Andrew Abbott's Blog

Sunday 5 August 2012

Lincolnshire this week.



Lincoln can look forward to a state of the art science park by the end of 2013, the University of Lincoln has announced. The facility, similar to ones in Welwyn Garden City and Cambridge, will be a mixture of college departments and commercial buildings, housing the School of Life Sciences and a new School of Pharmacy. Mary Stuart, the university's vice chancellor, said: "This will bring massive benefits to the city in terms of employment and inward investment.

"Highly skilled professionals who have previously looked outside Lincolnshire for career opportunities will be attracted to the area or encouraged to stay.

"The potential to bring in new investors and high-tech businesses to boost the local economy is enormous."

The development is a joint one with Lincolnshire Coop and Ursula Lidbetter, chief executive of the Coop, said: "We think there's a huge opportunity to turn this underused site into a stimulating place to work and study.

"It's an ideal location for a science park as it's so close to the university campus and Lincoln city centre."

The initial, joint investment will be £10m and planning permission will be sought later this year.

This years Skegness illuminations will be the biggest and best yet, according to organizers. The big switch on has emerged from the umbrella of the SO festival to be an event in it’s own right, once again. The extravaganza will feature a whole days entertainment this year. Spokesman George Facey said: “We received rave reports about last year’s event and I’m sure this one will be even better and bring extra visitors and business to the town, which is what the economy needs.”

The day will feature dance and fitness workshops and as the big moment ariives it will be preceded by talented local singers and dancers and Hollyoakes and Over the Rainbow star Steph Davis in what is described as a spellbinding show.

It’ll be here before you know it, the ice rink is to make a return to Lincoln this Christmas. Organisers Lincoln Business Improvement Group said previously the rink was unviable and it has not made an appearance for two years. Quite what has happened to make it viable this time we don’t know but the popular feature will be back on City Square for the festive period. Rachel Hanson, events and promotions organiser at Lincoln BIG, said: "It just makes Christmas - everybody loves it.

"It's similar to now as you walk through town and you see the beach and the Olympics screen - it's great to see children and families all enjoying it together."

The Echo, Stagecoach and Lincs FM are sponsoring the ice rink.

A new world record has been set in Lincolnshire but before speed freaks get over excited it’s for the most number of tractors simultaneously ploughing a field. Yes, we know how to set the world alight. Helen Rainthorpe organized the bid in memory of her father, John. More than £21000 was raised for Cancer Research during the ploughing marathon. Helen Rainthorpe believes the bid may stand the test of time. "I think the record is a one-off effort," she said. "It needs that community spirit to get this number of vehicles together.

"Even in America where they have the numbers, I don't think travelling the distance to get together could be done."

"I've been blown away by the sheer number of people who have come to support it and the Quadtrac drivers who have come such long distances. I want to say a huge thank you to each and every one of them."

Adjudicator Anna Orford from Guiness World Records said the achievement had a clear Lincolnshire identity.

"I didn't know what to expect but even when they were lined up at the start it just looked stunning," she said. "And then when they put their lights on and the crowd cheered it was fantastic because they knew they had the record.

"Every record is special and with this it is very specific to the region – it is very much a Lincolnshire record."

Well it’s a bit late to wish you a good weekend but it’s certainly turned out that way at the Olympics with Super Saturday a definite understatement. Here’s hoping for some more medals.

Have a good week.













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