HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum

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HMS Taku model presented to Ayscoughfee Hall Museum
A model of HMS Taku, a British T Class Submarine, has been presented to Ayscoughfee Hall by the Spalding Branch of the Royal Naval Association. The model was previously on loan to South Holland District Council and was on display in the Priory Road offices. On Wednesday 21 May, the model was moved from the council offices to Ayscoughfee Hall, which will become its permanent home. The submarine was launched on May 20, 1939, a few months prior to the start of the Second World War. HMS Taku saw action during the war, in British waters and the Mediterranean, until it was heavily damaged in 1944 when it was struck by a mine. She returned to active service a few months later and was retired in June 1945. While in the Mediterranean Sea, the submarine damaged and sunk several Italian and German vessels. In 1941, it was involved in a wartime campaign where towns and villages were invited to adopt a warship, Spitfire, tank or other vessels to support the war effort. In one week, the people of Spalding raised over £350,000, the equivalent today of raising around £15 million. This amount funded the building of a new submarine, and as a result Spalding officially ‘adopted’ HMS Taku. In June 1942, some of the crew visited Spalding and stayed with local families. There were many local events to celebrate the link, and today that continues through Taku Footbridge – the bridge over the River Welland next to High Bridge in Spalding’s Town Centre. Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, portfolio holder for health and wellbeing, conservation and heritage, said: “It has been an honour to have the model of HMS Taku at our offices in Spalding. “The submarine is an important part of Spalding’s history and that of the nation, having played a role in the Allied victory during the Second World War. HMS Taku continues to have local significance, having lent its name to one of the many footbridges over the River Welland. “I am certain that the model will be received very positively by the people of Spalding, and those from further afield, at its new location within Ayscoughfee Hall Museum.”

Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort

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Chapel refurbishment at Grimsby Crematorium boosts capacity and comfort

Grimsby Crematorium has reopened its chapel following a five-week refurbishment to improve capacity and visitor experience. The project involved a complete interior overhaul, including removing pews in favour of modern seating to increase occupancy. Additional upgrades include new flooring, carpeting, ceiling, thermal glazing, and automated window controls to enhance climate regulation.

The renovation was carried out with minimal service disruption and completed on schedule by contractor Unibuild. The updated facility now hosts over 2,000 annual services in a brighter, more functional space, catering to over 200,000 visitors annually. The improvements are part of ongoing efforts to modernise bereavement services and better serve local families and funeral operators.

Image source: North East Lincolnshire Council

Outdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast

April Lara
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Outdoor arts festival builds creative economy along Lincolnshire coast

Lincolnshire’s SO Festival has returned with an expanded week-long programme, blending international outdoor arts with skills development and placemaking efforts along the East Lindsey coast.

Running across Skegness and Mablethorpe, the 2025 edition now spans seven days, featuring artists from seven countries, including acrobatics, puppetry, hip hop-infused circus, and interactive installations. A newly added three-day conference brings together industry leaders and cultural practitioners to explore how the arts can drive social change in coastal regions, a theme that will continue into next year with SEAScape at SO Festival 2025, a dedicated international forum on art and placemaking.

The festival goes beyond performance. Through a series of free workshops—from AI basics and special effects makeup to aerial access training and street art—it aims to boost creative engagement, digital literacy, and community-led innovation. Activities are shaped by local consultation and designed to make cultural participation more accessible.

Image source: SO Festival

Leisure centres in Lincoln to reopen under new operator

April Lara
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Leisure centres in Lincoln to reopen under new operator

Two leisure centres in Lincoln that abruptly shut down in April are set to reopen by mid-July under new management. The City of Lincoln Council has appointed Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL) as the interim operator of Yarborough and Birchwood leisure centres following the collapse of the previous operator, Active Nation.

GLL, a not-for-profit social enterprise with over 250 leisure facilities across the UK, will manage both centres on a two-year contract. The council owns the buildings and moved quickly to secure a new operator after Active Nation ceased trading due to financial pressures, citing the energy crisis as a key factor. The council had offered a £500,000 support package, but the charity did not accept the terms.

Since the closure, the Lincoln City Foundation has maintained outdoor operations at both locations. GLL plans to upgrade facilities, replace gym equipment, and recruit staff across various roles. More details on programmes, memberships, and courses are expected to be released this summer.

The transition aims to minimise disruption to residents and maintain local access to fitness and wellbeing services, while providing stability for the council’s broader leisure strategy.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/U-JINN Photography

Ayscoughfee Gardens refurbishes play area following South Holland District Council investment

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Ayscoughfee Gardens refurbishes play area following South Holland District Council investment
Spalding’s Ayscoughfee Hall Gardens has reopened its popular play area, following a period of refurbishment and repairs through a £24,000 investment by South Holland District Council. Work was required at the family favourite park after an act of vandalism last year, which resulted in the destruction of the cage swing as well as significant damage to the surrounding flooring. However, now that work is completed, the swing and its safety surface have been completely replaced with new, high-quality installations. As part of the work the team has also carried out repair and renovations to the jeep equipment, ensuring its continued enjoyment for young adventurers for many years to come. Councillor Henry Bingham, portfolio holder for assets and strategic planning, said: “It’s great that the team have been able to not only fix the vandalism but also get the area improved so that it can be enjoyed again. “Mindless vandalism like this robs residents of the ability to enjoy these areas and it is good that this could be turned around so quickly ready for the summer months, and we remain committed to doing all we can to maintain and improve our community assets.”

King Charles III England Coast Path expanded in Lincolnshire, to provide unique wildlife walks

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King Charles III England Coast Path expanded in Lincolnshire, to provide unique wildlife walks
Three more sections have been opened at a unique wildlife walk in Lincolnshire, making it one of the most accessible countryside areas of the UK. Lincolnshire’s section of the national King Charles III England Coast Path is a 124-mile-long walking route that runs from Sutton Bridge to Barton-upon-Humber, opening up the majority of the iconic Wash coastline to walkers. The route gives legal access to an incredible section of British coastline, and the wildlife around it, for the first time. Walkers can now enjoy more than 90% of our county’s coastal path with the latest sections added ranging from Mablethorpe to Tetney in addition to the new North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire sections to the Humber Bridge. This opening creates an almost continuous coastal route, with just two small gaps where a bridge is required near Gibraltar Point as well as a section around Immingham Dock. Chris Miller, head of environment at Lincolnshire County Council, said: “With these latest additions to the King Charles III England Coast Path coming to fruition we can now provide one of the most spectacular walks anywhere in the country. “This is the outcome of several agencies working together to give legal access to a unique part of the country for people to enjoy. There is a vast array of wildlife and topography that you only get on our coast and now anyone who wants to see it, can do so for free. “Natural England, the Environment Agency, North and North East Lincolnshire Councils and the coastal district councils have all worked with us to bring their essential knowledge of the area to this project. I hope that many will take the opportunity to walk the route and enjoy what Lincolnshire has to offer.” Because sizeable sections of the path are remote and can stretch for several miles, they operate without any public facilities or connecting walkways, so it’s suggested that walkers ensure they are self-sufficient for their trip.   Image credit: Lincolnshire County Council

New bin lorries to carry vital messages

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New bin lorries to carry vital messages
Five colourful new refuse collection lorries carrying health and wellbeing messages are taking to the roads of South Kesteven. The district council’s fleet already includes a pink lorry promoting breast cancer awareness and a blue lorry for prostate cancer. Joining them will be freighters supporting five more major charities: Royal British Legion, Samaritans, Bowel Cancer UK, Kidney Research UK, and Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation. Each is painted in the distinctive brand colours of the organisation whose messages they carry. Council lorry supplier Dennis Eagle has supported the initiative with the bespoke paint finish on the freighters, which were already on order as part of the depot’s normal turnover. Cllr Ashley Baxter, leader of South Kesteven District Council, said: “The charities we are supporting do life-saving work, each in their own way. It’s a privilege to be able to help get their messages out to residents via these new refuse vehicles. “Our lorries are highly visible and visit every corner of our district. Our crews tell us that the public are really interested and engaged when they see them out and about. The arrival of the new wagons will provoke further conversations and hopefully make people more aware of the work of the various partner charities.”   Image credit: South Kesteven District Council

Gainsborough festival attracts public funding boost to support local arts

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Gainsborough festival attracts public funding boost to support local arts

The Go Festival will return to Gainsborough on 14 June, with expanded programming and additional public funding aimed at boosting community engagement and creative output in the area. West Lindsey District Council secured funding from Arts Council England, enabling professional artists to collaborate with local groups through pre-festival workshops.

Supported by both Arts Council England and Gainsborough Town Council, the festival is expected to draw visitors with a full-day schedule of cultural programming in the town centre. Performances include interactive theatre, contemporary dance, community showcases, and family-friendly attractions such as storytelling installations and market stalls.

Local organisations like the Rotary Club and Trinity Arts Centre contribute to the line-up, while the extended programme underlines the region’s push to develop a more vibrant cultural economy. The festival will run from 11am to 7pm and aims to stimulate foot traffic, support creative businesses, and reinforce Gainsborough’s cultural infrastructure.

Organisers expect the event to build on the momentum from previous years while offering new opportunities for artist collaboration and community-led content. The initiative reflects growing recognition of the arts as a catalyst for local economic activity and civic engagement.

Image source: West Lindsey District Council

Skydive campaign gains business boost to support Ukrainian children

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Skydive campaign gains business boost to support Ukrainian children

A Lincolnshire-based charity initiative is scaling up efforts to support children in war-torn Ukraine. Twenty volunteers have signed up to take part in a tandem skydive fundraiser this May. The Boston Skyjive group, now in its third year, has seen participation quadruple since last year’s event.

Backing the initiative this year is Greencore, a food manufacturing company headquartered in Spalding, which is sponsoring 10 of its employees to join the skydive. Each participant will raise a minimum of £200 for Voices of Children, a Ukrainian charity providing psychological and physical support to children impacted by the ongoing war.

Greencore’s involvement includes a direct financial contribution and internal staff mobilisation for the skydive. Volunteers will cover their own skydive costs in addition to fundraising targets.

To date, the group has raised £12,800 for the charity through previous events. With expanded participation and corporate support, organisers aim to boost donations significantly this year.

The skydives will take place on 28 and 29 May at Hibaldstow Airfield near Brigg. Funds will aid the charity’s work across Ukraine, including frontline psychological services, rehabilitation programmes, and summer camps backed by the Ukrainian First Lady.

  Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Joggie Botma

Ashfield Park welcomes visitors to relaxed coffee morning

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Ashfield Park welcomes visitors to relaxed coffee morning
Ashfield Park, a charming community for the over 45s, is welcoming visitors on Thursday 29th May for a relaxed coffee morning. Tingdene Parks will be putting the kettle on, having a few chats, and opening the doors so you can take a look around and see if park home living feels right for you. Nestled on the outskirts of Scunthorpe with views over the Lincolnshire countryside, explore the move-in-ready homes at Ashfield Park and meet friendly residents. Whether you’re just curious or thinking ahead, come and say hello. For details and to register your interest visit: tingdene-parks.net/open-days-at-ashfield-park
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