< Previous10 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYReaders’lettersWe’d love to hear from you. If you have any news, views or issuesyou would like us to cover, do get in touch.Dragon lost its fire?Dear Lincolnshire TodayIt’s crazy that the annual Dragon Boat race inLincoln has had to be moved because of ‘healthand safety reasons’. I hope the new date doesn’tmean people will miss out on what is one of thehighlights of the year as far I’m concerned. It’s areal worry to me that these sorts of events willgradually die out because of some ridiculous lawthought up in Brussels. Let’s enjoy the race whilewe can!T SimonsMarket RasenOh, we do like to be beside the seaside…Dear Lincolnshire Today,My wife and I really enjoyed your last issue with its coastal theme. We liveout at Saltfleetby and sometimes feel like we’re a little forgotten, but therewere some places in there local to us so it was great to find a little lightshone on our area. The county’s coastline is a real asset and more peopleshould visit, perhaps your features will encourage people to explore a bitnow! We love it out here and we were really glad to see you do too.Mr and Mrs T EvansSaltfleetbyPICK OF THE MONTHThe winner of our letter of the month wins a case of wine.We’d love to hear from you: Lincolnshire Today, Armstrong House, Armstrong Street, Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QE Email: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk We reserve the right to edit published lettersMoney formarketsDear Lincolnshire Today,What superb news that Market Rasenis among seven towns sharing in a £1 millionfunding pot as a reward for the innovative wayin which it has revitalised the high street.Market Rasen has improved its retail andservice offer to encourage the community toshop locally. It now has two community shops– a fruit and veg shop that sources localproduce, and a local arts and crafts shop thatprovides a place for the local community totest-sell their products. They really are puttingthe market back into Market Rasen!T StevensTealbyLet them eat...Dear LincolnshireTodayI’ve long been a fanof the Old PalaceHotel in Lincoln, werecently attended awedding there andreally enjoyed thefood. The restaurantsin Lincoln can be hitand miss sometimes,so it’s great newsthat the Old Palace isopening an eatery ofits own – and thatit’s open to thepublic. We’ll definitely be making a return tothis fantastic hotel – and this time we’ll bebooking a table!J ShreevesYorkPICKOF THEMONTH010:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:12 Page 1166501205 822804www.supremeinns.co.ukSupreme Inns, Bicker Bar, Bicker, Boston, PE20 3AN01775 821200www.redlionbicker.co.ukYe Olde Red Lion, Donington Road, Bicker, Boston, PE20 3EF01205 290310www.poachershotel.co.ukThe Poachers Country Hotel, Swineshead Road, Kirton Holme, Boston, PE20 1SQcker Bar, Bicker, BostThe PoachersCountry HotelPoachers EventsJazz Night - August 2nd80’s Soul Night - August 23rdRat Pack Night - November 16thBook Now011:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:13 Page 112 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYThe CJMAuction CentrecjmRegular Auctions of Industrial & Commercial EquipmentAntiques & Bankrupt StockRICS Registered ValuersCommercial & Residential Property Clearance SpecialistsOn-Site Auctions Throughout the UKEntries Invited for Forthcoming SalesFor Further Information on our services orto register for our regular Auction Newsletterplease contact: paul.cooper@cjmasset.com The CJM Aucon CentreDunlop WayScunthorpeDN16 3RNwww.cjmasset.comCheck out our new website at:01724 33 44 2607970 12 63 39FREE Antique Valuation ClinicsEvery Thursday 9am to 12 noon at: The Angel Suite, Market Place, Brigg, DN20 8LDEvery Friday 9am to 12 noon at: The CJM Auction CentreOne of the most hotly contested lots wasthe Beaumont-Adams 5-shot percussion revolver.Created in the mid-nineteenth century, this revolverplayed a notable part in firearms development duringthe Victorian period.What made this example particularly interesting was theexcellent marking on the gun that told just about all anyone couldwish to know about its history – it was made by Beaumont-Adamsin London between1856 and 1862, retailed by Trulock & Harris ofDublin and owned by Captain John Costley of the Royal WelchFusiliers, who was involved in the suppression of the Indianmutiny. The revolver sold for £1820, three times the pre-saleestimate, to a Norfolk collector.The militaria section also included a small pocket flintlock pistolwith a swing out miniature bayonet which sold for £435, while aset of four WWI medals that included the 1914-15 Star, the BritishWar Medal, Victory Medal and Royal Fleet Reserve Long Servicemedal sold for £172, double the pre-sale estimate and a GermanSpanish Cross in bronze hit £315, ten times the expectations.In the ‘edged weapons’ section, a Burmese Kris, which thevendor advised was probably a tourist souvenir from the sixties,was clearly more highly regarded by the enthusiasts. Expected togo for £30-100, the hammer actually went down at £910, after abid from a buyer from Brisbane! Militaria in its various forms isconsistently attracting interest and buyers from around the world.Elsewhere in the auction, the oddest lot was a ‘mummified’ catthat was discovered when the owners of an historic local cottagetook down a wall during renovation work. In centuries gone by, itwas not uncommon practice to wall updead cats to ward off evil spirits.It sold for £88, double thepresale estimate, to a lady inSheffield. Let’s hope it worksfor her.MilitariamightMilitaria provided most of the highlights ofCJM’s recent Fine Art and Antiques Auctionwith over five hundred people registering tobid in the online auction – a new record for anantiques and collectable auction at the centre.CJM AUCTION CENTREFind out aboutfuture sales atwww.cjmasset.comA mid-nineteenth century revolver,pocket flintlock pistol andBurmese Kris all sold for highprices at auction – an illustration ofthe increased interest in militaria.012:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:14 Page 1USE A HELMET NOT YOUR HEAD!lincolnshireLincolnBikes.co.ukSupporting safer riding013:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:14 Page 114 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNThe Lincolnshire Show, whichwelcomes thousands of visitors to thecity of Lincoln every June, has manyreasons for its huge popularity, but wethink one of the most appealing is thesense of community. The whole countygets together to make new relationshipsand meet old friends, and of course thewarm Lincolnshire welcome makes ithugely appealing for visitors fromoutside the county as well.The same can also be said of the cityof Lincoln itself. The county’s de facto“capital city”, there’s loads going on, butthe pace is never frantic and thewelcome is always friendly. Many of themajor events that go on throughout thesummer have roots firmly in the localcommunity and the latest developmentshave been designed with the city’sheritage and history very much in mind.These new developments are alsohighly attractive. For example, thegrounds of Lincoln Castle have recentlybecome home to the first new buildingthere for over a hundred years. This maybe something of a culture shock but theHeritage Skills Centre has beenconstructed with exceptional care andattention – to the extent that it has beenpresented with the Committed toConstruction in the East Midlands AwardLincoln’s NewportArch is being restoredthis summer to ensureit continues to appealto future generationsA close-knitCITYLincoln’s community spirit makes it one of the topplaces in the UK to live and work014-017:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:39 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY15LINCOLNfor the Project of The Year.Mary Powell ofLincolnshire CountyCouncil, says, “TheHeritage Skills Centre is abeautiful building in itsown right, but one that fitsinto its setting so perfectly.We are delighted to havereceived this award and that othersalso recognise the quality of this project.”As well as looking beautiful, the Centre has animportant role to play in passing on advice andexpertise in many of the traditional crafts andskills that have played a vital role in thedevelopment of the city – so if you’d like to pickup a new hobby, why not visit the centre for anintroduction to stained glass, lace making orstone carving? As well as harking back to thepast, the Centre could well play an importantpart in the future of the city as the facilities arealso welcoming many professionals to learn theskills of conserving and restoring so they canwork on many major projects.Of course Lincoln’s rich history is one of itsbiggest assets and this summer is the perfecttime to explore it. Indeed Lincoln Museum hasreceived a grant from the Arts Council to allow itto start offering tours of its storeroom, filled withall manner of fascinating paraphernalia from thecity’s past.But of course Lincoln isn’t just a museum andits cultural life is as vibrant as you’ll find in anymajor city. The recent Lincoln Inspired festivalbrought together Melvyn Bragg, Mitch Benn andmajor figures in the history of Doctor Who for afabulous week, with the aim of supporting localartists, encouraging new talent and to give theLincoln community an opportunity to be inspiredand celebrate creativity together. Lincoln JazzWeek in May, too, saw big names from themusical world like Claire Martin and GeorgieFame take to the stage across the city.This excitement continues this summer withLincoln Festival – a one-day extravaganza which16 The HeritageSkills Centre is abeautiful building inits own right, but onethat fits into itssetting soperfectly014-017:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:39 Page 216 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNtakes place in the city centre on Saturday 13th July, focusingheavily on the Brayford Waterfront and building on last year’sOlympic celebrations. Last year, ten thousand people attendedthe Follow the Light Parade which Mahogany, a group of multi-disciplinary artists, created on the Brayford Waterfront. For thisyear’s event, Mahogany will return to work with local schools andcommunity groups to create a carnival, costumes andchoreography.Later on this year, there’s the highly popular Lincoln ComedyFestival, which takes place in October and this year will feature anextra dimension with stand-up comedy workshops. A number ofprofessional comedians will be on hand to offer tips to buddingnewcomers and encourage them to polish skills, through aworkshop programme culminating in live performances.As well as these special events, Lincoln is hugely vibrant all yearround. Top venues such as the Drill Hall have packedprogrammes of entertainment, and indeed that venue attractsover 140,000 people a year. The Drill Hall is kicking off twelvemonths of celebrations to mark its tenth birthday next March andChris Kirkwood, its Chief Executive, says, “In the run up to the bigday we’re programming a range of special events, including aconcert by top British vocal group The Magnets, a new show byMotionhouse dance company and a stunning aerial theatre piecefrom Ockham’s Razor.”Continuing the theme of Lincoln as a great community, theDrill Hall promote themselves as being Lincoln’s “culturalheartbeat”, and as Chris tells us, “We offer a wide range ofopportunities for young people to get involved in the arts.Lincoln’s Brayford Waterfront is home tothis summer’s Lincoln Festival014-017:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:39 Page 3LINCOLNSHIRETODAY17LINCOLNNow they areTEN!The team at Lincoln Drill Hall are even busierthan usual, making arrangements in advance ofthe venue’s tenth anniversary next March. Chris Kirkwood, Lincoln Drill Hall’s Chief Executive, says, “The DrillHall provides the cultural heartbeat to Lincoln, attracting over140,000 visitors a year. People get creative here, learn new skills,meet friends and relax in the café bar, play with their kids, networkand do business as well as experiencing great live events of course.So it’s a milestone worth celebrating!“Most people don’t realise that Lincoln Drill Hall is a charitableorganisation. The financial support of individuals, companies andother bodies is vital for us to continue to present high-quality liveevents and to engage people with art that excites, inspires, challengesand delights. Our ‘Now We Are 10’ appeal is aimed at raising fundsfor our growing programme of work with children and young adults. “For example, £250 raised will pay for one of our Diddy Discos,providing a great environment for children aged 1-5 to dance andlet off steam. £1000 will secure our Butterfly Club events for 12months, providing party nights for young people with disabilitiesand their families. At the top end of the scale, £10,000 enable us todeliver our hugely popular children’s festival for the next three years.“It couldn’t be easier to donate. You can drop in to the Drill Halland leave your donation or use our Text giving service. Simply text70070 with the phrase NWER10 followed by your donationamount, for example NWER10 £5, and your donation willautomatically reach us. You can add a donation to your next ticketbooking either on the phone, in person or on-line. You can also setup a monthly direct debit to support this great work.”From our HappyMonday club forpre-school children,through to our YouthTheatre programmesand the Youngcut culturalentrepreneur initiative for 13to 18 year olds, our high qualityactivities provide over three thousand young people a year withthe chance to gain confidence, learn new skills and make newfriends.” There’s something to suit all tastes across the citythroughout the year.If you simply want to enjoy some retail therapy, a host of newshops, restaurants and bars have opened in recent months. Placessuch as Pelican Décor at the southern end of the High Street andRoly’s Fudge Pantry on Steep Hill are a great place to findsomething special, while the former Lamb and Flag pub in HighStreet is now home to the latest restaurant and food shop underAntonio Carluccio’s name, with the renowned chef himselfarriving in the city for the launch last month. You can complete aperfect day in Lincoln too by heading to one of its manyacclaimed night spots such as Home.Events such as the recent Lincolnshire Today-sponsored BailgateWedding Fayre saw many of the city’s retailers work together tohighlight their attractions – the kind of collaboration that youmight expect in a small village but may be surprised to find in themiddle of a city centre. It’s the community spirit in Lincoln thatmakes the city such a popular place to visit and live.Events suchas the recent Lincolnshire Today-sponsored BailgateWedding Fayre saw manyof the city’s retailers worktogether to highlight their attractions014-017:Layout 1 20/5/13 11:39 Page 418 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYLINCOLNThe Little Red Gallery in Lincoln’s Bailgate has onlybeen open a short time, but it’s already proving tobe a hive of interest for those interested incollecting established, contemporary and local art.Owner Hazel Venn is incredibly passionate about the artists ondisplay and has long harboured ambitions to show off artists shethinks others might enjoy. Nestled in a prime position, it’s atreasure trove of colour, inspiration and talent.“It’s all happened rather quickly,” says Hazel, “but we havealways wanted to open something up. We wanted to show offartists that we collect and are excited and passionate about. We’veselected work we think is strong and has been performing wellcommercially, what you see in here is predominantly artists at thetop of their game or up and coming talent.”The gallery is split into four rooms and as a result has a uniqueand quirky feel to it. However it all feels very natural, artists’ workis showcased grouped togetherand you can really take yourtime browsing, something Hazelis keen to encourage.“I want people to come in andfind something that really sings tothem. Something you are able to warmto, we want to remove some of the snobberyassociated with collecting art. When you step in the door you aremade to feel welcome, supported and nurtured with no pressure orany of the stuffiness you might have found elsewhere.”Artists on display include the very well known, such as Rolf Harris’sanimal paintings to exciting and original newcomers such as localartist Edward Waite who has a residence just 150 yards from thegallery. His unique and arresting painting of Lincoln Cathedral iscurrently in the window of the gallery and is attracting stares andadmiration from nearly all who pass.Other artists Hazel is excited about include Bob Barker’s street sceneswhich pick out figures in bright red and focus on childhood memories,relationships and really draw you in long after the first glance.Anna Razumovskaya’s portraits of women in ball gowns are also astandout, the movement and beauty is frankly breath-taking and ina similar way, Richard Rowan’s oil and glass landscapes are the kindof pieces that will stop people in their tracks.The diversity on offer at the Little Red Gallery is astounding, fromclassically-inspired landscapes to brash and daring modern elementsyou’re more than likely to find something that really inspires youand help and advice is always on hand.Hazel is also bringing artists into the gallery in the future and iskeen to promote events such as having live music performed, “Theother day we had a clarinet player in and a guitarist, it was almostlike an impromptu jam session!” she says.It’s great to see such a lively approach to art right in the heart ofLincoln, next time you’re on the Bailgate, why not pop in and browse?www.thelittleredgallery.co.uk Audrey Hepburn by Paul NormansellBringing art to lifeTHE LITTLE REDGALLERYLove art? then we’d love tomeet you, please call in for acup of tea and a chat.8 Bailgate lincoln LN1 3AE 01522 589134art@thelittleredgallery.co.ukwww.thelittleredgallery.co.uk018:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:25 Page 1Beautiful new homes in LincolnshireROMAN FIELDSJuniper Way, Witham St Hughs, Lincolnshire, LN6 9YP r#Fautiful open countrysider8JUIJOFBTZSFBDIPG-JODPMOand Newarkr"BOEUIF"DMPTFCZ3 & 4 bedroom homes Price starts from £136,995Call 0845 672 5235 taylorwimpey.co.uk/romanfields4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNTHE SHIRESLoch Lomond Way, Orton, Northgate, 1FUFSCPSPVHI1&#-r0OUIFTJUFPGUIF&BTUPG&OHMBOETIPXHSPVOEr$MPTFUP1FUFSCPSPVHIBOEtransport links3 & 4 bedroom homes Price starts from £204,995Call 0845 034 1476 taylorwimpey.co.uk/ theshires4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNOAK SPRINGS5IF(BCMFT&MTFB1BSL#PVSOF -JODPMOTIJSF1&':r$MPTFUPUIFDFOUSFPGBourner(PPEDIPJDFPGTDIPPMTJOUIFarear$MPTFUPUIF"BOE"3, 4 & 5 bedroom homes Price starts from £149,995Call 0845 688 5446 taylorwimpey.co.uk/oakspringsSales Office open Thursday to Monday, BNmQNPILGRIMS CHASEWygate, Spalding, -JODPMOTIJSF1&(6r#FBVUJGVMPQFODPVOUSZTJEFr$MPTFUP"BOE"r-PDBMBNFOJUJFTPOZPVSdoorstep2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes Price starts from £169,995Call 0845 239 8127 taylorwimpey.co.uk/pilgrimschase4BMFT0GàDFPQFOEBJMZBNmQNContact a development below today to find out how to get Help to Buy!5BZMPS8JNQFZUFSNTBOEDPOEJUJPOTBQQMZ*NBHFTGPSJMMVTUSBUJPOQVSQPTFTPOMZ1SJDFTDPSSFDUBUUJNFPGHPJOHUPQSFTT&MJHJCMFBQQMJDBOUTXJMMPGGFSFEBOFRVJUZMPBOPGVQUPBNBYJNVNPGPGUIFQVSDIBTFQSJDF CBTFEPOUIFPQFONBSLFUWBMVF "QQMJDBOUTBSFSFRVJSFEUPGVOEBUMFBTUPGUIFQVSDIBTFQSJDFCZNFBOTPGBDPOWFOUJPOBMNPSUHBHFTBWJOHTBOEBOZEFQPTJUXIFSFSFRVJSFE'PSUIFàSTUàWFZFBSTUIFSFJTOPGFFDIBSHFEPOUIFFRVJUZMPBODPNQPOFOU"UUIFTUBSUPGZFBSTJYBGFFPGJTQBZBCMFPOUIFFRVJUZMPBOXIJDISJTFTBOOVBMMZCZ31*JOáBUJPOQMVT5IFFRVJUZMPBOJTQSPWJEFECZUIF)$"BOEIFMEBTBTFDPOEDIBSHF5FSNTBOEDPOEJUJPOTBQQMZBOEGVMMEFUBJMTXJMMCFQSPWJEFEPOSFRVFTU5IJTPGGFSJTTVCKFDUBOEPOMZBWBJMBCMFPOTFMFDUFEEFWFMPQNFOUTBOEQSPQFSUJFTJO&OHMBOEPOMZ*UJTOPUPGGFSFEXJUIBOZPUIFSQSPNPUJPO:063)0.&.":#&3&1044&44&%*':06%0/05,&&1613&1":.&/540/:063.035("(&Œ+HOSWR%X\KHOSHGP\0XPDQG'DGEX\WKHKRXVH,ORYHGEHVWœWhether you’re a first time buyer or an existing homeowner Help to Buy can help you.If you have a 5% deposit, the Government will give you a 20% loan. That means you only need a 75% mortgage, which makes your dream new home more affordable than you thought!Help to Buy019:Layout 1 20/5/13 10:15 Page 1Next >