Ringrose Law expands with three new office openings
Ringrose Law has expanded its regional footprint with the opening of three new offices in Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham this week. This significant expansion brings the firm’s presence in the region from five to eight offices, marking a notable milestone in the firm’s growth journey.
The new offices in Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham are a testament to the firm’s ongoing success and its commitment to broadening its reach to serve more individuals and businesses. This expansion has been fuelled by the ongoing growth of the firm’s departments and teams.
With these new openings, Ringrose Law aims to replicate its successful model of providing a comprehensive range of personal and commercial legal services, catering to both individuals and businesses. The firm is dedicated to maintaining the high standards of service and expertise that have been the cornerstone of its operations across the region.
Ryan Clarke, Managing Director of Ringrose Law, expressed his enthusiasm about this phase of growth: “This expansion marks a significant period of growth for Ringrose Law. We are incredibly excited about the opportunities that these new locations will offer us. This achievement is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and teamwork of everyone at the firm. We look forward to continuing to serve our clients with the same level of excellence and professionalism that has defined our practice.”
For over 100 years, Ringrose Law has been providing a wide range of legal services to individuals and businesses in Lincolnshire. Its expertise encompasses family law, divorce, childcare, personal injury, medical negligence, residential and commercial property transactions, wills & probate, discrimination law, dispute resolution, criminal law, and commercial law.
Ringrose Law’s expansion into Grimsby, Peterborough, and Nottingham underscores its commitment to providing accessible, quality legal services and support to more communities. The firm is excited to embark on this new chapter and to continue making a positive impact in the lives of those they serve.
For more information about Ringrose Law and its services, please visit www.ringroselaw.co.uk or contact the firm’s offices directly.
Image: Grimsby office – (L-R) Esme Hobbs – Associate Solicitor, Yasmin Akhtar – Associate Solicitor, Costa Kyriacou – Partner & Head of Children Department, Ryan Clarke – Managing Director
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance launch ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ fundraiser
In partnership with The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) is inviting people across Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire to put the kettle on and ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ by hosting a coffee morning or a tea party in support of the charity’s life-saving work.
‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ is a great opportunity to get friends, family, neighbours, colleagues or even the wider community together to catch up, have a brew, eat delicious cakes and biscuits, and make a life-saving difference to people in their communities.
Susie, Founder of The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company, said: “We are proud to be supporting the work of Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. After visiting their HQ, we can’t help but feel in awe of the helicopter, doctors, paramedics, and wider team.
“It’s so amazing to collaborate with them on their ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ campaign and we are delighted to be gifting free coffee bags to everyone who signs up to make a ‘cuppa’ and host an event. We are overjoyed to be making a donation from our LNAA website bundles too, so here’s to making time for a cuppa.”
In the first three months of the year, LNAA has already been tasked to 404 missions and as summer approaches the team are gearing up to what they expect will be their busiest summer ever. But for the crew to bring the hospital to the patient, they need to raise over £13 million in 2024. Hosting a ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ event and raising money means the doctors and paramedics can continue to be by the side of the most critically ill and injured patient’s when they are most in need.
LNAA’s Community Fundraising Manager, Helen Watkinson, said: “We are excited to be working with The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company in this brand-new venture.
“Their support will allow us to continue to keep our helicopter in the skies and our critical care cars on the road, providing emergency treatment to people living and working in Lincs & Notts. This partnership with The Lincoln Tea and Coffee Company will help us raise vital funds and further grow the awareness of our work.”
Whatever you choose to do, you will be helping LNAA be by the side of patients, day and night, seven-days-a-week. For more information and to receive a free ‘Make Time for a Cuppa’ fundraising pack visit ambucopter.org.uk/make-time-for-a-cuppa.
104-year-old aircrew survivor helps launch unique RAF heritage centre
A new heritage Centre at RAF Ingham has been opened to commemorate the contributions of the Polish Air Force Bomber Squadrons during World War II in a ceremony attended by a 104-year-old aircrew survivor.
The groundbreaking initiative, the first of its kind globally, pays homage to the gallant men and women who served alongside the RAF, embodying the spirit of camaraderie and sacrifice.
RAF Ingham (later known as RAF Cammeringham) was a pivotal Royal Air Force station from 1942 and 1944, hosting RAF Bomber Command operations and subsequently serving as a training hub for both the RAF and Polish Air Force units until 1946.
Among the attendees was 104-year-old Mieczyslaw Frackiewicz (John Franklin), who’d been a wireless operator with 304 Squadron. He attended the ceremony with his daughter and cut the ribbon to make the centre’s official opening. He said: “I would like to officially thank all those behind today’s event and the volunteers who have worked for this – I am so grateful for everything they have done.”
Behind the endeavour lies 14 years’ effort to transform an old farm storage building, once the wartime Airmen’s Mess, into a beacon of remembrance and education.
Chairman of RAF Ingham Heritage Centre, Geoff Burton, said: “The official opening was an incredible success, with guests from Poland and descendants from around the UK being able to be present and to experience our wonderful exhibition.
“You couldn’t have asked for a more perfect day; the weather was great, and we managed to have the flypast by a Spitfire from BBMF.
“So many of descendants became very emotional on seeing photographs of their loved-ones or were simply enveloped in the atmosphere. So many met old friends or made new ones, and found that unbeknown to them, they had bonds and connections where their parents/grandparents had flown or worked together on the Polish Squadrons.
“Praise and thanks must go to our incredible team of volunteers, who have worked tirelessly over many years, to make this project a reality.
“We have created this Centre to ensure the memories and sacrifices of these young men, many of whom gave their lives, to ensure we have the freedoms, we so take for granted these days.”
The Heritage Centre stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of the courage and resilience, ensuring the valiant deeds of the past resonate with future generations. As visitors step through its doors they embark on a journey through history, honouring the spirit of those who served with unwavering devotion.
The ceremony included speeches from invited guests, including the Lord Lieutenant, Polish Consulate in Manchester, Michał Mazurek. Wreaths were placed at the centre’s war memorial by guests including representatives of the Polish armed forces and members of the RAF.
The centre, on the B1398 near Filligham will be open as follows:
- Thursdays, 10am to 3pm
- Saturdays, 10am to 3pm
- Sundays, 10am to 3pm
First South & East Lincolnshire Cultural Conference taking place this May
A new South & East Lincolnshire Cultural Conference will take place for the first time this May, giving arts and heritage organisations and practitioners across the region the chance to network, share ideas and get involved in the launch of a new creative programme of work.
Organised by South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership, comprising of Boston Borough Council, East Lindsey District Council and South Holland District Council, the free conference will be held at Blackfriars Theatre in Boston, on Wednesday 22 May from 9.30am to 4pm.
Open to venues, organisations, practitioners and groups involved with heritage, culture and arts in South and East Lincolnshire, the main focus of the day will be to inspire links between arts and heritage projects for place transformation and connect people across the partnership area, as well as share plans on activity for the year ahead including information from the Partnership’s Arts Council England National Portfolio Organisation project.
Attendees will hear about the next steps and events planned for this programme, which has almost £2million of Arts Council support to deliver art and culture opportunities centred on the rich heritage and stories from each district. The project focuses on The Guildhall in Boston, Ayscoughfee Hall in South Holland and the Colonnade in Sutton on Sea becoming Creative Hub sites for the area.
As well as the project announcements and networking opportunities, the conference will provide an opportunity for people to share their ideas and ambitions for local culture and heritage, and will include breakout sessions throughout the day to share information on topics including funding routes for creative work and how to use digital media to share and amplify stories. A marketplace will also be open for any organisations or individuals wishing to have a stand to promote their work.
The cultural conference is due to become an annual event taking place across South and East Lincolnshire, as part of the Partnership’s commitment to help connect the cultural and heritage sectors across the area and create a strong and lasting community to support each other and share best practice.
In a joint statement Councillor Graham Marsh, deputy leader at East Lindsey District Council, Councillor Sarah Sharpe, portfolio holder for culture at Boston Borough Council, and Councillor Elizabeth Sneath, portfolio holder for conservation and heritage at South Holland District Council said: “We are delighted to be able to launch this new cultural conference, that will provide a long-needed opportunity for our brilliant arts and heritage practitioners and organisations working here in South and East Lincolnshire to network with each other, share ideas and work collaboratively on delivering this fantastic project.
“The Arts Council’s support is making it possible for us to hold events like this, and launch an incredible programme of events and activities over the coming years that will celebrate the heritage and creative talent that our local communities are built upon, and have a lasting, meaningful impact on the opportunities available for residents and visitors alike.”
To book your place, please visit https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-south-east-lincolnshire-cultural-conference-2024-tickets-884953328227?aff=oddtdtcreator
Image credit: Google maps
Hospital team to complete 12-hour sponsored CPR-a-thon
A team of hospital clinicians are getting ready to take part in a 12-hour sponsored CPR-a-thon.
Staff at Pilgrim Hospital, Boston, are fundraising to purchase a machine that performs mechanical chest compressions if a person has a cardiac arrest and CPR is prolonged.
The hospital has a LUCAS CPR Chest Compression System machine that is kept within the Emergency Department to help to resuscitate patients, however on occasions this has not been available for use in other parts of the hospital.
Members of the Critical Care Outreach Team, the Hospital at Night Team, the Resuscitation Team and the Intensive Care Unit Team are getting ready to perform CPR for 12 hours non-stop on a mannequin in a bid to raise funds to purchase a second LUCAS machine.
Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Critical Care, Hayley Head, said: “We can perform CPR for 90 minutes, whilst reversing the cause of a cardiac arrest. This can be tremendously demanding, both mentally and physically, for everyone involved.
“LUCAS is able to maintain the rhythm and pressure needed to give patients the best possible chance of survival and also the best chance of recovery. With the support of the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity we are hoping to raise the funds to purchase a second machine.
“This will then be used as needed across many of the hospital wards.”
Last year the Critical Care Outreach team were called to 37 cardiac arrests across the hospital, excluding A&E and the Intensive Care Unit.
Hayley added: “We have a team of 15 colleagues who will take it in turns to perform CPR for two hours at a time in teams of four. This will continue to complete a total of 12 hours non-stop CPR.
“We will be holding the CPR-a-thon in an area of the Outpatients Department waiting room. Performing CPR is probably the most physically demanding part of our jobs as healthcare professionals, so please feel free to pop down and show your support to the team.”
The fundraising event will be taking place from 8am to 8pm on Friday 26 April.
United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity Fundraiser, Gary Burr, added: “Our teams do an amazing job caring for our patients. We are so proud to support this great team and event that will not only raise awareness, but also funds to help our colleagues to continue saving lives. A second LUCAS machine will provide enhanced care for our patients.”
Anyone wanting to support the team can make a donation via the United Lincolnshire Hospitals Charity website: https://www.ulhcharity.org.uk/appeal/cpr-a-thon.
Image courtesy of United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust
Council pleads ‘be kind to the neighbours’ to protect Cleethorpes wildlife
New signs showing the wealth of wildlife living on the North East Lincolnshire coastline have been introduced in Cleethorpes.
The information boards close to Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, Meridian Park, the Thorpe Park exit onto the beach, and the Yacht Club car park, highlight that the Cleethorpes coastline is a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the rare and important species to be found there.
A range of important and nationally protected invertebrates, plants, birds and mammals spend their lives here within diverse habitats, such as the sand dunes, saltmarsh, mudflats and lagoons. These habitats provide ecosystem services such as carbon storage, flood defences, and improved water quality, but they require management and protection in order to function properly.
The coastline and the species that inhabit it are very vulnerable to recreational disturbance. This not only means dogs or paddleboarders approaching and disturbing the bird species that live here, but other activities can cause serious damage too. Many of the plants that grow in this area are fragile, and damaging them, even by walking over them, can lead to erosion of the dunes and loss of habitat.
Saltmarsh is a rare coastal habitat. It forms in areas protected from the strongest sea waves, where mud can build up. Saltmarshes protect from flooding, prevent pollution from reaching the sea, and store carbon – more than a rainforest of the same size!
Saltmarshes support rare and protected species adapted to these dynamic, salty environments, and living nowhere else, like the sea aster bee. These peaceful bees dig nests in the dunes, but forage on the flowers of saltmarsh plants, particularly sea aster, the pollen of which they use to feed their offspring.
With a roost of over 20,000 knots close by, it is important to prevent bird disturbance on the coastline. Internationally important numbers of Special Protection Area birds stop here to rest on their annual migration and disturbance means they won’t survive their journey. Disturbance on the coast is monitored and NELC works with Operation Seabird to make sure that resident and visiting birds are protected.
The intertidal mudflats and saltmarsh in this area support tens of thousands of migratory and resident wildfowl and wading bird species, including internationally important species such as curlew, golden plover, and oyster catchers.
The new signage boards provide in-depth information on the bird, wildlife and plant species which thrive in specific areas along the Cleethorpes coastline, and explain in more detail why it is so important to protect them.
The message from North East Lincolnshire Council remains consistent in encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy the beauty of Cleethorpes, but always to observe safety measures to protect nesting birds from disturbance by following these simple steps:
- Keep to the designated footpaths
- Keep dogs under control
- Anyone using the coastline for water sports must stay away from the salt marsh and sand banks.
Celebrating outstanding contributions: Lincolnshire Fostering Service to honour foster carers
On April 19th, Lincolnshire Fostering Service will host its annual Foster Carer Celebration highlighting the remarkable dedication and commitment of foster carers to the lives of Lincolnshire children.
The ceremony features the presentation of awards to over 50 different foster carers, recognising long-standing service and special achievements. This year’s event promises to be particularly poignant as one extraordinary couple, Mr. Robert Isdale (81) and Mrs. Margaret Isdale (80), will be honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
The Isdales have devoted an incredible 44 years to fostering, nurturing over a hundred babies and young children during this time. As they embark on a well-deserved retirement, Lincolnshire Fostering Service is proud to recognise their outstanding legacy by presenting them with this special award (the first of its kind in Lincolnshire) to be conferred by Head of Service, Deborah Crawford.
“We are honoured to host this annual celebration, recognising the tireless efforts of our foster carers and the profound difference they make in the lives of vulnerable children,” said Deborah Crawford, Head of Lincolnshire Fostering Service. “It is a joyous occasion to come together as a community and celebrate these extraordinary individuals who exemplify compassion, resilience, and unwavering dedication. Our heartfelt thanks to this remarkable group of people.”
Image credit: Stock.adobe.com/o_lypa Telegraph article draws swift rebuttal from farmers’ union President
“The notion that farmers have been benefitting from higher global food prices shows the need for an urgent lesson in how the UK’s food supply chains work. Retail price increases rarely make their way back to farmers and growers which is why we have been beating the drum for fairness in the supply chain for many years.
“Mr. Lesh also suggests that British farmers aren’t facing being undercut by lower standard imports, but there are currently no standards in place to safeguard farming business from imports that would be illegal to produce here. That is why, alongside the WWF, we have written to the three main political parties in England to call for the formation of a core standards commission.
“With war and climate change wreaking havoc on food production across the world, does Mr. Lesh really believe we can feed our nation, and a growing global population, by relying on imports?
“British farmers are not failing. They produce food for the nation to some of the highest standards in the world and have an ambition to produce more. But farms need to make a profit to invest in their businesses to continue producing food, and we need the right regulatory framework to do that. This must be a priority for government because our food security depends on it.”
Horncastle Young Farmers’ fundraising success for local air ambulance
Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance are giving a huge toe tapping mega thank you to everyone at Horncastle Young Farmers Club for raising £2,000 from their Annual Ball.
LNAA Volunteers Les and Joyce Pert recently visited the club to accept this fantastic donation for LNAA and said: “We are incredibly grateful to the Horncastle Young Farmers’ ongoing dedication to LNAA.
“Their support allows us to be by the side of patients 24/7 when they are having their worst day.”
Majority of children get first-choice primary school
The vast majority of Lincolnshire children (99%) have been offered a place at one of their preferred primary schools this year.
There are around 6,781 children needing a primary school place this year, and 6,490 (95.70%) will receive their first preference school. This is similar to last year’s 95.23% and 2022’s 95.75%.
A further 217 children (3.20%) have been offered their second preference, and 9 (0.13%) their third preference. A small minority of children, 65 (0.97%), will be offered a local school that isn’t one of their three preferences.
Cllr Mrs Patricia Bradwell OBE, executive member for children’s services, said: “I’m delighted to see so many children getting their first-choice school. It’s always our intention to support as many parents as possible with their preferences, and, yet again, the overwhelming majority of families have been successful in gaining admission to the school of their preference this year.”
Parents have until noon on 14 May 2024 to lodge an appeal against a school’s decision not to offer a place. If they return the appeal by the deadline, it will be heard before the start of the school year. If it is received late, it will still be heard, but this may be in September.
Because of appeals and movement on the reserve list, it is usual for the percentage of first preference to increase by the time children start in September.
Image: Stock.adobe.com/Rawpixel.com 