Sleaford to welcome weekend of free activities to celebrate Christmas
Visit Sleaford’s Market Place across Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 December for WinterLight – a weekend of free activities to celebrate Christmas.
A community lantern procession will illuminate the town centre on Saturday, with local community groups and crafters having been invited to create a variety of lanterns in the weeks leading up the event.
Participants will gather from 3:30pm at the Hub and walk along Southgate to the Market Place. Upon arrival at the Hub, participants will be greeted by carolling from the Sleaford Concert Band. As the procession makes its way to the Market Place, there will be another session of carolling and entertainment into the evening.
There’s also opportunity to decorate a jar lantern, which will be placed in front of St Denys’ over the weekend, adding a further glow to the area.
Fun for all ages awaits on the synthetic ‘ice’ rink, open from 2pm-7pm Saturday and 11am-4pm Sunday. Free 30-minute slots will be available across both days and no booking will be required. With most activities taking place on the Saturday, the skating sessions on Sunday should offer a quieter experience for individuals with additional needs.
St Denys’ will feature a festive projection, in place for a limited time over the weekend, alongside community-made lanterns. Additional highlights for the Saturday include free face painting, a dance performance and Santa’s Sleigh photobooth, brought courtesy of the Rotary Club.
Cllr Richard Wright, leader of North Kesteven District Council, said: “Sleaford really comes alive during the festive period, and we’re pleased this year, to welcome everyone to experience it with a weekend of free activities for all ages in this new space.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Christmas and support local businesses and see the potential for the Market Place to host events of this kind more easily and safely.”
On this day and every Saturday in December there will free parking in Sleaford, in any North Kesteven District Council-run car park this festive period, to further encourage shoppers and visitors into Sleaford to enjoy the free activities. Free parking continues every evening and Sunday, as usual.
Local businesses will have festive specials available throughout the weekend, and many will be opening into the evening on Saturday 21 December.
Meanwhile, some of the businesses in Bristol Arcade will be open on Sundays from 10am throughout December, offering an additional day for people to do their Christmas shopping and enjoy more of Sleaford all weekend. This includes Beautifully Handmade Gift Shop, Treasured Trove, Empra UK, and TJ Crafts.
WinterLight is funded by the Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, being delivered by North Kesteven District Council in partnership with local businesses and creatives including the Hub, Lumo Workshop and Popcorn Media.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/luckybusiness
Students embark on racing car build project for European competition
Students from the University of Lincoln are building a single-seat racing car to enter Formula Student, Europe’s premier educational engineering competition.
Backed by notable industry figures like Ross Brawn, the competition gives students hands-on experience in automotive engineering, business management, and teamwork.
The team from the University is called Lincoln Racing, and is made up of 34 students from engineering, maths, business, media, and sports journalism, a vital skillset in a competition that tests not only engineering abilities but also business acumen, financial management, and teamwork. They’ll be the first team from the University to enter the competition.
The team is headed up by Dylan Beanlands, a fourth-year Mechanical Engineering Master’s student, serving as Team Principal. Dylan is supported on the Lincoln Racing Management Team by fellow students from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences: Dave Frost (Technical Director), Tasha Jaques (Engineering Director) and Tom Waddilove (Director of Digital Services). The team are also able to call on specialist support from academics Professor Jun Peng, Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering, and Dr. Jarek Grebenik, Senior Lecturer in Engineering.
Together, this leadership team is responsible for overseeing the project’s technical and operational aspects, ensuring the team remains on track as they prepare for their debut at Silverstone in July 2025.
As newcomers, the team’s primary goal is to establish strong foundations for future entries with the team already working to create the vital connections within the industry and with local businesses to provide advice and guidance, as well as parts and resources.
Dylan said: “So far, the team has really impressed me in terms of their commitment and drive to make a successful car this year. Together, we have a wide range of experience and expertise that will help us reach our targets.
“The competition will act as a great way for students to gain hands-on and real-world experience and knowledge which can be used in their degrees as well as in future jobs. Overall, I am confident in the team and I am certain we will set successful foundations for future entries.”
Grimsby Auditorium welcomes new, hiss-terical, swashbuckling, purr-fect pantomime
Grimsby Auditorium’s pantomime Dick Whittington meets the Pirates from the Caribbean opens this Saturday (7 December) and runs until Sunday 29 December!
Back by popular demand, this year’s panto cast includes MARTIN DANIELS as Idle Jack, Emmerdale and Coronation Street Star GEMMA OATEN as Fairy Bow Bells, Star of ‘Allo ‘Allo SUE HODGE as Sherrie Trifle the Cook, ROSANNE PRIEST as Queen Rat, CHARLOTTE MACLACHLAN as Alice, CHRIS CLARKSON as Lady Fitzwarren, and SAMUEL KNIGHT as Dick Whittington.
Our hero, Dick Whittington, arrives in London seeking fame and fortune when disaster strikes. The streets aren’t paved with gold!
Broke and alone, he teams up with a lost streetwise cat. Together they embark on an epic adventure that takes them deep into the smelly sewers of London, a fight with the evil Queen Rat and her Racketeers, and finally a search for gold and glory that ends with plundering pirates and cutlasses clashing as he meets with The Pirates from the Caribbean.
Come and see Dick Whittington, Idle Jack, The Lady Fitzwarren, Queen Rat and ships cook Sherrie-Triffle with a fabulous eighteen strong cast as they all end up on board the Pirate ship ‘Blackbeard’s Buccaneer’.
To book tickets visit Grimsby Auditorium, go to grimsbyauditorium.org.uk, or call 0300 300 0035.
Funding of almost £1m is set to change Grimsby’s East Marsh
Grimsby’s East Marsh Community Research Network has secured close to £1m in funding to tackle pressing social, economic, environmental, and health challenges in the East Marsh, one of Grimsby’s most disadvantaged neighbourhoods.
Bringing together a diverse partnership of local organisations, including the University of Lincoln, Foresight North East Lincs, East Marsh United, North East Lincolnshire Council, NSPCC, Learning4Life-Gy, Our Future, and NEL Health and Care Partnership, the East Marsh CRN will use the funding to empower the local community to identify and address critical issues through Participatory Action Research.
The funding has been awarded through phase two of the Community Research Networks programme, funded by UK Research and Innovation and delivered by The Young Foundation, a non-profit organisation that specialises in community research and social innovation.
This milestone follows a successful first phase, during which the network received £25,000 to develop a robust partnership of local organisations, undertake extensive community consultation to ensure the community were receptive to the project and its aims of combatting local challenges, and develop a pilot research project.
Now, with this significant new funding, the East Marsh CRN will focus on training and upskilling residents to take leadership roles in shaping the future of East Marsh. By placing local voices at the centre of research and decision-making, the project seeks to influence policymakers and service providers to deliver solutions that reflect the community’s needs and aspirations.
Jay Emery, Lecturer in Human Geography at the University of Lincoln, who is supporting the East Marsh CRN’s research activities, said: “Communities are experts in their own lives and, for many crucial reasons, are best placed to research the challenges that the East Marsh is facing. This funding will enable the community to develop their own ways of doing research that will generate insights and action. However, others must also listen to, and act on, the understandings that East Marsh CRN bring if they genuinely seek meaningful change.”
The East Marsh Community Research Network is one of nine community research projects across the UK to receive funding in this second phase, as part of a wider effort to empower local communities in addressing regional challenges. Collectively, the Community Research Networks programme has awarded £8.9m in phase two, with £9.5m invested across both phases, reflecting a national commitment to community-led research and innovation.
Lindum draws up plans for green space development on fringes of Lincoln
Proposals are being drawn up for new homes, a convenience store, community centre and enhanced open green space on the edge of Lincoln.
Temple Garth, part of a Lindum Group joint venture company, is working on plans for a mixed-use development on land off Long Leys Road, opposite the St George’s estate.
Representatives from the organisation attended a drop-in event organised by the residents association for members of the community to find out more about the proposals.
Around 70 people attended, and development manager Jess Thomas said there was broad support for the scheme.
“We’ve been liaising with residents and community groups to align our proposals to the emerging Neighbourhood Plan and have responded to aspirations identified in the most recent Residents Survey.
“Many of those we spoke to at the consultation said they would be happy to see the site come forward for development, next steps will be to engage with consultants to undertake some technical work on the site in the new year”.
Lincoln business celebrates 10 years of gourmet gifting with £3m turnover, expansion and ambitious growth plans
From kitchen table to £3 million turnover, Lincoln-based The British Hamper Company is celebrating 10 years of business success as it gears up for its busiest Christmas and unveils plans to double its turnover by 2026.
The family-run business, which was founded in 2014 from a gazebo at the family home, was born from a shared enthusiasm for great food, British individuality and a love of gift giving.
After a decade of business growth, it has marked its landmark year with a number of major milestones including a branding overhaul, the launch of its products into wholesale, expansion of its Lincolnshire premises and growth of its senior team.
The business is now preparing to fulfil more than 2,000 orders a day over the Christmas period, with the creation of 30 additional seasonal jobs.
This year The British Hamper Company has rolled out an ambitious growth strategy as it forecasts a £6 million turnover by 2026.
Central to this growth is the launch of a wholesale product range, which will see its artisan food and drink products, including Cornish Fudge, All Butter Cheddar Biscuits, Lemon Butter Shortbread, Raspberry Zing Jam, fine teas, and handcrafted sweets, sold in gourmet food stores across the UK and rest of world for the first time.
To meet growing demand from consumers, corporate gifting clients and its growth into the wholesale market, this year the business has significantly expanded its Lincoln-based warehouse facilities. The investment into its premises has increased its storage capacity by 36%, bringing the total operational area to approximately 15,000 square feet.
With 35% of its orders being sent to recipients overseas, The British Hamper Company has also opened a European distribution hub in the Netherlands to streamline its distribution to global markets and to help support its global growth ambitions.
The business has been further bolstered with the appointment of three new senior positions including an Export Sales Manager, National Wholesale Account Manager and Marketing Manager, taking the total number of permanent employees to 20.
With a commitment to supporting the local community, 2024 saw the business form a partnership with Lincoln City Football Club.
“Celebrating 10 years of The British Hamper Company is an incredible milestone for us as a family and as a business,” says Alice Tod, Sales Director of the Lincoln-based business.
“This year has been particularly transformative, from unveiling a refreshed brand identity to launching our wholesale range – we’re immensely proud of how far we’ve come. It all started from humble beginnings in a gazebo at our family home, we are now proud to be a multimillion pound business at the heart of the luxury gifting market.
“Throughout this journey, our Lincolnshire roots have been a constant source of inspiration and pride.”
James Tod, Managing Director, continued: “Lincolnshire has provided us with a strong foundation to grow, from the talented local workforce to the support of the community that has championed us every step of the way.
“This year, we’ve expanded our premises to meet rising demand, creating more jobs and investing in our future, all while staying true to our local heritage. Our new partnership with Lincoln City Football Club is a further example of how we’re staying connected to the region that means so much to us.
“As we reach the end of our anniversary year and prepare for our busiest Christmas yet, we remain committed to delivering exceptional gifts that showcase the very best of British craftsmanship and quality. We’re excited about what the future holds and look forward to sharing this next chapter with our loyal customers and partners.”
Image: Left to right from the British Hamper Company are Mike Tod, co-founder and chairman; James Tod, Managing Director; Alice Tod, Sales Director and Dmitry Timofeev, Operations Director
Air & Space Institute hosts Red Arrows pilot
Air displays, flybys and international travel were just some of the topics covered as the Air & Space Institute in Newark hosted Flight Lieutenant Ollie Suckling, otherwise known as Red 9 from the Red Arrows this week.
Talking to around 200 students, Ollie gave an overview of the recent activity that the RAF display team have been involved with, including a recent visit to Canada to perform with the Canadian Air Force team, the Snowbirds.
Ollie also gave students an insight into how he was selected for the Red Arrows. He said: “As well as always wanting to be a Red Arrow from growing up, I knew I had to get experience. I was a member of the Air Cadets at school but at university I found the University Air Squadron really made me come out of my shell.”
Joining the RAF in 2007, Ollie completed basic fast jet training on the Tucano before moving to RAF Valley to complete advanced flying training on the Hawk T1.
Ollie was then selected to fly the Tornado GR4 and on completion of the Operational Conversion Unit was posted to 31 Squadron at RAF Marham.
During his time on the Tornado, Ollie completed multiple tours, including in Afghanistan, and deployed in support of Coalition operations as well as multinational exercises worldwide. In 2017 he was posted to XXV(F) Squadron at RAF Valley as a qualified flying instructor, teaching future fast-jet pilots the skills required to progress to the frontline.
In 2021, Ollie moved back to RAF Marham to undertake a ground role in the F35 Integrated Training Centre. Ollie joined the Red Arrows for the 2023 season.
As well as running through this history, Ollie gave students an idea of how Red Arrows are selected, including the rigourous tests and interview processes every member of the team has to complete.
Ollie also added: “One of the reasons we come and speak to learners is to really emphasise the importance of STEM subjects. Knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths really does serve you well in a career in the air force and the variety of opportunities available really is unmatched.”
Head of Newark Campuses, Penny Taylor MBE, said: “We have had several of the Red Arrows come to speak to our learners in the past but it always impresses on students just what is possible when it comes to a career in the industry.
“It also shows the level of dedication needed from the start so I’m sure many present today will take this as inspirational. Ollie fielded many intelligent questions from the audience today and I was impressed with how engaged they were, it clearly shows the value of our enrichment programme here at the ASI in Newark.”
Ollie followed his talk with a tour of the ASI’s facilities, including the workshops, converted A320 Neo training aircraft and flying simulators.
Banking hub opens in Market Rasen
Market Rasen’s Banking Hub has opened at 9-10 Market Place, offering essential banking services for residents and businesses alike.
The initiative, led by Cash Access UK, aims to safeguard access to cash and banking services across the UK, and the opening in West Lindsey has been warmly welcomed by the local community and district council.
The official ribbon-cutting ceremony took place on Friday with Chairman of the Council, Cllr Stephen Bunney and Mayor of Market Rasen Town Council, Cllr Jo Pilley.
Cllr Bunney said the project was a real ‘positive’ for the town. “Three years ago, this building was in a very sorry state – it has been empty for a number of years and was passing from one developer to another – the condition of the building was deteriorating fast – a definite eye sore in the centre if our town, there was a strong health and safety concern that any time it could collapse.”
West Lindsey District Council has championed this initiative and led a team that have worked with 8888 Capital Group sympathetically restoring the building which Cllr Bunney described as a ‘a high standard that we can all be proud of’.
Market Rasen Historic Building Grant Scheme awarded the project a grant of £66,603,00 to improve and conserve the historic building, using traditional materials and techniques in keeping with the heritage of the area.
Cllr Bunney added: “It is with great pleasure and pride that I formally open this facility and in doing so I wish Martin Sizer from the Post Office and his staff and all participating banks every success in their venture.”
The new Hub offers a counter service operated by the Post Office, available Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm, where customers of all major banks can carry out routine cash transactions. Additionally, it provides a Community Banker service, enabling customers to consult with representatives from their own banks about more complex issues on designated days:
- Monday: HSBC
- Tuesday: Lloyds
- Wednesday: Santander
- Thursday: NatWest
- Friday: Halifax
Prime Minister promises 13,000 more bobbies on the beat
Every community will have a named, contactable police officer to deal with local issues, as part of a £100m neighbourhood policing guarantee.
In a Plan for Change to be announced today, the Prime Minister will tell communities that they can expect to have a visible and responsive policing presence that will reconnect with the communities they serve.
He’ll pay for it by ending what he calls the ‘madness’ of 43 police forces making separate contracts for uniforms and cars. He’ll say: “The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee will deliver 13,000 extra neighbourhood police, visible on your streets, cracking down on anti-social behaviour. A named, contactable officer in every community. A relief to millions of people scared to walk their streets they call home.
“But it’s a pledge that is only possible because we are matching investment with reform; standardising procurement, streamlining specialist services like forensics, and ending the madness of 43 forces purchasing their own cars and uniforms.”
Confidence in policing is said to have declined in recent years and community policing has been diminished, with neighbourhood officers pulled off the beat to plug shortages elsewhere, weakening connections with communities. Since 2010, the proportion of people who see a police foot patrol more than once per week has more than halved, and the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) has halved. The Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee sets out what communities should expect from their neighbourhood policing team. Every neighbourhood will have a named, contactable officer, and residents and businesses will be given a voice to shape their local police priorities. In addition, every force will have a dedicated anti-social behaviour lead who will work with their communities to develop action plans that tackle the concerns seen on their streets every day. To support this, the milestone over this Parliament is to have 13,000 additional neighbourhood policing officers, PCSOs and special constables in dedicated neighbourhood policing roles. These officers must demonstrably spend time on visible patrol and not be taken off the beat to plug shortages elsewhere. The government is boosting the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee with £100 million, which will place a renewed focus on preventing the criminality plaguing the streets – particularly in town centres – with visible, accessible officers that will deter offending and reassure locals they will be kept safe. As part of the drive to raise standards and improve accountability, the Safer Streets Mission includes a programme of police reform. This is important to deliver on the ambition to halve violence against women and girls and knife crime, as well as drive up confidence in the police, which has diminished in recent years.Council Chief Executive steps down after 11 years in his role
North East Lincolnshire Council Chief Executive Rob Walsh is to step down in May next year after 11 years at the helm of the unitary authority.
He said: “Not in my wildest dreams did I expect to experience the career that followed my early days as a trainee solicitor with the council in Cleethorpes.
“The privilege and the responsibility has never been lost on me. There is no greater honour than being Chief Executive in the place you are proud to call home and where your family has grown.”
During his tenure as Chief Executive, he has steered the borough through investment, change, challenge and opportunity.
Working with colleagues, partners and politicians, Rob oversaw the borough becoming the first area of the country to secure a ‘Town Deal’ from central Government in 2018. That deal shone the national spotlight on the borough – paving the way for a series of successful and significant funding bids, the benefits of which will be seen in the years ahead as major regeneration schemes are completed.
Rob was also integral in the formation, in 2016, of a unique partnership with the then Clinical Commissioning Group in North East Lincolnshire, which saw health care teams integrated with colleagues at the council. This established a joint working arrangement aimed at improving health care for residents in the borough.
As Rob leaves next year, the dawn will break on the new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority. During his years as Chief Executive, he has worked extensively on the devolution agenda for the region and takes immense pride in the success he and his peers and colleagues have achieved in securing the deal that is being taken forward.
He added: “It really has been a pleasure to know and work with so many professional, dedicated and wonderful people over the years. Together we have strived to take our borough forward, fronting up to the challenges and being ambitious about the opportunities. I would like to thank every single person who has joined me on this journey over the last decade and I know that journey will continue.”
