december 2015 - Lincolnshire County Council

Issue No 12
December 2015
Page 1
News and heritage for Brookenby Community
Christmas is Coming………
Open Mike Night
Christmas Lights Switch On
Saturday 5th December
8.00 pm onwards in The Bar
Friday 11th December at 6.30 pm
Come and listen to our local performers
(If you would like to perform please contact Tony on
07833 551209)
Carol Singing in The Bar led by the
Brookenby Singing Group
Followed by Mulled Wine and Mince pies
Christmas Party
Featuring Glenny Vee
Kids’ Christmas Party
Saturday 19th December
2.00 pm to 4.00 pm
24th December
7.30 pm
The Bar
All children up to 16 years and
resident in Brookenby welcome
(Under 8s must be accompanied at all times)
We wish all our readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year
Brookenby Community Centre
The following communication has been received from Lincoln Fraser addressed to all residents of Brookenby:
“Thank you very much for your very useful input into the recent Consultation exercise carried out by Geoff
Birch Associates on behalf of Brookenby Parish Council.
“Your comments, along with those of residents, Councillors, businesses and other potential Centre users
have now been collated and form the basis of a Feasibility Study report that was presented to Council
recently.
“It was very pleasing to read so many positive and supportive comments which have been taken into
account. We were also given lots of feedback in regard to how the centre has been run in the past and
problems that have occurred; these too will be taken into account when progressing the project.
It is clear from comments that residents and users of the Centre consider it to be an asset to the village,
despite concerns about size, general appearance, management and issues with heating and ventilation.
Geoff Birch Associates considered three options for the future:
• Do nothing
• Refurbish the existing Centre
• Demolish the Centre and rebuild
“All three options did have some support, but the overwhelming feedback was that residents and Centre
users want to keep the building. Therefore, it has been agreed that the Parish Council will progress with a
refurbishment programme for the existing Centre.
“A small development group have already met to look at proposed refurbishments put forward by Geoff Birch
Associates that responds to what residents have said that they would like to see.
The improvements needed are:
• An overall refresh and refurbishment to make the building more appealing and more welcoming
• A new, economical heating system
• Windows and glazing. The secondary glazing units that are installed reduce the functionality of the windows,
resulting in poor ventilation and low thermal properties compared to modern double glazing
• Improved physical access for people with disabilities and general toilet provision, including improvement to
the main entrance, improved external lighting, and improvements to the roadway and parking provision
• Reduction in ceiling heights in some areas to meet users needs and help to reduce heat loss and improve
the overall ambience
• Improvements to ensure that indoor sports can be accommodated
• Improvements to outside areas.
“Estimated cost of this project is just over £500,000. The Parish Council have agreed to submit a Stage One
Proposal to the Big Lottery Fund, Reaching Communities: Buildings grant programme.
“This will not be a short process. If the Stage One proposal is successful, there will be two more stages to
complete before we will know if the money will be granted.
“The Parish Council will be working closely with officers from West Lindsey District Council and Community
Lincs throughout the process.
“There will be on-going consultation with residents and Centre users, and opportunities for everyone to get
involved with the project.
“In the meantime, we hope that Brookenby residents will continue to support the existing activities in the
Centre; the bar, Thrifty, Camera Club, Friends 4 Friends, Limelight Theatre, the Dance Studio and the
Taekwondoo Club.”
Lincoln Fraser
Chair, Brookenby Parish Council
A Wolds Christmas on 5th December 2015
A look back at how Christmas was celebrated over the years in the Lincolnshire Wolds.
A day of practical Christmas making for young people and families from 10am - 3pm.
This will be held at The Classroom in the Woods near Ashby cum Fenby. Please call 01507 609740 or email
[email protected] to book your place. Suitable outdoor clothing will be required and all
attendees will need a pack up
"Best
wishes for Christmas to all the great people I met at the ANZAC Day Commemorations. May you all have a prosperous and successful New Year.
Colin Brothers"
2
What’s on the TV?
Reading Nicola’s article about Cy Grant in last month’s issue triggered a memory from
childhood - he was frequently a guest artist on the early BBC TV programmes singing his
own distinctive brand of calypso songs. This caused me to reflect on those very early
days of TV. My parents were always enthusiasts for the latest gadgetry – in fact an
absolute ‘must have’ for my mother on their wedding in 1937 was one of the new-fangled
Hoover vacuum cleaners. That same model was still giving service into the 1970s!
But I digress: we were the first household in our street
to acquire a TV set, in 1950 and it was a Bush set with
a 10 inch screen and cost £80 – a small fortune in
today’s terms. It would take up five minutes to ‘warm
up’ and the choice of programmes was limited. There
was only one channel – the BBC – and schedules
would only run for a short period in the afternoon and
from about 8.00 pm to around 10.30 in the evening.
The service was only available to homes in London
and the Midlands (we lived in Harrow) and there were
frequent breaks – planned and unplanned – with the
‘Potter’s Wheel’ featuring as a usual subject in the
intermission.
As a mere toddler, my interest was focussed on Andy
Pandy and Muffin the Mule. Under the umbrella title
Watch With Mother as well as the Andy Pandy
episodes, there were also The Woodentops, 'Bill and
Ben', all having a similar format-filmed marionettes,
Have a look at a typical evening’s viewing for the time
on the right – it hardly sets the pulses racing!
Of course the TV proved a magnet for local children
with the usual refrain “What’s on the TV?”; and not
least for their parents. An early ‘street viewing’ was the
1950 Boat Race, which proved to be something of an
anticlimax – the Oxford boat sank!
1950 proved to be a very innovative year for TV: there
was the first televised election results programme; the
first outside broadcast from Europe *; and the first
televising of Come Dancing which ran until 1998, and
was to prove the inspiration for the contemporary and
very popular Strictly Come Dancing; and the first
broadcast from within the House of Commons.
*A two-hour programme was broadcast live from Calais
to mark the centenary of the first message sent by
submarine telegraph cable from England to France.
British viewers were able to watch the town of Calais "en fete", with a torchlight procession,
dancing and a firework display all taking place in the Place de l'Hotel de Ville. Presenters
Richard Dimbleby and Alan Adair gave commentaries on the festivities and interviewed local
personalities in front of the cameras.
The televising of the Coronation was a significant factor in the increase of TV sets in public
use, and in March 1953 figures for combined sound and television licences were given as
2,142,452, compared with 1,457,000 a year previously. The Coronation broadcast on 2nd
June of that year lasted for seven hours and viewers saw the whole service except for the
Anointing, the Communion prayers, and the administration of the Sacrament. Taking into
account large-screen presentations in cinemas, church halls, hospitals and other public
venues, it was estimated that no fewer than 20 million people watched the service in the UK
alone.
How times have changed! Tony
Andy Pandy first
broadcast in
1950
Muffin the Mule with presenter Annette Mills (sister of actor John
Mills) first broadcast in 1946
3
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4
Community Groups Update
Brookenby Camera Club
Lynn and Alan Turnbull, who live on Cambridge Crescent, kindly came and gave us a talk on underwater
photography.They described the difficulties facing the photographer. The main problem is the currents and
keeping the camera still. Other problems are the visibility and the size of their subjects. Lynn who is the main
photographer showed us some amazing images and the fact she doesn't use Photoshop was even more
impressive. Lynn and Alan claim sharks are friendly! We were able to examine Lynn's camera and the water
tight body. It was a very enjoyable evening made better by some excellent presentation. John Brackenbury.
Brookenby Parish Council
With reference to the Central Lincolnshire Local Plan (referred to in November’s issue) at its meeting on 3rd
November the Council agreed to an Extraordinary General Meeting on 10th November to discuss the Plan and
to decide on any response: a report on the conclusions reached at this meeting has been requested but not so
far received. Apart from the usual routine matters, the Council agreed to accept a two year contract for gas
supplies to the Community Centre.
The Bar
Activities and events for December are as displayed on the front page with the exception of the New Year’s
Eve Party which will start at 7.00 pm. We plan to hold a Music Fest on 9th July 2016 featuring live bands, a
craft fair, stalls, bouncy castle and other activities.
Jubilee Games
The next games will be on Saturday the 25th of June 2016 at Hemswell which will also be their ‘Big Lunch’ day.
Sarah.
St Michael & All Angels Church (Brookenby)
Please join us for our Services for December
6th December (2nd week of Advent) – Holy Communion – Church of England
13th December (3rd week of Advent) – Methodist led
20th December (4th week of Advent) – Carols and Readings – Church of England (Lay-led)
24th December (Christmas Eve) – **NEW** Christmas Family Service’ – Church of England (Lay-led)
27th December – No Service
Please note that with the exception of the Christmas Family Service, all services begin at 10.30am.
**Christmas Family Service begins at 4pm and is suitable for all ages**
The Church Council of Brookenby Church and our Methodist partners, warmly invite you to attend any or all of
the above Services. As always a warm and friendly welcome awaits.
We would also wish to take this opportunity to wish you all a very *Happy Christmas* and may the Blessings of
our Lord be with you, your family and your friends. God Bless Janine
5
LEONARD DORRICOTT DFM
Leonard William Dorricott was born on 1 May 1923. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
becoming a navigator and was awarded a DFM on 10 December 1943. He flew 9 operations on the famous
G for George Lancaster, and after completing a full 30 operations with 460 Sqn, volunteered for a 2nd tour.
He was transferred to 576 Sqn based at RAF Fiskerton, from
where he flew:
2 May 1945 to Rotterdam (Operation Manna)
4 May 1945 to Valkenberg airfield (Operation Manna)
11 May 1945 (Operation Exodus) picked up 24 ex PoWs from
Brussels Airport.
6 trips from 28 August 1945 to 14 Jan 1946 on Operation
Dodge picking up ex PoWs from Pomiliano airfield near
Naples in Italy.
The photograph on the left is of Len at RAF Binbrook in 1943.
Jon and I had the privilege of meeting Len and his wife, Rosemary, last December as part of the Operation
Manna project. He was a gentle, unassuming man who was willing to give up his time to share with us his
Operation Manna experiences. With the all the heightened interest in Bomber Command, 2014 had been a busy
year for him; attending ceremonies at Lincoln Cathedral and RAF Coningsby as well as being filmed and
interviewed about his life during World War 2. After the war Len qualified as an engineer and worked for
Rushton, Proctor and Hornsby of Lincoln (for further information on this company please read the “First World
War Aviation” article elsewhere in this publication). Sadly Len died on 19 December 2014 but Rosemary
continues to attend as many memorials and dedications as she can to ensure that Len, and the thousands like
him, are not forgotten. In last month’s Patch, we printed Rosemary’s poem “Lincoln Spires” which many of you
took the time to write and say how wonderful it was. The following is Rosemary’s short biography of her
husband which was written 4 months before he died.
Len – My Husband
A quiet man, a gifted man who performed courageous acts during the Second World War. Hardly more than a
child, he trained and volunteered for the RAF and so started his adventures through life!
Bomber Command took men of great bravery for the mammoth tasks they under took and Len was one of them,
gaining a DFM for his courage!
This determination took him through his life with artistic gifts in photography particularly the Bromoil branch of
this. He gained a degree in engineering (M.I.Mch.E) and was principal engineer specialising in the performance
of gas turbines.
He lectured and judged, he demonstrated his favourite Bromoils as well as other forms of photography, and he
exhibited profusely. Many an accolade he received for these feats!
Len did not stay that adventurous teenager! Like
all of us, old age has seen him take a more
peaceful and restful existence with cryptic
crosswords, his continuous love of books, his
weekly visits to the camera club and finally
lunchtimes visits to The Dambusters public house
and museum in Scampton with his great pal
Richard! Bomber command Memorial occasions
have taken a great part of his life recently and he
is now receiving the great recognition for what
he, and his fellow RAF bomber crews did during
the war – much deserved and, not because of all
this, I love and cherish him for the man he is - My Len!
Rosemary and Len Dorricott 17 December 2014
Rosemary told me recently that she has just finished reading George “Johnny” Johnson’s autobiography “The
Last British Dambuster” and was really grateful that he had written this book because it gave her an insight as
to the thoughts and emotions that Len had probably experienced. He did not talk about his personal feelings of
the war; and on the occasions that he did, Len usually just related actual facts about his missions. Operation
Manna was slightly different, of this he said: “It was daylight and we were flying so low we literally had a bird’s
eye view. German soldiers were walking in the streets and looking at us. The best thing of all was seeing
people on the rooftops waving at us. It was a marvellous feeling. The best thing I did in the war and I will
always feel proud of that.” From Rosemary’s written words you can tell that she was extremely proud of
everything about her husband. And rightly so.
6
7
Anzac Day + Eight Months
In our April issue we included an article on the launching of the Gallipoli campaign in 1915 during World War 1
and which comprised British, French, Australian and New Zealand forces and which gave rise to ANZAC Day
on 25th April, the date of the first landings. Although it ultimately proved to be a failure, most people are
probably unaware that the campaign lasted until December of that year and that the evacuation was carried
out with considerable ingenuity and precision. There follows an account of that operation.
At about 1.40 pm on 13 November 1915 a small boat arrived at North Beach. From it stepped Field Marshal
Lord Kitchener, Commander in Chief of the British Army. He had come to Anzac Cove to see the positions
there for himself. Kitchener spent just over two hours at Anzac surveying the Turkish line from Australian
trenches inland of the Sphinx and at Lone Pine. Two days later, after further consultation with senior
commanders, he recommended to the British War Cabinet that Gallipoli–Anzac, Suvla and Helles–be
evacuated. Without significant reinforcement and the bringing in of considerable artillery resources, little
progress could, in his opinion, be made against the strengthening Turkish trenches. This was especially so at
Anzac where a further surprise attack, such as had been conducted in August against Chunuk Bair and
Kocacimentepe, was virtually impossible. Moreover, local commanders were extremely worried about the
problems of supplying Gallipoli throughout the winter with its many severe storms.
Once the decision had been taken, the biggest problem was how to leave the peninsula without arousing the
suspicions of the Turks. A detailed evacuation plan was devised by an Australian, Lieutenant Colonel Charles
Brudenell White. This involved elaborate deception operations such as the so-called ‘silent stunts’ of late
November where no artillery fire or sniping was to occur from the Anzac lines. It was hoped that this would
accustom the Turks to the idea that preparations were underway for the coming winter. Hopefully, the enemy
would not, therefore, interpret these silences as a withdrawal. Right to the end, great care was taken to keep
up the kind of irregular rifle and artillery fire from Anzac that would be expected by the Turks.
An evacuation schedule planned for the leaving of Anzac in three stages. In the ‘preliminary stage’, to be set in
motion men and equipment would be taken off consistent with a garrison preparing for a purely defensive
winter campaign. The ‘intermediate’ stage would then commence, during which the number of soldiers on
Anzac would be reduced to a point where they could still hold off a major Turkish attack for about one week.
During the first two stages, the Anzac garrison would fall from 41 000 to 26 000. These 26 000 would then be
withdrawn over two nights in the ‘final’ evacuation on 18-19 and 19-20 December 1915.
Williams’ Pier, North Beach, December 1915, with
the Sphinx in the background. At this time the
preparations for the evacuation of the Australian
and New Zealand troops were well under way.
So well were the objectives of the first two stages
kept secret from all but those who needed to know,
that it was not until the second week in December
that the ordinary soldiers realised that a full-scale
evacuation was in progress. Men’s reactions
varied, but a common sorrow was the thought of
leaving behind their dead comrades. Many now
spent time in the small Anzac cemeteries tidying
up the graves. On the nights of 18-19 and 19-20
December the final 20,000 Anzacs were taken off.
On 19 December, the British cruiser HMS Grafton lay in off North Beach ready to take the soldiers on board
and, if necessary, to open fire on any enemy attempt to hinder this final withdrawal.
On 19 December just 10 000 men held the lines of trenches from Bolton’s Ridge in the south to Hill 60 in the
north. The day was spent in constant activity aimed at convincing their watchful enemy that things were
proceeding as normal. At 2.15 pm the British started a feint attack at Helles to distract the Turks. At dusk the
rear guard began leaving for the beach until finally there were but 1500 left in all those miles of dark trench. By
4.00 am, 20 December 1915, a handful of men were left at North Beach. Among these was the commander of
the ‘Rear Party’, Colonel J Paton, from Waratah, Sydney. At 4.10 am, Paton, having waited ten minutes for any
last Anzac straggler, declared the evacuation complete and sailed off. The Anzacs had successfully left Gallipoli
with hardly a casualty.
On 19 December, as he waited to go, Company Quarter Master Sergeant A L Guppy, 14th Battalion, of Benalla,
Victoria, confided his feelings in verse to his diary. His words probably spoke for them all:
Not only muffled is our tread
Which, more than failure, wounds the heart,
To cheat the foe,
Is thus to leave you- thus to part,
We fear to rouse our honoured dead
Comrades, farewell!
To hear us go.
[Guppy, quoted in B Gammage, The Broken Years – Australian
Sleep sound, old friends- the keenest smart
Soldiers in the Great War, Penguin Books, 1975, p.110]
8
Lincolnshre Community Land Trust (LCLT)
John Mather from LCLT addressed a meeting of residents and local authority representatives on 19th November.
LCLT is the umbrella organisation supporting the work of Community Land Trusts across Lincolnshire and the
East Midlands – promoting sustainable communities through community ownership of affordable housing and
local facilities.
LCLT has identified that there are 12 houses defined as ‘long-term unoccupied’ plus examples of disrepair so
giving the potential for a Community Land Trust to be established here in Brookenby. Government policy
supports the creation of these local trust and the concept has the support of West Lindsey District Council who
have provided initial funding for the study to be carried out here.
LCLT is a non-profit organisation established in 2011 and already has two projects running in Lincolnshire and 2
in Derbyshire. It has the support of 10 Methodist Churches (in regard to redundant church premises) and three
Parish Councils including Caistor where help was given in regard to the current Co-op building.
Community Land Trusts (CLTs) own the land and there is an emphasis on providing affordable housing with the
property acquired. There is open membership giving democratic accountability to the local community.
There are three possible options for creating a CLT:
• Community Interest Company (CIC)
• Registered Charity
• Community Benefit Society (similar to the old Provident Societies)
The CLT will have limited liability and assets will be ‘locked in’ for the benefit of future generations. Acquisitions
are not limited to housing and can include other buildings and open spaces.
The first step would be to set up a feasibility study for the establishment of a CLT in Brookenby. This body could
have the objective of acquiring and renovating empty homes through loans and possibly grants; establish a
regime of high quality management and maintenance; and to rent out those homes to provide an income
stream. The possibility of a partnership with a housing association was also canvassed. Provisional funding is
available from WLDC to support this initial approach. Some 25 residents were present at the meeting together
with five Parish Councillors: there was overwhelming support for the concept of establishing a CLT.
It was therefore proposed to set up a steering group to examine the legal and financial feasibility of the project
and offers of support were invited from the floor to be members of the steering group. A number of residents
indicated that they would be so willing. It is likely that the inaugural meeting will be held in early January.
Further information can be obtained by visiting the website www.lclt.co.uk or by writing to John Mather on
[email protected].
Remembrance Sunday – 8th November
The Service of Remembrance took place at the
Ident Square Memorial with the Act of
Remembrance led by Methodist minister Ian
Hardcastle. The picture shows two of our younger
residents laying a wreath.
Photo: John Brackenbury
Meat Delivery Service
We are pleased to introduce a new service for
the people of Brookenby and surrounding area
– AR Needham, butchers of Grimsby, will
deliver to your home (no delivery charge on
orders of £30+). We have tried their products
and can testify to their quality and extremely
reasonable prices.
Check out the ad on p12 but special Christmas
offers include hampers for £20, £30 and £50
and the expected selection of poultry: turkeys,
ducks, geese and capons as well as beef, pork
sausages, bacon and pork pies. Tony
9
The International Bomber
Command Memorial
Photo by Steve Smailes
I was very lucky to have been able to
volunteer for the unveiling of the Memorial
Spire on the 2nd October 2015. As I was
quite happy to do anything, I was allotted to
the car parking department. I’m sure
everyone was slightly concerned about the
weather but I for one was relieved when we
arrived at Canwick Hill at 7.30 am to be
greeted by clear blue skies and warm breezes.
There was no shortage of helpers and we sorted ourselves out with those in smart clothes heading for the
tented area and those of us in wellies traipsing through the morning dew to our positions in the car park.
There is always an amazing atmosphere at anything like this and where I was everyone got on very well and
worked as a team.
The organisers had sensibly hidden me well out of the way in the furthest car park from the VIP area but even
so, I wished I had had a recording device with me. The number of stories we heard from ex-RAF personnel
was amazing and the number of reunions and friends meeting up meant that time flew by.
Despite chatting to all and sundry we managed to park our allotted 600 cars and were then free to enjoy the
day. And what a special day it was. The event was opened by Lord Howe and presided over by the TV
presenter Dan Snow but the highlight for me was the mixture of young and old with school children alongside
World War Two veterans.
And then there was the aircraft. I know lots of people were keen to see the Vulcan but I was delighted to see
the Bristol Blenheim. The last of its kind still flying, the little Blenheim was at one time the most numerous
‘plane in the RAF. This particular example only returned to flying in May 2015 after an accident in 2003.
Incidentally, the Blenheim was never based at RAF Binbrook but Hughie Edwards, the Australian Group
Captain* who commanded RAF Binbrook in 1943, won his Victoria Cross leading a bombing raid to Bremen
in a Blenheim (bit of a tongue twister that!). Yes, I know that the jets and trainers are all impressive but there’s
nothing like a piston engine to set the spine quivering…except when it comes to the Vulcan. Now I have a
confession to make here. I had an appointment in the afternoon and so had to leave the site early, before the
Vulcan flew over in fact, but as I was driving through the city I managed to catch a tiny glimpse of her in the
distance. There were people lined up along the way to see her fly across the city and it’s such a shame we
will not see her fly again. The funny thing was, my wife was in Thoresway and she saw the jet come over the
house like a ‘great, majestic bird gliding so slowing you could have reached out and touched it”. I could not
have put it better myself. The annoying thing was, the Vulcan had also flown over Binbrook and Brookenby
so if I’d have stayed at home I would have seen it!!
If you want to visit the memorial spire yourselves then there are guided tours available on the IBCC website
so check it out on: www.internationalbombercommand.com and to see a snapshot of the day go to: http://
thelincolnite.co.uk/2015/10/lincoln-bomber-command-tribute-unveiled-before-last-gathering-of-veterans
*Hughie Edwards eventually became an acting Air Commodore
William Jeffery McKay ‘Jeff’ (1922-2015)
In our June issue we reported on the visit of 460 Squadron veteran Jeff
Mckay to Brookenby and Binbrook. We have received a message from his
nephew, Richard Appleton, who accompanied Jeff and his wife Olive whilst
they were in the UK:
“I have some very sad news. My uncle Jeff died yesterday (5th Nov) in
hospital in Melbourne. He had been moved into palliative care following a
thankfully short illness. He was at peace and my auntie Olive and their
three sons were with him. Whilst this was not totally unexpected following
reports from Australia over recent days, we are still shocked and very much
saddened, but must be grateful for his long, productive, eventful and happy
life. He was 93.”
Photo left: Jeff and Olive signing the Visitors’ Book in Brookenby Church
10
First World War Aviation
I recently attended the Lincolnshire Remembrance Memorial & Memories Project celebration day at Thorpe
Camp near Woodhall Spa. The day’s theme was First World War Aviation in Lincolnshire and principally the
construction of aircraft in Lincoln.
I’m sure that many of you were probably already aware of this, but in my ignorance I did not realise that on
heading over the River Witham on the A15 southbound through Lincoln, I was travelling through an
industrial heartland. During World War I Lincoln was an industrial centre and one of its principal products
was the aeroplane with all the associated industries needed for its manufacture. What is amazing is that a
lot of evidence of this industry is still apparent today for any modern day history sleuths.
So how did Lincoln, in the middle of this rural landscape, become the 19th century equivalent of Silicone
Valley? Well, apparently it stems from the industrial revolution and the effect it was having on agriculture
and transport. The use of machines in agriculture was becoming a necessity and the size of the equipment
meant transportation had to be kept to a minimum so it was built where it was needed. The River Witham
had been providing transportation for centuries and where there was river transport there was ship building.
Therefore, in the early 1800’s engineering companies began to emerge. For example, Burton & Proctor
was started by James Proctor and Theophilus Burton in 1840 as millwrights and ‘implement’ manufacturers.
Joseph Ruston joined as a partner in 1857, changing the name to Ruston, Proctor & Co., and the company
grew to be one of the largest agricultural engineering companies in the country. By the time they merged
with Richard Hornsby in 1918 they were building everything from traction engines to petrol engines to
excavators to railway locomotives to aircraft.
The photo on the left is of the Ruston, Proctor & Co.’s
aircraft production line in 1917
Clayton & Shuttleworth came together two years after
Burton & Proctor began business and they
were big in engines; traction engines. By 1890 they
had constructed an amazing 26,000 steam engines
and 24,000 threshing machines. At one time the
company employed 1,200 people and had branches all
over Europe. It was the first company to build a
combine harvester. They also built combustion engined
tractors and it was this that led to the company making
parts for the admiralty’s Supermarine Scout in 1916.’.
The company then went on to gain contracts for whole aircraft including the Hadley Page 0/400, Sopwith
Triplane, Vickers Vimy and the Sopwith Camel, including Camel B7270 whose pilot Roy Brown was
officially credited with shooting down the ‘Red Baron.
Other companies included Robey & Co Ltd, and Marshal and Sons. Robey’s made their own Robey 806
aircraft and were contracted to build the Sopwith Gunbus and Short’s Seaplane. They also had their own
testing facility which was taken over by the Royal Flying Corps to become RFC Bracebridge Heath.
Marshal and Sons was a Gainsborough based company who built Bristol F2B’s under licence. However,
the completed aircraft were towed to West Common (the old race course) in Lincoln for testing.
Photo courtesy of
www.flyingmachines.ru
A staggering one in fourteen of
British aircraft were made in
Lincoln during WW1. All in all,
aircraft production and its
associated industries employed
around 6000 people, many of
which were women. The shift in
the social fabric of the area must
have been immense. It must also have been dramatic when the war ended and the returning soldiers
wanted their old jobs back. Worse perhaps, after the war the cancellation of defence contracts and the
global depression had a devastating effect on the industry around Lincoln.
11
So what happened to the massive buildings which were needed for all this manufacturing? Some of them are
still there: Cannon’s vital glue works, Boultham Engineering’s buildings and the Clayton & Shuttleworth’s
“Titanic” building still survive as do many of the buildings alongside the river and the A15. The Ruston &
Proctor works are now part of Siemens complex and some manufactures, like Dawson & Co, still remain on
the site they’ve occupied since they were built.
We will be doing more on this interesting -entertainment-and-attractions/archaeology/industrial-archaeology/
111041.article
http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw016313
http://heritageconnectlincoln.com/character-area/tritton-road-industrial/92/overview
Or get hold of a copy of Aircraft made in Lincoln by John Walls and Charles Parker (Society for Lincolnshire History and Archaeology)
Or visit the Lincolnshire Museum of Life, in Lincoln.
And Thorpe Camp itself is well worth a visit.
And finally many thanks to Cathryn Pike of the LMR&M Project for organising the event
It’s A Wonderful Life
Frank Capra’s classic 1946 movie has been adapted for the stage and thanks to Lincolnshire Rural Touring,
Farnham. Maltings will be bringing this slice of Christmas cheer to the Caistor Town Hall on the 20th
December at 7.30pm. To book tickets please
call 01472 851750 and for further information on
what other productions there will be across
Lincolnshire please go to the website:
www.lincsruraltouring.co.uk
A.R. Needham
Butchers (Ltd) of Grimsby
Quality meat delivered to your
door
Free delivery for orders over
£30.
Call 01472 342795 or 351246
for further details.
RAF Vulcan overflying Brookenby on 5th
October
Photo: John Brackenbury
12
Tanya Gardener
BSc (Hons), Dip.Couns Counselling
BACP Registered
A Confidential Service
Brookenby Community Centre
For further information or to discuss your needs,
please contact me on:
Call or Text 07867 590262
E-mail: [email protected]
Facebook.com/counselling
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All aspects of plumbing works
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10% Discount with this advert
Call – Mark Auckland
Mob: 07920125651
Tel: 01472 239011
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Independent Business Owner of Forever
Living Products Aloe Vera Drinking Gels,
Supplements, Skincare and Personal Care
Products
Nettleton, Market Rasen
www.kmeprice.myforever.biz/store
find me on Facebook;
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Advertising rates
(All rates based on A4 page size format)
Size
per annum (12 issues)
per single issue
‘business card’ size
£25
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£60
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Full page
£180
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Advertising material can be distributed separately with each publication for £8 per item.
To have an ad inserted or to arrange deliveries of flyers, contact Tony on 399876, e-mail
[email protected] or deliver to 21 Dale View Road. All material to be submitted by 9.00 am the 25th of
each month for inclusion in the succeeding month’s issue.
Community News is an independent non-profit making venture under the direction of Wolds Events and supported
entirely by advertising revenue.
13
Lincolnshire’s Finest – Stephen Langton
In this 700th anniversary year of the signing of Magna Carta, it is appropriate that we should
celebrate a son of Lincolnshire who was instrumental in the creation of this milestone in
constitutional government.
Stephen Langton (archbishop of Canterbury 1207-1228) was born around 1150 near
Wragby and was probably educated in his local cathedral school. At the age of about fifteen
Langton left home for university in Paris to study the arts and then theology. He became a
‘master’ (the equivalent of a university professor today). Langton’s biblical scholarship
included what we would now call ‘political thought’, because he looked to the Bible for
guidance on how society in his own day should he ordered. Langton argued that God had not intended the
world to be ruled by kings, who were predisposed to rule oppressively and with disregard for the law. Although
Langton was inclined to think that kings in his own day, like their Biblical predecessors, often behaved badly, he
was no radical. He thought that in most circumstances subjects should obey their kings – at the most they could
refuse to carry out an unlawful command.
Such questions were not just classroom exercises but real dilemmas for people ruled by kings, especially kings
such as John of England, who often made important decisions and inflicted harsh punishments on his subjects
without recourse to the law or troubling to obtain the agreement of his bishops and barons. In 1206, these
became pressing issues for Langton too, when Pope Innocent III called him to Rome and made him a cardinal,
before arranging for him to be appointed archbishop of Canterbury. King John refused to accept the pope’s
choice of archbishop; he, like his predecessors, expected to influence the outcome of elections to English
bishoprics, so that he could reward his servants and ensure that such important offices were held by men who
were faithful to him. Both parties refused to back down and so the pope imposed an interdict on England,
meaning that the Church’s sacraments (such as Confession and the Eucharist) were forbidden to everyone in
the kingdom. Innocent also excommunicated the king (the Church’s equivalent of outlawry). Almost all of
England’s bishops sided with the pope and left England to join Langton in exile in France. Eventually, the threat
of rebellion in England and war with France forced King John to accept the pope’s terms, in order to secure the
support of the Church. He agreed to become the pope’s vassal and to allow Langton to take up his appointment.
The bishops, with Langton at their head, returned to England in the summer of 1213 and began the difficult task
of trying to prevent a civil war between the king and his barons.
Langton was keenly aware of the brutal realities of John’s rule. He was also attached to St Thomas Becket, his
predecessor as archbishop of Canterbury, who had suffered persecution at the hands of John’s father, Henry II,
and had been martyred in the cause of the liberty of the Church. But Langton had never argued that subjects
were entitled to rebel against their king – even a king as harsh as John – only that they could refuse to obey
illegal orders. Thus, in 1215, Langton refused to give up command of Rochester castle to the king because
John’s demand had been made ‘without judgement’. For this act John considered Langton ‘a notorious and
barefaced traitor’, and suspected him of complicity with the rebel barons. But it is unlikely that the archbishop
ever encouraged rebellion against an anointed king, especially knowing the damage that civil war would inflict
upon the kingdom.
Instead, Langton and his fellow bishops worked for a peaceful settlement – a settlement that was to be
enshrined in the original issue of Magna Carta in 1215. When it became clear in the weeks after the agreement
at Runnymede that the Charter had failed as a peace treaty, Langton continued in his efforts to bring king and
barons to terms, refusing to excommunicate the rebels. The king was furious and had Langton suspended from
office. However, this did not prevent Langton from travelling to Rome, where the pope had summoned a council
of the Church (the Fourth Lateran Council of 1215.
Langton was not to return to England until 1218. In his absence, Prince Louis of France invaded England at the
request of the rebels, King John died, the nine-year-old Henry III was crowned, and two new issues of Magna
Carta were granted, in 1216 and 1217, by the young king’s ministers in an effort to woo the rebel barons away
from the French cause. With brilliant military victories at the Battles of Lincoln and Sandwich in 1217, Henry III’s
supporters were able to secure the kingdom. But the rebuilding of royal authority and finances after the ravages
of war was still a huge and difficult task, and Langton toiled hard in the young king’s cause on his return.
In the early years of Henry’s reign, Langton was to become the champion of Magna Carta. In 1225, Henry
issued what was to be the definitive version of the Charter. This differed in important ways from the original
version of 1215. The 1225 version of Magna Carta, was issued in return for a grant of taxation from the bishops
and barons. There could now be no suggestion that the Charter had been extracted from the king by force, or
that it licensed civil war. These changes allowed Langton to support the Charter unreservedly. In 1225, he
pronounced a broad sentence of excommunication in support of Magna Carta. This meant that anyone – king,
royal officer, or baron – would automatically be outlawed from the Church if they violated the Charter.
14
Binbrook & District Women's Institute
October/November Report.
Monthly meetings, 1st Thursday of the Month 7 pm for 7.15pm start.
Queen’s Hall, Binbrook – Plenty of free parking.
Members FREE. Visitors £3.80 refreshments included.
December meeting is for members only
Thursday 7th January 2016
Speaker Ken Sloan – Subject – Search & Rescuing with Abbie
(Abbie the dog will be joining us for Ken's Anecdotal talk)
In November Linda Hewett, who runs her own artisan bakery in Fulbeck, loved passing on her passion for
baking to everyone. As well as telling us time saving tricks of the trade for making bread, she showed us how
to produce our own Christmas edible goodies. Linda is on her way to becoming a nationally known celebrity
chef, she brought the hall alive, no-one (members or our many visitors) wanted to leave without thanking her
for a great evening. Her bread, pastry & biscuits were raffled off at the end, we all managed to take a little
memento home. My prize was quickly eaten by my other half, luckily I now have a recipe to be able to make
more.
Our October open meeting was as good as we expected. Retired Air Commodore Jake Jarron gave us a
brilliantly delivered anecdotal talk about his time as a military attaché in Moscow at the end of the cold war. His
descriptive delivery of after (& before) dinner toast drinking and its inebriating effect on him were especially
good. It was nice to see so many visitors from Brookenby; mainly people who already knew the speaker when
he was Station Commander at RAF Binbrook.
We had our behind the scenes tour of St Andrew’s Hospice, the attention to detail in all areas made it a very
inspiring place to visit, afterwards we stayed and had a lovely lunch, in fact anyone is welcome to visit their
restaurant between 8.30am till 5.30pm. For details phone 01472 350908
To celebrate 100 years of the WI this year, members had a superb meal & entertainment at the Lincolnshire
North Federation Centenary Lunch at the Festival Hall in Market Rasen, others had a great time at the
National Centennial Fair in Harrogate. Another group had a magical time, whilst attending a Centenary
Celebration Choral Evensong Service sat in the choir stalls at Lincoln Cathedral, (organised by the recently
formed Lincoln WI ) finishing with a rousing rendition of “Jerusalem” before all retired to the Chapter House for
tea and cakes.
All the events we were invited to were thoroughly enjoyable, particularly when meeting and chatting to
members, young and old from Lincolnshire's many diverse Women's Institutes.
For more information phone Marina 01472 399501 or Bunny 01472 399009
Another year has gone by and what a year it has been for us, members have learnt how to string sausages,
create mosaic tiles, bind books, crochet, arrange flowers and make artisan bread. We have participated in
Regency dancing and Morris dancing, had a go at clay pigeon shooting and outdoor bowls. We have been
overawed by speakers like Sqd. Ldr Ruth Shackleton of the Red Arrows.We have had behind the scenes visits
to St Andrews Hospice and Humberside
Airport, we have spoken to national
celebrities at various Federations events.
Two of us joined thousands of other ladies
including the Queen to celebrate the WI's
Centenary at special events at Buckingham
Palace and The Royal Albert Hall.Binbrook
and District WI is nearly 70 years old,
however about half of our members are
recent arrivals to this area and our institute.
We are an inclusive group of ladies, our
present 19 members all have the opportunity
to influence which speakers we book and
what activities we do. So if you are new to
the area, do join us either as a visitor or
better still become a member. You would be
most welcome.MERRY CHRISTMAS & A
HAPPY NEW YEARTO ALL OUR VISITORS
OVER THIS PAST YEARAND TO
EVERYBODY IN THE AREA FROM
BINBROOK & DISTRICT WI
15
Times Gone By
100 Years Ago – December 1915
2. W. Front: General Joseph Joffre is appointed
Commander-in-Chief of the French Army.
3. Washington: German attaches, including Franz
von Papen, are dismissed.
4. US: The state of Georgia recognises the Ku Klux
Klan.
7. Washington: President Wilson asks for standing
US army of 142,000 with reserves of 400,000.
10. US: Ford makes its one millionth motor car.
10. Stockholm: Nobel Prizes awarded to Sir William
H Bragg and Sir William L Bragg (UK, Physics);
Richard Willstatter (Germany, Chemistry); and
Romain Rolland (France, Literature); no Peace or
Medicine Prizes awarded.
12. Germany: Hugo Junkers builds the first all-metal
aeroplane.
14. Central Asia: Reported that one million
Armenians have been killed by Turks.
15. UK: Sir Douglas Haig replaces Sir John French
as commander of British forces on the Western
Front.
17. UK: 14 die and 50 are hirt in a train crash near
South Shields.
18. Washington: President Wilson marries.
20. Gallipoli: The Dardanelles offensive is
abandoned after eight months: 90,000 men, 4,500
animals, 1,700 vehicles and 200 guns are
evacuated. (See article at p8)
30. Mediterranean: 40 die when a German
submarine sinks P & O Liner Persia.
75 years ago – December 1940
1.London: Joseph Kennedy resigns as US
ambassador to Britain.
2. Madrid: An Anglo-Spanish pact is signed; Franco
vows to keep out of the war.
3. London: The Food Minister announces extra
Christmas rations of 4 oz of sugar and 2 oz of tea.
6. Rome: Marshal Pietro Badoglio is sacked as Italian
Chief of Staff following the setbacks in Albania.
9. N. Africa: UK launches offensive against Italian
positions in the Western Desert: 1,00 Italian prisoners
are taken.
10. Stockholm: No Nobel Prizes are awarded this year.
12. Egypt: 30,000 Italians are reported captured by
British and Commonwealth troops.
15. Paris: The ashes of Napoleon II are returned from
Vienna; the German publicity gesture is ill-attended.
17. Vichy: Laval is released on Hitler’s orders.
22. London: Anthony Eden becomes Foreign
Secretary; Lord Halifax is appointed ambassador to
the US.
23. Albania: The Greeks capture Chimera and take
over 800 Italians prisoner.
26. New York: Opening of ‘The Philadelphia Story”
starring Katherine Hepburn.
29. London: Massive blitz on the City of London.
10,000 fire bombs unloaded – fires rage out of control.
29. US: President Roosevelt declares the US to be
“the arsenal of democracy” by supplying munitions to
the UK.
BOOK READING CLUB
Now that the dark nights are here, will you be curling up with a good book? Are you retired
and would like a monthly interaction with other readers? A new Book Reading Club has
been started in Binbrook and is open to residents of local villages. It will be held during the
day, so anyone interested will be welcome, but we will be restricted by numbers in the early
days. Please contact Eileen for further information - 01472 398181
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