The refurbished and rebranded Lincoln Drill Hall, now known as The Drill, has unveiled its new season of spectacular shows – and it’s set to leave audiences of any age in awe.
With witches, magicians, and even a wicked performance from Hayseed Dixie showcasing their self-created musical genre ‘rockgrass’, it’s set to be an enchanting programme of events this Autumn.
A critically acclaimed adaptation of Julia Donaldson’s children’s classic ‘Room on the Broom’ will wow children and families alike, while creative sessions for under 5s and a ‘Diddy Disco’ will further entertain the little ones.
The venue will also welcome legendary band Toploader and alt-rock band Republica as well as a host of amazing tribute bands.
Stranger things await with ‘An Evening Without Kate Bush’ and “the new poster-boy for British comedy magic” (The Telegraph) Pete Firman, plus the return of Lincoln Book Festival and the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival makes The Drill a sanctum for all arts lovers this Autumn; there truly is something for everyone this season at The Drill.
Craig Morrow, theatre manager at The Drill, said: “I’m delighted to announce our new autumn programme! With a jam-packed roster that covers the length and breadth of the arts and entertainment, there’s something to entice audiences of all ages – from 18 months onwards.
“If you’ve visited The Drill before, then you know it has an impressive track record of hosting amazing and energetic performances from internationally renowned artists. Since our ambitious refurbishment, we’ve taken it to the next level and created a truly modern and contemporary space within this historic venue. Come and discover The Drill for yourself this autumn.”
Kicking off on Tuesday 6 September with ‘Lil’ Drills’, the venue will host a series of immersive creative sessions for children. Organised by Rhubarb Theatre and led each week by a different local artist, it’s terrific for toddlers and their grown-ups to enjoy together. With themes of music, dance and storytelling, it’s an enriching environment that little ones will love.
Other events of interest for families include a ‘Diddy Disco launching on Wednesday 7 September. Hosted by Disco Doris and Disco Debs, it invites under 7s and parents to enjoy a delightful disco, mixing nostalgic floor fillers with the most recent chart hits.
From floor fillers to crowd-pleasers, the Olivier Award-nominated adaptation of the best-selling picture book ‘Room on the Broom’ will conjure a quirky and fun-filled experience for kids of all ages. “Children’s theatre doesn’t come much better than this” (The Stage). Can the friendly witch and her cat escape the hungry dragon with so many animals hitching a ride? Is there room on the broom for everyone?
From little ones on the dance floor to the wuthering heights of adult entertainment, there’s a packed programme of events for audiences aged 18+ too, with highlights including ‘An Evening Without Kate Bush’, an intimate gig with the best-selling alternative rock band Republica and the riotous crowd-pleasing live band Toploader.
Whether it’s immersive avante-garde tribute acts, live comedy from a host of renowned comedians (including the monthly Red Herring Comedy Club, La Voix and Jimeoin) through to festivals and one-off events (like the Lincoln Book Festival and the Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival), The Drill is where you’ll find it.
Built in 1890 to accommodate military training exercises, The Drill is renowned as a thriving entertainment, arts and social hub for the wider community. Fully wheelchair accessible, the Grade II listed building has begun a new era with Lincoln College Group retaining and preserving the building’s original features but ushering them into the 21st century with a recent rebrand and thorough reimagining.
Lil’ Drills: Launches at 10:30am Tuesday 6 September, returning on Tuesday 20 September, then being weekly from 4 October through to 29 November. Suitable for children aged 18+ months, it is just £4 per child – and adults go free.
Diddy Disco: Launches at 10:30am Wednesday 7 September. Tickets are £4 per child to attend (adults go free) and it is suitable for children 2-7.
Room on the Broom: 5 October 1.30pm & 4.30pm | 6 October 10.30am & 1.30pm. Tickets start at £15 and the show is suitable for ages 3+.
An Evening Without Kate Bush: Doors open at 7pm with the show starting at 7:30pm. Tickets start at £13, suitable for ages 18+
Toploader + Archy & The Astronauts: Friday 30 September. 7:30pm – 11pm. Tickets from £22 (plus booking fee)
Red Herring Comedy Club – September 2022: Saturday 10 September. 8pm – 11pm. Tickets from £15.40
La Voix: Friday 21 October. 7:30pm – 11pm. Tickets from £22.
Jimeoin – The Craic! Thursday 20 October. 7:30pm onwards. Audience members must be 14+, but 16+ is recommended. Tickets from £19.75.
Lincoln Book Festival – Adventures In (Dream)Pop: 7pm – 9:30pm (approx). Tickets are free, but audience members must be 14+.
Lincolnshire International Chamber Music Festival: Thursday 22 September – Sunday 25 September at venues across Lincolnshire.
To purchase tickets for upcoming shows, and for the full schedule of upcoming shows at the revamped community hub and entertainment venue, visit https://www.lincolndrill.co.uk/whats-on/
Staff at Eccleshare Court Care Home in Lincoln arranged for 90-year-old cricket enthusiast David Chambers to join young cricketers for a game at their local ground. The outing was arranged as part of Country Court’s Make a Wish initiative. Residents are given the opportunity to tell staff about somewhere they have always wanted to go or a special activity they always wanted to do.
David’s passion for cricket started at a young age and he has lots of fond memories of playing throughout his life. Sharon Kinsella-Pullen, wellbeing lead at Eccleshare Court, took David to Hartsholme Cricket Club on Ashby Avenue in Lincoln where he joined youngsters for net practice and was delighted to hit a few balls with them.
David’s son Tim commented: “Last Saturday was an amazing moment, to see dad’s reaction as he saw all the youngsters playing and to be able at 90 to hold a bat again and to hit a few balls was so special. I cannot thank Sharon enough for organising it and recognising how important the moment would be for not only Dad but for his family.
“My father and grandfather’s favourite sport was always cricket and when I was young a lot of my memories of my dad were of him playing cricket. The highlight for Dad was playing a couple of times at Bramhall Lane in Sheffield in the select league 11, he was an accomplished opening batsman and a tidy medium-pace bowler. As dad’s Alzheimer’s has progressed and his memory worsened, he talks more and more about his cricketing days and looks at old photos all the time, as a family it is one of the only ways to keep connected with him.”
David was born in 1932 in Sheffield. From an early age, he was always playing sport, cricket, football and table tennis being the main ones. His love of sport came from his father who was a talented footballer and cricketer and when he finished playing, he started to referee and umpire. His first competitive cricket game was played for High Storrs grammar school in Sheffield. After leaving school he was quickly drafted into the RAF for his national service and posted to RAF Kasfareet in Egypt where he played for the wing team and also for the station team against other stations in Egypt. When he returned to Sheffield, he played for several teams including Greenhill Britannia in the Sheffield league and Leadmill old Boys in the Norton and district league.
David’s son said: “The two most vivid memories I have when I was a young boy of his cricketing times, are the time he came home after being hit in the mouth with a fast ball and him having had most of his teeth knocked out! Apparently, it scared me and I wouldn’t go near him for days! The other was his last game when he was in his early forties, he said he wanted to have a bit of fun and hit the first 5 balls of the innings for 6 and was then out, a nice way to finish.”
“We always ask our residents about their wishes,” explained Sharon Kinsella-Pullen, well-being lead at Eccleshare Court Care & Nursing Home. “David loves to reminisce about his cricketing days, and we often look at photos of his cricketing days with him. We thought this would be a lovely way for David to enjoy his favourite pastime. Everyone at Hartsholme Cricket Club was so welcoming and made David’s day special for him, we’re hoping to go back and watch some games.”
For more information about Eccleshare Court Care & Nursing Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Morgan Hicks, customer relations manager on 01733 571951 or email careenquiries@countrycourtcare.com.
Family leisure activities, a cinema and a new modern market with an overall entrance featuring open community space, green landscaping, cafes, and seating – that is what Grimsby’s new look town centre could look like.
Artists’ impressions of how a transformed western end of Freshney Place, Victoria Street and the Bull Ring could be, show an area unrecognisable from how it is now.
The visuals, all proposals at this stage, are being made public ahead of the formal planning process. They are due to go before North East Lincolnshire councillors at Scrutiny and Cabinet meetings later this month, before being submitted into the formal planning process.
People, market traders and businesses will also be asked for their views with public events to display the proposed plans. They will be held later this month with comments taken into consideration when design amends are made before the final plans are drawn up.
Professionals – leaders in the regeneration of such spaces – have been employed to look at the overall design and have drawn upon similar, successful projects across the UK. With local cinema operator, Parkway Entertainment Company Ltd, already on board to operate the new cinema, the artists’ impressions and plans show where that sits within the new offer.
Also factored in within the main entrance is a modern space for market stalls, eateries, and retail, seating, and an area for community activity and events. This entrance leads to the cinema, indoor space for other activities/leisure use and the modern new Market Hall.
A paper prepared ahead of the North East Lincolnshire Council Scrutiny and Cabinet meetings re-affirms how the ‘Freshney Place Leisure Scheme’ will be supported by the already secured Future High Streets Fund, or from a successful Round Two LUF-bid (Levelling-Up Fund). This bid was submitted last month with a decision expected from Government in October.
The scheme, it says, has a wider aspiration to “dilute the current over-reliance on retail space within Freshney Place, providing a more diverse offer.” It has been reported that this is a top priority, following North East Lincolnshire Council’s purchase of the shopping centre earlier this summer.
“The long-term decline of Freshney Place and Top Town Market would have a significant impact on the North East Lincolnshire’s economy and community. Delivery of the leisure scheme resulting in an improved evening economy, increased income from car parks and an enhanced market hall offer would be a positive intervention to not only safeguard the centre, but also for the viability and vitality of the town centre,” outlines the report.
Two companies and two people have been sentenced after an 18-year-old construction worker was fatally injured while working on a house-build construction site in Boston, Lincolnshire.
P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited, Brent Woods and Darrell Tripp were all fined following the death of Josh Disdel.
In July 2018 Mr Disdel, and another worker, both employed by P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, had been tasked with clearing debris from manholes at a house-build construction site at White Bridges, Boston.
While work was taking place, Mr Disdel’s colleague was asked if he could move the works van to allow another vehicle to pass. However, he was not aware that Mr Disdel was lying on the road with his head and torso in a manhole, directly in front of the van.
As the vehicle moved forwards one of the wheels entered the top of the manhole contacting Mr Disdel. Mr Disdel was then taken to hospital but later died as a result of serious crush injuries.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that neither the Principal Contractor, D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited, nor the groundworks sub-contractor, P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited, had ensured that the work was planned in such a way to ensure that workers were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.
Brent Woods, a manager within P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited for approximately 10 years, sent employees to carry out the task without a risk assessment or method statement in place despite having previously produced such information in the past.
In addition, workers had not been trained to work in a road, had not been provided with any equipment to ensure the work was carried out safely and had not been provided with any instruction on any safety measures to be used at site.
Darrell Tripp, a site manager for D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited for approximately four years, having worked in the construction industry for about 40 years, did not carry out a site induction of Josh Disdel and failed to carry out suitable checks to ensure the workers had the relevant training. Mr Tripp also failed to ensure there was a safe system of work in place of whether there were adequate control measures.
Yesterday (September 6), at Lincoln Crown Court, D. Brown (Building Contractors) Limited of Seas End Road, Spalding, were found guilty of contravening Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. They were fined £300,000 and ordered to pay costs of £15,765.92
P & R Plant Hire (Lincolnshire) Limited of Station Road, Cambridgeshire, pleaded guilty to contravening Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. The company was fined £24,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,264.87.
Brent Woods of North Parade, Holbeach, Spalding was found guilty of contravening Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. He was sentenced to 18 weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to complete 200 hours of community service and pay costs of £1200.
Darrell Tripp of Broadgate Lane, Deeping St James, Peterborough was found guilty of contravening Section 7(a) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act. He was sentenced to eight weeks imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered to pay costs of £1200.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Mark Welsh said: “This was a completely avoidable incident, caused by a multitude of failures by both companies and both of the individuals who appeared in court.
“All of the defendants failed to adequately plan the work to identify the risks, failed to ensure that the individuals carrying out the work were trained and competent to do so, and failed to ensure a safe system of work was in place and followed.
“The result was the tragic loss of life of a young man who was looking forward to a bright future.”
Bransby Horses are pleased to announce their Sponsorship Star and visitor favourite, Honour, has found her perfect match and is now living in a loving foster home.
Although she was not on the rehoming scheme, an application fitted Honour so well it couldn’t be ignored.
In an ideal world, all Bransby Horses equines would find refuge with their Perfect Partner, but sadly many have complex needs meaning this isn’t always possible.
Honour’s size, lack of early handling and medical needs meant she was very likely to be in sanctuary care her entire life.
However, when an applicant ticked many of her boxes, the team felt there was a good chance Honour’s ‘perfect partner’ had been found.
Rehoming manager, Rosanna Elliott Hart, said: “We are just over the moon Honour has found her perfect match. We hope everyone who sponsored her will continue to support and follow her journey.
“When someone applies to foster a horse from us there are lots of things to consider but the animal’s needs are our highest priority. In very rare circumstances this means there may be horses that are not on the rehoming section of our website, but could still be considered for foster life.
“This is what has happened in Honour’s case and we are confident she will continue to thrive out of the limelight and in a new herd.”
The 16.3hh, black, Shire mare is still settling into her new home with her Perfect Partner Jennifer, who is very excited about their future together.
Jennifer said: “Honour has settled in really well to her new home; she has a field companion who looks like a smaller version of her and we are expecting a new friend to arrive in the next week or so. She has a massive stable right next to her field where she spends a few hours a day, especially when it is too hot, with her next-door stable mate who is a very gentle gelding who she loves. They are the perfect size to groom each other over the stable wall.
“When we visited Bransby Horses we were so impressed with the layout, the fields and the care of all the equines there. They’ve done a splendid job with Honour – she is very trusting and we have only known each other a couple of months. Hopefully we will be together for many good years to come.”
Honour, like all the charity’s residents, have a home for life with Bransby Horses and remain under their ownership.
Should there ever be a change in circumstances, Honour will return to the sanctuary without question just like all of their equines in foster homes.
Honour’s Story
Honour arrived the day before VE Day in 2017. Befittingly named by staff, she arrived as part of a joint rescue of a large herd of shire horses who had been abandoned in a large field in the West Midlands.
Concerns were raised for the welfare of the herd ahead of the cold, harsh winter months, where mares, foals and a then two year old Honour, would have no food or shelter.
She arrived at the charity on a cold winter’s day frightened and confused.
It’s possible she had never been handled by humans until she arrived and was understandably wary.
However, her kind nature shone through and within months the young filly started to blossom into the striking, confident mare she is today.
Bransby Horses has announced the sad news that two of their most popular and well-loved donkeys, Nero and his half-brother Domino, have been put to sleep.
Unfortunately the two donkeys’ ongoing health issues had become unmanageable.
Both had been struggling for a few weeks and the charity’s veterinary team felt it the right thing to do.
Both Nero and Domino were loved by just about everyone who works at Bransby Horses as well as their supporters.
Domino was one of Bransby Horses’ most popular Sponsorship Stars, as was Nero before he retired.
Both donkeys had been with Bransby Horses for decades and will be sorely missed by all the team who take comfort in knowing they had a wonderful life with them and lived to a very good age.
Lincolnshire Police are investigating following four vehicle thefts in Sleaford and the surrounding villages in the past few days.
The latest incident relates to a report that a white Ford Transit van was stolen from West Road in Ruskington at around 3am on Monday 5 September. The registration of the vehicle which was stolen is OV59 FTT.
In a separate incident, a black Audi A4 with the registration FT61 VXZ, was reported stolen from the car park of The Red Lion in Newton at around 8.55pm on Sunday 4 September.
Lincolnshire Police also received a report that two vehicles had been stolen from an address in Boston Road in Sleaford on 2 September. The vehicles were a grey Mercedes BlueTEC with the registration number FY15 LHX, and a grey Vauxhall Vivaro, registration number LR18 KNO. They were stolen at some point between 25 August and 2 September.
At this point the police say they are keeping an open mind about the circumstances and those responsible.
Lincolnshire Police added: “We are keen to hear from anyone who may have witnessed any of the thefts taking place, or may have information which could help our investigation, or could share CCTV or dashcam of the incidents.
“We are also keen to hear from anyone who may have seen the vehicles, or may have witnessed any suspicious activity in the area in the days leading up to the thefts.
“We are also reminding people to keep their vehicles secure, take their valuables with them, and keep keys in a safe place.”
People across North Lincolnshire will see even more trees planted across the area as the council joins a pan-Humber organisation delivering the Government’s ambitious Northern Forest scheme.
Already more than 90,000 trees have been planted towards the aim of 172,000 – one for every resident in the area.
The council, communities, businesses and residents have backed the project launched two years ago with dozens of areas enhanced in communities across Ashby, Barton, Brigg, Scunthorpe and the Isle of Axholme.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader, North Lincolnshire Council, said: “We are committed to making North Lincolnshire a cleaner, even greener area for people to live, work and visit.
“Now with access to additional Government cash through the Humber Forest, we can move these plans forward at an even faster pace.
“People and businesses have really got behind the tree planting scheme and it is incredible to think that 90,000 more trees have been planted in the last two years since the very first one on the Queensway with Scunthorpe’s MP Holly Mumby-Croft.”
The council has been a steering group member of Humber Forest, co-developing several schemes which have seen 25,000 trees planted in North Lincolnshire.
As a fully-fledged member, with membership due to be completed in the coming days, the council and community groups will be able to access more Government cash and deliver more schemes.
Cllr David Rose, cabinet member for the environment, said: “We have partnered with the team at the Humber Forest and the relationship has been really positive, working together to make sure we can meet our commitment to make North Lincolnshire a better place now and in the future.
“This next stage will really help us all push forward with our plans and reach the target of 172,000 trees – it will make a lasting, positive impact on the environment and the lives of thousands of people across the area for generations to come.
“Anyone who wants to get involved, either suggesting bits of land or getting out their shovels and gardening gloves to help dig in new trees is most welcome.”
The project is ultimately part of the Northern Forest scheme, which is the Government’s 25-year vision to plant 50 million trees across the north of England, from Merseyside to the Lincolnshire coast.
The staff at the Humber Forest help communities, farmers, landowners, and businesses plant trees in the easiest and most effective way possible, providing free advice and guidance, project support and importantly cash for urban and parkland tree planting, tree shelter belts, hedgerows and shrub belts, enhancing existing woodlands and creating entirely new ones.
Available cash covers large and small projects and all agreed costs of tree planting, hedgerow creation, and maintenance for up to five years – it can also include support for tree protection, fences, gates and more.
North East Lincolnshire Council is to share £4.5m amongst almost 800 eligible businesses as part of the Government’s Covid-19 Additional Relief Fund.
Cabinet members meet on Thursday this week to discuss a report about the fund and how it will be distributed. If approved, the Council will distribute the money in the form of business rate relief refunds for the tax year 2021/22. The relief will be paid to businesses outside the retail, hospitality and leisure sectors (who have already benefited from other types of relief).
Guidance from the Government sets the criteria the Council must follow when allocating the fund. Councils must:
Provide direct support to business ratepayers who have been adversely affected by the pandemic and have been unable to adequately adapt to the impact.
not award relief to ratepayers eligible for other certain reliefs
not award to unoccupied properties (unless temporarily closed due to Covid).
If the report is approved, there will be no need for businesses to apply for the funds. The Council will use data from the Office for National Statistics, the Valuation Office Agency and its own records to identify the businesses most affected by the pandemic and apply relief directly to their business rates accounts.
Councillor Stephen Harness, portfolio holder for Finance, Resources and Assets, said: “This additional support is excellent news for businesses in our area who were hit by the pandemic but weren’t eligible for other types of business rate relief. We expect 770 businesses in North East Lincolnshire will benefit from the £4.5m support package.
“More information will be made available to eligible businesses in the coming weeks.”
Councillors have approved planning consent for the Campus for Future Living, which is set to put Mablethorpe at the forefront of medical technology and innovation.
The Campus, which will also be a centre for health and care related teaching and research, will see the construction of a faculty building housing laboratories, consultation spaces, lecture facilities, and ancillary facilities.
The Campus, which is benefitting from £8.5m in Town Deal funding through Connected Coast Town Deal, will also offer accommodation and a café, as well as parking facilities.
Led by a coalition of local, regional, and national partners, the Campus for Future Living will put Mablethorpe at the heart of the provision of health and care related jobs and businesses.
As well as providing a base for the development and testing of medi-tech applications, it will also enable the continued professional development of clinicians, and will provide support and training for people working in care.
Cllr William Gray, the political lead at East Lindsey District Council for the Campus for Future Living project, said: “This is a fantastic development which will transform Mablethorpe and put it on the map for the national significance it will play in developing new medical technology and innovation.
“Not only will it help create jobs, it will bring new opportunities for the people who live and work in Mablethorpe. By working with our local health partners, the University of Lincoln through the Medical Technologies Innovation Facility, it means we have been able to put a pioneering scheme together which will attract more healthcare professionals to East Lindsey.
“I am pleased the council’s Planning Committee have given its approval and I look forward to seeing this project, supported by the Towns Deal, come to fruition.”
Chris Baron, chair of Connected Coast, said: “Through the Campus for Future Living, we have a unique opportunity for Mablethorpe to become a nationally-recognised leader in medical technology and innovation. Now, with planning consent, we can work towards translating the exciting vision for this project into reality, and bring far-reaching benefits for our communities, and beyond.
“The Campus for Future Living is set to bring a national exemplar in its field to Mablethorpe, bringing jobs, investments and opportunities.”
Julian Free CBE, deputy vice chancellor, University of Lincoln, said: “The Campus will provide the resources for research and innovation alongside facilities for medical and social care delivery creating the synergy to accelerate improvement in health outcomes, which will also be exported beyond the region.”
The Campus is also set to be a national centre for piloting best practice in rural settings, particularly focused on e-medicine.
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