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LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
LincolnshirePride
LincolnshirePride THE
NUMBER
ONE
MAGAZINE
A P R I L 2 0 1 5 £3.70
Meet Lincolnshire author Margaret Dickinson...
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes
Meet Author Margaret Dickinson april 2015
The Burton Hunt Ball - Exclusive Images LINCOLNSHIRE’S AIR AMBuLANCE - OPERATION MANNA - fOOD & DRINK AWARDS
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People. I absolutely adore people. Everyone has a story to tell.
ROB davis Editor, PridE magazinEs editor@pridemagazines.co.uk
Take the crew of Lincolnshire’s Air Ambulance for example; every day they’re in the air, saving lives, and yet they remain so modest about their achievements. Take Lincolnshire author Margaret Dickinson, who has just launched her 31st novel. Take world class eventing competitor Mark Todd, who this month tells us what it’s like to compete at the highest level of his sport. Or, take TV’s Hilary Devey, a wonderfully talented businesswoman helping to transform Louth’s Eve & Ranshaw as part of a forthcoming Channel Four documentary. All of the personalities mentioned above are featured in this edition, and I can only hope each story is as fascinating to read as they have been to write. Elsewhere, meet this month’s Wedding Album couple Kate & Graeme, we take a look around a really swish looking eco-house near Louth, and we enjoy Michelinstar quality dining in one of Lincolnshire’s newest and most impressive restaurants.
LincolnshirePride LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
THE
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes
NUMBER
ONE
MAGAZINE
A P R I L 2 0 1 5 £3.70
Meet Author Margaret Dickinson The Burton Hunt Ball - Exclusive Images
LINCOLNSHIRE’S AIR AMBULANCE - OPERATION MANNA - FOOD & DRINK AWARDS
This Month’s Cover: Stoke Rochford Hall, photographed by Robin Brittain recently.
Finally, enjoy our exclusive pictures from the Burton Hunt Ball, to the county’s Select Lincolnshire Food & Drink Awards to Sparkledust’s annual Valentine’s Ball near Boston.
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LincolnshirePride LINCOLNSHIRE AND NEWARK
LincolnshirePride
THE
Meet Lincolnshire author Margaret Dickinson...
The Lifestyle Magazine for High Quality Homes
NUMBER
ONE
MAGAZINE
A P R I L 2 0 1 5 £3.70
Meet Author Margaret Dickinson APRIL 2015
The Burton Hunt Ball - Exclusive Images
LINCOLNSHIRE’S AIR AMBULANCE - OPERATION MANNA - FOOD & DRINK AWARDS
With best wishes from the Lincolnshire Pride team Managing Director and Publisher: Julian Wilkinson. General Manager: Ian Bagley. Executive Editor: Rob Davis. Graphic Designer and Customer Care: Mandy Bray. IT: Joe Proctor. Accounts Manager: Sue Bannister. Sales Managers: Zoie Wilkinson, Jayne Broughton. Sales Executives: Liz King, Roberta Hall, Abigail Colley, Carissa Clay, Emily Brown, Sami Millard, Lauren Chambers, Emma Barrett, Hayley Scott, Emily Maplethorpe and Amy Whiley. Distribution Manager: Paul Dixon.
www.facebook.com/lincolnshirepride Why not follow us on Facebook? You can keep up to date with any news we may have for our lovely magazine!
twitter.com/@LincsPrideMag Follow us on Twitter so you can read our tweets. We’ll let you know what’s going on and keep you well informed! By supplying editorial or adverts to Lincolnshire Pride you accept in full the terms and conditions which can be found online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk. In the event of an advert or editorial being published incorrectly, where Pride Magazines Ltd admits fault, we will include an advert of equivalent size, or equivalent sized editorial, free of charge to be used in a future edition, at our discretion. This gesture is accepted as full compensation for the error(s) with no refunds available.
Enjoy Lincolnshire Pride, read it cover to cover. Pick it up, put it down and when you have finished with it pass it on. When everyone has had a good read, pop it in the recycle bin!
Pride Magazines Elm Grange Studios East Heckington, Boston Lincolnshire PE20 3QF Tel: 01529 469977 fax: 01529 469978
www.pridemagazines.co.uk enquiries@pridemagazines.co.uk
The Event: This month we’ve enjoyed photographing at The Burton Hunt Ball and Boston’s Sparkledust Valentine’s Day Ball.
Contents
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April 2015
A round-up of NEws and events on our whaT’s ON pages, with information from around the whole county. What else is happening in LiNcOLNshirE this month? We explore Hidden England, meet UB40 and we’ve ideas for Easter. We talk to margarET dickiNsON, local author of no fewer than 31 regional sagas featuring Lincolnshire towns. Our hisTOry pages recognise Lincolnshire’s contribution to Operation Manna, the world’s first humanitarian air drop. Our fOOd aNd driNk pages feature Michelin-quality food in North Lincolnshire and recipes with local ingredients. This month’s hOmEs section features a stunning contemporary eco-home - a property between Louth and Skegness. Meet Mark Todd, one of the UK’s best evening competitors, appearing at this month’s BELTON hOrsE TriaLs. Find out how hiLary dEvEy from BBC2’s Dragon’s Den, is making her mark on Louth retailer Eve & Ranshaw.
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County News Lincolnshire is home to the UK’s best looking farmer... george grant, 20, from market rasen named by Farmer’s Weekly following nationwide search which attracted 300 competitors and 15,000 votes Market Rasen is officially home to the best looking farmer in the UK. Weekly trade magazine Farmer’s Weekly asked readers to nominate the best looking farmers then asked them to vote for their favourite in the Britain’s Sexiest Farmer 2015 competition. George is known as ‘Granty’ to his friends and was awarded the joint title with East Riding of Yorkshire farmer Lizi Clubley. George is 20 and works with his dad, predominantly farming sugar beet, after spending three years studying at Lincoln’s Riseholme College.
Lottery syndicate enjoy £1m windfall in spalding...
red arrows display team unveil new Union flag design on jets...
spalding factory workers at Bakkavor are celebrating a £1m windfall following a win for their syndicate on the EuroMillions lottery.
tailfins on the Lincolnshire-based team’s Hawk fast jet aircraft have received the fresh look, designed to reflect British excellence
The 13 colleagues will each nearly £77,000 after purchasing a ticket at the Co-Op’s Springfields filling station. Syndicate member Karen Taylor said she checked the numbers online and couldn’t believe her eyes, waiting an agonising six hours before Camelot confirmed their win. “You’ve never seen a group of more ecstatic people!” said syndicate member Mark Waters.
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The farmer was nominated by girlfriend Lucy Johnson who said: “He’s oblivious to it. People come up to him on nights out and he doesn’t realise that they’re trying to chat him up, it’s funny.” “Farming is different every single day. Even when you’re doing the same job, something about it will be different.” George says he cannot see himself working in any other industry and adds: “I couldn’t sit in an office. I like to see what’s going on outside and I like the changes throughout the year, the variety of seasonal work.”
Lincolnshire Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team, the Red Arrows, has revealed a new Union flag-inspired design on its world-famous jets. The makeover will be seen by millions of people every year, when the Red Arrows display both at home and overseas. Squadron Leader David Montenegro, who will lead the team as Red One for the first time in 2015, said: “The new tailfin perfectly illustrates the spirit of the Red Arrows, representing the UK, our engineering excellence and the continuing capability of the RAF to secure our skies.” Last year, the Red Arrows celebrated their 50th season, performing more than 80 displays in 10 countries.
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send your press releases and county news to: Editor via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.
Lincoln’s tank heritage celebrated with memorial and project... £15,000 labour donation will see a £75,000 memorial created, whilst research project gains £98,000 of Heritage Lottery Funding
Lincoln businesses can sponsor a baron as part of magna Carta celebrations Lincoln businesses are being offered a unique opportunity to get themselves noticed by thousands of tourists and shoppers, by signing-up to be part of Lincoln’s Magna Carta 800th Anniversary celebrations. The city’s business improvement group has teamed-up with Wild in Art to devise the quirky sculpture trail, which will also take place in Salisbury, Lincoln’s sister Magna Carta city. Lincoln’s will feature at least 15 individually-
Lincoln’s 150 year industrial heritage will be recognised this month as Lincoln’s Willmott Dixon donates £15,000 worth of labour to help install a memorial celebrating the 100th anniversary of engineering firm William Foster & Co, who created the first ever tank in the town. The company will work with Lincoln’s Rilmac who will create the material to manufacture the memorial, which will be situated on the city’s Tritton Road roundabout. Chancellor George Osborne also pledged an additional £15,000 of funding for the project, due to be completed next month. The memorial project will coincide with the Lincolnshire Archives’s Rushton & Hornsby project, which has just received £98,000 of Heritage Lottery Fund cash.
Professor David Sleight from the University of Lincoln and Dr Mike Rogers are working on the project, which will catalogue and archive 150,000 photographic negatives and 150 reels of cine film about the engineering firm.
designed Baron sculptures, to be sited at various locations around the city centre. The aim is to have the Barons’ Charter Trail in place, ready for unveiling as part of the city’s Great Magna Carta Weekend on 13th and 14th June, remaining on display in our streets and public spaces, attracting visitors until mid-September. Businesses are encouraged to sponsor one of these figures and gain valuable exposure for themselves also helping families in need at the same time. Contact Lincoln BIG’s Matt Corrigan on 01522 545233 for more information.
raise a glass to Bateman’s newest member of staff... Brewery takes on Linda green as retail director to increase its number of managed houses to 20
“Lincolnshire’s engineering heritage is a key part of the county’s story. This project will help protect that legacy, ensuring that these major achievements are not forgotten by future generations.” says David. Once archived, the material which has never been made public before - will be freely available to the public via the county council’s Lincs to the Past website, which can be used for genealogical purposes and other history projects. For more information see www.lincstothepast.com.
Batemans, the county brewery based in Wainfleet, has recruited Linda Green as its new Retail Director. Linda’s appointment comes as the company announces that it’s looking to evolve its estate to increasing the number of managed houses - its own pubs - in the estate to 15 in three years, and then to 20 after five years. The firm is looking for sites in Lincolnshire suitable to offer both food and drink.
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Experience: 37 years in the industry has yielded 50 singles, 18 studio albums, and the sale of no fewer than 70,000,000 records for UB40, who appear at Lincoln’s Engine Shed next month. Tickets for the performance are on sale now.
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- UB40, ExCLUsivE intErviEW -
Proverbially, life begins at 40, but in the case of one of the UK’s most famous pop acts from the 1980s and 1990s, it all happened a little sooner 37 years ago to be exact. That’s when UB40 formed, back in their home town of Birmingham, starting off a career that would see them selling over 70,000,000 records, and creating 18 studio albums, yielding no fewer than 50 singles. Their career has been nothing if not prolific, and still last year their 40-date tour was a sellout, attracting over 100,000 fans. The band’s appeal has never waned, their talent has been consistent and their music has been commercially successful as well as being well-respected artistically. But success has come at a price. The success of the 2015 tour is bound to rankle with UB40’s former lead singer Ali Campbell who brother Robin says has repeatedly attempted to discredit his former bandmates since he walked out on them in 2008. Robin Campbell is a founder member of the group along with their brother Ali, who left the group in 2008, replaced by Duncan Campbell. Since then, Ali’s use of the group’s name has angered his brothers and the family have been pursuing legal action ever since. “We’re trying our damndest to stop Ali referring to himself as UB40. I can’t wait until we get to court to stop him using our name and confusing our fans.” says Robin. With the departure of drummer Terence ‘Astro’ Wilson on 2013 too, it’s an ignominious period in the life of a group which has retained five of its founder members for nearly 40 years, including its two principal songwriters Jimmy Brown and Brian Travers. The story of UB40, and how this group of young friends from Birmingham transcended their working-class origins to become the world’s most successful reggae band is not the stuff of fairytales as might be imagined. The group has led a charmed life in many respects, it’s
true, but it’s been a long haul since the days they’d meet up in the bars and clubs around Moseley, and some of them had to scrape by on less than £8 a week unemployment benefit. The choice was simple; if you’d left school early. You could either work in one of the local factories, like Robin did, or scuffle along aimlessly whilst waiting for something else to happen. “It was a sad suburb of Birmingham, very multi-racial and working class. What used to be called a slum, I guess. That’s where we came from. It was pretty rough but not as bad as it is now. I think it’s demonstrably worse now.”
response - along with Kingston Town and Cherry Oh Baby. They really have a place in people’s memory and you owe it to them to play them. We do occasionally get bored with them but at least we never have to rehearse them!” “Performing to an audience lifts me, there’s no better feeling than an audience of several thousand singing back to you. We played 50 dates last year and usually play to around 2,000 people but we never play to the enormodomes now.” “We’re playing to just as many people but to more venues and smaller audiences. We’re in the Seychelles this month with an audience of around
Life Begins at
FORTY
With over 70,000,000 records sold during the course of their 37 year career, and last year’s 40-date sellout tour attracting an audience of over 100,000, reggae band UB40 are as popular than ever. Founder member robin Campbell is in Lincolnshire next month and talks exclusively to Lincolnshire Pride about his forthcoming performance at the Engine shed, and about the rift which has torn the band apart since 2008... Words: Rob Davis. Images: Duncan Porter. “We all still live around Birmingham, I’m in the countryside, in a village near Meriden... I’m a grandfather now too, but still as busy as I have been during the last 37 years, a constant cycle of recording and touring. We still play the more important hits, it’s what the fans want to hear.” “Its a bit of a juggling act, but it’s about creating a balance between presenting new material and performing the bigger hits - Red Red Wine and Can’t Help Falling in Love get the most vocal
30,000, and it’s nicer playing to smaller, more intimate audiences... we love the intimate shows; seeing the whites of everyone’s eyes is more immediate, cosier, and more refreshing because we haven’t done venues like Lincoln’s Engine Shed for so many years. We like feeling more connected to our audience.” “In 35 years the novelty hasn’t worn off. It’s what we exist for. We tour all year round and literally have to cover as much of the planet as possible before 11
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- UB40, ExCLUsivE intErviEW -
“We did do Top of the Pops - more appearances than any other band in the 1980s actually. The first appearance on the show we were so nervous, like rabbits caught in the headlights...” we go back into the studio to record new material. It’s a most wonderful life... I’m a musician and I get paid well for it. It’s what we all dreamt of doing as kids. We’ve had our dreams come true for a whole lifetime, which is a wonderful gift, and there really aren’t that many people who can claim to have had that.” “Being pop stars is something we always talked about as kids. We were a band that went on the road together, we always wanted to be musicians. Seeing Bob Marley live in 1976 was a catalyst for me. It made me absolutely convinced that was what I wanted to do.” “We saw it as a career so I gave up my job, we were arrogant enough to think that doing so would give us a career straight away. We pictured ourselves on Top of the Pops, but I don’t think we expected the longevity or the amount of success. I was chatting to Paul McCartney about it and he thought that The Beatles would have five years at it. That’s what everyone thinks because that’s what most bands get; five years in the limelight.” “We did do Top of the Pops - more appearances than any other band in the 1980s actually. The first appearance on the show we were like rabbits caught in the headlights. We thought it was where we should be, but we’d been playing for 12
just 18 months, and had just toured with Chrissie Hynde - for whom it had already happened - then, it felt real.” “I think we were convinced that we had something unique to offer by virtue of playing reggae music, and we weren’t just mimicking Jamaican artists. This was something new, something British. We were never a ska band, never twotone, that was a revivalist movement. We wanted to make our own style of music and sing our own lyrics. I think that was the reason for our success; we were faithful to ourselves.” “We brought out a Labour of Love album every seven years. Consciously. We love doing them, they’re the tributes to the idols we had as kids. The record company told us it was commercial suicide. But ot was almost like a sub-brand of the band. We were known as political musicians but we still loved love songs we just weren’t very good at doing them - so we did an album of other peoples.’” “The Jamaican influences came from Earl, our bass player Astro, and Micky Virtue - the keyboard player - who was mixed race. Our percussionist was half Arab, half welsh, and we’re half Scottish. The only fully English one is Jimmy, the drummer!” “If you went to where we grew up, that was the kind of mix you got.
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The Jamaican influence was the fact that we lived in the area we did - we were surrounded by Jamaican pop music, it was all we heard on the streets... not even on the radio; that was all Beatles, but on the streets. That’s why there was never any debate about what we’d play when we formed.”
Live in Lincoln
“I’ve come across hostility to white people doing reggae music - from black journalists, maybe - but not from Jamaican artists. We’ve always had fantastic relationships from them and have headlined Sunsplash twice.”
28th april: Blake Hot on the heels of il divo and Collabro is this classical crossover act inspired by the vocals of the three tenors. tickets £20. www.lincolntheatreroyal.co.uk
The band’s 2015 tour will span spring and summer, it’s 22 dates at the moment but that could reach 50 dates according to demand. Robin is looking forward to appearing in Lincoln next month, performing a mix of the band’s newer material and old favourites, and despite the schism that exists in the family, he’s looking forward to providing the band’s audiences with the entertainment they’ve come to expect. “A UB40 show always tries to be an entertaining mix. We’ll always play tracks from the latest albums because we don’t want to be a cabaret band. We’ll always try to stay fresh, but we’ll play the tracks we’re expected to play. It’ll be a dancing, singing party, that’s always what it is.”
UB40 is one of a number of live events taking place in Lincoln this spring from classical to blues and soul music...
1st May: Blues Mother soul sister a sell-out show straight from ronnie scotts to Lincoln’s theatre royal, with the vocals of Etta James, nina simone and many others. tickets £18.50. www.lincolntheatreroyal.co.uk 9th May to 17th May: Lincoln Jazz festival venues still to be confirmed, performances across the city. www.visitlincoln.org.uk. 10th May: Ralph McTell English singer/songwriter/guitar artists and ivor novello winner for streets of London, appearing at drill Hall from 8pm. tickets £20. www.drillhall.co.uk.
UB40 will appear at Lincoln’s Engine Shed on Sunday 24th May. Tickets £33/person. See www.ub40.co.uk.
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What’s On
BuCk’s fizz
disCOvER LiNCOLNshiRE
Remember the big hair? Remember Eurovision? Remember Cheryl Baker and bandmate Jay Aston ripping their skirts off ? If so, you’ll also remember what a wonderful night of kitsch entertainment Bucks Fizz will be when they make an appearance at Lincoln’s Theatre Royal on Sunday 4th April from 7.30pm. The foursome perform their greatest hits, including Making Your Mind Up, with tickets from £20.
This month is crucial for Lincolnshire’s top attractions as Lincoln Castle reopens with a new Magna Carta vault and improvements to the castle on 1st April as part of Lincoln Castle Revealed. Other events under the Discover Lincolnshire banner this month include Lincoln Cathedral’s Spark Festival of engineering, with a 50ft timeline of local engineering. The preceding weekend of March 28th and 29th provides free or discounted entry to Lincoln Cathedral, Tattershall Castle and Gainsborough Old Hall, and attractions across the county from Sleaford’s Navigation House to Cranwell’s Aviation Heritage Centre and The Village Church Farm in Skegness. Look out for St George’s Festival at the Castle, too, on April 25th.
www.lincolntheatreroyal.com 01522 519999
i LOvE ThE 1980s & 1990s Top: Discover Lincoln this month as the Cathedral and Castle both celebrate Magna Carta. Above: Bucks Fizz are coming to Lincoln later this month. Above/Right: Vienna Festival Ballet celebrates its 35th anniversary in Grimsby.
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...and if the idea of seeing Buck’s Fizz whets your appetite, late March sees a retro party at Boston’s Poachers Inn on Friday 27th March. The Vigilantes perform covers, themed dress is optional and there’s a hog roast, all for £18/head. www.poachershotel.co.uk, 01205 290310.
www.lincolncastle.com 01522 782040
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- WHat’s on -
LORd ROwaN wiLLiaMs
RussELL waTsON
Former Archbishop of Canterbury from 2002 to 2012, The Rt Rev. Rt Hon. Lord Rowan Williams delivers Lincoln Theological Society’s spring lecture on 7th April from 7pm. Tickets £5 inc refreshments.
Following our exclusive interview with Russell in our last edition, more tickets have been released for an evening with classical crossover artist Russell Watson. Saturday 18th April from 7.30pm at Scunthorpe’s Baths Hall, tickets £40/£45.
www.lincolncathedral.com 01522 561644
viENNa fEsTivaL BaLLET
www.scunthorpetheatres.co.uk 0844 854 2776
Grimsby Auditorium this month hosts the 35th anniversary of The Vienna Festival Ballet on Thursday 23rd April from 7.30pm. Highlights will include the moment when the Swan Queen meets her prince in Act two of Swan Lake, the Dance of the Cygnets, Clara’s journey to a glittering land of snow in The Nutcracker, and the famous Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, where Princess Aurora is introduced to four princes. Tickets £15.90-£31.90.
fiddLER ON ThE ROOf
www.grimsbyauditorium.org.uk 0844 871 3016
www.guildhallartscentre.com 01476 406158
Join the villagers, of Anateuka, led by Tevye, the milkman, as they try to maintain their lifestyle against the advances of Tsarist Russia. The score contains some of the gems of musical theatre including Matchmaker, Sabbath Prayer and of course, If I Were a Rich Man. Grantham Operatic Society performance at Guildhall Arts Centre from 9th -11th April from 7.30pm, tickets £9.
Above: Fiddler on the Roof performed by Grantham Operatic Society. N.B: File Photo. Below: Russell Watson in Scunthorpe this month.
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- HiddEn EngLand -
Hidden
ENGLAND What’s happening at the area’s best stately homes, gardens and attractions this month? We catch up with them and discover the best ways to spend time in Hidden England this april...
Hidden England is a collaboration between Belton House, Belvoir Castle, Burghley House, Doddington Hall (pictured above), Easton Walled Gardens, Grimsthorpe Castle, Lincoln Cathedral and Rockingham Castle aimed at promoting the area to visitors and locals alike.
ORiENTaL CERaMiCs A collection of Oriental ceramics at Burghley House will take centre stage as the stately home opens for a new season. The stately home’s annual exhibition will be Burghley’s world-famous collection of artefacts, many brought to the House during the seventeenth century. Among the exhibits will be a Japanese ceramic of two wrestlers from around 1670-1685, which spent a while as a doorstop within the house - until its true provenance was re-discovered! The house and garden re-opens this month As well as displaying the earliest inventoried Japanese ceramics in the western world, Burghley will also be unveiling a new Garden Shed - not for tools or pots, but for drinks and ice creams, too! The quirky ‘snack spot’ will offer a quick service alternative to the Garden Café beside the Sculpture Garden and the Garden of Surprises and is set to be
unveiled when the House and Gardens re-open on Saturday, 14th March. In addition, Burghley’s South Gardens will be sporting a new look for 2015 when fountains add some extra interest to this normally private garden, which will open from 14th March - 12th April for seasonal displays of spring bulbs. These South Gardens again host a Big Screen with the House as a spectacular backdrop when movies return to Burghley for the Film Festival (29th July - 2nd August) featuring classic movies, Hollywood blockbusters and children’s favourites. For younger visitors, ‘Horrible History’ style children’s guides bring history to life with ‘Beastly Boring Burghley,’ a colourful and comical look at the history of the house, whilst ‘Gruesomely Grubby Gardens’ will provide a similar view of the gardens for the younger visitor. www.burghley.co.uk 01780 752451
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- HiddEn EngLand -
ENJOy sOME
fREsh aiR
iN aPRiL
This month is the perfect opportunity to cast off the cold and enjoy a fresh, hopefully temperate spring, walking and cycling in Hidden England...
Above: Zinnias at Easton Walled Gardens.
gROw yOuR OwN CuT fLOwERs aT EasTON...
ENJOy EvENTiNg aT BELTON hOusE aNd ROCkiNghaM...
Join Easton Walled Garden’s Ursula Cholmeley and florist Alexandra Norman for a mini-masterclass with lots of tips to get the most out of each of your cut flowers, whether you are planning a wedding or just want a posy next to your bed. The event, taking place in the pickery of the garden, near Grantham, on 23rd April from 11am, discusses layout, cultivation, soil, design, a succession of plants for picking and sowing Zinnias for glorious late summer colour. The event costs £15 including garden entry, with a pot of Zinnia seed will be included.
For fans of eventing, look out for the FEI affiliated Belton Horse Trials, taking place at Belton House near Grantham from 17th to 19th April. Featuring showjumping, dressage and cross country on all three days, tickets are £8-£15/adults and £2-£5/children. Meanwhile, the Rockingham International Horse Trials take place at the Castle, near Market Harborough, on 22nd and 24th May. Formerly known as the Brigstock Trials, tickets are £10-£15/car. The event includes one and two star riding plus terrier racing, dog agility and falconry.
www.shopateaston.co.uk, 01476 530063
www.belton-horse.co.uk www.rockinghamcastlehorsetrials.com 01949 829061 / 01536 770240
CRafTs aNd aN EasTER Egg huNT iN hiddEN ENgLaNd...
Right: Grantham’s Belton Horse Trials takes place this month.
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If you’re looking for family entertainment this Easter, look no further than Hidden England’s Doddington Hall and Burghley House. Doddington hosts an Easter Crafts event at the stately home with 35 local craftspeople from 10am-4.30pm, whilst an Easter Egg hunt will take place in the Gardens of Surprise at Burghley House. Both events take place on 5th April. doddingtonhall.com, www.burghley.co.uk 01522 694308 / 01780 752451
n Enjoy Cycling at grimsthorpe Castle this month try the family cycle trail at grimsthorpe Castle, near Bourne. the Hidden England site’s cycle route takes in the estate’s spring bulbs, and there’s cycle hire from £7.50/adults, £5.50/children. take a picnic and enjoy some of the park’s 3,000 acres. 01778 591205, www.grimsthorpe.co.uk n spring walks and sunday Lunch at doddington doddington Hall’s gardens open from 5th april, on Wednesdays, sundays and Bank Holidays. Work up an appetite walking around the walled gardens, then enjoy a vintage tea party or sunday lunch in the estate’s farm shop. 01522 694308, www.doddingtonhall.com n south gardens at Burghley house Enjoy a rare opportunity to walk around the south gardens or Burghley House, open to raise money for the national gardens scheme on 11th/12th april. 01780 752451 www.burghley.co.uk
Finding Out More: For more information on any of the Hidden England attractions, see www.hiddenengland.org.
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Easter in Lincolnshire
From short breaks not too far from here, to craft workshops for families and working farms the children will love, our advertisers want you to have the best Easter break ever...
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- WHat’s on tHis EastEr -
Hall Farm Park, south Kelsey hall farm Park at South Kelsey, is the perfect day out for the whole family. Have fun playing in the outdoor and indoor play areas with the new soft play zone. Zoom down the ‘snow’ slide, play in the giant sand pit or pretend to be a farmer driving along on the toy tractors. Enjoy Barney’s Play Barn at the attraction that the weather can’t spoil. Can you beat Farmer Keith’s lap time on the go kart track or find the Pingles on the magical woodland walk? There’s also crazy golf for children and a magical woodland walk During your visit you may be lucky enough to take a goat for a walk, have a tractor ride with the dancing farmer or bottle
feed lambs... children love newborn animals, and the experience is so memorable and so much fun! Meanwhile, parents can sit and relax in the Pepper Pot Tearoom, awarded highly commended tearoom of the year by Select Lincolnshire and highly commended family friendly venue in the East Midlands food awards. Enjoy homemade and locally produced food in the tearoom or on the patio with spectacular views over open countryside. There’s also a heritage shed for parents, providing a fascinating look at the county’s farming heritage. There’s so much fun to be had at this hidden gem of a park, suitable for the whole family. Birthday parties are a speciality, for full details please ring 01652 678822 and give your children a day to remember! Alternatively, see www.hallfarmpark.co.uk.
Barefoot retreats, thornham still not booked your Easter break or summer holiday yet? Then take a look at Barefoot Retreats, a new luxury holiday lettings company who have some amazing holiday cottages along the beautiful North Norfolk coast; all with the ‘wow’ factor! Offering a laid-back luxury holiday experience, Barefoot offer a unique boutique hotel feel in some fabulous self-catering cottages. All their properties feature luxury white linens, bathrobes and slippers, designed to make you feel at home from the moment you arrive! A luxury hamper with a bottle of fizz will be waiting for you and you’ll also have access to the company’s concierge service.
So if you want to request a private chef to cook for you; book a photoshoot on the beach; book bicycles to be delivered to your cottage; or simply want to book a table at a restaurant, or hire a babysitter during your stay, it will be taken care of. Also, your pampered pooch won’t be forgotten either, as the firm even has dog walkers and dog sitters if you want to venture further afield without your furry friend in tow! The brainchild of Emma Tagg (formerly of The Hoste Arms in Burnham Market) and Helen Millin ex-Marketing and PR Manager, this company is definitely one to follow. With more high quality cottages coming onto their books every day, you’re bound to find something that you like; whether it’s a love nest, or beautiful coastal house overlooking the marsh, you won’t be disappointed... their website is pretty cool, too! Call 01485 512245 or see www.barefootretreats.co.uk. 21
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- WHat’s on tHis EastEr -
Embassy theatre, skegness skegness’s Embassy Theatre has a packed programme of events this season, including the Solid Silver 60s Show now in it’s 30th amazing year with original artists including Billy J Kramer and Chris Farlowe. Hot on the heels of his success in the BBC TV 2014 Strictly Come Dancing contest we welcome Pasha Kovalev in a non-stop action and sparkles packed show looking at Life Through Dance. Good Friday would not be complete with a show from the ever popular Chuckle Brothers and more family fun with Superslam Wrestling and Jamie Allen, the iMagician. Add to the mix return visits from the nation’s favourite rock ‘n’ roll 22
show That’ll Be The Day, the fantastic Essence of Ireland and the spectacle and energy of Totally Tina. Cheryl, Mike and Jay, formerly of Bucks Fizz take the Embassy stage and with a Sunday Tea Dance as one of our regular events, there truly is something in the mix for everyone this Easter. There’s far too much to tell you about here, so please check out our website, where you can find details of all our shows along with our latest special offers, and can also download a copy of our latest What’s On Guide, or contact our friendly Box Office team who will only be too happy to help.
national Centre for Craft & design sleaford’s National Centre for Craft & Design offers a stimulating learning programme to inspire people of all ages, skills and interest levels.
We look forward to welcoming you back soon.
Don’t miss the exciting Children’s activities that NCCD has planned this Easter with craft activities in the Galleries and Café as well as a ‘Discover & Learn’ Easter trail and familyfriendly drop-in activities with Artist in Residence; textile artist Ruth Singer as well as paper, wire and bead crafting workshops for children at various times throughout the holiday.
For more information on theatre’s spring and summer 2015 programme, call the Box Office on 0845 674 0505 or download a guide at www.embassytheatre.co.uk.
The National Centre for Craft & Design is open 7 days a week, 10am – 5pm. Free entry. For more information please visit our website. www.nationalcraftanddesign.org.uk
Portland towing Centre Portland Towing Centre has been trading for 33 years and specialises in the installation of towing systems on all vehicles with new and used trailer sales, a trailer hire service for your summer holidays and a servicing workshop. We are the main dealers for Brenderup, and have a large well stocked shop that, as well as trailer and towing spares, offers the latest in leisure transporting equipment. We are a Thule partner and offer all of their high quality cycle carriers, roof boxes and leisure solutions at the most competitive prices. For more information, please visit our comprehensive website at www.portland-towing.co.uk.
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Rand Farm Park, Wragby Rand Farm Park opened their doors in February 1996 and has expanded year on year to become one of Lincolnshire’s main tourist attractions. Open seven days a week, it’s the attraction that the weather can’t spoil with lots of new attractions opening this spring and summer. Visitors are encouraged to hold, feed touch and cuddle lots of different farm animals and pets with bottle feeding activities taking place all year round. There are both indoor and outdoor play areas, with trampolines, pedal go-karts, electric quads and a tractor ride around the fields as well as Archery and Water Wars in the
warmer months, there is plenty to entertain all family members whatever the weather. Rand Farm Park is situated on the A158, 8 miles East of Lincoln and is open every day from 10am (except Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day). Further investment at Rand Farm Park and expansion is underway for this, their 20th year with the addition of a challenging Assault Course and Kangaroo Bouncers in time for Easter and then a further ‘one-of it’s kind’ Sky Rider being available for the summer. With bottle feeding baby lambs and a visit from their very own Rufus Rabbit, this Easter promises to be a good time for a visit to Wragby’s Rand Farm Park. For more information call 01673 858904 or see www.randfarmpark.com. 23
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- margarEt diCKinson -
Everyone needs a healthy dose of romance in their lives, and Margaret Dickinson is a virtuoso of the romantic regional saga genre, having published 31 novels during her career, so far. This month, Margaret is touring the county promoting her new novel, set in Grimsby, during and towards the end of the second world war. It’s her 22nd book with current publisher Pan Macmillan, but there’s another cause to celebrate this month as the firm also republishes some of Margaret’s earliest ‘forgotten’ works from her previous publisher, Robert Hale. For fans of Margaret - and there are thousands - it’s an exciting time. Born in Gainsborough and raised in Beckingham, Margaret moved to the Lincolnshire coast at the age of seven and has lived there ever since, marrying husband Dennis in 1964. “I enjoyed English at school and I always knew I wanted to be a writer. At school I’d have to read the classics Brontë, Austen - and of those I think Pride & Prejudice was always my favourite - it had everything; romance, humour, a strong story...” For pleasure, Margaret would read novels by Catherine Cookson or Victoria Holt, unaware that she was actually putting in the ground work getting to know her own genre. Margaret left Skegness Grammar School after taking A-Levels and enrolled in secretarial college, working in the Education Office at Skegness before leaving in 1970 to have the first of two daughters. She had been writing since the age of 14 and was first published professionally twelve years later. “I wrote nine novels published by Robert Hale between 1968 and 1984. These were a mixture of light, historical romance, an action suspense novel and a thriller. The first novels were much slimmer, 55,00060,000 words, and lighter in content, quite different from my later work. But it’s great that they have now been reissued under Pan Macmillan’s Bello imprint.” 28
Having flirted with different genres, Margaret settled happily into writing romantic saga fiction. Margaret’s current novels are 115,000120,000 words in length, and the author begins in October, writing throughout the winter, spring and summer to meet an August deadline. Thereafter, the publishers begin the editing process with just a few tweaks to the narrative, then, once complete, Margaret begins the writing process all over again.
Margaret’s novels usually take Lincolnshire as their inspiration, but often place names are changed. The Fleethaven trilogy published in the mid-1990s was inspired by Gibraltar Point; The Fisher Lass by Grimsby; The River Folk by Gainsborough and The Tulip Girl by the fields which surround Spalding, for example. “Once I’ve the inspiration for a story, I sometimes complete a little research but I have few notes. Some authors I know
Paperback Writer...
Margaret
DICKINSON With a total of 31 books to her name, Lincolnshire’s Margaret dickinson is certainly prolific, taking inspiration from right across Lincolnshire. Her new novel is set in the fishing communities of grimsby during and at the end of the war, and tells the story of families separated by the conflict... Words: Rob Davis. Image: Dennis Muggeson. “I don’t travel around deliberately seeking a subject for the next book.” says Margaret. “But I will follow up on a flash of inspiration I have with some research or a trip to a place I think the novel may be set.” “For instance, Dennis and I visited the Crich Tramway Museum in Derbyshire and heard how one of their exhibits was damaged in the Sheffield blitz. That became the inspiration for the 2013 novel, The Clippie Girls, where the main character, Peggy, rescues the passengers on her tram with the help of a young soldier and the two fall in love.”
use a précis and gradually expand it into a novel but I just start writing, already having a good idea what the beginning and end will be.” “I think that’s important because it’s not until you ‘meet’ the characters as a writer and begin exploring them that you can incorporate into the novel all of the nuances and twists that gradually play out as you write.” In the early days Margaret used to write her novels in between raising her daughters and completing the admin for the home furnishings business that she and Dennis owned. Gradually though,
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- margarEt diCKinson -
“The story focuses not on the trials and tragedies of war, but on what happened back home with the women who kept the country going....” she began her career as a full time writer. Ditching the typewriter a number of years ago, Margaret now works on a modern iMac computer and begins work at 9am, aiming to write around 2,000 words each day, working mostly chronologically through the novel, but sometimes breaking off to write chapters out of chronological order for which she’s had a particular flash of inspiration. “I’m very lucky that I’ve never suffered from writer’s block. I sometimes get to the end of a scene and wonder how to link it to the next, but walking away then going back later with a clear head usually allows me to solve any problems with making a story flow.” Whilst she has never suffered writer’s block Margaret has, however, been out of action at the start of 2015 with a dreadful dose of the flu. She’s achieved half of her usual 50,000 word target for this time of year and is redoubling her efforts to create her next story, The Buffer Girls, which will chronicle the lives of Sheffield factory workers polishing cutlery in the Yorkshire steel town. She’s also heavily promoting her current release, Welcome Home, which takes place in Grimsby, during and towards the end of the second world war. Unusually, Margaret has opted for an explicit reference to the fishing town in this novel, as it’s one of the few places in Lincolnshire from which children were evacuated. The story focuses on neighbours Edie Kelsey and Lil Horton 30
who share both the joys and sorrows of a life spent as wives of Grimsby fishermen. Their children, Frank and Irene fall in love and marry at a young age but the declaration of war changes all that, as the jubilant celebrations of VE Day are tempered with the return of evacuee Irene and the shock waves which threaten to undermine Edie and Lil’s friendship forever. “I wanted to write something reflective, something relevant to the 70th anniversary of VE Day,” says Margaret. “The story focuses not on the trials and tragedies of war, but on what happened back home with the women who kept the country going.” The novel is Margaret’s 31st book and each of her titles is still in print. Whilst there may be the odd cover change, she now never changes the titles of her novels. Lincolnshire folk will also recognise some of the landmarks used on her covers such as a cameo of Spilsby’s Gunby Hall used on 2014’s Fairfield Hall. Margaret also visited Ypres last August to conduct some research for another novel already incubating in her mind. Fortunately for her many fans, it seems there are still a few more stories that the author can’t wait to tell! n Welcome Home is Margaret Dickinson’s latest novel. Published by Pan Macmillan, it’s available for £6.99 from all good county bookshops.
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47 years of
writing Margaret has been writing for 47 years and has published 31 books...
Pride of the Courtneys (1968) Brackenbeck (1969) Portrait of Jonathan (1970) the road to Hell (1975) (Under ‘pen name’ Everatt Jackson) abbeyford (1998) (first published 1981 as ‘sarah’) abbeyford inheritance (1998) (first published 1981 as ‘adelina’) abbeyford remembered (1999) (first published 1981 as ‘Carrie’) Lifeboat! (1983) Beloved Enemy (1984) Plough the Furrow (1994) sow the seed (1995) reap the Harvest (1996) the miller’s daughter (1997) Chaff Upon the Wind (1998) the Fisher Lass (1999) the tulip girl (2000) the river Folk (2001) tangled threads (2002) twisted strands (2003) red sky in the morning (2004) Without sin (2005) Pauper’s gold (2006) Wish me Luck (2007) sing as We go (2008) suffragette girl (2009) sons and daughters (2010) Forgive and Forget (2011) Jenny’s War (2012) the Clippie girls (2013) Fairfield Hall (2014) Welcome Home (2015)
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- HistorY -
Bomber Command’s
Mission of Mercy Lincolnshire is home to the very first humanitarian aid drop, Operation Manna, which commemorates its 70th anniversary this month. the dutch people are thanking Lincolnshire’s Bomber Command with a spectacular display of tulips adjacent to the Cathedral. this month we speak to thea Coleman who witnessed the operation first hand... The Raf is currently working with overseas charities to deliver aid in countries like Syria. Today, humanitarian missions are accepted as a vital role for the military, but back in spring 1945 the first such mission took place, with Lincolnshire’s Bomber Command taking the lead. This month, the 70th anniversary of the world’s first airborne humanitarian mission will be commemorated both overseas in Holland and here in Lincolnshire. The Dutch people are providing a display of over 40,000 tulips adjacent to the Cathedral to thank the county’s Bomber Command for their efforts in saving them from starvation.
render the German’s rail network unusable. They were livid and isolated Holland, starving us out.” The failure of Field Marshall Montgomery’s Operation Market Garden - to give allied forces access to Germany’s Ruhr Valley via the Netherlands - angered the Germans greatly, as did the Dutch railway workers’ strike to support the operation.
paint tin, blowing the flame all the time. We would make a weak soup from the sugar beet, which we’d have to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We’d eat stinging nettles too. If we ever had bread it was just one slice a day, and it was poor quality and artificial tasting. We were perpetually hungry.” Of course, due to the Germans wanting to deny the Dutch any propaganda, radios were banned, but over their illicit radio set, news came via the BBC World Service that the British and Germans were in negotiation to provide a relief drop.
“Over an illicit radio set, news came via the BBC World Service that the British were in negotiation to provide a relief drop..”
Someone who witnessed this mission, Operation Manna, first hand was Thea Coleman. Now 81, Thea’s family were born near the Hague, her father joining the Dutch resistance in 1943. A betrayal in the resistance put the family in danger and they had to flee to West Holland in 1943. “We were itinerant for a while, eventually being sent to a children’s home by our parents for our own protection.” says Thea. “At that time nobody could publicly voice their opposition to the Germans. After the Battle of Arnhem in September 1944 the Dutch railway workers were instructed to 34
The Germans’ response was to starve some 3,500,000 Dutch citizens by preventing trains carrying food reaching Western Holland. Their plight was compounded by an extremely severe winter with low temperatures still unprecedented today. Some 20,000 to 25,000 perished, many whilst walking to neighbouring towns and villages in desperate search of food. Over 1,000,000 were officially identified as being in a state of starvation. “Rich and poor alike were starving.” says Thea. “There were no cooking facilities, I can remember cooking boiling water in a
“We weren’t supposed to have a radio because it would have publicised the German regime’s failures. The radio was powered by a dynamo on an upside down bicycle... it was fun but exhausting to operate. We all listened very quietly, very carefully. The Germans were suspicious of the mission but they had to give in and allow the humanitarian flights.” Operation Manna was an audacious plan which, for the first time, would see food dropped from allied planes including those from Wickenby, Scampton and Faldingworth. The operation was launched when Her Majesty Queen Wilhelmina appealed for help to Churchill, King George VI and Roosevelt. Air Commodore Andrew Geddes
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Top: One of the Fiskerton Operation Manna crew with the supporting groundcrew. Above: Messages of thanks from the Dutch people. Right: Aid drops were highly anticipated by the desperate, starving population.
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- history -
was enlisted to negotiate a truce with the Germans, facilitating the operation. On 28th and 29th April 1945, the Germans agreed not to interfere with the missions if the allied forces could demonstrate - by flying low to the ground and flying with their bomb bay doors open - their humanitarian intent. A test flight took place on 29th April, assisted by the Canadians, Australians, New Zealanders and the Polish with the RAF’s Bad Penny Avro Lancaster flying 50ft above the ground, nervously over German territory, with their forces tracking the flight with their anti-aircraft guns. Incredibly, from 29th April to 8th May, over 5,500 sorties were flown, and 12,000 tonnes of food and other aid was dropped. Operation Manna itself involved over 3,000 sorties, with 3,000 Lancasters flying as low as 400ft, rather than their usual 20,000ft. A subsequent operation by the Americans, known as Chowhound, delivered a further 2,200 missions with an extra 4,000 tonnes of aid being dropped. The relief of the Dutch people was obvious. Though prevented from displaying their own flags and obviously the flags of the Allied forces - they displayed messages of gratitude by writing messages of thanks in the ground or on their rooftops, with whatever materials they could utilise. “It was so emotional, seeing the drops coming over in the distance.” recalls Thea. “We weren’t allowed to fly flags, but there were lots of flat rooftops in the area, so many displayed messages of thanks were shown in that way.” “The drops included powdered egg - which I adored - real meat, sugar, and chocolate, oh boy, chocolate; I was so fond of chocolate. It was distributed by different organisations who gave it out fairly to the whole population of West Holland.” “When the drops came, there was no fighting, no arguments and no hoarding. We all worked together to ensure it was evenly distributed, and we queued for hours at local shops and centres but eventually were able to eat. Farmers tried their best to provide for us - some would try to gift us milk or cream to keep us nourished, but of course, everybody was starving, so many people were dying.”
“I was fed by a teaspoon for three weeks, only able to take small amounts. The country took a year to recover from such starvation, and the summer months which followed weren’t much better - except in terms of the climate. There were so few seeds available for farmers to plant that it was difficult to grow crops. Still, there was an incredible sense of optimism though.” Thea married her RAF sweetheart in the 1960s and moved to Lincolnshire, teaching in the county from 1970 to 1994. “I’ve mellowed tremendously towards the Germans - I had to when my husband was posted to Germany. My opinion is that not all Germans at the time were fanatical. Refusal to do what the regime required incurred real danger. Without Britain we wouldn’t have survived though.” she says. “I’m so glad and so proud to be a British citizen, but having moved away I still feel very homesick for Lincolnshire!” Back in September, a contingent of over 150 attended the planting, co-hosted by Lord Lieutenant Tony Worth. The event was attended by RAF personnel, veterans such as Lincoln’s Leonard Dorricott who flew several Operation Manna sorties, local children from schools including Lincoln Minster and representatives of the Dutch government including Dutch Ambassador Laetitia van den Assam, as well as four Manna recipients including Thea. Thea will return this month for the unveiling of the Lincoln Cathedral display which is being organised by the LBCM Trust. She will also get the opportunity to meet Phil Bonner and Dave Harrigan from Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) who have commissioned a short film interviewing RAF Veterans who took part in the Operation, including Len Dorricott as well as Thea herself. The film will be launched before the unveiling of the display and will eventually be made available on the website www.aviationheritagelincolnshire.com. The rest of us can enjoy a moment of remembrance with the floral display in the grounds of the Cathedral which, whilst superficially pretty, also indicate the deep and lasting gratitude that the Dutch people still feel towards Lincolnshire’s Bomber Command; those who brought them not just food, but also, hope.
“Later this month, Lincoln Cathedral’s East Lawn will come alive with a mosaic of 40,000 tulips and hyacinths, donated by the Dutch people to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Operation Manna...”
Opposite: Loading aid into a Lancaster in Lincoln. Reunion; a member of the Dutch Royal Family with Air Commander Andrew Geddes at a reunion event. Above: Thea Coleman, now 81, pictured with her daughter. Thea will return to Lincolnshire as Pride goes to press for the unveiling of a new film featuring the recipients of aid from Operation Manna and those who flew its missions.
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to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
The Burton Hunt Ball at Lincolnshire Showground’s Epic Centre
subscribers of The Burton hunt recently attended the group’s annual end of season ball at Lincoln’s EPIC Centre on the county’s showground. A three course meal of trout & smoked salmon then roast chump of lamb and an assiette of desserts followed a champagne reception. After supper, The Baltic Donkeys and DJ Matt Johnson provided music, whilst a few pennies were spend on a charity casino with prizes. The Burton Hunt is one of the oldest packs of hounds in the country, whose territory formerly included The Blankney, too, before it was split in 1871. The current joint masters of the group are John Lockwood, William Cracroft-Eley and Tony Morris. Over 400 subscribers attended the masked ball; for more information on the hunt see www.burtonhunt.co.uk.
Feature your event in our magazine. 38
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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to view and purchase photographs from the Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
Feature your event in our magazine. 40
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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Main: Our starter of chicken liver parfait with forced Yorkshire rhubarb, rhubarb sorbet and rhubarb jelly.
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- Food -
The North
STAR
For Michelin star-standard dining, a chef with an incredible Cv and a beautiful dining environment, look north. Newcastle-born chef ian matfin arrived in the county last year via Claridges, gordon ramsay’s aubergine and Le manoir aux Quat’saison to bring high quality dining to North Lincolnshire... i’ve a particular affinity for people from the North East. My dear wife and I met in the region and I’ve always found Geordies, Mackems and the pitt-yakkers of County Durham to be even-tempered, warm and above all, extremely hospitable... all character traits that are particularly well-suited to a career in hospitality, too. When Lord Charles Pelham, The Earl of Yarborough, and Lady Anna-Karin, came to appoint a chef patron for their newly renovated restaurant they, too, appreciated the geographical provenance of Ian Matfin, not to mention his pedigree working among the UK’s best chefs.
Words: Rob Davis.
Not only is Ian a characteristically friendly and hospitable chap, his CV also boasts spells establishing Newcastle’s first Michelinstarred restaurant - 21 Queen Street - in 1990, before beginning a two-year stint at Claridges, leaving in 1994 to pursue a three year period of employment alongside 43
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Left: The New Inn has a formal restaurant and a more casual bar in which to dine. Below: Dry aged sirloin with braised cheek, celeriac purée, celeriac remoulade glazed onions, pancetta and Madeira sauce.
“I hope I’ve inherited Gordon Ramsay’s talent, if not his temperament. Working with Blanc was incredible. He was my culinary idol, it was a really special time and I learned a great deal at Le Manoir.”
Despite its name The New Inn is, in fact, 240 years old and Grade II listed. It was a wet pub when it closed in January 2013, but Ian’s arrival meant that upon its re-opening it could provide food of unprecedented quality anywhere across North East Lincolnshire, rivalling the likes of Scunthorpe’s Winteringham Fields and Beverley’s Pipe & Glass - which has retained its star for five years. The following is opinion, rather than fact, but here goes; Michelin star dining doesn’t guarantee an enjoyable meal. It provides bragging rights but also sets a standard, as well as underwriting the level of technical skills a restaurant’s chefs possess.
Below: Langoustine cannelloni with braised fennel and sauce vierge.
Gordon Ramsay - just before his meteoric rise to celebrity as the original hot-tempered chef. In 1996, Ian then enjoyed working with his idol, Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’saison before leaving for Michael Caines’s Gidleigh Park and later their Abode hotel venture. As career histories go, it’s pretty impressive. But in 2013, Ian moved to Lincolnshire with wife Lisa to head-up the Yarborough Estate’s newly refurbished New Inn... and Ramsay & Blanc’s loss is definitely our county’s gain. “I hope I’ve inherited Gordon Ramsay’s talent, but not his temperament!” says Ian. “You need an edge to push boundaries, and that’s certainly what he did. At that time he was relatively unknown, so to be working with him, just as the whole world gradually discovered who he was, was a real privilege.” “Working with Blanc was incredible. He was my culinary idol, it was a really special time and I learned a great deal at Le Manoir.”
In this respect then, The New Inn is in an enviable position. Ian says he wants to provide “accessible excellence,” in other words, the quality of cuisine you’d expect from Le Manoir or a Michelin-starred establishment (the technical sophistication) but with a welcome such as you’d expect from a local, friendly pub restaurant. In that respect, it’s VERY much worthy of our recommendation, with daytime dining via a ridiculously good value table d’hôte menu offering two or three courses for £15 or £18, and a choice of three starters, main courses and desserts each. A bar menu provides further options for casual dining, too. During evening service, there’s a 5/5/5 à la carte menu, and with starters at around £6 and main courses for around the £17 mark. These prices are not unreasonable given Ian’s pedigree. Two or three additional options, e.g.: Chateaubriand and sharing boards, are available via a blackboard of supplier-led daily-changing specials. Speaking of suppliers, the Yarboroughs’ 28,000 acre Brocklesby Estate’s walled
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Dessert: Coconut panna cotta with caramelised pineapple and pineapple sorbet.
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- Food -
“Ian’s background ensures the very highest level of talent, making a multi Michelin-starred level of dining accessible right here in the county...” private dining room or in the bar area. Those enjoying evening à la carte service can expect amuse bouche before their meal, plus home made bread, ice creams & sorbets and sauces. Meanwhile, the new season means a fresh influx of the best ingredients from the estate with spring lamb a particular highlight at The New Inn this month. “We wanted to provide food prepared to the same technical standard, making the most of the estate’s ingredients, but with a more relaxed environment.” says Ian. “We’ve an excellent working relationship with Lord and Lady Yarborough, with whom we’re in partnership. They wanted partners rather than just sitting tenants to ensure the restaurant had a sense of continuity in terms of its management.”
gardens supplies The New Inn with vegetables, salads and its soft fruits in the summer months, whilst game is shot on the estate and fish comes from an independent supplier just down the road. Just about the only concession to local ingredients is the meat, currently sourced from Ian’s preferred supplier in Yorkshire. Diners have a choice of eating in the New Inn’s 40 cover main restaurant, its 18 cover 46
“Likewise we feel really lucky to be able to have the opportunity to create a place of our own and take the food in the direction we feel is right - providing the best food in a welcoming pub restaurant environment.” Ian and his team have achieved just that. His background ensures the very highest level of talent, making a multi Michelinstarred level of dining accessible right here in the county. We can highly recommend a visit and we’re quite certain you’ll be impressed as we are!
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Sample Dishes startErs Chicken Liver
£5.50
Chicken liver parfait with textures of rhubarb - jelly, sorbet and purée. scallops
£8.00
Pan friend scallops with butternut squash and coriander. salmon
£6.00
Salmon and smoked Scotch egg, wasabi mayonnaise, cucumber and watercress.
main CoUrsEs Beef
£22.50
Dry aged sirloin of beef with braised cheek, celeriac purée, celeriac remoulade, glazed onions and pancetta with Madeira sauce. Wild sea Bass
£14.50
Lamb
£19.00
Fillet of wild sea bass with Thai purée, stir fry of mangetout, shiitake and beansprouts in white wine sauce. Roast rump of spring lamb, boulangère potato, baby vegetables and mint béarnaise
dEssErts Panna cotta
£5.50
Coconut panna cotta with caramelised pineapple and pineapple sorbet. soufflé
£6.50
Hot blood orange soufflé, chocolate sauce and orange confit sorbet. Cheese option
£7.00
Selection of five British cheeses, homemade crackers and chutney.
Find out more: The New inn, high street, great Limber, grimsby, Lincolnshire dN37 8JL Tel: 01469 569998 www.thenewinngreatlimber.co.uk 47
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- rECiPEs -
SPRING
FORWARD For a three course meal that’s incredibly satisfying, april’s timely provision of spring lamb will complement dijon mustard nicely. We’ve paired our mouthwatering main course with a peppery watercress soup and a delicious rhubarb crumble with créme anglaise... Words: Rob Davis.
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- rECiPEs -
Watercress Soup with Cote Hill Blue Cream For the soup: 2 tbsp butter 1 onion, finely chopped 1 clove garlic, finely chopped 100g floury potatoes, diced 2 tbsp plain (all purpose) flour 150ml dry white wine 750ml vegetable stock salt and freshly ground pepper to season 200g watercress, plus extra to garnish For the cream: 100g cream cheese 100g Cote Hill Blue cheese salt and freshly ground pepper to season 35g chopped walnuts 1 tbsp maple syrup For the crusty bread: 500g strong white bread flour 2tsp salt 7g yeast 3tsp olive oil 300ml water
“Pancetta and croutons can enhance your presentation, but by far the best way to serve the dish is with home made crusty bread...” 52
watercress soup is one of life’s simple culinary pleasures. Renowned among the upper classes in the 17th century, it was believed that watercress, especially in soup form, was good for cleansing the blood. Whilst those medical claims have since been brought to task, it’s true that, when it comes to finding a salad leaf that is truly good for you, you need look no further than watercress. Bursting with vitamins and minerals, this peppery little leaf is one of our natural superfoods, and tastes great in this form too. Shop-brought watercress soup can be anaemic and pallid in colour, but put some effort in and use just a few simple ingredients, and you can create a compelling starter for your dinner party which can, of course, be prepared well in advance of your guests arrival and simply warmed. We’ve paired our soup with Cote Hill Blue. Produced in Market Rasen by Michael and Mary Davenport, it’s soft and creamy, and works well here. To create the soup itself, heat the butter in a pan and cook the onions and garlic until soft but not browned. Add the potatoes, stir in the flour and pour in the wine and stock. Heat whilst stirring and bring to a boil. Season to taste with salt and pepper and simmer gently for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Cool slightly. To create the cream, beat the cream cheese with the Cote Hill Blue and season to taste with salt and pepper. Stir together the walnuts and maple syrup. Drizzle over the cheese mixture. Put the potato mixture into a blender or food processor and blend to a purée. Return to the pan and heat through.
serves Four
Ladle into soup bowls and serve with a dollop of the cheese cream and crusty bread. Garnish with watercress. Fancy trying a few variations? The peppery taste of rocket can really enhance watercress soup, as can freshly picked garden peas. Pancetta and croutons can enhance your presentation, too, but by far the best way to enhance the dish is to create your own crusty bread. Ready-prepared bread mixes do a good job of emulating home-made bread, with none of the preservatives or other additives of mass-produced bread, but creating your own bread from scratch isn’t much more time consuming. Put 500g of strong flour, into a food processor, and add the yeast, then 2tsp of salt on the opposite side of the processor bowl as salt quickly kills yeast. Add 300ml of tepid water, and the olive oil, then process for five minutes. A food processor made by Magimix is the best type to use for making bread. They come with dough blades, their motors are a little more hard-wearing and the machines vary their speed automatically. As the dough comes together it will rattle around, but will save a good deal of manual mixing and kneading. Place the dough on a floured surface and knock it back for five minutes, then cover with cling film and allow to rise for around an hour. Repeat the knocking back process and divide into rolls. Bake for 20 minutes at 220°c/gas seven, tapping the bottom of a roll or two to check for a hollow sound. You can reheat the rolls before serving in a warm oven for around five minutes.
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- rECiPEs -
Carré d’Agneau
with Lincolnshire Lamb with Dijon Mustard
serves Four
For the bacon butter 3 tbsp olive oil 2 shallots, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, very finely chopped 25g, fresh breadcrumbs ¼ tsp dried thyme ½ tsp dried rosemary 2 tbsp finely chopped parsley salt freshly ground pepper 1 egg, lightly beaten 2 tbsp dijon mustard 2x 4-rib racks of lamb, French trimmed, fat scored several times
Lamb is a dish synonymous with spring, but if you’ve never heard the term Carré, you’re not alone.
Properly hung lamb should have a deep red, rather than bright red colour, although very young lamb is paler than older lamb.
It refers to the ‘best end of neck’ when cut with eight bones, or a rack of lamb with six bones. The meat is cut, trimmed and prepared as though it were about to be then cut into chops, but left intact at that stage.
This dish takes a good deal of flavour from its Dijon mustard, which is distinct from other varieties not just by virtue of its Côte-d’Or provenance, but by the addition of white wine which replaced unripened grape skins traditionally used in the recipe in the mid-1800s. Here, it adds a bit of acidity and bite.
To garnish: fresh herbs peppercorns
Our recommended supplier is your local butcher, but if you’re very lucky indeed, you may find that Grantham’s Lavinton Lamb still have some of their wonderful artisan lamb left... if it hasn’t been snapped up by Messrs Roux at the three Michelin-star Waterside Inn at Bray, or the Michelin starred establishments of Sat Bains in Nottingham and Hambleton Hall in Rutland.
“Grantham’s Lavinton Lamb may still have some of their wonderful artisan lamb left... if it hasn’t been snapped up by Messrs Roux at the three Michelin-star Waterside Inn at Bray...”
Lamb dishes can have such an exquisite, sweet flavour, but as with all food, provenance of ingredients is absolutely everything.
Lamb is the meat of an animal under a year old - or under two years of age for hogget; mutton is anything older. The older a lamb, the deeper the colour of the meat, though the time it has been hung for and the breed that it comes from will also make a difference. Lamb doesn’t respond to being hung as well as beef, so don’t expect hanging periods of 28 days. When choosing any cut of lamb, look for firm, fine-grained meat with a velvety texture; it should be moist, rather than dry or slimy. Any fat on the outside of the lamb should be white (there’s a chance that fat which is yellow might be rotten).
Heat the oven to 220°C/gas 7. Next, heat two tablespoons of oil in a frying pan and cook the shallots and garlic for two minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the breadcrumbs, thyme, rosemary, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Stir in the egg and mustard. Put the remaining oil in a roasting tin, add the lamb and turn to coat on all sides. Roast for 10 minutes, turning once so that the lamb browns on both sides. Remove from the oven. Spread the mixture over the fat side of the meat. Return to the oven and cook for 10-20 minutes, until the meat is cooked to your liking. Set aside to rest for 5-10 minutes. Garnish with fresh herbs and peppercorns. Garlic and rosemary are exceptional accompaniments to lamb and will work well in lieu of Dijon mustard. The principals of cooking can be applied if you’re looking to flavour the dish with black olives & coriander, cranberry & port or if you’re really adventurous, cardamom, cumin, coriander and anise, with a little cinnamon.
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- rECiPEs -
Rhubarb Crumble with Créme Anglaise For the filling: 900g rhubarb 110g golden caster sugar 1 rounded teaspoon grated fresh root ginger For the crumble: 110g whole almonds, skin on 75g chilled butter, cut into small dice 175g self-raising flour, sifted 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 tsp ground ginger 110g demerara sugar To serve: custard or pouring cream For the créme Anglaise 150ml whole milk Four egg yolks two vanilla pods 50g caster sugar
“It’s worth investing in nice quality pods rather than cutting corners and merely using vanilla essence. The flavour is more potent and the addition of little black speckles of vanilla are a real treat...” 56
serves Four
Rhubarb is technically a vegetable not a fruit, but it’s nonetheless treated as a fruit because it contributes to some absolutely delicious pudding recipes that are especially sublime in April.
out, then cover with the crumble topping, ensuring it goes right to the edge of the dish.
Growing in two crops, it’s the second of which that provides the very best flavour, and April onwards should see the best examples beginning to appear in your garden.
A nice slow bake for in the centre of your oven at 200°c/gas six for around 40-45 minutes will be sufficient to soften the rhubarb to a gentle texture, whilst leaving the crumble crisp and golden brown in colour.
Because rhubarb wilts quickly, we’d recommend a decent greengrocer or, even better, growing your own and picking your own crop as you use it. The best thing about rhubarb is the need to employ lots and lots of sugar to compensate for its tart flavour, and in our opinion there’s no better accompaniment than a buttery, crumble, loaded with sugar. Wash and trim your rhubarb, and cut the stalks into chunky pieces of a couple of centimetres each. Put them into bowl with some freshly grated ginger root and place them in a baking dish, keeping them to one side whilst you prepare the crumble. A food processor is the best way to blitz your ingredients, with butter, the sifted flour, and spices all able to be whizzed together in one go, until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. The almonds should be added later to ensure there are still a few nice chunky pieces provide a more coarse texture. If you’re working the old fashioned way, chop the almonds first, then add to the butter and flour, and rub-in well with your fingertips before adding the cinnamon, ginger and sugar. Press the rhubarb down into the dish quite roughly to ensure there are no lumps sticking
It’s worth crushing the crumble mixture down into the rhubarb as far as possible to achieve a good compacted texture.
The natural accompaniment of this dessert is custard or clotted cream (shown here), but if you’ve the time to invest some extra effort, créme Anglaise only take about ten minutes. Use 150ml whole milk, and add the seeds of a vanilla pod. It’s worth investing in nice quality pods rather than cutting corners and merely using vanilla essence. The flavour is more potent and the addition of little black speckles of vanilla are a real treat. Bring the milk to a slow boil with the vanilla seeds, including the vanilla pod if you’re especially keen on the flavour. Meanwhile, set up a bain marie and add the yolks of four eggs to 50g caster sugar, whisking constantly over the simmering water. Remove any stray vanilla pods from the milk. Transfer the yolk mixture to a bowl and add the hot milk, whisking constantly to thicken it into the desired texture.
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FABULOUS FOOD
Relaxed Atmosphere, Great Service is what you discover in our bar and restaurant Take a look at our delicious new Spring/Summer and Wine menu – now available.
PRIVATE DINING from 8 – 26
EASTER SUNDAY
Bookings now being taken
SUNDAY LUNCH MENU AVAILABLE
See our website for all our special offers
Riby Rd, Stallingborough
N/E Lincolnshire DN41 8BU.
Tel: 01469 561302
reception@stallingboroughgrange.co.uk
www.stallingboroughgrange.co.uk
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Chef: Steven Bennett is Executive Chef at Grimsby’s Oaklands Hall Hotel.
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- Food & drinK -
if there’s any doubt in your mind as to how important food and drink is to Lincolnshire, here are a few headline facts to whet your appetite. Around a quarter of all the vegetables we consume in the UK are produced in the county, and nearly three quarters of all fish consumed nationally is processed in and around North Lincolnshire. Overall, Lincolnshire’s activities account for just over 10% of all UK agricultural production. It’s a massive industry with the agriculture sector alone worth over £2.5bn, and directly employing 56,000 people. Those figures are higher still, if you also include the food retailing and catering sectors. With the hospitality industry included, the sector is worth £3.4bn in Lincolnshire and employs over 100,000. It’s impossible to understate the industry’s importance, and aside from all of the huge producers in Lincolnshire, there are so many local producers and restauranteurs working hard to champion not just the sheer quantity of food we produce, but its quality too. The food industry is represented by the Lincolnshire forum for Agriculture and Horticulture, otherwise known as Select Lincolnshire, which launched 10 years ago and has since amalgamated the previous initiatives of Invest Lincolnshire, Tastes of Lincolnshire and Select Lincolnshire. It’s also the county council body which holds annual awards to celebrate restaurants, tearooms and food producers it thinks are worthy of recognition in the county. Its 2015 awards took place at Caenby Corner’s last month, co-organised by the Chamber of Commerce. Over 14 award categories there were overall winners and one or two runners-up. Lincolnshire county council’s Executive Member for Economic Development Colin Davie gave out the awards and says: “We’ve had some fantastic
winners this year, proving yet again that Lincolnshire's food and drink is some of the best in the world.” “From the Humber to the Wash, traditional skills of farming and food production have been nurtured and handed down through the generations to create a rich and diverse food heritage. Celebrating Lincolnshire’s tradition of producing quality food and drink is really important to us.” Over 200 people and 40 businesses attended the event and the awards ceremony featured two guests speakers,
winners and the highly commended businesses too.” “There is no doubt that what we have in Lincolnshire is the very best of the UK’s food and farming industry, and it continues to grow, going from strength to strength every year.” “Winning such a prestigious county award is a great achievement. I would like to thank all the businesses for the valued contribution they make to Lincolnshire’s renowned food, drink and hospitality industry.”
Selecting Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire has always enjoyed its reputation as the county that feeds the country, and its food and farming industries are inextricably linked to this prominence in the UK. its select Lincolnshire organisation champions local restaurants and food producers to the public within the county as well, and holds its annual food awards each year. this month, we meet 2015’s winning restauranteurs and food producers... Words: Rob Davis. Lincolnshire chef Rachel Green, and the county council’s Tourism Development Manager Mary Powell. Mary spoke about the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta and its potential for tourism this year. She announced each winner and Colin presented the awards, included the People’s Choice award, which was this year won by Mountains - Boston Sausage - from a total of 1,600 votes. Select Lincolnshire’s Gillian Richardson said: “We’d like to congratulate all the
Over the page this month, we’ll reveal the winners of each of the 14 categories, which included tearooms pubs and restaurants, farmers, wholesalers and food producers, as well as hotels and bed & breakfast venues too. “My congratulations go to the winners, and Select Lincolnshire will continue to do all it can to spread the word about all the county has to offer.” adds Colin. Over the page: We meet the winners of 2015’s Select Lincolnshire awards...
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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
Feature your event in our magazine. 62
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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To view and purchase photographs from The Event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
Purchase photographs from this event online. 64
Visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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Select Lincolnshire 2015 Winners...
n Pub of the Year Winner: Seacroft Holiday Estate Bar, Mablethorpe. Highly Commended: The Sebastopol Inn, Minting & Ye Olde Red Lion, Bicker, Boston. n Restaurant of the Year Winner: Harrisons Restaurant, Barton Upon Humber. Highly Commended: Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby & Pink Pig, Scunthorpe. n Tea Rooms of the Year Winner: The Old Stables, Horncastle. Highly Commended: Pepperpot Tea Room, Market Rasen & Uncle Henrys, Gainsborough. n People’s Choice Award Winner: Mountains Boston Sausage, Highly Commended: Angels Desserts, Lincoln & Manor Farm Shop, Swineshead. n Grower of the Year Winner: Strawberry Fields, Stickford. Highly Commended: Ownsworth’s Rapeseed Oil, Manor Farm Shop. n Producer of the Year Winner: Uncle Henrys, Grayingham, Gainsborough. Highly Commended: Ownsworth’s Rapeseed Oil, R J Hirst Butchers. n Retailer of the Year Winner: Manor Farm Shop, Swineshead, Boston. Highly Commended: Pink Pig, Holme, Scunthorpe & R J Hirst Butchers, Woodhall Spa & Uncle Henrys, Grayingham, Gainsborough. n Wholesaler of the Year Winner: Pocklingtons Bakery, Withern, Alford. Highly Commended: Stokes Coffee, Lincoln and Strawberry Fields, Stickford, Boston. n Self-Catering of the Year Winner: Elms farm Cottages, Hubberts Bridge, Boston. Highly Commended: Brackenborough Coach House, Louth & Manor House Stables, Martin. n B&B of the Year Winner: Caxton House, Skegness. Highly Commended: The Grange East Barkwith, Market Rasen & West View B&B Cottages, South Cockerington, Louth. n Hotel of the Year Winner: Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby. Highly Commended: Humber Royal Hotel, Grimsby Supreme Inns, Swineshead. n Venue of the Year Winner: Hemswell Court, Hemswell Cliff, Gainsborough. Highly Commended: Oaklands Hall Hotel, Laceby, Grimsby & Tower Hotel, Lincoln. n Teaching Venue of the Year Winner: Lincoln Minster School. Highly Commended: Manor House Stables, Martin, & Lincolnshire Montessori, Caistor.
Feature your event in our magazine. Call 01529 469977 and speak to our Events Desk...
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A New Home for the Heroes of
lincolnshire
food
For over 12 years, Abbey Parks has been championing the best Lincolnshire food, and this month, the farm shop will benefit from the addition of a butcher’s shop headed up by the team from Boston Sausage, a Lincolnshire Pride Food Hero... Words: Rob Davis.
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- Food -
Lincolnshire’s Abbey Parks is one of the best known names in food across the county. They’re true food heroes when its comes to producing the UK’s finest asparagus, they’ve a wonderful bistro and a great selection of lincolnshire produce in their farm shop. later this month though, Abbey Parks will partner with another of the area’s best names in food - Boston sausage, otherwise known as Mountains.
respected with some delicious products. We hope that when they arrive here, later this month, the convenience of our location on the A17 will ensure plenty more people are able to enjoy their products.” The farm shop’s bistro, established in 2002, will also open on easter sunday for meals, with main courses from £9.95 including rib of beef, belly pork and fish dishes. Meanwhile, Abbey Parks well-respected asparagus will be available from st George’s day, whilst a gelato parlour will also be open in the shop this spring, providing around a dozen flavours of home made ice cream both in cornets and tubs.
“Boston Sausage will open their new shop adjacent to the current farm shop later in April...”
Already based on Boston’s Bridge foot, with another unit in Borough Market in london, the butcher will this month open a shop in a newly built extension on the side of Abbey Parks farm shop, providing sausages and haslet plus other pork, lamb and beef cuts as well as luxury ‘ready meals’ and hampers for delivery anywhere in the UK.
“We’re really excited by the prospect of Boston sausage’s arrival.” says sophie loweth of Abbey Parks. “They’re one of the best names in lincolnshire, very well
With a range of local produce from locally grown veg to lincolnshire cheeses and other delicatessen products, you’ll enjoy quality local and speciality foods, and later this month, the best quality lincolnshire meat too, at one of the county’s finest farm shops.
Find Out More: Abbey Parks Farm Shop provides food, bistro dining and will shortly provide butchery in association with Boston Sausage, which opens a new outlet in the farm shop later this month. Visit Parks Farm, Boston, Lincolnshire PE20 3QG, call 01205 821610 or see www.abbeyparks.co.uk.
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Easter
Sunday
Lunch
at Greetham Valley 5th April 12 noon-3pm
Two /Three Courses
ÂŁ14.95/ÂŁ17.95
Greetham Valley Hotel, Golf & Conference Centre
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Half price for ages 5-11, under 5s eat free, plus: free Easter egg for every child. Booking essential. Greetham, Rutland LE15 7SN
Tel: 01780 460444
www.greethamvalley.co.uk
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NEW LUNCH MENU Bring this advert in with you to receive
20% OFF your lunchtime food bill
The Queen’s Head KIRKBY LA THORPE, SLEAFORD
Excludes Sundays. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offers. Valid for the months of March/April 2015.
TUESDAY NIGHT IN MARCH ARE CURRY NIGHTS Choose from a selection of curries, all served with rice, chips, poppadom’s and mango chutney. ONLY £9.95.
WEDNESDAY NIGHTS IN MARCH ARE STEAK NIGHTS 9oz sirloin steak, cooked to your liking and served with onion rings, chips and garden peas. ONLY £10.95.
WE’LL GIVE THIS SEASON’S FRESHEST INGREDIENTS A SPRING IN THEIR STEP Our new spring menus are now available and with the best ingredients, a cosy dining room and lots of choice, we’re the ideal restaurant to enjoy the best spring ingredients...
ON THE A17 AT SLEAFORD, NG34 9NU Call 01529 305743 | www.thequeensheadinn.com
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- HomES -
Ahead of the
curve If you’re looking for somewhere to accommodate a family party, look no further than this month’s curved ball of a property. It’s a superb looking eco-house between Louth and Skegness which has been created by Andy and Louise dransfield. The Curve is adjacent to the couple’s cutting edge recording studio, which has seen Paul Weller, omd, The Arctic monkeys, Kaiser Chiefs and many others record their biggest selling albums... Words: Rob Davis. 70
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- HomES -
We’re used to seeing stunning homes, but this month’s contemporary eco-house at south Thoresby, between louth and skegness, really is stunning. i wish i could take every single reader for a guided tour, because it has to be seen in person to appreciate the size, the design and the finish of the property... especially at dusk! Andy manages chapel studios, a recording studio adjacent to the property in which many successful recording artistes like The darkness, Kaiser chiefs and Arctic Monkeys have recorded their albums. having been the drummer with various bands from his home town of lincoln, to london, Andy gained experience in sound engineering, setting up a studio in Wragby, and then toured with bands like Ultravox and oMd in the late 70’s. in 1980 the studio moved and chapel studios opened at south Thoresby in 1982, with a second studio following on the site a decade later. recording an album takes a band around a month, so accommodation on site is a must, and Americans in particular demand high quality accommodation. Top: The house has a professional cinema with top of the range integrated equipment and specially designed cinema seating.
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“The Curve concept was designed by Andy and Tealby architect Lee Holmes. Construction began in 2005 and was completed in July 2013...” We had accommodation at the studios but quaint and rural started to look primitive, especially to clients from the Us!” says Andy. so, around the millennium, the couple decided to create an eco-friendly des res adjacent to the studio that even the most discerning rock star would be happy with. The curve concept was designed by Andy in conjunction with Tealby architect lee holmes. construction began in 2005 however the banking crash and the illegal downloading of music which affected record company incomes put paid to that and a dramatic rethink was necessary. “We wanted to provide a modern place to spend time, and discovered that, in fact, the market for a place like The curve - a luxury
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- HomES -
contemporary house we could hire out - was broader than we anticipated.”
at £1,000. That price is for the exclusive private use of The curve on a self-catering basis.
What resulted was a far more appealing development which wasn’t completed until July 2013 and only then with local Angel funding and the invaluable assistance of lAZ (lindsay Action Zone) who helped secure a european rural development Grant for the project.
Arranged over two floors, the property’s specification is impressive to say the least. There’s a lift, biomass underfloor heating, balconies with views over the Wolds and a large outdoor area with hot tub, barbecue and al fresco dining facilities for 24.
“Around half of our business is actually private bookings wanting to host family gatherings and parties at the place. corporate business accounts for another quarter, as it’s a great place to reward staff and hold meetings. The rest of our market comprises of hen parties and the occasional stag party.” The couple accepted their first booking in July 2013 and have had their first complete year. Prices for hire are from £2,450 p/night, or £5,000 p/weekend, with subsequent days 74
Walk through the main entrance and you’ll find four of the bedrooms (there are 11 in total), plus a utility, barbecue kitchen and the main reception rooms. The lounge, with its Kelly hoppen fittings, is located in the middle of the property, with a double height atrium and lots of italian leather sofas. To one side is a games room with, we’re told, a pool table identical to one owned by lewis hamilton. To the other side, is a large cinema with bespoke furnishings and the most impressive integrated
Main: The dining room is located on the first floor of the property, right in the centre. It overlooks the living room’s atrium (bottom right). Top: The property has 11 bedrooms; seven on the first floor, four on the ground floor. It’s disabled accessible with its own lift.
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- HomES -
audio/visual system we’ve ever experienced. A quick demonstration by louise of James Bond film skyfall enabled us to testify to the clarity of both sound and vision. A little snug is used as a video game room, too. The first floor is just as impressive, with seven further bedrooms including the master suite, and a centrally located dining room which overlooks the lounge’s atrium below. Just off this is the first floor kitchen, with its modern bespoke German cabinetry, glossy porcelain floors, four ovens, Us fridge freezer, wine chiller, two dishwashers and balcony. The property’s programmable and coloured lighting really does come into its own at night, with a dazzling array of colours both inside and outdoors, on the house’s cedar cladding and through its full height glazing. “We wanted to create a real party house.” said louise. “The best thing is seeing the expression on prospective clients’ faces as they walk through the door.” “it’s great to see it delivering for people and whilst it’s popular with those from london and from abroad, it’s nice to see that it’s popular with people from lincolnshire too.” “out of the 20 consecutive weekends it was booked last year we’ve already hosted birthday parties, 70th birthday parties, and wedding anniversaries for families who live locally but have friends around the world.”
“Out of the 20 consecutive weekends it was booked last year we already had lots of Lincolnshire people staying here...” “it’s a fantastic party house, and we’re happy to provide guests with outside catering or arrange other activities to ensure the house can deliver beyond its looks to provide a really versatile venue.” ironically, the bands that inspired the property are getting the least use out of The curve. however, with much interest and a spring and summer season that’s already booking up quickly, there’s no shortage of people seeking to take advantage of what is probably lincolnshire’s most versatile and modern looking private accommodation. n The Curve is located at South Thoresby, between Louth and Skegness. The property will sleep 22-24 and is available for hire from £2,450/day, £5,000/weekend and subsequent days charged at £1,000/day. For more information call 01507 480305 or see www.housepartysolutions.co.uk or www.thecurveholidayrental.co.uk 77
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www.mooresestatagents.com/countryandequestrian 25 S 3. RE AC
S E RE G AC NA 7 MÉ &
W NE
HILL FARM, GREETHAM
GUIDE PRICE £850,000
Substantial stone farmhouse with two paddocks totalling seven acres, stable block, tack room, hay store/barn and ménage horse walker. The property has private grounds with walled garden area. The accommodation consists; entrance hall with attractive staircase, large sitting room with open fire, dining room with wood burner, breakfast kitchen with Aga, boot room, cellar. The property provides five/seven bedrooms with two bathrooms. Accommodation is flexible due to first floor rooms currently forming what could be a self contained annexe - currently used for business purposes but has separate access, WC and kitchenette.
THE OLD VICARAGE, MARTIN
GUIDE PRICE £775,000
Recently restored Georgian residence situated within grounds and paddock of approximately 3.25 acres. Enjoying far-reaching views across open countryside over the Lincolnshire Wolds. The Old Vicarage provides well-proportioned and beautifully presented living accommodation whilst incorporating original features. Accommodation comprises; Dining hall, study, cloakroom, sitting room, drawing room, kitchen breakfast room, utilty, pantry, five good sized bedrooms, two of which are en-suite and a family bathroom. On the second floor is a further bedroom plus an attic room.
CAN’T SEE THE RIGHT HOME IN THE RIGHT AREA? We can discreetly approach specific homes / roads & let the owners know that we have interest in their home. We may then be able to introduce buyers to you in the same way. Approxmately 40% of our sales are agreed this way without the need for a board and internet advertising!
For more information about this service please call a member of the Moores Country & Equestrian team on 01572 757979 5 1. ES R AC
THE GRANGE, LANGHAM
OFFERS IN REGION OF £1,000,000
An attractive character property situated centrally to the village with south facing stone walled gardens and a separate two bedroom cottage. There is a large driveway with a courtyard, detached two bedroom stone cottage, triple bay garaging, workshop, six stables and a good sized barn, all of which could be converted into further accommodation STPP. There is a small paddock area to the rear and a further five acres situated just outside of the village which is available to purchase by separate negotiation. The main residents comprises of: sitting room, dining room, farmhouse kitchen, study / snug, large utility / boot room and downstairs cloakroom. To the first floor are three double bedrooms, master with en-suite plus a family bathroom. To the second floor are two further bedrooms.
PADDOCK HOUSE, COLD OVERTON
OFFERS OVER £1,000,000
Substantial six bedroom stone family home with south facing aspects over its own mature private grounds of approx. 1.5 acres. Having well proportioned and laid out accommodation with large entrance hall, drawing room and family/dining room. Recently refitted living kitchen with Aga and French doors to terrace. A self contained area of the house gives a further reception room/ play room with its own back staircase, bedroom and bathroom. The main bedroom has both en-suite and dressing area. A further four double bedrooms, one single bedroom, two shower rooms and an additional bathroom, make this a very practical family home. Separate driveway to stable yard with five brick built loose boxes and a range of outbuildings, stores and tack rooms and garden room.
OAKHAM 36 High Street, Rutland LE15 6AL
UPPINGHAM 2 Orange Street, Rutland LE15 9SQ
STAMFORD 1 Sheep Market, Lincolnshire PE9 2RB
MELTON MOWBRAY 18 Nottingham Street, Melton Mowbray LE13 1NW
GRANTHAM Platform 1, Grantham NG31 6BT
LONDON 40 St James's Place, London SW1A 1NS
01572 757979
01572 821935
01780 433000
01664 491610
01476 855618
0207 8390888
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CURTAINS BLINDS UPHOLSTERY SHUTTERS WALLPAPERS
Newlin Business Park, Exchange Road, Lincoln LN6 3AB. Tel: 01522 531371 www.rogerdavisinteriors.com
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Celebrating a Year for
roGer dAVis
inTeriors A brand new showroom in Lincoln has allowed Richard Telezynski and Adrian davis to show off a range of high quality designer fabrics in the heart of Lincoln... Words: Richard Telezynski.
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“This month marks roger davis interiors first anniversary at our new premises in the newlin Business Park, which is situated at the bottom of exchange road, off doddington road. The catalyst for the move from our former premises on Tentercroft street, which has recently been demolished, was the construction of the new east West link road project.” says richard Telezynski, of lincoln’s roger davis interiors. “We have a wonderful new showroom, open to all and are now able to display our full range of fabrics, wallpapers, tracks and blinds to their best advantage. roger davis interiors are one of the only four Jab ‘shop-in-shop’ locations in the country. in addition to Jab’s excellent range of fabrics, tracks and blinds, their comprehensive range is now augmented with an exciting new range of luxury Vinyl Tile flooring. We were able to exhibit all their ranges during our Jab sponsored open evening, which was well attended and very successful.” “silent Gliss, always a mark of quality, continue to drive forward with new ideas and innovations, and we are now able to show clients their full Project range of fabrics.”
interior design, we are able offer a full interior design service. Katharine is an exciting young designer who has lots of flair, ideas and a great passion for design.” “April heralded a major change in the blind industry regarding child safety regulations. This is a directive championed by the British Blind and shutter Association, of whom we are a member. The absorption of all the new regulations has been undertaken, and roger davis interiors fully endorses the ‘make it safe’ campaign and only supplies and fits fully compliant blinds.”
“We have a wonderful showroom, to display our full range of fabrics, wallpapers, and blinds...”
“our new premises are much more accessible for lincoln and newark with disabled access and good parking. Quality goods backed up with excellent service are our raison d’etre and we take great care to associate ourselves with like-minded suppliers and individuals. our fabric work is hand-sewn and finished with great attention to detail by our time-served curtain makers and upholsterer. Through our association with Katharine, of KAs
Top: The studio has a JAB shop-in-shop display specialising in the latest collections from the premium German home furnishings brand. Above: Silent Gliss’s designer vertical blinds with shaped blades - the new fabric range can only be seen in the East midland at Roger davis Interiors.
“i predict that within a few years operating chains and cord safety devices will be a thing of the past making all blinds inherently child safe. “equally at home with domestic and contract work, roger davis interiors anticipate exciting times in this coming year and look forward to welcoming all customers both old and new.”
Find Out More: Roger davis is based at Newlin Business Park, Exchange Road, Lincoln. Call 01522 531371 for more information or see www.rogerdavisinteriors.com.
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THE ONLY NUMBER YOU WILL NEED 01205 350737 For all your Domestic Appliance Repairs • FIXED LABOUR CHARGES • VERY EXPERIENCED ENGINEERS Repairs to most makes of washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher, cooker, oven, hob, microwave, vacuum cleaner, fridge, freezer, showers, immersion heaters, water softeners and more...
Should your old appliance be uneconomical to repair and you decide to buy from our competitively priced huge range of appliances we reduce our charge to a nominal £10. It is well worth calling us before you decide to buy new DON’T BE FOOLED BY PEOPLE WITH NO ADDRESS AND JUST A MOBILE NUMBER ONLY OFFERING “NO CALL OUT CHARGES” … THEY DON’T REPAIR THINGS FOR FREE, THEY WILL STILL WANT PAYING EVEN THOUGH YOU MIGHT NOT GET A PROPER DETAILED BILL, THEY ARE DIFFICULT TO CONTACT IF THINGS GO WRONG AFTER THEIR 1ST VISIT, WE HEAR STORIES OF BAD SERVICE ALL THE TIME
30 YEARS REPAIRING DOMESTIC APPLIANCES for the people of Boston & surrounding areas
Norfolk Street, Boston PE21 9HG Tel: 01205 350 737 www.bostonelectrics.co.uk Mon - Fri: 8.30am - 5.00pm Saturday: 9.00am - 4.00pm We Deliver • We Install • We Demonstrate • We Take Away Your Old Appliance We also Provide Servicing, Spares and Repairs for your Existing Appliances...
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Unsurpassed Quality, Affordable Craftsmanship Bespoke Kitchens, Bedrooms and Bathrooms - full project management and free quotations
Peter Jackson Cabinet Makers Ltd Devereux Way, Horncastle LN9 6AU
Tel: 01507 527113 W: www.peterjacksoncabinets.co.uk E: info@peterjacksoncabinetmakers.co.uk
Peter_jacksonCM
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Home, Garden, Gifts, Vintage and Retro Finds at Elizabeth & Stevens Elizabeth and Stevens has a unique, stylish and unusual collection of ideas for your home & garden. Our showroom is an emporium of the unexpected. We would love to see you!
The Showrooms, Great North Road, Markham Moor Retford DN22 0QU Telephone: 01636 822000
www.elizabethandstevens.com
Open from Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, with free parking.
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- HomES -
furnishing Your home This month, we’ve a round-up of the best businesses trying to help to furnish your home this spring...
materialistic Interiors, Louth
paint so special. With limited places for these talks, they are ticket-only events - £10 pp, which includes free entry into a fabulous bonus draw to win £100’s worth of items from each company.
Louth’s interiors superstore is celebrating the first anniversary of the move to the new showroom in cannon street.
representatives from major fabric and window blinds companies will be on hand to answer your questions as well as the Team from Materialistic interiors to help you with all your queries about curtains, tracks and fitting. There is also an extensive new range of interior accessories including mirrors, lighting and occasional furniture on show which have been specially selected to add that finishing touch to your home. so why not come along on Wednesday 25th March to see this wonderful store newly-filled with many new ranges exclusive to Materialistic interiors. For further details, call in or visit www.materialisticinteriors.co.uk.
Materialistic interiors moved to the new super-sized showroom just over a year ago and to celebrate are holding an open day on Wednesday 25th March with all proceeds from the day’s events going to louth liVes. There will be a fabulous prize draw raffle running throughout the day; with free Goodie Bags for all customers and special one-day only prices and offers. There will be talks by both the farrow & Ball and little Greene paint companies on the use of colour in the home and what makes their 90
Ali Carrott Furnishings, Boston Ali Carrott Soft Furnishings was established by Alison over 15 years ago and has grown continuously ever since.
bed throws, headboards, in fact anything that is made out of fabric. Ali carrott soft furnishings offer a complete service, design, measuring, fabric supply, make up & fitting.
The firm specialises in bespoke curtains, blinds, swags & tails, pelmets, bed throws, quilted bedspreads, headboards, cushions, pillow shams, voiles, and interlined curtains.
customers are more than welcome to call in and view their extensive collection of fabric books (over 400 at the last count) with ian or Ali at hand to help and guide clients through the entire process of fabric choice and window dressing design.
husband ian joined the company 10 years ago and now works alongside Ali making it a true family business.
Alternatively you can make an appointment with ian and the process can be done in the comfort of your own home.
The work room and the recently converted showroom are based in converted barns outside the village of Bicker in south lincolnshire where Ali and her team produce bespoke curtains, blinds, pelmets swags, and tails as well as cushions,
Alongside the soft furnishings Ali carrott also offers a selection of quilting and patchwork fabrics and hosts a range of classes throughout the year. For further details, call 01775 822155 or see www.alicarrotts.co.uk
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Askew’s Furnishings of Alford Askew’s of Alford - your local family run store for over 20 years. over the years we have added to our family by opening two more shops in Mablethorpe and spilsby just 15 minutes in either direction from Alford. here you will find two floors of quality furniture, sofas, beds and more. The firm also stocks adjustable beds, divans, bed frames, small items such as mirrors, rugs, lamps and more. All of our products are carefully selected to ensure styles to suit most interiors and tastes. We are commuted to finding the best UK manufactures and trusted suppliers that produce furniture that is of a good
quality and excellent value for money. We also specialise in rise & recline chairs & Beds from celebrity and sherborne; two of the biggest names in motion furniture in the UK. They all come with five years guarantee as well as our own personal ‘customer Promise.’ At Askew’s the customer comes first. We are renowned for our friendly, personal service and excellent product knowledge. We pride ourselves on high levels of customer service and our quality products at great value prices. no pushy sales techniques just good honest service - with a smile! We offer fast free delivery throughout lincolnshire and beyond. The Old Methodist Church, West Street Alford, Lincolnshire, LN13 9DU. Tel: 01507 462 936 www.askewsofalford.co.uk.
direct Fabric Warehouse, Scunthorpe What do your dream curtains and blinds look like? The experienced, professional team at dfW curtains are here to help inspire you with creative window solutions to make your home exactly how you imagine. dfW will take all of the hassle out of measuring; making and fitting your new beautiful home furnishings to leave you feeling relaxed accomplished. dfW curtains offer a friendly home-measuring service where you can choose your fabric samples in our stores, book an appointment and our consultants will take care of the rest. it’s hassle free and there is absolutely no-obligation to order. lincolnshire’s leading fabric specialists have had an
increasing demand in their made-to-measure services. With over 5,000 fabrics in stock, dfW are continually expanding their exclusive collections and designs to suit every taste. from contemporary cotton prints, to luxurious and traditional styles, dfW are showcasing a spectacle of colourful, creative and exciting designs to let your imagination run wild with ideas for your home. dfW curtains was launched over 20 years ago as purely wholesale business, but has gradually grown to develop a strong reputation within retail, with dfW curtain stores continually expanding across the region. As well as soft furnishings, dfW curtains stocks an extensive range of dress and dance fabrics alongside haberdashery available for crafters in the area. DFW Curtains, 2 Snowdonia Avenue, Scunthorpe, DN15 8NL 91
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- HomES -
QuALITy HANdmAdE FuRNITuRE FoR youR HomE... Bespoke furniture offers a unique and distinctive choice, made by skilled and superior craftsmen designed to last a lifetime. When buying bespoke you can ensure that the entire design, from concept to completion, will fulfil your every specification and need. Based in Long Bennington, Bennington metal Furniture creates the finest furniture for your home in hard-wearing metal, we’ve showcased a few examples here... main Image: The firm’s Blenheim range, available in a range of finishes. Sofa £1,250-£1,595. Scatter back chair £895-£1,095. Coffee table 1,050mm x 550mm £545. Below: Tulip scroll-back chair in stone powder coat finish. Choice of 12 colours, and hundreds of fabrics; £250-£310.
Above: Windsor chair, to match the firm’s Windsor or Tuscany tables £320-£350.
Above: Horse shoe console table 1,000mm x 300mm £595. Right: Blenheim lamp stand 300mm x 300mm £245. Below/Left: Cavaletti contemporary dining furniture, £970-£1,425 for table in choice of 12 colours. Chairs £220-£280.
Find Out More: Each of our featured examples of Bennington Metal Furniture’s work are available from the firm’s showrooms on Moor Lane, Long Bennington, Newark NG23 5GA. Call 01400 281 280 or see www.benningtonmetalfurniture.co.uk
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Below/Right: Blenheim sofa £1,250-£1,595 with pattern back design and bespoke fabric. Footstool from £300, choice of 12 colours.
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Timeless Interiors BESPOKE CURTAINS & SOFT FURNISHINGS Old Town Hall, High St, Spilsby, Lincs PE23 5JH Tel: 01790 754477 www.timelessinteriors.co.uk
20% OFF Romo & Villa Nova Fabrics & Wallpapers. Until 11th April 2015
NEW SPRING COLLECTIONS NOW ARRIVED
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- GARdENING -
Going potty for
Pansies
A combination of being able to build their garden and a passion for pots has created the packed garden of Corinne and John Layton. The site has interest at several levels, places to ponder and enjoy breakfast, as well as myriad sculptures and farming ephemera to create a busy, traditional look... Words & Images: Nicola Stocken.
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- gardens -
Solid clay is a gardener’s worst nightmare, so when Corinne and John Layton were faced with a garden full of the stuff, they resolved not to lose sleep over it. “It was so heavy that we could barely dig it and nothing would grow, so the simplest solution was to bury it,” they explain from their quarter-acre country garden. Today, tonnes of unwanted clay lie hidden beneath three broad terraces that rise behind the Laytons’ farm cottage. “Originally, the garden was flat,” explains Corinne “But after installing a new cesspit, we had even more clay to get rid of, so the easiest thing was to hide it beneath terraces.” To many, this might seem a complex solution, but John, a consulting engineer, easily turned his hand to bricklaying, gradually transforming a level plot into a terraced one. “The plot’s an irregular shape, and the terracing has disguised this, making it much more interesting,” adds Corinne. Initially, as John completed the brick retaining walls for each terrace, the clay was covered in a deep layer of topsoil and laid to grass. “Unfortunately the top lawn was on so much clay that it was terrible, and we rarely went up there,” she recalls. John’s solution was to build a deck that would ‘float’ above the unyielding ground, and a summerhouse, nicknamed the ‘Sitooterie.’ “It’s become a lovely, sunny spot to sit out, with views for miles over fields towards Maldon,” says Corinne. It can be cool on breezy evenings, so she is now considering curtaining for the northerly side. It is yet another development in the gentle evolution of this garden. It all began over 30 years ago when the Laytons moved to the country. “Neither of us had a garden before, but visiting the Chelsea Flower Show and meeting Beth Chatto was a major turning point,” recalls Corinne, who embraces Mrs Chatto’s philosophy of only growing plants that suit a garden’s conditions. “You can waste so much time and energy trying to grow unsuitable plants, so I tend to stick to ‘right plant, right place.’” The garden is run completely organically, so the plants are very healthy, and do not attract pests and diseases. Corinne loves growing plants from seed, especially
perennials, although one of her great favourites - perennial wallflowers - will not grow there. “Even now, I uncover pockets of clay, and have to break it up, digging in grit, homemade compost and horse manure,” she says. Nonetheless, many plants do thrive, and as Corinne has raised more and more from seed, the garden has filled out. Whilst the borders expanded to accommodate plants, the design evolved in tandem, but not according to any masterplan. “On the lowest terrace, I kept eating into the lawn until it became a rather odd shape, and increasingly difficult to mow,” recalls Corinne. At this point, she and John stood back, and reshaped the lawn, settling on a curving, oval shape edged in low, box hedges. The final touch was a large, circular slate table-top that, minus its legs, forms a big, improvised bird feeder that is very popular. “Wildlife is incredibly important to us, and we garden without the use of chemicals,” she points out. Nowhere is this more evident than in the pond which is home to a grass snake, various types of newt, including the great crested newt, and a number of toads. “But there’s no frogs - we’ve tried everything to attract them, but they just won’t come.” says Corinne. When John first started digging the pond out of a dull expanse of lawn, Corinne was puzzled as to why he was making it so large. “You don’t have to mow a pond!” came his reply. Ponds do, however, require some maintenance, although now that a natural ecosystem of wildlife along with marginal and aquatic plants has developed, the water keeps beautifully clear. Lined with butyl rubber, everything was going swimmingly until disaster struck when the pond sprung a leak. “We had to completely empty the water out, and lift the liner to find the puncture and repair it,” recalls Corinne. It transpired that an ornamental grass, Arundo donax, had sent underground runners beneath the liner, puncturing it. Nowadays, Corinne keeps the marginal planting very simple with ferns and hostas that, thanks to the toads, thrive in the slug-free environment. A boardwalk overhangs the water, supported on sturdy
John started digging the pond out; Corinne was puzzled as to why he was making it so large. “You don’t have to mow a pond!” came his reply... Above: Pulmonaria saccharata Trevi Fountain, a clump forming herbaceous perennial. Left: Terracotta pots planted with auriculas and violas.
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- gardens -
concrete pillars built by John, and leads to the summerhouse, edged in white ‘Actaea’ daffodils and golden kingcups in spring. “Spring is the only time of the year that I grow yellow and cream flowers,” she adds. It’s red and gold Tulipa ‘Abu Hassan’ that edge a gravel path running up the northern side of the garden, adding splashes of colour amongst purple sage and the brown sedge, Carex comans ‘Bronze.’ “This sedge goes with everything, so I grow it from seed and simply replace clumps when they become old and the colour fades,” says Corinne. Planted along the length of this bed are a screen of five pleached limes that not only veil the leylandii boundary hedge - essential as a windbreak - but also cast dappled shade on the bed below. “Each year, John cuts these limes back to a tracery of branches, and by next summer, they are covered in a wonderful lime green foliage that doesn’t overshadow the border beneath,” she notes. It was 2004 when Corinne, now 65, took early retirement as a human resources officer, and at last had time to devote to gardening. “These days, I carry out a major improvement each year, I’m so lucky to have John to build things for me. I always joke that he can make anything I put my mind to!” It was John who turned leftover lengths of wood from the ‘Sitooterie’ into an Auricula Theatre, finishing the top with a scalloped piece of roofing lead. “Auriculas flower for such a short time, that I wanted somewhere to display them properly,” explains Corinne who is captivated by the scented flowers and wonderful, striped ‘faces’ of these picky perennials. “They are difficult to grow and prone to vine weevil attack, so must be treated with nematodes each year.” These historic plants are also demanding, needing shade and hating the wet, yet they are unfailingly popular on the plant stall at Corinne and John’s National Gardens Scheme charity open days. “But I only let them go to good homes, and really grill people first, to make sure they will look after them properly.” This year, there will be new projects to see a green roof, and a long bench made from gabions, metal mesh baskets that they are filling with old pots, iron and general junk.
“I carry out a major improvement each year, I’m so lucky to have John to build things for me. I always joke that he can make anything I put my mind to!” “It’ll make a wonderful home for wildlife,” explains Corinne. It will also provide somewhere to sit, and enjoy a different view of the garden, whether in deep winter when snowdrops put in an appearance, or late summer when shocking pinks rule, and the garden teeters on the edge of ‘controlled wildness.’ Whatever the season, there is always something to see and, having spent her working life in offices, Corinne now loves to be outside. “John and I often eat outdoors, cooking with the wood oven,” she says. Gardening, especially raising young plants, has not only become a great love, but has also brought her into contact with people she might not otherwise have met. “I’ve made a lot of friends through gardening - you meet such nice people.”
Above: Terracotta pots of auriculas on a shelf of the Auricula Theatre. Left: Quiet seating area amidst borders of tulips, daffodils, hellebores, ragged robin, euphorbia and ferns.
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- nature -
The Birds and the Bees enjoying
Lincolnshire
in Spring... With birds, bees and butterflies all abundant in the county right now, our nature writer this month celebrates spring. Richard Owens tells us which species to look out for whilst enjoying a spring walk around Lincolnshire... As we move into April, there should now be many signs that spring has finally sprung. The days grow longer and hopefully a bit warmer, and by now you may well have seen large Queen Bees emerging from the slumber of their winter hibernation perhaps down a hole in the ground or in a soft exposed soil bank somewhere, before going their own way to establish a new colony. Of course, the re-emergence has an added bonus for those of us who are partial to a jar of honey or two, as I certainly am!
These are just a few signs of spring, but the best indicator for me of warmer times ahead would always be the sighting of the year’s first butterfly. One of the earliest that we see is also one of my favourites, the Brimstone. Taking its name from its colour, sightings of this buttery-yellow and green coloured species will be of individuals that have hibernated. The females will lay their eggs on buckthorn or alder buckthorn and these will hatch later in the summer, leading to another emergence.
“You may well have seen your first Swallow by now, but if not, keep your eyes to the sky or along powerlines...”
Out and about in the countryside, certain wildflowers will be starting to come into their own now, particularly the majestic Bluebell, which forms an ocean of colour and provides a vital early nectar source for the aforementioned pollinators.
Also whilst out and about, particularly in open grasslands, look out for Cowslips which should be looking magnificent in their beautiful yellow bloom by now. Trees, too, should by now be starting to unfurl their fresh green leaves as the sap begins to rise. 104
Other species, such as Comma and Small Tortoiseshell, follow the same pattern.
Of course, the fact that they will be around all summer does not diminish the impact of seeing any of these colourful insects early in the season. Indeed, a sighting of any butterfly in April is something special and uniquely uplifting. In the avian world, millions of migrant birds including Swallows and many Warbler species will be returning to the UK after
spending Winter in the warmer climates of Southern Europe and Africa, and following their quest for survival, thoughts turn to reproduction before heading on their return journey later in the year. You may well have seen your first Swallow by now, but if not, keep your eyes to the sky or along powerlines. Enjoy that first sighting and marvel over the amazing journey it has just made, most likely all the way from South Africa. By now many of our resident birds will have been preparing their nests for a few weeks now, and you may indeed have observed Blue and Great Tits carrying nest material, usually moss into your nest boxes. It’s possible some females may in fact already be on eggs. At this time please don’t be tempted to take a sneaky peak in the box as this may cause desertion and non-viability of the eggs.
Richard has spent his career promoting bio diversity within the world of turf and is currently the UK's Golf Course Conservation Greenkeeper of the Year.
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Gonepteryx rhamni, also known as the Common Brimstone butterfly.
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- farming matters -
A strong pound harm prices
On The Farm this month our farming expert Barry Poston discusses how farming difficulties in both arable and livestock operations are putting ever more pressure on farmers, with a strong pound adversely affecting export markets... As I write this article in mid-February the winter weather, thus far, has been kind to most livestock and arable farmers. The usual February ‘fill dyke’ has not occurred and most soils are beginning to dry out well. Those farmers with late-lifted crops such as sugar beet and winter vegetables do not appear to have damaged their fields’ soil structure with heavy machines travelling in wet conditions.
results, he was moving into loss-making circumstances. The results for pigs produced were over 24 pigs per sow per year, and with excellent food conversion rates, the fattening side of the unit was also making a loss. For many years, pig production has been notorious for its ‘up and down’ return on investment, and it’s to be hoped that the main cost of production - the price of pig food will remain low, unfortunately at the expense of the wheat producers, since wheat is the main constituent of pig food.
“Peas are a good crop agronometically as they provide nitrogen ‘free’ to the soil, besides helping the soil structure...”
Unfortunately, prices for most products are well down on last year, with milk and pig producers suffering most in the livestock area, and potato, wheat, barley and rape seed in the arable sector.
No doubt the strong pound has had the greatest effect with these products expensive for export to other countries. I recently visited to a very good friend’s pig unit, one of the few left in South Lincs. Despite excellent breeding and fattening
As mentioned in previous articles, the sugar beet factories are reducing their contracts in tonnage and price, and with relatively poor potato prices, arable farmers are looking for alternative crops. One of these crops, vining peas for freezing, is struggling to maintain contracted tonnages and price levels. So this crop, too, is not really a viable alternative.
I always consider peas to be good agronometically as they, as legumes, provide nitrogen ‘free’ to the soil, besides helping the soil structure. They are also a good entry into the next crop. Unfortunately, if the weather at harvesting in July is wet, these crops still have to be harvested in such conditions. At a recent winter meeting of farmers one expert reminded his audience of the great importance of looking after his soils with adequate organic matter, good soil structure and keeping up the nutritional state of their soil. In my old fashioned mind I do feel he has a good point, with many of today’s farmers ‘pushing’ their soils with, in consequence, poorer yields.
Barry Poston is the area’s foremost farming expert with a long history working in both arable and livestock environments. During his career he has seen a great many changes in the industry!
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- tHe BeLton Horse triaLs -
Mark Todd is Jumping for Joy at
BELTON
He’s an international star in the eventing world and has won the Burghley Horse trials on no fewer than five occasions between 1987 and 1999. still, as Sir Mark Todd tells us in an exclusive interview, he enjoys the feel and the challenge of Lincolnshire’s other horse trials, which will be held at Belton House this month... Last year’s Grantham Cup winner, Sir Mark Todd, is among the most celebrated of all New Zealand sportsmen, with two Olympic gold medals and numerous other honours to his name. Mark was a pioneer of three-day eventing in New Zealand and, in 1978, was part of New Zealand’s first three-day eventing team to contest a world championship. After an illustrious career Mark took the decision to retire from international competition following the 2000 Sydney Olympics at the age of 44 and returned to live in New Zealand where he based himself in his home town of Cambridge. Mark was never too far removed from the world of Eventing, acting as coach for the NZ Olympic Eventing team at Athens in 2004, continuing to compete at a local level and supporting the sport in general. It was in 2008 that, as a consequence of a bet made over a glass of wine, Mark made his return to the international eventing stage with the target of competing at the Beijing Olympics that year! He purchased a 10-year old grey called Gandalf and very quickly qualified him at Saumar in France by putting in one of the best performances of the New Zealand team, which finished fifth, managing the second best Kiwi performance,
coming in 17th overall. In February 2009, Mark announced he was making a full return to the sport and in April that year came back to Belton for the first time since 2000 with a bang, winning in the Advanced on Grass Valley cementing his place firmly back on the eventing scene. Belton’s 2014 line-up of competitors read like a Who’s Who of Eventing with most of the world’s top riders having at least one horse entered in the competition, including world numbers one & two William Fox-Pitt and Andrew Nicholson. Fine weather along with a packed programme of equestrian action and family entertainment meant that Belton’s spectator numbers were well up every day with footfall through the gate doubling on Saturday. Demonstrating that he has no intentions of slowing down Mark recorded another win in front of the record crowds, this time in the Lycett’s Grantham Cup CIC*** with his
“Mark made his return to the international eventing stage with the target of competing at the Beijing Olympics...”
partner of 5 years the 10 year old Leonidas II. Training with Olympic, World and European and Olympic champion dressage rider Charlotte Dujardin certainly paid off on this occasion as they lead from the off, completing on their dressage score of 35.5. The pair were one of only two combinations to complete within the optimum time, “I didn’t intend to go so fast but I knew I was in the lead so decided to ride for the win and luckily it paid off !” Never finishing out of the top 15 at any event last year, Sir Mark Todd and Diane Brunsden and Peter Cattell’s, Leonidas II are certainly ones to watch this season. We caught up with Mark to see what he had to say about his successful 2014 Lincolnshire weekend in:
What is it about Belton that keeps you coming back year after year? Finishing in the top 10 every year since I returned to eventing certainly helps. BEDE always do their best to ensure the ground is as good as it can be and had worked very hard to make the ‘old turf ’ smoother and more level which obviously paid dividends to me and my rides. The Grantham Cup is fast becoming one of the most prestigious classes in the calendar so winning it nowadays feels extra special. 109
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- tHe BeLton Horse triaLs -
Belton has long been a favourite of eventers as a pre-Badminton 4* tune-up, would you agree? Going back 25 years Belton was always a favourite as a lead up to Badminton so the event has a long history. I’m not sure anything could have prepared us for last year’s Badminton, Giuseppe’s course was certainly a testing one but my Belton runs gave me the confidence to run both Leonidas II and NZB Campino at Badminton for their first 4* of the season. I finished a respectable 14th with Leo which I was pleased with.
noseband but that still wasn’t enough – I guess it helped me get in under the optimum time though! He has improved again this year.
You were the only rider to have two horses in the Grantham Cup 3* top 5 (Leonidas II 1st and NZB Campino 4th), what was your secret? All I can put it down to is that fact that the two horses are very similar and the result really could have gone either way. I’m afraid I don’t have a secret formula. But both are very good competitive horses.
“The Grantham Cup is fast becoming one of the most prestigious classes in the calendar..”
Top: Three star Grantham Cup Winner Sir Mark Todd pictured with second place Vittoria Pannizon and third place, Mary King. Right: Lincoln eventing competitor Charlotte Barber.
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You have been quoted as saying that your Grantham Cup winning ride Leonidas II came out better than ever at the beginning of last season, what makes him so special? I’ve always thought a lot of him. Leo joined the team from Germany late in 2010 and I was very excited about him from the start. He is good looking with great movement and a fantastic jump. He is constantly improving which is all we as riders can ask of our horses. One thing I have worked on since Belton is his brakes – I rode him in a Waterford bit with a drop
As well as your 1st and 4th places in the Grantham Cup and your win with Amacuzzi in the Advanced (section M) not everything went your way at 2014’s Belton did it? No it didn’t, St Daniel and I had a difference of opinion at the Sunken Road – I wanted us to jump it together and he didn’t so I hit the floor. I was riding him for Megan Heath as she was out with a broken collar bone. n Mark spoke exclusively to Emily Snowdon for Lincolnshire Pride. He will appear at The Belton Horse Trials on 17th-19th April. www.belton-horse.co.uk.
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Ladies’ Day at the Belton Horse Trials a series of events on friday 17th april make the Belton’s Horse trial’s Ladies’ day one of Lincolnshire’s spring highlights...
On Friday 17th April, the highlight of the Belton Horse Trials Social Calendar, Ladies’ Day promises to be fabulous! Ladies’ Day tickets gain entry to the Horse Trials, with tea and coffee, an exclusive drinks reception and a three course luncheon in the hospitality marquee.
Bigger & Better than ever... With the world’s top eventers battling it out over Captain mark Philips’s testing Cross Country Courses, 2015’s Belton international Horse trials promises to be the best yet. Whatever you want from a day out in the country, Belton 2015 has it to offer; from world class riding, to stunning scenery and acres of beautiful un-spoilt Parkland to explore, with over 100 trade stands plus an array of entertainment that will excite the whole family.
the event’s reputation for offering a fantastic array of trade stands continues to grow for 2015 with more space than ever being opened up to host them. attracting a huge collection of many well-known brands and including everything from homemade jams to saddles and much more in between, Belton’s wonderful trade stands will keep even the most seasoned shopper busy for hours!
“The event features showjumping, dressage and cross country on all three days...
for three days in the middle of april, the beautiful Belton House estate is transformed into a hive of activity.
Whether you are looking to sample the nail biting fast and furious Pony Club mounted games, the trail-blazing inter-hunt relay or enter your four-legged friends in the Jerry green family dog show, the Belton Horse trials provides more than just equine sport.
in 2014, a huge number of national trust members took the opportunity to attend the Horse trials – many of whom who were new to the sport.
if this was you we would love for you to join us again this year. national trust members can also have access to the lowest priced tickets available. tickets and full details of the three-day programme are now available via the event’s website.
Tickets also include a demonstration in the afternoon by guest speaker, Doddington Hall florist Dr Rachel Petheram from BBC2 Great British Garden Revival. Rachel is at Belton to show guests how to make hand-tied bouquet and will demonstrate the techniques involved using beautiful seasonal cut flowers and will be on hand to offer hints and tips on growing cut-flowers at home. Belton’s trade stands always offer more than enough to keep even the most seasoned shopper busy! Ladies will have plenty of time to ‘shop ‘til they drop’! It’s a great day out in a fab atmosphere, so gather your friends and book a table to make a saving on your tickets.
Find Out More: The Belton Horse Trials takes place from 17th – 19th April at Belton House, Grantham NG31 9SQ. Tickets are £8/adults Friday; £15/adults Saturday; £15/adults Sunday. Discounts for children and National Trust members. Ladies Lunch £55/ea, or £500/table 10. Call 01949 829 061 or see www.belton-horse.co.uk. 111
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Spring Clean your affairs in 2015 Have you made a Will? do you know what would happen if you should lose your mental capacity? is your business protected? Have you as a business owner reviewed your contracts or terms and conditions? Many people choose the start of spring to de-clutter their homes, lives and more, so why not spring clean your personal and business affairs? Don't leave it another year; let Chattertons do your cleaning this spring!
Spring clean your personal affairs If you die without making a Will the law dictates how your assets are divided amongst your family. A professionally prepared Will allows you to choose how to distribute your assets to your loved ones. Act now to ensure your wishes are met in the future. Are you concerned about who will make decisions about your welfare and finances should you lose the mental capacity to do so? A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that lets you appoint people to make decisions on your behalf. There are two types of Attorney, Property and Financial and Health and Welfare. You can choose to make one or both. Anyone over the age of 18 with the mental capacity to do so can instruct a solicitor to prepare a Lasting Power of Attorney; it is never too early but it can be too late, so act now to avoid lengthy Court of Protection proceedings in the future, and to make things easier for your family or business colleagues. Chattertons Wills, Trusts and Probate Team are here to help you prepare for and secure your and your loved ones' future.
Spring clean your business affairs Chattertons Solicitors have an experienced team of professionals who deal with all aspects of commercial law. From Tax advice to buying a new property for your business, the Chattertons Commercial Team is here to help. If you have been meaning to overhaul your contracts or you would like to invest or expand your assets, don’t hesitate to contact us. Some businesses are surprised to know that they do not have proper contracts in place. We can produce any type of employment-related contract or policy or review your terms and conditions. With in-house Independent Financial Advisors and knowledgeable solicitors across the firm someone is always on hand to meet you and look after your business needs. Chattertons offer a full range of legal services and Independent Financial Advice. For more information about any of our services or to contact a member of our Wills, Trust and Probate Team or our Commercial Team please visit www.chattertons.com.
trust us to take care of it
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- saving Lives -
Saving Lives in the
SKY
When it comes to saving lives, time and distance don’t limit the county’s awesome air ambulance - in fact, for its crew, only the sky’s the limit. this month we celebrate the team’s 16,000th mission protecting Lincolnshire people across the county and beyond, whether the emergency is an rtC, a farming, equestrian or sporting accident... Words: Rob Davis. Lincolnshire is a vast county, some 2,600 square miles, with over a population of over 1,000,000. There’s a variety of terrain from flat open fields to hilly Wolds countryside, and a long coastline. It’s a patchwork of farmland that’s punctuated by market towns, and the whole lot is connected by busy, fast A-roads and winding, bumpy back roads. It’s little surprise, then, that reaching casualties in the most inaccessible areas of the county, transporting them to hospital and doing so as quickly and as safely as possible, is a tricky business. Fortunately, since 1994 the county has been able to call upon its Air Ambulance, a machine serving both Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire, flying around 1,000 missions each year.
are road traffic collisions, but Lincolnshire is a diverse county and equally diverse are the farming, equine and sporting injuries, and medical emergencies we attend, too.”
“But despite understanding that we’re a charity, people are still surprised to hear that we aren’t funded by the government and that the service relies solely on the charitable donations of the people of Lincolnshire, to raise the £1.9m the charity needs to continue leasing the aircraft and to keep filling it with fuel.”
The aircraft is an MD902. It flies at around 1,000ft and has a top speed of 160mph. The helicopter also makes its way to its casualty ‘as the crow flies,’ which gives the service incredibly rapid access to the scene. That’s important because of the so-called ‘Golden Hour’ - the discovery in emergency medicine that survival rates are at their highest when a casualty reaches hospital within an hour of an accident.
“Walk around Lincoln’s city centre and it’s possible you’ll brush shoulders with people who wouldn’t be alive, walking around the shops, were it not for the service...”
The air ambulance has become such a common sight in our county now, that it’s easy to take it for granted. But having completed just over 16,000 missions as of February, when we write this article, it’s a service that’s more valuable than ever. “The service operates 365 days a year, seven days a week.” says the service’s Sally Crawford. “Back when the service was founded we were limited to flying literally as 114
long as we could afford to put fuel in the aircraft. As the public’s understanding of the service spread we gradually gained sufficient funding to remain airborne all the time.”
Walk around Lincoln’s city centre and it’s possible you’ll brush shoulders with people who wouldn’t be alive, walking around the shops, were it not for the service. Peter Aldrick is the charity’s Chief Executive and says: “When people need to call upon the services of the air ambulance it really brings home the importance of the service. Around half of the emergencies we attend
The helicopter and its crew cover an area of 3,000sq miles, and yet, they can reach anywhere in less than 20 minutes, with an average flight time of just eight minutes. The service usually attends three or four emergencies each day, but, on a really bad day, anything up to 11. The helicopter is fitted with a ‘slide out’ stretcher, allowing the crew to easily and safely load patients into the aircraft. Not only does it carry one of five paramedics working on rotation, but also oxygen, life-saving drugs, and resuscitation equipment including a defibrillator - one of the only such
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Photograph by: Rob Inglis.
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- saving Lives -
machines capable of restarting a patient’s heart in mid-flight without landing and turning off the engines. Since November 2013, the crew has also been able to fly into the evening following a huge investment in night-vision equipment, a searchlight and of course, lots of training. “Flying at night is riskier, there’s a different feeling in the dark, but it’s important that the service can offer the ability to cover twilight incidents too.” says Unit Manager Roger Linnell. Roger has been with the service for 15 years. He’s Nottingham born, but moved to the county four and a half years ago to be closer to the base. 999 calls are received by the East Midlands Ambulance Service, who have a trauma and HEMS - Helicopter Emergency Medical Service - desk. When the service deems it appropriate, the air ambulance crew are mobilised via a red telephone, nicknamed ‘the Batphone.’ Roger and the team had already attended three incidents on the day we met the team. “The pilots immediately begin their preflight checks, and we’re airborne within two to three minutes,” says Roger. “It’s rare to get no shouts, three is statistically average but no two days are ever the same.” “It’s warm in the aircraft, especially in summer, and it would be noisy but we have noise-cancelling headsets. There’s chatter over the headsets with air traffic, the HEMS desk and the crew all communicating details about the incident. We’re well-practised, but still always very focused, and above all else we support each other, especially the pilot.”
“Sundays are the busiest day for the crew, and 1pm is statistically the busiest time for emergencies...” 116
Shouts last anywhere from 15 minutes to a couple of hours, with the aircraft able to treat patients on site or transfer them to hospitals specialising in, for instance, trauma injuries (QMC in Nottingham is the most common) or medical oriented hospitals like Lincoln County. Summer sees a sharp rise in motorcycle incidents but winter is not without its perils - RTCs on icy roads, horse and sledging accidents. Though traditionally a day of rest, Sundays are in fact the busiest day for the crew, and 1pm is statistically the busiest time of day for callouts. “Not all of our callouts have a good outcome.” says Peter Aldrick. “But the service works well with our NHS partners who provide our paramedics on secondment - to provide fast response times, accessibility in fields and access to other places where a road ambulance might struggle, as well as a smooth, rapid flight to hospital.” “We hope that nobody reading this ever needs the service, but if and when they do, we’re here and we’re exceptional, but only because of the hard work of our volunteers and the valuable funds raised by all of our Lincolnshire supporters.”
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our air ambulance in
NuMBeRS £1,900,000
The cost of running the charity and air ambulance - i.e.: fuelling and leasing the aircraft. This income is generated through the tireless efforts of the staff and volunteers, via fundraising, events, legacy donations and income from the shops & lottery.
16,008
The total number of missions the service has flown since it began operating in 1994.
1,600 1,000ft
Cook books sold to date…. a great gift!
The height at which the aircraft flies, at a top speed of 160mph, allowing it to reach anywhere in its territory in less than 20 minutes.
1,000
The crew flies around 1,000 missions each year - 903 in 2014. 315 of those necessitated taking a patient to hospital, 255 involved the crew assisting at the scene before returning to base without transporting a patient.
999
The service is usually accessed following a 999 call to EMAS the East Midlands Ambulance Service. There, a HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) desk will determine if and when it’s appropriate to dispatch our service, or a helicopter from the Derby, Leicestershire & Rutland, Warwickshire & Northamptonshire, Yorkshire or East Anglia services.
480
The number of extra hours the helicopter can fly after gaining its night time flying ability in November 2013. The ability to extend its operation beyond daylight hours was possible thanks to significant investment in night vision equipment and training.
365
The service flies 365 days a year, with five paramedics working on rotation, and two pilots. The crew work four days on with four days of leave.
18
There are 18 air ambulance charities in the UK, and around 30 air ambulances. Only a couple have the Lincolnshire’s air ambulance’s ability to fly at night and defibrillate mid-air, making ours one of the most advanced services in the UK.
21 11
The number of years since the first mission was flown in May 1994.
The most number of sorties the crew have flown in a single day. Three callouts is average, although no day is the same. A day with no callouts is rare, three is usual, but history shows anything up to 11 is possible.
Eight
The service’s average journey time with a patient. The air ambulance is never more than eight minutes flying time from a suitable hospital for the patient’s condition.
Three
The service receives a callout from EMAS via a telephone in its RAF Waddington base and is airborne in less than three minutes.
Three
The service is now on its third helicopter, leased from Medical Aviation Services. Launching in 1994 with a Bolkow, the crew’s next aircraft was the first of two MD902 models in 2000 and 2009. The team have already eyed up their next aircraft, for when the current lease expires in three years time. The aircrafts the charity uses are always the most advanced models available.
£0.00
The money the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance receives from central or local government or the NHS. The NHS does, however, provide the service’s paramedics and equipment on secondment. The service’s funding, comes entirely from donations.
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You Saved My Life...! meet the Lincolnshire people whose very survival depended on the air ambulance service... (Top) Tony Hoare had a motorcycle crash at Cadwell Park. Travelling at 100mph, the rider behind him had nowhere to go except over his ribcage. Tony was left with serious shoulder and chest injuries and suspected head injuries. The Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance took him to Hull Royal Infirmary. (Top Right) Whilst walking on the beach, a dog ran into Valerie Cresswell, knocking her over and breaking her leg. She was airlifted to hospital and later visited the base to thank the crew with chocolates and flowers.
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(Above) The Hagyard family was involved in a road traffic collision near Grimsby. Adam was five years old at the time of the accident, and was airlifted to hospital, in just six minutes. The family has raised over £6,500 for the charity since their encounter. (Centre) Fiona Curtis was crushed under a horse at a village show near Lincoln, breaking her pelvis in four places. “As I lay on the ground, I knew I needed help fast. The Air Ambulance paramedics were able to attend and administer the life saving treatment I needed.”
(Right) This is George Bellars. At the age of eight he and mum Joanne had a car accident, slipping on some ice and ending up in a drain near Spalding. He was 25 miles from the nearest hospital and wasn’t responding to resuscitation at the scene. He was turning blue and would have died but for the prompt attendance of the Air Ambulance. Now aged 16, he’s worked tirelessly to raise thousands for the service. This charity skydive raised £1,700 alone.
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Day in the Life: a 12 Hour shift with the Crew... 6.00am It’s a frosty February morning at RAF Waddington. The open space on the airfield means the wind is bitter, but the crew make their way over to the hanger to take the air ambulance out of its hanger and complete the day’s checks.
UNSUNG
6.30am Each morning, the ‘Check A’ procedure is completed. Pilots supplied from the helicopter lease firm, Medical Aviation, check the tail, stabilising fins, rotor, gearbox, oil and of course fuel levels. Meanwhile the NHS paramedics, supplied on secondment, check the defibrillator, oxygen and suction systems, and sign for the lifesaving but controlled drugs, also ensuring their huge backpacks of equipment are ready for the day’s shouts.
Ambulance
6.45am A full briefing takes place each morning covering engineering or maintenance issues, any air displays or military activity taking place in the crew’s airspace and the anticipated weather conditions. It also includes a medical briefing and a debriefing from the previous day’s activities as part of continued professional development. 7.00am The crew is operational from 7am-7pm, and no sooner are they ready but the red ‘Batphone’ rings with the first shout; a commuter RTC on the A17, six minutes away. The crew attend and provide medical assistance at the scene. 8.45am Back to base, and the crew have been in only moments when the telephone rings again and the HEMS desk dispatch the crew to a horse rider who has had a fall in the Wolds after her animal slips on wet grass. 12 minutes travelling time, the crew take great care with the patient’s spine. She’s airlifted smoothly and safely to Hull Royal Infirmary, which specialises in trauma, in eight minutes. 1.00pm Lunch at the RAF Waddington base is interrupted and the crew’s third shout of the day is a faming accident - a Lincolnshire farmer near Boston has suffered an injury to his fingers after getting his hand caught in a potato grader. He’s losing a lot of blood so time is very much of the essence. Fortunately it’s only a seven minute flight. Farming or equestrian, industrial and sporting incidents are common, accounting for around a quarter of the service’s callouts. Road incidents account for 50% whilst medical incidents e.g.: cardiac arrest or strokes - account for the remainder. 4.00pm Another RTC, this time a family on the school run on Lincoln’s A15 north of the city. At this time it would take a land ambulance longer to negotiate the traffic, even with ‘blue and twos.’ The crew give medical attention at scene and are then stood down by EMAS and their road paramedic colleagues. 5.00pm The crew’s final callout takes place at dusk. Night flying is a tougher business, with unique risks. However, since November 2013 the crew have been able to fly at night with night vision equipment and training extending the service’s flying hours by about 480 hours each year. 7.00pm The service is finally off-shift for 12 hours. Each member works shifts, four on/four off, with two pilots and five paramedics all working in rotation.
HEROES of the Air Lincolnshire’s Ambucopter pilots and paramedics are, of course, crucial to the service’s operation, but with over 500 volunteers and 26 staff, there are many unsung heroes in the operation...
Margaret Whitworth,
Julia Wright,
Shop Volunteer
Volunteer Fundraiser
margaret has worked in the market rasen shop - one of 14 shops the charity has across the two counties - since it opened and has seen many developments in the past 20 years. margaret said: “the people of market rasen are such wonderful supporters of the air ambulance and – with their support – this shop has helped keep this vital service operational for the people of the county.”
Julia Wright, lives in Carlton scroop and says: “i lost my husband in 2007. He had been a farmer and had raised a lot of money for the air ambulance. as a farmer he had a very dangerous job and he knew that the farming community needed the air ambulance quite often. after he died, i decided to keep up his good work. so far, i think i have helped to raise £35,000. i am so passionate about the service!”
Peter Aldrick,
Judy Johnston,
eric Farrington
Chief executive
Admin Officer
Senior Technician
Peter has been with the charity for 16 years since 1999. He has overall responsibility for the service’s operations, finances and its health & safety. “the people of Lincolnshire have taken us to their hearts and really value the service. that’s good to know because the work we do really does save lives and it makes a real difference to families across Lincolnshire every time it flies.”
the longest standing members of staff on the team, admin officer Judy Johnston has been with the charity for over 20 years. “there have been massive changes as the charity has grown.” she says. “as more people have come to value the charity and as more money is needed and raised, the admin demands on the charity have increased accordingly.”
eric is the senior technician for the Charity shops; he has worked for the charity for eight years. His role involves taking care of the shops and sorting out any repairs and helping the volunteers. eric says he gets lots of satisfaction from his job at the air ambulance. He is often found helping out at fundraising events and enjoys the friendship and camaraderie from his wonderful colleagues.
Ways you can help the Air Ambulance... 1. donate online, using gift aid if you can, to allow the charity for gain an extra 25p for each £1.00 you donate. see www.ambucopter.co.uk for details. 2. Join the charity’s Lottery - there are 35,000 members, with prizes up to £1,000 for just £1/entry. 3. Leave a legacy - this raises over £1m each year. 4. volunteer work or fundraising: there are over 500 volunteers working hard to keep the service flying. Why not put in join our dedicated team of shop volunteers working in one of our shops? 5. Purchase a copy of the air ambulance Cookbook for just £10, with every penny of the book, with its 150 recipes, going to the charity. on sale at all air ambulance shops or by calling 01522 458469.
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to view and purchase photographs from the event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
The Sparkledust Ball Held each year on Valentine’s Day...
The Sparkledust Ball was held last month at Boston’s Princess Royal Sports Arena to raise money for local charities including The Butterfly Hospice Trust, Motor Neurone Disease and the mental health charity Rethink. The annual event began with the first ball six years ago, and is usually attended by over 300 people, raising over £3,000 for the charities thanks to excellent support from local businesses. The Ball is organised by Leanne Belton, Katie Pawson, Samantha Lakin, Sabrina McKay and Heidi Shooter, and is always a sell-out event, including a reception, three course supper and dancing.
feature your event in our magazine. 120
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our events desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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to view and purchase photographs from the event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
feature your event in our magazine. 122
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our events desk...
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- Weddings -
Old, New, Borrowed,
Blue
this month’s bride had something old, something new, something borrowed and most definitely a strong blue colour theme running throughout both her ceremony and reception. Kate Thatcher-Bell reveals the planning behind her beautiful blue wedding, held at Lincoln’s Doddington Hall... Images: Ed & Maggie Sewell. Call 01522 873986 or 07885 463805 or see www.sewellphoto.co.uk.
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Many brides-to-be hope that their fiancé will take an interest in wedding planning. But Kate Thatcher’s groom, Graeme Bell, really relished the opportunity to contribute to their day, designing the invitations and stationery, creating a rustic table plan from hessian and a vintage sack barrow, and creating a bespoke wedding postbox for guests to post their cards through. “He was really good, really interested and really creative throughout the whole planning!” says Kate. The couple are from Marker Rasen; Kate is a primary school teacher and Graeme a Business Manager in the family’s flooring company. Having been together nine and a half years, Graeme surprised Kate with an 126
unexpected proposal, just before Christmas in 2012, with their Hungarian Vizsla Ruby carrying a card around her neck. After dropping to one knee and proposing, Kate accepted, and Graeme whipped up a quick three course supper for their families. “We booked our wedding for August 2014, choosing Doddington Hall for both ceremony and reception.” says Kate. “I’d been before, as a child, but Graeme had never seen it. He was stunned by how pretty it was and thought the gardens were beautiful.” “It was the perfect venue, too, because the Coach House was not too corporate, nice and light. I liked the idea that guests didn’t have to walk far from ceremony to reception.”
“Graeme says he was stunned by how pretty Doddington Hall is. Our wedding coordinators there, Justine Shakespeare and Helen Bradford, were both amazing!” Images: Ed & Maggie Sewell, 01522 873986 or 07885 463805 or see www.sewellphoto.co.uk.
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Above: Kate opted for an A-line gown with lace overlay and embroidery. Right: Embarking on some DIY will really personalise your wedding. Graeme designed the stationery, table plan and helped to create the flower petal confetti - all incorporating the couple’s cornflower blue colour scheme.
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Left: The three-tier cake incorporated fruit, sponge and chocolate tiers. Louth orists Vincent & Stubbs had some great ideas for owers. Kate Chruscicka is the Leeds based violinist who provided ambient music during the wedding breakfast.
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“The next element we booked was our wedding photography. Maggie and Ed Sewell were really great and from the moment we met them, we felt really comfortable around them. Neither of us enjoy being on camera so an engagement shoot really helped our nerves.” “We love our photographs and felt it was important to have some good shots as photos are the permanent reminder of a day which goes so fast.” Kate sourced her wedding dress - an Augusta Jones A-line with lace appliqué from Sheffield, where she went to university. “Poppy and Rob, from Vincent & Stubbs in Louth, had some amazing ideas for flowers; they’re really creative. Our cake was made
by a friend, with three tiers in fruit, sponge and chocolate, with sugarcraft flowers.” “Graeme’s suits came from Lincoln’s Andrew Musson tailors, he’s formerly of Savile Row, so Graeme looked amazing.” “The day was just what we wanted it to be.” says Kate. “I think if we have any advice for other brides-to-be it’s to load your budget according to the elements you really have your heart set on. Don’t scrimp on your photographer though, as you’ll keep your wedding photographs forever.” “It helps to save money, but also to personalise your wedding, if you create some elements yourself, too. It really was the best day of our lives and we were so happy with all of the people who helped to make it possible.”
Kate & graeme’s Wedding Ceremony & Reception: Doddington Hall, Lincoln www.doddingtonhall.com. Groomsmens’ Suits: Andrew J Musson, Lincoln 01522 520142, andrewjmusson.com Flowers: Vincent & Stubbs, Louth, 01507 603911, www.vincentandstubbs.co.uk Violinist: Kate Chruscicka, Leeds www.kateviolin.co.uk Photographers: Ed & Maggie Sewell, Lincoln,01522 873986 www.sewellphoto.co.uk. 129
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Simple Tips For
Wedding Make-Up make sure you look dazzling on your wedding day with these simple make-up tips... n Make sure you have a make-up trial at least three weeks before your wedding. Wear a white t-shirt or shirt to show how your make-up will appear against paler colours. n Don’t be surprised if your make-up artist applies your make-up much more heavily than you would yourself. On camera, it needs to be stronger. n If you’re planning to have a false tan, go to the expense of having it applied professionally either by hand or a hand-held spray, never in a booth, which gives uneven coverage. n Use professional make-up, not cheaper brands, which will provide a superior wear and should last the whole day through. n Don’t use any radical on-trend make-up styles. You’ll have your wedding photographs for the rest of your life, and you don’t want to look back and cringe at your ‘Ziggy Stardust’ appearance. n Don’t put yourself under pressure on the day afford your make-up artist as much time as they need to ensure they do a good job.
Hair & make-up by ava Belle Bridal www.avabellebridal.com.
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Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits
Bespoke & Made to Measure Suits
Andrew J Musson
Andrew J Musson
by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson
Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln
by a Savile Row Tailor, Andrew Musson
A
Bespoke Tailor of Lincoln
CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BESPOKE OR MADE TO MEASURE SUIT.
CALL TODAY TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT FOR A BESPOKE OR MADE TO MEASURE SUIT.
CA
39 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8AS
39 High Street, Lincoln LN5 8AS
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Tel: (01522) 520142 info@andrewjmusson.com www.andrewjmusson.com
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Tel: (01522) 520142 info@andrewjmusson.com www.andrewjmusson.com
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Fresh Fashions for
SPRING Will spring sunshine or april showers attend this month? there’s really no way of knowing, so here, we’re profiling practical spring fashions from Betty Barclay especially suitable for layering, which will ensure you look stylish no matter what the weather...
Main: This trench coat is a must-have in any wardrobe. Classic trench coat elements such as the collar, sleeve tabs and tie belt with buckle make it unmistakeable; £115. Above/Right: This open-knit oversized pullover with drop sleeves is both sporty and feminine. Combined with a simple white tank top, it makes a totally successful summer. Outfit; £80.
This month’s featured fashion brand is one we especially recommend when the great British weather isn’t as predictable as we’d like. Betty Barclay is stocked by many retailers across the county who like the brand’s capsule approach - it’s a great way of hedging your bets climatically speaking, as they facilitate layering to allow you to wrap up warm or cast off clout accordingly.
This season sees a definite inclination towards retro 1970s styles with chunky loose knit jumpers, 7/8 crop trousers and geometric prints. A bright summer beckons but spring colours may be a little more muted with taupes, moss green and navy all making an appearance before a high summer of more vibrant hues. Whatever the weather, the collection we’ve chosen here will definitely warm up even the chilliest April. 133
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Opposite: This lightweight summer knitwear in a striped design looks good layered with the little white tunic; £90. Left: Sophisticated tops and feminine dresses come in trendy khaki tones this summer, with feminine gathers skilfully showing off every silhouette; top £55, trousers £100; dress £100.
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Opposite: Cute sequin appliqués add lovely details to comfortable basic tops, making them just perfect with skinny trousers; tops £45/ea; Trousers £105/ea. Left: This season high summer will be synonymous with an exciting style created from non-colours. Trendy key items like the white jacket with biker elements and striking materials come together with graphic long blouses; blazer £190; blouse £70; trousers £90.
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Right: This casually shortened cardigan with open-work structure skilfully picks up elements from the sportswear sector and gives them a feminine interpretation. The classic white blouse and blue denims are the right choice to complement; cardigan £125; blouse £80; jeans £100.
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Above: Christian Lacroix and Tiffany & Co designer glasses frames at O’Brien’s Opticians, Wrawby Street, Brigg. 01652 653595, www.obriens opticians.co.uk. Left: Open-knit, lightweight structures make comfortable knitted pullovers just ideal for the summer; pullover £80.
stockists across Lincolnshire: Anne Wilkinson 20 Grove Street, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6JR Saltergate, Lincoln, Lincolnshire LN2 1DH 01522 526752 01777 703148 Cindy's 108 Bridge Rd, Sutton Bridge, Spalding, Lincolnshire PE12 9SA, 01406 258107 Coneys 36 Wide Bargate, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 6RX 01205 311355 Eve and Ranshaw 1 Market Place, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 9NT 01507 602902 Jane Young 10 Chain Lane, Market Place, Newark, Nottinghamshire NG24 1AU 01636 703511 Oldrids 11-17 Strait Bargate, Boston PE21 6UF Great Gonerby Junction A1, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 2AB 01205 361251
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eve & Ranshaw are committed to providing you with the latest trends and our key brands this month include – White Stuff, Juniper, Masai Clothing, Gerry Weber, Taifun, Joules and Seasalt. New to our fabulous collections this season are Robell, Frank Walder, Izabella, Betty Barclay and Weird Fish.
sPring/summer fasHion at
eve & ransHaW
Customer service is at the heart of Eve & Ranshaw so whether you are looking for something for that particular occasion, holiday wardrobe or are in need of a quick fashion fix we endeavour to make your shopping experience an enjoyable one. 143
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Dragon: TV’s Hilary Devey made her debut on Dragons’ Den delivering tough love to entrepreneurs, from her own experience as the head of a £75m business empire. Exclusive interview and image by Rob Davis.
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There’s a dragon loose in Louth. Don’t worry though, her only prey is local businesses, as the TV entrepreneur films a new Channel Four series at the town’s Eve and Ranshaw. The business was established in 1781 when Adam Eve took over a woollen draper’s business in the town. For the past 40 years and two generations, the Sandwith family have been in charge with David Sandwith currently at the helm. It came as a real shock, though, when David handed the business over to his staff at the end of January, declaring that he was stepping back from the business to allow his team to bring the company into the 21st century. “It was about 4pm, and we closed early.” says Office Manager Janette Arnold. “David made a speech, and as he began speaking we saw Hilary Devey from Dragons’ Den there too.” “We assumed he’d sold the business to her or something, but the truth was a bit more dramatic than that.” “He told us he was stepping down for the moment, that he felt the business needed new life breathing into it, so he was handing it over to his best asset; his staff.” The following day Eve and Ranshaw’s staff held a six hour meeting at Louth Town Hall to discuss what changes they would make to the store. The whole transition was filmed by production company Victory TV and will air as a six-part series with the working title The Takeover this spring on Channel Four. The team was told that Hilary would be acting as a business mentor, helping them through the transition. We paid a visit to the business a month later to see what changes had been made and, of course, to meet Hilary Devey herself. “David Sandwith was approached by the TV production company. He wanted to radically change the business, bring new innovation into it. David wanted the staff to take the lead,
so what I’ve done is to facilitate that. I’ve been their liberator; their enabler, liberating them from a lack of direction. They’ve had to think, come up with the ideas. I’ve said to them ‘it’s your store, take ownership of it.’” “One of the girls, Angela Burley, for instance, has come up with new branding, incorporating that into new bags, mugs and tea towels. All her own work; her own design. It achieves two things - a product for sale, and advertising for the brand, giving the store a local provenance that shows pride in Louth.”
Hilary initially worked in the hospitality industry before a short stint in the RAF. With a desire to run her own business, Hilary launched Pall-Ex, a palletised freight network based on the ‘hub and spoke’ model pioneered by Palletline, but transporting, instead, smaller consignments. Despite a modest start, the business now has 5m square feet of warehouse space, access to 7,500 trucks, and handles 10,000 palletised consignments every day, ensuring Hilary is now worth an estimated £75m.
Dragon loose in
Louth
tv entrepreneur and business troubleshooter Hilary Devey has been in Louth, helping a family business to reinvent itself. the former investor on BBC2’s dragons’ den is working with department store eve & Ranshaw to bring the business, which was established in 1781, into the 21st century. We followed the camera crews who were following the story, and met Hilary for an exclusive interview... Words & Images: Rob Davis.
“I’ve planted seeds of ideas, and given them the self-confidence to go ahead and achieve. All along I’ve said no idea is a bad idea, but they’ve had to think of the commerciality of the concept.”
Hilary already has a logistics company based in Lincolnshire so she’s no stranger to the county, but her first visit to Eve & Ranshaw was also her first visit to Louth.
“We wanted to increase footfall, increase spend and increase profit. Hopefully we’ll have achieved that now the project is complete, gaining confidence along the way.”
“I love Louth, it’s quintessentially English, I love that about it especially.”
The entrepreneur is best known for Dragons’ Den, but began her own business much earlier. The daughter of a central heating company owner,
The TV series will see the transition from a traditional department store to one that identifies new opportunities for the town, led by its staff. One of the changes is the introduction of a salon into the store, with two brands introduced by two of its youngest 145
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- Business -
members of staff, Abbey Thornley and Lucy Hand, who created a HD Brows concession with treatment area, and a space for hand and facial treatments using the Pinks Boutique brand of organic skincare products. “We’ve called the new space Salon 1781, and as long as it’s a success, we’ll make it a permanent part of the store.” says Janette. “The staff felt that the store had potential to launch a new cosmetics department, so that was one of the changes. We also moved our hosiery section into the first floor lingerie department, introduced a travel department with everything you need for your summer holiday, and we’ve tightened up each department.”
whilst working at the store was ‘you make my foot itch,’ a threat of a ‘kick up the backside,’ which was typical of her outspoken but supportive management style. Still, the staff remain hopeful that the TV show will demonstrate how hard the team have worked and what a success they’ve made of the last month, rather than presenting the store as needing to be ‘fixed.’ “We were surprised when we were told that we’d be taking over, and even more surprised to learn it would be televised.” says Janette. “We’re definitely not an ailing business, there was never a chance of us going out of business, as we’re a very solid firm, so I hope that comes across.”
“We were definitely not an ailing business. We were and still are very solid, so I hope that comes across...”
The journey hasn’t been an easy one, with the presence of a TV crew presenting a few challenges. Hilary herself is, according to staff in the store, a dominant, forceful person to work with, and one of her favourite lines 146
“It’s been a challenging but really interesting and ultimately successful time. We’re looking forward to seeing ourselves on TV, but more than that, we’re looking forward to all of our customers coming in and hearing their feedback on the changes we’ve made to the store.”
Top: Our exclusive images shows Hilary and the team re-opening the Louth department store. Above: The store dates back to 1791, but owner David Sandwith wanted to hand it over to his staff to let them modernise it. TV Dragon Hilary Devey was the staff’s mentor.
Find Out More: Eve and Ranshaw has relaunched in its store on Market Place, Louth LN11 9NT. Telephone 01507 602902 or see www.eveandranshaw-louth.co.uk.
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1. The fashion department introduced new brands as part of the changes. 2. ‘Live window models’ were used with all the staff taking turns. 3. A new children’s department was introduced. 4. Bench is a new brand for the men’s department. 5/6. Abbey Thornley and Lucy Hand spearheaded the new cosmetics and HD Brows departments. 7. The shop’s layout was changed to facilitate a clearer display of merchandise. 8. Staff were interviewed by three camera crews.
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If you think
LONDON has the best dentists, think again... “a lot of people who live around here think they need to go to London for the best care but they don’t realise what an absolute gem they have on their doorstep...” Although I didn’t realise at the time, I had an appalling dentist previously. My dentist wasn’t interested in my teeth and would just take teeth out willy-nilly. I never once saw a hygienist, despite paying for my dental care on a monthly payment plan. I was a patient there for 30 years and they didn’t have a clue who I was. Within one month of joining The Dental Health Centre as soon as I walked in they would say ‘Good morning Mrs Welton, how are you?’. That makes you feel great. What I love about The Dental Health Centre is that they don’t wait until you’ve got a problem; they act immediately. I’ve been a patient for three years now and they are absolutely brilliant – my teeth have been transformed.
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Colin Sutton and his team at The Dental Health Centre
I have had several Cerec crowns because I had poor root canal treatment previously and I’ve had two dental implants with Mr Sutton. He is a very clever dentist and has a wealth of experience. As well as doing the implants, he also adjusted the teeth above to ensure that the bite was absolutely correct. He has great attention to detail. My new implants are fantastic – they feel like my own teeth. Anyone who needs implants should think first of The Dental Health Centre as I can’t recommend them highly enough. It’s not just the dentistry that’s fantastic. As soon as you walk in you can tell that the staff are happy to come to work, as they are delightful. The whole team, from the front
of house team, including Paula and Tracey, to the dentists, are so lovely. My hygienist Julie is wonderful too and the dental nurses are so reassuring. And it’s not just me saying this, as you hear it from everyone. I am so happy to have found them. I would encourage anyone who wants an excellent dentist to have a look at what The Dental Health Centre has to offer. Absolutely everything is 10 out of 10! Mrs Welton, Grantham The Dental Health Centre, 3 Avenue Road, Grantham, Lincolnshire, NG31 6TA. Tel: 01476 594480, or see www.dentalhealthcentre.co.uk
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The best of
both worlds T
he only private hospital facility in Lincolnshire, where profits are returned to the NHS for the benefit of all local NHS patients. Patients enjoy privacy and individual attention whilst having the reassurance that The Bostonian is adjacent to the sophisticated services of The Pilgrim Hospital, with its expert diagnostic and emergency medical and surgical facilities.
H Award Winning Sleep Apnoea Service Please visit our website to view the full range of services we offer
www.the-bostonian.co.uk Comfort & Peace of Mind The Bostonian is the private wing of Pilgrim Hospital and is set in its own grounds and gardens. There are 19 en-suite single rooms with digital TVs and telephone. Our dedicated housekeeping team ensure continually high standards of cleanliness and hygiene.
Professional Expertise Almost any condition can be treated at The Bostonian by our dedicated team of professionals – most of our Consultants live only minutes away. We welcome self referral and provide 24 hour medical cover.
Range of Payment Options Available We deal with all the major insurance companies and also offer Fixed Price packages for the uninsured.
The Bostonian Private Wing, Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincs PE21 9QS Telephone: 01205 360606 / Facsimile: 01205 311442 www.the-bostonian.co.uk • ISO 9001:2008 accredited
Pilgrim Hospital’s Private Wing
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to view and purchase photographs from the event visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk
The Discovery Sport Launches at Lincolnshire’s Duckworths
Dozens of VIPs, owners and enthusiasts gathered in Lincolnshire to see the unveiling of Land Rover’s latest model. The new Discovery Sport was revealed in two special events organised by Duckworth Land Rover at their showrooms in Market Rasen and Boston. The 200 special guests were treated to food by well-known Lincolnshire chef Rachel Green and beer provided by Batemans and Tom Wood’s Brewery as they enjoyed three new Discovery Sport models displayed in the showroom facilities. “It was fantastic to get together with so many of our customers to celebrate the launch of the latest edition to the Land Rover family,” said managing director Ben Duckworth. “The new Discovery Sport has received lots of attention from our guests and we are really excited about how popular this new model will be. But it was just as important to us to have an opportunity to say thank you to our customers for all the support they have given to us over the last few years.” To contact Duckworth Land Rover call the Market Rasen dealership on 01673 842101 or the Boston dealership on 01205 722110.
feature your event in our magazine. 152
Call 01529 469977 and speak to our events desk...
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Purchase photographs from this event online. visit www.pridemagazines.co.uk.
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- motors -
Reliable as a
Volkswagen? meet the car that’s a perfect compromise between a large off-roader, ideal for yomping along Lincolnshire’s rutted back-roads and farming estates, whilst top-toeing through market towns and negotiating Waitrose’s car park. the Touareg is as reliable as, well, a Volkswagen... Words: Rob Davis. Remember the 1987 Volkswagen advert when Paula Hamilton ditched the unreliable man but kept the car? It’s a dated advert by today’s standards - we havent seen a yuppy in these parts for nigh on 20 years - and much has changed in the motoring world since then, but one enduring legacy is Volkswagen’s reputation for reliability. Its cars are perhaps as not as wild in their styling as some rivals, but its newly facelifted Touareg is great value for money and a good compromise between a large family-friendly 4x4 and a car that remains manageable in Lincolnshire’s market towns or Waitrose’s car park. Introduced in 2002, the Touareg was Volkswagen’s large off-roader, and though it was once available with 6.0V12 petrol or 5.0V10 diesel engines, as well as 3.0V6 units, only the smaller engines remain - and it’s those units which make a good deal more sense. The engine is available in two states of tune, and with a mandatory eight speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. The more modest 204ps engine achieves 43mpg combined whilst reaching 60mph in 8.7 seconds and 128mph where legal. That’s good performance for a large 4x4, only slightly behind the much smaller Discovery Sport, though the VW’s CO2s are slightly more painful, making it the more expensive company car.
The 4x4 that’s easy to live with: At £42,500 the Touareg is a lot of car for the money - five seats, a generous boot, plenty of standard equipment plus a well-considered drivetrain. VW’s 3.0V6 engine is hushed but powerful, whilst standard four wheel drive and an excellent eight-speed DSG gearbox make driving less of a chore.
Three versions of the Touareg are available; SE, Escape and R-Line, with prices for our preferred 3.0V6 204ps introductory model around £42,500 - around the same amount of money you’ll pay for a top of the range Discovery Sport. The Volkswagen is very well equipped indeed, with heated leather seats, cruise control, climate control, sat-nav, Bluetooth, DAB radio and parking sensors. 157
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“There’s no doubt in our mind that the changes to Volkswagen’s largest 4x4 make particular sense in our part of the world...” The Escape model is predominantly about greater capability, with low-range gears, centre diff-locks, 15mm raised suspension, body and underbody protection. Meanwhile, R-Line adds a few of goodies - heated steering wheel, electric tailgate, panoramic roof and keyless entry - but it’s predominantly a styling upgrade with lowered suspension, larger wheels and body kit. Right: Standard is a big boot and decent cabin room. There’s plenty of kit in SE models, and an Escape model with low-range gears and raised suspension, too. Our featured model is the R-Line, with some nice styling upgrades and a more road-biased specification.
Unless you’re a keen off-roader or live on a farm, or you really want the styling upgrades, we’d stick with the good-value SE model. Volkswagen hallmarks include a slightly dour but fuss-free, ergonomically sound cabin. Whilst the Touareg lacks the Discovery Sport’s two extra seats, its boot is much larger (580 litres rather than 194 litres), and the whole cabin is created with top quality materials throughout. Chunky styling gives way to a hushed, compliant and easy-going ride on tarmac, with Volkswagen’s excellent DSG gearbox and air suspension making every journey less of a chore. Options like adaptive cruise and 360° view cameras are worth specifying on a car that’s 4.8 metres long and 1.9 metres wide, though. There’s no doubt that the changes to Volkswagen’s largest 4x4 make particular sense in our part of the world. It’s chunky without being overbearing, and if specified correctly, it’s easy to drive even in urban settings. If you’ve a large family and need seven seats, we’d strongly consider the Discovery Sport, otherwise the Touareg makes a great deal of sense and provides quality, style and strong specification in an easy to live with package.
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Crosswords CRYPTIC CROSSWORD test your lateral thinking skills with this month’s Cryptic Crossword. each puzzle has a set of perplexing clues to unravel, and as every lover of logic knows, the frustration is all part of the fun!
ACROSS 7. Father means to maintain steady speed (8) 9. Work on farm, beginning to take old back off (6) 10. Cannabis taken from empty house by Metropolitan Police (4) 11. Professional killer, dodgy character, seen around East End (3-7) 12. Work on farm with hotel director (6) 14. Troublesome girl and boy not starting to get home by midnight (8) 15. Leslie's crazy about the old girl (6) 17. Vagrants given transport to outskirts of Paris (6) 20. Distressed youth? He's kinda cut up (8) 22. Work on farm and gain immediate victory (6) 23. Going ahead with record production and performing (8,2) 24. British sailor comes back from Caucasian capital (4) 25. Work on farm with seven stars (6) 26. Fail to notice remaining gander (8)
DOWN 1. Napoleon, going to Madrid, oddly ignored cemetery (8) 2. Work on farm, picking some more apples (4) 3. Saint resolved to end war (6) 4. Cook may use this special shoe (8) 5. Find you have little time for artist? (6,4) 6. A small bird's behind (6) 8. In France you may be introduced to foreign currency — that's regularly repeated (6) 13. Architectural style queer mason developed (10) 16. Reportedly, I refer to the faculty (8) 18. Flower not raised somewhere on Teesside (8) 19. Slow movement of girl taking turn to embrace one (6) 21. A bird ascending? It's seen around East Indian state (6) 22. Victor and Michael, director and producer (6) 24. Work on farm, given "Bishop's Tipple" (4)
ACROSS
DOWN
5. Motto of the cautious (6,5) 7. Stratagem (4) 8. Ancient city and battle (8) 9. Writes badly (7) 11. Residue after felling (5) 13. Bring together (5) 14. Of immediate importance (7) 16. (Go it) all the way (5,3) 17. Pal (4) 18. Type of bat (11)
1. Doubtful (4) 2. Apply with flecks or dabs (7) 3. Attach (5) 4. Having creative skills (8) 5. Component of all integrated circuits (7,4) 6. Device for finding length of cloth etc (4,7) 10. Horned animal (8) 12. Boy's name meaning "watcher" (7) 15. Pursuit (5) 17. Tranquil (4)
CRYPTIC ANSWeRS
QuICK ANSWeRS
QuICK CROSSWORD
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TheDirectory To advertise here call 01529 46 99 77 and speak to our friendly team.
Supporting You Through Your Grieving Process offering free advice on funerals and funeral planning
Carr Funeral Service A Tradition of Dignity and Total Care
2 Spilsby Road, Boston, PE21 9DA 01205 311300 • 24hr Service
Independent Funeral Directors Since 1909
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