American military nostalgia visit for RAF Saltby D-Day commemoration
A D-Day 80th anniversary event at Saltby airfield on 8 June will turn back the clock to commemorate its wartime role.
RAF Saltby was home to America’s 9th Troop Carrier Command during 1944, flying paratroopers of the US 82nd Airborne Division to Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion of Europe.
The D-Day 80th Anniversary Commemoration at RAF Saltby event, from 10.30 – 3pm, will include a service of commemoration, military re-enactors, an Army field kitchen and talks in the Buckminster Gliding Club clubhouse.
The event is free but tickets for the airfield access and talks must be booked separately via Ticket Tailor.
Senior United States’ military representatives will be attending on a nostalgia visit to an airfield that played a significant role in the Allied war effort, the latest in a series of such visits.
They include the commander of the United States 314th Airlift Wing from Little Rock, Arkansas, the modern day equivalent of the 314th Troop Carrier Wing operating from RAF Saltby in 1944.
Author and Troop Carrier Command world authority, Lt Col Mark Vlahos, is also attending, giving an illustrated talk – RAF Saltby 314th Troop Carrier Group – and offering to sign any of his books for visitors who have previously bought copies.
He will be portraying Colonel Clayton Stiles, the Commander of the 314th Troop Carrier Group stationed at RAF Saltby in WW2, ‘visiting’ for the first time since the war ended.
Another talk from heritage specialist Brian Riley – Airborne Forces of Britain, the United States and Poland – focuses on the unique alliance and presence locally of Allied airborne forces from the United States, Britain and Poland that helped change the course of the war.
Darren Bond’s talk – America’s 82nd Airborne Division – will reveal the division’s history and its association with RAF Saltby and includes a demonstration of battle kit worn by both American and British airborne soldiers.
Cllr Richard Dixon-Warren, SKDC Armed Forces Champion, said: “RAF Saltby played a critical role in the invasion of Europe and we are delighted to help tell the story of the American contribution that helped turn the tide of war.”
For Buckminster Gliding Club, Chairman John Elkington said: “We are extremely proud of the heritage here at the airfield. We have a permanent memorial to allied forces and this event is an opportunity to honour the American troops and aircraft that flew from here on 6 June 1944.”
The commemoration is the latest in a series of US nostalgia visits over the years. The 314th Airlift Wing also gifted £3,000 to help restore the bells at Saltby Church.
The event has been organised by South Kesteven District Council, Saltby Airfield History Group and the Buckminster Gliding Club.
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/Robert L Parker
Venue reborn to boost social life of North Lincolnshire village
A bid writing service set up by MP Andrew Percy has helped to save the former St Oswald Church Hall in Keadby near Scunthorpe and convert it into a public hall.
Funding attracted for the project includes:
- £70,000 to help buy the property funded by the North Lincs Enhanced and Prosperous Pot.
- £36,000 UKSPF Levelling-Up funding from the Government for structural work, kitchen and electrical and new roof on extension.
- £9,611 North Lincs Council Community Grant pot for heating/air conditioning system. This is the fund the Conservatives set up when we took over running the Council.
- £26,000 SSE Axholme North Fund for flooring and decorating.
- £3,900 Axholme North SSE Fund for new chairs and Tables cooker and kitchen equipment.
North Hykeham’s £200m relief road gets planning permission
Members of the county council’s Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee voted in favour of granting planning consent for a relief road for North Hykeham at a cost of about £200m
Cllr Richard Davies, executive member for highways, said: “I’m incredibly happy to say that the North Hykeham Relief Road has officially been granted planning permission, which means we’re one step closer to a full ring road around Lincoln.
“Now that planning consent’s been granted, our team can formally enter into negotiations with landowners while continuing to prep all of the legal orders needed before construction can start. These include compulsory purchase orders granting powers to obtain the land needed for the road and side roads orders granting powers to improve or alter the highway.
“Our current plan is to present these to Highways and Transport Scrutiny Committee in June and then Executive in July, before making them live for public consultation.
“The focus will then be preparing a full business case for DfT before making a start on building the road late next year.”
Building the new relief road is expected to start late next year and to be finished by late 2028. The cost of the project is currently estimated to be between £180m and £208m.
The North Hykeham Relief Road project would see a new dual carriageway built, linking the A46 Pennells Roundabout to the newly constructed Lincoln Eastern Bypass, creating a complete ring road around the city.
As part of the project, new roundabouts would be built at South Hykeham Road, Brant Road and Grantham Road. A number of bridges would also be needed, including at Station Road and over the River Witham.
Cllr Martin Hill, Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, said: “The new relief road will form the final section of a complete ring road around Lincoln, making it much easier for people to get around the area.
“Among its many benefits, the North Hykeham Relief Road will help reduce congestion in and around North Hykeham, Lincoln and the surrounding villages; and improve journey time reliability; help us meet the area’s growth target; and better connect the A46 between the Midlands through to the Humber ports.”
Heritage asset scheme comes to an end – but there could be more to come
A scheme investing in heritage assets around the historic quarter of the Port of Grimsby recently came to an end, but with hopes that funding may be found for second round of funding.
Dr Stella Jackson, Regeneration Project Manager, said: “We are very happy with what we have achieved as a group since 2019, particularly working in difficult conditions during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Our aim was to halt any further deterioration to the buildings, bringing them back into use, and creating local jobs. The knock-on effect has been the promotion of the historic dock area’s heritage, new facilities, an improved environment for people that work in the area and, of course, a strengthening of ties across the wider community.
“We are hopeful for a continuation of PSiCA as we move through 2024, particularly as the original scheme’s end comes at a time when there is much attention on the dock. Work being undertaken by businessman Tom Shutes is well underway at the Ice Factory, which will ultimately become a conference venue and office spaces, while ABP has its sights on the creation of a film quarter with proposed purpose-built studios. A hotel, proposed to be sited next to the Ice Factory, will also make a significant difference to the area.
“From a PSiCA perspective, this is already generating further interest in the historic area of the dock, encouraging people across this sector to look at many of the buildings as possibilities for their businesses.”
The Partnership Schemes in Conservation Areas fund has been delivered as part of the Greater Grimsby Heritage Action Zone, and has supported projects such as Creative Start’s Great Escape, Turntable Gallery (building 88), the Creative Start building expansion, and Alfred Enderby smokehouse, which has more recently undergone a full schedule of works. In total, 16 grants have been awarded, 19 buildings improved, and more than 3,600m2 of commercial space has been improved or created.
The PSiCA scheme began with a total pot of £1m, and has been a joint project between Historic England and North East Lincolnshire Council, with support from Associated British Ports (ABP) and the council’s regeneration partner Equans. The five-year grant scheme began in 2019 and officially finished in January 2024, but several of the bigger projects supported by PSiCA ran into late March.
Creative organisations are the dominant sector to have utilised the PSiCA grant scheme to date, along with Enderby’s smokehouse and the Peterson’s project. Steve and Caroline Ridlington of WE1 Heritage have renovated nine properties, offering workspaces and studios to artists, small businesses, and Blue Chip companies. They also, with PSiCA’s help, renovated ‘Coffee on the Docks’, a popular café space on Auckland Road with a rustic interior.
Steve commented earlier: “This is an amazing place to be, you are surrounded by so much rich history and the architecture is so inspiring. This is a really exciting time for Grimsby, and we feel privileged to be associated with the scheme and its partners.”
As part of the wider ‘Kasbah Remade’ programme of regeneration, the scheme has also generated new opportunities to access and appreciate the area’s heritage and contribute to its ‘sense of place’, including Heritage Open Days events which, in 2023, saw approximately 2,000 visitors to the area. The Heritage Open Days return in September, look out for details in the summer!
Simon Bird, ABP’s Regional Director for the Humber ports, has been keen to see the area emerge as a vibrant place for people to work. He said: “We’re delighted to be involved in this scheme and to see the wonderful transformation of the buildings, some for great purposes, which is truly inspirational. We are creating a rich fabric of businesses very different to the purpose the buildings began life as.
“The Heritage Open Days on the port have proved very popular and it’s a great opportunity to showcase the amazing work that is being achieved here. We know more great things are yet to happen as we drive our vision for a film quarter on site.”
David Walsh, the principal adviser for partnerships at Historic England said: “We are delighted to see the fantastic progress made on the historic docks by local people, businesses and organisations as part of this scheme. They have led the way in regenerating the Kasbah conservation area and reviving the sense of community and life that has always existed on the docks.
“North East Lincolnshire Council has done a great job as lead partner, with support from Associated British Ports. The development of the Ice Factory will also have a huge impact on the docks.
“There is much more to do and more opportunities to grasp to further regenerate the area. We look forward to continuing to work with North East Lincolnshire Council, Associated British Ports and other partners to help make the historic docks a vital commercial hub in Grimsby once again.”
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance celebrates 30 years of saving lives
May 2024 marks a very special milestone for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) as it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Since airlifting their very first patient on 13th May 1994, LNAA has provided a life-saving Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) for the local communities of Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire. To date, the life-saving charity has responded to over 29,000 missions.
LNAA CEO, Karen Jobling, said: “This remarkable charity has come a very long way since its humble beginnings in 1994, when we operated out of a temporary building and could only get to patients if there was money in the bank to fuel up the old ex-police bölkow helicopter.
“Thirty years later LNAA now responds, on average, to four missions a day. Its state-of-the-art helicopter and two Critical Care Cars enable crews to give the very best treatments, day and night, to some of the most seriously ill and injured patients when they need it most, ensuring the patient has the best possible outcome.”
Shaun knows only too well how vital the service is, especially to people living in rural and coastal communities. Thirty years ago, he was one of the first patients to be airlifted to hospital by Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance and says the speed which the helicopter flew him from Boston Pilgrim Hospital to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre, saved his life.
Shaun was six years old when his heart stopped beating not once but three times. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance team ensured he received the specialist care he so desperately needed.
It was July 1994 and Shaun was with his family shopping in Skegness when he suddenly slipped and banged his head causing a seizure. He was rushed to Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital where doctors fought to stabilise him each time his heart stopped beating. Due to the seriousness of his injury’s the medical team decided he needed to be transferred immediately to Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre (QMC).
The two-hour journey by road ambulance from Boston was deemed too risky for the young boy and so Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance were called. In less than 30 minutes, they had safely airlifted Shaun to QMC where he was transferred to the Intensive Care Unit. He remained in hospital for three weeks, the first week in an induced coma.
Shaun will be forever grateful to the LNAA crew. He said: “If they hadn’t flown me from Pilgrim Hospital to Queen’s Medical Centre I probably would have died.”
The 30th anniversary of this wonderful charity’s service to the community is a time for celebration as well as a reflection on how far it has travelled. Karen said: “We receive no direct Government funding, and have only come this far, thanks to the incredible support from people, businesses and communities in Lincolnshire & Nottinghamshire.
“As we celebrate this huge milestone for the charity and look back on how we have been able to make a positive impact on the lives of so many people, we are reminded that we must ensure that LNAA continues to be by the side of patients for the next 30 years. We’d like to thank all our supporters for their past and future support.”
Throughout this 30th Anniversary year, LNAA will be running a series of fundraising events and activities. To find out how you can get involved and help ensure this 30th year is one to remember, visit www.ambucopter.org.uk
New community orchards created across South and East Lincolnshire following delivery of home retrofitting scheme
Fifteen new community orchards have been created across Boston, East Lindsey and South Holland thanks to the delivery of home energy efficiency upgrade works for residents in the sub-region.
Osborne Energy delivered retrofitting schemes on behalf of the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership to eligible residents who applied for Government funding in 2022 to improve the energy efficiency of their homes.
Following the delivery of those schemes, Osborne Energy awarded around £6,500 funding as part of its social value commitment which has led to the creation of the new community orchards.
Through the Growing the Network project, 140 fruit trees have been planted. The orchards are at:
- Kenwick Riding for the Disabled Association, Louth
- Binbrook C of E Primary School
- Site off Langton Road, Langton
- Field next to the Village Hall, Old Bolingbroke
- Belchford Village Green
- Coney Hill, off South Street, Swineshead
- Moulton Seas End Playing Field
- Hundleby Allotments
- 24 Hardwick Estate, Kirton
- Cowley Road, Donington
- Carver Road, Boston
- Station Road Allotments/MUGA, Donington on Bain
- Cherry Lane Play Area, Fleet
- Wellington Road, Boston
- Whiting Square, Boston
Motorcycling Freemasons get into gear for Lincoln soap box race
Freemasons of Lincolnshire’s motorcycle lodge the Free Wheelers are setting aside two wheels in favour of four in preparation to take part in a soapbox race in Lincoln in September.
Seated in the driving seat is Lodge member Stewart Buckingham, who’s building their soapbox for the event being staged by the Krazy Races organisation on September 15th.
Stewart revealed the completed chassis on its bright yellow wheels to fellow Lodge members at their latest meeting, which they’d taken to Grimsby.
To make the cart race-ready, it will be clad in a streamlined body emblazoned with the logos of Freemasonry, and Stewart will be its pilot in the event.
The Free Wheelers are nominally based in Horncastle, but meet throughout Lincolnshire, including in Boston, where a second team of Freemasons is working on its own cart to take part in the event.
Competitors will work their way through a knockout style competition with only the fastest ten carts making it through to the final, where they will battle to take home the winner’s trophy.
The event is being staged in conjunction with Lincoln Business Improvement District, and will raise money for the Lincoln City Foundation, its official headline charity partner.
Freemasons’ spokesman Stuart Pearcey said: “This event is the perfect combination of what’s special about Freemasonry – a combination of fun and fundraising for worthwhile causes in a spirit of friendship. We very much look forward to both teams of Freemasons making it into the final ten!”
Public get the chance to see plans for new-look Cleethorpes
Draft designs to transform Cleethorpes Market Place and Pier Gardens will go on show this week with businesses, residents and visitors urged to have their say on the planned multi-million-pound schemes.
The areas are to be rejuvenated, supported by the Government’s Levelling Up Fund. North East Lincolnshire Council was awarded £18.4m for the resort last year, following the development of the 2022 Cleethorpes Masterplan, which was spearheaded by Hemingway Design.
Everyone is asked to attend the drop-in event on Wednesday 15 May at The Knoll on the corner of Knoll Street and Alexandra Road (entry through Blighty’s Café) from 12 noon until 7.30pm.
On the same day, an online questionnaire will be launched for people to submit their thoughts on the concepts through the ‘Have Your Say’ page on the Council’s website. It will last for two weeks, closing on 22 May. Designs will then be finalised before recommendations are put to the cabinet in the summer.
On show will be draft designs for a new-look Market Place created by UK based company, Gillespies. They show public space for events, markets and for people to sit in a welcoming space and enjoy a coffee.
The concepts for Pier Gardens show it completely transformed with quiet areas where nature can thrive, and other family areas where children can enjoy the outdoors. These have been created by leading landscape architects WSP.
Both draft schemes have already taken account of the views of hundreds of people who helped to shape the Cleethorpes Masterplan. Opinions were also sought in a consultation held earlier this year – and now there’s another chance for people to say what they think about these latest visuals. Those thoughts will then be considered in final plans.
The designers have ensured that both plans consider the make-up of the areas, including access for businesses and residents, existing roads, utilities, and in the case of Pier Gardens the views towards the shoreline and the current natural environment.
Cllr Philip Jackson, leader of the Council with responsibilities for regeneration, said: “We are looking forward to seeing what the respective designers and landscape architects have created from the public’s responses.
“Of course, we want the residents of the borough to have their say on the designs as they will be using the spaces in future years.
“This is a great time for North East Lincolnshire as a whole as we move into a new era for our towns. However, we want to make sure you have your say throughout this process so be sure to visit the drop in sessions or provide your comments online when the questionnaire opens.”
Lincolnshire County Council celebrates Foster Care Fortnight 2024 with #fosteringmoments initiative
Lincolnshire County Council is participating in Foster Care Fortnight 2024, taking place from May 13th to May 26th. As part of this national campaign launched by the Fostering Network, the Council is championing the incredible work of foster carers and encouraging people to consider becoming a carer under the theme of Fostering Moments.
A series of podcasts will be broadcast featuring heartfelt discussions and stories from foster carers, showcasing the meaningful moments that have shaped their fostering experiences. The fortnight will also see a Foster Walk, a social media campaign and an online information event where people can find out more about becoming a foster carer.
“Foster Care Fortnight is an opportunity for us to highlight the incredible work of our foster carers and encourage more individuals, couples and families to consider becoming foster carers,” said Deborah Crawford, Head of Lincolnshire Fostering Service.
In Lincolnshire, there are over 300 children in foster care, supported by 214 fostering households throughout the county.
Foster carer Paula Doyle who stars in the podcast said: “By sharing my own unique stories, I hope to reflect on the life-changing difference foster carers can make to Lincolnshire children.”
For those wanting to find out more, the online ‘You can foster’ Information Event takes place on Thursday 16th May at 12:30pm, book your place by visiting their Facebook page – Lincolnshire Fostering.
Learn how to be environmentally friendly at fun Eco Activity Day
If you are looking for a fun way in which to learn how to be environmentally friendly, why not join the South Holland District Council Communities Team for a day of activities in the great outdoors?
The Eco Activity Day will take place on Thursday, May 30 in Sutton Bridge – and there will be something for everyone to try out while also learning about how to be an environmental champion.
Between 11am and 3pm, Sutton Bridge Memorial Park Playing Field will host a plethora of exciting and educational fun, including street theatre, crafting and even some minibeast hunting.
Rhubarb Theatre, which is dedicated to providing children and their families the opportunity to learn and play through access to arts, will perform ‘Collection Day’.
The performance, which has been funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is a fun, family friendly street theatre piece with themes of waste, recycling, reusing and the impact pollution has on our wildlife and waterways.
The entertainment doesn’t end there. Visitors will be able to get crafty in the Enviro Craft gazebo, enjoy activities and learn more from community groups, create some environmental art or go minibeast hunting in the Nature Lab.
Councillor Tracey Carter, South Holland District Council’s Portfolio Holder for Communities, said: “This is going to be such a fantastic event with a really important theme to it.
“We’re hopeful that families will be able to come down and enjoy the free activities while also learning something that perhaps they didn’t know before.
“It promises to be a great day, rain or shine.”
