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Neale Court Care Home launches monthly community coffee mornings
Neale Court Care Home, in North Hykeham, Lincoln, has launched its new monthly Community Coffee Mornings.
Following a recent refurbishment, which included the addition of new bedrooms, a lounge, dining room on the first floor, and the welcoming Coffee Club Café, the home is “excited” to open its doors to families, friends, and the local community.
The first coffee morning took place in August, marking the start of what will now be a regular monthly event. Held on the last Wednesday of each month at 10:30 am, the mornings are designed to provide an opportunity for people to relax, enjoy refreshments, and spend time with residents in a friendly and welcoming setting.
The Coffee Club Café has quickly become a hub of activity within the home, giving residents and visitors alike a warm and social space to enjoy. By extending this invitation to the wider community, Neale Court aims to strengthen bonds and foster a sense of togetherness in North Hykeham.
“We’re delighted to open our doors to the local community for regular coffee mornings,” said Home Manager Kayleigh Moss. “It’s a chance for people to connect in a warm, friendly environment — something we know will be truly valued, especially by our residents. Building these connections is so important for our home and the community we’re part of.”
The coffee mornings are open to all, whether you’re a family member, a neighbour, or simply someone who would like to enjoy a chat over coffee and cake. Everyone is welcome to come along and experience the community spirit at Neale Court Care Home.
For more information about the coffee mornings or life at Neale Court Care Home, please contact Kayleigh Moss on 01522 682 201 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.
Cleethorpes and Waltham libraries to remain in place
Cleethorpes and Waltham libraries will stay in their current locations following North East Lincolnshire Council’s review of local library and archive services.
The decision comes after a two-stage public consultation that drew strong opposition to earlier proposals suggesting the facilities could be moved to shared sites such as leisure centres or shopping centres. A petition signed by more than 4,700 residents urged the council to keep both libraries where they are.
After reviewing public feedback, the council has decided to abandon the co-location plan and maintain both libraries in their existing buildings. It will now explore new ways to make better use of space and improve community access within those settings.
The move reflects a broader aim to enhance local services while preserving the libraries’ roles as accessible cultural and educational spaces for residents of all ages.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/WavebreakMediaMicroHistoric Grimsby maltings reborn as youth centre
A Grade II listed former maltings in Grimsby’s town centre is being transformed into the Horizon Youth Zone, marking a new chapter for one of the area’s oldest industrial landmarks.
The building, once home to the renowned Sandars malt company, dates back to the early 1800s. Originally established as part of the Gainsborough-based family business, Sandars & Co operated at West Haven Maltings from 1829 to 1922. The site later became part of Pauls and Sandars, a major name in British malt until economic downturns in the 1970s led to widespread closures, including the Grimsby premises in the 1990s.
Over the years, the complex has seen many uses — from a sawmill and cake warehouse to a glove factory and billiards hall. The neighbouring Migar House, formerly known as Number 2 Grain Warehouse, also played host to a range of trades before suffering fire damage in 2009.
Situated along Garth Lane beside the River Freshney, the maltings once benefited from direct access to key waterways linking Grimsby to regional trade routes.
The redeveloped space will soon reopen as a state-of-the-art youth centre serving North East Lincolnshire, blending the site’s industrial heritage with a modern community purpose.
Image credit: North East Lincolnshire CouncilChildren in hospital benefit from charity fundraiser
The children’s ward at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston is set to receive a funding boost thanks to the success of a summer fair held earlier in the year.
The fair, which was held in August at Boston Town Football Club, raised a staggering £11,311 which will now go towards creating a more welcoming environment for children staying on Ward 4a, including ward improvements, enhanced family facilities, and new distraction activities.
The summer fete was the brainchild of four dedicated staff working on the ward. From initial thoughts of a barbecue afternoon for family and friends, enthusiasm grew and the event escalated into a full afternoon of entertainment including dog show, tug of war and featuring the School of Rock.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Fundraiser, Connor Hill, who worked with the team and other willing staff who gave their time so freely, was overjoyed with the success.
He said: “We are so proud of what we achieved and enormously grateful to all the local businesses who sponsored elements of the fete, or donated gifts or time. Without their support, we would not have been able to raise such a significant amount of money which will help improve the lives of the children during their stay on the ward.”
Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Chief Executive, Professor Karen Dunderdale accepted the donation on behalf of the charity and said: “This was a tremendous effort from everyone involved. They are a fantastic team and the care they give to the kids every day is amazing.”
The team’s next event is a Hallowe’en Party at Boston Town Football Club on Thursday 30 October, from 4pm. DJ Kellan will provide entertainment as well as pumpkin carving, fancy dress and Hallowe’en Trail. Once again, the proceeds will go towards making the hospital’s children’s ward a home from home for its young patients.
Last year Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity funded 242 projects worth £1.25 million across Lincolnshire’s four hospitals.
Image shows: Lincolnshire Community and Hospitals NHS Group Chief Executive, Professor Karen Dunderdale (second right) with members from Pilgrim Hospital, Boston Ward 4a and United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Royal visit for Lincoln Cathedral
The Very Revd Dr Simon Jones, Dean of Lincoln, welcomed His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh to Lincoln Cathedral on Thursday afternoon.
During the visit, which included a tour of the Cathedral and a recital by the Choral Scholars, The Duke met the Cathedral’s education team to learn more about their work with school children from across the county.
Visiting the Ross Learning Centre, His Royal Highness talked to Sally Bleasdale and Emma Bloys who deliver workshops to the hundreds of pupils who visit the Cathedral each year and who benefit from hands on learning activities which bring history to life.
The Duke also spent time in the Cathedral exhibition gallery where he met Fern Dawson, the Cathedral’s curator. The space, which is used to display a selection of artefacts from the 950 year history of the building, is home to the Romanesque frieze; one of the most significant surviving collections of Norman figure carving in Europe.
His Royal Highness was received by Mr Andrew Clark DL, Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Lincolnshire, and then greeted representatives from across the city, comprising David Chambers, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire; Councillor Bill Mara, The Worshipful Mayor of Lincoln; Gary Daley, Lincoln City Sheriff and Councillor Mike Beecham, Vice-Chairman of Lincolnshire County Council.
Representing the Cathedral were The Reverend Canon Rowena King, Canon Missioner; The Reverend Darren McFarland, Succentor; Michael Belcher, Honorary Secretary of the Friends of Lincoln Cathedral and The Revd Canon Michael Boughton, Chairman of the Friends. The Duke is a patron of the friends of Lincoln Cathedral, holding the title of First Friend.
Before leaving, His Royal Highness also took a moment to view the famous Lincoln Imp, the stone carving which has become a beloved symbol of the city of Lincoln, not least because a tie pin in the form of the Lincoln Imp was worn by The then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII, when his horse Persimmon won the Derby in 1896.
Lincolnshire plans £22m boost for special needs schooling
Lincolnshire County Council is preparing to allocate an additional £22 million towards special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision to meet growing demand across the county.
The council expects to require around 700 new SEND places within the next three years as more young people need specialist support. Despite recent expansions, including 12 local special schools and the creation of 500 extra places, capacity remains under strain.
Lincolnshire currently has 17 special and five alternative provision state-funded schools. With many mainstream schools unable to cater to pupils with complex needs, the council has increasingly relied on private providers, driving up costs.
A dedicated budget of £141 million has been set aside for SEND provision, with over £101 million already committed to improvements and expansions. However, the council is facing a significant funding gap and is reviewing ways to reduce costs and improve efficiency.
The financial pressure comes amid broader budget challenges, with the local authority already warning of potential service cuts to save more than £25 million in the next financial year.
The Department for Education has been approached for comment on how it plans to support local councils managing rising SEND demands.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/JenkoAtamanNew supported housing takes shape in Market Rasen
Significant progress is being made on a new housing project that will offer supported living to working age adults with disabilities.
Grange House in Market Rasen will offer 10 apartments with access to 24-hour care and support, as well as a range of communal areas where tenants can meet with families and friends and enjoy group activities.
In addition, there will be a community-focused social enterprise, offering an opportunity to learn new skills through growing produce and caring for animals.
The project is a collaboration between Acis Group, Lincolnshire County Council and West Lindsey District Council, made possible by additional funding from Homes England. The development is expected to be completed by spring 2026.
Greg Bacon, CEO of Acis Group, said: “We are incredibly proud to be bringing this development to Market Rasen, investing £3.9 million to give this stunning Grade II listed building and its associated stable block a new purpose that aligns perfectly with our vision for supporting communities when they need us.
“This project reflects our long-term commitment to the town and the people who live here, ensuring they have access to high-quality, supported housing that enables them to live independent and fulfilling lives.”
Cllr Stephen Bunney, ward member for the Market Rasen area in West Lindsey, said: “I’m delighted to see work progressing on this much-needed supported housing development in Market Rasen. This project will provide invaluable opportunities for individuals to live independently while remaining connected to their community.
“The inclusion of communal spaces and a community-focused social enterprise will bring real benefits, fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. I look forward to seeing the positive impact this development will have on local people.”
Lindum co-chair, Edward Chambers said: “Renovating an older building is always challenging, and Acis Group deserves real credit for its commitment to this restoration. Once complete, the project will not only provide an important facility for the community but will also breathe new life into a well-known local landmark, transforming it from a state of disrepair into a building that is fully restored and fit for purpose.”
Decision deferred on 3,500-home Grimsby West Masterplan
A decision on the masterplan for the proposed ‘Grimsby West’ development site has been deferred at a North East Lincolnshire Council Cabinet meeting.
Cabinet members voted not to approve the Masterplan straight away, instead deferring any decision until points raised at a recent scrutiny panel are answered by the private developers behind the scheme.
The Grimsby West proposal includes 3,500 new homes set around a country park with open space, a link road and new schools, stretching from the A46 to the west of Morrisons through to the A1136 west of Wybers Wood.
The site is allocated in the Local Plan 2013 to 2032 (Adopted 2018) as a Strategic Housing Site under Policy 14.
This policy within the Local Plan requires a Masterplan for the Grimsby West site to be submitted to the Council before planning applications for development on the site are determined.
Now complete and published, the Grimsby West Masterplan was initially discussed by members of North East Lincolnshire Council’s Transport, Infrastructure and Strategic Housing Scrutiny Panel.
Councillors on the Panel voiced concern in three areas: flood risk and waterflow and pollution into the River Freshney, the need for the completion of a Traffic Assessment, and the need for more graphic detail on the Freshney Valley Country Park.
Those concerns and comments were then considered by Cabinet members, who went against a report paper recommendation to approve the Masterplan.
The developers, Harworth Group and M.F. Stawson Ltd, will now be asked to amend the Masterplan.
Following the Cabinet vote and decision, the Portfolio Holder for Housing, Infrastructure and Transport, Cllr Stewart Swinburn, said: “As a council we must ensure we take the appropriate and correct advice and follow all the necessary and statutory steps to consider plans of this nature and that is what we are doing and will continue to do.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/shintartanya
New wetland plan could transform flood-prone Horncastle site
Plans are underway to create a new wetland nature reserve on the outskirts of Horncastle. The proposed site, known as Harrison’s Holme, sits south of the A158 between the River Bain and River Waring—an area that frequently floods during winter.
Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and East Mercia Rivers Trust are leading the project, which aims to turn the land into a thriving wetland habitat supporting a wide range of wildlife. The scheme, still awaiting a planning application, would be funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and Anglian Water’s Get River Positive initiative.
If approved, major groundwork is expected to take place over the winter months. Plans include reshaping the riverbanks to encourage natural flooding, excavating shallow ponds and scrapes, and creating swales and bunds to manage water flow. Native planting would follow to enhance biodiversity and stabilise the banks.
The design includes dedicated refuges for amphibians and insects and an elevated viewing area with seating so visitors can observe the reserve without disturbing it.
Volunteers will be invited to help with planting and habitat creation once construction begins. A public drop-in session will be held at Banovallum House in Horncastle on 16 October to share details and gather feedback on the plans.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/rujin
Doctor Who & The Archers stars step on the Plowright Theatre stage in Sherlock Holmes & The Sign of Four
Following their hugely popular performances as Sherlock Holmes & Doctor Watson in The Hound Of The Baskervilles, Colin Baker (the sixth Doctor Who) and Terry Molloy (The Archers’ Mike Tucker for over 40 years) are back on stage, leading the cast in another classic detective adventure – Sherlock Holmes & The Sign of Four, which will visit Scunthorpe’s Plowright Theatre on Tuesday 21 October.
What has become of Captain Morstan and why does his daughter now receive a valuable pearl every year from an anonymous benefactor? What begins as a curious puzzle soon becomes a terrifying murder hunt, with the discovery of a missing fortune, a locked room and the murdered body of Bartholomew Sholto. But who committed these heinous, inexplicable crimes and how do they involve a map of the far-off Agra Fort?
The case of The Sign of Four stretches all of Sherlock Holmes’ powers of deduction in a mystery that was born in war-torn India and now stalks Victorian London, fuelled by the vengeance of a seemingly unstoppable, cut-throat gang.
With the help of the Baker Street Irregulars and Doctor Watson’s new love Mary, can Holmes finally bring the gang’s malicious leader to justice, recover the stolen treasure, and reveal the hideous truth behind the riddle of The Sign of Four?
This classic tale by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the father of the modern detective story, is presented in a brand new adaptation by Crime and Comedy Theatre Company as a radio play live on stage. The setting is a radio studio, the actors ready as if for a radio broadcast, and the sound effects created live, all transporting the audience to the streets of Victorian London. A rare opportunity to see these popular actors live on stage at your local theatre, this is a production not to be missed!
Colin Baker said: “When I was at school, if you won a prize, it was always a book. You were allowed to choose your own book and I chose the complete stories of Sherlock Holmes, which I still have at home with the little Upper Fourth Handwriting Prize certificate, because I enjoyed reading them avidly.
“I love the writings of Conan Doyle and Charles Dickens, and the idea of bringing Sherlock Holmes to life is something I never anticipated. They’re such cracking good stories, they really stand the test of time, and I’m portraying him now – it’s all rather exciting!”
Terry Molloy said: “Colin and I are great friends and we’ve worked together many, many times since we met on Doctor Who in 1984, when we hit it off from the start. That was in Attack Of The Cybermen, and I then played Davros, leader of the Daleks, opposite him.
“It was Colin who suggested I play Doctor Watson to his Sherlock Holmes when we toured in The Hound Of The Baskervilles in 2022, and after the success of that it’s wonderful to recreate our partnership in another classic adventure, The Sign Of Four.”
