Two Lincolnshire men have raised more than £5,000 for the Freemasons’ charity the MCF by trekking to Everest Base Camp, 18,000 feet above sea level.
Jez Hyland from Horncastle and Rob Wright from Boston went to the Himalayas with five friends for the adventure of a lifetime – and with arduous climbs, snow, ice, the constant fear of altitude sickness, and a scary landing at the world’s most dangerous airport, it lived up to that billing.
Rob, left and Jez prepare to cross one of the flimsy footbridges en route
Jez Hyland tells the story… “The journey to the mountain wasn’t without its difficulties. We got stuck in Kathmandu airport for over six hours, but got one of the the last helicopters out that was able to land at Lukla Airport, said to be the most dangerous in the world. It was scary; have a look at YouTube. After that we were ready to start our journey proper.
“The first day’s trekking was fairly straightforward over four hours. However, the second day has been brutal with 3,600 feet of climbing and a few foot bridges. Not great for someone like me, who doesn’t particularly enjoy heights! But look on the bright side; it was better than walking down and back up again.
“Tuesday was our acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar, which sits at 11,400 feet above sea level. The day consisted of a 1,500-foot climb to the Everest Hotel, and then walk back down to where we’d started. It was a four-hour steep stroll, and would have offered our first view of Everest, if it hadn’t been hidden by cloud…
“Wednesday was a hike to Tenbouche at 12,700 feet. However, we had to descend to a river crossing, which meant 2,880 feet of climbing on the day. It was a tough trek with terrain consisting mainly of steep switchback boulders. On the upside, the weather was perfect and we saw Everest without cover for the first time. The scenery was stunning and our photos probably don’t do justice to what we could see with the naked eye.
“Based on the weather forecast, our guide advised us to do Everest Base Camp on the Saturday and Kalapathar on the Sunday morning for a sunrise view with a 3:30 am start. Boy was he right, but more of that later.
Journey’s end!
“Reaching Base Camp was a nine-hour day from Lobuche via Gorakshep, then returning to Gorakshep ready for the sunrise climb. The Camp day was tough, with so many rock and boulder step overs, but we had brilliant weather again and achieved the goal, getting to Everest Base Camp safely.
“On Sunday we woke up to at least two inches of snow, which would’ve made Base Camp nearly impossible, so massive thanks to our guide for calling it correctly. However, two inches of snow and Minus 11 at 3.30am made the Kalapathar climb, with sunrise at 5:47 am, and no descent or flat on the hike, probably the toughest of all. But for our efforts, we got to see Everest in all its glory. Viewing the tallest place on the planet with your own eyes is an incredible experience.
“Finally, Rob and I want to thank everyone for their support, and a massive thanks to the rest of the team, Kenny, Cameron, Dean, Steve and Andy who accompanied us on our journey and also supported our charity appeal very generously.
“I must also compliment the Nepalese people, who have been absolutely fantastic. They are very happy smiley nation. But on reflection it did make me think how terribly lucky and grateful we should be for being in the fortunate position of being able to achieve these sort of lifetime challenges. At the same time, everybody who supports such challenges should be proud they are able to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
Welland Homes, a housing company wholly owned by South Holland District Council, is donating its £128,274 profit for the year to four local charities, helping to support in-need residents in the District.
The company, incorporated in 2015, was established with aims to increase the housing supply in the area to meet an existing demand, set high standards for housing design in the District, and improve the quality of rental accommodation available to residents.
Welland Homes currently has 53 open market rental properties in its ownership and is seeking to acquire a further 4 homes this year. After another successful year, the company will be donating its profit margin to four local charities: Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Service, Active Lincolnshire and South Holland in Bloom.
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire will receive £88,074, which will be used in their goals to provide free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice on rights and responsibilities, as well as support on a range of matter such as money advice, welfare support, employment, housing and family and personal matters.
£31,000 will be donated to Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Services, who work in the District to enable individuals and groups to make a real difference in building stronger and sustainable communities through community engagement and promoting and supporting volunteering.
Active Lincolnshire, who bring people and organisations together to provide opportunities for everyone in Lincolnshire to be more active, more often, will be receiving £6,000.
£3,000 will be donated to South Holland in Bloom who assist and support various villages across the district in connection with the Britain In Bloom competition. The charity provide small financial contributions to each area which looks to support the work to improve the local environment.
All charities will receive the funds by the end of March.
Directors of the Welland Homes Board welcomed the payment of donations, saying: “We are extremely proud that Welland Homes’ continued growth and development is allowing the company to make donations of this size to a group of charities that go above and beyond to support our local area a great deal.
“With yet another successful and profitable year, it pays testament to the incredible hard work put in by everyone involved with the company and shows the financial benefits the company provides to the council. We look forward to the future of this company as it continues to provide the quality homes that our residents deserve.”
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Stockfotos-MG
South Holland District Council is working with Heritage Lincolnshire and local people to create a heritage strategy for Spalding as part of Spalding Reconnected, a project celebrating and reconnecting the historic Spalding town centre and riverside, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
The heritage strategy has been co-created through engaging with members of the public and key community groups in Spalding, to find out what heritage and projects really matter to the town. Local heritage groups and communities have been spoken to to shape the strategy and write an action plan which includes 47 projects to make the strategic vision a reality.
This document and accompanying sustainable action plan, will be used to prioritise and support the development of heritage sites and projects in the town over the next 5-10 years. This document showcases the connections and collaboration which make Spalding’s heritage so amazing.
Over the next 10 years the Spalding Heritage Strategy will offer a unique opportunity to connect organisations and groups, to form partnerships with funders, South Holland District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.
Your contributions are wanted to make the Heritage Strategy great for all the people who visit, live, and work in Spalding. Get involved in this last opportunity to shape the future of heritage in Spalding! Follow the link below to learn about findings so far and share your thoughts:
https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/current-projects/spalding-heritage-strategy
Once this feedback has been incorporated, the Spalding Heritage Strategy will be handed over to South Holland District Council for an official adoption process.
Tracy Stringfellow, CEO of Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “We’d love to hear from you. This last opportunity to hear the thoughts and feedback of local people is crucial to making sure the strategy best reflects the priorities and needs of Spalding.
“We’re thrilled to have worked collaboratively with South Holland District Council and local people to produce the Spalding Heritage Strategy, to connect and celebrate the heritage of this vibrant market town.”
Councillor Gary Taylor, Deputy Leader of South Holland District Council and portfolio holder for Spalding Town Improvement, said: “We have already had some great feedback from local residents, community groups and partners on this strategy for Spalding, and I would encourage people to take this final opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback.
“It’s important that this project reflects the priorities and needs of Spalding and the surrounding area, and makes the greatest positive impact possible to the environment and experience of living, working or visiting around the town centre and riverside. This is our chance to create a strategy that celebrates and protects the heritage of our local area, and I hope people take the time to get involved.”
Image shows Spalding. Credit: Stock.adobe.com/Steven F Granville
Facilities at Grantham’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) have been expanded to include state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners.
The £5 million investment in the site on Gonerby Road at Gonerby Hill Foot is the latest development in Lincolnshire’s NHS CDC programme to offer diagnostic tests to patients in the local community outside of a busy hospital setting.
The former Moy Park hatchery site has been open as a CDC since April 2022 and further investment from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board has enabled it to continue to expand.
Claire Lloyd, CDC Programme Lead, said: “Our CDC programme has already supported more than 75,000 diagnostic tests to be carried out for Lincolnshire patients as part of their ongoing care. All of these planned appointments are run exactly as they would be in our hospitals, including with the same clinical teams and IT systems, but without the potential disruption from emergency care.
“Patients can be seen quicker, potentially closer to home and in a calmer environment. There is also free on-site parking, which has also been improved with re-surfacing during the building work, directly outside the entrance.
“The ongoing success of the Grantham CDC is testament to the commitment of our teams in Lincolnshire’s NHS to find innovative ways to improve, while meeting the challenges presented to us by the county’s unique geography and population. We’re excited to see these two new scanners in place and supporting our patients.”
As well as new MRI and CT scanners, the expanded facilities include changing areas for patients, additional clinical preparation areas, large scanner control rooms and a staff room.
With referral from a health professional, patients can access the following services at Grantham CDC:
Plain film X-ray
Non-obstetric ultrasound
Echocardiogram
Diabetic Eye Screening
DEXA scanning
MRI scans
CT scans
AAA screening
Andrew David used Grantham CDC as a patient and has continued to support the programme as a patient representative, shaping developments on the site and elsewhere in Lincolnshire.
He said: “My visit to the Grantham CDC completely changed how I feel about going for scans and similar tests. Gone are the queues, delays, and gloomy corridors. The centre in Grantham is on a different level altogether, free ample parking, clean, fast, efficient service and above all the staff were exemplary, friendly, professional, and put me completely at ease. This is the way it should be and Aneurin Bevan would be very proud!”
Other plans on the CDC programme during 2024 include the £38m development of two new CDCs on Lincoln Science and Innovation Park and in Skegness.
Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Lincolnshire councils are to be given a share in £295 million to invest in regular food waste collections.
The money is expected to fund weekly food waste collections by 31 March 2026, providing both new food waste containers for homes and specialist collection vehicles, targeted at local authorities that have yet to fully put food waste service in place.
Councils covered include:
Boston Borough Council; £728k
East Lindsey District Council; £1.4m
Lincoln City Council; £829k
North Lincolnshire; £1.5m
North East Lincolnshire; £1.5m
North Kesteven £936k
South Kesteven; £1.4m
West Lindsey; £1m
According to Recycling Minister Robbie Moore, more than ten million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK, with much sent to landfill. Separate collections of food waste from every household will prevent contamination of other waste which could be usefully recycled, as well as ensuring that food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities rather than needlessly lost to landfill. Directing food waste to these plants will generate more sustainable energy to power homes and businesses, and cut down the more than 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with this waste.
He said: “Weekly food waste collections are a central plank in delivering a simpler, easier recycling system for all. It will help to stop food waste heading to landfill and support our goals of tackling both waste and climate change. We’re backing councils with new funding to ensure the nation can benefit and recycle more.”
Claire Shrewsbury, Director of Insights and Innovations WRAP, said: “Weekly food waste collections will give recycling in England an important boost and help reduce the impact of food waste on climate change. Our research shows that when food waste collections are introduced, and people see how much food goes to waste in their home, they want to do something about it. And with food waste costing a household of four around £1,000 a year, weekly collections will not only help prevent food waste in the first place, but utilise the food waste collected to generate green energy and compost.”
The funding is part of the government’s Simpler Recycling plans – meaning that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, and ending the confusing patchwork of rules governing what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country.
In a move which will secure a prestigious hotel business, protect jobs and broaden its economic and social benefits, North Kesteven District Council has taken ownership of the Carre Arms Hotel in Sleaford.
The purchase of both the hotel and its operating company has been finalised following a decision by Full Council on February 29, 2024, with Members agreeing that there were significant advantages to the community in protecting this key local infrastructure asset, which could otherwise be lost as a viable business.
Acquisition of the Carre Arms also assists the Council significantly in advancing its ambitions around expanding the local visitor economy – being one of only two hotels in the immediate area with more than 10 rooms – and the regeneration of Sleaford Town Centre.
The move also protects an historic, landmark building and introduces opportunity to enhance its viability as an accommodation, conference and functions provider.
Council Chief Executive Ian Fytche said the realisation of this opportunity to move forward a number of the Council’s strategic aims around Sleaford’s regeneration and the potential for growing the local visitor economy was something the Council could not afford to pass over.
“For more than 12 years we have recognised the need for expanded hotel provision in order to meet existing and growing demand for business and visitor accommodation, but that is something that the private sector has not been able to provide,” he said.
“That reality, allied with the broader aspirations of the Sleaford Masterplan and the Council’s wider strategic interests in redevelopment opportunities in the immediate area of the Carre Arms, have led to the Council taking this proactive intervention.
“It is an action entirely consistent with legal and financial frameworks and will ultimately support the Council in both delivering on its objectives and maintaining its own ongoing viability, just as its established Lafford Homes housing company does.
“Customers of the Carre Arms will see no immediate difference as there is no change to the operations of the hotel or the circumstances of the employees.
“Along with the retiring owners, who have run a successful business for more than 20 years, we thank them for their goodwill both now and over the years in providing a much-needed multipurpose venue in the heart of Sleaford.”
Image courtesy of North Kesteven District Council
A new festival is coming to West Lindsey this year, which promises to bring people together through words, pictures, sounds and music.
WordFest, which is being staged in Market Rasen in July and Gainsborough in September, builds on the success of the Literature Village, which was held in Gainsborough’s Market Place last year.
Organised by West Lindsey District Council, WordFest is all about the area ‘finding its voice’ and promises to be a festival of storytelling, creativity, and imagination.
Towns’ Manager at West Lindsey District Council, Nicola Marshall, said the event would have something for everyone to enjoy. She said: “It’s great that we are able to build on the success of the Literature Village and expand this into something that will truly bring people together through a love of art and music.”
Both events will feature the Literature Village Market, which will once again welcome stallholders selling all things book related. There will be free entertainment for children including the splendid Storybook Emporium; Oskar with his magic accordion; poetry writing for all and storytelling in the ‘teepee’.
In Gainsborough, there will also be free horse and carriage rides from Market Place to the library. Additional attractions are still in the planning stage.
Helen Hagon, a teacher and writer based in Gainsborough, is among the artists appearing at WordFest. She said: “Last year I ran a stall at the Gainsborough Literature Market, which was a wonderful opportunity to chat with fellow lovers of the written word from the local area, and I will be doing the same again at this year’s Wordfest.
“I am also currently compiling a collection of my own poetry and am looking forward to leading a poetry-writing workshop in September for anyone interested in having a go at penning some verse of their own. No writing experience is necessary, just bring lots of enthusiasm and a love of words.”
Local musician, Graham Thorpe, another of the artists appearing, said he was looking forward to encouraging people to share their love of all the different artforms. He said: “WordFest will enable Gainsborough people to use their voice in some way – through writing, through reading, through poetry, through art and drawing, and of course music.”
Graham, and a group of fellow musicians, have written music specifically for the event and will be performing at The Old Nick Theatre.
To whet people’s appetite ahead of WordFest, there will be a creative writing workshop entitled ‘Writing is Fun’ – led by local writer Gill Blow at Gainsborough Library. The workshops will be held on six consecutive Saturdays from 20 April to 25 May, 10am to 12pm.
Tracey Jones of Garden Room Art, will also be hosting an art journalling workshop on 1 and 15 June – 10 am to 12pm.
And during the week leading up to Wordfest, there will be a fascinating history talk entitled ‘Industrious Women of the Trent’, a Lincolnshire Dialect afternoon and an evening featuring a musical soundscape. Other events include a poetry workshop and a super children’s literature event at the Trinity Arts Centre.
Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Stephen Bunney, said he was looking forward to the festival. He said: “It’s great to be able to bring people together through music and art, and with WordFest staged at both Gainsborough and Market Rasen, it will demonstrate this perfectly. I’m delighted we have another super festival to join the line-up of events that continue to be so well supported across the district.”
Image courtesy of West Lindsey District Council
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is giving a mega toe-tapping thanks to the Ukulele Orchestra of Spalding, for raising a fantastic £500 from events and concerts in aid of their life-saving work.
The group’s secretary, Katy, said: “It was a unanimous decision by us all to nominate LNAA. The air ambulance is a vital device and we all wanted to do our part to keep it flying.”
LNAA Community Fundraiser, Jac Sutherland, recently visited the group and gave thanks for this fantastic donation. She said: “It will cost £10 million in 2024 to keep LNAA operational, enabling our dedicated pilots, doctors and paramedics to carry the most up-to-date life-saving equipment and take an emergency department directly to the scene of some of the most serious incidents in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.
“As we receive no regular direct funding from the Government, we rely solely on the generosity and goodwill of people and organisations like Ukelele Orchestra of Spalding to support our work.”
A new leisure and learning facility in Mablethorpe has reached an important milestone in its construction as it enters the final stages of completion.
Work started in March last year to build Station Leisure & Learning Centre on the site of the current Station Sports Centre, operated by Magna Vitae Trust for Leisure & Culture.
East Lindsey District Council successfully bid for Government Levelling Up funding through the Towns Fund and was awarded £7.4m, supported by the Connect Coast Town Deal Board.
The transformational leisure and learning scheme is set to provide new health and wellbeing opportunities for people in Mablethorpe and the surrounding area. The facility includes a four-lane, 25m swimming pool; a changing village, modern fitness suite, Tag Active (adventure play) studios as well as a new outdoor play area and car park. The centre will also provide new learning and skills opportunities.
A ‘topping out’ event marked a milestone in the construction phase and was an opportunity to celebrate the progress made in delivering the Town’s Fund project. Those in attendance were given a tour of the building so far, including the swimming pool.
Cllr Richard Fry, Portfolio Holder for Finance at East Lindsey District Council and the Political Lead for the Station Leisure & Learning Centre, said: “This fantastic facility will truly be transformational in improving the health and wellbeing opportunities for people of all ages in Mablethorpe and the surrounding area.
“For many years, a public swimming pool for Mablethorpe has been a long-desired wish from residents in the town. I am delighted that East Lindsey District Council, working with Magna Vitae and the Connected Coast Board has been able to deliver this with a fantastic four lane, 25 metre pool as well as a new fitness suite and other facilities.
“Station Leisure & Learning Centre will take away the need for residents to travel out of town to access a swimming pool, as well as increasing the opportunities for people of all ages to learn to swim and to improve their health and wellbeing through fitness and social activities.
“The leisure centre combined with the other Town Deal projects being delivered in Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea mark a huge investment for this area of East Lindsey alone.
“In 2021, Mablethorpe secured £23.9m in Town Deal funding from the government to deliver an ambitious vision which will bring significant and sustainable improvements to support a healthy and diverse economy.”
The current Station Sports Centre is scheduled to close on Thursday 11th April to allow for the demolition of the existing Station Sports Centre building.
There will then be a short period of closure to allow for staff training at the new facility and to complete works. The new facility is set to open this summer (2024), with the official date to be announced in the coming weeks.
Magna Vitae is holding an event for residents, members and staff past and present to say farewell to Station Sports Centre on their last open day 11th April from 4pm-7pm.
A programme of community activities is being arranged to ensure people have access to facilities during the short closure.
Station Sports Centre members will have access to other Magna Vitae facilities in Louth, Skegness and Horncastle during the closure to enable them to continue their health and wellbeing journey.
Aeneas Richardson, Executive Director for Magna Vitae, said: “Magna Vitae is proud to be involved with developing Station Leisure & Learning Centre and taking this project forward. Anticipation has been growing within the Mablethorpe community over the last 13 months as we have all watched this spectacular building rise out of the ground.
“Excitement is now mounting as we progress towards the final stages of building completion and the leisure centre opening for public use. Our membership has already started to increase as customers begin to plan their health and wellbeing journey in the new fitness suite, swimming pool or Tag Active (adventure play) facility. The place and people are really beginning to ‘buzz.’
“This facility will provide several fantastic opportunities for general learning, life-skill education, training, personal development, confidence building and wider achievement(s). The leisure centre will create at least 12 new employment opportunities and recruitment is underway as we speak. The sheer enthusiasm of the staff team working within the venue will really contribute to the residents of Mablethorpe truly living a ‘great life.'”
Chris Baron, Chair of Connected Coast, said: “It is great to reach this milestone in the development of the Station Leisure and Learning Centre.
“There has long been an aspiration within the community for a swimming pool in Mablethorpe, and with the topping out of the building, this ambition is moving ever closer to being realised.
“With modern fitness facilities and opportunities for learning, the centre is set to be a real asset to the local area, and will make a significant impact in supporting people’s physical and mental wellbeing in Mablethorpe.”
Plans to transform part of the East Lincolnshire coast have taken an important step forward, following unilateral approval of the 336-acre sustainable urban extension scheme in Skegness.
The news, delivered Wednesday 20 March at an executive meeting of East Lindsey District Council in Horncastle, means the town is on the cusp of receiving more than £300 million in economic benefits, delivering hundreds of local jobs.
Projections undertaken by the Gateway team showcase the scheme will deliver employment benefits of £289.7 million, £20.5 million and £16 million in Gross Value Added (GVA) measurability for commercial, industrial and retail sector jobs.
The proposed Local Development Order is seeking to expedite the delivery of up to 1,000 new homes and more than 49 acres of combined business, industrial and community space.
Situated to the west of the town, on land principally owned by Croftmarsh, with additional areas owned by the Scarbrough family, the Skegness Gateway scheme is set to breathe new life into an area of the Lincolnshire coast that drastically needs change in order to secure its future, boosting the local economy and providing the education and jobs for local people that will encourage them to stay in the area.
Sue Bowser of Croftmarsh said: “This is a milestone moment for the people of Skegness and an important step in revitalising our town and community. It is a pathway for people to carve a real future in the town, with employment, skills and learning opportunities all situated within one site, connected by an ambition to restore Skegness at the heart of East Midlands economic investment.
“Having farmed the land at Croftmarsh for 30 years, it was always hoped that it could eventually be used for development. Now, it’s a chance for prospective consultants, developers and investors to look more closely at our plans and be a part of transforming Skegness’ future. It will become a new home for thousands of families, a place of ambition and prosperity, with a lasting legacy for generations to come.”
As part of the proposals, the Skegness Gateway site also includes provision for a new crematorium, 78 acres of green open space, supported living options and a new local centre.
The scheme has garnered wide stakeholder and public support since its launch three years ago, following a series of engagement sessions and appearances at local community events.
Last November, it was described by Matt Warman, MP for Boston and Skegness as a catalyst to ‘allow people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to get the jobs they want.’ The scheme was also mentioned in the House of Commons as offering a ‘significant boon to local NHS services.’
Enabling works on the new Skegness TEC college, which is situated on the Skegness Gateway site, is already underway, following planning permission being granted in February last year.
Adrian Clarke, group vice principal for corporate services at TEC Partnership, said: “The new campus will provide fantastic opportunities for the local community to undertake courses in further and higher education and develop the skills the area needs for its future.”
Chris Baron, chair at Connected Coast, said: “We are seeing unprecedented investment in Skegness which is supporting the delivery of aspirational and transformational projects.
“The Skegness Gateway represents a further and significant opportunity to create much-needed facilities for the area and enhance Skegness for people who live and visit here.
“Together the opportunities, interventions, and investment – which includes the Towns Fund and the recently announced Long Term Plan for Towns – will bring long-term, sustainable benefits for Skegness which will be felt for generations to come.”
Councillor Steve Kirk, East Lindsey District Council portfolio holder for coastal economy, said: “I am delighted to see another positive step taken towards delivering this transformational piece of investment to Skegness and East Lindsey as a whole.
“By supporting these plans, we are helping to create new jobs, new education and skills development options, new homes and new opportunities for businesses and the local economy. This is yet another example that shows Skegness is a great place to live, work, play and invest.
“Alongside our ongoing Towns Fund and Levelling Up projects, the positive impact of these developments will be felt for generations to come, and I look forward to continuing to see them become a reality in the months and years ahead.”
Image: Skegness Gateway site
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