Sarah Lockwood

A new hobby shop is set to open in Lincoln this month, offering model hobbyists a place to paint and game.

The Battle Bunker shop, opening on July 12 at 10am, based in the Stonebow Centre between Silver Street and Saltergate.

The shop is mainly for people who are interested in wargaming or just want to start a new hobby, but is good for established players and painters.

The unit features six full size tables complete with terrain to host battles and play games, plus painting stations for those customising their collection.

It will also stock a variety of models and equipment, plus card and board games.

Owner Ben Stubbs said: “I have lived in the Lincoln area for over 20 years and attended school and university locally. I have been a hobbyist since my teens and am a member of a local Wargaming club.

“Following redundancy in 2012, I decided to combine my love of the hobby with a desire to share this pleasure and make it accessible to a wider audience. The Battle Bunker is the outcome of that desire.

“Designed for gamers new and old and for their families – a place to buy, to play, to learn, to hang out in comfort with others.”

The opening will feature refreshments, a customer raffle, competitions and much more. Anyone is welcome, and Stubbs will be on hand to offer his support and advice.

Two Lincoln care workers at The Order St Johns Care Trust received a prestigious medal from the British branch of the world’s oldest order of chivalry, the Sovereign Order of Malta.

Emma Pickett, Home Manager at Ermine House in Lincoln, was recognised with a Silver Medal of Merit for her hard work over her 10 years with the Trust.

Alongside her was Cheryl Gilderdale, Home Manager at Hartsholme House in Lincoln, who was awarded a Bronze Medal of Merit for her endless compassion to residents and a commitment and desire to constantly work toward improving dementia care.

The ceremony, which was held at the Brompton Oratory in London on June 24, was attended by hundreds, including Knights and Dames of the Order and the Venerable Order of St. John and World Ambassadors.

Caroline Dunagan, OSJCT Lincolnshire Assistant Operations Director, said: “The annual Order of Malta Awards Ceremony is an important event for the Trust.

“The Order is very selective when choosing recipients, so it is very special for staff like Emma and Cheryl to have their hard work recognised and be awarded for going above and beyond their normal duties.”

The Order of Malta was founded in 1875 and is now a worldwide organisation. It has 12,500 members, of whom around 300 belong to the British Association and membership is by invitation only.

The Order is one of the sponsoring Orders of OSJCT (the other being the Venerable Order of St John). It aims to help those in need and provide a provision of care for older people.

Meanwhile, the Orders of St John Care Trust (OSJCT) was established in 1991 and its core activity is providing care for older people of any background. In Lincolnshire, it now runs 16 former local authority care homes.