< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYH W OXLEYStay safe and securewith Oxley Doors,Shutters & GatesOxley is one of Yorkshire and Lincolnshire’s largest supplierof garage doors, industrial doors and automatic gate systems.Established in 1985, the company has nearly three decades ofexperience in the field of “physical security products”, andtheir staff all are specialists in their specific areas.Oxley take pride in being able to offer the best products attheir keenest prices which enabled the company, whichinitially specialised in garage doors, to grow into a group ofspecialist companies including Oxley Shutters and OxleyGates, each with an enviable reputation for reliable, friendlyservice and unbeatable quality products. This dedication toquality means they are now the specified supplier of garagedoors throughout Yorkshire and Lincolnshire for manynational house builders, they install shutters and automaticgates on schools and ambulance and police stations for localauthorities and also maintain industrial doors for majorcompanies throughout the North East.Oxley thrive on competition and are never knowinglybeaten on price. They can offer a product range of literallythousands of garage doors from all leading manufactures,fabricate their own steel gates and manufacture their ownsteel roller shutters. They also provide the complete service,from free advice and quotations, to design and manufacture,right through to installation and maintenance – all coveredby a true 24 hour emergency call out service.For further expert advice, a free survey andquotation, call Oxley on 08000 268822 or visitwww.oxleydoors.co.uk.THE OLD PALACE, LINCOLNFormer Bishops’Palace opens asboutique hotelVisitors looking for overnight accommodationin Lincoln can now stay in a new boutique hotelin an enviable location a stone’s throw awayfrom one of the finest cathedrals in Europe.Once home to the Bishop of Lincoln, The Old Palace offersluxurious accommodation in magnificent surroundingssteeped in nearly a thousand years of history. The palace, builton medieval foundations, dates back to 1720 and caters forweddings and conferences but until now the sixteenbeautifully renovated bedrooms had only been available forgroup hire. The desire to enable more people to enjoy thesought-after combination of luxury and history has inspiredthe Diocese of Lincoln, which owns The Old Palace, to hire therooms out on an individual basis.The hotel will complement continuing use of the historicbuilding as a meetings and events centre, catering for up to ahundred guests. Although there isn’t a restaurant on site,breakfast will be included in the room rate and guests will beable to enjoy drinks and light meals in the drawing room aswell as 24/7 room service.The Old Palace will also continue to cater for private dining,offering delicious dishes incorporating the finest Lincolnshireproduce and cooked to an exceptionally high standard.In June a further sixteen beautifully decorated rooms willbecome available in a newly converted annexe. Thesympathetic restoration of the former Victorian churchbuilding will create some of the most desirable hotel rooms inthe city.The Old Palace is in Minster Yard, Lincoln, and for moreinformation, call 01522 504075 or visit www.theoldpalace.org.07-10:Layout 1 13/4/12 12:54 Page 4The oldest street in Cleethorpes is ready to celebrate!Sea View Street takes contemporary shopping to new heights. With its sophisticated array of specialist independent boutique shops, bespoke soft furnishings, restaurants and cafes,the area offers the very best in high-end fashion, luxury foods and beautiful crafts.join us on facebook search Sea View Street CleethorpesThink BubblesA Good YarnCote-EstEco SystemsTILLETTSP & L INTERIORSLa Cocinamuch,much morethan just aseaview!La FlotteWeight management11:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:44 Page 1Cooking up a stormDear Lincolnshire Today,I’ve been having a go at some of the recipes you printevery month, I’m no Nigella, but I’m getting there!The Asparagus, Parmesan and Horseradish tart is next on my list when the asparagus is ready, I like totry and use local ingredients and it’s just about ready for harvest now. It looks like a healthy treat and Ican’t wait to try it.I’d like to see some vegetarian recipes too if that’s possible, it’s sometimes hard to come up with greatrecipes when everything includes meat in some form or another. Perhaps a seasonal recipe per issuewould be good? Lincolnshire has so many great food producers and we all like to do our bit for the local economy!J PatnickGranthamIf you have something to say that you wish to share with the rest of Lincolnshire Today readers please dropus a line to the usual address.The best of the mailbag will win a case of wine.Lincolnshire Today Magazine, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk HAVE YOUR SAYFat of the landDear Lincolnshire Today,The news that Lincolnshire has a child obesity level above the national average issomething we should all be ashamed of. It’s difficult to comprehend that nearly 10%of children are clinically obese when they start school. You’d think that this figurewould go down when our kids are at school and they are more active, but in fact thenumbers doubles by the time they leave secondary school. Time to put more emphasison physical education, perhaps?W WilliamsMarket RasenReaders’LETTERSPickof theMonth12 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYPipe dreamDear Lincolnshire Today,I read with interest your comments onthe hosepipe ban and thought I’d dropyou a line regarding a water leak Ireported to the authorities in KirtonLindsey that has taken four years to fix!When first reported I was told the leakwas a natural spring and not to concernmyself. Last month, almost four years tothe day, the water board appeared, dugup the road and fixed the so-calledspring.So much for efficiencies and waterconservation!L ParkerKirton LindseyBridging the gapDear Lincolnshire Today,What superb news that the Humber Bridge toll is beingcut in half. At last, we seem to have a government which ison our region’s side. A £1.50 cut in the toll might not seemmuch, but if you’re running a freight company, for example,this is a significant boost when fuel prices are running sohigh. George Osborne’s Budget might have had itsdetractors, but this move is great for Lincolnshire.R JamesGrimsby12:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:47 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY13SPALDINGWith up to 75% off RRPs every dayof the year at over 55 Outlet Storesincluding M & S Outlet, Clarks, GapOutlet, Hallmark, Animal, T M Lewin,Thorntons and Nike Factory Store,Springfields is outlet shopping at itsfinest. Recent new stores include The BodyShop Outlet, Jacques Vert, MBTFootwear, Lakeland Leather, Weird Fish& Trespass. With more exciting namesin the pipeline, why not come and seefor yourself what it has to offer –brilliant value, a wide variety of storesand a relaxing, pleasant atmosphere.Visitors can relax and slow thingsdown after shopping, andSpringfields has plenty onoffer to help people dojust that. You will find 25acres of beautiful FestivalGardens as well as a greatchoice of cafes andrestaurants. Springfields is morethan just a trip to theshops, it’s the region’s premier retailand leisure destination and a fantasticday out for all people of all ages.Register now to become aSpringfields VIP member and keep upto date with all the latest news andevents here, just follow the VIPregistration link on the home page atspringfieldsshopping.com AttractionsIn addition to more than 25 acres ofbeautiful Festival Gardens, places toeat and 55 stores, Springfields alsooffer visitors:The magnificent Springfields DisplayFountains, the first of the kind in theUK, combining music, water and lightsfor wonderful shows. Displays takeplace every day on a seasonal basis(subject to weather) to delight andamaze visitors.You can extend your stay with easeat the 43-bed Spalding Travelodge atthe centre. Some rooms have fantasticviews over the Festival Gardens. There are also specially designedSpringfields Activity Walks, which areroutes for children following red andblue tulips around the beautifulFestival Gardens. These routescombine challenging, educationalquestions as well as fun activities forchildren of all ages with a chance towin a £25 gift card in our regular prizedraw.The Festival Garden Centre stocks avast range of garden furniture,houseplants, seeds, bulbs, gardenequipment, outdoor clothing, giftideas and accessories.Also at the centre is the IndoorPlaybarn and Outdoor Adventure PlayArea, taking the form of a giant’scastle, the tallest beanstalk slide in thecountry and a magic transparentviewing point, it is a perfect place forchildren. Opening hours are Monday-Friday 10am-6pm, late-night Thursdays until 8pm with free parking after 6pm, Saturday 9am-6pm,Sundays 11am-5pm and public holidays 10am-6pm.For further enquiries please contact us on 01775 760909, email enquiries@springfieldsshopping.com or visitwww.springfieldsshopping.com Something foreveryone at SPRINGFIELDSNo matter what age you are, at Springfields OutletShopping and Festival Gardens there’s alwaysplenty on offer, a great day out for the whole family.13:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:48 Page 1Relax...We’ve got it covered2 High Street, Holbeach, Spalding, Lincs. PE12 7DUTel (01406) 420824 Email toto.shop@bnternet.comwww.totoholbeach.comOpening hours – 10am - 4.30pm (closed Wednesday and Sunday)Unique shoe boutique stocking a large selection of quality brands of ladies and gents shoes, located in the centre of the thriving market town of Holbeach LACEY’S LONDONMOSHULUCOLOURSJosef SeibelENZO OF FLORENCEthe only gold star stockist in LincolnshireNew styles and colours for summer 2011Ladies Mens GirlsWISBECH01945 583056ELY01353 662113SPALDING01775 723091Browse online www.gibbsshoes.comEstablished 1908Relax...Every month Lincolnshire Today bringsyou what you need to know in the worldof fashion, hair & beauty, health & fitnessand wellbeing.Call now to subscribe:01472 310301or visit www.lincolnshiretoday.com/subscribeLincolnshire Todaythe county’s favourite magazineWe’ve got it covered14:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:49 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY15SPALDINGOf all the charms offered by thebroad acres around Spalding,landscape is hardly the first thatsprings to mind.It offers no rolling hills, no distantmountains and no craggy outcrops,and there’s barely a contour on themap for miles.Yet the character of the landscape isloved by two people who grew up inSpalding, and remain linked to it byfamily and profession.Agriculture is in the blood of AdrianJansen and Christina Tyrell - he as theDirector of Lingarden Bulbs, grower ofinnumerable daffodils every spring,she as an agricultural student fromnearby Cowbit, and now studying atRiseholme College, just north ofLincoln. They’re linked to each other bygrowing things and by the largesttourist attraction in that part of theworld – Spalding’s Flower Parade. He’sthe parade’s controller and this yearshe’s the first woman to drive a floatsince the event began more than halfa century ago.The event attracts as many as 70,000spectators, which is quite a total for atown of about 17,000, and offers theparade controller as much potentialfor stress as job satisfaction.He has represented the FlowerParade and South Holland at theWorld Tulip Summit in Canberra,Australia in 2006, at Spalding in 2008,when the town hosted the event, andin the Skagit Valley in America’sWashington State 2010. He says, “Thisis a biennial event to which countrieswith significant tulip festivals travelfrom all over the world. It is acelebration of the tulip in all its forms,history, living plants, art andliterature.”Adrian is the son of a Dutch bulbgrower who came to SouthLincolnshire’s Pinchbeck in 1935. Hehas worked at Lingarden for years, andtook over the bulb and daffodiloperation as part of a managementbuy-out in 2007. He says, “I have livedin Spalding all my life. I like the areaand I love Lincolnshire, though othercounties certainly have their beauty.“People say South Lincolnshire isflat, but there’s beauty in the flatness.I like the big skies, and it’s nice to beable to see such a long way.“The river is a great feature ofSpalding, not just the Welland, but theCoronation Channel too. There aresome great walks and some great16 South ofthe countyBig skies, fertile farmland and a lovefor growing things unite two peoplewho got the agricultural gene fromtheir parents. Our attention is focusedon Spalding, as seen through the eyesof Adrian Jansen and Christina Tyrell…Acres of daffs are hallmarks of spring in Spalding. Theseare part of the daffodil collection at SpringfieldGardens, a short water-taxi ride from the centre of town.Shiny surfaces mixwith the softer linesof growing things atSpringfield GardensSouth ofthe county15-16:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:51 Page 116 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYSPALDINGwildlife.” He’s also a fan of the people, nomatter if they work locally or makethe commute to London.The isolation appeals too, thoughit’s hard to feel isolated with theamount of lorries on the roadassociated with the food industry.Adrian says, “There’s a degree ofquietness, unless you count the A16,where there’s no quiet time of day.We’re a long way from a motorway,and you even have to go a long way tofind a stretch of dual carriageway. Isometimes drive to the southwest, andI leave at 5am. There’s a queue oflorries even then, all serving the foodindustry; putting people’s meals onsupermarket shelves. “Food is a major employer - itstransport is a big industry based on anumber of small transport firms.” Christina’s family has been part ofthat food production effort forgenerations. She grew up on the 130-acre farm that grows wheat, barley,potatoes and, perhaps of course, daffs.She says, “It’s good, well-drained land.It’s fertile and productive and deservesto be called the bread basket ofEngland. It’s home and I love it.” Last year Christina was the topagricultural student on her nationaldiploma course, and this year she’sone of eight students on the first-everAgriculture and Environmental Sciencedegree course being run at Riseholme,and she’s loving that too. Christina has been pinning flowerheads on flower parade floats since shewas about seven years old. Now she’sgraduated to the driving seat of theLand Army Girls float, she intends tostay there as long as possible. She says,“Now I’m in it, I’m looking forward toit. I want to be part of the parade aslong as it goes on. It proves womencan drive tractors and are part of thefarming community.“Dad is part of the organising team.They said more drivers were wanted,and he told them I was interested. He’svery happy I’m doing it, and so am I.”The UK has about 10,000 acres givenover to daffodils, with about a thirdgrown in each of Lincolnshire and thesouth-west, and the rest spreadbetween Norfolk, Cambridgeshire andScotland.For Adrian, themanagement buy-out wassomething of a leap offaith, but it’s paying off,even in spite of theeconomic downturn. Hesays, “People having tocut back don’t buybouquets of flowers for £5or £6, but they can stillfind £1 for a bunch ofdaffodils.” Coupled with theirrefusal to be grown year-round, even under glass,daffodils steadfastlyremain a herald of spring,and are welcomed into our homes intheir millions as a result. “What couldbe more cheerful than daffodils andlambs in the spring.” This summer Christina will beworking in another agricultural role,helping to grow wild bird food at VineHouse Farm in Deeping St Nicholas.It’s another job that brings her intocontact with the soil, and the love ofgrowing things - a passion shared byAdrian, who, in spite of growing daffsfor a living, still has varieties in hisown garden.He says, “I have lots of varieties athome, and I still look forward to themevery spring.” We can all empathisewith that. This year Spalding Flower Paradetakes place on Saturday 5th May.Spalding has a mixture of differentand appealing architectural stylesChristina Tyrell,the first womanto drive a floatin Spalding’sflower parade.15-16:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:51 Page 2LINCOLNSHIRETODAY17SOCIAL SCENEPHOTOS BY RICHARD PICKSLEYParrott on cuefor a great nightMaya and Brad Westlake with John Parrott and George GilbertKev Giles, Pete Hammond, Nick Gibson, Alan and Steve CoulingTim Ingram, Jeff Kirkham and Steve WilsonSteve Kervy and Peter HornerThe John Copsey partyRick Christopher, Rick Hall and Neil BrewerMandy and Austin KnightPeter Carr, Bernard Ross, John Parrott,Roy Froggatt, Patrick SullivanJohn Parrott MBE, former World Snooker Champion,Question of Sport captain and familiar face on the BBC’sracing coverage, was the guest at the latest event held by theLincoln Sportsmans’ Club at the Bentley Hotel in Lincoln.Among John’s duties was to present a donation to swimmersMaya and Brad Westlake of the Lincoln Vulcans, who recentlytook part in the Olympic trials.The Club’s sixth and final dinner of the current season is atthe Bentley Hotel on Friday 18th May. This popular event is theClub’s ladies night with entertainment from comedienne A-Jayand harmony band One Way. There are still tickets available forgroup tables and individuals for this event which includes a fivecourse dinner for just £35. Anyone interested should email atinfo@lincolnsportsmans.com , visit www.lincolnsportsmans.comor call 01522 508355, where they can also find out how tobecome a member for just £10 for the year.17:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:52 Page 118:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:52 Page 1A stunningbarn conversionopping Syke Barns inLangrick, near Boston is afantastically unique property,which has been meticulouslyconverted from a cluster of formerbarns and cottages into a fabulousfamily home.Current owner Sue Sandersonpurchased the site in 2005 and, over aperiod of five years, transformed thederelict buildings into a property ofdistinction, which certainly has thewow factor and is quite simply astunning home! Today, the propertycovers around 5,000 sq ft with a triplegarage, plus around four acres ofgardens, backing onto the tranquilRiver Witham. Local builders and craftsmen werebrought in to work on the project andmany of the materials used werereclaimed, therefore creating anauthentic home in keeping with theheritage of the site.Today, Copping Syke Barns is anenviable conversion of an extensiverange of traditional farm buildings toform an impressive family home. Setin a delightful rural setting, close tothe River Witham, the house enjoys aCLINCOLNSHIRETODAY19HOMEShigh level of privacy and issurrounded by four acres of gardens. The old cottages and barns weredisused farm buildings, which hadbeen neglected over the years. Strictplanning guidelines however meantthat the conversion had to besympathetic to its history. The projectwas extensive and, over a five yearperiod, each of the existing buildingshad to be completely underpinnedand carefully repointed. A gardenroom was added to join the buildingstogether and create one completeproperty, centred around a fabulousenclosed courtyard.Quality craftsmanshipOnly the finest materials have beenused throughout the conversion, withoak, Italian marble and stone featuringthroughout. The accommodationcomprises a wealth of characterfeatures to include fireplaces andA stunningbarn conversionA generous reception hall from which asplendid stone staircase, with iron spindles andan oak banister, rises to the first floor21 This month’s featured property is a beautiful barn conversion tuckedaway in rural Lincolnshire, yet close to the town of Boston.CThis month’s featured property is a beautiful barn conversion tuckedaway in rural Lincolnshire, yet close to the town of Boston.19-22:Layout 1 13/4/12 11:58 Page 1Next >