With just over three weeks to go to the Boston Marathon on the 28th April the excitement is rising.
Runners are enthusiastically chatting on social media about the themed medal and TShirt design of “Bomber County” featuring a Lancaster Bomber. Some are running to commemorate relatives in the RAF who were posted to one of the 49 airfields across Lincolnshire during World War II.
At the time of writing this article entry numbers are 913 – full marathon, 457 – half marathon, 165 – 10K, and 38 – fun run, and at least a dozen entries are still being processed daily. Registration closes on the 15th April to ensure the runners receive their electronic bibs in the post. Those who register after this date can collect them on race morning.
The organisers are anticipating upwards of 1,800 entries. Spectators can choose between two starting points in the town or line Wide Bargate to see all runners just after setting off.
The full marathon starts in the Market Place at 08:00, the 10K will then start from the Park Gates at 08:15, the half marathon follows from the Market Place at 08:30 and the fun run, at the Park Gates, at 08:45. Anyone wishing to see the first runners arriving at the Boston College finish line will need to do a quick sprint to the college by 08:45 as the fastest of the 10K will be expected in around this time.
To add to the excitement this year Collin Harrison from Dunston in Lincolnshire is attempting to reclaim his Guinness World Record for ‘Fastest Half Marathon carrying 100lb pack’.
Collin is a former Royal Marine Commando and currently part of the Royal Marine Veterans Speed March Team, who will be completing a marathon distance Speed March in July 2024 in London to raise awareness of mental health issues among both serving and former military personnel.
It was back in September 2021 when Collin initially broke this Guinness World Record with a time of 2hrs 11min. However, on 21st May 2023, it was broken with a time of 2hrs 10mins 30sec. As a result he is now aiming to complete the Boston Half Marathon course within 2hrs 8mins. Accompanying him will be members of the RM Speed March team, who will run the course and act as witnesses for the Guinness ratification.
With the half marathon starting at 08:30 in the Market Place, and if all goes well, spectators can expect to cheer Collin across the finish line at Boston College at 10:38.
Gainsborough Bus Station has recently been refurbished to provide an enhanced gateway to the town centre.
New shelters, street furniture and CCTV have been installed to improve the experience for passengers, alongside an updated layout to create uniformity across the station and re-surfacing where required.
Leader of West Lindsey District Council and Gainsborough ward member, Cllr Trevor Young, said: “The improvement works to Gainsborough Bus station mean it is now a more user-friendly environment with increased shelter provision for users. We hope you enjoy the new modern look as we know how important our bus station is to many of our residents.”
The previous bus shelters have been re-purposed to local Parish Councils throughout the West Lindsey district.
Matt Cranwell, Managing Director for Stagecoach East Midlands, said: “We’re pleased to witness the transformation of Gainsborough Bus Station by West Lindsey District Council. The recent enhancements include more modern fixtures and bus shelters, as well as a thorough deep clean, to create a more positive customer experience.
“Thank you to our passengers for their patience during the two-week renovation period, during which a temporary bus station was in operation. We hope you will enjoy the improvements made to the bus station, and benefit from the enhanced travel experience provided.”
Director of Planning Regeneration and Communities at West Lindsey District Council, Sally Grindrod-Smith, said: “Delivering a set of upgrades to the bus station is one part of the £18million investment into Gainsborough town centre. Together with improvements to signage across the town and increased CCTV, we continue the transformation to make Gainsborough a safe, friendly, and welcoming place to spend time.”
Image courtesy of West Lindsey District Council
Following the refurbishment and reopening of the White Hart Hotel, owner Andrew Long is continuing to invest in Uphill Lincoln.
To add to the hotel’s portfolio, a pair of Grade II Star Listed Georgian Town Houses at 6 & 7 Castle Hill have been purchased by the Travel Sector Property Group.
These properties are just a few steps away from the hotel.
Andrew says: “No. 7, Castle Hill, known locally as Castle Square, will offer accommodation for up to eight guests (four adults and four children) to enjoy a luxury stay in a unique and enviable location. With exceptional views over Castle Square and down Steep Hill, it’s truly a local gem and a very special customer experience for leisure or corporate use.”
As well as acquiring No. 7, Andrew’s Travel Sector Property Group has also purchased the freehold investment in the adjacent Leigh Pemberton House at 8/9 Castle Hill, which is also a Grade II Star Listed Building.
Many will know this iconic property as the home of the City’s Visitor & Tourist Information Centre, which will continue to occupy the ground floor and basement areas of the building for the long-term future.
Plans will soon be submitted to create five luxury ensuite bedrooms that will also be operated as part of the adjacent White Hart Hotel.
Dating back to 1543, this half-timbered building was originally a wealthy merchant’s house, before becoming an inn. From 1899 it served as the regional headquarters of the National Westminster Bank, then undergoing extensive restoration in the late 1970’s.
More recently, the upper floors have been used as offices and Airbnb ‘holiday let’ accommodation, but is now in need of extensive internal refurbishment, as well as various ‘catch up’ external maintenance works.
Andrew added: “We will be significantly investing in the sensitive adaptation and refurbishment works for Leigh Pemberton House, ensuring that there will be an ongoing commercially viable use for this unique building, protecting, and enhancing its sustainable long-term future.
“I am personally very pleased to incorporate this iconic and historical building within my long-term investment portfolio for Castle Square and the immediately adjacent Bailgate area.”
This phase of work will be taking place before the planned refurbishment and reopening of the historic Judge’s Lodgings, also purchased by Travel Sector Property in November 2022.
Andrew is hopeful that the Judge’s Lodgings and former White Hart Garages at 2 Bailgate will be fully completed by the end of 2025, with construction work starting this Summer.
Two Lincolnshire men have raised more than £5,000 for the Freemasons’ charity the MCF by trekking to Everest Base Camp, 18,000 feet above sea level.
Jez Hyland from Horncastle and Rob Wright from Boston went to the Himalayas with five friends for the adventure of a lifetime – and with arduous climbs, snow, ice, the constant fear of altitude sickness, and a scary landing at the world’s most dangerous airport, it lived up to that billing.
Rob, left and Jez prepare to cross one of the flimsy footbridges en route
Jez Hyland tells the story… “The journey to the mountain wasn’t without its difficulties. We got stuck in Kathmandu airport for over six hours, but got one of the the last helicopters out that was able to land at Lukla Airport, said to be the most dangerous in the world. It was scary; have a look at YouTube. After that we were ready to start our journey proper.
“The first day’s trekking was fairly straightforward over four hours. However, the second day has been brutal with 3,600 feet of climbing and a few foot bridges. Not great for someone like me, who doesn’t particularly enjoy heights! But look on the bright side; it was better than walking down and back up again.
“Tuesday was our acclimatisation day at Namche Bazaar, which sits at 11,400 feet above sea level. The day consisted of a 1,500-foot climb to the Everest Hotel, and then walk back down to where we’d started. It was a four-hour steep stroll, and would have offered our first view of Everest, if it hadn’t been hidden by cloud…
“Wednesday was a hike to Tenbouche at 12,700 feet. However, we had to descend to a river crossing, which meant 2,880 feet of climbing on the day. It was a tough trek with terrain consisting mainly of steep switchback boulders. On the upside, the weather was perfect and we saw Everest without cover for the first time. The scenery was stunning and our photos probably don’t do justice to what we could see with the naked eye.
“Based on the weather forecast, our guide advised us to do Everest Base Camp on the Saturday and Kalapathar on the Sunday morning for a sunrise view with a 3:30 am start. Boy was he right, but more of that later.
Journey’s end!
“Reaching Base Camp was a nine-hour day from Lobuche via Gorakshep, then returning to Gorakshep ready for the sunrise climb. The Camp day was tough, with so many rock and boulder step overs, but we had brilliant weather again and achieved the goal, getting to Everest Base Camp safely.
“On Sunday we woke up to at least two inches of snow, which would’ve made Base Camp nearly impossible, so massive thanks to our guide for calling it correctly. However, two inches of snow and Minus 11 at 3.30am made the Kalapathar climb, with sunrise at 5:47 am, and no descent or flat on the hike, probably the toughest of all. But for our efforts, we got to see Everest in all its glory. Viewing the tallest place on the planet with your own eyes is an incredible experience.
“Finally, Rob and I want to thank everyone for their support, and a massive thanks to the rest of the team, Kenny, Cameron, Dean, Steve and Andy who accompanied us on our journey and also supported our charity appeal very generously.
“I must also compliment the Nepalese people, who have been absolutely fantastic. They are very happy smiley nation. But on reflection it did make me think how terribly lucky and grateful we should be for being in the fortunate position of being able to achieve these sort of lifetime challenges. At the same time, everybody who supports such challenges should be proud they are able to help those less fortunate than themselves.”
Welland Homes, a housing company wholly owned by South Holland District Council, is donating its £128,274 profit for the year to four local charities, helping to support in-need residents in the District.
The company, incorporated in 2015, was established with aims to increase the housing supply in the area to meet an existing demand, set high standards for housing design in the District, and improve the quality of rental accommodation available to residents.
Welland Homes currently has 53 open market rental properties in its ownership and is seeking to acquire a further 4 homes this year. After another successful year, the company will be donating its profit margin to four local charities: Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire, the Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Service, Active Lincolnshire and South Holland in Bloom.
Citizens Advice South Lincolnshire will receive £88,074, which will be used in their goals to provide free, independent, confidential, and impartial advice on rights and responsibilities, as well as support on a range of matter such as money advice, welfare support, employment, housing and family and personal matters.
£31,000 will be donated to Lincolnshire Community & Voluntary Services, who work in the District to enable individuals and groups to make a real difference in building stronger and sustainable communities through community engagement and promoting and supporting volunteering.
Active Lincolnshire, who bring people and organisations together to provide opportunities for everyone in Lincolnshire to be more active, more often, will be receiving £6,000.
£3,000 will be donated to South Holland in Bloom who assist and support various villages across the district in connection with the Britain In Bloom competition. The charity provide small financial contributions to each area which looks to support the work to improve the local environment.
All charities will receive the funds by the end of March.
Directors of the Welland Homes Board welcomed the payment of donations, saying: “We are extremely proud that Welland Homes’ continued growth and development is allowing the company to make donations of this size to a group of charities that go above and beyond to support our local area a great deal.
“With yet another successful and profitable year, it pays testament to the incredible hard work put in by everyone involved with the company and shows the financial benefits the company provides to the council. We look forward to the future of this company as it continues to provide the quality homes that our residents deserve.”
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Stockfotos-MG
South Holland District Council is working with Heritage Lincolnshire and local people to create a heritage strategy for Spalding as part of Spalding Reconnected, a project celebrating and reconnecting the historic Spalding town centre and riverside, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.
The heritage strategy has been co-created through engaging with members of the public and key community groups in Spalding, to find out what heritage and projects really matter to the town. Local heritage groups and communities have been spoken to to shape the strategy and write an action plan which includes 47 projects to make the strategic vision a reality.
This document and accompanying sustainable action plan, will be used to prioritise and support the development of heritage sites and projects in the town over the next 5-10 years. This document showcases the connections and collaboration which make Spalding’s heritage so amazing.
Over the next 10 years the Spalding Heritage Strategy will offer a unique opportunity to connect organisations and groups, to form partnerships with funders, South Holland District Council and Lincolnshire County Council.
Your contributions are wanted to make the Heritage Strategy great for all the people who visit, live, and work in Spalding. Get involved in this last opportunity to shape the future of heritage in Spalding! Follow the link below to learn about findings so far and share your thoughts:
https://www.heritagelincolnshire.org/current-projects/spalding-heritage-strategy
Once this feedback has been incorporated, the Spalding Heritage Strategy will be handed over to South Holland District Council for an official adoption process.
Tracy Stringfellow, CEO of Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “We’d love to hear from you. This last opportunity to hear the thoughts and feedback of local people is crucial to making sure the strategy best reflects the priorities and needs of Spalding.
“We’re thrilled to have worked collaboratively with South Holland District Council and local people to produce the Spalding Heritage Strategy, to connect and celebrate the heritage of this vibrant market town.”
Councillor Gary Taylor, Deputy Leader of South Holland District Council and portfolio holder for Spalding Town Improvement, said: “We have already had some great feedback from local residents, community groups and partners on this strategy for Spalding, and I would encourage people to take this final opportunity to share their thoughts and feedback.
“It’s important that this project reflects the priorities and needs of Spalding and the surrounding area, and makes the greatest positive impact possible to the environment and experience of living, working or visiting around the town centre and riverside. This is our chance to create a strategy that celebrates and protects the heritage of our local area, and I hope people take the time to get involved.”
Image shows Spalding. Credit: Stock.adobe.com/Steven F Granville
Facilities at Grantham’s Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) have been expanded to include state-of-the-art MRI and CT scanners.
The £5 million investment in the site on Gonerby Road at Gonerby Hill Foot is the latest development in Lincolnshire’s NHS CDC programme to offer diagnostic tests to patients in the local community outside of a busy hospital setting.
The former Moy Park hatchery site has been open as a CDC since April 2022 and further investment from United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust and NHS Lincolnshire Integrated Care Board has enabled it to continue to expand.
Claire Lloyd, CDC Programme Lead, said: “Our CDC programme has already supported more than 75,000 diagnostic tests to be carried out for Lincolnshire patients as part of their ongoing care. All of these planned appointments are run exactly as they would be in our hospitals, including with the same clinical teams and IT systems, but without the potential disruption from emergency care.
“Patients can be seen quicker, potentially closer to home and in a calmer environment. There is also free on-site parking, which has also been improved with re-surfacing during the building work, directly outside the entrance.
“The ongoing success of the Grantham CDC is testament to the commitment of our teams in Lincolnshire’s NHS to find innovative ways to improve, while meeting the challenges presented to us by the county’s unique geography and population. We’re excited to see these two new scanners in place and supporting our patients.”
As well as new MRI and CT scanners, the expanded facilities include changing areas for patients, additional clinical preparation areas, large scanner control rooms and a staff room.
With referral from a health professional, patients can access the following services at Grantham CDC:
Plain film X-ray
Non-obstetric ultrasound
Echocardiogram
Diabetic Eye Screening
DEXA scanning
MRI scans
CT scans
AAA screening
Andrew David used Grantham CDC as a patient and has continued to support the programme as a patient representative, shaping developments on the site and elsewhere in Lincolnshire.
He said: “My visit to the Grantham CDC completely changed how I feel about going for scans and similar tests. Gone are the queues, delays, and gloomy corridors. The centre in Grantham is on a different level altogether, free ample parking, clean, fast, efficient service and above all the staff were exemplary, friendly, professional, and put me completely at ease. This is the way it should be and Aneurin Bevan would be very proud!”
Other plans on the CDC programme during 2024 include the £38m development of two new CDCs on Lincoln Science and Innovation Park and in Skegness.
Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Lincolnshire councils are to be given a share in £295 million to invest in regular food waste collections.
The money is expected to fund weekly food waste collections by 31 March 2026, providing both new food waste containers for homes and specialist collection vehicles, targeted at local authorities that have yet to fully put food waste service in place.
Councils covered include:
Boston Borough Council; £728k
East Lindsey District Council; £1.4m
Lincoln City Council; £829k
North Lincolnshire; £1.5m
North East Lincolnshire; £1.5m
North Kesteven £936k
South Kesteven; £1.4m
West Lindsey; £1m
According to Recycling Minister Robbie Moore, more than ten million tonnes of food is wasted every year in the UK, with much sent to landfill. Separate collections of food waste from every household will prevent contamination of other waste which could be usefully recycled, as well as ensuring that food waste can be sent to anaerobic digestion facilities rather than needlessly lost to landfill. Directing food waste to these plants will generate more sustainable energy to power homes and businesses, and cut down the more than 18 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions associated with this waste.
He said: “Weekly food waste collections are a central plank in delivering a simpler, easier recycling system for all. It will help to stop food waste heading to landfill and support our goals of tackling both waste and climate change. We’re backing councils with new funding to ensure the nation can benefit and recycle more.”
Claire Shrewsbury, Director of Insights and Innovations WRAP, said: “Weekly food waste collections will give recycling in England an important boost and help reduce the impact of food waste on climate change. Our research shows that when food waste collections are introduced, and people see how much food goes to waste in their home, they want to do something about it. And with food waste costing a household of four around £1,000 a year, weekly collections will not only help prevent food waste in the first place, but utilise the food waste collected to generate green energy and compost.”
The funding is part of the government’s Simpler Recycling plans – meaning that people across England will be able to recycle the same materials, and ending the confusing patchwork of rules governing what can and can’t be recycled in different parts of the country.
In a move which will secure a prestigious hotel business, protect jobs and broaden its economic and social benefits, North Kesteven District Council has taken ownership of the Carre Arms Hotel in Sleaford.
The purchase of both the hotel and its operating company has been finalised following a decision by Full Council on February 29, 2024, with Members agreeing that there were significant advantages to the community in protecting this key local infrastructure asset, which could otherwise be lost as a viable business.
Acquisition of the Carre Arms also assists the Council significantly in advancing its ambitions around expanding the local visitor economy – being one of only two hotels in the immediate area with more than 10 rooms – and the regeneration of Sleaford Town Centre.
The move also protects an historic, landmark building and introduces opportunity to enhance its viability as an accommodation, conference and functions provider.
Council Chief Executive Ian Fytche said the realisation of this opportunity to move forward a number of the Council’s strategic aims around Sleaford’s regeneration and the potential for growing the local visitor economy was something the Council could not afford to pass over.
“For more than 12 years we have recognised the need for expanded hotel provision in order to meet existing and growing demand for business and visitor accommodation, but that is something that the private sector has not been able to provide,” he said.
“That reality, allied with the broader aspirations of the Sleaford Masterplan and the Council’s wider strategic interests in redevelopment opportunities in the immediate area of the Carre Arms, have led to the Council taking this proactive intervention.
“It is an action entirely consistent with legal and financial frameworks and will ultimately support the Council in both delivering on its objectives and maintaining its own ongoing viability, just as its established Lafford Homes housing company does.
“Customers of the Carre Arms will see no immediate difference as there is no change to the operations of the hotel or the circumstances of the employees.
“Along with the retiring owners, who have run a successful business for more than 20 years, we thank them for their goodwill both now and over the years in providing a much-needed multipurpose venue in the heart of Sleaford.”
Image courtesy of North Kesteven District Council
A new festival is coming to West Lindsey this year, which promises to bring people together through words, pictures, sounds and music.
WordFest, which is being staged in Market Rasen in July and Gainsborough in September, builds on the success of the Literature Village, which was held in Gainsborough’s Market Place last year.
Organised by West Lindsey District Council, WordFest is all about the area ‘finding its voice’ and promises to be a festival of storytelling, creativity, and imagination.
Towns’ Manager at West Lindsey District Council, Nicola Marshall, said the event would have something for everyone to enjoy. She said: “It’s great that we are able to build on the success of the Literature Village and expand this into something that will truly bring people together through a love of art and music.”
Both events will feature the Literature Village Market, which will once again welcome stallholders selling all things book related. There will be free entertainment for children including the splendid Storybook Emporium; Oskar with his magic accordion; poetry writing for all and storytelling in the ‘teepee’.
In Gainsborough, there will also be free horse and carriage rides from Market Place to the library. Additional attractions are still in the planning stage.
Helen Hagon, a teacher and writer based in Gainsborough, is among the artists appearing at WordFest. She said: “Last year I ran a stall at the Gainsborough Literature Market, which was a wonderful opportunity to chat with fellow lovers of the written word from the local area, and I will be doing the same again at this year’s Wordfest.
“I am also currently compiling a collection of my own poetry and am looking forward to leading a poetry-writing workshop in September for anyone interested in having a go at penning some verse of their own. No writing experience is necessary, just bring lots of enthusiasm and a love of words.”
Local musician, Graham Thorpe, another of the artists appearing, said he was looking forward to encouraging people to share their love of all the different artforms. He said: “WordFest will enable Gainsborough people to use their voice in some way – through writing, through reading, through poetry, through art and drawing, and of course music.”
Graham, and a group of fellow musicians, have written music specifically for the event and will be performing at The Old Nick Theatre.
To whet people’s appetite ahead of WordFest, there will be a creative writing workshop entitled ‘Writing is Fun’ – led by local writer Gill Blow at Gainsborough Library. The workshops will be held on six consecutive Saturdays from 20 April to 25 May, 10am to 12pm.
Tracey Jones of Garden Room Art, will also be hosting an art journalling workshop on 1 and 15 June – 10 am to 12pm.
And during the week leading up to Wordfest, there will be a fascinating history talk entitled ‘Industrious Women of the Trent’, a Lincolnshire Dialect afternoon and an evening featuring a musical soundscape. Other events include a poetry workshop and a super children’s literature event at the Trinity Arts Centre.
Chairman of West Lindsey District Council, Stephen Bunney, said he was looking forward to the festival. He said: “It’s great to be able to bring people together through music and art, and with WordFest staged at both Gainsborough and Market Rasen, it will demonstrate this perfectly. I’m delighted we have another super festival to join the line-up of events that continue to be so well supported across the district.”
Image courtesy of West Lindsey District Council
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