< Previous56-61_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:03 Page 5LINCOLNSHIRETODAY61WEDDINGStograhy by riciklevertonIf the bride is going to take on their husband’s name, this isan age-old tradition so the legal requirements are pretty simple.Once the marriage certificate is signed, all the official bodies youneed to update your records with will happily do so once youlet them know.The one exception is the passport office which allows you toapply for a passport in your new name up to three monthsbefore you get married. The passport can’t be used before theceremony because it will apply from the day of the ceremony,but it’ll be ready for when you jet off on the honeymoon so youdon’t have to worry about any confusion. That’ll be particularlyvaluable when you’re going through customs where having thesame name on all your travel documents should ensure youshould sail through.There are other options. These days many brides intend tokeep their maiden name for all circumstances. In that case, youcan simply carry on using it as you did before – signing themarriage certificate will make no difference in that regard.One option that’s becoming increasingly popular iscombining surnames to make a new double-barrelled surname.As yet this isn’t officially recognised when signing the marriagecertificate and therefore follows the same procedure as youwould if you were changing your name to anything else – via adeed poll certificate. You could arrange to sign these at thewedding, though, or the groom could even do so in advance sothe bride inherits it at the wedding.What goes on a piece of paper won’t make any difference toyour relationship but it’s worth bearing in mind that, in the eyesof the law, the main purpose of the event is to sign the registerand make it all official.© shutterstock/Halfpoint56-61_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:03 Page 662 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYThe endearing appeal of cycling is in itssimplicity. Almost anyone can climb on abike, spin the pedals and zip forward ontheir own momentum. And the rewardsare legion, from providing a low-impactcardiovascular workout to offering aunique look at some of the county’s moststunning sights. But like all things, cyclingcan be made better, and the rider moreadept with the right gear and equipment.Take food as an example. Despiteclaims to the contrary – and more than afew inedible creations, we’re sure – mostfolks are a dab hand in the kitchen. Thereare few among us who can’t fry up someonions, garlic and tomatoes for a sauce.Adding the best ingredients and high-tech equipment doesn’t necessaryimprove upon these skills, but rathermakes the experience and end result thatmuch better. And so it is with cycling. We’ve all seen dedicated cyclists intheir spandex, and gear affixed to theirbike frame or backpack. Whether or notthey’re wearing a helmet has provedcontroversial in certain circles. Theargument came to a head when a certainOlympic cyclist was spotted out andabout without her head gear. This wassetting a bad example, the height ofhypocrisy, detractors claimed. Thecounter is that pedestrians and motorists– all of which account for greatercausalities in collisions than cyclists –should likewise be made to wear helmets.Where does it end, we hear you cry.Readers may remember a Lincolnshireteenager who was left comatose andbrain damaged after being hit by a van.He hadn’t worn a helmet for fear ofruining his hair. He has since recovered,albeit confined to a wheelchair, and nowcampaigns with his dad for road andcyclist safety. For those that would rather wear ahelmet, there are a number of options,from full face coverings and sportvarieties to the standard fare. Elsewhere,there are other factors to consider. Formany a rider, the sun can be dangerous.Glares from wet roads, off of buildingsRide awayCycling is for everyone, but for enthusiasts it’s not enough to just get on your bike andride. Specialised gear and equipment provide added security and an extra dimension toone of the county’s favourite sporting activities. 62-63_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:04 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY63HEALTH & FITNESSSafety doesn’t mean sacrificing style. Worn well, these Oakley wraparounds stem the sun, keepback the bugs and leave you looking the business on your bike. Pick up your own pair from DavidHallgate in Boston. With more cyclists on the streets than ever before, fashion needed a moment to catch up.Fortunately, Oakley have their finger on the pulse. These sophisticated shades available fromDavid Hallgate in Boston are the stylish cyclist’s best friend. Oakley’s shaded range for cyclists balance aesthetics and functionality. These polarized glassescut back the sun and glare from off vehicles, the road and any other reflective surfaces, leavingyou free to enjoy the journey. You can grab a pair for yourself from David Hallgate in Boston. and cars can be blinding. Using polarisingshades or sport goggles can significantlycut the risk as well as helping to boosteye health all round. Sun damage toretinas can go unseen for years. Though riders might forgo thermals atthis time of year, there’s still an entirewardrobe of cycling clothing to consider.Among the most useful are gloves andspecialised shoes – though that goeswithout saying – shorts and jerseys. Abackpack is also a must, if only for storingfluids, a pump and puncture repair kit, afew tools and protein bars. Otheradvisable items would be sunscreen, amap, battery pack for your smart phone,first aid kit and, if you’re so inclined, thelatest issue of Lincolnshire Today. © shutterstock/Emanuele Ravecca© shutterstock/Dadarev Mikhall62-63_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:04 Page 2LincolnshireheritageexploredMost readers will have heard of Gilbert ofSempringham and may know that he was thefounder of the only religious order to originate inEngland. Fewer will know much about his life orachievements. This extraordinary man was bornabout AD1083 (there is no definitive record of thedate) the son of Jocelin, knight and manager toAlfred of Lincoln who had been granted land atSempringham following the conquest along withtwo other Norman landowners. Gilbert washowever born with a spinal deformity whichrendered him unable to pursue the life of aknight; his intended destiny in life. Therefore, as ayoung man – again no exact date is known –hewas sent to study in Paris, the acknowledgedcentre of learning in the late C11th. On his returnaround AD1115 he started a small school in hishome village and was granted livings atSempringham and Torrington but, not beingordained, needed a chaplain to oversee him. Itwas not long however before Gilbert’s reputationfor humility, devotion and saintliness broughthim to the attention of the, Bishop of LincolnRobert Bloet who invited him to join hishousehold. Gilbert continued to work for BishopAlexander, Bloet’s successor, by whom he waseventually ordained and offered anarchdeaconship. Gilbert declined this promotionhowever and returned to Sempringham aboutAD1131 where he established a school-cum-nunnery for seven local girls in a cloister to thenorth of the church. Its success led to lay sistersand brothers joining as manual workers. ByAD1139 Gilbert’s reputation attracted theattention of another Gilbert, (of Gant, whosesister was wife to William the Conqueror) whogranted Gilbert of Sempringham threecarucates (about 300 acres) of land to thesouth of the church, beyond the Marske Dyke,to build a priory. Building began straightaway.The early Gilbertine order soon spread withother priories being established but Gilbertwas a reluctant administrator and tried toThis month we look at the lifeand legacy of one ofLincolnshire’s greatest medievalecclesiastical figures.64-65_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:06 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY65photography reveals it, withthe outlines of the priory too, ascropmarks.So, what is left at Sempringham andwhere is it? Located a few miles north ofBourne and about a mile southwest ofBillingborough there is today only acouple of modern houses and a farm tosee beside the B1177 road with thechurch glimpsed half a mile away acrossthe fields. There was a Saxon settlementthere – maybe even a preceding Romanone as their Car Dyke passed less thantwo miles to the east – whilst theDomesday Book (AD1086) indicates apopulation of up to 150. The mediaevalvillage site, long vanished, lay to the westand northwest of the church and potteryfinds can still be made. (The author hasfound fragments by the right of wayheading north to Birthorpe.)St Andrew’s church, reached by asingle-track lane, is however one ofLincolnshire’s ecclesiastical gems. It almostcertainly stands upon the site of an earlierSaxon church and even today issubstantially Norman and would berecognizable to St Gilbert. It was originallycruciform in layout but the tower waspersuade the Cistercian orderto run his priories for him butthey refused since theGilbertines included both nunsand canons. (i.e. priests who liveda monastic life.) The Gilbertine orderwas unusual in being a dual sexorganisation although the priory itself hada high central wall that kept men andwomen strictly apart. Nevertheless theysucceeded in obtaining formal Papalacknowledgement by AD1147 and, basedupon Benedictine rules, thus became theonly monastic order to be founded inEngland.The Gilbertine ethos continued spread asmore priories were established; there werethirteen houses, occupied by around 700canons and 1,300 nuns, of which ten werein Lincolnshire, at the time Gilbert died.The number eventually rose to 26 in thecountry as a whole. A good example inLincolnshire for visible earthwork remainsis at Alvingham near Louth. Gilbert wastaken ill at Newstead near Brigg inDecember AD1188 and was brought backto Sempringham where he died on 4thFebruary 1189, at the extraordinary age,for mediaeval times, of around 106.Accredited with many miracles during hislifetime Gilbert was recommended by theArchbishop of Canterbury for canonisationin 1201 and this was affirmed by the Popeon 11th January 1202.His Sempringham priory survived untilHenry VIII’s “Dissolution” of AD1536, andeven initially survived that catastrophe. Buttwo years later in AD1538 it surrenderedto the king who gave it to Edward Fiennes,Lord Clinton, later Admiral to Elizabeth I.He built a mansion there but of that toothere is now no trace except where arielrebuilt in the late C14th and the transeptswere removed in 1788 when a smallerchancel was built. This was in turnreplaced by a Victorian apse in 1869. TheVictorians, very fortuitously, also built anew south porch that has been a godsendin helping to preserve the Normandoorway and door, perhaps the mostglorious Norman feature of the entirechurch still having its original mediaevaliron strapwork. Inside is some survivingmediaeval woodwork and wall paintingon one arch and an exhibition ofarchaeological finds. Outside, on thesouth wall, is a carved statue of St Gilbertand a plan of the priory site incised onsome stone slabs. The churchyard also hasa chalybeate well.The church is not open regularly but ison most summer Sundays. For thosewishing to learn more there is anexcellent book on Sempringham by EricIredale, a Lincolnshire Heritage bookrecounting their excavations of the priorysite a few years ago and a church guide.by Hugh Marrows64-65_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:06 Page 266 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCARINGThere comes a point in any person’s lifewhere they are forced to consider whatthey are going to do for the future. It ishuman nature to become less able as weage, and what was suitable for us twentyyears ago might not be feasible now. It’simportant however, that you are awarewhat options are available, and what theyentail. The most common wish is for a personto continue living in their home, with asfew changes to their lifestyle as possible.People want to continue beingindependent, and can often feelembarrassed at any changes they feelthey have to make for their ownconvenience. While certain conditions aregoing to require more specific care, suchas those suffering with dementia, it’s stillpossible to maintain independence andlive in your own home.What must often happen, is a period ofadapting the home, and yourself, toaccommodate your needs – as well aswhat needs you might have later on.Simple tasks can become more difficult astime goes on, and taking steps to makethem easier sooner, rather than later, canprevent not only potential injury but keepmental health strong by empowering aperson to look after themselves. It’s important therefore to catalogueeach task that might become moredifficult with age, and what steps one cantake to fix them. Perhaps the mostobvious problem is that of staircases,particularly if they are used commonly.Thankfully when it comes to traversingthe staircase, there is always the clearoption of a stairlift to fall back on. Thesecan be relatively inexpensive to haveinstalled, but will often require bringingin a professional to look at your housebeforehand, no two sets of stairs are thesame after all, and the task really needs tobe done safely. Something else to consider should be away of answering the door in case ofvisitors. Whether it’s family, a visitingcarer, or a door-to-door salesperson,constantly being forced to get up andmake one’s way to the door can easilywear a person out. Intercom systems,particularly if you can have some form ofremote entry lock in place, can enable aperson to at least determine who iscalling before having to get up. Trustedfamily can let themselves in, as can acare-worker, but an intercom can saveeffort when it comes to unsolicited orunwanted guests. Bathing can be another difficult task asa person gets older. Getting into and outof a bath can be an inconvenient enoughtask whatever your age, and the matter isonly made worse if the floor is wet orslippery. But for a person with morebrittle bones and slower reflexes, even theact of taking a bath can be fraught withrisk. This is another aspect however forwhich there are various solutions. With awide range of mobility baths and showersavailable on the market, many of whichinclude a door which opens to allow aperson to simply `walk into` their bath,rather than climb in. Changes such as these can be easilymade in a home and can offer a personindependence as well as peace of mind.But many people shy away fromconsidering these problems, often due toHomeor care?Many feel that old age begets a lack ofindependence, but that’s not always the case –if you keep certain things in mind. 66-68_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:13 Page 1LINCOLNSHIRETODAY67CARINGpride or a feeling of embarrassment atconsidering their bodies getting weaker.What is important however is toremember that such conditions arenatural as a person grows older, and likeany problem, ignoring it for longer onlymakes it worse. It might come to pass that as timecontinues, a person’s requirements mightchange, particularly when it comes toillnesses or disease, or an elderlyindividual who either has little family, orthat family lives far away. Accepting acarer into the home, even if it is just apart-time care worker might become anecessity. The types of care availablemight include help getting in and out ofbed, bathing, preparing meals, taking aperson out shopping or simply cleaningthe house. These services are often provided by alocal council, although they do not comeat no cost. Financial help might beavailable given your circumstances,though that can often depend on yoursituation, including what finances youalready have available. As such, it’s worthcontacting a local council and enquiringfurther. Many, however, look to reducetheir costs by down-sizing their home.Selling their existing property and movingto a new one that is smaller in size andcontains less rooms. This can not only cutout undesirable elements like staircases,but also allow the house to be heated forless cost. While this option can be good on thefinancial side of things however, it’s worthdoing some research into the newlocation. Does it have good access toshopping centres, how safe is the area,does it still enable the tenant to continueany hobbies they might have? Is it closerto your existing family? It’s important toremember that one should look to behappy as well as safe in a new home, so ifgolf is your hobby, then why not look fora smaller home near a golf course? It might be however, that a person feelsthey are unable to live in their home anylonger. Be it due to their health, thedifficulty or simply the lack of interaction.As such, the next option is often lookingat care homes themselves. Such adecision might be suggested by others,due to a trip or fall at home, but it’sworth keeping in mind that the finaldecision should ultimately be the personmaking the move. Is there a good reasonfor going into full-time care? The onlytwo reasons one should accept is thatthere is a risk to your health of staying athome, or that you genuinely want tomake the move, be it for company, moreactivities or simply a more relaxedatmosphere. A person should never feelforced to go into care, as that attitudewill simply ensure the experience is notenjoyable. Thankfully Lincolnshire has a widevariety of care homes, and because of thepleasant countryside surroundings, theyoften have more space and fresh air thanmany do in other regions. There are moretypes of cares homes than manyimmediately realise, from nursing homeswhere one might have dedicated medicalstaff to help with many tasks, through tocare homes which practice a moreapartment style approach – with centralcommunity lounges or recreationfacilities. Which one is ultimately chosen© shutterstock/Lisa S.68 Á© shutterstock/tomertuAge UK Lincoln &Kesteven launches itsfirst Charity BallAge UK Lincoln & Kesteven is hosting aCharity Masquerade Ball raising funds tocontinue to support older people in andaround Lincoln on Friday 29th Septemberfrom 7.30pm.Start your evening with a Champagnereception within the exquisite setting ofthe Ballroom bar at Doubletree Hiltonbefore joining distinguished guests for alavish banquet in the stunning CathedralBallroom.Your host will guide you through thisone-night-only entertainment and assistyou in getting your hands on somephenomenal prizes in a silent and liveauction and then celebrate by dancinginto the night with our live band.For more details, to book or to sponsoremail Charlie McClelland onCharlie.mcclelland@ageuklk.org.uk.66-68_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:14 Page 2Winter Storage Only £75include a Service for only £25 extraScooters kept securely and charged weeklyService & RepairsWe have an up to date fully equipped Service Centre to help with anybreakdowns or repairsFantasy IslandSea Lane, Ingoldmells01754 872898207 Roman Bank,Skegness01754 768006HireWheelchairWheelchair£5.00per day£25.00per week£25 refundable DepositScooterScooter£12.00per day£65.00per week£50 refundable Deposit68 LINCOLNSHIRETODAYCARINGCliff Bradley & SonsFuneral Directors LtdFor a prompt, sympatheticservice from a recognisedfamily businessPrivate Chapel of RestDay and Night ServicePre-paid funeral plans41 Heaton Street,Gainsborough, DN21 2EA(01427) 810619www.cliffbradley.co.ukRASE MOBILITYMAKING LIFE EASIERTEL: 01673 843279BESPOKE CARERSWe are all special withindividual needs•Elderly care•Home from hospital care•Sitting service•Working with young people•Caring for animals•Working with people who are suffering from mental health issues•Counselling•Home care16 Queen Street, Market Rasen, Lincolnshire LN8 3EHWeb: www.rasemobility.com Email: sales@rasemobility.co.ukRase Mobility is an independent familyrun business who pride themselves in:• Promoting and maintaining independent living• Providing affordable practical solutions for life changes• Knowledgeable and trained staff• Cater for individuals of every need• Large range of products available in store, and orderscan be made on request• Powerchairs • Mobility Scooters • Wheelchairs • Stairlifts• Rise recliners • and much moreshould depend on what is needed.As always good mood and happinesscan be as good for a person’s health asmedicine, so giving independencewherever possible is preferred. Care froma care home can be as little aspreparation of meals and someone to talkto on a regular basis, or it can be asintensive as medical treatment andbathing. It’s therefore necessary to visitand inspect a care home before decidingto go with it, and making sure the tenantis happy with what they offer. Many elderly people seek to bolster theinteraction they receive by taking on pets,and the health benefits of a cat or a doghave been well-documented. Beingforced to give up a pet to move into carecan be a devastating prospect, so itwould be better to spend some timelooking for a care home which allowspets. It might also be worth asking tospeak to some other residents to get amore unbiased opinion on how they feel.At the very least look to see if they areacting happy with their home. Beyondthat, ask about the facilities they haveavailable, what they can offer in the caseof a medical emergency, but also whatrecreational activities are available for theguests. And then ask the tenant if theywould be interested in those activities. It’snot much use being impressed by a carehome’s bowls green if the family memberdoesn’t like the sport. Ultimately, it needs to be kept in mindthat the change is not only going to befor the safety and security of thoseinvolved, but also for their happiness. Andas such they need to be consulted at eachstage to ensure they are simply notagreeing in efforts to not seem a botherto their family. When it comes to thefuture of loved ones however, no onewants to take shortcuts. © shutterstock/Elena Rostunova66-68_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:14 Page 3Unit 7/8, Nunsthorpe Business Units, Winchester Avenue, Grimsby DN33 1PFTel: 01472 456693 Web: www.rawsbest.com Email: karin@rawsbest.comOpening times: Tues - Fri 9.30am - 5pm Sat 9.30am-3pmIt’s got all the nutrition I need……so, why give me anything else?LINCOLNSHIRETODAY69PETS CORNERFew among us could turn a blind eyeto the uptick in inches around thecountry’s collective waistline. With therise in smart tech and consumer goodscomes a backlog of calories with nowhereelse to go than your midriff or buns.Obesity is also on the up among ourchildren, a sort of trickledowneffect. The next rung down theladder is our pets. Don’t believe us? Well,weight watcher classes for porky poochesare springing up across the country, withmore than a few in Lincolnshire. We are acounty of dog lovers, after all, and we’respoiling our doggies rotten. Dogs could put a Roman feast toshame with their apparently unendingappetite, gobbling up every offeredmorsel. For owners, it can be difficult toseparate the idea of giving treats assomething that might in fact bedamaging their four legged loved one.But often, offering plate scrapings,leftovers and other treats is having adetrimental effect to cats anddogs. Putting your pet on adiet might seem drastic, but human foodcontains a number of ingredients harmfulto animals. Sadly, their own store-boughtfood can often be far from ideal. Conventional pet food can be loadedwith a medley of preservatives, addedsalts and sugars and other nasties. Therejust aren’t the same regulationsgoverning pet food as there are for ourown. A look at the ingredients list can bea shocking discovery, and that’s assumingall the constituent parts are made readilyavailable. Then, of course, there’s thegrisly reality that some pet food brandsare force feeding their goods to cagedanimals. Shocking footage gathered byanimal activists revealed the stark truth© shutterstock/SbolotovaSupersized petsIncreased convenience has led to larger waistlines and now our pets are catchingup. Weight loss classes for animals are now prevalent in vets across the country,but a decent diet and plenty of exercise is all it takes. 70 Á69-71_Layout 1 17/07/2017 12:15 Page 1Next >