< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLT CELEBRITYNot many people fromLincoln can say they’ve beenlucky enough to meet FrankSinatra once, never mindthree times, but one mancan: Mike Maloney OBE.Mike, one of the most celebratedpress photographers on Fleet Street, aFreeman of the City of London and anhonorary Doctor of Arts degree by theUniversity of Lincoln, has been face toface with the original ‘Rat Pack’ staron both sides of the Atlantic.Meeting famous people isn’t out ofthe ordinary for Mike though - in factit goes with the job. He’s a man with105 major prizes to his name. Threetimes voted Press Photographer of theYear, he was Chief Photographer forMirror Group newspapers beforeturning freelance in 2002. He also hasnumerous royal tours to his credit, aswell as photographing world leaderslike Clinton, Reagan, Gorbachev andYeltsin – with resulting invitations todine at both The White House and theKremlin.Mike was also known to be theQueen Mother's favourite pressphotographer, and in April 2005 hebecame the first Fleet Street photo-journalist ever to be awarded the OBE.The first time Mike met Sinatra hedidn’t actually meet him at all. It wasthe early 1970s, and Mike was in PalmSprings, California. He thought he’dchance his luck by simply ringing thedoorbell to Sinatra’s palatial home –known as “The Compound”.Mike thought he was dreamingwhen who should be coming toanswer the bell but Sinatra himself.Only this wasn’t the real deal, but oneof Sinatra’s doppelgangers. Sinatra wasknown to have three doubles to tryand take the heat off him when thepress were giving chase.This particular lookalike was calledGerry, and, as luck would have it, wassomething of an Anglophile.Mike used his wiley charms to gethimself invited into the real Sinatra’shouse and was shown around byGerry. Inside he saw a plaque that saidthat JFK has stayed in the house fortwo nights in 1960, and, amazingly, ahuge railway set. Seems Ol’ Blue Eyeswas something of a train buff!The second time Mike set eyes onSinatra it was the real deal – only a lotless enjoyable.Mike was commissioned by DailyMirror, the paper he worked for at thetime, to go and take photographs ofSinatra and his new wife Barbara ontheir honeymoon at Claridges Hotel inLondon. It was 1976.Sinatra had splashed out thousandsof pounds to hire an entire floor of theprestigious hotel, and it was Mike’s jobto crack Claridges security and getsome prized snaps of the newlyweds.Slipping a few quid to a member ofthe hotel’s staff, Mike managed to getthe information he needed and madehis way up a secret staircase to theSinatra’s floor.As he walked down the corridor,trying to appear nonchalant, he cameacross two Sinatra bodyguardsstanding by an open door.Mike peered in. He couldn’t believehis eyes when he saw Frank andBarbara sitting on a settee chattingaway.My wayMikeMaloneyOBE060-061:Layout 1 9/12/11 11:24 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY61LT CELEBRITYQuick as a flash, Mike blurted out,“Mr and Mrs Sinatra – may I welcomeyou to London and hope you have awonderful time here.”Taken aback, Sinatra asked, “Whoare you?”Mike replied, “I’m from the DailyMirror and I’m here to give you myeditor’s congratulations.”Sinatra wasn’t having any of this,and ordered his bodyguards to “getthis bum out of here.”Mike was less than gently escortedout of the hotel by the bodyguardswithout his photo, but he wouldn’thave to wait too long for his third andfinal encounter.In 1989 Sinatra toured the UK withSammy Davis Jr, another originalmember of the ‘Rat Pack’, and LizaMinelli. The show was at the RoyalAlbert Hall, and Mike was determinedto be there.Huge signs around the venueshowed, “Strictly no photography”,and Mike was already up against itbecause the light in the Albert Hall isso bad that he reckoned he’d need at600mm lens, and that was going to betricky to smuggle past security.Mike explained the problems to hiseditor at The Mirror who said hewasn’t going to hold his breath forany decent shots from the night. ButMike had other ideas.Stuffing photographic equipmentdown his socks and in his underwear,Mike limped past the doorman andthe Royal Albert Hall and into the boxhe’d rented for the night.He closed the curtains and secretlyassembled his equipment.Mike looked down into the crowdand saw Sinatra’s heavies keeping aclose eye on anyone trying to takephotos, but as the lights dimmed andthe music started, he pushed thecamera lens through the curtains andbegan taking his precious photos.By the end of the show Mike hadsome three hundred shots – some ofthem unusable, but most of thempriceless.The reason behind the ban onphotos became clear during the show;Sinatra was drinking tumblers ofwhiskey throughout, and ended upbeing supported – literally – byMinelli!Mike successfully made his way pastsecurity on his way out and checkedin with his delighted editor.His photographs were used on thefront page of the Mirror the very nextday, although the tale has a slightlysinister twist.A call came into the Mirror fromSinatra’s people saying they’d like aface-to-face meeting with Mike.Fortunately for him, The Mirror hadn’trun a photographic byline, so hisidentity remained a secret.Mike says he misses those days, butis glad he never fell into the hands ofSinatra’s heavies!060-061:Layout 1 9/12/11 11:24 Page 262 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLAMMAThe ever-increasing popularity of the LAMMA Showamong the farming community nationwide, has in the pastfew years led to a huge increase in both visitor and exhibitornumbers. For the 2012 event, approximately 750 exhibitorshave registered to attend.From the outset the primary aim of the LAMMA Show wasto offer a low-cost shop window for small manufacturers todisplay their products. More than thirty years later, this isstill the case and a large number of small companies, fromall parts of the country, continue to take part. That’s inaddition to all the major players in the farm machinery,equipment and services sectors, and is the reason why somany farming decision-makers, from all parts of the UK andfrom further afield, view the LAMMA Show as an importantdate for their diaries.For all visitors, LAMMA 2012 will once again offer plentyof interest, since many companies will be announcing newproducts at the Show. Many of the major multi-nationalswill also be showing, for the first time in the UK, newequipment which was launched at the major AgritechnicaShow in Germany in November.Its growing reputation and popularity has meant that,over recent years, the character of the Show has evolved andit now includes a wide range of horticultural, amenity andlivestock equipment, as well as “green energy” products,seed suppliers, agro-chemical, farm management andfinancial advisory services. In addition, a number ofcompanies specialising in recycling and constructionequipment will be an attraction to both recycling andconstruction professionals, as well as farmers seeking ideasLAMMA Showcontinues to set growth recordsAround 750 exhibitors will take place in the major agricultural event on 18thand 19th January at the Newark Showground062-064:Layout 1 8/12/11 15:58 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63LAMMAScenergy leadsthe wayWhen setting up Scenergy in 2010, long-established Louth-basedelectrical engineers Seymour & Castle led the way by being the firstlarge electrical contractor in Lincolnshire to expand their businessinto the renewable technologies sector.Scenergy has full MCS accreditation and REAL membership forSolar PV system design and installation, enabling clients to takeadvantage of the Government backed Feed-in Tariff scheme. This iscurrently being reviewed by the DECC and it is expected toconfirm a reduction in the FIT to a maximum level of 21p/kwh fordomestic installations. However, these payments are guaranteed for25 years, index linked and tax free. The return on investing in aSolar PV system can still be as high as 8%.Businesses, farms and so on can also still benefit from goodreturns as daytime usage is effectively discounted by the FIT rateproducing similar returns in many cases – a considerableimprovement on what most banks are currently offering! Scenergy is developing its business into other cost effectiveenergy saving technologies such as Voltage Optimisation, whichcan cut up to 10% from your electricity bill. LED lighting systemsare also becoming more economically viable and thereforeincreasingly popular.For more information regarding Solar PV systems, call01507 607800 or visit www.scenergy.co.ukfor diversification projects.The growing diversity of exhibits has attracted visitorsfrom across the UK and a number of trade representativesfrom across Europe and as far afield as India, China andAustralia are expectedCliff Preston of LAMMA says, “The ever increasingpopularity of the LAMMA Show indicates that it is nowplaced high on the list of favourite exhibition events forprofessionals in the agricultural and associated industries.We look forward to welcoming our regular visitors and, ofcourse, we extend an especially cordial invitation to thosewho have yet to enjoy the LAMMA experience.”As an added incentive to early birds making for the Show,the car parks will open at 6am and visitors arriving between6.30 and 8am will be able to enjoy a full English breakfast ata discounted price. Additionally, the Show will this yearofficially open at 7.30am on both days. Admission to theShow and car parking are both free.The LAMMA Show is at the Newark andNottinghamshire Showground on 18th and 19thJanuary, and for more information, and to registerto attend, visit www.lammashow.co.uk.Taershall Way, Fairfield Industrial Estate, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0YZTel: 01507 607800Fax:01507 607717E-mail:info@scenergy.co.uk www.scenergy.co.uk Solar PV Design & InstallationSolar PV Design & Installation062-064:Layout 1 8/12/11 15:58 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLAMMAFreewatt at the LAMMAShowFreewatt is Lincolnshire’s first and largestbespoke solar PV installer.With over five hundred installs completed,Freewatt have gained substantial experience in thedomestic and commercial market, even on grade Iand II listed buildings. Installing only high qualityequipment ensures a long operational lifespan of25 years and more. This done by a highly skilledteam of solar PV engineers a long term incomefrom the installation is ensured.Despite strong reductions in the Feed-in Tariff,the build of ground mount systems or theinstallation of solar PV panels on a farm buildingis still a financially worthwhile exercise, inparticular for high energy users like foodproducers and farmers.If you’re interested, visit Freewatt on their standat the LAMMA show. They offer a detailed surveyand financial analysis free of charge.Harper Adams University CollegeHarper AdamsUniversity College,based in Shropshire,is the UK’s largestcentre for highereducation for rural,land, animal andfood-based studies.Awarded the title of‘Best UniversityCollege’ by theSunday Times University Guide five years in succession and with graduateemployability of 93%, it is the institution of first choice for students wishingto study in these areas.Harper Adams supports businesses in the agri-food and land-based sectorsin a variety of ways. These include applied research provision, postgraduateprovision and short professional courses. On their stand at the LAMMA show,visitors will be able to talk to specialist staff about all aspects of theinstitutions work in the agriculture sector, whether your interest is as abusiness, employer or student.Harper Adams University College, Newport, Shropshire TF108NBTel: 01952 820280 www.harper-adams.ac.uk062-064:Layout 1 8/12/11 15:58 Page 3Oh, what a circus!LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65SOCIAL SCENEOh, what a circus!The EPIC Centre at the Lincolnshire Showground wastransformed into a circus for the Lincolnshire Young Farmers’annual County Ball. Jugglers on stilts, balloon flowers andthe county chairman acting as a ringmaster added to the fun.The event was attended by nearly four hundred youngfarmers, past and present, and their friends. They all enjoyedmusic from the band Roadster and a creative twist on steakand ale pie was served up. Lincolnshire Young Farmers wouldlike to thank Peachy Productions for the lighting and sound,The Perfect Touch for their creative table centres and the staffof the EPIC Centre.Don’t forget, you don’t need to be a farmer to joinLincolnshire Young Farmers – anyone with an interest in thecountryside is welcome.PHOTOS BY ALAN LONG AND ANGELA COOPER065:Layout 1 9/12/11 11:18 Page 166 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYFAMILY MATTERSIt’s an unfortunate time in anyone’slife, but marriages don’t always workout. What can you do to deal with itin a calm and measured way?If your marriage has gone pear-shaped for any reason, thebest thing to do and what most relationship counsellorswould suggest is to try and work things out. If there arechildren involved, this is even more of a reason to attemptreconciliation. Divorce is never easy on anyone, but childrencan be caught up in arguments and used as dice in pettygames at times. If however you can see no way back andseparation is looking like the only option, there are tips toensure you avoid catastrophe or trouble…Protect your childrenTry to never involve children indivorce proceedings, the falloutis between you and yoursoon-to-be former partner.Divorce courts take avery dim view of usingchildren as pawns forfinancial gain and youcould end up notseeing them again.Remember children areaffected by the way theirparents act towards oneanother before, during andafter a divorce, not the actitself. Don’t give yourchildren an inaccurate pictureof what marriage should be as itcould affect their personalities,approach to relationships and evenprogress at school.Tell the truthIn financial matters, this is a must, or youcould well be penalised by any judging authorityinvolved in the proceedings. Make sure youfinances are in order, don’t squirrel away funds and betransparent with any questions you may be asked. If anyonehas to delve into your details at a later date and findssomething different from what you stated, you could well bein trouble. It could add to your costs and add time to thewhole ghastly process as well. Nobody wants to incur morecosts than is necessary, so don’t be foolish when it comes tocash and assets.Be dignifiedDon’t approach divorce proceedings equipped for war.Divorce is a process, albeit not a pleasant one, but a processnonetheless. Keep communications measured andprofessional and try to avoid becoming openly critical ofyour ex-partner or their legal representatives. In your headyou can think what you like, but flying off the handle andentering the process as if it were a fight is a bad idea. If youDivorce canhappen toanyone, so beprepared if ithappens to youTime to split?066-067:Layout 1 8/12/11 16:00 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67FAMILY MATTERSA brief guide to divorceand separationby specialist divorce solicitor Diane GendersWe have to be realistic – relationships do break down andsomebody has to look after your interests. The most sensiblecourse of action is to seek specialist legal advice from aspecialist solicitor. The law is too complicated and the skillsrequired too specialised to trust your future to anyone else.Everybody has the right to seek a divorce, with or without theagreement of their spouse. At its simplest, with a “quickie”divorce, you file a petition in court. The court posts copies toyour spouse who is asked to sign an “acknowledgement ofservice” and return it to the court. You’ll need to satisfy thecourt you have grounds for divorce. The three most commontypes of petition are unreasonable behaviour, adultery andliving apart for two years with both sides consenting to divorce.Once the judge has confirmed you are entitled to divorce, itwill be “pronounced” in open court. A decree nisi is sent toeach spouse, which after a minimum of six weeks is madeabsolute and the divorce is final. You are free to marry again –even each other.A contested divorce, where one side doesn’t want it tohappen, or one where financial or children issues have to bedealt with, takes longer. Agreement always saves time,heartache and money but all too often agreement is a hardfought battle. Sorting out finances and issues with childrentend to be the most complex and acrimonious part ofunravelling a marriage. Unfortunately, there’s no right orwrong answer to the big question, what am I entitled to?If you’re planning divorce or have had it thrust upon you, myteam of specialist lawyers are always ready to offer an initialconsultation to discuss your circumstances. We can’t help bothsides, so act early and ensure you get the best service possible.Call Diane Genders Solicitors on Lincoln 01522516500, email diane@dianegenders.co.uk or visitwww.dianegenders.co.ukfeel the anger bubbling away, avoid emailing or phoning,simply leave it a few days and try to calm down. You’ll notregret something you didn’t do in this situation, so try andkeep stress levels to a minimum.Have some empathyIt may seem difficult, particularly if your marriage hascome to an especially nasty end, but try and have someunderstanding for the other side. You may feel jubilant yourmisery is coming to an end, but it could be heart-wrenchingand painful for the other party, try and understand thisduring the process as emotions can play havoc with people’sdecisions and goals at times like this.Keep new loves on the back burnerYou may be over the moon to have found someone new,but you’ll most likely be the only one who feels this way.Don’t flaunt your relationship in front of your ex-partner oryour children. Your ex-partner will not be happy in any way -just think, would you be? Also, your children will beconfused and upset enough as it is without having to dealwith a new person in their life. This is a delicate time, so actwith some civility. Wait until well after the divorce is final tointroduce them fully into children’s lives and possibly evenlonger in your ex-partners case.Keep accurate recordsAs far as you can, try and keep a record of non-financialitems such as shared furniture, consumer goods and personaleffects. If you can prove something is yours from the off,there will be little contesting at a later date. It is a sad butreal situation that can drag on well after separation, so makesure you are certain what is yours and what is your partner’s.Marriage is meant to beforever, but you could findthings don’t go to planHighly Experienced Team of Family LawyersDivorce and Separation Wills & ProbatePower of AttorneyAdministration of Estates Court of ProtectionCall for more information on01522 516500www.dianegenders.co.ukOffices also in Nottingham066-067:Layout 1 8/12/11 16:00 Page 268 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBUSINESS TODAYGoodnews?George Osborne’s Autumn Statementon the economy has given us allsomething to think about, but whatdoes it hold for our area in particular?The projects that best benefit our region seem to be withininfrastructure, which means Lincolnshire is back on the mapin terms of distribution, visiting trade and general businesshealth.The main announcement getting people in the regiontalking will surely be the halving of fees on the HumberBridge. By halving the tolls down to just £1.50 as soon asnext year, this could have a massive impact on business.More people from north of the estuary may now be willing tovisit the county and find it more easy to enjoy what it as tooffer.The news has been welcomed with open arms. Due to theunique nature of the bridge and the potential economic boostto the Humber economy, the Government are writing off£150 million of debt, enabling tolls to be halved. The Humbercouncils will be sharing responsibility for the remaining debt.Cllr Liz Redfern, leader of North Lincolnshire Council, says,“The campaign against tolls has been fought long and hard.North Lincolnshire Council has led the way and we arenaturally delighted that the Conservative led Governmenthas listened. Thanks go to all who have been involved in thecampaign - from MPs to businesses and residents. Now is thetime for everyone to work together to ensure this becomes areality. “The announcement by the Chancellor, is a monumentalmoment in the history of the Humber. Without a doubt, it isa vital shot in the arm for the local economy and a vote ofconfidence in the area.”In Lincoln, the Eastern Bypass has been approved - a planthat has been around twenty years in the making and willtake around two years to build. This will ease congestion inthe already busy city by connecting Wragby Road to the A15,east of Bracebridge Heath. This means fewer goods vehiclesentering the city centre or the main arterial routes, but alsomaking it easier for logistical matters for business. Plans for more regulated train fares should see tourism andthe potential for business growth shoot up. The recentaddition of a direct train to London from Lincoln and backcould be further aided by this news and there has beenrumours flying around that the link to the capital could seemore daily services being added as it gains popularity amongbusiness commuters and day trippers alike. Lincoln’s growthto a more city-like status than it currently carries is certainlygoing to be something to look forward to.In Grimsby, car distributors are set to utilise the incredibleLincoln’s problems withcongestion could be a thingof the past thanks to a newEastern bypass, approved aspart of the Chancellor’sAutumn Statement068-069:Layout 1 8/12/11 16:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69BUSINESS TODAYBe prepared forwinter weathersays Jill ElkingtonLast year’s harsh winter causedmore than the expected level ofburst pipes and insurers are nowimplementing stringent obligationswithin their policies. By notheeding these obligationsinsurance cover can be negatedculminating in landlords and tenants being severely out ofpocket – not to mention cold and wet!The top tips for tenants for ‘holiday-proofing’ rentalproperties are...* Refer to your tenancy agreement to see what it requiresyou to do when leaving a property vacant. Most will ask youto take adequate measures to protect the property from issueslike frozen pipes in colder weather – don’t risk your deposit* Attend to simple tasks like clearing out fridges and freezersand turning off electrical devices at the wall * Tenants going away should remember to leave heating onat a low level to ensure pipes don’t freeze. If you have a loft,leave the hatch open to allow warmer air to circulate aroundthe tank* Consider sharing an emergency contact phone numberwith a neighbour should something go wrong – either yournumber, or that of the property’s manager. This is veryimportant in a flat where an issue could rapidly causeproblems for other homes in the block* Fully secure the house before you leave. Ensuring allwindows and doors are locked will deter opportunist thievesand setting a light on a timer can be an effective additionalsecurity measureLandlords should refer to their insurance cover and notifytheir agent or tenant of any restrictions placed on the policyin respect of tenant holiday or void periods. It’s not unusualfor insurers to now require weekly inspections of emptyproperties – ignore this at your peril and ensure that adequaterecords of inspections are kept.For further information contact Jill at HodgsonElkington LLP, 1 Oakwood Road, Lincoln, LN6 3LH,call 01522 698899 or email letting@hodelk.co.ukstorage facilities more easily, thanks to the Enterprise Zoneinvestment of £25 million. Associated British Ports arespending the money on building new jetties to allow largervessels to berth. Currently vessels carrying up to eighthundred cars can dock, but thanks to the investment,massive deliveries of up to three thousand vehicles will beable to land. The work starts early next year, with the firstvessels arriving in autumn 2013. Not only this, but the much-talked about arrival of therenewable energy industry using the ports area as a baseseems closer to reality now too. The town is set to become acentral location for the operation and maintenance ofoffshore wind farms, as many have predicted and hoped for.The Humber region is just twelve hours’ sailing time fromfarms planned for the North Sea.Sam Pick, business development director of the RenewablesNetwork – a Humber-based organisation that helpscompanies enter the green energy supply chain – welcomesthe Government’s announcement. He says, “This is importantand hopefully will add further fuel to Grimsby establishing itsplace as the operations and maintenance hub for North Seaoffshore wind farms.“The Fish Docks already have Siemens, RES and a numberof smaller businesses operating out of them. Centrica hasannounced major developments with its operations andmaintenance base for the area. This puts the Port of Grimsbyat the forefront of the Humber’s offering for the operationand maintenance of offshore wind technology.”This all points to success for the region long-hoped for inthe region over the past few years and looks to be finallycoming to fruition. 2012 really could be the year we seefortunes change in our region.Humber Bridge tollsare coming down to amuch more affordable£1.50 in 2012068-069:Layout 1 8/12/11 16:06 Page 2Next >