Scunthorpe Journal - October/November 2025

promoting the positive side of SCUNTHORPE and

surrounding areas

INTRODUCTION

Hello and welcome to your October/ November edition of Scunthorpe Journal.

We hope you all had a brilliant summer! Autumn may bring chillier nights but we love getting cosy and tucking into a nice, warm home-cooked meal. The nights may also be getting darker but spooky season is just around the corner, too, and for many people this is their favourite time of year.

In this edition, we speak to local walker Mike Joyce, from Winterton, who put on his walking boots for a 130-mile challenge for

international development agency Christian Aid.

We also share Lisa Palmer’s weight-loss journey and how embracing fitness inspired her to compete in the Great North Run for a fourth time.

As always, our friendly team is just an email or phone call away to help you with all your advertisement needs.

We will see you again in December, but for now, sit back with a cuppa and enjoy your latest instalment of Scunthorpe Journal.

WHO ARE WE? MEET THE STAFF...

LISA WARRENER EDITOR

RACHAEL LIDDLE DISTRIBUTION MANAGER

Daniella dennis sales manager

There’s a warm welcome awaiting you at Ashfield Park in Scunthorpe. You’ll feel right at home in your brand new home in a vibrant, like-minded community, exclusively for the over 45s.

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From Slimming World success to conquering the Great North Run

Local woman Lisa Palmer shares her weight-loss journey and tells us how embracing fitness inspired her to compete in the Great North Run for a fourth time

Lisa has been a member of Slimming World since Feburary 2018. On her first journey she hit her target in July 2018 with a threestone weight loss and lost another stone that same year.

In 2019 she decided to start incorparting fitness taking part in Parkruns which soon saw her competing in 10k and half-marathon races. That same year, she was a finalist alongside her partner in the ‘Couple of the Year’ category with Slimming World.

Then lockdown struck, and Lisa’s dad was also diagnosed with cancer, passing away in 2021. Life changed overnight. With Slimming World groups closed, Lisa lost her momentum and gained two stone. But this wasn’t the end of her story - it was just another challenge to overcome.

In 2021, Lisa competed in her first Great North Run, she completed it in two hours and 43 minutes.

As life gradually returned to normal and Slimming World groups reopened, Lisa found herself weighed down by grief and anxiety.

In 2022 she competed in the Great North Run again and completed it in three hours and five minutes and in 2023 it took her three hours and 37

minutes.

But in January 2024, she made a bold decision. It was time to lose the weight and set her sights on reaching her target once more. In July 2025 she hit target once again. Lisa was then crowned ‘Woman of the Year’ at Slimming World.

Lisa told Scunthorpe Journal: “All this only ever came about because of my amazing consultant Roz Smith and my group. I can’t thank them enough. They are my Slimming World family and group plays a big part in keeping me on track, motivated, and it brings me so much joy.

“Roz is really an amazing consultant and inspiration to many, she always goes above and beyond.”

This year, Lisa competed in her fourth Great North Run. She has been training since September 2024, returned to her target weight and was focused on gaining her best time. The hard work certainly paid off - Lisa completed it in two hours and 37 minutes.

If you would like to support Lisa, and Team Verrico, who help raise awareness and support those affected by all types of cancer in the UK, visit: ajbellgreatnorthrun2025.enthuse.com/pf/ lisa-palmer

These days most homeowners suffer from a lack of storage space. So many precious items that need to be kept – but where to store it all? That’s where Yorkshire Loft Ladders come in.

The company, based locally, offers homeowners the opportunity to maximise their storage space with a loft ladder, 50 sq ft of boarding and a light all fully fitted in less than a day from just £277 + VAT. But it’s not just the affordability of the package the company offers that makes Yorkshire Loft Ladders stand out as manager Warren Ingleson explains:

‘Our watchwords are Quality,

Integrity and Value. Quality in the materials that we use for all our installations and the fact that all our loft packages are fitted by time served tradesmen so our customers are assured of the best job. Integrity in that we will turn up at the time we say and make sure the house is spotless when we leave, and Value in that we offer our services at a price people can afford. Our business relies on referrals and we got a huge amount of our calls from people who have been referred to us by our existing customers - that simply wouldn’t happen if we didn’t adhere to our overriding principles.

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’ So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

lead to more happy customers is true and we work hard to make that happen for every installation we carry out!’

So, if you want to make use of your loft space, however big or

small, call Warren on 0800 612 8359 and he’ll be happy to pop round and give you a no obligation quote so you too can make use of your loft!

At the end of the day the old adage that happy customers

FROM A POLICE PERSPECTIVE:

Bunny caught a fluffy escapee!

This month, Scunthorpe Neighbourhood Policing team shares with us a day full of animal business

Policing officers who were out and about engaging with members of the public and local businesses came across an unlikely escapee; a rabbit who had tried to make a hop for it.

Thanks to the assistance from members of the public, the rabbit was caught and safely returned to its owner.

Needless to say, they didn’t think they would then come across a baby hedgehog who was being helped to safety by a local resident, all in the same day.

This was all before the teams met up with Passive Drugs Dog Elsa who was out with her handler around the town and Crosby wards where she led officers around all the streets and snickets to patrol areas where the teams had received reports from local residents who had expressed concerns around anti-social behaviour.

During the patrols, and as a result of Elsa pursuing the right leads, nine people were stopped and searched, one man was arrested on suspicion of failing to appear at court, and one woman was arrested on suspicion of shop theft.

The day ended with the teams being introduced to the latest addition to Elsa’s team; 12-week-old Labrador, Matilda, who is a pup-in-training and will soon be sniffing out suspects with her pup friends and colleagues.

Police officers never hedge their bets when it comes to what to expect when they start their shift. No two days are the same, and our neighbourhood policing teams are at the core of our communities with a wealth of experience and knowledge to make them a safe and enjoyable place to live.

Just one of many successful hoperations – what will tomorrow have in store?

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Slimming World and Diabetes UK Partnership Celebrates Member’s

Inspiring Diabetes Remission Journey

Slimming World is proud to be working in partnership with Diabetes UK, helping people make healthier lifestyle choices and, in some cases, even achieve remission from type 2 diabetes

One inspiring example is Leanne, who was diagnosed with diabetes in May. She described it as a ‘wake-up call’, one that pushed her to make lasting changes. With the support from Slimming World and some help from medication, Leanne was able to take control of her health and within months saw dramatic improvements.

Leanne told Scunthorpe Journal: “My health improved, and I began to feel hopeful again, exercise became a huge part of my journey, and Slimming World’s Body Magic activity pathway showed me that small, consistent steps can lead to big, lasting results.”

Over her eight-year journey, Leanne has transformed her relationship with food, gained confidence, and found strength in her Slimming World group and the unwavering support of her mum.

Today she is also proud to be in remission from type 2 diabetes.

Leanne also said: “Diabetes could have been a setback, but instead it became the push I needed to commit fully to this journey. With Slimming World, an amazing support network, and a new outlook on life, I’ve made real, lasting change and I’ve never felt better with a weight loss at currently 9st 4lbs.”

A Slimming World spokesperson said: “We are incredibly proud of Leanne’s achievements. Her story shows just how powerful lifestyle changes can be in transforming health and wellbeing. Through our partnership with Diabetes UK, we hope to support many more people in making positive changes and, like Leanne, achieve life-changing results.”

To find your local group, search Scunthorpe Slimming World Groups on Facebook, visit SlimmingWorld.co.uk or see the different groups on the following page.

ANT - 07917 772021 Monday 9.30am

CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, FERRY ROAD WEST

ROZ - 07900 913038

Wednesday 5.30pm, Thursday 5.30pm, Friday 9am and 10.45am

ASHBY MILL ROAD CLUB, MODDER STREET

AMANDA - 07784 463405

Tuesday 5.30pm & 7pm, Wednesday 8am, 9.30am & 11am

RAOB CLUB, BOTTESFORD ROAD

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Monday 5.30pm & 7pm, Wednesday 5.30pm & 7pm

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Local walker conquers Anglesey Coast Challenge

Mike Joyce, from Winterton, put on his walking boots for a 130mile challenge for international development agency Christian Aid, raising money to support the charity’s work against poverty

The 73-year-old grandfather took on another challenging fundraiser for Christian Aid, having already raised thousands of pounds from Coast to Coast and Cleveland Way hikes in 2022 and 2024. He completed this year’s hike having walked the entire Anglesey (Ynys Mon) Coast Path.

Mike told Scunthorpe Journal: “The path is 130 miles and typically walked in 12 days. My challenge walk was completed on Friday 12th September, when my pedometer read 147 miles achieved in seven days of walking!

“At the end of the last 20 miles I met with a group of wonderful Welsh Christian Aid enthusiasts near Menai Bridge who collected £140 there and then for my fundraiser.

“The hike was undoubtedly the most difficult physical challenge of my life (most people look back to their 20s or 30s to remember such things … but I will look back to my early 70s!). Each day presented its own challenges, with rain on two of the days and strong winds most days. The terrain was often difficult, so fast progress was not always possible.”

Mike was however rewarded with stunning seascapes and dramatic sunrises.

Since his return home and informing his church, relatives, plus many friends and neighbours in Winterton of his achievement, Mike’s fundraising target of £2,000 has been quickly surpassed.

All donations from Mike’s challenge will go to Christian Aid’s Harvest of Hope Appeal. To support Mike please go to: https://fundraise. christianaid.org.uk/fundraiser-2025/mikesanglesey-coast-challenge where donations can still be made.

This harvest time, the climate crisis is making it harder than ever for some families to grow food. Flooding and drought are destroying harvests. Crops that once fed communities are now failing. In Sierra Leone, people like Maryama (pictured) are adapting after floods damaged her crops and income. She joined a Village Savings and Loans Association supported by Christian Aid, and with a small loan, she was able to pay her children’s school fees, secure her farm and invest in their future.

WHAT’S ON

Truffle & Wine Dinner

Friday 14th November

San Pietro, Scunthorpe

Join the restaurant for a oneof-a-kind dining experience celebrating the luxurious black truffle – a delicacy cherished by food lovers around the world. Carefully paired with exceptional wines.

Scunthorpe

Rock Open 2025

Friday 28th November

The Black Beauty, Scunthorpe

The Grand Final takes place on Friday 28th November...where bands will be giving it their all to try and become the 2025 Rock Open Champions! Any bands or solo performers - all genres welcome.

A Fairytale for Christmas

Saturday 22nd November

The Baths Hall, Scunthorpe

After four back-to-back sell-out tours, and successful runs in the USA and Europe, A Fairytale for Christmas is back in town. Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as singers, musicians and dancers perform Yuletide favourites ‘Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town’, ‘O Holy Night’ and ‘The Fairytale of New York’.

NYE with Levi Heron

Wednesday 31st December

Britannia Nightclub, Scunthorpe

This New Year’s Eve, Britannia Nightclub and Reflexion will bring you a night you will never forget. Welcoming the one and only “Levi Heron”, who is responsible for the remix of ‘The Glen”.

YOU GROW LOCAL

We are huge advocates of ‘buying local’ here at the Scunthorpe Journal and we do what we can to help local businesses grow and develop. In these pages you’ll find businesses run by local people who can offer quality, personal services at competitive prices. Take a look at what services are on offer…