journey has been long, we are nearing the finish line. We are thrilled to now be partnered with Lincolnshire County Council with a year to work on perfecting the implementation plans before we kick-off in September 2025.
“We’re delighted Lincolnshire have taken the step of introducing their food waste collections so soon and we’d urge other local authorities currently looking at their procurement to speak to operators and get the ball rolling as soon as is feasible. We’d welcome any questions, and our sites are open for visits to meet our team of experts.”
Chris Yorston, acting head of waste at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “Having secured our treatment solution, we can now focus – with our district council partners and BioteCH4 – on designing, procuring, and implementing the other elements of our food waste collection service. We are looking forward to bringing all our knowledge and experience together to bring food waste recycling to households across the county.”
Picture: Hemswell Biogas, Lincolnshire. Credit – BioteCH4
