Bailgate Independent November-December 2020

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CHRISTMAS SPECIAL 2020

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When the going got tough Golding Young got...

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News

Golding Young’s successful bid to thrive in Covid era THE first lot in his first virtual auction after lockdown sold for £26,000 - that’s when Colin Young knew the huge raft of measures his company had implemented were going to be worth it.

However, the survival of the family auctioneering and valuation business was not foremost in Colin’s mind when the national restrictions were imposed back in March.

All that changed for the managing director of Golding Young as soon as the announcement was made he knew an urgent action plan was needed to completely transform the county-wide, publicfriendly operation.

“On March 24th I should have been going to see Stiff Little Fingers at Rock City in Nottingham. Instead I had to close all six offices and apply furlough protocols by standing down 38 out of 40 staff when lockdown came in, ”said Colin.

The two still working were Colin and his daughter and Associate Director Kirsty Young. The business was run from the family’s dining table.

Once premises had been secured, clients’ assets inventoried, accounts settled and suppliers paid, the best way forward for Golding Young & Mawer then had to be planned.

“We had no option but to introduce changes throughout the business because we wouldn’t have been able to operate within the Covid-19 landscape, but we weren’t prepared to compromise on the standard of our service with the measures we introduced,” explained Colin.

Extra layers of administration were added throughout the business designed to protect clients and staff while maintaining customer service, which has seen the company take on extra staff.

Jewelley experts: Associate director Kirsty Young (right) with consultant auctioneer Jan Squires.

Top: Colin Young (right) with John Leatt and staff at the Lincoln Saleroom at Thomas Mawer House.

“The public could pop into any of our Salerooms for a variety of reasons: getting items valued, viewings, dropping off or picking up sale items.”

The measures in place mean people can visit, but by appointment and staff will be on hand to help ensure social distancing and visitors’ safety.

The company has a rich history to honour as it was started in 1864

by Thomas Mawer in Lincoln and a series of acqusition and mergers - including the 2010 union of Lincolnshire two largest auction houses Thomas Mawer and Golding Young - led to the current incarnation of the business.

To ensure the system was working the offices started to slowly open from mid-June whilst the first auction had already been held in lockdown with two laptops from the Young dining table - that very first lot was a rare Japanese ken tanto dagger with dragon mounts taking £26,000.

Chartered auctioneer Colin has become an old hand at the online sales and the public’s appetite for auctions has not waned.

“The market is very strong at the moment and prices are very good,” said Colin who explained potential sellers can check all post lockdown sale results on the company website and another quarter of a million before pandemic restrictions.

He misses the atmosphere of a Saleroom full of people, although he needs to focus on two screens and stay in touch with a live bidding operative, who could be anywhere in the country.

“I miss having people in the Saleroom as you can’t tell if the rostrum jokes are getting laughs or, more likely, groans,” said Colin.

“It is a challenging time for everyone, but a smile and humour should conquer adversity... And for me? It is simply hoping to use that SLF ticket at some point.

Golding Young & Mawer, Thos Mawer House, Station Road, North Hykeham, Lincoln, LN6 3QY email lincoln@goldingyoung.com. T. 01522 524984 http://www.goldingyoung.com.

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Editor’s Comments

FYI our NN is WFH but it’s BAU (For your infomation our new normal is working from home, but it’s business as usual)

Chartered Certified Certified Accountants Accountants Chartered

IF we say so ourselves we have a brilliant issue lined up for you full of news, features and ideas – all of them local.

The main thrust of this edition is the importance of supporting local enterprises…whether they’re businesses, wellbeing and good neighbour schemes or other worthy projects.

This is central to the Lincolnshire Co-op’s business ethos as you can see from our centre pages and it’s the loud and clear message from Lincoln BIG chief executive Sarah Loftus in our Christmas section.

Some food for thought l 63p out of every £1 is returned into the local economy when you buy local compared to 40p and less from large stores. l Small local businesses are the nation’s largest employer and are likely to pay higher wages than their chain counterparts.

Talk to us for jargon-free, practical advice

l Choosing local can have a positive environmental impact. l Independent businesses are run by real people invested in their local area.

We love characters at the Indie, so we’re delighted that we’re featuring two gents who tick that box with spades.

Our front page ’star’ is Colin Young, who has led his auctioneering and valuing business through the pandemic restrictions with humour alongside his ‘do or die’ attitude.

Keith Reeve has been at the top of his game for almost 50 years and even though he’s hanging up his scissors he’s determined to pass on his hardearned wisdom to those still in the profession – see pages 12-13 A very sincere thank you to all the people who made publishing this magazine possible – we’re good, but not good enough to do it without you.

These are challenging times for everyone and, sadly the Indie office on Burton Road is no more for the time being – that’s me and the business spouse pictured in my home office and wearing pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As you can see from this edition working from home in no way compromises the quality of the magazine or our commitment to our local community. In fact once lockdown is lifted (and my cancer purdah is over) you’ll probably see even more of us out and about. Make sure you keep in touch through the contact details below.

GET IN TOUCH

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Your Bailgate Independent is produced at 29 Belle Vue Road, Lincoln, LN1 1HH (mail only) .

Material for our next edition should be emailed to the addresses in this box by December 15.

We welcome your news and comments and will do our best to publish submitted items, but this is not always possible and we reserve the right to withhold content.

EDITORIAL Contact Amanda McSorley on 0781 667 5011 email: amanda@bailgateindependent.co.uk ADVERTISEMENT SALES Rachel Bishop on 07983 460 640. email: ra ch e l@ ba ilga te in de pe n de nt. co.u k

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We are celebrating 20 Years of the Bailgate Independent magazine in 2020 Lincoln’s premiere free magazine, published by Fire Works Design Ltd - bringing you news and lifestyle from the Lincoln area.

We also publish the Hello Lincoln What’s On Guide - the city’s ultimate listings magazine.

Under usual circumstances 10,000 copies of the Bailgate Independent Magazine are printed and hand delivered each month to the thriving residential and business areas of Lincoln and the surrounding villages.

You can also find us in Marks and Spencer on the High Street and the food hall on Tritton Road, Burton Road and Riseholme Road Food Stores Lincolnshire Co-op, hotels, the Quayside Deli at Burton Waters, restaurants, cultural and tourist centres and village newsagents.Bailgate Independent’s targeted distribution works well for clients and we spot check deliveries every month.

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

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News

Focus on recovery - councils told THE government has agreed that the main priority for Lincolnshire councils should be Covid-19 recovery and not reorganisation.

The seven district authorities including neighbours City of Lincoln, North Kesteven District and West Lindsey District Councils – were made aware of a letter sent to the Leader of Lincolnshire County Council, Martin Hill, from government confirming it was no longer seeking applications for local government reorganisation in the county. Councils have, instead, been asked to focus on the county’s recovery from the Covid19 pandemic.

Ever since the County Council wrote to government in the middle of the pandemic pressing for reorganisation leading to a Greater Lincolnshire body, the district councils have been adamant that it was not the right time and they wanted to see ‘real reform, not rushed reorganisation’.

The government statement agreed: “Given the pressures councils face this winter with the pandemic...it would not be right at this time for them to further progress or focus on ideas for reform.”

Throughout the pandemic, Lincolnshire’s district councils have led from the front in terms of supporting their communities, making a meaningful and significant difference to residents and businesses. This work will continue without the distraction and strain on valuable resources that potential reorganisation was creating.

The district council leaders jointly, including Cllr Ric Metcalfe (above) stated: “We are pleased that central government has put the potential for local government reorganisation in Lincolnshire on hold for the time being. This enables district councils to put our full focus on protecting the county’s most vulnerable and keeping essential services running during the pandemic.

“We have been very consistent and clear in our message: now is not the right time for local government re-organisation due to COVID and it’s reassuring that government has shown its support for our view.

“The district councils in Lincolnshire have a long history of successfully working together for the good of our communities.

This will continue and, where appropriate, we will seek out new ways of collaborating to deliver services at a local level as we continue to work tirelessly for the good of our residents. They are our number one priority and will remain so as we lead the fight against the pandemic.

“We will continue to deliver the county’s recovery from the pandemic while also awaiting the government’s white paper on devolution. It is essential that if additional powers and funding are being transferred from central Government in the future then we must ensure the very best deal for our residents.”

Add some extra sparkle to your Christmas this year with our gorgeous range of gifts and decorations

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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For A Good Cause

Macmillan Cancer Support Centre THE new Macmillan Cancer Support Centre at Lincoln County Hospital has officially re-opened for pre-booked face-to-face appointments.

The new centre, which brings together a range of cancer services in one location, opened to the public earlier this year only to close shortly after due to the pandemic.

The team continued to provide vital practical, emotional and Beverly Flockhart (left) and her team Claire Fowler, Information and financial support to people affected by cancer virtually over the Support Assistant and Andy Rowston, volunteer. phone and via video calls.

Welfare benefits advice is also now available, helping families cope The virtual support remains available, the centre has introduced with the additional financial pressures that cancer can bring. The some measures to ensure face-to-face support can also be delivered team will also signpost support groups and other services. in a safe environment. These are unaffected by current restrictions.

Beverly Flockhart, Macmillan Cancer Information and Support Advanced booking is essential and one hour appointments are Facilitator at the centre, said: “There are currently 27,826 people available between 9am and 3pm to allow time to disinfect the area living with cancer in Lincolnshire and this number is expected to between patients. There is currently no drop-in service. double by 2030. It is important to ensure that patients and their Only two people will be allowed in the centre at one time and families can access information, advice and support at different social distancing will be maintained. Face coverings are to be worn stages throughout their cancer experience, particularly now we are throughout the hospital at all times and are available on entry. faced with the additional threat of coronavirus.

To keep hospital traffic to a minimum patients are asked to arrange “We are so pleased to welcome people back into the centre for previsits to the centre after an existing appointment rather than booked appointments. The range of measures we had put in place making a special trip. will ensure patients were still able to access the vital cancer support Funded by Macmillan, the new centre near the main outpatients’ they need in a safe environment.” entrance will mean better cancer support for people living in Lincolnshire from the moment of diagnosis. They can talk to one of the team about any concerns about cancer or their treatment in Contact the centre on 01522 573799 to make an the designated quiet room. appointment or email macmillan.infosupport@ulh.nhs.uk.

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

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For A Good Cause

Now Accepting Entries...

Win VIP day with Red Arrows to support ambucopter WIN a day with the Red Arrows through an online auction raising funds for the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.

The charity’s Christmas Auction, launched by members of the Lincolnshire Air Ambulance Countryside Appeal (LAACA), opened on November 6. Along with the VIP day with the world-famous air display team (above) bidders can also win: relaxing cottage breaks; days out at Henley Regatta; a skydiving experience, a VIP visit to RAF Coningsby including flight simulator experience and football match tickets..

The LAACA committee’s first bi-annual lunch and auction on behalf of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance raised a £80,000. A second event was due to take place this year, but the decision was made to move the auction online due to Covid-19.

The committee is hoping to raise over £40,000 for the charity’s lifesaving work.

Karen Carter, Fundraising Manager at Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, said: “Although this year’s LAACA luncheon has been cancelled, it has not stopped the committee in itsquest to support our charity. We’d like to thank all LAACA committee members for their incredible efforts in organising this fantastic online auction to help raise funds for us during a difficult year.

With over 70 unique prizes to bid on, there really is something for everyone.

“We’ve seen a significant drop in our income this year, and we need your help more than ever. If you can, please consider registering for this online auction and be in with the chance to win some fantastic prizes.”

The auction site is open until Sunday, November 22 visit www.lincolnshireairambulancecountyappeal.com

See website for details...

Regulated by RICS - The hallmark of a professional auction house offering executor & private client advice & services for valuation, auction sale & property clearance.

The Lincoln Auction Rooms E: lincoln@goldingyoung.com

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goldingyoung.com

#LatchOnLincolnshire A Breastfeeding campaign, to encourage businesses to be more breastfeeding friendly across Lincolnshire.

To support the campaign and obtain a poster for your business please email LECCG.BetterBirths@nhs.net with your company address.

Alternatively, please follow us on: Better Births Lincolnshire

@betterbirthlinc

And like, share and retweet whenever possible.

We look forward to hearing from you, and thank you in advance

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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News

Catch on to Latch On Lincolnshire campaign

Amanda Pike, chair of Lincolnshire Maternity Voices hopes businesses will latch on to the breastfeeding campaign.

COULD your business or organisation do more to help mums who want to breastfeed infants on your premises?

Join the #LatchOnLincolnshire campaign and you will be helping mums give their babies the best possible start in life.

Better Births Lincolnshire came up with the idea of encouraging restaurants, attractions, shops and other facilities to become breastfeeding friendly after a national review of maternity services found that county mums need more support when they choose to breastfeed their babies.

The national review led to the national Maternity Transformation Programme, which aims to make services across England safer, more personalised, kinder, professional and more family friendly. #LatchOnLincolnshire will see breastfeeding-friendly premises display a poster and be added to a map on the Better Births website so families can find and plan outings.

“We want to support all mums however they choose to feed their infants, but we also want them to be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding for babies and for mums themselves, “ said Sue Jarvis, Maternity Transformation Programme Manager for NHS Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group.

“And while we want to support mums’ choices we don’t want them to shy away from breastfeeding because there aren’t the facilities out there for them or they are made to feel awkward when out.”

Better Births was getting ready to launch the campaign this summer, but then the Coronavirus lockdown occurred delaying the process, but not before they had been able to ask mothers about their breastfeeding experiences.

Sue explained: “Lincolnshire Maternity Voices Partnership carried out a survey of mum’s experiences and the results were both eyeopening and sad. It showed us that not only there is a definite need for more safe spaces for women to breastfeed, but also to keep the

conversation going, so more people think of breastfeeding as normal.”

Amanda Pike, Chair of the Partnership (a forum for service users and providers) thanked the 500-plus mums who took part in the survey and urged businesses to ‘latch on’.

“This is not just helping families, but could also be good for business.”

To download the #Latch On Lincolnshire poster (above) to display visit https://betterbirthlincolnshire.co.uk/latch-on-lincolnshire/ Find a breastfeeding suport group at http://betterbirthlincolnshire.co.uk/wpcontent/uploads/2020/02/2834-Breastfeeding-Groups-inLincolnshire-March-2019-v1.pdf For the latest from the Lincolnshire Maternity Voices Partnership visit facebook lincsmvp.

Health benefits of breastfeeding for your baby Breastfeeding has long-term benefits for your baby, lasting right into adulthood.

Any amount of breast milk has a positive effect.

The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.

Breastfeeding can help to reduce your baby's risk of: l Infections, with fewer visits to hospital as a result l Diarrhoea and vomiting, with fewer visits to hospital as a result l Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) l Obesity l Cardiovascular disease in adulthood 8

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

Some studies have also found that breastfeeding for at least six months may reduce your baby's chance of getting childhood leukaemia. But more research is needed into this.

Giving nothing but breast milk is recommended for about the first six months (26 weeks) of your baby's life.

After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside solid foods for as long as you and your baby want will help them grow and develop healthily.

Breast milk adapts as your baby grows to meet your baby's changing needs.

Multiple benefits of breastfeeding for you Breastfeeding and making breast milk also has health benefits for you. The more you breastfeed, the greater the benefits.

Breastfeeding lowers your risk of: l Breast cancer l Ovarian cancer l Osteoporosis (weak bones) l Cardiovascular disease l Obesity l Breast milk is available whenever your baby needs it l Builds a strong emotional bond between you and your baby

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News

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NOT everybody looks forward to spending time with their family during Christmas and New Year.

For domestic abuse victims it can be the most feared time of the year, according to the Domestic Abuse team at Ringrose Law, led by Costa Kyriacou.

Victims are often isolated and unable to spend the time with their own loved ones due to a controlling partner.

Domestic violence rises significantly during the festive period. Not a year goes by when there isn’t a seasonal spike in incidents reported to the police.

There are many pressures placed on families at this time of year including: the financial burden; spending more time together; consuming more alcohol and a need for everything to be perfect.

Thousands of families with children will be living in households where there is domestic abuse this Christmas.

Refuge, the largest UK provider of emergency domestic violence services, receives fewer visits to its website and fewer calls to the national domestic violence helpline, run with Women’s Aid, around Christmas than at other times of the year.

That is because it can be very difficult for the person experiencing domestic violence to access support during the festive period, according to Sandra Horley, chief executive of Refuge. “It tends to be a period when an abusive partner may be spending more time at home and monitoring their behaviour more closely than ever.�

What help is there for Domestic Abuse Victims?

People can feel scared to make contact with support services or reach out for help. Family and friends should look out for the signs and offer support or even make a safety plan so matters can be managed. Extended family, friends and neighbours can support this.

Victims of domestic abuse can apply to the Court for a Non-Molestation Order and an Occupation Order.

The first can be used to keep your abuser away from victims and their children. It will also prevent them from using violence, threats of violence, harassing, intimidating, or molesting them in any way. If the perpetrator breaches the Order, they will be committing a criminal offence and can face prison for up to five years.

An Occupation Order states who is legally permitted to reside in the family home and may prevent the abuser from entering not only the property but also the surrounding area of the home. These orders are normally granted for six months initially, allowing you and your partner to sort out permanent living arrangements.

Costa’s team at Ringrose Law can put these orders in place immediately. “Christmas should be a time of great joy, but for victims of domestic abuse, the fear and control can be unbearable. “If you are a victim or you know of somebody that is and you require our help please contact a member of the Ringrose Law domestic abuse team.�

Call or text 24/7 on 07739 748 675.

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

We are offering, for discount on the We are offering, for a20% limited period Face Hydraderimie and TechniSpa 20% discount on the new Face and TechniSpa Body treatments These are

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Cathedral welcomes ÂŁ1m lifeline funding LINCOLN Cathedral will receive almost ÂŁ1m to safeguard the landmark building, It is one of 445 heritage organisations across the country to benefit from the Government’s ÂŁ1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to help them through the coronavirus pandemic. # It’s all about you The cathedral’s grant is ÂŁ970,600, which will ensure essential Le Sanctuaire maintenance continues, securing the building for future Gi generations and allowing people to safely cards visit available and worship.

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are now relies open Sunday The care of the cathedral’s fabric and its assets heavily 10am on - 4pm income from investments, as well as visitor, commercial and fundraising initiatives, which have been restricted during the pandemic, leaving the cathedral to fund its core operations with dwindling resources and limited opportunities to raise funds. “In March Lincoln Cathedral closed its doors to its worshipping community, pilgrims, staff, volunteers and visitors alike; the first time in its recent history that the building stood silent and empty,� said The Very Revd Christine Wilson, Dean of Lincoln. “The impact on the cathedral has been profound and the loss of revenue from all sources means that our heritage, traditions and people are under threat today more than ever before. “As we continue to make difficult decisions on a daily basis, this grant will help to stabilise the cathedral’s finances as we continue to recover and build a sustainable future. The building is once again open to visitors and it is a pleasure to see the cathedral being used for its original purpose now that worship has resumed. The funding will ensure that we can preserve this internationally important building for future generations and continue the vital restoration work. “The team has shown incredible creativity, flexibility and determination to continue working with all of the communities we support and enabling as many people as possible to safely visit and worship at the cathedral, and this funding will enable us to build on this work. “In short, the grant from the Culture Recovery Fund is a lifeline for the cathedral and is helping to ensure we can continue to keep its doors open as a place of worship, welcome, hospitality and heritage.�

The cash injection comes from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage and the Heritage Stimulus Fund - funded by Government and administered at arms-length by Historic England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both are part of the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund to secure Britain’s museums, galleries, theatres, independent cinemas, heritage sites and music venues with emergency grants and loans.

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November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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News

Keith retires but stays RENOWNED city hairdresser Keith Reeve is hanging up his scissors after almost 50 years’ of cutting hair in Lincoln.

The pioneering businessman will remain at the helm of his Talking Heads salon but is retiring from front line styling. Instead, he plans to spend more time offering advice and consultancy to the industry.

The salon will be run by Operations Manager Lorna McDonnell, who has been part of the Talking Heads team for 15 years.

After almost half a century of creativity and influence, Keith’s change in direction is a milestone for Lincoln and its wider fashion, music and culture scene.

Keith started his career in Nottinghamshire in the mid-70s, but it was his love of live music that ultimately landed him in the city.

“My apprenticeship was at Martin’s, a barber’s in Retford, but back then, I was hairdressing in the day and singing in a band at night,” he said. “The band moved on to South London and while there, I got my first job working in ladies’ hair at a salon in Croydon.

“After a spell performing in Germany, where I was also schooled in the very specific art of blow drying, I moved back to England.”

Keith’s next challenge was to establish Upper Cuts barbers in St Mary’s Street.

“I took the opportunity really seriously and worked incredibly hard to establish and understand the importance of recognisable brand and a loyal customer base.

It was fantastic.

“Having grown my presence in St Mary’s Street, I decided to transfer to Harlequin’s Hairdressers, an established ladies’ salon in the same area. Over time, the ladies side moved to above Cuts Galore and I retained the salon as a barber shop and it started to become known as ‘Keith Of Harlequin.’ and, once again, we grew in popularity and built a name for cutting-edge styles.

“As we headed into the 1980s, short hair styles became very fashionable for women. As a result, lots of ladies started calling on the skills of barbers to cut their hair and this was so much fun for us.”

By this point in his life, Keith was in his 30s, married and had two young daughters. Although he was proud of the work he was doing at Harlequin’s he knew he really wanted his own salon.

“I remember the day that I went to see my solicitor and told him I wanted to open a ground floor salon in the city centre, inside the old John Justin’s men’s clothes shop,” he said.

“He told me I was crazy. At the time, salons on the main High Street were always on the first floor, above shops or other businesses. The idea of a ground floor salon in Lincoln was unthinkable to him.

“But I just knew it was the right thing to do and that’s when Talking Heads was born.”

Named after the American rock band fronted by Dave Byrne, the salon was a nod to Keith’s passion for music and the arts. His creativity underpinned his business plan too, as he wanted Talking Heads to stand out from the crowd.

“The foundation of the business was to provide quality hairdressing and good customer service. Every detail was important – and still is,” he said.

“But we also needed to create a logo and an ethos for the business which was distinctive. I got a team together and we created a brand. We worked hard to make it recognisable.”

Pictures from top right: Keith Reeve will continue to support hairdressers; Talking Heads salon today above the original decor from September 1984; Keith fronting Soultime at the band’s 30th anniversary show at Home nightclub; opposite page - Keith and the original Talking Heads team in 1984.

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

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News

close to his roots Over the next 36 years, Talking Headsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; original salon remained in the same location in Silver Street and Keith also had expanded to sites on Bunkers Hill and at Burton Waters (David Lloyd), which continue to be successful under new ownership. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have seen lots of changes over the years,â&#x20AC;? added Keith. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked with local business groups, education providers and held the position of Master of the Guild of Hairdressers from 20042007, which has allowed me to contribute to conversations around the local economy and our wider industryâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Perhaps one of the biggest changes we had to navigate was the advent of the self-employed stylists who rent chairs in salons. We quickly realised we needed to embrace this change but we also worked hard to ensure we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t lose the family feel or team spirit among our employeesâ&#x20AC;?. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Clearly, coronavirus has also posed challengeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked together to make the salon as safe as it can possibly be and we are confident that the changes we have incorporated will help us navigate these times too.â&#x20AC;?

Over the years, Keith continued to indulge his creativity outside of the salon. He is perhaps best known for fronting Lincolnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 10-piece Soul band â&#x20AC;&#x153;Soul Timeâ&#x20AC;? for more than a decade. He also created along with his wife,Yots Bar & Bistro and the latterly know Marine Lounge at Burton Waters, which became known for good food and â&#x20AC;&#x153;liveâ&#x20AC;? Music and Comedy, hosting the likes of comedian, Sarah Millican. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m very passionate about education and trainingâ&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are so many talented stylists around the city who started their career

with Talking Heads.â&#x20AC;?

Keith plans to continue acting as an ambassador for the hairdressing industry and a supporter of those working in it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;While I will no longer be hairdressing myself, there is still plenty to keep me busy. Hairdressing is a fantastic industry which attracts marvellous people and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not planning on stepping away from it completely just yet.

Keith is always at hand to offer advice and support for those who get in touch by email at oďŹ&#x192;ce@talkingheadsonline.com Talking Heads, Stonebow Centre, 9 Silver St, Lincoln LN2 1DY. T. 01522 525690. https://talkingheadsonline.com

30% DISCOUNT on all 2nd pairs for January only!

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Unit 4 Wainer Close, off Doddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3RY Telephone 01522 509802 t 8FC www.simply-specs.net 0QFOJOH 5JNFT .PO $-04&% 5VFT 'SJ BN QN 4BU BN QN

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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Call to clean up our recycling

BY REBECCA HARDY CLEAN up your act to avoid contaminated recycling.

That’s the message from the Lincolnshire Waste Partnership to residents as contamination of waste being left for recycling is currently at 30% across the county.

Unrecyclable items such as plastic bags, food and dirty takeaway containers (pictured

below) are finding their way into recycling bins – they also spoil dry rubbish, such as paper and card so it cannot be re-used.

LWP deals with around 360,000 tonnes of waste annually and has set up a new scheme to help residents understand recycling better and hopefully put a stop to it being corrupted on our doorsteps.

LWP is made up of Lincolnshire County Council, Environment Agency and the district authorities - in some of the latter trials of the new scheme provide residents with a purple bin solely for paper and card.

The successful results have seen around 419 tonnes of dry paper and card being collected and reprocessed into paper goods at a UK based paper mill. This process is quicker and reduces road miles and carbon emissions meaning it is a better option for the environment. The new purple bins are expected to reach Lincoln by 2024.

“We all need to work together to get it right. As the roll out happens, we will be working with communities to remind them what goes in which bin and why,” said Becky Allen of the county council.

It hosts a monthly #WasteWednesday on

its Facebook page, covering topics such as recycling to help inform people who may not be sure what goes in which bin.

“The majority of residents in Lincolnshire are brilliant at recycling and know what they should be putting in their bins. Simply: clean and dry glass, tins and cans, plastic bottles, tubs and trays and paper and card (below right) If it’s not one of these items – leave it out.”

Local people can also get involved by joining the residents’ recycling panel to simplify the waste salvaging process - email Rachel.stamp@lincolnshire.gov.uk

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

RESERVES

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BI NOVEMBER 2020.qxp_Layout 1 04/11/2020 14:28 Page 15

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BI NOVEMBER 2020.qxp_Layout 1 05/11/2020 13:45 Page 16

News

Give a child something to look forward to THIS Christmas Lincolnshire Action Trust (LAT) is asking individuals and businesses to consider donating, or contributing towards respite activities and experience days for children who are affected by a relative’s substance use.

The charity is currently providing support, guidance and encouragement for over 30 young people in Lincolnshire aged five to 18 years through its Young Oasis project.

During the school holidays, the charity runs respite activities to give young people an opportunity to meet others who are in a similar situation and reduce the isolation they feel, which often worsens over the Christmas period.

“Being able to offer respite activities to young people accessing our support is an important part of the work we do,” said Kim Thompson, Senior Practitioner at Young Oasis.

“We recognise the challenges faced by young people who live with, or care about, a drug or alcohol user and understand that this can be difficult to talk about.

“Christmas can be an especially difficult time for young people – many of them have to take on additional responsibilities at home when caring for a parent, guardian or relative who uses substances.

“We’re hoping that with the generous support from the local community, we’ll be able to give our young people an opportunity to choose how they would like to spend some of their time in the school holidays.

“Gifting them a day out will help them to realise that they are not alone and to meet others who may be in a similar situation. It also gives them a chance to have fun!”

The team at LAT is planning to gift each of the children an activity or experience they can enjoy during the school holidays or in the New Year but is reliant on donations to do so.

Activities and experiences which the charity is appealing for donations towards include activity centres, meals out, cinema tickets, wildlife parks, crazy golf, bowling, trampoline parks, laser tag, seaside visits, nail vouchers, craft days, picnics and shopping

vouchers.

Kim added: “Gifting days out and experience vouchers to young people in need allows them to have the same opportunities as their peers, which is often just having fun and enjoying the school holidays.

“We’ve been blown away by the response to this campaign in previous years and are always really grateful for anything people can donate.”

LAT’s Christmas campaign has been running successfully for the last three years.

Alison Goddard, Chief Executive of LAT, said: “Coronavirus has had a significant impact on everyone’s livelihoods and we understand that this is a difficult time for businesses, but we would greatly appreciate any donation that can be spared towards an experience.“Following last year’s activities, the feedback we received from each child was so positive – they were all very grateful for their days out and it’s a reminder of exactly why it’s so important to provide them with these opportunities.”

Anyone interested in donating an experience or activity day can contact Debbie Harris at Lincolnshire Action Trust on 01522 806611 or by emailing hello@latcharity.org.uk.

The team asks that donations be provided by Monday. December 14, so that volunteers and staff have enough time to prepare them for distribution to their recipients. www.LATcharity.org.uk.

Bookworms cannot browse, but libraries stay open CORE libraries and some community hubs across the county will remain open, but run differently through the latest lockdown.

Residents will be able to collect reserved books and use pre-booked public access computers to access essential digital public services. There will be no access for browsing.

To reserve books, visit https://capitadiscovery.co.uk/lincolnshire/ home or call 01522 782010.

Thirty minute sessions on a computer can be booked by calling 01522 782010 Lincoln’s core library will remain open as 16

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

will hubs in Welton, Navenby, Cherry Willingham, Bracebridge and Bracebridge Heath.

Cllr Nick Worth, executive member for culture, says: "We know these services are a real lifeline to the community, and we saw how they were missed in the last lockdown. I hope this time, with the book click and collect service, and the access to computers to access essential digital public services – it will make a real difference.

"We're working closely with our community hubs to give them the support they need. They all have differing offerings, so please call ahead before you make a

journey – just to check they are open and have what you need.

"To reassure residents, we're doing all we can to keep the facilities Covid secure – so there are many safety measures in place, including hand sanitiser, asking visitors to use face coverings, remaining two meters apart, quarantining books for 72 hours and keeping space beside computers.

"I'm also pleased to say our no-contact library access delivery service to housebound, rural residents will be continuing. " Current loans will be extended until December 9.

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Christmas Countdown

Christmas in Lincoln is not cancelled

Lincoln BIG chief aims to bring festive cheer to city

JUST as Sarah Loftus was finalising plans for Lincoln’s Christmas festivities the second national lockdown was announced and it was back to the drawing board.

But the Chief Executive of Lincoln Business Improvement Group is determined the city will still celebrate the busiest retail period by adapting attractions such as a Spirit of Christmas Trail and the Glimpse the Imp event.

“We had a brilliant Christmas planned for Lincoln. We had all worked really well together - City of Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire County Council - and had a fantastic response from retailers and then along came the second lockdown,” said Sarah.

“Well our message is that Christmas in Lincoln is not cancelled and we’ll be doing everything we can to ensure there is something to look forward to when the lockdown ends.”

The Spirit of Christmas Trail will operate along the same lines as the MonsterVillain Safari utilising QR codes to take families spotting colourful characters around the city in a safe way.

Glimpse the Imp was scheduled to start on November 16 as a precursor to 2021’s Imp Trail with 16 smaller statues being given a festive makeover and placed within 32 business in the city, which people can visit. There is also an accompanying game available from the Visitor Information Centre in Exchequergate.

“We’re still going to get them out to all the businesses if we can come December 2.

“In the meantime please remember that just because the shops are closed it doesn’t mean they are not working. Most have websites and will be taking orders, so make sure you support them and buy local.

Check out Lincoln BIG’s social media accounts for updates.

Santa still on his way to Waterside SANTA and his Elves will be in residence at the Waterside Shopping Centre from December 5 until 3pm on Christmas Eve (Covid-19 restrictions permitting).

The grotto opens from 11am-5pm Monday to Saturday and from 10.30am-4.30pm on Sundays and will be near New Look and Superdrug. Keeping checking the centre’s wesbite for updates.

Book a visit to see Santa either online at https://www.bookfatherchristmas.co.uk/Waterside, or by using the QR code which will be displayed outside the grotto.

“This will eliminate queues and help maintain social distancing.

Only one family will go into the grotto to see Santa at any one time. All adults will be required to wear a face covering and we will be asking you to sanitise your hands before visiting Santa.

For your safety Santa and his elves will also be wearing face coverings,” explained Centre General Manager Dean Cross.

An audience with Santa costs £6, plus 50 pence booking fee and every child will receive a gift.

The centre also plans to offer late night shopping until 8pm on Thursdays, December 3, 10 and 17 - watersideshopping.com.

The new Christmas Gift on High Bridge is just one of the new illuminations for Lincoln.

WISHING YOU

Health and

Happiness

THIS CHRISTMAS

David Burghardt VISION

CARE

The Cottage, 1 Church Street, Nettleham, -JODPMO -/ 1% t t www.davidburghardt.co.uk November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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Christmas Countdown

Test your festive knowledge to win hamper HAVE a bit of festive fun by taking part in our Christmas Quiz and you could win a Redhill Farm Hamper.

Worth £55 it is bursting with Lincolnshire flavour and features Great Taste Award winning produce from the county all available from Redhill Farm Shop in the Bail.

1. Which two of Father Christmas’s reindeers are named after meteorological terms?

2. In which country is it traditional to have KFC for Christmas breakfast?

3. Who, from his cave, can hear the noisy Christmas festivities that take place in Whoville?

4. The American states of Georgia, Arizona, and Indiana all have towns that share which same Christmassy name?

5. Popular in Victorian England at Christmas and also appearing in the Dickens’ story A Christmas Carol, what is ‘Smoking Bishop’?

6. Which 1999 film includes the line “You are not special.You are not a beautiful and unique snowflake.”?

7. In the 1947 Christmas comedy-drama Miracle on 34th Street, which actress plays the little girl brought up not to believe in Santa Claus?

8. Bob Geldof and Midge Ure wrote the song ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ in which year?

9. Christmas Island, a territory of the Commonwealth of Australia, is located in which ocean?

10. Which novelty Christmas song was written in 1944 by New York music teacher Donald Yetter Gardner?

11. Which country was the first to use the tradition of the Christmas tree?

12. Which Christmas carol based on a poem by English poet Christina Rossetti has been set to music many times, the most famous by Gustav Holst?

Send the correct answers marked Hamper Quiz to: admin@bailgateindependent.co.uk.

Please note the winner must be prepared to pick up the hamper from the Redhill Farm Shop. www.redhillfarm.com

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

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Christmas Countdown

Win a FAB Christmas selection box WITH the dark nights, a wintry feel to the weather and Christmas just around the corner ale drinkers’ tastes are now turning to the hearty, darker, richer and warmer winter beers such as porters, stouts and dark bitters.

John Cussons, owner of Ferry Ales Brewery knows that while these styles are all year-round beers, winter ales and stouts are at their most popular when you can curl up on the sofa with the fire crackling or the heating on.

“Our winter beers are now in production and our most popular Toasty Roasty Winter Ale is already available. This is a traditional winter warmer so has a strong malty backbone with a gentle sweetness. It is a firm favourite amongst team FAB and our customers,” said John.

“For those who like their stouts this is when we produce our Russian Imperial Stout, Cossack. Any beer with the word Imperial means that it is stronger than its normal strength and our Cossack is 8%. The high alcohol content means that to get a nice rounded flavour we condition the beer for nearly three months, which is why we only brew one batch a year.

“We wanted to add a new dark beer this year so in our brand new craft can range, Great Character, one of the first three beers is a brown porter. Most people think of porters as black with roast chocolate flavours whereas a brown porter is more caramel, nuts and dark fruits. Lovely on a winters evening. The new can range also includes a Saison and a brand new IPA.

“At FAB HQ we have been planning Christmas for a while now with lots of different gift ideas. We have new gift packs, mixed boxes and even a special FAB Gin made for us locally.”

Check out the gift ideas for discerning drinkers at FAB’s online shop https://ferryalesbrewery.co.uk.

The brewery also has a shop on site with social distancing measures in place. It open seven days a week, but it is worth ringing 0800 9993226 to ensure the team is not out making deliveries.

We’re giving away a FAB Christmas mixed box (pictured) to one lucky reader. Answer to the question below and send it marked FAB Beer Competition - to admin@bailgateindependent.co.uk What is the name of FAB’s 8% Russian Imperial Stout?

For all your Fresh Christmas Trees!

Our extensive range of home grown cut trees and pot grown trees will be available

Open daily from November 27th to December 20th 9am to 6pm weekdays, 9am to 5pm weekends*

* At weekends only, to comply with social distancing and government guidelines, please pre-book your visit on our website, where you will be able to select your arrival time

New LArGer SITe VISIT US – JUST 5 MINUTeS FroM THe LINCoLNSHIre SHowGroUND A15 to Lincoln

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we Are Here B1398

to Kirton Lindsey

B1398 Fillingham

Ingham

Follow us on Facebook

*New For 2020* Click and Collect

Castle Farm, Fillingham, Gainsborough DN21 5BX

visit our website for more details

Unfortunately, it is not possible for our café to be open this year or for Santa to visit us

(Off the B1398, 8 miles north of Lincoln)

Call 01427 667014 Visit www.fillingham-trees.co.uk

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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Christmas Countdown

Competitions

Great gift for Stokesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; tea and coďŹ&#x20AC;ee lovers

Spice up your wall with plaque THIS little wall plaque handpainted by Allison Payne is up for grabs as a prize in another Indie festive competition.

The size of the chilli wall art 15cm x 9cm, acrylic on board with a hanger ring on the back.

To win the plaque answer the question below and email your answers to admin@bailgateindependent. co.uk.

Allison Payne is a member of which Lincoln artistsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cooperative (featured elsewhere in this magazine)?

Have Rangeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Christmas...

Christmas Have aa Free â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;FreeRange

LINCOLN is home to many independent businesses that all add personality, character, expertise and greater choice to our shopping experiences.

These little gems are the lifeblood of our local economy and, according to research, for every ÂŁ10 spent with a local independent, up to ÂŁ50 extra could go back to the local community as that business invests in employment, infrastructure and local supply chains.

Stokes Tea & Coffee in the heart of Lincoln puts 118 years of know-how into sourcing, roasting and blending coffee and tea, and, running two destination cafĂŠs in Lincoln â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the Lawn cafĂŠ on Union Road at the High Bridge cafĂŠ on the High street.

The Stokesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; team carefully sources and roasts every coffee bean and blends its tea to perfection. â&#x20AC;&#x153;International coffee chains may have been serving the masses with big volumes of cuppas across the globe, but for those who want to experience true speciality coffees, exceptionally fresh roasted beans and blends, or products that simply canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be found anywhere else â&#x20AC;&#x201C; then Stokes is heaven sent,â&#x20AC;? said managing director Nick Peel.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The new Stokes Coffee Club subscription service is perfect for those who want to experience and learn more about the finest single origin and speciality coffees out there. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Or you can enjoy a coffee, or tea tasting session with one of the Stokes Master Roasters, available in person or as a virtual event, (hosted online), itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for those who want to share something fun and make memories with loved ones or colleagues who may be apart. And donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget the delicious seasonal dishes and drink in the cafĂŠs.

For more information visit www.stokescofee.com

Cocktail kit winner

Free Range â&#x20AC;˘ Genuine Provenance â&#x20AC;˘ Proven Quality Home Delivery Every Friday â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exceptional quality pork...â&#x20AC;?

Michel Roux Jr.

in the Bail & Shop onavailable the farm Shop Christmas brochure now

www.redhillfarm.co.uk

01427 628270 www.redhillfarm.com 01427 628270 farmshop@redhillfarm.com

89 Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AR | Morton, Gainsborough DN21 3DT

20

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

JOIN Michael Redpath (above) and become a winner of a Bailgate Independent competition.

Michael won one of our most popular competitions ever - the prize was a cocktail making kit, which he described as delicious. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve plenty of other great prizes on our Christmas Countdown pages.

BI NOVEMBER 2020.qxp_Layout 1 05/11/2020 12:28 Page 21

Christmas Countdown

For Afternoon Tea Sara Miller Cake Stand. £38

For the Wildlife Lover Mats Jonasson Barn Owlets sculpture. £110

Team with Sara Miller Cake Slice. £14

For the Tree Wrendale Christmas Decorations. £22

For the Table Wrendale Christmas Placemats. £24

For the Party Artland Liqueur Glasses with Tray. £27

Unit 3, Newporte Business Park, Cardinal Close, Lincoln LN2 4SY Tel: 01522 543959 Email: info@purpleholly.co.uk

www.purpleholly.co.uk Follow us @purpleholly

Say it with Snow John Beswick Snowman ornament. £22

For the Handbag Sara Miller Bird Notebook & Pen. £14.95

For the Cat Lover Ulster Weavers Cats in Waiting Tea Cosy. £12 Pair with Cats in Waiting Mug. £9.50

Purple Holly is a small, family run stylish home gifts boutique. We have just celebrated our eighth year birthday, having recently opened our new showroom located off the Outer Circle Road. We are the perfect destination for home accessories and gifts for family and friends. Browse a wide selection of accessories, gifts, crockery, glassware and much more from some truly inspirational British and worldwide suppliers. Shop online or visit our showroom and you will receive a warm welcome. Why not make your gift truly special with our gift wrapping service for only £4.95 per order.

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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BI NOV

Christmas Countdown

C hr i s t m a s S ho p p i ng On Y ou r D o or s t SO lockdown came into force just as your Bailgate Independent was going to press. The sense of déjà vu does not mean we have to line Jeff Bezos’ pockets even more – we won’t mention the A-word. we intended our Countdown to Christmas section and its Gift Guides to highlight the fantastic variety of gifts available in and around Lincoln. That hasn’t changed. Neither has the importance of supporting local businesses.

If you can’t wait until the lockdown lifts – or worse case scenario it continues – most of the businesses featured have websites and social media pages with contact details so you can peruse their stock and order your Christmas goodies.

Remember…small businesses are a BIG deal.

Right: Barbour Tartan adjustable ear muffs. £29.95 and Barbour Tartan travel mug. £11.95

‘Lines Across Lincolnshire’ book by Jon Fox, £27.50 High quality hardback, explores countryside heritage and nature. Local author and photographer.

Fully illustrated in colour

To order this highly acclaimed book, see www.greenploverbooks.co.uk or call T: 01522 533613

Ber £

THe INT CANwIC

Subscribe to the Stokes Coffee Club and you’ll receive 2 x 200g bags of the finest, seasonal, speciality and single-origin coffees lovingly selected and roasted by our dedicated team.

From just £14.50 per month plus FREE DELIVERY Shop online at www.stokescoffee.com

Stokes is the home of the best beans. with over 118 years of experience and passion, we’re proud to bring you the ultimate coffee subscription experience - you won’t find anywhere else!

Above: Barbour Monty slippers in Camel. The perfect gift for the man in your life. £59.95 below: One Hundred Stars, large silk scarf. 100 x 100cm of luscious print. £47.50

Filey Bay Yorkshire Whisky Limited edition Sherry Cask Reserve. £70.

Right: Dubarry Ballybrophy coat in Smoke. Hunker down in this coat for serious seasonal warmth. £249 DODDINGTON COUNTRY CLOTHING DODDINGTON HALL, LINCOLN, LN6 4RU 01522 812515. countryclothing@doddingtonhall.com

Regional whisky tasting set. £25.

Premium whisky tasting set. £35.

THe wHISkY SHOP, 87 BAILGATe, LINCOLN LN1 3AR. 01522 537 834 www.lincolnwhiskyshop.co.uk

we have everything covered for a ‘Free Range Christmas’. For food-lovers choose our Great Taste Award winning Free Range Pork Country Pate and hand raised Pork Pies paired with Ovens Farm vineyard Sparkling Brut Rosé, exclusive to Redhill Farm. They’re the perfect fit – Lincolnshire products made with with care, by hand and in small batches.

ReDHILL FARm SHOP IN THe BAIL, 89 BAILGATe, LINCOLN LN1 3AR. 01427 628270. farmshop@redhillfarm.com www.redhillfarm.com

22

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

Isle of Arran 21 year old whisky. £127.

SMALL BUSINESSES are a BIG DEAL – Support your local independents this Christmas

SANCT LN1 3A

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Christmas Countdown

or s t e p F or G i ft s T ha t K e e p O n g i vi n g

7.50

ge and

33613

Bertie Bear. £15.99

Soft & Cosy Star Blanket Scarves.

Grey or mustard. £14.99 each

3 pack of specialty beer. £11.99

Beer and Special IBCC gift glass pack. £9.99 Ludo game. £7.99 THe INTeRNATIONAL BOmBeR COmmAND CeNTRe, CANwICk Ave, LINCOLN LN4 2HQ T: 01522 514755

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Christmas baubles. £8.99, and wooden sparkly Lancasters (shown) and Vulcans (not shown). £5.50

Perfect Winter Mug. All made and painted by hand in Portugal. microwave and dishwasher safe. £16.00 each

Breathe with Bruce book. £10 Bruce is no ordinary cloud.

He has special talents.

He can change his shape and makes others laugh.

This makes him very happy.

Sometimes Bruce struggles to create his shapes and this gets him frustrated.

His friends come to the rescue.

r

e . rs d d to ate n on’t e!

Read the book ‘Breathe with Bruce’ to find out what happens.

To buy a copy visit www.breathewithbruce.com

New designs from Sophie Allport stoneware nibbles bowls with bee or dachshund design. £7.25 each FOLLIe, 83 BAILGATe, LINCOLN, LN1 3AR. T: 01522 579400 All items ARe AvAilAble by post

OUI Leopard Jacket. £229

Unisa boots. £215

Crystal candelabra. £520

Crystal candle sticks. £200

L

s

Handmade glass baubles. Available in silver or gold from £8.00 each

OUI, 16 BAILGATe, LINCOLN LN1 3AN. 01522 538711 Velvet Bee Cushion. £49.95.

A luxurious accessory to add to your home this season

Eye mask

by Elizabeth Scarlett. £22.95.

Filled with relaxing lavender

Cocktail/Gin Cabinet. £1,500 SANCTUARY IN THe BAIL, 83 BAILGATe, LINCOLN LN1 3AR. T: 01522 533922

Unisa bags. £129.90

Make up pouch

by Elizabeth Scarlett. £21.95.

A treat for your make up!

St Eval Orange and Cinnamon Tin Candle. £11.95. The perfect Christmas fragrance for your home, handmade in Cornwall DODDINGTON AT HOme, DODDINGTON HALL, LINCOLN, LN6 4RU. 01522 812512. home@doddingtonhall.com

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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We’re All In This Together...

FROM FUNDRAISING TO STOCKING SHELVES STAFF ‘GET STUCK IN’

Co-op colleagues are su YOUR Lincolnshire Co-op store is at the heart of communities throughout the city and county.

And it is the Co-op’s 3,100 colleagues that keep that heart beating especially hard during the pandemic and they will continue to be here for customers during the latest lockdown.

“Our colleagues have done a tremendous job over the last few months to keep our local communities going throughout the coronavirus pandemic and will continue to do so,” said CEO Ursula Lidbetter.

“From ensuring our food and pharmacy branches have been kept open and stocked to showing understanding and care with funeral and holiday enquiries and helping people in their local communities access much needed support.

“Many have been redeployed to different business areas and others have been keeping spirits up by raising thousands of pounds for local NHS charities and Community Champions good causes.

“They really have got stuck in to everything.”

The efforts of some colleagues have been recognised by external organisations, such as city Funeral Director Aly Gratrick, who received a Lincolnshire Lockdown Hero Award at Lincoln College.

Aly was nominated by a colleague for working passionately and tirelessly for the families who lost loved ones throughout lockdown, calling people after funerals to make sure they were okay.

The awards ceremony, organised by The Lincolnite, Lincoln College Group and Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, formally recognised extraordinary people who helped others during lockdown.

The Co-op has ensured the efforts of colleagues have been recognised through its colleague award scheme and they were given a bonus equal to a week’s wages during the first lockdown and again in November.

Even before Coronavirus, Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues were busy helping their communities and each member of staff is paid for 16 hours of volunteer work every year.

The Society's colleagues have not only been working hard to keep the Society's front-line services running but they've also been fundraising too and have helped to raise funds for local NHS charities as well as local domestic violence and mental health charities.

Colleague fundraising contributes to the Community Champions scheme - the Society's way of giving back to local communities. Every time a member shops using their dividend card a donation goes into the pot. As we went to press the Community Champions fund was well on its way to £50,000 so far for this quarter.

l Lincolnshire Co-op has started selling £20 vouchers to help volunteers shop for vulnerable customers without needing to handle cash.

These vouchers can be ordered by calling the Community team on 01522 544 632. Be sure to have your bank card ready.

How you can help spread a litt HELPING communities stay healthy and fed has been central to Lincolnshire Co-op’s effort during Covid-19.

Since the start of the pandemic, every food store and pharmacy has been linked to a community group helping with shopping and collecting prescriptions for people who are isolating or vulnerable.

“We’ve been working with Bailgate Methodist Church and St Nicholas’ Parish in the Newport area and continue to support Lincoln Foodbank and Lincoln Community Larder in reaching those in need across the whole city, ” said Community Co-ordinator, Danielle

Budworth.

“During the lockdown period, we received a call from Lincoln Mosque wanting to set up a food bank in response to the need of their community, we were able to signpos them to work alongside Lincoln Foodbank. Lincoln Mosque is now op on a Saturday so provision is availab six days a week with the other charit “Unfortunately there is a high dema for their essential service for those facing food poverty,” said Danielle.

“All our food stores act as a collectio point for their local foodbank or community larder. As a guide, donat

Walking is good for the body, mind and soul THE COVID-19 pandemic may be especially challenging for people with mental health problems – Walking is a great way to get active and helps to improve your mental wellbeing.

Lincolnshire Co-op supports a network of over 60 free health walks across the area. These were slowly restarting after the first lockdown, so check for the current status at healthwalks@lincolnshire.coop, or telephone 01522 544 632.

“All the walks are run by an amazing team of volunteer walk leaders and come under the umbrella of the national Ramblers Walking for Health scheme, ” said Co-op Health Walks Co-ordinator Carly Pillay “The walks can help boost your physical health, but you can gain so much more; meeting new friends, learning about your local area and improving your mental health.

Find your nearest walk and more details at lincolnshire.coop/healthwalks

Members are invited to join in at this year’s virtual Annual Mem 24

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

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We’re All In This Together...

superstars Cornhill Quarter takes shape

little Christmas cheer , we Mosque k in signpost oln now open available r charities. h demand those nielle. ollection k or e, donations

of items like tinned meat, tinned fruit, cereals, tea and coffee and toiletries are always welcome.

“In December, we’ll be running a reverse advent campaign encouraging members and customers to donate an item a day which we can then give to the local food bank in each area. It’s about making sure the food banks are supported as typically they experience a drop in donations in January and February and with demand expected to be high, they’ll need the support now more than ever.”

Members can also donate their dividend to the cause by asking a colleague at the till in their Lincolnshire Co-op food store.

FASHIONISTAS, film fans and foodies have been enjoying the redevelopment of Lincoln's Cornhill Quarter.

Lincolnshire Co-op are investing in the project which is the heart of the City Centre. Recent openings have included The Botanist, Phase Eight, Hobbs, Whistles and even an Everyman Cinema.

"It's great to see the Cornhill Quarter come together. It's taken a lot of hard work from everyone involved, from the contractors and builders to our new tenants, everyone has worked together to pull this off during a global pandemic," said Laura Dunne, Head of Marketing & Membership at Lincolnshire Co-op. " It's great to see people sitting in the new Exchange Square and enjoying the space.”

Proud to support local producers WHEN almost everything else comes to a grinding halt during the pandemic lockdowns, local suppliers pull out all the stops to ensure their goods reach food store shelves.

“This year, we've been proud to support our fantastic local producers. They've really gone the extra mile to keep our shelves stocked and we've been able to help them when many of their other customers, such as pubs and restaurants were closed. ” said Category Manager Judy Lyon.

“We’re proud to stock a variety of products in the range all made by producers in our area, from Lincolnshire eggs, cheeses and meat products to ice cream, beers and gingerbread.”

Stokes Tea and Coffee saw their operation go from 90 members of staff

to just four during the first lockdown as hospitality venues closed. The roastery based at the company’s headquarters at The Lawn, Lincoln, operated every day to ensure orders could be fulfilled.

“The orders from the Co-op were a lifeline for us. Not only did we know people were still buying our products, but we also knew we were going to get paid. We knew Lincolnshire Co-op would look after us,” said Stokes managing director Nick Peel (pictured above).

A selection of Love Local goods is available in all food stores, the range features high quality products made in and around the Co-op’s trading area.

Members’ Meeting. Find out more at lincolnshirecoop/AMM2020 November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

25

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BI NOVEMBER 2020.qxp_Layout 1 04/11/2020 14:40 Page 28

Food and Drink

Slow cooked shoulder of Lavinton Lamb

Recipe from Gavin Aitkenhead The Jews House

Baked with an anchovy and parsley crust, crushed butternut squash Ingredients 1 Shoulder of Lamb (boned and rolled) If you have a friendly Butcher ask them to season with salt, pepper and chopped rosemary before rolling 2ltrs lamb stock 2 carrots, sliced 2 sticks of celery, sliced 1 onion, chopped 1 small leek, roughly chopped 4 cloves of garlic, chopped 2 sprigs of rosemary and thyme 1 ½ tbsp tomato purée 1 pint of red wine Vegetable oil for cooking Butter for cooking Crushed butternut squash 1/2 a butternut squash 1tbsp of butter Salt and white pepper 1/2tsp Chinese 5 spice (optional)

Take lamb out of the fridge and cut an inch thick, round piece.

Brown it in a pan with 1tbp of veg oil and 1tsp of butter, then add a 100ml of lamb stock/water, cover the top of the lamb with the anchovy crumbs and bake in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Crushed butternut squash Peel the squash and cut into 1cm dice, roast in the oven for 10 minutes, 180c, or until just soft. Place in a small pan and add the 5 spice, butter and salt and pepper. Put on the heat and mix everything together, then use a whisk to crush the mix, keep warm.

Anchovy and parsley purée Blanch the parsley in boiling water for 10 seconds, refresh in cold water. Drain the parsley and squeeze to get rid of excess water.

Place in a container with the anchovies and 2tbsp of the anchovy oil. Use a hand blender to purée. Mix the purée with the breadcrumbs and set aside.

Anchovy and parsley purée 50g marinated anchovies in oil 150g panko breadcrumbs 1 bunch flat leaf parsley Shoulder of lamb Seal the lamb shoulder in a hot pan with 1tbsp vegetable oil, turning every 2 minutes to brown on all sides.

Take out of the pan, place on a tray. Using the same pan, brown off the vegetables and garlic to caramelise, then add 1tbsp tomato purée and cook for 30 seconds. Add red wine and reduce by half. Place it all in an casserole dish and add the lamb, thyme, then cover with foil and cook at 140c/gas mark 3 for 2 ½ to 3 hours. When it’s soft but still holding its shape, take the lamb out of the pan and let it cool slightly.

Lay out two sheets of cling film (A4 size), place one on top of the other and roll the lamb tightly up and twist each end to tighten both ends of the cling film, (should look like a Christmas cracker). Place in the fridge overnight or until set firmly.

Pass the stock through a fine sieve using a ladle to extract as much of the vegetable flavour. Place on the heat and add 1tsp of tomato purée and ½ tsp finely chopped rosemary and reduce until a sauce consistency.

Recommended vegetable garnish Baby leaf spinach Caramelised shallots 1tbsp butter Salt and pepper 1tbsp sugar Heat a pan on stove and add 1tbsp of butter, spinach, salt and pepper, wilt for 30 seconds stirring constantly, keep warm.

Place 4 shallots on a tray and roast in the oven for 15 minutes or until just soft, leave to cool. Slice the shallots length ways in half, peel the brown skin, keeping the roots attached so it doesn’t fall apart.

Place frying pan on stove and scatter 1tbsp of sugar on the bottom, add the shallots flat side down, when they start to caramelise and turn a golden colour on the edges, add 1tsp of butter, turn shallots over and place in the oven for 10 minutes to finish caramelising, keep warm.

The best food deserve Chris Sharp Cabinets, Tillbridge Lane, Scampton, Lincoln LN1 2SX

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BI NOVEMBER 2020.qxp_Layout 1 04/11/2020 14:40 Page 29

Food and Drink

Supreme Great Taste award REDHILL Farm Free Range Pork has taken the title of Supreme Champion of the winners in the Great Taste Awards 2020.

Its free range pork shoulder took the Midlands’ top prize in the Great Taste Awards for the second year running.

The win meant a third Golden Fork for Jane and Terry Tomlinson (pictured) and they beat 205 category award winners to become global Supreme Champions in the event organised by the Guild of Fine Food.

There were a record 12,777 entries for the awards this year and Redhill Farm’s impressed at every stage of the blind tasting by the judges.

The Tomlinsons put ethical animal husbandry at the heart of their business and their Duroc pigs are allowed to ‘root, wallow and grow slowly.

The panel of food writers, chefs and buyers from stores such as Fortnum and Mason found the ‘flavour reflecting how this animal has been treated with love, care and attention’.

Cheese of the month

Stichelton

Stichelton is an English blue cheese made by Joe Schneider using organic, unpasteurised FriesianHolstein cow’s milk on his Collingthwaite Farm in Nottinghamshire. It is made to a traditional Blue Stilton recipe, except that it uses raw milk

and natural rennet. The cheese makers could not legally use the name ‘Stilton’ since it is granted the status of PDO by the European Commission.

Therefore, they decided to use an early form of the name of the Stilton village mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book (origin of name below).

The flavours of this intesenly delicious creamy white cheese are nutty and reminiscent of apples with underlying toasty notes. The delicate veins of blue-green mould beneath the rustycoloured, orange-brown rind behold a spicy, savoury element and a long-lasting caramel-like sweetness.

Several early forms of the name of the Stilton were looked at, and the one chosen was originally recorded in the 12th Century Lincoln Rolls, which were an early record of villages similar to the earlier Domesday Book carried out

by Lincoln Cathedral. The name is derived for the old English ‘Stichl’ meaning a style and ‘Tun’ meaning village or hamlet.”

Key Facts Age County of Origin Milk Type Organic

Pasteurisation Region Strength Style of Cheese Vegetarian

8-12 weeks + England Cows Yes

Unpasteurised Nottinghamshire Medium-strong Blue No

Join us and raise a glass to 2021, we’ve all had a difficult year so we think a celebration is in order to bid farewell to 2020 – We invite you to our NYE tasting menu with wines to match – Open 22nd, 23rd and Christmas Eve from 6pm and then 29th, 30th and NYE from 6pm –

bOOkiNg ESSENTiAL

Fresh, local, seasonal menu with a Gavin Aitkenhead twist

Telephone: 01522 524851

www.jewshouserestaurant.co.uk 15 The Strait, Lincoln LN2 1JD info@jewshouserestaurant.co.uk

For a fantastic range of cheeses from around the world contact Lucie Nock, The Cheese Society, 1 St Martin’s Lane, Lincoln, LN2 1HY. Tel: 01522 511003, www.thecheesesociety.co.uk

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September 2020 Independent April 2020| Bailgate | Bailgate Independent

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Nature News

Help our hedgehogs

Picture: Tom Marshall

By Rachel Shaw Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust ONE evening, I noticed the security light in the garden flicker on.

I cautiously peered through a gap in the curtains, uncertain what or who would be out there. Fortunately, the face I saw was of a hedgehog. I opened the curtains a little wider and watched him until he disappeared under the plants. That was back in April. I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seen him, or any signs heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been in the garden, since.

Life is tough for hedgehogs. They run the gauntlet of roads, litter, pesticides, slug pellets, rat traps, ponds with steep sides, strimmers, uncovered drains, bonfires and garden netting.

On top of these death traps, the removal of hedges and very tidy gardens has deprived them of places to live. And pesticides have reduced the populations of insects, worms and slugs that they eat.

Once common, hedgehogs appear to be in freefall. It is estimated that the number of hedgehogs in the UK has dropped from 30 million in the 1950s to about 1 million in 2019. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s now thought that in the past 13 years, they have declined by a further 46%.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easy to feel powerless at the news headlines about the decline in wildlife but we can help hedgehogs. There are some really simple things we can do: check bonfires before lighting; check long grass

before strimming; donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use slug pellets and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t fence them in.

Although I have a healthy population of slugs and snails, my garden is definitely too small for a hedgehog. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not usual, most gardens are. Hedgehogs need a neighbourhood of interconnected gardens.

Every night they may roam as much as a mile as they travel through gardens in search of food Ensuring hedgehogs can pass through your garden is one of the most important things you can do to help. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s simple to do. If you have a fence around your garden, cut a 13cm square hole in the bottom of the fence. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s big enough for a hedgehog to pass through.

If we all did that, hedgehogs would have more space to explore and more chance of surviving in our neighbourhood. * Hedgehogs usually hibernate from October/November through to March/April. Each hedgehog is likely to move hibernation sites at least once during this period so can sometimes be seen out and about. During mild winters hedgehogs can remain active well into November and December.

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www.proglidelincoln.co.uk 30

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

News from the Veterinary Hospital

Tommy’s ‘tail’ has a happy ending WHEN your pet is sick or injured you know they are going to get the best possible care and treatment at the Veterinary Hospital, Lincoln… after all it’s where team members get their animals looked after.

For example meet Tommy Vickers (top left) who belongs to one of the nurses at VH. Tommy came into Amanda’s last practice as a stray over nine years ago and when he was not claimed she took him home.

Tommy was a scared and timid adolescent boy who was fearful of humans and everything else in the world. Now Tommy is a totally different character – Amanda describes him as loving but feisty. He is very well known and adored by all the team at VH. So when Tommy came from under Amanda’s bed staggering and behaving strangely last year he was taken straight to the Veterinary Hospital and after a day of assessments he was referred for an MRI. Tommy had to stay at the referral centre for three days. The outcome was that he had banged himself under the bed and caused damage to his atlanto-axial joint - between first and second cervical vertebra.

Tommy then spent the next ten weeks in a custom fitted thermo plastic moulded brace with Velcro straps on cage rest (pictured right).

He came into work with Amanda so he could be monitored and have physiotherapy with Trudi Allen from Physiotherapy Services to support his rehabilitation.

One of his exercises was to use a lick pad smeared with peanut butter (dog friendly of course) attached to a wall to encourage Tommy to move his head from side to side.

One year on and Tommy is now fully recovered and lives a normal life with Amanda (pictured bottom left) and her partner Carl.

The Veterinary Hospital, 175 Newport, Lincoln LN1 3DZ or 51 Doddington Road, Lincoln, LN6 7EN. T 01522 800333, www.vhvets.co.uk

Lincoln UTC

A college for science and engineering

“Lincoln UTC sixth form is outstanding… the innovative curriculum stimulates the interest and enthusiasm of students… students’ behaviour and conduct are impeccable” – Ofsted 2019

Applications open for Year 10 and Year 12 Open Event 5th January 10am-4pm Call 01522 775990 to book

GCSEs BTECs A Levels

01522 775990 enquiries@lincolnutc.co.uk Lindum Road, Lincoln, LN2 1PF

www.lincolnutc.co.uk November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

31

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Gardening News

Going green in the garden with Guy Petheram

THE Coronavirus lockdown meant that many of us had more time than usual to notice the nature around us.

And for those of us lucky enough to have one this meant the garden.

Forced to slow down, with extra time on our hands and in need of respite from unrelenting bad news the garden, and the soothing effects of birds, plants and fresh air, understandably became a bit of a sanctuary.

Gardens have always been a place to connect with nature but with increasingly busy lives, the desire for low maintenance and an array of enticing alternatives for how we might use our gardens, this aspect of gardens has perhaps become lost. The question, as some kind of normality hopefully returns over the coming months, will be whether we persist with our new found interest in a ‘green’ space.

Environmentally-friendly gardens have often been perceived as wild or messy and a lot of work. But this needn’t be the case. In fact they can be achieved in almost any style of garden, even a smart contemporary one, and while the maintenance required may be slightly different, there won’t necessarily be more of it.

There are ways to create a softer, more gentle, look and feel while also still being essentially in control. One such way is to contrast sharply clipped plants (like hedging) or small areas of linear paving with looser planting or rough grass. The former offsets the latter, creating balance and insinuating order.

Fundamentally more sustainable gardens are about reducing the negative environmental consequences of building and maintaining them (largely in the form of reducing energy use and carbon footprint) while at the same time maximising the environmental benefits, for instance by thinking about habitat.

Keeping that in mind will go a long way to making your garden ‘greener’ no matter what design you wish to achieve.

Guy offers one-to-one design advice in your garden as well as a full range of other garden design services. For more details go to www.guypetheram.co.uk, contact him at info@guypetheram.co.uk or call 07986 001853.

32

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

Got green fingers? Share your growing tips with...

Liz Lucas - gardener for all seasons THE Lockdown, having been the main feature this year, brought out the animals and the birds for a short, glorious time.

The silence was so thorough at the beginning I imagine the wildlife must have thought we had all died in a sudden, cataclysmic event that just affected humans. It did not take them long to start creeping out and claiming some land back for themselves.

We had, after many arid years, hedgehogs in the garden again. A mum and three babies. Dad occasionally shuffled round to be greeted with frankly hostile grunts and had to shuffle off again, grumbling about the fickle nature of women.

A squirrel popped round to eat the bird peanuts and sit brazenly munching while I was drinking my morning coffee. The birds increased too, enormously. Flocks of sparrows, busy blackbirds, solitary robins and one or two unusual species, like the blackcap and the goldcrest have paid a visit. There were moments when the bottom of the garden resembled a Disney film.

My husband, who is ‘good with wood’ created a rather bijou hedgehog house and I had strewn the area surrounding it with straw from a bundle I found at the back of the greenhouse. They like to make their own nests.

The straw smelled strongly of mice. They must have colonised the greenhouse. We lost our beloved Daisy the cat last year and the mice seemed to have moved in. I try to discourage the neighbour’s cats because of the birds feeding so much, but really I shall have to be nicer to them. Mice are very lovely but they smell terrible.

The garden was a great success this year. Just shows what having a little more time and energy can do. The wild flowers, along with the wild animals have made the garden really sing and provided much needed food for the insects; bees, butterflies, hover flies and many others all benefitted from being given a little more consideration.

Contact Liz via editorial@bailgateindependent.co.uk or see https://www.facebook.com/Tips-from-anordinarygarden.

Pictures: Eg Lucas

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Food News

National policies highlight complexities of food issues

By PRof NiGeL CuRRy ChaiR LiNCoLN food PaRTNeRShiP

EARLIER this year we had an unprecedented three national food policies published within a week.

On July 27, the National Obesity Strategy launched, to tackle the largest long-term national health challenge: nearly two-thirds of adults are above a healthy weight as is one in three primary school leavers. This leads to a host of health problems, and if you’re in this category, Covid 19 risks are higher.

Weight management will be improved and labelling (including for alcohol) will clarify calorie consumption. Legislation will control the promotion of food with high fats, sugars and salts. The strategy doesn’t really embrace healthy exercise as part of the mix and invariably addresses symptoms rather than causes. Only food education really can do that.

The National Food Strategy (Part One) was published on July 29. This focuses on two things. Ironically in the context of the Obesity Strategy, the most pressing is to tackle food poverty, particularly amongst our most disadvantaged children. Free school meals, more ‘Healthy Start’ vouchers and orchestrated holiday food, will be developed.

The second concerns international food trade in the light of Brexit: we must strike food deals that improve food quality and the environment.

More ironically still, to kickstart the food economy, the Government’s Help Out Eat Out policy was introduced on August 3 – 50% discounts on ‘eat out’ food through August, on Mondays – Wednesdays, as many times as you like.

Research suggested this was most popular in the ‘high fats, sugars and salts’ (causes of obesity) sector (those American fast food chains, for example) and many were tending to eat more, because it is cheaper, rather than just pay half.

These are difficult policy levers to get right: malnutrition from eating too much of the wrong things sits alongside malnutrition from not having enough to eat. Stimulating the food economy can also stimulate obesity.

As we head into the traditional period of over-eating the ‘wrong’ things, there is a need for education, food support and personal choice if we are to develop a sense of our own food responsibility.

Chat and collect back at Doddington Farm Shop DODDINGTON Hall & Gardens is bringing back its popular farm shop Chat + Collect service to serve the local community during the latest national coronavirus lockdown.

The service, which opened to the public on November 9, allows customers to order their shopping essentials over the phone and then collect it without having to leave their car.

Fresh fruit and veg, locally sourced meat, frozen meals, bread and flour, tinned goods, drinks and more farm shop favourites can be ordered and paid for over the phone by calling 01522 688581.

Slots are available for booking now, with priority given to vulnerable customers.

Claire Birch, owner of Doddington Hall & Gardens, said: “We know how much Chat + Collect served as a vital link for our customers during the first lockdown, especially the most vulnerable in our community. So in these uncertain times, the team is ready to serve once again, to take your orders, to chat to you about our range and help you to get all the essentials you need.”

The Chat + Collect service will be operating daily between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Customers can visit the Farm Shop page for more details.

The farm shop will remain open to the public daily 9am-5pm during lockdown as essential retail, providing a safe and sociallydistanced service and promoting Hands. Face. Space at all times.

Doddington Coffee Shop (next to the bike shop) will open 9am4pm Monday to Saturday and 10am-4pm on Sundays for food and drink takeawaysjacket potatoes, toasted waffles and sweet treats.

Looking ahead to Christmas at Doddington, refunds will be given for hall bookings already made for dates before December 2 and subject to government guidance, bookings will remain open from that date.

The hall will be decorated throughout with the theme ‘Secret Gardens’ inspired by its walled and wild gardens, bringing the outdoors in to create spectacular scenes for a magical family day out.

Freshly-cut Doddington Christmas trees will be available to order from November 27.

See the website and social media for further updates - visit www.doddingtonhall.com.

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Snapshots from the Past Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School archivist Peter Harrod continues to delve into its pictorial past.

Christmas in 1916 at the 4 th Northern General Hospital, Lincoln.

Wounded celebrate Christmas 1916 DURING the First World War, the 4th Northern General Hospital in Lincoln (4th NGH) occupied the old buildings and playing field of the former Lincoln Grammar School.

It was later re-named Lincoln School and is now Lincoln Christ’s Hospital School.

It held 41 Officers’ beds and 1126 Other Ranks’ beds with over 45,000 men being treated there. Newport Cemetery in Lincoln, situated less than a mile from the school, contains 139 First World War graves.

During that period, Lincoln School was moved to temporary accommodation on land at the junction of Sewell Road and St Anne’s Road, now occupied by a hospital car park.

I have already written an article on the hospital for the September 2019 edition of the Bailgate Independent, but for the 2020 festive edition I am focussing on how Christmas was celebrated during the heart of the Great War as a metaphor for our own contemporary fight against Covid-19.

The picture above shows Christmas celebrations in one of the 20 or so temporary wards housed in huts on the school playing field.

The gentleman in the second bed on the left is Sergeant Daniel Morley, and I am grateful to his grandson for sending me the photo.

An article in the hospital’s magazine by Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) Nurse EM Hall described Christmas at the hospital as ‘that Festival of all Festivals, and the best loved by everyone’.

Apparently it was kept in ‘princely style’, and one of the principal officers was heard to remark, “Well, if the Kaiser saw all this, he would not think England was short of anything.”

The celebrations began for the inmates of the wards as soon as they roused from their morning slumbers. The night nurses had played the part of Santa Claus, and had placed a treasure bag on everyone’s bed. These contained gifts, useful and ornamental, serious and comic, the latter adding greatly to the vivacity and noise of the day’s proceedings.

Thanks to the kindness and generosity of the lady visitors and 34

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

officers, as well as to the subscribers to the hospital, and the devoted and untiring efforts of the matrons, sisters and nurses, everyone enjoyed the day to the full.

At noon, the men feasted on the roast beef of Old England and Christmas plum pudding, and once the meal was over and the staff had partaken of their own seasonal repast, the entertainments began.

Tea formed a pleasant interlude, but supper was a more formal occasion, and was honoured by the presence of the matron and some of the medical officers.

A reflection of these ‘gaieties’ could be seen again on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, when heartfelt good wishes were exchanged.

The short article ended with very best wishes for happiness in 1917, and the hope that the year might be made ‘glorious and memorable by the signature of a victorious and lasting Peace’.

It was to be some two years before that wish was fulfilled.

One of the features of the hospital’s magazine is the humour that it contained, even during the challenging times of the Great War, and the misery faced by the thousands of recuperating soldiers, and the nurses who attended them. Here’s one example overheard in a corridor, and transcribed verbatim...

Sergeant to lady scrubber, following a raid: “Why were you absent from work yesterday?”

Lady scrubber: “Them machines dropping insanitary bombs round about upset me inside and made it all of a tremble!”

As we tuck into our Christmas lunch, we count our blessings that our present ‘war’, challenging though it is, hardly bears comparison with those dark days of the First World War, and those 45,000 casualties in the 4th NGH. We might also manage a little humour ourselves, too. My very best wishes for the festive season to all Independent readers and staff.

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aLLiSoN PayNe

Art and Culture

Festive gifts an art at Harding House Gallery

GLASS ART BY ADELE BILLINGHAY

PUT Lincoln’s Harding House Gallery on your places to visit for Christmas shopping.

The Steep Hill venue is run by a co-operative and is always on the Bailgate Independent’s radar when we need something unique for friends, family, clients and special occasions.

“We love a visit to Harding House. The paintings, prints, sculptures, jewellery, calligraphy, sculptures and textiles are all created locally by the talented artists and well-priced for individual work,” said Indie publisher Rachel Bishop.

During the first lockdown some members were producing new work, while others were busy catching up with long overdue tasks, and taking on new challenges.

They were enjoying being open full time again and were planning their Christmas Exhibition, but this has now had to go on hold due to the second lockdown, explained member Allison Payne.

“Keep an eye on the Facebook page for up to date re-opening information. As a small business they will really appreciate your support, and you will have the choice of unique handmade items for your festive shopping.”

Contact the individual members for a virtual tour of their work. http://hardinghousegallery.co.uk

£600,000 funding boost for New Theatre Royal THE New Theatre Royal Lincoln is another city attraction to benefit from the Government’s £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund (CRF) and will receive £600,000 to help it through the pandemic.

Opening in 1893, the Grade II listed New Theatre Royal has been entertaining audiences for over 125 years. From children’s theatre and comedy, to live music and the popular Easter and Christmas Pantomimes the theatre is an important part of Lincoln’s art and cultural offering, entertaining up to 100,000 people each year.

Under the new ownership of Natalie and Michael Hayes-Cowley since 2016, the venue has seen significant improvements including renovations to the Box Office and bar areas.

Artistic Director Natalie explained that while the funding will provisionally help cover the theatre’s high running costs, there are plans to make further improvements to ensure every patron’s future visit is more enjoyable and memorable.

“We are so grateful and relieved to have received this funding, it is incredible news for the New Theatre Royal, and for the arts and culture landscape across Lincolnshire,” said Natalie.

“This money will help cover running costs, it will help keep staff employed, and it will help us be ready to open the doors for our wonderful patrons when the time comes.

“This gives the New Theatre Royal a chance to stay on the map, so everyone can continue to enjoy everything that this beautiful venue has to offer for years to come.”

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Art and Culture

Books

Win a copy of Trudey Martin’s latest thriller

Publishing award for Jon LINCOLN-based Green Plover Books will be named Independent Publisher of the Year 2020/21 for Central England next month.

The awards are organised nationally by Corporate LiveWire and recognise outstanding achievement in business categories. The award will be formally presented in December at a regional event.

Green Plover Books was set up as an independent publishing business in 2014 by Lincolnshire author and photographer Jon Fox. It supplies books to a wide range of retail outlets and visitor attractions in Lincolnshire and adjoining areas, as well as offering online sales throughout the UK. Jon has published two book titles to date, both of which are about Lincolnshire, exploring the county’s landscapes including their heritage, history and wildlife. He also wrote and designed the content and supplied the photography. Both books have been widely acclaimed and were reprinted due to demand.

Green Plover Books’ other side business is marketing, including publicity, sales and distribution of the publications.

Jon has lived almost all of his life in Lincolnshire and adjoining parts of Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire. info@greenploverbooks.co.uk www.greenploverbooks.co.uk

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

IF you have yet not caught up with Verity Spencer’s adventures in Lincoln through the books of Trudey Martin now is your chance.

The Indie is giving away a copy of her latest novel, A Hallway of Gallows, in which Verity searches for a missing girl.

Gloria’s distraught foster carer turns to Verity for help and as she gets closer to finding out why Gloria is missing she uncovers a horrifying web of manipulation and abuse. Can Verity get to the truth before more lives are shattered?

Trudey lives, works and writes in Lincoln and enjoys using the city as a backdrop to her books.

She has worked in social care for many years and uses her experience in her writing.

Trudey has previously written and directed plays and several academic articles but first her first novel, No Deadly Medicine was only published last December and introduces Verity Spencer as the protagonist.

Her creator describes Verity as an everyday heroine. An ordinary woman thrown into extraordinary circumstances.

“I love dark action and adventure style crime thrillers.Yet almost every book has a hero who is an expert - a police officer, ex-army etc. Or

they have a specialist skill like Gregg Hurwitz’s Orphan X or Lisbet Salander in Stieg Larsson’s Millennium books. I wanted to think about what would happen if a normal, everyday woman got unwittingly drawn into the dark and disturbing crime world.

“When Verity picks up the notebook at the start of No Deadly Medicine, it could have been any one of us. I was exploring what resources you’d need as a complete amateur to fight these very scary criminals.”

Trudey says that Verity contains elements of herself, but is ‘much more confident and resilient than I would ever be’.

See trudeymartin.co.uk.

To win a copy of a Hallway of Gallows tell us where Verity Spencer’s adventures are set?

Send your answers to admin@bailgateindependent.co.uk marking your entry Book Competition.

Strong environmental message in Storm Girl COMMITTED environmentalist and novelist Linda Nicklin believes her fictional work about a dystopian near-future could become reality.

The Heighington-based writer recently had Storm Girl published by Fantastic Books and the hard-hitting eco-thriller finds planet earth drowning under rising seas.

The action takes place in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire as Angel, the Storm Girl of the title, escapes a death sentence through a drowned city. From depths of despair, she begins to find hope, and becomes part of a growing resistance fighting back against the wholesale plundering of the planet. Linda supports local, national and international environmental causes and tries to live a life with as small a carbon footprint as she can: “The truth is that without government leadership and action we are in deep trouble.

“Although this is a work of fiction, it would be easy with only a small stretch, to imagine much of these horrendous things happening.”

“With reference to actual places, such as the Post Mill at Wrawby and Clifford’s Tower in York, it is easy to visualise and be drawn into the vibe of scenes, some frighteningly so.”

Find out more at https://www.fantasticbooksstore.com

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Art and Culture

Books

amy puts animal suffering in the frame A LINCOLN photographer will have her work published in a groundbreaking new book about our relationship with animals in the 21st Century.

HIDDEN: Animals in the Anthropocene, collects the work of over 30 photojournalists who document animal stories around the world and is forwarded by Oscar-winner and passionate animal activist, Joaquin Phoenix.

Amy Jones, 26, is co-founder of Moving Animals, a photography and journalism project that shines a light on animal industries around the world from slaughterhouses to zoos.

in the name of tradition and religion. HIDDEN is the initiative of We Animals Media (WAM).

“My camera has become a vehicle to build relationships, tell stories, and allow others to witness the injustice to animals that is so carefully hidden from us. That’s what I love most about what I do. And I hope that my work helps others to look through a different lens: one which views animals as individuals, not commodities,” said Amy. So how does someone like Amy manage to maintain her professionalism when faced with animal suffering?

She told the Indie: “When documenting, I’m so focused on photographing what is happening in front of me, that I’m able to block it out to a certain extent.

The camera seems to act as a bit of a shield. But then the reality of the suffering tends to hit me afterwards. The thing that keeps me going is knowing that by taking a picture, the suffering won’t go completely unnoticed. Perhaps someone, somewhere will see the cruelty that is often so carefully hidden from us, and reconsider using animals for food, fashion or entertainment. “ Instagram: @moving.animals Facebook: @officialmovinganimals https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/hidden-animals-inthe-anthropocene-by-we-animals#/

She spent the last two years investigating and photographing animal exploitation around the world to help draw attention to the billions of animals used for food, fashion, and entertainment.

Her work, which has taken her from performing animal zoos in Thailand to cattle auctions in England, has been featured in over 150 publications, including The Guardian, The Independent, and Mail Online.

HIDDEN is an unflinching book of photography documenting our relationship with non-human animals in the 21st Century. It focuses on the invisible animals in our lives: those with whom we have a close relationship and yet fail to see. They are the animals we eat and the animals we wear. They are the animals used in research and for entertainment, as well as the animals we sacrifice

Susanne’s poetry and writings explore past and present lives AN exhibition of poems and writings by Susanne West will be a January treat for visitors to Lincoln’s Decimal Place Gallery.

Writer’s block has never been a problem for Susanne (pictured), but following her husband’s death several years ago she has become prolific.

“Her writings and poems really flowed such that after several years of creativity she compiled a book of 372 poems plus novels and other publications,” explained gallery owner Peter Rollings.

Her poetry covers chakra healing some poems on Egypt, past lives and her travels in Russia, Poland, Scandinavia, Germany,

Austria, Bavaria and Italy.

Published in A Mirror Image Book of Poems through lulu.com the poems are also written in a series of forty booklets.

The first volume Susanne’s novel, Seven Tales of the Timeless Traveller, ‘is based on her research into past lives and how the project has made her and the main characters in the book into the people they are. The sequel, A Mirror Image Through The Mists of Time, is based on the period of the Cathars, the Quakers and the court of Mary Queen of Scots, exploring the author’s own Scottish roots Susanne has just finished working on the

last of the trilogy, The Golden Age of the Fifth Dimension based on Atlantis.

Decimal Place Gallery, 10 Burton Road,Lincoln, LN1 3LB. Open most days, 11am - 2pm, free entry.

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Art and Culture MeeT The aRTiST

Szilvia Ponyiczki

Such stuff as dreams are made on...

FREELANCE artist Szilvia Ponyiczki explores the power of dreams through her work inspired by the ideas of Carl Gustav Jung.

Born in Hungary and now based in Lincolnshire Szilvia has a Masters in Fine Art from Nottignham Trent University and recently displayed her art at the Lost Stories Exhibition at the Surface Gallery in the city.

“People of ancient cultures were great believers in dreams and their powers. They were convinced that dreams were oracles, messages of gods or demons; and depending on their culture they had different rituals facilitating insightful dreams,” said Szilvia.

“Unfortunately this knowledge has gradually lost its importance during the development of mankind. Dream appreciation and interpretation gained back some of its importance through the writings of S. Freud and C. G. Jung, and through the works of the surrealists in arts.

personal and the collective unconscious. This inner world of ours, where a higher intelligence resides, can be a source of imaginative wisdom and understanding.

“I believe that art can be a catalyst for individual and cultural transformation, enhance human potential and promote the individual and common good.”

“I believe that dream representation can take us back to that lost ancient knowledge of mankind, make the human unconscious accessible; showing us what we do not know, what we do not notice.”

In the past couple of years she has painted figurative dreamscapes, based on her own dreams. “Immersion in dream analysis made it possible for me to see dream images and later every other image, from the perspective of dream analysis. This made me develop a dream representation based method, making real images dreamlike by moving them from reality into the unconscious, oneiric realm; in an attempt of an authentic portrayal of the unconscious.”

A member of the Lincolnshire Artists Society Szilvia has exhibited widely in her home country and her work has also featured in shows in the United States as well as closer to home in Grantham and Sleaford. :Dreams can help us to gain better insight into problems, offer new and creative solutions, and lead to a new way of thinking. Not only because our brain can work freely during sleeping when there are no disturbances from daily life, but because it has access to both the 38

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

To discover more of Szilvia’s work see www.ponyiczki.co.uk or www.instagram.com/szilviaponyiczki..

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Art and Culture

Vibrant show a winter warmer PUT some colour into your November by visiting the Vibrant Electric online art exhibition.

The collaborative show will feature work by local artists Agnes J Carmen and Mel Langton on their facebook pages from November 9 -15.

The women had been due to stage the show at Lincoln’s Gallery St Martin’s but had to move online following the lockdown announcement.

They hope to do a physical show together in 2021.

Agnes produces bright and colourful artwork, using different shapes and patterns, and finds art to be not only a form of self expression but also a therapeutic way to communicate what is happening on the inside.

Her work portrays her inner feelings and emotions, capturing the ‘moment’, the good and the bad, and her art predominantly focuses on human emotion and facial expressions “Some ideas for paintings come to me in my dreams. For the most part the eccentric patterns and lively colours seen in art is what I transfer onto the canvas.”

Mel produces an array of colourful, bold and edgy art influenced by music, lifestyle, pop and alternative culture interwoven with themes of mental health awareness and motivational and inspirational individuals.

“My work encompasses both traditional painting techniques along with digitally created pieces and my love of feisty female characters was intensified through my days on track playing the full contact sport of roller derby.”

Mel’s work will be recognisable from art trails within the city as she has designed pieces for the Lincoln Barons’ Charter Trail, the Lincoln Knights’ Trail, the RAF 100 Voices wing trail and earlier this year she completed work on her Lincoln Imp for next years Lincoln Imps Trail.

“With our bold and bright artistic styles combined, and artwork not only restricted to the canvas, we promise an incredibly vibrant and colourful show to warm the winter days.”

Mel will feature live art sessions, Monday-Friday at 3pm and both artists will talk about their work and the ideas that inspire them.

Kevo swaps music for art at decimal Place THE intriguing collages of KevO can be seen at the Decimal Place Gallery on Lincoln’s Burton Road throughout December.

Kev is based in Gainsborough, but will be well-known to live music lovers in the city as front Lincoln band Pulse8 during the 80s. With his powerful, sometimes operatic voice he is still experimenting with his music today with friend Sam – they are collectively known as The Ten Foot.

“They’ve performed to acclaim at Decimal Place’s Weird Garden alternative music nights, so we’re please to host KevO’s other artistic output – extraordinary, imaginative collages and artifacts,” said venue owner Peter Rollings.

“He gathers interesting images and brings them together into fascinating pictures and objects, full of ideas, philosophy, reinterpretation and reallocation. He adds his own painted and multi-media elements and what emerges is invariably engrossing and thoughtprovoking.

Decimal Place, 10 Burton Road Lincoln LN1 3LB, Open most days, 11am 2pm. Free entry.

www.facebook.com/agnesjcarmenart www.facebook.com/mellangtonart November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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Faces and Places

!"#$%&''(

Vital grant for Bomber Command centre INTERNATIONAL Bomber Command Centre has received a lifeline grant of ÂŁ426,000 from the ÂŁ1.57bn Culture Recovery Fund.

The cash injection will, along with other fundraising initiatives, help to replace income lost through the pandemic and will provide support to keep the centre operational over the lean winter months.

The fund will help adapt the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s education, community and outreach programmes to digital platforms, allowing them to be shared more widely and enabling more people to learn of the role and sacrifice of Bomber Command.

Part of the fund has been allocated to reducing long term energy costs by increasing green energy on site and the centreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s AA disability rating will also be further improved with the installation of a Changing Places facility for disabled visitors.

Nicky van der Drift, IBCC Chief Executive, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This funding forms an essential part of

protecting the heritage of Bomber Command for the future, supporting the centre following the devastating impact of COVID on the finances. It also enables us to move forward, developing elements across heritage, education, outreach and accessibility to ensure the long-term sustainability and viability of the project. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are enormously grateful to the Government for its support in protecting the memories of those who served their country to protect our freedoms.â&#x20AC;?

Since opening on January 30, 2018, IBCC has welcomed over 220,000 visitors from 21 different countries. The centre has received awards for interpretation, innovation, ethical, sustainable and responsible tourism, International tourism, heritage and education and is rated the number one thing to do in Lincolnshire by TripAdvisor. https://internationalbcc.co.uk

Margaret leaves her beat

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Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

HUNDREDS of well-wishers have thanked Margaret Marelli for her 15 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; service on her retirement as a Police Community Support Officer.

A well-known figure on the Town Centre Beat, which stretches from Newport Arch to High Street, Margaret said she had to admit defeat and give up walking up and down Steep Hill every day.

Margaret was also a traffic warden for 15 years: â&#x20AC;&#x153;I seem to have spent most of my life in a uniform, but I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have had it any other way.â&#x20AC;?

Margaret embodied what she saw as the main feature of her role - to reassure the public, tourists and businesses.

Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police Bill Skelly visited the town centre office at City Hall to say goodbye and more than 450 people visited the forceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s facebook page in recognition of Margaretâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work.

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Faces and Places

Share your memories of Cranwell for 100th anniversary LOCAL people have been invited to share their memories of RAF College Cranwell after its centenary celebrations were postponed in 2020.

Base personnel are in the process of collecting memories from people who may have lived or worked at the College in any capacity.

Group Captain Gordon Bettington, Deputy Commandant and Station Commander, RAF College Cranwell is pictured (left) as a cadet and (right) as he is today.

“It is so important to us to build on the amazing legacy left to us by our predecessors; there is no better time than our Centenary year to build a catalogue of stories and memories from those who have lived or worked at RAF College Cranwell.

“The memories and stories we collate now, will provide a lasting legacy for the next generation and will be a valued part of the RAF College Collection, building a complete picture of the heritage, ethos and traditions of the RAF College.”

Cranwell's association with aviation began during World War I as in 1915, the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) needed somewhere officers and ratings could be trained to fly aeroplanes, observer kite balloons and airships.

The Admiralty had requisitioned 2,500 acres of farmland at Cranwell and in the following month, construction of a hutted camp and aircraft hangars began, as well as balloon sheds. The Royal

Naval Air Service Central Training Establishment Cranwell was commissioned on 1 April 1916.

With the amalgamation of the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps on 1 April 1918, ownership of Cranwell passed to the newly established RAF. The Royal Air Force College opened on 5 February 1920 under the command of Air Commodore C.A.H. Longcroft.

The Chief of the Air Staff's message to the first entry of cadets left them in no doubt of his expectations for the College: "We have to learn by experience how to organise and administer a great Service, both in peace and war, and you, who are present at the College in its first year, will, in future, be at the helm. Therefore, you will have to work your hardest, both as cadets at the College and subsequently as officers, in order to be capable of guiding this great Service through its early days and maintaining its traditions and efficiency in the years to come."

College Hall, (above) was completed in September 1933 for £321,000 and based on the architecture of Sir Christopher Wren.

If you would like to share your memories – email crn-sptgeneralenquiries@mod.gov.uk or write to: Media and Communications Office, RAF College Cranwell, Sleaford, Lincs, NG34 8HB

Lincolnshire Kitchen to cook up funds for LIVES A COOKBOOK to celebrate the work of a county emergency response charity has been published in time for the festive season.

LIVES, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020 and Ringrose Law have partnered to produce Lincolnshire Kitchen available in local Coop stores.

Tiffany Allen, Corporate Fundraising Manager at LIVES explained, “We have been really excited about working on this project, and to have so many wonderful local people involved has made this even more enjoyable. We know this cookbook will really showcase Lincolnshire talent and excellence, whilst raising money for a lifesaving Lincolnshire charity.”

Lincoln chef, Darren Rogan (pictured) cooked the recipes using local produce from suppliers such as Doddington Hall, Lincolnshire Poacher, and Branston Potatoes Ringrose Law’s Marketing Manager, Alex Bennett added: “Lincolnshire Kitchen is a wonderful way to promote the produce our county is famous for. We are really excited to be working with Lincolnshire Co-op on this, and hope that customers will pick up a copy to support LIVES.” Lincolnshire Kitchen will be also be available through the LIVES website. www.LIVES.org.uk November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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Business News from the Experts

Planning for the ‘new normal’ – is it time to restructure?

STEVIE HEAFFORD, DIRECTOR, WRIGHT VIGAR CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS NO-ONE has a crystal ball but, at some point, the world will emerge from the Covid 19 crisis and businesses will need to assess how they will operate in the ‘new normal’.

Businesses coming out of the crisis will look very different from when they went in. Supply chains may have been disrupted, the workforce put onto furlough, operations reduced if not brought to a halt and the knock-on effect on customers, revenues and cashflows is likely to be severe. The impact will almost certainly be exacerbated once the Government incentives come to an end. Add to that the need for the Government to find ways to manage the eye-watering borrowings used to fund the various measures and it’s not hard to imagine that tax will play its part.

We have no way of knowing what measures the Chancellor will introduce in the Spring Budget. He could choose to increase income tax, corporation tax and/or capital taxes or focus on indirect and digital taxes. What we do know with certainty is what tax rules are in place now.

Is the business viable?

Is it even economically viable to continue to run the business or would a tax efficient close down of the business be better using the reliefs available at the current time such as Entrepreneurs’ Relief?

Extraction of cash and assets Is it a good time to extract valuable assets such as cash or property in order to safeguard them from the trading

environment of an uncertain economy? Again, tax efficient extraction is possible under current legislation.

Restructuring loans and finance Do you have finance or loans which could be restructured to improve a post- Covid balance sheet or unlock blocked reserves?

Bringing forward retirement plans Now may be a good time to bring forward succession plans – is it a good time to hand over to a younger, more agile generation?

Share incentives Share values are likely to be suppressed at present and it may therefore be a good opportunity to lock in key employees with share- based incentives such that they have a vested interest in working to rebuild the business in the post- Covid world.

No one has a crystal ball but, whatever challenges you and your business face in the post pandemic economy, tax is certain to play a key part in the recovery so it makes sense to start planning for it now.

Wright Vigar, 15 Newland, Lincoln, LN1 1XG. T. 01522 531341. www.wrightvigar.co.uk

Jobs help for young through FC Kickstart RECRUITMENT firm FC JobSearch is offering businesses across the county the chance to boost their workforce for free and help kickstart a young person’s career.

The online recruitment specialist, which donates 50% of its profits to Lincoln City Football Club, has signed up to serve as a gateway for the UK’s Kickstart Scheme.

Announced by the Chancellor as part of the Plan for Jobs, the scheme will create hundreds of thousands of new job placements for young people who are currently on Universal Credit and at risk of long-term unemployment.

The Government will fully fund each Kickstart placement paying 100% of the agerelevant National Minimum Wage, National Insurance and pension contributions for 25 hours a week.

There is also £1500 per job placement available for setup costs, support and training.

CEO and Founder Crispin Vitoria (pictured) explained: “Initially when the scheme was announced employers had to create a minimum of 30 job placements to be eligible. However, smaller businesses who only want to hire one or two Kickstarters, 42

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

can now also apply for funding by going through a gateway like FC JobSearch.

“To qualify for the scheme, there are certain obligations employers must fulfil to help the participants develop their skills and experience, such as helping them look for long-term work, prepare for job interviews or supporting them with basic skills, such as attendance, timekeeping and teamwork.

“Our Kickstart Gateway service has been designed to take the burden away from the employer. We’ve set up an online training and support service which employers can use to guarantee they have fulfilled their obligations to the government and employee.

“Our recruitment experts can also filter all of the placement applications and reference check the successful candidates.”

As part of the government’s Plan for Jobs, the £2 billion Kickstart Scheme will give young people – who are more likely to have been furloughed, with many working in sectors disproportionately hit by the pandemic - the opportunity to build their skills in the workplace and to gain experience to improve their chances of finding long-term work.

Once a job placement has been created, it can be taken up by a second person after the first successful applicant has completed their six-month term and there is no limit to the number of applicants per employer.

Those interested in applying for the scheme through FC JobSearch should register their interest at https://www.fcjobsearch.com/kickstart or email crispin@fcjobsearch.com

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Business News from the Experts

Act now to prevent skills gaps Mini Setty, partner, LangLeyS SoLicitorS RECENT headlines have served as a stark reminder that the full consequences of Brexit are just around the corner.

The biggest change is that from January 1, 2021, freedom of movement for EU nationals will end and they will be subject to immigration control. EU citizens will need immigration permission to live, work and study in the UK. Recruiters seeking skilled workers from within the EU will have to move quickly.

From 2021, it will no longer be possible to assume that a new recruit based within the EU will be able to take up employment in the UK. Employers will now need to act now if they are to avoid a skills shortage.

Many more businesses than ever will be submitting applications for sponsor licences, opening the potential for a significant backlog and delays in administration.

So what do employers need to know?

The UK Government is introducing a new points-based immigration system from 2021. It will treat EU and non-EU citizens equally and aims to attract people who can contribute to the UK’s economy. It will include a route for skilled workers who have a job offer from an approved employer sponsor. To be eligible to seek employment in the UK, potential recruits will need to be accepted for employment at a required skill level loosely comparable to A Levels; will need to speak English; and will need to be taking employment that pays the threshold salary of £25,600 (or lower in certain circumstances).

For skilled EU and non-EU workers to be able to gain permission to enter the UK for work purposes, they will need a Tier 2 visa.

Sponsors must undergo checks to demonstrate they are a genuine

business, are solvent, and that the roles they wish to recruit into are genuine and meet the salary and skills requirements.

Sponsors must also pay a licence fee and ensure they act and behave in a way, which is conducive to the wider public good. There is also the immigration health surcharge for an employee’s medical insurance of £624.

Senior personnel and key users of the sponsor licence service must undergo criminality and other security checks.

A Global Talent immigration route has been designed to increase the country’s attractiveness to highly skilled individuals with specialist skills and the future leaders in science, humanities, engineering, the arts and digital technology. Top scientists and researchers are able to benefit from a quicker endorsement process as part of a fast track STEM scheme and there will be special measures for academic talent, including overseas students who have graduated from a UK university, to remain in this country to start a career.

Migrants can start to apply for ‘settled status’ ahead of the system taking effect and organisations should: check the need for a sponsor licence; understand how the points-based system works and start planning their budget for recruitment.

Langleys has a dedicated employment team offering business immigration advice and can help you apply for sponsor licences. For more information visit www.langleys.com

#GoDigital2020 Thursday 26th November 2020 09:00 to 13:30 Discover how digital can boost your business after COVID-19 with workshops, expert speakers and our SME funding expo.

Stay in the know:

Book now: www.businesslincolnshire.com/events

Don’t miss a single update with our weekly bulletin!

businesslincolnshire@lincolnshire.gov.uk /Businesslincolnshire

@BusinessLincs

www.businesslincolnshire.com/register

November/December 2020 | Bailgate Independent

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THE BOTTOM LINE

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How to wrap up Christmas in Covid-appropriate way

By JAMES pINCHBECK, pARTNER IT seems Christmas is the only certainty looming and thoughts will soon be turning, if they have not already, to what to buy for loved ones, colleagues and friends.

have certainly seen a boom in book sales with books being sold by the linear length.

Whilst some engage in Christmas present buying like a military operation, many are less organised, perhaps more so this year, relying on casual shopping whether online or in store for ideas for gift solutions.

l With work attire jettisoned to the wardrobe more of us have adopted a more relaxed dress code. As the seasons change and we look to refresh then perhaps it is a good time to think about clothing that might be a welcome gift. This could include an ‘outfit’ based on business attire tops and perhaps loungewear bottoms, through to jumpers for the colder days ahead.

At the start of the year who would have thought some of the following ideas would be possible presents or gifts for business people and employees alike: l The latest edition of the Oxford English dictionary, to include words that have come about since lockdown. Such entries might include Blursday - a new made up word being used to describe the situation when lockdown and working from home has got to the point that you have no real idea what day it is, even that you didn’t realise it is a non-working day. l A makeover for their working from home space. With growing numbers of people working from home, a trend which is likely here to stay, greater attention is being given to having a space which is both comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.

Whilst you might think of the gift of a new desk or chair, you may want to give consideration to interior design too. The idea of a plant or two might not go amiss. l For coffee lovers not able to frequent their favourite coffee shop, the gift of freshly ground coffee, even a coffee machine will probably go down a treat. A gift even better complemented with some artisan or specialist chocolate. l Many of us will have spent significant time on Zoom, Teams or google hangouts. In the early days it was deemed acceptable that our backgrounds were our own personal space. The luxury of a designed and digital background that works on your device though I am sure will be well received. For those whose back drop is a wall of shelves, then perhaps an alternative is a selection of books with colour coordinated spines. Charity shops 44

Bailgate Independent | November/December July/August 2020 2020

l Instead of the usual luxury soaps and beauty products, perhaps a posh hand sanitiser selection box could be your gift solution. This could also be complemented with a designer Covid secure face mask. l With lockdown restrictions likely to be in place in some time, gifts that help with our wellbeing are surely worth a consideration. Something for the garden or the kitchen, or something to while away the hours such as a jigsaw, game or book are great ideas. As too might be something to do such as lessons or guides on learning or doing something new.

It will certainly be interesting to see what the most gifted presents will be for 2020. Hopefully all will receive something they like and something that gives them a lift.

Whatever you buy - remember to shop local. Many of our independent stores have websites or a social media presence and are taking orders during this second lockdown.

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Property News

Leaders launches in Lincoln LEADERS has launched a new virtual office in Lincoln.

Group CEO Peter Kavanagh said the company’s expansion across the East Midlands aimed to provide customers with Leaders’ trustworthy and knowledgeable property services in the area.

“The launch of our virtual office in Lincoln demonstrates our commitment to innovation and continued delivery of customer service in a growing number of areas.

“We feel Lincoln is a great place to live and work for tenants and landlords, buyers and vendors; with direct transport links into London, a renowned university and an increasingly diverse population. We are excited to announce our arrival and growing our business here.”

Leaders is a member of ARLA and has earned several industry awards including winner at the Best Estate Agents Guide 2020 Awards.

With more than 120 offices throughout the country the Group has taken advantage of advancements in technology and the opportunity to work remotely to thrive throughout lockdown - offering virtual appraisals and viewings in order to continue to meet their customers’ property needs.

Heading up lettings is Rachel Horton (top), who has 15 years’ experience in the property sector.

“Having earned a strong reputation in the area for providing an exemplary customer experience and a personable service, Rachel prides herself on delivering what is promised and going the extra mile to offer an unrivalled local letting service,” said Peter.

Rachel has held senior positions for Countrywide, Belvoir and Sequence, as well as local independent agent Green Key, Laura Kelly heads up sales in Lincoln and with 10 years’ experience in estate agency is able to help vendors with all of their selling needs.

“Laura has the drive to achieve a service and sales performance of the very highest level and prides herself on delivering only the best customer service to all of our clients.”

Laura has covered the Lincolnshire region for many years working for some well-known brands including, William H Brown, Reeds Rains and Countrywide.

T: 01522 217159, email: lincoln@leaders.co.uk.

Could a garden room answer your home-office needs?

IF recent Government announcements mean you’re back working from home, you might be looking to invest in a home office according to the latest research from MyGlazing.com.

The research with over 1,000 people showed that almost half of people (43%) have a dedicated home office space, with more than a quarter of people (27%) feeling their home working space isn’t adequate. A further one in ten people have lost out on living space to accommodate working from home.

While many people have been reaping the rewards of working from home, half of those surveyed admit to needing to make changes to their property to allow them to do this, with almost one in five requiring a home improvement company to help.

Fourteen per cent of people have considered moving to a larger property and a further one in ten are considering getting significant work done such as an extension, loft conversion, conservatory or garden room to increase their working and living space.

James Lee at MyGlazing.com, said: “Before the Government even announced its updated working from home policy, many people seemed happy to continue working from home. This is likely down to savings in cost and time, on commuting to their company’s office plus a better work-life balance from operating from home. With 46

Bailgate Independent | November/December 2020

this in mind, it’s important that those working from home have access to comfortable and healthy working conditions, which is why many people have already made home improvements or are planning to make improvements.

“Our research shows that 85% of homeowners are planning to make improvements of some kind to their homes in the near future. It’s therefore important homeowners consider what they can do to create working spaces that are safe, comfortable and productive. You might even consider investing in a garden room, extension or conservatory to create a dedicated home working space.”

To support those that do require work on their property, MyGlazing.com, the consumer advice website for the Glass & Glazing Federation (GGF), has created a Stay Safe section on its website with top tips and advice on staying safe while improving the home during the current pandemic. From advice on safely admitting tradespeople into the home, planning tips for a socially distanced renovation, and the best home improvements to carry out in the current climate.

Visit Stay Safe with MyGlazing.com for access to the latest advice: https://www.myglazing.com/stay-safe/

An exclusive development of 10 lakeside lodges being built in the village of Doddington later this year Artist impression

Images are for illustrative purpose only

Laurel Developments are a new and exciting local company with over 30 years experience in the building trade. They pride themselves on providing trust and value across every project and their highly skilled and experienced workforce are dedicated to ensuring consistent attention to safety, quality and of course beautiful design.

These two and three bedroom luxury open plan lodges will meet all the latest energy standards and will be traditionally built with Siberian larch cladding, slate roofs and fully glazed aluminium windows and doors. These superior building methods makes them easier to obtain mortgages for. Each lodge also has a private garden and parking spaces with a gravel drive.

The lodges are for holiday purposes and although they canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be used as a main residence, there are no restrictions on the time you are allowed to spend in them. They are an ideal investment opportunity.

Please do get in touch with us to find out more, early investors will be able to get involved in the interior layout of their lodge.

Call Chris Hart on

07770 590 154

e: info@laureldevelopments.com

www.laureldevelopments.com The Laurels â&#x20AC;˘ Back Lane Doddington â&#x20AC;˘ Lincoln LN6 4RR

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