NEWS The best ‘good news

County’s Pint-Sized Pub opens

REOPENING FOR CLEETHORPES PUB THAT’S THE UK’S SMALLEST, AT JUST 8FT X 8FT!

CLEETHORPES Right across Lincolnshire the hospitality industry has reopened... but social distancing is a little tricky at the world’s smallest pub, located in Cleethorpes. Measuring just eight feet by eight feet, there’s pretty much standing room only, but still the place packs in cask ales and lagers, spirits and wines, plus 20 different ciders. The Signal Box is located adjacent to Cleethorpes Coastal Light Railway and was established in 2006. Rules on social distancing mean that just one drinker can be accommodated, so a crowd funding campaign entitled Keep Us On Track has been established to ensure the pub can survive the post-Covid economy. The pub’s popular Cleethorpes Folk & Cider Festival has also been rescheduled for August 29th to 31st. The hospitality sector is crucial as it employs 3.2m people nationally - the third largest employment sector in the UK after the healthcare industry - which employs 1.9m people including 1.45m in the NHS - and the MOD which employs 250,000 civilians and military personnel. The sector CONINGSBY Four personnel from RAF Coningsby recently completed a fundraising challenge to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund, the RAF’s leading welfare charity. The team ran a combined total of 102km around the airfield to commemorate 102 years since the Royal Air Force was formed. The team consisted of Cpl Chris Partridge, Charlie Merriman, Dylan Marte and Andrew Pue. All four are members of C4i Squadron at RAF Coningsby. Chris Partridge said: “All four of us have seen first-hand the

has a turnover of £130bn but 99% of hospitality businesses are SMEs, and for that reason it’s the most vulnerable sector

Running for the RAF...

RAF CONINGSBY PERSONNEL RUN 102KM TO CELEBRATE 102 YEARS OF THE RAF

of the economy. n RAF Benevolent Fund’s fantastic work, so we decided to fund raise as a team. We had originally entered the Snowdon24 challenge, but sadly this was cancelled due to Covid restrictions. However, we still wanted to help support the fund during this difficult time. There were a few tears at the end, but we all managed to complete the challenge.” The team have raised more than £1,000 so far. You can support the team by donating through their fundraising page on the Just Giving website. n

Emily’s New Role

TOP JOB AT ‘ES’ FOR LINCOLNSHIRE’S EMILY

SCUNTHORPE A Scunthorpe born journalist is about to take the top job at the Evening Standard, the second largest provincial newspaper in the UK, with a print run of over 780,000. Emily Sheffield is the sister of Samantha Cameron and the former Deputy Editor of British Vogue. A former Guardian journalist, already a columnist for the newspaper, and the founder of digital news brand This Much I

Know, Emily will take over from former chancellor George Osborne as Pride goes to press, and head up the 200-year old newspaper. Evgeny Lebedev is the owner of the ES and its sister newspaper the Independent. “We look forward to a bright future with a brilliant new editor who has read, written and breathed the Evening Standard for 20 years,” he said. n Image: www.standard.co.uk.

Ricky Passes in Skegness

CROONER RICKY VALANCE TOLD LAURA HE LOVED HER BACK IN 1960 AND LATER LIVED IN SKEGNESS

The £10m ‘des res’ looking for new owners in Newark...

NEWARK Looking out for a new home? Perhaps somewhere bijou with a bit of garden? Do you have a spare £10m? If so, you’re in luck. Newark businessman and owner of Kelham Hall Jonathan Pass has put the property on the market with Christie & Co with an instructed price of £10m. Jonathan purchased the property from Newark & Sherwood DC for £4m. It has consent for a 103-bedroom hotel with spa and is a part-Grade I listed with 42 acres of grounds. Jonathan is an experienced hotelier who also owned Lincoln’s Charlotte House. n

SKEGNESS Mellifluous Welsh crooner Ricky Valance has died in his home in Skegness at the age of 84. The singer’s most famous his in 1960 was Tell Laura I Love Her, about a boy called Tommy who tried to collect enough money to marry his eponymous girlfriend. The singer’s follow-up singles, Movin’ Away and Jimmy’s Girl sold in excess of 100,000 copies each and saw the singer top the charts in a number of countries. Ricky released his last single, Welcome Home in 2017 to raise money for the RAF Museum and RAF Association. n

Over 7.5km and £120m, Lincoln’s Eastern Bypass is ready to open this autumn. The County Council has worked

LINCOLN with the City of Lincoln Council, NKDC and WLDC to bring the project to completion. The new road will open 80 years n after the plans were first drawn up, proving that the best things - or at least the most essential - come to those who wait!

£120,000,000

LOCAL NEWS In Brief

LINCOLNSHIRE x

CHIEF OF POLICE BILL SKELLY RETIRES

After 31 years in policing Mr Skelly has announced he will step down from his role on December 18th 2020.

He said: “It’s been a privilege and an honour to lead this force. There have been many challenges during my four years as Chief here in Lincolnshire and what I’ve seen is a workforce who constantly rise up and respond to any difficulties put in their path.”

“I am proud to have been amongst colleagues who come into work day in, and day out, determined to make a difference and improve the lives of others wherever they can.” n

Supercentenarian Violet’s long life

A LOOK BACK AT THE LIFE OF LOCAL SUPERCENTENARIAN WHO RECENTLY PASSED AWAY...

SPALDING The third oldest supercentenarian in the UK recently died in Spalding at the amazing age of 112. Violet Davies-Evans was just one day younger than the two oldest people, who share the birthdate of March 29, 1908. Born in Sutterton, the third sibling of four sisters and a brother, she had lived in a handful of places around the country. Her nephew Mike Lawton said she was “definitely a real character”, describing her as a mixture of a very kindly aunt and a cross between the character Hyacinth Bucket in the TV sitcom Keeping Up Appearances and the late actress Joan Sanderson. After her first job at drapery and haberdashery store Pennington’s in Spalding’s Hall Place, Violet became a beauty specialist working in London for Elizabeth Arden – founder of the famous cosmetics company - she had several well-to-do clients. Throughout her life, she would never wash her face, preferring cleansing creams which kept her skin looking younger. Violet (née Head) married her talented and well-respected teacher husband Hubert in 1938 and together they enjoyed a busy social life with many famous friends. At the start of World War Two, Elizabeth Arden offered Violet the relative safety of a job in America but she turned it down, preferring to stay in Marble Arch. When Hubert passed away in 1975, Violet moved back to her native Lincolnshire. Violet had a penchant for red wine and even up to and beyond 100 years old she would regularly order a case from specialist Laithwaite’s.

LOCAL NEWS

In Brief

HAILING HOME GROWN HEROES...

Boston’s former Fleet Street editor, Rev John King, has launched a blog during the lockdown to spark a conversation about Christianity. In one of the first of his ‘Humpty Dumpty’ blogs he cites Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy chief medical officer for England and a past pupil of the town’s Grammar School, as an example of something good coming from Lincolnshire. n

FreshLinc Thanks NHS

DELIVERING A MASSIVE THANK YOU TO ALL THE LOCAL TRANSPORT WORKERS AND THE NHS STAFF TOO... SPALDING Andy Marchant, Fleet Engineer for FreshLinc was recently sent in a picture of a lorry that had been drawn by Olivia a 6 year old daughter of one of his suppliers. Andy and the senior management team thought it such a fitting tribute to all transport workers and the NHS that they had it transformed into a huge vinyl wrap to go onto one of their trailers that delivers local produce around the UK and to say a big thank you to all the local NHS and key workers. They hoped that it would puts a smile on people’s faces and shows all the workers they are all very much appreciated. n

THE OLD FORGE Middlegate Road | Frampton | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE20 1AW

BYREDOWN Pode Lane | Old Leake | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE22 9NB

• Unique Period Three Bedroomed Cottage in Highly Desirable Village Location • Sympathetically Updated to Include Large Open Plan Living Spaces • Features Include Inglenook Fireplace, Wood Burning Stove, Exposed Beams, Tiled Floors and a Superb Galleried Landing FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH • New Central Heating System to Include a New Boiler & Radiators • Desirable Rural Location, Integral Garaging, Gardens & Parking VACANT POSSESSION £349,950 • Potential for Further Bedrooms Subject to Planning Consent Subject To Contract

12 MILLERS GATE Sibsey | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE22 0TP

• Spacious and Characterful Four Bedroomed Family Home • Flexible Layout with Two Reception Rooms and Four Bedrooms

• Home Office Capability with Multiple Sockets FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH • Kitchen with Separate Snug, Utility, WC and Workshop VACANT POSSESSION • Rear Garden with Open Field Views, Parking £325,000 • Popular Village Location Within a Short Walk of All Amenities Subject To Contract

• Superb Four Bedroomed Detached Modern Home • Versatile Living Accommodation, with great family layout on an Executive Cul de Sac • Boasts a Spacious Hall, Sitting Room and Conservatory, Dining Room, Double Garage, • Utility room and downstairs w.c., Well Apportioned Garden FOR SALE FREEHOLD WITH VACANT POSSESSION, NO ONWARD CHAIN £275,000 Subject To Contract

Mulberry House, Hundleby, Spilsby £650,000

This fabulous five bedroom country home is located between the market towns of Spilsby and Horncastle at the foot of the Lincolnshire Wolds and has been fitted to an impeccably high standard throughout. With three beautifully appointed reception rooms in addition to a superb bespoke kitchen with dining and sitting areas off, the property enjoys two en-suite bathrooms, solid oak floors and three Clearview wood burning stoves.

Wainfleet Road, Boston £475,000

This spacious four bedroom period property has three reception rooms and has undergone a total refurbishment in the last couple of years and now enjoys a wonderful mixture of character features alongside more contemporary fixtures and fittings. The superb new kitchen runs across the back of the property and has two sets of bi-fold doors that fully open out onto a split level patio area. There is extensive parking for many vehicles and access at the side down to a detached triple garage. The property is offered with NO CHAIN.

Manor Road, Kirton £349,950

A spacious and immaculately presented property within walking distance of the village. Almost totally renovated in recent years this dormer style bungalow has two well- appointed double bedrooms and a bathroom on the ground floor and a master suite with full bathroom on the first floor. A light-filled garden room overlooks an attractive, private and beautifully well stocked garden and has French doors opening out onto the patio.

Witham Bank West, Boston £315,000

This beautiful four bedroom Georgian property enjoys an established plot of just over half an acre subject to survey and an attractive riverside aspect. It offers versatile accommodation arranged over three storeys, with a layout which can also include a self-contained annexe to the ground floor. The property has two kitchens, bathroom or shower room facilities to each floor and 4-5 reception rooms depending on personal preference. It has a long, private driveway and a detached double garage.

Lincoln in Ten BUILDINGS This month we explore a few of the 50 buildings that local author Daniel Codd thinks has made Lincoln what is is today...

Words: Daniel Codd.

THE FIRST SETTLERS came to Lincoln around the first century BC, settling around the area we now know as the Brayford. The population of Roman Lindum and William the Conqueror’s Norman legacy all evolved the city, but even recently, the city is a constantly evolving tapestry of civilisation - think about the way the University has changed Lincoln’s look.

Local author Daniel Codd loves the way a city’s evolution can be seen through its buildings. Architecture, culture and the economy are intrinsically linked, which is why, by examining buildings, we’re also examining our history and our culture.

That’s why Daniel has written his book, Lincoln in 50 Buildings, taking examples from across the city of how our history is written in stone... and brick... and slate.

“It is no overstatement to say that Lincoln’s story is told in its buildings,” says Danie. “This is at its most obvious in the cathedral quarter, where the city’s Norman castle and medieval Bishop’s Palace jostle for space.” “Looming over everything is the magnificent Lincoln Cathedral. This part of Lincoln is approached by way of the famous Steep Hill, which is lined with houses that date back to the medieval era, like the Jews House and Norman House.”

“However, beyond this area, the city features many other buildings from almost every era throughout history, with Roman remains, medieval religious ruins, Tudor, Stuart and Georgian houses, and many fascinating buildings from the Victorian age and the twentieth century up to the present day, including Lincoln’s infamous Victorian prison and the Theatre Royal that has entertained the people of Lincoln for over 200 years. Each has its own story, and many have a hidden history behind the façade.”

Here, we’ve featured just10 buildings which have written the history of Lincoln. For the complete list though, we recommend Daniel’s excellent book, available from local bookshops. n

BISHOP’S PALACE...

The foundation of Lincoln’s Bishop’s Palace is commonly ascribed to Lincoln’s 4th bishop, Robert de Chesney, on account of a charter given to him by King Henry II c. 1155, although it is possible a bishop’s residence existed in some form on the site earlier that century. Development of the palace continued under subsequent medieval bishops, who in the late twelfth century introduced the Lower East Hall (now subterranean, its stone bays resembling a cellar) and the dominating West Hall. After Henry VIII suppressed the monasteries, going so far as to initiate the looting of the adjacent cathedral in 1540 and 1548, the palace’s splendor fell steadily into decline. It was abandoned as a residence in the early seventeenth century, and the end came on 30 June 1648 during the civil wars, when it was plundered, burnt and left in ruins. This Victorian palace is known as Edward King House. The diocese is still administered from here, although it only served as the bishops’ residence until 1945. The original Bishop’s Palace remains a picturesque ruin. n