by Martin Thomas | Aug 19, 2020 | Burghley, Culture, Doddington Hall, IBCC, International Bomber Command, Lincoln, Lincoln Castle, Lincoln Cathedral, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin Therapies, Museum, Stamford, The Collection
Love Lincolnshire Culture
Love Lincolnshire Culture – This list is by no means definitive but I hope it gives you a few good ideas for places to visit.
International Bomber Command Centre in Lincoln
Love Lincolnshire Culture
Love Lincolnshire Culture – Did you know that 17 August 2020 saw the start of #LoveCultureWeek across the UK? It’s a time to celebrate and visit cultural venues and marvel at what is on offer. This week is aimed at highlighting some of the venues but our cultural sights are open all year of course so let’s get out (safely) to enjoy what’s on offer.
References to Covid 19 may no longer apply so some of the venues have no doubt reverted back to normal visiting times. Restrictions will have been lifted and references to Covid have changed but the venues are still certainly worth visiting. Read on to discover some great locations in Lincolnshire:
It’s time to celebrate by visiting the fantastic County museums, galleries, heritage sites and libraries to see what they have to offer. Please feel free to add in the ones that I’ve missed in the comments below.
Lincolnshire Culture – Enjoy Summer Safely
I hope my list does it justice. Apologies in advance to those that I’ve missed out but I’ll happily add a little mention for you if you contact me. If you want to pay a visit to any of these locations please make sure you check to see if you need to book in advance.
Where To Start?
With a County as large as Lincolnshire its going to be impossible to cover every venue and location in one blog but perhaps a few choice mentions might give you some ideas and inspiration to make your own list. After all, you don’t have to cram everything into just one week!
Love Lincolnshire Culture – Lincoln
Starting with our County capital you’ll no doubt have a large list of locations to visit ranging from:
Click on the picture to go straight to the ticket office and don’t forget to follow @CollectionUsher on Twitter too
Click on the picture to book your tickets. The grounds are open to the public so if the weather is right, why not pay a visit to have a walk around with friends and family? The Castle has its own Twitter account so why not give it a follow to make your own discoveries? @LincolnCastle
Click on the picture to go straight to the Lincoln Cathedral events page to discover what’s going on. The Cathedral also has its own Twitter page too so give it a follow to discover what’s happening @LincsCathedral
The picture doesn’t say it all – Click on the picture to go to the ticket office of this ‘Gold Award Winning’ venue in Lincoln. You won’t be disappointed. They’re on Twitter of course: @IntBCC so give them a follow
Doddington Hall and Gardens are open for visitors with many planned events so click on the picture to go straight to the events page on their website. Obviously bookings will have to be made and rules will need to be followed but we’re all used to that now! You can give the Hall a follow on twitter too of course @DoddingtonHall to stay up to date with their events calendar.
Plan Your Visit
Each of the venues above are on Twitter but if you prefer Facebook just click on the relevant picture to go to the website to follow from there..
Top 3, Top 10… Or Top 100?
No matter how big or small the list is, I’m bound to miss someone important! Please keep in mind that this list is just to give you some ideas as I’m sure you’ll have plenty of additions for your own list.
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Love Lincolnshire Culture – Stamford
If you’re in the Stamford area there are some pretty spectacular places to visit. Top of the agenda has to be the town centre with it’s beautiful buildings and delightful local shops. There is more to see and do too though:
Burghley House And Gardens are open from Wednesday to Sunday each week. Click on the picture for more details. The park is open every day though and entry is free. Give them a follow on Twitter @BurghleyHouse for regular updates
Stamford Arts Centre is physically closed at the moment but they do have events online via their new YouTube channel so why not pay them a visit? This centre has so much to offer so do follow them on Twitter @StamfordArts for updates then pay a visit when it’s safe to do so. Click on the picture to go to their website
Stamford Sights & Secrets Tours is a must if you want to find out more about Stamford. The walking tours are on Wednesday and Saturday mornings from 11.00am. Simply click on the picture to go to the ticket site and don’t forget to follow them on Twitter @StamfordTours for updates
Love Lincolnshire Culture – More To Come…
Lincolnshire is such a big County that it’ll be impossible to list everyone here. With that in mind, I’ll post another blog or two with some more ideas from Grantham, Spalding, Skegness and Grimsby. Do let me know if you would like to be included.
Previous Blogs
You may also like to read the ‘Aviation Trail’ by Visit Lincoln
Aviation Trail by Visit Lincoln
Until next time, stay safe everyone,
by Martin Thomas | May 5, 2020 | Antenatal, Aromatherapy, Bailgate, Burton Road, Ellis Mill, Lincoln, Lincolnshire, Lincolnshire Heritage, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Mandarin, Mandarin Therapies, Massage, Museum
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life
Around Me In Lincolnshire – Burton Road & Bailgate – Museum Of Lincolnshire Life – Front entrance. This picture was taken in 2017 so the Lincoln Knight won’t be outside the gates anymore but there will be a new trail soon for the ‘Lincoln Imp’ so it’s worth checking out and putting in your diary.
Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour. There really is far too much to know about the museum to put in one blog so click on the picture above for a link to the website or click here to go straight to the same website Museum of Lincolnshire Life
If you’re interested in discovering more blogs by LincsConnect go to www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs The museum covers Lincolnshire culture and life through the ages from 1750 right up to the present day. The exhibits (over 250,000 of them) even include a world war one tank. For those of you who weren’t aware, the tank with its caterpillar tracks was actually developed in Lincolnshire. Lincolnshire has a very strong engineering history and many of its historic pieces are displayed here. I have no doubt that some of the pieces may well still be in operation around the world today. As you can see, the red brick building has a rather grand looking entrance. It is actually an old Victorian barracks and was home to the Royal North Lincoln Militia.
The Walk
If you’re interested in the idea of a Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour the museum is a good place to start. As far as I can tell this is a suitable route for wheelchairs but be aware that Mill Road is a bit narrow so you may need to take to the road in parts. It’s a one way road and if you follow my route you’ll be facing oncoming traffic.
Make Time
Make plenty of time for your visit to this museum as it really is fascinating. When you’re ready to leave, turn right out of the entrance and right again at the crossroads. You’ll now have the museum and its car park on your right. Walk down Upper Long Leys Road and stop at the right turn to Mill Road.
Wartime History In Lincoln
The picture is deceiving. When you get up close you’ll realise that the wall isn’t just built around a corner, it is actually ‘that’ thick!
Before turning onto Mill Road take a look at the wall on your right and notice how thick it is. It’s not until you take a proper look that you realise that this wall is actually solid!
I’m reliably informed that there was another wall on the other side of the road and a chain would have been strung between the two. Believe it or not, this was part of our WW II home defence; had Britain been invaded by Germany this chain will have acted as a tank trap. The chain will have been pulled tight to stop the tanks thus enabling the home guard to execute an ambush. Continue onto Mill Road…
Ellis Mill Built in 1798
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Ellis Mill
For those of you in the Lincoln area this’ll be an unmistakeable landmark. It’s easily visible from the Grandstand and West Common area of Lincoln as it stands proud on the Cliff Top to the left of Lincoln Cathedral. I wonder how many of you have actually visited it though.
The normal opening times are Saturday afternoons from 2.00pm until dusk during the months of October to March and Saturdays & Sundays 2.00pm – 5.00pm from April to September. The entry fee is ‘free’. If you don’t manage to get there at the right time to look inside it’s still worth a visit for a photo opportunity. The picture above was taken from the footpath using my iPhone so in case you were wondering, ‘yes you can get that close!’
Built in 1798 the mill has seen a few owners as you can imagine! It’s currently owned and run by Lincoln County Council and is maintained by some dedicated volunteers. It survived a fire (just) in 1974, was restored and re-opened in 1981 and is still producing flour today.
Unsurprisingly you’ll find the mill on Mill Road, Lincoln. Parking is difficult in the area as the streets are narrow so I suggest walking from the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Entry is free (check before you go to make sure it isn’t closed for maintenance) but the visit won’t take you long so I suggest you make it part of a general sight seeing trip. Next free entry will be 17 Sep 22. Follow @VisitLincoln on twitter for updates
Mill Road To Burton Road
Continue walking along Mill road and note the different ages of the buildings and their architecture. The road is quiet but very narrow so be careful if you’re forced to walk on the road. You will however, be facing the oncoming traffic on the one way system. When you reach the end of Mill Road turn right and cross when it’s safe.
Mill Row
A sneaky picture of me taking a picture of the chimneys on Mill Row
If you look at the old outhouses along Mill Row you’ll notice that they all have chimneys. They may well have been where the household washing was done. I can imagine it must’ve been quite smokey in that area on wash day! Continue along Burton Road to the award winning Burton Road Chippy on your left. If you have time and are feeling peckish I can highly recommend a visit.
Award Winning Burton Road Chippy. Click on the picture to go to the website.
Since originally writing this blog the restaurant has had to close due to the economic downturn during the pandemic. However, make a note of the sign because the business has re-opened a little further up the road as a takeaway Fish & Chip shop. The fish is traced as is the local potatoes so you can be sure of freshness and quality. How they keep turning out such a high quality is beyond me but I guess that’s why they are award wining!
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Burton Road
You can be mistaken for thinking you’re in a village when you walk down Burton Road. With its local shops and thriving community it really does take on that village feeling. Do stop to browse and buy in the local shops then carry on towards the Museum of Lincolnshire Life.
Keep walking past the museum and carry on to the mini roundabout then turn left onto Westgate. Historically this is where the gallows were housed. You’ll notice the pub on the opposite side of the road called ‘The Strugglers’ – apparently named after the people who were hanged but didn’t die instantly. We do have quite a gruesome past in the UK!
Carry on walking (the Castle will be on your right) until you reach The Castle Hotel then turn immediately left onto the cobbled street (Westgate Bight) at the side of the hotel.
Just a short walk on the cobbles will take you to a notice at the entrance to a small passageway. The notice informs you about the history of the Roman wall directly behind you. If my memory serves me well, this section of wall is the highest standing section of Roman wall in the city. I could be wrong though as I’m going from memory (which is notoriously bad) but the site is worth a visit nonetheless.
Burton Road And Bailgate Walking Tour – Bailgate
I hope you’re enjoying the Burton Road and Bailgate walking tour so far. You’ll now be entering the Bailgate area so allow some time to explore.
Double back on yourself from the cobbles then turn left onto Westgate again. You’ll be entering the Bailgate area which has a whole history all of it’s own. Turning right in the Bailgate will take you towards the Castle and Cathedral. Once you’ve had a look around this area make your way back through the Bailgate walking past Westgate (where you came in) and carry on to the Newport Arch.
Newport Arch – Part of the Lincoln Roman wall
Carry on through the Newport Arch then turn right onto Church Lane. After just a few paces cross the road at the island then stop and look back. You’ll see the Police Station and City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station & Fire City Fire Engine building.
City Police Station
The City Police station and City Fire Engine building was under construction in 1881 according to the census. However, it may have been a police sergeants house. The first police sergeant in charge of the station was Robert Richardson. More information is difficult to find but It’s likely that the building was closed as a police station/sergeants house in 1967 but continued as a stores building until around November 1981. Apparently this is where new recruits would have picked up their uniform. It would have ceased to be used as a store when the
City Fire Engine
The building pre-dates petrol driven appliances hence its small size. Horse drawn appliances would have been used at the time so it’s unlikely that there are some stables near or around the back of the station. It’s likely that the police officers also doubled up as the local fire service too.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Formerly the Radion Cinema, then a supermarket before becoming BBC Radio Lincolnshire
Cross back over the road and head back towards Newport Arch. Keep walking and follow the road round towards the right on the road called ‘Newport’. after just a few paces you’ll see BBC Radio Lincolnshire on your right. This building has had a long history with previous guises being both a supermarket and a cinema. To many locals it’s still known as the Radion Cinema. It was built in 1939 as a 850 seat cinema but closed in 1960 and was re-commissioned as a supermarket. It again changed use in 1980 when it became the home of BBC Radio Lincolnshire.
In the roof space above the BBC Radio Lincolnshire is the air conditioning fittings but you can still clearly see the remain s of the old Radion Cinema screen and decorative wall patterns (Credit BBC Radio Lincolnshire for the photo)
Above the radio station and offices parts of the original Radion Cinema screen still remain intact.
Turn left onto Cecil Street and stay on the left side of the road. Part of the way down you’ll notice that the old terraced houses give way to a newer red brick building with a large arch into the car park. Immediately in front of you (inside the car park) you’ll see a remaining section of the roman wall that links the Newport Arch to the largest section of Roman wall that you will have seen earlier.
Carry on to the end of Cecil Street then turn left onto Rasen Lane. At the end of Rasen Lane you’ll find yourself back at the Museum of Lincolnshire Life. Congratulations, you’ve just done a mini walking tour of the Burton Road & Bailgate areas of Lincoln.
Staying In Lincoln?
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Additional Blogs For You:
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Help stamp out domestic abuse
Click or tap on the picture above to go to a previous blog. More blogs can be found on the website www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Apr 29, 2020 | Authors, books, Charity, Covid 19, Covid-19, COVID19, Food, Foodbank, Grimsby, Immingham, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect, Louth, Pie, Take Away, Takeaway, Vouchers
Food Glorious Food – Grimsby Food Kitchen
This Food Glorious Food – Grimsby Food Kitchen blog was published during the Covid19 lockdown of 2020. There have been some lovely stories emerging about organisations and individuals recently as they provide food for those in need during the pandemic. We mustn’t forget the organisations that have been providing food and support for the homeless and vulnerable all year round though. I can think of several and during this lockdown period I have had time to contemplate and decide what I value and what I am truly grateful for. As I look around and see more and more people doing wonderful things for the community I realise that I could and should (and will) be doing more.
I find many of my contacts through Twitter, several of them really stand out for their kindness, selflessness and community spirit. Some of the things they do without the need for praise or recognition is truly humbling and it’s worth remembering that they don’t have to do what they do. They could have an easy life and leave the volunteering to someone else. That said, if all the volunteers stopped what they were doing to leave the help for others to do, nothing would get done!
Grimsby Food Kitchen – Volunteers
Society owes the volunteers a great debt and with that in mind, I hope to write about some or all of them in my blogs to let their stories be known.
One such group is the Grimsby Food Kitchen which is run by Cath and Ken with help from some of their lovely volunteers. In normal circumstances (outside of the Covid-19 restrictions) Cath and Ken provide emotional support to the homeless and vulnerable people in Grimsby. Hugs and smiles usually flow freely.
I can’t imagine what it must be like to be homeless and without human contact. I can imagine though that the Grimsby Food Kitchen is much more than just a place to visit for Sunday lunch.
Grimsby Food Kitchen – The GFK provide so much more than just Sunday lunch. The smiles and kind eyes say so much more… Click on the picture for a link to the Facebook page
Grimsby Food Kitchen – Generous Donations
Sometimes, when you’re faced with the worry of having to move premises the answer is right on your doorstep. A very generous donation by Pete and Tricia saw the GFK move into new premises rent free for as long as they need it. A donation of £4000 from the Lincolnshire Community Foundation @LincolnshireCF and generous donations from the Rotary International, Humberston Lions and many others help the GFK to continue. Donations from the general public plus outstanding support from the local press who regularly contribute on their twitter feed @GrimsbyLive and through their website GrimsbyTelegraph.co.uk help to make it all work.
With these donations Cath and Ken are able to make bulk food purchases from the cash and carry in order to cook the Sunday lunches and Wednesday hot dogs. Support is always helpful of course but when you are volunteers providing a no cost service that the support is pretty vital.
Food Glorious Food – 5.00am Start
GFK Ready for service on Sunday and Wednesday lunch times
Alas, it’s not just a case of ‘turn up for work, cook, serve and leave’! There isn’t a kitchen in the centre so Cath cooks everything at home then transports it to 18 Clethorpes Road, Grimsby where she, Ken and their volunteers prepare to serve between 11.30am and 1.30pm. The additional voluntary help is essential if everything is to run smoothly.
Cath and Ken are always on hand to ‘dish out’ the smiles, hugs and support to those who need it and guide people to other agencies for additional support when required. I can imagine that the room is normally full of chatter and laughter but, with the Covid-19 outbreak they have had to adapt to a take-away service and social distancing. That will be difficult on many levels I’m sure.
I had a lovely chat with Cath yesterday and she explained how everything works. Although it’s very generous of people to turn up with a food parcel you can imagine the storage needed for small amounts of perishable foods – it just isn’t practical. The new Wednesday Hot Dog lunch sessions alone will need around 150 sausages each week so bulk buying is the only practical way forward.
Grimsby Food Kitchen Relies On Charitable Donations
Having chatted with Cath I can tell you now that she just isn’t the sort of person who will ask for glory, praise, recognition…… or cash! As a result, I’m asking on her behalf. If you can spare ‘any’ cash please get in touch via Facebook Grimsby Food Kitchen or Twitter @CathHomewood to make your arrangements.
Let’s keep in mind that the GFK isn’t the only charity in the County that needs your financial help. If you would like to make a donation to a charity in your local area perhaps this short blog will have helped to jog your memory.
I would also like to say a special thanks to @GrimsbyLive for the use of their pictures for this blog.
“Never Betray Anyone’s Trust”
Cath & Ken
When dealing with people it’s important to be approachable and trustworthy. That applies every day of course but when you’re talking to vulnerable people it’s important that they are able to trust you. Cath told me that she won’t tolerate ‘he said, she said’ conversations where people are talking about others. It’s probably fair to say that the people who are turning up for food are like an extended family. When they need help or advice it’s important for them to know that the person they’re talking to will be there for them. In Caths’ own words “never betray anyone’s trust” seems doubly important.
Bless you Cath and Ken, you’re doing a fantastic job. Keep smiling and keep cooking.
Food glorious Food By LincsConnect – Did Someone Say Food?
This year (2020) the Louth Pie Day (#LouthPieDay) had a bit of a setback. Just about to celebrate it’s second year….. and then we had the lockdown for Covid-19.
Not to be disheartened Justine and Kiat made a subtle change to the hashtag and called it #VirtualLouthPieDay. What a brilliant idea! Louth Pie Day is here to encourage visitors to the various shops in Louth to sample and buy a variety of pies. If there is any competition going on I certainly wouldn’t like to have to select an overall winner! What’s your idea of a pie? Is it a pork pie? What about a steak and ale pie? Vegetarian pie or vegan pie? Oh yes, and then there’s the fruit pie of course…
Click on this picture to go straight to the Facebook page
Food Glorious Food – Unfortunately the shops were closed for customers this year so there were no pies to be bought. As a result the #VirtualLouthPieDay was conceived and facebook and twitter followers were invited to make their own pies and share pictures. The creations can be found on the Facebook and Twitter @LouthPieDay pages. If you would like to see what happened just type in #VirtualLouthPieDay to your search bar on twitter or Facebook. Do also follow the pages to make sure you don’t forget to enjoy the fun next year.
#LincsConnectJobs
The #LincsConnectJobs hashtag is still live so if you have any jobs to advertise just add in the hashtag to your advert and tweet it. You can also use the hashtag on Facebook.
To follow @LtsaSCITT on twitter just click on this picture to go straight to their profile, click the follow button and search their tweets for more information.
If you’re considering a carer in teaching, recruitment is still going ahead for 2020 via Zoom. If you are interested email pslack@lincstsa.co.uk today for a Zoom link and an appointment. Don’t let Covid-19 deter you. Where there’s a will, there’s a way!
Are You A Reader?
Author Lynette Creswell from Immingham
Author Lynette Creswell has several books to her name already and has now produced a book of short stories which is due to be released very soon.
Being dyslexic I much prefer to read short stories so this book will be perfect for me. Do you have a preferred genre or do you just pick up a book that takes your fancy at the time? I know some people can read a whole book in a weekend (or even faster). I’m afraid a ‘normal’ sized paperback can take me up to a year to read. It’s odd that I can enjoy writing so much and can plan a blog like this one in my head in seconds. It takes around half a day to research it, put it together and post it but when it comes to reading….. Well, a year to read a paperback tells you its own story.
There’s an empty space where a book should be!
I’ve been invite to the ‘Cover Reveal’ for the new book of short stories titled ‘Cat Thief’ and I’m pleased to be able to extent that invitation to you too. Don’t worry, it’s all online so we’ll be safe and secure; Hopefully I’ll see you (virtually) there on Saturday 2 May 2020 from 11.00am to 12.30pm
Click on the picture to book your virtual place….
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Food Glorious Food By LincsConnect – Looking Forward…
I’m certainly looking forward to getting back to some sort of normality and I’m sure everyone else is too. With that in mind, I’ll leave you with a gift voucher idea that’ll give you something to look forward to. You can buy your voucher now and look forward to enjoying a bespoke massage from the comfort of your own home later in the year. What’s not to like? If you would like to order your e-voucher just email massage@mandarinleisure.com
Click on the picture to go to the Mandarin Therapies website
Stay Safe everyone
by Martin Thomas | Apr 27, 2020 | COVID19, Food, Lincolnshire, Lincs Connect, LincsConnect
Home Is Where The Heart Is – It’s Not Just Lincolnshire…
Home is where the heart is and it’s not just Lincolnshire. A huge number of volunteers across the country have stepped up to lend their help during the pandemic. They work in the community and from home. The whole nation supports their selfless actions and deeds. I salute you all for your kindness and dedication.
Whether you use social media or not you must surely be aware of some fantastic initiatives across Lincolnshire. By touching on a few I can highlight the hard work that everyone is putting in. Documenting a single initiative will highlight this and countless other selfless acts of kindness. Too numerous to mention but they’re all happening daily.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Charity Really Does Start At Home
Nerves of steel – I wonder how many onions Barry has had to chop in his kitchen?
Staff of the NHS, police, fire, first responders and others were asked to step up to the mark as lockdown was announced. Many volunteers also sprang into action to lend a hand.
Barry is the head chef at The Pyewipe Inn Lincoln (2020) but found himself without customers thanks to the pandemic. That is until he teamed up with his neighbour Laurance to start cooking from home. Meals for the frontline services became their priority.
Let The Cooking Commence
Thankfully you don’t need a kitchen the size of a village hall to cook a thousand meals. Cook from home in a domestic kitchen while spending no money and having no ingredients. That’s a pretty tall order! Thankfully the generosity of local businesses and the public knows no bounds.
People have been so generous that Barry and Laurance managed to prepare and cook over a thousand meals. Staff at Lincoln County Hospital, Grantham Hospital, Sleaford fire and police crews, Nettleham police HQ, Metheringham fire station, ambulance crews and more. They all benefited from the skills and dedication of this duo.
The men behind the meals… You can find them on Twitter @LiversidgeBaz or click on this picture to find them on Facebook
I might have caved in after chopping my way through my second or third batch of onions so hats off to these guys. They saw the queues at the supermarkets and experienced the empty shelves so decided to put their skills to good use. As a result they made it their priority to make sure our frontline services were fed.
Having food and ingredients delivered from The Pyewipe Inn, (Lincoln), The Old Angel Inn (Bardney), Jordans/Ryvita (Bardney) and Moy Park (Sleaford) to name just a few, the meals are produced at home then locals collect and deliver the meals to the front line workers.
Cooked and portioned
Lids and labels
Baked with love
Appreciated by all
Home Is Where The Heart Is – It’s Not Just About Feeding The Frontline
Taking meals to the workers isn’t just about making sure they are fed and able to do their job. We struggled to get ingredients needed for our meals but we managed to get something. Without doubt, showing a greater understanding and appreciation for the jobs and risks of key workers is paramount.
We all know what a fantastic job the NHS staff, police, fire crews and paramedics are doing during this difficult time. The key worker list is much bigger than that though. The farmers in the picture would’ve been surprised to receive their free lunch but without them we won’t be getting fed in the future.
#StayHomeSaveLives is a very important message for most of us. Perhaps we tend to forget how many key workers still have to go to work to ensure we stay safe at home and have a future to look forward to. It’s not just about the food. It’s also about the recognition and gratitude. Being on the receiving end of a gift is always nice but in these difficult times it means so much more.
Home Is Where The Heart Is – Delivering 250 Meals Each Week
You don’t need to be too much of a mathematician to work out that delivering 250 meals a week will soon lead to 1000 delivered. Actually, the 1000 milestone has already been reached. It won’t be long before we are looking at 1500. The system relies on people delivering the raw ingredients with others collecting the cooked meals for distribution. Logistically it must’ve been a headache and I’m sure the pressure has been high since day one.
The project would never have taken off without the enthusiasm of Barry and Laurance plus the support and generous food donations from Sarah Pickles (The owner of The Pyewipe Inn). Assistance in the kitchen by Julie Ann Clark who also helped to provide some of the fresh veg has been a great help. You can visit Julies charity shop in Horncastle and visit her on Facebook too Thrifty’s Community Charity Shop.
Huge respect to everyone involved but especially to Barry and Laurance who had the vision, skill and foresight to make it all happen.
#LincsConnect Music
The Tin Pigeons are a duo from Rutland…
Being a music lover I follow quite a few local bands, orchestras and choirs so I thought you might like to hear what I’ve found. I follow @TheTinPigeons on twitter and this one is from their back catalogue (click on the picture above to hear their song ‘Steel’). If you like what you hear why not nip across to their YouTube channel, give them a follow on twitter or Facebook
Revivalry – A young band from Cleethorpes
Revivalry @RevivalryBand are a young up and coming band from Cleethorpes who I’ve also been following on Twitter. I’m really pleased to be able to post their first studio recording ‘Run’ here today. I get the feeling this won’t be their last studio recording and it may well be the beginning of something rather big. You can follow them on Twitter, Facebook or on their YouTube channel. Enjoy
If you would like to hear more Indie bands you could give Dave a follow on Twitter @Laamb4 or better still give his website a visit https://www.laamb.co.uk where you’ll find an update for lots of local music and arts plus regular charts and much more:
“This site is dedicated to promoting Artists and Musicians in Lincolnshire. We aim to combine the marketing of local art and music, with features and sales of material produced within Lincolnshire.”
Click on the picture to go straight to the LAAMB website
That’s just about it for this edition but let me leave you with one more note. Please keep it in mind and pass it on whenever you feel it’ll be appropriate:
Click on the picture to go straight to the website. If you know someone who may be affected call 0808 801 0327
Stay Safe
by Martin Thomas | Apr 22, 2020 | Domestic Abuse, Domestic Violence, Lincolnshire, lincolnshire Business, Lincs Connect, Lincs Police, LincsConnect, LincsPolice, police
Be Tolerant. Are We Tolerant Enough In Lincolnshire?
I wonder what your thoughts are? Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Do you think we have become more or less tolerant during the Coronavirus pandemic? Putting the pandemic to one side, ask the same question “are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire” in general?
Without doubt I have seen some truly exceptional acts of kindness and heroism in recent times and I really hope it continues into our future lives on this planet. Members of the NHS have stepped up to provide an outstanding service to keep us safe and well. Helping those who have succumbed to the virus is (excuse the pun) in their DNA.
When I say NHS staff I don’t just mean the doctors, nurses, midwives, physios and the whole host of other medical clinicians and experts. No, I include the background staff too. The health care support workers, cleaning staff, porters, canteen staff and the huge army of volunteers who’ve put themselves forward to help. Without these people the ‘front line’ workers couldn’t do their job effectively.
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? On the whole, ‘yes’. Many of us have given up our normal way of life in order to preserve life. Keeping that safe distance has now become normal for most of us. Some are still ignorant to the dangers of not distancing while others are genuinely putting themselves in harms way in order to help maintain our health, freedom and way of life.
Some things never change. Our Police are still here to look after us and protect us
Policing The Streets
It can’t have escaped your attention that the police are continuing to do their primary roles as well as policing the streets to make sure we keep a safe distance. I read on social media recently that a group of people had been dispersed for quad biking in some local Lincolnshire woods.
Not only had they ignored the social distancing rules but it appears that they had travelled from Bedfordshire to do it! It’s beyond comprehension that people would knowingly put lives in danger like this. I feel both sorry for, and proud of, our Lincolnshire police who constantly put themselves in harms way to deal with these acts of lunacy.
Day in, day out, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year… The police are always on duty to protect us. It’s fair to say that I’m a great fan of ‘everyone’ who acts so selflessly to protect me, my family and everyone else in our County and country.
Pride in Our Lincolnshire Police
Having witnessed an incident in London during Christmas (2019) we accompanied a young lady to the local transport police station to provide witness reports and support. The police officer on duty was very helpful and did everything he could to assist. At the end of the meeting he handed us some plastic wallets for our Oyster cards.
The wallets had the emergency numbers on for reporting crime on London transport. He then instructed us to fold the wallet inside out to hide the police markings telling us that showing the wallet in London might make us a ‘target’.
I know I’m a ‘country boy’ but I was quite surprised at this advice. Have you noticed that in Lincolnshire there is a great pride in our local force? Whenever I see @LincsPolice posts on social media when they are out in the community the police and public are always smiling and engaging.
Obviously if things go wrong we can expect to be dealt with accordingly but that’s the nature of the job! In these difficult times the tolerance levels of our police officers must sometimes be tested to the max!
Are We Tolerant Enough In Lincolnshire? – Coronavirus And The Police
I only know bits and pieces about how the Lincolnshire Police are operating during these difficult times. In fact I don’t know any more than the average reader. However, I do know a lady who knows just about everything there is to know about policing during the lockdown. Let me introduce you to Assistant Chief Constable (ACC) Kerrin Wilson @KerrinWilson999 who will be chairing a Q&A session on Facebook this Thursday morning (23 April 2020) at 10.00am. We’re all invited:
Q&A – Click on this picture to go to the Facebook post
If you have a mind to help and would like to have your opinions heard perhaps you might be good enough to complete the survey below. This is a copy of the image from the Lincolnshire Police Facebook page so the blue link you see in the picture won’t work. However, if you click (or tap) on the picture you’ll be taken straight to the survey. Alternatively, you can go directly to the Lincolnshire Police Facebook page to complete it from there.
Click on the picture to complete the survey
How Tolerant Are We?
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? I’m talking about our personal lives and perceptions. If we ‘conveniently’ forget the social distancing rules for purely selfish reasons how do we react if we’re reminded to step back or turn around and go home? Something simple like reaching across someone in the supermarket to pick something off the shelf – it’s unacceptable but how do we react if we’re asked to step back and wait?
The answer should be obvious but I’m afraid the obvious doesn’t always happen. It can lead to confrontation (personal experience speaking)! Ask yourself this simple question each day: “Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire?”
Don’t invade someones space and don’t be confrontational if you’re asked to move back. Good manners applies both ways so with a bit of common courtesy we can all be happy
The coastal towns and beauty spots were closed over the Easter holidays (2020) but some people still thought it would be acceptable to ignore the rules. The rules are there for the safety of everyone so for those who are feeling aggrieved over the situation I ask for a little more tolerance for a little longer please. It’s not rocket science but disobeying the rules could be life threatening!
The Dark Side
Domestic Abuse ….. Rather than going away this ugly and often hidden form of abuse is now more prevalent than ever.
Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? Tolerance takes on a whole new meaning when we consider domestic abuse. Being locked in together can cause some anxieties and tension for families. As a result we usually have coping mechanisms and rational thinking that allow us to overcome the tensions with simple distractions. However, abusers and those suffering from abuse (physical, mental, emotional or financial) can really be finding life more difficult now.
Domestic abuse doesn’t have age limits or gender preferences. If you know someone who is suffering call the police today. You’ll find some useful numbers here but if there is an immediate threat of harm call 999. The Covid 19 lockdown won’t stop the police from carrying out their duties. They’re here for us 24 hours a day.
Click on this picture to go straight to the EDAN Lincs website. If your life is in danger call 999. If you need to make a silent call to protect your safety call 999 and add 55. You’ll also find @EDANLincs on Twitter
GET HELP if you are suffering. Use the numbers above or 999 if you’re in immediate danger. CLICK ON THIS PICTURE for more information
Don’t Put Yourself In Danger
If you are unable to speak during ‘any’ emergency simply dial 999 and add 55. The operator will immediately see that you are in need of help but are unable to talk. Your call will be tracked and you’ll get the help you need.
Hate Crime
Religious, race and homophobic abuse has no place in our society so don’t tolerate it. If you are aware of religious, race, homophobic or any other related abuse REPORT IT. Call 101 to report hate crime and call 999 if you fear imminent danger. Your action could result in an organised network being uncovered and prosecuted. Let’s all be more tolerant of each other. Employers also have a duty of care for their staff so if abuse is happening in the workplace, report it there too.
Some Things Need To Be Said Or Asked – Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire?
I know my blogs normally focus on the good things, the jolly things, the brighter side of life but some things need to be brought out into the open. Perhaps you can help to make someones life that little bit happier again. If you have doubts or suspicions make the call. Are we tolerant enough in Lincolnshire? I hope so!
Additional Blogs For You:
#WhatsOnLincs – Louth In Lincolnshire by LincsConnect – Louth Market
Click on the picture above to go to a previous blog. More blogs can be found at www.lincsconnect.co.uk/blogs
Stay Safe Everyone
#StaySafeSaveLives I’m going to clean my keypad, clean the mouse, clean the iPad, wash my hands and get out on my bike for an hour. #StaySafeSaveLives #HandsFaceSpace
