Award-winning wedding venue goes into liquidation
The North Lincolnshire wedding venue named as one of the best in the country only two years ago has gone into liquidation.
Hirst Priory at Crowle near Scunthorpe has been run as a wedding and events venue for almost a decade, but Covid and the cost of living crisis have been blamed for its demise.
MD Hazel Wheatley instructed the voluntary liquidation of her business on Monday this week, handing the historic venue back to its owners the Hunt Group. She said: “Covid brought the wedding industry to its knees, with weddings being banned for the first time in history. This created huge uncertainty, and many suppliers chose to leave the industry altogether.
“Despite the best efforts of myself and my team, the current economic climate has proved one storm too many. Supply chain costs have rocketed and the dip in confidence caused by the cost of living crisis has seen new bookings plummet.
“With no end in sight this sadly forced the closure of the business as a viable entity moving forward.”
She said the building owners and landlord, Hunt Group Limited, had done their utmost to support Hirst Priory Limited, but had no choice but to take back control of the Hirst Priory building.
South Lincolnshire climate action group celebrates its first year
The South & East Lincolnshire Climate Action Network is celebrating its first year of partnership working to tackle climate change across the sub-region.
Called SELCAN, the group has brought together more than 30 private, public and third sector organisations to work collaboratively on reducing carbon emissions across the sub-region to build a more sustainable future for our communities.
Formed in July 2022, SELCAN is a forum for sharing ideas, best practice and collaboration across South Holland, Boston and East Lindsey with the aim of delivering projects that lead to carbon reduction, as well as mitigating and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The organisation encourages communities to be part of the solution to the social, economic and environmental challenges facing our sub-region as a result of climate change.
Cllr Graham Marsh chairs the organisation. He said: “SELCAN has had a fantastic first year and it has been really positive to bring together like-minded and dedicated individuals and organisations, who are all committed in addressing the challenges posed by climate change, so communities can live more sustainably. There are some fantastic projects being developed which will bring about change and promote awareness of some of the things which businesses and individuals can easily do to live and work more greener and in a more environmentally-friendly way.
“There’s some great work being done across the sub-region and more exciting plans for the coming 12 months. Our vision is to achieve net zero emissions in advance of the Government’s 2050 target and make the sub-region more resilient to the impacts of climate change. We are committed to building a more sustainable future for our residents and communities.”
Vandals wreck Grimsby play equipment within hours of installation
A £6,500 table to play the up and coming sport of Teqball has been smashed beyond repair in North East Lincolnshire’s Barrett’s Playground.
Teqball is an up-and-coming sport played on a specially-curved table that mixes football, volleyball and table tennis. North East Lincolnshire Council is investing £800,000 in it around the area.
Cllr Stewart Swinburn, Cabinet member for the Environment, said: “This is absolutely mindless vandalism. The pictures show at least four holes have been made in the table, and a lump of concrete at the side, which corresponds to the size of the holes. We can only assume that someone has used the concrete to smash the table up. What a waste of resources, and such a shame for the local community.”
As a new activity, the Teqball tables are thought to be one of the first of its kind to be installed in public parks in our region.
Teqball is becoming increasingly popular thanks to videos of footballing royalty playing the sport circulating on social media, with famous players like Ronaldinho and David Beckham to name a few, posting videos of themselves playing Teqball in their gardens. Some of the most successful clubs in the world, such as Paris Saint Germain, Real Madrid and Manchester City, have Teqball tables at their training grounds.
If anyone has any information about this please contact the police on 101 quoting crime reference 23000105776.
Leaders call for quicker end to uncertainty on Theddlethorpe Geological Disposal Facility
Two Lincolnshire council leaders are proposing that a public vote about a Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) being potentially sited in Theddlethorpe, should take place within the next 4 years.
Cllr Martin Hill, leader of Lincolnshire County Council, and Cllr Craig Leyland, leader of East Lindsey District Council, are both members of the community partnership, set up by Nuclear Waste Services (NWS) to ensure residents can make an informed choice as to whether a GDF is right for their area.
Both leaders have now set out their preference for a ‘test of public support’ to take place by 2027.
Cllr Hill said: “The county council agreed to be part of the community partnership to ensure residents and businesses in the Theddlethorpe area are well informed about what a GDF would mean for them.
“We have been talking about this idea for a number of years already and what we are suggesting will give ample time for people to have formed an opinion and for the community to take a vote.”
Cllr Leyland said: “This process is all about listening to local views, and that’s exactly what we are doing, and what the test of public support will do. Indecision and uncertainty about the future use of the site that goes on for too long, will not benefit residents and they deserve to know when they will get to make a final decision.”
Geological disposal involves isolating radioactive waste underground, inside a suitable rock volume that ensures that no harmful amounts of radioactivity can reach the surface environment. A GDF would be a highly engineered structure featuring multiple barriers providing protection over hundreds of thousands of years.
Book to the future: Library book comes home more than 50 years late
A book has been returned to Scunthorpe Central Library – some 54 years since it was borrowed.
The book, a first edition copy of ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’, was last checked out in 1969 and could have incurred fines of £120 18 shillings and tuppence – equivalent to £4,500 at today’s values.
North Lincolnshire Council recently took the decision to permanently abolish library fines, encouraging residents to use the services at their local library without fear of penalties.
Cllr John Davison said: “So much has changed in the 50 years since this book was last taken out, but local people can still visit our 14 local libraries, browse a brilliant selection of titles, and receive recommendations from our knowledgeable teams.
“In other ways, our libraries have continued to evolve. Many are now part of community hubs, enabling residents to access key services more conveniently, under one roof.
“Our library members also have access to thousands more books than ever before, with some 4,600 e-books and e-audio titles at their fingertips through Borrowbox and 7,000 more magazines through PressReader.
Dad takes on marathon effort to say thank you to hospital teams
A dad is in training to run a half marathon to say thank you to the hospital teams who saved his son’s life.
Rikki and Layla Small say their son Theodore would not be the happy and healthy three-year-old boy that he is without the care he received at Lincoln County Hospital.
Theodore was born 10 weeks early on Saturday 4 January 2020, weighing just 3lb and 1oz – less than one and a half bags of sugar. Rikki said: “That whole period is still a bit of a blur in my memory. Theodore was so small and needed help with his breathing initially. The care he received on the neonatal unit at Lincoln County Hospital was simply amazing.”
Theodore was in hospital for 39 days and during that time the family drove 4,300 miles going back and forth to the hospital from their home in Owmby-by-Spital. The couple were also taking care of their two older children Paris (now aged eight) and Skylar (now aged six).
Once Theodore was strong enough he was allowed to go home.
Rikki added: “We got Theodore home and then he just stopped breathing. We called the emergency services and I performed CPR until the LIVES team arrived and then the ambulance. They were amazing and took Theodore to the Emergency Department at Lincoln County Hospital. He looked so tiny on the adult bed, but the team were simply amazing.”
Once he was stabilised, Theodore was transferred for specialist care in Nottingham. After a couple of weeks he returned to Lincoln where he spent another week until he was allowed to go home.
Rikki said: “It was the most frightening experience of my life. But I had to be strong for Theodore and for Layla. We still don’t know why Theo stopped breathing. It might be that he had an infection.
“I will forever be grateful to everyone involved in Theodore’s care and feel like I will never be able to thank them enough for what they have given us. Theodore is such a happy and healthy boy thanks to all of their care and support. He is at pre-school, loves football and is just perfect.”
Rikki will be supported by Layla, Paris, Skylar, Theodore and youngest child Greyson (aged two) as he prepares and completes the Nottingham Robin Hood Half Marathon on Sunday 24 September.
He admits that he isn’t the fittest, but is determined to complete the challenge in aid of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity.
Rikki added: “I know that is it going to be tough and will hurt, but it will be 100 per cent worth it as it will help to show just how thankful we are.”
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Fundraiser, Gary Burr, added: “Every penny raised by Rikki will be used to directly support patients and staff.
“We have amazing colleagues in our hospitals and for them to hear that patients and families are showing their appreciation in this way will mean so much to them. Donations like this really do make a difference, but the biggest reward of all is hearing how well Theodore is doing.”
For more information about Rikki’s challenge and to make a donation, please visit Rikki Small is fundraising for United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity (justgiving.com)
New housing to meet humanitarian needs takes a step forward
Twelve properties have been acquired by South Kesteven District Council (SKDC) to provide homes for families fleeing war-torn countries around the world.
They will initially be used as temporary housing for Afghan and Ukrainian evacuee families who have arrived legally in the UK. The homes will later be occupied by families on the SKDC Housing Register.
The cost of just over £1.8m was funded jointly from the Government’s Local Authority Housing Fund and the Council’s Housing Revenue Account budget.
The 12 homes in Langtoft, near Market Deeping, are the first of a total of 21 earmarked for the scheme in South Kesteven, which was supported by Full Council, and are a mix of two and three-bedroom new-build houses and two-bedroom bungalows.
SKDC’s Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning, Cllr Phil Dilks, said: “This process will help refugees at a time when they need it the most, having escaped the prospect of terrible suffering in their own countries.
“The properties we have identified for purchase provide value for money and, at the same time, enable the Council to progress this important project within a challenging timescale.
“The new properties, which we expect to take ownership of by the end of the month, also provide SKDC with an opportunity to add valuable assets to our own property portfolio when the demand for housing is so strong.”
The Local Authority Housing Fund helps provide affordable accommodation for legal evacuees until their visas expire in around 3-5 years’ time, by supporting local authorities.
Afghan resettlement prioritises those who assisted the UK with military operations in the country, plus those at greatest risk from the Taliban. Schemes to assist Ukraine nationals focus on legal resettlement and support for women and children refugees displaced by the conflict.
Knights plan to make a day of it at Lincoln Castle
For the first time for four years real knights on horseback will return to Lincoln Castle’s grounds and battle it out in ‘the Sport of Kings’ on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 August.
As well as the grand spectacle taking place throughout the day, visitors can explore the living history camp on site and speak to people about what life was like in medieval times.
There will also be live entertainment from jester Tom Fool, falconry displays, and a gruesome medieval surgeon showcasing terrible treatments of old – not for the faint hearted! Budding young knights can also have a go at jousting themselves on the wooden rolling horse.
Stephanie Beecher, Lincoln Castle events officer, said: “The thunder of hooves and the clash of lances will be heard across the city as our knights return to Lincoln Castle. With the entertainment and living history camp too, coming through the medieval gates will be like stepping back in time.
“The castle’s resident dragons, Lucy and Norman, will also be keeping a watchful eye over proceedings, and making sure our dualling knights don’t get any ideas.”
Entry to the event is with a standard castle day ticket, which also includes entry to the Medieval Wall Walk, Victorian Prison and Magna Carta.
A busy few months for the International Bomber Command Centre
The past few months have been busy for the International Bomber Command Centre (IBCC), from winning awards to hosting special events.
IBCC scoops national tourism award
7 June saw the finals of the VisitEngland Awards for Tourism Excellence 2023. The gala event was held at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter and was hosted by Alex Polizzi, the Hotel Inspector.
The IBCC were shortlisted, after 16 regional qualifying competitions and hundreds of entries, alongside Blenheim Palace and the Warner Bros. Studio and came away with a bronze. To have achieved this status after only five years and to be amongst these giants of the tourism industry is a huge nod to the efforts, passion and dedication of staff and volunteers.
IBCC’s Chief Executive said: “Despite all the challenges of raising the funds, major archaeological works and the COVID pandemic, the team has been resolute and determined to see the job is done and done well.
“It has been a long and difficult journey, so being awarded this Bronze award amongst the best of England’s tourism offer is a real pat on the back for everyone who has supported us. We’re proud to be flying the flag for our beautiful county on a national stage.”
On the evening of 16 May IBCC held an event featuring the Waddington Voluntary Band, the Waddington Military Wives Choir and a very special flypast by the RAF BBMF Lancaster, with three low passes over the site. Gp Capt Neill Atkins, Station Commander at RAF Scampton, laid a wreath to mark the historic Operation, which flew from the station. The Dambusters at 80 concert saw 100 guests join the IBCC for a special reception at the Spire, a dinner and the showing of a special film created for the event.
In May the bench which was gifted to the IBCC by the 78th Halton Apprentices Entry was formally unveiled. The bench has proved to be very popular with visitors, providing an ideal place for a breather before discovering more of the stories at the Centre.
Alan, from the association, writes: “In September 1954, 300 lads of between 16/17 years of age arrived at Halton to enlist in the Royal Air Force as Engineering Apprentices. We thus became the 78th Entry. Following 3 years intensive training a good proportion graduated in July 1957.
“Many friendships were formed during those 3 years. However, on completion of training everyone was posted to RAF Stations, all over the world. Thus, most contact with pals was lost.
“Then about 20 years ago a chance meeting of several pals then enabled them to trace many more. Thus the 78th Entry RAF Apprentices Association was formed. Since then, a reunion weekend takes place, in a hotel with conference rooms and private dining suite for 40 to 55 members and partners. Inevitably as we are all mid 80’s the numbers are dwindling!”
The photo above features members of the Halton Team and Chris Roberts, IBCC Operations Manager.
Forthcoming events
12 & 13 August – Salute to the 40’s: 10.00 – 4.00pm each day
The IBCC’s annual celebration of this golden era. Free to visit and, this year, the Saturday will feature a Glenn Miller tribute concert. Flypasts both days.
19 August – Romeo and Juliet: 6.00 – 10.00pm
3 September – Wings and Wheels: 10.00 – 4.00pm
A free event focussing on classic cars and aviation heritage from across the region.
For more information on these and other events please Click Here
National Bomber Command Day
In July, the third National Bomber Command Day public service was attended by veterans of WW2 and Post War, families, visitors, associations and representatives from the military. The service was very moving with the Spire party including 4 standards from the RAF Association branches and the Band of the Royal Air Force College Brass Quintet. Their way to the Spire was lined with cadets from 204 (City of Lincoln) Squadron. After the service the IBCC Piper and tour guide, Barry Steele, played the lament he wrote for the project. A poem, which had been written by 16-year-old Daniel Crawford for the IBCC, was read out by tour guide, Bob Chatterton. Rev (Wg Cdr) Chris Carre, Senior Chaplain at RAF Waddington, led the service. 24 wreaths were laid by:- Royal Air Force
- Royal Air Force College Cranwell
- RAF Benevolent Fund
- RAF Association
- Royal British Legion
- Royal Observers Corps Association
- WRAF Association
- War Widows Association
- RAF Ex-Prisoners of War Association
- Far East Command
- The Victoria Cross Trust
- RAF Ingham Heritage Centre
- Veterans’ families
- Squadrons – 9, 12, 49, 106
Dambusters remembered
May saw the 80th anniversary of Operation Chastise, an important day in the Bomber Command calendar. To mark the event, IBCC unveiled the Men of the Dams art installation which was designed by Simon Smith and Dan Barton and produced by the Standing With Giants team. The figures had an instant and emotional impact on visitors and the response has been incredible. Alongside this the IBCC held its 4th Inspire event which brings motorcyclists from across the country to gather, talk bikes and commemorate Bomber Command. This year was particularly poignant as IBCC combined it with a memorial service to the last Dambuster, Sqn Ldr George “Johnny” Johnson MBE DFM, who passed away in December 2022. His daughter, Jenny, paid tribute to him, to his passion for ensuring that all those who served or supported Bomber Command were remembered and about his love for the IBCC. An empty chair was placed in his honour. This year saw almost 250 motorbikes attending.On the evening of 16 May IBCC held an event featuring the Waddington Voluntary Band, the Waddington Military Wives Choir and a very special flypast by the RAF BBMF Lancaster, with three low passes over the site. Gp Capt Neill Atkins, Station Commander at RAF Scampton, laid a wreath to mark the historic Operation, which flew from the station. The Dambusters at 80 concert saw 100 guests join the IBCC for a special reception at the Spire, a dinner and the showing of a special film created for the event.
Reaching for the skies
Currently IBCC Finance Director, Stephen Fleming, is training hard to climb Kilamanjaro to help raise funds for a new Learning Centre at the IBCC. He will be tackling the Lemosho Route which approaches the mountain from the West over a 7-day period starting on 5 October. His training schedule includes walking at least 7KM a day, a weekly session with a Personal Trainer and regular hikes in Wales, the Lake District, Peak District and Scotland. He has already raised over £6,000 but is keen to keep the total rising upwards. If you would like to support this huge effort, please click here https://www.justgiving.com/page/stephen-fleming-1676633518982
Attack on Sorpe
The Attack on Sorpe Dam film is based on a true story, part of Operation Chastise – the Dambusters Raid. The film follows the story of a young 21-year-old RAF 617 Squadron Bomb Aimer, George “Johnny” Johnson, and his aircrew from March 1943, on joining a newly formed squadron, for a top secret, special operation that has the potential to shorten the war in Europe. Johnny describes the dangerous low flying training and events leading up to the operational briefing on May 16 1943. Johnny and his crew finally discover what they are expected to do and are presented with what seems like an impossible task. They are to fly at 100 feet in a four engine Lancaster bomber at night, over many miles of occupied enemy territory. On reaching the target, they need to drop a new weapon that has never before been tried operationally, with pin-point accuracy, in a way they had not practiced and then make their way back home safely. Nothing like this had ever been attempted. Johnny was a huge advocate for preserving the heritage of Bomber Command and a huge supporter of the IBCC. He was also passionate about education and so IBCC are delighted and enormously grateful to Andrew Panton and Piotr Forkasiewicz, the producers, and to Johnny’s family for handing this amazing film to the IBCC to raise funds for a new Learning Centre. The IBCC has put over 16,000 children through its learning programme since 2018. This award-winning programme is supported and subsidised by the IBCC’s hospitality events. However, the growth of both of these project elements has meant that there is an urgent need to provide a purpose-built learning facility. Johnny’s passion for teaching and for keeping the heritage of Bomber Command alive make this film a perfect fundraiser for the new centre. If you are interested in organising a showing of the film, please email susan@internationalbcc.co.uk You can watch the trailer here.Bench formally unveiled
East Lindsey Councillors get £2,000 each to invest in their communities
East Lindsey District Council has made £2,000 available to every Councillor to help them support organisations and community projects in their wards.
The Councillors’ Community Grants scheme provides grant funding to community projects run by not-for-profit organisations in East Lindsey.
Councillors have supported their communities by awarding the following grants:
- Croft Councillor Sid Dennis has awarded £500 to Thorpe St Peter Parish Council to assist with purchasing new batteries for their Community Defibrillators.
- Sibsey and Stickney Councillor Neil Jones has awarded £300 to Stickney and District Gardening Club to assist with their ‘Tidying Village Spaces’ project.
- Louth Councillor George Horton has awarded £200 to Louth Triathlon Club to help with purchasing a Mobile Defibrillator.
- Alford Councillors Graham Marsh and Sarah Devereux have awarded £400 to Alford Corn Exchange Community Group to assist with costs associated with their Christmas Community Lunch to help tackle loneliness within the local community.
- Alford Councillors Graham Marsh and Sarah Devereux have awarded £1,000 to The Alford Windmill Trust to assist with purchasing kitchen equipment.
