£2.95 MARCH 2021 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE 30+ years young 30+ years young WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET www.blmgroup.co.uk BLM GROUPGROUP BLM £2.95 MARCH 2021 THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINE Spring is in Spring is in New season fashion Mother’s Day Healthy living County motoring New season fashion Mother’s Day Healthy living County motoring 01.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:23 Page 1Businesses across the UK are looking at their day to day operations, asking how they implement best practice as they begin to recover from this pandemic. For those in the hospitality industry, food safety plays a key role in protecting your customers and staff, as well as gaining consumer confidence. Speak to your local Chemex Expert for support and guidance on reopening safely, without breaking the bank! Contact Peter Cussans at Chemex Lincolnshire for friendly help and advice. peter.cussans@chemexuk.com | Tel 07941733201 Our curriculum is c luurricculumm The ENL UTC are pleased to offer Health Sciences & Social Care from September 2021. An exciting addition to our KS3 and KS4 STEM curriculum. Be #SkilledForLife and help to engineer a healthier future! Apply now to join in year 9 enlutc.co.uk | info@enlutc.co.uk | 01724 878100 @ENLUTC 02.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:25 Page 1Our march issue has the dubious pleasure of marking both the first anniversary of the COVID- 19 pandemic and the beginning of spring. You’ll find plenty of both in this issue as we look back and take stock of the last twelve months, as well as looking forward to what the new season brings. The effect that the coronavirus crisis has had on society cannot be overstated, and businesses have bore a lot of the brunt. We explore how they have been impacted, and how they’re rising to the occasion, in our ‘One Year On’ spotlight. A similar sentiment can be seen in our Boston-focused feature, in which we explore how the historic town’s business community have thrived over the last twelve months. On the spring front, we take a dive into the new lines from some of our favourite fashion designers. There’s plenty to get excited about. We also take a look at the yellowhammer, a bird emblematic of spring, in our wildlife feature. With lockdown, you might not have driven your car much over winter, so it’s even more important than normal to prepare your car for spring. Fortunately, we’ve got a whole feature on that very subject. As well as a few other special features, we’ve still got all your usual favourites. Stay safe, Michael Fisher Editor and the Lincolnshire Today team from the editor Group Editor: Steve Fisher Editor: Michael Fisher Assistant Editor: Dominic Cuthbert Journalist: Tess Egginton Sales Director: Angela Cooper Sales: Kerry Randerson Accounts & Circulations: Angela Sharman, John Downes (01472) 310301 Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen, Mark Casson Advertising: Tel: (01472) 310302 Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305 Part Of The Business Link Magazine Group: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk Website: www.lincolnshiretoday.net ISSN No: 1366-1299 © All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded or otherwise without express permission of the copyright holder, for which application should be addressed first to the publisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither the publisher nor its participating agents accept liability for loss or damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives or other material of whatever nature submitted to this publication. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily the views of those held by the publisher. This magazine is now fully recyclable. By recycling magazines, you can help reduce waste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes of paper already recycled by the UK paper industry each year. Before you recycle your magazine, please ensure you remove all plastic wrapping, free gifts and samples. If you are unable to participate in a recycling scheme, then why not pass your magazine onto a local hospital or charity? FRONT COVER PHOTO COURTESY OF SHUTTERSTOCK/KONSTANTTIN LincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.net 03.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:26 Page 1Features 6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIRE What’s been going on in the county this month? 9RISING ABOVE It’s been a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. We explore how businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and how they’ve gone above and beyond to keep serving the community. 28 A GLIMPSE OF SPRING It’s one of our favourite times of year, when designers clear the winterwear off their rails and bring out their spring and summer lines. 38 GETTING SPRING READY Now that we’re moving into spring, with its warmer winds and kinder temperatures, its time to cast off your winter beauty routine. 40 GETTING PERSONAL The idea of personalised nutrition is on the rise as people recognise ‘one size fits all’ is a less effective approach to health. 42 LIGHT AND REFRESHING FAVOURITES There’s lots to get excited about with the arrival on spring, but one of the best is bidding goodbye to the stodgy, carb heavy favourites that sustained us through the winter for lighter, fresher food. 46 MOTHER’S DAY AT A DISTANCE We finally have a roadmap to transition out of lockdown but, as of writing, Mother’s Day will have to be celebrated at a distance this year. However, there’s plenty of ways to mark the occasion whilst remaining safe and secure. 48 LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLORED This month we look at the life of Lincolnshire antiquarian Doctor William Stukeley. 50 FARM & COUNTRY NEWS The latest news from across the countryside 52 FARMING Farmers have been working harder than ever amid labour shortages and increased demand for fresh local produce in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. 56 STILL OPEN FOR BUSINESS While many of us have adjusted to the ‘new normal’, it’s been a bigger challenge for businesses facing an uncertain future. But businesses across Boston have stepped up and thrived over the last twelve months to deliver our vital services. MARCH 28 28 IT’S ONE OF OUR FAVOURITE TIMES OF YEAR, WHEN DESIGNERS CLEAR THE WINTERWEAR OFF THEIR RAILS AND BRING OUT THEIR SPRING AND SUMMER LINES. YOU CAN EXPECT TO SEE PLENTY OF FLORAL PATTERNS AND SHIRT-STYLE DRESSES AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. contents 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:27 Page 142 42 THERE’S LOTS TO GET EXCITED ABOUT WITH THE ARRIVAL OF SPRING, BUT ONE OF THE BEST IS BIDDING GOODBYE TO THE STODGY, CARB HEAVY FAVOURITES THAT SUSTAINED US THROUGH THE WINTER FOR LIGHTER, FRESHER FOOD. 60 COUNTY MOTORING As winter recedes its icy grip and spring bounces into view it is important that drivers do not forget to take good care of their cars. 64 LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFE The onset of march brings with it an abundance of wildlife to watch out for, but the yellowhammer and its striking blonde feathers is easily one of the most striking. 66 BETTER BIRTHS LINCOLNSHIRE Q&A Gestational Diabetes is on the rise in Lincolnshire. However support is available. 68 THE JOY OF SMALL THINGS Give or take a few weeks here and there, we’ve spent most of the past year in lockdown. For older people and other vulnerable groups, it has been especially difficult, being forced to stay inside, isolated from their families. Now, more than ever, it’s important to hold onto the small things that bring us joy. 73 WHAT’S ON There’s always something going on in Lincolnshire. Desirable homes 14 CHARMING CHURCH CONVERSION Full of character, this unique church conversion, sitting in an idyllic location, has been transformed into a family home. 20 ELEGANT INTERIORS Add some elegance to your décor this spring. Be it an armchair, vase or showerhead, there’s sophistication to be found in the simplest things. 22 ALLERTON Q&A We spoke to sewage treatment and septic tank specialists, Allerton Bradley, about the changes to septic tank regulations and why it’s worth considering making the switch yourself. 24 ENDLESS CHILDHOOD DREAMS This month, we shine a light of Craig Davison, one of the UK’s bestselling fine artist whose work perfectly capture the sense of childhood’s endless summer. 26 GARDEN TLC Although we have had some cold weather, including some snow, the days are now getting longer, and spring is just around the corner. Last spring and summer we spent lots of time in our gardens as we stayed home. While I hope that this year we will not be as restricted in our movements, our gardens will be just as important to us, as Ed Fuller from Fullers Landscaping explores. 04-05.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:27 Page 2latest news A planning application for a ‘cluster hub’ building at the South Lincolnshire Food Enterprise Zone, has been submitted to South Holland District Council. The multi-use space will provide small and medium-sized business tenants with support services, networking, meeting and events space and catering, within the new Food Enterprise Zone near Holbeach. There will also be workshops and offices, specifically designed for small or start-up businesses within agri-tech to establish themselves with access to the best support and expertise. Cllr Colin Davie, executive councillor for economy and place at the county council, said: “The principal behind this building is to nurture collaboration between businesses and partners in the agri-tech industries, so they can share ideas and be at the heart of innovation. “It reinforces the commitment we have in Greater Lincolnshire to become a world class destination in this industry.” Plans in for new building at South Lincs Food Enterprise Zone Thousands of artefacts uncovered in Spalding following archaeological investigations Thousands of artefacts have been discovered along the route of the Spalding Western Relief Road, with some of the oldest activity dating back to the Iron Age. According to Ian Marshman, historic environment officer for the county council, one of the most interesting finds has been an unusual type of Roman oven, known as a tannur. Dr Marshman said: “A similar type of oven is still in use today in India, called a tandoor, with food baked in it known as tandoori. “Whilst archaeologists have previously found small parts of these Roman ovens before, this is thought to be one of the best-preserved examples ever found in Britain. “The archaeology team hopes to reconstruct the oven’s shape and analyse its ash to better understand how it was used and what might have been cooked in it – giving us a fascinating insight into Roman industry and trade. “Ovens like this seem to have been used where there was a need to cook lots of bread quickly, like at the amphitheatre in Chester. So our current theory is that the ovens were used to bake bread for people making salt out in the fens.” Other interesting finds unearthed include: • Roman quern stone – would have been used to grind grain to make flour, perhaps for bread baked in the ovens. It was found in the bottom of a large Roman ditch, and might have been re-used as an anchor for a small Roman fen boat. • Medieval thimble – made of copper alloy it looks just like the kind of thimbles still used to protect your finger when sewing today. • Medieval knife handle – a humble everyday object made from bone, which had been polished smooth from years of use. 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:29 Page 1New book explores life of famous Lincolnshire singer A new book about the life and career of world-famous, Lincolnshire-born singer Norma Procter has been published. The respected Lincolnshire contralto, who died in 2017, rose to fame in the 1950s and counted Dame Joan Sutherland, Benjamin Britten and Peter Pears among her friends and contemporaries. She performed at the Royal Opera House and on many other of the world’s well-known stages and released several albums. She left behind a vast archive, containing many years of diaries, photographs, programmes, and memorabilia from her decades-long career, inside her home in Cleethorpes, where she lived for most of her life. The material has been used by Louth author Lucy Wood to write Norma Procter – Her Life in Music. “It is the first time her life has been documented in its entirety,” said Lucy. “We are so fortunate that Norma was so meticulous. Almost every programme had a handwritten note on it, recalling her memories, and her diaries show just how gruelling a schedule she had. “Many people in the area will know of and remember her. What some might not realise is how huge the contribution she made to music really was.” It has taken Lucy more than two years to research and write the book. She was approached by Dawn Stewart, one of Norma’s singing pupils, who became the custodian of the archive. Dawn, herself a singer, was tutored by Norma for many years and were close friends. “She began singing when she was very small and began winning awards at festivals in Grimsby and Cleethorpes from the age of seven,” said Dawn. “She was 18 when she sang her first solo Messiah, one of her all-time favourite pieces, and soon after, her star rose.” Norma Procter – Her Life in Music is available now from Amazon or Lulu.com in paperback and e-book. Signed copies are available from Lucy directly by emailing lucywoodwriter@gmail.com. Without Walls, a unique network of over 30 festivals that brings fantastic outdoor arts to people across the UK, opens 2021 by welcoming three new partners: Timber Festival, Certain Blacks and Grimsby-based The Culture House. With collaboration at the heart of Without Walls’ work, this national network aims to raise the artistic bar of the Outdoor Arts – an industry that is paramount as we anticipate moving beyond COVID-19. Collaboration during the pandemic is more vital than ever for the survival of the arts; the Without Walls Artistic Directorate includes the UK’s most highly regarded outdoor arts and performance specialists who, in 2021, will invest over £650,000 to support artists to develop and tour ambitious new outdoor projects. This process, spearheaded by the Artistic Directorate, ensures an influx of new shows for the Outdoor Arts sector. The Culture House are joining the Touring Network Partnership branch of the organisation in 2021. Based in Grimsby, The Culture House aim to positively impact on everyday life by presenting work in a wide range of indoor and outdoor local spaces. This increasing geographical reach reflects Without Walls’ growing impact. Outdoor work has never been more important as the entire arts industry seeks to rebuild confidence in audiences wanting to attend events. Grimsby’s Culture House joins unique festival network Without Walls leads excellence in outdoor arts – commissioning work from the intimate to the epic, which tours to reach large, diverse and new audiences across the country and internationally. The consortium makes high-quality arts experiences accessible to all regardless of personal, social or economic circumstances. The Without Walls 2021 programme, to be announced in March, will be their biggest to date showing the innovation and resilience of those working in the Outdoor Arts sector. © Joli vyann / The Culture House 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:29 Page 2In a new chapter for one of the UK’s most iconic visitor attractions, Christie & Co has sold Skegness Pier to the Mellors Group. The Mellors Group, led by Managing Director James Mellors Snr is a Nottingham headquartered theme park, attractions and events business operating across the UK and Middle East. Now in its fourth generation, the Mellors Group is no stranger to Skegness operating the nearby Fantasy Island at Ingoldmells which it acquired in 2016 and subsequently invested in significantly. Brought to the open market in the middle of September 2020 with a guide price of £3 million, the opportunity to purchase such a landmark business generated “phenomenal” interest according to Christie & Co’s Director of Leisure & Development Jon Patrick, who oversaw the sales process. Jon said: “In over 35 years of selling leisure businesses, few have come close to the intensity of interest generated by this instruction.” The ENL UTC introduces new Health Sciences and Social Care Specialism The Engineering UTC Northern Lincolnshire's curriculum is growing. The specialist STEM school and sixth form based on Carlton Street in Scunthorpe Town Centre is delighted to announce an exciting new addition to its KS3 and KS4 curriculum alongside the already popular Engineering specialism. The new Health Sciences and Social Care specialism marks another exciting development for the ENL UTC, offering students aged 13-16 the chance to study a unique and high-quality education alongside a range of local industry experts who support the design of the curriculum. Principal, Anesta McCullagh said: “I am looking forward to expanding our unique STEM offer that will help our young people develop the sought-after skills, confidence and qualifications that will put them miles in front of others when it comes to applying for future apprenticeships, jobs and university places.” To find out more or apply for year 9, visit www.enlutc.co.uk. Iron age skeletons found in Lincolnshire Two ancient human skeletons have been found on sites in Lincolnshire being prepared by Anglian Water for new large-scale water pipelines. Both sets of bones – which were uncovered in separate archaeological sites near Navenby, about eight miles south of Lincoln – are believed to be from the Iron Age. Other items, including parts of small buildings and fragments of pottery, also believed to be from the Iron Age, were found. The work is part of a huge 25-year drive to secure future water supplies across the Anglian Water region. It is the biggest water infrastructure programme for a generation and will greatly reduce the number of homes and businesses relying on a single water source. Construction on the first section, which runs from Lincoln to Grantham, is due to begin this Spring. latest news © Anglian Water Iconic Skegness Pier sold 06-08.qxp_Layout 1 01/03/2021 16:29 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRE TODAY 9 A YEAR ON When the first national lockdown was introduced, our entire way of life was upended, but here we are, a year after the fact. While we’re not out of the woods just yet, things are in a much better state than this time twelve months ago. The nation continues to scale up its robust vaccination programme and, as of writing, more than 18 million people in the UK have now had at least one dose of a COVID vaccine. The current plan is to offer every single adult in the UK a vaccine by the end of July. However, the economy itself, both locally and nationally, is still looking fragile. Over the last year, the government has endeavoured to support British business with a slew of financial aids and supports. This has been a literal lifeline for businesses the length and breadth of the country, especially for those in the leisure, hospitality and non-food retail sectors that have been forced to shutter for months at a time over three different lockdowns. Yet things have not been any easier for those businesses that have remained open, especially during It’s been a year since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. We explore how businesses have been impacted by the coronavirus crisis, and how they’ve gone above and beyond to keep serving the community. 10 Á © Shutterstock /visivastudio Rising above 09-13.qxp_Layout 1 02/03/2021 09:58 Page 1Next >