< Previous60 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYAcross Lincolnshire we’re oftenreminded of the contribution thecounty made to the wartimeeffort, and this spring will be particularlypoignant as we mark the seventiethanniversary of the end of World War II inEurope. RAF stations in Lincolnshireplayed a pivotal role up to and duringthat decisive period and a number ofevents are taking place to mark this. Thecounty is again at the heart of thecommemorations.One of the most fascinating storiesfrom this period is the world’s firsthumanitarian airdrop, Operation Manna.In 1945, the RAF and USAAF droppedfood over a two week period to thehundreds of thousands of starving Dutchpeople who had been cut off fromsupplies by the Germans. LancasterBombers from many of the county’sstations took off to deliver over 11,000tons of food and rations under thewatchful eyes of the enemy. The aircraftflew at very low altitudes over theoccupied countryside, while the Germanstrained their anti-aircraft guns on thembut didn’t open fire. A grateful Dutch population have neverforgotten this act of kindness and areplanning national commemorations thisyear. Lincolnshire will be represented atthe official engagements in Rotterdamand alongside this, Aviation HeritageLincolnshire has been working since lastsummer on a very successful jointnational education project involvingeighteen schools from the Netherlandsand Lincolnshire studying together thecauses and effects of this operation. Meanwhile at The Collection onLincoln on Wednesday 20th May you’llbe able to enjoy a talk by Mike Inghamto launch a DVD about Operation Exodus– the repatriation of the tens ofthousands of allied Prisoners of War fromEurope back to the UK. RAF bomberaircraft from the county were again usedin droves to accomplish this vital andsatisfying task of bringing our boy home.Many squadrons were eager to get toEurope to discover and recover lost crewmates shot down over the previous fiveyears. Following the defeat of Germany,attention was turned to the Pacifictheatre and in the early summer of 1945it was planned to dispatch long-rangeLancaster squadrons, including thosewith Australian crews, from Lincolnshireout to the Far East under the banner ofTiger Force. In the event, the dropping ofthe first atomic bomb on Hiroshima andsubsequent surrender by the Japaneseforced the cancellation of thisdeployment. On Thursday 6th August atthe Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre,you can hear about the planning andwork-up training for this deploymentwith renowned aviation historian andauthor Bill Taylor.2015 is also the 75th anniversary ofthat most momentous campaign, theBattle of Britain. Currently there are plansfor a national commemoration andLincolnshire will be playing its part, withmore information being revealed laterthis summer. In the meantime it’s wellworth paying a visit to the Lima SectorOperations Room Museum at RAF Digby.The county’s role in that epic struggle iswell told in this beautifully preservedbunker with outstanding and uniqueartefacts on view. The museum is open tothe public on Sundays between May andOctober.This year should also see theRememberingtheheroesMay marks the seventiethanniversary of VE Day, and poignantcommemorations will take place across the county60-61_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:53 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY61VE DAYcompletion of the first phase of theInternational Bomber Command Centreat Canwick Hill in Lincoln. The vision is tocreate a facility that will bring to life,through the multiple voices of those thatserved and those that suffered, theunique story of Bomber Command. Therewill also be links with other aviationheritage sites in this country and furtherafield.On Sunday 10th May, the firstsignificant sign of its development willarrive in the shape of the Memorial Spire.Its design is based on two wingfragments, tapering as they rise towardsthe sky and echoes the Spires that formpart of Lincolnshire’s skyline. The heightof the memorial is 102ft, which is thewingspan of the Avro Lancaster while thewidth at the base is 16ft, which is theoverall width of a Lancaster wing. OnSunday morning the Spire will betransported via the M180, A1, A17 andA15, so if you’re up early enough, whynot see if you can spot it?Although World War II is under thespotlight this year thanks to theanniversary of VE Day, the countycontinues to remember and pay tributeto those who served with greatdistinction in all conflicts. The centenarycommemorations of The Great War arecontinuing and Sunday 10th May willalso see the unveiling of the Lincoln TankMemorial.The Memorial will be in the form of apartly constructed Mark I tank which wasoriginally built for the First World Warclose to the roundabout by William Foster& Co at their Wellington Factory.Historians have recently uncoveredphotographs of the tanks loaded on totrains waiting to leave Lincoln, sitedexactly where the roundabout is today.The £90,000 memorial will be one and ahalf times the size of a full-sized tank.As well as these major events, manyof Lincolnshire’s towns and villages willalso be holding their owncommemorations which will all beextremely poignant. It illustrates howour heroes are still being rememberedmany generations later.PHOTO: SHAUNWILKINSON / SHUTTERSTOCK.COMLincolnshire is the home of the Battle of BritainMemorial Flight and its planes, such as thisbeautiful Lancaster Bomber, are regularly seenflying across the county’s skiesPoWs In A Waddington LancasterWAAFs looking at JO-V60-61_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:53 Page 262 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYBusiness inLincolnshireFarm park keeps growing thanks to Clydesdale BankA multi-award-winning working farm park in Lincolnshire isexpanding into new areas and has plans for further growth, withsupport from Clydesdale Bank. Rand Farm Park, in the village of Rand between Lincoln andWragby, was established in 1996 by Richard and Kay Waring. As wellas being a popular visitor attraction for families, it also provideshands-on educational experiences for school pupils both on dayvisits and longer residential courses.The business is a new customer to Clydesdale Bank, which hasprovided a funding arrangement of £950,000. This finance packagehas enabled the business to create a purpose-built facility whichallows it to offer an expanded range of certified animal care coursesfor students attending nearby Lincoln College. It has also assistedthe business in the purchase of new play equipment. The deal wasmanaged by Michael Pickles, relationship manager at ClydesdaleBank’s Business and Private Banking Centre in Lincoln.Bank event helps buy-to-letinvestments take flightYorkshire Bank helped landlords and potential investors get the most out of theirinvestments at an educational buy-to-let event that took place during the Bank’s PrivateWeek.The event was held at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre in Spilsby, home toone of the last operational Lancaster Bombers named ‘Just Jane’, and was hosted inpartnership with accountants Wright Vigar and letting agency HE Lettings.The session attracted fifty guests from all three companies, some with an existing propertyportfolio and some looking to invest in the sector for the first time. A number of presentationswere delivered on the theme of buy-to-let property purchase and financing, designed to clarifythe process and benefits of this type of investment.Growing competition in the buy-to-let sector has led to an increasing choice of attractiveproducts. The event aimed to inform attendees of the opportunities they can capitalise on withinthis area.Lincolnshire Sport unveilnew offices at Eco OneLincolnshire Sport welcomed a host of local partners to the official opening of theirbrand new offices at Eco One on Highcliffe Farm in Ingham.Janet Inman, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Sport, says, “We are thrilled to have finallymoved into our new office facility. Eco One is a modern, forward thinking building and wefeel it is a much more suitable home for Lincolnshire Sport which is more in keeping withour aspirations as an organisation.”The building itself, managed by the owners of Highcliffe Farm, is one of the mostenvironmentally friendly office spaces available to rent in Lincolnshire. Eco One benefits from very low carbon emissions and is a BREEAM ‘Excellentrated’ building.Upon cutting the ribbon to officially open Lincolnshire Sport’s new home, Chairman Jon Grubb commented on the importance of the move to amore suitable home, quoting American Football legend Dan Marino – “Having home field is an advantage, but so is having a lot of talent.” 62-63_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:40 Page 1Success for NationalApprenticeship WeekApprentices at City ofLincoln Council took thelead to celebrate NationalApprenticeship Week aspart of a special open day.Around twentyapprentices were on handthroughout the day tooffer information andinsight aboutapprenticeships,alongside a cake sale inaid of Macmillan Cancer Support. They also gave their own presentationsabout the apprenticeship scheme and their experiences.Jane Newman, Work Based Learning Manager, says, “The overall successof National Apprenticeship Week demonstrates how importantapprenticeships are. The soft skills developed alongside qualificationsenable apprentices to plan, run and reflect when undertaking such afantastic event. I am immensely proud of the personal development manyhave shown and the professionalism with which they delivered the day.”Apprentices from Bereavement Services, Communications, IT andHealthy Lifestyles were shadowed during the week.Lincolnshire businessescutting their energy bills Business owners across the region are joining together to collectively cut their gas andelectricity costs through the Lincolnshire Business Energy Scheme. The scheme is supportedby local business leaders Vee Guruajan of Branston and David Cotten of HurstonAccountants & Business Advisers.Lincolnshire Business Energy Scheme has been launched by Ashley Bayliss and ShawnBailey of Compare Energy Bills who work with companies across the region to help themsecure the cheapest gas and electricity tariffs. Ashley and Shawn realised that by bringing together the combined gas and electricity buying powerof their clients, they could negotiate much cheaper prices for everyone involved. With the Lincolnshire Business Energy Scheme each company who joins retains their own individual contract, so they only pay for their gas andelectric usage and their account remains in their own name. The more businesses who sign up to the free scheme, the greater savings that can besecured.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63Westleigh hands over firstCommunity Land Trust schemeHouse builder Westleigh has finished work on its firstCommunity Land Trust scheme for Lincolnshire Rural HousingAssociation in Pinchbeck, providing fourteen new affordable homesfor local families.The completed development has been named Maurice ChappellWay, in honour of Pinchbeck Parish Councillor Maurice, who cut theribbon at the development’s opening. Maurice first came up withthe idea to build more affordable housing in the village about tenyears ago and worked tirelessly for many years with LincolnshireRural to achieve his aim.Run by local volunteers, Pinchbeck CLT bought the 1.25 acre siteon Flaxmill Lane from Pinchbeck Parish Council. The organisation isnon-profit and has been developed with Lincolnshire Rural HousingAssociation, who has a 125 year lease on the site.The development has provided a mixture of semi-detached two andthree bedroom homes for local residents, and an informal allotmentarea has also been provided within the scheme – an idea which camefrom the CLT.Northern Powergrid launches craft apprenticeship programmeNorthern Powergrid, the company responsible for running the electricity network innorthern Lincolnshire, has launched the first stage of an eight-year recruitment drivethat will see more than eight hundred people start a new career in the region’s energyindustry.The company, which transports electricity to 3.9 million homes and businessesacross the region, is opening its 2015 craft apprenticeship programme forapplications. Enthusiastic, hands on individuals who want to learn a trade for life afterleaving school or college, or are looking for a change in career direction, can apply.Lindi Hutchinson, Director of Human Resources at Northern Powergrid, says, “Overthe next eight years, we will take on around a hundred new craft and technicalrecruits every year. Our craft apprentices will work as part of a skilled team and receivethe training they need to develop an exciting career in the energy industry.”62-63_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:40 Page 264 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYEQUINEWhile the aim for many riders is to keep their horses athome, land is expensive and beyond the purses ofmany. Keeping your horse at livery – effectively,renting a stable and use of grazing and facilities – is a popularchoice, but how can you be assured that you choose the verybest?As equine specialist Brenda Gilligan, Senior Solicitor of WilkinChapman, points out, “Livery yards vary tremendously in whatthey offer, from the equivalent of five star hotels to very basicfacilities, but riders needs vary too. When you’re looking for alivery yard, you’ll want to be sure it’s fully regulated and licensedso you have peace of mind that it’s a good yard, won’t you?“You’ll look in vain. There is no legal requirement for a liveryyard as such to be formally licensed, nor are they inspected bysuch as the local authority on a regular basis. They do not haveto pass any licensing criteria. This is different to riding schools,which have to be inspected annually by the local authority with avet, as well as having proper insurance cover in case of accidentsbefore they can be licensed.”The British Horse Society does runs an “approved” livery yardscheme, but this is voluntary and there is no legal requirementfor yards to aim to appear on it. The Association of British RidingSchools is also bringing in its own inspections and approval towork alongside their existing approved riding school scheme.CHECKTHERIDINGLICENCEMore and more readers are keeping their horses atlivery yards – but how can you make sure you’vechose the right one?64-65_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:43 Page 1Paula Leveton ofFourwinds Equestrian nearSpalding, who is anexaminer at the ABRS,says, “We hope that by joining us, livery yards can assurecustomers that they and their horse will be well cared for andsafe, with good facilities. It should be a marketing asset for thoseyards.”These voluntary schemes are proving popular with riders as avaluable way to locate the best yards – but is there any chancethat taking part in these schemes will become compulsory toavoid confusion and introduce accepted standards throughoutthe UK? Brenda says, “This was discussed when the AnimalWelfare Act 2006 was at consultation stage before becoming law,but no decision was made. There is however a potentialdownside to compulsory regulation and, as is so often the case, itboils down to economics.“There is a perception that riding is a rich person’s hobby.However, many riders are devoted to their horses and everypenny they can spare goes to give them the best they can. Theymay keep them at a cheap and cheerful yard, but they will havedeep beds, good food and proper exercise. A lot of these yardsexist on shoestrings and the goodwill of the liveries themselvesmucking in, but they work.“If the yard owner had to pay for improved facilities andcompulsory licensing, would they just give up altogether, leavingthese horse owners literally out on the street? Where would theygo? Some neither want nor need flashy facilities, but would beLINCOLNSHIRETODAY65EQUINEhappy with grazing, water and a shelter. Would the yards thatpass the necessarily stringent licensing criteria charge a premium,becoming unaffordable for even more horse owners? Would themarket be flooded with horses for sale that can no longer bekept?“For yard owners, wanting to provide the best for clients is anadmirable aim and to be encouraged, but there must be abalance to be struck.”If you’re looking for a yard for your horse, the voluntaryschemes are a good way to get an idea of the kind of facilities onoffer and provide assurances that they are of a high standard –but it’s worth taking a closer look to ensure you find the right fitfor your horse.PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/STOKKETEPHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK.COM/ANTONIODIAZ64-65_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:43 Page 266 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCOUNTY MOTORINGLet theSUNshine inWhen it comes to driving with the roof down, it’s fifty-something women who are firmly in the driving seat,according to a new study by the AA. Don’t let that deteryou from buying an open top car this year – after all,there are some great models to choose from… Mazda66-69_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:51 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67COUNTY MOTORINGrriving in the UK later thissummer and available to ordernow, is the fourth generation MazdaMX5. This all-new model is the lightest MX-5since the first generation and the first withSKYACTIV Technology, including a choice of twoultra-efficient lightweight petrol enginesdelivering 131PS and 160PS.Additional highlights include a sporty KODO:Soul of Motion design, the lowest centre ofgravity to date on an MX-5, and a people-oriented interior that’s optimised for open-topdriving. It is also available with the MZDConnect infotainment system and a range ofactive and pre-crash safety technology.The MX5 also won the What Car fun category68 ÁMercedesA66-69_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:51 Page 2AudiMini66-69_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:51 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69COUNTY MOTORINGrecently and for good reason! Mercedes’ SLK is another classic opentop cruiser, and since the introduction offolding hard tops this one is an all-seasons roadster loaded with luxury andsafety kit. If it’s raw power you’re afterthe V8 55 AMG version rockets to 60mphin less than 4.6 seconds and offers a topspeed of 155mph! But it’s not all about power, thestandard models fairly decent levels ofperformance too and good resale valuesa few years down the line if well lookedafter.The Audi TT roadster unfortunately, stillonly comes in soft top version, so you’llprobably need to order a few extraswhen you buy one from the showroom –not least a wind deflector! The two electric motors powering thesoft-top complete the opening andclosing process in ten seconds, and cando so at speeds of up to 31mph. Onething we do like is that when opening,the top forms a Z shape as it folds flatinto its aluminium tray, which means itdoesn’t encroach on the luggagecompartment. Interestingly, the classic Mini didn’tofficially get its first open top until it was34 years old, which is hard to understandgiven its popularity. The ride is firm, and itmay not be as sharp to drive as thehatchback but despite this, the MiniConvertible has established itself as amarket leader and still retains poleposition in its segment. Last but by no means least in our opentop line up is Volkswagen’s CC Eos.Impressively quick, even if you choose theentry level version 1.4 TSI, it’s also aproper four seater and as the windscreendoesn’t rake back as much as somemodels, you don’t have to worry abouthitting your head on the A pillars eachtime you get in or out. With the Britishclimate in mind the folding hard top evencomes with an integrated sunroof!Volkswagen66-69_Layout 1 17/04/2015 10:51 Page 4Next >