— Ursula Lidbetter is the Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Co-operative
2011 was a year to remember for me in many ways. It was Lincolnshire Co-operative’s 150th birthday so we made sure we celebrated in style.
There was lots going on throughout the year. We marked our history by digitalising our archives, producing a history book and putting on an exhibition. We gave out more than 20,000 birthday cupcakes, made by our bakers Gadsby’s, and collected our members’ birthday wishes and reminiscences in a memory book. We also left a legacy for the future with the creation of a 10-acre co-operative wood on land near Dunholme.
No birthday would be complete without a party, and in September we put on the Big Birthday Bash at Lincolnshire Showground featuring Scouting for Girls, Lulu, G*Mania and a host of local acts. It was attended by thousands of people who also enjoyed a free fairground, a display of vintage vehicles and a huge fireworks display.
Out of all this, my highlight of the year was our official birthday, Friday August 19. On that day, we distributed the £500,000 Big Birthday Awards to 150 deserving community groups and good causes.
I went to a number of presentations myself and on each occasion, I was delighted to hear about the good work going on throughout our area – from community gardening projects and schemes which will preserve historic buildings to a new co-operative aiming to inspire people through arts and crafts.
It was also great to see the efforts that my colleagues made on our birthday. They dressed up in a range of costumes, from Victorian dress to 1970s punks, held raffles and competitions in their outlets and generally got into the spirit of the whole day.
In all our 150 years, 2011 was the first time we’d welcomed a serving prime minister to Lincolnshire Co-operative. David Cameron visited our pharmacy warehouse in Lincoln in May to hold a Q&A session with our colleagues. We took the chance to ask Mr Cameron questions on the issues that matter to our staff and our 205,000 members, such as the cost of fuel, sports provision in Lincolnshire and the future of rural post offices.
There have been lots of high points, and though my memories of 2011 will be positive, it’s not been an easy year by any means.
Every business had to work extra hard to mitigate the impact of the worldwide recession and Lincolnshire Co-operative is no exception. To maintain our profitable performance and see a sales growth in 2011 is a great achievement and it’s down to our strong mix of businesses, the efforts of our staff and also, the support of our loyal members and customers.
Despite the difficult trading conditions, this year has seen steps forward for local businesses. The Greater Lincolnshire’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which I chair, has seen steady progress on our key priority of infrastructure.
This has included securing £14.3 million of government funding to improve broadband speeds across Lincolnshire and a long-awaited commitment to the Eastern Bypass. As we move forward the LEP will start to focus on specific sectors such as tourism, engineering and agrifood. We hope to have more good news in coming months.
At Lincolnshire Co-operative, we’ve also got plenty to look forward to in 2012. It’s the United Nations International Year of the Co-operative and we’ve got plans to mark the Queen’s Jubilee. Of course, we’ll also be flying the flag on October 1st, Lincolnshire Day.
Ursula Lidbetter is the Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Co-operative and the Chair of the Greater Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership
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Have I Got News For You star Paul Merton will perform his show ‘Impro Chums’ on stage at the New Theatre Royal Lincoln later this month.
Merton, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster, Mike McShane, and accompanist Kirsty Newton are back on the road, with Lincoln among the stops on the tour for an evening of improvisation.
Tickets are on sale priced at £25 for the show at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 31 – buy your tickets here.
Merton is a writer, actor, comedian and radio and television present, who is known for his improvisation skill and deadpan humour. He is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays.
The 64-year-old is also a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute and his travel series on Channel Five called Paul Merton’s Adventures covered India, China and Europe. Last summer he co-stared with Suki Website in Motorhoming with Paul Merton as part of a six-part travel documentary for Channel 5.
His autobiography ‘Only When I Laugh’ reached the Sunday Times bestseller Top 10.
A 22-year-old man who died in a motorbike crash in Lincoln will be given a final send off with a rip-roaring procession on the way to his funeral.
Connor Peters, 22, tragically died in a crash on the B1190 Lincoln Road on Monday, May 9, as his black Lexmoto motorcycle collided with a white Isuzu van.
He unfortunately died at the scene, and a fundraiser was set up for the “cheeky, loveable rogue” to have the send off “he deserves”. At the time of reporting there is a remarkable £5,000 on the GoFundMe page, which you can visit here.
Connor Peters, pictured here with his mum, tragically died in a crash on Monday, May 9. | Photo: GoFundMe
Now, plans have been made for a motorbike procession to join the hearse taking Connor to his funeral service. The event, titled Connor Peters’ Last Ride, has been organised by his brother Josh.
It will take place at 11.50am on Monday, June 13, starting from Larne Road in Lincoln.
Josh says on the event’s Facebook page: “As a family, we are wanting a full motorcycle procession behind the funeral car, we want as many bikes, trikes, mopeds anything. We want so much noise remove all baffles removed, pops and bangs enough so he can hear from up there.
“Connor was a 22 year old lad that was full of life and was loved by so many, he loved his little 125cc, he thought that he had finally hit the big time but due to a awful turn of events he lost his life doing something he loved.
“For many of us bikers we can understand the love and passion he had for that short period of time. A biker fallen hits us all but we all club together to make an effort to remember those we lost.”
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