Heroes and heroines conjure up many images in today’s society. From Marvel’s comic books turned movie characters, our service men and women who save and protect us from unimaginable dangers, to those among us who perform unbelievable acts of bravery in the face of adversity.
John Widley successfully landed a plane at Humberside airport after his pilot tragically collapsed in the cockpit and later died. John Widley, who had never flown a plane before, landed the aircraft with only instructors over the radio to guide him. The story made national news and he was immediately, and quite rightly, branded a hero.
Some say that heroic deeds stem purely from adrenaline, a hormone which increases strength, agility and brain power. Others throw a more pessimistic light and argue there is a need for glory amongst those who go the extra mile. Inherently, we are supposed to know right from wrong.
A young man named Dan Black, who won an award at this week’s Pride of Britain ceremony, made a humbling point: “I don’t think I’m special. If more people did good things then it wouldn’t be as big of a deal.” He suffers from paralysis, after he was knocked off his bicycle in a car crash. With the help of friends and family, he has raised over £20,000 towards stem cell treatment to help him to walk again. Dan then heard about Breacon Vaughan, who suffers from cerebral palsy, and his parents aim to raise £60,000 so their son could receive treatment in America to help him walk unaided. Dan told his father that he had 22 years of walking, but Breacon is yet to have 22 seconds, and thus he gave the £20k to the Vaughan family to reach their goal.
“My heroes give me hope, they light the way through long nights and heavy storms, they are the best of us, the best of all our hearts, and all our human spirit.”
— That is the opening line for 2013’s Pride of Britain awards, and how true they are.
Jean Bishop (91) is the ‘bee lady’ (nicknamed due to the much-loved bumble bee costume she wears when holding her collection box day in, day out) from Hull that has tirelessly raised over £100,000 for charity over decades of fund-raising.
Lance Corporal Matthew Wilson, after taking a bullet to the head in Afghanistan, survived due to his helmet cushioning the blow. Coming round from being knocked out due to the bullet’s impact, he continued to run towards an enemy sniper to divert attention from a rescue team helping an injured comrade.
These people, and countless others, have not performed honourably for any crowning glory. Becoming a hero is not easy. As studies into the bystander effect show, it is all too easy to just walk on by. The bystander effect is the sociological term for what happens when people witness an event and fail to help those in need.
It has been found that the greater the number of bystanders, the less likely it is that anyone will come to their aid. This isn’t down to cowardice or cruelty, nor laziness. It is down to muted fear, and the deep-rooted thought that someone else will help. Unfortunately for the majority of us, the belief that one person cannot make a difference sometimes renders us helpless.
Heroes and heroines often go unnoticed, although with the prevalence of social media, more and more gain at least some of the recognition they deserve. On Russell Howard’s Good News show, there is always a segment at the end entitled “and now for the good news”. Every week, there is a short video of someone who has broken boundaries to bring aid and comfort to their fellow man.
In a world full of economic and political strife, natural and man-made disasters and atrocities affecting people around the globe, heroic acts not only save those involved, but inspire others to bravely face life in the same way.
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Kate Taylor is a sociologist, mother and tea and cake lover. When not working in sociological and marketing research with her company, Galilee Research, Kate can be found talking about political philosophy on the school run.
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The Lincolnite welcomes your views. All comments are reactively-moderated and must obey the house rules. Please stay on topic and be respectful of other readers.
A trial hearing has been set for the seven people charged with the murder of Sam Davies in Lincoln.
Sam, 23, died after being found with multiple stab wounds at a property in Coleridge Gardens on Thursday, May 27.
Three men were initially arrested and charged with his murder, and they were then joined in custody by four others.
All seven men appeared at Lincoln Magistrates Court on Friday, June 18, and a Crown Court hearing date has now been set.
The seven men charged with Sam’s murder are:
Joe Jameson, 23, of Whitehall Terrace, Lincoln
Daniel Heydari, 24, of Chestnut Street, Lincoln
Eric Kesel, 18, of Browning Drive, Lincoln
Eimantis Gochman, 19, of Sturton Close, Lincoln
Charlie Wakefield, 20, of Broxholme Gardens, Lincoln
Billy Gill, 20, of Beaufort Close, Lincoln
A 17-year-old Lincoln male who cannot be named for legal reasons
All seven will appear before Lincoln Crown Court on June 28 ahead of the trial of the murder of Sam Davies, and have been remanded in custody until that date.
A petition has been launched to fully re-open the toilets on Lincoln’s Westgate car park after council leaders announced they would only be opening the facilities for events.
The City of Lincoln Council’s executive will examine the plans later this month, which will also see the Victorian urinals at The Lawn on Union Road and Newport Arch closed permanently, and facilities at Lucy Tower opened for special events only in a bid to save £86,000 per year.
However, Fiona Purkiss of Midas Art in the Bailgate, along with other business owners, said the Westgate facilities need to be open and accessible to all on a daily basis.
Fiona said it was good that the disabled facilities would remain accessible, but that the walk to the Castle Square facilities — the closest public toilets to remain open — was too far for some of those without radar keys.
According to Google Maps, the distance between the two facilities is 450-550m depending on whether users go via the castle or the Bailgate.
A screenshot of Google Maps showing two routes people could take from the Westgate toilets to Castle Square. | Image: Google
She said that since the toilets closed at the beginning of the first COVID-19 lockdown, she had already seen people caught short, having to take drastic action or have an accident.
“I have had people come into the shop a bit anxious about needing the toilet. I would not say “no” [to them using my toilet] but it’s not actually suitable for the general public,” she said, adding she also had security concerns due to her own loo being accessed through a stockroom.
“I witnessed three men stood there. They got out of their car, tried the door and shouted back before weeing up against the wall.
“It’s been going for some time, we have had some very embarrassed, middle-aged women arrive who would not make it to Castle Square. They have been forced to wee in a carrier bag or a tissue box they kept in their side door.”
“It’s mortifying for them,” she said.
Fiona Purkiss, of Midas Arts. Photo: Daniel Jaines
She said a suggestion that people use the toilets of pubs and restaurants could leave people feeling uncomfortable if they did not wish to purchase anything while there – particularly during lockdown when patrons are required to queue during busy times, and must have tables pre-booked.
She added that a lack of facilities could put visitors off coming to the city and that it was disruptive to delivery drivers, taxi drivers and others, including parents waiting to pick their children up from Westgate Academy.
The council, however, feels its proposals have been misrepresented by opponents.
It has denied the toilets will be closed permanently – but says that they have been “mothballed”.
Councillor Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council, said: “The city council welcomes petitions and recognises they are a good way for people to convey their concerns to us.
“However, it is essential that people who are considering signing any petition are presented with the full and correct facts so they can make a judgement on whether to sign or not.
“Following consultation with the public, we are proposing to keep open the disabled toilet and allow the main facilities to be available during events such as Lincoln Christmas Market.
“At other times, alternative facilities are available on Castle Square, a short five minute walk away.”
“We have also never suggested that people use toilets in cafes and bars to supplement our provision, we have merely highlighted that paying customers have these facilities at their disposal and should use them if needed.
He said the proposals would also keep the toilets open at Tentercroft St and the bus station.
“Add to this the upcoming refurbishment of toilets at the Central Market and we feel there is a significant spread of facilities across the city, uphill and in the city centre, to serve the needs of shoppers and tourists alike.”
“Good food doesn’t have to be dull.” That’s what Ben Jennings at Twisted Street Food told The Lincolnite when we went to try out his now famous potato skewers, as well as a brand new item on the menu.
Ben Jennings, 48, is originally from London but has lived in Lincoln for 13 years, and he has worked in and out of the hospitality sector for almost a decade.
Twisted Street Food was an idea he had around two years ago, and after COVID-19 postponed the launch, he is now up and running selling street food delights in the city since October 2020.
Ben is meticulous with his food prep. | Photo: The Lincolnite
“I just love food, I am so passionate about it and always have been,” Ben told The Lincolnite. “Street food suits me down to the ground, it’s far better than being static in a kitchen.
“For me, the experience is of equal importance to the quality of the food, so it has to be fun as well as tasty.”
Here is where you can find Twisted Street Food, outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, Lincoln. | Photo: The Lincolnite
You can find Twisted Street Food outside The Victoria pub on Union Road, as well as his monthly pop-ups at Lincoln Castle.
Ben’s big hit so far have been his twisted potato skewers, which are twice fried and served with seasoning and sauce.
The potato skewers start off pretty routinely. | Photo: The Lincolnite
He has developed sixteen different seasoned salts and offers them in batches of four to six depending on demand, varying from cajun spice to Spanish onion and Cornish salt.
“This is where the magic happens.” | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ta-da! | Photo: The Lincolnite
The potato becomes twisted with a spiral cutter, before they are fried and dosed with a choice of Twisted’s various spices and sauces.
The skewers are then fried before being seasoned and prepped for serving. | Photo: The Lincolnite
His latest invention is a wonderful chilli dog, based on a 1950s recipe from Coney Island in Brooklyn, New York.
Ben has added a local twist to this legendary dish, offering Lincolnshire sausages, supplied by local butcher Foster’s on Monks Road, instead of the traditional Bratwurst.
The chilli dog looks mesmerising. | Photo: The Lincolnite
The chilli dog will come with caramelised onion, nine hour slow cooked beef chilli mix, blow torched mature cheddar and then garnished with fresh chillies, spring onion and American mustard.
The gourmet burger is a sight to behold. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Adding this to the menu alongside the already popular skewers and gourmet burger is part of the next step in Ben’s development with Twisted.
With a menu this good, how can you go wrong? | Photo: The Lincolnite
Ben added: “Street food is taking off, and with table service looking to be the route forward it’s cause for me to be excited, everything is just so much more civilised.
“The uptake has been massive since we started, people seem really interested in it, I think above all else the public are just delighted to be back out and about.
The gourmet burger comes with onions, molten cheddar, lettuce, gherkins, onion rings, tomato and a prosciutto crisp. | Photo: The Lincolnite
“As for myself, I’m hoping to be able to reach the festival and events circuits soon enough, as well as doing a few private events and carrying on with the success we’ve had at The Victoria and the castle.”
The twisted potatoes will cost £3.50 with seasoning and sauce, while the gourmet burger and chilli dog cost £8.50 with French fries and sauce.
Great options at Twisted Street Food. | Photo: The Lincolnite
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