NEWS The best ‘good news’ stories from across the county, including the return of Lincolnshire’s egg-centric Swaton World Egg-throwing event!

Belvoir Castle’s new accommodation

DUCHESS’S NEW BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION NEXT TO THE ENGINE YARD

Her Grace The Duchess of Rutland has launched her new boutique holiday stay accommodation for overnight stays on its rural estate in the beautiful Vale of Belvoir. Vale House is adjacent to Belvoir Castle and its luxury retail and food development, The Engine Yard. Vale House is a newly refurbished boutique guest house located at the foot of the Castle at the vibrant artisan village with its independent shops, bar and The Fuel Tank restaurant. Perfect for overnight stays, the bespoke rooms have all been beautifully designed and detailed by the Duchess. Vale House also revealed the Duchess’s Parlour in the building, a champagne and tea parlour located on the ground floor of Vale House, which will also serve as a breakfast area for guests. Open to non-residents too the parlour has colourful jewel colours, butterfly wallpaper, mirrored bar, hand-painted pink teardrop chandeliers and bespoke ‘Her Grace’ china.

GRANTHAM It will be open to all Engine Yard visitors from Thursday to Sunday each week offering a seasonal menu of summer salads, seafood platters, canapés and bubbles.

Image: Jon Scrimshaw, Instinctive Photography.

It’s perfect for light lunches and afternoon tea, with pre-booking strongly recommended. n See www.belvoirestate holidays.com/vale-house

Egg-centric event returns

SWATON’S WORLD EGG THROWING CHAMPIONSHIP IS BACK IN 2022...

The most egg-centric event in Lincolnshire’s calendar returns this month for the first time since the pandemic. The World Egg Throwing Championships will take place as part of Swaton Vintage Day, a local event held in the village on Sunday 26th June. A programme of events in the competition will see participants engage in the egg-throwing roulette, static relay and trebuchet challenge among other categories. The finals take place in the main arena at around 4pm prior to the awarding of trophies.

BOURNE The event takes place adjacent to the 27th annual Swaton Vintage Day which features over 400 vintage and classic cars, as well as a craft tent, dog show, Lancaster and Dakota flypast and displays of everything from giant tortoises to WWI re-enactments. Swaton Vintage Day was established in 1995, with the addition of the World Egg Throwing Championships in 2005. Since then, the events have raised over £100,000 for causes including Lincolnshire’s LIVES and for the county’s Air Ambulance. n See www.swatonvintageday.com.

Cakes in the Commons

LINCOLNSHIRE COMPANY SUPPLIES CAKES TO THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT...

PMQs can sometimes lead to the Commons being a little fraught. What better to calm all those politicians down, then, than a lovely slice of cake? The Lincoln-based Original Cake Company is an independent artisan bakery led by Simon Woodiwiss and the team has now started to supply the Palaces of Westminster including the House of Commons’ cafés with their delicious cakes, like their

LINCOLN chocolate cakes, created with the best Belgian chocolate. The company’s traditional approach to baking has seen the company win many Great Taste awards and is helping to put Lincolnshire on the culinary map. If it’s good enough for the PM, it’s good enough for the rest of us, and so the bakery’s products are also available from the company’s website. n See www.originalcake.co.uk.

Archie Bear’s career takes off

FUNDRAISING TEDDY BEAR, FLT LT ARCHIE, GAINS HIS WINGS AND TAKES OFF FOR THE RAF BENEVOLENT FUND

Operation Seabird launches in Grimsby...

GRIMSBY Operation Seabird is back in Grimsby and Humberside. The campaign sees the Yorkshire, Humber and Lincolnshire coasts coming together to raise awareness of the area’s spectacular wildlife. The event will include a Day of Action and a closer working relationship between the RSPB, LWT and local police forces and district councils to ensure public awareness and the environmental sensitivity of the area and how best to avoid disturbing wildlife. n

Bittern in Humberside.

LINCOLNSHIRE The RAF has gained a new pilot in the form of Flt Lt Archie Bear. He’s a little shorter than other pilots but what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in enthusiasm and his desire to raise money for charity.

Claire Hartley purchased the bear and obtained his pilot’s flying logbook so Archie can fly with the BBMF, Red Arrows, Blades Aerobatic and Typhoon display teams, the pilots of which will all sign the book, before Archie – and his pilot’s log – are auctioned off to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund at the end of the season in September. n For details, see www.rafbf.org. Local council leaders have welcomed the news that they will receive a share of £9.3m as part

LINCOLNSHIRE of the government’s £2.6 levelling up fund. Boston Borough Council is to receive £2.2m; East Lindsey District n Council £4.4m and South Holland District Council £2.7m. The cash will regenerate commu nities.

£9.3m Funding

LOCAL NEWS

In Brief

LINCOLN

Lincoln’s Ursula Lidbetter retires after 18 years as CEO...

Lincolnshire Co-op’s CEO Ursula Lidbetter has announced her plan to retire at the end of 2022. Ursula is in her 18th year as CEO of Lincolnshire Co-op, which has over 220 varied outlets and recorded sales of over £355m in 2020/21. She’s also been at the helm of major local projects including the creation of The Cornhill Quarter’s development. Ursula received her OBE in 2019 for services to the local economy. n

HALLS HOUSE Fenhouses Drove | Swineshead | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE20 3HE

• Modernised House with Open Plan Kitchen Living Room, 2 Receptions Rooms, 5 Bedrooms • Private Gardens with Garden Kitchen and Patio

• Workshops Extending to Over 400sqm, 4,350sqft of 4.8m High Buildings • Large Car Parking Area, Enclosed 0.6 acre Paddock with Stables

SOLD

Subject To Contract

THE WILLOWS Gold Fen Bank | Wrangle | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE22 9BG

• Exceptional Detached House with 4/5 Reception Rooms, Large Modern Kitchen/Diner, 4 Bedrooms, Dressing Room, Integral Double Garage • Set in 2 Acres of Formal Gardens with 1/3 of an Acre Lake • Agricultural Yard Extending to 0.63 Acres with Over 7,300sqft of Steel Framed Agricultural Buildings • Adjoining Fields of Grade 1 Land Totalling Another 11.75 Acres Approximately

SOLD

Subject To Contract FISHTOFT MANOR Manor Grange | Fishtoft | Boston | Lincolnshire | PE21 0DN

• Grade II Listed Manor House within a Secluded Community in a Desirable Village • Modernised and Upgraded Six Bedroomed Manor House • Three Reception Rooms, Large Kitchen, Five En-suite Bathrooms

• 0.65 Acre Plot, Garages and Garden Room

SOLD

Subject To Contract

Main Road, Sibsey £425,000

This detached property offers substantial space and versatility with accommodation which includes five double bedrooms, two reception rooms, a conservatory and both a shower room and bathroom. The layout will be of particular interest to buyers needing an annx, whilst outside there is a detached triple garage, established gardens and open views over neighbouring fields.

The Coach House Algarkirk £750,000

An absolutely magical plot with so much opportunity for the right buyer. The Coach House has a private, tree-lined approach which opens up into a fantastic gravel courtyard with the detached former coach house as the central feature with full planning permission to convert into a fabulous four bedroom property. The already converted two bedroom former dairy is complemented by a range of ancillary buildings to include a beautiful garden/dining room and detached guest bedroom with free-standing bath. The secluded woodland grounds approaching an acre, are totally enclosed by a combination of fencing and a beautiful period brick wall. Offering great potential for both residential and commercial use (subject to consents).

London Road, Boston £595,000

Imposing six bedroom Victorian Merchant’s House which is incredibly well presented throughout and retains a wealth of period features to include decorative Victorian tiling, beautiful original fireplaces and walk-in bay windows to the front reception rooms with stone mullions. The spacious accommodation of just under 4,500 square feet is arranged over three floors to include six double bedrooms, two with en-suites and two further bathrooms. Reception rooms include a Drawing room with Library, Dining Room and Breakfast Room and there are attached several stores as well as a double garage.

Birch Close, Wyberton Offers Over £525,000

This beautifully extended family home not only offers an exceptional standard of accommodation and idyllic gardens to both front and rear, it is also situated in arguably one of the most exclusive cul-de-sacs in our area, consisting of only five properties. Undoubtedly for many viewers the kitchen extension will prove to be one of the most striking features of the property. With glazed doors to the front and rear and a vaulted ceiling, the kitchen offers an exceptionally spacious and light living space. Other highlights include the two updated bathrooms and the conservatory and dining room, both of which overlook the lovely rear garden.