Mayor honours Teresa’s sixty-year commitment to the NHS
Sixty years of service to the NHS by Grimsby nurse Teresa Jackson – who shows no sign of stopping – have been honoured with a civic reception at which North East Lincolnshire Mayor Ian Lindley said she was doing a fantastic job.
She said: “It’s been my pleasure. I’ve loved it. How many people can say they love their job? I’m lucky. My brain still works and physically I can still do the job. I’ve worked with some amazing people. They are saving lives constantly and they don’t get the recognition they deserve. It’s a team. That’s the bottom line, it’s team work.
“I wanted to do 60 years and that was on the first of September, but I’ve decided to stay a little longer. I just love my job.”
Teresa’s first day at the old General Hospital in Grimsby was on 1 September 1963, staying in nurse’s accommodation there. “Everything smelled of furniture polish. It was all wooden. That smell evokes such memories,” remembered Teresa, adding: “We were allowed five things on the dressing table. Anymore and Sister would swipe them off.”
Councillor Lindley invited Teresa to a civic reception at Grimsby Town Hall to thank her for her service. Having worked in the NHS himself for 33 years, the two shared memories of their time at the hospital in Grimsby and spoke highly of the people they worked with.
Teresa had wanted to be a nurse from the age of nine. She said: “Growing up in the small village of South Kelsey, we rarely saw an ambulance. When we did, all the kids would run out and say, ‘hold my collar, pinch my nose, I hope I never go in one of those’. But, I used to say ‘hold my collar, pinch my nose, I hope I go in one of those – as a nurse’.”
Working life was very regimented when Teresa started as a cadet nurse, with separate tables in the mess room for cadets, year one students, year two students, sisters and more senior staff.
“If a first-year student was passing through a door and a second-year student approached, they had to stand aside and hold the door for them,” remembers Teresa.
“Cadets were a large part of the nursing service back then. When I was a cadet, we were taught to carry out so many duties, nurses of today would be horrified, such as suturing and stomach wash outs.”
At 23, Teresa was the youngest sister appointed at the time to a General Surgical Ward. She said:
“In 1974 I changed roles and worked in the Special Care Baby Unit for nine years on night duty. Missing adult nursing I returned to Scartho Road hospital, remaining on night duty as this worked well with family life. I later became Night sister and went on to become the night site manager.
“I’ve been so lucky. Whatever job I’ve applied for, I’ve got. I’m so lucky and grateful to whoever it is up there guiding me.
“As there were no junior doctors as we know them now, I trained to be a clinical nurse practitioner working under the guiding hand of Mr. Henry Pearson.
“He didn’t know what to call me. He couldn’t call me by my first name as that was unprofessional, so it was TJ, a name which sticks with many even now. When he was retiring, he convinced me to try stoma care for two weeks, I did, and I’m still there.”
Special lunch to raise vital funds for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance
The Lincolnshire Air Ambulance County Appeal is getting ready to hold a very special lunch at the Epic Centre on the Lincolnshire Showground on Sunday 8 October.
The lunch is being held to raise vital funds for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, to support its 24/7 operations. The charity has seen its busiest year on record and needs to raise £10 million on an annual basis to fund its Helicopter Emergency Medical Service to the counties it serves, helping to save lives every year.
The previous ‘Rotors and Wings’ lunch in 2018 was a huge success, raising in excess of £80,000, and this year’s event is expected to be one of the most popular and high-profile in the 2023 Lincolnshire calendar – certainly an event not to be missed!
Weather permitting, there will be a Spitfire and Mustang fly-by, as well as a visit by the air ambulance, together with an auction of fantastic promises.
Parents invited to take part in lantern walk and other events this Baby Loss Awareness Week
United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust is supporting families and parents this Baby Loss Awareness Week, starting from Monday 9 October until Sunday 15 October.
Rachel Bond, Specialist Midwife, said: “This week is an important time to talk about pregnancy and baby loss, break down taboos and remember our much-loved and missed babies.
“We are pleased to be able to offer several different events this year, so you can choose how you wish to make any commemorations.
“Some of our families may wish to join in our special craft sessions, others may wish to add to our trees of remembrance, and we would like to invite everyone to join our lantern walk and service at Lincoln Cathedral or the service at Boston Stump. These babies have touched our hearts and it is important that we all have the opportunity to remember them in our own way.”
A range of free events are planned for Baby Loss Awareness Week in Lincolnshire.
Lincoln, Boston and Grantham hospitals will all be lit up pink and blue throughout the week.
Pottery painting will be taking place at Fancy Creations in Boston (PE21 7NX) on Wednesday 11 October and Saturday 14 October between 10am and 12pm.
Wreath making, pebble painting and other crafts will be taking place at The Bridge in Lincoln (LN5 7NN) on Saturday 14 October from 10am to 1pm.
Hospital chapels in Lincoln, Boston and Grantham will be open throughout the week with trees of remembrance, where anyone can add their own tag and light a candle.
Lincoln Cathedral will also have a quiet space open for anyone to visit for reflection and to light a candle.
A service of reflection will be held at the Boston Stump (PE21 6NW) on Sunday 15 October. The service will begin at 1.30pm. There will be an opportunity to light a candle, and add a name tag to the tree of remembrance.
There will also be a lantern walk taking place on Sunday 15 October at Lincoln County Hospital Social Club (LN2 5RA). Everyone will meet from 6pm and at 7pm a candle will be lit to commemorate the ‘wave of light’ before the lantern walk to Lincoln Cathedral begins. At the Cathedral there will be the opportunity to reflect and light a candle.
To find out more and book a space at one of the events please visit the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity website.
This year’s Baby Loss Awareness Week events have been funded by the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Ben Petts, Charity Manager, said: “It is so important to us to support Baby Loss Awareness week, we’re not supporting these activities to raise funds because we’re there to support our communities throughout their interactions with our hospitals.”
The Rolling Scones stage baking competition in Louth this weekend
An opportunity to be officially crowned ‘The baker of the best scones in the Wolds’ is the latest opportunity to be added to the inaugural Louth Food and Drink Festival, taking place this Sunday.
The celebration and showcase of fantastic and unique range of local food and drink producers will be taking place in Louth on Lincolnshire Day, on Sunday 1 October, from 10am-4pm.
Organised by East Lindsey District Council, the Festival will welcome over 60 different stalls to the town centre featuring a variety of different food and drink businesses, primarily from the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Demonstrations from local suppliers and venues will take place throughout the day, including chocolate tasting, a cocktail masterclass, and a scone baking demonstration. A children’s area will be set up on the day, featuring pop-up shows from Rhubarb Theatre performing The Very Hungry Caterpillar, as well as live music, played by the likes of Henry Atherton, The Athertons and The Coggle Sisters.
The newest addition to the Festival is a competition organised by The Rolling Scones, who will be giving residents the chance to get involved and be declared ‘The baker of the best scones in the Wolds’.
The competition will broken down into four classes which each have their own specific requirements: Class 1 – Sweet scone – any flavour; Class 2 – Savoury scone – any flavour; Class 3 – Under 16 – Sweet scone – any flavour; Class 4 – Local businesses – fruit scone.
To enter the competition, bakers must choose a specific class and make six scones that meet the criteria, ideally uniform. but shape and size is open to interpretation.
Scones should be left uncut, with no butter, cream or jam added, no matter which way round you do it! The ingredients used in your scones should also be listed and submitted alongside your creations to The Rolling Scones stall from 10am until 11.30am.
Each entry will be expertly judged, including the addition of butter, jam, or cream as applicable, with the results planned to be announced at 3pm on the day.
The Festival is being held as part of the Council’s Vital and Viable Market Towns initiative, working with local communities to protect, promote and preserve East Lindsey’s market towns.
Councillor Adam Grist, East Lindsey District Council portfolio holder for Market Towns and Rural Economy, said: “We are incredibly excited for the festival to kick off in less than a week’s time, and to enjoy the fantastic variety of high-quality food and drink businesses on offer in Louth and the surrounding area. It will be fantastic to see residents, visitors and traders come together to celebrate and explore this offer for themselves.
“It’s amazing to see such fantastic competitions and events scheduled to happen within the Festival throughout the day, as it will hopefully get people engaged and encourage them to show off their abilities or try something new. I would encourage everyone to come along to support our local businesses and producers, while also getting involved in some amazing competitions, activities and performances.”
Poppy cascades for special Remembrance commemoration
Remembrance commemorations in Grantham will include a colourful new tribute with two striking poppy fall cascades suspended from the historic Guildhall.
The art installation will also include four new silhouettes of a WW2 paratrooper, a WW1 Tommy, a naval Wren and a land girl – all personalised with stories of local people and places.
Now the call is going out to recruit willing volunteers to make poppies from layered red nylon, with four workshops taking place in Grantham Museum on the 4th, 6th, 11th and 13th October from 10am until 2pm.
Grantham Arts has been commissioned by South Kesteven District Council to deliver the project – creating a new backdrop for St Peter’s Hill Remembrance Garden and the military salute from the Guildhall during Remembrance Sunday’s parade.
Cllr Rhea Rayside, SKDC Cabinet member for People and Communities, said: “We need to recognise what the military community has contributed and continues to contribute to this country.
“Remembrance is our annual opportunity to do that. This thoughtful and beautiful new art installation is a visual show of support and will make this year’s commemoration extra special.”
Cllr Richard Dixon-Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “The poppy became a symbol of Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future in the aftermath of the First World War.
“It remains an iconic image and to see the Guildhall decorated with this amazing and creative art installation for such an important week will be truly memorable.”
Grantham College Art and Design students will be translating stories and information on people and places in the Grantham area into designs on the silhouettes, with a plea for local people to contribute.
Photocopied documents or photographs can be left in an envelope at Grantham Museum for the attention of Grantham Arts, with a reminder not to donate original material.
Anne-Marie Kerr from Grantham Arts is keen to get local people involved. She said: “This is a wonderful opportunity for local people to share their stories about relatives, friends or places that have a link to the great wars or have served in the military.
“Stories or images would be a wonderful resource for us to ensure that we can make this Remembrance commemoration very personal to Grantham.”
The installation will remain in place during Remembrance Week.
More than 2,000 enter Cleethorpes running challenge
More than 2,000 runners took part in the ABP Humber Coastal Half Marathon and 10k running challenge in Cleethorpes.
Associated British Ports has been a headline sponsor for the event, organised by Tape2Tape, since 2017. This year’s race was also undertaken by those attempting to qualify for England Athletics Age Group Masters Half Marathon competition, so the stakes were high.
ABP Head of Marine, Paul Bristowe, presented winners on the day with their trophies. He said: “The event was a resounding success with runners across the country completing their challenge ably supported by Tape2Tape’s volunteer ‘Race Makers’ across the course, along with crowds of family and friends lining Cleethorpes promenade.”
Tape2Tape MD Nicola Pattison said: “Congratulations to all the runners taking part, and a huge thank you to all the volunteer Race Marker’s for ensuring the day went so smoothly. The race brings so much to the local community, our thanks to ABP for their continued support.
As in previous year’s the event raised valuable funds for Cleethorpes RNLI along with many other local and national charities.
Along the route’s final stretch Cleethorpes Brass Band filled the air with motivational music. As runners completed the race they were treated to a donut and awarded this year’s bespoke pebble shaped race medal, featuring a striking oystercatcher, many of which could be seen feeding on the shore during the race, alongside the iconic Cleethorpes pier.
Historic Buildings grant changes face of streetscape in Market Rasen
Building work has started on an innovative project to preserve the historic character of buildings in Market Rasen.
The building at 24 Market Place is the first major project to benefit from funding from the Market Rasen Historic Buildings Grant Scheme.
West Lindsey District Council is working with a steering group made up of businesses, councils, and conservationists on the pilot project, to help unlock the potential of the town’s heritage assets.
Market Rasen Historic Building Grant Scheme, funded by West Lindsey District Council, is supporting the regeneration of significant buildings in the town centre.
Specialist contractors will conduct repairs to the building’s exterior, which will include repairing windows, roof repairs, reinstating columns and repairing columns known as ‘pilasters’ and installing a New York Stone Step outside the front building. They will also renew the shop sign with a hand painted sign.
Cllr Stephen Bunney, ward member for Market Rasen, has welcomed the start of the work, which has been in the planning stages. “We are committed to supporting and protecting the historic buildings and their original features in our town centre.
“Once complete, these works will not only give a visual boost to the area in terms of visual appeal, but it will also help conserve part of the town’s history. Without schemes such as this, some buildings would be in danger of obliteration due to the worsening condition of the buildings.”
The grant will help fund work to improve and conserve historic buildings, using traditional materials and techniques. This includes work such as the repair of pantile or slate roofs, repairing timber windows and shopfronts, removing unsightly paintwork, or repairing or renewing damaged render.
When 24 Market Place is finished work will start on the former banks at 7 Market Place and 9-10 Market Place.
Former Mayor of Lincoln’s donation in memory of dad will help cancer patients
New equipment used during prostate cancer investigations and diagnosis will soon be helping hospital patients, thanks to a generous donation by the former City of Lincoln Mayor.
It is a long-standing tradition that each year the Mayor of Lincoln chooses a charity to raise money for. Last year, Rosanne Kirk chose the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity, and specifically the Urology Department at Lincoln County Hospital.
Rosanne said: “I was elated that we raised over £5,000 to help the urology department at Lincoln County Hospital.
“My aim with my mayoral charity was to raise the profile of the department, and all the good work that they do and help practically with the monies that we raised.
“My dad died of prostate cancer in 2021 and I know he would be proud of what we achieved in his memory and thank you to everyone who contributed in helping the urology department.”
The presentation of the cheque for £5,189.98 was made at Lincoln’s Guildhall.
Consultant Urologist, Jaspal Phull, said: “The Urology Department provides treatment, care and support for patients and their families across Lincolnshire. We are extremely grateful that the Mayor chose to support and raise funds for our department. A new couch that improves the comfort of patients who are undergoing prostate cancer investigations and diagnosis will be purchased. This is going to make such a difference for our patients.”
Ben Petts, United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Manager, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled that the Mayor of Lincoln chose to support her local hospital charity.”
Various fundraising events were held throughout Rosanne’s Mayoral year, such as a charity auction, Dickensian evening, and an evening with Katherine Swynford at the Guildhall.
Just days remain before single-use plastics ban, firms are warned
Businesses in England are being reminded by Trading Standards officials that they have until October 1st to get rid of certain single-use plastic items – or run the risk of being fined.
Businesses such as takeaways, sandwich shops and retailers will no longer be able to use a range of items including all single-use plastic cutlery, trays, plates, bowls, and balloon sticks, as well as certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers used to supply ready-to-eat food.
The ban on these items will include online and over-the-counter sales and supply, items from new and existing stock, all types of single-use plastic, including biodegradable, compostable and recycled, and items wholly or partly made from plastic, including coating or lining.
It is estimated that England uses 2.7 billion items of single-use cutlery each year, and 721 million single-use plates. Only 10 per cent of these items are recycled.
Plastic pollution takes hundreds of years to break down and inflicts serious damage to our oceans, rivers and land. It is also a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, from the production and manufacture of the plastic itself to the way it is disposed.
It is expected that banning these items will have a significant impact in reducing plastic waste and littering in England.
Funding injection breathes new life into ‘forgotten’ corner of Skegness
A once-forgotten area in Skegness has been revitalised into a captivating Sensory Community Garden Area thanks to Levelling Up Park Funding, and promises to be a source of solace and joy for residents and visitors of all ages.
The once-neglected space has undergone a stunning transformation. Vibrant planting with textured foliage have been carefully curated to engage sight, smell, touch, and even sound. A refreshed footpath leading its way through the gardens with musical chimes and a once-again working water fountain adding a gentle auditory element, creating an immersive experience for visitors.
Residents have embraced this initiative, seeing the gardens not just as a revitalisation of a physical space but as a symbol of community unity. The area is designed to be accessible to everyone, with paved pathways suitable for wheelchair and pushchairs, undercover shelter, seating areas, wildflower area around bug hotel and raised garden beds to ensure inclusivity for all members of our diverse population.
Councillor Martin Foster said: “The transformation of this space is a testament to what can be achieved when funding opportunities come to us. It’s not just about creating a beautiful garden, but also about fostering a sense of belonging and connection among our residents and visitors. The Neighbourhoods Team have done a tremendous job here and I thank them all, they have created a once forgotten space into a vibrant, inclusive, and harmonious environment for all.”
The Rockery Gardens Area is already being used for a range of activities, from nursery school visits and mindfulness sessions. The hope is that these activities will further strengthen the bonds between residents and encourage them to spend more time outdoors, engaging with nature and each other.
