Graves Park Social Club fundraiser for local air ambulance
A huge thanks has been given to everyone at Graves Park Social Club for raising an incredible £2,000 towards the work of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.
The donation will help keep Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance’s helicopter in the sky and critical care cars on the road, bringing emergency care to people when they need it most.
Volunteer, Eddie King went to a recent social night to accept the donation from Club Chairman, John Clubb and Quiz Master Dave Toynton. He said: “It was nice to see so many people having an enjoyable evening while raising vital funds for such a vital cause.”
The club raised the money from quiz nights, bingo cards and a red and black night throughout 2023.
Burghley Game & Country Fair returns this May
It’s Country Fair time at Burghley Estate. This popular event returns to the Showground on Sunday & Monday May 26th/27th.
The show boasts a dynamic programme of entertainment in its two main arenas, 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.
Bob Hogg with his sheepdog and ducks provide some light hearted entertainment, whilst Aubrey Ladyman the newly crowned Kennel Club Spaniel Champion and Bella his Springer Spaniel will be demonstrating some of the serious aspects of working gundogs. He is joined by Paul Makepeace and Charlotte Brown from the gundog clinic.
The newcomers are complemented with all the old favourites, Horse Boarding, Scurry Racing, Falconry and various dog displays – 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, scurries and working test to work out training difficulties or the Fly-Casting arenas to name just a few.
After all the activities, take some time out to relax in the various food courts listening to live jazz, taste great street food and take home your favourite nibbles from the Food Halls.
There are of course all the old favourites, a Craft village, Country Sports exhibitors & Traders and lots of country sports to ‘Have a Go’ at.
Airguns, Archery and Paintball in the Shooting Village, Fishing, and a wide range of dog competitions. With gundog scurries, Lurcher racing and shows on both days, with Whippets joining on the Sunday, and a Fun Dog Show for the family pooch.
So don’t leave your dog at home, bring them along and join in.
Full details can be found at www.livingheritagecountryshows.com/tickets
An early May bank holiday treat: Sandringham Food, Craft and Wood Festival
What a Chefs line up the returning Sandringham Food, Craft & Wood Festival has this early May Bank Holiday.
Saturday brings together Rosemary Shrager and Phil Vickery, Sunday presents Sat Bains and Francesco Mattena, whilst Monday sees local favourite Galton Blackiston team up with Jean-Christophe Novelli. Ben Bartlett the BBQ specialist will be joining the Chefs on a daily basis.
One of the highlights of the Wood Fair are the Chainsaw carvers taking part in the 17th English Open Chainsaw Carving Competition. The overseas carvers are beginning to travel again giving an entry of over twenty top quality carvers. Join us in admiring the skill and creativity of chainsaw artists traveling from around the world! From the USA to Germany, Finland, Canada and the Netherlands, their talent knows no borders. Don’t miss this global showcase of Artistry! This year introducing Kamron Garbe traveling in from Armstrong, British Columbia, Canada, just 4,350 miles as the crow flies.
They will be competing in the Classic Competition, a 2.1/2 day carve that produces some stunning sculptures. Alongside this is a twice daily 30 minute speed carve with everything to be sold by auction. Finally for your entertainment especially from the States is Mountain Mikes Carving Show which promises to be something special.
Up to now we have touched on just two elements of the Fair, but there is such a lot more, including a very large Craft Fair and Food Festival. Moving around the show we come to the Craft & Wood exhibitors, demonstrators and competitors. There’s nationally selected Artists, Designers and Craftsmen demonstrating and selling their crafts and skills in the main Craft Pavilions.
Into the Food Halls where you will find a large array of food and drink for your appreciation from local, regional and national producers.
One of the new exhibitors this year has a foot in each camp, Craft and Food, with his unique wares from his Orchard in Cambridgeshire. Trinity Apple Marc Spirit is crafted from the heritage apple varieties grown at the orchard and then housed in an Applewood flask or small item of furniture.
The Piazza is the central hub of the festival, that special area where show visitors come together to eat and drink, whilst soaking up the atmosphere and relaxing to live jazz and folk music. There is a large range of Street Food on offer from many different cultures and an equally wide range of beverages to quench your thirst, so do come along hungry and enjoy!
We look forward to seeing you at the Sandringham Food, Craft and Wood Festival. Saturday, Sunday and Monday May 4th, 5th & 6th.
Entry at the event or book your tickets in advance, online at www.livingheritagecountryshows.com/tickets or ring 01283 820548
Why is it important for schools to have a clear approach to the use of AI?
Academic Director at Queen Ethelburga’s Collegiate, Kevin Oldershaw, shares why it is important for schools to have a clear approach to the use of AI.
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. Schools cannot afford to ignore it and, indeed, are doing students a disservice if they do not properly discuss and agree their fundamental approach to its use. As such, it is important to write an AI policy – there are many samples and templates out there to borrow from – though of course the school needs to first decide just how much they wish to embrace the potential of AI.
At QE, our approach has very much been to see AI as a tool to enhance and support learners and teachers. Why wouldnt we? It is already so embedded in daily life in different forms, whether it be driverless cars, facial recognition or suggested viewing on streaming platforms, that to not make use of it seems counterintuitive. Not only this, but as AI is increasingly being utilised in a range of careers including early diagnoses of medical conditions, analysing market trends or making hiring decisions, we feel obligated to increase student exposure to the potential of AI. They will be entering a very different employment landscape to even 10 years ago and we owe it to them to prepare them as best we can for their futures – isnt that our fundamental purpose as educators?
So, given this approach, we wrote a policy (helped by an AI model of course – they are good for that!) outlining to staff not only how AI can be used by teachers, leaders and support staff but how this must be done in a responsible way, considering issues around ethics, data privacy and bias. This is the same message that was then repeated to students in a series of assemblies in September, delivered in an age-appropriate way and reflecting the different safeguarding guidelines for those under 13, those from 13 to 18, and those over 18. There has been an emphasis with all students under 18 to use AI models that do not require a log in and to ensure they appreciate they should not be entering personal identifiable information into any website, including an AI model, if they do not know how it will be used. For the younger students, the approach has very much been to work with their teachers in lessons using AI as a class, but for the older ones, the focus is on encouraging them to experiment with how it can help them, in a controlled and managed environment.
As we have moved through the year, as we, other educators and governing bodies began to get to grips with how AI can and is being used by staff and students, and various guidance began to be published and updated, we produced our own documentation for students helping them to better understand when it is, and isn’t, acceptable to use AI in their education, how to appropriately reference the use of AI in coursework, and how to work closely with their teachers to learn the best strategies.
Further work was done with teachers on how to use AI most effectively, ensuring the use was conversational, crafting the most effective prompts and then building on these to train the AI model exactly what you need from it. As teachers, used to clearly articulating to students what we want them to do, observing their responses and then amending our instructions and guidance, we are ideally placed to be able to train AI models in the same way! Our academic staff have been able to opt into a range of CPD training sessions, learning how to model AI best practice in the classroom, how to use AI to personalise their teaching, provide feedback to students and how they can help tackle intense workloads to increase their contact time with students.
Appreciating the importance of the need to keep up to date with this rapidly developing area and to ensure that AI is seen as a tool for people to use, not to fear, we created and recruited to a new role Head of Cognitive Science and Digital Literacy. As an experienced teacher within Creative Media and enthusiastic user of technology, Jason Sharma-Pay is ideally placed to not only help us further develop our digital strategy but to better understand how human creativity, empathy, emotional intelligence and capacity for critical thought can ensure artificial intelligence enhances teaching, learning and student outcomes.
Lincolnshire Fostering Service honours remarkable foster carers at annual celebration
Lincolnshire Fostering Service has announced its upcoming annual Foster Carer Celebration event, set to take place near Grantham on 19th April. This special occasion honours the outstanding dedication and commitment of foster carers across Lincolnshire and celebrates their invaluable contributions to the lives of local children.
The ceremony features the presentation of awards to over 50 foster carers, recognising long-standing service and special achievements. This year’s event promises to be particularly poignant as one extraordinary couple, Mr. Robert Isdale (81) and Mrs. Margaret Isdale (80), will be honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Isdales’ are a remarkable couple who have dedicated an astounding 44 years to fostering local children. Having provided nurturing care to over a hundred babies and young children, their selfless commitment exemplifies the true spirit of foster caregiving.
“We are honoured to host this annual celebration, recognising the tireless efforts of our foster carers and the profound difference they make in the lives of vulnerable children,” said Deborah Crawford, Head of Lincolnshire Fostering Service.
“It is a joyous occasion to come together as a community and celebrate these extraordinary individuals who exemplify compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication. Our heartfelt thanks to this remarkable group of people.”
Lincolnshire Fostering Service is dedicated to providing safe, nurturing homes for children in need of foster care. Through recruitment, training, and ongoing support of numerous foster carers throughout the county, the service aims to ensure that every child in Lincolnshire has the opportunity to thrive in a loving and stable home environment.
If you have been thinking about becoming a foster carer, contact the friendly team at fostering@lincolnshire.gov.uk to attend an online information event.
Shops ordered to close after illegal tobacco and vape sales
Six shops in Boston, two in Spalding and one shop in Holbeach have been issued with three-month closure orders by Lincolnshire Trading Standards and Lincolnshire Police.
Last week, officers visited premises where illegal tobacco and vape products were sold. Court orders were then granted under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, at:
- Nasza Biedronka, Spalding
- Easy Shop, Spalding
- Holbeach Market, High Street, Holbeach
- The Fruit Shop, Biedronka, and Mini Market all on the High Street in Boston
- Kubus on Red Lion Street in Boston
- Europa on Fydell Street in Boston
- Balkans Mini Market on West Street in Boston
Lincolnshire opens world’s first memorial dedicated to Polish air crews of WW2
The world’s first Heritage Centre dedicated to WW2’s Polish aircrews has opened at RAF Ingham after 14 years of effort by a team of devoted volunteers.
They have transformed an old farm storage building, formerly the wartime Airmen’s Mess, into a wonderful and fitting location to tell an almost forgotten story.
The Centre is dedicated to remembering and celebrating (through their own personal stories) the remarkable lives and memories of the men and women (both ground and air crews) of the Polish Air Force Bomber Squadrons, who lived, worked and flew alongside the RAF during the Second World War; and will also tell the humanitarian story of their struggles to settle and integrate into ‘post-war’ Britain, whilst retaining their customs, culture and Polish heritage.
RAF Ingham (later known as RAF Cammeringham) was a Royal Air Force station used by RAF Bomber Command between 1942 and 1944 and by training units and the Polish Air Force until 1946.
The first squadron to be based at RAF Ingham was No.300 Polish Bomber Sqn who arrived in May 1942 from RAF Hemswell. They stayed until Jan 1943, when they returned to Hemswell. The next month saw the arrival of No.199 Sqn, who themselves only stayed until Jun 1943. Within a week, No.300 Sqn returned, bringing with them No.305 Polish Bomber Sqn, as the they were constructing concrete runways at Hemswell. No.305 Sqn only stayed through the summer, before leaving to join Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) in Sep. This left No.300 Sqn as the sole custodians of RAF Ingham, before they also departed for a final time, to RAF Faldingworth in Mar 1944.
At the end of hostilities, many Polish servicemen and women chose not to return to the now communist governed Poland and decided to remain in Britain, making it their new home, under the Polish Resettlement Act of 1947. Formed in 1946 the Polish Resettlement Corps (PRC) provided Polish personnel with a trade and language lessons, for integration into British society. Polish Resettlement Units (PRU) were created to accommodate these personnel and their families.
RAF Cammeringham had a PRU, which was built on a former RAF accommodation site, at the southern edge of Ingham Village. Nissen Huts were internally designed to create basic yet austere family dwellings.
In 2023, RAF Ingham’s team of volunteers were one of the first groups to be awarded the new King’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a local voluntary group can receive in the UK and is equivalent to an MBE.
Chairman of RAF Ingham Heritage Centre Geoff Burton said: “After so many years of hard work and dedication by our wonderful team of volunteers, we are finally able to open the Centre to the public.
“This project is globally unique, and tells the story of the Polish Bomber Squadrons who fought alongside the RAF during the Second World War; but we also remember the almost forgotten history of a small Lincolnshire airfield RAF Ingham, that only ever existed through the war years.
“We expect to welcome visitors from not only the local area, but regionally and nationally as well; and due to the global uniqueness of the Centre, we anticipate attracting international visitors from Poland, America, Canada and Australia. This in turn will greatly support and benefit the local and Counties economy. “
The Main Exhibition Centre comprises of two wings, covering over 4602m of exhibition space; an atmospheric Polish Families Nissen Hut; a Mini-Cinema, Shop and Toilets. Around the Site there is also a Memorial Garden, the Remembrance Garden, Volunteer Workshop, Nissen Hut Vegetable Garden, and not forgetting their ‘Airmen’s Rest’ Cafe and Picnic Area.
The site also benefits from free parking and same-level access in almost all areas. Guided tours and group bookings are available by prior arrangement (dependent on staff availability). The entire exhibition is bi-lingual (Polish and English).
The Centre will formally open to the public for their first open weekend on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 April 2024, 10am to 3pm.
Normal Opening times will be from Saturday 20 April:
- Thursday, 10am to 3pm
- Saturday, 10am to 3pm
- Sunday, 10am to 3pm
Equestrians invited to free, charity led welfare awareness events
Following on from the amazing success of last year’s events Bransby Horses are once again hosting a series of talks for horse owners covering the latest equine management topics, such as track systems and alternative grazing set-ups.
These events are completely free and aimed at horse owners, equestrian business owners and land proprietors.
Bransby Horses has been rescuing and caring for equines in need for over 50 years and their Make a Difference events offer an opportunity for anyone who is interested to hear from the charity’s experienced teams, as part of their ongoing mission to positively impact the lives of equines.
Events organiser Rachel Dixon said: “We started these events last year and they were really popular, so we thought we’d do another series. For anyone who attended last year, we have new material and guest speakers so please come along, as we have a wealth of useful information we would love to share with you.
“A highlight will be at the talk in April when our guest speaker is Dr Tamzin Furtado who will be hosting her Alternative Grazing talk. Dr Furtado is a social scientist from the University of Liverpool, specialising in equine welfare and human behaviour change.
“Dr Furtado recently completed a PhD in managing obesity in horses, where she focused on the welfare of the horse and their relationship with humans. We are really lucky to have her visit us at Bransby Horses and can’t wait to hear her talk.”
Alternative Grazing Systems takes place on Thursday, April 25 at 6.30pm, Grassland Management on Wednesday, July 17 at 11am, and Equine Identification and Registration on Thursday, September 5 at 6.30pm.
All events are free to attend and will be held in the Clifford Marshall Building at Bransby Horses in Bransby near Lincoln.
Booking is essential, light refreshments and free parking will be available.
For more information or to reserve your free space, please call 01427 788 464 or visit BransbyHorses.co.uk/MADE
Image shows Tamzin Furtado
The Shire Veterinary Services – treating pets from the comfort of home
We are a team of veterinary professionals based in North Lincolnshire, providing mobile veterinary services exclusively for cats and dogs. Our small, independent practice is family owned and run, and our vets are very knowledgeable and passionate about their work.
Our experienced team brings their expertise to you, and treat your pets in the safety of their own environment. We strive to offer a stress free experience during our visits, and we, also, tailor the consult time to suit your needs and those of your pet.
It is now possible to receive a high quality, personalized and empathetic service from the comfort of your home. Contact us on 01652 250225 to register or visit our website www.theshirevets.co.uk for more information.
£3m secured to reignite Caistor’s 2-4 Market Place regeneration project
Caistor and District Community Trust (CDCT) has now secured total funding of £3million to see the long-awaited 2-4 Market Place renovation project begin in earnest.
Having been successfully awarded an increased Community Ownership Fund Levelling-Up grant of £500,000, and satisfied its key funder, the National Lottery Heritage Fund with a revised scope of works, it’s full steam ahead for this project* which promises to continue the reawakening of the Wold-edge market town of Caistor.
Working with the agreed principal contractor for the project, Messenger – part of the BCR Group, and the team who recently undertook and completed the cutting-edge conservation work at Lincoln Medieval Bishops’ Palace – Greenwood Projects – the firm that has supported 2-4 Market Place from day one with Graham Tait Project Managing – and AnotherKind Architects, CDCT is excited to officially get the renovations underway, as Neil Castle, company secretary of the Trust, explains.
“To say we’re are delighted to now have the funding to bring these buildings back to life, share their heritage and make them accessible for everyone in the process is an understatement,” said Neil.
“Our mission, not only with 2-4 Market Place but certainly with this project acting as a catalyst, is to improve the economic sustainability of our historic market town,” added Neil.
“Caistor has seen a recent boom in businesses, both up-scaling and taking up vacant units, so to be able to further add to this enterprise by providing opportunities for community activities, social space and to help bring additional tourism to the town is incredibly important to us as a Trust.
“The diverse and vibrant mixed-use development scheme will include the repair and conservation of the complex of historic buildings, transforming 2-4 Market Place into a space the whole community can be proud of and embrace as their own.”
Having been vacant for several years, and being noted on the buildings ‘at risk’ register as needing immediate attention, this funding comes at a vital time.
The restored buildings, in their full glory, will create spaces for retail units which could include a restaurant/cafe, a community space for functions, exhibitions and other community activities, self-catering holiday lets, spaces that can be used as offices or arts-and-crafts business units, storage for local archival materials and a space for the Trust to work from.
With a revised plan now in place, prioritising the completion of the market square facing shopfronts of 2, 3 and 4 Market Place, the community room above number 4, two holiday lets above numbers 2 and 3, the new core service building and the restored courtyard, the continued collaboration between the Trust and its valued partners will support the aim to get work started by early May.
*Subject to the required paperwork being in place.
