Lincolnshire Pride October 2025

PR IDE LINCOLNSHIRE

WLLTTP: 17.6-23.0 kWh/100 km and CO2

Julian Wilkinson CEO & Publisher julian@pridemagazines.co.uk

On the 13th October, it’ll be a hundred years since Alfred and Beatrice Roberts celebrated the birth of their second daughter. Margaret Thatcher’s interbellum childhood in Grantham, her methodist upbringing and bearing first hand witness to how her home town was changing were all ineludible influences as she moved from industrial chemistry to the equally alchemic business of politics.

This month we’ll meet the man who literally wrote the book on Margaret Thatcher, Lord Charles Moore, former editor of the Telegraph and Spectator, and author of the official three volume biography on Britain’s first female Prime Minister. Charles will re-release his work in a single volume this month to mark The Iron Lady’s centenary, and in Grantham, Thatcher Fest will bring together a series of events exploring her legacy.

Speaking of recognising greatness, this month we’re once again launching our Good Food Awards in which we ask our readers to name their favourite restaurants, cafés, and food heroes with a view to celebrating those businesses in our January 2026 edition.

Scan me to read Lincolnshire Pride on your phone or tablet

Elsewhere we’re enjoying a trip to Spilsby’s Gunby Hall just in time for Apple Day, we’ve autumn fashions and we discover that it’s definitely better to travel than to arrive thanks to a trip on Venice Simplon’s art deco icon, the Orient Express... and we’ll test drive the rather more contemporary and absolutely spectacular Polestar 3 luxury all-electric SUV.

Our very best wishes for a great month!

Show us some love! Follow us on social media, and don't forget to like and share to stay connected!

Margaret Thatcher watching over her home town of Grantham. Think your photography has what it takes? Send your high­quality images to our editor and get the chance to enjoy the ultimate bragging rights: your work on our front cover!

Send your very best photos to our editor Rob Davis, robin@pridemagazines.co.uk

Homes

50 WELCOME HOME Elm Grange at East Heckington, a lovely, leafy... and somehow familiar country home.

66 AUTUMN GARDENS Apple Day at Spilsby’s Gunby Hall.

Ladies & Gentlemen

97 FASHION & BEAUTY Alpaca wool, and Tina Brocklebank’s cosmetics. 112 WEDDINGS Lauren & Sam’s big day.

122 MOTORS The awesome Polestar 3.

Delivered free of charge to high value homes in the county

Pride Magazine is delivered free of charge, via Royal Mail, to high value homes in the county. Our circulation is to homes in the top three council tax bands, which are predominantly worth over £500,000. This guarantees the magazine has an affluent readership commensurate with our content.

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

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

Local News

Friends’ 10,000 tours of Lincoln Castle Making Waves in Rowing

Lincoln Minster School is making waves thanks to a new collaboration with British Rowing

Lincoln Minster School’s rowing programme is enjoying an exciting new partnership with British Rowing. The team initially began with just 11 students and has now grown to over 30 members in both the Junior and Senior performance squads. Training began at the start of the year, both in the gym and on the water at Lincoln Rowing Centre. The team also rowed ‘from Lincoln to Big Ben’ (120-miles), on indoor rowing machines, to purchase their kit.

Now, Lincoln Minster School is proud to announce a close and ongoing partnership with British Rowing, alongside strengthened ties with Lincoln Rowing Centre and the University of Lincoln, gaining valuable experience from seasoned professionals and rising stars.

“Our aims as a team are to represent our school and Lincoln Rowing Club while competing in fixtures and competitions,” said one student, Elliot. “We want to learn, grow, and build something lasting.”

For more information see www.lincolnminsterschool.co.uk.

The Friends of Lincoln Castle (FOLC) are celebrating having delivered 10,000 tours to visitors since the landmark reopened in 2015.

The milestone coincides with a special anniversary year for the Friends, with 2025 marking 40 years since the group was founded in 1985. The tours are one of the most popular parts of the experience for visitors to the Castle.

Paul Scott, from FOLC, said: “It’s a privilege to support the castle and share the incredible history of one of Lincolnshire’s great landmarks with visitors.”

To celebrate their anniversary, the FOLC are holding a special showcase weekend at the castle on 27th and 28th September.

As well as joining free grounds tours, the weekend is a great chance for visitors to meet the volunteers and find out more about their work.

Image: Andy Tryner/Friends of Lincoln Castle.

Send your press releases & business news to us via editor@pridemagazines.co.uk.

Welcome home to Woodbank!

First completion celebrated on Homes by Stirlin Development’s Woodbank site as buyers move in

Homes by Stirlin is proud to announce the first completion at Skellingthorpe’s Woodbank development, as the first buyers move into their new home.

The first couple say they found Woodbank while walking their new puppy past the site and were instantly intrigued. They were drawn to the development after noting the quality of build, the spacious layout, and the carefully considered design.

After attending the initial open day, The Harmston was the first house type they viewed, and it made an immediate impression.

The buyers also praised the process of purchasing with Homes by Stirlin, highlighting the excellent communication

and the personal touches that have characterised the process.

James Kirby, of Stirlin Group, says: “Seeing the first residents move in is a proud milestone. Their feedback reinforces our goal of delivering quality homes in a community setting.”

For more details

contact William H Brown on 01522 534771.

Tortoises have feelings too...

University of Lincoln study reveals that tortoises experience mood swings and might be pessimists!

A new study at the University of Lincoln has shown that tortoises experience feelings and may also demonstrate cognitive bias. Led by Anna Wilkinson (Professor of Animal Cognition) and Oliver Burman (Professor of Animal Behaviour and Welfare) the study of 15 red-footed tortoises offers insight into the evolution of affective states and has featured in the journal Animal Cognition.

Top award for Lincoln Guildhall

Civic building recognised with a Tripadvisor Award for 2025, placing it in the top 10% of attractions

City of Lincoln Council is proud to announce that Lincoln Guildhall has been recognised with a Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award for 2025, placing it in the top 10% of attractions worldwide.

The Guildhall not only ranks in the top 10% of attractions worldwide on Tripadvisor, but also proudly holds the top spot in Things to Do in Lincoln, according to the global travel platform.

The Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice Award celebrates businesses that consistently deliver outstanding experiences to visitors across the world and earn great reviews.

Winners are determined based on the quality and quantity of reviews and ratings collected over 12 months, making this award a true reflection of public opinion and satisfaction.

The Guildhall is the official home of the Mayor of Lincoln and occupies the entire second floor of the Stonebow. Visitors can explore the Council Chamber, which is still in use today for full council meetings, and step into the Civic Insignia Room, where they’ll discover remarkable treasures including: the Royal Sword, gifted to the city by Richard II, the Mayor’s Mace from 1640, the unique Mayor’s posy ring, and a collection of Royal Charters, with the oldest from Henry II (circa 1157) and the most recent granted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1974.

And Finally... Trick or treat? This October, Boston’s Dancing Witches are casting off their cloaks and covering their modesty with props from spell books to crystal balls to create a 2026 calendar inspired by the film Calendar Girls. Proceeds from calendar will benefit the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance and Lincs Ark Animal Welfare.

Eat Drink & Enjoy

FIND JOY IN THE ART OF EATING WELL

CELEBRATING THE LAUNCH OF OUR GOOD FOOD AWARDS

DINING OUT AT THE DUKE WILLIAM ON LINCOLN’S BAILGATE PLUS: RESTAURANT LISTINGS: OUR LOCAL SUGGESTIONS WITH OLD FAVOURITES AND NEW DISCOVERIES

This month’s seasonal ingredient is apples, used in this month’s apple turnover cake.

Dining Out

Duke William Hotel on Lincoln’s Bailgate

This month we’re enjoying autumn dining at one of the Ever So Sensible group’s restaurants. Located on Lincoln’s Bailgate within a stone’s throw of Newport Arch, The Duke William Hotel offers exceptional character, and satisfying dishes at any time of day

Words: Rob Davis.

Blink and you might have missed it. That was summer, believe it or not. A week of near-volcanic heat and speculation of an impending climate catastrophe, followed by a thunderstorm and a hosepipe ban.

Perhaps we used up all of our summer credit in the spring, which was relentlessly dry, leading to an early harvest that was over almost as soon as it had begun.

Happily, the appeal of this month’s Lincoln-based dining out recommendation is enduring all year-round, and it’ll be a much longer-lived pleasure than what passes for summer these days. The Duke William Hotel on Lincoln’s Bailgate is approaching its 10th anniversary under the custodianship of the Ever So Sensible Group of pubs and restaurants.

Their portfolio of 10 venues includes The Horse & Groom, which impressed us back in our February edition, and Bailgate’s Royal William IV.

The Duke William is located in Uphill Lincoln, opposite Bailgate Methodist Church just past Newport Arch. The place was created in the 1700s, it commands a Grade II listing, and it’s well located, in Uphill Lincoln, but far

enough along Bailgate to ensure it doesn’t have crowds of people streaming past. As a result the Duke William has a good mix of tourists and locals, giving it a nice friendly feel at any time of day.

Speaking of any time of day, our arrival was in the morning, when the last of the overnight guests were checking out following one of the very successful Cuffe & Taylor concerts at Lincoln Castle over the summer. Before leaving they were tucking into brunch and I remarked how good it looked.

Happily, Head Chef Carl Steer was one step ahead and was already preparing one for us to photograph... subject to my refraining from the temptation of putting the camera to one side and tucking in to proper Lincolnshire sausages, toasted sourdough, hash browns et al. Other brunch options for those dining before 11am include shakshuka, eggs (both florentine and royale), and buttermilk pancakes.

For those dining a little later in the day, lunchtime service runs from noon until 5pm, with a two course set lunch menu for £21, plus gourmet baguettes such as the short rib beef option with roquefort and red onion. >>

Opposite: Lamb rump, lemon & olive tapenade, tenderstem broccoli, feta, tomato & red pepper orzo, £28.

Above: Twice­baked Roquefort soufflé. British steak and ale pie.

Dining Out

ON THE MENU

Duke William Hotel, Bailgate

STARTERS

Bresaola antipasti & grilled artichoke with cured beef, balsamic, cornichons & shaved parmesan, £10.

Devonshire crab arancini, Red pepper puree, garlic & lime samphire, £10.

SALADS

Lebanese arnabeet, £16.

Grilled peach and burrata, £17.

SHARING PLATTERS

Fisherman’s platter, £26. Vegetarian mezze, £21.

SEAFOOD

Moules marinière, mussels in garlic, fresh herbs, white wine, cream with chips & warm focaccia, £17.

Ale-battered fish & chips with mushy peas, tartare sauce & rustic chips, £18.

MAIN COURSES

Pistachio & herb crusted lamb with lemon & olive tapenade, £28.

Thyme salted pork belly, manchego & pulled pork croquettes, £26.

8oz rib-eye steak with triple-cooked chips and roasted wild mushrooms, £26.

Heliburger (or plant-based version), with cheese, tomato, lettuce, gherkin, onion rings, burger sauce & chips, £17.

PUDDINGS

Mango & Piña Colada Mess, £10.

Blueberry cheesecake with blackcurrant sorbet, £9.

Bakewell tart with raspberries and vanilla ice cream, £8.

NB: Sample menu and featured dishes, subject to availability and change.

>> The à la carte constituent of the menu comprises seven starters, four salads, three fish options, eight main courses and grill options, a couple of sharing platters and six desserts. There’s a decent provision of dishes for vegetarians and vegans too, ensuring those diners are not just an afterthought.

Most of the dishes are notable simply for being delicious but we’ll draw your attention to the Heliburger, which is also available at the group’s two other Lincoln venues. For every Heliburger or plant-based Heliburger sold, the company donates £1 to the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance.

As well as the main menu, there’s also a Sunday lunch menu with five options, from a vegetarian Wellington to slow-roasted lamb shank for the present Mrs Davis; beef for our son... and pork belly with crackling for me.

Finally, a couple of specials are available, used by Carl and the team to trial new dishes or make the most of suppliers’ recommendations.

Speaking of suppliers, Owen Taylor and Sons is a family-run butchery, who have been providing high-welfare meat since 1922 and it supplies beef, lamb and pork to the Duke William.

Direct Seafoods provides daily deliveries of fresh fish, whilst fruit and veg is sourced from Winster foods. Desserts, focaccia, ice creams and sorbets are all made in house too.

“We do put a good deal of effort in, but it’s effort that the customer always recognises, so it’s always worth the investment,” says Carl.

“Because we have so many regular diners we feel that it’s always a good idea to keep the menu innovative, but we recognise that there are some staples on the menu that we can never replace. A really good quality homemade pie, a fish and chip dish and a high quality steak will always be popular.”

“The whole team in the kitchen is invested in suggesting dishes and coming up with ideas.”

“It’s important because we want all of our chefs to feel that their opinion and the experience they gain over the years with us is valued. We’ve a team of nine chefs which is quite a large number, but it’s deliberate.”

“You could run the kitchen with a smaller team but as a company we believe that everyone should be well-rested when they come to work.”

“Burn-out is responsible for many chefs becoming disenchanted with the job, so ensuring that all of our team have a good work/life balance means we retain good team members, everyone performs well and we retain continuity in the team, which in turn means we offer consistently excellent dining.”

“It also makes it a happier place to work, which is naturally reflected in how busy we are.”

“The other week we served up over 400 Sunday lunches, and the feedback on every single one was positive which we think speaks volumes about how well we work together and the fact that we love what we do.”

Highlights for autumn will include the addition of game to the menu, with mushrooms and the use of umami truffle for a proper taste of autumn.

Accordingly, the Duke William’s gardens will become less well-used and instead, the stripped pine tables nearest the open fire in the bar will be most sought after.

Duke William Hotel on Bailgate, Lincoln

The Pitch: “Dine, drink and dream at The Duke William, Lincoln. Ahistoric building that has recently been completely refurbished creating a stylish and comfortable hotel, pub, and restaurant.”

Opening Hours:

Opposite: Double chocolate torte, £8.

Above:Sticky toffee pudding, £8.

Traditional full English breakfast, £10.

Like the rest of the Ever So Sensible Group’s pubs and restaurants, The Duke William offers a superb experience, proper character and really good dining. Highly recommended for autumn, we reckon a visit will prove very satisfying indeed.

8am – 11pm Mon – Sat; 8am – 10pm Sunday. Breakfast 8am – 11am Mon – Sun. Food served, 12 noon – 9pm Mon – Sat; 12 noon – 8pm Sun.

Duke William Hotel Bailgate, Lincoln LN1 3AP. Call 01522 532753 or see www.dukewilliamlincoln.com.

Cast your vote in this year’s Good Food Awards

This month we’re resuming our hunt for the best local restaurants, cafés, and food heroes as we celebrate the return of our annual Pride Magazine Good Food Awards Image:

in Woodhall Spa took last year’s award in our Coffee Shop of the Year category.

Kitchenetta

The Good Food Awards

It’s once again time to ask for your help in identifying Lincolnshire’s most well-respected restaurants, cafés and daytime dining establishments, and to recognise the hard work of its food and drink producers and retailers.

Each year, we ask you to cast your vote and name your favourite Lincolnshire businesses across six categories. Asking for our readers’ input allows us to make sure the whole of the county is evenly-represented, as well as ensuring its objectivity and freedom from bias towards those who advertise in Pride.

You can vote for whichever businesses and individuals you think deserve recognition in each of our categories, and we’ll name the winner for each category in our January editions.

To make things really easy, we provide a voting form for your preferred nominees at the end of this feature.

Vote for your favourite local food and drink businesses in this year’s Good Food Awards

Alternatively, you can use the form on our website at www.pridemagazines.co.uk to let us know who your six nominees are. Your nominees should be in – or just over –the county borders, and you should not have a professional affiliation with the nominee, only voting for business that you genuinely believe are worthy of recognition.

The first of our categories are our flagship Restaurant of the Year award, and our awards for a Coffee Shop/Bistro/Café of the year which recognises quality daytime dining.

We’re also looking to recognise a dining out option offering great accommodation and a warm welcome, and one that champions international cuisine.

Finally, we want to recognise a producer or retailer of food and a drink producer who deserves to be celebrated.

Opposite, you’ll find more information about our categories... >>

Our Six Food Award Categories

THIS YEAR, our Good Food Awards return to celebrate the very best of the county’s culinary talent. The winners of each of our six categories will receive one of our coveted Good Food Award plaques – a mark of quality, dedication, and excellence. Here’s what we’re looking for in each category – and why your vote matters.

n Restaurant of the Year

This award recognises the very pinnacle of dining in Lincolnshire. We’re looking for establishments that offer more than just a superb menu – places where every detail matters, from the provenance of ingredients to the skill and imagination in the kitchen, and the warmth of the welcome. Whether you favour a Michelinstarred dining room or a hidden gem in a market town, we want to know which restaurant delivers an unforgettable experience every time.

n Coffee Shop/Bistro of the Year

Daytime dining has become one of life’s greatest pleasures – a leisurely brunch, a light lunch, or simply the perfect slice of cake paired with an exceptional coffee.

This category celebrates those cafés, bistros, and tearooms making mornings and afternoons special, whether through inventive menus, outstanding baking, or creating an atmosphere where you can truly relax. We’re seeking places where the quality of the produce matches the warmth of the service.

n Restaurant with Rooms

Sometimes, a meal is so good you don’t want the evening to end – and with this category, it doesn’t have to. Our Restaurant with Rooms award honours those venues that combine culinary excellence with beautiful, comfortable accommodation.

From countryside inns to chic boutique hotels, we’re looking for destinations that offer a complete escape – fine dining at night, a restful night’s sleep, and perhaps a breakfast worth writing home about.

n Best International Dining

Our county’s dining scene is enriched by flavours from around the globe, and this award shines a light on those restaurants that bring international cuisine to life with

authenticity, flair, and passion. Whether it’s a perfectly spiced Indian curry, a rustic Italian trattoria, fragrant Thai dishes, or a vibrant tapas spread, we want to hear about the places that transport your tastebuds far beyond our county borders.

n Food Producer/Retailer of the Year

Behind every great meal is a great producer. This award recognises Lincolnshire’s outstanding farmers, bakers, butchers, fishmongers, and independent retailers who are passionate about their craft. We’re looking for quality, sustainability, and innovation – whether it’s a family­run farm shop, a chocolatier perfecting their art, or a baker reviving traditional methods with a modern twist.

n Drinks Producer of the Year

From artisan gin distilleries to craft breweries, boutique vineyards to cider presses, Lincolnshire’s drinks scene is flourishing. This category celebrates those who pour their heart into every bottle, can, or cask. We’re looking for producers whose drinks not only taste exceptional, but also tell a story of place, tradition, and creativity.

Use our voting form at the end of this feature or vote online at www.pridemagazines.co.uk.

Tipplemill Gin; Grantham’s Westgate Bakery and Lincoln’s White Hart Hotel.

The Pride Magazines Good Food Awards

Voting Form 2025

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

Restaurant of the Year 2025: Your overall favourite place to dine in Lincolnshire.

Café, Bar or Bistro of the Year 2025: Your preferred place to enjoy a lighter meal or coffee.

International Cuisine 2025: A Lincolnshire restaurant providing great international dishes.

‘Restaurant with Rooms’ 2025: A restaurant that also has really special accommodation.

Local Food Producer 2025: A producer/retailer of local food e.g.: a butcher, baker or farm shop.

Lincolnshire Drink 2025: This could be a wine or spirit, locally roasted coffee, local tea or soft drink.

Name:

Address:

Postcode: Telephone:

Cut out this page and send your nominations to Pride Magazines Good Food Awards, Pride Magazines, Boston Enterprise Centre, Enterprise Way, Boston, Lincolnshire PE21 7TW. Closing Date 1st November 2025.

THE NEST AT BAINLAND

Whisper it quietly, but with a dedicated team of fourteen chefs nestled in the heart of Woodhall Spa, Bainland Lodge Retreats is becoming a “go-to” destination for celebs, premier league footballers and foodies seeking a perfect dining experience in an idyllic location.

Set in 45 acres of peaceful Lincolnshire countryside, Bainland boasts The Nest restaurant which opens its doors to a limited number of local members who can sample specialities such as the “dry aged steak experience” and Lincolnshire’s best cocktails, alongside guests seeking their ideal hideaway.

With its luxury lodges, hot tubs, cosy lakeside retreats and private pools, Bainland would not feel out of place in the Cotswolds or Peak District.

But the big skies and rolling hills of green and gold in the country’s second biggest

county offer guests a traditional “slice of England” away from the tourist hordes and where the only morning sound is birdsong.

Already nominated as the best company in the British Travel Awards for UK family holidays, UK park and lodges holidays and UK short breaks, one recent reviewer described Bainland as a “staycation like no other.”

Lincolnshire wilderness Newcastle United football writer Jordan Cronin admitted “I didn’t know paradise awaited me.”

The secluded nature of this setting means such as Girls Aloud’s Kimberley Walsh. However Bainland offers an exclusive free membership for its on-site bespoke restaurant and bar, The Nest.

With this membership, locals can enjoy The Nest from Sunday to Friday, whether it’s breakfast, lunch, dinner, cocktails, coffee or a little something in between - indulging in a menu full of delicious dishes, all served with warm hospitality in a stunning setting.

Breakfast is served between 8 - 11.30am, and of course includes a “full English” with locally sourced Lincolnshire sausage. For those seeking a lighter morning bite, options include, breakfast bowls, buttermilk pancakes, eggs benedict and smashed avocado or smoked salmon on sourdough.

A comprehensive lunch menu is served between noon and 3pm. Starters include cured scorched mackerel and Korean BBQ pork belly, followed by “Main Plates” such as mussels, a Wagyu beef burger, fresh Pappardelle pasta and Pad Thai. Charcuterie and mezze platters are also available to share along with a spiced steak ciabatta and a range of salads. Children are not left out, with The Nest also offering a “Fledgings Menu” for guests aged 12 and under. Highlights include a range of traditional mains alongside other treats such as pancakes and ice cream sundaes.

One of The Nest’s most popular offerings is its Sunday Lunch Menu served between noon and 6pm. The main plates include roast sirloin of beef, slow roasted pork belly, pan fried sea trout and roasted pumpkin risotto. Yorkshire puddings and honey-mustard chipolatas also provide the perfect extras.

For those with a sweet tooth, this can be followed by a range of desserts which include dark chocolate torte, fruit crumble of the day, homemade sticky toffee pudding, frozen black berry parfait or gelato and sorbet.

The star of The Nest’s dinner menu, served daily between 4pm - 8.45pm, is its “Dry Aged Steak Experience.” Proudly on display in the restaurant, all of Bainland’s steaks are dry aged on the bone for a minimum of 28 days.

Himlayan sea salt helps draw out the moisture, making for a more intense

those seeking the ultimate meat eating experience a Cote de Boeuf 1kg steak is made for two to enjoy.

To ensure guests enjoy their dining experience, Bainland has created its own bespoke wooden adventure playground. Highlights include matching ziplines which allow children to enjoy the grounds while their parents have a moment of calm, and maybe a dessert or second drink. To complement the high quality of the food, as a truely independent establishment, Bainland prides itself on employing locally.

The Nest also offers members the ultimate cocktail experience with all drinks mixed on site by bar staff trained by a top London mixologist. Such expertise means Bainland is

blue hawaiian margarita or a frozen strawberry daiquiri are sampling some of Lincolnshire’s best cocktails.

THE NEST AT BAINLAND

HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER

To apply to be a member of The Nest visit the website thenestatbainland.co.uk or email thenestmembership@bainland.co.uk and our team will review your application.

Members are able to book Sunday-Friday only and have

access to hire private dining areas for those truly special occasions. To ensure the tranquility of the retreat members need to present their membership pass at the gate for entry to Bainland for every visit.

Booking in advance is essential for members of The Nest.

Apple Turnover Cake

A wonderfully comforting autumn bake, this Apple Turnover Cake brings orchard-fresh flavour to your table with buttery pastry notes and spiced apples

This month’s recipe

Apple Turnover Cake

Cut out and collect our great seasonal recipes each month in Pride Magazine.

Preparation Time: 25 minutes

Cooking Time: 45-50 minutes

Serves: 6

Ingredients:

4 medium cooking apples (such as Bramley), peeled, cored, and sliced

100g unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing

150g golden caster sugar

2 large free-range eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

175g self-raising flour

½ tsp ground cinnamon

½ tsp mixed spice

2 tbsp milk

2 tbsp light brown sugar

1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry

1 tbsp demerara sugar for sprinkling Optional: good quality vanilla ice cream.

October is the perfect time to embrace apples in all their glory. Local orchards are laden with crisp, tart fruit, and this recipe makes the most of them. An Apple Turnover Cake is a clever twist on the classic pastry, offering the buttery, caramelised flavours you love in a more generous, sliceable form.

It’s just the thing to enjoy with a pot of tea on a crisp afternoon or to round off a relaxed weekend lunch. Serve warm with clotted cream or a scoop of good-quality vanilla ice cream for the ultimate indulgence.

Begin by peeling, coring, and slicing your apples into neat wedges. Toss them with the ground cinnamon and mixed spice, coating well so every slice has a dusting of flavour.

In a non-stick pan, melt 25g of the butter with the light brown sugar. Add the apples and cook gently for 5 or 6 minutes until they begin to soften and turn golden at the edges. Set aside to cool slightly.

In a large bowl, beat the remaining butter with the golden caster sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, whisking thoroughly after each addition. Stir in the vanilla extract.

Fold the self-raising flour into the mixture along with the milk, mixing until you have a smooth batter.

Grease and line a 23cm springform tin. Spread half of the sponge mixture over the base. Arrange half the apples evenly on top, then spoon over the rest of the sponge mixture. Place the remaining apples neatly across the surface.

Lay the puff pastry sheet over the cake, trimming to fit. Press lightly around the edges to seal, then prick the pastry with a fork. Brush with a little milk and sprinkle over the demerara sugar.

Place in a preheated oven at 180°C (160°C fan) for 45–50 minutes, until the pastry is golden and the cake feels springy underneath. Cool for 10 minutes in the tin before releasing. Slice generously and enjoy warm with cream or ice cream.

A Taste of Trinidad

An exquisite blend of light rums, aged in bourbon casks for a minimum of five years

Released in 2002, this five­year­old Trinidadian rum is a blend of several light and heavy rums made from molasses. In April 2016 a new label was introduced, with an improved version of this rum, particularly in terms of flavours, including fresh passion fruit, cherries, roasted almonds, caramel, muscovado sugar and Bakewell tart flavours. £32.90, 70 cl, 40% ABV. www.urban­drinks.co.uk

The Wine Cellar

This month, we’re warming up with rich reds, elegant spirits and a top-tier bottle worth savouring. Plus we’ve a refined alcohol-free choice for the designated driver or anyone seeking to maintain a clear head

Hearty Reds for Cosy October Evenings

Château de Lascaux Les Nobles Pierres is a complex Syrah–Grenache blend, spicy & herbaceous, £28 / 75cl / 14.5% ABV.

Lan Crianza Rioja 2021, juicy Tempranillo with cherry, vanilla & silky tannins, excellent value, £14.63 / 75cl / 13.5% ABV.

Luigi Bosca Pinot Noir 2021, fresh Argentinian Pinot with black fruit and gentle smoke. Light and refined, £15.30 / 75cl / 13.2% ABV.

Wine of the Month

Château Pichon Baron 2019 –Pauillac a proper powerhouse, a bold, elegant Saint Estèphe blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, beautiful dark garnet colour with purple hues. The bouquet is precise and very intense, revealing a wide aromatic palette of ripe black fruits and spices. The body is fleshy, creamy, and powerful. The tannins are present and plentiful, silky and sleek, £120 / 75cl, 14% ABV.

A sparkling aperitif alternative with absolutely no alcohol!

La Dolce Vita in every sip. This spirit captures the essence of a vibrantly red Italian bitter aperitivo­style with flavours that are distinct, crisp and contemporary.

Lyre’s Italian Orange has zesty orange, rhubarb and gentle herbal undertones: it’s perfect over ice with tonic or Prosecco — or in a sophisticated spritz sans alcohol. £22 / 50cl / 0% ABV. www.lyres.com.

THE GOOD FOOD GUIDE

BOSTON

THE BALL HOUSE

A family­friendly pub with a cosy atmosphere, offering traditional British fare. Known for its Sunday carvery and extensive menu that includes options for vegetarians, vegans, and gluten­free diners. Wainfleet Road, Boston, PE21 9RL. Call 01205 364478 theballhouseboston.co.uk.

MEET &MEAT

A distinctive fusion of Mediterranean­inspired cuisine with a modern touch. West Street, Boston PE21 8QN. Call 07723 237070 or see www.meetandmeat.co.uk.

THE MILL INN

OUR GOOD FOOD AWARDS WINNERS

Each year we ask our readers to vote for their favourite restaurants, coffee shops and food producers, revealing our winners in our January editions. We’ve highlighted our winners in buff to make sure they’re easy to see!

Promote your business in our Good Food Guide for just £15 + VAT per month! Get in touch with our friendly team on 01529 469977 or email us at sales@pridemagazines.co.uk to find out more.

Help us keep Lincolnshire Pride up to date: If you notice a change to any restaurant, pub or café featured, we’d love your help to ensure our listings are comprehensive and up to date... email any updates to editor@pridemagazines.co.uk

YE OLDE RED LION

THE CHEQUERS

A popular pub known for its warm ambiance and classic British pub dishes and Italian too.

Spilsby Rd, Boston, PE21 9QN. Call 01205 352874 or see www.themillboston.co.uk.

MONKEY & I

Conveniently located in Church Street, providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for visitors to meet up, relax, and enjoy our authentic Thai cuisine. Church Street, Boston PE21 6NW. Call 07808 590203 or see www.monkeyandithai.co.uk.

THE ROPERS ARMS

Italian bistro serving authentic dishes, set in an early C19th public house overlooking the Maud Foster mill and river. Horncastle Road, Boston PE21 9BU. Call 07572 456110.

THE WHITE HART

Part of the Coaching Inn Group, set within a charming 19th century hotel, this restaurant provides a varied menu focused on British cuisine. The riverside views make it an ideal spot for a memorable meal.

High Street, Boston, PE21 8SH. Call 01205 311900 or see www.whitehartboston.com.

An award­winning country pub that prides its self on producing satisfying dishes. Cosy atmosphere in the winter, with Low beams & log burning fires. For great summer dining there’s also a relaxing beer garden. Try the Lincolnshire Tapas, too! Bicker, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE20 3EF. Call 01775 821200, www.redlionbicker.co.uk.

GRANTHAM

ANGEL & ROYAL

Reputedly England's oldest inn, with the Kings Room Restaurant and Bertie's Bistro and Bar.

High Street, Grantham, NG31 6PN. Call 01476 565 816 or see www.angelandroyal.co.uk.

BELTON WOODS

Bar & Grill with a warm and welcoming atmosphere and offers an inviting selection of flavourful grilled dishes. Spa, golf course and four­star accommodation on site.

Gonerby NG32 2LN. Call 01476 593 200 or see www.beltonwoods.co.uk.

BROWNLOW ARMS

In the heart of a picturesque village in Lincolnshire, the Brownlow Arms is a 17th century country inn formerly owned by Lord Brownlow. Providing good old fashioned country hospitality and modern comforts in a tranquil and relaxing location.

Hough on the Hill, NG32 2AZ. Call 01400 250234 or see www.thebrownlowarms.com.

Seasonal dishes from longstanding favourites to monthly changing dishes, from a team passionate about creating the tastiest and most interesting food they can.

Woolsthorpe By Belvoir, NG32 1LU. Call 01476 870701 or see www.chequersinn.net.

THE GREEN MAN

A traditional British pub offering hearty meals in a friendly setting, specialising in steaks and classic pub fare. High St, Ropsley, NG33 4BE. Call 01476 585897 or see the-green-man-ropsley.com.

HARE & HOUNDS

17th century public house promises good dining, and a friendly atmosphere. Fulbeck, Grantham NG32 3JJ. Call 01400 273322 or see hareandhoundsfulbeck.com.

PLOUGH, WILSFORD

Exceptional pub restaurant home to Paul Reseigh, formerly of the George of Stamford. Fabulous à la carte menu of satisfying dishes prepared with excellent chefcraft and imagination. Wilsford, NG32 3NS. Call 01400 664037 or see theploughinnwilsford.co.uk.

RESTAURANT JERICHO

Fine dining in the Vale of Belvoir courtesy of this fascinating 20­course tasting menu based restaurant, with just 12 covers a night. Orchard Farm, Plungar NG13 0JA. Call 01949 728288 or see www.restaurantjericho.com.

Chequers at Woolsthorpe.

LINCOLN

RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR 2024 ANTLERS AT THE WHITE HART

Lincolnshire Pride’s Restaurant of the Year for 2024, as voted for by our readers. Antlers serves seasonally inspired à la carte lunch and dinner menu. For those who are looking for a perfect way to celebrate, Antlers also serves a full Afternoon Tea menu and classic cocktails as well as offering a unique private dining option.

Bailgate, LN1 3AR. Call 01522 526222 or see whitehart-lincoln.co.uk.

THE BRONZE PIG

A stylish, modern restaurant known for its seasonal menu featuring locally sourced ingredients with an innovative Mediterranean twist.

Burton Road, Lincoln, LN1 3LB Call 01522 524817 or see www.thebronzepig.co.uk.

NO.38 AT THE TOWER

3 AA star hotel offering exceptional dining for non­residents too, delivering satisfying à la carte dishes.

38 Westgate, Lincoln LN13BD. Call 01522 529999 or see www.thetowerlincoln.com.

THE OLD BAKERY

A not­for­profit restaurant offering tasting menus that highlight seasonal ingredients.

26-28 Burton Road, Lincoln, LN1 3LB. Call 01522 244646, www.theold-bakery.co.uk.

BEST INTERNATIONAL DINING RESTAURANT 2024 OLÉ OLÉ

Family­run authentic Spanish restaurant set in the heart of Lincolnshire’s historic Lawns. The Lawn 3 Ingleman Place, Union Rd, Lincoln, LN1 3BU. Call 01522 534222 or see www.oleolelincoln.co.uk.

THE THOROLD ARMS

KENWICK PARK

Fantastic food and drink in the family friendly Fairways Restaurant and Keepers Bar. Kenwick Park, Louth LN11 8NR. Call 01507 608806 or see www.kenwick-park.co.uk.

MANSION HOUSE

British eatery known for warm service and delicious meals, featuring an inviting open fire. Upgate, Louth LN11 9HD. Call 01507 610305 or see mansionhouselouth.co.uk.

NEWARK

TAYLOR’S FINE DINING

Family­run, fine­dining restaurant in the heart of Newark. Locally sourced, seasonal produce with tasting menus and set menus. Castle Gate, Newark NG24 1AZ. Call 01636 659986, or see www.taylors-restaurant.co.uk.

PIG &WHISTLE

Locally­sourced British dishes with a rustic charm and a relaxed, friendly atmosphere. Healing, Grimsby, DN41 7QF. Call 01472 884544 or see www.healingmanorhotel.co.uk.

SAN PIETRO

Two­AA Rosette Award winning fine dining restaurant benefitting from the Sicilian heritage of Pietro Catalano who runs the business with wife Michelle.

Scunthorpe, DN15 6UH. Call 01724 277774 or see www.sanpietro.uk.com.

WINTERINGHAM FIELDS

Lincolnshire’s only Michelinstar restaurant offering an immersive dining experience with a focus on seasonal and locally sourced ingredients. Winteringham, DN15 9ND. Call 01724 733096 or see www.winteringhamfields.co.uk.

SKEGNESS

GRAIN STORE CAFÉ, RESTAURANT

& BAR

Delicious breakfast and lunch served daily, with evening dining Friday and Saturday, showcasing seasonal estategrown produce, rare breed Lincoln Red beef and the finest local ingredients. Doddington Hall, Lincoln, LN6 4RU. Call 01522 243189 or see www.doddingtonhall.com.

HOBBSONS

Formerly Browns Pie Shop & Restaurant. A ‘Best of British’ restaurant specialising in home crafted pies.

Steep Hill, Lincoln, LN2 1LU. Call 01522 527330 or see www.hobbsons.co.uk.

THE JEWS HOUSE RESTAURANT

Our restaurant is housed in one of the oldest building; in our 19th year, offering set menu and tasting menu. Artisan produce, seasonal, freshness and excellent service is what we are about. The Strait, Lincoln, LN2 1JD. Call 01522 524851 or see jewshouserestaurant.co.uk.

Paul Vidic, renowned Lincolnshire chef, took over the running of a community pub, in 2021 to provide excellent food and drink in a relaxed and beautiful setting in Harmston. High Street, Harmston LN5 9SN. Call 01522 722788 or thoroldarmsharmston.co.uk.

WASHINGBOROUGH HALL HOTEL

Grade II listed, 4­star Georgian Manor House hotel two miles east of Lincoln. Serving two AA­rosette award­wining dishes under Head Chef Mark Cheseldine. Washingborough, Lincoln LN4 1EH. Call 01522 790340, www.washingboroughhall.com

LOUTH &RASEN

ADVOCATE ARMS

Award winning restaurant serves fabulous meals created from local ingredients. The restaurant has been awarded two stars for its dining by the AA. Queen Street, Market Rasen LN8 3EH. Call 01673 842364 or see www.advocatearms.co.uk.

NORTH & NORTH EAST LINCOLNSHIRE

FOREST PINES

Spa, hotel and golf estate with restaurant near Brigg offering bistro dining. Brigg, DN20 0AQ. Call 01652 650 770 or see www.forestpineshotel.co.uk.

HOPE & ANCHOR

Fantastic Michelin Bib Gourmand lauded pub restaurant run by Slawomir Mikolajczyk. South Ferriby, DN18 6JQ. Call 01652 635334 or see thehopeandanchorpub.co.uk.

GINGERLILY, THE VINE

Cosy, friendly atmosphere and delicious dishes including traditional English meals prepared by our experienced Chefs using local ingredients. Vine Road, Seacroft, Skegness, PE25 3DB Call 01754 610611 or see www.thevinehotel.co.uk.

SAN RUFO’S

Family­friendly Italian eatery known for its authentic pizzas, hearty pastas, and welcoming staff Roman Bank, Skegness, PE25 1SD. Call 01754 612242 or see www.sanrufos.co.uk.

San Pietro.

From cosy inns to fine dining, Pride’s Good Food Guide has your Lincolnshire dining plans sorted...

Promote your business in our Good Food Guide for just £15 + VAT per month! Get in touch with our friendly team on 01529 469977 or email us at sales@pridemagazines.co.uk to find out more.

SLEAFORD

THE BARGE AND BOTTLE

A canal­side pub with a relaxed ambiance, and a wide range of satisfying food, including a good provision of Sunday lunch. Outdoor seating area with heaters. Carre St, Sleaford, NG34 7TW. Call 01529 303303 or see www.thebargeandbottle.co.uk.

THE BUSTARD INN

Beautifully­presented Grade II listed quality pub restaurant, whose awards include two AArosettes and a Traveller’s Choice award. Exceptional dining in a beautiful rural setting with private dining room and bar with flagstone floor and open fires. Main Street, South Rauceby Lincolnshire, NG34 8QG. Call 01529 488250 or see www.thebustardinn.co.uk.

THE CARRE ARMS

Charming Edwardian hotel and restaurant renowned for quality service & fabulous food. An eclectic mix of modern English and Mediterranean dishes. Mareham Lane, Sleaford NG34 7JP. Call 01529 303156 or see carrearmshotel.co.uk.

THE MALLARDS RESTAURANT

Classic British cuisine in a cosy setting, known for its Sunday roasts and welcoming service. Eastgate, Sleaford, NG34 7DJ. Call 01529 413758.

THE SOLO BISTRO

Bistro bar and hotel with traditional dishes presented in a contemporary style making the most of local ingredients. Market Street, Sleaford NG34 7SF. Call 01529 303200 or see www.thesolo.bar.

TABLEZ BISTRO

Award­winning cafe bistro. With indoor and outdoor seating as well as a fantastic balcony, a great place to pop in for breakfast or lunch. Southgate, Sleaford NG34 7RZ. Call 01529 300922.

THAI SABAI

Contemporary Thai restaurant specialising in Authentic Asian cuisine. Dishes are expertly prepared on the premises. Thai Chefs using only the finest ingredients along with herbs and spices which are import directly from Thailand. Millstream Square, Sleaford NG34 7RZ. Call 01529 413333 or see thaisabaisleaford.co.uk.

WATERGATE YARD

An all day and late night bar and kitchen in the heart of Sleaford. With world beers and cocktails plus a range of artisan gins.

Water Gate, Sleaford NG34 7PG Call 01529 413489 or see www.watergateyard.co.uk.

SPALDING

THE BLACK BULL

Quality pub restaurant offering a well­curated menu packed with hearty, food. Market Place, Donington, Spalding, PE11 4ST. Call 01775 822228 or see theblackbulldonington.co.uk.

JASHIR INDIAN RESTAURANT & WINE BAR

A culinary destination that offers unforgettable Indian dishes made with the finest ingredients and spices. 11 Double Street, Spalding PE11 2AA. Call 01775 423001 or see www.jashir.co.uk.

THE PARLOUR

Authentic, Edwardian­style restaurant for lunch and afternoon tea, overlooking Springfields’ Festival Gardens. Camelgate, Spalding PE12 6EU. Call 01775 760949 or see www.springfieldsoutlet.co.uk.

STAMFORD

THE

BULL & SWAN

Everything a traditional English inn should be, with gastro food and real ales, on the magnificent Burghley Estate.

High Street St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LJ. Call 01780 766412 or see www.thebullandswan.co.uk.

RESTAURANT WITH ROOMS 2024

CROWN HOTEL

This historic former coaching inn is now a well­regarded restaurant and hotel. A warm atmosphere and dishes with quality local ingredients. All Saints' Place, Stamford, PE9 2AG. Call 01780 763136 or see www.kneadpubs.co.uk.

MILLY’S BISTRO

Located within the Georgian William Cecil Hotel, Milly’s offers a homely vibrant feel and an inspired menu. St Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LJ. Call 01780 750070 or see www.millysbistro.co.uk.

THE OAK ROOM AT THE GEORGE OF STAMFORD

An elegant, historic venue offering a fine dining experience with classic British cuisine. Located in The George Hotel, this restaurant features candlelit tables and oak­panelled walls, ideal for special occasions. St. Martins, Stamford, PE9 2LB. Call 01780 750750 or see georgehotelofstamford.com.

The Bustard Inn, South Rauceby.

WOODHALL SPA, HORNCASTLE AND CONINGSBY

THE ADMIRAL RODNEY

200 year old coaching inn

offering daytime and evening dining as well as comfortable accommodation.

North St, Horncastle, LN9 5DX. Call 01507 523131 or see www.admiralrodney.com.

THE DOWER HOUSE

Elegant country house hotel providing a range of freshly cooked dishes in a Victorian country house once home to Col Stafford Vere Hotchkin. Woodhall Spa, LN10 6PY. Call 01526 352588 or see www.dowerhousehotel.co.uk.

COFFEE SHOP OF THE YEAR 2024 KITCHENETTA

Deli and coffee shop providing freshly baked cakes and hampers as well as daytime favourites. Broadway, Woodhall Spa LN10 6ST. Call 01526 268008 or see www.kitchenetta.co.uk.

THE LEAGATE INN

Quality dining pub, run by the Dennison family since 1983 with Harry & Laura offering delicious seasonal dishes. Leagate Rd, Coningsby, LN4 4RS. Call 07957 756495 or see www.theleagateinn.co.uk.

MAGPIES

Small family run Restaurant with Rooms set in a row of 200 year old cottages in Horncastle serving a menu of fine dining dishes created by Andrew Gilbert with Caroline Gilbert at front of house. East Street, Horncastle, LN9 6AA. Call 01507 527004, www.magpiesrestaurant.co.uk.

PETWOOD HOTEL

Serving delicious and creative food with an AA rosette award for quality and consistency. Restaurant and terrace bar, popular classic afternoon tea provision, historic links to the Dambusters Squadron which once counted the Petwood at its home, and handsome Peto­landscaped grounds. Also renowned for Sunday lunches, and a popular wedding/events venue.

Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QG. Call 01526 352411 or see www.petwood.co.uk.

ZUCCHI BISTRO

Established in 2011 as a Mediterranean bistro with culinary influences. Tapas and sharing dishes as well as stone­baked pizzas, pasta and al forno dishes. Station Road, Woodhall Spa, LN10 6QL. Call 01526 354466 or see www.zucci.org.

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FOOD & DRINK ACROSS LINCOLNSHIRE BUTCHERY

Boston Sausage/Mountains, home to the Lincolnshire Sausage, with a dedicated farm shop at Abbey Parks near East Heckington. Call 01205 821 610 or shop online at www.mountainsfarmshop.com.

LINCOLNSHIRE PRIDE’S BEST FOOD PRODUCER 2024

Gary Simpson Butchers, offering traceable and exceptional butchers including dry­aged beef plus Lincolnshire sausages, haslet, stuffed chine and more. Sleaford, Heckington, South Hykeham and Stamford. 01529 460403, shop online at www.gsimpsonbutchers.co.uk.

BAKERY

Myers Bakery,home of the Lincolnshire Plum Loaf and artisan bakers founded by Charles Myer in 1901. Call 01507 525871 or shop online at www.myersbakery.co.uk.

Vine’s Bakery, specialise in baking artisan breads and pastries using the highest quality ingredients and time honoured traditions. Call 01522 581353 or shop online at www.vinesartisanbakery.co.uk.

LOCAL CHEESE

The Cheese Society, cheese ambassadors, retailers and cheese café in the heart of Lincoln. Subscriptions and gift boxes available. www.thecheesesociety.co.uk.

Cote Hill Cheese,home to Michael and Mary Davenport who have been creating Cote Hill White, Blue, Red, Yellow and Snowdrop from their farm since 2004, now ably assisted by son Joe, second generation cheesemaker. www.cotehill.com.

Lincolnshire Poacher, F W Read’s Tim and Simon Jones produce Lincolnshire Poacher, with a little help from their 230 Holstein Fresian cows... www.lincolnshirepoachercheese.com.

FISH

Alfred Enderby, traditional smokehouse in Grimsby specialising in dry­smoking haddock, salmon and trout. www.alfredenderby.co.uk.

East Lincs Seafood, established in 1987 and providing the freshest wet fish and shellfish to consumers. Call 01205 364372.

LINCOLNSHIRE DRINKS

Bateman’s, good honest ales since 1874, including flagship XXXB ale, available in bottles or on tap in the best Lincolnshire pubs. See www.batemansbrewery.co.uk.

Belvoir Fruit Farms, the home of delicious elderflower cordials and pressés, more than 40 drinks, all with natural ingredients. See www.belvoirfarm.co.uk.

LINCOLNSHIRE PRIDE’S BEST DRINKS PRODUCER 2024

8 Sail Brewery, multi­award­winning microbrewery based in Heckington Windmill. See www.8sailbrewery.com.

Lincoln Tea & Coffee Company Multi­award winning and passionate about supplying roasted coffee, fine leaf tea, barista training & equipment with excellent customer service. Proud sponsors of The Red Arrows, Battle of Britain Memorial Flight and Typhoon Display Team. Products include Great Taste award­winning Lincolnshire Tea. A true fresh approach. www.thelincolnteaandcoffeecompany.co.uk

Mayfield Vineyard, located in the heart of Burton Pedwardine on a 100­year­old family farm, producing still and sparkling wines. See www.mayfieldwine.co.uk.

Stokes of Lincoln, artisan coffee roastery at The Lawn, Lincoln and on the city’s High Street at High Bridge café. www.stokescoffee.com.

Tipplemill London Dry Gin, dry gin with locally­milled wheat, juniper and bittersweet citrus and elderflower. See www.tipplemill.com.

The Iron Lady. By the man who literally wrote the book on Britain’s first female Prime Minister

Thatcher Margaret

On the 100th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth, Lord Charles Moore releases a single-volume edition of the former Prime Minister’s official three-part biography

Back in 1979, both Margaret Thatcher and Charles Moore’s careers were ascendant. Graduating from Trinity College, Cambridge, Charles began a career in print which would see him writing for The Telegraph, creating leader columns within a couple of years, and later becoming the Editor of the Sunday Telegraph, Daily Telegraph and also The Spectator magazine.

His arrival in the newsroom coincided with the recent arrival of Grantham-born Margaret Thatcher in her office too, within 10 Downing Street.

From his role as one of the newspaper’s political reporters to sub-editor and eventually Editor, Charles was no stranger to the keyboard. But when he was asked by Margaret’s chief of staff Sir Julian Seymour to write the official biography of her life, it was the beginning of a labour that would yield 1,300,000 words and give Charles unprecedented access to Britain’s first female Prime Minister, not least via a series of meetings between the two, plus access to previously unseen papers, and also interviews with no fewer than 600 people all keen to contribute their insight into one of the most formidable figures of the 20th century.

There were, however, a couple of conditions. >>

Words: Rob Davis. Image: Margaret Thatcher pictured at Buckingham Palace, 2005, attending a lunch for 2,000 veterans which was hosted by the Queen in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, courtesy of UK Government, Crown Copyright.

The Interview

Where there is discord, may we bring harmony; Where there is error, may we bring truth; Where there is doubt, may we bring faith; And where there is despair, may we bring hope.

Prayer of St Francis, quoted by Margaret Thatcher on 4th May 1979 upon becoming Prime Minister.

“During her time as Prime Minister I didn’t know her so well,” says Charles. “Rather than sustaining a relationship with lots of private conversations it would be more a case of seeing her in Number 10 or being invited to lunches or receptions with lots of other people.”

The Wilson & Callaghan governments had been embattled over trade union disputes culminating in the Winter of Discontent, whilst public spending had reached 47% of GDP. Britain was dubbed ‘the sick man of Europe.’ The new era, soon dubbed Thatcherism, promised affluence through radical deregulation, privatisation and lower taxes.

There was an agitant sense of culture as punk became less about nihilism and became, instead, far more politicised, liberalised and more motivated to fight back against gender and racial inequality.

Margaret Thatcher

13th October 1925: Born to Alfred Roberts and Beatrice Stephenson above her parents’ grocer’s shop located at Number One North Parade, Grantham. One older sister, Murial.

1930: Attended Huntingtower Road Primary School.

1936: Won a scholarship to Kesteven & Grantham Girls' School.

1943: Began to read chemistry at Somerville College Oxford.

1947: Begins work as research chemist at British Xylonite.

1951: Marries Denis Thatcher at Wesley’s Chapel, Islington.

1950/1: Conservative candidate for Dartford/Orpington.

1953: Qualifies as barrister, gives birth to twins Carol & Mark.

1959: Becomes MP for constituency of Finchley.

1970: Positions as shadow transport spokesperson and later education secretary , becomes leader of opposition in 1975.

1979: Elected as Prime Minister in 1979 (1983, 1987)

1984: Survives IRA assassination attempt in Brighton.

1990: Ousted by Howe, Hestletine et al.

1992: Retires from the House of Commons aged 66.

2003: Denis Thatcher dies at the age of 88.

8th April 2013: Dies at The Ritz hotel following a stroke.

Even the most left-leaning, pro-trade union newspapers were embattled in conflict with print unions, whose wildcat strikes could prevent newspapers like The Telegraph from being printed and distributed. Newspapers were haemorrhaging money and unions were dominant, until new technology facilitated the modernisation of newsrooms. Desktop publishing begat movable type, The Telegraph established its new, modern print operation, moving from Fleet Street to Canary Wharf. The unions were beaten, not just in the world of newspapers – culminating in Murdoch’s victory at Wapping – but in Thatcher’s eventual victory over the NUM in 1984.

Against this background, Charles was producing leader columns for the Telegraph and with Thatcher on the ascendent following the Falklands conflict, and with policies like Right to Buy, her strength and traction stabilising the economy rewarded her with popularity.

“You’d work closely with her staff and soon meet her in other environments like at clubs or formal events. In terms of my work as an opinion writer in journalism, and as an editor, I was broadly supportive of her politics, but if the paper didn’t agree with her we were still free to criticise her, with no control sought over us.”

“When she left office our relationship became closer. By that time I was a columnist on the Telegraph as well as the newspaper’s deputy editor.”

“I became editor of the Sunday Telegraph in 1992, then deputy editor of The Telegraph and its editor from 1995. In that capacity I could see more of her because she was still very engaged in politics... and of course, having been thrown out she was still very upset and wanted to talk a lot, so I would go and interview her.”

“Often the subject was not about British politics. I remember having long conversations about Gorbachev in Russia and her concerns that they were trying to overthrow him in 1991. Gradually there was more access and we had a different relationship.”

Sir Julian Seymour invited Charles to lunch one day and conveyed a message from Margaret that she would like him to be her authorised biographer.

“There were two very sensible conditions,” he recalls. “The first was that she should not be able to read the book prior to its release. The second was that it would only be published following her death.”

Charles Moore

portrait by Aleksi Niemela.

The Interview

Interviews for the biography took place in different places. Sometimes they were in her home, No.73 Chester Square in Belgravia, sold in 2013 for £15m, or in the former Prime Minister’s offices in Chesham Place, formerly used by German, Spanish and Russian embassies. Occasionally, they would dine out and speak over lunch or dinner. Margaret Thatcher’s preferred restaurants including The Goring or The Savoy Grill...

“I didn’t know that she was seeking a biographer. Obviously lots of people wanted to write about her life and some of them already had. But what I was offered was access to all of her records, personal correspondence and papers from her 11 and a half years in office: special access to documents and communications that wouldn’t otherwise be released for another 30 years [20 years, as of 2013].”

“I thought they were two sensible conditions. Otherwise the book would have had much less historical value and people would naturally think that she was trying to control its content.”

“We would describe her as media savvy today. She knew how to command attention, and she enjoyed it. I imagine too that was selfdirected, rather than someone else managing the press and the interaction behind the scenes.”

“She was a good campaigner and she knew how to make the right gestures in front of the cameras. She was a good actress but she also had Sir Bernard Ingham who was an absolute master of media management too, because this was still the era before spin doctors. She would also have people who advised her very carefully about what clothes to wear and how to do her hair in order to make the best impression.”

“Having that independence as the author made things much easier for me too, because she had a big ego, of course. But she didn’t have the sort vanity that men have, where they’re always seeking to recount a story about how brilliant they are. She was always more interested in looking forward than in looking back on what she’d done. And to my surprise she was also happy to be criticised.”

“She would almost never agree with you, but she wanted to have the discussion and she liked to have a fight. Trying to get a word in edgeways could be quite difficult but I didn’t think she was trying to silence me because what she wanted most was an argument which could play out in quite a fun, congenial way.”

“The only real problem proved to be that she wasn’t a good historical witness, because she would have been much too caught up in her own feelings at the time, and you can’t blame a politician for that because it’s a struggle to get through the work and they’re usually focused on the moment in question. If you wanted direct facts from her she couldn’t be relied upon, but what was interesting were her thoughts about a particular matter.”

Charles’s work began in 1999, mostly researching and reading through official sources such as Hansard, documents that nobody outside Margaret Thatcher’s innermost circle had seen before. Being a pre-email era, that meant internal memos send by Mrs Thatcher, her ministers, civil servants and her private office with hand-written notes. “They were absolutely fascinating,” says Charles. “She was perhaps the last Prime Minister who governed primarily through studying the papers in her red box and issuing written memos via her private office. She did not practise what was later called ‘sofa government’ via email, mobile phones or WhatsApp group chats.” >>

Margaret Roberts aged 20 years old with her parents and sister, Muriel, 1945.

Images courtesy of The Grocer’s Daughter: Arriving in Downing Street 1979; a special relationship at Chequers 1984; the ironing lady (the lady’s not for burning?); family portrait with Denis, Mark and Carol Thatcher.; leaving Downing Street 1990; nursing a broken arm after a fall, 2009.

The Interview

>>“Reading through them you get a real sense of how an argument is building up, who’s running into difficulty and where allegiances are developing. You also see important personal relationships developing, with world leaders like Regan and Gorbachev for example.”

Charles left the Telegraph in 2003 because he needed to concentrate on the Herculean task of writing the three volumes which would eventually total 1,300,000 words, released in 2013, 2015 and 2019.

The three volumes were researched and written ostensibly in chronological order, with volume one written before the author began work on volume two, although the production processes overlapped. In 2013, Charles recalls stepping off a train to London, having amended the final page of the first volume only to be informed that Margaret had died of a stroke at The Ritz.

By that time, Charles was still in touch with Margaret Thatcher, who had lost Denis 10 years earlier, compounding her own mental decline.

“I had completed more formal interviews as early as possible,” says Charles. “I used a tape recorder and my notebook and we would sit down for two hours and then break before resuming the conversation.”

The interviews took place in different places. Sometimes they were in her home – No.73 Chester Square in Belgravia, sold in 2013 for £15m – or in the former Prime Minister’s offices in Chesham Place, formerly used by German, Spanish and Russian embassies. Occasionally, they would dine out and speak over lunch or dinner. Margaret’s preferred restaurants including The Goring or The Savoy Grill.

“Her mental powers didn’t simply decline,” says Charles. “When Denis died she was very distraught and she went into a sharp decline. They recovered to quite a degree and she was much better by 2005.”

“There was a sort of plateau for a few years ago but then it got worse again. By 2009 there were still times that she was forthright and clear and talkative, but other times when she was more muddled and sometimes she became a little withdrawn.”

“It made it more difficult to work with her but I continued to go and see her to be sociable and to look in on her, see how she was and to talk to her staff, just to sit with her and have a cup of tea with her. She was finding it more difficult to have a one-to-one conversation so it became better to see her when a friend was with her, so we could talk across her and let her withdraw from the conversation or join in, not feeling that she had to respond all the time.”

From a journalist and newspaper editor whose obligation is towards objectivity, to a biographer who becomes acquainted with their subject’s most private thoughts, greatest successes and their most painful (and publicly visible) moments, it must have been difficult not to develop some affinity for Margaret.

“Affection I think is a good word. Because she had a strong public manner people thought she must be cold. And she could be, if she was angry about something.”

“But she was also a simple-hearted person in her dealings with others and she was a great believer in loyalty and trust. She was direct, very friendly, not at all pompous.”

“She was equally friendly to everyone, too. From police staff to a doorkeeper to a cabinet minister. And when you were in her house, she’d fuss around making sure you had a tea or a coffee, and biscuits.”

“She was also quite humorous and witty. She wouldn’t necessarily make jokes but she often laughed at things and she was very warm, always asking how your family was. Like many older people she was very concerned with the importance of looking after people.”

“I found it touching that she was a powerful woman with such a powerful mind, but I think she was scared of her decline. She didn’t want to talk about it but she would say something and then point to her head, ‘oh, it’s all mud.’”

“In terms of studying and recording the history you have to remain as objective as possible and ultimately a biography can be hostile or sympathetic. But being friendly with her didn’t get in the way.”

“It made me better able to understand why she did what she did, what the difficulties facing her were, and how difficult it was being the only woman in that position, coming from a relatively poor background and rising within the Conservative Party to become Britain’s first female Prime Minister.”

From Charles’ three books comes a single volume, re-released to mark the 100th anniversary of Margaret Thatcher’s birth. Since working on his original volumes Charles has also delivered hundreds of speeches and participated in broadcasts with an unsurpassed knowledge of her legacy. He remains fascinated that 35 years after leaving office, Margaret Thatcher’s politics can still polarise, and that a provincial upbringing in Grantham could be so formative for a powerful figure.

“As a biographer, you’re a conduit for her,” says Charles. “You’re trying to say ‘here’s Margaret Thatcher, this is what she did’ and these are the problems and failures and successes and achievements of an unusual and fascinating person... one who was born in a corner shop in Grantham, and died in The Ritz a world-famous international figure.”

Charles Moore releases his single volume biography, ‘The Authorised Biography of Margaret Thatcher, based on his three volume work released in 2013, 2015 & 2019. The new edition will be available from all good bookshops published by Allen Lane, £40 in hardback on 18th September 2025.

Lord Charles Moore is Group Consulting Editor for the Telegraph and Sunday Telegraph and former editor of the Spectator Magazine.

Thatcher Fest Events

Monday 13th October

ALTERNATIVE VOICES

Riotous LGBT rights disco odyssey and drag extravaganza which imagines Margaret Thatcher getting lost and ending up in Soho on the eve of the Section 28 vote, where she unwittingly becomes a cabaret star. Guildhall Arts Centre, 7.30pm, £24.

Tuesday 14th October

GRANTHAM IN THE 1920S & 1930S

Local historian and chair of Grantham Civic Society John Manterfield presents a fascinating look at Grantham in the 1920s and 1930s, illustrating the context into which Margaret Thatcher was born. Christ Church, Finken Street, 4pm, free entry.

Monday 13th­Saturday 18th October

THATCHER DISPLAY

Step into history at Grantham Library for a display of images, newspaper articles, books and even her school records! Grantham Library free entry.

Wednesday 15th October

BEHIND THE BRONZE

Cllr Graham Jeal’s behind the scenes talk on Grantham’s Statue, from fundraising to unveiling, inspiration and controversy. Grantham Museum, 3pm, £5.

Monday 15th, Thursday 16th October

IRON LADY

2011 biography starring Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher and Jim Broadbent at Denis Thatcher. Memorabilia also on display. Kesteven & Grantham Girls’ School, Sandon Road, from 6.15pm, £5.

Wednesday 15th, & Saturday 18th October LIVING OVER THE SHOP

Ashort play by Grantham Dramatic Society written by Rosemary Gibson, Living Over The Shop follows the early life of Margaret Thatcher from her birth in 1925 to the moment she left the town to study at Oxford. Over the counter gossip imagines what life was like in Alf Roberts’s Grocery and Post Office... important to locals and almost certainly a hotbed of local gossip! Wednesday 15th October at Christ Church, Finken Street, 7.30pm, £9/tickets. Also Saturday 18th October from 2pm at Grantham Museum, £9/tickets, purchase tickets from Guildhall Arts Centre.

Friday 17th October

ALTERNATIVE VOICES

An evening of music and poetry featuring Billy Blagg (Billy Bragg tribute act), musician Murray Turner, contemporary folk duo

Last Chance Salon, poet Mike Alderson and Grantham writer Lisa Geary. Grantham Museum, 7pm, £10 (£5/conc).

Tuesday 14th October

EDWINA CURRIE’S THATCHER

Former politician, author and broadcaster Edwina Currie presents two talks on the life of Margaret Thatcher, ‘First Woman PM or Feminist?’ at 2pm, and ‘My Life with Margaret Thatcher’ at 6pm. Each with personal insight and a Q&Asession.

Guildhall Arts Centre Theatre, entry £20.

Friday 17th October

QUITE A CENTURY

Gyles Brandreth presents three unique British icons, Margaret Thatcher, Queen Elizabeth II (b.1926) and, er, Winnie the Pooh (created 1926). Includes previously unheard stories about Thatcher plus a portrait of her life.

Guildhall Arts Centre, 7.30pm, £35.

For the full programme of events planned for Thatcher Fest, visit www.guildhallartscentre.com.

Giles Brandreth, Edwina Currie and a bit of gossip from Living Above The Shop.

What’s On

Thursday 2nd to Sunday 5th October

Lincoln Book Festival

This year’s Lincoln Book Festival will connect audiences of all ages and interests with some of the UK’s best-loved writers.

Events include intimate talks, readings, panel discussions, workshops and Q&As with acclaimed authors, academics, cultural commentators and some leading public figures.

This is complemented by a varied programme of events for fans of different literary genres and formats, including familyfriendly activities.

The festival hub is at the Lincoln Arts Centre at the University of Lincoln's Brayford Pool Campus with activities located at venues across the city.

See lincolnbookfestival.org.

OK Computer is widely regarded as one of the best albums in the last 50 years, and Radiohead’s melancholic refrains translate sumptuously to the strings and woodwind instruments that London Concertante will use to fill Lincoln Cathedral’s nave with the music of one of the 1990s most well-regarded acts.

From £22.38­£48.76, 6.45pm, Lincoln Cathedral LN2 1PX, call 01522 561 600 or see www.lincolncathedral.com.

Saturday 10th May

A Sylvotherapy Session: Therapy with Trees

Floral artist, Rachel Petheram and garden designer Guy Petheram lead a session in the gardens at Doddington Hall, where Guy will tell you about the connection to trees and their role in our history and culture. Then, Rachel will guide you in a sylvotherapy session, where the therapeutic nature of trees will help you to relax and connect with nature.

The two will use the trees for artistic expression, with mulberry paper and charcoal used to create beautiful, unique bark rubbings, which will capture the essence of the trees in the garden.

See www.doddingtonhall.com.

Tuesday 14th March

Women at War at the IBCC

A brand new exhibition hosted by the International Bomber Command Centre at Canwick, Women at War celebrates ten women who played vital roles during World War Two.

These specific women have been chosen by the IBCC to represent the contribution, courage and leadership shown by women at all levels during the Second World War.

Free exhibition, International Bomber Command Centre, LN4 2HQ. Call 01522 514755 or see internationalbcc.co.uk.

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

Saturday 11th October Lincoln Sausage Festival 2025

Organised by the Rotary Club of Lincoln Colonia. Indulge in a day filled with mouthwatering delights as Lincoln Castle grounds come alive with food and drink stalls celebrating the iconic Lincolnshire sausage.

Enjoy them freshly cooked onsite or take some home to share the joy later.

The festival also features live cooking demonstrations, exciting entertainment for all ages, and a warm, festive atmosphere. Look out for the beloved Mr Sausage and Mrs Sausage too!

Lincoln Castle, for details see www.lincolncastle.com.

Friday 17th October Is it me? Or is it hot in here?

Zeph Churchill, Lincolnshire comedian, is returning to Spalding after her sell out show in 2023. Retired from the NHS and with wit as sharp as a needle, Zeph ‘normalises the normal:’ midlife stage of peri-menopause and menopause, through her witty stand-up, songs and demonstrations to answer questions about menopause that you were too afraid to ask; such as ‘Why do I want to kill my husband?’, ‘What did I come upstairs for?, and ‘Is it me? Or is it hot in here?’

Spalding South Holland Centre, 7.30pm, £17, call01775 764777 or see southhollandcentre.co.uk.

October

Thursday 30th October

Phantom of the Opera

A gothic masterpiece from the silent film era set to an original score. On the big screen is Lon Chaney’s 1925 black and white-era film version of Gaston Leroux’s Le Fantôme de l'Opéra, for an audio accompaniment, Minima provide an original soundtrack, with drums, bass, guitar and cello.

The story is partly inspired by historical events at the Paris Opera during the nineteenth century, telling the story of soprano Christine Daaé and the love triangle involving the Opera Ghost of the Palais Garnier, Raoul de Chagny. £15.50, 7.30pm, Boston Blackfriars, 01205 363108, blackfriarsartscentre.co.uk.

Pick up a Pumpkin in Lincolnshire

Wednesday 1st October to Friday 31st October:

Pecan’s Pumpkin Patch at Bransby Horses

Wander through the pumpkin patch and choose the one that’s just right for you, meanwhile Bransby Horse will be hosting a Hocus Pocus Scavenger Hunt, a magical quest filled with tricks, treats, and a dash of Halloween fun. www.bransbyhorses.co.uk

11th/12th, 18th/19th, 25th­31st October: Bell's Pumpkin Patch

Welcoming over 20,000 people each year, there’s a range of activities to keep the family entertained including the chance to pick your own pumpkin! www.bellspumpkinpatch.com.

4th­31st October: Rand Farm Park Pumpkin Fest

Enjoy spook-tastic activities in the pumpkin patch such as the Pumpkin Rave, Storytime and Silent Disco! Plus, every paying child receives a FREE standard-sized pumpkin. www.randfarmpark.com.

On the Farm Farming

What’s happening in the fields of Lincolnshire with farming correspondent Andrew Ward MBE

Ireally do believe that better times are ahead for farming... but not yet. The industry is enduring tough times and I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of it yet. And that’s something upon which I’ve been reflecting a great deal this year.

Our harvest has been very much a mixed bag with hugely variable yields on all crops. Whilst Tim Lamyman, up in the Wolds, had a record-breaking OSR crop, that’s very much the exception, in Lincolnshire and nationally.

Our winter wheat has averaged 8.5t/ha (3.5t/acre) with extremes of 6t/ha and 10.3t/ha. Spring Barley, like all spring crops, has been disappointing across the board, with scarce rain from planting to harvest resulting in an average yield of 5t/ha (2t/acre). Grain prices are also the poorest we’ve seen for years so we are facing a loss this year. To mitigate that loss, I decided to bale all our straw, but with crops short in

height (and thin too), the quantity of straw was limited. Whilst this income will still be useful, given that the returns from grain will be poor, I think livestock farmers will be very short of straw and silage this winter.

In late September as Pride is on print deadline, we’ll be using our venerable 11-year old New Holland combine and a MacDon header to harvest our three varieties of beans (Capulet, Godiva and Olivia).

Working with Eric Holub of Warwick University’s Crop Centre, it’s part of a threeyear project to produce a crop of Capulet beans (which can be made into baked beans), the first time the crop will have been grown in Lincolnshire.

We’re currently approaching the completion of our cultivation work and we’ll then begin drilling winter wheat and lifting sugar beet ready for Newark’s British Sugar factory opening on 23rd September.

And so to the future. A health scare earlier this year, ongoing political pressure put on the industry by the current government, and poor arable returns (with cheap food inputs and fewer conditions on international farmers than those we’re subject to) have all conspired to make farming a less fun job recently.

My father started the farm in 1958, and we’re currently farming around 1,000 acres, down from about 1,700 acres a decade or so ago. Land of the sort previously available with AHA tenancies is slowly being taken out of food production for stewardship, housing and solar farms. Securing land to make the most efficient use of large machinery is increasingly hard. Furthermore, I’m currently trying to juggle two jobs, as both a farmer and as a full time ambassador and campaigner for the industry. I’m keen to enjoy farming again, and whilst the business is financially secure now, that may not be the case in two or three years time unless I take action now. I’m keen, of course, to ensure the farm’s profitability for my daughter Sam and grandson Oscar, should they wish to pursue a career in farming.

For that reason we’re moving to a business model where we use contractors. There are all sorts of implications for that, from machinery to staff, which I’ve explained candidly in my videos (number 386 and 388). I’ve been open and honest and had a huge amount of support, plus over 800 messages, not least from other farmers who find themselves in a similar position. I’d be grateful if you have a look at the videos, which will explain more, but I’ll be updating you, as more details are confirmed, about how we’ll continue to farm in the future.

Watch Wardy’s Waffle:Our farming correspondent Andrew Ward MBE is an arable farmer in Leadenham growing wheat, barley, sugar beet, beans and oats. Andrew has his own YouTube channel, Wardy’s Waffle, which is enjoyed by over 21,400 subscribers. Watch his updates Wednesday evenings from 7pm and Sunday mornings at 8am. Search YouTube for @WardysWaffleAndrewWard.

Opposite: Harvesting cereals in Andrew’s 11­year old New Holland and sugar beet ready for the first intake on 23rd September at Newark’s British Sugar processing factory (above).

Homes & Gardens

FIND JOY IN THE ART OF LIVING WELL

WELCOME HOME TO EAST HECKINGTON’S ELM GRANGE

AUTUMN HOMES AND OCTOBER’S APPLE DAY AT GUNBY HALL PLUS: THE LARGEST SELECTION OF LUXURY HOMES IN AND AROUND LINCOLNSHIRE

Elm Grange

A place in the country

We’re very familiar with this month’s featured property, which used to be the home of Pride Magazines. Elm Grange at East Heckington is beautifully presented and set within two acres of lovely mature grounds

Words: Rob Davis. Images: Matt Thompson, Matte Black Media, 07809 482 928, www.matteblackmedia.co.uk.

Pure nostalgia! We’re very familiar with this month’s featured property, Elm Grange at East Heckington. From around 1997 the adjacent square arrangement of former barns served as an interior design studio founded by Mark and Lindy Mastenbroek-Andrews. It later served as the offices of Pride Magazines, until we relocated to our current premises to afford the business room to expand. Personally, I miss Elm Grange enormously and I can recall the leafy setting which reflected the changing of the seasons, and the wealth of wildlife from the squirrels, rabbits and birds that would dash around outside, as we were working – equally industriously – at our desks. And then there were the peahens. Three of them at the time, of which only Geoffrey remains, probably the one who would dart in front of my car each morning. Has he since developed any degree of road sense? Nope, say Simon and Margaret Blenkin who purchased the property in 2018. Geoffrey is still a character, and very much part and parcel of the charm of Elm Grange. Built around 1845, the house and the barns are no longer a package. Set in two acres of grounds the property itself is unlisted, arranged over two floors, with five reception rooms and four bedrooms plus Treetops, a separate, self-contained larch-clad barn and garage block, constructed in 2020. >>

“Simon reckons there are about 60 trees, and the orchard provides plenty of Bramley apples for making winter crumbles and pies...”

>> At the heart of the property is a very lovely 25ft double-height atrium that forms part of a kitchen/breakfast room. The kitchen has been created with solid timber cabinetry painted in Zoffany’s Parchment, a soft, warm shade complemented by black and white flecked granite surfaces and integrated appliances including a Nexus range cooker in stainless steel and a US-style fridge-freezer.

Adjacent to the atrium is Simon’s music room, which would also make a good boot room or downstairs bedroom, and beyond that, there’s a utility room and a shower room.

Beyond the breakfast room is a south-facing study, and lounge. There’s also a dining room adjacent to the entrance hall with a log burner, whilst the music room and master bedroom also have working fireplaces.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms, with the principal bedroom suite benefitting from a really large dressing room, additional walk-in wardrobe and another storage area, as well as an en suite bathroom recently refitted by Simon and Margaret.

It’s possible to reinstate the dressing room as a fifth bedroom, although the first floor of Treetops also provides an open plan living space with its own shower room, ideal for inter-generational living, for guests, for use as an office or to keep as an AirBNB.

Below the annexe is a three-bay garage with roller door to one bay, and a roofed log store too for winter fuel. And speaking of trees... The grounds of Elm Grange are magnificent. Mature tree species include monkey puzzle, weeping willow, atlantic cedar, dawn redwood, ginko, handkerchief tree, tulip tree,

walnut, monterey pine, cherry, douglas fir as well as more regular tree varieties like birch and lime as well as a line of poplar trees to the east border of the garden.

Simon reckons there are about 60 trees, and the orchard provides plenty of Bramley apples for making winter crumbles and pies.

Elm Grange at East Heckington

Location: A17 at East Heckington. Heckington 3.3 miles; Sleaford 8.3 miles; Boston 9.4 miles.

Provenance: Beautifully presented unlisted Victorian property dating back to around 1845, with four bedrooms, five reception rooms and two acres of mature grounds.

Guide Price £1,000,000

Find Out More: Currently on the market with Fine & Country Central Lincolnshire and Grantham, call 01522 287008 or see www.fineandcountry.co.uk.

There’s a generous flagstone terrace too, with an arbour adorned with scented climbers. Elsewhere in the grounds, there are formal borders, a secret garden area, neatly-clipped box hedging walkways and areas of lawn too, as well as views over the adjacent farmland of Elm Grange Farm and Six Hundreds Farms. The countryside looks absolutely splendid just before harvest when it’s packed with wheat or barley waiting to be combined.

Margaret is a keen musical director of several choirs and musical societies whilst Simon writes and records music from the house too, so each has their own music room. Many of Margaret’s musical endeavours are based in Peterborough & Northamptonshire. Also, the couple’s daughter and their grandchild Indie live in the South West, so the couple have put Elm Grange on the market and have made a very reluctant decision to relocate.

“It’s been a great place to live and the way its surroundings change gradually throughout the year means you really come to appreciate the seasons.”

“We really wish we could pick the property up and take it with us, but at least we can console ourselves with the fact that another family will be able to enjoy the place.”

“It’s also really conveniently located on the A17. Sleaford, Heckington and Boston are all close by, and we’re a stone’s throw from Abbey Parks Farm Shop, so something delicious and local for dinner is always close by!”

“It’s a sociable house with plenty of room for entertaining but also lots of places to work or relax. Families with children will also enjoy exploring the gardens and experiencing a proper countryside childhood!”

VELVET SOFA STATEMENT

Plush, deep­toned velvet creates a luxurious anchor for autumn evenings, £1,395, www.vintagesofa.co.uk.

WOODLAND CANDLE GLOW

Sandalwood and cedar blend beautifully, evoking woodland walks, £140, www.chaseandwonder.com.

GLAZED PUMPKIN BOWL

Ideal for soups, snacks or simply seasonal kitchen styling with charm, £199, www.francecorner.com.

FIRESIDE WOOL THROW

British­made in rust hues, soft lambswool perfect for crisp evenings, £224, www.thewoolcompany.co.uk.

OAK CONSOLE TABLE

Timeless craftsmanship, ideal for hallways, styled with foliage and seasonal accents, £1,190, www.willenrose.co.uk

MOODY AUTUMN PAINT

Create cocooning walls with dramatic tones, perfect in dining rooms. Down Pipe at www.farrow­ball.com.

TEXTURED CERAMIC VASE

Perfectly imperfect with a rustic glaze, just add dried grasses or foraged branches, £189, www.thepanacheartistry.com.

Warm­toned amber glass offers soft, inviting light, ideal for sideboards or cosy reading corners, £175, www.nkuku.com.

Natural comfort and texture, perfect for wooden dining chairs throughout autumn and winter, £96.50, www.baastool.co.uk.

AMBER GLASS LAMP

SHEEPSKIN SEAT PAD

LEATHER LOG CARRIER

Practical and stylish, sturdy leather brings tactile charm to firewood storage, £720, www.lifeofrileyonline.co.uk.

CHUNKY KNIT POUFFE

Knitted in warm ochre tones, this pouffe adds comfort and a dose of autumn texture, £189, www.scandiborn.co.uk.

HERITAGE KETTLE CHARM

A timeless classic for country kitchens, this hard­anodised kettle is beautiful and practical, £170, www.agacookshop.co.uk.

Homes & Gardens

Autumnal Indulgence

Cosy textures, warm tones, and rich seasonal accents to bring elegant comfort to your interiors this autumn.

BOTANICAL WALL ART

Pressed fern and oak leaf designs, earthy and elegant additions to any gallery wall, £245, www.quoteartisan.com.

LUXURY BEDDING

Alba cotton/silk blend duvet cover £500/double to £740/emperor, White Company, www.thewhitecompany.com.

WOOL-LINED SLIPPERS

Soft suede and thick wool, because your feet deserve luxury on chilly mornings, £75, www.westmorlandsheepskins.co.uk.

HARVEST DINING

Rustic stoneware, perfect for October feasts or fireside supper parties, £110, www.frenchconnection.com.

Autumn Gardens at Gunby Hall

This month, when some gardens might be looking past their best, Spilsby’s Gunby Hall is looking exceptional. The National Trust property is also hosting its annual Apple Day, with over 50 heritage varieties within its walled gardens and plenty to entertain visitors...

Gunby Hall

Words: Rob Davis. Images: National Trust Photo Library

As autumn takes hold in Lincolnshire, there are few better places to enjoy the season than Gunby Hall and Gardens. On Sunday 28th September, the National Trust estate near Spilsby invites visitors to celebrate Apple Day, a highlight of the autumn calendar that pays tribute to heritage fruit, thriving gardens, and the hardworking team who keep them looking at their very best.

This year, over 50 varieties of apple will be displayed from Gunby’s own gardens and orchards, including some grown on trees that date back centuries. From the oldest, the Catshead of 1629, to the relatively modern Winter Gem of 1985, each apple tells a story of horticultural heritage and flavour. Volunteers will be on hand to explain the history of the fruit and its uses in the kitchen, from pies and chutneys to cider and juice.

Visitors can also look forward to craft and trade stalls spread across the gardens and courtyard, each offering seasonal delights. Among the most popular elements of the day is the chance to meet experts like Trevor Rogers, founder of the Northern Fruit Group, who has attended previous events to identify apples: always sought-after expertise!

Produce from the kitchen garden will also be available, with every effort made to ensure nothing goes to waste. Apples too damaged for human consumption are left for wildlife, supporting fieldfares, redwings, and blackbirds through the colder months.

The apple is as much a part of Britain’s cultural fabric as its gardens. Introduced by the Romans, they improved with Norman varieties, and were championed by Henry VIII, becoming embedded in daily life.

Grown in the gardens at Gunby Hall are Lincolnshire’s Ellison’s Orange variety; Hawthornden apple – which is sometimes referred to as the Lincolnshire Pippin – and Penny Loaf which is quite a unusual and rare variety.

It was during the Victorian era, however, that apples truly flourished. Thousands of varieties were developed, each bred for specific qualities, keeping well through the winter, juicing sweetly, or cooking into frothy softness.

At a time when exploration, science, and industry were celebrated, the humble apple was also enjoying its golden age.

Gunby’s orchards reflect this heritage, and Apple Day brings the story vividly to life.

Each fruit variety, with their evocative name and distinctive taste, connect today’s visitors to centuries of careful cultivation and pride in local produce.

While the apples rightly take centre stage, the gardens at Gunby are a spectacle in their own right during October.

Senior Gardener Natasha Johnson and her team of two full-time gardeners, a part time gardener and eight dedicated volunteers, ensure that every corner of the walled gardens continues to flourish well into autumn. The team will also expand this month with a new apprentice starting work.

Gunby’s orchards reflect the estate’s heritage, reflecting upon centuries of careful cultivation and pride in local produce...

Senior Gardener Natasha Johnson

Apple Day at Gunby Hall

The eastern garden heaves with kitchen produce, flowers, and herbs, while the western garden bursts with cut flowers, culinary herbs, and more than 50 varieties of rose. Lawns, maintained with ruler-straight precision, remain lush well into autumn, and the borders glow with dahlias, asters, and late perennials.

By the end of the month, the team will begin dividing the herbaceous borders and preparing the glasshouses for winter, but in late October the gardens are still brimming with colour and life.

As Natasha reflects: “Every single day yields the sight of something new and beautiful. October is a wonderful time here: many gardens are fading, but Gunby feels at its best.”

Gunby’s orchard is not only productive, but also a haven for wildlife...

Gunby has long inspired writers and poets, among them Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Lincolnshire’s most celebrated literary son. Born in Somersby and educated in Louth, Tennyson visited Gunby Hall and described it as a ‘Haunt of Ancient Peace.’

It is easy to imagine him finding comfort and inspiration in its orchards and mellow autumn light. Gunby’s orchard is not only productive, but also a haven for wildlife. Apple blossom provides nectar for bees in spring; bark offers shelter for mosses and lichens; and wildflowers beneath the trees

enrich the ground layer. When fruit falls, it is left to sustain birds and small mammals through the leaner months.

This balance between cultivation and conservation is central to the ethos of Gunby’s gardeners, who take pride in ensuring that the estate’s bounty is enjoyed by both people and wildlife. On Apple Day, a selection of produce will be available to purchase, giving visitors a taste of the estate’s abundance to take home.

The combination of Gunby Hall’s heritage orchards in October, its colourful borders, and the dedication of its team makes it an unmissable destination at this time of year. Apple Day captures the spirit of autumn perfectly: rich in flavour, full of history, and alive with community.

Apple Day at Gunby Hall takes place on Sunday 28th September from 10am­4pm. The National Trust’s Gunby Hall Estate is located between Spilsby and Skegness just off the A158, PE23 5SS, call 01754 890102 or see www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

The History of Gunby Hall

Gunby Hall, the elegant red­brick mansion standing at the edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, carries within its walls more than three centuries of history, and was shaped by the fortunes of the Massingberd family and their heirs. Built in 1700 by Sir William Massingberd, second Baronet, the house replaced a smaller manor and set the stage for a dynasty that would intertwine personal drama, politics, and philanthropy with the story of one of the county’s most captivating estates.

The Massingberds first established themselves in Lincolnshire through marriage into the Bratoft family in the late 15th century, moving from their moated manor at Bratoft to Gunby when Sir William built the new Hall. His design, restrained yet dignified, used both imported Dutch bricks and those made on­site, creating a house admired for its balance and formality. Subsequent additions in the 18th and 19th centuries extended the building without sacrificing its William and Mary charm, ensuring Gunby Hall retained an architectural harmony admired to this day.

The family itself proved no less remarkable than the house. During the Civil War, brothers Henry and Drayner Massingberd supported Cromwell, while Sir Henry later performed the delicate feat of seeing his baronetcy renewed by Charles II.

Later generations brought their own eccentricities and passions. William Meux Massingberd extended

Art on the Map at Gunby

Returning to Gunby

this season is Art

the Map, featuring new work from professional painters, print makers, and craft workers from across the county.

Art on the Map is a collective of 25 high­quality artists and craft makers which has evolved from the Lincolnshire Open Studios scheme, started back in 1999 when artists and craft­makers from across the county came together to put their studios ‘on the map’.

Previous artists associated with the group include Lind Anso, Bob Armstrong, Lynn Baker, Denise Hawthorn, Lyn Jenkins, Bridget Jones, Sheila Pearce, Mo Teeuw, Toni Watts and Helen Webber.

Art On the Map takes place from Friday 10th October to Sunday 2nd November, from 10am-4pm, see www.nationaltrust.org.uk.

the estate, while Peregrine Langton­Massingberd left a Tree Book, chronicling his ambitious planting schemes that gave Gunby its landscape.

Not all heirs were so steady. The ill­fated Algernon, dubbed ‘Naughty’ in family lore, abandoned a naval career for gambling, radical politics, and a brief, scandalous association with Hungarian revolutionary Louis Kossuth, before vanishing in South America 1854.

His uncle, Charles, steadied the family fortunes, modernising Gunby with running water and indoor plumbing, while his daughter Emily became a pioneering campaigner for women’s rights, even standing for election in 1889.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries ushered in a golden age under Stephen Massingberd and his musically gifted wife, Margaret Lushington. Together they transformed the Hall into a centre of culture, hosting concerts and encouraging choral societies across Lincolnshire.

Their legacy was carried forward by Stephen’s sister, Lady Diana Montgomery­Massingberd, who, with her husband Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery (right), ensured Gunby’s survival during the Second World War.

When the Air Ministry sought to demolish the house for an extended runway, Archibald fought tirelessly to save it and the grateful couple gifted the hall and its estate to the National Trust in 1944.

Hall

on

Lincolnshire Wildlife in October

October draws in with misted mornings, golden afternoons, and hedgerows full of fruit. It’s the season for crackling leaves, fungi underfoot, and a final burst of life before winter’s quiet. Across the county, nature takes a gentle breath—migrants arrive, seeds scatter, and wildlife busies itself for colder days. It’s also a perfect time to step into the garden, with much to plant, prune and prepare. Here’s what to look out for in the wild and at home.

1. FUNGI IN FULL FORCE

Damp autumn conditions have encouraged a bumper crop of fungi, with mushrooms appearing in every shape and shade.

The unmistakable fly agaric—with its red cap and white speckles—stands out in woodland glades, though it’s best admired, not touched.

Keep an eye out too for honey fungus, parasol mushrooms and fairy inkcaps. Woodland walks and shaded footpaths are especially rewarding for those keen to spot these curious and colourful autumnal wonders, adding a little magic to seasonal strolls outdoors.

As daylight shortens, barn owls become more visible, hunting over open fields and quiet grasslands. With their ghostly flight and heart-shaped faces, they glide low in search of voles and mice, especially just before sunset.

October is a key feeding month, as adults build up energy and younger owls perfect their hunting skills. You’re likely to spot them near the edges of pastures, farmland or undisturbed meadows, anywhere the grass grows long. Their silent beauty is one of autumn’s most enchanting sights, with wing spans up to a metre and a life span of around four years. The birds are monogamous, with breeding pairs remaining together for life.

3. HEDGEROWS IN BERRY BRIGHTNESS

Hawthorn, blackthorn and rose hips are in full fruit now, lining the hedgerows with vibrant reds and purples. It’s a visual feast for us and a real one for birds, which gorge on the berries to build energy for colder days and, in some cases, long migratory journeys ahead. All are edible, but their bitter taste relative to other hedgerow berries makes foraging an activity best left to wildlife.

2. BARN OWLS HUNT AT DUSK

4. GREY SQUIRRELS NESTING

In local parks and woodlands, grey squirrels are especially active this month. They’re gathering acorns, beech nuts and conkers to bury for winter, and you will probably spot them darting between trees or digging in lawns. While not native, they’ve certainly made themselves at home, and October is when they’re at their most entertaining, leaping acrobatically through branches and pausing only to inspect their hidden stashes.

Along with bees and hoverflies, butterflies rely on ivy as a rich source of pollen and nectar, making it a crucial food source before hibernation begins and the colder months set in. In the UK, most bees and butterflies die off or enter a dormant state during the winter months. For bees, the queen bees and males typically die off, while new queens hibernate to start new colonies in the spring.

JOBS IN THE GARDEN IN October

With the nights drawing in and the first frosts just around the corner, October is a key month for putting the garden to bed. But there’s still plenty to enjoy and prepare for, and the careful work you do now will pay off beautifully with a vibrant spring display.

Plant spring bulbs: There’s still time to plant daffodils, tulips, crocuses and alliums. Choose healthy, firm bulbs and get them into well­drained soil as soon as possible. Planting now ensures a glorious burst of colour to brighten early spring borders and containers.

Lift and divide perennials: Plants such as hostas, day lilies and rudbeckias benefit from division this month. It’s a great way to refresh congested clumps that have become woody or overgrown, encouraging healthy growth and increasing your stock for new planting elsewhere.

Clear leaves and compost them: Don’t waste those lovely fallen leaves—gather them up and create valuable leaf mould. Store leaves in black bags with holes or in a wire bin, turning occasionally. In a year or so, you’ll have perfect, nutrient­rich compost to enrich your soil.

Sow hardy annuals: Cornflowers, nigella and poppies can be sown directly outdoors now to flower early next year. Lightly rake the soil to create a fine tilth, scatter the seeds, and let nature take its course for delicate, seasonal blooms.

The skies are alive with honking calls and arrow formations of migrating geese. Pinkfooted geese arrive having travel from Iceland and Greenland to spend winter on mild shores. Their calls echo across wetlands and estuaries, a stirring reminder of constant seasonal change. Open countryside and marshes offer rewarding places to watch these travellers pause, feed, and regroup before continuing their journey.

Tidy borders and mulch: Remove any lingering weeds, cut back finished perennials to tidy the beds, and mulch with a generous layer of compost or wellrotted manure. This will help insulate roots through winter while feeding the soil for next year’s growth.

Prune climbing roses: Cut back any excessively long growths, remove crossing or damaged stems, and tie in strong shoots securely to prevent wind damage over winter. Proper pruning encourages healthy growth and abundant flowering next season.

5. BUTTERFLIES ON THE IVY

6. PINK-FOOTED GEESE ARRIVE

Contemporary Country Living

A modern interpretation of a traditional barn conversion. This month we’re in the heart of the countryside as Peter Lundgren offers for sale a property with eco-credentials and wonderful views

Words: Rob Davis.

There could be few more satisfying sights than looking out over freshly-harvested Lincolnshire farmland and admiring the open countryside. And there could be few better places to enjoy a view of that nature than White Home Farm at Branston Fen.

Equidistant from Branston, Metheringham and Woodhall Spa and just eight miles from Lincoln itself, it’s a stunning rural property... but with a twist. On a site that, 15 years ago, was home to a dilapidated bungalow, there now stands a modern interpretation of a farm barn, timber-framed with red brickwork and charred larch cladding, helping to ensure the building easily blends into the 93 acres of farmland that surround the property.

It’s home to Peter Lundgren and family. Peter is an arable farmer, who values sustainability and was an early advocate of many of the techniques now considered biodynamic or regenerative, long before such terms were popularised.

He sought to create a property that would suit the surrounding countryside without resorting to creating a pastiche of a traditional farmhouse. The result is an impressive property completed in 2012 arranged over two floors and incorporating four bedrooms with the living kitchen and sitting room on the first floor.

Helping to blend together the property’s interiors and the vast landscape beyond, there’s huge bespoke glazing with aluminium frames to the exterior and timber frames indoors...

>> Peter worked with Stephen Palmer of Place Architecture, seeking a concept that would exhibit values of sustainability and offer practical, family-friendly space whilst also framing landmarks such as Lincoln Cathedral – just eight miles away and visible from the sitting room – or Tattershall Bridge which can be seen from the balcony of the living kitchen.

The slate-effect roof of the property is made from recycled material, whilst passive air ventilation, a ground-source heat pump, plus very thermally-efficient glazing help to ensure it’s cheap to run. The property has been designed to incorporate Passivhaus-inspired features, although Stephen has never sought formal certification for such status.

On the ground floor there’s a large entrance hall, a study, plus a utility room and a cloakroom, as well as four good-sized bedrooms and two family bathrooms.

On the first floor, a living kitchen area wraps around a store room, study and cloakroom, leading to a sitting room with one of two first-floor balconies.

Helping to blend together the property’s interiors and the landscape beyond, there’s huge bespoke glazing with aluminium frames to the exterior and timber frames indoors.

Underheated flooring throughout is created in oak sourced from Billinghay Sawmill which also supplied Peter’s bespoke contemporary refectory dining table – all 14ft of it.

The contemporary kitchen itself has been created with handleless lime green gloss cabinetry with Greystone ruby-flecked work surfaces.

The kitchen incorporates a cream oil-fired Rayburn range cooker, with two pantries on either side, as well as two undermount sinks and built-in appliances including an electric oven and hob, as well as an integrated dishwasher.

White Home Farm

Branston Fen, Bardney

Location: Branston Fen. City of Lincoln 8 miles, Woodhall Spa 13.2 miles.

Provenance: Contemporary family residence next to 93 acres of farmland. Architect­designed, the property emphasises sustainability and low­carbon living, offering first­floor living spaces and four ground­floor bedrooms. Separate studio with potential for annexe accommodation.

Guide Price:£795,000 (property), additional land available in lots.

Find Out More: Savills, Lincoln. Call 01522 508900 or see www.savills.co.uk.

Over the kitchen’s island is a run of strip-lighting with additional spots. Lighting consultancy Atomic of Nottingham created a bespoke architectural lighting scheme for the living kitchen and reception room designed to spread the light over the property’s ceilings providing a broad, soft spread, enhanced by the natural light coming in through the large windows and the two vast skylights. Outdoors there’s an expanse of lawn which leads to a sunken kitchen garden separated from the property by a gabion wall.

The kitchen garden has three raised beds and there’s a glasshouse too, plus open views of productive arable farmland, with no neighbours nearby.

Adjacent to the property is a two-storey oak barn built by Peter 12 years ago and incorporating a three-bay garage plus a space above, currently serving as an art studio but with potential for conversion into a selfcontained apartment.

Peter’s son and daughter have now left home to pursue their own careers and so he has put the property on the market in anticipation of an unspecified ‘adventure,’ although he’s not sure where that sense of derring do will take him as yet!

The next owners, though, will enjoy living in a contemporary family property surrounded by farmland with stunning views of the county. There’s also the option to purchase anywhere between 10 and 100 acres, so whether your ambition is toward creating a manageable garden, pursuing equestrian interests or creating your own smallholding, you’ll enjoy a unique contemporary rural property in an absolutely stunning location!

• Superb modern five bedroomed Church in vibrant exclusive village

• Recently completed works creating open plan residential accommodation to over 5,900sqft

• 5 Bedrooms, 5 Bathrooms, 6 Reception Areas, Utility Room, Spire Room, Cinema

•

• Spacious and Secluded Town Centre House with Parking and Gardens

• 3 Bedroomed Detached House, 2 Reception Rooms

• Modern Fitted Kitchen, 2 Bathrooms

• Large Living Room with Spacious Master Bedroom • Exceptional Architect Designed Barn Conversion Set in 2.3 Acres with Equestrian Use

• Luxurious Four Bedroomed Property with Spectacular Open Plan Living

BRANSTON

• Detached three storey residence • High quality finish

• Four reception rooms • Bespoke cabinetry open plan kitchen/breakfast room

• Six double bedrooms • Five bathrooms

• Gated access • EPC: C GUIDE PRICE: £925,000 - £950,000

GREAT GONERBY

• Detached Residence • High-End Living

• Gorgeous Views • Open-Plan Kitchen

• Lounge & Playroom • Four Double Bedrooms

• Two Bathrooms & Dressing Room • EPC: D GUIDE PRICE: £700,000 - £750,000

CABOURNE

• Stunning C19 Farmhouse • Seven Bedrooms

• Four Reception Rooms • Tennis Court

• Fabulous Grounds • Extensive Outbuildings inc Steel Portal Frame Barn

• Grade II Listed • EPC: E GUIDE PRICE: £795,000

STAPLEFORD

• Detached Residence • Equestrian Facilities

• Three Reception Rooms • Five Double Bedrooms

• Three Bathrooms • Kitchen & Utility

• Landscaped Gardens - 2.1 acres • EPC: D

OFFERS IS EXCESS OF £600,000

The second half of the year is already shaping up to be busier than the first with a notable rise in buyers relocating from London & the South. There’s still time to move before Christmas –but you’ll need to act fast. Instruct us today & let’s see if your buyer is already registered with us

Belton Woods, Belton, Grantham, NG32 2LN

Stunning two-storey woodland lodges overlooking Belton Woods golf course, offering luxury living for less than the price of living on a housing estate, with holiday let potential giving over a 10% return, cleaning and booking service available. Originally designed and built as a timeshare, these properties are now available as a freehold purchase.

Price: Ranging from £250,000 - £295,000

The property is a substantial detached house, set in a highly sought-after position approx. half a mile from Lincoln’s city centre and a quarter of a mile from the cathedral. The property offers more than 6,000 square feet of beautifully appointed accommodation, combining elegant original details with stylish modern décor and fittings throughout.

Guide Price £2,500,000

Stoneycroft

Lincoln

Mill

House Market

At the edge of Market Deeping, where town meets countryside and water meadows, Mill House rests quietly in a timeless setting. This handsome Grade II listed Georgian home, dating from 1782, stands beside the old mill stream, its walls rising directly from the water. With flexible accommodation including five reception rooms, seven bedrooms and fifteen acres, plus enchanting gardens and a rich heritage as part of a historic corn mill, Mill House is a rare combination of elegance, privacy, and rural character

Guide Price: £2,000,000

Fine & Country The Old Jewellers, 30 High Street East Uppingham LE15 9PZ. Call 01780 750 200 or see www.fineandcountry.co.uk

Deeping

Church Lane Farmhouse

Church Lane Farmhouse is an impressive unlisted Georgian farmhouse in a quiet village position and standing in delightful professionally designed landscaped gardens of approximately 0.80 of an acre. An additional adjoining paddock of 0.85 acres (or part thereof) is available by separate negotiation if required.

Price: £950,000

Newton Fallowell 68 High St, Grantham NG31 6NR Call 01476 591900 www.newtonfallowell.co.uk

Brandon

Castle Top Market Rasen

Castle Top is a large, mixed-use rural property set in more than 70 acres of open countryside in the Lincolnshire Wolds. Tucked away in a peaceful and elevated position, the site combines a comfortable two-bedroom main home with two successful holiday lets, a group of modern cabins with development potential, and a large commercial building with workshops and storage areas.

Price £1,500,000

Fine & Country Northern Lincolnshire 72 Wrawby Street, Brigg DN20 8JE. Call 01652 237666 or see www.fineandcountry.co.uk

Tallington

Full of character, from recessed windows now sealed in stone and timeworn shutters to aged beams in every shade of honey and chestnut, The Manor House is the very embodiment of English country heritage. Yet with live planning permission for a two-bedroom annexe conversion, it’s a home designed to embrace modern living too. The Manor House

Guide Price £1,250,000

Pelham James 3 Saddler’s Court, Oakham LE15

Luxury Homes

Springfield House

North Scarle

An impressive five bedroom detached house with a wealth of beautifully appointed living space, splendid gardens, stable complex, extensive fields and paddocks extending to about 5.51 acres.

Offers in excess of £1,000,000

Savills Olympic House, 995 Doddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3SE Call 01522 508908 or see www.savills.co.uk

The Old Hall

Baston

At the heart of the historic village of Baston, nestled beside the parish church and sheltered within just over an acre of beautifully landscaped grounds, stands The Old Hall – a striking 16th century Grade II listed stone residence.

Offers over £1,500,000

Fine & Country High Street East Uppingham LE15 9PZ. Call 01572 335 145 or see www.fineandcountry.co.uk

Mill Lane

Welton-Le-Marsh

A beautiful, Grade II farmhouse circa 1750. The 4000sq ft of accommodation comprises of 5 bedrooms and a newly converted 2 bedroom coach house annex.

Offers over £900,000

Hunters 10 East St, Horncastle LN9 6AZ Call 01507 524910 or see www.hunters.com

Caygate Farmhouse

Long Sutton

Built in 2016, Caygate Farmhouse stands out for all the right reasons. Its exterior is both imposing and elegant and the interior continues to impress. The craftsmanship throughout is exceptional.

Offers in region of £1,250,000

Sowerbys Bank Chambers, Market Pl, King's Lynn PE30 1JJ. Call 01553 766741 or see www.sowerbys.com

Luxury Homes

Heckington

Sleaford

5.75-acre Heckington estate with six-bedroom home, tenanted four-bedroom house, approved six-dwelling development (ref: 22/1760/FUL)—ideal for luxury living, multi-generational use, investment or equestrian lifestyle.

Guide price

£2,000,000

Alexander Jacob 11 Grove St, Retford DN22 6JP Call 01777 566400 www.alexanderjacob.co.uk

Victoria House

Lenton

Escape to tranquillity at Victoria House, a modern country retreat where scale, seclusion, and sophistication quietly converge.

Guide Price £1,475,000

Pelham James 3 Saddler’s Court, Oakham LE15 7GH. Call 01572 497070 or see www.pelhamjames.co.uk

Granary Court

Grantham

A stunning, contemporary property set in a secluded and quiet location in the sought-after village of Wilsford. It has been redesigned, extended and newly refurbished to a high standard by the current owners.

Guide price £875,000

Fine & Country Central Lincs & Grantham High Street, Navenby, LN5 0DZ Call 01522 287008 www.fineandcountry.co.uk

Castle

Bytham Grantham

A highly attractive Georgian former farmhouse, with elegant proportions and beautiful, mature and walled south facing gardens, with generous parking, in the centre of a Conservation Village.

Guide price £940,000

Savills St Martin's, 9 High Street, St Martins, Stamford PE9 2LF. Call 01780 484696 or see www.savills.com

Luxury Homes

Greatford Hall

Stamford

This attractive, modern and well-appointed detached five bedroom house also has a detached two bedroom cottage and occupies the most beautiful setting, within over half an acre of gardens, in this pretty conservation village.

Guide price £1,750,000

Savills St Martin's, High Street, St Martins, Stamford PE9 2LF. Call 01780 484696 or see www.savills.com

Anfield Barn

West Pinchbeck

From its origins as a group of disused Victorian agricultural buildings to the striking and deeply personal home it has become, every detail reflects the creativity, dedication and effort poured into its transformation.

Price £900,000

Fine & Country 30 High Street East Uppingham LE15 9PZ. Call 01572 335 145 or see www.fineandcountry.co.uk

West Bank

Crowland

This truly one-of-a-kind property wouldn’t look out of place on Grand Designs — with its striking architecture, bold modern styling, and carefully considered layout, it delivers the ultimate in contemporary living.

Price £875,000

Ark Property Centre 6 New Road, Spalding, PE11 1DQ Call 01775 766888 or see www.arkpropertycentre.co.uk

Thorpe Farm

Tealby

A truly one-of-a-kind country home. Thorpe Farm is a beautifully restored Grade II Listed farmhouse with a stunning converted crew yard, set within approx. 7.88 acres of grounds on the edge of Tealby.

Price £1,500,000

Mundys 29 Silver Street, Lincoln, LN2 1AS. Call 01522 510044 or see www.mundys.net

Luxury Homes

Main Road

Long Bennington

This magnificent seven-bedroom Grade II-listed residence effortlessly blends contemporary luxury with period features, providing clues to its past as a candle-maker’s premises.

Guide Price

£1,300,000

Fine & Country Central Lincs & Grantham High Street, Navenby, LN5 0DZ Call 01522 287008 www.fineandcountry.co.uk

Orchard Croft

West Stockwith

A luxury bespoke built SEVEN BEDROOM detached family home, which was built in 2020, set in approximately two acres with landscaped gardens, a vegetable patch, and scenic countryside views.

Guide price

£1,250,000

Reld Property 50 Micklegate, Selby North Yorkshire YO8 4EQ. Call 0333 090 3780 or see www.reldproperty.com

Heydour House Grantham

A handsome Grade II listed former rectory with seven bedrooms, an annexe and stunning gardens, in a picturesque and peaceful village location.

Offers over £1,500,000

Savills Olympic House, 995 Doddington Road, Lincoln LN6 3SE Call 01522 508908 or see www.savills.co.uk

Hanby Grange

Hanby

Set up along its own driveway , Hanby Grange benefits from looking out over its own paddock land of 5 acres. Ideally situated with easy access to the A1 and mainline train stations at Grantham.

Guide Price £1,495,000

Moores Estate Agents Barleythorpe, Oakham, LE15 7FS Call 01780 484555 or see www.countryequestrianhomes.com

FIND JOY IN THE ART OF DRESSING WELL

ELEGANT AUTUMN LOOKS IN ALPACA KNIT

WEDDING SEASON STYLE AND ELEGANT ACCESSORIES

PLUS: STYLE FOR GENTLEMEN FROM BRIONI AND AUTUMN COSMETICS

Softly Autumn Fashion

Luxurious alpaca knitwear to cocoon yourself in this October

As the days grow shorter and the air carries a gentle chill, now is the perfect time to embrace the comfort of alpaca knitwear. Supremely soft, warm yet breathable, and naturally hypoallergenic, alpaca is the ideal choice for women who want to feel stylish and snug without compromising on elegance.

Unlike traditional sheep’s wool, alpaca fibres are silkier, lighter, and remarkably gentle on the skin. They’re also resistant to bobbling and incredibly insulating, making them perfect for layering throughout the unpredictable British autumn. Whether you’re heading into town, out on a country walk, or enjoying a relaxed weekend at home, alpaca knitwear offers effortless sophistication.

Designers are embracing the beauty of this natural fibre with timeless shapes and a refined autumn palette. Look for belted wrap cardigans, oversized jumpers, or cosy rollnecks with deep cuffs and subtle ribbed details. Colours this season are drawn straight from the landscape, think soft fawns, muted olives, gentle greys and ivory, with warmer tones like rust, cinnamon, and deep berry shades adding a seasonal richness.

Chunky, slouchy knits pair perfectly with denim and boots for casual elegance, while finer-gauge pieces layer beautifully under tailored coats or over midi dresses for a softer silhouette. Alpaca also has excellent drape, which means longer-length cardigans and waterfall fronts move beautifully as you walk, creating that relaxed, luxurious feel that suits the season perfectly.

Sustainability is also at the heart of alpaca’s appeal. The animals are shorn annually with minimal impact on the environment, and the fibres require less processing than synthetic alternatives. Choosing alpaca is a way to invest in your wardrobe with intention, buy less, choose better, and wear longer.

For best results, treat your knitwear kindly. Hand wash in cool water, lay flat to dry, and store it neatly folded to preserve the shape.

Opposite: Printed sweater, alpaca & merino wool blend, £165, www.wraplondon.co.uk. Right: Sloane Turtleneck in Powder Pink, alpaca blend, £79, www.jaki.co.uk.

A little care goes a long way, and alpaca pieces will repay you with years of softness and warmth.

This October, elevate your wardrobe with pieces that feel as luxurious as they look. Whether draped over your shoulders or layered under a tailored coat, alpaca knitwear is a quiet kind of luxury, understated, elegant, and wonderfully warm.

Above: Jordan alpaca funnel neck jumper, £110, www.phase­eight.com Left: Boxy alpaca knit dark grey melange, £480, www.int.toteme.com.

1. Neutral alpaca mix fluffy knit, £119, www.whistles.com.

2. Orchidea embellished alpaca­blend jumper, £780, www.bernadetteantwerp.com.

3. Marsha sequin jumper with alpaca, £129, www.hobbs.com.

4. Collared sweater in alpaca and silk, £159, www.poetryfashion.co.uk.

5. Neutral stripe V­neck jumper, £89, www.roandzo.com.

6. Stripe alpaca wool crew neck sweater, £185, www.toa.st.

Below: Hazel alpaca blend hoodie, £120, www.hush­uk.com.

£1,350, yves­salo mon.co.uk

£661, scanlanthe odore.com

FAUX FABULOUS

Faux fur is back and bolder than ever. From classic neutrals to wild animal prints, these cruelty­free coats are cosy, glamorous, and ideal for countryside strolls or winter soirées. Choose cropped styles or full­length drama: either way, you'll make a statement without compromising on warmth, comfort, or conscience.

£485, rixolon don.com

£348, thereformation.com

HERITAGE LUXE

£229, hobbs.com

Elegant, British, and beau accessories are to leather journals, each piece blends classic design with modern cation—perfect for re www.aspinalo

£399, hollandcooper.com

Hudson Large Crossbody Pouch, Bee Brooch, £175.

£460, alisonmoore.co.uk

PRETTY TOURMALINE

October’s birthstone, pink tourmaline, symbolises love and healing. Its delicate blush tones make it a beau choice for feminine jewellery—think elegant earrings, pendants, and rings perfect for autumn gifting.

£89,

£205, bobbies.com

LOAFER LOVE

This season’s loafers combine comfort and polish, perfect for October’s chill. Choose patent, suede, or chunky soles to elevate knitwear, tailored trousers, or midi skirts in your autumn wardrobe.

jayley.com

£950, fendi.com

£695, jimmy choo.com

£325, gerard darel. com

£420, gb.max mara.com

£75, whitestuff.com

Draped Chic

Ponchos and capes make a graceful return, layered looks that blend countryside cality with timeless, statement­making sophistication.

£175, welligogs .com

£275, russellandbr omley.co.uk

£138, grenson .com

£249, lkbennett .com

FOR AUTUMN, Brioni brings the quiet power of Italian tailoring into focus, effortless refinement in every stitch. Dressing some of the world’s smartest gentlemen, from Hollywood icons to European aristocrats, the Roman house delivers timeless elegance with soft shoulders, luxurious textures and a muted, masculine palette. Whether you’re investing in an unstructured blazer or a full bespoke ensemble, Brioni offers understated sophistication for both country weekends and city soirées. Discover the Autumn 2025 collection at www.brioni.com.

1. Royal Blue Glen plaid Ventiquattro cotton twill formal shirt, £630. 2. Essential navy blue comfort fit jeans, £570. 3. Sapphire blue suede Monza driver loafers, £960. 4. Essential midnight blue Super 160’s wool gabardine Brunico suit, £4,690. 5. Midnight blue doublesplittable wool and cashmere Vagabond overshirt, £2,540. 6. Sky blue linen and silk scarf, £450. 7. Light blue jacquard cashmere and silk crewneck sweater, £1,450. 8. Navy blue linen, wool and silk jardigan, £2,890. 9. Sapphire blue grained leather duffle bag, £3,420. 10. Midnight blue nubuck braided belt, £570.

The Lincolnshire Menopause Clinic

Navigating the Menopause

Evidence based advice, empathy and a deep understanding of the perimenopause and menopause, courtesy of Emma McDonald, who founded the Lincolnshire Menopause Clinic three years ago

Menopause is a natural phase of life yet navigating it can feel like wading through a sea of conflicting information. Social media, news articles, and sometimes even well-meaning friends bombard us with advice, often leaving us feeling confused, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to believe.

Fatigue, poor sleep, weight gain, joint pain, brain fog, mood changes, hot flushes and pelvic health issues are just some of the symptoms women experience. At any one time there are a staggering 13 million British women navigating their way through this chapter of their life – that’s about a third of the country’s female population. And yet, no two women experience the same symptoms.

When the experience is individual, we can see a lack of consistency in advice and care that women receive, or in their experience of treatments like HRT and its impacts on everyday life. It’s a fact not lost to Emma McDonald, who has over 25 years of experience as a specialist in fitness, nutrition and wellbeing.

The struggles of the perimenopause and menopause soon became a recurring theme in her work and led her to establish a specific Lincolnshire Menopause Clinic three years ago to provide advice and support by holistic means as well as insight and advice pertaining to conventional medicine in order to provide personal treatment choices and symptomatic management for each individual client.

Befriending your Body

“How you approached your diet, the exercise you enjoyed and how you managed stress in your 20s and 30s is remarkably different to

what your body experiences as you transition into the perimenopause and beyond,” Emma says.

“It is completely valid to feel overwhelmed and frustrated when you no longer ‘feel yourself’ and the things you once did to lose weight or increase your fitness are no longer successful.”

“I want to ensure that women feel confident and empowered on their journey through the menopause. The Lincolnshire Menopause Clinic is a place to discuss and explore options that are personalised to each client, factoring in lifestyle, nutrition, stress, sleep, mental health as well as physical health.”

“Discovering how your body changes and how to manage this is vital to know your body and what action to take if you’re struggling.”

A Holistic Approach

Emma’s clinic provides a more thorough and individual consideration of each client’s circumstances from an initial free phone call to a pre-consultation questionnaire and an invitation for clients to keep diaries of nutrition and symptoms.

“It’s important to treat every single person as an individual, which also enables me to write a personalised programme for them to address any symptoms or concerns they may have in a way that’s not reductionist – just advocating conventional treatments like HRT – nor rushed, condensed into a short consultation with a busy GP.”

Tailored to Each Individual

Emma creates detailed Personalised Programmes for her clients, a management which considers symptoms, diet and nutrition, stress, lifestyle factors, health and wellbeing.

Further consultations can be facilitated and support can be offered long-term if it’s beneficial.

Emma’s consultations, as well as providing practical support, afford her the time to respect and support her clients, to acknowledge the emotional implication of menopause, hence the fact that she strongly favours face-to-face consultations rather than ones conducted by telephone or video.

“Nothing about perimenopause or menopause exists in isolation,” says Emma. “Nutrition and diet, brain fog and sleep, feeling overwhelmed or emotional and symptomatic management via HRT are all similarly linked, so somebody that can offer comprehensive support is always appreciated, especially when I can also express empathy and dedicate a meaningful amount of time to a consultation beyond that which is possible in a traditional clinical context.”

“Empowerment is what I want to achieve above all,” says Emma. “There’s much misunderstanding, many misconceptions and a trend towards just ‘medicating away’ perimenopause and menopause… but I feel there’s a better approach, one that offers empathy and affords each woman the time and the attention they deserve not just to address symptoms, but to achieve better overall health in a way that’s sustainable with long-term benefits.”

“My aim is to make people feel better, allowing each woman to have an understanding of what their body is going through, to feel more comfortable in this whilst providing achievable advice and supporting everyone who comes to the clinic.”

Emma McDonald founded Lincolnshire Menopause Clinic three years ago and works across Lincolnshire, providing tailored advice for perimenopause and menopausal wellbeing. Emma also runs Lincolnshire Fitness and allows her clients access to resources such as her fitness app. For a free initial consultation on menopausal wellbeing, call 07834907394 or see www.lincolnshiremenopauseclinic.co.uk.

Makeup Musings

with Lincolnshire’s Tina Brocklebank

Let’s face it, (pun absolutely intended), foundation gets a bad rap sometimes. Too cakey; too heavy; too matte; not enough coverage... I’ve heard it all. The truth is, when you find the one, foundation is your beauty best friend. It can smooth, even, lift, perfect... and when chosen well, it does all of that without anyone knowing you’ve got it on. Think of it as the great skin you pretend you woke up with. So why do we use it?

Foundation is our secret weapon for a good skin day. It evens out redness, covers uneven pigmentation, softens the appearance of fine lines and gives your complexion that fresh, rested look, (even if you were up all night watching Netflix). It also acts as a base for other makeup; blush, bronzer and highlighter all glide on more smoothly over a well-prepped canvas. If your skin doesn’t look its best then the rest of your make-up won’t, either!

Here’s the fun part: foundations now come in all textures and finishes, meaning there’s something for every age, skin type and coverage preference.

Tinted moisturisers and skin tints: Perfect for good skin days or no-makeup-makeup lovers. They provide light coverage, a natural glow and a breathable feel. Ideal for dry or mature skin that just needs a boost.

Liquid foundations: These are the most versatile: they come in light to full coverage, matte to dewy finishes. Choose dewy or satin finishes for mature or dry skin, and opt for matte if you’re prone to shine.

Serum foundations: The skincare and makeup hybrid. Lightweight and hydrating, they often contain active ingredients like hyaluronic acid or peptides, serum is ideal for older skin that loves a multitasker.

Stick foundation: Easy to apply, economical and portable. Great for touch-ups and travel. They’re usually creamier and offer medium to full coverage. Just be sure to blend well and prepare dry skin with a really good moisturiser.

A few foundation tips, always prep first: a light moisturiser or hydrating primer can make all of the difference to how foundation sits and lasts. Also, remember that less is more. Apply a thin layer and build only where needed, skin should still look like skin. And finally... blend, blend, blend. Fingers, brushes, sponges: whatever your weapon of choice, make sure everything melts in seamlessly.

Foundation isn’t about masking; it’s about enhancing. With so many formulas now designed for real skin (with real texture, lines and character), its never been easier to find your perfect match. Just make sure to always test it along your jawline in natural daylight. The right shade is the one that disappears in natural light.

Tina’s Recommended Products (above):

1. Shiseido Synchro skin radiant lifting foundation for a luminous finish with medium to full coverage, £46, 30ml, www.shiseido.co.uk.

2. Westman Atelier Vital Skin stick foundation is clean, creamy and totally luxurious, highly recommended, £62, 9g, www.spacenk.com.

3. NARS Pure Radiant tinted moisturiser is sheer, buildable and for a radiant, natural finish, £39, 50ml, www.narscosmetics.co.uk.

4. My makeup brush collection was launched in 2020. They’re vegan, handmade and assembled in the UK Each is used and selected exclusively by me, designed to simplify and perfect your makeup application, £140/12 piece, www.tinabrocklebank.co.uk.

5. Lancome Skin Idole skin tint. 24 hour radiance and wear and has niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and Vitamin E in, £30.40, lancome.co.uk.

Tina is a professional makeup artist available for weddings, tuition and commercial work. You can see Tina’s work and keep up to date with her at www.tinabrocklebank.co.uk or via @tinabrocklebankmakeup on Instagram; Tina Brocklebank Makeup on Facebook.

O’Brien’s

Clearly Successful Academic Awards and Pioneering Treatments

O’Briens Opticians’ Sheeraz Janjua and his team are a sight for sore eyes, one of the leading opticians in the country, now offering treatments for a range of conditions using techniques such as light therapy

Congratulations to Sheeraz Janjua of Brigg’s O’Brien’s Opticians this month as the owner and senior optometrist of O’Brien’s Opticians in Brigg has collected his MSc in Clinical Optometry from Cardiff University.

His qualification is in addition to his existing doctorate plus a range of other professional qualifications, and saw him completing a peer-review of photobiomodulation research, a field that has already seen impressive results in the treatment of Dry Age-Related Macular Disease and an existing specialism of the practice.

Relief for Dry Age­Related Macular Disease

Sheeraz’s MSc entailed a number of examinations and the compilation of an extensive review of current research into photobiomodulation, which is a new form of therapy using special light sources to treat patients who have Dry Age-related Macular Disease (DryAMD) or patients who have Dry Eye Disease (DED) or Meibomion Gland Dysfunction (MGD).

Dry AMD is a common eye condition that causes gradual vision loss, particularly in the central vision, due to the breakdown of the macula. It’s the early and more prevalent form of AMD, with about 75-90% of AMD cases being dry AMD, according to the RNIB, and Moorfields Eye Hospital.

With a new Valeda device in practice specifically for the treatment of DryAMD via photobiomodulation, Dr Janjua is now wellversed in using new light-based therapies

extensively in his practice in Brigg and his treated patients have been reporting very positive results.

Relief for Dry Eyes

Sheeraz’s academic interest in Dry Eye Disease (DED) has also ensured that he’s become one of the most knowledgeable experts in treating the condition. DED is experienced by 800,000,000 people globally and affects over 50% of women over 40 years of age, and 90% of postmenopausal women.

It’s a year-round condition, though it’s also exacerbated by pollen in summer, and is caused when, at the front of the eye, the meibomian glands – which secrete an oily liquid to lubricate the eyes – become blocked.

In the absence of a lubricating oil which prevents aqueous tears from evaporating, eyes dry out, becoming itchy and potentially extremely uncomfortable.

Sheeraz and his team offer light therapy treatment known as photobiomodulation, via an IPL (a cosmetic laser) and LLLT (low level light therapy) to unblock the meibomian glands by stimulating oxygen production.

The treatment is totally pain-free – in fact, it’s actually pleasant, a little like sunbathing with a slightly warm red eye mask and then a blue light used to immediately relieve symptoms of DED.

Quality Spectacle Frames

With whole market access to the optical profession’s leading names, O’Briens is also able to offer the best quality spectacle frames

from names like Face à Face, Götti, Linberg, Salt, Dita, Orgreen, Francis Klein and Maui Jim polarised sunglasses – all specialist and dedicated makers of glasses frames, not mainstream fashion brands that have attached their brand to somebody else’s frames.

Innovation in Lens Technology

The same applies to lenses as well as frames. O’Briens is not tied to just one supplier, but instead offers Hoya, Nikon and Zeiss, lenses as well as a couple of pioneering lenses from the best manufacturers.

Lutina lenses for example, filter out 94% of UV light and offer total protection for the eyes and also the under-eye area – including the area of face prone to crows’ feet.

Meanwhile Rodenstock’s lenses feature an X-Tra Clean oleophobic coating which keeps them clean with unprecedented efficacy, resisting fingerprints, water, dust and smears.

Don’t take our word for it...

It’s satisfying to have academic qualifications but Sheeraz believes that his patients’ clinical outcomes and their feedback is just as important. For that reason he invites anyone to view Doctify and Top Doctors, two websites that allow patients to review a clinicians.

There, you’ll find that Sheeraz is the highest ranked independent optometrist in the country with over 500 verified reviews. What’s more, as a member of the College of Optometrists for 25 years, Sheeraz is also likely to be made a Fellow this year for his significant contribution to the profession.

O’Briens Opticians specialises in the treatment of dry eyes, dry­age related macular degeneration, dry­AMD and other sight problems, as well as being a leading independent opticians offering whole­market access to the very best lenses and frames. Based on Wrawby Street, Brigg, call 01652 653595 or see www.obriensopticians.co.uk.

Love in Bloom

Surrounded by wildflowers, with lakeside vows and a lively dance floor, Lauren and Sam’s beautiful Lincolnshire wedding was full of heartfelt moments, music and the people (and the pup!) they love most.

Images: Paul & Nanda Photography, info@paulandnanda.com, www.paulandnanda.com.

Born and raised in Grimsby, Lauren and Sam are both proud to be residents of Lincolnshire.

Although Lauren moved away to study at university, it was a Christmas trip home that rekindled their connection, years after they first met through Sam’s sister at school. A shared love of music brought them together, and that spark never dimmed.

In July 2023, during a lovely scenic getaway to Oldstead, North Yorkshire, with their dog Lenny in tow, Sam orchestrated the perfect proposal.

After a hike to a remote observatory and lunch overlooking Byland Abbey, they returned to their shepherd’s hut where Sam presented a cocktail menu with one drink on... ‘Sam’s Special.’

Blindfolded, Lauren waited while Sam knelt and popped the question with a stunning trilogy diamond ring. Earlier that week, he’d nervously asked her father’s blessing over fish and chips!

The couple’s search for the perfect venue ended the moment they stepped into Abbey Farm. With its barns, lakeside views and lush lawns,

it offered both beauty and flexibility, key for their dream of an outdoor ceremony. Their wish came true on 14th June this year, with glorious weather.

Lauren found her dream gown at a boutique in Hull, later customised by Tutti Bespoke to include a split hem, low back and scoop neckline. Her bridesmaids looked radiant in dusty blue gowns from Azazie, with hair by Mollie and Evie from 74 West, and makeup by Jade Clay and Millie from Oh My Salon... Jade also styled Lauren’s bridal look.

Weddings

Sam and his groomsmen wore suits by Fratelli Uniti, with his best man Kane joined by Alex, Dan, Adam, and Lauren’s brother Callum.

In the bridal party, were Lauren’s good friends Yvette, Brooke and Meg, cousin Olivia, and Sam’s sister Ellie.

Every detail was thoughtful; floristry came from The Lincolnshire Flower Company, grown locally and arranged into bespoke centrepieces by florist Harriet.

The Good Grub Company provided hearty roast dinner sharing platters, Lauren and Sam raved about the beef, while a three-piece band, Reckless Saints, delivered an evening of high-energy pop punk. The drummer even snapped a stick, now a treasured keepsake for Sam!

Lauren’s aunt Tracey gifted them a vintage-inspired cake, while venue stylist Jo from Ambience Lincolnshire brought their vision to life.

Personal touches included a handmade welcome mirror and confetti basket by family friend Yvonne.

Photographers Paul and Nanda were calm, professional and sent over 100 preview shots within 48 hours, just in time for the couple to relive their day from an airport lounge en route to their honeymoon in Sri Lanka!

The couple’s videographer was James O’Halloran, who captured the day with a relaxed style that put the camera-shy couple at ease.

Highlights included private vows beneath a willow tree and a surprise appearance from their dog, Lenny, who stole the show.

The couple would like to thank their families, bridal party, and everyone involved in making their dream day come true. Their top tip? Surround yourself with people you love, and trust your suppliers. “Lincolnshire has so many amazing creatives who care just as much as you do!”

Local Suppliers

Wedding Venue: Abbey Farm, Kirkstead, Woodhall Spa, call 07769 20283555, www.abbeyfarmweddings.co.uk.

Styling: Ambience Lincolnshire, ambiencevenuestyling.com.

Wedding Floristry: The Lincolnshire Flower Company, www.thelincolnshireflowercompany.co.uk

Catering: 07903 014102, www.goodgrubcatering.co.uk.

Photography: Paul & Nanda, www.paulandnanda.com.

Videography: www.jamesohalloranstudios.co.uk

Hair & Makeup: Oh Jade Clay at My Salon and Mollie & Evie at 74 West, 075638 77775, 01472 488588.

Photo Booth, Crisp Wall: Oh Snap, www.ohsnapuk.co.uk.

Band: Reckless Saints. www.entertainment­nation.co.uk.

All aboard the Orient Express

Travel from London to Venice aboard the world’s most glamorous train — a two-day journey in pure 1920s style...

There are few travel experiences that live up to their legend, but the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express is one of them. The very mention of its name conjures visions of Art Deco glamour, Champagne at sunset, and slow, indulgent travel across the most beautiful parts of Europe. This isn’t just a train, it’s an icon. And the classic route from London to Venice is, without question, the ultimate way to experience it.

Your journey begins with a flourish in London Victoria, where you board the Belmond British Pullman; a perfectly restored 1920s train with wood-panelled interiors, brass luggage racks, and tables set with white linen and crystal glasses.

You’re welcomed on board with a Bellini and a sense of ceremony. As the Kent countryside rolls by, you’re served a sumptuous brunch of smoked salmon, eggs en cocotte, and buttery pastries. It’s not even noon, and already you’re in another world.

At Folkestone, you’re transferred via luxury coach through the Eurotunnel to Calais, where the Venice SimplonOrient-Express awaits in all her midnight blue and gold-liveried glory. Each carriage has its own unique history; many served on the original Orient Express routes of the 1920s and 30s, and stepping aboard is like entering a film set. Stewards in crisp uniforms greet you by name and show you to your private cabin.

Your Classic Cabin is the epitome of elegance: polished walnut panelling, plush velvet seating, antique fittings, and a discreet washbasin hidden behind a mirror.

By day, it’s a sitting room where you can sip coffee and admire the view; by night, it’s transformed into a cosy sleeping compartment with fine cotton sheets and a monogrammed robe laid out for you. For those who want more space and privacy, the

Grand Suites offer a true five-star hotel experience, with marble bathrooms, double beds, and free-flowing Champagne.

As you depart Calais, the train winds through northern France, and you settle into the gentle rhythm of travel. You might dress for dinner early, allowing time for a cocktail in the legendary Bar Car ‘3674’, where a baby grand piano tinkles in the corner and white-jacketed bartenders mix Negronis and sidecars with effortless flair.

Dinner is a true spectacle. Executive Chef Jean Imbert and his team prepare a four-course menu using seasonal ingredients picked up en route. On our journey: Brittany lobster with fennel, roast duck à l’orange, and a Grand Marnier soufflé so light it practically floated off the plate. The experience is enhanced by crystal stemware, silver cutlery, and a dining car adorned with Lalique glass panels. You dine by lamplight as the train hums softly through the countryside. It is both intimate and magnificent.

After dinner, many guests return to the Bar Car for digestifs and conversation, while others retreat to their cabins, where your steward will have transformed your space into a peaceful retreat. Fall asleep as you cross the Swiss border, the click-clack of the rails and the swaying of the train a lullaby from another age.

Dawn breaks somewhere in Austria, and breakfast is served in your cabin; a tray of flaky croissants, fresh fruit, and strong coffee, as the train threads its way through the snow-capped Alps.

“This isn’t just a train, it’s a journey into elegance, nostalgia and the golden age of travel...”

“By lamplight and silver cutlery, you dine as Europe drifts by in soft, cinematic perfection”

The views here are the sort that make you put your book down and simply gaze: lush meadows, glacier-fed rivers, and impossibly pretty chalets nestled into the hillsides.

Late morning brings a second meal (usually a refined brunch of truffled scrambled eggs or smoked trout blinis) before the train descends through the Dolomites into the Venetian plains. Soon, the domes and spires of Venice rise before you, shimmering across the water. The train pulls into Santa Lucia station, directly on the Grand Canal. You step off the train onto a private water taxi. Within minutes, you’re gliding toward one of the most beautiful hotels in the world.

We recommend Aman Venice, a serene 16th-century palazzo tucked away in the San Polo district. With its high frescoed ceilings, gilded mirrors, and discreet service, it’s

the perfect follow-on from the Orient Express, equally elegant but with a Venetian soul. The gardens are rare, the views sublime, and the sense of privacy absolute.

Venice, too, seems more magical after such an arrival. Wander through quiet calle, stop for espresso in sunlit squares, and take a gondola past palazzi whose foundations seem to float on air. Visit the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, enjoy an opera at La Fenice, or sip an Americano on the terrace of the Gritti Palace.

The entire journey, from the moment you leave Victoria Station to the moment you arrive at your suite overlooking the Grand Canal, is a study in elegance, romance, and timeless style. This isn’t a once-in-a-lifetime journey. It’s a journey you’ll want to repeat, again and again.

Above: Art deco luxury on board the Venice Simplon­Orient­Express.

Culinary Must-Trys

Brittany Lobster – Often served on board with Champagne beurre blanc.

Truffled Eggs – Indulgent brunch classic. Duck à l’orange – A nod to traditional French haute cuisine.

Grand Marnier Soufflé – Airy, citrus­sweet perfection.

Aperol Spritz – A must in Venice, ideally with a canal view.

Bellini – Made famous at Harry’s Bar.

Risotto al Nero di Seppia – Jet­black, briny and rich.

Tiramisu – Born in the Veneto, often served in traditional osterie.

Amaro – A digestif to round off a long Venetian dinner.

DESTINATIONS:

Departing major European cities

Departing from London, your adventure begins aboard the Eurostar from St Pancras under the Channel, whisking you in comfort and style to Paris — before stepping aboard the iconic blue and gold carriages for an overnight glide through Europe. From Paris, the train whisks passengers to such storied destinations as Venice, Verona and Prague, with other enchanting routes spanning Paris–Vienna, Geneva–Venice and Innsbruck.

For those hankering for something uniquely spectacular, annual return trips from London to Budapest, and even the epic London–Istanbul route (recreating the original Orient Express route across Paris, Budapest, Bucharest and beyond) are a lavish alternative. Important to note: all departures from London involve the Eurostar segment and are subject to distinct pricing, depending on the combination of services and destinations.

Whichever route you choose, expect sumptuous Art Deco interiors, fine dining in restaurant and bar cars, and cabin service that embodies the glamour of a golden age.

Venice Simplon­Orient­Express prices start from £3,800/person for a Twin Cabin, and £8,400/person for a Grand Suite. Prices includes all meals onboard, usually consisting of a four­course dinner, continental breakfast and three­course brunch or lunch, steward service and champagne reception on arrival.

Call 020 3514 1783 or see www.luxurytraintickets.com.

Polestar 3

Luxury, Performance, Sustainability

One of the most well-reconciled and satisfying cars we’ve ever driven! Polestar 3 is a masterclass in the creation of a modern vehicle that’s easy to live with, practical, great to drive... and sustainably made, too!

Words: Rob Davis.

As of August 2025, fully electric cars still accounted for just 19.6% of new car registrations in the UK, whilst petrol vehicles took a 52.2% market share.

Granted sales have increased from 267,203 in 2022 to 314,687 in 2023 and 381,970 in 2024, but we’re still not exactly abandoning the internal combustion engine in droves, and when you experience vehicles like the Polestar 3, that really does beggar belief.

For seven days I’ve been using one as a daily driver and handing back the key fob was one of the most disheartening feelings, because during that time, I’d genuinely grown to love the wheels off it.

Polestar was founded eight years ago as a motor-racing company then a tuning division of safe-as-houses family car brand Volvo.

Today though, it’s no longer considered a premium sub-brand of Volvo specialising in the latter’s sporty electric vehicles, but a standalone marque in its own right.

Polestar 1 was a statement of intent: a plugin hybrid GT of which just 1,500 examples were produced. Polestar 2 followed in 2020 and it was a fully-electric liftback with, its fair to say, some clear Volvo lineage visible in its design and interior. That car is still available, but it’s the brand’s two newer models that should really make you sit up and take notice.

Polestar nomenclature is a little ambiguous; the 2 is a compact executive-sized vehicle, whilst the 4 is a compact coupé-SUV. The vehicle that we’ve been driving for the past week is the Polestar 3.

The largest model in the company’s portfolio, The Polestar 3 is an all-electric sports SUV, and at 4.9 metres in length, it’s shy of a Range Rover Sport by just 5cm, but just as spacious inside thanks to the fact that it’s been conceived and packaged as an electric car from the ground up. It’s not an internal combustionengined car that’s been the subject of a compromised alteration to an existing model.

There’s a (refreshingly simple) single trim level which can be specified with a long-range single motor, providing a range of 438 miles and reaching 60mph in 7.5 seconds. That’s yours for £69,910, and it’s jolly good value given the slew of standard equipment.

We reckon that’s ample performance and really good range, but step up to the longrange dual motor and you’ll gain all-wheel drive, you’ll achieve 395 miles of range and you’ll reach 60mph in a sports car-bothering 4.8 seconds.

At £75,910, this was our model, and take it from us, it’s as rapid as any car you’ll ever drive. Its crisp acceleration from standstill and reassuring mid-range performance is good for when you’re accelerating from, say, 50-70mph on the motorway.

Should you wish, the Dual Motor version can be specified with a Performance Pack which pushed the price up to £81,510 and shaves a bit off your 0-60mph time.

It also provides additional tuning of the chassis, some lovely Swedish gold brake callipers and matching gold seatbelts, plus some very handsome 22” alloy wheels.

Each of the Polestar 3 models are wellequipped and each offers exceptional range and standard kit. We’d stick with the single motor version, but there’s no doubt that the dual motor version is fast and entertaining. Polestar 3 is a vehicle much larger in real life than photographs would have you believe. It hides its size well though and I reckon you could own one for a couple of months and still notice lovely little details like the illuminated Polestar wordmark on the flanks and the vertical red lights across the rear lightbar.

The pop-out door handles work much better than the design favoured by some other manufacturers. Overall, the attention to detail in the Polestar’s exterior design is exceptional, from the details above, to the spoilers on the front of the bonnet and integrated into the top of the tailgate.

If you reckon the car’s well-designed outside, though, the best is yet to come, because Polestar 3’s interior is absolutely delicious. You won’t find any switchgear inherited from Volvo forebears; it’s all exclusive to Polestar. You will, however, notice Volvo’s influence in the design of the seats, which are widely-regarded as the best in the business.

Polestar 3’s seats are the most comfortable you’ll ever experience, absolutely the best it’s possible to get. They’re heated, cooled and offer a meaningful massage facility that you can actually feel, unlike that of other manufacturers whose seats just poke you in the back a bit.

>>

It’s difficult to think of a single thing Polestar 3 doesn’t do well. It’s as fast as a sports car, practical as an SUV, luxurious as an executive saloon and as easy to use around town as a much smaller car...

>> Our car’s seats were also finished in a light coloured Bridge of Weir nappa leather , which lifted the car’s interior, pairing nicely with an open-pore black ash-stained wood strip, a panoramic roof and tasteful white ambient lighting.

Speaking of materials, Polestar set itself an ambition in 2021 to create a climate neutral car by reducing the environmental impact of producing batteries, with responsible sourcing and the use of recycled textiles like the lovely soft dashboard top which is covered in fabric made from recycled plastic bottles. The steel and aluminium of the body are made from recycled post-consumer and industrial waste.

That makes me feel comfortable... and so do the seats which are very supportive with electrically-adjustable side bolsters which snuggle around you.. Having driven to visit the in-laws in the north east, a journey of some 160 miles, there was no sense of fatigue for the driver, nor for the present Mrs Davis in the passenger seat.

Furthermore, our willowy 6’2” son in the back had a welcome surfeit of legroom and headroom, as well as his own heated seats and personal climate control zone.

I’ll caveat any on the road comments by pointing out that I’m no Clarkson or Hamilton. There was no tyre-squealing turns or taking the car to its dynamic limits. Instead, I lived with it for a week and drove it to the supermarket, used it for my A-road commute and fired it up the motorway.

In all scenarios Polestar 3 acquits itself very well indeed. In town it’s smooth, silent, and easy to park in the supermarket. Below the main boot, too, there’s a hidden cargo area with hooks for supermarket bags or to stash camera kit out of sight. There’s a practical front boot, too, for storing a charging cable.

On faster roads, the car has more performance than you’ll ever need. Ride and handing are supple and reassuring thanks perhaps to its air suspension, and all-wheel drive... and that electric drivetrain is really efficient.

Polestar 3 also provides one-pedal driving –one of the pleasures of electric vehicles –with a keener setting for in-town driving and a more laid-back setting ideal for motorways.

There is a welcome physical rotary controller to mute the stereo, plus nicely-damped indicators and wipers on one stalk, and a steering column-mounted gear selector. Most controls though are routed through a 14.5” touch screen though, so you’ll pleased to know that it’s bright, high-resolution and very responsive. The 360° overhead view camera is so crisp and clear that I could see the individual bricks that make up our office’s block-paved car park.

The organisation, layout, modern sans serif typography, orange highlight colour and the logic of the system makes it a joy to use –every other manufacturer should look to Polestar for a masterclass in creating in-car touchscreen interfaces.

Only one demerit really; the black ash on the dashboard is lovely, but it’s not continued onto the centre console, where you’ll find gloss black trim instead: it tends to reflect the sun through the panoramic roof and it’s not as joyously tactile as that open-pore black ash when you’re leaning on the centre console. Polestar 3’s interior is, however, a joy to look at, and even better on the ears than the eyes thanks to a whopping 1,650w 25-speaker Bowers & Wilkins, 3D surround sound, Dolby Atmos stereo. It’s the most impressive stereo you’ll ever experience, in a car or otherwise. Admittedly it’s a bit of an overkill for someone whose daily audio diet is Radio 4’s Farming

Today, Today and The Archers, so just for spits and giggles I logged into Spotify and made a playlist of some of the most bassheavy songs I could think of (Underworld’s Born Slippy), as well as a few songs with crisp soaring vocals (Nina Simone’s Sinnerman).

Short of being in a recording studio I doubt you’d find a better audio system, and speaking of recording studios, it even has an Abbey Road Studios mode designed to faithfully recreate the acoustics of the renowned studios which gave life to some of the Beatles’ most renowned tracks, as well as those by Kate Bush, Amy Winehouse, Oasis and Pink Floyd.

Fit and finish, too, are commensurate with a car that can beat premium German brands in the sales charts. There’s tonnes of standard equipment. However, whether you choose the single or dual motor version of Polestar 3, we recommend in the strongest possible terms specifying the Pilot and Plus Packs.

The former adds adaptive cruise control and lane change assist as well as a head-up display. All work well, none are obtrusive and the driver assistance systems are easy to turn off if required.

The Plus pack adds that superb stereo as well as heated front and rear seats, steering wheel and soft-close doors... doing so will ensure you’ve a bona fide executive motor with a smart badge and a vast breadth of practicality and capability.

In fact, it’s difficult to think of a single thing the car doesn’t do well. It’s as fast as a sports car, as practical as an SUV, as luxurious as an executive saloon and as easy to use around town as a much smaller car.

Plus, it’s eco-friendly by virtue of its electric drivetrain and sustainably-sourced materials. It is, in short, one of the best cars I’ve ever driven... and I already miss it a great deal!

The Details

Polestar 3

Price: £75,900 (£89,200 with Long Range, Dual Motor with optional Plus/Pilot pack).

Powertrain: All electric, 107kWh battery, 483bhp, 840Nm torque, all­wheel drive via single­speed automatic gearbox.

Performance: 130mph, 0­60mph 4.8 secs.

Range: 398 miles range, 30 min charge from 0­80% with DC Connection.

Equipment: Adaptive cruise control, rear view/360° camera, parking sensors, 14.5” portrait touch screen with navigation, Bluetooth/5G, CarPlay/Android. 3­zone climate control, panoramic roof. Our Polestar 3 was supplied by Polestar Sheffield, Meadowhall S9 1EP. 0114 5512900, see www.polestar.com.

Almanac

FIND JOY IN THE ART OF LIVING WELL IN OCTOBER

HELLO OCTOBER

Poetry & Literature

October in Verse

Ode: October

Thomas Hood (1799–1845)

“October, tossed in stormy seas, Of wind, and cloud, and pale decay; And sad as ruin’d sanctuaries, Swept with dead leaves of yesterday.”

Autumn

John Clare (1793–1864)

“The thresher puts his coat away, And sweats in shirt all day at grain, Down autumn lanes at morns I stray And brush the dews from yellowing grain… The mild October leads the way.”

To Autumn, John Keats (1792­1821)

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, Close bosom­friend of the maturing sun; Conspiring with him how to load and bless With fruit the vines round the thatch­eves run, to bend with apples the moss'd cottage­trees, And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core; To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells

With a sweet kernel; to set budding more, And still more, later flowers for the bees, Until they think warm days will never cease, For Summer has o'er­brimm'd their clammy cells.

Mottlegill mushroom.

Going Wild Spooky Mottlegill

Look closely on the meadows this October and you may spot the spooky­looking Panaeolus semiovatus, better known as the Mottlegill mushroom. Favouring dungrich pastures, this pale fungus appears after autumn rain and gets its name from the mottled gills beneath its domed cap. While not poisonous, it isn’t edible either, but it’s a sure sign of rich soil health. As fungi fruit across ancient grasslands and woodland edges, October is peak season for foragers and photographers alike. Just don’t pick without expert advice!

October Facts

Symbols: October’s zodiac signs are Libra until the 22nd, then Scorpio from the 23rd. The month’s birthstones—opal and tourmaline—are said to inspire love, hope and creativity. October’s flowers, calendula and cosmos, symbolise warmth, resilience, peace and the vibrant spirit of autumn.

In The Garden

Tidying up before we see the first frost

October is your cue to tidy up and prepare the garden for colder days. Lift and store tender plants like dahlias and cannas once the first frost hits. Cut back perennials, weed borders, and mulch to protect roots. Sow hardy annuals and plant springflowering bulbs, daffodils, tulips and crocus. Shrubs such as Viburnum and Mahonia begin to bloom, while late roses and sedum hold on to their colour. Rake leaves from lawns but leave a few piles for hibernating hedgehogs. It’s also an ideal month to plant trees and hedges while the soil is still warm. Finish by cleaning tools and bird feeders before winter feeding begins.

Seasonal Food: Game, quince, blackberries, wild mushrooms, parsnips and heritage apples come into their own. Traditional bakes include Parkin and treacle toffee ahead of Bonfire Night. Sound & Vision: October (1978) by U2 marked their second album release. The Archers debuted in October 1950. Downton Abbey first aired in the UK on 26th September 2010.

Keats.

TRIVIA, FOLKLORE AND HISTORY FOR OCTOBER

Folklore & Traditions

Old Ways of October

October sits at the turning point of the year: harvest ends, nights lengthen, and the veil between worlds thins. In ancient Britain, this month was sacred to both pagans and Christians alike.

Samhain, the Celtic festival marking summer’s end, was celebrated on 31st October and is the origin of today’s Halloween.

Celts believed spirits of the dead walked among the living on this night. Offerings of food were left out, and fires were lit to ward off evil. Carved turnips, later pumpkins, were placed in windows to scare spirits away.

Christianity layered All Hallows’ Eve onto these older beliefs. The following day, 1st November, All Saints’ Day, honoured saints

and martyrs. On 2nd November, All Souls’ Day remembered the departed, with church bells rung to guide souls.

In the countryside, October was once the month of ‘Nutting’ gathering wild hazelnuts and walnuts. Michaelmas, celebrated on 29th September but carrying into early October, marked the end of harvest and the start of hiring fairs or ‘mop fairs,’ where farmhands sought new work.

Mummers’ plays, featuring St. George and the Dragon, were also common during this period, bridging pagan harvest rites with Christian morality tales. October in Britain has always been a month of endings, beginnings, and deep­rooted tradition.

October in History

14th October 1066

The Battle of Hastings took place. William, Duke of Normandy, defeated King Harold II, changing the course of English history.

4th October 1536

The Pilgrimage of Grace began in Lincolnshire. A major uprising against Henry VIII's dissolution of the monasteries, it started in Louth and spread across the North.

26th October 1605

The Gunpowder Plot was revealed to King James I by letter. The conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, aimed to blow up Parliament.

30th October 1740

The birth of James Boswell, Scottish biographer and diarist, famed for his Life of Samuel Johnson.

15th October 1847

Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre was published in London under the pen name Ellis Bell.

15th October 1940

Wartime tragedy struck Balham, London, as a German bomb collapsed a tube station, killing 66 during the Blitz.

8th October 1965

The Post Office Tower (now BT Tower) officially opened in London, then Britain’s tallest building.

12th October 1984

An IRA bomb exploded at the Grand Hotel in Brighton during the Conservative Party Conference, killing five and targeting Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

2nd October 1997

The House of Lords passed the Public Interest Disclosure Act, introducing legal protection for whistle­blowers.

27th October 2002

BBC Four launched as a digital television channel dedicated to arts, documentaries, and culture.

THE SUNFLOWER AFTERNOON

Discovering friendship, art and the beauty of sunflowers

Catherine had lived in Market Deeping all her life. At fiftyfive, she knew every familiar stone and winding lane of the town, from the sweep of the River Welland to the quiet dignity of St Guthlac’s Church. Yet, despite her familiarity, she found that Market Deeping had a way of surprising her still.

On a soft September afternoon, Catherine slipped into the courtyard of a little café tucked just off the Market Place. She had intended only a quick coffee after her errands, but as she sat in the sun-dappled garden, surrounded by terracotta pots brimming with late-summer sunflowers, she felt the first whisper of possibility.

It had been a year since she had closed the chapter on a long career in teaching. Retirement, so eagerly anticipated, had brought with it an emptiness she hadn’t expected. Without the rhythm of school bells and the chorus of children’s voices, the days had stretched quietly, leaving her restless.

“Is this seat taken?” The voice broke her reverie. Catherine looked up to see a woman about her own age, elegant in a linen jacket the colour of summer wheat.

“Not at all,” Catherine smiled. The woman sat, setting down a shopping bag from a boutique on the High Street. “I couldn’t resist this courtyard,” she said. “It’s like a secret garden.”

They began to talk. Her name was Margaret, recently moved to Spalding after years in London. They spoke of books, gardens, and their love of music—Margaret confessing that she had just taken up the piano again, Catherine admitting she’d long harboured a secret dream to paint.

“It’s never too late, you know,” Margaret said, with the easy conviction of someone who believed it. “Spalding has a wonderful little art group. You’d be very welcome.”

Catherine felt something stir. She had told no one about her desire to paint—how she kept a drawer of sketchbooks, how her fingers itched when she saw the play of light on Market Deeping’s rooftops at dusk.

Yet here was a stranger, offering her permission to step into a new chapter. The following week, Catherine found herself in a church hall, brush in hand, surrounded by kind, laughing faces. Her first strokes were hesitant, but with each week she grew bolder, more alive. She painted Deeping’s market square in the crisp brilliance of autumn, the River Welland beneath a stormy sky, and finally, a canvas of sunflowers, golden faces glowing along the edge of Lincolnshire fields.

Her confidence grew outside the studio too. She found herself lingering in Spalding’s galleries during the town’s spring festival season, chatting with other artists, and taking her sketchbook down to the riverbanks or across the fens. On drives out towards the flatlands, she would pull over just to marvel at the fields, blazing yellow with sunflowers turning to the last of the summer sun. Life felt fuller, richer, threaded through with colour she hadn’t noticed before.

The exhibition came in spring. Modest, local, but to Catherine it felt like the opening of a door. As she stood in the gallery, Margaret by her side, she overheard someone say, “The colours are so full of joy.” Catherine smiled. For the first time in many years, she felt that joy not just in her work, but in herself—in the quiet courage it had taken to try, in the unexpected friendship that had begun with a simple shared table in a Market Deeping courtyard, and in the knowledge that life, at fifty-five, still had chapters waiting to be written.

As the visitors moved around her, Catherine thought of something Margaret had once said: It’s never too late. Looking at her painting, the sunflowers glowing against the river’s curve, Catherine believed it.

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