Free family fun coming to Sutton-on-Sea

Sutton-on-Sea is all set for a busy summer of free family events and activities, as part of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership’s Arts Council England NPO project. The events, taking place across June, July and August, are designed to use arts and culture to educate residents and visitors about the history of the town, through performances and active participation. The Summer-on-Sea events get underway with ‘Postcards in the Sand’ on Saturday 22 June from 11.30am to 3.30pm, a sand drawing event on the beach allowing people be part of creating a largescale postcard that invites people to the upcoming Vintage-on-Sea Festival on Saturday 29 June. It is free to attend and take part, with 20-minute sessions for up to 30 participants at a time running throughout the day. A team will also be attending to capture stories and welcome contributions of old postcards, mementos or memories of holidays to the Lincolnshire Coast as part of a future artwork. Up next, with collaboration from community groups and representatives, Sutton-on-Sea goes back in time on Saturday 29 June with Vintage-on-Sea, bringing together a variety of different singers, bands, dance groups, magicians and more. A market will take place on the day, with over 30 different stalls for people to explore and enjoy including vintage items, food and drink and games and activities. A series of craft workshops will also be available giving people the opportunity to create their own miniature seaside windmills to take home with them, as well as face painting and lots more family-friendly fun. To wrap up the summer, Circo Rum Ba Ba are bringing a true-to-life 50ft inflatable Sperm Whale to the Sutton-on-Sea Football Association Field on Thursday 1 August, which will be enclosed in a lobster-net fence and guarded by a nosy fishwife. Visitors can step inside the whale to discover a seascape interior and a unique encounter with a shipwrecked pirate. Last but not least, visitors can take part in the Sand Sculpture Trail from Friday 2 August to Friday 16 August, where you can search for ten hidden sand sculptures along the seafront. Each sculpture will accompany information to educate everyone on the history and heritage of the Lincolnshire coast. These events are part of the Partnership’s NPO project through funding from Arts Council England, which looks to support arts, culture, heritage and creativity across the whole of South and East Lincolnshire, providing meaningful opportunity and programming for residents, developing the sector and helping to build our arts, culture and heritage offer. Sutton-on-Sea was identified as East Lindsey’s creative hub site to deliver creative activity as part of the funding, supported through the new Colonnade building currently under construction, with the programme being supported by an eight-member culture board which draws experience from a variety of sectors. Further to the Partnership’s NPO events, the Sutton-on-Sea & Trusthorpe Annual Carnival will also be taking place in July, organised by the Sutton on Sea and Trusthorpe Carnival Committee, which includes live entertainment, funfair, vintage cars, trikes, stalls and more. Rob Pitman, Chair of the NPO Culture Board, said: “The Summer of Creativity in Sutton-on-Sea is the result of partnering with the local community and businesses to co-produce a programme of diverse creative activities for all. This is an area of work the NPO is committed to developing and building on as we move forward.”   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Brian Jackson

Boston town centre to bloom

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Boston’s town centre is set to become a vibrant hub of colour with the addition of new hanging baskets and planters. This initiative, a collaborative effort between Boston Borough Council, Lincolnshire Police, and HMP North Sea Camp, aims to enhance public open spaces and revitalise the town’s street scene. The project involves assembling and installing 80 additional floral baskets and eight large new floor-standing planters, building on the existing number in the town. This initiative is part of a broader effort to foster civic pride and community spirit. Since early 2024, prisoners at North Sea Camp have been designing and assembling the planters as part of a community outreach programme. This programme helps prisoners develop new skills and make positive contributions to the local community, aiding their rehabilitation and preparation for release. Emily Spicer, Assistant Director for Wellbeing and Community Leadership at Boston Borough Council, said: “Whilst we wait patiently for the summer to appear, the team have been working hard alongside town centre businesses, community groups and a number of other borough wide organisations to bring even more colour to the town centre this year. “With additional hanging baskets and planters being featured over the next few weeks, we are delighted to showcase together the commitment and pride in our town. “We recognise the importance of ensuring our town centre is an attractive and safe place to be, whatever your reason for visiting and we will continue to prioritise activity to support this.” Chief Inspector Richard Nethercott of Lincolnshire Police highlighted the project’s broader impact on community safety. “Environmental factors are linked to decision making when committing crime. If an area is run down, it signals neglect, increasing the likelihood of offending. Enhancing these spaces will make them feel safer and discourage criminal activity.” The initiative includes a year-round programme to clean up the streets in key areas, further improving safety and aesthetics. New Community Rangers, working with PCSOs, Boston Borough Council’s community safety team, and increased CCTV, are also part of this comprehensive approach to community safety. Funded by the Lincolnshire Serious Violence Fund under the ‘Operation Plotting Environmental Changes and Offender Rehabilitation’ project, this initiative seeks to address the root causes of violence and promote a culture of non-violence. It is also partially funded by the Community Alcohol Partnership.   Image: Boston, Lincolnshire. Credit: Stock.adobe.com/Tony

Peter Pan The Musical to bring the magic of outdoor theatre to Market Rasen

Trinity Arts Centre is teaming up with Immersion Theatre Company as part of ‘Trinity on Tour’, to bring another outdoor theatre experience to Market Rasen Leisure Centre on Saturday 6th July 2024, at 2:00pm, after last year’s family-filled success, ‘The Wind in the Willows’. Following the success of their last touring production, ‘The Wizard of Oz’, multi-award nominated Immersion Theatre, best known for their work as producers of high-quality family theatre, invite you to soar away to Neverland as they proudly bring their trademark energy to their most magical musical to date: ‘PETER PAN’. Get ready to think happy thoughts and fly high as the mischievous Peter embarks on an awfully big adventure, introducing Wendy Darling to the lost boys, the cheeky Tinkerbell, the hilarious Smee, and a host of other exciting characters, before facing the most feared villain of them all, the infamous Captain Hook! Filled with catchy music, heaps of audience interaction, and a laugh-a-minute script, this hilarious and exciting musical of the boy who never grew up, promises to have every member of the family entertained throughout…You’ll be HOOKED! Immersion Theatre’s Artistic Director, James Tobias, has written and is directing the show. He said: “I am incredibly excited to be reviving our acclaimed musical adaptation of this much-loved story. We know family audiences love this version of the show so it’s a tremendously exciting feeling knowing that we’re delivering a tried-and-tested crowd pleaser. “The music is incredibly catchy, the characters magical, the cast exceptional, and the script has the perfect balance of staying true to the original story whilst adding all the ingredients that audiences have come to expect from an Immersion show: comedy, audience participation, and of course…water guns! “There’s something magical and idyllic about this production and I cannot wait for family audiences to experience it in what promises to be our most enchanting family musical to date!” ‘Peter Pan The Musical’ will be bringing the perfect family entertainment experience to Market Rasen Leisure Centre on Saturday 6th July, at 2pm, with tickets currently available from £7.00. Suitable for ages 4+ and with a runtime of approximately 100 minutes (including an interval). For tickets visit https://trinityartscentre.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173654527 For the box office call 01427 676655.

Entrepreneurs shine at Gainsborough’s first ‘Young Traders’ market

Young entrepreneurs showcased their goods at a special market held in the historic Market Place in Gainsborough. West Lindsey District Council hosted its first Young Market Traders in the town on Saturday, which has been hailed a success. The council believes young traders play a crucial role in the economy, they bring fresh ideas and innovative products and the market is a great way for them to showcase their goods in a traditional market setting and also create employment opportunities for themselves and for others. Traders were invited to join the regular stallholders in Gainsborough on Saturday – not only to sell their products but to be part of a country-wide competition organised by the National Market Traders Federation (NMTF). After careful consideration, three judges announced the overall regional winner for Gainsborough was Kasey Wolstenholme of Krafted by Kasey. Kasey (25), who sells a variety of hand-made products including wax melts, room sprays, gifts and homeware, said she was absolutely ‘over the moon’ at being picked as the winner. She said: “I’m still processing the fact I won the competition at Gainsborough. It honestly means so much to me because I work so hard on my business alongside looking after my little boy, and winning feels like validation that my business means something to other people too and that hard work does pay off. “There was so many amazing young traders, so to be the winner is such a privilege and has made me want to work even harder than before.” The judges included: Cllr Stephen Bunney, Chairman of West Lindsey District Council; Amanda Bouttell, Senior Project and Growth Officer – Employment and Skills Enterprise and Communities, and Gainsborough business owner Baz Hunter. The three Highly Commended Young Traders included:
  • Meghan Barnard of Handmade Jewellery by Meghan
  • Chelsea Stringer – The Stringer Edit
  • Natalie Cass of Natalie Cass Art
Honourable Mentions:
  • Aimie Holmes
  • Despina Tamboura
The winner, and the three Highly Commended, now go forward to a regional final with the chance of securing a place in the final in August in Stratford Upon Avon. The judges said that standard was very high, and they deliberated a considerable time. They said the quality of the goods, the product knowledge and customer service was all excellent. Nicola Marshall, Towns Manager at West Lindsey District Council, who organised the event, said she will be looking to host further young traders events in the future. She said: “We are so grateful to the young traders for coming along to the event. Their stalls added a lot to our market and we were delighted to welcome traders from Gainsborough and further afield.”   Image credit: West Lindsey District Council

Three exciting weekends of live music set for Lincoln Castle

Three exciting weekends of live music are set for Lincoln Castle, with Cuffe and Taylor, the promoters of the brand-new summer concert series, announcing the full line up of acts performing. The first of the three concert weekends kicks off with Crowded House on Saturday 15th June. The Australasian rock band are behind hits such as ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and ‘Weather With You’ and they will be playing all their greatest hits live at Lincoln Castle, as well as material from their more recent albums. Fans will no doubt remember hits such as ‘It’s Only Natural’, ‘Locked Out’, ‘Something So Strong’ and ‘Fall At Your Feet’. Crowded House are set to entertain the Lincoln audience with an electrifying live show and one that is not to be missed! Founding members Neil Finn and Nick Seymour will be joined by Mitchell Froom, Liam Finn and Elroy Finn. Support will be from Liam Finn. On Sunday 16th June the headline act will be Jess Glynne. Jess Glynne made history by becoming the first British female solo artist to score seven number ones on the UK Singles Chart – among them ‘I’ll Be There’, ‘Hold My Hand’ and ‘Don’t Be So Hard on Yourself’. Her two previous Platinum selling albums have both become Number 1 records and she collected three Ivor Novello nominations, won a Grammy, and racked up nine Brit Award nominations and 1.2 billion streams. Support from Cian Ducrot, Issey Cross and The Mercians. On Saturday 22nd June, Paloma Faith will be performing an array of smash hit songs from her extensive and much-loved repertoire. The show at Lincoln Castle will have fans singing along to classics such as ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’, ‘Lullaby’, ‘Make Your Own Kind of Music’ and ‘Upside Down’ amongst many more. Her much anticipated sixth studio album, will undoubtedly be another sure-fire hit! The third and final weekend brings three nights of musical entertainment kicking off with Kaiser Chiefs on Friday 28th June. The rockers who hail from Leeds are famed for their hits ‘I Predict a Riot’, ‘Ruby’, ‘Everyday I Love you Less and Less’, ‘Never Miss a Beat’, ‘Oh My God’ and many more. Fans at Lincoln can expect to hear all the hits as well as more recent material and of course new songs from their brand-new studio album. Support comes from Spielmann and Royel Otis. Saturday 29th June brings Madness to town, supported by The Hoosiers. Madness are one of the greatest live acts on the planet, well known for their showmanship, banter and stagecraft. The show at Lincoln Castle will be jam packed with all the hits such as ‘House of Fun’, ‘Wings of a Dove’, ‘It Must Be Love’ and ‘Our House’ as well as songs from their thirteenth studio album C’est La Vie. The much-loved iconic infectious tunes, which we all know and love, will adorn the Madness set and it’s a night not to be missed! Madness never fail to deliver and they never fail to get the audience up on their feet dancing and Lincoln Castle will be no exception to this! Madness have recently announced that they expect their audience to be in a fancy dress theme, which they’ve set as ‘Theatre of the Absurd’ and are urging their fans to get involved! On Sunday 30th June, Jazz legend, Gregory Porter will headline. Gregory has taken the world by storm over the past decade bringing contemporary jazz to the masses! Talented. Masterful. Unmistakable. These are just a few words used to describe Gregory Porter and his band. Gregory has become known as the UK’s favourite contemporary American jazz artist. The Grammy award-winning singer’s distinctive and immediately recognisable voice will reverberate around Lincoln Castle’s walls this Summer. His live shows are electric! Gregory’s ability to emotionally connect with his audience is legendary. He never fails to bring joy to all with his uplifting personality, often talking about his love for music between songs and his love and energy for life shines through. It will be a truly uplifting, inspirational and musically outstanding night! Gregory’s special guest for the night will be the talented JP Cooper.   Tickets for the three unmissable weekends of live music are selling fast, with many shows sold out. With a few tickets left for Jess Glynne and Gregory Porter, be quick as these will sell out soon.   Saturday 15th June – Crowded House, Liam Finn Sunday 16th June – Jess Glynne, Cian Ducrot, Issey Cross, The Mercians Saturday 22nd June – Paloma Faith Friday 28th June – Kaiser Chiefs, Spielmann, Royel Otis Saturday 29th June – Madness, The Hoosiers Sunday 30th June – Gregory Porter, JP Cooper   Tickets on sale now via lincolncastle.com and https://www.cuffeandtaylor.com

Knights Care Group raises over £4,000 for Dementia UK in 500 miles in May fundraiser

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In May, Knights Care Group challenged themselves to fundraise £1,000 and walk or run 500 miles in aid of Dementia UK. The group owns six care homes across the UK and both staff and residents took part in the challenge. Managing Director, Adam Knights, aimed to run 102 miles for Dementia UK, while Engagement Lead, Amy Meade, planned to walk 102 miles, and the Knights Care Head Office Team sought to collectively walk/run 101 miles. Each Knights Care Care Home also took on the challenge, with staff and residents of each home aiming to walk 32.5 miles in May. Exceeding their original goals, overall Knights Care Group raised £4,506 and walked 740 miles in May for Dementia UK. Dementia UK is a charity close to the group’s hearts, with Knights Care Group saying: “We are raising funds to help ensure no family faces dementia alone.” Dementia UK is the specialist dementia nurse charity. Their nurses, called Admiral Nurses, provide life-changing care for families affected by all forms of dementia.

Parkinson’s UK celebrates 40th anniversary in Grantham

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Parkinson’s UK’s Grantham branch is celebrating its 40th year supporting local people who are living with the condition and their loved ones. The branch arranges regular meetings, outings and activities and provides information, advice, support and friendship for people with Parkinson’s and their friends, family and carers. The Grantham branch is regularly attended by many people from the local community living with Parkinson’s, and to mark its 40th anniversary, the group arranged a celebration lunch for everyone to come together and share their favourite memories of the group.   The 40th Anniversary event was held at the Guildhall in Grantham in May. 80 people attended, including the Mayor Parkinson’s UK’s Chief Executive Caroline Rassell and Brenda Kinnish, a founding member of the group. Debbie Gaskell, Local Volunteer Officer at Parkinson’s UK, said: “Being diagnosed with Parkinson’s can be a shock and adapting to life with the condition can be hard for the person involved and their loved ones too. But we know that getting the right information and support at the right time can make all the difference. “That’s why it’s important to celebrate that the Grantham branch has been running for over 40 years. The group has such an important part to play for those people in Lincolnshire, and hope to be part of the local community for many more years to come.” The group meets regularly every Wednesday, the first Wednesday of each month venue varies and the second, third and fourth are at the Church Hall of St John the Evangelist, Manthorpe, 10 High Road, Grantham, NG31 8NF. The sessions start at 1.30pm and finish at 3pm. The meetings include various speakers as well as many activities such as singing sessions, tennis, exercise to music and many social outings. Caroline Rassell, CEO at Parkinson’s UK, said: “The Grantham branch demonstrates the strength and resilience of the Parkinson’s community. Their tight-knit support network, built over 40 years, just shows you the power of unity and compassion in facing challenges together. We applaud their dedication and support throughout the years, which continue to uplift and inspire us all.” Speaking about the anniversary celebrations, Ian Askew, Branch Chair of the Grantham Branch, said: “The celebration lunch was a great afternoon with a wonderful atmosphere, enjoyed by everybody and it was fantastic to have a number of special guests join us, including Brenda who started the branch 40 years ago, the Mayor and Caroline Rassell, CEO at Parkinson’s UK. “I have been attending the Grantham Branch for almost five years, and it has been wonderful to see the group and activities continue to flourish. It’s been a great opportunity to meet other people in similar situations, and share experiences, make friendships, and to be able to offer a range of regular physical activity sessions which are of such benefit to the Parkinson’s Community.” Around 153,000 people in the UK are living with Parkinson’s, including around 11,000 people in the East Midlands.   Image: Members of Parkinson’s UK’s Grantham branch celebrate 40 years of support at a special anniversary lunch

Free Discover day to help kids become ‘Marvellous Makers’

Discover, the latest in North Lincolnshire Council’s series of fantastic free family events is back on Saturday 6 July, 11am to 4pm. This year’s event, held in and around Queen Elizabeth Gardens in Scunthorpe’s Church Square, will launch the 2024 Summer Reading Challenge – Marvellous Makers. The year’s theme is designed to get youngsters involved in creative experiences, firing up their minds, increasing confidence and inspiring them to tell their own stories, and think about future skills and careers. There will be dozens of events, exhibits and hands-on activities designed to get five to 13-year-olds playing, participating and thinking. Wannabe artists can unleash their creativity by helping create enormous action paintings while a madcap Alice in Wonderland walkabout show will keep visitors entertained. Rhubarb Theatre will be putting on three 30-minute productions in Church Square. Scunthorpe Central will be signing youngsters up to the Summer Reading Challenge on the day, and the library will be hosting lots of reading activities, including live storytelling, a quiet space, a School of Beatbox workshop, an author discussion, and activities from Study United. There will be a teen zone featuring an escape room. The Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire will be opening their doors with exciting science experiments and hands-on activities, including a Harry Potter potion workshop with Lab Rascals and children’s book illustrator Yen Ip, who will be hosting a live drawing activity. Other activities include guessing what criminals would wear which shoes, a Q&A session with local company Know Media, how to give your dog a health check – and much more. 20-21 Visual Arts Centre will be encouraging children to get creative with activities to unleash their imaginations, including Fabric Lenny, who will be making pieces of art around the centre. Other creative activities include a polymer art event, a Discover Denim drop-in fashion session, felting and rag-wreath making. All the usual Discover favourites will be in Church Square, including Humberside Police; Waste Services with a 26 tonne bin lorry; the Fostering team with crafts; NL Families; the Dancing Tiger Scrap Store with a recycled material workshop and the Road Safety team.

Elvis is still in the building after six-month contract lasts more than 40 years

North East Lincolnshire street cleaner Martin ‘Elvis’ Beck, is celebrating more than 40 years in the job, and has no plans to stop working anytime soon. Known as Elvis by his workmates, he joined the Council when he was 18 in 1978. Starting on a six-month temporary contract, he was assigned to emptying the bins around Cleethorpes for what was then called Humberside Council. Following the creation of North East Lincolnshire Council in 1996, Martin was transferred to Street Cleansing where he has spent the last 28 years litter picking Grimsby town centre. However, despite his long service, he won’t be stopping anytime soon. “I tried a number of other jobs before coming here, but I didn’t like them as much as I do this. I was at a bedding shop for about a week and a pop factory in Grimsby for a month too, but I became bored of them all. “I went on to get a six-month trial with the Council and have been here ever since. This is by far the best job in the world and I’m the happiest I have ever been. Everyone here is great and we all get on with one another. “Additionally, the job keeps me physically fit as I’m always walking around town and I love talking to people too. The interaction with others is one of my favourite things. “Some people come up to me just to say how good a job I’m doing and that I’m keeping the town clean.” Martin spends most of his shift litter picking around the town centre, but is often helping out elsewhere across the borough. However, despite over four decades in the job, he has no plan of stopping anytime soon. “I’ll keep going here until I’m at least 90 if I can, nothing will change my mind on that. If I could do this for 24 hours a day everyday I would, I just love the job and everything it involves.”

North Lincolnshire gets ready for Armed Forces Day

North Lincolnshire Armed Forces Day returns to Scunthorpe on Saturday 22 June with a schedule packed full of parades, displays, military equipment, live music and much more. The talented The Veterans Big Band will be making a special appearance as part of the jam-packed timetable alongside the flag raising, land-based displays, musical performances and family activities that are all taking place at Brumby Hall Sports Ground in Scunthorpe from 11am to 5pm. It is always one of the most popular events of the year and a free day out for the family. This year’s line-up is better than ever, with a packed timetable of activities and events for all the family to get involved in. It’s a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community: from those currently in service, to veterans, cadets, and their families. Things planned to keep the whole family entertained include: • A parade featuring Cadets and Veterans from the tri-services. • An interactive Cadet Village with games, challenges and more. • RAF Air Cadets Band performance. • Army Cadets Field Drill displays. • Twin Tigers Martial Arts displays. • Coritani Creative Taiko Drumming performance. • Scunthorpe RUFC Exhibition Match. • Kazbah Theatre ‘Chips & Fish’ puppet performance. • Climbing Wall. • Paintball Range. • Mobile Bike Events BMX bike course – have a go sessions. • Kids funfair rides. • Stalls for local groups and organisations. • Arts, crafts, and creative play. A range of food and drink stalls will also be there on the day, including ice cream, doughnuts, burgers, Greek street food, cakes, fudge, iced slush, and an outside bar. A dedicated picnic area will be available next to the stage and attendees are welcome to bring their own blankets and camping chairs to use whilst enjoying the event. A much-anticipated flyover is expected to take place by the legendary Lancaster Bomber, but this is subject to weather conditions on the day and operational requirements.