Lincolnshire Pride October 2023

We love a bit of trivia, and this month whilst researching our lead article on Lincolnshire’s most famous residents, past and present, we’ve unearthed a number of really interesting facts about everyone from pop stars to politicians and those who fundamentally changed the world – astronauts, theologians and explorers – from right here in Lincolnshire. In this edition then, we’re celebrating our most well-known residents, but we’re also bringing much-deserved recognition to those in the county’s food and drink industries too, with the launch of our Good Food Awards for 2023.

As ever, we’re asking our readers to cast their votes across six categories designed to award one dining room with our flagship Restaurant of the Year title, and to recognise daytime dining venues, accommodation providers and those who produce or retail food and drink. Please do cast your votes and remember that you can vote for anyone in the county, regardless of advertising commitment with us – we’re always keen that our awards are a comprehensive and unbiased reflection of the whole county. Elsewhere this month, we’re dining out at Woodhall Spa’s Dower House, we’ll view a stunning contemporary property and we’ll meet Lincolnshire designer Stuart Gardiner to view the latest designs in his portfolio of prints and linens. Our best wishes for a wonderful month!

Executive Editor

robin@pridemagazines.co.uk

We’re always looking for scenes of Lincolnshire to feature on our covers and in the magazine. If you’re a budding photographer, email your pictures to the address above!

HOMES & GARDENS

50 WELCOME HOME Bright, bold and beautiful, Ouroboras is Louth’s wonderful architect-designed eco-home.

57 HOMES A design-led kitchen in a beautiful contemporary home courtesy of Richwood Cabinet Makers.

68 STUART GARDINER Lincoln-based designer of imaginative and informative prints and linens.

72 LET THERE BE LIGHT Awaken your autumn home with designer lighting from Broughtons.

LIFESTYLE

80 FASHION Knitwear for autumn and backpacks in tan and tallow.

92 WEDDINGS Chris and Natalie Clements marry at Irnham Hall.

96 HIGH LIFE Back to the Blitz with the International Bomber Command Centre’s Blackout Ball.

THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE IN THE AREA READ PRIDE MAGAZINE

Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to homes in the top three council tax bands, which are predominantly worth over £300,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content.

The magazine is also sold in leading newsagents and supermarkets and we also deliver the magazine to local businesses including selected hotels, restaurants, coffee shops, doctors, dentists, executive motor dealerships and golf clubs. This helps to ensure we have a continued presence, right across our catchment area.

Our titles also have more social media fans than any other local magazine. In addition we have over 45,000 online visitors viewing our magazines free of charge, online, on their tablet, computer, laptop or mobile phone via our website, our app, and via the Readly and Issuu platforms. If your business would benefit from being showcased to the wealthiest people in the area, please call our friendly sales team on 01529 469977.

THE PRIDE TEAM

Managing Director: Julian Wilkinson.

Advertising Director: Zoie Wilkinson.

General Manager: Matthew Deere.

Executive Editor: Rob Davis.

Sales Executives: Aisha Joyce, Amy Meader, Mia Garner, Gemma Mills, Yvette Curry.

Accounts Department: Steve Parrish, Margarita Pavlesevica, Chloe Watson, Beth Freeman-Burdass.

Customer Care Manager: Mandy Bray.

IT Manager: Ian Bagley. Web Developer: Joe Proctor.

Steampunk returns to Lincoln...

COLOURFUL, IMAGINATIVE AND INCLUSIVE: THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL HAILED A SUCCESS

If you were in Lincoln a couple of weeks ago, chances are you’d have spotted more than a few members of the Steampunk sub-culture. ‘Weekend at the Asylum’ was hailed a great success by visitors, and remains the largest gathering of those in the Steampunk community anywhere in the world.

The annual event took place over the late summer Bank Holiday and takes its name from its first venue in the city, The Lawn, originally a lunatic asylum serving the city and county.

The event has become a highlight of the city’s events calendar, with thousands of people thronging the streets many in stunning creative outfits and costumes.

An inclusive arts movement that reimagines our Victorian past adding in

modern values and a splash of science fiction, Steampunk includes music, films, sculpture, literature, dance and of course costuming.

The festival attracts visitors from all around the world and for just four days the historic streets of the city become a Victorianesque world which owes as much to 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Back to the Future as Lincoln’s genuine and beautiful history.

This year’s event included an artists’ and makers’ market, a Blue Plaque trail around the Bailgate and Uphill Lincoln area, a parade of costumes and builds, and Decodance costumed ball at Lincoln’s Drill among the weekend’s 100 planned events.

This year was the 13th event in the history of Weekend at the Asylum. n See www.ministryofsteampunk.com.

Mick’s Spitfire Flight

LINCOLNSHIRE COMPETITION WINNER

TAKES FLIGHT IN SPITFIRE AT BIGGIN HILL

It was the flight of a lifetime for Mick Parker: the chance to enjoy the sights, sounds and feel of flight in a rorty Spitfire! Mick and another aviation enthusiast winner from Surrey entered a competition to raise money for the RAF Benevolent Fund to win a flight in a Spitfire and were thrilled when they were invited to Biggin Hill to experience the aircraft.

Mick says he is proud to hail from ‘Bomber County’ –living nearby RAF Cranwell and RAF Waddington with his wife Catherine – and has always maintained an interest

in military aircraft having fought in the 1950s Malayan Emergency in the Army.

“I’ve always been impressed by the performance and efficiency of the RAF display teams, especially the Red Arrows, and I am a huge fan of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.”

“Equally, I’ve admired the Spitfire pilots’ great efforts and bravery in the Second World War and have read many books about their exploits. To get the opportunity to fly in such an iconic aircraft was a dream come true!”

n See www.rafbf.org.

LINCOLN

LINCOLN

Image: Michael Parker, RAFBF.

Vote for Grantham Oak

HISTORIC TREE NEAR GRANTHAM NEEDS YOUR VOTE IN WOODLAND TRUST COMP

Historian appeals for information on Durham Ox

The Woodland Trust is looking to name Britain’s Tree of the Year and a venerable oak tree near Grantham is in the running!

“Our shortlist was hand picked by our expert panel,” says Ruby Nutting of the Trust. “Now is your chance to vote for your favourite urban contender and help us crown a Tree of the Year 2023 champion. The winner will represent the UK in

the European Tree of the Year competition!”

The Grantham Oak is thought to be over 500 years old, and has a girth of over seven metres. It’s been well preserved too, with 23 saplings taken from cuttings to preserve its hardy genetic traits.

n Voting is open until Sunday 15th October and this year’s winner will be announced on Thursday 19th October, see www.woodlandtrust.org.uk.

Mablethorpe beach is best

SURVEY BY CAR RENTAL FIRM SIXT HAS NAMED MABLETHORPE BEACH THE BEST IN THE UK

The city of Lincoln has seen many changes over the years and sometimes the odd urban landmark can be forgotten about. That’s why local historian John Gleeson – who is writing a book on the area of Lincoln surrounding Melville Street and Pelham Bridge – is keen to hear from anyone with memories or information about the Durham Ox pub, which was demolished to make way for Pelham Bridge. n If you can help, email gleesonj@bigpond.net.au.

Over £150,000 has been invested in the upgrading of children’s play areas around Boston. In June 2023 Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) agreed that the work would be completed at Central Park, Woodville Road, St John’s and Garfits Lane. n

In Brief GRIMSBY Royal protection for the port of Grimsby

MABLETHORPE

Lincolnshire’s coastline is home to the best beach in the UK according to a survey by car rental firm Sixt. The company collated a list of the UK’s best beaches from a list of over 300. Factors including water quality, visitor rating, facilities like cafés, toilets and car parking and the presence of a lifeguard, all put Mablethorpe at the top of the list.

Readers on our social media channels certainly agreed, with Nicola Louise praising the “Best stretch of dog friendly beach around!” and Faye Kamsika pointing out that “The Lincolnshire Coast is stunning with miles of golden sand, wildlife and friendly resorts.” n

£150,000 Upgrade

Following our exploration of the history of Grimsby and the area of Down Dock known as The Kasbah recently, author Jon Wise has been in touch to recommend his latest book, The Royal Navy and Fishery Protection. The book, published by Pen & Sword and available now for £25 tells the story of the infamous ‘Cod Wars’ of the 1960s and 1970s. The book covers the area from the C14th to the present day, and covers many dramatic incidents in the service’s history, researched by Jon, who has an MA in Maritime History from the University of Greenwich. n See www.penand-sword.co.uk for details.

LINCOLN

GRANTHAM

Western Growth Corridor underway

CEREMONY MARKS OFFICIAL START FOR WESTERN GROWTH CORRIDOR WORKS...

During an official groundbreaking ceremony last month, representatives from the City of Lincoln Council, Lindum Western Growth Community Ltd, Lincoln City Council’s Civic Party, Homes England, and contractors together celebrated starting the development of a new community including much needed housing and connection routes into the city centre.

The Western Growth Corridor development, received planning permission in January 2022, with detailed consent for the two access points into the site, one at Skellingthorpe Road to the south of the site, and the second access on Tritton Road to the east of the site.

Naomi Tweddle of City of Lincoln Council said:

“Western Growth Corridor is a key priority within the City of Lincoln Councils overall

LOCAL NEWS

In Brief EXPLORER IS COMING HOME

One of Lincolnshire’s most famous residents is coming home in 2024, with the remains of C19th explorer Matthew Flinders recently uncovered by a team of archaeologists working on the HS2 rail project. After a campaign by the ‘Matthew Flinders: Bring Him Home’ group, the remains will be reburied in July 2024 at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church in Donington. n

vision for the city and these works will open up the area for future development and investment, creating opportunities for housing growth and contributing

directly and indirectly to the economic growth of the city over the next 20 years.”

The project will unlock the ability to create 3,200 new homes, a shopping centre and

Hiking as a Viking...

LAURA, MATTHEW & JOHN COMPLETE 150 MILE WALK ALONG THE VIKING WAY... DRESSED AS VIKINGS!

a new ground for Lincoln City FC bringing £500m investment and hundreds of jobs to the City of Lincoln. n For more information see www.lincoln.gov.uk.

LINCOLNSHIRE

Hiking like a Viking, a Lincolnshire family has completed a walk of over 150 miles dressed as a trio in historic outfits in order to raise money for the charity me&dee

Their route took them from the Humber Bridge right down into Rutland, completing 30 miles of the route each day from 7th August beginning at 5am each morning. Friends and family were there to support the group along the way, and the Vikings have smashed through their £1,000 fundraising target. The charity supports families with life-limiting conditions to make memories.

n See www.meanddee.co.uk.

LINCOLN

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GLENTHAM GRANGE

SPRING COTTAGE

Famous Faces

This month we’re exploring the lives of some of Lincolnshire’s most well-known residents, from those in the media to politicians and scientists

Words: Rob Davis.

Lincolnshire Actors Famous Faces on Stage & Screen...

Lincoln is also home to the ‘Allo ‘Allo actress who now plays the estranged wife of Brian Conley’s character in EastEnders, Vicky Michelle. She was tempted into the jungle for 2014’s I’m A Celebrity, and is still friends with a fellow former resident of Nouvion – the French town in the series –who also moved to Lincoln, Sue Hodge. Remaining in Lincoln, you’ll recognise the face, as well as the unmistakable voice of Colin McFarlane, who has starred in films like The Dark Knight from the Batman franchise, in TV’s EastEnders, as the voice of The Cube, in Dr Who and as the booming Mr Lion in the Peppa Pig cartoons.

This is England

In 2006, Grimsby’s Thomas Turgoose made his TV debut as troubled youngster Sean Fields who befriends some older youths. This is England was a cult TV hit with follow-up series set in 1986, 1988 and 1990.

“I SUPPOSE YOU THINK YOU’REFUNNY?” well you’re not alone. Among Lincolnshire’s comic actors are Patricia Hodge OBE, who was born in Cleethorpes and latterly starred as Miranda’s frequently embarrassed mum in the comedy starring Miranda Hart. Patricia starred as Penny in the series from 2009-2015 and then Downton Abbey as Mrs Miranda Pelham. She also appeared in the reboot of All Creatures Great and Small, and in various whodunnits including Poirot and Morse. Earlier in 2023 she also served as a narrator of For The Love of Paul O’Grady, paying tribute to her friend.

Born in Gainsborough, Peter Martin appeared in the series The Royle Family as the husband of the family’s next door neighbour Mary. Peter was on screen with another famous face from Lincolnshire, Sheridan Smith OBE, whose TV credits also include Benidorm, Gavin & Stacey and the biopic of Cilla Black. Aside from her comic talent, Sheridan has an amazing voice and has starred in West End musicals from Little Shop of Horrors to Legally Blonde and Joseph & the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. Sheridan released her eponymous debut album in 2017 and a second one, Northern Soul, in 2018. Now a mum of one, she’s appearing in York as narrator in the production Shirley Valentine and in 2021 Sheridan also presented the competitive dog grooming programme Pooch Perfect... alongside her own dog!

Sheridan is from Scunthorpe, as was another Royle Family actress, Liz Smith MBE, who played Nana in the series and also appeared as Leticia in The Vicar of Dibley. Just down the road from the town, Joan Plowright DBE from Brigg is remembered not just as the wife of Laurence Oliver, but as the namesake of Scunthorpe’s Plowright Theatre. Her acting credits date from 1951, and she has been the recipient of a Tony, and a couple of Golden Globes.

Veteran actor and Bafta winner John Hurt CBE also lived in Lincolnshire before winning a scholarship to Rada. As well as acting alongside Laurence Oliver (in King Lear), plus Anthony Hopkins, Anne Bancroft and John Gielgud (in The Elephant Man) he appeared as a Naked Civil Servant, plus a disenchanted Winston in the 1984 adaptation of... er, Orwell’s 1984. John Hurt was also the poor soul who suffered space’s worst upset stomach on board the Nostromo in 1979’s Alien. It was the first time audiences has seen Giger’s terrifying-looking aliens bursting out of their poor victim’s chests. To capture a genuine look of horror, Director Ridley Scott ‘forgot’ to tell the rest of the cast what was about to happen in the scene; they were simply directed to sit around the table and ad lib dialogue, as if dining together. Suddenly, Hurt began convulsing so the other actors’ look of concern is genuine... and their reactions when the infant alien escapes its host was one of genuine surprise! Finally, Lincolnshire is home to the warm, affable and occasionally slightly truculent characters that Jim Broadbent plays. His TV credits include Only Fools & Horses as police officer DCI Slater, and Blackadder. Jim has also appeared in films from the Harry Potter franchise to Bridget Jones’s Diary, to Hot Fuzz, Moulin Rouge, The Young Victoria and the Game of Thones franchise. n

Above: Sheridan Smith fronted the competitive dog grooming series Pooch Perfect alongside her own dog Stanley. Right: Jim Broadbent in the Harry Potter franchise as potions master Professor Horace Eugene Flaccus Slughorn. Image: Warner Bros.

Writers & Comics

From crime to comedy...

SOMERSBY was the birthplace of Queen Victoria’s poet laureate Alfred, Lord Tennyson, author of the poems Charge of the Light Brigade, Idylls of the King and Ulysses. His Poem In Memoriam

A.H.H was a tribute to his close friend Arthur Hallam and was a source of great comfort to Queen when Prince Albert died in 1861 and the two were living on the Isle of Wight.

Another Lincolnshire author, this time from Scothern, is Tracy Borman. Author of both fiction and non-fiction books about the Tudor dynasty. Tracy became Chancellor of Bishop Grosseteste University in July 2022.

Stamford’s Rae Earl’s teenage diaries were turned into a screenplay for the E4 comedy drama My Mad Fat Diary from 2013 to 2015, and the author followed up her recognition with two further novels and two self-help non-fiction volumes in 2017 and 2019.

And speaking of adaptations – and authors from Stamford – Colin Dexter’s character Morse appeared in 13 full-length novels and 11 short stories from 1975 until 1999. From 1987 to 2000 his eponymous Endeavour Morse was brought to life on screen by John Thaw before the franchise enjoyed a prequel spin-off in the form of Endeavour and one starring his long-suffering colleague Lewis. n

Tennyson.

Lincolnshire Songwriters

From The Invisible Man to a songwriter for The Rocketman...

ASK ANYONE to name a famous Lincolnshire songwriter and the inevitable name they’ll shout out is Bernie Taupin... but what about Rod Temperton, ‘the Invisible Man?’

Rod Temperton (right) was born in Cleethorpes and attended Market Rasen’s De Aston School, expressing an interest in music – and specifically drumming – before swapping drumsticks for a filleting knife and working for Ross Frozen Foods. Becoming a keyboard player and eventually answering an advert in Melody Maker by Johnnie Wilder Jr for a keyboardist, Temperton was one of the founder members of Wilder’s pop, disco and funk band Heatwave in 1975. He penned their famous disco anthem, Boogie Nights. Rod quit the band in the late 1970s but would continue to work with them as their songwriter.

Temperton also wrote songs for George Benson (writing and composing Give Me The Night), Herbie Hancock and Quincy Jones. The latter produced three of Michael Jackson’s most successful albums, Off The Wall, Thriller and Bad. Rod Temperton wrote Thriller and Rock With You, the former going platinum 33 times and eventually sold 70,000,000 copies, making it the best selling album of all times. Rock With You, incidentally, was originally written for Heatwave, but the band rejected it, and so Rod kept it ‘up his sleeve’ and allowed Michael Jackson to record it instead... to their eternal regret, one imagines!

Rod Temperton died in 2016 after battling cancer and his story is told in Jed Pittman’s 2017 biography, The Invisible Man.

LINCOLNSHIRE SPORTS PERSONALITIES:

n Holbeach-born Geoff Capes, was twice named the World’s Strongest Man in 1983 and 1985, and now lives near Grantham in the village of Stoke Rochford.

n Just down the road from Holbeach at Deeping St James, you’ll also find Martin ‘Wolfie’ Adams, a three-time BDO World Champion and three-time World Masters champion.

n Scunthorpe’s Tony Jacklin CBE was the most successful player of his generation, winning two major championships, the 1969 Open Championship and the 1970 US Open. He also competed in the 11th series of BBC1’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2013.

n In 1951, Scartho’s Brenda Fisher broke the women's world record for swimming the English Channel becoming a celebrity and she was given the British Sportswoman of the Year Award.

n Wrangle’s Melanie Marshall, meanwhile, was ranked number one in the world after breaking the British 200m freestyle record and went on to appear in the 2004 (Athens) and 2008 (Beijing) Olympics.

Meanwhile, Bernie Taupin was born in Anwick near Sleaford in 1950. His mother was a Cambridge-educated classicist and his father was a stockman with French origins. From quite a pastoral background Bernie had aspirations to become a journalist and joined the Lincolnshire Standard Group as a print room trainee. Answering an advertisement in the New Musical Express for a songwriter with Liberty Records, Taupin passed an envelope of his poetry to Ray Williams who in turn gave it to Reg ‘Elton John’ Dwight.

A collaboration began in 1967 which saw the two collaborating on no fewer than 30 albums, with Taupin writing the lyrics to Rocket Man, Candle in the Wind, Your Song and Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (recorded May 1973) which urban rumour states was inspired by a somewhat eventful night out at the Gliderdrome in the town of Boston... where Elton had performed on Saturday 24th February 1973! n

n Lincolnshire is also home to Olympic gold-winning hockey player Crista Cullen MBE from Boston, and Sophie Wells OBE of Lincoln, who won three medals at the 2012 Summer Paralympics, two golds and a silver at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, and team gold & individual silver at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.

n Born in 1905, David Cecil, 6th Marquess of Exeter excelled at Eton and Magdalene College not just academically, but as an athlete who made his debut in the Paris Olympics in 1924, competing at the 1928 Olympics in Amsterdam and 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. He later became part of the International Olympic Committee and helped to organise the 1948 London Olympics. The Nigel Havers character Lord Andrew Lindsey in the 1981 film Chariots of Fire is based on Lord Burghley and his performance in the Trinity College court run scene... with a little artistic license taken. The sixth Marquess of Exeter’s other legacy, bringing The Burghley Horse Trials – still a world class eventing fixture – to the estate from Harewood House in 1961

Music

Vocal, local and famous...

THERE’S PLENTY of emerging talent in the music industry from Lincolnshire, championed by BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Introducing campaign which launched in 2007 and aims to support emerging UK artists.

Tetney-born Ella Henderson reached the final of 2012’s X-Factor series and has since released two albums and been nominated for two Brit Awards and an Ivor Novello.

Grantham’s Holly Humberstone has also released 19 singles and her studio album Paint My Bedroom Black is due to launch this month. It’s a follow-up to her compilation album Can You Afford To Lose Me, from October last year.

Born in Stamford, Nicola Roberts was inducted into the pop band Girls Aloud following her appearance on 2002’s Popstars: The Rivals. Nicola remained with the group until it disbanded in 2009. The singer was also revealed as the winner of TV’s The Masked Singer in 2020 as Queen Bee, and she has been a keen activist campaigning to raise awareness of the dangers of tanning beds and as an anti-bullying campaigner.

And finally, in 1987 Swing Out Sister released their debut album It’s Better to Travel including the anthem Breakout. Lead vocalist Corinne Drewery comes from Louth and is still active in the music industry. n

Nicola Roberts.

Science & Technology

Inventions and discoveries...

SOMETIME’S it’s good to not allow facts to get in the way of a good story. For instance, that anecdote from your childhood that Sir Isaac Newton discovered gravity when an apple fell on his head? A complete myth, I’m afraid. Still, the discovery was really important and Newton’s laws of motion remain relevant in engineering and science today, as does his work in optics, not to mention that Newton’s scientific viewpoint also informed Einstein’s theory of relativity 300 years later.

Born in 1643 at Woolsthorpe-by-Colsterworth, Sir Isaac Newton’s education at Cambridge was interrupted by the Great Plague of 1665 when the university was forced to temporarily closed. It was during this time he returned home and is thought to have been sitting near or observing the apple tree in his garden which helped to refine his existing theories pertaining to gravity.

Unexpected trivia in bagging area!

A true polymath, Newton was a mathematician, physicist, astronomer, alchemist, theologian, and author... a really versatile thinker indeed.

Back in 1847 George Boole, having already established Lincoln’s Free School, and participated in the new Lincoln Mechanics’ Institute began working on what would come to be known as Boolean logic or algebra. A binary condition of true/false statements, his operators could also be represented by a simple zero or one, and they were, by computers, some years later.

Boole managed to pre-empt computer programming by a hundred years or so, and thus his work still remains a fundamental element within today’s computer programming languages.

Shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force in 1918, Sir Frank Whittle was one of RAF Lord Trenchard’s most successful ‘brats’ – early intakes of the service. He devised the turbofan ‘jet’ engine as a concept in 1929, patenting it a year later. Unable to afford the £5 renewal fee in 1935, his patent lapsed but a year later, Power Jets Ltd was formed with Falk & Partners, the Air Ministry, Whittle and two engineering firms, Williams and Tinling. Whittle, Williams and Tinling retained a 49% share of the company and Whittle was still a full-time RAF officer, with the title Honorary Chief Engineer and Technical Consultant, and special dispensation to work outside his normal duties.

Whittle later assisted Rolls Royce’s engineering department and post-war he was awarded an ex-gratia award of £100,000 and made an OBE in recognition of his work.

Whittle’s fastest engine design was capable of propelling an aircraft to 500mph.

That’s fast... but not 17,500mph fast and in fact it would take Louth’s Michael Foale CBE until 1992 to reach that speed, aboard the Space Shuttle’s STS-45 mission. After achieving a doctorate in astrophysics from Cambridge, Michael Foale moved to Houston to join the US Space Programme, solving navigation problems for McDonnell Douglas. He flew on five further missions from 1993-1999, and served as Commander of the International Space Station’s Expedition 8 mission. He left the space agency in 2013 to pursue a career developing electric aircraft and advance green aviation technology.

Finally... Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, who was born in Boston and worked in hospital-based clinical medicine before joining the University of Nottingham. He served with the Public Health Laboratory, Health Protection Agency and eventually SAGE, where his work also included delivering some very accessible health advice to the public during the pandemic. Prof Van Tam has been chair of the UK government’s New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (NERVTAG), and he was also knighted in the 2022 New Years Honours list. n

The Key Markets supermarket in Spalding was the very first retailer in the UK to see the use of a barcode and scanner. The first item ever scanned was a box of teabags on 2nd Oct, 1979.

Right: George Boole, born in Lincoln, 1815.

STS-45 Space Shuttle mission, 1992. Louth’s Michael Foale is pictured back row, second left.

Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam.

Sir Frank Whittle.

Michael Foale CBE.

Sir Isaac Newton.

Politics

From

a greengrocer in Grantham to politics in Parliament...

FEW POLITICIANS are ever likely to divide opinion in the future as Margaret Thatcher did from her time as Britain’s first female Prime Minister from 1975 to 1990. Even after her death in 2013 a sense of controversy remained with her statue being vandalised following its installation in May 2022. Whatever your view on her politics, though, Britain has never seen such a formidable Prime Minister since, and it probably never will. Undoubtedly the self-styled Iron Lady advanced the cause of women in politics forever. Speaking of advancing the cause of women, another Grantham resident did the same, with Edith Smith becoming the first warranted police officer in the UK in August 1915.

A final couple of side notes; radical socialist Thomas Paine lived and worked in Alford and Grantham prior to writing The Rights of Man in 1791. Former wife of Prime Minister David Cameron, Samantha Cameron and her sister, both grew up on the 300-acre Normanby Hall estate near Scunthorpe. Samantha’s sister Emily Sheffield also served as the Editor of London’s Evening Standard newspaper in 2020 and 2021. n

Religion

Methodists & The Mayflower...

BORNIN EPWORTH in 1703, preacher

John Wesley was the co-founder of Wesleyan theology, which now has over 20,000,000 followers worldwide. During his life John Wesley is thought to have delivered 40,000 sermons and his former home, The Old Rectory, is still open to visitors to this day.

A hundred years before that, in 1607, a group of puritan separatists met at Scotia Creek near Fishtoft, Boston and sought to escape Britain for religious freedom only to be betrayed and imprisoned in the town’s Guildhall. A year later another attempt by The Pilgrim Fathers proved successful and the group lived in Holland before returning to England and sailing to America to become the Founding Fathers on the Mayflower in 1620. Among them was John Cotton, former minister at Boston’s St Botolph’s Church and puritan preacher in the Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Finally, Chad Varah CBE was the British Anglican priest born in Barton on Humber in 1911. In 1953 Varah founded The Samaritans, a service which now receives 5m calls each year from those seeking help during times of emotional distress. n

John Wesley.

The Mayflower in Plymouth Harbour by William Halsall, circa 1882.

Broadcasters

Familiar from TV & Radio...

SADLY, earlier this year the world of broadcasing lost John Motson OBE who died at the age of 77. Though born in Salford, ‘Motty’ spend his childhood in Boston, following Boston United. He then joined the Sheffield Morning Telegraph as a football correspondent in 1967 and then the BBC in 1968, appearing first on radio and later on TV. Meanwhile the Grantham broadcaster Nicholas Parsons CBE was a comedy actor who first appeared alongside Arthur Haynes before being chosen as the presenter of a new BBC Radio 4 comedy panel game, Just at Minute. The show still airs today, but has been presented by Paul Merton and Sue Perkins in recent years. Nicholas Parsons was also known for presenting the game show Sale of the Century on Anglia TV. His other TV credits include Doctor Who, Have I Got News For You and he was the narrator for the 21st anniversary revival of The Rocky Horror Show. n

n Comedian and one half of French & Saunders, Jennifer Saunders was born in Sleaford. Her father Robert Thomas Saunders was a pilot in the RAF.

n Strictly dancers Kevin Clifton and Joanne Clifton were born in Grimsby. Their parents Keith and Judy Clifton run a dance school in Waltham.

n Comedian and author Robert Webb was born in New York (Lincolnshire!) and appeared in the cult Channel Four comedy Peep Show before releasing his memoir How Not To Be A Boy in 2015. He received an honorary degree from the University of Lincoln in 2018 and listed his Desert Island Discs to Lauren Laverne earlier this year.

Louth is home to cheeky comedian Roy ‘Chubby’ Brown and to character actor Graham Fellows, known in 1978 as the new wave artist Jilted John.

THE EXACT DATE OF BIRTH of explorer John Smith in unknown, although records show that he was baptised in Willoughby, near Alford, on 6th January 1580.

John Smith was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in Louth and served in various naval campaigns from the age of 16 before seeking employment with the Virginia Company of London who, on behalf of King James, sought to colonise Virginia for profit. Charge with mutiny on the way, Smith was saved from the gallows by sealed orders from the company opened at Cape Henry designating Smith as the leader of the new colony, enabling him to meet Pocahontas. Although historians now reject the idea there was a romance between them, it was certainly a good trading alliance.

Another of Lincolnshire’s famous sons was Sir Joseph Banks, the naturalist, botanist, and patron of the natural sciences who travelled with Captain James Cook in 1768 to New Zealand and Australia, returning to Britain with over 30,000 specimens and founding the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew. And finally, between 1791 and 1803, Captain Matthew Flinders, the navigator and cartographer from Donington, embarked on several voyages including a circumnavigation of New Holland, renaming the country Australia. Earlier this year, explorer’s remains were discovered by archeologists working on the HS2 project. The Matthew Flinders Bring Him Home group will rebury Flinders in

July 2024 at St Mary and the Holy Rood Church in Donington. n

Captain Smith, Joseph Banks & Matthew Flinders

Long perilous journeys undertaken by some of Lincolnshire’s most famous explorers and cartographers...

Dr Daniel Solander, Sir Joseph Banks, Captain James Cook, Dr John Hawkesworth and Lord Sandwich by John Hamilton Mortimer, 1771.

Above: John Smith.

How do you find working from home these days?

What’s On...

LINCOLN

TUESDAY 10th OCTOBERTUESDAY 7th NOVEMBER

THE ENGLISH CATHEDRAL

In 2008, Photographer Peter Marlow was commissioned by Royal Mail to photograph six Anglican Churches to mark the 300th anniversary of St Paul’s Cathedral. These were reproduced as a collection of commemorative stamps. Inspired by the beauty of the buildings, Marlow subsequently photograph more buildings and produced his book, titled ‘The English Cathedral.’ The resulting touring exhibition this month reaches Lincoln and is a photographic study of 42 different Cathedrals of England. n Lincoln Cathedral, for more information call 01522561600 or see www.lincolncathedral.com.

Crafterarma in Lincoln

INSPIRATION & SHOPPING FOR CRAFTERS IN GRANGE DE LINGS AS LINCOLNSHIRE’S SHOWGROUND HOSTS CRAFTERAMA...

LINCOLN

SUNDAY 1st OCTOBER

CRAFTERAMA

Inspiration and shopping for crafters in Lincolnshire this month as Craftarama reaches the county’s showground. Craft supplies including art stamps, mixed media, art journalling, die cutting, decoupage, beading, resin art, needle felting, decopatch, encaustic art and so much more to see, learn and buy. Watch demonstrations, join a ‘Make & Take’ session and enjoy a great day of crafting and creativity.

n Tickets £4/ad, £5/door, from 9.30am, www.crafterama.co.uk.

BOSTON

FRIDAY 27th OCTOBER

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE STUMP

Experience an evening of music and dance at Boston Stump with the legendary Steve Greenhough! Music from across the years, including, Motown, Soul, 1980s, and 1990s.

n From 7pm-11pm, tickets £10/advance, £12/door, Call 01205 310929.

STAMFORD

THURSDAY 5th OCTOBER

FRIDAY 6th OCTOBER & SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER

BURGHLEY BY TWILIGHT

A rare opportunity for an evening visit to Burghley House. As the sun begins to set, the State Rooms take on a magical glow and ambience that only twilight can provide. Carefully positioned soft-lighting and candlelight allow you to experience Burghley interiors in all their beauty as the magnificent frescos and works of art come alive. Includes Prosecco in the Old Kitchen and Great Hall, optional set dinner menu in the Orangery.

n 6pm-8pm, £28/person, See www.burghley.co.uk.

GRANTHAM

THURSDAY 5th OCTOBER

FRIDAY 6th OCTOBER & SATURDAY 7th OCTOBER

THE LAND OF THE MUSICALS

Harrowby Singers present West End hits at Grantham’s Guildhall Arts Centre.

n www.guildhallartscentre.com.

SPILSBY

SUNDAY 8th OCTOBER

APPLE DAY AT GUNBY HALL

National Trust-owned property Gunby Hall is renowned for its beautiful gardens and for being the home of no fewer than 50 heritage varieties of apple. The earliest of Gunby Hall’s varieties is Catshead, which dates back to the Jacobean era whilst the newest variety,

Winter Gem, was cultivated as most recently as the 1990s. These varieties and many more will be on display at Gunby this year during its annual Apple Day which also features trade and craft stalls dotted throughout the gardens and courtyard, with something on offer for every taste.

n From 10am, £9.90/adults, £5/child, Gunby Hall, Spilsby, PE23 5SS. Call 01754 890102 or see www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

Pumpkins at Bell’s

FAMILY-FRIENDLY FUN AT BELL’S PUMPKIN PATCH NEAR BENINGTON THIS MONTH...

LINCOLN

WEDNESDAY 11th OCT SOUTH AFRICAN WINE TASTING

Johnny Bingham from Delibo Wines takes visitors to Lincoln based Doddington Hall’s Farm Shop for a tour through the Delheim Vineyard, showcasing their amazing range of South African Wines.

n Booking essential, £15/each, 7pm-9.30pm, LN6 4RU. Call 01522 688581 or see www.doddingtonhall.com.

LINCOLN

THURSDAY 19th OCTOBER

SOLVE-A-LONG MURDER SHE WROTE

Comedy interactive event based on the Murder She Wrote story Song of Murder at Lincoln’s New Theatre Royal, 7.30pm, £25/adult. n Call 01522 519999 or see www.newtheatreroyallincoln.co.uk.

BOSTON

14th-15th OCTOBER, 21st-29th OCTOBER BELL’S PUMPKIN PATCH OPEN DAYS

Located about 10 miles north of Boston, Bell’s Pumpkin Patch has become renowned for its pumpkin-related fun and has been voted one of the top ten UK patches for picking up a pumpkin. As well as choosing your own, there’s a series of pumpkin displays with weird and wonderful varieties, pumpkin carving and the UK’s largest pumpkin cannon firing some unfortunate gourds high into the sky.

Send your press releases and events to editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

SKEGNESS

TUESDAY 24th OCTOBERSATURDAY 28th OCTOBER

SIX THE MUSICAL AT SKEGNESS EMBASSY THEATRE

Reigning on Broadway and in the West End, winners of 2022’s Tony Award for Best Original Score, the international smash hit musical Six is coming to Skegness!

From Tudor Queens to Pop Princesses, the six wives of Henry VIII take to the mic to tell their tales, remixing five hundred years of historical heartbreak into an 80-minute celebration of 21st century girl power. These Queens may have green sleeves but their lipstick is rebellious red. n Tickets from £27, various performance times, call 01754 474100 or see www.embassytheatre.co.uk.

Other attractions include a maize maze, funfair and lots of food vendors, plus other attractions that turn a simple trip out to pick your own pumpkin into a super day for the whole family. Back for 2023 is the addition of a brand new Makers Market, with food, art and craft sellers exhibiting their wares throughout the event. Expect local spirits, fudge, cakes ‘n’ bakes and much more in the food tent as well as jewellery, candles, home decor, and a variety of gifts.

n Benington, Boston PE22 0EE, see www.bellspumpkinpatch.com or call 07950 859761.

GRIMSTHORPE

Castle, Park & Gardens

Lincolnshire’s best kept secret

Stunning family home surrounded by 3000 acres of parkland, gardens, woodland and lake walks, an adventure playground and more!

Open during October Half Term, between Sunday 22 and Sunday 29, for Grim Castle Tours, Spooky Woodland Walks, Scary Storytelling, Pumpkin Picking and Halloween Trails!

PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE INFORMATION www.grimsthorpe.co.uk

CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS - £45PP

Party the night away with Taylor Swift, Abba, Coldplay and many more. See our website for dates and more details.

FESTIVE LUNCH & DINNER

Served throughout December, 12.30pm-4.30pm, 5.30pm-8.30pm

CHRISMAS DAY LUNCH

25th December, £79.95pp / £45.95 7-12yrs / £15 under 7’s

BOXING DAY LUNCH

Tuesday 26th December, 3 courses for £39.95pp / £19.95 7-12yrs / £13.95 under 7’s

NEW YEARS EVE GALA

£84.95 (Adults only). Dress code - Black Tie. 7.00pm Drinks reception - Carriages at 1.00am.

CHRISTMAS THEMED AFTERNOON TEA

28th November - 30th December

£20.00 pp (upgrade to Prosecco or Hot Chocolate for £5pp)

CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR SPA DEALS

27th December - 31st January

£129.00 pp (based on two sharing)

CHRISTMAS MARKET AT KENWICK PARK HOTEL

Sunday 26th November - 10.00am- 4.00pm. Free Entry

LUNCH WITH SANTA

Sunday 10th December/Saturday 23rd December

12.00noon - 3.00pm. £19.95pp / £9.95 5-12yrs / Under 5’s free

BREAKFAST WITH SANTA

Sunday 24 December, Christmas Eve

9.30am - 11.00am. £12.50pp / £9.95 per child

SEE OUR WEBSITE FOR MORE DETAILS OR GIVE US A CALL. REMEMBER TO BOOK EARLY TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE!

Pan fried hake with potato terrine, mussels, dill apple, samphire £24.

Dining Out in Woodhall Spa at the Dower House Hotel

Victorian elegance, a great setting and a lovely team. And now, there’s also a new Head Chef with all-new menus to enjoy too, at Woodhall Spa’s Dower House Hotel...

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

WHEN IT COMES to dining out at Woodhall Spa’s Dower House Hotel, you don’t have to say “I do!” to say “We will!” Nor do you have to be a guest staying in one of the hotel’s 21 (lovely) bedrooms. The Dower House is open to all, and we can especially recommend paying visit this season to enjoy the dishes that brand new Head Chef Callum Hawkins will be offering to Lincolnshire diners.

The Dower House Hotel was built in 1904 for Colonel Stafford Vere Hotchkin, creator and namesake of the Hotchkin course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club. It became a hotel about 40 years ago and was purchased by its present owners a decade or so ago, with an additional lodge built, comprising 15 rooms, back in 2011.

The elegant red-brick building, leafy grounds, the folly in which couples can marry, positioned under a mature weeping willow, and its secluded location have all ensured that the Dower House Hotel has become one of the most sought-after wedding venues in the county. With that success though, comes a sense of concern that the place might be overlooked as a restaurant in its own right, not only for residents, but for non-residents too. That would indeed be a shame because in the past year or so the hotel has been treated to a comprehensive refurbishment of its restaurant, communal areas and its rooms. For a long time the hotel’s dominant colour theme was crimson red, commensurate with its branding, but now that hue has been retired in favour of calming sage and neutral stone colours. There are pretty parquet floors, new soft furnishings and a smart dining room with the rebranded Harry’s Bar. It’s now a well-presented hotel with a great setting, both of which provide a more than suitable backdrop for its raison d'être; a revised offering of dining courtesy of its new chef.

His aim is to produce a dining experience currently unavailable in the village and to refine the provision of dishes at The Dower House with Lincolnshire’s best local ingredients, using just two or three elements for a dish but allowing the resulting plate to become greater than the sum of its parts.

During the daytime, there’s a Light Bites menu providing everything from baguettes to burgers, flatbreads and a classic Ceasar salad from noon until 5.30pm. >>

MEET THE CHEF

CALLUM HAWKINS

Born and raised Callum has worked in Woodhall Spa, at the Brackenborough Arms in Louth and at Market Rasen’s Advocate Arms. After working for The Dower House’s sister venue, Callum is back in Lincolnshire. His favourite food is the hake dish on the hotel’s new menu, his ‘food hell’ is over-used coriander!

Callum arrived at The Dower House from the hotel’s sister venue, The Griffin Plumtree in Nottinghamshire, where he achieved an AA rosette for the venue.

on the MENU

Starters

Black pudding Scotch egg with spiced-apple gel and celeriac remoulade, £12.

Burrata with basil oil, Inca tomatoes, toasted pistachio and garlic sourdough, £10.

Duck liver and brandy parfait with toasted brioche, kirsch cherry and baby herbs, £9.

Vodka-cured salmon with charred peach, toasted rye and lemon butter, £9.

Main Plates

Sirloin steak, garlic field mushroom, vine roasted cherry tomato, red wine garlic butter, triple cooked chips, £29.

Braised puy lentils with harissa glazed baby carrots, pickled fennel, paprika yogurt and pomegranate, £17.

Pan fried hake with potato terrine, mussels, dill apple, samphire, £24.

Fish & chips with minted pea puree, tartar sauce, £16.50.

Confit duck leg with mixed bean and chorizo cassoulet, creamed polenta and duck bonbon, £23.

Desserts

Dark chocolate torte with Chantilly cream, passionfruit gel, £9.

Pineapple and dark rum

semifreddo with almond brittle, coconut sorbet, mango gel, £9.

>> The Dower House Hotel’s main menu, though, is available during both lunchtime and evening service, seven days a week.

With five starters and 10 main courses, it’s a sufficient blend of several choices per course, whilst remaining concise enough to ensure everything is freshly prepared in house. Wherever possible, producers and suppliers are sourced locally, such as butchery from Graham Fidling and Marrfish which, whilst headquartered elsewhere, provides the hotel with fish freshly sourced from Grimsby’s fish market each morning.

During the autumn and winter months, game will be sourced from local shoots whilst speciality breads and desserts are produced in house. There’s a separate Sunday lunch menu, too, with Callum endeavouring to do justice to that weekend staple with jumbo

Yorkshire puddings and unctuous gravy created from three days of boiling bones and chanting incantations.

Food arrives beautifully presented with a flourish of colour, and served on stylish brand new contemporary crockery. Diners can also choose to dine in either the 26-cover restaurant or outdoors on the terrace.

To accompany your meal the hotel has partnered with Majestic to curate a list of more than 30 bins of wine from about £25/bottle topping out at £60.

Our suggestions are for a really good Barolo if you’re enjoying the sirloin steak or duck leg, or a New Zealand sauvignon blanc to accompany Callum’s hake or tagliatelle. A brand new range of classic cocktails and ‘whiskies of the world’ are also making a debut at the hotel this season too.

NB: This is a sample menu, and featured dishes are subject to availability and change.

Braised puy lentils £17.

Chocolate torte £9.

Semifreddo £9.

Black pudding Scotch egg £12.

“Now we’re also enhancing our provision of dining, with Callum’s insight and flair, we’re confident that we’ll be providing one of the best dining experiences in the area...”

A mention, too, for the hotel’s very popular provision of afternoon tea, an elegant offering presented on tiers with or without optional fizz or G&T, and again available on the terrace subject to the Great British weather. 2023 has not only seen the completion of a redecoration for the hotel and the arrival of Callum, but also a new General Manager in the form of Carlo Petrucci, who also arrived at The Dower House via its sister restaurant.

“It’s undoubtedly a beautiful hotel with lots of history, some really comfortable spaces and some really nice rooms that are wellappointed and generous in size, he says.”

“Now we’re also enhancing our provision of dining, with Callum’s insight and flair, we’re confident that we’ll be providing one of the best dining experiences in the area too.”

The Dower House may be one of the most sought-after wedding venues in Lincolnshire, but it’s also one of the most beautifully presented dining hotels in the county, with a nice setting and a lovely team.

With the addition of Callum and a wonderful new menu for autumn, the hotel is even more appealing for those seeking somewhere really pretty for comfortable, high quality dining. n

DINING OUT AT... The Dower House at Woodhall Spa

The Pitch: “An elegant country house hotel in Lincolnshire, serving wonderful new dishes courtesy of Callum Hawkins.”

Food Served: Light bites served seven days from 12 noon until 5.30pm. Main menu served seven days, 12 noon-2.30pm and 5.30pm-9pm. Sunday lunch 12noon-4pm.

The Dower House Hotel, Manor Estate, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6PY. Call 01526 352588, see www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk.

The 2023 Good Food Awards

This month we’re cooking up something rather special as we launch our Good Food Awards for 2023. Vote for your favourite restaurants and food & drink producers from across Lincolnshire and we’ll ensure they get the recognition they deserve...

Words: Rob Davis.

>> Vote for your favourite restaurant, coffee shop and food producer at www.pridemagazines.co.uk or use the voting form at the end of this feature.

Introducing Lincolnshire Pride’s Good Food Awards for 2023...

Once again we’re asking for our readers’ help in identifying Lincolnshire’s most well-respected restaurants, coffee shops, and our very best food and drink producers, with six awards designed to recognise the best the county has to offer... please do cast your vote as soon as possible!

WE NEED YOUR HELP! Once again, we’re hosting our Good Food Awards and we need all of our readers to nominate their preferred dining rooms and food producers across Lincolnshire to ensure we can provide them with the recognition they deserve.

As always, we’ve divided our awards into six categories, designed to reflect evening dining and choose an overall winner, to recognise somewhere for daytime dining, celebrate the efforts of a hotel or guest house, and to recognise Lincolnshire’s many producers and retailers of food and drink.

You can vote for whoever you wish as our awards are free of advertising bias, and nominating your recommended businesses is easy as you can either fill in the form at the end of this feature or vote online via the form at www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

“Last year we enjoyed a record number of votes in our Good Food Awards,” says Lincolnshire Pride’s editor, Rob Davis. “We’re hoping to better that this year, because receiving as many votes as we did last year ensures our awards can cover the whole of the county comprehensively to really reflect Lincolnshire’s size and the talent of its hospitality industry.” >>

Right: David Newton, Head Chef, The Brownlow Arms, Grantham.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2023

For our flagship award, we’d like you to nominate your overall favourite Lincolnshire restaurant. You can vote for whichever restaurant you wish –they don’t have to be an advertiser of ours – but we’re looking for quality food, a great setting and a warm welcome! n

CAFÉ, BAR OR BISTRO OF THE YEAR 2023

Our next category is dedicated to cafés, coffee shops, bistros and bars... the common theme is daytime dining or lighter bites. We’re looking for an independent business which offers a great place to meet up with friends during the day for lunch or coffee! n

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE 2023

Lincolnshire has a really strong culture of quality pubs and restaurants serving British dishes, but in our third category we’d like to recognise a restaurant serving international cuisine with flavour, flair, an appreciation of its provenance and true authenticity. n

BEST ‘RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS’ 2023

Though our awards are mostly concerned with food and drink, we’re still keen to champion hotels, boutique bed and breakfast accommodation or another such ‘restaurant with rooms’ to recognise a provider of comfortable and stylish rooms as well as great food. n

BEST LOCAL FOOD PRODUCER 2023

The county is also home to lots of wonderful butchers, bakers, cheesemakers, and other food producers who serve both local restaurants and consumers. Our penultimate category aims to recognise one such ‘food hero’ or a retailer such as a farm shop. n

BEST LOCAL DRINKS PRODUCER 2023

And finally... as well as recognising one of the county’s food producers, we’re also looking to raise a glass (or cup) to a producer of tea, coffee, wine, local gin or ale, or perhaps a producer of soft drinks in the county too, naming our best local drinks producer. n

YOU CAN VOTE FOR WHICHEVER BUSINESSES YOU WISH TO RECOGNISE AS BEING AMONG THE COUNTY’S FINEST FOOD AND DRINK AMBASSADORS – OUR AWARDS ARE TOTALLY FREE OF ADVERTISING OR OTHER BIAS... SIMPLY FILL IN THE FORM AT THE END OF THIS FEATURE OR CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE AT WWW.PRIDEMAGAZINES.CO.UK. >>

The Brownlow Arms.

Doddington Hall.

The Slanted Door.

Washingborough Hall.

Washingborough Hall.

Batemans Brewery.

>> Vote for your favourite restaurant, coffee shop and food producer at www.pridemagazines.co.uk or use the voting form at the end of this feature.

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2023

Vote for your favourite restaurant in the flagship category of our awards

The flagship category of our Good Food Awards is our Restaurant of the Year title. We’re looking for a place which makes the most of local ingredients and prepares their dishes with creative flair and solid technical skills, providing somewhere comfortable for diners to enjoy, with great service too.

The county’s smartest restaurants include North Lincolnshire’s Winteringham Fields, venerable coaching inn The George of Stamford and Uphill Lincoln’s Jew’s House, which may feature in your shortlist of the county’s best restaurants. However we’re always keen to point out that a consideration of your favourite restaurant

Last Year’s Winners

THE BROWNLOW ARMS, HOUGH ON THE HILL...

Last year saw Hough on the Hill’s quality pub restaurant The Brownlow Arms enjoying the prestige of our flagship Restaurant of the Year award. The place has been owned by Paul and Lorraine Willoughby since 1979 and has two AA rosettes underwriting the quality and presentation of its dishes. Popular both with those who live close to the restaurant as well as those from a little further afield, Paul and Lorraine also maintain six bery nicely-styled bedrooms for guests who wish to stay over.

n The Brownlow Arms, Hough on the Hill, Grantham NG32 2AZ. Call 01400 250234, or see www.thebrownlowarms.com.

in the county doesn’t necessarily mean the most exceptional standards of fine dining. For instance, over the past year we’ve also enjoyed the Marco Pierre White steakhouse within Lincoln’s Doubletree by Hilton hotel country hotels like the Dower House and Petwood Hotel, or lovely country pubs such as The Brownlow Arms, last year’s winners of the title.

We’re looking for somewhere that you’ll return to time and again, somewhere you recognise as providing a warm welcome, and enjoyable dishes, so please do cast your votes and help ensure our awards are the most comprehensive in the county. n

Right, Clockwise from Top/Left: Bistro dining with pan fried sea bass at The Lawn in Lincoln; Crème brûlée with seasonal berries at Orbis of Stamford; Moules marinières at The Leagate near Coningsby; Scallops and tempura king prawns ar Magpies in Horncastle; Saddle of Belton Park venison at The Brownlow Arms, Hough on the Hill; Peanut butter and chocolate stack at The Bottle & Glass, Harby; Plate of pork at No.38/The Tower in Lincoln; Fish and chips at The Hope & Anchor, South Ferriby. Centre image shows tomahawk steak at the Marco Pierre White Steakhouse within The Doubletree by Hilton, Lincoln.

The Hope & Anchor.

The Brownlow Arms.

BEST CAFÉ, BAR or BISTRO

Lunchtime dining, afternoon tea and café bars...

Our second category is designed to recognise the Lincolnshire restaurants, cafés and bistros offering daytime dining rather than full evening meals. Around the county are a wealth of farm shops which offer brunch and lunchtime dining, from Doddington Hall’s Farm Shop to Mountains Farm Shop at East Heckington and Syston Farm Park, The Ivy’s near Kirton and Vine House Farm’s Farm Shop & Café near Spalding.

Alternatively, Lincoln itself features Bunty’s Tea Room on Steep Hill and Stokes High Bridge Café on the High Street and its café based adjacent to its roastery at The Lawn in Lincoln. Also this year, we’ve enjoyed visits to Belvoir Castle’s Engine Yard, where The Fuel Tank provides enviable daytime dining, and The Parlour, an Edwardian style tea room based in the Springfields Outlet Shopping village in Spalding.

If you’re in Sleaford, you may enjoy the independently-owned Emily’s Bakehouse with its homemade cakes, Millers Bar & Restaurant, Tablez, the Mediterranean-inspired bistro for daytime diners. Wherever you choose, we’re looking for somewhere that’s really welcoming for daytime diners, with lovely homemade lunches or afternoon teas, making the most of local ingredients and offering the same warm welcome you’d expect when dining out in the evening... so cast your vote now! n

Last Year’s Winners

DODDINGTON HALL FARM SHOP & CAFÉ...

Lincoln’s Doddington Hall took last year’s Coffee Shop of the Year Award. The stately home itself was built in 1600 and came into the custodianship of James and Claire Birch in 2006. Since then the couple have created a really good farm shop and café with a great team and lots of good shopping on site too.

n Doddington Hall Farm Shop & Café, Doddington near Lincoln. Call 01522 694308 or see www.doddingtonhall.com.

Belvoir Castle.

Doddington Hall.

>> Vote for your favourite restaurant, coffee shop and food producer at www.pridemagazines.co.uk or use the voting form at the end of this feature.

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE 2023

Celebrating international dining...

Our International Cuisine 2023 category allows you to recognise mediterranean or pan-Asian dining, anywhere in Lincolnshire. One of the county’s best Mediterranean dining options is Scunthorpe’s San Pietro, owned by Pietro and Michelle Catalano, bringing the taste of Pietro’s native Sicily to Lincolnshire diners. Woodhall Spa’s Zucci, the Sleaford and Boston based Italian restaurants Italian Connection are also great for authentic pasta dishes. Witham on the Hill’s Six Bells provides a French-inspired auberge menu every Monday whilst Olé Olé at The Lawn in Lincoln provides authentic tapas dining.

One of the most authentic Chennai and Bengali dining experiences in Lincolnshire can be found at The Agra in Sleaford, whilst Katana in Grantham and Spalding, or Cognito on Lincoln’s Park Street celebrate Japanese cuisine, the latter with a rooftop bar and cocktail menu. Take us on a worldwide tour of exceptional dining and cast your vote in our International Cuisine category. n

Last Year’s Winners

ZADA of STAMFORD

2022 saw Stamford’s Zada crowned our best restaurant for international dining. Zada in Arabic means ‘fortunate’ and those visiting the Turkish-inspired restaurant will certainly feel luck, tucking into with spiced mezza and dishes of slowly-cooked and delicately flavoured tagines of lamb, chicken and – for vegetarians and vegans – tofu or veg.

n Zada is based on St Mary’s Hill, Stamford PE9 2DP. Call 01780 766848 or see www.zadarestaurant.co.uk.

Doddington Hall.

RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS

Vote for your favourite restaurant in the flagship category of our awards

You’ll sleep soundly knowing that you’ve nominated a wonderful restaurant with accommodation in the Restaurant with Rooms category of our awards. Popular in previous years have been Woodhall Spa’s Petwood Hotel, and the Dower House Hotel. In Lincoln, the Doubletree by Hilton with its Marco Pierre White-branded steakhouse is popular, as is The Bronze Pig and just off Bailgate The Castle Hotel.

We’ll also recommend San Pietro in Scunthorpe and at the opposite end of the county, The George of Stamford. Last year’s winner in this category, quite understandably was the elegant Georgian Washingborough Hall just a stone’s throw from Lincoln with smart rooms in a beautiful Georgian setting. Washingborough Hall is the home of Ed and Lucy Herring, and it’s home to beautifully-presented dining too. n

Washingborough Hall.

>> Vote for your favourite restaurant, coffee shop and food producer at www.pridemagazines.co.uk or use the voting form at the end of this feature.

BEST LOCAL FOOD PRODUCER

Nominate your favourite food producer or retailer...

Lincolnshire is rich in food producers from butchers and bakers to those who make artisan cheese, or raise their own livestock. In our penultimate category we’re looking to celebrate a ‘food hero’ who is a really good ambassador for great Lincolnshire food.

Our suggestions include butchers from Gary Simpson in Sleaford to Boston Sausage or Grasmere Farm in Market Deeping or last year’s winners Redhill Farm. Alternatively, what about a baker such AW Curtis of Lincoln or Myers of Horncastle, or Alistair Hawkin of Grantham Gingerbread. Failing that, consider a local cheesemakers like Cote Hill (pictured below), Poacher Cheese of Ulceby or Lymm Bank of Burgh le Marsh or Lincoln’s Cheese Society... and if they all sound a bit fishy, you could always vote for Alfred Enderby’s Patrick Salmon, producer of smoked fish in Grimsby. n

BEST LOCAL DRINK

A refreshing category indeed...

And finally... our last category is seeking your vote for Lincolnshire’s best drinks producers. Suggestions include local producers of real ale from Batemans Brewery to Heckington’s Eight Sail Brewery, or one of the county’s gin producers, such as Pin Gin, The Lincoln Distillery or The Gentlemen Distillers

Lincolnshire also has a new vineyard in the form of Sleaford’s Mayfield Vineyard, and a much more established name in the form of Belvoir Farm whose ranges of pressés and cordials are very well thought of. Other names to consider are Lincolnshire’s coffee roastery, Stokes, based at The Lawn, and The Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company. So, whilst you case your vote in our final category... we’ll put the kettle on! n

YOU CAN VOTE FOR WHICHEVER BUSINESSES YOU WISH TO RECOGNISE AS BEING AMONG THE COUNTY’S FINEST FOOD AND DRINK AMBASSADORS – OUR AWARDS ARE TOTALLY FREE OF ADVERTISING OR OTHER BIAS... SIMPLY FILL IN THE FORM AT THE END OF THIS FEATURE OR CAST YOUR VOTE ONLINE AT WWW.PRIDEMAGAZINES.CO.UK. >>

Vote for Your Favourite Restaurants and Lincolnshire Food & Drink Suppliers...

You’re free to vote for whichever Lincolnshire businesses you choose; they don’t have to be mentioned in this edition. You can also vote online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

Restaurant of the Year 2023: Your overall favourite place to dine in Lincolnshire. ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Café, Bar or Bistro of the Year 2023: Your preferred place to enjoy a lighter meal or coffee.

International Cuisine 2023: A Lincolnshire restaurant providing great international dishes.

‘Restaurant with Rooms’ 2023: A restaurant that also has really special accommodation. ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Local Food Producer 2023: A producer of local artisan food e.g.: a butcher, baker or cheesemaker. ...........................................................................................................................................................................

Lincolnshire Drink 2023: This could be a wine or spirit, locally roasted coffee, local tea or soft drink.

Name:.................................................................................................................................................................

Address:.............................................................................................................................................................. ...........................................................................................................................................................................

In the KITCHEN

Warm and gooey, ideal with ice cream and brilliant in front of the fire with a dessert wine, this melt-in-the-middle recipe is a mainstay of many restaurants...

MELT-IN-THE-MIDDLE CHOCOLATE PUDDING

Preparation Time: 30 minutes. Cooking Time: 10-12 minutes. Serves: Four people. 100g (3.5 oz) good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa solids), chopped 100g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing • 2 large eggs • 2 large egg yolks 100g caster sugar • 40g all-purpose flour • Cocoa powder, for dusting • Really good quality ice cream or whipped cream, for serving.

Preheat the oven to 180°c Gas 6, and grease four individual pudding ramekins with butter. Dust the inside of each ramekin with cocoa powder, shaking out the excess. In a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (double boiler), melt the chocolate and butter together, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, egg yolks, and caster sugar until pale and slightly thickened. Gradually pour the melted chocolate mixture into the egg mixture, stirring continuously until well combined. Sift the flour into the chocolate and egg mixture, and gently fold it in until just incorporated. Be careful not to overmix. Divide the batter equally among the prepared pudding ramekins, filling them about two-thirds full. Place the ramekins on a baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes. The puddings are ready when the edges are set but the centre are still slightly wobbly. Remove the puddings from the oven and let them cool for a minute. Carefully run a knife around the edges of each pudding to loosen it from the ramekin. Invert each pudding onto a serving plate. Gently tap the base of the ramekin to release the pudding – it should come out with a gooey, molten center. Dust the puddings with a little cocoa powder and serve immediately, preferably with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream on the side. n

To book call: 01522 522900 select option 2 Visit: lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

To book call: 01522 522900 select option 2 Visit: lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

Email: events@lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

Email: events@lincolnshireshowground.co.uk

#EpicParty /LincolnshireShowground @LincsShowground

#EpicParty /LincolnshireShowground @LincsShowground

A brand new gin from Lincolnshire, grain to glass...

Tipplemill Distillery of Sutterton releases its debut gin, taking full advantage of the county’s cereals

We’re delighted to bring you news this month of a brand new gin distillery based on the Sutterton farm of Frank Craven.

“We are very proud of our Lincolnshire roots and have created a gin which uses our farm-grown wheat to make our base spirit,” says Lily Craven. “It represents all that is wonderful about the British countryside and brings people together over a refreshing tipple.”

Subtle pine and grapefruit notes with hints of sweet fennel and soft earthy cassia plus orange and elderflower notes over distinct juniper. n

£call / 70cl/ 40% ABV. www.tipplemill.com

The Wine Cellar

AUTUMN REDS: Recommended red for October’s Sunday roasts...!

A new vintage of Journey’s End Bluegum Merlot from 2021. Vibrant with cherry and sweet raspberry. Delicious with duck and chicken, from Sainsbury’s, £10 / 75cl / 14% ABV, www.sainsburys.co.uk.

Cune Mencia 2022 offers a brilliant clean red cherry colour and an explosion of aromas on the nose, intense fresh red fruit flavours, mineral and earthy. Ideal with roasted red meats. £11 / 75cl / 13% ABV, from www.groceries.morrisons.com

Journey’s End ‘Sir Lowry’ Cabernet Sauvignon is a new vintage from 2021 with 18 months barrel ageing. Complex with dark plummy fruits, £14.99 / 75cl / 12% ABV, www.waitrosecellar.com.

Wine of the Month

Graham Beck Blanc de Blancs 2017/18

Robertson, South Africa, £22.99 / 50cl / 12% ABV

A 100% Chardonnay grape sparkling wine with bright lime green colour and rich aromas of fresh limes, green apples, pears and lemon zest. Created from grapes cultivated on the Robertson estate’s rich limestone soil. Graham Beck has been synonymous with quality South African fizz since 1991, winning awards for some of the country’s best ‘Methode Cap Classique.’ This fizz has even been sipped by the likes of Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama!

n Purchase from www.majestic.co.uk.

We love Warners gins, and for designated drivers or those who don’t like to feel tipsy, the distillery’s Juniper Double Dry 0% alcohol-free ‘spirit’ has proved very popular. This Pink Berry version is an absolute cracker. It took experimenting with 53 different natural ingredients until the company landed on the perfect recipe. Fruity bursts of raspberry and blackcurrant, pepper, ginger and chilli. n £18 / 50cl / 0% ABV, www.warners distillery.com

n Our featured wines are available from the best local independent wine merchants, supermarkets and online, prices are RRP and may vary from those stated.

SOME STUNNING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR OCTOBER WITH RED WINES FOR ROASTS, A FIZZ THAT’S THE BIZ, A NEW LOCAL GIN AND AN ALCOHOL-FREE OPTION, TOO...

All the ‘berry’ with none of the ‘merry’!

LET THERE BE LIGHT

Bright, bold and beautiful, with impressive eco-credentials. This month’s contemporary property in Louth is owned by the ecologically-conscious Aletia and Nick Adams...

THE DETAILS Ouroboros in Louth

Location: Louth centre one mile, two minutes, Grimsby 27 mins

Provenance: Architect-design house close to Louth with over 5,000sq ft accommodation, built in 2006 and set in over four acres.

Rooms: 75ft open plan living kitchen with solid walnut staircase, first floor sitting room with balcony, four bedrooms all en suite including first floor master with dressing room

Guide Price: £1,850,000.

Find Out More: Savills, Olympic House, Lincoln LN6 3SE. Call 01522 508908, or see www.savills.co.uk.

INFINITY, ONGOING, FOREVER The ancient symbol known as ouroboros is a circular symbol depicting a constant and eternal cycle of continuity and rebirth. Aletia & Nick Adams decided that the name was fitting for a property that was their forever home, and that the name reflected the unending views over the Wolds of undulating countryside and the big skies overhead.

To say the property is unique is an understatement. It offers over 5,000sq ft of accommodation and many features designed to ensure its sustainability, which was especially important to the couple, who are self-proclaimed eco-warriors keen to ensure that they consider the impact on whatever they do privately or in their field of work, in the energy industry, gearing up our infrastructure for the ongoing transition to electric vehicles.

The property itself was constructed in 2016 and the couple purchased it from the builder. It has a solid steel shell, brick construction and its exterior is clad in cedar and huge expanses of aluminium anthracite panoramic windows. The couple have recently installed air conditioning throughout the property and there’s a ground-source heat pump for hot water, mechanical heat recovery and ventilation plus underfloor heating throughout.

The property’s waste water is processed off-grid with a Klargester system, and the property has huge amounts of natural light so it remains efficient and feels cosy despite its size.

Topped off with the UK’s first glulam (aluminium-clad timber) roof, Ouroboros is arranged over two floor with a large entrance hall plus cloakroom, utility and plant room. To the south wing there are three bedrooms, each with an en suite shower room. To the north wing of the property is the immense family room with its kitchen, dining and living areas plus the glass and solid walnut staircase in the centre. The kitchen was created by Grimsby-based contemporary interior specialist Richard Sutton Interiors with white high-gloss handleless cabinetry and Miele appliances, Quooker tap and an Insinkerator waste disposal system to minimise rubbish.

Opposite the staircase there’s a soaring double-height feature window and on the first floor, a sitting room with views stretching about 20 miles into the distance over the Wolds.

There’s a balcony, too, from which to enjoy impressive south-facing views... something that was a nice surprise for Nick!

“We were living in Scotland at the time and Covid was still restricting travel, so I viewed the property on my own, after a 13-hour round trip and only after we’d made an offer on the place to secure a memorandum of sale,” says Aletia.

“The first time Nick saw the place in person was when we followed the removal truck up the driveway. We were travelling separately and on loudspeaker in the cars. His reaction was just as I’d hoped... he was amazed by the place and it was love at first sight!” >>

>> “We walked around the house and Nick thought it was amazing. We looked at the views from the first floor sitting room over the Wolds. It was a really clear day and you could see almost forever, which was a contrast to the day I viewed it on with its snow and fog. As we looked out on the view Nick said ‘you didn’t tell me about this!’ and we both just looked out and thought it was the best place in the world. We’ve not changed our opinion since!”

Quite aside from the indoor spaces – and the view – the family also loves the absolutely enormous split-level terrace with a rill which runs parallel to the full-height feature window opposite the staircase. Beyond the completely private terrace with its seating and dining area there are neat borders and rolling lawns. A grown-up family who have flown the nest, and the appeal of single-storey accommodation, have led to the couple putting Ouroboros on the market but the couple say that it’ll really hurt to leave such a wonderful property.

“It’s been an incredible, very unique family home, one that’s at the same time vast, but wraps around you and feels really homely. From festival-themed parties for 150 people and entertaining with friends to time spend together as a family, it’s been a wonderful home... one that we’ll remember fondly forever!” n

n Kingsfield Pond, Barnoldby Guide Price: £1,950,000

Incredible architect designed four bedroom (all en suite) eco-house, set in four acres of beautiful landscaped gardens with indoor heated swimming pool. Savills, Lincoln, call 01522 508900 or see www.savills.co.uk.

n Upgate, Louth Guide Price: £1,000,000

Stunning contemporary family home with accommodation over three levels. Rooftop-style lounge, four bedrooms, two en suites and PV solar panels. Robert Bell, Horncastle, call 01507 522222 or see www.robert-bell.org.

n Glentham Grange, M/Rasen Guide Price: £1,950,000

Superb opportunity to purchase a touring park with ornamental lakes, holiday cottages, inn, amenities and 20 touring pitches.

Poyntons Consultancy, call 01205 361694 or see www.poyntons.com.

WARM & NEUTRAL

Warm shades and neutral tones to get ready for a cosy autumn, available from the area’s leading interior design studios...

This Page: Colefax & Fowler wallpaper, Bellflower, in blue; Sofa in Ruskin, beige; cushions in Ruskin beige, Delano Fan Edge stone, Minack Check Beige, Brook Stripe blue.

To make the best of these fabrics, seek out one of the county’s leading interior design specialists to create bespoke soft furnishings and decoration for your interiors...

Top: Thistle Weave fabric, Morris & Co, mineral colourway.

Top/Right: Lewis & Wood Doves wallpaper in Topaz.

Right: Delcor sofa, bespoke sizes and fabrics, Chelsea style shown, call 01780 762 579 for an appointment to design your perfect sofa.

White Company of Stamford Cavendish bed linen in white and mink. 800 thread sateen. Duvet cover £180-£225, flat sheet £125-£200, Oxford pillow cases £60-£80. thewhitecompany.com or High Street, Stamford, 01780 769192.

Lincolnshire

Delcor: 01780 762579, www.delcor.co.uk.

01472 268377, www.richardsuttondesigninteriors.com.

01780 754605, www.hworksdesign.co.uk.

01472 233111, www.stevensonsgroup.co.uk. n

Interiors:

H-Works:

Richard Sutton Interiors:

Stevensons:

Sophie Allport Witham Console Table, light brown reclaimed pine, ready assembled, 180cm wide, £1,200, www.sophieallport.com.

RICHWOOD CABINET MAKERS

A STUNNING FAMILY KITCHEN

This month we’re enjoying a tour of a beautiful new family home with a stunning living kitchen at its heart, created by Alex Richardson of Richwood Cabinet Makers...

Words: Rob Davis.

IT’S A NEW BEGINNING for a plot of land in a village between Grantham & Sleaford. Where once stood tired-looking, dilapidated agricultural buildings and a weedy plot, there now stands a beautiful new country home, crafted in Stamford Stone and looking pristine in the sunshine during our visit.

As it’s currently under offer, a new beginning beckons too for a family who will move in and make happy memories there. Currently the landscapers are hard at work creating a beautiful lawn, and there are no carpets or other furnishings in yet, but already it’s looking every bit the family home that its creator, Aisby Developments, and project manager Paul Atherton envisaged.

He’s a bit of a veteran when it comes to creating beautiful homes, having designed and constructed five properties in this village alone and 12 in total. To say that Paul has an eye for quality is an understatement, and that’s why he’s enlisted Alex Richardson of Richwood Cabinet Makers to create the kitchen that will soon serve as the beating heart of the home and a second property nearby too.

In our experience there are two types of property developer; the first type focuses principally on their return on investment and a project is... well, just a project. But there’s a second type who are committed to creating really exceptional properties, ones that their owners will love living in... a developer who’s in it for love, not money.

“I had in mind a home that someone could fall in love with straight away,” says Paul. “One in which a family could be really happy and one that was practical and well thought-out but genuinely handsome too. There’s also a second plot that is currently under construction nearby, so Alex will also create the kitchen for that property too. Both will make really attractive, well thought-out homes!”

The result is a home with plenty of modern features whilst remaining vernacular in style, with 4,000sqft accommodation and a south-facing aspect. Overlooking the terrace and garden is a generously-sized living kitchen with space for dining and relaxing, with limestone flooring and Alex’s hand-built kitchen created in beech hardwood finished in two Farrow & Ball shades – Mole’s Breath and Purbeck Stone – with white Carrera quartz work surfaces and integrated appliances. >>

Main: Alex Richardson of Richwood Cabinet Makers has created this two-tone solid beech kitchen with white Carrera work surfaces and integrated appliances.

>> Second generation cabinet maker Alex Richardson took over the family business from his father Alan in 2017 and now works alongside mum Sue and another member of staff in the workshop maintaining the company’s reputation as the home of exceptionally well made kitchens that embody traditional craftsmanship and great design.

“The scale of the business is such that we take on about 10 major projects a year and other work in-between, and that means I can undertake the design, the construction and installation of each one.”

“From the client’s perspective that means there’s only one single person to speak with; someone totally accountable and with a complete understanding of each project.”

“Because everything we do is bespoke, being technically feasible is the only limit to what we can create, and we’re always competitive against other companies.”

“Over the past couple of years, as well as working with Lincolnshire homeowners, I’ve also begun to pick up more and more commissions from developers like Aisby Developments who don’t want to install a lower-spec ‘off-the-shelf’ kitchen in an otherwise beautiful family home.”

“Property developers tend to have an eye for quality and design. They want something commensurate with the kind of property they want to create and they’re keen that the budget they set aside, for what is arguably the most important room in the home, is going towards the kitchen itself, not just to the company who are supplying it.”

“Working with Paul and Aisby Developments has been great. It’s a really stunning home and we’ve worked collaboratively to design the kitchen in a way that suits the overall look and feel of the property.”

“A kitchen can really sell a home and I hope that the new owners are looking forward to settling in here, enjoying family life together!” n

Alex works with companies like Aisby Developments and for customers who want to commission a truly bespoke, beautiful quality kitchen for their own homes...

RICHWOOD CABINET MAKERS

Find Out More: Richwood Cabinet Makers provides kitchens, utility rooms, fitted bedroom furniture and studies, all of exceptional quality. For a free, no obligation quote, call 07534 808903.

Above: Alex Richardson (left) and colleague Charlie Perkins (right).

to GREAT DESIGN Cottoning On

Words: Rob Davis.

WILLIAM MORRIS, the British textile designer, artist, poet and exponent of the Arts & Crafts movement of the early 20th Century once remarked that one should ‘Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.’

To paraphrase, my own belief is that good design is art with a purpose. And to that end we’d this month like to introduce you to Stuart Gardiner, the Lincoln-based graphic designer whose range of kitchen linens and prints are indeed both useful and beautiful.

“I’m originally from Swinderby and went to school in Hykeham before studying towards a degree in Graphic Information Design in Falmouth.”

Stuart graduated from university and found himself working in London-based studios mainly in the music industry, designing album covers for the studio’s varied clients, ranging from Kate Bush to Iron Maiden.

Pursuing a freelance career in 2007 and moving back to Lincolnshire with wife Sam, to start a family, Stuart set about creating the first in a series of tea towels and A2-sized fine art prints with information invaluable to those who enjoy food and drink.

The first was a guide to British fruit and vegetables, season by season, presented as an infographic (i.e.: a design-led graphical presentation of information). An initial production run sold briskly and also attracted interest both from the food industry and from retailers like Liberty of London & Selfridges who asked Stuart to create designs for them too.

Since then, Stuart has created a range of meticulously researched and beautifully presented kitchen linens informing their readers – a captive audience comprising glass polishers, cutlery buffers and washer-uppers – of ideal wine pairings for both red wine or white wine, classic cheeses of the world, breads of the world, different whiskies, gins and beer... and latterly the different indigenous butterflies and species of bee you might spot outside from the kitchen window whilst polishing the family silver.

Each design is incredibly clever, looking great either from across the kitchen hanging on the Aga or in the hand. Each design is also available as a 100% cotton tea towel or as a fine art print.

“When we founded the business ethics were important to us,” says Stuart. “So we chose a Spilsby-based print house, Countryside Art founded in 1975 and still family-owned.” >>

Informative, fun, brilliantly designed and ethically made right here in the county. There’s much to love about Lincoln designer Stuart Gardiner’s infographic kitchen linens and prints...

Top: Designer Stuart Gardiner creates novel infographics printed on kitchen linens.

>> “The factory prints onto Better Cotton-affiliated suppliers of 100% cotton, with water – not oil – based inks, in a factory where nearly 40% of the power is generated by solar panels and with a wildlife area and pond around which the company has planted 300 trees.”

“Each of the designs takes three months to research and create –infographics can be a little fiddly – but they’ve a wonderful visual quality with lots of detail that ensures people scrutinise them closely.”

“Having information about wine pairing at a glance is popular, but as practical objects too, I really do believe in buying a quality British made product, spending a little more but having something that will turn an everyday kitchen item into something imaginative, informative and fun!” n

Top: The Coffee Guide print A2 (42cm x 59.4cm) £36. Above: A Guide to Fizz 100% cotton tea towel (76cm x 48cm) £12. Opposite: A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies tea towel, includes donation from sale to Butterfly Conservation £12; Classic Cheeses of the World; Bee Friendly tea towel, includes donation to Friends of the Earth; Wine Pairing tea towel, red wine shown here, also includes white wine guide, £22/set two. All of these designs are available as both print and tea towels.

“Right from the start we were keen to sure our business was ethical in everything it does. With each sale of our Kaleidoscope of Butterflies and Bee Friendly tea towels we make a donation to Butterfly Conservation or Friends of the Earth respectively...”

n Stuart Gardiner is a graphic designer based in Lincoln and committed to producing informative and playful products as an ethical local business. You can purchase products directly by calling 07973 272136 or by visiting www.studiogardiner.com.

David Hunt Apollo pendant light, £call, from Broughtons of Leicester.

Vintage Ceramic Light

Eight colours, nero shown here, ceramic light/ceiling rose, £313.

BROUGHTONS

Aspen Three Light

Rich wood graining and antique brass metalwork, £582.

Balance Floor Lamp

Aged silver, with counter-weight to raise and lower the light to suit, £185.

SEEING the LIGHT

This month, we showcase new season lighting with fresh design-led products from Broughtons of Leicester...

For more information visit Broughtons on Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BP. Call 0116 234 1888 or see www.broughtons.com.

Circle Rise & Fall

Aged copper, with rise and fall counter-weight, £226.

Quintiesse Harper

Authentic industrial look with sleek polished nickel finish, £1,230.

Edison

C20th industrial look with antique brass finish, £229.

Saddler Pendant Light

With vintage brown hand-stitched leather and brass metalwork, £684.

Crystal Chandelier

Six light in polished chrome and crystal, £832.

The £64,000 Question Kia’s

EV9

Kia makes great cars; reliable and well-built. Cars that its customers love and rate highly, too. But at more than £64,000, the company is now going up against Land Rover & Range Rover...

BACK INTHE 1950S there was a game show which made its way from the USA to Britain. The £64,000 Question challenged contestants to answer a question correctly to win big money, and the game show was revived in the 1990s. There are parallels with Kia. Kyungsung Precision Industry company was a South Korean manufacturer of steel tubing and bicycles. In 1952 it changed its name to Kia Industries and began to manufacture motorcycles, trucks and cars under license. These were later sold in the US and UK, and in 1997, Kia was taken over by Hyundai, who wanted to adopt it as their budget brand. But then something happened. Kia began to make spectacularly good value and spectacularly good cars. Kia now appears at the very top of customer reliability surveys, too, with customers heaping praise on its vehicles.

Kia is a respected company, making popular cars, including its flagship Sorento, an SUV with seven seats which tops out at £51,000. However... Kia has just released this. It’s the EV9, which as its nomenclature implies is an electric vehicle. It has seven seats, 300 miles of range and tonnes of equipment. But, it also commands a price of between £64,995 and £78,745, putting the EV9 on a showroom collision course with Land Rover’s 110 Defender (£66,395), Range Rover’s Velar Autobiography (£75,560) and Mercedes Benz’s EQE (£74,345). Kia is good. But is it good enough to tempt buyers away from a Range Rover or Mercedes?

Objectively, yes. At just over five metres in length it’s bigger than a Defender, and fleet customers will appreciate a 2% BIK rate.

The EV9 won’t get anywhere near a Defender off-road but on motorways, the standard Adaptive Cruise and a lofty driving position will make a long journey effortless. And with seven seats and 331 litres of space to a Defender 110’s 213 litres, it’ll eat a family worth of luggage for breakfast.

The only obstacle to the talented EV9’s obvious appeal will be badge snobbery, and that’s likely to impact on the car’s depreciation. If it loses money quickly it’s likely to be a bargain used car at three years of age. If it retains money though – and if you’re not going off-road – there’s every reason to recommend the EV9 as much as a Defender. n

THE DETAILS Kia EV9

Price: £64,995 (EV9 Air RWD), £72,495 (EV9 GT-Line AWD).

Order now; first deliveries Q1 2024. Powertrain: 99.8kWh all electric motor; 201bhp, 336 mile range (RWD); 378bhp, 308 miles range (AWD), performance TBC.

Equipment: Seven seats, adaptive cruise, 360° camera, heated and ventilated front/rear seats, heated steering wheel. Recycled sustainable seat material/leather-free interior.

AWD adds premium relaxing massage seats, and remote smart park assist function. n

Spinning Yarns

Autumn brings with those lovely colours, crunchy leaves and homemade soup plus some great knitwear too... here’s our pick of the finest, examples to keep you warm all season long...

Selection: Mandy Bray.

1. Funnel-neck jumper, £129. www.thewhitecompany.com

2. Henley crew, in navy, £129. www.hollandcooper.com.

3. Striped ultra-fine merino wool Sweater, £125. www.lilysilk.com.

4. Striped stretch viscose sweater, £350. www.maxmara.com.

5. Rib-knit military shoulder stripe top, £85. www.karenmillen.com.

Ralph Lauren

Leather medium

Winny backpack in tan colour, £349. www.ralphlauren.co.uk

Verity leather backpack in desert stone, £195, www.ospreylondon.com.

Chiltern backpack in oak, £1,050, www.mulberry.com.

BACK TO BACK

Hudson backpack, earthenware, £375. www.katespade.co.uk.

Fairfax & Favor

Loxley in tan suede, £345, www.fairfaxandfavor.com.

What’s more practical than a backpack that’s easy to carry with a couple of compartments and plenty of space? Here, we recommend our favourites!

Full grain Italian leather backpack, £136, www.fredericstjames.com.

Desigual

Mid-size half-logo backpack, £84, www.desigual.com.

Cleo

Monos

Metro backpack in ivory, £225, www.monos.uk.

Osprey London

Mulberry

Kate Spade

Katie Loxton

backpack in mink, £79.99, www.katieloxton.com.

Fredric St James

Selection: Mandy Bray.

Enjoy the area’s finest magazines, using our App, free to download now!

Read online now at

You can now enjoy Pride Magazine with our app on your smartphone or tablet... completely free of charge!

Purveyors of Luxury Eyewear

Since 1979

43/44 Wrawby Street, Brigg, North Lincolnshire DN20 8BS

Tel: 01652 653595. Web: www.obriensopticians.co.uk

Male Grooming & Haircare in the Heart of Stamford

Book online at www.raffertysofstamford.com

Fitzwilliam’s Screening & Symptomatic Breast Clinic Services

Here to Care for You

The area’s leading independent healthcare facility, Fitzwilliam Hospital, based near Peterborough, provides high-quality breast care for women, looking after you in a caring and person-centered environment, ensuring that you’re supported throughout your experience...

THE CHARITY Cancer Research says that one in two of us will get cancer in our lifetime. It’s a daunting prospect, one amid which a prompt diagnosis and a clear conversation about what happens next can help a great deal to put your mind at rest.

The better news is that in the respect of breast cancer – the most common cancer in the UK – survival rates are generally good, especially if you’re diagnosed early.

That’s why Peterborough’s Fitzwilliam Hospital has worked really hard to offer an excellent breast screening service with a one-stop symptomatic breast cancer clinic for private patients. This means that women can book an appointment with a clinician –whether they have symptoms or not – for peace of mind as well as rapid, easy access to diagnostic tests and treatments as required.

Optimistic breast cancer statistics

Around 55,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. NHS England has published improved first-year survival rates for breast cancer that now stand at about 97%. Around 85 out of every 100 women (85%) will survive their cancer for five years or more after diagnosis. Finding cancer early – when it’s in the initial stages – means that its treatment is likely to be more successful. Greater awareness and improved education around cancers, including breast cancer, are both thought to help detect cancer early. Patients know to arrange an appointment to see their GP or breast care specialist for a full assessment if they have any concerns.

Fitzwilliam Hospital is seeing more younger patients than ever before, but eight out of ten cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women aged 50 and over.

Fitzwilliam offers two breast cancer care services for women. The objective is to detect breast cancer in its early stage and to increase survival chances of breast cancer.

Looking out for symptoms

Most people know that it’s wise to conduct regular self-examination and to be aware of common breast cancer symptoms such as a new lump in your breast or armpit, thickening or swelling in your breast or armpit. A change in the size or shape of your breast, changes in skin texture or colour and discharge are also of potential concern.

If you notice anything unusual it’s not immediate cause for alarm, but it is still important that you arrange an appointment with your GP or directly with a consultant breast surgeon as soon as possible.

Any symptoms may be due to normal breast changes or a benign (non-cancer) condition. If breast cancer is detected early, treatment is likely to be more successful. So, it’s important to get any symptoms checked out as soon as possible.

Breast cancer screening

A breast cancer screening also checks for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. It can find breast cancer when the cancer is too small to feel in a physical examination. A mammogram is most commonly used and is typically the first stage of breast screening. Typically, this will involve two breast X-rays for each breast which takes around 30 minutes in total. Women aged 50 and above are invited by the NHS for a mammogram breast screen every three years until they are 71.

The Fitzwilliam Hospital, sees women who are worried about breast cancer and want a breast screen before turning 50, have a

family history of breast cancer, or want the reassurance of a more regular screening such as annually.

Rapid breast cancer diagnosis

Developed to help ease the anxiety of breast symptoms, The Fitzwilliam Hospital’s dedicated and specialist symptomatic breast cancer clinic cares for women who are worried about breast problems. One single appointment involves a breast examination, a mammogram and other tests as required. You should be aware and take some reassurance that most often the result is normal and you leave the clinic with complete peace of mind.

If breast cancer treatment is required, we will discuss the most suitable treatment options for you based on the stage and grade of the cancer (size and spread), your general health, and whether you have gone through menopause.

The main treatments for breast cancer are now surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy and targeted therapy. Women who have a mastectomy – which removes all the breast tissue – may also want reconstructive breast surgery which can be performed at the same time or later.

Why the Fitzwilliam Hospital?

Patients choose The Fitzwilliam Hospital’s breast screening and one-stop diagnostic breast clinic often for a number of reasons.

These include the fact that patients can self-refer so they have faster access to tests, scans and checks than waiting for a referral. Furthermore, all tests can be done in one visit with quick results usually within a week. Patients receive personal care delivered by a consultant breast surgeon, consultant radiologist and a dedicated breast care nurse. n

Meet the Surgeon STEVEN GOH

Meet one of The Fitzwilliam Hospital’s pioneering breast surgeons, Steven Goh...

Mr Steven Goh, an oncoplastic breast surgeon, specialises in breast cancer treatment. He offers both breast screening and diagnostic tests and treatment for patients who have breast cancer symptoms. Mr Goh and his breast surgeon colleagues provide a holistic breast cancer service for patients at The Fitzwilliam Hospital.

Over recent years, Mr Goh introduced the latest biologic breast reconstruction surgery procedures to the East of England. These include using a natural Strattice mesh to support breast implants in reconstruction and pedicled perforator flap partial breast reconstruction that uses tissue from other parts of your body to rebuild breast shape after a mastectomy. Mr Goh performs both of these procedures at The Fitzwilliam Hospital.

Mr Goh says, “I became a breast surgeon for a number of reasons. Breast cancer is very common in the UK and it generally offers very good prognoses and outcomes. I get great satisfaction from helping my patients and knowing their appreciation for providing the latest and most appropriate care during this difficult and emotive time. As well as breast treatments and reconstructive surgery being very effective in cancer treatment, patients benefit from a quick recovery and low complication rates.” n

Find Out More: Cambridgeshire’s leading independent hospital, The Fitzwilliam Hospital, provides high-quality breast care for women. Patients can see Mr Goh or one of the hospital’s teams of consultants either through self-referral or via a GP referral. To book an appointment call 01733 842309 or see www.fitzwilliamhospital.co.uk. n

Forever Autumn

THIS MONTH WE’RE WELCOMING IN THE WARM, RICH COLOUR PALETTE OF AUTUMN

1. Hourglass Veil Setting Powder...

Autumn makeup will give you a nice warm glow during the cooler months, so a better base means a more flawless and natural-looking finish.

Hourglass’s Veil Translucent Setting Powder provides a great base for foundation or concealer, reducing the appearance of pores and fine lines. Weightless, light-reflecting and available in three shades.

£46/10.5g, Space NK in Stamford or at spacenk.com

2. Guerlain Quad...

The perfect shades new Ombres G eyeshadow quad is available in eight different colour palettes, our favourite being Exotic Orchid, shown here with its burgundy, brown and gold hues.

£64/6g, John Lewis, www.johnlewis.com.

3. Gucci Loves Lips...

Gucci’s Rouge à Lèvres is the company’s cheery vintage-inspired lipstick designed to give a luminous finish with a colour palette of 18 shades that deliver a feeling of moisture and comfort in a lightweight texture.

£37/3.5g, John Lewis, johnlewis.com.

4. OPI Big Zodiac...

OPI’s Infinite Shine is a three-step long lasting nail polish ensuring gel-like high shine and 11 days of wear. Use with Infinite Shine primer and Infinite Shine gloss for extended wear. Virgoals bronze hue shown here.

£16.90, 15ml, John Lewis, johnlewis.com.

5. Hollywood’s Magic Wand...

The secret to achieving wonderfully defined cheekbones instantly! Charlotte Tilbury’s new Hollywood Contour Wand is available in two different shades and is the perfect lightweight, blendable, and buildable formula to create a well-contoured face. Creates shadow and definition for a naturally sculpted look, and its a cinch to use with a cushion-like applicator for even coverage and flawless results.

£30/12ml from charlottetilbury.com.

6. Prada’s Paradoxe Eau de Parfum...

Finally, a wonderful autumnal scent from Prada and some imaginative copywriting from the PR department: “This feminine fragrance explores strength through the lens of delicacy.”

A floral ambery fragrance with a woody inflexion, vibrant and warm with sensuality.

£97/50ml, www.prada.com.

All our beauty products are available from local independent stockists unless otherwise stated, please note that prices stated are RRP and may vary.

WEDDINGS

A Country Estate Wedding

Chris and Natalie, who eschewed a marquee reception in favour of hosting an elegant country estate wedding...

Wedding Photographer: Jessy Jones Photography, 07947 514456, www.jessyjonesphotography.co.uk.

TIMES ARE CHANGING, and more people than ever are meeting their future partner online, through dating apps and on social media. However, the workplace is still the most common place to find romance with 18% of all relationships beginning over a boiling kettle in the office kitchen, whilst waiting by the photocopier, or when contemplating a spreadsheet full of figures in a meeting

Chris Clements was born and raised in Benington, Natalie Lote not so far away in Butterwick. Both began working for T H Clements, with Natalie initially joining in the accounts team and soon becoming indispensable to the family business.

She and Chris, the third generation of Clements to work in the family business founded by his grandfather Thomas ‘Harry’ Henry in 1966, shared a lift to the firm’s Christmas party, and whilst raising a glass to the festive season, found themselves enjoying a kiss under the mistletoe. The two started seeing one another in 2010 and whilst enjoying dinner together at Hambleton Hall in Rutland, Chris asked Natalie to marry him. “He’s not one to make a fuss or make a really public display but it was a really sweet, romantic and understated proposal, and of course I said yes immediately,” says Natalie. The couple’s first wedding date was July 2021, but with Covid still foremost in everyone’s mind, they decided to delay their day by a couple of years, ensuring we were all back to some kind of normality, and that their preferred suppliers were still available.

“Our first thought was planning a marquee reception,” says Natalie. “But we did have reservations about whether we’d end up being too warm, too cool or bothered by insects.”

“We started looking at other venues and soon discovered Irnham Hall which we both fell in love with almost immediately. It was really light and airy, set in beautiful grounds

Wedding Venue: Irnham Hall, Grantham 01476 550244, www.irnhamhall.co.uk.

Wedding Dress: Coates Couture Bridal, 01472 822006, coates-couture.co.uk.

Bridal Hair: Charlotte Wesson, 07967 770736, charlottewesson.co.uk.

Bridal Makeup: Rochelle O’Brien, 07590 545267, rochelleobrien.co.uk.

Groomsmen’s Tailoring: Empire Menswear, 01476 578022, empiremenswear.com.

Wedding Flowers: The Flower House, Bourne, 07814 783559, www.theflowerhousestamford.co.uk.

Wedding Cake: Purple Pumpkin, Stamford, 07934 195420, purplepumpkincakes.co.uk.

Decorations, Stationery, Styling: www.kmgbridalstudio.com, www.sayitwithprint.co.uk, www.zazzle.co.uk.

Catering: www.blackpeppermint.com, www.woodfiredpizzacompany.co.uk, www.icecreambike.net.

Entertainment: Rolling Keys (Sarah) and evening DJ & Saxophone (Alex, Will) via www.jonnyrossmusic.com.

Wedding Video: 07931 761808, www.lincolnshirevideography.com. n

and we figured that being able to see all of the grounds from the reception meant that it was the next best thing to being outdoors. Moreover, with such a lovely large space it also meant that we could have all of our guests together at the same time.”

“Because we had delayed the day by a couple of years, we visited several of Irnham Hall’s open days and we really enjoyed getting to know Jamie and Leila, who have refurbished the estate and opened it up to couples planning their wedding.”

“As The Griffin Inn and the estate’s cottages are also part of Irnham Hall, we were also able to have guests staying over the night before the wedding and the following night too.”

Natalie visited Megan Coates of Coates Couture, based at Holton-le-Clay where she found two dresses – Ashton and Celeste –created by designer Randy Fenoli; a princess-line gown for the daytime and a more practical one for enjoying dancing at the reception later on.

Natalie’s four bridesmaids found their dresses online and were able to choose the same style but mix and match a sage green shade with a blush colour, whilst Chris and the groomsmen sourced their tailoring from Empire Menswear in Grantham.

Based in Bourne, The Flower House’s Tracy Burr created the couple’s native floristry with large roses and peonies plus paler foliage of eucalyptus and gypsophila.

Also from Stamford, Purple Pumpkin created a three-tier wedding cake with fruit, cookies ‘n’ cream and white chocolate and raspberry layers. The front half was a traditional iced design whilst the back of the cake was a hidden design celebrating the couple’s shared love of Nottingham Forest FC. Wedding styling, invitations, table plans and place cards were courtesy of KMG Bridal Studio, Say It With Print and Zazzle who ensured everything remained on brand. >>

This month we feature the wedding of

>> The couple’s wedding breakfast and evening catering providers, meanwhile, were Lincoln’s Black Peppermint Catering and the Wood-Fired Pizza Company with Ice Cream Dreams providing a tricycle serving cones of Lincolnshire-made Dennetts ice cream.

“The whole day was really enjoyable, but if I’ve any advice for other brides it’s to enjoy every second because it really does go very quickly,” says Natalie.

“We were lucky to have Jessy Jones as our wedding photographer and Stef Wignell’s Lincolnshire Videography (Steve & George) capturing our day so we can relive the moments that flew by.”

“There was a bit of drama in the morning when one of the groomsmen realised that his trousers didn’t fit, leading the owner of Empire Menswear to make a quick dash in his car to deliver a different size!”

“It’s moments like those that you can laugh about down the years. Like marriage itself, things on the day won’t always go smoothly but it’s about being together and helping each other to overcome little dramas, with a smile on your face and the support of your other half by your side!” n

Wedding Photographer: Jessy Jones Photography, 07947 514456, www.jessyjonesphotography.co.uk.

“The whole day was really enjoyable, but if I’ve any advice for other brides it’s to enjoy every second because it really does go very quickly,” says Natalie.

Blackout Blitz Ball

RECOGNITION, REMEMBRANCE & RECONCILIATION

Those are the three purposes for which Canwick’s International Bomber Command Centre was established.

As part of the centre’s aims to remember the efforts of those who served in Bomber Command during the Second World War, the venue hosts its Salute to the 40s Weekend every year, and the highlight of the event is the 1940s Blackout Blitz Ball, attended by around 90 people.

An evening of vintage dress, supper and dancing to the Kalamazoo Band, was a highlight of a weekend which included vintage displays, a 1940s market plus a barbecue & dance on Sunday.

The Centre will be hosting its annual service of remembrance next month, including a service will include hymns with the IBCC Orchestra and Choir, poetry readings and a Roll of Honour for the veterans who have left us in the last year. n

Words & Images: Rob Davis.

The International Bomber Command Centre’s

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