With nearly one month having passed by since the iconic Lincoln Barons were auctioned off for charity, The Lincolnite has been investigating where they have ended up.
The trailblazing Barons were brought to Lincoln by The Trussell Trust in partnership with Lincoln BIG to mark the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.
A Charter Trail was created for people to find the 25 Barons in the city centre, and proved to be enormously popular with tourists and locals.
The trail came to an end on September, and all the Barons were auctioned off on October 1 at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, raising a total of £167,000 for the Trussell Trust.
Lindum Soldier
Staff from Minster Surfacing Ltd posing with the Lindum Soldier Baron
The Lindum Soldier was bought for £7,000 by Minster Surfacing Ltd, based off Station Road in North Hykeham, who have renamed the Baron Maximus Spartacus.
Baron of The Crystal Hues
The Baron of The Crystal Hues
The Baron of The Crystal Hues is currently sitting overlooking Lucy Tower Street, in the Streets Chartered Accountants offices.
The Baron has been travelling around local schools raising money and collecting food donations for the Lincoln food bank.
Baron Mayor of Lincoln
Baron Mayor of Lincoln was bought by Stirlin Developments
The Baron Mayor of Lincoln was sponsored by City of Lincoln Council and bought by Stirlin Developments for £5,800.
James Kirby said: “The Lincoln Mayor Baron is currently laying low waiting for our offices to be completed.
“He will then be situated pride of place in our meeting room.”
Young Baron
The Young Baron at William Farr C of E School in Welton
The Young Baron has taken up his new residence at William Farr C of E School in Welton
The Baron arrived at the school courtesy of its new owner Daniel Charles Construction Ltd – which had bought the Baron for £5,500.
Now the sculpture has moved into the school’s main reception area and will be on display alongside specially-made information boards created by the history department.
The school was chosen as the new home by Daniel Charles Construction director Dan Ingall because his children, Olli and Grace, are both pupils at the school and the firm employs many people from the Welton and Dunholme area.
He said: “We missed out on the opportunity to initially sponsor a Baron as by the time we heard about it they were all gone. I walked the Baron trail in the summer and thoroughly enjoyed it and agreed with the masses what a fantastic idea it had been.
“When we heard of the Baron auction we thought we could eventually be involved. I went to the auction with the intention to buy one for our own office and one for the school.
“I had chosen The Young Baron for the school as I thought its name was very apt and the reason for the design by the artist was also relevant. We only managed to buy one but our intention didn’t change to donate it to the school.”
William Farr headteacher Andy Stones added: “It was a wonderful gesture by Dan and the company and we are really thrilled to be welcoming the Baron to the school.”
Proud to be a Yellowbelly Baron
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Proud to be a Yellowbelly Baron has not had to travel far from the auction, ending up on the ground floor of the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel on Brayford Wharf North.
Paul Nixon, General Manager, said: “As the original idea for the Barons was born here at the DoubleTree by Hilton Lincoln, it was extremely important to us that one Baron remained here.
“The joy the Barons brought to both the people of Lincoln and its visitors was overwhelming and we wanted to ensure that could continue.
“We’re delighted that people can still visit and interact with with our Yellowbelly Baron as our doors are always open to visitors, and also so proud to have contributed over £6,000 towards The Trussell Trust.”
Freeman Baron
Staff from Lincoln Digs posing with the Freeman Baron. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Sponsored by Ruddocks, the Freeman Baron fetched £6,800 and has emerged in the Lincoln DIGS offices on Carholme Road, with staff clearly delighted by his presence.
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
1960s Baron
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
The Lincoln Hotel on Eastgate, who sponsored the 1960s Baron, were lucky enough to bid for and win back their Baron, which will be brought back to the hotel in time for Christmas.
James Little, General Manager of The Lincoln Hotel, said: “The interest in all of the Barons on the auction night was incredible and it was a fantastic atmosphere. We are proud to have been a part of the event and raise so much money for such a worthy charity in The Trussell Trust.
“Our Baron means a lot to us because as well as being a celebration of Magna Carta, he is a symbol of the 60s, and a nod to the hotel’s 50th anniversary which is this year.
“All our staff are very happy the Baron is staying with us and the feedback we have received so far from local people and guests has been excellent.”
Delighted our 60's Baron is coming back to the hotel where he belongs! #LincolnBarons Great to see so much money raised for @TrussellTrust
Nigel Spurr and his wife Gail with the Bomber Baron
The Bomber Baron was the most expensive, reaching a remarkable £11,000 at the auction.
It has now settled into life at aviation equipment specialists Ground Equipment Supplies Ltd in Eagle, to the south-west of Lincoln.
Nigel Spurr, who bought the Baron, said: “Our company deals in pre-owned aviation equipment, much of it ex-RAF. Bomber Baron epitomises our local aviation history so I just had to buy it and it has taken pride of place in our new offices.”
Graduate Baron
The Graduate Baron was sponsored by the University of Lincoln and has returned to the campus after costing £6,800 at the auction.
A university spokesperson said: “We were absolutely delighted to place the winning bid for the Graduate Baron, and he will now take up permanent residency on the Brayford Pool Campus.
“We’re asking students to suggest where on campus he should live through our official Facebook page. The Baron has already made a guest appearance at several high-profile University events, including Future Fest, Graduation, and our open days and has a number of other prestigious engagements lined up.”
The Steampunk Baron had resurfaced in a second floor flat above Greggs on Bailgate.
The Baron was bought for £5,000, and had a perfect view over historic uphill Lincoln until it mysteriously disappeared from its window position on October 27.
An Expansive Place Baron
An Expansive Place Baron has been spotted by the seaside at Happy Days Caravan Park in Chapel St Leonards, meaning that at least one Baron has made its escape from Lincoln.
Here's our baron at his new home at Happy Days Caravan Park in Chapel St Leonards, still looking fab pic.twitter.com/7onB8yFkrn
Did you purchase a Baron? If so, get in touch with us by emailing [email protected].
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The 2024 Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are now open for nominations, seeking to spotlight outstanding businesses within the Greater Lincolnshire area.
Hosted by Stonebow Media, the publisher behind The Lincolnite and the MyLocal platform, this prestigious event is designed to honour the achievements of the regional business community.
Thanks to the headline sponsorship from the University of Lincoln Enterprise & Research department, the Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards are a unique opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of local enterprises.
The awards are also sponsored by Ringrose Law, Duncan & Toplis, Sills & Betteridge and Pearson Hydraulics. A small number of sponsorship opportunities remain available. Contact [email protected] to discuss partnerships.
Businesses can nominate themselves across eleven awards categories:
The deadline for nominations is May 24, with the judges’ deliberation lunch set for May 29.The judging panel includes business experts and professionals from Lincolnshire and event sponsors.
The Lincolnshire Business Excellence Awards 2024 gala will take place at the Engine Shed on July 12, 2024.
Enhance profile & credibility: Securing an award or being shortlisted acts as a powerful endorsement, signaling trustworthiness to potential customers and helping to distinguish your business from competitors. Displaying the award on your communications can significantly boost your brand’s perception.
Insightful focus & feedback: The application process encourages deep reflection on your business strategy and direction, offering invaluable feedback and clarity, even for new ventures.
Team confidence boost: Recognition from the awards can significantly uplift your team’s morale, affirming the value and potential of your business in the eyes of industry experts.
Marketing & PR boost: Being associated with the awards, even as a nominee, can enhance brand visibility, providing ample content opportunities for social media and other marketing channels.
Networking opportunities: The awards connect you with local business leaders and experts, offering a platform to seek advice, share ideas, and foster future partnerships. The ceremony itself is an excellent occasion for networking with peers and celebrating mutual successes.
Potential to win: Entering offers a chance to win and gain all the associated benefits, but even without taking home a trophy, the process can yield significant advantages for your business.
A Lady Gaga loving kitten owned by a couple who run a charity for disabled pets featured on Channel 5’s The Pet Psychic.
Pet Psychic Beth Lee-Crowther comes to the aid of pet owners and in Tuesday night’s episode she met Cookie the kitten, a depressed camel, and looked at whether a dog can predict the future.