A woman who says her “children still have a mum thanks to everyone involved in my care,” has been reunited with the ambulance crews who responded in her time of need. On the afternoon of 7 June 2024, 45-year-old Sian Deeks went over to her partner Daniel’s house. They were in the middle of a conversation when Sian started to lean against the worktop in the kitchen and became unresponsive – she had gone into cardiac arrest. Speaking of that day, Sian said: “I would never have thought I’d have gone into cardiac arrest ever. You just never think it would happen to you. I don’t remember any of it, but Daniel said he was calling out to me, and I wasn’t responding to him. “I’ve lived with heart failure for a few years now, so while he didn’t know it was a cardiac arrest, he had an inkling it was due to a complication with my heart. That’s when he put me in the recovery position and dialled 999.” Daniel’s call was answered by Emergency Medical Advisor Tim Higham-Jones, who advised Daniel to lay Sian flat on her back and perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) until ambulance clinicians could take over. Steve Green, a Specialist Practitioner, was one of the many people from EMAS and the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Service (LNAA) involved in the response to Sian. He said: “The advanced life support we delivered to Sian wouldn’t have been as successful, if it hadn’t been for Daniel taking instant action with bystander CPR. “While he was understandably quite emotional when we got there, we reassured Daniel that he’d given Sian the best chance of survival by delivering effective hands-on CPR at the earliest opportunity. “CPR not only save lives, but the quicker it’s delivered also reduces the risk of adverse and irreversible damage to the brain for those who do survive.” Upon the arrival of ambulance and air ambulance colleagues, Sian’s airway was managed to keep it open – allowing the flow of oxygen to her body to be uninterrupted, CPR was maintained, and a defibrillator was attached to Sian. After approximately 17 minutes, the defibrillator identified Sian’s heart as being in a shockable rhythm, and after two shocks were delivered, her heart was beating again – however, Sian was not out of the woods yet. Steve added: “Once we managed to stabilize Sian’s condition, we then needed to get her safely out of the property and to hospital as quickly as possible. “She was taken by road in the ambulance, travelling with myself and the LNAA team. We continued to manage her airway and ensure she remained stable until we got to the hospital.” Sian was then handed over to the Resuscitation Department at Scunthorpe General Hospital, while still sedated and intubated. In the early hours of the following morning, Sian went into cardiac arrest for a second time while in the Intensive Care Unit. Sian said: “A nurse spotted it when she was doing her observations. She had apparently shone a light into my eyes to see they had gone into the back of my head, and the machines attached to me started beeping.” Miraculously, after six minutes of further advanced life support being delivered to Sian, she managed to survive her second cardiac arrest in less than 24 hours. Sian says experiencing these major events on top of living with an existing heart condition has been challenging, but she is grateful to her partner Daniel, and all the medics who she credits as her reason for her children “not having to scatter their mother’s ashes.”   Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/JTana

Efforts to teach youngsters a range of practical skills at the Long Sutton Youth Shed have been given a £500 boost thanks tho a donation from Freemasons of the town’s St Mary Lodge. The Youth Shed is an extension of the Men’s Shed concept, bringing together young people to learn a range of DIY and practical skills as diverse as construction, electrics, and woodworking. It’s hoped that the groundwork done at the Youth Shed will help students to build a better future. An earlier example of the skills being taught is bricklaying, when the Men’s Shed worked with Buildbase for volunteers to teach bricklaying to 20 students on a 10-week course. Each week they were given a new tool and taught how to use it, so that by the end of the course they would have a bagful of tools and the skills to get the best from them. The theory was that they would then have a firm foundation on which to earn themselves a living. lan White, the Master of Saint Mary Lodge, is on the right of the picture above, with Youth Shed instigator and organiser Ivan Thompson and some of the youngsters in front of their woodworking builds. The £500 donation was one of more than 70 given by Freemasons each year to worthy causes in an area from The Humber to The Wash, with each Freemasons’ Lodge nominating the good cause of their choice.

The Court of Appeal has supported South Kesteven District Council in its defence against an appeal from the owners of Tallington Lakes Leisure Park near Stamford.

The Court’s decision means that Tallington Lakes, licensed for 385 units but currently home to significantly more, must be subject to regulation through licensing, and must also comply with planning permissions.

The council says can now confidently continue its work to ensure that Tallington Lakes Leisure Park is operating in line with regulations. Council Leader Ashley Baxter said: “We are pleased that our professional opinion about the status of this site has been supported by the courts. It means our officers from different departments can take a co-ordinated approach to ensure the site complies with relevant legislation.

“The purpose of licensing regulation is to protect both the public and the countryside. Residents from the site and the neighbouring villages have often raised concerns about the way the site is managed, and will be encouraged that the council has successfully defended against the site owners’ appeal.”

The next step will be a site visit by Environmental Health and Planning Officers to continue investigations. Officers will visit to ensure compliance with licensing and planning conditions. Enforcement action will be taken if deemed appropriate.

Any other development work that has been undertaken at the site will be examined to check it is in line with planning conditions at the site.

Tallington Lakes Ltd is liable for SKDC’s £20,431 costs in defending the appeal, and the Council is in the process of recovering this debt.

In a written judgement, Lord Justice Underhill states: “SKDC’s correspondence leading to the issue of the 2016 licence seems to me to have been clear and appropriate. In any event, however, it was always open to the appellant to seek legal advice, and/or representation … but it seems that he prefers to trust his own judgment.”

Black Friday has arrived at London Camera Exchange (LCE) both online and in-store in Lincoln. Don’t miss out on unbeatable camera offers available for a limited time only. With exclusive Black Friday deals on cameras, lenses, and accessories from top brands like Canon, Nikon, and Sony, there’s never been a better time to upgrade your gear or get started on your photography or content creation journey. Plus, it’s the perfect opportunity to buy gifts for family and friends. Shop for Black Friday offers on the best digital cameras, including the latest mirrorless, compact, and DSLR models featuring advanced autofocus systems, enhanced low-light performance, and 4K video capabilities. Enjoy discounts on Fuji Instax and Polaroid instant cameras, allowing you to capture and print memories on the go. Love action-packed adventures? Explore Black Friday deals on GoPro HERO action cameras and DJI drones, gimbals, tripods, and more. With limited stock available—don’t miss out on exclusive Black Friday camera deals at LCE online or in the Lincoln store.

Changes to the way significant decisions are taken involving transport, housing, skills and investment to benefit local people in Greater Lincolnshire have moved a step closer. In a historic moment, a document called the “Statutory Instrument”, required to form the new devolved Greater Lincolnshire County Combined Authority, has been laid in Parliament. It means the new devolved authority can go ahead, with a first meeting of a the new GLCCA expected to take place early in the new year. That will come before the first-ever Mayoral elections across Greater Lincolnshire in May. The process for candidates to stand to be the new Mayor are currently being worked through with more news on deadlines to stand and timetables due soon. In a joint statement welcoming this latest news, authority leaders, Cllr Martin Hill (Lincolnshire), Cllr Philip Jackson (North East Lincolnshire), and Cllr Rob Waltham (North Lincolnshire), said: “As we move into this final Parliamentary process, we look forward to the new year and a 2025 that brings with it a new dawn for us all here in Greater Lincolnshire. “The Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority will give local decision makers the chance to shape our area’s future – building a stronger and more prosperous region for generations to come. With this will come better lifestyles of residents and wider opportunities for businesses.” Introduction of devolution and the GLCCA brings a total investment pot of £720m directly into Greater Lincolnshire over the next 30 years.  This includes an annual £24m Mayoral Investment Fund to invest in priority areas including jobs and skills; housing & highways, transport, business & infrastructure, and innovation and trade. There is also an initial capital funding pot of £28m including brownfield funding for individual schemes across Greater Lincolnshire. In North East Lincolnshire this will support the phase one development of a Grimsby Town Centre Transport Hub while in Lincolnshire a number of projects are already underway including road improvements to Old Roman Bank near Sandilands and drainage improvements at Kirkby on Bain. Upcoming projects include roundabout works at Nettleham and streetworks in Grantham, a business grant programme within the UK Food Valley in South Lincolnshire and a grant to Sleaford Moor Business Park for the next phase of this low carbon business park. In North Lincolnshire this will be used to unlock land in Scunthorpe, Brigg, and Barton-upon-Humber, enabling more homes to be built for older residents.

Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is taking part in The Big Give Christmas Challenge to raise £90,000 in just one week! The charity needs to raise £45,000 in online donations to secure a match pot that will double the amount raised to make £90,000. All donations will support LNAA’s life-saving work, 24-hours-a-day, every day of the year. From 3-10 December all donations will be doubled. Money raised could go towards helping people like Malc who ended up lying in a ditch fighting for his life. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance crew were soon by his side, giving life-saving treatments where he lay. He had suffered multiple traumatic injuries, and his survival was uncertain. Malc had numerous broken bones including his pelvis, spine and ribs. He had open fractures to his right leg, a shoulder injury, soft tissue damage and had internal bleeding. When the crew had lifted him onto level ground, they stabilised his pelvis and placed traction splints on both legs to reduce blood loss and provide protection. LNAA Dr Jake performed life-saving surgery at the roadside and Malc received three blood transfusions as Jake and paramedic Danielle fought to save his life. Once stable Malc was airlifted to the Major Trauma Unit at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre, where a surgical team were waiting to operate on him. Malc said: “Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance is a team of wonderful people who go out and save lives at the roadside. I’ve needed that service; I’ve used that service and what a service it is.” Malc is still recovering from his injuries and life is very different for him, his wife, Kirsty and his nine-year-old son, Teddy. It is a slow healing process, but his legs are gradually getting stronger. Head of Community, Corporate and Events Fundraising, Rachel Wilson said: “It’s patients like Malc who need the care only our crew can provide – and quickly. He was potentially one of four patients that day, our daily mission average, to which the crew took the equivalent of an Emergency Department. “Whether at the beachside, on the roadside or in the countryside, our crews respond to emergencies of the most serious kind, providing medical interventions that can mean the difference between life and death. “Patients like Malc get the best care possible only because of the support we receive from people across Lincs & Notts and beyond. “Donations to our Christmas Challenge will be generously matched by our campaign pledgers including the Pilgrim Trust and our Community Champion The Reed Foundation, meaning your donation will have twice the impact! “But in order to access the £45,000 we have in the matching pot, we need to raise £45,000 in online donations. We hope everyone will give generously this year to help us reach our target and enable us to help keep our iconic helicopter flying and our critical care cars operational 24/7 as we move into the busy winter months.” How can you get involved? Visit https://www.ambucopter.org.uk/BigGive and make a donation from 12pm (midday) on #GivingTuesday (Tuesday, 3^rd December). The campaign will close at 12pm on Tuesday, 10th December.

Lincolnshire Coop is investing £200k in body cameras to help protect staff at all of its 99 food stores and 44 pharmacies. The cameras are being supplied after a successful trial at four locations, including Birchwood Pharmacy in Lincoln’s Jasmin Road. Pharmacy Service Assistant Minnie Grainger said the body cameras increased the team’s sense of security. “You can see customers taking notice of the body cameras and any that were thinking about getting abusive thought twice about it after seeing them. It helps both colleagues and our other customers enjoy the safety that we all deserve,” she said. “We have so many regulars that come in and bring a smile to our faces, and it really is a minority who act in an abusive way but it’s good to have the cameras to give us extra security.” At Sincil Street Food Store in the centre of Lincoln Manager Sarah Hutt said the cameras were a welcome addition to the other security measures they have in store. “It makes us feel more confident as we know the body cameras may help defuse incidents,” she said. “We enjoy working in retail and providing the best service we can to our customers but the impact of those who act in an unacceptable way can make the job difficult for myself and the team. We’re grateful to our regulars and all the other customers who use our store and treat us with respect and kindness.” The company’s Security Manager Mark Foulds said: “We have had positive feedback from four trial sites with colleagues telling us the body cameras helped them to feel more confident and secure. “The cameras are front-facing so show the customer what the colleague sees, which we believe may help with de-escalating incidents or make people think twice about what they are doing and how they are treating our colleagues. “They also record both video and audio which we can share with relevant authorities when we believe a crime has taken place.” Mr Foulds said that incidents vary and can include abusive and foul language, threats against colleagues or their families and in some cases, physical attacks. “The vast majority of our customers are polite and respectful, but there are a minority whose actions are unacceptable,” he said. “This not only impacts on our colleagues – who are simply trying to provide the best service they can to our communities – but it can also impact on our other customers, who can find these incidents distressing and who don’t want to see our colleagues treated in that way.” Mr Foulds said that age-related sales refusals and shoplifting are two particular flashpoints. “Our teams have a responsibility to enforce the legal requirements around age-related sales for products like cigarettes, vapes and alcohol but regularly face abuse and threats from customers when asked for ID, or when a sale is refused,” he said. “We have also seen a 37% rise in shoplifting in the past year, which is another trigger.” The society, which operates in Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and surrounding counties, has seen a 245% increase in incidents of threats and abuse to colleagues in the past five years. In the last year, there has been 127 incidents reported in food stores and 23 in pharmacies. There are a range of other security measures in place in Lincolnshire Co-op outlets. These include security guards in some locations, CCTV monitored by central service desk, and personal attack alarms.

Bellway East Midlands has started construction work on two new developments at Handley Chase in Sleaford. Detailed plans for 393 homes within the new neighbourhood taking shape on the southern edge of the town were approved by North Kesteven District Council earlier this year. Bellway is building 204 homes at Quarrington Edge at Handley Chase, while Ashberry Homes – part of the Bellway Group – is building 189 homes at neighbouring Daedalus Park at Handley Chase. 31 of the homes will be provided as affordable homes for local people, available through low-cost rent or shared ownership. Steve Smith, Sales Director for Bellway East Midlands, said: “With work now underway on these two developments, which will bring nearly 400 much-needed new homes to Sleaford, we are looking forward to releasing the first homes for sale in March. “The mix of two, three and four-bedroom homes across the two developments has been carefully designed to provide the types of properties needed within the local area, while the affordable housing will give local people the opportunity to secure a high-quality place to live within the local community. “The new homes will be energy-efficient and feature solar PV panels and electric vehicle charging points. The properties will also benefit from Google Nest technology, with a smart thermostat to help people reduce their energy bills.” The two developments are part of the wider Handley Chase neighbourhood. Outline plans for 1,450 homes, a primary school, care home, local centre, public open space, sports pitches and allotments were approved in 2015, with work already underway on other land parcels within the scheme. Steve said: “We are proud to be part of the wider Handley Chase project which will not only deliver new homes to Sleaford but will also bring with it a host of new community facilities which will benefit the town as whole. “Our two developments – which lie to the east of Stumps Cross Hill and comprise the southernmost parcels of the Handley Chase scheme – will also feature green landscaping designed to ensure they will blend in with the surrounding natural environment. “We will retain existing trees and hedgerows wherever possible and carry out a new planting programme, creating ponds within the public open space and new habitats for local wildlife.”   Image credit: Bellway

When a cardiac arrest strikes, it can happen anytime, anywhere, and to anyone. In those critical moments, swift action can mean the difference between life and death. Tragically, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest that happens outside of a hospital. This is why raising awareness of CPR and community response is so vital—and why Lincolnshire-based charity LIVES is on a mission to make its communities safer. Last December alone, LIVES volunteers responded to over 200 medical emergencies across Lincolnshire, with 16 of these calls involving children. On Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Boxing Day, LIVES responders attended 16 patients, providing critical care in situations ranging from cardiac arrests to breathing difficulties. CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a life-saving skill that anyone can learn. It buys precious time, keeping blood and oxygen flowing to vital organs until professional help arrives. When paired with the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED), it can significantly improve the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims. In rural areas like Lincolnshire, where ambulance response times can be longer due to distance, organisations like LIVES play a crucial role in bridging the gap. LIVES volunteers are trained Community First Responders who attend 999 calls, often arriving within minutes to begin life-saving care. LIVES recently released a short film, “No Night Is Silent,” to illustrate the vital role of community first responders. The film tells the story of a young girl who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest on Christmas Day. A LIVES responder answers the 999 call and performs CPR and defibrillation, giving her a chance at survival. Watch and Vote in The Smiley Charity Film Awards here – https://www.lives.org.uk/no-night-is-silent/ “This Christmas, we want to remind everyone how important it is to be prepared,” says Max Imbornone, Senior Communications and Engagement Officer at LIVES. “The ability to perform CPR and use a defibrillator can save lives. Our volunteers work tirelessly year-round to make Lincolnshire a safer place, and their dedication is especially evident over the festive season. Emergencies don’t stop for Christmas.” This festive season, LIVES encourages everyone to take a moment to learn or refresh their CPR skills. If you’ve ever wondered how to help in a life-threatening emergency, now is the time to act. Knowing what to do could save a loved one’s life. To support LIVES or learn more about their life-saving work, visit their website. Together, we can create safer communities and give every patient the chance they deserve—because no night should be silent when someone’s life is at stake.