Tuesday, June 28, 2011

CIWF wins award.......Do they deserve it?


CIWF wins award for Nocton campaign

10 June 2011 | By Alistair Driver
COMPASSION  in World Farming has won an ethical award for its campaign to halt the proposed Nocton mega dairy, in Lincolnshire.
The animal welfare charity picked up the Campaigner of the Year award in the Observer Ethical Awards 2011 on Thursday at London’s Victoria & Albert museum.
It was honoured for its ‘Cows Belong in Fields’ campaign, sparked by Nocton Dairies’ plans for an 8,100-cow dairy unit last year.
Nocton withdrew its application earlier this year. At the time it said the sole reason was the refusal of the Environment Agency to lift its objections made on the basis of the risk of groundwater pollution.
But CIWF claimed ‘the huge intensity of public opposition’ and  the work of organisations like itself were also factors.
The award was accepted by leading CIWF officials and celebrity supporters Bill Oddie and vet Marc Abrahams (celebrity vet).
CIWF prevailed over other high profile shortlisted candidates such as Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and 38 Degrees, which also campaigned against the Nocton proposal.
CIWF’s Nocton Campaign Manager, Pat Thomas, said the ongoing campaign ‘stretches beyond Nocton, at a time when the spectre of the factory-farming threatens to undermine the UK dairy industry’.
“We are celebrating both the win and the public momentum behind it that says unambiguously that factory farming is cruel, unsustainable and unacceptable.”
CIWF shared the award with local campaigners, including CAFFO (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations)
“Defeating the mega-dairy took genuine teamwork and we were happy to provide local support and are grateful for the support that we received in return from local people and groups, particularly CAFFO. It was clear to us from the beginning that the proprietors of Nocton Dairies had dangerously underestimated the knowledge and persistence of local residents and the weight of public pressure,” she said.
The charity said it ‘continues its fight against mega-dairies in the UK’ and said it recently submitted an objection to the proposed 1,000-cow ‘mega-dairy’ in Powys, Wales.
CIWF’s award follows hot on the heels of a Chartered Institute of Public Relations excellence award for the World Society for the Protection Animals’ ‘Not in my Cuppa’ campaign, also opposing the Nocton project.
CIWF’s award was announced the day after the Women’s Institute decided not to vote on a resolution to oppose large scale farms. 

Readers' comments (2)

  • Anonymous | 11 June 2011 10:29 am
    Er.Did the application not get withdrawn because the EA said there was an unacceptable risk? Well done Compassion in World farming and all that for what I am sure was a very good and well executed camapign and for that reason alone I am sure you deserve your accolade, but can you explain exactly how your campaign was a 'factor'? Are you suggesting that you influenced the techncial team of scientists in a government agency? Interesting that others are also spotting this tendency among certain donation-funded campaign groups to claim all the credit. http://www.ipaquotas.com/QUOTANEWS.htm
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  • Vernon Goddard | 28 June 2011 5:15 pm
    The way I remember the recent campaign and the results of the planning objections serve me to recall that the major reason why the application failed was owing to the EAs concerns over potential contamination of the local acquifier. The Planning authorities also indicated that "they were minded" to turn the application down for several other reasons none associated with welfare of animals nor on compassionate grounds. Whilst I accept the the support of National bodies were important, they were not instrumental in determining the result. I would have awarded the Ethical accolade to the good people of Nocton, Metheringham, Branston etc etc who stopped this Super dairy with first-class reasoning and a real sense of community.........Let's not rewrite history by passing out accolades to the wrong organisations..........
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And I give you - the good people of Nocton.....


Village people are the focus for volume two of Nocton history

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Published on Tuesday 21 June 2011 16:53
AFTER completing the published work of the history of Nocton, two history enthusiasts have written a second book.
Sue Morris and Sheila Redshaw have completed Nocton - The last years of an estate village; Volume Two, a joint effort which tells the stories of people who lived in the village in days gone by.
While Volume One focused on the agricultural history of the village, Volume Two looks at the people of the village, the school, the church and some of the families who live or who have lived in Nocton.
During her research, Sue found that some families have lived in Nocton since the 1800s and during her time in the village primary school she was able to study the school log dating back to the 1920s.
She also found out about families whose children used to walk to school from the Fenlands, walking over four miles, and evacuees who came to the village in World War Two.
While studying church logs, she included stories in the book about the vicars’ wives who told of their stories of life in the vicarage and various activities at the village hall.
Sheila has lived in the village for over 50 years and provided the photos for the book by meeting local people and sharing their photos.
The two women decided to write the two volumes of Nocton’s history back in 2004, to share what they found out with others as they thought their findings would be of interest to local people.
Sue, who has lived in the village for over 20 years, said: “It was fascinating meeting people and they have been so very generous in sharing their photo albums with us.
“It’s amazing what people have lurking in their cupboards.”
Nocton - The last years of an estate village; Volume Two is available for £25 from D&K News in Metheringham, Nocton Post Office and from Sue herself at 7 The Avenue, Nocton, LN4 2BN, plus £3.50 for postage and packaging.



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Well - it's only 6 miles!!!!!!!!!


Woodhall Spa 10k runners helped by cooler weather

Monday, June 06, 2011
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Lincolnshire Echo
COOLER weather helped make the Woodhall Spa 10K slightly less challenging for the 1,200 people who took part.
Runners and wheelchair competitors raced along a route through some breathtaking countryside yesterday, cheered on by well-wishers.
  1. ​Woodhall Spa 10k
    GET SET: Competitors in the Woodhall Spa 10K get ready for the start of the race.
Among the supporters was 11-times Paralympic gold medallist Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson.
Charities and community groups in the village are now expected to benefit from a share of £5,000 raised by the event.
First across the finish line was Matt Bowser, 27, of Lincoln Wellington Athletic Club in 30.41 – a course record in his first stab at the event.
"I thought I would get to 5km in 15 minutes and see how I felt," said Mr Bowser, a recruitment consultant from Brattleby.
"My personal 10K best is 29.57. I enjoyed Woodhall – it was a nice event – I'd never run in it before.
"The conditions were OK, but it was windy throughout."
The first woman to finish was Beverley Wilson of Cleethorpes, in 38.13.
In the wheelchair race, Simon Lawson of Cumbria came first in 23.37.
The three-mile fun run even attracted babies being pushed in prams and two women in wedding dresses.
And the winner was Blake Kenneally-Forrester, 11, of Woodhall Spa.
He said: "I'm exhausted, but happy I was first. I have to have a rest.
"This is the third year I have run it, but I find it tough as I'm usually a sprinter.
"I thought the conditions were good – not too hot, not wet and quite comfortable."
Among the runners were Simon Elmer, 49, of Lincolnshire Police, who ran aid of a fund for the Carpathian Lancers – a Second World War Polish regiment with Lincolnshire connections.
"I have run this 10K every year since it started and the half marathon prior to that," said Mr Elmer, a member of the Anglo-Polish Society of North East Lincolnshire.
"It really enjoy it – it's a great event."
Race organiser Graham Keegan said the event attracts participants of all ages.
"The average age of people taking part is 40, two-thirds are men and half of all competitors are from Lincolnshire with the rest from far and wide," he said.
"We divide up the money from entrance fees to 20 local good cause and we invite the local Brownies, Scouts and football clubs to help us out on the day.
"The event is largely possible to the 100, volunteers who do their bit."
One runner was treated by paramedics after collapsing at the 5km stage.
View more than 200 pictures of the Woodhall Spa 10k...

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Branston U3A

Went to the General Meeting of Branston U3A today. General lecture given on "The Solar system." Excellent talk - informative & funny & enjoyed by all.
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Thursday, June 9, 2011

Flypast rehearsal..............


RAF rehearse 

Queen's birthday

  flypast in Lincolnshire

Red Arrows flying over Buckingham PalaceThe Red Arrows will fly over Buckingham Palace at 350 knots (403 mph)

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Aircrews have been rehearsing at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire for the Queen's official birthday celebrations.
Chinook and Puma helicopters, Typhoon, Hercules, C130, King Air, HS-125 and Tornado GR4s took part in the practice ahead of the display on Saturday.
The flypast over Buckingham Palace also includes a Spitfire, Hurricane and Lancaster from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).
The Red Arrows aerobatic display team will conclude the event.
Like clockwork
Sqn Ldr Martin Rendall, who is in charge of planning the flypast, said the rehearsals were important because of the different types and speeds of the aircraft involved.
Battle of Britain Memorial Flight based at RAF ConingsbyThe flypast will include 11 types of aircraft, including WWII planes from the BBMF
"We have helicopters flying at 100 knots (115 mph) and the Red Arrows flying at 350 knots (403 mph) - so it really is critical we get the timings right," he said.
"We use the BT speaking clock to get the time and every captain is responsible for getting their aircraft in the right place at the right time."
Spitfire pilot Sqn Ldr Duncan Mason, from the BBMF, said: "It is a special privilege to fly over Buckingham Palace.
"But there is always a bit of extra pressure to get the times right, especially when there are so many planes involved."


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Lincoln College set their aspirations very high........


Lincoln basketball team shoots 

for the stars

June 8, 2011 → 4.49pm — by Patrick White
  

Lincoln basketball team shoots for the stars

A Lincolnshire basketball team has been accepted into the England Basketball National League next season.
Lincoln Stars, who are based at the University of Lincoln, have been accepted into the Division 4 Men’s League for the 2011/12 season which starts in September.
Lucy Willets, Basketball Development Officer at Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, said: “It’s fantastic that we will have a National League basketball club in Lincolnshire.
“Trials for the team are currently being held and it’s an exciting time preparing for the season starting in September.”
“We are hopeful that people across Lincoln and the rest of the county will show support for the team and follow their success in the Division.”
Having a National team in Lincolnshire means players will not have to travel out of the county to play at this high level.
Dave Piggott, coach of Lincoln Stars, said: “Lincolnshire has lots of talented basketball players that currently travel to other neighbouring counties to play for National League Teams. We wanted to create a National Team for Lincolnshire, and we’re delighted to have been accepted into the League.”
Home games will be played on Sunday afternoons starting in September 2011. To find out more, follow the Lincolnshire Basketball Facebook page.
Source: Lincolnshire Sports Partnership

Further reading:


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Curry On!!!!!!!!!! or Off!!!!!!!!!!


Health challenge for Indian restaurants in Lincolnshire

Tuesday, June 07, 2011
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Lincolnshire Echo
INDIAN restaurants have completed a project that challenged them to offer healthier dishes with no difference to taste.
Five restaurants in Lincolnshire created new menus which had significantly reduced fat, salt and calorie content from last year.
  1. ​Indian food
The outlets, including The Passage to India on High Street in Lincoln, and Mowgli, Metheringham were part of a pilot scheme, called Health by Stealth, run by NHS Lincolnshire.
Dr Tony Hill, director of public health for NHS Lincolnshire, said: "This project is innovative because we are trying to change the behaviour of those who supply the food rather than directly targeting consumers to ask them to cut down or cut out."
Work on the project begun after testing at 60 East Midlands restaurants by Trading Standard. uncovered high levels of salt, saturated fat and calories in many takeaway dishes. The other restaurants in the project were The Star of India, Boston, The Agra, Sleaford and Kismet, Grantham.

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Safeguarding the elderly.......


Lincolnshire care homes reviewed in wake of abuse scandal in Bristol

Thursday, June 09, 2011
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Lincolnshire Echo
MEASURES to safeguard Lincolnshire people in care homes are being double checked in the wake of the Bristol abuse scandal.
A BBC Panorama undercover investigation appeared to show systematic abuse of disabled patients at Winterbourne View, which is run by Castlebeck.
  1. ​Care homes
Some residents were repeatedly pinned down, dragged into showers while fully clothed, goaded and taunted.
Nine people have been arrested and Castlebeck has apologised. Thirteen workers have been suspended.
Graham Marsh, executive councillor for adult social care on Lincolnshire County Council, said a review is under way.
"In relation to the care home that was the subject of the Panorama programme, we have got three people from Lincolnshire placed in the care of the company that runs it, but not at that particular establishment," said Mr Marsh.
"Two of the families are happy with the care and the other has lost confidence in that operation and we are working with them to bring the person back to the county.
"We also have 170 Lincolnshire people in out- of-county care locations.
"We have processes in place but we are double checking them to make sure they are robust and the checks and measures that do take place and are sufficient."
Meanwhile, Mr Marsh has revealed plans are in place in the event of care home provider Southern Cross going into administration.
Southern Cross, which is responsible for looking after 31,000 elderly residents nationally, has announced it will underpay its rent for the next four months as it struggles with a £230 million annual rent bill.
"We have five Southern Cross care homes in Lincolnshire, with about 80 older people in the homes," said Mr Marsh.
"There are also two learning disabled and 16 physically disabled people.
"We have got provisions in place to make sure these people's need requirements carry on, even those who are self-funded, who we also have a duty of care to."
Retired social worker Elaine Smith, 59, whose 90-year-old mother Lilian Smithson is in residential care, said she felt the safeguarding of vulnerable adults fell way behind that of children.
"Very little cases of abuse come to court because it's thought the victims are unreliable witnesses – there needs to be better legal back-up," said Mrs Smith, of Ashby de la Launde.
"It's appalling that it takes something like Panorama to highlight such abuse."
In the case of the Bristol care home, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) has apologised for not acting more quickly on information from a whistleblower.
Anyone with concerns about care should call the CQC on 03000 616161.

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