39 minute read
FARMING IN LINCOLNSHIRE From
ANDREW HOY’S BURGHLEY
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Local event rider and Olympian Andrew Hoy has claimed the silverware at Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials not just once, but twice, in 1979 and 2004. He also trains the next generation of five-star standard event riders, so who better to offer advice and insight for future talent?
“I’m having an office day,” says Andrew Hoy with absolutely no enthusiasm. “My skills are on a horse, not in an office!” Happily though, Andrew has a great team around him, including his wife and marketing lead Stefanie.
“Initially, I stayed on the Gatcombe Park estate and I did work with the future Princess Royal but I was really more independent, and moved to the UK to settle in Somerby permanently in 1993.” “Competing in an event like Land Rover Burghley “A team is only as strong and successful as its weakest Horse Trials, both horse and rider need to be at the element, so if I’m not personally enthusiastic about top of their game, but there also needs to be a true administration, having somebody who is enables me and complete partnership, both horse and rider need to concentrate on the part of the role that I do enjoy. to calibrated to work together.” We’ve an absolutely brilliant team, good people “Bringing a horse on to compete at Burghley is around us who understand, for example, nutrition, usually a journey of about five years, any at everyequine transportation, a really good vet and so on.” stage the most important aspect of that working In addition to being a Land Rover Burghley Horse relationship is to always work with the animal, to Trials winner on two occasions, Andrew has respect and understand their temperament won three consecutive Olympic gold medals, a silver in the Olympics, four World Championship medals, and is The Latest Land Rovers and their physical well-being.” “It’s like a working relationship between two human colleagues. If you’re boththe only Australian athlete to have cooperating to deliver a presentation,competed in seven Olympic games. Land Rover has been the event’s you’ve got to both know and trust thetitle sponsor since 2005. This year, Andrew started riding from the age you’ll be able to see the brand new other’s ability to fluently deliver a of six and at just 20 years old, he won Defender 130, with best-in-class interior space for up to eight well-rehearsed pitch.” his first CCI4* competition. The sportsman has remained at the forefront passengers plus peerless comfort and off-road ability! “When you really work well with a horse it’s a complete partnership, youof eventing since and has trained around communicate well and you’re able to 20 riders including his current protégé Isabel anticipate one another’s thoughts and actions.”Finemore, who’s based at Hoy Team’s stables in Somerby near Grantham, Melton and Oakham. “Technical knowledge take years to hone, but that’s essential for achieving the physical posture and skill“I was born and raised over in Culcairn, Australia, to ensure you’re in balance, harmony and rhythmbetween Sydney and Melbourne. I was competing in with the horse. When that happens you achieve thethe World Championships in 1978, so my visit to the ability to make all of that effort look effortless.”UK was for quarantine purposes, before travelling back home. It was supposed to be a six month stay but I “You can never do anything with an animal using force, liked the place so much I stuck around for two years!” only good communication. That sounds like spiritual or philosophical advice, but it’s really not. Being in harmony with the horse can help you overcome the Main: Based in Somerby, Andrew Hoy competed at the London Olympics on Rutherglen, shown here taking part in the crossphysical demands, like a ballet dancer lifting up their fellow dancer, the weight suddenly appears weightless country round. Andrew has won Burghley twice and will this because of the smoothness of the movement.” month compete in the World Championships in Rome. “During the cross-country round of the competition, you’re moving at about 540 metres every minute, about nine metres a second. Despite that, I never get off the horse experiencing any pain, because horse and rider are both in synergy with one another.” Eventing is the toughest equestrian challenge, but fundamentally, it’s designed to test the same thing in three different ways: harmony between horse and rider. The sport was popularised in the 1950s and its three elements evolved around the historic use of horses in the military, with dressage, cross-country and jumping disciplines designed to emulate parade duty, to replicate a soldier carrying a message back to their commanding officers and finally a jumping round to test that a horse hasn’t been overworked.
“My current horse is Vasilly de Lassos, an Anglo Arab gelding of about 17hh. We’re not competing in this year’s Burghley Horse Trials as the FEI World Championships 2022 take place two weeks later.” “I’m looking forward to visiting the event though, we’re really lucky to have a world-class fixture so close by, and it’s always a really enjoyable spectacle for spectators who enjoy the very best talent that the sport of eventing has to offer.” n
BURGHLEY BASICS:
n Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials has been held at Burghley since 1961. The event first came to Stamford following an outbreak of Foot & Mouth on the Harewood Estate, the location of the previous fixture. The 2020 and 2021 events were cancelled because of Covid, so the last event was in 2019. n The event takes place in the Elizabethan parkland and covers 530 acres of the estate. n The event is both a world class sporting fixture and a country/lifestyle event beloved even by those who are less concerned about watching the competitors. n Eventing fixtures comprise of dressage on Thursday and Friday, the cross-country round on Saturday and the showjumping round on Sunday. n Eventing’s governing body, the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI), designates Burghley a five-star event, the most challenging level of competition, one of only six such fixtures in the world. n The competition sees about 80 horse and rider combinations vying for a first prize of £100,000. Winning it, and two other events –the Land Rover Kentucky Three Day Event and the Badminton Trials – in succession constitutes the Rolex Grand Slam of eventing. n 170,000 visitors will enjoy Burghley. The event is worth £20m to the local economy.
THE CROSS COUNTRY COURSE
BUILDING BURGHLEY’S GREATEST CHALLENGES
Working alongside Burghley’s cross-country course designer Derek di Grazia – it’s Philip Herbert’s job to construct the obstacles for one of the toughest equestrian challenges in the world...
Sworn to secrecy, Philip Herbert and his team have been working hard for months to finesse the obstacles that this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials participants will face as they tackle the cross-country round of this year’s competition. “Normally, creation of the course begins before the previous year’s Horse Trials has even taken place, but with Covid, this year’s course has been a little longer in the making,” says Philip, who works alongside his son, Guy. Philip is based in Oundle, but his team also has a workshop and barn adjacent to Burghley Park Golf Club. The team is responsible for constructing and positioning 45 ‘jumping efforts’ which may comprise a single obstacle or several for this stage of the competition. “I work for a number of pony clubs, and for larger eventing fixtures like Thoresby Park – formerly the Belton fixture – but I’ve worked with Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials since 1981, firstly alongside Mark Phillips and now with Derek di Grazia.”
Main: Burghley’s cross-country course is one of the most challenging for riders and the most thrilling for spectators. Its 45 obstacles have been created in workshops adjacent to Burghley Park Golf Club by Philip & Guy Herbert and their team. A Word About The
“The FEI stipulates the maximum safe dimensions for an obstacle – 1.2m high, up to 4m wide and up to 3m front to back.”
“Once the course designer has determined the obstacles, and their placement, we can begin their construction. In years gone by they were all permanent obstacles with posts in the ground and rails. From the late 1990s we began to use forklift trucks and now most obstacles are portable, removed and stored in our barns. They weigh anywhere from half a tonne to three tonnes, and usually, about a third of the course is different each year, allowing for new interest and a fresh challenge each year.”
The Sponsors
“Obstacles are brought out of storage, washedAside from title sponsor Land Rover, some other event sponsors include and then repainted before
Joules, Bates Saddles, Le Mieux they’re moved into positionand Fairfax & Favor, who also have a shop and decorated with wood in Stamford. chips, greenery and props.” “At one point, when Land Rover was making pick-up trucks, the vehicles were used as obstacles themselves, but their vehicles are a bit larger and more expensive to serve that purpose these days!” “The skill of a course designer isn’t just the dimensions of the obstacles themselves, but where they’re positioned in relation to one another. It’s surprising but even the colour of an obstacle is given consideration when planning the course.” “Much research has been conducted into a horse’s visual perception, and we know they can see white or blue more easily than green – especially against a grass course – so an obstacle covered in green foliage is more challenging. A horse’s vision is less acute immediately in front of them, too.” “It’s information like this which really leads us to work with Burghley’s course designer to create a five-star course which is as challenging a test of horse and rider as possible, whilst still ensuring it’s safe in the eyes of the technical delegate and ground jury. We design the course to be challenging, but safe, making it one of the most thrilling for competitors and spectators alike, and of course, making most of the fantastic Burghley parkland!” n
Main Ring Masters
EXCITING RIDING DEMONSTRATIONS IN THIS YEAR’S MAIN ARENA
The Main Arena of this year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials includes thrilling riding demonstrations beginning on Thursday with Yogi Breisner’s Educating the Racehorse. The former performance manager for British Eventing helped the team to secure four Olympic medals, so his advice is worth its weight in gold! Friday sees Carl Hester MBE delivering a dressage masterclass, as a competitor once ranked 12th in the world for dressage. Other riding displays include the Shetland Pony Grand National on Saturday, and Fell Pony Society display on Sunday. n
Dog Agility
TAKE PART IN A NEW DOG AGILITY EVENT SPONSORED BY JOULES
The thrill of agility! A brand new event this year for dog-lovers, as Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials hosts a new ‘Have a Go, Dog Agility’ challenge in association with Joules. The Horse Trials sponsor will host the challenge in the Joules Marketplace, opposite World of the Horse. If you’re bringing your four-legged friend along, remember that Burghley also has a ‘dog crèche,’ where pup can be left, looked after, for up to two hours, whilst you have lunch, for example. Proceeds for the service are this year going to Samsalin Dog Rescue. n
Future Stars
BURGHLEY FAVOURITE RETURNS TO JUDGE REVAMPED COMPETITION
Captain Mark Phillips, designer of Land Rover Burghley’s cross-country course for 30 years until 2019, will judge the final of the highly prestigious Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse competition this year. The series, founded in 1990, is a leading showcase for future stars of top-level eventing. It has had a major ‘reboot’ for 2022 to keep pace with the modern sport. The prize-money on offer at the final, which takes place on Friday 2nd September, has been increased significantly with a first prize of £1,250. n
PREPARING FOR BURGHLEY
NEW FOR ‘22: BURGHLEY TV, LIVE WITH ROSIE & NICK
This year’s Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials sees the launch of a brand new digital TV service hosted by Vogue cover model and eventing fan Rosie Tapner alongside fellow presenter Nick Luck...
Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials is a massive event, spanning more than 530 acres with lots happening simultaneously... so even if you’re there, seeing absolutely everything that’s going on is pretty tricky. Thankfully, this year, we’re delighted to report that there’s a brand new digital TV service created by organisers of the event and fronted by broadcasters Rosie Tapner and Nick Luck. The service will combine livestream footage of the event with expert commentary, plus
n Winner: The most recent winner of The Burghley Horse Trials was Pippa Funnell in 2019 on Grafton Street, achieving 180 points. n Success: The most successful competitor in the competition is William Fox-Pitt, who won the title in 1994, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011. n Great Britain: Since 2001, a GB rider has won the competition nine times. A New Zealander has taken the title six times, an Australian three times and a German has won it once too. n Refreshing: During the competition, 20,000 ice creams are consumed, plus 26 gallons of Pimm’s and 4,857 glasses of Champagne, especially Pol Roger as the Champagne house is a key sponsor. n Broadcasting: The Sound of Burghley is the event’s own radio station,which broadcasts to a radius of 10 miles on FM and online, with digital listeners in 78 countries. The event also has its own TV channel available to view via subscription for live coverage via the event’s website, www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
analysis, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews, as well as pre-recorded material. “You can watch the service from home, if you’re unable to be at the event in person, or live whilst you’re at the event and then you can it watch again after the competition has finished to see anything you might have missed,” says Rosie. Naturally covering an event like Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials necessitates expert knowledge. Rosie was raised in rural Hertfordshire and grew up with horses; her mother Alex was a keen eventer as well as a hacker and hunter. After completing a degree in Digital Media at Oxford Brookes, and after competing in the Magnolia Cup at Goodwood in 2018 and 2019 and at Ascot in 2018, Rosie worked with Racing TV to cover fixtures for The Jockey Club’s in-house TV service and presented Sky’s Racing League coverage in 2021. And did we also mention that Rosie’s media career follows her appearance as a Vogue cover model after being signed to the Storm FACTS & FIGURES: The Best Burghley Trivia... n Shopping: There are over 600 trade stands including Joules, Musto and local businesses like Fairfax & Favor, The George of Stamford, Warner’s Gin and accountants and business advisors Duncan & Toplis. n Royalty: HRH The Princess Royal competed at the event in 1971, and presented the prizes in 2011, whilst Captain Mark Phillips served as course designer having won the trials himself in 1973. Zara Tindall competed most recently in 2019 and went head-to-head with Pippa Funnell in a nailbiting finale! Land Rover Burghley’s Official Charity
agency for which she has The Household Cavalry Foundation also fronted campaigns for is this year’s Horse Trials official Balenciaga, Burberry, Selcharity. The Foundation provides fridges & Ralph Lauren.charitable and pastoral support to serving soldiers, operational “That was 10 years ago,casualties, veterans and dependants. and I really enjoyed it but now I’ve discovered a love of broadcasting, which also means I can get behind the scenes with all the people I admired when we attended Burghley as a family when I was younger.” “I’ve already completed pre-recorded interviews with people like William Fox-Pitt and Pippa Funnell for Burghley TV, which was amazing, and we’ll have a walk-through of this year’s cross-country course and insight with experts like Carl Hester and Yogi Breisner – who are also hosting our riding demonstrations in the main arena – so we really get behind the demands of each eventing discipline.” “As someone who has watched Burghley as a spectator, it’s great to be able to get behind the scenes to really understand what goes into competing in a world-class eventing fixture. To be able to bring that to our audience, as well, is great.” “The service will cost £20/year, and it will offer everyone a richer, more in-depth way to enjoy unprecedented access to all of the drama and excitement of a CCI5* event!” n Subscribe to the new Burghley TV streaming service for £20/year at www.burghley-horse.co.uk.
Timetable: Burghley Horse Trials
PROVISIONAL TIMETABLE FOR THE 2022 EVENT, SUBJECT TO CHANGE! Thursday 1st September
07.30 Gates Open. 09.00 – 17.30 Shops Open. 09.00 – 17.00 Main Arena: Dressage. 12.30 approx Main Arena: Yogi Breisner, Educating the Racehorse. 09.00 – 17.00 Ring 2: LeMieux Pony Club Team Jumping Competition. 18.00 Showground Closes. Friday 2nd September
07.30 Gates Open. 09.00 – 17.30 Shops Open. 09.00 – 17.00 Main Arena: Dressage. 12.30 Main Arena: Carl Hester Dressage Masterclass. 09.00 - 17.00 Ring 2: Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse Final. 18.00 Showground Closes. Saturday 3rd September
07.30 Gates Open. 09.00 – 17.30 Shops Open. 10.30 approx Shetland Pony Grand National. 11.00 – 17.00 Cross Country. 18.00 Showground Closes. Sunday 4th September
07.30 Gates Open. 09.00 – 17.00 Shops Open. 09.00 Main Arena: Final Horse Inspection. 10.30 Main Arena: Showjumping. 12.00 Main Arena: The Fell Pony Society Display. 12.20 Main Arena: Racehorse to Riding Horse (HOYS) Qualifier. 13.55 Main Arena: Military Band. 14.30 Main Arena: Showjumping. 15.25 Main Arena: Parade of Hounds. 15.40 Main Arena: Presentation of Prizes. 09.00 – 17.00 Ring 2: BSPS Gold Cup Sports Pony Competition. 17.00 Showground Closes (no admittance to Burghley Park after 15.30). n
Find Out More: Land Rover Burghley Horse Trials takes place from 1st-4th Sept. Thursday/Friday/Sunday £22/adv, £24/on site. Saturday £38/£42. Car parking £12/day adv. Four day admission £92/adv, car parking £40/adv, membership from £265. See www.burghley-horse.co.uk or call the box office on 0344 581 4980. n
Meet the Mayors
This month we’re meeting the newly appointed mayors of Lincolnshire’s town councils. Heading up the 333 district, borough and unitary authorities across England, mayors are responsible for inspiring people in the communities they represent...
Jeremy Baskett
Mayor of Louth, 2022/23
Louth in 1844 looked quite different from today, as shown in William Brown’s 360° panorama, painted from the top of St James’ Church, measuring 9ft x 6ft. The canvas is on display at in the town’s Old Courtroom with a digital replica on display at Louth Museum. There’s a town trail connected with the painting, too, with 13 different points of interest, available on the town council’s website.
“The best thing about being elected Mayor in a town you love is that whatever you like about being a local councillor, there’s even more of it to enjoy as Mayor!” “I moved to the town of Louth over 25 years ago. Originally from Sussex, an opportunity to work at Grimsby Hospital “I really enjoy being in the community, talking arose and we moved here via Epworth. the people, and being Mayor supercharges that I worked in healthcare management for 37 opportunity, but even after the year is up, years until semi-retiring in 2016.” those experiences, those conversations and that connection with the people in the town“Having enjoyed many family will remain with me and stay with me in myholidays in Lincolnshire, role as a town councillor.” we’d visited Hubbard’s Hills with our chil- “But the role of Mayor isn’t just dren, so we knew ceremonial. It’s also a chance to the town of Louth lead the town in promoting itself. already, and really I’m really keen to ensure that loved the place.” the town keeps its unique feel. “I was a councillor Perhaps unusually for a market back in mid-Sussex town in the 21st century, Louth and became involved in local government here too. I’m not one for national politics, but locally, there Exploring Louth and its history seems to be much more relevance, an abil- The town of Louth is home to over 21,000 people and its town centre covers ity to make more of an impact.” about five square miles. Its history is celebrated at the town’s museum... “You can make a real difference to the community as a councillor, and already my Most town Mayors have their civic wife Bridget and I have been involved with chains, but in addition to Louth’s chains, the town’s Community Larder, groups in with a central star, medallion and 64 the town supporting dementia awareness smaller medallions each engraved with the names of successive Mayors, and the church community.” Louth still has its 1941 Mayoral Robes. “Already during my time as Mayor I’ve been The robes, those of the Mayor’s Sergeant privileged to witness the town celebrating and the large and small maces of the the Platinum Jubilee, and I’ve seen the town are also on display in Sessions lighting of the Jubilee Beacon to the sound House. n of St James’ Church choir.” still has lots of independent shops and cafés, with a great café culture in the Cornmarket. With the chairs and tables outdoors we’re trying to create an al fresco place for people to meet up.” “We’re also aiming to build on our already successful market and keep that culture The Mayor’s alive, and encourage events throughout the Lounge Chain town centre for the whole community to enjoy. Louth has always had really good footfall on Eastgate and through the rest ofThe town’s Civic Chain features engraved medallions with the its town centre, so we want to keep that and names of successive Mayors. ensure Louth remains a great place to liveThe Mayor’s Lounge Chain is worn with a suit rather than and work!” n robes, when the Mayor’s Sergeant is not present. xxx
Anne Dorrian
Mayor of Boston, 2022/23
“Local democracy should be more visible and more accessible,” says Anne Dorrian, Boston’s Mayor since May. “I think it’s sad that there are many people who have never been in the Council Chambers or seen our Civic Regalia.” “So in my year as Mayor I’m on a mission to make people feel that the Mayoralty and local democracy belongs to them.” “My father was elected as an Independent councillor in Ayrshire, on the night that I was born. When I came into the world very late in the evening, my father was at the local town hall, watching the count. I’ve followed him into local politics, into playing golf and into a teaching career too. I moved to Boston in 1982 to take up the post of PE teacher at Kirton Secondary School – what is now Thomas Middlecott Academy.” Boston’s “As the founder of the Boston Bypass Pressure Hanseatic History Group, my interest in how local politics worked was In 1377 Boston was the tenth largest town in the country. sparked in 2004 because I trading significant quantities of felt angry and frustrated at wax, dried fish and fish oil, furs I don’t believe that national the dreadful traffic queues and goatskins. Its annual fair attracted merchants from politics should play a part in leading into the town.” all over Europe. how local councils are run; “I called a public meeting demanding answers from elected officials and over 500 people turned up to have their say! decisions should be made in the best interests of local residents and not to suit the views of folk in Westminster.” I was elected to Boston Borough Council in “Aside from being able to meet people and 2007 and again in 2019, standing for the to get to know your community, another reward of Skirbeck.” ally rewarding aspect of serving as the town’s Mayor is being able to raise both awareness “Since retiring last year, I have started and money, for really important causes.” working with Lincolnshire Police as a volunteer. “Teaching, working in local government and this new voluntary role – all have one common denominator - that you’re in a position to help people, to make sure their voices are heard.” “My husband David is a volunteer with the Guide Dogs for the Blind association, and we’re hoping to raise over £2,500 for the charity during my time in office for their Name a Puppy scheme... it is our hope that we can raise enough funds to name a puppy “I wish that more local residents would ‘Boston’ in honour of the town and borough.” come forward and take an interest in “I’ve also chosen to support Boston Food becoming a councillor and that we all worked Bank, because so many members of our together for the betterment of the borough. community are struggling to afford to eat, which is a sad indictment of our society. Speaking personally, I’ve known real poverty in my younger days when I was trying to raise a very young family. I remember when the mortgage rate went through the roof and we had no money for food shopping.” “Those dreadful memories have never left me so if there are others in the same position today, it’s really important that we do what we can to support those families, together, as a community. My wish for the forthcoming year is that local people really start to get out and enjoy life again after the dreadful effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.” “We all had a miserable time of it and I hope that’s coming to an end now. I am honoured beyond words at becoming Mayor in my 40th year of living in the Borough and I’m really looking forward to meeting lots of local residents and sharing in their special events.” n John Briggs
Mayor of North Lincolnshire, 2022/23
A resident of Crowle for over 38 years, this is the second time John has served as the Mayor of North Lincolnshire. John worked in construction and marketing, joining North Lincolnshire Council in 1999, having already served on Crowle’s Parish Council. “I wanted to make a difference and show that the area has so much going for it,” he says. “We’ve a population of about 170,000 people, across not just larger towns like Scunthorpe, Brigg, Bottesford, Kirton, Crowle & Epworth, but over 80 parishes councils.” “I was sworn in as the authority’s 26th Mayor in May and I’m already making the most of the role, getting out and meeting as many people as possible.” “Representing North Lincolnshire is great because we’ve got the land, the labour, the qualified workforce, road and rail connections and the opportunities to ensure the area is a real success.” “Having served as the Chairman of Humberside Fire Authority, it’s little wonder that I’m supporting The Fire Fighters Charity this year, alongside Starlight Arts and Magic Moments. They are three really good charities which work hard to make sure our community is stronger and better together!” n
Linda Edwards-Shea
Mayor of Sleaford, 2022/23
It’s a busy time for Sleaford Mayor Linda Edwards-Shea. Following our interview, Linda was preparing to meet the visiting delegates from Sleaford’s twin towns of Marquette-lez-Lille in France and Fredersdorf-Vogelsdorf in Germany. The visit also coincided with the return of The Heckington Show, a few miles down the road, and so the visitors were preparing to enjoy the UK’s largest village show and all of the main ring events, celebration of livestock and other local attractions.
Then, on 3rd September, the town will host the National Town Crier Championships hosted by the town’s own John Griffiths, and later in the month, Sleaford will host its Town Awards, which aims to celebrate the unsung heroes of the community. “I’ve been really lucky to have lived in the town since being a youngster,” say Linda. “My father was in the RAF so we moved to Cranwell when I was just nine years old.” Linda’s “I really didn’t want to leave the town but I had to pursue a degree in physics where I met my husband Paul who was also studying in Coventry.” As Mayor of Sleaford, Linda is supporting the RAFA which supports current and former RAF service personnel and their families, and Edan Lincs, providing support and help to those suffering, or fleeing from domestic Local Charities “The river Slea runs right through the town and provides some really lovely walks, and everywhere you go in the town there are trees and lots of greenery.” “Between the visit from of our international friends and recruiting a new town clerk, who serves as the council’s Chief Executive Officer, we’re also trying to get as many civic events in the diary to “I’ve worked around the country for companies like British Aerospace in Hatfield and for GEC in Wembley, but I always wanted to return to Sleaford and happily we did so in 2016.” abuse. “Both Paul and I now serve on the Town get out into the community.” Council and we love the small community. We’re climate conscious so we don’t run a car, but everything is within walking distance and there are so many great restaurants in the town, as well as small businesses in a thriving town centre.” “For this year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations we hosted a really successful 1940s day. It attracted around 4,000 people so we’ll be hosting a summer even each year, on a different theme. We’re also planning the return of our Christmas Market which will “In the town centre we have wonderful take place on Sunday 27th November. architecture like Sessions House and the We like to be busy in Sleaford and celebrate courthouse in the Market Place, the town’s the fact that we’ve a great sense of community almshouses and of course St Denys’ Church.” within the town!” n
Councillor Stephen Beasant is Liberal Democrat Councillor for Grimsby’s East Marsh and North East Lincolnshire’s Mayor...
“It’s a challenging and diverse ward, but also a really strong community,” says Stephen Besant, “I’ve lived in the ward for 30 years and have represented it since 2003. I worked for Bird’s Eye in the town until 1988 when I was diagnosed with epilepsy. Fortunately it’s a condition now under control which enabled me to return to University to study for a degree in Politics & Sociology.” “After working in the charity sector supporting an epilepsy charity I worked as Chair of the Children and Young People’s Scrutiny Panel and Cabinet Member with Portfolio Holder for Communities and the Neighbourhoods, I’ve become absolutely invested in helping the whole community to look after itself.”
“I get to meet some really fantastic people, and help to create a closer community which has been especially important during Covid and amid the cost of living crisis. I’ve not turned down an event I’ve been invited to yet, and I’ve come to realise how we all help each other through difficult times.” “I’ve definitely seen the best of our community, and I’ve seen an especially inclusive local community too, with a community garden where people work together to really look after one another. That’s the very best thing about working in local politics!” n
Rosanne Kirk
Mayor of Lincoln, 2022/23
A crossing campaign was all that Rosanne Kirk needed to spark an interest in local democracy. Raised in Coventry, Rosanne studied towards a degree in history and theology at university before working in the civil service where she met husband Darryl. “23 years ago, we were looking to move elsewhere in the country and an article in The Times, recommending the best places around the UK to relocate, reckoned that Lincoln was a really up and coming city.” “They weren’t wrong! We visited and were amazed at how beautiful the Cathedral and the Castle are, and how friendly the city was. The decision to settle here was an easy one!” “In 2009 I was on the governors for St. Hugh’s Catholic Primary school in Birchwood, and noticing the children struggling to cross the road, I began to campaign for a crossing, successfully, to be created.” “I realised I was a born campaigner at heart and stood for election for the Labour Party in 2011 and 2012. I’ve been involved in local government ever since.” “On May 17th I became the 817th May of Lincoln, a role that has been in existence since 1206. The role is non-political, but I chair the city’s council meetings and I’m able to act as an ambassador for the city.” “What I love most about Lincoln is the way that it manages to be a modern and vibrant city, but one that still maintains a respect for its heritage and values its history.” “I’ve chosen Lincoln County Hospital’s Urology Department as my chosen charity, and I’m really looking forward to raising funds and awareness for what they do.” “There’s so much to be proud of in Lincoln, from the Brayford to Uphill Lincoln and the new Cornhill Quarter... I hope to raise the profile of all of these and the rest of the city this year!” n
Rosanne, pictured second from right at the recent Queen’s Baton relay.
What’s On...
STAMFORD THURSDAY 1st SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 4th SEPTEMBER LAND ROVER BURGHLEY HORSE TRIALS 2022
The world’s greatest five-star equestrian event acknowledged globally by leading riders as their ultimate competitive goal. A key event towards the end of the summer social season, Land Rover Burghley attracts fantastic crowds to witness exhilarating equestrian action alongside browsing the world-renowned shopping avenues and enjoying the many other attractions and activities on offer in this truly stunning location. n Four day admission, £92; Sunday £22. Gates 7.30am. Box office 0344 581 4980 or see www.burghley-horse.co.uk
Celebrate Literature in Boston
OVER 30 EVENTS ACROSS ALL GENRES WITH A WEALTH OF LOCAL AUTHORS PLUS WORKSHOPS TO INSPIRE...
BOSTON FRIDAY 16th SEPTEMBER SUNDAY 18th SEPTEMBER BOSTON BOOK FESTIVAL
Over 30 events in Boston covering all genres of literature from crime to fantasy and from romance to historical fiction. Local authors include Rex Sly, Kate High and Revd., Richard Coles. Go along and meet the authors, talk about their work, then write your own best-seller! n Venues include Blackfriars Theatre and Arts Centre, Boston Guildhall, Fydell House and Boston Library. For a full programme of events, see www.bostonbookfest.co.uk.
GRIMSBY FRIDAY 9th SEPTEMBER ADELE: THE JOURNEY SO FAR
Hand-picked by Adele to star in Adele At The BBC, Stacey Lee’s uncannily similar vocal timbre is truly impressive. Coupled with a beautifully relaxed rapport with audiences worldwide, Stacey captures Adele like nobody else. n Tickets £27/adults, Grimsby Auditorium DN31 2BH, 7.30pm. Call 0300 300 0035 or see www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk.
SCUNTHORPE WEDNESDAY 21st SEPTEMBER
AN EVENING WITH SIR GEOFFREY BOYCOTT
Forthright honest views, hilarious anecdotes, and a chance for the audience to ask Sir Geoffrey their own questions. n Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe DN15 6JT. Tickets £29.25, 7.30pm, call 01724 296296 or see www.scunthorpetheatres.co.uk.
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GRANTHAM SATURDAY 10th SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 11th SEPTEMBER FESTIVAL OF THE HORSE AT BELVOIR CASTLE
Back by popular demand for its second year running, an even bigger, more spectacular Festival of the Horse held on the Belvoir Castle Parkland, for a weekend of equestrian entertainment suitable for all the family. The event promises to be more exciting than ever before, with exhilarating entertainment – now hosted across three arenas. Headline displays include liberty acts, dressage and trick riding. Away from the action packed arenas, an impressive selection of shopping stalls alongside a delicious array of food and drink outlets! n Belvoir Castle, NG32 1PE, £25/adults, £12/junior.
Living Dangerously...
THE STORY OF HOW RANULPH FIENNES ACHIEVED HIS REPUTATION AS THE GREATEST LIVING EXPLORER
LINCOLN FRIDAY 30th SEPTEMBER - SUNDAY 2nd OCTOBER LUNA CINEMA AT LINCOLN CASTLE
Get ready for a summer of cinema under the stars as The Luna Cinema returns to Lincoln Castle with an incredible line up of open air film screenings! Spielberg’s West Side Story will be shown on Friday, followed by Grease on Saturday and Pretty Woman on Sunday. Film screenings begin at 7.30pm. Food stalls, deckchairs and sofas available, call for information. Luxe Sofa VIP package (£125) includes sofa, prime position, firepit, snuggly blankets and a bottle of Prosecco! n Tickets from £17.50/adults, £11.50/child, call 01234 456 789 or see lincolncastle.com.
LINCOLN SATURDAY 17th SEPTEMBER LIFE ON THE HOME FRONT
Explore the IBCC and take part in a series of free ‘Home Front’ themed family activities as part of the national Heritage Open Days events across the country. n Free entry, International Bomber Command Centre LN4 2HQ. For more information see www.internationalbcc.co.uk.
SKEGNESS THURSDAY 29th SEPTEMBER
SIR RANULPH FIENNES: LIVING DANGEROUSLY
Named by the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s greatest living explorer,’ Sir Ranulph Fiennes has spent his life in pursuit of extreme adventure in some of the most ambitious private expeditions ever undertaken. Amongst his many recordbreaking achievements, he was the first to reach both Poles, the first to cross the Antarctic and Arctic Ocean. In Living Dangerously, Sir Ranulph offers a personal journey through his life, from his early years to the present day. Both light-hearted and strikingly poignant, the evening will cover Sir Ranulph’s childhood and school misdemeanours, his army life and early expeditions, right through to his current challenge – to become the first person in the world to cross both polar ice caps and climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents. n Embassy Centre, Skegness, PE25 2UG, 7.30pm, tickets from £29.50, call 01754 474100.
Professor Sir Jonathan Van Tam KNIGHTED
Congratulations to Prof Sir Jonathan Van Tam, raised in Boston and still a resident of Lincolnshire. After guiding us through the Covid pandemic, he and his colleagues were recognised in HM The Queen’s New Year Honours with a knighthood, and a recent investiture courtesy of HRH The Duke of Cambridge...
BILL. BILL. KNIGHTHOOD. BILL. Wait… knighthood? Usually the material which drops through your letterbox or inbox is underwhelming to say the least, but Christmas came a little early for Prof Sir Jonathan Van Tam just before Christmas in 2021. That’s when an email confirmed that the academic and healthcare professional was to be knighted for his contribution to the country’s efforts to surmount the challenge of the Covid pandemic. “I received an email with advance notification that I was to be offered a knighthood beforehand. I was shocked, stunned.”
“You’re given 72 hours to formally accept, but the appointment is under embargo so you’re not allowed to tell anybody until it’s officially announced at about 10.30pm on New Year’s Eve, firstly in the London Gazette and then released to the media more generally.” “When the news broke there were a few messages of congratulations that evening, and more really nice messages the day after. I was really grateful!” “A letter follows from the Central Chancery with some paperwork that you have to complete: permission for the media to use your photograph (or not) and confirmation of who your guest will be; and the location and timing of the Investiture ceremony.” Covid had a final irony to unleash, since Sir Jonathan couldn’t make the first ceremony date he was given in May because he was ‘moderately unwell,’ needing to self-isolate.... having caught the virus for the first time!
Fortunately, when a second date of 7th July was offered Sir Jonathan was fighting fit and ready to attend his investiture, this time at Buckingham Palace rather than at Windsor Castle.
“We stayed in London overnight and made sure we were up in good time with a smart morning suit and shiny shoes.” >>
Prof Sir Jonathan Van Tam at the lectern during a Downing Street briefing, and receiving the Freedom of the Borough of Boston in March. Image: Chris Vaughan Photography.
>> “There were about 100 people receiving their awards that day, and I was really lucky that on the day my colleagues Sir Frank Atherton [CMO for Wales], Dame Jenny Harries [Jonathan’s fellow DCMO] and Kevin Fenton CBE [of Public Health England] were receiving their awards too.” “Once in the palace you’re led through to a briefing room and told how the ceremony works, how to use the knighting stool, which knee to use. Right up until the morning you’re still not informed which member of the Royal Family will preside over the ceremony.” “On the day, it was his HRH The Duke of Cambridge. You certainly feel nervous on the day so it’s probably better that you’re not aware until the final hour or so that you’ll be speaking with the future King!” “Once you’re called up and you receive your cue to bow and kneel, the sword comes down and then you’ve a short conversation, the details of which are strictly private. It’s a really intimate ceremony.” “It felt quite surreal, but a real honour, very humbling,” says Jonathan. “It’s an award that’s a reflection on the huge team effort that everyone has made together, recognition for the whole team.”
“It is a fair reflection that as a senior expert you are supported by a phenomenal team in the Private Office and so stand on the shoulders of giants. Although not receiving their awards (MBEs) on the same day as me, I felt really heartened that Marc and Luke –members of the Chief Medical Officer Team – were also to be recognised with awards.”
March saw Prof Sir Jonathan Van Tam step down from his role as Deputy Chief Medical Officer, having been appointed in 2017. He’s returned to his role in Nottingham University, now installed in a leadership role as Faculty Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Medicine & Health Sciences. Sir Jonathan has lectured at the University since 1991, leaving in 1999 to work in the pharmaceutical industry and in the Health Protection Agency but ‘returning home’ in 2007 as a specialist in pandemic influenza and other respiratory viruses, publishing almost 200 academic papers and four textbooks on the subject. Sir Jonathan has also served on SAGE, the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies during the 2009 H1N1 pandemic. All of which meant few people would have the same level of knowledge and experience to guide the country through a future pandemic. It was either horrendous luck on his part, or good fortune on the public’s part that he was seconded from the University to the DCMO role in 2020. “Nobody could have predicted in specific terms where or when such a
pandemic would occur, but influenza would be the most likely outbreak “Covid hasn’t gone away, and won’t be eradicated. Further surges are likely and it’s plausible that we’ll see Covid activity this winter. The good news is that we have a mature Covid vaccine programme with most of the population vaccinated three times and priority given to the vulnerable.” “The JCVI and the government now have indicated a further booster programme for Autumn 2022 and we know that vaccination is very effective in breaking the link between infection and severe illness and hospitalisations.” “It’s not a foregone conclusion that the virus will become weaker with each mutation and it’s still possible that we’ll see a nasty variant, but we’ll never go back to square one when
it comes to dealing with Covid, by any means.”
As for Sir Jonathan there was a transformation from academic to becoming a celebrity of sorts, with each appearance on the Government’s Covid briefings. He became well-known for his translation of data-driven science and clinical evidence into a much more user-friendly format – often making use of a well-honed metaphor – for an anxious population. He also presented evidence that ministers could use to make policy decisions whilst himself remaining politically neutral. “I don’t believe any government anywhere in the world has found the pandemic easy,” Sir Jonathan told Pride in July 2019. “That was never going to be an easy path to take. The government was often faced with the unenviable decision of harming the economy to save lives and some have questioned the decisions the government made with the benefit of hindsight (and of course, hindsight by its very definition isn’t available at the time you have to make those tough decisions).” “Everyone involved from junior civil servants to ministers were incredibly bright, very articulate, genuinely motivated, and really determined. They managed to do some astonishing work under the kind of pressure that many can only imagine.” Today, Sir Jonathan is more recognisable than in his pre-pandemic days, and though he says he’s become used to that, he’s grateful for the fact that when in Lincolnshire he can sometimes go to the pub or the supermarket without being noticed. Sir Jonathan can also enjoy giving his continued support to Boston United, and says he’s looking forward to seeing how Paul Cox’s new squad performs. Hopefully he’ll steer the team to as successful an outcome on the pitch as Sir Jonathan and his colleagues have as we continue to emerge more confidently through Covid-19. n
