Danny joins the front line against shoplifting in Lincoln

Shoplifting in Lincoln city centre is now being tackled by police with the help of Lincoln BIG’s City Centre Warden Danny Mason. The partnership comes as part of the local Neighbourhood Policing Team’s problem-solving for prolific shop theft in the city centre, and will mean Danny will now be taking on responsibility for the initial evidence gathering on reports of shop thefts to provide a complete package for officers to use to bring those responsible to justice. The work builds on a previous initiative of shop theft packs, where businesses who had been targeted by thieves completed a statement about the incident and sent it to police along with CCTV. This way, the onus is taken off those businesses to collate the information needed for the investigation, and the support from Lincoln BIG means that officers can spend more time on patrol and working on investigations. The investigation itself – viewing the CCTV, follow-up statements, identifying suspects, arrests, suspect interviews, seeking a charge with the CPS, attending court, and compiling other material for things like Criminal Behaviour Orders which can help to ban individuals from specific retail premises – will be handled entirely by police. This new way of working is for all retail premises in the city centre, as well as the immediate outlying commercial parks along Tritton Road. Community Beat Manager Sgt Steve Parker said: “Tackling shop theft is something we have been working directly on for some time, and we have good news to share: of the top 20 prolific offenders, which we know can be repeat offenders, 13 are in prison, one is out on licence, one has a suspended prison sentence, and a further three are due in court imminently. “But we still know what an impact shop theft has on our community, and we wanted to introduce something that will make a real difference, so we suggested this way of working to Lincoln BIG, and got a very positive response. This new way of working builds on an existing relationship between Lincolnshire Police and Lincoln BIG, and will help us to realise our ambitions to significantly reduce shop theft and related offences in the city centre. The more our local businesses can help us – via Danny – by providing the evidence we need to secure convictions, the more offenders we can take off the streets.”

Winners of LCE Photographer of the Year 2024 announced

London Camera Exchange (LCE) has announced the winners of its inaugural competition, LCE Photographer of the Year 2024. The contest featured 14 different categories including the ‘People’s Choice’ award open to public voting. The competition attracted nearly 13,000 entries from all over the globe and demonstrates photography’s continuing appeal. Entry was open to images captured on all types of devices: phones, action cams, drones and (the vast majority) using more ‘traditional’ camera equipment. First prize winner: Marilyn Taylor Taking overall first prize is Marilyn Taylor with her submission entitled ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’, shot in northern Costa Rica. Marilyn recalls: “It was so dark that it was very difficult to see these tiny bats flying like ghosts. We could only photograph for a short time, as they soon flew off. This was probably one of the most interesting shoots I’ve ever been on – it was absolutely fascinating. The fact that I achieved a couple of super images out of it was a terrific bonus.” Marilyn, from Woking in Surrey, has a background in engineering from Oxford and now balances her time between freelance photography and playing golf. She is no stranger to photographic competitions, having previously won several contests and national gold medals. She was the first recipient of the Royal Photographic Society Digital Group PDI Raymond Wallace Thompson Trophy. Marilyn is currently studying at the UCA in Farnham for a Master of Fine Art Photography, working on diverse projects including the ‘Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Fine Art Photography’ and ‘Visual Alchemy’. Marilyn received £5,000 in LCE vouchers as the overall first prize winner. Category winners (£500 vouchers each): •Abstract – ‘Sailing’ by David Higton •Action – ‘Speedsters’ by Kaushik Majumder •After Dark – ‘Ready to Depart’ by Alexander Howard •Birds – ‘Incoming Gannets’ by Linda Ariss •Drone – ‘Haldon Belvedere Misty Sunrise’ by Daryl Baker •Landscape – ‘Sunset at Shiprock’ by Curtis Blum •Macro – ‘Wasp Trio Drinking’ by Ian Mears •Music – ‘You!!’ by Dominic Beaven •Pets – ‘Anti Gravity Dog’ by Daniel Sheridan •Portrait – ‘Authenticity is a New Future’ by Laura Arkhypenko •Street – ‘The Last Train’ by A B M Nayeem Siddiquee •Travel – ‘Valencia Opera House’ by Graeme Hilditch •Wildlife – ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’ by Marilyn Taylor •People’s Choice – ‘Yaks Nupse’ by Patrick Pfirrmann The Landscape, Wildlife and Birds categories proved especially popular with entrants. Some of the shortlisted photographs featured particularly interesting stories, such as ‘Destination Dreamland’ by Becky Bailey, a deaf photographer who experiences the world through pictures. ‘Sycamore Gap – the Last Show’ by Ian Sproat, an electrician by day, is an outstanding image of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree on Hadrian’s Wall, captured just a week before it was maliciously chopped down. One of the judges’ favourites, and Pets category winner, was an image of a King Charles Cavalier Spaniel entitled ‘Anti Gravity Dog’ by Daniel Sheridan. An employee of Bournemouth Council, Daniel also runs a photography website named ‘A Billion Clicks’, which – of course – specialises in dog photography! The awards were presented at a special ceremony at The Photography & Video Show on Sunday 17 March 2024 at The NEC, Birmingham. All winners and runners-up had their images displayed in an exhibition at the entrance of the Birmingham show, and shortlisted photographs have been made into a commemorative book. Nick Richens, chief executive of LCE, said: “We were thrilled by the sheer volume of entries to the competition and the outstanding quality and diversity of the photography submitted. Choosing the winning images was an especially tricky affair as there were just so many stand-out images. We would like to thank everyone for submitting their incredible work and making our very first POTY competition a resounding success. Congratulations to all the winners from the LCE team.” The LCE POTY competition ran from October 2023 to January 2024, and was the first time the UK independent retailer had hosted a contest of this scale. Nearly 13,000 entries were submitted. Overall, there was a £12,000 prize fund generously supported by leading photo industry brands including Canon, Nikon, OM System, Fujifilm, Panasonic and Sony. Judges included Chris George, content director at Future Publishing, street photographer Peter Dench, journalist and She Clicks founder Angela Nicholson, and Nick Richens, Chief Executive at London Camera Exchange. LCE is the UK’s largest chain of independent photographic stores and offers a wide portfolio of products and services for enthusiast and professional photographers and filmmakers. The company has been recognised for its outstanding customer service and support across the British photographic media for many years.   Image credit: Marilyn Taylor – ‘Long Tongued Bat Approaching Banana Leaf’

£20m cash injection promises to revitalise East Midlands community

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Gainsborough’s neighbour Bassetlaw is to be given a £20 million to regenerate towns, tackle anti-social behaviour and refurbish cherished community centres, as part of a major regeneration project announced by Government. The money will also be used to improve the area’s educational and health services through new and improved facilities for the community to use. The funding is part of the wider £400 million Levelling Up Partnerships in England, with the cash going to the 20 areas most in need for levelling up. The package of investment includes:
  • £14m to redevelop old print rooms in Worksop, a vacant retail unit in Priory Shopping centre and a derelict site in Harworth & Bircotes. This will help create a new education centre, NHS health and wellbeing centre, and community hub.
  • £3m for streetscaping in Retford, Worksop and Tuxford town centres, helping to improve access and tackle anti-social behaviour.
  • £1.5m for Worksop to renovate derelict land and create a community farm shop.
  • £1m to redevelop Retford Town Hall into a new community space, including a banking hub and £150,000 for investment in Manton Children’s centre for use as a Family Hub whose services will support local families.
  • £120k of funding to the Council to support them in their local skills scoping work to ensure people can make use of the economic opportunities that STEP will bring and strategic visioning for the arrival of STEP.
  • £100k of funding for studies to help improve the town centres of Bassetlaw, which will further prepare the town and surrounding areas for the arrival of STEP.
This builds on the significant investment already made in Bassetlaw, including nearly £18 million from the Levelling Up Fund, over £3 million from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund as well as £20 million from the Long-Term plan for Towns. Levelling Up Minister Jacob Young said:  ”This new Levelling Up Partnership is massive news for Bassetlaw and will make a real difference the region. “We are working closely with the Leader of Nottinghamshire Council, and other local leaders, as part of our plans to Level Up the East Midlands, including by creating the East Midlands Combined Authority which will give local communities more power to shape decisions which directly affect them.” James Naish, Leader of Bassetlaw District Council said: “This £20million investment through the Levelling Up Partnership will help to propel change and generate more life chances and opportunities for residents of all ages across Bassetlaw. “The range of projects – put forward by the Council to purposefully cover the whole of the District – includes supporting improvements to the streets where people live and shop; creating new exercise and training opportunities; investing in community spaces such as banking and family hubs; and promoting the employment, business and educational opportunities created by the planned prototype fusion energy plant at West Burton.

“Among the eight confirmed projects, there are schemes in Tuxford and Harworth & Bircotes as well as Retford and Worksop, all of which contributes to delivering the Council’s vision for Bassetlaw as a whole to become an even better place to live, work and do business.”

Ruckland Court Care Home officially declared open by Mayor of Lincoln

On Wednesday 13th of March, Ruckland Court Care Home, nestled in the Ermine district of north Lincoln, was officially opened by the Right Worshipful Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Biff Bean who cut the ribbon together with Al-Karim Kachra, Co-CEO of Country Court. The event was to celebrate the completion of the renovation and refurbishments which have recently taken place. Families and friends of the residents and the wider community were all invited to attend the event, hosted by staff from the home. Visitors enjoyed a fantastic afternoon tea-themed buffet, live music and tours of the home to showcase the stunning new rooms. Entertainment was also arranged for residents and visitors to enjoy in the two lounge dining rooms for the afternoon so everyone could feel involved in the event. The Mayor of Lincoln, Biff Bean said: “Thank you for inviting me to officially open Ruckland Court Care Home. I am so impressed with the results of the refurbishments. I visited the home in December while some of the work was taking place and I was looking forward to returning. I am very impressed with the results. It’s a beautiful building.” Co-CEO of the award-winning Country Court group Al-Karim Kachra said during his speech: “We need to give a big round of applause to everyone who has been involved, including the staff team who have continued to do an amazing job and for MV construction and the development team who have worked so hard during this project. “The feedback regarding the cooperation and the positivity about this project is beyond anything I have known and is a testament to the home manager and his dedicated staff team.” The residents, their families and friends enjoyed relaxing in the new Coffee Club bistro, which is a fantastic new area where they can socialise with tea or coffee and cake, making it feel even more welcoming and inclusive. Adam Atkin, Home Manager of Ruckland Court, said: “The transformation has been incredible, and the new facilities will be of huge benefit to the residents. The new Coffee Club bistro and the lounge dining rooms provide great spaces for inviting people from the community to join our residents for events and special occasions. “I am proud of my staff team who have had a positive attitude with all the work taking place, while still caring for our residents and I would like to say thank you to the families for being patient while all the refurbishments were under construction. “The reactions of residents, families and staff have been a true wow moment. I look forward to the residents taking full advantage of the new facilities in their home.” For more information about Ruckland Court Care Home or to make an appointment to view the home please contact, Adam Atkin Home Manager on 01522 530 217 or email rucklandcourt@countrycourtcare.com.

Construction underway on new further and higher education campus in Skegness

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Construction has started on the new campus for Skegness TEC which will deliver further and higher education courses for the residents of Skegness and surrounding communities. The new campus, supported by a £14 million government-funded Connected Coast Town Deal, is set to make a huge impact in the community, offering further and higher education tailored towards vocational skills training to meet local needs. Having gained planning permission from East Lindsey District Council last year, works are now underway on the Wainfleet Road site, led by contractors Hobson and Porter. Ann Hardy, CEO of TEC Partnership, said: “I am delighted that construction is underway on our new Skegness Learning Campus. It is going to be great to see our designs and plans become a reality. The new learning campus will bring with it a broad curriculum and new opportunities for the community of Skegness.” Chris Baron, Chair of Connected Coast, said: “It is fantastic to see work now underway on the Learning Campus, a development set to be genuinely transformational for local people, offering access to training in much-needed subjects in Skegness. “The Learning Campus is Connected Coast’s flagship Town Deal, and it has the potential to be an economic game changer for the area, allowing people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to get the jobs they want. “The start of work is a hugely significant milestone, and I look forward to seeing this exciting new facility come out of the ground over the coming months, ready to welcome students in 2025.” The campus will in turn bring enhanced employment opportunities and a broader range of curriculum tailored to economic changes and demands. Over the coming years, the project aims to help over 1,000 residents into employment, supporting growth in the local economy and enriching the community.   Image courtesy of TEC Partnership

Etched Yorkstone paving recalls wedding of the milk bottle bride

Next month will mark 80 years since one of the most unusual weddings recorded in Grimsby Minster’s history. On 19 April, 1944, the marriage took place of an airman to his dairy worker wife at a bomb-ravaged Grimsby Minster, and this is still remembered in the etched paving in St James’ Square. The ornate paving was laid on two sections of pathway, which lead from St James’ Hotel to the Minster as part of the most recent renovation works to the square. The Scoutmoor Yorkstone paving bears more than two dozen etchings of words, sentences, and symbols with connections to the town’s past, present and future. They are the creation of artist Adrian Riley, who spent weeks researching local heritage and speaking to people about their memories and those of their ancestors, before creating the artwork. One of the men Adrian contacted was former Hereford School deputy headteacher Vic Jay, which resulted in the following words being etched onto one of the stones: “My parents’ wedding took place on 19th April 1944. Vera’s colleagues from the dairy provide a guard of honour with milk bottles.” Vic, now retired and living in North Yorkshire, recounted the story of his parents’ marriage and how it took place in the Minster, then St James’ Church, on April 19, 1944 – less than a year after it had been damaged by a German bomb. His dad Bob had been an airman in the Second World War whilst his mum Vera Stephenson worked at a dairy near Scartho – hence the milk bottles! However, to marry had not been easy for the couple. Owing to Vera’s age, she was just 19, Bob had to get permission to marry from her father. He refused and a visit to the local magistrate followed. Vic takes up the story: “After a visit to the magistrate, my dad, wearing his R.A.F. uniform and speaking in his usual confident way, had little difficulty in persuading him that he was a fine upstanding young man, worthy of anyone’s hand in marriage. The magistrate then directed some harsh words at my grandad and gave Bob and Vera permission to marry.” Bob, a fireman in Grimsby before working on the Humber Bank, lived happily with Vera and their three children until his death in 1974. Vic though has ensured the memory of his father, and late mother, lives on after researching and writing a book. ‘The Mallon Crew’ charts the history of Flight Engineer Bob and his fellow Lancaster bomber crew, who were piloted by New Zealander Bill Mallon. The wedding of his parents is also recounted by Vic who is proud to see a memory of that happy occasion on his family’s ‘very own paving stone’.

New video shows Grimsby and Cleethorpes in a different way

Lincolnshire videographer Rich Beach has worked with Discover North East Lincolnshire to create a new look at Grimsby and Cleethorpes with a film capturing key landmarks and memorable locations, promoting the towns to visitors and residents. It’s being launched at the start of English Tourism Week, and uses photography techniques that trick the mind into thinking the image is of a miniature world. The end result is that the footage is transformed into what looks like a Hornby diorama! Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy said: “This captivating video gives the audience a glimpse of what’s on offer in North East Lincolnshire as a coastal destination, whether that’s to visit or to live here. “We’re really excited to launch this video at the start of English Tourism Week and we hope it will provoke feelings of pride amongst local businesses and our residents. We want people to show it to their customers, friends and family and show off just how lovely our area is.” Videographer and creator of the video Rich Beach said: “The whole process is complicated and can only really be shot on bright sunny days when there is little wind.” “I heavily saturate the colours to emphasise the toy effect, and bright sunlight is needed for this. I also use a sun calculator app that tells me when the sun in on the face of a particular building, so I can plan the shots and the order in which I shoot them. “The best part of this film was getting the chance to stay in Cleethorpes for a week to shoot it, enjoying all the great beaches and attractions . It’s not often I get to combine a filming job with a holiday.” The video is on YouTube.

New vans to the rescue! Lincs fire service brings in new vehicles

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Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue have seven new Technical Rescue Vehicles – vans that carry specialist equipment for incidents like water rescue and animal rescue.

The service relies on a whole host of vehicles and equipment which all play vital roles in operations. The previous rescue units had reached the end of their serviceable life, and have been replaced with bigger and better vehicles that are also more efficient. Designed with input from firefighters and incident data, the new vehicles can even carry heavy rescue equipment used to shore up buildings to prevent building collapses. Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive councillor for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “When new equipment and vehicles are needed, we’re constantly looking for what best meets the needs of our fire crews and the communities they serve. “Investing in these TRVs means that a wider selection of equipment can be transported to incidents, and without the need for trailers, making them more efficient. They can also be used more flexibly for a much wider range of incidents, offering greater resilience. Chief Fire Officer for Lincolnshire, Mark Baxter, said: “These vehicles are more efficient on every level and have been much improved to include lots of new features. They weigh in at 5.5t and allow for a wider collection of tools and equipment. Three of them carry equipment that can be used to provide a shelter with support and welfare functions at incidents, such as generators and IT equipment. “They can also carry larger inflatable boats for rescue from water and animal rescue. Previously, they needed to be towed behind the TRVs. “The vehicles have been ergonomically designed to make things easier for our crews with special shelving to help with getting to equipment, enhanced and additional lighting together with 360 cameras, an intelligent charging system, and a platform lift to assist with the handling of heavy equipment too.” The new TRVs will be stationed strategically around the county to provide maximum coverage and optimum response. They attend specialised activities such as RTCs involving heavy vehicles, incidents involving large animals or water related incidents where there is a danger to life and also enhance and support general operations.

Teddies to bring comfort to LNAA’s youngest patients

Thanks to the generosity and kindness of the Lincolnshire Freemasons, the Patient Liaison Team at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance are now the proud owners of 18 Teddy bears! LNAA Patient Liaison Manager, Hayley Burton said: “These adorable ‘Teddies for Loving Care’ bears will bring comfort and warmth to paediatric patients during their time with us. “These cuddly companions will be readily available to provide a source of solace and companionship whenever our young patients may need it most. And, when we need more, they’ll deliver more! “We extend our thanks to the Lincoln Freemasons Division for their thoughtful donation and ongoing support of our mission to provide exceptional care to our youngest patients. Their generosity will undoubtedly make a significant difference in the lives of our paediatric patients and their families.”

Property owners praise Gainsborough buildings’ restoration

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Property owners in Gainsborough are celebrating the restoration of important buildings thanks to the ‘invaluable’ funding that made the work possible. The restoration work has been supported by West Lindsey District Council’s Townscape Heritage Initiative Scheme to preserve the architectural heritage of the town, including listed Georgian buildings, and to revitalise the community. The THI funding is backed by National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Levelling Up Fund. One of the premises benefitting from funding is 37 Lord Street, familiar to most now as Café Latte. The Grade II listed building dates back to the early 19th century and is owned by Justin Leckie. Justin has been working with architect Eleanor McEvedy, who has previously worked on 27-29 Lord Street under the THI scheme. Justin said: “The support received from West Lindsey District Council has allowed Café Latte, to return to its former glory and bring the building back to its best. The generous THI grant has allowed us to replace the outdated shop front with one which is much more in keeping with the listed Georgian property. In addition, work has taken place on the upper floor windows, the cast iron and lead water gutters as well as on repairing the brickwork on the gable end. “Without the support of the Council I would not have been able to protect the heritage of the building or play a role in helping to stimulate the regeneration of the street as a whole.” The schedule of works is expected to last eight weeks, with the final element – the fitting of a traditional canvas awning – due later this month. The funding offers substantial grant aid towards the costs of renovating buildings, in a bid to bring empty properties back into use and maximising the potential for them to be used today. 3 Lord Street (now the Clock House) is also benefitting from the scheme. The building had been a school room in 1845, with the joiner Tom Lambert having a shop there at a similar time. Owner Sunil Bejugam who also owns properties along 1-5 Lord Street said the THI funding had proved ‘invaluable’. “As a property investor in Gainsborough, my journey with 1, 3, 5 Lord Street has been a transformative one, made possible through the invaluable support of the Townscape Heritage Grant offered by West Lindsey District Council. “The grant served as a beacon of hope, enabling me to envision and execute a comprehensive external renovation plan for the properties. The project included fundamental upgrades such as replacing outdated windows with elegant sash windows, refreshing the roof tiles, restoring two iconic chimneys, updating entrance doors, and enhancing business signage.”