< Previousworld-class performers and a thousandlitres of Vodka can only mean one thing– the Russian State Dance Ensemble isback in the UK! The Cossacks’ fierydances and songs are as true andhonest as the souls of their countryfolk. Particular attention has been paidto the detail of the Cossacks’wonderfully traditional and elaboratecostumes. The highlight of thisspectacular show is the Great CossackDance for which special sabres havebeen made of titanium, ensuring sparksreally do fly. Show starts 7.30pm,tickets £19.50 from 0845 674 0505.Scarecrow and CBeebies star Sarah-JaneHoneywell as Glinda. It’s going to begreat fun for all the family – both youngand old alike. Show starts 3pm and 7pmon Tuesday and 1pm and 4.30pm onWednesday, tickets from £18 from 0844854 2776.SkegnessThursday 11th AprilRussian Cossacks, EmbassyTheatreThree hundred costumes, fortyWHAT’S ONFriday 12th AprilHormonal Housewives, EmbassyTheatreThe Hormonal Housewives are back,and this time they mean business.Following on from their hugely successful2012 tour, Toyah Willcox and the girlsreturn with hilarious all new sketches, aswell as all the very best bits from lasttime round. They look at everything thatmakes today’s woman tick – or ticked off– from the joys of teenagers, to the hell70 LINCOLNSHIRETODAY73 ScunthorpeWednesday 24th AprilEnter Shikari, Baths HallEnter Shikari visit The Baths Hall aspart of their Return To Energiser UK tour.The band, who released their acclaimedthird album A Flash Flood Of Colour in2012, are supported by British Djentfive-piece Hacktivist. With two top fivealbums under their belt and a clutch ofindustry awards, Enter Shikari haveperformed with the likes of Jay Z,Prodigy and Pendulum at some of thebiggest festivals in the world. Showstarts 7.30pm, tickets £15 from 0844854 2776.Pinocchio, CornExchange, StamfordS-Con, Baths Hall,Scunthorpe068-073:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:24 Page 3Visit our website to startviewing today...Now available oniPad & iPhoneDigital EditionsNever miss an issueRead on the go!WWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NETIdeal for those whospend timeaway fromtheir office 068-073:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:24 Page 4068-073:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:24 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY73WHAT’S ONBattle PromsSaturday 6th JulyBurghley HouseIf you’re missing all the flagwaving, medal winning, jubileecelebrating pomp and glory of 2012,the Battle Proms are here to bring itall back for you this summer! BattleProms audiences are treated to thunderous live cannon fire, a tear-jerking WWII SpitfireAerial display, jaw dropping feats of daring by the Blades Aerobatic Team, mounted Napoleonic skill-at-arms displays and, ofcourse, a full orchestral programme packed with proms favourites and a spectacular firework finale.Over the years thousands of Battle Prommers have delighted in the stunningly choreographed Grace Spitfire Aerial display,which this year will be flying to Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance No. 4 and Symphony No. 1. There is also a phenomenal,precision aerobatic display from ex-RAF fighter pilots The Blades.The programme of exquisite classical music is performed by the renowned New English Concert Orchestra, conducted byDouglas Coombes. Back by popular demand are star soprano Denise Leigh, who performed at the opening ceremony of the2012 Paralympic games, and celebrated young violinist Katy Smith who will give a virtuoso performance of the 1st Movementof Tchaikovsky’s Violin Concerto.This year the Battle Proms team are celebrating the two hundredth anniversary of Beethoven’s Battle Symphony. This is theonly outdoor concert series in the world to perform the piece as Beethoven intended, with 193 live firing cannon and musketfire providing a groundshaking percussion .Book tickets before 30th April to enjoy the reduced price of £31.50. For more information visit www.battleproms.com.We have three sets of four tickets to give away! Simply send your name, address and telephone number to Battle PromsCompetition, Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE or competitions@blmgroup.co.ukby Friday 26th April.of IKEA, the madness of holiday reps andthe insanity of DIY. Show starts 7.30pm,tickets £21.50 from 0845 674 0505.SpaldingFriday 3rd MayLesley Curtis and Her Band, SouthHolland CentreLesley Curtis’s brand new album Nakedis a dynamic, original blend of folk,country, and bluesy rock – a tasty slice ofAmericana! This concert features songsfrom the album interspersed with familiarbelters from the likes of Fleetwood Macand Kirsty MacColl. Lesley is supportedby local talented emerging artist MegMcPartlin. Show starts 8pm, tickets £9from 01775 764777.StamfordTuesday 2nd AprilPinocchio, Corn ExchangeJoin Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket and alltheir friends and enemies in thisTake Fat, Corn Exchange,Stamfordwonderful adventure. It is a brand newversion of the classic tale of the boywho tells lies. Music and comedy areaccompanied by colourful costumes,hilarious jokes and plenty of audienceparticipation in this professionalproduction. Show starts 1.30pm and4pm, tickets from 01780 766455.Saturday 20th AprilTake Fat, Corn ExchangeTake Fat is an XXL larger-than life musicalparody act who perform the greatest hits ofone of the biggest bands in the world,combined with hilarious sketches andcharacter cast comedy. The show is fast,energetic and at times outrageous. Tickets£15 from 01780 766455.068-073:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:24 Page 674 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYGAINSBOROUGH MODEL RAILWAYTo the uninitiated, the clamour of bellsappears random and meaningless – butto the enthusiasts of GainsboroughModel Railway Society it’s a codedlanguage that keeps trains runningaround the largest railway of its kind.The bell language is just the same asthat used by signalmen up and down theline to talk to each other in the BritishRailways steam era – and that makes itthe same as the rest of the engineeringmasterpiece that has lived inGainsborough’s Florence Terrace for fiftyyears this year.Its half-mile of O gauge track replicatesthe line between London’s Kings Crossnorthwards to Leeds, stopping at Retford,Doncaster and six other stations inbetween – and it is as the line wouldhave been between the late forties andthe end of steam on British Railways.It takes ten people to run the railwayproperly, working a timetable that wouldbe the envy of Richard Branson. Andsome of the volunteers are not onlysignalmen, but must also be driver andstation master, and shunter, if theirsection of track includes one of thelayout’s three goods yards.When the model railway first moved toFlorence Terrace it was already well-established, and growing. Born from ashared love of model railways by a groupof enthusiasts immediately after thesecond war, it grew into, and then out of,its former home. If it were a person, itwould be approaching its pension, but itkeeps soldiering on regardless. For some of the enthusiasts it has beena lifetime’s work, not to mention a life-long love. They are aware of the tiniestdetail of each of the locos and the trackon which they run; where the problemsmight be, and how to solve them.The stations themselves, like everythingabout this unique attraction, are minormiracles of miniature model engineering,and are populated by miniature peoplegoing about their business - it’s socaptivating you can easily believe its reallife. Take for instance the policemantalking to a small boy and his mum; theservicemen coming home on leave, orthe couple kissing farewell on a platform.There’s even a welder making a runningrepair with real ‘sparks’.But the jewels in the crown of therailway are surely its locomotives androlling stock. Instead of the usual ‘readyto roll’ items from a box bought in ashop here; most are painstakingly hand-built by Society members to the higheststandards, not only looking the part, butready to give years of faithful service.Many of the coaches are built fromlaminated card, but it’s hard to tell justby looking – and it’s equally hard to tellthat some have been running for half acentury.The railway has open days this Easter,from 1.30pm to 6pm on Easter Saturdayand Sunday, and from 10.30am to 6pmon Easter Monday. Admission is £4 foradults and £3 for children and seniorcitizens.Family members not interested invisiting the railway shouldn’t forget thatthe shopping destination of Marshall’sYard is just a few hundred yards fromFlorence Terrace, and might provide asuitable alternative destination…Theworld inminiatureGainsborough Model Railway is one of the best in theworld today and is one the county’s true gems. Itsappeal for both young and old is a testament to theteam that runs it.Theworld inminiature074-075:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:27 Page 1Gainsborough Model Railway at a glance• Fine scale ‘O’ gauge (7mm to 1 foot)• 180 locomotives• 160 carriages• 250 wagons and vans• 160 sets of points• Half a mile of track• Nine stations• Seven engine sheds• Limitless enthusiasm and love for railways• The society locomotive called Gainsboroughisn’t named after the town. It’s named after theracehorse that won the 1918 Derby and St LegerFlorence Terrace, Gainsboroughwww.gainsboroughmodelrailway.co.ukGAINSBOROUGH MODEL RAILWAYA train of goods wagonsrattles through the railway’scountryside.Inside Kings CrossStationThe little village ofFitzwilliamSociety Chairman Richard Woodswith some of the club’s locomotivesA loco stands at the platformin Fitzwilliam074-075:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:27 Page 2HALCYONholiday memoriesClassic footage of coastal holidays of the past cannow be seen on a new DVDKnown for its wonderful sandy beaches and family entertainment, theLincolnshire coast has been a favourite holiday destination for peoplefrom the industrial Midlands since Victorian times. Now the MediaArchive for Central England, the screen archive for the East and WestMidlands, has released a DVD compilation of fascinating archiveimages.Footprints in the Sand: Holidays on the Lincolnshire Coast looks attraditional holidays to Skegness, Mablethorpe and Sutton on Seathrough from the 1920s to the 1980s through a series of rarely seenand newly restored films that are preserved at MACE.Among the films are a series of home movies dating from the thirtiesto the sixties, showing families paddling in the sea, walking along thepromenade and playing cricket on the beach – the traditional Britishseaside holiday writ large. Also featured are extracts of We ChoseSkegness, a promotional film made in 1961 and narrated by RichardBaker, which depicts a family who plan to go on holiday to their usualresort of Skegness but this time are able to “do it in style” afterwinning the pools.Viewers will also see a series of news reports and home movieschronicling the development of the Skegness icon Butlins from thefifties to the eighties. One of the gems, however, is a twenties film ofchildren from Leicester Poor Boys’ and Girls’ School running onto thebeach from the sand dunes – probably the first time they had seenthe sea.The DVD was directed by Janice Kearns of the University ofLincoln’s School of Media and is part of the Midlands on Film seriesthat celebrate the Midlands through archive images. For moredetails, and to order a copy of this DVD, see MACE’s website atwww.macearchive.org.76 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYDVD REVIEWPriceless memoriesFootprints in the Sand is available for £14.99 (plus £1.50 p&p), but thanks to our friends at MACE, you can get £5 off the DVD online or by phone.Simply visit www.macearchive.org and put the code lincstodayoffer into the Discount Code box on the shopping basket, or call MACE on 01522 837750quoting ‘Lincolnshire Today DVD Offer’. (The offer ends 31st May 2013 and the £5 discount can only be used once per order.)Save even more money as we’ve got five copies to give away! All you have to do is send your name, address and telephone number to MACE Competition,Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby DN31 2QE or competitions@blmgroup.co.uk by Friday 3rd May.076:Layout 1 18/3/13 10:29 Page 11stissues only £1Great reasonsto subscribe...Each issue is brimming with a diverse topic range...• Heritage • Fashion • Hair & Beauty • Leisure • Homes & Gardens • County Motoring • Dining Out • What’s On • Free Reader Giveaways and much much more…First 3 issues only £1!FREE delivery to your doorReceive your copy before it hits the shopsORDER FORMYes, I would like to subscribe to Lincolnshire Today magazinefor the next 12 months, with the first 3 issues only being £1.Personal Details:First name:Last Name:Address:Town:County: Post Code:Tel: Mobile:Email:Payment by DEBIT/CREDIT cardName as it appears on card:Type of card: Mastercard / Visa / Visa Debit / OtherCard Number:Card Verification number (3 digits on signature strip):Expiry Date:Amount Authorised:Cheque enclosed YES / NO Please post this form back to: Subscriptions,Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby. N.E. Lincolnshire DN31 2QEMake cheque payable to Business Link Magazine GroupCall now to subscribe on01472 310301 or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.net/341orScan QR Code4Looking for a great gift idea?A gift Subscriptionis the perfect present that lasts all year round!Total Price: £27.553£1077:Layout 1 18/3/13 08:32 Page 178 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYThis month the Red Arrows flew intheir famous nine-plane diamondformation for the first time since thetragic death of Flt Lt Jon Egging and FltLt Sean James Cunningham in 2011. TheRed Arrows continue to honour thememory of these talented pilots, thanksto the work of the Jon Egging Trust, thecharity formed in his memory to provideyoung people with new opportunities tohelp them achieve.After its successful pilot last year, theTrust’s Blue Skies project is now in fullswing and helping young people whomay be underachieving in formaleducation to reach their full potential,increasing their confidence and self-esteem and illustrating to them theimportance of being part of a team. Wewere fortunate enough to attend one ofthe sessions at RAF Cranwell, the RedArrows’ temporary home, where pupilsfrom Lincoln’s Priory Academy were ableto take a closer look at the aircraft andfind out more about the huge amount ofteamwork that goes into getting theArrows airborne. It was clear the pupilswere hugely appreciative of theopportunity, constantly asking questionsand enjoying a rare peek behind thescenes of this world-famous team.The Jon Egging Trust was set up torealise Jon’s dream of inspiring youngpeople by his wife Dr Emma Egging, hismother Dawn, friend James Godley andRed Arrows pilot Flt Lt Ben Plank. Bentold us, “We’re trying to help youngpeople achieve – help them bring outtheir confidence and show them thatthey do have skills, and how best to usethem.“We’re trying to emphasise teamworkand getting them to learn how to workas part of a team. Obviously the RedArrows is one huge team – a lot ofpeople only associate the Red Arrowswith the nine jets and the nine pilots inthe red suits, but we’re a fraction of thatteam. Standing behind us are 110 peopleall working together to get us flying.That’s something we’re trying to instil inthe kids as part of the project.“As part of the project, we get aninspirational person – a pilot or anengineer, someone with an interestingstory – to talk to the kids and invite themto come down and see what goes onbehind the scenes. Then over the nextfew months they visit other Air Forceunits learning more bespokeA lasting legacyThe Blue Skies project is ensuring the legacy of those no longer with uslives onRED ARROWS078-080:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:43 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY79RED ARROWSteamworking techniques and skills.They’ll put what they’ve learned into apresentation which, in the pilot, wasdelivered in front of the Red Arrows andsenior officers. The reward for all theirhard work last year was a VIP visit to theWaddington Air Show.“We fly over their school all the time sothey know who the Red Arrows are, butthey only ever see us from a distance, soit’s great to invite them across. Duringthe next few months the Trust will bebringing the programme to other schoolsacross Lincolnshire and the UK, so theBattle of Britain Memorial Flight whooperate out of RAF Coningsby will beworking with pupils from schools in thatarea.”As Dr Emma Egging points out, “Wework to make sure we can identify theschool that can benefit the most from theprogramme. We’ve worked with thePriory Academy because it’s a schoolwe’ve got a very good relationship with.There are pupils there who for whateverreason aren’t reaching their potential sowe’ve worked with the teachers toidentify who could benefit from a boostto their confidence and self-esteem. TheForce Development team which trains upall the officers are putting together aprogramme of team-building for them.”John Wiles, Assistant Head at the PrioryAcademy, is very enthusiastic about thebenefits of the scheme. He tells us, “Welike to offer some pupils something a littledifferent that they can really key into.They get to learn things they don’tnecessarily get taught in school andcertainly their interpersonal skills get a lot80 “As part of the project, we get an inspirational person – a pilot or an engineer,someone with an interesting story – to talk to the kids and invite them to come downand see what goes on behind the scenes.”MAIN PHOTO COURTESY OF DALE WOOLGAR078-080:Layout 1 18/3/13 09:43 Page 2Next >