£2.95 DECEMBER 2017THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINEwww.blmgroup.co.ukBLMGROUPGROUPBLMWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NETWWW.LINCOLNSHIRETODAY.NET30+ years young30+ years youngAll youneed thisseasonGreat giftideasWinterwear All youneed thisseasonGreat giftideasWinterwear £2.95 DECEMBER 2017THE REGION’S FAVOURITE COUNTY MAGAZINEChristmasin thecountyChristmasin thecounty01_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:41 Page 1andStores in Boston, Grantham, Gainsborough & Scunthorpewww.oldrids.co.uk Visit www.oldrids.co.uk/santa for event details and how to bookOpens 25th NovemberNNNEEWW fffooooorrrrr 2222220000117Santa will be visiting all of our stores this year! visit www.oldrids.co.uk/santa to supper with SantaBook Now!giant snowglobe. Only atHExcellent Thai Food and a variety of English and other winesH ‘Try Thai Tuesdays’ - four sample dishes for those new to Thai FoodH Express Lunch menu for those at workH Afternoon snack menuH ‘Street Food’ WednesdayH Wine tasting eventsH Join our email club for weekly specials and offersH Meeting room for local businesses29 Lumley Road, Skegness PE25 3LLTel: 01754 764237www.aeys.co.ukOpen 11.00am - 10.30pm • Takeaway 4.30pm - 10.30pmDelivery 5.00pm - 10.00pmphoto: shutterstock.com/By its_al_dente AuthenticThai Restaurant,Take Awayand DeliveryService02_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:42 Page 1from theeditorIt’s amazing how quickly this time of year seems tocome around, and it feels like only a short time ago wewere looking back on 2016, and hoping 2017 would bebetter. Hopefully it has for some of you, and the finalmonth of the year will be one filled with festive cheer.Mine certainly will, though also with a little helping offestive panic, since as of writing this, I’ve still yet topurchase so much as a single gift.I’ll manage, and I imagine there will be plenty of other people trawlingLincolnshire with me as we search for the perfect presents for loved ones.All the while dodging past crowds, carol singers and well-wishers,wondering why we weren’t more organised and didn’t get this sorted earlier.But look on the bright side, there’s always that wonderful dinner to lookforward to on the day, and the drink that comes with it. Preferably thatwon’t leave us feeling too worse for wear on Boxing Day, since I’m fairly sureit’s not called that because we awake feeling like we’ve been boxing.Let’s face it though, while there’s a lot to look forward to at Christmas,there are some things we just wish would go away. I’m talking about thedreaded TV re-runs, of course. Why is it that we have to sit through thesame things year after year? Why is there never any variety, and why are allthe Christmas pop songs just rehashes of the old ones? If you’re anythinglike me, you’ll be eschewing much of that this year, and taking to the streetsof Lincolnshire instead. Not carol-singing, perhaps, but enjoying the manyevents and parties across the county, which will be taking place through allthirty-one days - not just the big day itself.And so, with this, may I join with everyone here at Lincolnshire Todaymagazine to wish you a most wonderful Christmas, and hope that all yourdesires be fulfilled. Merry Christmas to all, and a happy New Year.Merry Christmas,Michael FisherEditorLincolnshireToday @lincstoday lincolnshiretoday.netGroup Editor:Steve FisherEditor:Michael Fisher, Journalists:Dominic Cuthbert,Stuart PearceySales Director: Angela CooperSales: Kerry Randerson Accounts & Circulations: Angela Sharman, John Downes(01472) 310301Design & Production: Gary Jorgensen,Mark CassonAdvertising: Tel: (01472) 310302, Fax: (01472) 310312 Editorial: Tel: (01472) 310305, Fax: (01472) 310317Part Of The Business Link MagazineGroup: Armstrong House, Armstrong Street,Grimsby, N E Lincs DN31 2QEEmail: lincs-today@blmgroup.co.uk Website: www.lincolnshiretoday.net ISSN No: 1366-1299© All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, transmitted, photocopied, recorded orotherwise without express permission of the copyright holder,for which application should be addressed first to thepublisher. While every reasonable care is taken, neither thepublisher nor its participating agents accept liability for lossor damage to prints, colour transparencies, negatives orother material of whatever nature submitted to thispublication. The views expressed in this publication are notnecessarily the views of those held by the publisher.This magazine is now fully recyclable. Byrecycling magazines, you can help reducewaste and add to the 5.5 million tonnes ofpaper already recycled by the UK paperindustry each year. Before you recycle yourmagazine, please ensure you remove all plasticwrapping, free gifts and samples. If you areunable to participate in a recycling scheme,then why not pass your magazine onto a localhospital or charity?TTTFRONT COVER: SHUTTERSTOCK/MARINA ZEZELINATTT03_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:42 Page 1Features6 THIS MONTH IN LINCOLNSHIREWhat’s been going on in the county this month?10ETHAN MAULL MASQUERADE BALLHeld in the Weston Rooms on the 14th October, the EthanMaull Masquerade Ball raised money for the Ethan Maull“Up Yours” to Cancer Foundation30OFF THE BEATEN TRACKExplore the hidden gems in and around Lincolnshire in ourregular feature32FESTIVE FASHIONChristmas brings with it more opportunities than any othertime of the year to get dressed up to the nines, and thisyear has a treasure-trove of must-have dresses, skirts, topsand trousers. Just in time for the party season, we’verounded up our absolute favourites to see you through toNew Year42A GLAM CHRISTMASThere’s plenty to do already in December, but if you’regoing to any parties then an effective hair and beautyregime will need to be added to the list44KEEP FIT THIS CHRISTMASFrom those first few days in December, to those first fewdays of January, the festive period is an onslaught ofparties and merriments. There’s no better excuse to spendtime with family and friends, though this usually culminatesin lavish amounts of food and drink in place of restraint andexercise46FESTIVE FEASTDecember is here, and with it a day some may evenrecognise. Of course, while the whole month is normallydedicated to Christmas, that still leaves thirty other days –so here are some winter warmer recipes not only for thebig day, but also every other day as well53RSPCA CHARITY BALLA RSPCA charity ball held at the Bentley Hotel in Lincolnraised over £850 54WHITE WEDDINGChristmas is often the time for romantic proposals andwhat better time to plan a wedding?62JOCASTA’S GROUPEvery bride and groom wants their special day to gowithout a hitch and be remembered for all the rightreasons, and that’s precisely why Danielle & Aiden Skinnerchose Jocasta’s Group Outside Events64LINCOLNSHIRE HERITAGE EXPLOREDThe Fossdyke is a part of Lincolnshire’s Roman legacy thatremains in use today. We look at its historyDECEMBER3232CHRISTMAS BRINGS WITH IT MOREOPPORTUNITIES THAN ANY OTHER TIME OFTHE YEAR TO GET DRESSED UP TO THENINES, AND THIS YEAR HAS ATREASURE-TROVE OF MUST-HAVE DRESSES,SKIRTS, TOPS AND TROUSERS. contents04-05_Layout 1 15/11/2017 14:00 Page 17878THERE ARE FEW SYMBOLS AS ENDURING OFCHRISTMAS AND THE WINTER CHILL THANTHE ROBIN, WITH ITS ICONIC BREAST OFRED CONTRASTING THE BARE TREES, SNOWAND ICE.66CHRISTMAS IN LINCOLNNo Christmas would be complete without a trip to Lincoln,with its plentiful festive events, bustling Christmas market,and the spirit of giving in the air70THE GIFT OF GIVINGHaving spent many a Christmas with family and friends, itcan be a trifle challenging to figure out just what to getloved ones. This year, Lincolnshire Today has saved you allthat stress and hassle and put together our own curatedChristmas gift guide76NOT JUST FOR CHRISTMASSo the saying goes that a dog isn’t just for Christmas, andthough the practice of giving a pooch to the little ones thistime of year has fallen out of favour, the number of dogsthat are abandoned and in need of a new home remains aconstant issue. Fortunately for pooches across our county,Jerry Green Dog Rescue is on hand to help78LINCOLNSHIRE WILDLIFEThere are few symbols as enduring of Christmas and thewinter chill than the robin, with its iconic breast of redcontrasting with the bare trees, snow and ice 80COUNTY MOTORINGOkay Christmas is coming and so are the new registrationsso if you’re looking to change up your car for something alittle more exotic, what better time to treat yourself?84WHAT’S ONThere’s always something going on in LincolnshireDesirable homes14THE BEST OF COUNTRY LIVINGThis month’s reader’s home comes with everything youcould possibly want from a country residence, including itsown indoor swimming pool, gym, snooker room, sauna and4.3 acres of land20FESTIVE FINISHINGSWhile there are traditions to uphold this time of year, thestock Yuletide favourites run the risk of going stale whenused year after year. So why not make a change this yearand energise your festive displays and decorations22FANTASTICAL LANDSCAPESThe debate whether creativity is innate or manifest inexperience, is one which draws lines in the sand betweenartists and scholars24A GARDEN FOR ALL SEASONSNestled in a quiet village on the outskirts of SouthWillingham, this month we visit the Rouston’s garden,which is truly in a class of its own28WELCOMING WILDLIFEMaking your garden wildlife friendly is a great way to getthe whole family outside this Christmas as Ed Fullers fromFullers Forestry and Landscaping explains04-05_Layout 1 15/11/2017 14:01 Page 2Red Arrowshere to stayGainsborough MP Sir Edward has rubbished reports that the Red Arrows could be moved out of the country.He wrote to the Ministry of Defence when suggestions emerged that the iconic plane troupe could be relocated from their home atRAF Scampton to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.The Rt. Hon. Tobias Ellwood MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State and Minister for Defence People and Veterans, hasresponded making it clear that there is no plan for such a move.He wrote: “There is no plan to move the Red Arrows base from RAF Scampton to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.”“The Red Arrows are an important part of Lincolnshire, which has a tremendous aviation heritage,” said Sir Edward. “To lose themwould be a tremendous blow both to the local economy and local sentiment.“They play an important role locally that really puts our corner of Lincolnshire on the map. I am very pleased they are here to stay.”White Hart Hotelcrowned Lincoln’sbest restaurantLincoln’s White Hart Hotel has won the prestigious SelectLincolnshire Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards in the ‘Best Venue’ and‘Best Restaurant’ categories.The multi-award-winning establishment added to last year’s ‘Hotel of theYear’ award having been shortlisted in three categories and went on toscoop two of the top prizes at this year’s event.The awards, now in their third year, recognise the very best inLincolnshire’s food, drink and hospitality industries.Ian Robinson, White Hart Hotel General Manager, said: “This is fantasticrecognition of the great work we do at the White Hart Hotel and to haveadded to last year’s Hotel ofthe Year award is a massiveachievement.“We work hard to ensureall our customers experienceunparalleled service andenjoy excellent food, so it’sgreat to get recognition forthat with these twoprestigious awards.”latestnewsHarmoni movesto Lincoln’sBurton RoadFashion boutique Harmoni has now moved to 100Burton Road in Lincoln. With a fabulous new look in tow, the stylespecialists offer a great selection of lovely clothesfrom some of the best designers and brands workingtoday – including Masai, LauRie and Capri SoyaConcept. As well as stocking tunics, dresses and trousers,Harmoni stays up to date with seasonal trends andwhat’s hot right now. With a range of colours andstyles on offer, there’s something to suit everyone. © Shutterstock / VanderWolf Images06-08_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:43 Page 1Lincs Skies Calendar offers a great way to deck your wall with startlingimages of Lincolnshire’s skies whilst also raising critical funds for the Lincs &Notts Air Ambulance.The calendars are designed using the 12 winning images selected from over 180 entries into the Lincs Skies PhotoCompetition.The competition attracts entries from the best amateur and professional landscape photographers in the county.“This year the standard of photos submitted has been truly amazing, our local photographers have certainly pulledout all the stops and significantly raised the bar,” said Sally Crawford, Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance Head of Fundraising& Communications, “which means the final calendars really are breath-taking.” Calendars can be purchased online, as well as all Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance shops in Lincolnshire and a widerange of other outlets. Every penny will come to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance.Louth CattleMarket savedLouth Cattle Market has been saved from closure afterthe council decided to refurbish the site.Councillor Adam Grist, portfolio holder for rural economyand market towns, said the strong feeling of the communitytowards the livestock market had influenced the council’s decision towithdraw from the sale of the livestock market.Planners will now bring forward a scheme to make the necessary improvementsto the facility so it can continue to operate into the future.“The site is large and still significantly underused,” said Adam, “and I’m looking forward to having a positivediscussion with the market auctioneers on their plans to increase the site’s usage as a livestock market and whatopportunities there may be in the future for the site to be used for a broader range of purposes.”Revenues surge atLincolnshire Co-opCommunity retailer Lincolnshire Co-op has seen sales rise by £10 million toreach a record £312 million.Total sales were up by 3.5% for the 2016/17 financial year, with sales in foodstores rising 6.8% and travel branches recording growth of 10.4%.Despite falling £4 million from last year’s £20 million, the retailer saidgroup trading surplus “remained healthy”. It attributed this drop to risingpension costs and cuts in the NHS pharmacy income.The retailer added that growth was enabled by the “introduction of morechilled food and food-to-go products, plus a busy refurbishmentprogramme”.This year, Lincolnshire Co-op shut its two food distribution centres in Lincoln and fully joined the national co-operativedistribution network.This will offer more choice to food store customers and meets the demands of changing shopping habits, the retailer said.It will also lead to significant savings, which can be invested in new and improved services.raises funds forAir AmbulanceLincs Skies Calendar© Shutterstock / Studio Peace06-08_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:44 Page 2The Lincolnshire Teaching Schools Together partnership(LTT) has been awarded £495,758 to boost school-to-schoolsupport in 41 primary schools.Recognising the challenges our county’s schools arefacing, the Lincolnshire English Attainment Project (LEAP) isset to give a positive boost and support to a number of ruralschools that often face unique challenges.The support will come from established school headteachers and specialist leaders of education, directly to thoseworking in targeted schools. This will ensure that theimpact of the programme will have a lasting effect,sustaining the standards expected in the classroom.The sector-led model in Lincolnshire means schoolsare leading school improvement, working inpartnership with each other and othereducational establishments.The LEAP project will run over five terms untilthe spring of 2019.£1m investmentto welcomeUS visitors to Lincoln Lincoln has secured a £1 million investment from the Discover England Fund to lure more US visitors to the region.The cathedral city is among twelve others that have been granted funding as part of wider efforts to boost US tourism to regionalEngland.The money will be spent on bringing history to life by telling stories via enhanced augmented reality and will feature itineraries thatlink the cities by rail, making it easy to plan and book a multi-destination trip.Delivered through the historic cities app, it will act as a central point for local information that highlights places to eat and stayalongside trips, tours and travel options.This is the first time that England’s Historic Cities have collaborated in this way.The Collection is one of a number of successful projects to receive funding from the UK Government’s £40 million Discover EnglandFund.Garden &country storesuccessful openingin Saxilby A brand-new country store has opened for business inSaxilby, Lincoln. Emerald Garden & Country Supplies evolvedfollowing recent local demand for a competitively priced ruralsupplier to the west of Lincoln. “We stock a wide range of equestrian supplies, animal feeds,bedding, garden supplies, tools, footwear, DIY equipment, crates oflogs and much more. We will also have the ability to order in specificitems or brands,” said Manager Julian Brewitt. Conveniently located just off the A57 on the edge of Saxilby onthe old ‘Living Garden Centre’ site with parking right outside;Emerald was the second business to open its doors on the brand-newRiverside Enterprise Park development next to Agrigem. Growing from strength-to-strength it has so far taken on three newstaff and invested heavily into making it easier for the consumer toorder and pay for their goods. Customers can drop in store, orderonline for next day delivery or click & collect.latestnews© Shutterstock / Evgency AtamanenkoFunding toboostliteracy inLincolnshireschools06-08_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:44 Page 3Make saving lives YOUR lasting legacyRegistered charity number 1017501AMBUCOPTER.ORG.UKfacebook.com/Ambucopter @LNAACT Contact our Legacy Team to find out more about leaving a gift in your WillE legacy@ambucopter.org.ukT 01522 548469HELP US SAVE LIVES BY LEAVING A GIFT IN YOUR WILLDedicated supporter’s final gift Every year the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance responds to around 1,000 of the most serious, time-critical and life-threatening 999 calls in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.We transport the equivalent of an A&E department to the scene of an accident or incident, giving people the very best chance of survival possible. Long-time supporter of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance, Stanley Clark, made saving lives HIS lasting legacy, when he generously remembered the Charity in his Will. During his life Stan had raised thousands of pounds for the Charity which he had taken to his heart. The most memorable fundraising event involved turning a three-wheeled vehicle into a miniature replica of the Ambucopter and driving it from Land’s End to John O’Groats, some 870 miles. The six-day trip in 2000 saw Stan and his support team of 7 raising an impressive £5,000. Over the years he undertook various other fundraising endeavours and supported the Charity in any way he could. This support even continued after he passed away when his Will revealed he had chosen to leave a significant legacy to support our life-saving work in Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire.It costs our Charity £2.5million a year to continue saving lives. We receive no direct Government or National Lottery funding so rely on the generosity of the people in the communities we serve. There are many ways to leave a legacy Thousands of families still have their loved ones thanks to the fast action and medical expertise of our pilots, paramedics and doctors. Leaving a gift in your Will can ensure that we can continue to save lives in your community for years to come.You don’t have to own property or have significant savings to leave a gift in your Will, every donation will be used to save lives, whatever the amount – every penny counts.There are three ways that you can leave a gift in your Will:Pecuniary gift This is a tax-free donation of a specified cash sum. It doesn’t matter how big or how small, every penny donated helps us to save lives!Residuary gift This is a donation from the remainder of your estate after you have provided for your family and friends. You can choose to leave the entire amount, or a percentage of it.Specific gift You can choose to leave any object you own to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. This can be any item such as a painting or jewellery, or even a car or house!Stanley Clark (in red overalls) with his ‘car copter’ and some of his supportersTo find out more about how you can leave a gift to the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance in your Will after providing for family and friends, call our Legacy Team on 01522 54846909_Layout 1 15/11/2017 10:46 Page 1Next >