Pumpkin Festival returns to Spalding
Spalding’s annual Pumpkin Festival will return on Saturday (7 October) between 11am and 3pm, celebrating the District’s proud horticulture and harvest traditions with a range of activities for local families to enjoy including live entertainment, food and gift stalls, arts and crafts and fantastic games.
Coinciding with Spalding’s usual Saturday market, visitors will be able to buy a wide selection of food, drinks, crafts and gifts from artisan stalls alongside regular traders.
There will be live entertainment from the ‘Pumpkin Stage’ where Cinderella herself will be performing alongside an array of other musical artists, including the cast from this year’s pantomime production.
Families with children can enjoy playing on the ride on pedal tractors, take part in the harvest fancy dress competition, and the whole community can join in the fun at the pumpkin decorating corner, or get stuck into the ‘vegetable critters workshop’.
Visitors are encouraged to take a stroll down ‘Pumpkin Street’ to see the beautiful handcrafted pumpkin sculptures created by local artists Jonathan Nicholls and Paul Crewe, enjoy a photo opportunity in the Autumnal globe, follow the Scarecrow Town Trail and so much more.
A special viewing of the classic fairytale, Beauty and the Beast is also being screened at the South Holland Centre and visitors will get the chance to meet some special guests after the show!
Broad Street Methodist Church will join the festivities, by running another of their fantastic free craft sessions alongside a relaxing coffee morning between 10am and 1pm and Spalding Library will also be welcoming visitors to take part in free Autumnal activities throughout the day.
Councillor Tracey Carter, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Communities and Operational Housing, said: “The Pumpkin Festival is one of the events I know many of our residents look forward to all year round, and as a Council it’s fantastic that we are able to celebrate our long history of horticulture and harvest whist having fun together and supporting our local businesses and traders.
“To that end, I’d like to encourage as many people as possible to come along to this year’s event, a huge amount of work has gone in from the team to create a jam-packed day with a little something for everyone to enjoy.”
There is a road closure in place for Spalding’s Sheep Market and Gore Lane on Saturday 7 October from 7am till 4:30pm.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Sergio
New Business School Dean takes post in November
Next month Dr Natalie Wilmot will take over as the new Dean of Lincoln International Business School at the University of Lincoln.
Dr Wilmot will join Lincoln from the University of Bradford, where she is currently Deputy Dean in the School of Management. She joined Bradford as MBA Director in 2019, and previously worked at Sheffield Hallam University following an initial career in industry. Her scholarly interests lie in the area of international business.
Dr Wilmot said: “I am honoured to assume the responsibility of leading Lincoln International Business School. I am greatly looking forward to working with this innovative community of educators and researchers to ensure that as the School enters this new stage in its development, the transformative impact that it has on the lives of students, businesses and the wider community continues to grow.”
Professor Abigail Woods, Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, said: “Natalie will be a fantastic addition to the University and I know colleagues will give her a warm welcome when she joins us in November.”
Children invited to give names to West Lindsey’s bin lorry fleet
Primary school children across the West Lindsey District Council area are being invited to put forward names for a number of our waste collection lorries that are used daily to collect waste and recycling from homes and businesses in West Lindsey.
A team of judges from West Lindsey Council will choose the winning entries, after which 10 of the lorries will be emblazoned with their new name tags. The schools with the winning entries will also receive a £20 book token.
The competition is being held to coincide with National Recycling Week, running from 16-22 October, which this year marks its 20th anniversary.
Cllr Stephen Bunney, chair of the council’s, Environment, Sustainability and Climate Change working group, said: “Giving school children the chance to name our fleet of waste collection vehicles is a fun way of engaging with the younger members of our community and kick-starting a discussion around climate and the environment.
“The campaign also gives everyone the opportunity to focus on the key recycling messages and get involved; but it’s important we all continue to do our bit well beyond the campaign, to ensure we go on protecting the environment and planet for future generations.”
As well as the bin lorry naming competition, children, families, and whole communities, are being encouraged to get involved during the week-long, national recycling campaign and beyond. Children can take part in a host of fun activities, while local companies and organisations can do their bit by promoting the recycling messages through their day-to-day activities.
Lincolnshire County Council will be organising recycling activities for pupils and arranging talks on the subject in schools.
All primary schools across West Lindsey will receive letters with full details of Recycling Week along with information on the bin lorry naming competition.
Elaine Bilton, the council’s Waste Policy and Commercial Waste Officer, said: “We see this as a fun way to engage with school children, while promoting the recycling message across the local community as a whole.
“We would encourage all schools to take part in National Recycling Week, and to take advantage of the free classroom resources available when schools sign up.”
Local businesswoman takes over Scunthorpe United
A takeover has been completed for Scunthorpe United by local businesswoman Michelle Harness.
A current director of the club, and former commercial manager of over 15 years at the Iron, Michelle has acquired the club from the outgoing David Hilton.
Following a busy few days of negotiations and putting plans in place, Michelle said: “I would like to thank everyone who assisted in the transaction, especially David Hilton.
“There are a lot of challenges and problems to overcome, but David has taken no fee for the club, and wiped all monies that he personally invested to enable this deal to happen. I wish him and his family all the best for the future, and I hope he finds some peace away from football.
“I’d also like to acknowledge the efforts of Simon Elliott, who has massively assisted in getting this deal over the line. There is now a lot of work to do behind the scenes to get our great football club back on track, and that work starts immediately with the fantastic team we have working for us, starting with the appointment of a new board.”
Home Office carries on with Scampton project in spite of saying it has stopped work
The Home Office continues to carry out development work at RAF Scampton despite written assurance that all work has stopped, says West Lindsey District Council.
The Council received written confirmation yesterday from the Home Office, confirming it has stopped all work in compliance with the Stop Order issued by the Council on 22 September.
But Enforcement Officers have continued to visit and observe from the perimeter of the site daily, and intelligence provided by the local community remains key to the Council’s oversight of activity.
Unfortunately, despite written assurances to the contrary, it is clear activity persists at pace on site, says the Council.
The Stop Notice relates to the following unlawful uses of RAF Scampton:
(1) Without planning permission, the making of a material change of use of the site to accommodation for asylum seekers.
(2) Without planning permission, the carrying out of operational development to facilitate the use of the site in connection with the unauthorised use of the site to accommodate asylum seekers as follows:
- The siting of Portakabins to house asylum seekers; and
- Significant and invasive groundworks in order to make the necessary utilities connections to accommodate asylum seekers on the site.
Construction partners come together to help fulfill Lincolnshire charity’s new HQ project
Landscape architecture practice, Influence Landscape Planning & Design, is bringing together volunteer construction and professional services partners to deliver fit-out works for Lincolnshire charity Naomi’s Garden.
Louth-based Naomi’s Garden, which provides conductive education and special education needs consultancy, has been raising funds to find a new HQ having outgrown its current centre in Manby.
The current site limits the amount of adults and children it can support resulting in its therapists having to travel the length and breadth of Lincolnshire to provide its specialist services, reducing the sessions it can deliver.
The charity raised enough funds to secure a new property on Manby Park, but is continuing to fundraise to turn the new building – previously a motorcycle shop – into a fit-for-purpose facility, where it can deliver its lifechanging services to more people.
Construction partners who have committed to providing their services, with materials needed for the project being provided at cost price, are Influence, contractor G F Tomlinson, project manager and quantity surveyor Gleeds,GBM Demolition, A + G Architects and professional services firm Knights.
The construction partners will be working together to completely transform the premises into Naomi’s Garden’s forever home. Works include raising floors, installing ramps, new windows and doors, and complete interior decoration.
When complete, the new centre will enable the charity to extend its working hours, provide group sessions and create a dynamic learning environment for all no matter what their disability, resulting in supporting 50% more adults and children each year. The building will also give them the option to run group sessions and be used for wider community use.
Sarah-Jayne Walker, lead conductor at Naomi’s Garden, said: “We currently have a waiting list of families across Lincolnshire who are waiting to benefit from the unique therapy we provide. Therefore, we desperately need our new more accessible hub to be functional, so we can continue our work and expand to help those families who are relying on us as the only service provider of our kind in our area.
“The team and I are overwhelmed by Sara’s offer to help and the professional team she has brought together are incredibly kind and we would not be able to progress with the adaptation of our new building without their knowledge and skilled services. A huge thank you to all our wonderful partners. We feel incredibly excited by what comes next.
“However, we do still need to raise enough funds to help us reach our next goal of adapting it to create our new centre. Please consider making a donation. Thank you.”
Newark-based Influence Landscape Planning & Design are chartered landscape architects, urban designers, environmental planners and arborists and offer knowledge and consultancy across a wide range of disciplines.
Managing Director Sara, who lives in Louth, contacted Naomi’s Garden during the pandemic having read about their plight and initially offered to help by providing landscaping services. That conversation continued to Sara offering to bring together a team of willing partners to deliver the works to the new building.
Sara said: “At a time when no one was feeling the impact of the pandemic quite like charitable organisations, and with Naomi’s Garden delivering such life impacting work and in my local area, the team and I wanted to help.
“The charity has worked so hard to get to this position; to have secured its new home through fundraising is a real achievement. While more money is needed to buy materials for the fit-out, the construction industry here in the East Midlands has some incredible companies and individuals who want to make a real difference to good causes. I simply picked up the phone to some of my contacts and was humbled by those wanting to support.
“Thank you to those partners and I’m looking forward to working with you all when the works start.”
Naomi’s Garden raised £160,000, which enabled them to secure the new building. Fundraising activities included hiking the National Three Peaks, a skydive, a Christmas concert, a charity ball and social enterprise company Key Fund provided the charity with a loan of £30,800 and a grant of £9,200.
The construction works to be undertaken to the new premises will cost approximately £350,000 and further fundraising and grant applications are underway to achieve this.
Chris Flint, Managing Director at G F Tomlinson, said: “As a Midlands-based contractor, we deliver projects throughout Lincolnshire that deliver life changing facilities and provide opportunities for the local communities to flourish. When Sara invited G F Tomlinson to be involved in this project, we jumped at the chance to give our support to such a worthy cause.
“Naomi’s Garden makes a real impact on the lives of many Lincolnshire families, and we are proud to be helping them, alongside other like-minded construction partners, to reach and support more people with their specialist services.”
Naomi’s Garden provides conductive education in Lincolnshire to families who have loved ones with movement disorders such as Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s, Dyspraxia and Motor Delay. The charity also has a SEND (Special Education Needs and Disabilities) specialist who works with the needs of children with autism, ADHD and sensory processing issues.
With the help of Lincolnshire County Council, Naomi’s Garden also provides free school holiday provision services including free healthy meals and enriching activities for children.
Works are due to start on the new premises in the Autumn, when the charity hopes to have the final confirmation of a funding application.
To make a donation towards Naomi’s Garden’s new premises please visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/naomis-gardens-big-move?utm_campaign=p_nacp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_source=customer
Grimsby family’s idea offers comfort to others in bereavement
A Grimsby family has donated a special post box to Grimsby Crematorium to help anyone who are suffering with the loss of a loved one.
Lauren Swales and Jack Lamyman lost their unborn son Teddy to a miscarriage in June when Lauren was four months pregnant.
Together with their nine-year-old daughter Polly, they started a fundraising campaign to install a ‘letters to heaven’ post box for the memorial area in the crematorium grounds.
The post box gives bereaved families somewhere to post messages, drawings, birthday and Christmas cards to their loved ones.
Jack and Lauren said they’d seen similar post boxes in other areas and thought it might help other bereaved families who are coming to terms with the loss of a child.
Lauren said: “We’ve never lost a loved one as close to us before Teddy. This is going to help us a lot and we hope it will help other families who have lost a baby or child.
“I’ve seen people leave cards and notes in the memorial garden, but something like this protects them and helps save them from getting wet. We want to come here to post Teddy his first Christmas cards and birthday cards.”
Jack said: “The memorial garden is a wonderful place for people to come and reflect on their loss.
“This means the world to us and we hope it helps other families who have suffered the loss of their precious babies. Although it can be difficult sometimes to know what to say, it helps having somewhere to put your thoughts instead of shouting into a void.”
Bereavement services staff Daniel Intress-Franklin and Augustine Harsent worked with the family to bring the new post box to the crematorium grounds. It’s there for anyone to use to send a message to someone they’ve lost.
Daniel said: “We’re really grateful to the family for making this happen. It’s a wonderful addition to the grounds and we’re pleased to have been able to help.”
Could you be an East Lindsey Age-Friendly Ambassador?
Over 50 and think older people deserve a voice? East Lindsey District Council wants to hear from you.
In partnership with Lincolnshire Community and Voluntary Service the council has launched an Age-friendly Ambassador Scheme, and is looking for individuals to step forward to be ambassadors who will help the council understand the needs of older residents and speaking out for them.
Cllr William Gray, Portfolio Holder for Communities & Better Ageing at East Lindsey District Council, said: “The Age-friendly Ambassador scheme provides a great opportunity for us to better understand the needs of our older residents as part of our ongoing commitment to being an Age-friendly Community.”
Volunteers Age-friendly Ambassadors could be communicating Age-friendly messages and helping to tackle ageism. they might be involved in co-designing with partner organisations, initiatives and developments across the district. The role suits anyone that is willing to connect with others and is passionate about having their say on issues affecting older people.
Mandy Elmer, Community Development and Volunteering Officer from LCVS, said: “LCVS are happy to work in partnership with ELDC to launch this pioneering project, really listening to the voice of older people through our volunteers and making a real difference within our communities.”
East Lindsey District Council committed to becoming an Age-friendly community in 2019. In 2021 it joined the WHO Global Network of Age-friendly Communities. An essential element of an Age-friendly Community is the meaningful engagement and involvement of older people. It is important that older people have the opportunity to contribute to the way that services are shaped, and public spaces created. It is also important for the council to share Age-friendly information and to promote Age-positive messages throughout its communities.
For more information please contact Jane Berni by emailing jane.berni@e-lindsey.gov.uk or Mandy Elmer by emailing mandyelmer@lincolnshirecvs.org.uk
Holbeach breaks 45-year tradition to switch time of Remembrance Day parade
This year’s Remembrance Day Parade in Holbeach will be switched from morning to afternoon after talks between the County Council and Parish Councillors.
Cllr Richard Davies, Executive member for Highways at the County Council said: “The meeting was a very positive way for all concerned to have the open dialogue that so often leads to a resolution in matters like this.
“Based on County Cllr Tracey Carter’s feedback, the remaining views expressed by those in the meeting and the views of local community, we are very pleased to continue our long-standing support for the event whilst it changes from the afternoon to the morning.”
The change comes after 45-years of Holbeach holding its Remembrance Day Parade in the afternoon, with surrounding areas such as Holbeach St Marks and Long Sutton continuing with the later time for attendees to pay their respects.
Cllr Carter added: “We are always open to hear the views of the Parish Council and we fully respect the long-standing tradition of Holbeach, and many other smaller towns in having their service in the afternoon.
“During our meeting with the Parish Council it was a good opportunity to hear all sides of the situation in an open and fair way and, based on that, we have agreed for the morning road closure to be given for the very important Parade.”
Cllr Davies added: “Cllr Carter is always extremely supportive and champions Holbeach at every opportunity. She was keen for residents to be heard and listened to, so was instrumental in the decision to support the Parish in moving the Parade to the morning.
“When all is said and done, the most important thing is that Holbeach has the opportunity to hold a remembrance parade and respect those who served, and continue to serve, our country. Holbeach has always been well supported in the Remembrance Parade and I very much hope that it will be this year, too.”
Clive Turner, Chair of Holbeach Parish Council said: “Holbeach Parish Council have championed this change and, whilst the decision has taken a little while to resolve, we have been pleased to work with LCC and the District Council on behalf of the residents, and are extremely pleased with the outcome.”
Enjoy an evening of festive cheer at the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Christmas Carol Concert
Get into the Christmas Spirit with a delightful evening of festive cheer at the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Christmas Carol Concert on Tuesday 19 December, 7.30pm!
Immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Lincoln Cathedral and enjoy an evening of festive carols, readings and musical interludes including Horncastle Primary School Choir, hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Melvyn Prior.
Tickets from £10 are available on eventbrite.
All proceeds will go towards supporting the vital work of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. Your presence helps this life-saving charity continue providing pre-hospital medical care and be by the side of patients when they are most in need.
Don’t miss out on this magical evening! Grab your loved ones and join us for an unforgettable Christmas Carol Concert in the heart of Lincoln. Spread the holiday cheer and make a difference this festive season!
