Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance pilot shortlisted for Lifetime Achievement Award
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance pilot, Cpt Chris Attrill, has made the shortlist for the Lifetime Achievement Award in the Air Ambulances UK ‘Awards of Excellence’ this year.
Chris was nominated in recognition of his contribution to the air ambulance charity sector and the impact he has made during his 19-year HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medicine Services) career.
Chris is one of the most modest pilots you could meet. He calmly assesses a situation and exudes a quiet authority so that when the klaxon sounds, whatever the weather, location, or situation, he is a calming influence on his team.
His years of experience in HEMS and his unwavering composure has helped Chris to lead his medical team to perfection, understanding precisely what they need in that moment. LNAA paramedic Jemma Varela remembers attending a serious RTC with Chris. “It was a really hot day and working conditions were extremely difficult. The patient had been trapped for some time and there was a lot of debris on the road with multiple cars involved so finding a suitable kit dump area was challenging,” she said.
“Following extrication, the patient rapidly deteriorated and needed a high-risk surgical procedure. This required immediate and concurrent activity. The pressure during this procedure often results in the bandwidth of the medical teams being significantly challenged.
“Without overstepping any aviation/medical boundaries, Chris was not only like a second pair of hands to me but a logical reassuring voice by my side. Each time I noticed a problem or turned as I needed a piece of equipment, it was in his hand ready to pass to me.”
Chris was born on the Isle of Wight but moved to Australia as a toddler. After a period serving in the Australian Army Infantry, he came to the UK and ‘fell into flying’ when he joined the Army Air Corps in 1983. After 21 years in the Army, Chris became a HEMS pilot, first flying with Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), then the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) before joining LNAA.
Chris’ knowledge is second-to-none. His flying hours far exceed those of his non-military colleagues, giving him an expertise in the running and maintaining of the aircraft that is not often seen in younger pilots. LNAA colleague Dr Paul Hancock said: “With Chris flying, you know you are in a safe pair of hands. His experience of topography is unbelievable, he just knows the best places to land, which means it is one less thing for us to think about.”
Chris is known as the father figure at LNAA as he’s always looking out for the team, leaving chocolate bars and treats on desks when he can see they’re having a rough day.
But Chris has witnessed his fair share of stressful incidents, ones which he says will forever be etched on his mind. At GNAAS he was part of the team that responded to the 2006 Dreamspace Disaster in Chester-le-Street, where a giant inflatable broke free from its moorings and flipped into the air, trapping people inside.
On approaching the incident he had to work out what the structure was that he could see laid across the grass, how safe it was, and would it flip skywards again if the wind got underneath it. People were everywhere trying to help the injured and two other helicopters had also landed. But Chris took all this in his stride, safely finding his spot to land so his team could treat the injured. He then flew a child with traumatic injuries including head wounds to Newcastle General Hospital.
Chris was also a member of the YAA crew responding to the Cumbria shootings in 2010 when gunman Derrick Bird, killed 12 people and injured 11 others before killing himself. “Doing this job is a very humbling experience and on some days it’s just really very hard. With the Cumbrian shootings unfortunately every job that day was a fatality which was tough,” said Chris.
Chris has just retired from flying. In fact, this is the second time he has retired. When at YAA he flew a single pilot helicopter and, in line with HEMS rules, single pilots must retire at 60 meaning Chris had to hang up his flying goggles in 2018. However, he was not ready to stop work and trained to fly dual pilot operations to extend his flying career. Once qualified, he joined Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, flying their AW169 until August of this year.
Chris describes his time with Air Ambulances a privilege and a pleasure. But we think the privilege and pleasure has really been ours and the other AAs he has worked with in having such a committed and well-loved pilot dedicate 19 years of his life working to the UK’s Air Ambulance sector.
Lead contractor on Western Growth Corridor for City of Lincoln Council appointed
GRAHAM has been appointed by the City of Lincoln Council to design and deliver crucial elements of the Western Growth Corridor development.
The Western Growth Corridor project in Lincoln is set to transform the city and bring new opportunities for housing and economic growth.
The work elements include the design and construction of a new vehicular/cycle/pedestrian bridge over the railway and a pedestrian bridge enhancing safety and connectivity between the site and the existing communities.
The Pagabo Civils & Infrastructure Framework has been used to procure and appoint GRAHAM for this Design and Construct project. The framework ensures that competent and experienced contractors are appointed for major infrastructure projects.
GRAHAM’s extensive experience in delivering similar projects, particularly in the railway sector and knowledge of working alongside Network Rail, played a significant role in its selection.
The firm’s involvement in the Western Growth Corridor project will see its civil engineering team oversee the design and construction of key access routes and bridges.
In August 2022, the city council, in partnership with Member of Parliament for Lincoln, Karl McCartney, submitted its bid for £20 million to create a road bridge and adjacent foot bridge linking the city’s Western Growth Corridor development to Tritton Road. The Government’s Levelling Up Round Two programme will see the bridge completed by March 2025, with work anticipated to start at the beginning of 2024.
The project aims to establish a major access route into the Western Growth Corridor site, enabling the delivery of up to 3,200 new homes as part of a Sustainable Urban Extension to Lincoln.
Subject to design and budget approvals, construction will commence in 2024, with the first phase of homes expected to be delivered thereafter, pending detailed planning approval.
A range of surveys are currently underway, including eco and geotechnical utility surveys, to gather essential data and verify the physical conditions on the ground.
GRAHAM contracts director Alastair Lewis said: “We’re thrilled to be appointed as the lead contractor for key elements of the Western Growth Corridor project, which highlights our expertise and commitment to delivering exceptional infrastructure projects.
“The Western Growth Corridor project is a challenging scheme involving tackling access restrictions, utilities, drainage, and traffic management, among other complexities.
“GRAHAM’s objective is to value engineer the access road and bridge over the railway, seeking creative design and construction solutions that deliver cost and carbon savings while ensuring the long-term success of the strategic masterplan for the site.”
Topping out ceremony marks major milestone in Mablethorpe
Work on the Campus for Future Living in Mablethorpe has reached a significant construction milestone with the topping out ceremony to mark the completion of the roof.
The £8.6m Campus, supported by the Connected Coast Board, offers significant potential to improve the health and wellbeing for residents in Mablethorpe, the Lincolnshire coast and wider East Lindsey, as set out in the Towns Fund business case.
The celebration was attended by Louth and Horncastle MP Victoria Atkins MP, Cllr William Gray Political Lead for the Campus for Future Living at East Lindsey District Council, Chris Baron Chair of the Connected Coast Town Deal Board, Professor Mark Gussy, Global Professor in Rural Health and Social Care at the University of Lincoln, as well as representatives from local, regional and national organisations.
Cllr Gray said: “The topping out ceremony marks a very important milestone in the construction of the Centre as well as the accommodation block. As well as the construction of this important Towns Deal funded facility, the Campus for Future Living is already giving back in many ways to the local community through Lindum’s Social Value work, the added benefit a contractor brings to the community. So far, this has ranged from using a Lincolnshire workforce, student work placement opportunities, using a local supply chain as well as visits to schools to promote construction as a career and site visits.
“The topping out ceremony has been a great opportunity for the MP and all interested parties to see the fantastic progress since they last visited at the very beginning when the first spade went into the ground and to show what can be achieved through partnership working and collaboration.”
Chris Baron, Chair of Connected Coast said: “This is a hugely significant milestone for the Campus for Future Living and one that brings us a step closer to the site being operational. The topping out ceremony is the culmination of collaboration, of strong partnership working, and of a shared commitment to bring this aspirational development to Mablethorpe.
“It is fantastic to see a concept idea for the Campus now being brought to life through the building work. We look forward to the further development of the site and the strengthening that comes with partnership and collaboration working.”
Lindum Group MD Freddie Chambers said: “It was great to welcome so many guests, including local MP Victoria Atkins, to site to show how well our construction team is progressing. As well as delivering a high quality building, Lindum has been committed to helping create added value for the local community around Mablethorpe.
“Our wider project team has already visited schools in the area to talk to young people about their aspirations for the future and about the many and varied careers in the construction industry. We have more of these events in the pipeline.
“We have also welcomed various community groups to site, which most recently included a group of adults who are supported by Linkage in the town.
“Lindum is looking forward to seeing the impact the CFFL project will have in future years and is proud to have played a part in the legacy this construction project will leave behind.”
Ambulance service establishes new base at North Hykeham
East Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust has established a new base at the Lindum Enterprise Park in North Hykeham to host some of the new crews, fleet, and control team.
EMAS was awarded a nine-year and nine-month contract by NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board to deliver both the control room and transport provision in the county, where it also provides emergency ambulance care.
NEPTS is for patients who need medical or clinical support to get to and from their healthcare appointments, when they go through the necessary assessment of eligibility criteria. Its aim is to provide a safe and reliable service to eligible patients, giving them the reassurance that they will get to their scheduled appointments on time.
Joy Weldin, Divisional Director for NEPTS at EMAS, said: “We are committed to providing professional patient transport through the dedicated work and support delivered by our new Lincolnshire team.
“The Lindum site is the first base that EMAS NEPTS has had where it was created from start to finish. It is now the new base for our call handing team, control room, a fleet of over 20 ambulance and electric vehicles, and also an office hub for supporting over 140 colleagues who are based in all areas within Lincolnshire. We appreciated the Lindum team for rendering their support in making this new site happen.
“We believe this new hub will support our team in achieving the aim of providing a reliable, safe, and comfortable transport service to patients in Lincolnshire, ensuring their safety, condition management, safe mobilisation, or recovery. We are glad to have a new base built to welcome our new crew and support in patient transport needs.”
Paula Toohey, NEPTS Performance Delivery Manager of Lincolnshire, added: “It has been amazing to witness the build process while welcoming our new crew and getting them trained and prepared for serving the Lincolnshire community in the new site here. We are delighted that our crew are supported by well-designed facilities and comfortable working environment to allow them to work efficiently and attentively.”
The Lindum Business Park is owned and managed by the construction company, Lindum Group. EMAS was an existing tenant, having also based its vehicle servicing operation at the park.
Lindum Group Business Park Manager Angela Morley said: “At Lindum, we are well known for our construction work, but we also run three business parks which are home to 57 other businesses. EMAS joins 40 other tenants at our Lincoln premises from a range of sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, charity, technology, and food, as well as our own operational premises.
“Our construction expertise within the health sector means we were able to transform a unit that was previously occupied by a paving company into an ideal home for NHS-funded patient transport services.”
Home Office presses ahead with unlawful preparation of Scampton for asylum seekers
West Lindsey District Council says the unlawful development of RAF Scampton for asylum accommodation has continued despite a legal Stop Notice in place.
The council says it has been inundated with intelligence from local people sharing evidence of the work continuing to take place on site. This has been backed up by officers from the Council who were granted permission for a routine site visit to RAF Scampton last week under the provisions of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.
At the site visit the following was observed, says the Council:
- The number of portacabins sited had dramatically increased since the Council’s visit on 14 September.
- There had been extensive works undertaken to site, fit out and prepare portacabin connections to the utilities.
- It was confirmed that a gas supply would be provided to further support the portacabin development.
- It was also noted that refurbishment works to the existing buildings were almost complete.
The council says the progress its representatives saw clearly demonstrated that the Stop Notice has been breached, and work has continued on the site since the issue of the original Stop Notice on 22 September.
Council leader Trevor Young explained that the progress observed on site by officers aligns with reports the Council has received from members of the public. He said: “It is clear from our most recent site visit that despite repeated assurances, the Home Office have breached the Stop Notice and continued with the unlawful development of the site at RAF Scampton.
“The Council continues to be inundated with intelligence from the community regarding daily activity and we cannot thank the community enough for their ongoing support through this difficult time.
“We have always been clear that the Home Office must not use RAF Scampton as a site to accommodate asylum seekers until the Judicial Review proceedings have completed. I reiterate that we are now merely two weeks away, surely the logical approach is to allow the justice system to do its job.”
The Home Office plans to use the site to accommodate 2,000 asylum seekers, for an unknown time frame. The Council, along with Braintree District Council and a resident from Weathersfield are challenging the decision through the High Court in London, which is due to start on 31 October 2023.
West Lindsey District Council’s Director of Planning Regeneration and Communities Sally Grindrod-Smith said: “It has been an incredibly frustrating and worrying time for our community. We have had many messages from concerned residents reporting ongoing activity and seeking to understand why the Council and the Police are not taking further action to stop works on site. This is because the site is what is known as ‘Crown Land’, which means that it is owned by the Government and so a local council can not undertake physical enforcement action.
“The Home Office has not challenged the legality of the Stop Notice; however, it is clear they have not adhered to it. This week we have again written to the Home Office to reiterate that the Stop Notice prohibits RAF Scampton from housing asylum seekers until such time as the Stop Notice is withdrawn by the Council.”
Scunthorpe’s multi-million pound enterprise and innovation hub makes progress
The construction of the multi-million-pound enterprise and innovation hub – set to bring hundreds of new jobs to Scunthorpe town centre – is progressing at pace.
Last week Towns Fund Board members were on site to witness an important milestone in the building’s construction – the laying of the last brick to the 46-unit accommodation block.
When completed, the build will provide more than 27,000 sq ft of premium office and collaborative space for up to 200 workers, and a licensed café bar, as well as the accommodation.
Cllr Rob Waltham, leader of North Lincolnshire Council and Towns Fund Board member, said: “It was brilliant to get a tour of the site and see first-hand the progress being made on this landmark build.
“Scunthorpe MP Holly Mumby-Croft works hard to secure Government support for the town – including the cash needed to deliver this groundbreaking hub – which will bring new jobs and new people to the heart of Scunthorpe.
“The Enterprise Hub is one of a number of projects which will create an exciting new future for the town, and I can’t wait to see all the works completed.”
Arson attack at children’s play park condemned as ‘mindless’
An arson attack at a Scunthorpe play park has been condemned after causing thousands of pounds worth of damage.
Two-thirds of the equipment at the children’s park off Warley Road was destroyed after a propellant was used to set fire to climbing equipment.
Council workers have made the remaining equipment safe but much of it, including a slide, a multi-play unit and a climbing tower, was damaged beyond repair and had to be removed – only days after being installed.
It is estimated the damage costs around £11,000.
The area has recently received £50,000 of investment, including a multi-use games area and gym equipment, which have also been targeted by vandals.
Cllr John Davison, cabinet member for safer, stronger communities (urban) condemned the attack and appealed for anyone with information to contact the police.
“This is mindless and stupid behaviour that directly impacts local families and the community. We are investing hundreds of thousands of pounds in our green spaces to provide much needed facilities for everyone, of all ages.
“Vandalism of this kind is a criminal act and is soul destroying. I would urge anyone who knows anything about this attack, or any other damage at Warley Road, to contact the police.
“It is the mindless few who are spoiling the community for the many, and we will come down hard on anyone committing this kind of extreme anti-social behaviour.”
Lincoln museum wins award for its work with education
The team at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life has been recognised with an award for the outstanding learning programme they offer schools, colleges and universities.
Since the start of September the Museum of Lincolnshire Life has welcomed more than 500 pupils and students on educational visits, teaching them about the county’s history.
The Sandford Award – in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University and the Heritage Education Trust – recognises the museums, galleries, historic buildings, parks, zoos, and other attractions across the country that offer the very best learning programmes, aligned with the national curriculum.
Assessors look at how well the sites engage pupils, help them to understand local history, and the overall quality of the learning resources and experience.
At the Museum of Lincolnshire Life, the dedicated learning team primarily offer workshops focusing on the Victorian era, as well as creative arts and planting.
Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive member for culture at Lincolnshire County Council, said “This recognition for the Museum of Lincolnshire Life builds upon our previous Sandford Award successes at Lincoln Museum and Lincoln Castle, showing how we’re continuing to share our county’s history with younger generations.
“The award assessor complimented the team on the work they have done post-pandemic to strengthen our learning offer at the museum, and the imaginative activities that run during school holidays to allow visitors to dive into local history outside of term time.”
The Sandford Award Lead Assessor wrote: “The Museum of Lincolnshire Life has an engaging, active learning programme which makes use of the special aspects of the museum and presentation of its collection in room sets. This provides learners with the chance to investigate artefacts in context, led by a trained member of the learning team.
“The museum also runs imaginative family activities during the school holidays. Following pandemic-related lockdowns, the museum is making strong steps to re-build further and provide inspirational visits for learners today.”
Millions to be invested in net zero glasshouse development near Lincoln
A new net zero glasshouse research and development facility is set to be built on the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme campus.
The Greater Lincolnshire LEP is providing a grant of £1.3m for the project, and the University of Lincoln is providing a further £889,000 bringing the total project cost to just over £2 million.
This new purpose-built glasshouse will offer access to specialist research infrastructure and innovation support services. This will allow SMEs and other businesses in the agricultural sector to adapt or improve their products or services.
The glasshouse will be sub-divided into independently controlled compartments, facilitating the delivery of multiple projects at the same time throughout the year.
The Greater Lincolnshire LEP’s proposed Agricultural Growth Zone, designed to support Greater Lincolnshire agriculture and the delivery of the UK Food Valley, will benefit from the addition of the glasshouse facility as it will provide a space for collaborative research and innovation.
The research and development infrastructure will also be used for the new AgriTech Incubator established by the university in partnership with Barclays Eagle Labs.
Eligible businesses will have access to research and knowledge transfer opportunities from experts at the University of Lincoln who will support businesses within the industry to adopt new technology, implement new processes and develop new products to transition into modern, technology-enabled businesses.
Sarah Louise Fairburn, chair of the Greater Lincolnshire LEP Food Board, said: “This project will support those innovative businesses in Greater Lincolnshire that are working on agricultural and horticultural technology.
“The university’s Agri-Tech Incubator will establish a pipeline of businesses who require access to R&D facilities within a professional glasshouse environment, supporting future growth of the agri-tech cluster and ambitions of our UK Food Valley.”
Professor Simon Pearson, director, Lincoln Institute for Agri-Food Technology (LIAT), said: “This is a critical new facility that complements the world-class research and innovation facilities already in place at the University of Lincoln’s Riseholme Campus.
“It will support research, innovation and skills development for the Local Enterprise Partnership and the national horticulture sector, and the investment will focus on the development of novel renewable sources for glasshouse production. These will, in turn, reduce emissions and mitigate the sector’s dependency on fossil fuels.”
Family thank Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance on Restart a Heart Day
The family of a dad who suffered a cardiac arrest at the swimming pool, have praised the actions of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance on Restart a Heart Day.
With fewer than one in 10 people surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, Jackie Briggs talks of her anguish and fear when out of the blue, her husband Andrew suffered a cardiac arrest.
Within fifteen minutes Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance crew were by his side, continuing CPR started by two spectators and delivering life-saving treatment before he was transferred unconscious to hospital.
Jackie said: “It didn’t seem long before I heard the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. I thought it had to be serious if they have been called, but it was also reassuring as I knew they would have all the necessary equipment and drugs to keep Andrew alive. You just feel like he is going to get the best chance to survive now.”
It was January 2022 and Andrew (55), from Spalding, was in the spectators tiered seating having just watched his young daughters Mollie and Emily finish their warm-ups at Grantham Swimming Pool, host of the Lincolnshire County Swimming Championships.
Jackie had just arrived ready for the start of the first race. Getting out of the car she was greeted with the sound of alarms and people evacuating the building.
“They are doing CPR on someone,” she heard someone shout. And then Mollie called her with the shocking news: “It’s dad,” she said.
Jackie was allowed into the building and reached Andrew’s side to find a junior paramedic and a doctor, who also were spectators at the event, performing CPR on her husband.
Andrew was moved onto the poolside where there was more space. LNAA Paramedic Rob Fillmer said: “Andrew was in cardiac arrest and it was great to see so many people contributing to his care at the poolside, fortunately for Andrew most were healthcare professionals.
“We initiated advanced life support which enabled Andrew’s heart to start again. He was given an anaesthetic to put him to sleep to allow us to optimise his post resuscitation care and safely transport him to the specialist hospital.
“Immediate recognition and early interventions from these bystanders, combined with the critical care provided by LNAA and assistance from East Midlands Ambulance Service all contributed to a positive outcome for Andrew.”
Once at hospital, tests revealed that he had an abnormal heart rhythm, but the main concern was that he may have suffered brain damage due to the length of time CPR was given.
Andrew was in a coma for four days. Jackie said: “The doctors had warned me that he may have brain damage, or that he may not even wake up again. But when he came around we got the answer we were praying for, Andrew was going to be fine.”
Andrew had a pacemaker and internal defibrillator inserted and a day later was able to go home. Within five months Andrew was back working full-time at the Spalding accountancy firm Duncan & Topliss.
The care from LNAA did not stop when Andrew was transferred to the team at Lincoln County Hospital. “I was really touched that Dr Paul Hancock, who treated Andrew at the poolside, rang the hospital afterwards to check how Andrew was doing,” said Jackie.
“I then received a card from their Patient Family Liaison Officer, Hayley Burton. I never knew LNAA has an aftercare team offering this level of support. It is nice to know that we weren’t just a statistic, and they were still caring for us.
“We will forever be grateful for what everyone did that day. It has given us the chance to have all this extra time together.”
